[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52985-52986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26483]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 092298B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 5, 1998, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. 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.
    The 1998 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific 
cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory 
Area was established as 16,682 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1998 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 
12, 1998). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3). On April 16, 1998 (63 FR 18848), it 
was increased by an apportionment of reserves to 20,853 mt.
    The fishery for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA was closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on 
March 3, 1998 (63 FR 11160, March 6, 1998), in order to reserve amounts 
anticipated to be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 20,753 mt, and is 
setting aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries. NMFS has determined that as of 
September 5, 1998, 1,238 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 5, 1998.
    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 impracticable and contrary to the 
public interest.
    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 cod TAC. Further delay would only disrupt 
the FMP's objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for 
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA. Without this action, the Pacific cod allocation for vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA would be underharvested. 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.

Classification

    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.


[[Page 52986]]


    Dated: September 25, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-26483 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
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