[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8281-8282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3913]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 021400D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Closures of 
Specified Groundfish Fisheries 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 closing specified groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
directed fishing allowances specified for the 2000 total allowable 
catch (TAC) amounts for the GOA.

DATES: Effective February 15, 2000 until midnight, Alaska local time, 
December 31, 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determines that the 
amount of a target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to 
a fishery or, with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, to an inshore or 
offshore component allocation, will be reached, the Regional 
Administrator may establish a directed fishing allowance for that 
species or species group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a 
directed fishing allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached 
before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing 
for that species or species group in the specified GOA Regulatory Area 
or district (Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
    NMFS published final 2000 harvest specifications for these 
groundfish fisheries in the Federal Register. The Regional 
Administrator has determined that the following TAC amounts are 
necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries for the 2000 fishing year:

 
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Thornyhead rockfish: entire GOA.............................    2,360 mt
Atka mackerel: entire GOA...................................      600 mt
Sablefish: trawl apportionment, entire GOA..................    1,802 mt
``Other rockfish'':.........................................
  Western Regulatory area...................................       20 mt
  Central Regulatory area...................................      740 mt
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish: entire GOA....................    1,730 mt
Pollock: offshore component, entire GOA.....................        0 mt
Pacific cod: offshore component Eastern Regulatory Area.....      321 mt
Deep-water flatfish: Western Regulatory Area................      280 mt
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    Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional

[[Page 8282]]

Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for the above 
species or species groups as zero.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the specified areas. 
These closures will be in effect from February 15, 2000 until 12 
midnight, Alaska local time, December 31, 2000.
    Under authority of the interim 2000 GOA specifications (65 FR 65, 
January 3, 2000), pollock fishing opened on January 1, 2000, for 
amounts specified in that notice. NMFS has since closed Statistical 
Area 610 to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
January 31, 2000 (65 FR 5285, February 3, 2000), Statistical Area 620 
outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area to directed fishing for 
pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 27, 2000 (65 FR 5283, 
February 3, 2000), Statistical Area 630 outside the Shelikof Strait 
conservation area to directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., January 25, 2000 (65 FR 4891, February 2, 2000), and directed 
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing 
by the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area, effective 
1200 hrs, February 7, 2000 (65 FR 6561, February 10, 2000). The 
closures for Statistical Areas 610, 620 and 630 will remain in effect 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 15, 2000.
    These closures supersede the closures announced in the interim 2000 
GOA harvest specifications (65 FR 65, January 3, 2000). While these 
closures are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These 
closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Refer to 
Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas. The definitions of GOA deep-water 
flatfish and ``Other rockfish'' species categories are provided in the 
Federal Register publication of the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications.
    NMFS may implement other closures during the 2000 fishing year, as 
necessary for effective conservation and management.

Classification

    This action is required by Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.
    This action responds to the TAC limitations and other restrictions 
on the fisheries established in the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications 
for Groundfish for the GOA. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the 2000 TACs for several groundfish species in 
the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest. The fleet is currently harvesting groundfish, and 
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.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 14, 2000.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3913 Filed 2-15-00; 2:51 pm]
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