[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6726]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; 
I.D. 031301B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 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 pollock in 
Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the pollock 
total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 610 of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 2001, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 20, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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.
    Within any fishing year, under harvest or over harvest of a 
seasonal allowance may be added to or subtracted from the subsequent 
seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), provided that a revised 
seasonal allowance does not exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC 
apportionment (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C)). The combined A and B season 
allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 610 is 11,561 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). The Regional Administrator hereby 
reduces the B season pollock TAC by 2,011 mt, the amount of the A 
season pollock over harvest. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C), the B season allowance of pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 610 is 1,843 mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the B season allowance of the pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 610 will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 1,643 mt, 
and is setting aside the remaining 200 mt 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 be reached within 24 hours of the March 
15 opening date. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the GOA effective at 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., March 16, 2001.
    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 seasonal allocation of pollock in Statistical 
Area 610 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 seasonal 
allocation of pollock in Statistical Area 610 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 14, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6726 Filed 3-14-01; 2:48 pm]
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