[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 60 (Thursday, March 28, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14882-14883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7490]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 032502B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
by Vessels Catching Pacific Cod for Processing by the Offshore 
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 offshore 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 offshore component of the Central Regulatory 
Area of the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 25, 2002, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

[[Page 14883]]


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 offshore component in the Central 
Regulatory Area is 1,487 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 vessels catching Pacific 
cod for processing by the offshore 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 1,487 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 offshore 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 offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area 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 
Pacific cod TAC specified for the offshore component in the Central 
Regulatory Area of 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 Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: March 25, 2002.
John H. Dunigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-7490 Filed 3-25-02; 2:28 pm]
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