[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5283-5284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2323]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000119015-0015-01; I.D. 012700E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 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 620 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area in 
the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the interim 2000 pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical 
Area 620 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 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 28, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

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 620 outside the 
Shelikof Strait conservation area 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 3,252 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 620 outside the Shelikof Strait 
conservation area will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a

[[Page 5284]]

directed fishing allowance of 2,752 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 620 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 
in 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 620 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area. 
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. 00-2323 Filed 1-28-00; 5:02 pm]
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