Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Pacific perch,
[Federal Register: August 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 159)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44859]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au99-13]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 081299A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska management area (GOA). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 15, 1999.
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 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 1999 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA was established by the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999) as 820 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has established a directed fishing allowance of 670 mt, and set aside the remaining 150 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA was closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 19, 1999, (64 FR 39090, July 21, 1999).
NMFS has determined that as of July 31, 1999, 217 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full utilization of the Pacific ocean perch TAC. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 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 13, 1999 Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21433Filed8-13-99; 3:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
