[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 58658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29198]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 102798A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Gulf of Alaska Statistical Area 620

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 for 72 hours in 
Statistical Area 620 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 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 27, 
1998, until 1200 hours, October 30, 1998.

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 Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish established the allowance for the pollock 
TAC apportioned to Statistical Area 620 in the GOA as 50,045 metric 
tons (mt) (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998). The Acting Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Acting Regional Administrator), has established a 
directed fishing allowance of 49,945 mt, and set aside 100 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries.
    The fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 620 was closed to 
directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on October 12, 1998 (63 
FR 55342, October 15, 1998), in order to reserve amounts anticipated to 
be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries. NMFS has determined 
that as of October 23, 1998, 1,867 mt remain in the directed fishing 
allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is 
opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA 
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 27, 1998.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Acting Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 at 12 noon, A.l.t., October 30, 1998.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). All other closures remain in full force and 
effect.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
provide an opportunity to harvest the directed fishing allowance for 
pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the GOA and to prevent 
overharvesting the 1998 TAC. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would 
only result in loss of fishing opportunity and potential 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 27, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-29198 Filed 10-27-98; 5:07 pm]
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