[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3437-3446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1378]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990115017-9017-01; I.D. 011199A]
RIN 0648-AM08


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Steller Sea 
Lion Protection Measures for the Pollock Fisheries Off Alaska

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

ACTION: Emergency interim rule; revision to 1999 interim harvest 
specifications; technical amendment to Steller sea lion no-trawl zones; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an emergency interim rule implementing reasonable 
and prudent alternatives to avoid the likelihood that the pollock 
fisheries off Alaska will jeopardize the continued existence of the 
western population of Steller sea lions or adversely modify their 
critical habitat. This emergency rule would implement three types of 
management measures for the pollock fisheries of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA): 
Measures to temporally disperse fishing effort, measures to spatially 
disperse fishing effort, and pollock trawl exclusion zones around 
important Steller sea lion rookeries and haulouts. These emergency 
measures are necessary and must be effective before the start of the 
BSAI and GOA pollock fisheries on January 20, 1999, or NMFS will be 
obligated under the Endangered Species Act to close all fishing for 
pollock until such measures are in place.

DATES: Effective January 20, 1999, through July 19, 1999. Comments must 
be received by February 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to 
the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of the 
Biological Opinion

[[Page 3438]]

(BO) on the pollock fisheries of the BSAI and GOA and the Atka mackerel 
fishery of the Aleutian Islands Subarea, and the Environmental 
Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR) prepared for the emergency 
rule may be obtained from the same address. The BO is also available on 
the Alaska Region home page at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska 
(FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared 
the FMPs under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801, 
et seq., implemented by regulations appearing at 50 CFR part 679. 
Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMPs appear 
at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679 respectively.

Purpose and Need for Action

    NMFS issued a BO dated December 3, 1998, and revised December 16, 
1998, on the pollock fisheries of the BSAI and GOA and the Atka 
mackerel fishery of the Aleutian Islands Subarea. The BO concluded that 
the BSAI and GOA pollock trawl fisheries, as currently managed, are 
likely to (1) jeopardize the continued existence of the western 
population of Steller sea lions and (2) adversely modify its critical 
habitat. The clause ``jeopardize the continued existence of'' means 
``to engage in an action that reasonably would be expected, directly or 
indirectly, to reduce appreciably the likelihood of both the survival 
and recovery of a listed species in the wild by reducing the 
reproduction, numbers, or distribution of that species'' (50 CFR 
402.02). The clause ``adversely modify its critical habitat'' means ``a 
direct or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of 
critical habitat for both the survival and recovery of a listed 
species. Such alterations include, but are not limited to, alterations 
adversely modifying any of those physical or biological features that 
were the basis for determining the habitat to be critical'' (50 CFR 
402.02). The BO also concluded that the Atka mackerel fishery, as 
modified by recent regulatory changes, is not likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of Steller sea lions or their critical habitat.
    In 1990, NMFS designated the Steller sea lion as a threatened 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The designation 
followed severe declines throughout much of the GOA and Aleutian 
Islands region. In 1993, NMFS defined critical habitat for the species 
to include (among other areas), the marine areas within 20 nautical 
miles (nm) of major rookeries and haulouts of the species west of 
144 deg. W longitude. In 1997, NMFS recognized two separate 
populations, and reclassified the western population (west of 144 deg. 
W longitude) as endangered. Counts of adults and juveniles in the 
western population of Steller sea lions declined from about 110,000 to 
about 30,500 between the late 1970s and 1990, a decline of 72 percent. 
The decline has continued, with counts of adults and juveniles 
declining 27 percent from 1990 to 1996, and an additional 9 percent 
from 1996 through 1998. Similarly, counts of pups dropped by 19 percent 
from 1994 through 1998. The absolute magnitude of the decline has been 
smaller in recent years because the western population is already at a 
severely reduced level. However, the continued decline remains a 
serious problem.
    Multiple factors have contributed to the decline, but considerable 
evidence indicates that lack of available prey is a major problem. 
Foraging studies confirm that Steller sea lions depend on pollock as a 
major prey source, and sea lions may be particularly sensitive to the 
availability of prey during the winter. The significance of pollock in 
the diet of sea lions may have increased since the 1970s due to shifts 
in the Bering Sea ecosystem related to oceanographic changes. Pollock 
are also the target of the largest commercial fisheries in Alaska, 
fisheries that have grown increasingly concentrated in time and space. 
This concentration of effort occurs largely in areas designated as 
Steller sea lion critical habitat and may reduce prey availability at 
critical times in the life history of sea lions. For these reasons, the 
BO concluded that the pollock fisheries of the BSAI and GOA may compete 
with sea lions and either contribute to their decline or impede their 
recovery. Additional information on Steller sea lions and the pollock 
fisheries of the BSAI and GOA is contained in the BO and in the EA 
prepared for this action (See ADDRESSES).
    The BO concluded that, to avoid the likelihood of jeopardizing the 
continued existence of the western population of Steller sea lions or 
of adversely modifying its critical habitat, reasonable and prudent 
alternatives to the existing pollock trawl fisheries in the BSAI and 
GOA must accomplish three basic principles: (1) Temporal dispersion of 
fishing effort, (2) spatial dispersion of fishing effort, and (3) 
pollock trawl exclusion zones around Steller sea lion rookeries and 
haulouts. The BO also contained examples of specific management 
measures that would implement the three basic principles.
    At its December, 1998 meeting, the Council deliberated on various 
management measures to implement the principles described in the BO. 
After significant debate and public comment, the Council voted to adopt 
a series of emergency measures to protect Steller sea lions. After 
review, NMFS has determined that the Council's recommended measures, 
with certain modifications, adhere to the principles identified in the 
BO. The Council's motion forms the basis for the management measures 
contained in this emergency rule.

Elements of the Emergency Rule

Aleutian Islands Closure

    The emergency rule closes the Aleutian Islands Subarea to directed 
fishing for pollock. This closure, recommended by the Council as part 
of its emergency rule recommendation, is consistent with the principles 
contained within the BO. In light of its recommendation to close the 
Aleutian Islands Subarea to directed fishing for pollock, the Council 
also recommended that the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for the 
Aleutian Islands Subarea be reduced to 2,000 metric tons (mt) to 
provide for incidental catch of pollock by vessels participating in 
other groundfish fisheries. This TAC recommendation, if approved by 
NMFS, will be published in the final 1999 BSAI harvest specifications.

Pollock Trawl Exclusion Zones

    This emergency rule prohibits directed fishing for pollock within 
either 10 or 20 nm of rookeries and haulouts in the Bering Sea Subarea 
and GOA. The location, size, and period of each exclusion zone are set 
out in the Tables 12 and 13 of 50 CFR part 679 of the codified text. 
The size of the exclusion zones in each area reflects the relative 
widths of the continental shelf. In the Bering Sea Subarea, the shelf 
is relatively wide and exclusion zones have radii of 20 nm. In the GOA, 
the shelf is narrower and exclusion zones have radii of 10 nm.
    NMFS approved these sites on the basis of ten Steller sea lion 
counts

[[Page 3439]]

conducted since 1979 during the reproductive season (summer) and non-
reproductive season (winter). NMFS used the following criteria to 
identify and approve sites that require exclusion zones and to 
determine the period of the closure:
1. Rookeries
    All rookery sites have 10 or 20 nm year-round pollock trawl 
exclusion zones.
2. Summer Haulouts
    Haulouts with greater than 200 sea lions in a summer survey since 
1979 and less than 75 sea lions in winter surveys since 1979 have 10 or 
20 nm pollock trawl exclusion zones effective May 1 through October 31.
3. Winter Haulouts
    Haulouts with less than 200 sea lions in summer surveys since 1979 
and greater than 75 sea lions in a winter survey since 1979 have 10 or 
20 nm pollock trawl exclusion zones effective November 1 through April 
31.
4. Year-Round Haulouts
    Haulouts with greater than 200 sea lions in a summer survey since 
1979 and greater than 75 sea lions in a winter survey since 1979 have 
year-round 10 or 20 nm pollock trawl exclusion zones.
    The Council's emergency rule recommendations contained all of the 
pollock exclusion zones put forth by NMFS in the BO with one exception 
in the Bering Sea Subarea and eight exceptions in the GOA.
    In the Bering Sea Subarea, the Council recommended no closure for a 
proposed 20 nm exclusion zone around the Cape Sarichef haulout. The BO 
states that ``some of the principles identified above may be 
accomplished by an incremental or phased approach if the incremental 
approach does not jeopardize the continued existence of the western 
population of Steller sea lions. The phase in of any reasonable and 
prudent alternative must not be drawn out, and two years is a general 
guideline with a significant portion occurring in year one.''
    Consistent with the BO, and based on the above criteria, NMFS has 
decided to phase in the exclusion zone around this haulout with a 10 nm 
exclusion zone in 1999 and anticipates extending the exclusion zone to 
20 nm for 2000 and beyond.
    In the GOA, the Council recommended no closures around Cape 
Barnabas, Gull Point, Rugged Island, Point Elrington, Cape Ikolik, 
Needles, Mitrofania, and Sea Lion Rocks. Based on the above criteria, 
NMFS has decided to implement a 1 year phase-in period for these 
locations. For 1999, NMFS has decided not to implement exclusion zones 
at these locations, and anticipates phasing-in 10 nm exclusion zones 
for 2000 and beyond. The extension of exclusion zones for Cape Sarichef 
and the eight locations in the GOA would be accomplished through 
separate rulemaking.
    Although the Council's recommended measures included pollock trawl 
exclusion zones in the Aleutian Islands Subarea, implementation of 
these exclusion zones becomes unnecessary with the closure of the 
Subarea to directed fishing for pollock. This emergency rule does not 
affect existing no-trawl and no-entry zones that apply to all 
groundfish fisheries. The new exclusion zones established by this 
emergency rule prohibit directed fishing for pollock only.

Bering Sea Management Measures

1. Fishing Seasons
    This emergency rule establishes new fishing seasons for the four 
sectors of the Bering Sea pollock fishery that are defined in the 
American Fisheries Act (AFA). These new fishing seasons are summarized 
in Table 1. This emergency rule also repeals existing fair start 
provisions that required vessels fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea 
Subarea to cease fishing for groundfish during the week leading up to 
each pollock season or face a mandatory stand down period during the 
first week of the pollock season. The Council has determined that these 
fair start requirements are no longer necessary given the protections 
for other fisheries that are contained within the AFA.

                                Table 1.--BSAI Pollock Fishing Seasons by Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Industry sector
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
              Fishing season \1\                                                                  Community
                                                Inshore and catcher/       Mothership         development quota
                                                      processor                                     (CDQ)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Season.....................................  Jan. 20-Feb. 15.....  Feb. 1-April 15.....  Jan. 20-April 15.
A2 Season.....................................  Feb. 20-April 15....  Feb. 1-April 15.....  Jan. 20-April 15.
B Season......................................  Aug. 1-Sept. 15.....  Aug. 1-Sept. 15.....  April. 15-Dec. 31.
C Season......................................  Sept. 15-Nov. 1.....  Sept. 15-Nov. 11....  April 15-Dec. 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The time of all openings and closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the calendar
  fishing year, is 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.).

2. Seasonal Apportionment of TAC
    The pollock TAC allocated to each industry sector will be 
apportioned to the fishing seasons previously identified according to 
the following formula set out in Table 2. Overages and underages may be 
``rolled over'' to subsequent fishing seasons during the same year, 
except that the combined fishing activities of all sectors during a 
fishing season may not exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC.

                              Table 2.--BSAI Seasonal Apportionments of Pollock TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Industry Sector (in percent)
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                        Fishing Season                           Inshore and
                                                                   Catcher/        Mothership          CDQ
                                                                  processor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Season....................................................            27.5               40               45
A2 Season....................................................            12.5               40               45
B Season.....................................................              30               30               55

[[Page 3440]]

 
C Season.....................................................              30               30               55
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3. Critical Habitat/Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CH/CVOA) 
Conservation Zone
    This emergency rule establishes a combined CH/CVOA conservation 
zone for the purpose of regulating total removals of pollock. This CH/
CVOA conservation zone includes the portion of Bering Sea critical 
habitat known as the Bogoslof foraging area and the portion of the CVOA 
that extends eastward from the Bogoslof foraging area. The CH/CVOA 
conservation zone consists of the area of the Bering Sea Subarea 
between 170 deg.00' W long. and 163 deg.00' W long., south of straight 
lines connecting the following points in the order listed:
    55 deg.00' N lat. 170 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.00' N lat. 168 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.30' N lat. 168 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.30' N lat. 166 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.00' N lat. 166 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.00' N lat. 163 deg.00' W long.
    This emergency rule restricts pollock harvests within the CH/CVOA 
conservation zone during the A1 and A2 seasons to a percentage of each 
sector's seasonal TAC apportionment according to the percentages 
displayed in Table 3.

                            Table 3.--TAC Limits Within the CH/CVOA Conservation Zone
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Industry sector (in percent)
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                     Fishing season                                       Catcher/
                                                             Inshore      processor    Mothership        CDQ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Season...............................................           70            40            50           100
A2 Season...............................................           70            40            50           100
B Season................................................                  [reserved]
C Season................................................                  [reserved]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS will monitor catch by each industry sector and close the CH/
CVOA conservation zone to directed fishing for pollock by sector when 
NMFS determines that the specified CH/CVOA limit has been reached. The 
Council intended that inshore catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 
ft (30.2 m) length overall (LOA) would be exempt from CH/CVOA closures 
from September 1 through March 31 unless the 70 percent cap for the 
inshore sector has been reached. NMFS will announce the closure of the 
CH/CVOA conservation zone to catcher vessels over 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA 
before the inshore sector 70 percent limit is reached. NMFS will 
implement the closure in a manner intended to leave remaining quota 
within the CH/CVOA that is sufficient to support directed fishing for 
pollock by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA for the 
duration of the current inshore sector opening.
    An emergency rule implemented pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
must not remain in effect for more than 180 days. This emergency rule 
will expire on July 19, 1999, and does not specify a spatial 
distribution of pollock TAC for the B and C seasons in the Bering Sea 
Subarea. NMFS has determined that the spatial dispersion scheme 
recommended by the Council for the B and C seasons does not adequately 
meet the principles for reasonable and prudent alternatives outlined in 
the BO. If the Council submits revised recommendations in a timely 
manner, NMFS will consider implementing them. In the absence of further 
recommendations by the Council that provide protections equivalent to 
or exceeding the principles contained in the BO, NMFS anticipates 
implementing through subsequent emergency rule the B and C season 
spatial allocation scheme contained in the BO. Under this scheme, the B 
and C season TAC allocations would be apportioned among the following 
three areas based on distribution of exploitable biomass as determined 
by summer surveys: (1) CH/CVOA conservation zone, (2) east of 170 deg. 
W long. and outside of the CH/CVOA conservation zone, and (3) west of 
170 deg. W long. and north of 56 deg. N lat.

Gulf of Alaska Management Measures

1. Fishing Seasons and TAC Apportionments
    This emergency rule establishes new fishing seasons and pollock TAC 
apportionments in the Western and Central (W/C) Regulatory Areas of the 
GOA. These new fishing seasons are summarized in Table 4. The TAC for 
pollock in the combined W/C Regulatory Areas will continue to be 
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in proportion to 
the distribution of the pollock biomass as determined by the most 
recent NMFS surveys. The pollock fishing season in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area will be unchanged.

 Table 4.--Pollock Fishing Seasons and Seasonal TAC Apportionments for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas
                                              of the Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            TAC                                Dates \1\
            Fishing season             apportionment -----------------------------------------------------------
                                         (percent)                From                           To
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Season.............................            30   January 20..................  April 1.

[[Page 3441]]

 
B Season.............................            20   June 1......................  July 1.
C Season.............................            25   September 1.................  The date of closure of a
                                                                                     statistical area (610, 620,
                                                                                     630) to directed fishing,
                                                                                     or October 1, whichever
                                                                                     comes first.
D Season.............................            25   Five days after the date of   November 1.
                                                       closure of a statistical
                                                       area (610, 620, 630) to
                                                       directed fishing in the C
                                                       season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The time of all openings and closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the calendar
  fishing year, is 1200 hours, A.l.t.

2. Limits on Pollock Catch Within Shelikof Strait
    To prevent localized depletions of pollock within Shelikof Strait, 
an important winter foraging area for Steller sea lions, the emergency 
rule limits removals from within Shelikof Strait during the A season. 
For the purpose of this emergency rule, a Shelikof Strait conservation 
zone is defined as the area bound by straight lines and shoreline 
connecting the following coordinates in the following order:
    58 deg.51' N lat. 153 deg.15' W long.;
    58 deg.51' N lat. 152 deg.00' W long.; and, the intersection of 
152 deg.00' W long. with Afognak Island; aligned counterclockwise 
around the shoreline of Afognak, Kodiak, and Raspberry Islands to
    57 deg.00' N lat. 154 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.30' N lat. 154 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.30' N lat. 155 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.00' N lat. 155 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.00' N lat. 157 deg.00' W long.; and, the intersection of 
157 deg.00' W long. with the Alaska Peninsula.
    This area overlaps portions of statistical areas 620 and 630. The 
Shelikof Strait conservation zone catch limit is not a separate TAC for 
this area, but a limit on allowable removals from this area. Either one 
or both of the statistical areas could be closed to directed fishing 
upon attainment of the specific TACs before the Shelikof Strait catch 
limit is reached.
    NMFS will determine the A season catch limit for the Shelikof 
Strait conservation zone by calculating a ratio equal to the most 
recent estimate of pollock biomass in Shelikof Strait divided by the 
most recent estimate of total pollock biomass in the GOA. NMFS will 
then multiply by the overall pollock TAC for the GOA and further 
multiplied by the A season apportionment of 30 percent. For 1999, NMFS 
has specified an interim Shelikof Strait catch limit of 15,857 mt (see 
the revised 1999 interim specifications below). When NMFS determines 
that the A season pollock removals from within the Shelikof Strait 
conservation zone have reached this specified limit, NMFS will prohibit 
directed fishing for pollock in Shelikof Strait.
3. W/C GOA Trip Limits
    The Council recommended that NMFS establish a 300,000 lb trip limit 
for catcher vessels harvesting pollock in the directed pollock 
fisheries of the Western or Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of 
Alaska (W/C GOA). However, NMFS' recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements currently require that catch and landings be reported in 
metric tons (mt). NMFS is, therefore, rounding the Council's 
recommended 300,000 lb trip limit to the nearest equivalent in mt and 
establishing a trip limit of 136 mt. The emergency rule prohibits the 
operator of a catcher vessel fishing for groundfish in the W/C GOA from 
retaining on board more than 136 mt of pollock harvested in the W/C 
GOA. In addition, to prevent the large scale use of tender vessels to 
avoid the trip limit restriction, this rule also prohibits vessels 
operating as tenders from retaining on board more than 272 mt (the 
equivalent of 2 fishing trips) of unprocessed pollock that was 
harvested in the W/C GOA. This 136 mt trip limit does not exempt 
vessels from existing regulations that require 100 percent retention of 
pollock when directed fishing for pollock is open. A vessel operator 
must cease fishing for pollock during a fishing trip before the 136 mt 
trip limit is reached in order to avoid a violation of either the 136 
mt trip limit or the 100 percent retention requirement for pollock.

Revised 1999 Interim Harvest Specifications for Pollock in the BSAI and 
GOA

    The regulatory changes in this emergency rule require revision of 
the 1999 interim specifications of pollock TAC for the BSAI and GOA. 
Existing regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(c)(2) do not require that interim 
harvest specifications for pollock in the BSAI and GOA be temporally or 
spatially dispersed. However, the BO concluded that the current program 
for managing the BSAI and GOA pollock fisheries could jeopardize 
Steller sea lions or their critical habitat. Therefore, to allow the 
Bering Sea and GOA pollock fisheries to commence on January 20, 1999, 
this emergency rule also adjusts the 1999 interim specifications for 
pollock to comport with the reasonable and prudent management measures 
outlined above.
    The specifications for Bering Sea Subarea pollock in Table 1 of the 
1999 interim harvest specifications (64 FR 50, January 4, 1999) are 
replaced by the following Table 6. The interim specifications for 
pollock were changed for two reasons: (1) To comport with the temporal 
and spatial dispersions required by the BO, and (2) to incorporate the 
Council's final 1999 TAC recommendations for pollock, which are reduced 
from the 1999 proposed specifications.

[[Page 3442]]



                Table 6.--Revised Interim 1999 TAC Amounts for Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    A1 Season \1\               A2 Season
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Species and component                   Area                         CH/CVOA                   CH/CVOA
                                                              Interim TAC     limit     Interim TAC     limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:
    Inshore..........................  BS                         115,394   \2\ 80,776       52,452   \2\ 36,716
    Offshore catcher/processor and     BS                          92,316       36,926       41,962       16,785
     catcher vessel total.
        Listed catcher/processors \3\  BS                          84,469       33,787       38,395       15,358
        Listed catcher vessels \3\...  BS                           7,847        3,139        3,567        1,427
    Mothership.......................  BS                          33,569       16,785          n/a          n/a
    CDQ..............................  BS                          44,640       44,640          n/a         n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The mothership and CDQ sectors have a single A season apportionment equal to 40 and 45 percent of their
  annual TAC allocations, respectively.
\2\ Under the emergency rule, NMFS will close the CH/CVOA conservation zone to inshore vessels greater than 99
  ft (30.2 m) LOA while maintaining a sufficient CH/CVOA allowance to support fishing activities by inshore
  catcher vessels under 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA for the duration of the current opening. However, once the specified
  CH/CVOA limit is reached, all inshore vessels will be prohibited from engaging in directed fishing for pollock
  inside the CH/CVOA conservation zone.
\3\ Section 210(c) of the AFA requires that not less than 8.5 percent of the directed fishing allowance
  allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels
  delivering to listed catcher/processors.

    The first seasonal allowances for W/C GOA pollock in Table 1 of the 
1999 Interim Harvest Specifications (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999) are 
replaced by the following Table 7:

  Table 7.--Revised First Seasonal Allowances of Pollock in the Western
    (W) and Central (C) Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Interim
                       Species and area                           TAC
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:
    W (610)..................................................      6,936
    C (620)..................................................     11,652
    C (630)..................................................      9,156
                                                              ----------
        W/C Subtotal.........................................     27,744
        Shelikof Strait Subtotal \1\.........................    15,857
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The pollock catch limit for the Shelikof Strait conservation zone is
  determined by calculating the ratio of the most recent estimate of
  pollock biomass in Shelikof Strait (489,900 mt) divided by the most
  recent estimate of total pollock biomass in the GOA (933,000 mt). This
  ratio will then be multiplied by the overall pollock TAC for the GOA
  (100,920 mt) and multiplied by the A season apportionment of 30
  percent.

Technical Amendment to Steller Sea Lion No-Trawl Zones

    This emergency interim rule also makes technical changes to the 
existing no-trawl zones set out in Tables 4 and 6 50 CFR part 679 by 
suspending them and by adding Tables 13 and 14 to 50 CFR part 679.
Classification
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), has 
determined that this emergency interim rule is necessary to respond to 
an emergency situation and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This emergency interim rule has been determined to be not 
significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.
    Failure to have the measures contained in this rule in place by 
January 20, 1999, would force delay of the start of the pollock 
fisheries of the BSAI and GOA with significant costs to industry. This 
would occur because without these measures, the December 16, 1998, BO 
would require that to protect Steller sea lions, no pollock fishing 
occur. Thus, notice and comment procedures for this rule would prevent 
NMFS from performing its necessary function of allowing the fishery to 
be prosecuted while protecting this endangered species. As such, NMFS 
finds that the immediate need to effect the provisions of this rule by 
January 20, 1999, constitutes good cause to waive the requirement to 
provide prior notice and an opportunity for public comment pursuant to 
authority set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), as such procedures would be 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The need for these 
measures to be in place by January 20, 1999, as explained above, 
constitutes good cause under authority contained in 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) 
to waive the requirement for a 30-day delay in effective date.
    Because prior notice and opportunity for public comment are not 
required for this rule by 5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the 
analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
et seq., are inapplicable.
    The President has directed Federal agencies to use plain language 
in their communications with the public, including regulations. To 
comply with that directive, we seek public comment on any ambiguity or 
unnecessary complexity arising from the language used in this emergency 
interim rule.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: January 15, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended as 
follows:

50 CFR CHAPTER VI

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

    1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 679.7, paragraph (b) is suspended and paragraph (i) is 
added to read as follows:


Sec. 679.7  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (i) Prohibitions specific to the GOA (applicable through July 19, 
1999)--(1) Southeast Outside trawl closure (applicable through July 19, 
1999). Use any gear other than non-trawl gear in the GOA east of 
140 deg. W long.
    (2) Western/Central GOA Pollock trip limit (applicable through July 
19, 1999). Retain on board a catcher vessel at any time, more than 136 
mt of unprocessed pollock, or retain on board a tender vessel at any 
time, more than 272 mt of unprocessed pollock, harvested in the Western 
or Central Areas of the GOA.
    3. In Sec. 679.20, paragraphs (a)(5)(i)(A) and (a)(5)(ii)(B) are 
suspended, and new paragraphs (a)(5)(i)(C) and (a)(5)(ii)(C) are added 
to read as follows:

[[Page 3443]]

Sec. 679.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (C) BSAI seasonal allowances (applicable through July 19, 1999)--
(1) Inshore. The portion of the Bering Sea Subarea pollock TAC 
allocated to the inshore component under Section 206(b) of the American 
Fisheries Act will be divided into four seasonal allowances 
corresponding to the four fishing seasons set out at 
Sec. 679.23(e)(4)(i), as follows: A1 Season, 27.5 percent; A2 Season, 
12.5 percent, B Season, 30 percent, C Season, 30 percent. Within any 
fishing year, underage or overage of a seasonal allowance may be added 
to or subtracted from subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be 
determined by the Regional Administrator provided that overall pollock 
removals from all sectors during a fishing season do not exceed 30 
percent of the combined annual TAC of pollock.
    (2) Catcher/processor. The portion of the Bering Sea Subarea 
pollock TAC allocated to the catcher/processor component under Section 
206(b) of the American Fisheries Act will be divided into four seasonal 
allowances corresponding to the four fishing seasons set out at 
Sec. 679.23(e)(4)(ii), as follows: A1 Season, 27.5 percent; A2 Season, 
12.5 percent; B Season, 30 percent; C Season, 30 percent. Within any 
fishing year, underage or overage of a seasonal allowance may be added 
to or subtracted from subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be 
determined by the Regional Administrator, provided that overall pollock 
removals from all sectors during a fishing season do not exceed 30 
percent of the combined annual TAC of pollock.
    (3) Mothership. The portion of the Bering Sea Subarea pollock TAC 
allocated to the mothership component under Section 206(b) of the 
American Fisheries Act will be divided into three seasonal allowances 
corresponding to the three fishing seasons set out at 
Sec. 679.23(e)(4)(iii) as follows: A Season, 40 percent; B Season, 30 
percent; C Season, 30 percent. Within any fishing year, underage or 
overage of any seasonal allowance may be added to or subtracted from 
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the 
Regional Administrator provided that overall pollock removals from all 
sectors during a fishing season do not exceed 30 percent of the 
combined annual TAC of pollock.
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) GOA seasonal allowances (applicable through July 19, 1999). 
Each apportionment established under paragraph (a)(5)(ii)(A) of this 
section will be divided into four seasonal allowances corresponding to 
the four fishing seasons set out at Sec. 679.23(d)(3) as follows: A 
Season, 30 percent; B Season, 20 percent; C Season, 25 percent; D 
Season, 25 percent. Within any fishing year, underage or overage of a 
seasonal allowance may be added to or subtracted from subsequent 
seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Regional 
Administrator, provided that a revised seasonal allowance does not 
exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC apportionment.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 679.22, paragraphs (a)(7) and (b)(2) are suspended and 
(a)(11) and (b)(3) are added to read as follows:


Sec. 679.22  Closures.

    (a) * * *
    (8) * * *
    (iv) Pollock closure (applicable through July 19, 1999). Directed
fishing for pollock is prohibited at all times within the Aleutian
Islands Subarea..
* * * * *
    (11) Steller sea lion protection areas, Bering Sea Subarea and 
Bogoslof District (applicable through July 19, 1999)--(i) Year-round 
trawl closures. Trawling is prohibited within 10 nm of each of the 
eight Steller sea lion rookeries shown in Table 12 to this part.
    (ii) Seasonal trawl closures. During January 1 through April 15, or 
a date earlier than April 15, if adjusted under Sec. 679.20, trawling 
is prohibited within 20 nm of each of the four Steller sea lion 
rookeries shown in Table 12 to this part.
    (iii) Pollock closures (applicable through July 19, 1999). Directed 
fishing for pollock is prohibited within 10 or 20 nm of each of the 25 
Steller sea lion haulout and rookery sites shown in Table 12 to this 
part. The radius in nm and time period that each closure is in effect 
are shown in Table 12 to this part.
    (iv) Critical Habitat/Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CH/CVOA) 
conservation zone (applicable through July 19, 1999)--(A) General. 
Directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing 
either by the inshore, offshore catcher processor, or mothership 
component is prohibited within the CH/CVOA conservation zone for the 
duration of a fishing season when the Regional Administrator announces 
by notification in the Federal Register that the criteria set out in 
paragraph (a)(7)(iv)(C) of this section have been met by that industry 
component.
    (B) Boundaries. The CH/CVOA conservation zone consists of the area 
of the Bering Sea Subarea between 170 deg.00' W long. and 163 deg.00' W 
long., south of straight lines connecting the following points in the 
order listed:
    55 deg.00' N lat. 170 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.00' N lat. 168 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.30' N lat. 168 deg.00' W long.;
    55 deg.30' N lat. 166 deg.00' W long.;
    56 deg.00' N lat. 166 deg.00' W long.; and,
    56 deg.00' N lat. 163 deg.00' W long.
    (C) Criteria for closure--(1) General. The directed fishing 
closures identified in paragraph (a)(7)(iv)(A) of this section will 
take effect when the Regional Administrator determines that the harvest 
of a seasonal allowance of pollock reaches a percentage specified in 
the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Industry component (in percent)
                               -----------------------------------------
        Fishing season                          Catcher/
                                   Inshore      processor    Mothership
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A1 Season.....................           70            40            50
A2 Season.....................           70            40            50
B Season......................                 [reserved]
C Season......................                 [reserved]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Inshore catcher vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The 
Regional Administrator will close directed fishing to inshore catcher 
vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA prior to reaching the inshore 
CH/CVOA limit to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 
99 ft (30.2 m) LOA inside the CH/CVOA conservation zone for the 
duration of the inshore seasonal opening. During the A1 and A2 seasons, 
the Regional Administrator will estimate how much of the inshore A1 and 
A2 seasonal allowance is likely to be harvested by catcher vessels less 
than

[[Page 3444]]

or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA and reserve a sufficient amount of the 
inshore CH/CVOA allowance to accommodate fishing by such vessels after 
the closure of the CH/CVOA conservation zone to vessels greater than 99 
ft (30.2 m) LOA. The CH/CVOA conservation zone will be closed to 
directed fishing for all inshore catcher vessels when the inshore limit 
specified in paragraph (a)(7)(iv)(C)(1) of this section has been met.
    (b) * * *
    (3) Steller sea lion protection areas--(applicable through July 19, 
1999)--(i) Year-round trawl closures. Trawling is prohibited in the GOA 
within 10 nm of the nine Steller sea lion rookeries shown in Table 13 
to this part.
    (ii) Pollock closures (applicable through July 19, 1999). Directed 
fishing for pollock is prohibited within 10 nm of each of the 45 
Steller sea lion haulout and rookery sites shown in Table 13 to this 
part. The radius in nm and time period that each closure is in effect 
are shown in Table 13 to this part.
    (iii) Shelikof Strait conservation zone (applicable through July 
19, 1999).--(A) General. Directed fishing for pollock is prohibited 
within the Shelikof Strait conservation zone during the A season 
defined at Sec. 679.23(d)(3) when the Regional Administrator announces 
through notification in the Federal Register that the A season catch of 
pollock from within the Shelikof Strait conservation zone reaches the 
amount determined by paragraph (b)(2)(iii)(C) of this section.
    (B) Boundaries. The Shelikof Strait conservation zone consists of 
the area bound by straight lines and shoreline connecting the following 
coordinates in the following order:
    58 deg.51' N lat. 153 deg.15' W long.
    58 deg.51' N lat. 152 deg.00' W long.

and the intersection of 152 deg.00' W long. with Afognak Island; 
aligned counterclockwise around the shoreline of Afognak, Kodiak, and 
Raspberry Islands to
    57 deg.00' N lat. 154 deg.00' W long.
    56 deg.30' N lat. 154 deg.00' W long.
    56 deg.30' N lat. 155 deg.00' W long.
    56 deg.00' N lat. 155 deg.00' W long.
    56 deg.00' N lat. 157 deg.00' W long.

and the intersection of 157 deg.00' W long. with the Alaska Peninsula.
    (C) Determination of catch limit. The pollock catch limit for the 
Shelikof Strait conservation zone will be published in the annual 
specifications under Sec. 679.20(c) and is determined by calculating a 
ratio equal to the most recent estimate of pollock biomass in Shelikof 
Strait divided by the most recent estimate of total pollock biomass in 
the GOA. NMFS will then multiply by the overall pollock TAC for the GOA 
and further multiplied by the A season apportionment of 30 percent.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 679.23, paragraphs (d)(2) and (e)(2) are suspended, and 
new paragraphs (d)(3) and (e)(4) are added to read as follows:


Sec. 679.23  Seasons.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (3) Directed fishing for pollock (applicable through July 19, 
1999). Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for 
pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is authorized only 
during the following four seasons:
    (i) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., April 1;
    (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 1, through 1200 hours, 
A.l.t., July 1;
    (iii) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, within a 
statistical area until the date of closure of the statistical area to 
directed fishing, or 1200 hours, A.l.t., October 1, whichever comes 
first.
    (iv) D season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., five days after the closure 
of the C season in a statistical area until 1200 hours, A.l.t., 
November 1.
    (e) * * *
    (4) Directed fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea 
(applicable through July 19, 1999).--(i) Inshore and offshore catcher/
processor components. Subject to other provisions of this part, 
directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing 
by the inshore component and by the offshore catcher processor 
component in the Bering Sea Subarea is authorized only during the 
following four seasons:
    (A) A1 season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., February 15;
    (B) A2 season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., February 20, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., April 15;
    (C) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., August 1, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., September 15; and,
    (D) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 15, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., November 1.
    (ii) Mothership component. Subject to other provisions of this 
part, directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the offshore mothership component in the Bering Sea 
Subarea is authorized only during the following three seasons:
    (A) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., February 1, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., April 15;
    (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., August 1, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., September 15; and,
    (C) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 15, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., November 1.
* * * * *
    6. Tables 4 and 6 to 50 CFR part 679 are suspended and Tables 12 
and 13 are added to read as follows:

                                                               Table 12 to 50 CFR Part 679
[Steller sea lion protection areas \1\ in the Bering Sea Subarea \2\ are identified in the following table. Where two sets of coordinates are given, the
baseline extends in a clock-wise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates along the shoreline at mean lower-low water to the second set of
                               coordinates. Where only one set of coordinates is listed, that location is the base point.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Boundaries to                      Directed fishing for       Trawling prohibited
                                                 ----------------------------------------------------    pollock prohibited         within . . . (nm)
                                                                                                          within . . . (nm)    -------------------------
           Management area/island/site                                                               --------------------------
                                                    Latitude    Longitude     Latitude    Longitude      Nov. 1       May 1        Jan. 1
                                                      (N)          (W)          (N)          (W)        through      through      through     Year-round
                                                                                                        April 31     Oct. 31      April 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Bering Sea
 
Walrus..........................................  57 deg.11.0
                                                           0'  169 deg.56.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........           10
Uliaga..........................................  53 deg.04.0
                                                           0'  169 deg.47.
                                                                       00'  53 deg.05.0
                                                                                     0'  169 deg.46.
                                                                                                 00'  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Chuginadak......................................  52 deg.46.5
                                                           0'  169 deg.42.
                                                                       00'  52 deg.46.5
                                                                                     0'  169 deg.44.
                                                                                                 50'  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Kagamil.........................................  53 deg.02.5
                                                           0'  169 deg.41.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Samalga.........................................  52 deg.46.0
                                                           0'  169 deg.15.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........  ...........           20
Adugak..........................................  52 deg.55.0
                                                           0'  169 deg.10.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........           10
Umnak/Cape Aslik................................  53 deg.25.0
                                                           0'  168 deg.24.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........  ...........

[[Page 3445]]

 
Ogchul..........................................  53 deg.00.0
                                                           0'  168 deg.24.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........           10
Bogoslof/Fire Island............................  53 deg.56.0
                                                           0'  168 deg.02.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........           10
Emerald.........................................  53 deg.17.5
                                                           0'  167 deg.51.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Unalaska/Cape Izigan............................  53 deg.13.5
                                                           0'  167 deg.39.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........  ...........
Unalaska/Bishop Pt..............................  53 deg.58.5
                                                           0'  166 deg.57.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........  ...........
Akutan/Reef-lava................................  54 deg.07.5
                                                           0'  166 deg.06.
                                                                       50'  54 deg.10.5
                                                                                     0'  166 deg.04.
                                                                                                 50'           20           20  ...........  ...........
Old Man Rocks...................................  53 deg.52.0
                                                           0'  166 deg.05.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20  ...........  ...........
Akutan/Cape Morgan..............................  54 deg.03.5
                                                           0'  166 deg.00.
                                                                       00'  54 deg.05.5
                                                                                     0'  166 deg.05.
                                                                                                 00'           20           20           20           10
Rootok..........................................  54 deg.02.5
                                                           0'  165 deg.34.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Akun/Billings Head..............................  54 deg.18.0
                                                           0'  165 deg.32.
                                                                       50'  54 deg.18.0
                                                                                     0'  165 deg.31.
                                                                                                 50'           20           20           20           10
Tanginak........................................  54 deg.12.0
                                                           0'  165 deg.20.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........  ...........
Tigalda/Rocks NE................................  54 deg.09.0
                                                           0'  164 deg.57.
                                                                       00'  54 deg.10.0
                                                                                     0'  164 deg.59.
                                                                                                 00'           20           20  ...........  ...........
Unimak/Cape Sarichef............................  54 deg.34.5
                                                           0'  164 deg.56.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........           10           10  ...........  ...........
Aiktak..........................................  54 deg.11.0
                                                           0'  164 deg.51.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........  ...........
Ugamak..........................................  54 deg.14.0
                                                           0'  164 deg.48.
                                                                       00'  54 deg.13.0
                                                                                     0'  164 deg.48.
                                                                                                 00'           20           20           20           10
Round...........................................  54 deg.12.0
                                                           0'  164 deg.46.
                                                                       50'  ...........  ...........  ...........           20  ...........  ...........
Sea Lion Rock (Amak)............................  55 deg.28.0
                                                           0'  163 deg.12.
                                                                       00'  ...........  ...........           20           20           20           10
Amak+rocks......................................  55 deg.24.0
                                                           0'  163 deg.07.
                                                                       00'  55 deg.26.0
                                                                                     0'  163 deg.10.
                                                                                                 00'           20           20  ...........  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Three nm NO TRANSIT ZONES are described at 50 CFR 227.12(a)(2) of this title.
\2\ Closure zones around many of these sites also extend into statistical area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska Management Area.


                                              Table 13 to 50 CFR part 679 (Effective Through July 19, 1999)
  [Steller sea lion protection areas \1\ in the Gulf of Alaska \2\ are identified in the following table. Where two sets of coordinates are given, the
baseline extends in a clock-wise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates along the shoreline at mean lower-low water to the second set of
                               coordinates. Where only one set of coordinates is listed, that location is the base point.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Boundaries to                            Directed fishing for       Trawling prohibited
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------    pollock prohibited         within . . . (nm)
                                                                                                          within . . . (nm)    -------------------------
     Management area/island/site                                                                     --------------------------
                                       Latitude (N)    Longitude (W)   Latitude (N)    Longitude (W)     Nov. 1       May 1        Jan. 1
                                                                                                        through      through      through     Year-round
                                                                                                        April 31     Oct. 31      April 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Gulf of Alaska
Bird................................   54 deg.40.50'  163 deg.18.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
South Rocks.........................   54 deg.18.00'  162 deg.41.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Clubbing Rocks......................   54 deg.42.00'  162 deg.26.50'   54 deg.43.00'  162 deg.26.50'           10           10  ...........           10
Pinnacle Rock.......................   54 deg.46.00'  161 deg.46.00'  ..............              10  ...........           10  ...........           10
Sushilnoi Rocks.....................   54 deg.50.00'  161 deg.44.50'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Olga Rocks..........................   55 deg.00.50'  161 deg.29.50'   54 deg.59.00'  161 deg.31.00'           10           10  ...........  ...........
Jude................................   55 deg.16.00'  161 deg.06.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
The Whaleback.......................   55 deg.16.50'  160 deg.06.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Chernabura..........................   54 deg.47.50'  159 deg.31.00'   54 deg.45.50'  159 deg.33.50'           10           10  ...........           10
Castle Rock.........................   55 deg.17.00'  159 deg.30.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Atkins..............................   55 deg.03.50'  159 deg.19.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........           10
Spitz...............................   55 deg.47.00'  158 deg.54.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Kak.................................   56 deg.17.00'  157 deg.51.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Lighthouse Rocks....................   55 deg.47.50'  157 deg.24.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Sutwik..............................   56 deg.31.00'  157 deg.20.00'   56 deg.32.00'  157 deg.21.00'  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Chowiet.............................   56 deg.00.50'  156 deg.41.50'   56 deg.00.50'  156 deg.42.00'           10           10  ...........           10
Nagai Rocks.........................   55 deg.50.00'  155 deg.46.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Chirikof............................   55 deg.46.50'  155 deg.39.50'   55 deg.46.50'  155 deg.43.00'           10           10  ...........           10
Puale Bay...........................   57 deg.41.00'  155 deg.23.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Takli...............................   58 deg.03.00'  154 deg.27.50'   58 deg.02.00'  154 deg.31.00'  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Cape Gull...........................   58 deg.13.50'  154 deg.09.50'   58 deg.12.50'  154 deg.10.50'  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Sitkinak/Cape Sitkinak..............   56 deg.34.50'  153 deg.51.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Kodiak/Cape Ugat....................   57 deg.52.00'  153 deg.51.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Shakun Rock.........................   58 deg.32.50'  153 deg.41.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Twoheaded Island....................   56 deg.54.50'  153 deg.33.00'   56 deg.53.50'  153 deg.35.50'           10           10  ...........  ...........
Cape Douglas........................   58 deg.51.50'  153 deg.14.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........

[[Page 3446]]

 
Latax Rocks.........................   58 deg.42.00'  152 deg.28.50'   58 deg.40.50'  152 deg.30.00'           10           10  ...........  ...........
Ushagat/SW..........................   58 deg.55.00'  152 deg.22.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Ugak................................   57 deg.23.00'  152 deg.15.50'   57 deg.22.00'  152 deg.19.00'  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Sea Otter Island....................   58 deg.31.50'  152 deg.13.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Long................................   57 deg.47.00'  152 deg.13.00'  ..............  ..............           10  ...........  ...........  ...........
Kodiak/Cape Chiniak.................   57 deg.37.50'  152 deg.09.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Sugarloaf...........................   58 deg.53.00'  152 deg.02.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........           10
Sea Lion Rocks (Marmot).............   58 deg.21.00'  151 deg.48.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Marmot..............................   58 deg.14.00'  151 deg.47.50'   58 deg.10.00'  151 deg.51.00'           10           10  ...........           10
Perl................................   59 deg.06.00'  151 deg.39.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Outer (Pye) Island..................   59 deg.20.50'  150 deg.23.00'   59 deg.21.00'  150 deg.24.50'           10           10  ...........           10
Steep Point.........................   59 deg.29.00'  150 deg.15.00'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Chiswell Islands....................   59 deg.36.00'  149 deg.34.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Wooded Island (Fish)................   59 deg.53.00'  147 deg.20.50'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Glacier Island......................   60 deg.51.00'  147 deg.09.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Seal Rocks..........................   60 deg.10.00'  146 deg.50.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
Cape Hinchinbrook...................   60 deg.14.00'  146 deg.38.50'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Hook Point..........................   60 deg.20.00'  146 deg.15.50'  ..............  ..............  ...........           10  ...........  ...........
Cape St. Elias......................   59 deg.48.00'  144 deg.36.00'  ..............  ..............           10           10  ...........  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Three nm NO TRANSIT ZONES are described at 50 CFR 227.12(a)(2) of this title.
\2\ Additional closures along the Aleutian Island chain that extend into statistical area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska are displayed in Table 13 to this
  part.

[FR Doc. 99-1378 Filed 1-15-99; 5:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P