[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54791-54792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26326]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 100599C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Inshore Component
in the Central Regulatory Area 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 Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 Pacific cod total allowable
catch (TAC) allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by
the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 5, 1999,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
[[Page 54792]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
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 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 GOA (64
FR 12904, March 11, 1999) and subsequent reserve apportionment (64 FR
16362, April 5, 1999) established the Pacific cod TAC allocated to
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Central Regulatory Area as 38,642 metric tons (mt), determined in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(4)(ii). The directed fishery for Pacific
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Central Regulatory Area was closed under
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 14, 1999, (64 FR 13122, March 17, 1999)
and reopened on September 1, 1999 (64 FR 46317, August 25, 1999).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the Pacific
cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by
the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 37,642 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 1,000 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 will soon be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore
component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action responds to the final 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 Pacific cod TAC apportioned
to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component
in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective
date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and 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: October 5, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26326 Filed 10-5-99; 2:50 pm]
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