[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 30287] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-14467] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 052897A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker and Rougheye Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment prohibiting retention of Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels using trawl gear. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing of the shortraker/ rougheye rockfish species group. DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 29, 1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., June 18, 1997. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668 [Attn. Lori Gravel], or be delivered to the fourth floor of the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone is managed by NMFS 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 (Magnuson-Stevens 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 Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that conservation and management measures prevent overfishing. The 1997 overfishing level for the shortraker/rougheye rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI is established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 1,250 metric tons (mt). The acceptable biological catch level for this group is 938 mt. As of May 10, 1997, 1,206 mt of shortraker/ rougheye rockfish have been caught. NMFS closed directed fishing for shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish and prohibited retention of shortraker/rougheye rockfish on April 2, 1997 (62 FR 16736, April 8, 1997). Substantial trawl fishing effort will be directed at remaining amounts of Pacific cod in the Aleutian Islands subarea during 1997. These fisheries can have significant bycatch of shortraker/rougheye rockfish. The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i) and (a)(2)(iii), that closing the season by prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear is necessary to prevent overfishing of the shortraker/rougheye rockfish species group, and is the least restrictive measure to achieve that purpose. Without this prohibition of retention, significant incidental catch of shortraker/rougheye rockfish would occur by trawl vessels targeting Pacific cod. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b)(2). The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Immediate effectiveness is necessary to prevent overfishing of shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the above address until June 18, 1997. Classification 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: May 28, 1997. Bruce Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-14467 Filed 5-29-97; 4:26 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F