[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: 97-8566]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 032897B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska, Pollock in 
the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Prohibition of retention.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of pollock in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that 
catches of pollock in this area be treated in the same manner as 
prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This 
action is necessary because the pollock 1997 total allowable catch 
(TAC) in this area has been reached.

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

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 part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    The 1997 TAC of pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA 
was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish 
for the GOA (62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) as 5,580 metric tons (mt), 
determined in accordance with Sec. 679.20 (c)(3)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20 (d)(2), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997 TAC 
for pollock in the Eastern Regulatory Area has been reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is requiring that further catches of pollock 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area be treated as prohibited species in 
accordance with Sec. 679.21 (b).

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 C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8566 Filed 3-31-97; 4:29 pm]
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