97-4589. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Offshore Component Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 8406-8407]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-4589]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    50 CFR Part 679
    
    [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 021997A]
    
    
    Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Offshore 
    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 offshore 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 
    offshore component in the BS.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 20 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 the 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.
    
    [[Page 8407]]
    
        In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the first seasonal 
    allowance of pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
    offshore component in the BS was established by the Final 1997 Harvest 
    Specifications of Groundfish. 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 
    allowance of pollock TAC for vessels catching pollock for processing by 
    the offshore component in the BS soon will be reached. Therefore, the 
    Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance of 
    278,736 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 27,000 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 will soon be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
    prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock 
    for processing by the offshore component in the BS. This closure is 
    effective from February 20, 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. 97-4589 Filed 2-20-97; 2:27 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/25/1997
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Closure.
Document Number:
97-4589
Dates:
1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 20 1997, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 15, 1997.
Pages:
8406-8407 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 961107312-7021-02, I.D. 021997A
PDF File:
97-4589.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679.20(d)(1)(iii)