[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4971]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208296-7296-01; I.D. 022098B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Offshore 
Component of Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

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 by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the proposed first seasonal allowance of pollock apportioned to vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of 
the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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. processors is governed by regulations 
implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 
679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii), the proposed first 
seasonal allowance of pollock apportioned to vessels catching pollock 
for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI was 
established as 15,470 metric tons (mt) by the Interim 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 65626, December 15, 
1997).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the proposed 
first seasonal allowance of pollock apportioned to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI 
soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 13,470 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 2,000 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 prohibiting directed fishing for 
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore 
component in the AI of the BSAI.
    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 best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the proposed first seasonal allowance of 
pollock apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
offshore component in the AI of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date 
is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has 
already taken the proposed first seasonal allowance of pollock 
apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore 
component in the AI of the BSAI. 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 can 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.

Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4971 Filed 2-23-98; 2:52 pm]
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