[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 221 (Tuesday, November 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63801-63802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30693]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 111298A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from trawl catcher/processors and trawl catcher vessels to vessels 
using fixed gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the 1998 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 12, 
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 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(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 parts 600 and 679.
    As of October 31, 1998, the Acting Administrator, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, has determined that approximately 4,097 metric tons (mt) of 
Pacific cod remain in the catcher/processor allocation and 5,975 mt 
remain in the catcher vessel allocation. Trawl catcher/processors will 
not be able to harvest 1,500 metric tons (mt) of Pacific cod, and the 
trawl catcher vessels, 5,000 mt of Pacific cod, allocated to those 
sectors under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B), NMFS is 
apportioning the projected unused amount, 1,500 mt, of Pacific cod from 
trawl catcher/processors to vessels using fixed gear and 5,000 mt from 
trawl catcher vessels to vessels using fixed gear.
    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. A delay in the 
effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
Further delay would only disrupt the FMP's objective of providing a 
portion of the Pacific cod TAC for fixed gear in the BSAI. NMFS finds 
for good cause that the implementation of this action can not be 
delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the 
effective date is hereby waived.

[[Page 63802]]

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20, and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: November 12, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30693 Filed 11-12-98; 4:43 pm]
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