[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55341-55342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27735]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02, I.D. 100998A]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Trawl Gear 
in the Gulf of Alaska

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


[[Page 55342]]


ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action 
is necessary because the 1998 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch 
(PSC) limit for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 9, 1998, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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.
    The Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 
FR 12027, March 12, 1998) established the 1998 Pacific halibut PSC 
limit for vessels using trawl gear at 2,000 metric tons (mt). The 
Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, has determined, in accordance with 
Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), that vessels engaged in directed fishing for 
groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA have caught the 1998 Pacific 
halibut PSC limit. Therefore, NMFS is closing the directed fishery for 
groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing for pollock.
    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 to 
prevent exceeding the 1998 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit. Providing 
prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has caught 
the 1998 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit in the GOA. Further delay 
would only result in the 1998 trawl Pacific halibut PSC limit being 
exceeded and disrupt the FMP's objective of limiting trawl Pacific 
halibut mortality. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of 
this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under U.S.C. 
553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 9, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27735 Filed 10-9-98; 4:44 pm]
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