[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 14352-14353] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-7539] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 031997A] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Offshore Component Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Modification of a closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully utilize the total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in that area. EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 1997, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 22, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea [[Page 14353]] and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens 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. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the allowance for the pollock TAC apportioned for vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 16,835 metric tons (mt). The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has established a directed fishing allowance of 14,835 mt, and set aside the remaining 2,000 mt as bycatch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. The fishery for pollock by vessels catching pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI was closed to directed fishing under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii) on February 27, 1997, (62 FR 9379, March 3, 1997) and opened March 12, 1997, through March 14, 1997, (62 FR 13351, March 20, 1997). NMFS has determined that as of March 18, 1997, 2,500 mt remain in the directed fishing allowance. Therefore, NMFS is terminating the previous closure and is opening directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 20, 1997. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this directed fishing allowance will soon be reached. Current information shows the catching capacity of vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component is in excess of 1,000 mt per day. NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the AI of the BSAI at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 22, 1997, through December 31, 1997. 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: March 20, 1997. George H. Darcy, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-7539 Filed 3-20-97; 4:47 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F