[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27476-27477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12748]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 051299E]
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 second seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut
apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 18, 1999,
until 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
[[Page 27477]]
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.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64
FR 12094, March 11, 1999) established the Pacific halibut bycatch
mortality allowance for groundfish included in the other hook-and-line
fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), for the second
season, the period May 18, 1999, through August 31, 1999, as 15 metric
tons. The other hook-and-line fishery includes all groundfish, except
sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second
seasonal apportionment of the 1999 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 in the regulations
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 second seasonal apportionment of the 1999
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 second
seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to
hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or
demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been reached. 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 14, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12748 Filed 5-17-99; 3:39 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
