[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6942]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 031595B]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Vessels Using Hook-and-Line 
Gear

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for 
demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) in the Southeast Outside district and 
sablefish. This action is necessary because the first seasonal bycatch 
allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to hook-and-line gear in the 
GOA for the 1995 fishing year has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 16, 1995, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., May 18, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 
672.
    In accordance with Sec. 672.20(f)(1)(ii)(A), the 1995 Pacific 
halibut bycatch allowance for hook-and-line gear for groundfish 
fisheries in the GOA, other than DSR in the Southeast Outside district, 
was established by the final groundfish specifications (60 FR 8470, 
February 14, 1995), as 740 metric tons (mt). The first seasonal 
allocation of that allowance is 200 mt. GOA hook-and-line gear 
sablefish fisheries are exempted from halibut bycatch restrictions (60 
FR 12149, March 6, 1995), as amended by a document published on March 
21, 1995 in the Federal Register.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 672.20(f)(3)(ii)(A), that the catch of Pacific halibut by 
operators of vessels using hook-and-line gear in groundfish fisheries 
other than the directed fishery for DSR in the Southeast Outside 
District has reached the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific 
halibut. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for groundfish 
by vessels using hook-and-line gear in the GOA, except this prohibition 
does not apply to vessels engaged in directed fishing for DSR in the 
Southeast Outside district or to vessels engaged in directed fishing 
for sablefish.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 672.20(g).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: March 16, 1995.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6942 Filed 3-16-95; 4:18 pm]
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