[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56001-56002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27442]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 103095A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific
Cod by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line or Pot Gear in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Reallocation; modification of a closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the unused amount of Pacific cod total
allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using trawl gear to vessels using
hook-and-line or pot gear and is opening
[[Page 56002]]
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line or pot
gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
These actions are necessary to utilize the TAC specified for Pacific
cod in the BSAI and promote the goals and objectives of the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council).
EFFECTIVE DATES: For the reallocation of the unused amount of Pacific
cod from vessels using trawl gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot
gear: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.,), November 3, 1995, until 12
midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. For the opening of directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in
the BSAI: 12 noon, A.l.t., November 17, 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 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 fishery for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line
and pot gear in the BSAI was closed on October 16, 1995, to prevent
exceeding the 1995 apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI (October 19, 1995,
60 FR 54046).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that vessels
using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 10,000 metric tons (mt) of
Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv)(A).
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv)(B), NMFS is reallocating the
unused amount of Pacific cod to vessels using hook-and-line or pot
gear. The allocation to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear will
increase to 121,800 mt, of which 10,287 mt remained unharvested as of
October 14, 1995.
NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in
the BSAI.
All other closures remain in full force and effect.
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 31, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-27442 Filed 11-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
