[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11160-11161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5833]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208295-7295-01; I.D. 030298C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim specification for Pacific
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 3, 1998,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The interim specification of Pacific cod total allowable catch
(TAC) in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by the
Interim 1998 Harvest Specifications (62 FR 65622, December 15, 1997) as
4,361 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998
interim specification of Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 4,061 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 300
mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator
finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other
restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 1998 harvest
specifications for groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 interim TAC of Pacific
cod allocated for processing by the inshore component in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to public interest, and further delay would
only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the
implementation of this action should not be delayed for 30 days.
Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is
hereby waived.
This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
[[Page 11161]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 2, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5833 Filed 3-3-98; 1:40 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
