[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12688-12689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6599]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 031098A]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Deep-water 
Species Fishery by Vessels using Trawl Gear in 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 species that comprise 
the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the first seasonal 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the deep-water 
species fishery in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 1998, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7447.

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 prohibited species bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the 
GOA trawl deep-water species fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(B), was established by the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (published on March 12, 1998) 
for the first season, the period January 20, 1998, through March 31, 
1998, as 100 mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance 
specified for the trawl deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been 
caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the 
deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The 
species and species groups that comprise the deep-water species fishery 
are: all rockfish of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus, deep water 
flatfish, Rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts 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 first seasonal apportionment of the 1998 
Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl deep-water 
species fishery in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The first seasonal 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the deep-water 
species fishery in the GOA has been caught. Further delay would only 
result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of 
apportioning Pacific halibut bycatch allowances throughout the year. 
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. 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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


[[Page 12689]]


    Dated: March 10, 1998
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6599 Filed 3-11-98; 9:38 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F