[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4138]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 021794A]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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 (BSAI) 
management area. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
first allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for the 
offshore component in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 18, 1994, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., August 15, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, Resource Management 
Specialist, Fisheries Management Division, NMFS, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI Exclusive 
Economic Zone is managed by the Secretary of Commerce according to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI 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 first seasonal 
allowance of pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
offshore component in the BS was established by the final groundfish 
specifications (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994), as 330,671 metric tons 
(mt).
    The Director of the Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director) has 
determined in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the first 
allowance of pollock TAC for the offshore component in the BS soon will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 320,671 mt with consideration that 10,000 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, effective from 12 noon A.l.t., February 18, 1994, until 12 
noon, A.l.t., August 15, 1994.
    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. 675.20.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.


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

    Dated: February 17, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-4138 Filed 2-18-94; 2:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P