Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Sharpchin and Northern Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

AGENCY:

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION:

Closure.

SUMMARY:

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the amount of the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area has been achieved.

DATES:

Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 20, 2000, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2000.

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 2000 TAC of non-community development quota sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI was established as 4,764 metric tons in the Final 2000 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 2000). See § 679.20(c)(3)(iii).

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2000 TAC for sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI has been achieved. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI be treated as prohibited species in accordance with § 679.21(b).

Classification

This action responds to the best available information recently obtained from the fishery. It must be implemented immediately to prevent exceeding the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. A delay in the effective date is contrary to the public interest. The fleet has taken the amount of the 2000 TAC of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI. NMFS finds for good cause that the implementation of this action cannot 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 § 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.