[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 49 (Friday, March 13, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12415-12416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6476]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208295-7295-01; I.D. 030698D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Eastern 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 pollock in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim specification for pollock in 
this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 9, 1998, 
until 1200 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 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska was established by 
the Interim 1998 Harvest Specifications (62 FR 65622, December 15, 
1997) as 2,200 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 pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 2,100 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 100 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 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    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 pollock 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. 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

[[Page 12416]]

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.

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

    Dated: March 9, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6476 Filed 3-10-98; 9:07 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F