[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 80 (Monday, April 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20541-20542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11042]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 042098A]


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 second 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.), April 21, 1998, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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 mortality 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 (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) 
for the second season,

[[Page 20542]]

the period April 1, 1998, through June 30, 1998, as 300 mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second 
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
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 rockfish, 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 second seasonal apportionment of the 1998 
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 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 second 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 that 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.

    Dated: April 20, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-11042 Filed 4-22-98; 1:09 pm]
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