[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 32049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15359]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 053097C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 630 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 the directed fishery for pollock in
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the second seasonal allowance of total
allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 9, 1997,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1997.
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 GOA (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 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The final specification of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of
the GOA was established by Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) as 24,550 metric
tons (mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A). In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(B) and
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(B)(2), the second seasonal allowance of pollock
TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 5,265 mt. As of May 24, 1997, 8,754 mt
of pollock has been harvested from Statistical Area 630. This amount
represents a combination of the amounts taken during the first season
and into the second.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second
seasonal allowance of TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 630 soon will
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 5,065 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 200 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 pollock
in Statistical Area 630 from June 9, 1997, until 1200 hours, A.l.t.,
September 1, 1997.
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 best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting of the 1997 second seasonal allowance of TAC for
pollock in Statistical Area 630. The fleet will soon take the second
seasonal directed fishing allowance of TAC for pollock. Further delay
would only result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's
objective of apportioning seasonal pollock harvests 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)(3), 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 6, 1997.
Rebecca Lent,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15359 Filed 6-9-97; 10:26 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
