[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5439]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 022897A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Pollock in
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Eastern
Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary
to prevent exceeding the allocation of the total allowable catch (TAC)
for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 2, 1997,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.
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-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of
50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The final specification of the allocation of pollock to vessels
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in the Eastern
Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by the Final 1997 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24,
1997) as 5,580 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with
Sec. 679.20 (a)(6)(ii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20 (d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the
allocation of the TAC of pollock to vessels catching pollock for
processing by the inshore component in the Eastern Regulatory Area will
soon be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing
a directed fishing allowance of 5,480, and is setting aside the
remaining 100 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 will soon be
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component in
the Eastern Regulatory Area.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f).
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 28, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5439 Filed 2-28-97; 4:43 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
