[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 212 (Thursday, October 31, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27889]



[[Page 56150]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 102596A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin 
Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for yellowfin sole by 
vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding 
the 1996 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to 
the trawl yellowfin sole fishery in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 26, 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.
    The 1996 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut for the 
BSAI trawl yellowfin sole fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(1), was established by the Final 1996 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) and 
increased to 870 metric tons in accordance with Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii) 
(61 FR 54580, October 21, 1996).
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (formerly Regional 
Director), has determined, in accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), 
that the 1996 bycatch mortality allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to the trawl yellowfin sole fishery in the BSAI has been 
caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for yellowfin 
sole by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    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 679.21 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 25, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-27889 Filed 10-25-96; 4:34 pm]
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