[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13949]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 052996B]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Sharpchin/Northern Rockfish Species Category in the Aleutian Islands 
Subarea

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 the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) 
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species category total allowable catch (TAC) in the AI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 30, 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 
(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 sharpchin/ northern 
rockfish species category initial TAC for the AI was established by the 
Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 
5, 1996) as 4,445 metric tons (mt).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), has 
determined, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(8), that the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category initial TAC in the AI soon will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Director has established a directed 
fishing allowance of 4,145 mt, with consideration that 300 mt will be 
taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in the 
AI. The Regional Director has determined that the directed fishing 
allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for the sharpchin/northern rockfish species category in the AI.
    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 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 30, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-13949 Filed 5-30-96; 4:21 pm]
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