[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16853]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 301
[Docket No. 931235-4107; I.D. 062994D]
Pacific Halibut Fisheries
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of inseason action.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes notice
of this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the
U.S. Government to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This action is
intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut stocks in order
to help sustain them at an adequate level in the northern Pacific Ocean
and Bering Sea.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 22, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, 907-586-7221; Gary
Smith, 206-526-6140; or Donald McCaughran, 206-634-1838.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPHC, under the Convention between the
United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (signed at Ottawa,
Ontario, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the
Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), has issued
this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific
halibut fishery. The regulations have been approved by the Secretary of
State (59 FR 22522, May 2, 1994). On behalf of the IPHC, this inseason
action is published in the Federal Register to provide additional
notice of its effectiveness, and to inform persons subject to the
inseason action of the restrictions and requirements established
therein.
Inseason Action
1994 Halibut Landing Report No. 7
North Washington Coast Sport Fishery Closes
A 3-day extension of the north Washington coast (waters west of the
Bonilla-Tatoosh line and south to the Queets River) sport halibut
fishery during June 9 through June 11 resulted in a harvest of 10,649
lb (4.83 mt). This brings the season harvest to 65,298 lb (29.62 mt),
2,741 lb (1.24 mt) shy of the 68,039 lb (30.86 mt) catch limit. The
remaining catch limit is too small to allow for a full day of fishing
without exceeding the catch limit. Therefore, the sport halibut fishery
in this area will remain closed for the remainder of 1994.
Anglers landing in Neah Bay have caught an estimated 13,000 lb
(5.90 mt) of Pacific halibut from Canadian waters. Fishing remains open
in Canadian waters with a two-fish daily bag limit and no size
restriction. Anglers desiring to fish in Canadian waters are strongly
urged to contact Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans at (604)
666-0383/0583 for sport fishing information concerning licensing and
the nautical description of closed areas.
South Washington Coast Sport Fishery Closes
Higher than expected effort in the south Washington coast (Queets
River to Cape Falcon) sport halibut fishery led to 14,149 lb (6.42 mt)
of halibut harvested in the June 2 and June 9 openings. This far
exceeds the 5,670-lb (2.57 mt) catch limit; therefore sport fishing for
halibut in this area will remainclosed for the remainder of 1994.
Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound Sport Fishery Remains Open
Sport fishing for halibut remains open in the Strait of Juan de
Fuca and Puget Sound (waters east of a line from Bonilla Point, lat.
48 deg.35'44'' N., long. 124 deg.43'00'' W., to the buoy adjacent to
Duntz Rock, lat. 48 deg.24'55'' N., long. 124 deg.44'50'' W., to
Tatoosh Island lighthouse, lat. 48 deg.23'30'' N., long.
124 deg.44'00'' W., to Cape Flattery, lat. 48 deg.22'55'' N., long.
124 deg.43'42'' W.). The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per
person and is open 6 days a week (closed Wednesdays). This fishery will
close, as scheduled, at 11:59 p.m. on July 5, 1994.
Dated: July 6, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-16853 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F