97-24046. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47768-47769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24046]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7052-02; I.D. 090597B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Western 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 prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring 
that catch of Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the inshore component in this area be treated in the same 
manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of 
injury. This action is necessary because the allocation of Pacific cod 
by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component 
in this area has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 5, 
1997, until 2400 hrs, 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.
    The allocation of Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997), and subsequent 
reserve apportionment (62 FR 11771, March 13, 1997) as 21,803 metric 
tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(4).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the allocation of Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is requiring that further catches of Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec. 679.21(b)(2).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the allocation of Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Providing prior notice and an 
opportunity for comment is impracticable and contrary to public 
interest. The fleet has taken the allocation of Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component. Further 
delay would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that 
the implementation of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. 
Accordingly, under

[[Page 47769]]

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: September 5, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries
    National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24046 Filed 9-5-97; 4:50 pm]
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