[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45459-45460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21578]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 081399B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of 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 ocean perch 
in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action 
is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) 
of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 16, 1999, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 part 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

[[Page 45460]]

directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District 
was closed under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 19, 1999 (64 FR 39090, 
July 21, 1999), and reopened on August 15, 1999 (notification of 
reopening filed with the Office of the Federal Register August 13, 
1999).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999 TAC 
for Pacific ocean perch will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 670 mt, 
and is setting aside the remaining 150 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 ocean perch in the West 
Yakutat District.
    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 to 
prevent overharvesting the 1999 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the West 
Yakutat District of the GOA. A delay 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: August 16, 1999.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21578 Filed 8-16-99; 4:19 pm]
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