Federal Register: RULES Fishery conservation and management: [50 CFR Part 679]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679

Docket ID: [Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 050800A]

NOTICE: RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Closure.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 18, 2000, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2000.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using hookandline gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish. This action is necessary because the second seasonal halibut bycatch mortality allowance apportioned to hookandline gear targeting groundfish other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the GOA has been caught.

SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Gulf of Alaska groundfish,

SUPPLEMENTAL 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 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (65 FR 8298, February 18, 2000) established the Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for groundfish included in the other hookandline fishery, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), for the second season, the period May 18, 2000, through August 31, 2000, as 15 metric tons. The other hookandline fishery includes all groundfish, except sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish.

In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of the 2000 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the hookandline 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 hookand 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 overharvesting the second seasonal apportionment of the 2000 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for the groundfish fisheries other than sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish by vessels using hookandline gear in the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The second seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hookandline 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.
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Dated: May 10, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0012297 Filed 51500; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 351022F

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