[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14912-14913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6783]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; 031495A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Trawl 
Rockfish Fishery

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 species in the 
rockfish fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
to prevent exceeding the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific 
halibut apportioned to the trawl rockfish fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 15, 1995, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 1, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael L. Sloan, 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.
    The first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the 
BSAI trawl rockfish fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(D), was established as 30 metric tons by the 
final initial 1995 specifications for groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 
14, 1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the first seasonal bycatch allowance 
of Pacific halibut [[Page 14913]] apportioned to the trawl rockfish 
fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for species in the rockfish fishery category by 
vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI from 12 noon, A.l.t., March 15, 
1995, until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 1, 1995.
    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 15, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6783 Filed 3-15-95; 4:29 pm]
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