[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22814-22815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10633]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 042399B]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fisheries by Vessels using Hook-and-Line Gear 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 prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because 
the first seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish, other than 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 24, 1999, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 18, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228


[[Page 22815]]


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.
    The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 
FR 12094, March 11, 1999) established the Pacific halibut bycatch 
mortality allowance for groundfish included in the other hook-and-line 
fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), for the first 
season, the period January 1, 1999, through May 17, 1999, as 250 metric 
tons. The other hook-and-line fishery includes all groundfish, except 
sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries, other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, in the GOA has been caught. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish, 
other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, by vessels using hook-
and-line gear in the GOA.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the 
groundfish fisheries, other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, 
by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. A delay in the 
effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
The first seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish, other than 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish, in the GOA has been caught. 
Further delay would only result in overharvest which would disrupt the 
FMP's objective of apportioning Pacific halibut bycatch allowances 
throughout the year. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation 
of this action can 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: April 23, 1999.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-10633 Filed 4-23-99; 1:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F