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

[Federal Register: October 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 203)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 56095]

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

[DOCID:fr21oc98-11]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 101698A]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Offshore Component in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the amount of the 1998 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 19, 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 BSAI exclusive economic zone 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.

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (63 FR 12689, March 16, 1998) established the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI as 667,388 metric tons (mt).

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 662,388 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 5,000 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. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

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 in order to prevent overharvesting the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has already taken the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. Further delay would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action can 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: October 16, 1998. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-28209Filed10-16-98; 1:13 pm]

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