Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 47 / Friday, March 10, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 13079

PART 651—NORTHEAST

MULTISPECIES FISHERY

1. The authority citation for part 651

continues to read as follows:

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

2. Regulations published at 59 FR

63926, December 12, 1994, effective

December 12, 1994, through March 12,

1995, and amended at 60 FR 3102,

January 13, 1995, effective January 10,

1995, through March 12, 1995, are

extended from March 13, 1995, through

June 10, 1995.

3. In § 651.21, as temporarily

amended at 59 FR 63926, December 12,

1994, and 60 FR 3102, January 13, 1995,

paragraphs (d)(1)(ii)(B), (d)(2)(ii)(B), and

(d)(3)(ii)(C) are revised, and (d)(1)(iv) is

added, effective March 13, 1995,

through June 10, 1995, to read as

follows (Note: § 651.20(a)(b), and (c) are

temporarily suspended through June 10,

1995; § 651.20(d), as amended, remains

temporarily added, through June 10,

1995):

§ 651.21 Closed areas.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(1) * * *

(ii) * * *

(B) Transitting for compelling safety

reasons, as determined by the fishing

vessel operator, provided that fishing

net gear is stowed in accordance with

§ 651.20(c)(7), and scallop dredge gear

and hook gear is stowed in accordance

with paragraphs (d)(1)(iii) and (iv) of

this section. A fishing vessel operator

that cannot demonstrate a compelling

safety reason for being in the closed area

shall be subject to enforcement action.

* * * * *

(iv) Hook gear vessels using gear other

than pelagic hook gear and transitting

closed areas as specified under

paragraphs (d)(1), (2), and (3) of this

section may not have fishing gear

available for immediate use and must

secure all anchors and buoys, and have

all hook gear, including jigging

machines, covered.

(2) * * *

(ii) * * *

(B) Transitting for compelling safety

reasons, as determined by the fishing

vessel operator, provided that fishing

net gear is stowed in accordance with

§ 651.20(c)(7), and scallop dredge gear

and hook gear is stowed in accordance

with paragraphs (d)(1)(iii) and (iv) of

this section. A fishing vessel operator

that cannot demonstrate a compelling

safety reason for being in the closed area

shall be subject to enforcement action.

(3) * * *

(ii) * * *

(C) Transitting for compelling safety

reasons, as determined by the fishing

vessel operator, provided that fishing

net gear is stowed in accordance with

§ 651.20(c)(7), and scallop dredge gear

and hook gear is stowed in accordance

with paragraphs (d)(1)(iii) and (iv) of

this section. A fishing vessel operator

that cannot demonstrate a compelling

safety reason for being in the closed area

shall be subject to enforcement action.

[FR Doc. 95–5999 Filed 3–9–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041–5041–01; I.D.

030695D]

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska;

Pacific Cod in the Western Regulatory

Area

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

catching Pacific cod for processing by

the offshore component in the Western

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

(GOA). This action is necessary to

prevent exceeding the allocation of

Pacific cod for the offshore component

in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), March 7, 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 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(c)(1)(ii)(B), the allocation of

Pacific cod for the offshore component

in the Western Regulatory Area was

established by the final groundfish

specifications (60 FR 8470, February 14,

1995), as 2,010 metric tons (mt).

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS

(Regional Director), has determined, in

accordance with § 672.20(c)(2)(ii), that

the allocation of Pacific cod total

allowable catch for the offshore

component in the Western Regulatory

Area soon will be reached. The Regional

Director established a directed fishing

allowance of 1,510 mt, with

consideration that 500 mt will be taken

as incidental catch in directed fishing

for other species in the Western

Regulatory Area. The Regional Director

has determined that the directed fishing

allowance has been reached.

Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting

directed fishing for Pacific cod by

operators of vessels catching Pacific cod

for processing by the offshore

component in the Western Regulatory

Area.

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: March 6, 1995.

David S. Crestin,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–5987 Filed 3–7–95; 2:29 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F