[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27736]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 101497A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Trawl Catcher Vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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 trawl 
catcher vessels in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable 
catch (TAC) of Pacific cod in that area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 15, 
1997, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish 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. 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 Secs. 679.20 (a)(7)(i)(B), the portion of the 
Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI was 
established as 63,450 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1997 Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997). The 
trawl catcher vessel portion was increased by a reallocation of the 
projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor allocation to 
65,450 mt (62 FR 51609, October 2, 1997). The Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 64,450 mt, and set aside the remaining 1,000 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery 
for Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI was closed to 
directed fishing under Secs. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on April 29, 1997, (62 
FR 24508, May 2, 1997).
    NMFS has determined that as of September 29, 1997, 2,432 mt remain 
in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 
previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI.

Classification

    All other 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. Providing prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the 
FMP objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for trawl 
catcher vessels in the BSAI. 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 Secs. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 14, 1997.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-27736 Filed 10-15-97; 3:26 pm]
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