[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27380]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 990304063-9063-01; I.D. 101599C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin
Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels
using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1999 halibut
bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole
fishery category.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 15,
1999, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish
Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (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 established the
halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the BSAI trawl
yellowfin sole fishery, which is defined at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(1), as 955 metric tons (64 FR 12103, March 11,
1999).
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(v), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1999
halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin
sole fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Consequently, the Regional
Administrator is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels
using trawl gear in the BSAI.
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 to
prevent exceeding the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance
specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category. A delay in the
effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest.
The fleet will soon take the allowance. Further delay would only result
in the 1999 halibut bycatch mortality allowance for the trawl yellowfin
sole fishery category being exceeded. 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. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 15, 1999
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-27380 Filed 10-15-99; 3:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F