[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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