[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 230 (Thursday, December 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29535]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 112594A]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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

ACTION: Prohibition of retention.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by vessels using 
trawl, hook-and-line, or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the 1994 apportionments of the Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) allocated to vessels using trawl, hook-and-line, or pot 
gear in the BSAI. NMFS is requiring that catches of Pacific cod in the 
BSAI be treated as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a 
minimum of injury.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 25, 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 NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Area (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 cod TAC for 
the BSAI was established by the final 1994 initial specifications of 
groundfish (59 FR 7656, February 16, 1994), and increased by an 
apportionment from the reserve (59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994) to 191,000 
metric tons (mt). The 1994 Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using 
trawl gear is 95,140 mt, and to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear 
is 92,040 mt, pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv); 59 FR 4009, January 
28, 1994; 59 FR 21673, April 26, 1994; and 59 FR 42776, August 19, 
1994.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the 1994 Pacific cod TAC allocations to 
vessels using trawl gear and to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear 
in the BSAI have been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
further catches of Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear and vessels 
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI be treated as prohibited 
species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c)(3), effective from 12 noon, 
A.l.t., November 25, 1994, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 
1994.

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: November 25, 1994.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-29535 Filed 11-25-94; 4:50 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F