[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19850-19851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10725]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 041498A]
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in 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 groundfish by vessels
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because
the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to
hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or
demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 18, 1998,
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 18, 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 prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific
halibut for groundfish other than demersal shelf rockfish, which is
defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), was established by the Final 1998
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March
12, 1998) for the first season, the period January 1, 1998, through May
17, 1998, as 250 mt.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality
allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-
line gear in the GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found at Sec. 679.20(e)
and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal apportionment of the 1998
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the
groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by
vessels using hook-and- line gear in the GOA. A delay in the effective
date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The first
seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-
line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf
rockfish in the GOA has been caught. Further delay would only result in
overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of apportioning
Pacific halibut bycatch allowances throughout the year. NMFS finds for
good cause that the implementation of this action can 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 Sec. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
[[Page 19851]]
Dated: April 16, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10725 Filed 4-17-98; 3:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
