[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 42 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10398-10399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5282]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990115017-9017-01; I.D. 022699B]


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

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


[[Page 10399]]


ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering 
Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). NMFS adjusts the time of closure to prevent the underharvest of 
the interim 1999 A2 season pollock total allowable catch (TAC) 
specified to the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 28, 
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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(1), the revised interim 
1999 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (64 FR 3437, 
January 22, 1999), and Section 206(b)(1) of the American Fisheries Act, 
the interim A2 season TAC of pollock specified as a directed fishing 
allowance for the inshore component for harvest within the BS is 52,452 
metric tons.
    Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component is in excess of 5,000 
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 inshore 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 inshore component in the BS by 
closing directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 28, 1999. NMFS 
is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock 
allocation to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the BS 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 27, 
1999, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the 
pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component in the BS 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).
    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. Without this inseason adjustment, the 
pollock allocation for vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component in the BS of the BSAI would be underharvested, 
resulting in an economic loss of more than $500,000. Under 
Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written 
comments on this action to the above address until fifteen days from 
the date of publication. This action is required by Sec. 679.22 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

Classification

    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: February 26, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5282 Filed 3-1-99; 9:57 am]
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