Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 17465

FINAL INITIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR ATLANTIC MACKEREL, SQUID, AND BUTTERFISH FOR THE FISHING YEAR JANUARY 1

THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1995 (MT)

Specifications

Squid Atlantic

Mackerel Butterfish

Loligo Illex

Max OY1 .......................................................................................................................... 44,000 30,000 2 N/A 16,000

ABC 3 ................................................................................................................................ 36,000 30,000 850,000 16,000

IOY ................................................................................................................................... 36,000 30,000 4 100,000 10,000

DAH .................................................................................................................................. 36,000 30,000 5 100,000 10,000

DAP .................................................................................................................................. 36,000 30,000 50,000 10,000

JVP ................................................................................................................................... 0 0 35,000 0

TALFF .............................................................................................................................. 0 0 0 0

1 Max OY as stated in the FMP.

2 Not applicable; see the FMP.

3 IOY can rise to this amount.

4This specification may be increased to 134,000 mt, the long-term potential catch for the Atlantic mackerel fishery.

5 Contains 15,000 mt projected recreational catch based on the formula contained in the regulations (50 CFR part 655).

NMFS also announces the four special

conditions put forth for public comment

that would affect any foreign joint

venture fishery for Atlantic mackerel,

should one occur in 1995: (1) River

herring bycatch south of 37°30′ N. lat.

may not exceed 0.25 percent of the overthe-side transfers of Atlantic mackerel;

(2) the Director, Northeast Region,

NMFS (Regional Director) should do

everything within his power to reduce

impacts on marine mammals in

prosecuting the Atlantic mackerel

fisheries; (3) IOY may be increased

during the year, but the total should not

exceed 134,000 mt; and (4) applications

from any given nation for a joint venture

for 1995 will not be decided on until the

Regional Director determines, based on

an evaluation of performances, that the

nation’s purchase obligations for

previous years have been fulfilled.

There were no comments received

regarding these conditions.

Classification

This action is authorized by 50 CFR

part 655.

These final specifications are exempt

from review under E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: March 30, 1995.

Samuel W. McKeen,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,

National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–8499 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–W

50 CFR Part 672

[Docket No. 950206041–5041–01; I.D.

033195A]

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska;

Prohibit Retention of Pacific Cod

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Closure.

SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting retention

of Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific

cod in the Western Regulatory Area of

the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for processing

by the inshore component. NMFS is

requiring that catches of Pacific cod by

these vessels in the Western Regulatory

Area be treated in the same manner as

prohibited species and discarded at sea

with a minimum of injury. This action

is necessary because the allocation of

Pacific cod specified for the inshore

component in this area has been

reached.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), March 31, 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 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),

the allocation of Pacific cod total

allowable catch (TAC) for the inshore

component in the Western Regulatory

Area, GOA, was established by the final

1995 specifications of groundfish (60 FR

8470, February 14, 1995), as 18,090

metric tons (mt).

The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS,

has determined, in accordance with

§ 672.20(c)(3), that the allocation of

Pacific cod TAC specified for the

inshore component in the Western

Regulatory Area, GOA, has been

reached. Therefore, NMFS is requiring

that further catches of Pacific cod by

operators of vessels catching Pacific cod

for processing by the inshore

component in the Western Regulatory

Area in the GOA, be treated as

prohibited species in accordance with

§ 672.20(e).

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 31, 1995.

David S. Crestin,

Acting Director, Office of Fisheries

Conservation and Management, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 95–8390 Filed 3–31–95; 4:09 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F