[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 97 (Friday, May 17, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24905-24906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12448]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 960129019-6091-01; I.D. 050396A]


Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Reserve 
Apportionment

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


[[Page 24906]]


ACTION: Apportionment of reserve.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is apportioning reserve to certain target species in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to allow for ongoing harvest and account for previous harvest 
of the total allowable catch (TAC). It is intended to promote the goals 
and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 16, 1996,until 
12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the U.S. 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 Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, has determined that the initial 
TACs specified for pollock in the Bering Sea subarea; for pollock in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea; for Atka mackerel in the combined Eastern 
Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea; for Pacific ocean perch in 
the Eastern Aleutian District; for Atka mackerel and Pacific ocean 
perch in the Central and Western Aleutian Districts; and for Pacific 
cod, arrowtooth flounder, and the ``other species'' category in the 
BSAI; need to be supplemented from the non-specific reserve in order to 
continue operations and account for prior harvest.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 675.20(b), NMFS is apportioning 
from the reserve to TACs for the following species: (1) for the Bering 
Sea subarea - 89,250 metric tons (mt) to pollock, (2) for the Aleutian 
Islands subarea - 2,670 mt to pollock, (3) for the combined Eastern 
Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea - 4,005 mt to Atka mackerel; 
(4) for the Eastern Aleutian District- 454 mt to Pacific ocean perch; 
(6) for the Central Aleutian District - 5,040 mt to Atka mackerel, 454 
mt to Pacific ocean perch; (7) for the Western Aleutian District - 
6,879 mt to Atka mackerel; 907 mt to Pacific ocean perch and (6) for 
the BSAI - 40,500 mt to Pacific cod, 1,350 mt to arrowtooth flounder, 
and 3,019 mt to the ``other species'' category.
    These apportionments are consistent with Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(i) and 
do not result in overfishing of a target species or the ``other 
species'' category because the revised TACs are equal to or less than 
specifications of acceptable biological catch.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(i), the apportionments of pollock are 
allocated between the inshore and offshore components:
    (1) for the Bering Sea subarea - 31,238 mt to vessels catching 
pollock for processing by the inshore component and 58,012 mt to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component; (2) 
for the Aleutian Islands subarea - 935 mt to vessels catching pollock 
for processing by the inshore component and 1,735 mt to vessels 
catching pollock for processing by the offshore component.
    Pursuant to Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(iv), the apportionment of the BSAI 
Pacific cod TAC is allocated 810 mt to vessels using jig gear, 17,820 
mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, and 21,870 mt to vessels 
using trawl gear.
    In accordance with the 1996 final specifications for the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996), the allocation to 
hook-and-line/pot gear will result in seasonal apportionments as 
follows: for the period January 1 through
    April 30 - 94,118 mt, for the period May 1 through August 31 - 
21,176 mt, and for the period September 1 through December 31 - 3,506 
mt.
    This apportionment was proposed in the Federal Register (61 FR 
16085, April 11, 1996) requesting public comment. The public comment 
period ended on April 25, 1996, and no comments were received.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 675.20 and is in compliance with 
E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 675

    Fish, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

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

    Dated: May 10, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-12448 Filed 5-16-96; 8:45 am]
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