Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 146 / Wednesday, July 30, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 40755

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334–7052–02; I.D.

072397C]

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic

Zone Off Alaska; ‘‘Other Rockfish’’

Species Group in the Central

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention

of the ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in

the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf

of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that

catches of the ‘‘other rockfish’’ species

group 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 ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group 1997

total allowable catch (TAC) in this area

has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), July 25, 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 MagnusonStevens 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 the ‘‘other rockfish’’

species group in the Central 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 650 metric tons

(mt). See § 679.20(c)(3)(ii).

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the

Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined that the 1997 TAC for

the ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA

has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is

requiring that further catches of the

‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the

Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be

treated as prohibited species in

accordance with § 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 the

‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the

Central 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 the ‘‘other

rockfish’’ species group. 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 § 679.20

and is exempt from review under E.O.

12866.

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

Dated: July 24, 1997.

Bruce Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–20008 Filed 7–25–97; 9:24 am]

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