Browse: Departments Dates Agencies
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679
Docket ID: [Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 082500A]
NOTICE: RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Closure.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Species in the Rock sole/Flathead sole/``Other flatfish'' Fishery Category by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 25, 2000, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for species in the rock sole/ flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2000 Pacific halibut by catch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category.
SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 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 Final 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (65 FR 8282, February 18, 2000) and subsequent technical amendment (65 FR 42302, June 10, 2000) established the halibut bycatch mortality allowance for the BSAI trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(2), as 779 metric tons.
In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(v), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2000 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Consequently, the Regional Administrator is closing directed fishing for species in the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category 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).
This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to prevent exceeding the 2000 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category. Providing prior notice and an opportunity for public comment on this action is impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The fleet will soon take the allowance. Further delay would only result in the 2000 halibut bycatch allowance being exceeded. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot be delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under U.S.C. 553(d), a delay in the effective date is hereby waived.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0022216 Filed 82500; 3:39 pm]
Billing Code: 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
Common CFR Searches
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 47 CFR Part 73 50 CFR Part 17 33 CFR Part 117 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 26 CFR Part 301 50 CFR Part 622 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 44 CFR Part 65 50 CFR Part 660 40 CFR Part 271 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 47 CFR Part 64 50 CFR Part 665 49 CFR Part 571 44 CFR Part 64 21 CFR Part 522 14 CFR Part 23 47 CFR Part 76