[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12339]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 051396A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific
Cod by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, 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 bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to
the trawl Pacific cod fishery in the BSAI.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 14, 1996,
until 12 noon, A.l.t., October 25, 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.
The first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the
BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery category, which is defined at
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(E), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 1,585
metric tons.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the first seasonal bycatch allowance
of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl Pacific cod fishery in the
BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
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 50 CFR 675.21 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 13, 1996.
Donald J. Leedy,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12339 Filed 5-13-96; 3:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
