[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 194 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25621]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 092900A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker 
and Rougheye Rockfish in the Eastern 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 retention of shortraker and rougheye 
rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
NMFS is requiring that catch of shortraker and rougheye rockfish in 
this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and 
discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary 
because the amount of the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in this area has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 2000, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hindman 907-586-7006 or 
[email protected].

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 amount of the 2000 TAC of shortraker and rougheye rockfish in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA was established as 590 metric 
tons by 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)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2000 TAC for 
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the 
GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches 
of shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of 
the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec.  
679.21(b).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. NMFS finds that implementing this action 
immediately to prevent overharvesting the amount of the 2000 TAC for 
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the 
GOA constitutes good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior 
notice and the opportunity for public comment pursuant to authority set 
forth at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such procedure would be impracticable 
and contrary to the public interest. Moreover, the fleet has taken the 
amount of the 2000 TAC for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. As further delay would only result 
in overharvest, NMFS finds that this constitutes good cause under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d), to waive the delay in the effective date.
    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: October 2, 2000.
Clarence Pautzke,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25621 Filed 10-2-00; 4:30 pm]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22 -S