95-17272. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 135 (Friday, July 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36236-36237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17272]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 070795E]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the 
Eastern Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring 
that catches of northern rockfish in this area be treated in the same 
manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of 
injury. This action is necessary because the northern rockfish total 
allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 9, 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 GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) prepared by 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the 
Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. 

[[Page 36237]]
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 
620 and 672.
    In accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii), the TAC for northern 
rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by 
the final 1995 harvest specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8470, 
February 14, 1995), as 20 metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 672.20(c)(3), that the TAC for northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of northern rockfish in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec. 672.20(e).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 10, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17272 Filed 7-10-95; 4:52 pm]
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