20658 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 81 / Thursday, April 27, 1995 / Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041–5041–01; I.D.

042195A]

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Trawl

Fishery for Deep-water Species

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed

fishing for species that comprise the

deep-water species fishery by vessels

using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska

(GOA). This action is necessary because

the second seasonal bycatch allowance

of Pacific halibut apportioned to the

deep-water species fishery in the GOA

has been caught.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), April 22, 1995, until 12

noon, A.l.t., July 1, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew N. Smoker, 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 Gulf of

Alaska (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 672.

In accordance with § 672.20(f)(1)(i)

the deep-water species fishery, which is

defined at § 672.20(f)(1)(i)(B)(2) was

apportioned 300 metric tons of Pacific

halibut prohibited species catch for the

second season, the period April 1, 1995,

through June 30, 1995 (60 FR 8470,

February 14, 1995).

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined, in accordance with

§ 672.20(f)(3)(i), that vessels

participating in the trawl deep-water

species fishery in the GOA have caught

the second seasonal bycatch allowance

of Pacific halibut apportioned to that

fishery. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting

directed fishing for each species and

species group that comprise the deepwater species fishery by vessels using

trawl gear in the GOA. The species and

species groups that comprise the deepwater species fishery are: All rockfish of

the genera Sebastes and Sebastolobus,

Greenland turbot, Dover sole, Rex sole,

arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish.

Directed fishing standards for

applicable gear types may be found in

the regulations at § 672.20(g).

Classification

This action is taken under 50 CFR

672.20 and is exempt from review under

E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: April 21, 1995.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–10299 Filed 4–24–95; 9:16 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040–5040–01; I.D.

042195C]

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands Area; Trawl Pacific

Cod Fishery

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is closing the directed

fishery for Pacific cod by vessels using

trawl gear in the Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands management area

(BSAI). This action is necessary to

prevent exceeding the first seasonal

apportionment of the 1995 prohibited

species bycatch mortality allowance of

Pacific halibut specified for the trawl

Pacific cod fishery in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), April 24, 1995, until 12

noon, A.l.t., October 25, 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 first seasonal bycatch mortality

allowance of Pacific halibut for the

BSAI trawl Pacific cod fishery, which is

defined at § 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(E), was

established as 1,450 metric tons by the

final 1995 specifications of groundfish

(60 FR 8479, February 14, 1995).

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined, in accordance with

§ 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the first seasonal

apportionment of the Pacific halibut

bycatch mortality allowance for the

trawl Pacific cod fishery has been

caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting

directed fishing for Pacific cod by

vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI.

Directed fishing standards for

applicable gear types may be found in

the regulations at § 675.20(h).

Classification

This action is taken under § 675.21

and is exempt from review under E.O.

12866.

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

Dated: April 21, 1995.

Richard W. Surdi,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–10298 Filed 4–24–95; 9:16 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F