[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 139 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18271]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 071596B]


Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Sablefish in the Central 
Regulatory Area

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 sablefish by vessels using 
trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
NMFS is requiring that catches of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear 
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 allocation of the sablefish total allowable catch (TAC) 
assigned to trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 15, 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 Gulf of Alaska (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 
part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The allocation of the sablefish TAC assigned to trawl gear in the 
Central Regulatory Area of the GOA was established by the Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996), as 
1,380 metric tons. (See Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(ii)(B).)
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the allocation of the sablefish TAC 
assigned to trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has 
been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of 
sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Central 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 15, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18271 Filed 7-15-96; 2:51 pm]
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