Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Pacific Ocean perch,
[Federal Register: July 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 140)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39241]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jy98-16]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 071698G]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Regulatory Area 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 Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska as 1,810 metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area was closed under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 3, 1998, (63 FR 36863, July 8, 1998) and reopened on July 15, 1998, (to be published July 21, 1998).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998 TAC for Pacific ocean perch will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,610 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 200 mt 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 Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
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 1998 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the Western Regulatory Area 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 17, 1998. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19505Filed7-17-98; 2:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
