[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8067-8068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3751]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000119015-0015-01; I.D. 021100A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by 
Vessels Not Participating in Cooperatives that are Catching Pollock for 
Processing by the Inshore Component in the Bering Sea Subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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 
not participating in cooperatives that are catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary because the interim A/B season allocation of pollock total 
allowable catch (TAC) specified for vessels not participating in 
cooperatives that are catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI will be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 11, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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)(D)(3) and the revised 
interim 2000 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (65 FR 
4520, January 28, 2000), the A/B season allocation of pollock TAC 
specified to the vessels not participating in cooperatives catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea 
subarea is 11,968 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region,

[[Page 8068]]

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A/B season 
allocation of pollock TAC specified to the vessels not participating in 
cooperatives that are catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea will be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing the A/B season allocation of 
pollock TAC as the directed fishing allowance 
(Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(D)(2)). 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 pollock by vessels not participating 
in cooperatives that are catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea.
    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/B season allocation of pollock TAC specified 
to the vessels not participating in cooperatives catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea. 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 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: February 11, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3751 Filed 2-11-00; 4:54 pm]
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