[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12767-12768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6162]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 030899C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of 
Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska

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 in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
directed fishing allowances specified for the 1999 total allowable 
catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 8, 1999, 
through 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)(1)(i), if the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determines that the 
amount of a target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to 
a fishery or, with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, to an inshore or 
offshore component allocation, 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 will publish final 1999 harvest specifications for these 
groundfish fisheries in the Federal Register. The Regional 
Administrator has determined that the following TAC amounts are 
necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries for the 1999 fishing year:
    Thornyhead rockfish: entire GOA 1,990 mt
    Atka mackerel: entire GOA 600 mt
    Sablefish: trawl apportionment, entire GOA 1,747 mt
    ``Other rockfish'': Western Regulatory area 20 mt
    Central Regulatory area 650 mt
    Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: entire GOA 1,590 mt
    Pollock: inshore component, Statistical Area 610 6,936 mt
    inshore component, Statistical Area 620 11,652 mt
    inshore component, Statistical Area 630 9,156 mt
    Pollock: offshore component, entire GOA 0 mt
    Pacific cod: offshore component
    Western Regulatory Area 1,890 mt
    Eastern Regulatory Area 102 mt
    Deep-water flatfish: Western Regulatory Area 240 mt
Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator establishes the directed allowances for the above species 
or species groups as 0 mt.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the specified areas. 
These closures will be in effect from the date of filing of the final 
1999 harvest specifications with the Office of the Federal Register 
until 12 midnight, Alaska local time, December 31, 1999.
    Under authority of the interim 1999 specifications (64 FR 46, 
January 4, 1999), pollock fishing opened on January 1, 1999, for 
amounts specified in that notice. NMFS has since closed Statistical 
Area 610 to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
January 26, 1998 (64 FR 5198, February 3, 1999); Statistical Area 620 
to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 
17, 1998 (64 FR 8529, February 22, 1999); Statistical Area 630 to 
directed fishing for pollock effective

[[Page 12768]]

1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 2, 1998 (64 FR 4790, February 1, 1999); the 
Central Regulatory Area to directed fishing for Pacific cod, effective 
1200 hrs A.l.t., February 25, 1999 (64 FR 9937); and the Eastern 
Regulatory Area to directed fishing for pollock, effective 1200 hrs, 
March 6, 1999; and the Western Regulatory Area to directed fishing for 
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component, effective 1200 hrs 
A.l.t., March 8, 1999. The closures for Statistical Areas 610 and 630 
will remain in effect until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 1, 1999.
    These closures supersede the closures announced in the interim 1999 
harvest specifications (64 FR 46, January 4, 1999). While these 
closures are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These 
closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Refer to 
Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The definitions of GOA deep-water 
flatfish and ``Other rockfish'' species categories are provided in the 
Federal Register publication of the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications.
    NMFS may implement other closures during the 1999 fishing year, as 
necessary for effective conservation and management.

Classification

    This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    This action responds to the TAC limitations and other restrictions 
on the fisheries established in the final 1999 harvest specifications 
for groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the 1999 TACs for several groundfish species in 
the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest. The fleet is currently harvesting groundfish, 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.

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

    Dated: March 9, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6162 Filed 3-10-99; 9:02 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F