Alaska; fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone: Rockfish,

[Federal Register: August 12, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 155)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 43941-43942]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr12au99-14]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 080999B]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Rockfish 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 retention of other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of other rockfish in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the amount of the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of other rockfish in this area has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 9, 1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson 907-481-1780 or tom.pearson@noaa.gov.

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

[[Page 43942]]

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 1999 TAC of other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA was established as 20 metric tons by the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1999 TAC of other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).

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 for other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken the amount of the 1999 TAC for other rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. Further delay would only result in overharvest. 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.

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: August 9, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-20904Filed8-9-99; 4:56 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F