[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12278]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 051595A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka
Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District
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 Atka mackerel in the
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the final groundfish specification of Atka mackerel in that area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 15, 1995,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 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.
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii) the Atka mackerel total
allowable catch (TAC) for the Western Aleutian District was established
by the final initial groundfish specifications (60 FR 8479, February
14, 1995) as 14,025 metric tons (mt).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka
mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District soon will be reached.
Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed fishing
allowance of 13,025 mt after determining that 1,000 mt will be taken as
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the Western
Aleutian District. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District.
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. 675.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: May 15, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12278 Filed 5-15-95; 2:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
