[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 96 (Thursday, May 18, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12278]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

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


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka 
Mackerel in the Western Aleutian District

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 Atka mackerel in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the final groundfish specification of Atka mackerel in that area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 15, 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 
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 Atka mackerel total 
allowable catch (TAC) for the Western Aleutian District was established 
by the final initial groundfish specifications (60 FR 8479, February 
14, 1995) as 14,025 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka 
mackerel TAC in the Western Aleutian District soon will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed fishing 
allowance of 13,025 mt after determining that 1,000 mt will be taken as 
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the Western 
Aleutian District. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District.
    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: May 15, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12278 Filed 5-15-95; 2:15 pm]
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