[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37166-37167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17836]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 071201A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Central Regulatory Area 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 Pacific ocean perch 
in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This is 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch 
(TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 12, 2001, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-2778.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
GOA exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery 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 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the Central Regulatory Area 
was established as 9,610 metric tons (mt) by the Final 2001 Harvest 
Specifications and Associated Management Measures for the Groundfish 
Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2001 TAC 
for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 8,610 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 1,000 
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 has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean 
perch in the Central Regulatory Area of 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 avoid 
exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the Central 
Regulatory Area of the GOA 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

[[Page 37167]]

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 avoid exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific 
ocean perch for the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 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: July 12, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-17836 Filed 7-12-01; 3:08 pm]
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