[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36741-36742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18017]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 070397D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ``Other 
Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for the ``other 
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the ``other 
rockfish'' species group total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area.

DATES: Effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 7, 1997, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the ``other rockfish'' 
species group TAC for the Eastern Regulatory Area was established by 
the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (62 FR 8179, 
February 24, 1997) as 1,500 metric tons (mt).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Administrator) 
has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the ``other 
rockfish'' species group TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area soon will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator has established a 
directed fishing allowance of 1,383 mt, with consideration that 117 mt 
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area. The Regional Administrator has 
determined that the directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the ``other 
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).
    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 ``other rockfish'' in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area. A delay in the effective date is impracticable 
and contrary to public interest. The fleet has already taken the 
directed fishing allowance for ``other rockfish''. Further delay would 
only result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of 
providing sufficient ``other rockfish'' as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries. 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), a delay in the effective date is 
hereby waived.

[[Page 36742]]

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 3, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service
[FR Doc. 97-18017 Filed 7-3-97; 4:51 pm]
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