[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52473-52474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25316]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 092399E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

ACTION: 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 Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 1999 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Atka mackerel 
allocated to this area.


[[Page 52474]]


DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 24, 
1999, until 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 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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.
    The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (64 FR 12103, 
March 11, 1999) established 20,720 metric tons (mt) as the Atka 
mackerel ITAC in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. See 
Sec. 679.20(c)(6).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999 
ITAC of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian District will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 20,470 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 250 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 soon will be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka 
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District 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 to 
prevent overharvesting the 1999 ITAC of Atka mackerel allocated to the 
Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 23, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25316 Filed 9-24-99; 2:26 p.m.]
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