Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Pollock,
[Federal Register: February 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 35)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8731-8732]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23fe99-17]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981021264-9016-02; I.D. 021799A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Mothership Component in the Bering Sea Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
SUMMARY: NMFS closes the directed fishing season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS adjusts the time of closure to prevent the underharvest of the interim A season pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the mothership component for harvest within the Bering Sea subarea.
DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 1, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Susan J. Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau AK 99802-1668.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI 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.
[[Page 8732]]
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(3), the revised interim 1999 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999), and section 206(b)(3) of the American Fisheries Act, the interim A season TAC of pollock specified as a directed fishing allowance for the mothership component for harvest within the Bering Sea subarea is 33,569 metric tons (mt).
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 pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component is in excess of 1,900 mt per day.
Section 679.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and closures of fishing seasons other than the beginning and end of the calendar fishing year is 1200 hrs, A.l.t. The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the remaining portion of the allocation to the mothership component would be underharvested if a 1200 hrs closure were allowed to occur.
NMFS, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea by closing directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 17, 1999. NMFS is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI as authorized by Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that closing the season at 2400 hrs on February 17, 1999, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI and will allow other fisheries to continue in noncritical areas and time periods.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 1999 harvest specifications for groundfish for the BSAI. Without this inseason adjustment, the pollock allocation for vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than $220,000.
Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until March 10, 1999.
This action is required by Sec. 679.22 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 17, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4333Filed2-17-99; 4:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
