[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5312]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 030196A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Offshore
Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, 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 first allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the
offshore component in the AI.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 2, 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 vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore
component in the AI was established by the Final 1996 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 19,669
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 offshore component in the AI soon will be reached. Therefore, the
Regional Director has established a directed fishing allowance of
18,669 mt with consideration that 1,000 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 vessels catching
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI. This
closure is effective noon, A.l.t., March 2, 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 1, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5312 Filed 3-1-96; 4:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
