[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-25761]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 101394A]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in the Aleutian 
Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI) by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component to allow a 48-hour directed fishery. This action is necessary 
to use the allowance of total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in the 
AI for the inshore component.

DATES: Effective from 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.) October 13, 
1994, until 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 1994, the prohibition of 
directed fishing for pollock by operators of vessels catching pollock 
in the AI for processing by the inshore component is terminated; and 
effective 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 1994, through 12 midnight, 
A.l.t., December 31, 1994, directed fishing for pollock in the AI by 
operators of vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component is prohibited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(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.
    The allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for vessels catching pollock 
for processing by the inshore component was established by the final 
1994 initial groundfish specifications (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994) 
and a subsequent reserve apportionment (59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994) as 
18,324 metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for pollock in the AI by 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component was 
closed on October 8, 1994 (59 FR 51873, October 13, 1994) pursuant to 
Sec. 675.20(a)(8).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Director), in 
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), has determined that the remaining 
allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for the inshore component is 
sufficient to allow a 48-hour directed fishery. Therefore, NMFS is 
terminating the previous closure and opening directed fishing for 
pollock in the AI by operators of vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component as of 12 noon, A.l.t., October 13, 
1994.
    As the allowance of pollock TAC in the AI for the inshore component 
will be reached before the end of the year, the Regional Director, in 
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iii) and (a)(8), established a 
directed fishing allowance of 18,124 mt, with consideration that 200 mt 
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species 
in that area. The Regional Director has determined that the directed 
fishing allowance will be reached within a 48-hour directed fishery. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in the 
AI by operators of vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., October 15, 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 review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 13, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-25761 Filed 10-13-94; 4:03 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F