[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 82 (Thursday, April 27, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10513]



[[Page 24655]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 042400A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher 
vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the portion of the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod 
allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 24, 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 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.
    The portion of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels 
using trawl gear in the BSAI was established by the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 
2000) as 41,953 metric tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii) and 
Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the portion 
of the TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using trawl gear 
in the BSAI will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 37,953 mt, and is setting 
aside the remaining 4,000 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 closing directed fishing for 
Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in 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 overharvesting the 2000 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to 
catcher vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI. A delay in the effective 
date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The Pacific 
cod directed fishing allowance established for catcher vessels will 
soon be reached. Further delay would only result in overharvest which 
would disrupt the FMP's objective of providing sufficient Pacific cod 
to support bycatch needs in other anticipated groundfish fisheries 
throughout the year. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation 
of this action can 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: April 24, 2000.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10513 Filed 4-24-00; 1:23 pm]
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