[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18778]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 072794C]

 

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 Atka mackerel in the 
Central Aleutian District (CAD) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the CAD.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 28, 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 Atka mackerel TAC for 
the CAD was established by the final 1994 initial specifications of 
groundfish (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994) as 37,846 metric tons (mt). 
The directed fishery for Atka mackerel was closed on June 7, 1994 (59 
FR 29964, June 10, 1994). That prohibition was rescinded on July 4, 
1994 (59FR 33920, July 1, 1994), upon determination that the 1994 TAC 
for Atka mackerel in the CAD had not been reached.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka 
mackerel TAC in the CAD soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 37,346 mt with 
consideration that 500 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed 
fishing for other species in the CAD. The Regional Director has 
determined that the directed fishing allowance has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in 
the CAD, effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., July 28, 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 27, 1994.
Joe P. Clem,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-18778 Filed 7-28-94; 3:50 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F