96-24510. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; ``Other Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24510]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 091996A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; ``Other 
Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska

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 the ``other 
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the ``other 
rockfish'' species group total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 22, 
1996, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 50 CFR parts 620 and 
679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the ``other rockfish'' 
species group TAC for the Eastern Regulatory Area was established by 
the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, 
February 5, 1996) as 750 metric tons (mt).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the ``other 
rockfish'' species group TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area soon will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator has established a 
directed fishing allowance of 700 mt, with consideration that 50 mt 
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area. The Regional Administrator has 
determined that the directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the ``other 
rockfish'' species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

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

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

    Dated: September 19, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24510 Filed 9-19-96; 5:04 pm]

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