[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 46317-46318] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-22080] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 081799D] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod in the Central Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska
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 Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in that area.
Dates
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time, September 1, 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 is 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(a)(6)(iii) the 1999 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA was established as 38,642 metric tons (mt) by the Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (64 FR 12094, March 11, 1999) and subsequent reserve release (64 FR 16362, April 5, 1999). NMFS closed the inshore component fishery for Pacific cod in the Central Regulatory Area to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on March 14, 1999 (64 FR 13122, March 17, 1999). NMFS has determined that as of August 24, 1999, approximately 4,000 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component 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 Pacific cod TAC. Providing prior notice and opportunity for public comment for this action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Further delay would only disrupt the FMP objective of providing a portion of the Pacific cod TAC for vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component. 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 19, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-22080 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F