[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10637-10638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4035]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 021301B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Trawling in 
Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas in the Western Aleutian District of 
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 trawling within Steller sea lion 
protection areas in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the A season critical habitat limit of the 2001 total 
allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central 
Aleutian District.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 13, 
2001, until the directed fishery for Atka mackerel closes within the 
Western Aleutian District, which will be published in the Federal 
Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

[[Page 10638]]


SUPPLEMENTARY 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 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 apportionment of TAC for Atka mackerel in the 
Western Aleutian District is 12,904 metric tons (mt), of which no more 
than 6,194 mt may be harvested from Steller Sea lion protection areas 
(66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001). See Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 
679.22(a)(12)(iii)(B).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.22 (a)(12)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 
allowable harvest of Atka mackerel in the Steller Sea lion protection 
areas in the Western Aleutian District has been reached. Consequently, 
NMFS is prohibiting trawling in selected rookery and haul out sites, as 
defined at Table 21 to 50 CFR Part 679 in the Western Aleutian District 
of the BSAI.

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 avoid 
jeopardy to the continued existence of Steller sea lions constitutes 
good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice opportunity 
for public comment pursuant to the authority set forth at 5 USC 
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 avoid jeopardy to 
the continued existence of Steller sea lions constitutes good cause to 
find that the effective date of this action cannot be delayed for 30 
days.
    This action is required by Sec.  679.20 and 679.22 and is exempt 
from review under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 13, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4035 Filed 2-13-01; 3:20 pm]
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