[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 13109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7182]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 032096A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Yellowfin 
Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1

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 yellowfin sole by 
vessels using trawl gear in Bycatch Limitation Zone 1 (Zone 1) of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the first seasonal apportionment of the 
prohibited species catch (PSC) allowance of C. bairdi Tanner crab 
apportioned to the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in Zone 1.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 1996, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., April 1, 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.
    The 1996 PSC allowance of C. bairdi Tanner crab in Zone 1 for the 
trawl yellowfin sole fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(B)(1), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 250,000 
crab. The first seasonal bycatch apportionment of that allowance is 
50,000 crab.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(i), that the first seasonal apportionment of the 
PSC allowance of C. bairdi Tanner crab for the trawl yellowfin sole 
fishery in Zone 1 has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting 
directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 
1 of 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. 675.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: March 20, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-7182 Filed 3-20-96; 3:57 pm]
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