[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2844]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 941241-4341; I.D. 020195A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea

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 
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the interim specification of Atka mackerel in these 
areas.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

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)(i), the interim 1995 
specifications of groundfish for the BSAI (59 FR 64346, December 14, 
1994) established 2,864 metric tons (mt) as the interim allowance of 
Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea (BS) 
subarea.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka 
mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern Aleutian District 
and BS subarea soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director 
has established a directed fishing allowance of 2,464 mt after 
determining that 400 mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed 
fishing for other species in the Eastern Aleutian District and BS 
subarea. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka 
mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the BS subarea.
    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: February 1, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-2844 Filed 2-1-95; 4:28 pm]
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