[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21433]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 081299A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in 
the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska management area (GOA). 
This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 15, 1999.

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

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 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 1999 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of 
the GOA was established by the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999) as 820 metric tons 
(mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 670 mt, and set aside the remaining 150 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery 
for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA was 
closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 19, 
1999, (64 FR 39090, July 21, 1999).
    NMFS has determined that as of July 31, 1999, 217 mt remain in the 
directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the 
West Yakutat District of the GOA.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full 
utilization of the Pacific ocean perch TAC. Providing prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. NMFS finds for good cause that the 
implementation of this action cannot 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: August 13, 1999
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21433 Filed 8-13-99; 3:14 pm]
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