96-16862. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16862]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 062196A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to use the total allowable catch (TAC) for northern rockfish 
in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 1996, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 annual TAC for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area 
was established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish 
(61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 640 metric tons (mt). See 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish also closed the directed fishery for northern rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA. See 679.20(d)(1).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1996 TAC 
for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area has not been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is 
opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 26, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-16862 Filed 6-27-96; 2:46 pm]
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