[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19061-19062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10113]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 041197B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific 
Ocean Perch in the Aleutian Islands Subarea

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

ACTION: Modification of a closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in 
the Central Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the 
total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in that area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 15, 1997, 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 16, 1997.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive

[[Page 19062]]

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 Pacific ocean perch 
TAC in the Central Aleutian District was established by the Final 1997 
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 7168, 
February 18, 1997) as 3,170 metric tons (mt). The Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), established a directed fishing 
allowance of 2,170 mt and set aside the remaining 1,000 mt as bycatch 
in support of other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance 
with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator found that the 
directed fishing allowance would soon be reached and NMFS closed the 
directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian 
District of the BSAI on March 24, 1997 (62 FR 14652, March 27, 1997). 
Subsequently the Regional Administrator reduced the directed fishing 
allowance from 1,000 mt to 500 mt. Consequently 956 mt remain in the 
directed fishing allowance. Therefore NMFS is terminating the previous 
closure and is opening directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the 
Central Aleutian District of the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 
15, 1997.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional 
Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be 
reached. Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels 
catching Pacific ocean perch is in excess of 400 mt per day. NMFS is 
closing directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central 
Aleutian District of the BSAI at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., April 16, 1997.
    All other closures remain in full force and effect.

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 15, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-10113 Filed 4-15-97; 3:51 pm]
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