[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13698-13699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6193]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 030700B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Using Hook-and-line or Pot Gear in 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 closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first seasonal allowance of the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
Pacific cod allocated for vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in 
this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2000, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 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.
    The first seasonal allowance of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to 
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI during the time 
period January 1 to April 30 was established by the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 
2000) as 65,000 metric tons (mt). The second seasonal allowance for the 
time period May 1 to August 31 was established as 0 mt. See 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii) and Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal allowance of the TAC of Pacific cod

[[Page 13699]]

allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 64,900 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 100 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 will soon be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod 
for vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in 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 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal allowance of the 2000 TAC 
of Pacific cod allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in 
the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest. The Pacific cod directed fishing first seasonal 
allowance established for vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear will 
soon be reached. Further delay would only result in overharvest, which 
would disrupt the FMP's objective of providing sufficient Pacific cod 
to support bycatch needs in other anticipated groundfish fisheries 
throughout the year. 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: March 8, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-6193 Filed 3-9-00; 2:33 pm]
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