[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22962]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 090100A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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 Atka mackerel with 
gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 
Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel allocated to these areas.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, September 5, 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 exclusive economic zone 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 at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
    The amount of the 2000 TAC of Atka mackerel for gears other than 
jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the 
BSAI was established as 15,018 metric tons (mt) by the Final 2000 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 
18, 2000). See Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the TAC for 
non-jig gear Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the 
Bering Sea subarea will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 14,518 
mt, and is setting aside the remaining 500 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 soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel with gears other than 
jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the 
BSAI.
    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 Atka mackerel with gears other 
than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of 
the BSAI. 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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 1, 2000.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-22962 Filed 9-1-00; 4:34 pm]
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