Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 57 / Friday, March 24, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 15521

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041–5041–01; I.D.

032095A]

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska;

Pacific Cod for Processing by the

Inshore Component in the Central

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 inshore component in the Central

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

(GOA). This action is necessary to

prevent exceeding the allocation of

Pacific cod for the inshore component

in this area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), March 22, 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 inshore component

in the Central Regulatory Area was

established by the final 1995 groundfish

specifications (60 FR 8470, February 14,

1995) as 41,085 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 inshore

component in the Central Regulatory

Area soon will be reached. The Regional

Director established a directed fishing

allowance of 38,085 mt, with

consideration that 3,000 mt will be

taken as incidental catch in directed

fishing for other species in the Central

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 inshore

component in the Central 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 20, 1995.

David S. Crestin,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–7232 Filed 3–20–95; 4:43 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040–5040–01; I.D.

032095C]

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Cod by

Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Bycatch

Limitation Zone 1

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 Bycatch Limitation Zone 1

(Zone 1) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian

Islands management area (BSAI). This

action is necessary to prevent exceeding

the prohibited species catch (PSC)

allowance of C. bairdi Tanner crab

apportioned to the trawl Pacific cod

fishery category in Zone 1.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), March 20, 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 PSC allowance of C. bairdi

Tanner crab in Zone 1 for the trawl

Pacific cod fishery category, which is

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

established as 225,000 crabs by the 1995

final initial specifications (60 FR 8479,

February 14, 1995).

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined, in accordance with

§ 675.21(c)(1)(i), that the PSC allowance

of C. bairdi Tanner crab for the trawl

Pacific cod fishery in Zone 1 has been

reached. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting

directed fishing for Pacific cod by

vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1 of 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: March 20, 1995.

David S. Crestin,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–7233 Filed 3–20–95; 4:43 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F