[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21631]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 672
[Docket No. 931199-4042: I.D. 082994B]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Prohibition of retention.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of northern rockfish in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and is requiring
that incidental catches be treated in the same manner as prohibited
species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is
necessary because the northern rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in
this area has been reached.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 29, 1994,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive
economic zone is managed by the Secretary of Commerce 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 50 CFR parts 620 and 672.
In accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii)(B), the TAC for northern
rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area was established by the final
groundfish specifications (59 FR 7647, February 16, 1994), as 4,720
metric tons. The directed fishery for northern rockfish in the Central
Regulatory Area was closed under Sec. 672.20(c)(2) on July 15, 1994 (59
FR 37180, July 21, 1994).
The Director of the Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined in
accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(3), that the TAC for northern rockfish
in the Central Regulatory Area has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is
requiring that further catches of northern rockfish in the Central
Regulatory Area be treated as prohibited species in accordance with
Sec. 672.20(e), effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., August 29, 1994, until
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 29, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-21631 Filed 8-29-94; 1:08 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
