[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19161]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 071398C]
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 prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of
northern rockfish in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 14, 1998,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 amount of the 1998 TAC of northern rockfish in the Central
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska was established by the Final 1998
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March
12, 1998) 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 1998 TAC
for northern rockfish will be reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 3,650 mt,
and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Central
Regulatory Area.
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 to
prevent overharvesting the 1998 TAC of northern rockfish for the
Central Regulatory Area 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 14, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19161 Filed 7-14-98; 4:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
