[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 185 (Monday, September 25, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49348-49349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23684]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 091995A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pollock
in the Bering Sea Subarea by the Offshore Component
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for pollock by vessels
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering
Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the second
seasonal allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC)
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the
offshore component in this area.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 20,
1995, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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.
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), the second seasonal
allowance of pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the
offshore component in the BS was established by the Final 1995 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995), and
augmented from the non-specific operational reserve (60 FR 32278, June
21, 1995) as 440,782 metric tons (mt). The amount actually available is
379,844 mt, subsequent to harvests from the first seasonal allowance.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has
determined in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the second
allowance of pollock TAC for vessels catching pollock for processing by
the offshore component in the BS
[[Page 49349]]
soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established
a directed fishing allowance of 357,844 mt with consideration that
22,000 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for
other species in the BS. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the
offshore component in the BS.
Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be
found in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 675.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: September 19, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-23684 Filed 9-20-95; 11:09 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
