[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4602-4603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2066]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 012199C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Other Than Pollock by Catcher/Processors Identified in Section 
208(e)(1)-(20) of the American Fisheries Act in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands

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 for specific 
catcher/

[[Page 4603]]

processors identified in the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). These actions are 
necessary to prevent exceeding the amount of the 1999 interim harvest 
limitations of groundfish other than pollock, established under the AFA 
for listed catcher/processors.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 25, 
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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 part 600 and CFR part 679.
    In accordance with section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA, the Interim 
1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (64 FR 50, 
January 4, 1999) established harvest limitations of groundfish other 
than pollock for the specific catcher/processors identified in section 
208(e)(1)-(20) of the AFA (listed catcher/processors). NMFS filed an 
emergency interim rule on January 15, 1999, that establishes inseason 
authority to limit harvesting activities of the listed catcher/
processors to minimize the potential for specified harvest limitations 
being exceeded.
    Under the new emergency rule regulations at Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), 
if the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
determines that any harvest limitation of groundfish other than 
pollock, established under section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA for listed 
catcher/processors will be reached, the Regional Administrator may 
establish a directed fishing allowance for the species or species group 
applicable only to the listed catcher/processors. 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 subarea or district applicable only to the listed 
catcher/processors (Sec. 697.20).
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the following 
harvest limitation amounts are necessary as incidental catch to support 
other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 1999 fishing year 
(amounts in metric tons):


Greenland turbot:
  Aleutian Islands...............................................     19
  Bering Sea.....................................................     85
Pacific ocean perch:
  Eastern Aleutian Islands.......................................     47
  Central Aleutian Islands.......................................     45
  Western Aleutian Islands.......................................    136
  Bering Sea.....................................................     12
``Other rockfish'':
  Aleutian Islands...............................................     29
  Bering Sea.....................................................     12
Sablefish trawl gear:
  Aleutian Islands...............................................      0
  Bering Sea.....................................................      3
Sharpchin/northern: Aleutian Islands.............................    280
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: Aleutian Islands...................      8
``Other red rockfish'': Bering Sea...............................
 


    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional 
Administrator establishes these amounts as directed fishing allowances.
    The Regional Administrator finds that these directed fishing 
allowances will be reached before the end of the year. In accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by 
the listed catcher processors for these species in the specified areas. 
These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 
31, 1999.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the harvest limitations and other 
restrictions on the fisheries established in the Interim 1999 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented 
immediately to prevent exceeding the harvest limitations of several 
groundfish species in the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 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 Sec. 679.21 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: January 25, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-2066 Filed 1-25-99; 4:11 pm]
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