[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39782-39783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02, I.D. 071897A]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-Water 
Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 directed fishing for species that comprise the 
deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the third seasonal 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the deep-water 
species fishery in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 20, 1997, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 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 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 GOA trawl deep-water species fishery, which is defined 
at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(B), was established as 400 metric tons by the 
Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 
8179, February 24, 1997) for the third season, the period July 1, 1997 
through September 30, 1997.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the third 
seasonal apportionment of the 1997 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for the trawl deep-water species fishery in the GOA 
has been caught. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is closing 
directed fishing for species that comprise the deep-water

[[Page 39783]]

species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The species and 
species groups that comprise the deep-water species fishery are: All 
rockfish of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus, Greenland turbot, 
Dover sole, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish.
    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 to 
prevent exceeding the third seasonal allowance of halibut mortality in 
the GOA. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public comment 
on this action is impracticable and contrary to public interest. The 
fleet will soon take the seasonal allowance of halibut mortality. 
Further delay would only result in the seasonal allowance being 
exceeded and disrupt the FMP's objective of seasonally apportioning 
halibut mortality throughout the year. NMFS finds for good cause that 
the implementation of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. 
Accordingly, under U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is 
hereby waived.
    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 18, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-19457 Filed 7-21-97; 10:40 am]
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