[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 16736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8858]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 040197D]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Shortraker/
Rougheye Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

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 shortraker/rougheye rockfish 
in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). NMFS is requiring that catches of species in 
the shortraker/rougheye rockfish group 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 shortraker/rougheye 
1997 initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in this area has been 
reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 2, 1997, 
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 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.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the 1997 ITAC of 
shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea was 
established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for 
the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 797 metric tons. The 
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), determined 
that the ITAC amount specified for shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea was necessary as incidental catch to support 
other anticipated groundfish fisheries and, therefore, NMFS prohibited 
directed fishing effective February 12, 1997. The closure action was 
published in the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications document.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(2), the Regional Administrator 
has determined that the 1997 ITAC for shortraker/rougheye rockfish in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea has been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
requiring that further catches of shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea be treated as prohibited species in accordance 
with Sec. 679.21(b).

Classification

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

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

    Dated: April 2, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-8858 Filed 4-12-97; 2:58 am]
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