[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 7, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 41024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20056]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 073196A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish 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 northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring 
that catches of northern rockfish 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 northern rockfish 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.), August 1, 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 of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 
CFR part 679.
    The TAC for northern rockfish 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 20 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 northern rockfish in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of northern rockfish 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: August 1, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20056 Filed 8-1-96; 4:40 pm]
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