[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3658-3659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1644]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222314-8321-02; I.D. 012099B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod 
and pollock in the Gulf of Alaska

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


[[Page 3659]]


ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod and 
pollock by vessels catching these species for processing by the 
offshore component in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 interim total allowable catch 
(TAC) of Pacific cod and pollock allocated to vessels catching these 
species for processing by the offshore component in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 20, 
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.

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 published interim 1999 harvest specifications for the GOA 
groundfish fisheries (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999). A final rule 
authorizing the inshore/offshore allocation of GOA Pacific cod and 
pollock was filed with the Office of the Federal Register, January 20, 
1999, and became effective January 20, 1999. The Regional Administrator 
has determined that the following interim Pacific cod TAC amounts for 
the GOA offshore component 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:
    Pacific cod, offshore component
    Western Regulatory Area 436 metric tons
    Central Regulatory Area 834 metric tons
    Eastern Regulatory Area 23 metric tons
    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. 
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
catching these species for processing by the offshore component in the 
Gulf of Alaska in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d). These closures will 
be in effect beginning at 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20, 1999, until 
superseded by the Final 1999 Initial Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish. Under the final rule implementing the GOA inshore/offshore 
allocations, 0 metric tons of pollock are allocated to the offshore 
directed fishery for this species. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
the Gulf of Alaska. These closures will be in effect beginning at 1200 
hours, A.l.t., January 20, 1999, until superseded by the notice of 
Final 1999 Initial Harvest Specifications for Groundfish.
    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 interim 1999 TAC of Pacific cod and pollock 
allocated to vessels catching these species for processing by the 
offshore component in 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: January 20, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1644 Filed 1-20-99; 4:27 pm]
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