Fishery conservation and management: Pacific Ocean perch,
[Federal Register: July 12, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 134)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36492-36493]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy01-20]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 010122013-1013-01; I.D. 070901A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch 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.
SUMMARY: MFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This is action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 9, 2001, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2001.
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 the Groundfish Fishery of the
[[Page 36493]]
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 CFR part 679.
The 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the West Yakutat District was established as 870 metric tons (mt) 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 2001 TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 820 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 has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 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 avoid exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the West Yakutat District 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 avoid exceeding the 2001 TAC of Pacific ocean perch for the West Yakutat District 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: July 9, 2001. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 01-17481Filed7-9-01; 3:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
