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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19846]

[[Page 40474]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7052-02; I.D. 072297E]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
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 northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring 
that catches of northern 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 northern rockfish 1997 
total allowable catch (TAC) in this area has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 23, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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 1997 TAC of northern rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of 
the GOA was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) as 10 metric 
tons (mt). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1997 TAC for northern rockfish in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is requiring that further catches of northern 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. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent overharvesting the 1997 TAC for northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. Providing an opportunity for prior 
notice and comment would be impracticable and contrary to public 
interest. The fleet has already taken the directed fishing allowance 
for northern rockfish. Further delay would only result in overharvest 
and disrupt the FMP's objective of allowing incidental catch to be 
retained throughout the year. 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 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: July 23, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-19846 Filed 7-24-97; 9:56 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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