[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12276]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 051595C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Sharpchin/Northern Rockfish Species Category in the Aleutian Islands 
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 the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) 
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species category total allowable catch (TAC) in the AI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 17, 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 
(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 sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species category TAC for the AI was established by the final 
groundfish specifications (60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995) as 4,338 
metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category TAC in the AI soon will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed fishing 
allowance of 4,038 mt, with consideration that 300 mt will be taken as 
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the AI. The 
Regional Director has determined that the directed fishing allowance 
has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for the sharpchin/northern rockfish species category in the AI.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 15, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12276 Filed 5-15-95; 2:15 pm]
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