[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 149 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40156-40157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19540]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 960401094-6183-02; I.D. 072496B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; 1996 Closure

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure of the fishery.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the closure of the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands (NWHI) crustacean fishery due to attainment of the harvest 
guideline for the 1996 fishing season. Further lobster fishing in the 
NWHI is prohibited until the beginning of the 1997 fishing season on 
July 1, 1997. This action is intended to prevent overfishing and to 
achieve optimum yield according to the objectives of the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific 
Region (FMP).

EFFECTIVE DATES: Fishing for lobsters in the NWHI is prohibited from 
2400 hours (local time) July 26, 1996, through June 30, 1997. Landings 
of lobsters taken from the NWHI are prohibited after 2400 hours (local 
time) July 30, 1996, through June 30, 1997.


[[Page 40157]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Svein Fougner, 310-980-4034; or Alvin 
Z. Katekaru, 808-973-2985.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 5, 1996, a harvest guideline of 
186,000 spiny and slipper lobsters was published in the Federal 
Register (61 FR 35145) as the allowable harvest permitted in the NWHI 
for the 1996 fishing season, which began on July 1. Through July 21, 
150,000 spiny and slipper lobsters have been harvested by commercial 
fishing vessels, mostly at Necker Island. The average daily harvest has 
been more than 7,800 lobsters. Further harvesting of lobsters is 
therefore prohibited after 2400 hours (local time) July 26, 1996, when 
the harvest guideline is projected to be reached, and further landings 
of lobster taken in Permit Area I are prohibited after 2400 hours 
(local time) July 30, 1996.

Classification

    This action is authorized by 50 CFR 660.50 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 26, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19540 Filed 7-26-96; 4:57 pm]
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