Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43296-43297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20528]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 071699A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area (GOA). 
This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 total allowable 
catch (TAC) of northern rockfish in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, August 6, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

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 amount of the 1999 TAC of northern rockfish in the Central 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska was established by the Final 1999

[[Page 43297]]

Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 
11, 1999) as 4,150 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has established a directed fishing allowance of 3,650 mt, and is 
setting aside the remaining 500 mt as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery for northern rockfish in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA was closed to directed fishing 
under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 19, 1999, (64 FR 39090, July 21, 
1999).
    NMFS has determined that as of July 24, 1999, 700 mt remain in the 
directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

Classification

    All other closures remain in full force and effect. This action 
responds to the best available information recently obtained from the 
fishery. It must be implemented immediately in order to allow full 
utilization of the northern rockfish TAC. Providing prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest. 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: August 4, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-20528 Filed 8-5-99; 4:08 pm]
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