[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 149 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19541]
[[Page 40158]]
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 072496C]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area;
Sharpchin/Northern Rockfish Species Group in the Aleutian Islands
Subarea
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 the sharpchin/northern
rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that
catches of the sharpchin/northern rockfish species group in the
Aleutian Islands subarea be treated in the same manner as prohibited
species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is
necessary because the sharpchin/northern rockfish species group total
allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea has been caught.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 27, 1996,
until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by the 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 600 and 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the sharpchin/northern
rockfish species category initial TAC for the Aleutian Islands subarea
was established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish
(61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 4,445 metric tons (mt). On May 30,
1996 (61 FR 28072), NMFS closed the directed fishery for the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category in this area.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the TAC for the sharpchin/northern
rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands subarea has been
reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of the
sharpchin/northern rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands
subarea be treated as prohibited species in accordance with
Sec. 679.21(b).
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: July 26, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19541 Filed 7-26-96; 4:57 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
