[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 96 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12339]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 051396A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific 
Cod by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for Pacific cod by 
vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to 
the trawl Pacific cod fishery in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 14, 1996, 
until 12 noon, A.l.t., October 25, 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.
    The first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut for the 
BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(E), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 1,585 
metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the first seasonal bycatch allowance 
of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl Pacific cod fishery in the 
BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in 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 50 CFR 675.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 13, 1996.
Donald J. Leedy,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12339 Filed 5-13-96; 3:38 pm]
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