[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 72 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8944]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 93110-4043; I.D. 040894A]

 

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 prohibiting retention of Atka mackerel in the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. NMFS is requiring that catches 
of Atka mackerel in these areas be treated in the same manner as 
prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This 
action is necessary because the Atka mackerel total allowable catch 
(TAC) in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea in the 
BSAI has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 9, 1994, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, Fishery Biologist, 
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 (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)(2), the TAC for Atka mackerel in 
the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was 
established by the final 1994 initial groundfish specifications (59 FR 
7656, February 16, 1994) as 11,454 metric tons.
    The Director of the Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in 
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that TAC for Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea has been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of Atka mackerel in 
the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea be treated as 
prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c)(3), and is 
prohibiting their retention effective from 12 noon A.l.t., April 9, 
1994, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: April 8, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-8944 Filed 4-8-94; 5:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P