[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2320]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000119015-0015-01; I.D. 012800B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska

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 in 
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 2000 pollock total allowable 
catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 610 established by the 2000 Interim 
Specifications and amended by the emergency interim rule implementing 
Steller sea lion protection measures for the pollock fisheries off 
Alaska.

DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 31, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Andrew Smoker, 907-581-2062.

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.
    The interim 2000 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 as amended by 
the emergency interim rule implementing Steller sea lion protection 
measures for the pollock fisheries off Alaska (65 FR 3892, January 25, 
2000) is 5,465 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the interim 
TAC of pollock in Statistical Area 610 will soon be reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance 
of 4,965 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the 
GOA.
    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 to 
prevent overharvesting the seasonal allocation of pollock in 
Statistical Area 610. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for 
public comment 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 28, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-2320 Filed 1-31-00; 9:48 am]
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