[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 28, 1999)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 22815] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-10632] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 042399A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Deep-water Species Fishery by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 species that comprise the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the second seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified to the deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught.
Dates
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 25, 1999, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 4, 1999.
For Further Information Contact
Tom Pearson, 907-481-1780 or tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
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. The Final 1999 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999) established the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance for the GOA trawl deep-water species fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)(B), for the second season, the period April 1, 1999, through July 3, 1999, as 300 metric tons. In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl deep-water species fishery in the GOA has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. The species and species groups that comprise the deep-water species fishery are: All rockfish of the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish. 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 implemented immediately in order to prevent overharvesting the second seasonal apportionment of the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl deep-water species fishery in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The second seasonal apportionment of the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance has been caught. Further delay would only result in overharvest which would disrupt the FMP's objective of apportioning Pacific halibut mortality 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.
Dated: April 23, 1999. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-10632 Filed 4-23-99; 1:56 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F