[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12041-12042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7110]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 031996A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific
Ocean Perch in the Western Aleutian District
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 Pacific ocean perch
in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the specification of Pacific ocean perch in this area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 1996,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
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)(ii), the Final 1996
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) for the
BSAI established 5,143 metric tons (mt) as the initial total allowable
catch of Pacific ocean perch for the Western Aleutian District.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Pacific
ocean perch initial total allowable catch in the Western Aleutian
District will soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has
established a directed fishing allowance of 4,943 mt after determining
that 200 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for
other species in the Western Aleutian District. NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian
District to prevent exceeding the directed fishing allowance.
[[Page 12042]]
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 19, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-7110 Filed 3-20-96; 3:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
