[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46067-46068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21863]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 082995A]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Trawling in the Western 
Regulatory Area

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

ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing the season for all 
groundfish by vessels using trawl gear, except fishing for pollock by 
vessels using pelagic trawl gear, in the Western Regulatory Area of the 
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent overfishing 
of Pacific ocean perch (POP).

DATES: Effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 
1995, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be 
received no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., September 18, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries 
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802, Attn. Lori Gravel, or be delivered 

[[Page 46068]]
to the fourth floor of the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, 
Juneau, AK.

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 (Magnuson Act). Fishing by U.S. 
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 
620 and 672.
    The Magnuson Act requires that conservation and management measures 
prevent overfishing. The 1995 overfishing level for POP in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA is established by the final 1995 harvest 
specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8470, February 14, 1995) as 1,482 
metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for POP closed in the Western 
Regulatory Area on July 20, 1995 (60 FR 37601, July 21, 1995). As of 
July 29, 1995, 1,420 mt of POP have been caught.
    Substantial trawl fishing effort will be directed at remaining 
amounts of groundfish in the GOA during 1995. These fisheries can have 
significant catches of POP.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 672.22(a)(1)(i) and (a)(4), that closing the season by 
prohibiting directed fishing for all groundfish by vessels using trawl 
gear, except fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear, 
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is necessary to prevent 
overfishing of POP and is the least restrictive measure to achieve that 
purpose. Without this prohibition of directed fishing, significant 
incidental catch of POP would occur by trawl vessels.
    Therefore, NMFS is closing the season for all groundfish by vessels 
using trawl gear, except fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic 
trawl gear, in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good 
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the 
effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the 
public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, POP in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA will be overfished, jeopardizing the long-
term capacity of that stock. Under Sec. 672.22(c)(2), interested 
persons are invited to submit written comments on this action until 
September 18, 1995 (see ADDRESSES).

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 672.22 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 29, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21863 Filed 9-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F