96-5805. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Rex Sole in the Western Regulatory Area

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5805]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 030596A]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Rex Sole in the Western 
Regulatory Area

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 rex sole in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area (GOA). 
This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the rex sole total 
allowable catch (TAC) in the Western Regulatory Area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 6, 1996, 
until 2359 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 
672.
    In accordance with Sec. 672.20 (c)(1)(ii)(B) the rex sole TAC for 
the Western Regulatory Area was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 800 
metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii), that the rex sole 
TAC in the Western Regulatory Area soon will be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 700 
mt, with consideration that 100 mt will be taken as incidental catch in 
directed fishing for other species in the Western Regulatory Area. The 
Regional Director has determined that the directed fishing allowance 
has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for the rex sole in the Western Regulatory Area.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 672.20(g).

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 5, 1996
Richard H. Schaefer
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5805 Filed 3-7-96; 11:37 am]
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