96-6014. Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Inshore Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Page 10287]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-6014]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    50 CFR Part 675
    
    [Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 030796E]
    
    
    Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Inshore 
    Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands 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 inshore component in the 
    Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
    management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
    the first allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for 
    vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the 
    AI.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 1996, 
    until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 15, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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)(ii), the first allowance of 
    pollock for the inshore component in the AI was established by the 
    Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 
    5, 1996) as 10,591 metric tons (mt).
        The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
    determined in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the first 
    allowance of pollock TAC for vessels catching pollock for processing by 
    the inshore component in the AI soon will be reached. Therefore, the 
    Regional Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 
    10,091 mt with consideration that 500 mt will be taken as incidental 
    catch in directed fishing for other species in the AI. Consequently, 
    NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching 
    pollock for processing by the inshore component in the AI. This closure 
    is effective noon, A.l.t., March 10, 1996, through noon, A.l.t., April 
    15, 1996. Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(ii), the second allowance is 
    available from noon, A.l.t., August 15 through the end of the fishing 
    year.
        Maximum retainable bycatch amounts 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: March 8, 1996.
    Richard W. Surdi,
    Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
    National Marine Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-6014 Filed 3-8-96; 2:16 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
03/13/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Closure.
Document Number:
96-6014
Dates:
12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 1996, until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 15, 1996.
Pages:
10287-10287 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 030796E
PDF File:
96-6014.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 675