[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2322]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 99991223349-9349-01; I.D. 012800D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Fishing 
Vessels Greater Than 99 feet LOA Catching Pollock for Processing by the 
Inshore Component Independently of a Cooperative in the Bering Sea

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 by vessels 
greater than 99 ft length overall (LOA) catching pollock independently 
of a fishing cooperative for processing by the inshore component in the 
Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 
interim A season inside SCA allocation of pollock total allowable catch 
(TAC) specified for the vessels greater than 99 ft LOA within the SCA 
catching pollock independently of a fishing cooperative will be 
reached.

DATES:  Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 30, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 1, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Andrew Smoker, 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(2), Sec. 679.20 
(a)(5)(i)(D)(3), and the revised interim 2000 TAC amounts for pollock 
in the Bering Sea subarea (65 FR 4520, January 28, 2000) the A season 
allocation of TAC specified to the sector of the inshore component 
fishing independently of a cooperative for harvest within the SCA is 
5,027 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A) and (D)(2) the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that the A season allocation of pollock TAC specified to the 
inshore sector fishing for pollock independently of a cooperative for 
harvest within the SCA will be reached. The Regional Administrator has 
estimated that 1,000 mt is likely to be harvested by catcher vessels 
less than or equal to 99 ft LOA fishing independently of a cooperative 
during the remainder of the A season and is reserving that amount to 
accommodate fishing by such vessels after the closure of the SCA to 
vessels greater than 99 ft LOA fishing independently of a cooperative.
    Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by 
vessels greater than 99 ft LOA fishing independently of a cooperative 
that are catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in 
the SCA, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(iv).
    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 in order 
to prevent exceeding the A season allocation of pollock TAC specified 
to the sector fishing independently of a cooperative for harvest within 
the SCA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest. Further delay would result in noncompliance with 
reasonable and prudent management measures implemented to promote the 
recovery of the endangered Steller sea lion. NMFS finds for good cause 
that the implementation of this action can 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. 679.22 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. 00-2322 Filed 1-31-00; 9:48 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F