[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 140 (Friday, July 19, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18305]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960129018-6018-01; I.D. 071596A]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the
Central Gulf of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Closure.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific ocean perch in the
Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring
that catches of Pacific ocean perch in this area be treated in the same
manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of
injury. This action is necessary because the Pacific ocean perch total
allowable catch (TAC) in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has
been reached.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 15, 1996,
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 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 GOA (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 subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50
CFR part 679.
The TAC for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA was established by the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996), as 3,333 metric tons. (See
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii).)
The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the TAC for
Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been
reached. (See Sec. 679.20(d)(2).) Therefore, NMFS is requiring that
further catches of Pacific ocean perch in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA be treated as prohibited species in accordance with
Sec. 679.21(b).
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: July 15, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-18305 Filed 7-15-96; 4:54 pm]
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