[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19739]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 072799D]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific
Ocean Perch in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands
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 Pacific ocean perch
in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this
area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 28, 1999,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
Table 2 of the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for
the BSAI (64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) established the 1999 Initial TAC
of Pacific ocean perch for the Central Aleutian District as 3,561
metric tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999 TAC
for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District will be
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 3,261 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 300 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 Pacific
ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.
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 1999 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the
Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. 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: July 28, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-19739 Filed 7-28-99; 3:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
