[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 47714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22662]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 082699E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by 
Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Inshore Component in the 
Bering Sea Subarea

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 pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering 
Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 B season 
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the inshore component 
in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 26, 1999, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 15, 1999.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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.
    In accordance with Section 206(b)(1) of the American Fisheries Act, 
50 percent of the remainder of the pollock TAC in the BSAI after the 
subtraction of the allocation to the pollock Community Development 
Quota and the subtraction of allowances for the incidental catch of 
pollock by vessels harvesting other groundfish species, shall be 
allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by the inshore component. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(1), the Bering Sea pollock TAC allocated for 
processing by the inshore component is divided into four seasonal 
allowances. The final 1999 amount for B season pollock in the Bering 
Sea subarea is 125,885 metric tons (64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) and 
(64 FR 39087, July 21, 1999).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, finds that this directed fishing allowance soon 
will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
    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 in order 
to prevent exceeding the final 1999 B season pollock TAC specified to 
the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. A delay in 
the effective date 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 26, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 99-22662 Filed 8-26-99; 4:47 pm]
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