[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30792-30793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14335]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 060595B]


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, Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Atka mackerel in the Western 
Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catches of Atka mackerel in this 
area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded 
at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the 
Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in the Western Aleutian 
District has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 7, 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. [[Page 30793]] 
    In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), the TAC for Atka mackerel 
in the Western Aleutian District was established by the final 1995 
harvest specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8478, February 14, 1995), 
as 16,500 metric tons, as amended (60 FR 27488, May 24, 1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the TAC for Atka mackerel in the Western 
Aleutian District has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
further catches of Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c)(3), and 
is prohibiting their retention.

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: June 6, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-14335 Filed 6-7-95; 3:06 pm]
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