[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55438-55439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26596]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 100699B]


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

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.) October 6, 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 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 section 206(b)(1) of the American Fisheries Act 
(AFA), 50 percent of the remainder of the pollock TAC in the BSAI, 
after the subtraction of the allocation to the pollock Community 
Development Quota and the subtraction of allowances for the incidental 
catch of pollock by vessels harvesting other groundfish species, shall 
be allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher vessels 
harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore component. Pursuant to 
the AFA, the final 1999 amount of pollock allocated as a directed 
fishing allowance for processing by the inshore component of the Bering 
Sea subarea is 423,187 metric tons (64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999).
    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 pollock 
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 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 final 1999 pollock TAC specified to the 
inshore 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 cannot 
be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d), a

[[Page 55439]]

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 6, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26596 Filed 10-6-99; 4:42 pm]
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