[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41522-41523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20318]


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[[Page 41523]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise 
the deep-water species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the third seasonal 
bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the deep-water 
species fishery in the GOA has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), August 7, 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 deep-water species fishery was apportioned 400 mt 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 
deep-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 deep-water species fishery by vessels 
using trawl gear in the GOA. The species and species groups that 
comprise the deep-water species fishery are: All rockfish of the genera 
Sebastes and Sebastolobus, Greenland turbot, Dover sole, Rex sole, 
arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish.
    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. 96-20318 Filed 8-6-96; 11:57 am]
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