[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 111 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31151-31152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14746]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 060499C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Western Regulatory Area 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 Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action 
is necessary to prevent exceeding the amount of the 1999 Pacific cod 
total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod 
for processing by the offshore component in this area.


[[Page 31152]]


DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 7, 1999, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or 
[email protected].

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 12904, March 11, 1999) and subsequent reserve apportionment (64 FR 
16362, April 5, 1999) established the amount of the Pacific cod TAC 
allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area as 2,363 metric tons 
(mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(4)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the amount 
of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 
the GOA has been reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,163 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 200 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 has 
been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 for the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to prevent 
overharvesting the amount of the 1999 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective 
date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest, 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.
    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: June 7, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-14746 Filed 6-7-99; 2:35 pm]
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