[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46067-46068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21863]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 672
[Docket No. 950206041-5041-01; I.D. 082995A]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Trawling in the Western
Regulatory Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues an inseason adjustment closing the season for all
groundfish by vessels using trawl gear, except fishing for pollock by
vessels using pelagic trawl gear, in the Western Regulatory Area of the
Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent overfishing
of Pacific ocean perch (POP).
DATES: Effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1,
1995, until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be
received no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., September 18, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802, Attn. Lori Gravel, or be delivered
[[Page 46068]]
to the fourth floor of the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street,
Juneau, AK.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. 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
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act). Fishing by U.S.
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR parts
620 and 672.
The Magnuson Act requires that conservation and management measures
prevent overfishing. The 1995 overfishing level for POP in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA is established by the final 1995 harvest
specifications of groundfish (60 FR 8470, February 14, 1995) as 1,482
metric tons (mt). The directed fishery for POP closed in the Western
Regulatory Area on July 20, 1995 (60 FR 37601, July 21, 1995). As of
July 29, 1995, 1,420 mt of POP have been caught.
Substantial trawl fishing effort will be directed at remaining
amounts of groundfish in the GOA during 1995. These fisheries can have
significant catches of POP.
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance
with Sec. 672.22(a)(1)(i) and (a)(4), that closing the season by
prohibiting directed fishing for all groundfish by vessels using trawl
gear, except fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear,
in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA is necessary to prevent
overfishing of POP and is the least restrictive measure to achieve that
purpose. Without this prohibition of directed fishing, significant
incidental catch of POP would occur by trawl vessels.
Therefore, NMFS is closing the season for all groundfish by vessels
using trawl gear, except fishing for pollock by vessels using pelagic
trawl gear, in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good
cause that providing prior notice and public comment or delaying the
effective date of this action is impracticable and contrary to the
public interest. Without this inseason adjustment, POP in the Western
Regulatory Area of the GOA will be overfished, jeopardizing the long-
term capacity of that stock. Under Sec. 672.22(c)(2), interested
persons are invited to submit written comments on this action until
September 18, 1995 (see ADDRESSES).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 672.22 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 29, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-21863 Filed 9-1-95; 8:45 am]
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