[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 46317] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-22079] [[Page 46317]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 081799E] Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line 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 groundfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.
Dates
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
For Further Information Contact
Thomas 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 mortality allowance for groundfish included in the other hook-and-line fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), for 1999 as 290 metric tons. The other hook-and-line fishery includes all groundfish, except sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish. In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the hook-and-line groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. 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 exceeding the 1999 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The 1999 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught. 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: August 19, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-22079 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F