[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 14, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49686-49687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23920]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 090999A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing the C fishing 
season for pollock in Statistical Area 610 effective 1200 hrs, Alaska 
local time (A.l.t.), September 9, 1999, and opening the D fishing 
season for pollock in Statistical Area 610 effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
September 14, 1999. This adjustment is necessary to manage the C 
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) and allow 
the D fishing season to begin in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA).

DATES: The C fishing season for pollock in Statistical Area 610 will 
close 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 9, 1999, and directed fishing for 
pollock in Statistical Area 610 will be opened at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
September 14, 1999. Comments must be received at the following address 
no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., September 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel. Hand delivery 
or courier delivery of comments may be sent to the Federal Building, 
709 West 9th Street, Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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 emergency interim rule (EIR) establishing Steller sea lion 
protection measures for pollock off Alaska (64 FR 3437, January 22, 
1999 and 64 FR 39087, July 21, 1999) defines the C fishing season for 
pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA as starting from 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., September 1, 1999, until the directed fishery is closed or 1200 
hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 1999, whichever comes first. The D fishing 
season is to begin 5 days after the closure of the C fishing season in 
Statistical Area 610.
    NMFS issued an inseason adjustment effective September 1, 1999 for 
Statistical Area 610, limiting the initial opening of the C season 
fishery to 6 hours in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i)(64 FR 48331, 
September 3, 1999).
    NMFS also extended the C fishing season by inseason adjustment to 
delay the start of the D fishing season until the agency had determined 
whether sufficient amounts of the C season allowance remained 
unharvested to allow another opening within the C fishing season prior 
to the harvest of the pollock authorized for the D season. NMFS has 
determined that the C seasonal allowance of pollock has been taken and 
is closing the C fishing season in Statistical Area 610. Under 
Sec. 679.23 (d)(3)(iv) the D season fishery for Statistical Area 610 
will open 5 days after the closure of the C fishing season.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that 
closing the C fishing season is the least restrictive management 
adjustment that will allow the D fishing season to begin given that the 
C seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC has been achieved. Pursuant to 
Sec. 679.25(b)(2), NMFS has considered data regarding catch per unit 
effort and rate of harvest in making this adjustment.

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for

[[Page 49687]]

    good cause that providing prior notice and public comment or
    delaying the effective date of this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, NMFS 
could not allow the D seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA to be harvested in an expedient manner 
and in accordance with the regulatory schedule. Under 
Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written 
comments on this action to the preceding address until September 24, 
1999.
    This action is required by Secs. 679.20 and 679.25 and is exempt 
from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 9, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-23920 Filed 9-9-99; 4:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F