[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5434]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 022895D]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Inshore 
Component Pollock Fishery 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 inshore 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 inshore 
component in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 1, 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 the inshore component in the BS was 
established by the final groundfish specifications (60 FR 8479, 
February 14, 1995) as 167,344 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 inshore component in the BS soon will 
be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 162,344 mt with consideration that 5,000 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 inshore 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: March 1, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-5434 Filed 3-1-95; 3:56 pm]
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