NMFS is closing directed fishing for species in the rock sole/ flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery
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category by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). Amendment 67 is necessary to stabilize the fully utilized fixed gear Pacific cod fishery in the BSAI. This will be accomplished by issuing endorsements

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season amount of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule adjusting the seasonal apportionments of the 2001 Pacific halibut bycatch limits specified for the trawl and hookandline groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to optimize the harvest of Pacific cod under new Steller sea lion protection measures implemented under an emergency interim

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Removal of Groundfish Closure

Correction

In rule document 0033162 beginning on page 82298 in the issue of Thursday, December 28, 2000, make the following correction: Sec. 679.22 [Corrected]

On page 82299, in the third column, in Sec. 679.22(l), paragraph designation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends an emergency interim rule by removing the 150 metric ton (mt) of the seasonal allocation of Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) apportioned to the ``shallow water trawl fishery'' during June 10 to July 1. NMFS is also prohibiting directed fishing by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for species that

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to amend regulations implementing the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program for the Pacific halibut and sablefish fixed gear fisheries in and off Alaska. NMFS has identified parts of the program that need further refinement or correction for effective management of the affected fixed gear fisheries. This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of ``other rockfish'' in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the allocation of the ``other rockfish''

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a proposed rule to implement Amendment 67 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area. This action is necessary to stabilize fully utilized Pacific cod resources harvested with nontrawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). This would be accomplished by

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel with gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in these areas.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sharpchin and northern rockfish in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catch of sharpchin and northern rockfish in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the deepwater species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the third seasonal apportionment of the 2001 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the deepwater species fishery in the GOA has been caught.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes revisions to several sections of regulations that pertain to permits, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for crab and groundfish fisheries off Alaska. The proposed changes are necessary to remove obsolete text, clarify and simplify existing text, facilitate management of the fisheries, promote compliance with the regulations,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Veterans Affairs Department

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallowwater species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action is necessary because the second seasonal

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends an emergency interim rule implementing 2001 Steller sea lion protection measures and harvest specifications for the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. These modifications relax fishing restrictions on vessels fishing for groundfish off Alaska with jig gear and on vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) fishing for Pacific

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is closing directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action is necessary because the 2001 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces Pacific halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the second half of 2001. Publication of these bycatch rate standards is required by regulations implementing the vessel incentive program. This action is necessary to implement the bycatch rate standards for trawl vessel operators who participate in the Alaska groundfish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 A season harvest specification of Atka mackerel. NMFS announces also some Steller sea lion critical habitat areas in the Western Aleutian

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting trawling within Steller sea lion protection areas in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season critical habitat limit of the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel allocated to the Central Aleutian District.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is reallocating projected unused amounts of Bering Sea subarea (BS) pollock from the incidental catch account to the directed fisheries. This action is necessary to allow the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock to be harvested.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of 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 610 of the GOA.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document corrects a paragraph designation in the regulatory text of the final rule implementing Amendment 66 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season amount of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration