[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16852]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 931235-4107; I.D. 062994C]

 

Pacific Halibut Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice of inseason action.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes notice 
of this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the 
United States Government to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This 
action is intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut 
stocks in order to help sustain them at an adequate level in the 
northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 21, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, 907-586-7221; Gary 
Smith, 206-526-6140; or Donald McCaughran, 206-634-1838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPHC, under the Convention between the 
United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut 
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), has issued 
this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific 
halibut fishery. The regulations have been approved by the Secretary of 
State (59 FR 22522, May 2, 1994). On behalf of the IPHC, this inseason 
action is published in the Federal Register to provide additional 
notice of its effectiveness, and to inform persons subject to the 
inseason action of the restrictions and requirements established 
therein.

Inseason Action

1994 Halibut Landing Report No. 6
    June Alaska Commercial Fishery

    The IPHC estimates the following catches for the June 6 through 7 
fishing period in Alaskan waters. The Area 2C catch includes the catch, 
to date, from the Annette Islands Reserve halibut fishery. If fishing 
period limits are needed in any of Areas 2C, 3A, or 3B, they will be 
announced at a later date.

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                                        Catch (millions of lb/   Catch limit (millions    Remaining catch limit 
                Area                             mt)                   of lb/mt)           (millions of lb/mt)  
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2C...................................                5.0/2,270               11.0/4,990                6.0/2,720
3A...................................               17.8/8,070              26.0/11,790                8.2/3,720
3B...................................                  1.9/860                4.0/1,810                  2.1/950
4A...................................                  0.13/60                  1.8/820                 1.67/760
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      Total..........................             24.83/11,260              42.8/19,410             17.97/8,150 
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Canadian Commercial Fishery

    Canadian halibut landings from Area 2B total 5.8 million lb (2,630 
mt) through June 20, leaving 4.2 million lb (1910 mt) of the catch 
limit to be caught. The fishery will continue until all individual 
vessel quotas have been filled, or November 15, whichever is earlier.

August Fishing Periods in Areas 4A, 4B, and 4D

    The IPHC has determined that fishing period limits will not be 
needed during the August 15 opening in Areas 4A, 4B, and 4D. The 
duration of the fishing period in each area is as follows: 

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                                                      Area 4A               Area 4B                Area 4D      
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Fishing period................................  8/15................  8/15-8/19...........  8/15-8/16.          
Duration......................................  12 hours............  96 hours............  30 hours.           
Opening (ADT*)................................  8:00 a.m............  12 Noon.............  9:00 a.m.           
Closing (ADT*)................................  8:00 p.m............  12 Noon.............  3:00 p.m.           
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*Alaska Daylight Time                                                                                           

    The fishing periods are designed to provide maximum fishing time 
without exceeding the catch limit in each area. In the event that the 
catch limit in one or more of the three areas is not attained, and 
sufficient poundage remains to permit further fishing, the next 
scheduled fishing period is August 30.

    Dated: July 6, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16852 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P