95-19172. Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19172]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 073195B]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Rock 
Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for species in the rock 
sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using 
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1995 bycatch 
allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl rock sole/
flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 1, 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 BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by 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 620 and 675.
    The 1995 bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the BSAI trawl 
rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category, which is 
defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(B)(2), was established as 690 metric 
tons by the final 1995 harvest specifications of groundfish (60 FR 
8479, February 14, 1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the 1995 bycatch allowance of Pacific 
halibut apportioned to the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other 
flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for species in the rock sole/flathead 
sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in 
the BSAI.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 675.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 31, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-19172 Filed 7-31-95; 4:34 pm]
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