[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 29696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14925]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 060696E]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Trawl
Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery Category
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 species in the rock
sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the second
seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl
rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category in the
BSAI.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 8, 1996,
until 12 noon, A.l.t., July 1, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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 second seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the
BSAI trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category,
which is defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(B)(2), was established by
the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311,
February 5, 1996) as 139 metric tons (mt). This fishery was previously
closed with the expectation that the second seasonal allocation had
been taken (61 FR 16883, April 18, 1996), it was subsequently opened on
June 3, 1996, when NMFS determined that 50 mt of halibut mortality
remained in the allocation (61 FR 28071, June 4, 1996).
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the second seasonal bycatch allowance
of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/
``other flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS
is prohibiting directed fishing for species in the rock sole/flathead
sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category 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: June 7, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14925 Filed 6-7-96; 3:52 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
