[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 149 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39663-39664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19036]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 950106003-5070-02; I.D. 072895A]


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Area 2A Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery 
Reopening; Oregon Sport Fishery Reopening

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

ACTION: Inseason actions.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes inseason 
actions pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the U.S. Government to 
govern the Pacific halibut fishery. These actions are intended to 
enhance the conservation of the Pacific halibut stock 

[[Page 39664]]
in order to help sustain it at an adequate level in the northern 
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Area 2A: 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., local time, 
August 1, 1995; Oregon sport fishery: 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m., 
local time, August 3, 1995 and August 4, 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 
these inseason actions 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, these inseason 
actions are published in the Federal Register to provide additional 
notice of their effectiveness, and to inform persons subject to the 
inseason actions of the restrictions and requirements established 
therein.

Inseason Actions

1995 Halibut Landing Report Number 11

Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery to Reopen
    The July 18 fishing period in Area 2A resulted in a catch of 35,000 
lb (15.87 metric tons (mt)), leaving approximately 50,000 lb (22.67 mt) 
yet to be caught from the catch limit.
    Area 2A will reopen on August 1 for 10 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 
p.m. local time. The fishery is restricted to waters that are south of 
Point Chehalis, WA (46 deg.53'18'' N. lat.) under regulations 
promulgated by NMFS. Fishing period limits as indicated in the 
following table will be in effect for this opening.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Vessel class                     Fishing period limit
--------------------------------------------------          (lb)        
                                                  ----------------------
                                                               Dressed, 
          Length                    Letter          Dressed,   head-off 
                                                    head-on       \1\   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-25......................  A                            225         200
26-30.....................  B                            240         210
31-35.....................  C                            380         335
36-40.....................  D                          1,050         925
41-45.....................  E                          1,130         995
46-50.....................  F                          1,350       1,190
51-55.....................  G                          1,510       1,330
56+.......................  H                          2,275      2,000 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Weights are after 2 percent has been deducted for ice and slime if  
  fish are not washed prior to weighing.                                

    The appropriate vessel length class and letter is printed on each 
halibut license.
    The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-off 
weight as well as dressed, head-on weight, although fishermen are 
reminded that regulations require that all halibut from Area 2A be 
landed with the head on.
    The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the individual 
fisherman, and any landings over the vessel limit will be subject to 
forfeiture and fine.

Oregon Sport Fishery Reopens for Two Days

    The Oregon sport fishery from Cape Falcon to the California border 
will open for 2 days, Thursday, August 3 and Friday, August 4, 1995, 
rather than for 3 days as indicated in the halibut regulations. 
Approximately 15,500 lb (7.03 mt) remain for harvest, not enough to 
assure that harvest from 3 days of fishing will remain under the catch 
limit. The daily bag limit will be two fish per person, one with a 32-
inch (12.59 centimeters (cm)) minimum size limit, and one with a 50-
inch (19.68 cm) minimum size limit. If sufficient catch limit remains 
after August 4, an additional opening may be announced by the IPHC.

    Dated: July 28, 1995.
Donald J. Leedy,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-19036 Filed 7-28-95; 4:41 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W