[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 63 (Friday, March 31, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17204-17205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7989]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991228352-0012-02; I.D. 032700E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Opens 
Directed Fishing for Several Groundfish Species in the 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 flathead sole, shallow 
water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and deep water flatfish by catcher 
vessels that are non-exempt under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to allow non-exempt catcher vessels to participate in these 
fisheries consistent with regulations implementing the AFA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 28, 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 sideboards in the 
Central Regulatory Area was established by the Emergency Interim Rule 
to Implement Major Provisions of the American Fisheries Act (65 FR 
4520, January 28, 2000) in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i) as 
follows: For flathead sole, 49 metric tons (mt), shallow water 
flatfish, 544 mt, arrowtooth flounder, 515 mt and deep water flatfish, 
168 mt.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(iv), a directed 
fishing allowance for these fisheries as follows: For flathead sole, 40 
mt, shallow water flatfish, 500 mt, arrowtooth flounder, 500 mt and 
deep water flatfish, 150 mt, and set aside the remaining amounts as 
bycatch to support other anticipated fishing activity by the non-exempt 
catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area. This area of the GOA 
was 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 March 23, 2000, sufficient amounts 
remain in the directed fishing allowances for these species and species 
groups in the Central Regulatory Area to sustain a directed fishery. 
Therefore,

[[Page 17205]]

NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed 
fishing for flathead sole, shallow water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, 
and deep water flatfish by catcher vessels that are non-exempt under 
the AFA in the 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: March 28, 2000.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-7989 Filed 3-28-00; 3:53 pm]
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