[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27736]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 100998B]


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: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting 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 prevent exceeding the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by 
the inshore component in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 11, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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) and opened to directed 
fishing on October 5, 1998, (63 FR 52985) in order to fully utilize the 
TAC.
    The Regional Administrator has 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. In 
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Western Regulatory Area of 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 to 
prevent overharvesting the 1998 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and further delay 
would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the 
implementation of this action should not 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: October 9, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27736 Filed 10-9-98; 4:44 pm]
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