95-10298. Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Trawl Pacific Cod Fishery

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10298]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 042195C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Trawl 
Pacific Cod Fishery

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 cod by 
vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first seasonal apportionment of the 1995 prohibited species bycatch 
mortality allowance of Pacific halibut specified for the trawl Pacific 
cod fishery in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 24, 1995, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., October 25, 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 first seasonal bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
for the BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(E), was established as 1,450 metric tons by the 
final 1995 specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 14, 
1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the first seasonal apportionment of 
the Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for the trawl Pacific 
cod fishery has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    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. 675.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: April 21, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-10298 Filed 4-24-95; 9:16 am]
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