[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22306-22307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11068]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 050195B]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Greenland 
Turbot/Arrowtooth Flounder/Sablefish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed fishery for species in the 
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish 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 1995 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance apportioned to the 
trawl Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish fishery category 
in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 3, 1995, until 
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 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 authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing 
the FMP at 50 CFR parts 620 and 675.
    The 1995 Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowance apportioned to 
the trawl Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish fishery 
category, which is defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(C), was 
established as 120 metric tons by the 1995 final specifications (60 FR 
8479, February 14, 1995).
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined, in accordance 
with [[Page 22307]] Sec. 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the 1995 bycatch 
mortality allowance of Pacific halibut apportioned to the trawl 
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish fishery category in the 
BSAI has been caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for aggregate species in the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish fishery category by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.
    Directed fishing standards for applicable gear types may be found 
in the regulations at Sec. 675.20(h).

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from review 
under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: May 1, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-11068 Filed 5-1-95; 4:00 pm]
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