[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 072400C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 northern rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
northern rockfish in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 24, 2000, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780, fax 907-
481-1781 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery 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 2000 TAC of northern rockfish for the Western Regulatory Area 
was established as 630 metric tons (mt) in the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (65 FR 8298, February 18, 
2000). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2000 TAC 
for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 580 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 50 mt 
as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern 
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of 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 2000 TAC of northern rockfish for the 
Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date 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: July 24, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-19037 Filed 7-24-00; 4:51 pm]
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