[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25966]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 100296H]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland 
Turbot in the Bering Sea Subarea

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 Greenland turbot in the 
Bering Sea subarea (BS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catches of Greenland 
turbot 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 Greenland turbot total allowable catch (TAC) in the BS has 
been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 6, 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 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the initial TAC for 
Greenland turbot in the BS was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996), as 3,967 
metric tons. The Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish also 
closed the directed fishery with trawl gear for Greenland turbot in the 
BSAI.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), that the TAC for Greenland turbot in the BS has 
been reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring that further catches of 
Greenland turbot in the BS 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: October 4, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-25966 Filed 10-04-96; 4:17 pm]
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