[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16833]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 061898A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 610
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 pollock inStatistical
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the second seasonal apportionment of pollock total
allowable catch (TAC) in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 19, 1998,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-486-6919.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOAexclusive
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 second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC has been changed
to 35 percent of the annual TAC (63 FR 31939, June 11, 1998) plus a
proportionate amount of any unharvested first seasonal apportionment of
TAC or minus a proportionate amount of TAC harvested in excess of the
first seasonal apportionment (Sec. 679.20 (a)(5)(ii)(B)). This action
was taken to limit potential impacts of pollock fishing on Stellar sea
lions and their critical habitat during the fall months. The notice of
Final 1998 Harvest Specifications (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998)
established a pollock TAC of 29,790 metric tons (mt) in Statistical
Area 610 for the entire 1998 fishing year and apportioned 7,978 mt of
that pollock TAC as the second seasonal apportionment. The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
established a directed fishing allowance of 7,478 mt and set aside the
remaining 500 mt as bycatch in support of other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator found that the directed fishing allowance would soon be
reached and NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA on June 3, 1998 (63 FR 30644, June 5, 1998). The
fishery was reopened on June 8, 1998 (63 FR 31938, June 11, 1998) to
fully utilize a revised second seasonal apportionment equal to 35
percent of the annual of pollock TAC. The revised second seasonal
apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is now 10,605
mt.
The Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing
allowance of 10,105 mt and setting aside the remaining 500 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has
determined that the second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 610 will be reached. In accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that the
directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 until
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998.
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 second seasonal TAC limitations and
other restrictions on the fisheries established in the Final 1998
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the GOA. It must be
implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the second seasonal
apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. A
delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. Further delay would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds
for good cause that the implementation of this action should 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: June 19, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16833 Filed 6-19-98; 4:51 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
