[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 428-429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34831]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 122898B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of 
Specified Groundfish Fisheries in 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 closing specified groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
directed fishing allowances specified for the 1999 interim total 
allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 1999, 
until superseded by the notice of Final 1999 Harvest Specification for 
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d), if the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determines that the amount of a 
target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a fishery 
will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a directed 
fishing allowance for that species or species group. If the Regional 
Administrator establishes a directed fishing allowance, and that 
allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, 
NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group 
in the specified GOA Regulatory Area or district 
(Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
    NMFS will publish interim 1999 harvest specifications for these 
groundfish fisheries in the January 4, 1999, publication of the Federal 
Register. The Regional Administrator has determined that the following 
interim TAC amounts will be reached and are necessary as incidental 
catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries prior to the 
time that final specifications for groundfish are likely to be in 
effect for the 1999 fishing year:

Thornyhead rockfish: entire GOA
Atka mackerel: entire GOA
Sablefish: entire GOA
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: entire GOA
Deep-water flatfish: Western Regulatory Area
Northern rockfish: Eastern Regulatory Area
``Other rockfish'': Western and Central Regulatory Area

Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(i), the Regional 
Administrator establishes these interim TAC amounts as directed fishing 
allowances.
    Further, The Regional Administrator finds that these directed 
fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d), NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for these species in the specified areas.
    These closures will be in effect beginning at 0001 hours, A.l.t., 
January 1, 1999, until superseded by the notice of Final 1999 Initial 
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish.
    The maximum retainable bycatch amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) 
apply at any time during a fishing trip while these closures are in 
effect. Additional closures and restrictions may be found in existing 
regulations at 50 CFR part 679. These closures to directed fishing are 
in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR 
part 679. Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The definitions 
of GOA deep-water flatfish and ``Other rockfish'' species categories 
are provided in the January 4, 1999, Federal Register publication of 
the interim 1999 harvest specifications.
    NMFS may implement other closures under the interim specifications, 
at the time the notice of Final 1999 Initial Harvest Specifications are 
implemented,

[[Page 429]]

or during the 1999 fishing year, as necessary for effective 
conservation and management.

Classification

    This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other 
restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 1999 harvest 
specifications for groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented 
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1999 interim TAC of several 
groundfish species in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet will begin 
to harvest groundfish on January 1, 1999. 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.

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

    Dated: December 29, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34831 Filed 12-30-98; 3:06 pm]
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