Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Gulf of Alaska groundfish,
[Federal Register: March 14, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 50)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13698]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr00-15]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 030800A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fisheries by Vessels using Hook-and-Line 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 groundfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because the first seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 9, 2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 18, 2000.
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 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for groundfish included in the other hook-and-line fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), was established by the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (65 FR 8298, February 18, 2000) for the first season, the period January 1, 2000, through May 17, 2000, as 250 metric tons. The other hook-and-line fishery includes all groundfish except sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the first seasonal apportionment of the 2000 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in 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 in order to prevent exceeding the first seasonal apportionment of the 2000 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only result in overharvest, which would disrupt the FMP's objective of apportioning Pacific halibut bycatch allowances throughout the year. 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 9, 2000. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-6194Filed3-9-00; 2:34 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
