[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 154 (Thursday, August 8, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41363-41364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20256]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 080596A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise 
the

[[Page 41364]]

shallow-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic 
trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for 
pollock. This action is necessary because the third seasonal bycatch 
allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the shallow-water species 
fishery in the GOA has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 5, 1996, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., October 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228.

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 shallow-water species fishery was apportioned 200 metric tons 
of Pacific halibut prohibited species catch for the third season, the 
period July 1, 1996, through September 30, 1996 (61 FR 4304, February 
5, 1996). (See Sec. 679.21(d).)
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i), that vessels participating in the trawl 
shallow-water species fishery in the GOA have caught the third seasonal 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to that fishery. 
Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for each species and 
species group that comprise the shallow-water species fishery by 
vessels using trawl gear in the GOA, except for vessels fishing for 
pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to 
directed fishing for pollock. The species and species groups that 
comprise the shallow-water species fishery are: Pollock, Pacific cod, 
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and ``other 
species.''
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found 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: August 5, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20256 Filed 8-5-96; 4:14 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F