[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48497-48498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24519]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 091097D]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in
Statistical Area 630 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 630 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 12,
1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.
[[Page 48498]]
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 630 of the GOA was
established as 24,550 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 630 will soon be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance
of 24,050 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 630 of the
GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
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 630
of the GOA. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public
comment is impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet
will soon take the directed fishing allowance for pollock in
Statistical Area 630 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.
Classification
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 10, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24519 Filed 9-11-97; 2:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
