[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 66 (Friday, April 5, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16325-16326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8301]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 011218304-1304-01; I.D. 040102E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
the West Yakutat District 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 the West 
YakutatDistrict of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary 
to prevent exceeding the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified 
for the West Yakutat District in the GOA.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 2, 2002, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 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 pollock TAC in the West Yakutat District, Statistical Area 640, 
was 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) as 1,165 metric tons 
(mt).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the TAC of 
pollock in the West Yakutat District will soon be reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance 
of 1,115 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 50 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 the West Yakutat District 
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 pollock TAC in the West Yakutat District 
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

[[Page 16326]]

the public interest. Similarly, the need to implement these measures in 
a timely fashion to prevent exceeding the pollock TAC in the West 
Yakutat District 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: April 2, 2002.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8301 Filed 4-2-02; 3:02 pm]
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