[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56001-56002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27442]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

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


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

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

ACTION: Reallocation; modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the unused amount of Pacific cod total 
allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using trawl gear to vessels using 
hook-and-line or pot gear and is opening 

[[Page 56002]]
directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line or pot 
gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 
These actions are necessary to utilize the TAC specified for Pacific 
cod in the BSAI and promote the goals and objectives of the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council).

EFFECTIVE DATES: For the reallocation of the unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using trawl gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot 
gear: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.,), November 3, 1995, until 12 
midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. For the opening of directed 
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in 
the BSAI: 12 noon, A.l.t., November 17, 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 NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Area (FMP) prepared by the 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.
    The directed fishery for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line 
and pot gear in the BSAI was closed on October 16, 1995, to prevent 
exceeding the 1995 apportionment of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI (October 19, 1995, 
60 FR 54046).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that vessels 
using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 10,000 metric tons (mt) of 
Pacific cod allocated to those vessels under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv)(A). 
In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv)(B), NMFS is reallocating the 
unused amount of Pacific cod to vessels using hook-and-line or pot 
gear. The allocation to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear will 
increase to 121,800 mt, of which 10,287 mt remained unharvested as of 
October 14, 1995.
    NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed 
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using hook-and-line and pot gear in 
the BSAI.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

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 31, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-27442 Filed 11-3-95; 8:45 am]
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