[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 42 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10398-10399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5282]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990115017-9017-01; I.D. 022699B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by
Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Inshore Component in the
Bering Sea Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 10399]]
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering
Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). NMFS adjusts the time of closure to prevent the underharvest of
the interim 1999 A2 season pollock total allowable catch (TAC)
specified to the inshore component in the BS of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 28,
1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 1, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Susan J. Salveson, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau AK 99802-1668.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI 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 appear at
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C)(1), the revised interim
1999 TAC amounts for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea (64 FR 3437,
January 22, 1999), and Section 206(b)(1) of the American Fisheries Act,
the interim A2 season TAC of pollock specified as a directed fishing
allowance for the inshore component for harvest within the BS is 52,452
metric tons.
Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore component is in excess of 5,000
mt per day.
Section 679.23(b) specifies that the time of all openings and
closures of fishing seasons other than the beginning and end of the
calendar fishing year is 1200 hrs, A.l.t. The Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the remaining portion of the
allocation to the inshore component would be underharvested if a 1200
hrs closure were allowed to occur. NMFS, in accordance with
Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(i), is adjusting the season for pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the BS by
closing directed fishing at 2400 hrs, A.l.t., February 28, 1999. NMFS
is taking this action to prevent the underharvest of the pollock
allocation to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the BS of the BSAI as authorized by
Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C). In accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(iii),
NMFS has determined that closing the season at 2400 hrs on February 27,
1999, is the least restrictive management adjustment to harvest the
pollock allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the BS of the BSAI and will allow other fisheries
to continue in noncritical areas and time periods.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
This action responds to the best available information recently
obtained from the fishery. Without this inseason adjustment, the
pollock allocation for vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the BS of the BSAI would be underharvested,
resulting in an economic loss of more than $500,000. Under
Sec. 679.25(c)(2), interested persons are invited to submit written
comments on this action to the above address until fifteen days from
the date of publication. This action is required by Sec. 679.22 and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Classification
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: February 26, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5282 Filed 3-1-99; 9:57 am]
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