[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24284]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 091099B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Statistical Area 620 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 to open directed fishing 
for pollock within the C fishing season in Statistical Area 620 of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This adjustment is necessary to manage the C 
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC).

DATES: Directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 will be 
open 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 29, 
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.
    NMFS issued an inseason adjustment effective September 1, 1999, 
limiting the initial opening of the C season fishery in Statistical 
Area 620 to 24 hours in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i)(64 FR 
48329, 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 7,565 metric tons (mt) of pollock remain in the C 
seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of the 
GOA.
    NMFS has determined that the C seasonal allowance of pollock has 
not been taken and is terminating the previous C fishing season 
directed fishing closure in Statistical Area 620.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii), NMFS has determined that 
opening directed fishing in the C fishing season at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
September 14, 1999, is the least restrictive management adjustment to 
achieve the C seasonal allowance of the pollock TAC. 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 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, the C seasonal 
allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 of the GOA would 
not be harvested 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 29, 
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 14, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24284 Filed 9-14-99; 3:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F