96-18074. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Eastern Regulatory Area  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Page 37225]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-18074]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    50 CFR Part 679
    
    [Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 071096G]
    
    
    Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the 
    Eastern Regulatory 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 Pacific ocean perch 
    in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska management area 
    (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the Pacific ocean 
    perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 
    11, 1996, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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 Groundfish 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. vessels is 
    governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 50 CFR 
    part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
        The Pacific ocean perch TAC for the Eastern Regulatory Area was 
    established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 
    FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 2,366 metric tons (mt). (See 
    Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).)
        The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
    determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the Pacific 
    ocean perch TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area soon will be reached. 
    Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed fishing 
    allowance of 2,066 mt, with consideration that 300 mt will be taken as 
    incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the Eastern 
    Regulatory Area. The Regional Director has determined that the directed 
    fishing allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 
    directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Regulatory 
    Area.
        Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
    found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).
    
    Classification
    
        This action is taken under Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from OMB 
    review under E.O. 12866.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    
        Dated: July 11, 1996.
    Richard W. Surdi,
    Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Development, 
    National Marine Fisheries Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-18074 Filed 7-11-96; 4:51 pm]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
7/11/1996
Published:
07/17/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Closure.
Document Number:
96-18074
Dates:
Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 11, 1996, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
Pages:
37225-37225 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 960129018-6018-01, I.D. 071096G
PDF File:
96-18074.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii).)