[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 38167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18315]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Central Aleutian District of 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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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 
in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This 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 18, 2001, 
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 
BSAI exclusive economic zone 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 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the Central Aleutian 
District was established as 2,368 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 Aleutian District will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 2,068 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 300 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 Aleutian District of 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 avoid 
exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the Central Aleutian 
District of the BSAI 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 avoid exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific 
ocean perch for the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI 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. 01-18315 Filed 7-18-01; 4:11 pm]
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