[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 26, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24592]



[[Page 57746]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 091900A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharpchin 
and Northern Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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 sharpchin and northern 
rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of 
sharpchin and 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 amount of the 2000 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area 
has been achieved.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 20, 
2000, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish 
Fishery 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. Regulations 
governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP appear at 
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 2000 TAC of non-community development quota sharpchin and 
northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI was 
established as 4,764 metric tons in the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 
2000). See Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2000 TAC for 
sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the 
BSAI has been achieved. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further 
catches of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea of the BSAI 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 exceeding the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern 
rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the 
effective date is contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken 
the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea of 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 Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: September 20, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-24592 Filed 9-20-00; 4:44 pm]
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