[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49296-49297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24619]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 090998A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully
utilize the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 9,
1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone 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. 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.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the Final 1998 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998)
established the amount of the 1998 TAC of pollock in Statistical Area
610 in the GOA as 29,790 metric tons (mt).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
has established a directed fishing allowance of 29,590 mt, and set
aside the remaining 200 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries.
[[Page 49297]]
The fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the GOA was closed
to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on September 2, 1998,
(63 FR 47439, September 8, 1998).
NMFS has determined that as of September 8, 1998, 8,000 mt remain
in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock in
Statistical Area 610 in the GOA.
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full
utilization of the pollock TAC. Providing prior notice and opportunity
for public comment for this action is impracticable and contrary to the
public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the FMP objective of
providing the pollock TAC for harvest. 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 9, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24619 Filed 9-9-98; 5:04 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
