[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 202 (Thursday, October 19, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 54046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25915]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 101395B]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific 
Cod by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line and Pot Gear

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 Pacific cod by 
vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the 1995 apportionment of the Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the 
BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 16, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hindman, 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 Pacific cod TAC for 
the BSAI was established by the Final 1995 Specifications of Groundfish 
(60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995), increased by an apportionment from the 
reserve (60 FR 32278, June 21, 1995) to 250,000 metric tons (mt), and 
further increased by a reallocation from jig gear (60 FR 52129, October 
5, 1995). The 1995 Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-
line or pot gear is 111,800 mt, pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv).
    In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), the Director, Alaska Region, 
NMFS (Regional Director), has determined that the 1995 Pacific cod TAC 
allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI has 
been reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a 
directed fishing allowance of 111,600 mt, with consideration that 200 
mt will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other 
species by vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in the BSAI. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by 
vessels using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts 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: October 13, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-25915 Filed 10-16-95; 9:11 am]
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