[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 213 (Friday, November 3, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55805-55806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27345]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 103095E]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea Subarea

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the 
Bering Sea 

[[Page 55806]]
subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 
NMFS is requiring that catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea 
subarea be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and 
discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary 
because the Pacific ocean perch total allowable catch (TAC) in the BSAI 
has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 31, 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 the 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 ocean perch 
TAC for the Bering Sea subarea was established by the Final 1995 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995), 
and increased by an apportionment from the reserve (60 FR 32278, June 
21, 1995) to 1,850 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Bering Sea subarea has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that 
further catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea subarea be 
treated as prohibited species in accordance with Sec. 675.20(c).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 31, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-27345 Filed 10-31-95; 2:55 pm]
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