[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 129 (Thursday, July 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16470]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950509041-5041-01; I.D. 062995A]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Termination of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to attain the total allowable catch (TAC) for northern 
rockfish in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 3, 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 GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 
672.
    In accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii)(B), the annual TAC for 
northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area was established by the 
final 1995 harvest specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8470, February 
14, 1995) as 640 metric tons (mt). At the same time, the directed 
fishery for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area was closed 
under Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii) in order to reserve amounts anticipated to 
be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries (60 FR 8470, February 
14, 1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1995 TAC 
for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area has not been 
reached; as of June 10, 1995, 623 mt remain unharvested. Therefore, 
NMFS is terminating the closure and opening directed fishing for 
northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 29, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-16470 Filed 6-29-95; 4:12 pm]
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