[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56272-56273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27230]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 101399C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharpchin
and Northern Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of sharpchin and northern
rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of
sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area be treated in the same
manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of
injury. This action is necessary because the amount of the final 1999
initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of sharpchin and northern rockfish
in this area has been achieved.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 14,
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.
The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI
(64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999) established the amount of the 1999 Final
ITAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea
of the BSAI as 3,913 metric tons. See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 1999 ITAC for
sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the
BSAI has been achieved. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further
catches of sharpchin and
[[Page 56273]]
northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).
Classification
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to
prevent overharvesting the amount of the 1999 ITAC for sharpchin and
northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. A delay
in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. The fleet has taken the amount of the 1999 ITAC for sharpchin
and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
Further delay would only result in overharvest. 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: October 13, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27230 Filed 10-14-99; 3:33 pm]
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