[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25761]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 101394A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in the Aleutian
Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI) by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component to allow a 48-hour directed fishery. This action is necessary
to use the allowance of total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in the
AI for the inshore component.
DATES: Effective from 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.) October 13,
1994, until 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 1994, the prohibition of
directed fishing for pollock by operators of vessels catching pollock
in the AI for processing by the inshore component is terminated; and
effective 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 1994, through 12 midnight,
A.l.t., December 31, 1994, directed fishing for pollock in the AI by
operators of vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component is prohibited.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
(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 50 CFR parts 620 and 675.
The allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for vessels catching pollock
for processing by the inshore component was established by the final
1994 initial groundfish specifications (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994)
and a subsequent reserve apportionment (59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994) as
18,324 metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for pollock in the AI by
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component was
closed on October 8, 1994 (59 FR 51873, October 13, 1994) pursuant to
Sec. 675.20(a)(8).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Director), in
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), has determined that the remaining
allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for the inshore component is
sufficient to allow a 48-hour directed fishery. Therefore, NMFS is
terminating the previous closure and opening directed fishing for
pollock in the AI by operators of vessels catching pollock for
processing by the inshore component as of 12 noon, A.l.t., October 13,
1994.
As the allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for the inshore component
will be reached before the end of the year, the Regional Director, in
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iii) and (a)(8), established a
directed fishing allowance of 18,124 mt, with consideration that 200 mt
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species
in that area. The Regional Director has determined that the directed
fishing allowance will be reached within a 48-hour directed fishery.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the
AI by operators of vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 1994,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 675.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: October 13, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-25761 Filed 10-13-94; 4:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
