[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 125 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16373]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 062196C]


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

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.), June 23, 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 subpart H of 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.
    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 (mt). This fishery was previously closed on May 14, 1996, 
with the expectation that the first seasonal allocation had been taken 
(61 FR 24730, May 16, 1996). The fishery was subsequently opened on 
June 14, 1996, when NMFS determined that 89 mt of halibut mortality 
remained in the allocation (61 30544, June 17, 1996).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv), 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 the directed 
fishery for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    Maximim retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: June 21, 1996.
Donald J. Leedy,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-16373 Filed 6-21-96; 4:33 pm]
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