[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51789-51790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25464]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 093096A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch 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 Pacific ocean perch in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring 
that catches of Pacific ocean perch 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 Pacific ocean perch 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.), September 30, 
1996, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.


[[Page 51790]]


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 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii), the TAC for Pacific ocean 
perch 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 2,366 metric tons.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of Pacific ocean perch 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: September 30, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25464 Filed 10-1-96; 9:05 am]
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