[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3089]
[[Page 5781]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961114318-6318-01; I.D. 020397F]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the
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 prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the
Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary
to prevent exceeding the 1997 interim specifications of Atka mackerel
in these areas.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 1997,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 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 parts 600 and
679.
The 1997 interim specifications of Atka mackerel total allowable
catch for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea Subarea was
established by Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications (61 FR 60044,
November 26, 1996) for the BSAI as 3,187 metric tons (mt). See
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997
interim specification for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian
District and the Bering Sea Subarea soon will be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance
of 2,587 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 600 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 Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian
District and the Bering Sea Subarea.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).
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 3, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3089 Filed 2-4-97; 3:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
