[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3269]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 020402F]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
by Vessels Using Non-pelagic Trawl Gear in the Red King Crab Savings 
Subarea

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 with non-
pelagic trawl gear in the red king crab savings subarea (RKCSS) of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the amount of the 2002 red king crab 
bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 6, 
2002, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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 CFR part 679.
    The 2002 red king crab bycatch limit for the RKCSS is 20,924 
animals 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.  679.21(e)(7)(ii)(B), the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the amount of the 2002 red 
king crab bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS will be caught. 
Consequently, NMFS is closing the RKCSS to directed fishing for 
groundfish with non-pelagic trawl gear.
    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 amount of the 2002 red king crab bycatch limit specified 
for the RKCSS 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 amount of the 2002 
red king crab bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS 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.  679.21 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 6, 2002.
Bruce Moorehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-3269 Filed 2-6-02; 3:29 pm]
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