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

[Federal Register: March 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 56)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 14155]

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

[DOCID:fr24mr99-17]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 031999A]

Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Shallow- water Species Fishery by Vessels using Trawl Gear in 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 species that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action is necessary because the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 1, 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 part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.

The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999) established the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance for the GOA trawl shallow-water species fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(A), the for the first season, the period January 20, 1999, through March 31, 1999, as 500 metric tons.

In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species included in the shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. The species and species groups that comprise the shallow-water species fishery are: Pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and ``other species''.

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 first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has already taken the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut. Further delay would only result in the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the GOA being exceeded. 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Dated: March 19, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-7223Filed3-19-99; 4:11 pm]

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