[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16636]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 070594A]

 

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 species in the rock 
sole/other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using 
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl rock 
sole/other flatfish'' fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 5, 1994, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael L. Sloan, 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.
    The annual bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the BSAI trawl 
rock sole/other flatfish'' fishery category, which is 
defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(B)(2), was established as 688 metric 
tons (mt) by the final 1994 initial specifications (59 FR 7656, 
February 16, 1994).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the annual bycatch allowance of 
Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl rock sole/other 
flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for species in the rock sole/
other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using trawl 
gear in the BSAI from 12 noon, A.l.t., July 5, 1994, until 12 noon, 
A.l.t., December 31, 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 50 CFR 675.21 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 5, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
Natrional Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16636 Filed 7-5-94; 4:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F