[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11262-11263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6018]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 030702D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific cod 
by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Inshore Component 
in the Central Regulatory Area 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 Pacific cod by 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in 
the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the A season amount of the Pacific cod 
total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod 
for processing by the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area 
of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 9, 2002, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 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 2002 A season Pacific cod TAC apportioned to vessels catching 
Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central 
Regulatory Area is 13,387 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 
amount of the Pacific cod TAC apportioned to

[[Page 11263]]

vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component of 
the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA will be reached. In accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(a)(11)(iii), Pacific cod bycatch taken between the 
closure of the A season and opening of the B season shall be deducted 
from the B season TAC apportionment. Therefore, the Regional 
Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 13,387 
mt. 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 Pacific 
cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in the Central Regulatory Area 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 
prevent exceeding the amount of the 2002 A season Pacific cod TAC 
specified for the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area 
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 A season Pacific cod TAC specified for the 
inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area 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: March 8, 2002.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-6018 Filed 3-8-02; 1:24 pm]
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