[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7787-7788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3728]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991223348-9348-01; I.D. 021000C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the Shelikof Strait Conservation Area in 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 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 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.), February 13, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 15, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 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) and an inseason adjustment (65 FR 4892, 
February 2, 2000) is 13,991 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance 
with Sec. 679.22(b)(3)(iii)(C).
    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 the Shelikof Strait conservation area will soon be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 13,491 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 500 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.22(b)(3)(iii)(A), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock 
in 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).

[[Page 7788]]

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 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: February 11, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3728 Filed 2-11-00; 4:54 pm]
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