[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3814]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 021095A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea; Prohibit
Retention of Atka Mackerel
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting the retention for Atka mackerel in the
Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that
catches of Atka mackerel in these areas be treated in the same manner
as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury.
This action is necessary because the Atka mackerel total allowable
catch (TAC) in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea
in the BSAI has been reached.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 10, 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.
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), the TAC for Atka mackerel
in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was
established by the final groundfish specifications published February
14, 1995, as 11,475 metric tons (mt).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the Atka mackerel TAC in the Eastern
Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea has been reached. Therefore,
NMFS is requiring that further catches of Atka mackerel in the Eastern
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea be treated as prohibited
species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c)(3), and is prohibiting their
retention effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., February 10, 1995, until 12
midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.
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: February 10, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3814 Filed 2-10-95; 4:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
