[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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