[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51081-51082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24564]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 091599E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 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 pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the third seasonal allowance of pollock 
total allowable catch (TAC) in this area and to close the C season 
fishery.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 16, 
1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 21, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or 
[email protected].


[[Page 51082]]


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 is in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart 
H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 was established by the 
Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 
12094, March 11, 1999) as 30,520 metric tons (mt) for the entire 
fishing year and 7,630 mt for the third seasonal allowance.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has determined that the second seasonal catch was in excess of the 
second seasonal allowance by 402 mt and that the excess shall be 
proportionately subtracted from the subsequent seasonal allowances. In 
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C), the third seasonal allowance 
of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 is 7,429 mt.
    NMFS issued an inseason adjustment in expectation of excessive 
harvest capacity, effective September 2, 1999, limiting the initial 
opening of the C season fishery to 24 hours in accordance with 
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i)(64 FR 48332, September 3, 1999). Within that same 
adjustment NMFS 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 opened 
the subsequent C season fishery to directed fishing effective 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t. September 14, 1999. The opening notice will be published in the 
Federal Register on September 17, 1999.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the third seasonal allowance of pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 630 has been reached and that sufficient amounts of 
the C season allowance were harvested to close the C fishing season 
which will initiate the regulatory schedule to open the D season. The 
Regional Administrator has established a directed fishing allowance of 
7,379 mt for the C season allowance and has set aside the remaining 50 
mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries prior 
to the start of the D season. 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 pollock in Statistical Area 630 from 
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 16, 1999. Pursuant to 679.23(d)(3)(iv) the 
D season fishery will open 1200 hrs, A.l.t. September 21, 1999.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the third seasonal TAC limitations and 
other restrictions on the fisheries established in the Final 1999 
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish in the GOA. It must be 
implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the third seasonal 
allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 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 Secs. CFR 679.20 and 679.23 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 15, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-24564 Filed 9-16-99; 2:01 pm]
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