[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7219]


[Federal Register: March 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 032194G]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Apportionment of reserve; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to apportion reserve to certain target species 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to allow for ongoing harvest and account for 
previous harvest of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to 
promote the goals and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council.

DATES: Comments must be received at the following address no later than 
4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, April 7, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9th, Room 453, Juneau, 
AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attention: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin Loefflad, Resource Management 
Specialist, Fisheries Management Division, NMFS, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI area of 
the U.S. exclusive economic zone is managed by the Secretary of 
Commerce 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.
    The Director of the Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 
initial TACs specified for pollock and Greenland turbot in the Bering 
Sea, for Pacific ocean perch, Greenland turbot, and pollock in the 
Aleutian Islands, for Atka mackerel in the combined Eastern Aleutian 
District and Bering Sea subarea, and for Pacific cod in the BSAI, need 
to be supplemented from the non-specific reserve in order to continue 
operations and account for prior harvest. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec. 675.20(b), NMFS proposes to apportion from the reserve to TACs for 
the following species: (1) For the Bering Sea area--99,750 metric tons 
(mt) to pollock and 700 mt to Greenland turbot; (2) for the Aleutian 
Islands area--1,635 mt to Pacific ocean perch, 350 mt to Greenland 
turbot, and 4,245 mt to pollock; (3) for the combined Eastern Aleutian 
District and Bering Sea subarea--2,021 mt to Atka mackerel; and (4) for 
the BSAI management area--28,650 mt to Pacific cod.
    These proposed apportionments are consistent with 
Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(i) and do not result in overfishing of a target 
species or the ``other species'' category, because the revised TACs are 
equal to or less than specifications of acceptable biological catch.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(i), the proposed apportionments of 
pollock are allocated between the inshore and offshore components: (1) 
For the Bering Sea--34,913 mt to vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component and 64,837 mt to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component; and (2) for the 
Aleutian Islands--1,486 mt to vessels catching pollock for processing 
by the inshore component and 2,759 mt to vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the offshore component.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv), the proposed apportionment of 
the BSAI Pacific cod TAC is allocated 573 mt to vessels using jig gear, 
12,606 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, and 15,471 mt to 
vessels using trawl gear.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and 675.24.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: March 23, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-7219 Filed 3-23-94; 12:53 pm]
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