[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32049-32050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15378]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334; I.D. 060697B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Nearshore 
Pelagic Shelf Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for nearshore pelagic 
shelf rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the nearshore 
pelagic shelf rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the Central 
Regulatory Area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 7, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

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

[[Page 32050]]

implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 
679.
    The final specification of nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish total 
allowable catch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish 
of the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) as 260 metric tons (mt), 
determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administration), has determined that the 
nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish TAC in the Central Regulatory Area 
will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 160 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the 
Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will 
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
the nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area. 
The nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish assemblage consists of black 
rockfish and blue rockfish.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20 (e) and (f).
    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting of the 1997 TAC for nearshore pelagic shelf 
rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area. A delay in the effective date 
is impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet will soon 
take the directed fishing allowance for nearshore pelagic shelf 
rockfish. Further delay would only result in overharvest and disrupt 
the FMP's objective of allowing incidental catch to be retained 
throughout the year. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation 
of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 6, 1997.
Rebecca Lent,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-15378 Filed 6-9-97; 10:26 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F