[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 16112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8565]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 033197A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin 
Sole by Vessels Using Trawl Gear

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for the yellowfin sole 
fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully 
utilize the first seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut 
apportioned to the trawl yellowfin sole fishery category in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 31, 1997.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Area (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.
    The first seasonal apportionment of the 1997 halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the trawl yellowfin sole fishery in the BSAI, 
which is defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(1), was established by the 
Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 
7168, February 18, 1997) as 210 mt. Directed fishing for yellowfin sole 
by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI was prohibited on March 22, 
1997 (62 FR 14651, March 27, 1997) to prevent exceeding the first 
seasonal bycatch allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to that 
fishery.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that as of 
March 22, 1997, 14 metric tons of halibut mortality remain in the first 
seasonal bycatch allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for yellowfin sole by vessels 
using trawl gear in the BSAI. The second seasonal bycatch allowance 
(210 mt) of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl yellowfin sole 
fishery category in the BSAI becomes available on April 1.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

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: March 31, 1997.
Gary Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8565 Filed 3-31-97; 4:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F