[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26224]



[[Page 52658]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 092598A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure, inseason adjustment, and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully 
utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in that area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t), September 26, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t, September 26, 1998. Comments must be 
received at the following address no later than October 13, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 West 
9th Room 543, Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802, Attn: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hindman, 907-581-2062.

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(a)(5)(ii)(A), the allowance for the 
pollock TAC apportioned to Statistical Area 630 in the GOA was 
established by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (63 
FR 12027, March 12, 1998) as 39,315 metric tons (mt). The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
established a directed fishing allowance of 38,815 mt, and set aside 
500 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. 
The fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 630 was closed to directed 
fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on September 16, 1998 (63 FR 
50170, September 21, 1998), in order to reserve amounts anticipated to 
be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries.
    NMFS has determined that as of September 24, 1998, 1,824 mt remain 
in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t, September 
26, 1998.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be 
reached. Section 679.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and 
closures of fishing seasons other than the beginning and end of the 
calendar year is 1200 hrs, A.l.t. The Regional Administrator has 
determined that the remaining portion of the pollock TAC in Statistical 
Area 630 would be underharvested if the fishery remained closed, but 
would likely be overharvested if a 24-hour fishery were allowed to 
occur. Therefore NMFS is adjusting the duration of the fishery to 12 
hours.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), NMFS is adjusting the 
season for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 at 
2400 hrs, A.l.t, September 26, 1998.
    NMFS is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the 
pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 as authorized by 
Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), 
NMFS has determined that closing the season at 2400 hrs, A.l.t, 
September 26, 1998, is the least restrictive management adjustment to 
harvest the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 and will allow other 
fisheries to continue in noncritical areas and time periods.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good 
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the 
effective date of this action is impractical and contrary to the public 
interest. Without this inseason adjustment, the pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 630 would be underharvested, resulting in an economic 
loss to the groundfish industry. Under Sec. 679.25 (c)(2), interested 
persons are invited to submit written comments on this action to the 
above address until October 13, 1998.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.
    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 25, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-26224 Filed 9-25-98; 4:30 pm]
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