[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11160-11161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5833]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208295-7295-01; I.D. 030298C]


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

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 Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim specification for Pacific 
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 3, 1998, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

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 interim specification of Pacific cod total allowable catch 
(TAC) in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by the 
Interim 1998 Harvest Specifications (62 FR 65622, December 15, 1997) as 
4,361 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998 
interim specification of Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 4,061 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 300 
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 Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    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 GOA. It must be implemented 
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 interim TAC of Pacific 
cod allocated for processing by the inshore component in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to public interest, and 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.


[[Page 11161]]


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

    Dated: March 2, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-5833 Filed 3-3-98; 1:40 pm]
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