[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 240 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 64128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30468]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 120895B]


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

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 gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 1995 
prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery in the BSAI has 
been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 11, 1995, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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.
    The 1995 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for the hook-
and-line Pacific cod fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(2)(ii)(A), is 725 metric tons (60 FR 8479, February 14, 
1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(d), that the Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance for the Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery in the BSAI has 
been reached. Therefore, 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 review under 
E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 8, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-30468 Filed 12-11-95; 12:34 pm]
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