[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39242-39243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19508]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 071698F]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; ``Other 
Rockfish'' in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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 ``other rockfish'' in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
``other rockfish'' in this area.

DATES: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 19, 1998, until 2400 
hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone 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. 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998) 
established the amount of the 1998 TAC of ``other rockfish'' in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska as 1,500 metric tons 
(mt). The directed fishery for ``other rockfish'' in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area was closed in conjunction with the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12697, March 16, 1998) 
and reopened on July 12, 1998, (63 FR 38341, July 16, 1998).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1998 TAC 
for ``other rockfish'' will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,400 mt 
and is setting aside the remaining 100 mt as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this 
directed fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for ``other rockfish'' in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. It must be

[[Page 39243]]

implemented immediately to prevent overharvesting the 1998 TAC of 
``other rockfish'' for the Eastern Regulatory Area 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 17, 1998.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-19508 Filed 7-17-98; 2:14 pm]
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