[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5312]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 030196A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Offshore 
Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) 
apportioned to vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the 
offshore component in the AI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 2, 1996, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 15, 1996.

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.
    In accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), the first allowance of 
pollock for vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore 
component in the AI was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 19,669 
metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the first 
allowance of pollock TAC for vessels catching pollock for processing by 
the offshore component in the AI soon will be reached. Therefore, the 
Regional Director has established a directed fishing allowance of 
18,669 mt with consideration that 1,000 mt will be taken as incidental 
catch in directed fishing for other species in the AI. Consequently, 
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI. This 
closure is effective noon, A.l.t., March 2, 1996, through noon, A.l.t., 
April 15, 1996. Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(ii), the second allowance is 
available from noon, A.l.t., August 15 through the end of the fishing 
year.
    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: March 1, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-5312 Filed 3-1-96; 4:33 pm]
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