[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52473-52474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25316]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 092399E]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
ACTION: 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 Atka mackerel in the
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the 1999 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Atka mackerel
allocated to this area.
[[Page 52474]]
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 24,
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 50 CFR part 679.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (64 FR 12103,
March 11, 1999) established 20,720 metric tons (mt) as the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. See
Sec. 679.20(c)(6).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999
ITAC of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian District will
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 20,470 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 250 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 soon will be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.
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 ITAC of Atka mackerel allocated to the
Central Aleutian District 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 23, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25316 Filed 9-24-99; 2:26 p.m.]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
