96-19686. Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; ``Other Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern Regulatory Area

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 150 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40352-40353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19686]


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[[Page 40353]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 072696B]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; ``Other Rockfish'' Species 
Group in the Eastern 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 the directed fishery for the ``other 
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to fully utilize the total 
allowable catch (TAC) of the ``other rockfish'' in that area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 31, 1996, 
until 2400 hours, 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 annual TAC for the ``other rockfish'' species group in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA, was established by the Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 
750 metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii)). The Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish also closed the directed fishery 
for the ``other rockfish'' in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA 
(see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)) in anticipation that the TAC would be 
needed as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries during 1996. NMFS has determined that as of July 13, 1996, 
700 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1996 
directed fishing allowance of the ``other rockfish'' species group in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has not been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed 
fishing for the ``other rockfish'' species group in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: July 29, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Serivce.
[FR Doc. 96-19686 Filed 7-30-96; 12:40 pm]
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