[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 185 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23798]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 091901A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of Pacific ocean 
perch in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species 
and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary 
because the amount of the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific 
ocean perch in this area has been achieved.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 19, 
2001, until 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 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 amount of the 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch in the Central 
Aleutian District of the BSAI was established as 2,368 metric tons 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)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2001 TAC for 
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI has 
been achieved. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of 
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b).

Classification

    This action responds to the best available information recently 
obtained from the fishery. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 
NOAA, finds the need to immediately implement this action because the 
amount of the 2001 TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian 
District of the BSAI has been achieved 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 because the amount of the 2001 TAC for 
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District of the BSAI has 
been achieved 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: September 19, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-23798 Filed 9-19-01; 4:32 pm]
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