[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 43485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21533]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 080897B]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Shallow-
water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 closing directed fishing for species that comprise the 
shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic 
trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for 
pollock. This action is necessary because the third seasonal bycatch 
allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the shallow-water species 
fishery in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 11, 1997, 
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 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 prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific 
halibut for the GOA trawl shallow-water species fishery, which is 
defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(A), was established as 200 metric 
tons by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA 
(62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) for the third season, the period July 
1, 1997 through September 30, 1997.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the third 
seasonal apportionment of the 1997 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for the trawl shallow-water species fishery in the 
GOA has been caught. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is 
closing directed fishing for the species that comprise the shallow-
water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except 
for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. The species 
and species groups that comprise the shallow-water species fishery are: 
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka 
mackerel, and ``other species''.
    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. It must be implemented immediately to 
prevent exceeding the third seasonal allowance of halibut mortality in 
the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to 
public interest. The fleet will soon take the seasonal allowance of 
halibut mortality. Further delay would only result in the seasonal 
allowance being exceeded and disrupt the FMP's objective of seasonally 
apportioning halibut mortality throughout the year. NMFS finds for good 
cause that the implementation of this action cannot be delayed for 30 
days. Accordingly, under U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date 
is hereby waived.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-21533 Filed 8-11-97; 12:13 pm]
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