[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53736-53737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26798]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 101901D]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; Trawl Gear 
in 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 closing directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action 
is necessary because the 2001 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch 
(PSC) limit specified for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 21, 
2001, until 1200 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 Groundfish 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 at 50 CFR part 679.
    The Pacific halibut PSC limit for vessels using trawl was 
established as 2,000 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 adjusted (66 
FR 17087, March 29, 2001, and 66 FR 37167, July 17, 2001). The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, has determined, in accordance with 
Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), that vessels engaged in

[[Page 53737]]

directed fishing for groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA have caught 
the 2001 Pacific halibut PSC limit. Therefore, NMFS is closing the 
directed fishery for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, 
except for directed fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl 
gear in those portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing 
for pollock.
    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 
prevent exceeding the 2001 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified 
for trawl gear in 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 prevent exceeding the 2001 Pacific 
halibut bycatch allowance specified for trawl gear in 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 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 19, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-26798 Filed 10-19-01; 2:59 pm]
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