[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4893-4894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2163]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991223349-9349-01; I.D. 012700B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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 Atka mackerel with 
gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 
Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 interim 
total allowable catch (ITAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas.

DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 27, 
2000, until superseded by the Final 2000 Harvest Specification for 
Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 CFR part 679.
    The Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (65 FR 60, 
January 3, 2000) established the Atka mackerel ITAC for non-jig gear as 
14,306 metric tons (mt) in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 
Sea subarea. See Secs. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) and 679.20(a)(8)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the ITAC for 
non-jig gear Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the 
Bering Sea subarea will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 13,806 
mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500

[[Page 4894]]

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 soon will be reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in 
the Eastern Aleutian District and 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 ITAC limitations and other restrictions 
on the fisheries established in the Interim 2000 Harvest Specifications 
for Groundfish for the BSAI. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the 2000 ITAC of Atka mackerel in the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. A delay in 
the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. 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: January 27, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2163 Filed 1-27-00; 5:01 pm]
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