[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17455]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 062497B]


Fisheries of the Economic Exclusive Zone Off Alaska; ``Other 
Rockfish'' Species Group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of 
Alaska

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 the ``other rockfish'' 
species group in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). This action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable 
catch (TAC) of ``other rockfish'' in that area.

DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 1997, 
until 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

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

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 annual TAC for the ``other rockfish'' species group 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 1,500 metric tons (mt) pursuant to Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). 
The Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the GOA also 
closed directed fishing for ``other rockfish'' in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area of the GOA (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)) in anticipation 
that the TAC would be needed as incidental catch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries during 1997. NMFS has determined that 
as of June 14, 1997, 1,383 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 
1997 directed fishing allowance of the ``other rockfish'' species group 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA has not been reached. 
Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening 
directed fishing for the ``other rockfish'' species group in the 
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    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: June 27, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17455 Filed 6-30-97; 11:36 am]
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