[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 207 (Thursday, October 24, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55119-55120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27333]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 101896A]


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: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in 
Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the 1996 pollock total allowable catch 
(TAC) in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 21, 1996, 
until 2400 hrs, 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.
    The 1996 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 was established by the 
Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 
5, 1996) as 12,840 metric tons (mt), determined in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), established 
a directed fishing allowance of 12,500 mt, and has set aside the 
remaining 340 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. The Regional Director has determined, in accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1), that the 1996 pollock TAC in Statistical Area 620 
soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed 
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620. This closure was 
originally intended to be effective on October 13, 1996; with that 
expectation, the Regional Director

[[Page 55120]]

issued a press release announcing the closure. Unfortunately, due to 
unforeseen circumstances, the closure will not be effective until 
October 21, 1996.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 672.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 21, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-27333 Filed 10-21-96; 2:19 pm]
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