95-26848. Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Ocean Perch and Other Red Rockfish in the Bering Sea Subarea

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55211-55212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26848]



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[[Page 55212]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 102395C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific 
Ocean Perch and Other Red Rockfish in the Bering Sea Subarea

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 Pacific Ocean perch and 
the other red rockfish species group in the Bering Sea subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
specified for Pacific Ocean perch and the other red rockfish species 
group in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 25, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

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 
Area (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 directed fisheries for Pacific Ocean perch and the other red 
rockfish species group in the Bering Sea subarea were closed in the 
Final 1995 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 
14, 1995), in order to provide amounts anticipated to be needed for 
incidental catch in other fisheries. NMFS has determined that as of 
October 7, 1995, 716 metric tons (mt) of Pacific Ocean perch and 986 mt 
of the other red rockfish species group remain unharvested.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1995 TAC 
amounts for Pacific Ocean perch and for the other red rockfish species 
group in the Bering Sea subarea have not been reached. Therefore, NMFS 
is terminating the previous closures and is opening directed fishing 
for Pacific Ocean perch and for the other red rockfish species group in 
the Bering Sea subarea.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 24, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-26848 Filed 10-25-95; 12:44 pm]
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