[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 107 (Monday, June 3, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 27796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13809]




[[Page 27796]]

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 052896G]


Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Pacific Ocean Perch in the Eastern 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 
Eastern Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catches of Pacific ocean 
perch in the Eastern 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 Eastern Aleutian District has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 29, 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 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 Eastern 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 3,025 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 
Eastern Aleutian District has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern 
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 28, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13809 Filed 5-29-96; 1:02 pm]
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