[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10492]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 042294A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
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 Greenland turbot in
the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent
exceeding the Greenland turbot total allowable catch (TAC) in that
subarea.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 4, 1994, until
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, Senior Inseason
Manager, Fisheries Management Division, NMFS, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by the Secretary of Commerce according to the
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI (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 Greenland turbot TAC
for the AI was established by the final 1994 initial specifications of
groundfish (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994) and subsequent apportionment
of reserve (59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994) as 2,333 metric tons (mt).
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), the Director of the Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has established a directed fishing
allowance of 1,400 mt, with consideration that 933 mt will be taken as
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the AI. In
accordance with Sec. 675.23(f), this fishery begins at 12 noon, A.l.t.,
May 1, 1994. Because of the low directed fishing allowance and high
interest in the fishery, there will be insufficient time to collect and
analyze catch data and take appropriate action to ensure the directed
fishing allowance is not exceeded. Therefore, based on the best
available data, the Regional Director has determined that the Greenland
turbot directed fishing allowance in the AI will be reached by 12 noon,
A.l.t., May 4, 1994. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for Greenland turbot in the AI, effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., May 4,
1994, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found
at Sec. 675.20(h).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 675.20 and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675
Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: April 26, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-10492 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-M
