[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 252 (Tuesday, December 31, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33290]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 122396A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
of the Gulf of Alaska; Pacific Cod for Processing by the Inshore 
Component in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas

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

ACTION: Directed fishing opening.

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SUMMARY: MFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific cod for vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of 
Pacific cod for the inshore component in the Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

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 GOA (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 
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)(2)(i), the interim TAC of 
Pacific cod for vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas was 
established by the Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish 
(61 FR 64299, December 4, 1996) as 3,393 metric tons (mt) and 7,722 mt, 
respectively.
    Vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas were prohibited 
from directed fishing for Pacific cod under Sec. 679.20 (d)(1)(iii) in 
order to reserve amounts anticipated to be needed for incidental catch 
in other fisheries (61 FR 64299, December 4, 1996). NMFS has determined 
that sufficient TAC is available to allow a directed fishery. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for Pacific cod for processing by the inshore 
component in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas.

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: December 24, 1996.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-33290 Filed 12-30-96; 8:45 am]
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