[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25412]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 092499N]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by 
Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Mothership 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 mothership 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/C 
season pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the mothership 
component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 27, 
1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., November 1, 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 Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(3) and section 206(b)(1) 
of the American Fisheries Act, the Final 1999 Harvest Specifications 
for Groundfish (64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999, and 64 FR 39087, July 21, 
1999) specified the B/C season TAC of pollock as a directed fishing 
allowance for the mothership component in the Bering Sea subarea as 
50,354 metric tons.
    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 mothership 
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 1999 B/C season pollock TAC specified to the 
mothership 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 can 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 24, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25412 Filed 9-27-99; 4:56 pm]
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