NMFS is prohibiting retention of thornyhead rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of thornyhead 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 2002 total allowable catch (TAC)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces Pacific halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the second half of 2002. Publication of these bycatch rate standards is required by regulations implementing the vessel incentive program (VIP). 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

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 2002 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated for catcher processor vessels using

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is correcting typographic errors in Federal regulations. The intended effect of this action is regulatory accuracy, and it will have no effect on any person fishing in the EEZ for any species.

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 2002 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces preliminary alternative approaches for the designation of EFH and HAPC for the following fishery management plans (FMPs): Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs; Scallop Fishery off Alaska; and Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final 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 hookandline and pot gears in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). This will be accomplished

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 2002 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 24 hours. This action is necessary to fully use the first seasonal apportionment of the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock specified for this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes additional changes related to an earlier proposed rule to implement Amendment 69 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP). This proposed amendment would allow an American Fisheries Act (AFA) inshore cooperative to contract with a nonmember vessel to harvest a portion

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a proposed rule to extend through 2007 the existing regulations for the interim North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program (Observer Program), which otherwise expires December 31, 2002. This proposed rule would also amend regulations governing the Observer Program. These changes would clarify and improve observer certification and

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Veterans Affairs Department

NMFS is closing directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 (Zone 1) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 bycatch allowance of red king crab specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in Zone 1.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 630.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to implement Amendment 60 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska Area (FMP). This amendment prohibits the use of nonpelagic trawl gear in Cook Inlet. This action is necessary to address bycatch avoidance objectives in the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pelagic shelf rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2002 total allowable catch (TAC) of pelagic shelf rockfish in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces Pacific halibut and red king crab bycatch rate standards for the first half of 2002. Publication of these bycatch rate standards is necessary under regulations implementing the vessel incentive program (VIP). 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

NMFS is prohibiting retention of all rockfish defined in the category ``other rockfish'' in Table 3 of 2002 harvest specifications and associated management measures for the groundfish fisheries off Alaska (January 8, 2002) in the Bering Sea subarea of the
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Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that

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 D 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 an emergency interim rule implementing Steller sea lion protection measures and 2002 harvest specifications for the Alaska groundfish fishery. These corrections are needed to afford Atka mackerel fishery participants an additional opportunity to register for the 2002 B season harvest limit area fishery in the Aleutian

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to amend portions of the regulations implementing recordkeeping and reporting (R&R) requirements for groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska. This action is necessary to refine or correct regulations for improved management, to remove obsolete text, and to clarify and simplify existing text.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues final regulations to implement the following American Fisheries Act (AFA)related amendments: Amendment 61 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Amendment 61 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Amendment 13 to the Fishery Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : Treasury Department

This document contains a correction to the regulatory text of the final rule published on April 15, 2002. The final rule implemented Amendment 67 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 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 is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 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