[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45765-45766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22948]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 081498D]
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in 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 groundfish by vessels
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because
the third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to
hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or
demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1,
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 prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific
halibut for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries, (defined at
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)), other than sablefish or demersal shelf
rockfish, was established by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) for the third
season, the period September 1, 1998, through December 31, 1998, as 25
mt.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the third
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality
allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-
line gear in the GOA.
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 in order
to prevent exceeding the third seasonal apportionment of the 1998
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the GOA hook-
and-line groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf
rockfish. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary
to the public interest. The third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific
halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
Further delay would only result in exceeding the third seasonal
apportionment. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of
this action can not be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C.
[[Page 45766]]
553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
This action is required by Sec. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 20, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22948 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
