96-24511. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50256-50257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24511]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 091896A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 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 prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1996 pollock total allowable catch 
(TAC) in this area.


[[Page 50257]]


EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 19, 
1996, until 2400 hrs, 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 subpart H of 50 CFR 
part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 1996 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 was established by the 
Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 
5, 1996) as 12,840 metric tons (mt). (See Sec. 679.20(c)(3).)
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the 1996 
pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 soon will be reached. The Regional 
Administrator established a directed fishing allowance of 11,340 mt, 
and has set aside the remaining 1,500 mt as bycatch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from 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. 96-24511 Filed 9-19-96; 5:04 pm]
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