[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2544]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 012899A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of 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 prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel with
gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering
Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 interim
harvest specification of Atka mackerel.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 29,
1999, until superseded by the Final 1999 Harvest Specification for
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.
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 at Subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
The Interim 1999 Harvest Specifications (64 FR 50 January 4, 1999)
as amended by the final rule implementing season and area apportionment
of Atka Mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) (64 FR 3446, January 22,
1999) established the Interim 1999 Harvest Specifications for non-jig
gear as 6,269 metric tons (mt) in the Eastern Aleutian District and the
Bering Sea subarea. See Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) and 679.20(a)(8)(i).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999
interim specification for non-jig gear Atka mackerel in the Eastern
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea will be reached. The
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of
5,769 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 mt as bycatch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this
directed fishing allowance soon will be reached. NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and
the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
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 BSAI. It must be implemented
immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1999 interim specification of
Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and
contrary to the public interest. 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 28, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-2544 Filed 1-29-99; 3:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F