[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15869]



[[Page 33365]]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

50 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 950106003; I.D. 062195E]


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; North Washington Sport Fishery

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

ACTION: Inseason action.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes notice 
of this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the 
U.S. Government to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This action is 
intended to enhance the conservation of the Pacific halibut stock in 
order to help sustain it at an adequate level in the northern Pacific 
Ocean and Bering Sea.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 11:59 p.m. May 27, 1995, through December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, 907-586-7221; William 
W. Stelle, Jr., 206-526-6140; or Donald McCaughran, 206-634-1838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPHC, under the Convention between the 
United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut 
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), has issued 
this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific 
halibut fishery. The regulations have been approved by NMFS (60 FR 
14651, March 20, 1995). On behalf of the IPHC, this inseason action is 
published in the Federal Register to provide additional notice of its 
effectiveness, and to inform persons subject to the inseason action of 
the restrictions and requirements established therein.

Inseason Action

1995 Halibut Landing Report Number 4

North Washington Coast Sport Fishery to Close
    The north Washington coast (waters west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line 
and south to the Queets River) sport halibut harvest through May 21, 
1995, is 43,041 lb (19.52 metric tons (mt)). Preliminary indications 
suggest that three factors will contribute to higher than average 
catches in the week of May 22 through 28, 1995: (1) Larger fish 
recruiting to the fishery, (2) increased effort from a holiday weekend, 
and (3) continued good weather. Allowing additional fishing days after 
May 27 could result in exceeding the catch limit of 71,410 lb (32.39 
mt). Therefore, the sport halibut fishery in this area will close at 
11:59 p.m. on May 27, 1995. Sport fishing opportunities on the south 
Washington coast (waters south of the Queets River) and on the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound (waters east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh 
line) are unaffected by this closure.
    Fishing remains open in Canadian waters with a two-fish daily bag 
limit and no size restriction. Anglers desiring to fish in Canadian 
waters are urged to contact Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans 
at (604) 666-0383/0583 for sport fishing information concerning 
licensing and the nautical description of closed areas.

    Dated: June 22, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-15869 Filed 6-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F