[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24017]
[[Page 47768]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 090597A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 610 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 pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1997 total allowable catch (TAC) for
pollock in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 7,
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 1997 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA was
established as 18,600 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24,
1997), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997 TAC
for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 18,500 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100
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 closing directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types 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 1997 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 610
of the GOA. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for comment is
impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet will soon take
the 1997 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. Further
delay would only result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's
objective of providing sufficient pollock 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.
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: September 5, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24017 Filed 9-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
