[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 18542-18543] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-9853] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 961107312-7021-02; I.D. 041097E] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Species in the Rock Sole/Flathead Sole/``Other Flatfish'' Fishery Category by Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Closure. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS is closing directed fishing for species in the rock sole/ flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the second seasonal apportionment of the 1997 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category. EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), April 12, 1997, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., July 1, 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 the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under [[Page 18543]] 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. The second seasonal apportionment of the 1997 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the BSAI trawl rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category, which is defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(B)(2), was established by the Final 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (62 FR 7168, February 18, 1997) as 130 mt. In accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(iv), the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the second seasonal apportionment of the 1997 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rock sole/ flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery in the BSAI has been caught. Consequently, NMFS is closing directed fishing for species in the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI for the remainder of the season. Maximum retainable bycatch amounts may be found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). Classification This action is required by 50 CFR 679.21 and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 11, 1997. Gary Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 97-9853 Filed 4-11-97; 4:34 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F