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

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processor vessels using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated for catcher processor vessels using

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces Pacific halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the first half of 2001. Publication of these bycatch rate standards is necessary under 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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document contains a correction to the final rule consolidating regulations for fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska that was published in the Federal Register on June 19, 1996.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the mothership component in the Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the A season limit of pollock total allowable catch (TAC) specified to the mothership

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to clarify the definition of length overall (LOA) of a vessel for the purposes of the regulations governing the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Alaska. The action is intended to clarify the existing definition of LOA and thus prevent any misunderstanding or equivocation by vessel owners in

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel 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 Atka mackerel. NMFS is also opening fishing with trawl gear in Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska(GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2001 total allowable catch (TAC) of pelagic shelf rockfish in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear 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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Pacific cod A season allowance specified for the offshore component in the Western Regulatory Area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processor vessels using pot gear and catcher vessels 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and longer using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2001 total allowable catch

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 60 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Amendment 58 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and Amendment 10 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Commercial King and Tanner

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS amends an emergency interim rule implementing 2001 Steller sea lion protection measures. These modifications prohibit directed fishing for Pacific cod by specified vessels until the July 17, 2001, expiration of that emergency interim rule. It is expected [[Page 31846]]
that NMFS will undertake further rulemaking by that date to establish new

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels using hookandline gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast Outside District. This action is necessary because the second seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hookandline gear targeting

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document contains a correction to a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on December 12, 1995.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule that implements Amendment 60 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Amendment 58 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, and Amendment 10 to the FMP for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting trawling within Steller sea lion protection areas in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A 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 issues an inseason adjustment opening the B fishing season for pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 12 hours effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 21, 2001, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., March 21, 2001. This adjustment is necessary to prevent the under harvest of the B seasonal allowance of the pollock

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration