[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3626]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 021396A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Area; Atka Mackerel in 
the Eastern Aleutian District and 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 closing the directed fishery for Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to 
prevent exceeding the specification of Atka mackerel in these areas.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 14, 1996, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

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 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 Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) for the 
BSAI established 22,695 metric tons (mt) as the initial total allowable 
catch of Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering 
Sea subarea.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the Atka 
mackerel initial total allowable catch in the Eastern Aleutian District 
and Bering Sea subarea soon will be reached. Therefore, the Regional 
Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 21,695 mt 
after determining that 1,000 mt will be taken as incidental catch in 
directed fishing for other species in the Eastern Aleutian District and 
Bering Sea subarea. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka 
mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea to 
prevent exceeding the directed fishing allowance.
    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: February 13, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-3626 Filed 2-13-96; 4:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F