[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 4192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2229]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960502124-6190-02; I.D. 012497B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop 
Fishery; Closure in Registration Area E

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 Scallop Registration 
Area E (Prince William Sound) east of 146 deg. West long. This action 
is necessary to prevent exceeding the scallop total allowable catch 
(TAC) in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 24, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 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 subpart H of 50 CFR 
part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.62(b), the 1996-1997 scallop TAC for 
Scallop Registration Area E was established by the Final 1996-1997 
Harvest Specifications of Scallops (61 FR 38099, July 23, 1996) and a 
reduced TAC was apportioned (62 FR 2043, January 15, 1997) as 17,300 lb 
(7,847 kg) of shucked scallop meat in the part of Registration Area E 
east of 146 deg. West long.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.62(c), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the scallop TAC for Scallop 
Registration Area E east of 146 deg. West long. has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting the taking and retention of scallops 
in Scallop Registration Area E east of 146 deg. West long. from 1200 
hrs, A.l.t., January 24, 1997, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., June 30, 1997.

Classification

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

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

    Dated: January 24, 1997.
George H. Darcy,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2229 Filed 1-24-97; 3:50 pm]
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