[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12739-12740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4863]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 010112013-1013-01; I.D. 022201A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
by Vessels Using Non-Pelagic Trawl Gear in the Red King Crab Savings
Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for groundfish with non-
pelagic trawl gear in the red king crab savings subarea (RKCSS) of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to utilize the amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit
specified for the RKCSS.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 23,
2001, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 27, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
[[Page 12740]]
(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 amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for
the RKCSS was established as 22,674 animals by the 2001 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish (66 FR 7276, January 22, 2001). The
directed fishery for groundfish with non-pelagic trawl gear was closed
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 18, 2001 in accordance with Sec.
679.21(e)(7)(ii)(B)(66 FR 11123, February 22, 2001) because it was
expected that the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the
RKCSS would be caught.
NMFS has determined that as of February 20, 2001, 6,000 red king
crab remain in the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the
RKCSS. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is re-
opening directed fishing for groundfish with non-pelagic trawl gear in
the RKCSS in accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B).
Classification
All other closures remain in full force and effect. 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 in order to allow full
utilization of the remaining amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch
limit specified for the RKCSS constitutes good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice 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 allow full utilization of the remaining
amount of the 2001 red king crab bycatch limit specified for the RKCSS
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. 679.21 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 22, 2001.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4863 Filed 2-23-01; 3:17 pm]
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