[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 68 (Friday, April 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 18257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8547]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No.000211040-0040-01; I.D. 040300A]


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

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 Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI) and is prohibiting trawling within Steller sea 
lion critical habitat in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI. 
These actions are necessary to fully utilize the 2000 A season harvest 
specification of Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the 
Central Aleutian District, and because the 2000 A season critical 
habitat percentage of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian 
District has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 3, 2000, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 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 A season apportionment of the 2000 TAC for Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District is 11,424, metric tons (mt), of which no more 
than 7,654 mt may be harvested from critical habitat (65 FR 8282, 
February 18, 2000). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii) and 
679.22(a)(8)(iii)(B).
    The directed fishery for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian 
District was closed to reserve amounts anticipated to be needed for 
incidental catch in other fisheries (65 FR 11249, March 2, 2000). NMFS 
has determined that as of March 18, 2000, approximately 2,000 mt 
remains in the A season Central Aleutian District directed fishing 
allowance.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has 
determined that the 2000 A season directed fishing allowance for Atka 
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District has not been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian District of 
the BSAI.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.22(a)(8)(iii)(A), the Regional 
Administrator, has determined that the A season allowable harvest of 
Atka mackerel in Steller Sea lion critical habitat within the Central 
Aleutian District as specified under the 2000 harvest specifications 
has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting trawling in 
critical habitat, as defined at 50 CFR part 226, Table 1 and Table 2 in 
the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI.

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to fully 
utilize the 2000 harvest specification of Atka mackerel TAC in the 
Central Aleutian District and to avoid jeopardy to the continued 
existence of Steller sea lions. 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 Sec. 679.22 and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: April 3, 2000
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-8547 Filed 4-3-00; 4:55 pm]
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