[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4597]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991228352-0012-02; I.D. 022200D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in Western and Central Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels that are non-exempt under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary to allow non-exempt catcher vessels to 
participate in the Pacific cod fishery in these areas consistent with 
regulations implementing the AFA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23, 
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 amount of the 2000 GOA AFA catcher vessel sideboard in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas was established by the Emergency 
Interim Rule to Implement Major Provisions of the American Fisheries 
Act (65 FR 4520, January 28, 2000) as 1,945 metric tons (mt) and 1,330 
mt respectively in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a Pacific cod directed fishing allowance of 1,745 mt, 
and set aside the remaining 200 mt as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries for this component of the fishery in 
the Western Regulatory Area. He also has established a directed fishing 
allowance of 1,130 mt, and set aside the remaining 200 mt as bycatch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for this component of 
the fishery in the Central Regulatory Area. These areas of the GOA were 
closed to directed fishing for Pacific cod by non-exempt AFA vessels on 
January 21, 2000 (65 FR 4520, January 28, 2000).
    NMFS has determined that as of February 18, 2000, 1,745 mt remain 
in the directed fishing allowance for the Western Regulatory Area and 
1,130 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance for the Central 
Regulatory Area. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure 
and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels that 
are non-exempt under the AFA in the Western and Central Regulatory Area 
of the GOA.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow 
participation of catcher vessels that are non-exempt under the AFA. 
Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment for this 
action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. NMFS finds 
for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot 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 22, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-4597 Filed 2-23-00; 3:59 pm]
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