[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36741-36742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18017]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 070397D]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ``Other
Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern 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 the directed fishery for the ``other
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of
Alaska. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the ``other
rockfish'' species group total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern
Regulatory Area.
DATES: Effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 7, 1997,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
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.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the ``other rockfish''
species group TAC for the Eastern Regulatory Area was established by
the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (62 FR 8179,
February 24, 1997) as 1,500 metric tons (mt).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator)
has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the ``other
rockfish'' species group TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area soon will
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator has established a
directed fishing allowance of 1,383 mt, with consideration that 117 mt
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species
in the Eastern Regulatory Area. The Regional Administrator has
determined that the directed fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the ``other
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting of the 1997 TAC for ``other rockfish'' in the
Eastern Regulatory Area. A delay in the effective date is impracticable
and contrary to public interest. The fleet has already taken the
directed fishing allowance for ``other rockfish''. Further delay would
only result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of
providing sufficient ``other rockfish'' as bycatch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries. 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.
[[Page 36742]]
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from OMB
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. 97-18017 Filed 7-3-97; 4:51 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
