[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48497-48498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24519]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 091097D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 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 prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1997 total allowable catch (TAC) for 
pollock in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 12, 
1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

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


[[Page 48498]]


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 1997 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA was 
established as 24,550 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 
1997), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997 TAC 
for pollock in Statistical Area 630 will soon be reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance 
of 24,050 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 
closing directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA.
    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 the 1997 TAC for pollock in Statistical Area 630 
of the GOA. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public 
comment is impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet 
will soon take the directed fishing allowance for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. Further delay would only result in 
overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of providing 
sufficient pollock 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.

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: September 10, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-24519 Filed 9-11-97; 2:54 pm]
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