[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14390-14391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6548]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 031095F]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Offshore
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 offshore 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 ``A'' season allowance of pollock for the offshore component in the
Aleutian Islands subarea.
[[Page 14391]] EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
March 13, 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.
The allowance of pollock TAC for vessels catching pollock for
processing by the offshore component in the AI was established by the
final 1995 initial groundfish specifications (60 FR 8479, February 14,
1995) as 31,272 metric tons (mt).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), determined,
in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the allowance of pollock TAC
for the offshore component in the AI soon will be reached. Therefore,
the Regional Director established a directed fishing allowance of
29,272 mt after determining that 2,000 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 operators of
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in
the AI.
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: March 13, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6548 Filed 3-13-95; 4:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
