[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24187]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 091995C]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area 63 
of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 63 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the fourth quarterly allowance of the 
total allowable catch (TAC) for pollock in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 4, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

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.
    The 1995 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 63 was established by the 
Final 1995 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (60 FR 8470, February 
14, 1995) as 16,310 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with 
Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iv). As of September 2, 1995, the remaining pollock 
TAC for Statistical Area 63 is 3,392 mt. The fourth quarterly allowance 
of the TAC for Statistical Area 63 will become available at noon, 
October 1, 1995, pursuant to Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iv).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii), that the fourth 
quarterly allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 63 soon will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 2,984 mt after determining that 408 mt will be 
taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in 
Statistical Area 63 of the GOA. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 63, effective from 12 
noon, A.l.t., October 4, 1995, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 
1994.
    After the effective date of this closure, the maximum retainable 
bycatch amounts at Sec. 672.20(g) apply at any time during a fishing 
trip.

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: September 25, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24187 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F