[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38166-38167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18314]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 071801D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Western 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 northern rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of 
northern rockfish in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 18, through 
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 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 northern rockfish for the Western Regulatory Area 
was established as 600 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 northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed 
fishing allowance of 550 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 50 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 northern 
rockfish in the Western 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 northern rockfish for the Western 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 
679.20(b)(3)(iii)(A), as such procedures

[[Page 38167]]

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 northern rockfish for the Western 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 18, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-18314 Filed 7-18-01; 4:11 pm]
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