[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4158]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 021301C]


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 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 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 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 14, 
2001, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 15, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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 
outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area is 5,474 metric tons (mt) 
as established by the Final 2001 Harvest Specifications and Associated 
Management Measures for the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska (66 FR 
7276, January 22, 2001).
    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 outside the 
Shelikof Strait conservation area will soon be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 
4,874 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 
outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area in 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 2001 A season pollock TAC specified 
for Statistical Area 630 outside the Shelikof Strait conservation area 
in 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 2001 A season 
pollock TAC specified for Statistical Area 630 outside the Shelikof 
Strait conservation 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 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 13, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4158 Filed 2-14-01; 4:37 pm]
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