[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 6, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28480]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960502124-6190-02; I.D. 103196D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Scallop 
Fishery; Closure in Registration Area M

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the scallop fishery in Registration Area M 
(Alaska Peninsula). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 
Chionoecetes bairdi (c. bairdi) crab bycatch limit (CBL) in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), October 31, 1996, 
through 2359 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scallop fishery in the exclusive 
economic zone off Alaska is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska (FMP) prepared by 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing for 
scallops is governed by regulations appearing at 50 CFR parts 600 and 
679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.62(b), the 1996 C. bairdi CBL for 
Registration Area M was established by the Final 1996-97 Harvest 
Specifications of Scallops (61 FR 38099, July 23, 1996) as 22,800 
crabs.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in 
accordance with Sec. 679.62(c), that the C. bairdi CBL for Registration 
Area M has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting the taking and 
retention of scallops in Registration Area M from 1200 hrs, October 31, 
1996 through 2359 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 679.62 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: October 31, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-28480 Filed 11-1-96; 9:20 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F