Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Gulf of Alaska groundfish,
[Federal Register: June 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 104)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29670-29671]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn98-28]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 052698A]
Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive 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 second seasonal bycatch 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.), May 26, 1998, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
[[Page 29671]]
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 hook-and-line groundfish fisheries, (defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)), other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, was established by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) for the second season, the period May 18, 1998, through August 31, 1998, as 15 mt.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of the 1998 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 second seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the GOA hook- and-line groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The second seasonal bycatch 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. Further delay would only result in exceeding the second seasonal apportionment. 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: May 27, 1998. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-14430Filed5-27-98; 4:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
