[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4942]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 022500B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Central Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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 Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first seasonal allowance of Atka mackerel total allowable catch 
(TAC) specified for the Central Aleutian District.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 26, 
2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2000.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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.
    The Final 2000 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (65 FR 8282, 
February 18, 2000) established the first seasonal allowance of Atka 
mackerel TAC specified for the Central Aleutian District as 11,424 
metric tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal allowance of Atka mackerel TAC specified for the Central 
Aleutian District will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 11,174 
mt, and is setting aside the remaining 250 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 soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian 
District of the BSAI.
    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 
attained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the first seasonal allowance of Atka mackerel 
TAC specified for the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. 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 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 25, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-4942 Filed 2-25-00; 4:15 pm]
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