[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16863]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 13, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 070694A]

 

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 the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) 
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish total allowable catch (TAC) in the AI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 7, 1994, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii) the sharpchin/northern TAC 
for the AI was established by the final groundfish specifications (59 
FR 7656, February 16, 1994) as 4,820 metric tons (mt). The Director, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the sharpchin/northern rockfish TAC in the 
AI soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has 
established a directed fishing allowance of 4,320 mt, with 
consideration that 500 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed 
fishing for other species in the AI.
    The Regional Director has determined that the directed fishing 
allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for the sharpchin/northern rockfish species category in the AI, 
effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., July 7, 1994, until 12 midnight, 
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 Sec. 675.20 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 7, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16863 Filed 7-7-94; 4:03 pm]
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