[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12698-12699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6770]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 031198A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of
Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing specified groundfish fisheries in the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the prohibited species bycatch
allowances and directed fishing allowances specified for the 1998 BSAI
groundfish fisheries.
DATES: Effective March 11, 1998, through 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 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. vessels is governed by
[[Page 12699]]
regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50
CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) determines that the amount
of a target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a
fishery or, with respect to pollock, to an inshore or offshore
component allocation, will be reached, the Regional Administrator may
establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species
group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species
or species group in the specified subarea or district
(Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, under Sec. 679.21(e), if the
Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch
allowance of halibut, red king crab, or C. bairdi Tanner crab for a
specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will
prohibit directed fishing for each species in that category in the
specified area.
The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining
amounts of pollock in the Bogoslof District; Pacific ocean perch,
``other rockfish'', and ``other red rockfish'' in the Bering Sea
subarea (BS); and sharpchin/northern rockfish, shortraker/rougheye
rockfish, and ``other rockfish'' in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI)
will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries for the 1998 fishing year. Consequently, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator
establishes these remaining amounts as directed fishing allowances.
Further, the Regional Administrator finds that these directed
fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the specified areas
and these closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 1998.
In addition, the BSAI halibut bycatch allowance specified for the
trawl rockfish fishery and the trawl Greenland turbot/arrowtooth
flounder/sablefish fishery categories, defined at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(C) and (D), is 0 mt. In accordance with
Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for rockfish by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI and for Greenland
turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the
BSAI. These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 1998.
Under authority of the Interim 1998 Specifications (62 FR 65626,
December 15, 1998), NMFS closed directed fishing for Atka mackerel in
the Eastern Aleutian District and the BS of the BSAI effective 1200
hrs, A.l.t., February 2, 1998 through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
1998 (63 FR 6110, February 6, 1998), pollock by vessels catching
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BS of the BSAI
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 20, 1998, through 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., April 15, 1998 (63 FR 9745, February 26, 1998), pollock by
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the
BS of the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 26, 1998, through
1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1998 (63 FR 10569, March 4, 1998), pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in
the AI of the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 26, 1998,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998 (63 FR 9974, February 27,
1998), and rock sole, flathead sole, and ``other flatfish'' by vessels
using trawl gear in the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 5, 1998,
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 30, 1998 (63 FR 11629, March 10, 1998).
The amount of TAC remaining under the Final Specification of groundfish
following closure under the interim specifications will be taken as
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species.
These closures supersede the closures announced in the 1998 interim
specifications (62 FR 65626, December 15, 1997). While these closures
are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at Sec. 679.20(e)
and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These closures to
directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in
regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of
areas. In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and
Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red
rockfish'' species. ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker,
rougheye, sharpchin, and northern rockfish.
Classification
This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and Sec. 679.21 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
This action responds to the TAC limitations and other restrictions
on the fisheries established in the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications
for Groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting the 1998 TAC of several groundfish species in
the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary
to the public interest. The fleet is currently harvesting groundfish,
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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 11, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6770 Filed 3-11-98; 4:56 pm]
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