[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 128 (Thursday, July 3, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36018-36019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17456]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

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


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern 
Rockfish in the Western 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 northern rockfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of northern 
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

[[Page 36019]]

under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations 
implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts 620 and 679.
    The annual TAC for northern rockfish in the Western 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 840 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 northern rockfish in the Western 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, 753 mt 
remain in the directed fishing allowance.
    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the 
1997 directed fishing allowance of northern rockfish in the Western 
Regulatory Area of the GOA has not been reached. Therefore, NMFS is 
terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for 
northern rockfish in the Western 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. 97-17456 Filed 6-30-97; 11:36 am]
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