95-26641. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Trawl Gear Directed Fishery for Groundfish

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26641]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 102395B]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Trawl Gear Directed Fishery for 
Groundfish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing for pollock. 
This action is necessary because the 1995 Pacific halibut prohibited 
species catch (PSC) limit for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 23, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

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 50 CFR parts 620 and 
672.
    The Final 1995 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (60 
FR 8470, February 14, 1995) established the 1995 Pacific halibut PSC 
limit for vessels using trawl gear at 2,000 metric tons (mt). The 
Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance with 
Sec. 672.20(f)(3)(i), that vessels engaged in directed fishing for 
groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA have caught the 1995 Pacific 
halibut PSC limit. Therefore, NMFS is closing the directed fishery for 
groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing for pollock.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: October 23, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26641 Filed 10-23-95; 3:51 pm]
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