[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 19666] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-10517] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 041498B] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock 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 retention of pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of pollock 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 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in this area has been reached.
Dates
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 18, 1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 the Groundfish Fishery 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 amount of the 1998 TAC of pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA was established as 5,580 metric tons by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (63 FR 12027, March 12, 1998). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 1998 TAC for pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA 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 overharvesting the amount of the 1998 TAC for pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken the amount of the 1998 TAC for pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. Further delay would only result in overharvest and disrupt the FMP's objective of not exceeding the TAC throughout the year. 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 E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 15, 1998. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-10517 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F