[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18588]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 071097A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Northern
Rockfish in the Central 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 closing directed fishing for northern rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the northern rockfish total allowable
catch (TAC) in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 10, 1997,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 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 northern rockfish TAC in the Central Regulatory Area of the
Gulf of Alaska was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications
of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) as 4,150
metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20 (c)(3)(ii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20 (d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the northern
rockfish TAC in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska will
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing
a directed fishing allowance of 3,750 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 400 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
northern rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting the 1997 TAC for northern rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet will soon take
the directed fishing allowance for northern rockfish. Further delay
would only result in overharvest and disrupt the FMP's objective of
allowing incidental catch to be retained 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.
Classification
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: July 10, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-18588 Filed 7-10-97; 3:46 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
