[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4594-4595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2568]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 020196A]


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

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

ACTION: Closure.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 2, 1996, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., June 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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 first quarterly allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 63 
is 3,420 metric tons (mt) (1996 GOA Final Specifications published 
February 5, 1996), determined in accordance with Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iv). 
The directed fishery for pollock in Statistical Area 63 of the GOA was 
closed under Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii) on January 23, 1996 (61 FR 2457, 
January 26, 1996) and reopened on January 29, 1996 (61 FR 3606, 
February 1, 1996). The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Director), has determined, in accordance with Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii), 
that the first quarterly allowance of pollock TAC in Statistical Area 
63 soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has 
established a 

[[Page 4595]]
directed fishing allowance of 3,220 mt after determining that 200 mt 
will be taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species 
in Statistical Area 63 in the GOA. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 63.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 672.20(g).

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: February 1, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-2568 Filed 2-1-96; 4:53 pm]
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