[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 73]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-34027]



[[Page 73]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991223348-9348-01; I.D. 122399A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of 
Specified Groundfish Fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing specified groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
directed fishing allowances specified for the 2000 interim total 
allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.

DATES: Effective 0001 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2000, 
until superseded by the effective date of the final 2000 harvest 
specifications for GOA groundfish, which will be published in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or 
[email protected].

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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d), if the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determines that the amount of a 
target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a fishery 
will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a directed 
fishing allowance for that species or species group. If the Regional 
Administrator establishes a directed fishing allowance, and that 
allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, 
NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group 
in the specified GOA Regulatory Area or district 
(Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
    The interim 2000 harvest specifications for the groundfish 
fisheries in the GOA are published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register. The Regional Administrator has determined that the 
following interim TAC amounts will be reached and are necessary as 
incidental catch to support other directed groundfish fisheries before 
final specifications for groundfish are likely to be in effect for the 
2000 fishing year:

 
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                                                       entire GOA
Thornyhead rockfish                                           entire GOA
Atka mackerel                                                 entire GOA
Sablefish                                                     entire GOA
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish                                  entire GOA
Deep-water flatfish                              Western Regulatory Area
Northern rockfish                                Eastern Regulatory Area
``Other rockfish''                   Western and Central Regulatory Area
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    Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator establishes the interim TAC amounts for the species 
listed above as directed fishing allowances.
    Further, The Regional Administrator finds that these directed 
fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d) NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for these species in the specified areas. These 
closures will be in effect beginning at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 
2000, until superseded by the effective date of Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications for GOA Groundfish or, with respect to pollock, until a 
final rule implementing the recommended preferred alternatives to 
protect Steller sea lions is effective.
    While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch 
amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing 
trip. Additional closures and restrictions may be found in existing 
regulations at 50 CFR part 679. These closures to directed fishing are 
in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR 
part 679. Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The definitions 
of GOA deep-water flatfish and ``other rockfish'' species categories 
are provided in the Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications, as published 
in this issue of the Federal Register.
    NMFS may implement other closures under the interim specifications, 
at the time the final 2000 harvest specifications for GOA groundfish 
are implemented or during the 2000 fishing year, as necessary for 
effective conservation and management.

Classification

    This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    This action responds to the interim TAC limitations and other 
restrictions on the fisheries established in the interim 2000 harvest 
specifications for GOA groundfish. It must be implemented immediately 
to prevent overharvesting the 2000 interim TAC of several groundfish 
species in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. The fleet will begin to harvest 
groundfish on January 1, 2000. 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.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 27, 1999.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-34027 Filed 12-29-99; 10:54 am]
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