[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9699]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 041299B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Western Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific
cod in that area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 18, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone 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. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii), the Final 1999 Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999), and
subsequent reserve apportionment (64 FR 16362, April 5, 1999)
established the allowance of the 1999 Pacific cod TAC apportioned for
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA as 2,363 metric tons (mt).
The offshore component fishery for Pacific cod in the GOA was
closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on January 20,
1999 (64 FR 3658, January 25, 1999).
NMFS has determined that as of April 3, 1999, approximately 2,000
mt remain in the offshore component directed fishing allowance.
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA.
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full
utilization of the Pacific cod TAC. Providing prior notice and
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the
FMP objective of providing the Pacific cod TAC for harvest. NMFS finds
for good cause that implementation of this action cannot 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 13, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-9699 Filed 4-14-99; 4:07 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
