[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 131 (Friday, July 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17231]



[[Page 41883]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 070300A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Open Access 
Sector Fishing Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Inshore 
Component in the Bering Sea

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 in the 
Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI) by ``open access'' vessels (i.e., those 
vessels that are not fishing in cooperatives), which are catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component. This action is 
necessary because the interim C season inside the SCA of allocation of 
pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified for the ``open access'' 
vessels within the SCA will be reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 3, 2000, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 20, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(2), Sec. 679.20 
(a)(5)(i)(D)(3), and the revised interim 2000 TAC amounts for pollock 
in the Bering Sea subarea (65 FR 3892, January 25, 2000; 65 FR 4520, 
January 28, 2000; and 65 FR 39107, June 23, 2000), the interim C season 
allocation of TAC specified to the ``open access'' vessels, not fishing 
in cooperatives, catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component is 2,582 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A) and (C)(3) the 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has 
determined that the interim C season allocation of pollock TAC 
specified to the ``open access'' vessels for harvest within the SCA 
will be reached.
    Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
the SCA by ``open access'' vessels catching pollock for processing by 
the inshore component, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(iv).
    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 exceeding the C season allocation of pollock TAC specified 
to the ``open access'' vessels, not fishing in cooperatives, of the 
inshore pollock component, for harvest within the SCA. A delay in the 
effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
Further delay would result in noncompliance with reasonable and prudent 
management measures implemented to promote the recovery of the 
endangered Steller sea lion. 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. 679.22 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 3, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-17231 Filed 7-3-00; 2:31 pm]
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