[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19850-19851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10725]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 041498A]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because 
the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to 
hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or 
demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 18, 1998, 
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., May 18, 1998.

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 groundfish other than demersal shelf rockfish, which is 
defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), was established by the Final 1998 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 
12, 1998) for the first season, the period January 1, 1998, through May 
17, 1998, as 250 mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal apportionment of the 1998 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other 
than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-
line gear in the GOA.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found at Sec. 679.20(e) 
and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the first seasonal apportionment of the 1998 
Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the 
groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by 
vessels using hook-and- line gear in the GOA. A delay in the effective 
date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The first 
seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-
line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf 
rockfish in the GOA has been caught. Further delay would only result in 
overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of apportioning 
Pacific halibut bycatch allowances throughout the year. NMFS finds for 
good cause that the implementation of this action can not 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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


[[Page 19851]]


    Dated: April 16, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-10725 Filed 4-17-98; 3:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F