[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 17373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7932]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 000831250-0250-01; 031901D]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of Fishery for Pacific 
Mackerel

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

ACTION: Closure of fishery for Pacific mackerel.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the fishery for Pacific mackerel 
in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast at 12 a.m. on 
March 27, 2001. The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual 
harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on a formula in the FMP 
and to close the fishery when the harvest guideline is reached. The 
harvest guideline of 20,740 metric tons (mt) has been reached. 
Following this date no more than 1 mt of Pacific mackerel may be landed 
from any fishing trip. The effect of this action is to ensure 
conservation of the Pacific mackerel resource.

DATES: Effective at 12 a.m. on March 27, 2001 through June 30, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James J. Morgan, Southwest Region, 
NMFS, 562-980-4036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 11, 2000, NMFS announced a 
harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel in the Federal Register (65 FR 
54817) of 20,740 mt for the fishing season of July 1, 2000, through 
June 30, 2001. The harvest guideline was based on an annual biomass 
estimate and calculated by a formula in the FMP applying information on 
that portion of the stock in U.S. waters and the required harvest rate 
above a minimum biomass.
    On October 27, 2000, (65 FR 65272, November 1, 2000), the directed 
fishery for Pacific mackerel was closed and an incidental landing of 
Pacific mackerel of 20 percent of the total weight of all coastal 
pelagic species was implemented. Subsequent changes to the incidental 
landing provision were published on November 17, 2000 (65 FR 69483), 
and February 22, 2001 (65 FR 11119).
    As of March 12, 2001, 20,751 mt of Pacific mackerel has been 
harvested; therefore, the fishery must be closed.
    For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the FMP and its 
regulations governing closure of the fishery, the fishery for Pacific 
mackerel will be closed at 12 a.m. on March 27, 2001, after which time 
no more than 1 mt of any landing may be Pacific mackerel.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 660.509 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 27, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-7932 Filed 3-27-01; 2:54 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S