[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26022]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 100496B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
rockfish in the Western 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 directed fishing for northern rockfish in 
the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the northern rockfish total allowable 
catch (TAC) in this area.

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 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 northern rockfish TAC 
for the Western Regulatory Area was established by the Final 1996 
Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) as 
640 metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area opened on July 1, 1996 (61 FR 34377, July 2, 
1996) and was closed under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on July 11, 1996 (61 
FR 37226, July 17, 1996) and reopened on October 1, 1996 (61 FR 50458, 
September 26, 1996).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), established 
in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1) a directed fishing allowance for 
northern rockfish of 600 mt, with consideration that 40 mt will be 
taken as incidental catch in directed fishing for other species in this 
area. The Regional Director has determined that this directed fishing 
allowance has been reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area.
    The maximum retainable bycatch amounts are specified at 
Sec. 679.20(e) and apply at any time during a trip.

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.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-26022 Filed 10-4-96; 4:45 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F