[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10569-10570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5508]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208296-7296-01; I.D. 022598C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore 
Component Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea

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

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels 
catching

[[Page 10570]]

pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea 
subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the first 
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) 
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the BS of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 26, 
1998, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI is 
managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) as 
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 first seasonal 
allowance of the pollock TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock 
for processing by the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI was 
established as 151,279 metric tons (mt) by the by the Interim 1998 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 65626, 
December 15, 1998).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI 
will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 146,279 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 5,000 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 inshore 
component in the BS of the BSAI.
    This closure is effective from February 26, 1998, through 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., April 15, 1998. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), the second seasonal 
allowance of pollock TAC will become available for directed fishing at 
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998. 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 in order 
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal allowance of the pollock 
TAC apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the 
inshore component in the BS of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date 
is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has 
already taken the first seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC 
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the BS 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.

Classification

    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: February 26, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5508 Filed 2-26-98; 4:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F