[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 031398A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore 
Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

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 by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the amount of the 1998 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned 
to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in 
the AI of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 13, 1998, 
until 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 exclusive 
economic zone is managed by the 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. 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)(3)(iii), the amount of the 1998 
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI 
was established as 7,705 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (to be published March 16, 
1998).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the amount 
of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component in the AI of the BSAI will soon be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 7,205 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 500 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 AI of the BSAI.
    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 best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC 
apportioned to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the AI of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has 
already taken the amount of the 1998 pollock TAC apportioned to vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI 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.
    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: March 13, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7030 Filed 3-13-98; 3:48 pm]
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