[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23322]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 090696F]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock by 
Vessels Using Nonpelagic Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Island Area

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 pollock by trawl 
vessels using nonpelagic trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent 
exceeding the BSAI bycatch allowance of halibut specified for the trawl 
pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery category.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 7, 
1996, until 2400 hrs, 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.
    The 1996 bycatch allowance of halibut specified for the trawl 
pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery category which is 
defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(F), was established as 430 metric tons 
by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, 
February 5, 1996).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in 
accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7), that the bycatch allowance of 
halibut specified for the trawl pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' 
fishery category has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is closing the 
directed fishery for pollock by trawl vessels using nonpelagic 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: September 6, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-23322 Filed 9-6-96; 5:02 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F