[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17504]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 071394B]

 

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 Pacific ocean perch 
in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the Pacific ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the 
AI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 14, 1994, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 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 Pacific ocean perch 
TAC for the AI was established by the final 1994 initial specifications 
of groundfish (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994) and later augmented from 
the reserve (59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994) to a total of 10,900 metric 
tons (mt). The directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch was closed on 
April 4, 1994 (59 FR 16570, April 7, 1994). That prohibition was 
rescinded on July 4, 1994 (59 FR 33920, July 1, 1994), upon 
determination that the 1994 TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the AI had 
not been reached.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Pacific 
ocean perch TAC in the AI soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 10,700 mt, 
with consideration that 200 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 Pacific ocean 
perch in the AI, effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., July 14, 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 13, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-17504 Filed 7-14-94; 2:16 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F