[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18188]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 071296C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker/
Rougheye Rockfish Species Group in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska

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 the shortraker/rougheye 
rockfish species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catches of the shortraker/rougheye 
rockfish species group in this area be treated in the same manner as 
prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This 
action is necessary because the shortraker/rougheye rockfish species 
group total allowable catch (TAC) in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the 
GOA has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 14, 1996, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the GOA exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the GOA (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 50 CFR part 600 and 50 
CFR part 679.
    The TAC for the shortraker/rougheye rockfish species group in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by the Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996), as 
530 metric tons. (See Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).)
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the TAC for the shortraker/rougheye 
rockfish species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of the 
shortraker/rougheye rockfish species group in the Eastern Regulatory 
Area of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with 
Sec. 679.21(b).

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: July 12, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18188 Filed 7-15-96; 2:33 pm]
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