[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13671-13672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5550]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 030201A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Inshore Component
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
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 Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season amount of the Pacific cod
total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod
for processing by the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2001,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY 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 2001 A season Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central
Regulatory Area is 16,335 metric tons (mt) as established by the Final
2001 Harvest Specifications and Associated Management Measures for the
Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season
amount of the Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the inshore component of the Central Regulatory
Area of the GOA will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator
is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 14,335 mt, and is
setting aside the remaining 2,000 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 will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting
[[Page 13672]]
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area 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. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, finds that the need to immediately implement this action to
prevent exceeding the amount of the 2001 A season Pacific cod TAC
specified for the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area
constitutes good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice
and opportunity for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth
at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 50 CFR 679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), as such
procedures would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest.
Similarly the need to implement these measures in a timely fashion to
prevent exceeding the 2001 A season Pacific cod TAC specified for the
inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area constitutes good cause
to find that the effective date 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 Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 2, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-5550 Filed 3-2-01; 3:51 pm]
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