[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2844]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 941241-4341; I.D. 020195A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for Atka mackerel in the
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to
prevent exceeding the interim specification of Atka mackerel in these
areas.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2, 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)(i), the interim 1995
specifications of groundfish for the BSAI (59 FR 64346, December 14,
1994) established 2,864 metric tons (mt) as the interim allowance of
Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka
mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern Aleutian District
and BS subarea soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director
has established a directed fishing allowance of 2,464 mt after
determining that 400 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed
fishing for other species in the Eastern Aleutian District and BS
subarea. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the BS subarea.
Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).
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 1, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-2844 Filed 2-1-95; 4:28 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
