[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 184 (Friday, September 20, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49418-49419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24196]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 081696B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Reallocation 
of Pacific Cod

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

ACTION: Reallocation.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific 
cod from vessels using trawl gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot 
gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and 
is reallocating Pacific cod from vessels using jig gear to vessels 
using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. These actions are 
necessary to allow the 1996 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod 
to be harvested. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 17, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 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.

Apportionment from Trawl gear to Hook-and-line or Pot Gear

    On August 27, 1996, NMFS proposed to apportion the projected unused 
amount, 15,000 metric tons (mt) of Pacific cod from vessels using trawl 
gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear and invited public 
comments (61 FR 44033, August 27, 1996). Twenty letters of comment were 
received by NMFS regarding the proposed apportionment, all of which 
supported the action.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that vessels 
using trawl gear will not be able to harvest 15,000 mt of Pacific cod 
allocated to those vessels under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A).
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii), NMFS 
apportions the projected unused amount, 15,000 mt of Pacific cod from 
vessels using trawl gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.

Apportionment from Jig Gear to Vessels using Hook-and-line or Pot 
Gear

    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(5), the Pacific cod total 
allowable catch for the BSAI was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996), and 
increased by an apportionment from the

[[Page 49419]]

reserve (61 FR 16085, April 11, 1996) to 270,000 metric tons (mt). Of 
this amount, 5,400 mt was allocated to vessels using jig gear.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that vessels 
using jig gear will not harvest 4,400 mt of Pacific cod by the end of 
the year. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii) NMFS is 
reallocating the unused amount of 4,400 mt of Pacific cod allocated to 
vessels using jig gear to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 16, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-24196 Filed 9-17-96; 4:29 pm]
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