[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 101 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12896]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 931100-4043; I.D. 052394A]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for aggregate species in 
the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery 
category by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary because the 
1994 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for that 
category has been reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 23, 1994, 
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, Senior Inseason 
Manager, Fisheries Management Division, NMFS, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by the Secretary of Commerce according to the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the BSAI (FMP) 
prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 
Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP 
at 50 CFR parts 620 and 675.
    The 1994 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance for the 
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery category, 
which is defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(C), is 137 metric tons (59 
FR 7656, February 16, 1994).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iv), that the Pacific halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance specified for that category has been reached. Therefore, NMFS 
is prohibiting directed fishing for aggregate species of the Greenland 
turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery category by vessels 
using trawl gear in the BSAI from 12 noon, A.l.t., May 23, 1994, until 
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1994.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).

Classification

    This action is taken under Sec. 675.21 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: May 23, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-12896 Filed 5-23-94; 4:45 pm]
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