[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3814]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 021095A]


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

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

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting the retention for Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that 
catches of Atka mackerel in these areas be treated in the same manner 
as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. 
This action is necessary because the Atka mackerel total allowable 
catch (TAC) in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea 
in the BSAI has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 10, 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)(ii), the TAC for Atka mackerel 
in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea was 
established by the final groundfish specifications published February 
14, 1995, as 11,475 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the Atka mackerel TAC in the Eastern 
Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea has been reached. Therefore, 
NMFS is requiring that further catches of Atka mackerel in the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea be treated as prohibited 
species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c)(3), and is prohibiting their 
retention effective from 12 noon, A.l.t., February 10, 1995, until 12 
midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

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 10, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3814 Filed 2-10-95; 4:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F