[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27488-27489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12615]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

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


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Apportionment of Reserve

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

ACTION: Apportionment of reserve; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to apportion reserve to certain target species 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to allow for ongoing harvest and account for 
previous harvest of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to 
promote the goals and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council.

DATES: Comments must be received at the following address no later than 
4:30 p.m., Alaska local time June 7, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 W. 9th, Room 453, Juneau, 
AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attention: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hindman, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the U.S. 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 Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the initial 
TACs specified for pollock, Greenland turbot, and Pacific ocean perch 
(POP) in the Bering Sea (BS) subarea; for pollock, Greenland turbot, 
POP, and sharpchin/northern rockfish in the Aleutian Islands (AI) 
subarea; for Atka mackerel in the combined Eastern Aleutian District 
and BS subarea; for Atka mackerel in the Central and Western Aleutian 
Districts; and for Pacific cod, arrowtooth flounder, and the ``other 
species'' category in the BSAI; need to be supplemented from the non-
specific reserve in order to continue operations and account for prior 
harvest.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(b), NMFS proposes to 
apportion from the reserve to TACs for the following species: (1) For 
the Bering Sea subarea --93,750 metric tons (mt) to pollock, 700 mt to 
Greenland turbot, and 277 mt to POP; (2) for the AI subarea--4,245 mt 
to pollock, 350 mt to Greenland turbot, 1,575 mt to POP; and 765 mt to 
sharpchin/northern rockfish; (3) for the combined Eastern Aleutian 
District and BS subarea--2,025 mt to Atka mackerel; (4) for the Central 
Aleutian District--7,500 mt to Atka mackerel; (5) for the Western 
Aleutian District--2,475 mt to Atka mackerel; and (6) for the BSAI--
37,500 mt to Pacific cod, 1,534 mt to arrowtooth flounder, and 3,000 mt 
to the ``other species'' category.
    These proposed apportionments are consistent with 
Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(i) and do not result in overfishing of a target 
species or the ``other species'' category, because the revised TACs are 
equal to or less than specifications of acceptable biological catch.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(i) the proposed apportionments of 
pollock are allocated between the inshore and offshore components: (1) 
For the BS subarea - 32,812 mt to vessels catching pollock for 
processing by the inshore component and 60,938 mt to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component; (2) for the AI 
subarea--1,486 mt to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component and 2,759 to vessels catching pollock for processing 
by the offshore component.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv) the proposed apportionment of the 
BSAI Pacific cod TAC is allocated 750 mt to vessels using jig gear, 
16,500 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, and 20,250 mt to 
vessels using trawl gear.
    In accordance with the 1995 final specifications for the BSAI (FR 
60 8479, February 14, 1995) the allocation of Pacific cod to hook-and-
line/pot gear will result in seasonal apportionments as follows: For 
the period January 1 through April 30--80,300 mt, for the period May 1 
through August 31--20,900 mt, and for the period September 1 through 
December 31--8,800 mt.

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.

    [[Page 27489]] Dated: May 17, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12615 Filed 5-23-95; 8:45 am]
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