[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27043-27044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12365]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 043001B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
Fisheries by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 27044]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast Outside District. 
This action is necessary because the second seasonal bycatch mortality 
allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear 
targeting groundfish other than sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish 
in the Southeast Outside District has been reached.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 17, 2001, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., August 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), as 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 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for groundfish 
included in the other hook-and-line fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C), was established by the Final 2001 Harvest 
Specifications and Associated Management Measures for the Groundfish 
Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001) and subsequent 
adjustment (66 FR 17087, March 29, 2001) for the second season, the 
period May 17, 2001, through August 31, 2001, as 0 metric tons (mt). 
Under 50 CFR 679.21(d)(5), 30 mt of the Pacific halibut hook-and-line 
prohibited species catch (PSC) limit was moved from the May 17 through 
August 31 seasonal allowance to the January 1 through May 17 seasonal 
allowance in order to accommodate new Pacific cod seasons implemented 
under an emergency rule (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001) and to optimize 
the harvest of Pacific cod.
    The other hook-and-line fishery includes all groundfish except 
sablefish in the GOA and demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast 
Outside District.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(ii), NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for groundfish other than sablefish in the GOA or 
demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast Outside District by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear.
    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 because 
the Pacific halibut hook-and-line PSC limit for the second seasonal 
bycatch mortality allowance has been reached 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 because the Pacific 
halibut hook-and-line PSC limit for the second seasonal allowance has 
been reached 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. 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: May 10, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-12365 Filed 5-15-01; 8:45 am]
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