[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47693-47694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19586]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 072800A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock for 
Processing by the Inshore Component in the Bering Sea Subarea

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 by ``open 
access'' vessels (i.e., those vessels that are not fishing in 
cooperatives), which are catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the amount of the C/D season allocation of pollock total 
allowable catch (TAC) specified for ``open access'' vessels in the 
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 29, 2000, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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)(D)(3) and the revised 
interim 2000 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (65 FR 
39107, June 23, 2000), the C/D season allocation of pollock TAC 
specified to the ``open access'' vessels in the Bering Sea subarea is 
17,953 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the C/D 
season allocation of pollock TAC specified for the ``open access'' 
vessels, which are catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component in the Bering Sea subarea will be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing the C/D season allocation of 
pollock TAC as the directed fishing allowance 
(Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(D)(2)). In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this 
directed fishing allowance soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by ``open access'' vessels, 
which are catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in 
the Bering Sea subarea.
    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/D season allocation of pollock TAC specified 
for the vessels not participating in cooperatives catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea. A delay 
in the

[[Page 47694]]

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 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 28, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-19586 Filed 7-28-00; 4:39 pm]
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