95-24697. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 51934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24697]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 092995A]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Sablefish in the Central Gulf 
of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by persons using 
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
NMFS is requiring that catches of sablefish in this area be treated in 
the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a 
minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the share of the 
sablefish total allowable catch (TAC) assigned to trawl gear in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 5, 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 GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 672.24(c)(2), the share of the sablefish 
TAC assigned to trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA 
was established by the final 1995 harvest specifications of groundfish 
(60 FR 8470, February 14, 1995), as 1,720 metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 672.24(c)(3)(ii), that the share of the sablefish TAC 
assigned to trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of 
sablefish by trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 672.20(e).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.24 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 29, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24697 Filed 9-29-95; 4:08 pm]
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