[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 22, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 25595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12799]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 051696A]


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

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the 
Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catches of Pacific ocean 
perch in the Western Aleutian District be treated in the same manner as 
prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This 
action is necessary because the Pacific ocean perch total allowable 
catch (TAC) in the Western Aleutian District has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 19, 1996, 
until 12 midnight A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by the 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 Pacific ocean perch 
TAC for the Western Aleutian District was established by the Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996), 
and increased by an apportionment from the reserve (61 FR 16085, April 
11, 1996) to 6,050 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.20(a)(9), that the TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Western Aleutian District has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Western 
Aleutian District be treated as prohibited species in accordance with 
Sec. 675.20(c)(3).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 16, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12799 Filed 5-17-96; 1:41 pm]
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