[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 149 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 40158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19541]



[[Page 40158]]

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 072496C]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Sharpchin/Northern Rockfish Species Group 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 prohibiting retention of the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that 
catches of the sharpchin/northern rockfish species group in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea be treated in the same manner as prohibited 
species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is 
necessary because the sharpchin/northern rockfish species group total 
allowable catch (TAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 27, 1996, 
until 2400 hours, 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 the 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 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species category initial TAC for the Aleutian Islands subarea 
was established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish 
(61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 4,445 metric tons (mt). On May 30, 
1996 (61 FR 28072), NMFS closed the directed fishery for the sharpchin/
northern rockfish species category in this area.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the TAC for the sharpchin/northern 
rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands subarea has been 
reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of the 
sharpchin/northern rockfish species group in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea 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 26, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19541 Filed 7-26-96; 4:57 pm]
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