[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7052-02; I.D. 092997A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 1, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-587-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii), the allowance for the 
Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for 
processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area was 
established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for 
the GOA and subsequent reserve apportionment (62 FR 8179, February 24, 
1997; 62 FR 19062, April 18, 1997) as 39,321 metric tons (mt).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 38,321 mt, and set aside the remaining 1,000 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery 
for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA was closed 
to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 11, 1997 (62 
FR 11770, March 13, 1997), in order to reserve amounts anticipated to 
be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries.
    NMFS has determined that as of September 20, 1997, 930 mt remain in 
the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
October 1, 1997.

Classification

    All closures remain in full force and effect. This action responds 
to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. 
It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full utilization 
of the Pacific cod TAC. Further delay would only disrupt the FMP's 
objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for processing 
by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 
Without this action, the Pacific cod allocation for vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA would be underharvested. The Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good cause that providing 
prior notice and public comment or delaying the effective date of this 
action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. 
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: September 30, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-26429 Filed 10-1-97; 1:36 pm]
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