[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51081-51082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24564]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 091599E]
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 third seasonal allowance of pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) in this area and to close the C season
fishery.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16,
1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 21, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
[[Page 51082]]
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 is in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart
H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 was established by the
Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR
12094, March 11, 1999) as 30,520 metric tons (mt) for the entire
fishing year and 7,630 mt for the third seasonal allowance.
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator),
has determined that the second seasonal catch was in excess of the
second seasonal allowance by 402 mt and that the excess shall be
proportionately subtracted from the subsequent seasonal allowances. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C), the third seasonal allowance
of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 7,429 mt.
NMFS issued an inseason adjustment in expectation of excessive
harvest capacity, effective September 2, 1999, limiting the initial
opening of the C season fishery to 24 hours in accordance with
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i)(64 FR 48332, September 3, 1999). Within that same
adjustment NMFS extended the C fishing season by inseason adjustment to
delay the start of the D fishing season until the agency had determined
whether sufficient amounts of the C season allowance remained
unharvested to allow another opening within the C fishing season prior
to the harvest of the pollock authorized for the D season. NMFS opened
the subsequent C season fishery to directed fishing effective 1200 hrs,
A.l.t. September 14, 1999. The opening notice will be published in the
Federal Register on September 17, 1999.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator
has determined that the third seasonal allowance of pollock TAC in
Statistical Area 630 has been reached and that sufficient amounts of
the C season allowance were harvested to close the C fishing season
which will initiate the regulatory schedule to open the D season. The
Regional Administrator has established a directed fishing allowance of
7,379 mt for the C season allowance and has set aside the remaining 50
mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries prior
to the start of the D season. 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630 from
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 16, 1999. Pursuant to 679.23(d)(3)(iv) the
D season fishery will open 1200 hrs, A.l.t. September 21, 1999.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the third seasonal TAC limitations and
other restrictions on the fisheries established in the Final 1999
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish in the GOA. It must be
implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the third seasonal
allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. 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 Secs. CFR 679.20 and 679.23 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 15, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24564 Filed 9-16-99; 2:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
