[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24006]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 29, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 9312335-4107; I.D. 092294A]

 

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.

DATES: Area 4A and 4B were reopened effective September 12, 1994, 12:00 
noon, Alaska Daylight Time (ADT), through September 14, 1994, 12:00 
noon, ADT. Area 4D was closed effective 3 p.m. ADT August 6, 1994 
through December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, telephone 907-586-
7221; William W. Stelle, Jr., telephone 206-526-6140; or Donald 
McCaughran, telephone 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 (50 CFR 301.4). 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. 15
    Commercial Fishery Update In Area 4

    The IPHC estimates the following catches for the mid-August fishing 
periods in Area 4.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      August       Season     Remaining 
               Area                   catch        catch     catch limit
                                    (000's lb)   (000's lb)   (000's lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4A...............................        1,541        1,672          128
4B...............................        1,679        2,008           92
4D...............................          692          710            0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Area 4D Closed to Halibut Fishing

    The catch limit in Area 4D was reached and Area 4D is now closed to 
halibut fishing for the remainder of 1994.

Area 4A and 4B Reopened on September 12

    Although only a small amount of catch limit remains for Areas 4A 
and 4B, the IPHC anticipates very little fishing effort if these areas 
are opened concurrently with Area 3 during September. Therefore, Areas 
4A and 4B will be reopened to halibut fishing on September 12 at 12:00 
noon ADT, and close on September 14 at 12:00 noon ADT. Fishing period 
limits (identical to those in Area 3) will be required for both Areas 
4A and 4B, to avoid exceeding the catch limit, and are shown in the 
following table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Vessel class                     Fishing period limits 
----------------------------------------------- (lb, dressed, heads off)
                                                                        
              Length                  Letter   -------------------------
                                                  Area 4A      Area 4B  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-25..............................  A                   600          600
26-30.............................  B                   900          900
31-35.............................  C                 2,700        2,700
36-40.............................  D                 3,500        3,500
41-45.............................  E                 5,600        5,600
46-50.............................  F                 7,900        7,900
51-55.............................  G                11,600       11,600
56+...............................  H                20,000      20,000 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Vessel operators are reminded that vessel clearances are required 
prior to fishing, and prior to unloading and/or departure from Area 4. 
The required clearances for Area 4A may be obtained at designated fish 
processors in Akutan and Dutch Harbor. The required clearances for Area 
4B may only be obtained at the city office in Atka Village, located at 
Nazan Bay on Atka Island.

    Dated: September 22, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-24006 Filed 9-28-94; 8:45 am]
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