Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone— Pollock,

[Federal Register: February 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 34)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 8529]

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

[DOCID:fr22fe99-16]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 021699B]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 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 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 1999 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 620 established by the 1999 Interim Specifications and amended by the emergency interim rule implementing Steller sea lion protection measures for the pollock fisheries off Alaska.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 1999, until superseded by the Final 1999 Harvest Specification for Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

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.

The interim 1999 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 as amended by the emergency interim rule implementing Steller sea lion protection measures for the pollock fisheries off Alaska (64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999) is 11,652 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the interim TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 620 will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 11,152 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 will soon be reached. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 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 seasonal allocation of pollock in Statistical Areas 620. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public comment 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: February 16, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-4277Filed2-17-99; 3:09 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F