[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38574-38575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18527]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010122013-1013-01; I.D. 071901C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pelagic 
Shelf Rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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[[Page 38575]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pelagic shelf 
rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska(GOA). This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch 
(TAC) of pelagic shelf rockfish in this area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 20, 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 
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 CFR part 679.
    The 2001 TAC of pelagic shelf rockfish for the West Yakutat 
District was established as 580 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 and 66 FR 
37167, July 17, 2001).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 2001 TAC 
for pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat District will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 570 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 10 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 pelagic 
shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat District 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 pelagic shelf rockfish for the West Yakutat 
District 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 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 pelagic 
shelf rockfish for the West Yakutat District 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 20, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-18527 Filed 7-20-01; 3:35 pm]
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