[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 113 (Monday, June 14, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31733-31734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15003]


=======================================================================

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 060899C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the second seasonal apportionment of 
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 10, 1999, 
until 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919 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 second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC is equal to 20 
percent of the annual TAC (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C)). The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that any amount of unharvested first seasonal apportionment 
of TAC or any amount of TAC harvested in excess of the first seasonal 
apportionment shall be proportionately added to or subtracted from 
subsequent seasonal apportionments throughout the remainder of the 
fishing year, with the provision that no seasonal apportionment shall 
exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C)). This 
action is consistent with the manner in which underages and/or overages 
of seasonal apportionments of pollock TAC have been managed in previous 
years. The pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 was established by the 
Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (64 FR 12094, March 
11, 1999) as 30,520 metric tons (mt) for the entire 1999 fishing year. 
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C), the second seasonal 
apportionment of pollock TAC in the Statistical Area 630 is 5,660 mt. 
This is 444 mt less than the 1999 allocation of 6,104 mt because a 17 
percent overage in the previous season's catch has been deducted for 
this seasonal allowance.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 630 has been reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 5,160 mt, 
and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the second seasonal TAC limitations and 
other restrictions on the fisheries established in the final 1999 
harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA. It must be 
implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the second seasonal 
apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. A 
delay

[[Page 31734]]

in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 8, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-15003 Filed 6-9-99; 4:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F