[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 6, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54225-54226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher Processors 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 
processor 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 in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 
1999, until

[[Page 54226]]

2400 hrs. 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 processors 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).
    In order to reserve amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental 
catch in other fisheries, on May 6, 1999, the Regional Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) established a directed 
fishing allowance of 14,000 mt; set aside the remaining 24,475 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries; and closed 
the directed fishery for Pacific cod by catcher processors using trawl 
gear in the BSAI under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) (64 FR 25216, May 11, 
1999).
    On September 24, 1999, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B), 
NMFS determined that halibut bycatch restrictions will prevent catcher 
processors using trawl gear from harvesting their full allocation; 
apportioned the projected unused amount, 5,000 mt, of Pacific cod from 
trawl catcher/processors to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear; 
and specified the trawl catcher/processors apportionment of Pacific cod 
as 33,475 mt.
    NMFS estimated that as of September 24, 1999, approximately 6,000 
mt remain in the portion of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher 
processors using trawl gear in the BSAI and of that amount, 5,000 mt 
will be necessary as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries through the end of 1999. Therefore, based on the realized 
catch of Pacific cod in other trawl catcher processor groundfish 
fisheries during 1999 and Pacific halibut bycatch restrictions on the 
trawl fleet, the Regional Administrator is establishing a revised 
directed fishing allowance of 16,661 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 16,814 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. NMFS has determined that 1,000 mt remain in the directed 
fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure 
and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processors 
using trawl gear in the BSAI.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the 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 30, 1999,
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-25882 Filed 9-30-99; 4:53 pm]
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