[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50888-50889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 092297C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 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 the Groundfish Fishery 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 regulation implementing the FMP at subpart 
H of CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)(A), the allowance for the 
Pacific cod TAC apportioned for vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area was 
established as 4,369 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 
1997) and subsequent apportionment of reserve (62 FR 19062, April 18, 
1997). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a directed fishing allowance of 3,369 mt, and set aside 
the remaining 1,000 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries. The fishery for Pacific cod by vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA was closed to directed fishing under 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 19, 1997, in order to reserve 
amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental catch in other 
fisheries (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997).
    NMFS has determined that as of September 13, 1997, 3,092 mt remain 
in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
October 1, 1997.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full 
utilization of the Pacific cod TAC. Providing prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the 
FMP's objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for 
processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA. Without this action,

[[Page 50889]]

the Pacific cod allocation for vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of 
the GOA would be underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more 
than 1.7 million dollars. 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.
    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 24, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-25777 Filed 9-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F