[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6110-6111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2938]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No.971208296-7296-01 ; I.D. 013098B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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 Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
to prevent exceeding the 1998 interim specifications of Atka mackerel 
in these areas.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Area (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 CFR part 679.
    The 1998 interim specifications of Atka mackerel total allowable 
catch for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was 
established by Interim 1998 Harvest Specifications (62 FR 65626, 
December 15, 1997) for the BSAI as 3,187 metric tons (mt). See 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998 
interim specification for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian 
District and the Bering Sea subarea soon will be reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance 
of 2,587 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 600 mt as bycatch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with

[[Page 6111]]

Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this 
directed fishing allowance soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian 
District and the Bering Sea subarea.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other 
restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 1998 harvest 
specifications for groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented 
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 interim TAC of Atka 
mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of 
the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary 
to public interest. Further delay would only result in overharvest. 
NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action should 
not 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: January 30, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2938 Filed 2-2-98; 4:55 pm]
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