[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16532-16533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7696]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 032300A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock 
Within the Shelikof Strait Conservation Area 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 prohibiting directed fishing for pollock within the 
Shelikof Strait conservation area in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for the Shelikof Strait 
conservation area in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 25, 2000, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 20, 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. 679.22(b)(3)(iii)(C), the B season 
allowance of the pollock TAC within the Shelikof Strait conservation 
area is 6,996 metric tons (mt) as established by the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish (65 FR 8298, February 18, 2000) and 
subsequent correction (65 FR 11909, March 7, 2000).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region,

[[Page 16533]]

NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the B season 
allowance of the pollock TAC within the Shelikof Strait conservation 
area will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 6,696 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 300 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.22(b)(3)(iii)(A), the 
Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will 
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
pollock within the Shelikof Strait conservation area in the GOA.
    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 to 
prevent overharvesting the seasonal allocation of pollock within the 
Shelikof Strait conservation area. Providing prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment 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: March 23, 2000.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-7696 Filed 3-24-00; 4:29 pm]
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