[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16833]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 061898A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 610

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock inStatistical 
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the second seasonal apportionment of pollock total 
allowable catch (TAC) in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 19, 1998, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-486-6919.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOAexclusive 
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 second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC has been changed 
to 35 percent of the annual TAC (63 FR 31939, June 11, 1998) plus a 
proportionate amount of any unharvested first seasonal apportionment of 
TAC or minus a proportionate amount of TAC harvested in excess of the 
first seasonal apportionment (Sec. 679.20 (a)(5)(ii)(B)). This action 
was taken to limit potential impacts of pollock fishing on Stellar sea 
lions and their critical habitat during the fall months. The notice of 
Final 1998 Harvest Specifications (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) 
established a pollock TAC of 29,790 metric tons (mt) in Statistical 
Area 610 for the entire 1998 fishing year and apportioned 7,978 mt of 
that pollock TAC as the second seasonal apportionment. The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
established a directed fishing allowance of 7,478 mt and set aside the 
remaining 500 mt as bycatch in support of other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator found that the directed fishing allowance would soon be 
reached and NMFS closed the directed fishery for pollock in Statistical 
Area 610 of the GOA on June 3, 1998 (63 FR 30644, June 5, 1998). The 
fishery was reopened on June 8, 1998 (63 FR 31938, June 11, 1998) to 
fully utilize a revised second seasonal apportionment equal to 35 
percent of the annual of pollock TAC. The revised second seasonal 
apportionment of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is now 10,605 
mt.
    The Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing 
allowance of 10,105 mt and setting aside the remaining 500 mt as 
bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In 
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator has 
determined that the second seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 610 will be reached. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that the 
directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 until 
1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 1998.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the second seasonal TAC limitations and 
other restrictions on the fisheries established in the Final 1998 
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the GOA. It must be 
implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the second seasonal 
apportionment of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA. A 
delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest. Further delay would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds 
for good cause that the implementation of this action should 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 19, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-16833 Filed 6-19-98; 4:51 pm]
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