[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 24905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12446]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6091-01, I.D. 051396E]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Other 
Nontrawl Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management 
Area

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 groundfish in the 
other nontrawl fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 1996 bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the other 
nontrawl fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 15, 1996, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew 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 bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the 
other nontrawl fishery category, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(2)(ii)(E), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 100 
metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(d), that the 1996 bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to the other nontrawl fishery category in the BSAI has been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is closing the directed fishery for groundfish 
in the other nontrawl fishery category 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 Sec. 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. 96-12446 Filed 5-14-96; 3:07 pm]
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