97-4588. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Species in the Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery Category by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4588]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 021997C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Species in 
the Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery Category by 
Vessels Using Trawl Gear in 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 directed fishing for species in the rock sole/
flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using 
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the first 
seasonal apportionment of the 1997 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance of 
halibut specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other 
flatfish'' fishery category.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 20, 
1997, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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-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 50 CFR part 
679.
    The first seasonal apportionment of the prohibited species bycatch 
mortality allowance of halibut for the BSAI trawl rock sole/flathead 
sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(2), was established by the Final 1997 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 485 mt.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the first 
seasonal apportionment of the 1997 halibut bycatch allowance specified 
for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery in the 
BSAI has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is closing directed fishing 
for species in the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery 
category by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations 
at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 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 
Serivce.
[FR Doc. 97-4588 Filed 2-20-97; 2:28 pm]
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