[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45765-45766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22948]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 081498D]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line 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 groundfish by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because 
the third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to 
hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or 
demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

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 hook-and-line groundfish fisheries, (defined at 
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)), other than sablefish or demersal shelf 
rockfish, was established by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) for the third 
season, the period September 1, 1998, through December 31, 1998, as 25 
mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the third 
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-
line gear in the GOA.
    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 exceeding the third seasonal apportionment of the 1998 
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the GOA hook-
and-line groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf 
rockfish. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest. The third seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific 
halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. 
Further delay would only result in exceeding the third seasonal 
apportionment. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of 
this action can not be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C.

[[Page 45766]]

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: August 20, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-22948 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
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