[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15360-15361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6727]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 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 630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area in 
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 630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 17, 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 630 outside Shelikof 
Strait is 8,211 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 increases the B season pollock TAC by 227 
mt, the amount of the A season under harvest. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C), the B season allowance of pollock TAC in 
Statistical Area 630 outside Shelikof Strait is 2,964 mt. This adjusted 
B season TAC does exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC.
    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 630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area will 
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing 
a directed fishing allowance of 2,464 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 500 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 48 hours of the March 15 opening date. Consequently, 
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 
630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area in the GOA effective 
at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 17, 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 630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 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

[[Page 15361]]

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 630 
outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 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. 01-6727 Filed 3-14-01; 2:48 pm]
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