[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 191 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53630-53631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25679]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 092499K]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher
vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the
portion of the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod
allocated to these vessels using trawl gear in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1,
1999, until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1999, or until NMFS
publishes further notice in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI
(64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) established the portion of the TAC of
Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI
as 38,475 metric tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii) and
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
The fishery for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in
the BSAI was closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on
April 11, 1999, (64 FR 18373, April 14, 1999), in order to reserve
amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental catch in other
fisheries. In that notice, the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator) also established a directed fishing
allowance of 34,475 mt, and set aside the remaining 4,000 mt as bycatch
to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries.
NMFS has determined that as of September 11, 1999, 2,870 mt remain
in the portion of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels
using trawl gear in the BSAI and of that amount, 500 mt will be
necessary as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries
through the end of 1999. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is
establishing a revised directed fishing allowance of 37,975mt, and is
setting aside the remaining 500 mt as bycatch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries. NMFS has determined that 2,370 mt
remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is
terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for
Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action
responds to the
[[Page 53631]]
best available information recently obtained from the fishery. It must
be implemented immediately in order to allow full utilization of the
Pacific cod TAC. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public
comment for this action is impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. Further delay would only disrupt the FMP objective of
providing the Pacific cod TAC for harvest. NMFS finds for good cause
that the implementation of this action cannot 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 28, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25679 Filed 9-30-99; 10:28 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F