[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26022]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 100496B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern
rockfish in the Western Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the northern rockfish total allowable
catch (TAC) in this area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 6, 1996,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is
governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR
part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the northern rockfish TAC
for the Western Regulatory Area was established by the Final 1996
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as
640 metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for northern rockfish in the
Western Regulatory Area opened on July 1, 1996 (61 FR 34377, July 2,
1996) and was closed under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 11, 1996 (61
FR 37226, July 17, 1996) and reopened on October 1, 1996 (61 FR 50458,
September 26, 1996).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), established
in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1) a directed fishing allowance for
northern rockfish of 600 mt, with consideration that 40 mt will be
taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in this
area. The Regional Director has determined that this directed fishing
allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area.
The maximum retainable bycatch amounts are specified at
Sec. 679.20(e) and apply at any time during a trip.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 4, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-26022 Filed 10-4-96; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
