[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 151 (Friday, August 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47906-47907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 073100A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Arrowtooth 
Flounder 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 arrowtooth flounder 
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 arrowtooth flounder in this area.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907 596 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 Management Act. Regulations governing 
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
    The 2000 TAC of arrowtooth flounder for the Western Regulatory Area 
was established as 5,000 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 arrowtooth flounder in the Western Regulatory Area will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 4,900 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 100 
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

[[Page 47907]]

directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder 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 arrowtooth flounder 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 31, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-19715 Filed 8-1-00; 10:19 am]
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