[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4458]
[[Page 8188]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961107312-7012-02; I.D. 021897C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Inshore
Component Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Bering
Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the first
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the BS.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 19,
1997, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ham, 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-Stevens 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 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the first seasonal
allowance of pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component in the BS was established by the Final 1997 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish as 164,627 metric tons (mt). The Final
1997 Specifications were published in the Federal Register on February
18, 1997 (62 FR 7168).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first
seasonal allowance of pollock TAC specified for vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore component in the BS soon will be
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a
directed fishing allowance of 150,127 mt, and is setting aside the
remaining 14,500 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance soon will be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in
the BS. This closure is effective from 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 19,
1997, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1997. Under
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i), the second seasonal allowance of pollock TAC will
become available for directed fishing at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action is required by Sec. 679.20, and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 19, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4458 Filed 2-19-97; 2:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
