[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 8, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 52716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25788]


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


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 620

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock in Statistical 
Area 620 of the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
This action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch 
(TAC) of pollock in that area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 5, 1996, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

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 annual TAC for 
pollock in area 620 of the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska was established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of 
Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 12,840 metric tons (mt). 
The directed fishery for pollock in statistical area 620 of the Central 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska was closed to directed fishing 
under Sec. 679.20 (d)(1)(iii) in order to reserve amounts anticipated 
to be needed for incidental catch in other fisheries (61 FR 50256, 
September 30, 1996). NMFS has determined that as of September 21, 1996, 
1,993 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 1996 
directed fishing allowance of pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the 
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf Alaska has not been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Central 
Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 3, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25788 Filed 10-3-96; 4:20 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F