The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 108th meeting February 12 through February 15, 2001, in Honolulu, HI.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 9 to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP), which was submitted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) and which was approved on March 22, 2001. Amendment 9 was prepared to provide for documentation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the availability of a draft biological opinion on authorization of the pelagic fisheries under the Fishery Management Plan for the Pelagics Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS has determined that the Indian tribal fishery will be unable to harvest 10,000 metric tons (mt) of their 2001 Pacific whiting (whiting) allocation. NMFS therefore, announces the reapportionment of surplus whiting from the tribal allocation to the catcher/processor, mothership, and shorebased sectors. This action is intended to provide for the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the following inseason actions for the ocean salmon fishery: Closure of the commercial fishery for all salmon except coho in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR, on June 15, 2001, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.), and modification of the weekly opening period for the commercial fishery for all salmon (except coho)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces closure of the 2001 catcher/processor fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) at 1800 hours local time (l.t.) November 13, 2001, because the allocation for the catcher/processor sector will be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting within the 2001 allocation levels.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the end of the 2001 primary season for the shorebased fishery for Pacific whiting (whiting) and resumption of pertrip limits at 12 noon local time (l.t.) August 21, 2001, because the allocation is projected to be reached by that time. This action is intended to keep the harvest of whiting at the 2001 allocation levels.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the limit on the number of longline sets specified for Hawaii longline fishing restricted Area B, from January 1, 2001, through March 14, 2001, will not be reached. Therefore, NMFS will allow longline fishing to continue in Area B through March 14, 2001. Further, NMFS clarifies that from March 15, 2001 through May 31, 2001, the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces modification of the landing requirements for the commercial salmon fishery (except coho) in the area from the U.S. Canada Border to Cape Falcon, OR, to allow salmon caught in the area to be landed in Oregon. The modified provision requires that vessels land and deliver fish within the area (U.S.Canada Border to Cape Falcon), or

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces a modification of the limited retention regulation for the commercial fishery from Humbug Mt., OR, to the ORCA border, suspending the possession and landing limit of 30 fish per day until further notice. This action was effective at 0001 hours local time (l.t.) on August 9, 2001. The fishery continues through the earlier of August

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces changes to the restriction on landings of Pacific mackerel for individuals participating in the coastal pelagic species (CPS) fishery and for individuals involved in other fisheries who harvest small amounts of Pacific mackerel. The incidental limit on landings of 20 percent by weight of Pacific mackerel in landings of Pacific

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off
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the Pacific coast. The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on a formula in the FMP. The intended effect

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 14 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 14 would implement a permit stacking program for limited entry permits with sablefish endorsements. This permit stacking program would lengthen the limited

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial fishery for all salmon (except coho) in the area from Horse Mountain to Point Arena, CA, was closed on May 21, 2001, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.). The Northwest Regional Administrator of NMFS (Regional Administrator) determined that the quota of 3,000 chinook salmon had been reached. This action is necessary

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the approval of Amendment 14 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and issues a final rule to implement portions of it. Amendment 14 creates a permit stacking program for limited entry permits with sablefish endorsements. This permit stacking program will lengthen the duration of the limited entry, fixed gear

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This action extends an emergency interim rule, now in effect, governing the Hawaiibased pelagic longline fishery. The rule closes certain waters to fishing; imposes fishing gear, landing and transhipment restrictions, effort limitations, and fish sale restrictions; and requires increased observer coverage for the fishery. By extending the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces that the commercial fishery for all salmon in the area from the U.S.Canada Border to Leadbetter Pt., WA, was closed on July 9, 2001, at 2359 hours local time (l.t.). The Northwest Regional Administrator of NMFS (Regional Administrator) determined that the guideline of 7,000 chinook salmon had been reached. This action was necessary

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS establishes fishery management measures for the 2001 ocean salmon fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and California and the 2002 salmon seasons opening earlier than May 1, 2002. Specific fishery management measures vary by fishery and by area. The measures establish fishing areas, seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational fishing days and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document corrects the Classification section of the preamble to a proposed rule which was published on May 30, 2001. This rule would revise restrictions on the frequency and timing of limited entry permit transfers and would clarify NMFS regulatory requirements for transferring limited entry permits.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule that revises restrictions on the frequency and timing of limited entry permit transfers and clarifies NMFS regulatory requirements for transferring limited entry permits. This rule also updates and clarifies limited entry program regulations so that they are more readable for the public. This action is needed to and is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues this final rule to implement Amendment 13 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This final rule implements Amendment 13 by establishing an increased utilization program for catcher/processor and mother ships in the atsea whiting fisheries which carry multiple observers for at least 90 percent of the fishing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

On June 16, 1999, NMFS announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the draft fishery management plan for coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) waters of the Western Pacific Region. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared and is available to the public. The scope of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces the closure of the fishery for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast at 12 a.m. on March 27, 2001. The Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and its implementing regulations require NMFS to set an annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel based on a formula in the FMP and to close

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues an emergency interim rule, effective for 180 days, applicable to vessels registered for use under a Hawaii longline limited access permit (Hawaii longline vessel). This rule: Prohibits the targeting of swordfish north of the equator by Hawaii longline [[Page 31562]]
vessels; prohibits longline fishing by Hawaii longline vessels in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces a modification of the open periods and limited retention regulation for the commercial fishery from the Queets River, WA, to Cape Falcon, OR. The fishing period opened August 3, 2001, and closed at midnight on August 12, 2001, with a limit of 100 chinook per boat for this open period. The fishery was assessed on August 14, 2001, and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration