[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4996]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 022396F]


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

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in 
the Eastern Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 29, 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 2,571 metric tons (mt) as the initial total allowable 
catch of Pacific ocean perch for the Eastern Aleutian District. At the 
same time, the directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern 
Aleutian District was closed to directed fishing under 
Sec. 675.20(a)(8) in order to reserve amounts anticipated to be needed 
for incidental catch in other fisheries. NMFS has determined that as of 
February 10, 1996, 2,485 mt remain unharvested.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1996 TAC 
for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Aleutian District has not been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is 
reopening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern 
Aleutian District.
    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: February 27, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4996 Filed 2-28-96; 3:58 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F