[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 136 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18892]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 071098A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Eastern Regulatory Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area 
(GOA). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1998 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 12, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone 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. Regulations governing 
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) 
established the amount of the 1998 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska as 2,366 metric tons 
(mt).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a directed fishing allowance of 2,116 mt, and set aside 
the remaining 250 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. The fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the GOA was closed to directed fishing under 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 6, 1998, (63 FR 37071, July 9, 1998).
    NMFS has determined that as of July 9, 1998, 1,900 mt remain in the 
directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full 
utilization of the Pacific ocean perch TAC. Providing prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the 
FMP objective of providing the Pacific ocean perch TAC for harvest. 
NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot 
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: July 10, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-18892 Filed 7-10-98; 4:48pm]
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