[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3088]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126333-6333-01; I.D. 020397D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in 
Statistical Area 630

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting the directed fishery for pollock in 
Statistical Area 630 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to prevent exceeding the interim specification for pollock in 
this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 1997, 
until superseded by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for 
groundfish.

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-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. 
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart H of 
50 CFR 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The interim specification of pollock total allowable catch in 
Statistical Area 630 was established by Interim 1997 Harvest 
Specifications (61 FR 64299, December 4, 1996) as 4,875 metric tons 
(mt), determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997 
interim specification of pollock in Statistical Area 630 soon will be 
reached. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is establishing a 
directed fishing allowance of 4,675 mt, and is setting aside the 
remaining 200 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish 
fisheries. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be 
reached. Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock 
in Statistical Area 630 until superseded by the Final 1997 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: February 3, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3088 Filed 2-4-97; 3:52 pm]
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