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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679
Docket ID: [Docket No. 000211039-0039-01; I.D. 072500D]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Closure.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Other Rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 26, 2000, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for other rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of other rockfish in this area.
SUMMARY: Other rockfish,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the MagnusonStevens 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 2000 TAC of other rockfish for the West Yakutat District was established as 250 metric tons (mt) in the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (65 FR 8298, February 18, 2000). See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2000 TAC for other rockfish in the West Yakutat District will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 200 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 50 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 other rockfish in the West Yakutat District of 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 to prevent overharvesting the 2000 TAC of other rockfish for the West Yakutat District of the GOA. A delay in the effective date is impracticable and contrary to the 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: July 26, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0019249 Filed 72600; 4:10 pm]
BILLING CODE 351022F
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780, fax 907- 4811781 or tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
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