[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4586]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 960502124-6190-02; I.D. 021997E]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop 
Fishery; Registration Area D

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 all districts of 
Scallop Registration Area D (Yakutat) other than District 16. This 
action is necessary to prevent exceeding the scallop 1997 total 
allowable catch (TAC) in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATES: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 20, 
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 the Scallop Fishery Off Alaska (FMP), which was 
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 F of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.62(b), the 1997 scallop TAC for all 
districts of Scallop Registration Area D, other than District 16, was 
established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of Scallops (61 FR 
38099, July 23, 1996) as 250,000 lb (113,430 kg) shucked meat.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.62(c), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS, has determined that the scallop TAC for all districts of 
Scallop Registration Area D, other than District 16, has been reached. 
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting the taking and retention of scallops 
in all districts of Scallop Registration Area D, other than District 
16.

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: February 19, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4586 Filed 2-20-97; 2:28 pm]
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