[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50935-50936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21508]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991228352-0012-02; I.D. 081800B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 in 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 pollock by catcher 
vessels that are non-exempt under the

[[Page 50936]]

American Fisheries Act (AFA) in Statistical Areas 620 and 630 of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to allow non-exempt 
catcher vessels to participate in the pollock fishery in these areas 
consistent with regulations implementing the AFA.

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

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 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 amounts of the 2000 GOA AFA catcher vessel sideboards in 
Statistical Areas 620 and 630 were established by the Emergency Interim 
Rule to Implement Major Provisions of the American Fisheries Act (65 FR 
4520, January 28, 2000, and extended at 65 FR 39107, June 23, 2000) as 
864 mt, and 1,787 mt respectively in accordance with Sec. 679.63(b).
    In Statistical Area 620, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), has established a directed fishing allowance 
of 814 mt, and set aside the remaining 50 mt as bycatch to support 
other anticipated groundfish fisheries for this component of the 
fishery. In Statistical Area 630, the Regional Administrator has 
established a directed fishing allowance of 1,687 mt, and set aside the 
remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries for this component of the fishery. These areas of the GOA 
were closed to directed fishing for pollock by non-exempt AFA vessels 
on January 21, 2000 (65 FR 4520, January 28, 2000).
    NMFS has determined that as of August 12, 2000, 814 mt remain in 
the directed fishing allowance for Statistical Area 620 and 1,687 mt 
remain in the directed fishing allowance for Statistical Area 630. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for pollock by catcher vessels that are non-exempt 
under the AFA in Statistical Area 620 and Statistical Area 630 of the 
GOA.

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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: August 18, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-21508 Filed 8-18-00; 2:12 pm]
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