[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24183]
[[Page 50264]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 091399A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland
Turbot in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
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 Greenland turbot in
the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Greenland turbot in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 15,
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
(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 CFR part 679.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI
(64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) established the 1999 initial TAC of
Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea as 5,126 metric tons (mt).
See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the TAC for
Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea will be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance
of 3,926 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 1,200 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 has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea
subarea.
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 to
prevent overharvesting the 1999 TAC of Greenland turbot for the Bering
Sea subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable
and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only result in
overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this
action should not 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 13, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24183 Filed 9-13-99; 2:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
