[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63877-63878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31595]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02, I.D. 112597C]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Trawl Gear 
in the Gulf of Alaska

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


[[Page 63878]]


ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action 
is necessary because the 1997 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch 
(PSC) limit for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 26, 
1997, until 1200 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 implementing the FMP at subpart H of 
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 
FR 8179, February 24, 1997) established the 1997 Pacific halibut PSC 
limit for vessels using trawl gear at 2,000 metric tons (mt). The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), that vessels 
engaged in directed fishing for groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA 
have caught the 1997 Pacific halibut PSC limit. Therefore, NMFS is 
closing the directed fishery for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear 
in the GOA, except for directed fishing for pollock by vessels using 
pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA that remain open to 
directed fishing for pollock.
    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 1997 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit. Providing 
prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action is 
impracticable and contrary to public interest. The fleet has taken the 
1997 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit in the GOA. Further delay would 
only result in the 1997 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit being exceeded 
and disrupt the FMP's objective of limiting trawl Pacific halibut 
mortality. 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: November 26, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-31595 Filed 11-26-97; 3:13 pm]
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