[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 6, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40747-40748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19895]


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[[Page 40748]]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 073096A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Species 
in the Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery Category

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for species in the rock 
sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using 
trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area 
(BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 1996 
prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' 
fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 31, 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 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 part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 1996 prohibited species bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific 
halibut for the BSAI trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' 
fishery category, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(2), was 
established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 
FR 4311, February 5, 1996) as 730 metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), that the 1996 prohibited species bycatch 
mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl rock 
sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been 
caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting the directed fishery for species 
in the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by 
vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    Maximum 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 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: July 31, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19895 Filed 7-31-96; 4:28 pm]
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