98-10517. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 19666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10517]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 041498B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Eastern 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 retention of pollock in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that 
catch of pollock in this area be treated in the same manner as 
prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This 
action is necessary because the amount of the 1998 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of pollock in this area has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 18, 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 the Groundfish Fishery 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 amount of the 1998 TAC of pollock in the Eastern Regulatory 
Area of the GOA was established as 5,580 metric tons by the Final 1998 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 
12, 1998). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 1998 TAC for 
pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of pollock in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the amount of the 1998 TAC for pollock in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken 
the amount of the 1998 TAC for pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area 
of the GOA. Further delay would only result in overharvest and disrupt 
the FMP's objective of not exceeding the TAC throughout the year. NMFS 
finds for good cause that the 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 15, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10517 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
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