[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25216-25217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11820]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 050599B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Processors using Trawl Gear in 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 closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher
processors using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the portion of the
[[Page 25217]]
1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher
processors using trawl gear in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 6, 1999,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
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.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI
(64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) established the portion of the TAC of
Pacific cod allocated to catcher processors using trawl gear in the
BSAI as 38,475 metric tons (mt) in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii) and Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the portion
of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher processors using trawl
gear in the BSAI will be reached. The Regional Administrator is
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 14,000 mt, and is setting
aside the remaining 24,475 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 will
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is closing directed fishing for
Pacific cod by catcher processors using trawl gear in 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 best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order
to prevent overharvesting the 1999 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to
catcher processors using trawl gear in the BSAI. A delay in the
effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest.
The Pacific cod directed fishing allowance established for catcher
processors will soon be reached. Further delay would only result in
overharvest, which would disrupt the FMP's objective of providing
sufficient Pacific cod to support bycatch needs in other anticipated
groundfish fisheries 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 6, 1999.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-11820 Filed 5-6-99; 2:20 pm]
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