[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8731-8732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4333]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981021264-9016-02; I.D. 021799A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by 
Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Mothership Component in 
the Bering Sea Subarea

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS closes the directed fishing season for pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI). NMFS adjusts the time of closure to prevent the 
underharvest of the interim A season pollock total allowable catch 
(TAC) specified to the mothership component for harvest within the 
Bering Sea subarea.

DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 
1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 1, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Susan J. Salveson, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau AK 99802-1668.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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 50 CFR part 679.

[[Page 8732]]

    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(3), the revised interim 
1999 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (64 FR 3437, 
January 22, 1999), and section 206(b)(3) of the American Fisheries Act, 
the interim A season TAC of pollock specified as a directed fishing 
allowance for the mothership component for harvest within the Bering 
Sea subarea is 33,569 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance soon will be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock 
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component 
in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
    Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the mothership component is in excess of 
1,900 mt per day.
    Section 679.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and 
closures of fishing seasons other than the beginning and end of the 
calendar fishing year is 1200 hrs, A.l.t. The Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the remaining portion of the 
allocation to the mothership component would be underharvested if a 
1200 hrs closure were allowed to occur.
    NMFS, in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the 
season for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea by closing directed 
fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 17, 1999. NMFS is taking this 
action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock allocation to vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI as authorized by 
Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), 
NMFS has determined that closing the season at 2400 hrs on February 17, 
1999, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the 
pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
offshore component in the AI of the BSAI and will allow other fisheries 
to continue in noncritical areas and time periods.
    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. Without this inseason 
adjustment, the pollock allocation for vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI would be 
underharvested, resulting in an economic loss of more than $220,000.
    Under Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit 
written comments on this action to the above address until March 10, 
1999.
    This action is required by Sec. 679.22 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: February 17, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-4333 Filed 2-17-99; 4:54 pm]
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