95-11578. Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Cod by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 25149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11578]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 95026040-5040-01; I.D. 050595C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific 
Cod by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the entire Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI) to directed fishing with hook-and-line gear for 
Pacific cod. This action is necessary because U.S. fishing vessels 
participating in the Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery in the BSAI have 
caught the second seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 7, 1995, until 
12 noon, A.l.t., September 1, 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 
(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 second seasonal 1995 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance for the hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery, which is defined 
at Sec. 675.21(b)(2)(ii)(A), is 40 metric tons (60 FR 12149, March 6, 
1995.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(d), that U.S. fishing vessels participating in the 
Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery in the BSAI have caught the second 
seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut. Therefore, NMFS is 
closing the entire BSAI to directed fishing with hook-and-line gear for 
Pacific cod.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 5, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-11578 Filed 5-5-95; 4:24 pm]
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