[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: 94-16853]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 301

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

 

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 
U.S. 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 22, 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. 7

North Washington Coast Sport Fishery Closes
    A 3-day extension of the north Washington coast (waters west of the 
Bonilla-Tatoosh line and south to the Queets River) sport halibut 
fishery during June 9 through June 11 resulted in a harvest of 10,649 
lb (4.83 mt). This brings the season harvest to 65,298 lb (29.62 mt), 
2,741 lb (1.24 mt) shy of the 68,039 lb (30.86 mt) catch limit. The 
remaining catch limit is too small to allow for a full day of fishing 
without exceeding the catch limit. Therefore, the sport halibut fishery 
in this area will remain closed for the remainder of 1994.
    Anglers landing in Neah Bay have caught an estimated 13,000 lb 
(5.90 mt) of Pacific halibut from Canadian waters. Fishing remains open 
in Canadian waters with a two-fish daily bag limit and no size 
restriction. Anglers desiring to fish in Canadian waters are strongly 
urged to contact Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans at (604) 
666-0383/0583 for sport fishing information concerning licensing and 
the nautical description of closed areas.
South Washington Coast Sport Fishery Closes
    Higher than expected effort in the south Washington coast (Queets 
River to Cape Falcon) sport halibut fishery led to 14,149 lb (6.42 mt) 
of halibut harvested in the June 2 and June 9 openings. This far 
exceeds the 5,670-lb (2.57 mt) catch limit; therefore sport fishing for 
halibut in this area will remainclosed for the remainder of 1994.
Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound Sport Fishery Remains Open
    Sport fishing for halibut remains open in the Strait of Juan de 
Fuca and Puget Sound (waters east of a line from Bonilla Point, lat. 
48 deg.35'44'' N., long. 124 deg.43'00'' W., to the buoy adjacent to 
Duntz Rock, lat. 48 deg.24'55'' N., long. 124 deg.44'50'' W., to 
Tatoosh Island lighthouse, lat. 48 deg.23'30'' N., long. 
124 deg.44'00'' W., to Cape Flattery, lat. 48 deg.22'55'' N., long. 
124 deg.43'42'' W.). The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per 
person and is open 6 days a week (closed Wednesdays). This fishery will 
close, as scheduled, at 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 1994.

    Dated: July 6, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16853 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F