96-25641. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 195 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 52385-52386]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-25641]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    50 CFR Part 679
    
    [Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 100196B]
    
    
    Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin 
    Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
    
    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 yellowfin sole by 
    vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
    management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
    the 1996 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to 
    the trawl yellowfin sole fishery in the BSAI.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 
    1996, until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
        The 1996 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut for the 
    BSAI trawl yellowfin sole fishery, which is defined at 
    Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(1), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
    Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 820 
    metric tons.
        The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
    with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), that the 1996 bycatch mortality allowance 
    of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl yellowfin sole fishery in 
    the BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
    fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    
    [[Page 52386]]
    
        Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
    found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).
    
    Classification
    
        This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review 
    under E.O. 12866.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    
        Dated: October 2, 1996.
    Bruce Morehead,
    Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
    Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-25641 Filed 10-2-96; 4:30 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/07/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Closure.
Document Number:
96-25641
Dates:
1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 2, 1996, until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
Pages:
52385-52386 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 100196B
PDF File:
96-25641.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(1)