[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36739-36740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17958]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 070397A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Pacific
Ocean Perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 36740]]
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the Pacific ocean perch total allowable
catch (TAC) in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 3, 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 Pacific ocean perch TAC in the Western 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 1,472
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 Administration), has determined that the Pacific
ocean perch TAC in the Western Regulatory Area will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 1,312 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 160
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 the Pacific
ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area.
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 Pacific ocean perch in the
Western Regulatory Area. A delay in the effective date is impracticable
and contrary to public interest. The fleet will soon take the directed
fishing allowance for Pacific ocean perch. 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 3, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17958 Filed 7-3-97; 3:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
