[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17373-17374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7933]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 032601B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Catcher Vessels 60 Feet Length Overall and Longer Using Hook-and-
line Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Closure.

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[[Page 17374]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
catcher vessels 60 ft (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) and longer 
using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the A season apportionment of the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear in 
this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 27, 2001, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 10, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI 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 A season apportionment of the 2001 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI 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 a directed fishing allowance of 159 metric tons. See Sec.  
679.20(c)(3)(iii), Sec. 679.20(c)(7), and Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A) and 
(C).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A 
season apportionment of the 2001 Pacific cod TAC allocated as a 
directed fishing allowance to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear 
in the BSAI will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA 
and longer using hook-and-line gear 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 A season apportionment of the 2001 Pacific cod 
TAC allocated to catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear constitutes 
good cause to waive the requirement to provide prior notice 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 A season apportionment of the 2001 Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear 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 26, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-7933 Filed 3-27-01; 2:54 pm]
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