[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27208-27209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12580]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 051499A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other 
Nontrawl Fisheries 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 each species and species 
group of groundfish in the other

[[Page 27209]]

nontrawl fishery category in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch 
mortality allowance specified for the other nontrawl fishery category 
in the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 15, 1999, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1999.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 first seasonal 
apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance 
specified for the other nontrawl fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(ii)(E), as 42 metric tons.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in 
accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(8), that the first seasonal 
apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance 
specified for the other nontrawl fishery category in the BSAI has been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is closing the directed fishery for each 
species and species group of groundfish in the other nontrawl fishery 
category in the BSAI.
    Maximum retainable bycatch may be found in the regulations at 
Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent exceeding the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific 
halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the other nontrawl 
fishery category. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public 
comment on this action is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. The fleet has taken the allowance. Further delay would only 
result in the first seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut 
bycatch mortality allowance specified for the other nontrawl fishery 
being exceeded. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of 
this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 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: May 14, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-12580 Filed 5-14-99; 1:01 pm]
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