[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15359-15360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6728]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in West 
Yakutat

[[Page 15360]]

District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified for 
the West Yakutat District in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 1, 2001, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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.
    The pollock TAC in the West Yakutat District, Statistical Area 640, 
was established by the Final 2001 Harvest Specifications and Associated 
Management Measures for the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 
7276, January 22, 2001) as 2,235 metric tons (mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the TAC of pollock in the West Yakutat District 
will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is 
establishing a directed fishing allowance of 2,035 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 
soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
pollock in the West Yakutat Districtof the GOA.
    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 pollock TAC in the West Yakutat District 
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 pollock TAC in the West Yakutat District 
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. 01-6728 Filed 3-14-01; 2:48 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S