Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Closure of Directed Fishery for Pacific Mackerel

NMFS announces the closure of the directed fishery for Pacific mackerel in the exclusive economic zone off the Pacific coast at 12 noon local time (l.t.) on November 21, 2001. For the fishing season beginning July 1, 2001, 6,000 mt of the 13,837-mt harvest guideline was established for a directed fishery. Based on recent landings, more than 6,000 mt of Pacific mackerel has been landed; therefore, the directed fishery is being closed and the trip limit imposed. The intended effect of this action is to ensure that the harvest guideline will be achieved, but not exceeded, and to minimize bycatch of Pacific mackerel while other coastal pelagic species are being harvested.