[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37601-37602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17921]



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[[Page 37602]]



DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 071795C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Atka 
Mackerel in the Central 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 
Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in that area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 17, 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 TAC for 
the Central Aleutian District was established by the Final 1995 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995) as 50,000 
metric tons (mt) as amended (60 FR 27488, May 24, 1995). The directed 
fishery for Atka mackerel was closed on April 25, 1995 (60 FR 20916, 
April 28, 1995). That closure was terminated on July 1, 1995 (60 FR 
33150, June 27, 1995), upon determination that the 1995 TAC for Atka 
mackerel in the Central Aleutian District had not been reached.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka 
mackerel TAC in the Central Aleutian District soon will be reached. 
Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed fishing 
allowance of 49,500 mt after determining that 500 mt will be taken as 
incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the Central 
Aleutian District. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for Atka mackerel in the Central 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: July 17, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-17921 Filed 7-17-95; 4:31 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F