[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3126-3127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1631]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 011602C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 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 pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the pollock 
total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 630.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 21, 
2002, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2002.

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 50 CFR part 679.
    The A season allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 
is 1,122 metric tons (mt) as established by an emergency rule 
implementing 2002 harvest specifications and associated management 
measures for the groundfish fisheries off Alaska (67 FR 956, January 8, 
2002).
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the A season 
allowance of the pollock TAC in Statistical Area 630 will soon be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 522 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 600 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 will soon be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock 
in Statistical Area 630. 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 amount of the 2002 A season pollock TAC specified 
for Statistical Area 630 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 prevent exceeding the 2002 A season 
pollock TAC specified for Statistical Area 630 of the GOA constitutes 
good cause to find that the effective date of this action cannot be 
delayed for 30 days. Accordingly, under

[[Page 3127]]

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: January 17, 2002.
Jonathan M. Kurland,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-1631 Filed 1-17-02; 4:24 pm]
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