[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27669]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 100898B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Central 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 Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC)
of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the offshore component in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 9, 1998,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-486-6919.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The 1998 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory
Area was established as 3,337 metric tons by the Final 1998 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998).
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 1998 TAC
of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA
will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing
a directed fishing allowance of 2,000 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 1,337 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 will soon be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore
component in the Central 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 1998 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is
impracticable and contrary to public interest, and 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: October 8, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-27669 Filed 10-9-98; 2:34 pm]
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