[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 4192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2229]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960502124-6190-02; I.D. 012497B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop
Fishery; Closure in Registration Area E
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the scallop fishery in Scallop Registration
Area E (Prince William Sound) east of 146 deg. West long. This action
is necessary to prevent exceeding the scallop total allowable catch
(TAC) in this area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 24, 1997,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scallop fishery in the exclusive
economic zone off Alaska is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Scallop Fishery off Alaska (FMP) prepared by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing for
scallops is governed by regulations appearing at subpart H of 50 CFR
part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.62(b), the 1996-1997 scallop TAC for
Scallop Registration Area E was established by the Final 1996-1997
Harvest Specifications of Scallops (61 FR 38099, July 23, 1996) and a
reduced TAC was apportioned (62 FR 2043, January 15, 1997) as 17,300 lb
(7,847 kg) of shucked scallop meat in the part of Registration Area E
east of 146 deg. West long.
In accordance with Sec. 679.62(c), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS, has determined that the scallop TAC for Scallop
Registration Area E east of 146 deg. West long. has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting the taking and retention of scallops
in Scallop Registration Area E east of 146 deg. West long. from 1200
hrs, A.l.t., January 24, 1997, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.
Classification
This action is required by Sec. 679.62 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 24, 1997.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2229 Filed 1-24-97; 3:50 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
