[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 5781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3089]



[[Page 5781]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961114318-6318-01; I.D. 020397F]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Atka 
Mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea Subarea of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Closure.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the 
Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary 
to prevent exceeding the 1997 interim specifications of Atka mackerel 
in these areas.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 4, 1997, 
until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smoker, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive 
economic zone is managed by the 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-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by 
regulations implementing the FMP at Subpart H of 50 CFR parts 600 and 
679.
    The 1997 interim specifications of Atka mackerel total allowable 
catch for the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea Subarea was 
established by Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications (61 FR 60044, 
November 26, 1996) for the BSAI as 3,187 metric tons (mt). See 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii).
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1), the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), has determined that the 1997 
interim specification for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian 
District and the Bering Sea Subarea soon will be reached. Therefore, 
the Regional Administrator is establishing a directed fishing allowance 
of 2,587 mt, and is setting aside the remaining 600 mt as bycatch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries. In accordance with 
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional Administrator finds that this 
directed fishing allowance soon will be reached. Consequently, NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian 
District and the Bering Sea Subarea.
    Maximum retainable bycatch amounts for applicable gear types may be 
found in the regulations at Sec. 679.20(e).

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: February 3, 1997.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3089 Filed 2-4-97; 3:52 pm]
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