[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 13, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 77836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31733]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 120800B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher Processor Vessels Using Hook-and-line in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands

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 
catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
to prevent exceeding the 2000 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
cod allocated for catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in 
this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 9, 
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 share of the 2000 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher 
processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI was established 
by the Revision of the 2000 BSAI Pacific cod Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 51553, August 24, 2000) and subsequent 
reallocation (65 FR 65272, November 1, 2000) as a directed fishing 
allowance of 81,958 mt. See Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii) and Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(i)(A)&(C).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 
2000 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to catcher processor vessels using 
hook-and-line gear as a directed fishing allowance in the BSAI will 
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
Pacific cod for vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear 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. It must be implemented immediately in order 
to prevent overharvesting the 2000 TAC of Pacific cod allocated to 
catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI. NMFS 
finds that the prevention of overharvesting of Pacific cod constitutes 
good cause to waive the requirement for prior notice and comment 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C 553(b)(B) as such procedures are contrary to the 
public interest. The Pacific cod directed fishing allowance established 
for catcher processor vessels using hook-and-line gear will soon be 
reached. Further delay would only result in overharvest. NMFS finds for 
good cause that the implementation of this action can 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 Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: December 8, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-31733 Filed 12-8-00; 4:44 pm]
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