[Federal Register: November 12, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 218)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 63221]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12no98-22]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 110598A]

 
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of 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 prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the amount of the 1998 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in 
this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 7, 
1998, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS 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. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations 
implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and CFR part 679.
    The Final 1998 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI 
established the initial TAC of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian 
District as 22,950 mt, and, through the apportionment of reserve 
allocated an additional 2,025 mt for a total of 24,975 mt (63 FR 12689, 
March 16, 1998). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the TAC for 
Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 23,975 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 
1,000 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. 
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator 
finds that this directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in 
the Western Aleutian District.
    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 overharvesting the 1998 TAC of Atka mackerel for the Western 
Aleutian District of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is 
impracticable and contrary to public interest. Further delay would only 
result in overharvest. NMFS finds for good cause that the 
implementation of this action should 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: November 5, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30229 Filed 11-6-98; 3:46 pm]
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