Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone water species fishery by vessels usinbg trawl gear in Gulf of Alaska,
[Federal Register: August 7, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 152)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 42281-42282]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au98-38]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 080398A]
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.
[[Page 42282]]
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 third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 3, 1998, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7447.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut for the GOA trawl shallow-water species fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(A), was established by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) for the third season, the period July 1, 1998 through September 30, 1998, as 200 mt.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the third seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 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 third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the shallow-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught. 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 3, 1998. Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21084Filed8-3-98; 4:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
