[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55438-55439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26596]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 100699B]
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.
ACTION: Closure.
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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 of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 pollock
total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the inshore component in the
Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.) October 6, 1999,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 section 206(b)(1) of the American Fisheries Act
(AFA), 50 percent of the remainder of the pollock TAC in the BSAI,
after the subtraction of the allocation to the pollock Community
Development Quota and the subtraction of allowances for the incidental
catch of pollock by vessels harvesting other groundfish species, shall
be allocated as a directed fishing allowance to catcher vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore component. Pursuant to
the AFA, the final 1999 amount of pollock allocated as a directed
fishing allowance for processing by the inshore component of the Bering
Sea subarea is 423,187 metric tons (64 FR 12103, March 11, 1999).
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 pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in
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 in order
to prevent exceeding the final 1999 pollock TAC specified to the
inshore component in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the
effective date 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
[[Page 55439]]
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 6, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-26596 Filed 10-6-99; 4:42 pm]
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