[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10222-10223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5541]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 022897E]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Pacific Cod
in the Western 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 Pacific cod by vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to prevent exceeding the allocation of Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA.
EFFECTIVE DATES: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 3, 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 Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Western 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 17,442 metric
tons (mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii).
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the ITAC for
Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the
inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area will soon be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 17,142 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 300
mt as
[[Page 10223]]
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 Pacific cod by
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in
the Western 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: March 3, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5541 Filed 3-3-97; 3:10 pm]
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