[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49296-49297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24619]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 090998A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska

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 pollock in Statistical 
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully 
utilize the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 9, 
1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 pollock in Statistical Area 
610 in the GOA as 29,790 metric tons (mt).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a directed fishing allowance of 29,590 mt, and set 
aside the remaining 200 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries.

[[Page 49297]]

The fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 610 in the GOA was closed 
to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on September 2, 1998, 
(63 FR 47439, September 8, 1998).
    NMFS has determined that as of September 8, 1998, 8,000 mt remain 
in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 in 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 pollock 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 pollock 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: September 9, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-24619 Filed 9-9-98; 5:04 pm]
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