[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27222]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 931199-4042; I.D. 102894C]

 

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing for pollock. 
This action is necessary because the 1994 Pacific halibut prohibited 
species catch (PSC) limit for trawl gear in the GOA has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 29, 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 GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 
672.
    The final 1994 initial specifications for the GOA (59 FR 7647, 
February 16, 1994) established the 1994 Pacific halibut PSC limit for 
vessels using trawl gear at 2,000 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 672.20(f)(3)(i), that vessels engaged in directed fishing for 
groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA have caught the 1994 Pacific 
halibut PSC limit. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
groundfish by vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except for directed 
fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear in those 
portions of the GOA that remain open to directed fishing for pollock. 
This closure is effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., October 29, 1994, until 
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 28, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-27222; Filed 10-28-94; 4:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F