[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catch (millions of lb/ Catch limit (millions Remaining catch limit Area mt) of lb/mt) (millions of lb/mt) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total.......................... 24.83/11,260 42.8/19,410 17.97/8,150 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area 4A Area 4B Area 4D ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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