Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska; Final 2001 Harvest Specifications and Associated Management Measures for the Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska

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 cod with hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The intended effect of this emergency interim rule is to relieve specified restrictions implemented by the 2001 Steller sea lion protection measures on the small boat fleet, while continuing to provide protection to Steller sea lions and their critical habitat and to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and section 209 of Pub. L. 106- 554.