[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4446]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 021795B]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Offshore 
Component Pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea

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 pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Bering 
Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the first 
allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for the offshore 
component in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 21, 1995, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., August 15, 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 first seasonal 
allowance of pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
offshore component in the BS was established by the final groundfish 
specifications (60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995), as 310,781 metric tons 
(mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the first 
allowance of pollock TAC for the offshore component in the BS soon will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 300,781 mt with consideration that 10,000 mt will 
be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in 
the BS. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock 
by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in 
the BS.
    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 17, 1995.
Alfred Bilik,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-4446 Filed 2-17-95; 3:15 pm]
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