[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14863-14864]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6345]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 030801B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by
Vessels Catching Pollock for Processing by the Mothership Component in
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
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 pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the
Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the A
season limit of pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the
mothership component for harvest within the SCA has been reached.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 9, 2001,
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 1, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
[[Page 14864]]
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 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 amount of the 2001 A season limit of pollock TAC specified to
the mothership component for harvest within the SCA was established as
14,607 metric tons 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. 679.22(a)(11)(iv)(A)&(C) the
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the A season
limit of pollock TAC allocated to the mothership component for harvest
within the SCA has been reached. Consequently, in accordance with Sec.
679.22(a)(11)(iv)(D), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component
within the SCA in the BSAI.
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 limit of pollock TAC
specified to the mothership component for harvest within the SCA
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 limit of pollock total allowable
catch specified to the mothership component for harvest within the SCA
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. 679.22 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 9, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6345 Filed 3-9-01; 2:50 pm]
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