[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40538-40539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16535]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991228352-0012-02; I.D. 062100A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rockfish and 
Pacific Ocean Perch in the Central and Eastern Regulatory Areas of 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 Pacific ocean perch and 
northern rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area, and Pacific ocean 
perch in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by 
catcher vessels that are non-exempt under the American Fisheries Act 
(AFA). 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.), July 4, 2000, 
until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2000, or until NMFS publishes 
further notice in the Federal Register.

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

[[Page 40539]]

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 interim 2000 GOA AFA catcher vessel sideboards in 
the Central Regulatory Area for Pacific ocean perch and northern 
rockfish are 639 metric tons (mt) and 138 mt respectively and for 
Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Regulatory Area, 57 mt. These 
amounts were established by the Emergency Interim Rule to Implement 
Major Provisions of the American Fisheries Act (65 FR 4520, January 28, 
2000). This emergency interim rule was extended through January 16, 
2001 (65 FR 39107, June 23, 2000), in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a directed fishing allowance and bycatch amounts to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for this component as 
follows: For the Central Regulatory Area Pacific ocean perch fishery, 
the directed fishing amount is 619 mt, and the bycatch amount is 20 mt. 
For the Central Regulatory Area northern rockfish fishery the directed 
fishing amount is 118 mt, and the bycatch amount is 20 mt. For the 
Eastern Regulatory Area Pacific ocean perch fishery, the directed 
fishing amount is 52 mt and the bycatch amount is 5 mt. These fisheries 
were closed to directed fishing by non-exempt AFA vessels on January 
21, 2000 (65 FR 4520, January 28, 2000).
    NMFS has determined that as of July 4, 2000, sufficient amounts 
remain in these directed fishing allowances to allow for the fisheries 
to occur. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closures and is 
opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central and 
Eastern Regulatory Areas, and for northern rockfish in the Central 
Regulatory Area by catcher vessels that are non-exempt under the AFA.

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: June 26, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-16535 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
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