[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29695-29696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14589]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 301

[Docket No. 960111003-6068-03; I.D. 060496A]


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; 1996 Halibut Landing Report No. 2

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

ACTION: In season action.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes these 
inseason actions pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the U.S. 
Government to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This action is 
intended to enhance the conservation of the Pacific halibut stock.

EFFECTIVE DATES: Oregon sport halibut season closure: 11:59 p.m. May 
25, 1996 until May 26, 1996; Southwest Washington coast sport halibut 
fishery closure: 11:59 p.m., May 26, 1996 until May 27, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, 907-586-7221; William 
W. Stelle, Jr., 206-526-6140; or Donald McCaughran, 206-634-1838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPHC, under the Convention between the 
United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut 
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), has issued 
this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific 
halibut fishery.

[[Page 29696]]

The regulations have been approved by NMFS (60 FR 14651, March 20, 
1995, and amended at 61 FR 11337, March 20, 1996). On behalf of the 
IPHC, this inseason action is published in the Federal Register to 
provide additional notice of its effectiveness, and to inform persons 
subject to the inseason action of the restrictions and requirements 
established therein.

In Season Action

1996 Halibut Landing Report No. 2

First Oregon Sport Halibut Season to Close May 25
    The preliminary catch estimate for the 1996 sport halibut fishery 
between Cape Falcon (45 deg.46 deg.00'' N. lat.) and the Florence North 
Jetty (Siuslaw River, 44 deg.01 deg.08'' N. lat.) indicates the 64,392 
lb (29.20 metric tons (mt)) catch limit will be reached on May 25. 
Therefore, the sport halibut fishery in this area will close at 11:59 
p.m. on May 25.
    Sport fishing for Pacific halibut will reopen on May 26 and remain 
open through August 1, 7 days a week, only in the area inside the 30-
fathom curve nearest to the coastline as plotted on National Ocean 
Service charts numbered 18520, 18580, and 18600 from Cape Falcon to the 
Florence North Jetty (Siuslaw River), or until 6,629 lb (3.0 mt) are 
estimated to have been taken and the season is closed by the IPHC, 
whichever occurs first. Any poundage remaining unharvested after the 
earlier season will be added to this season. The daily bag limit 
remains two halibut per person, one with a minimum overall size limit 
of 32 inches (81.28 centimeters (cm)) and the second with a minimum 
overall size limit of 50 inches (127.0 cm).
First Southwest Washington Coast Sport Halibut Fishery Season to Close 
May 26
    The sport halibut fishery off the Southwest Washington coast 
(Queets River south to Leadbetter Point) will reach the sub-quota of 
14,222 lb at the conclusion of fishing on Sunday, May 26. Therefore, 
the fishery will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 26.
    In accordance with the preseason catch sharing plan developed by 
the Pacific Fishery Management Council, this fishery will immediately 
reopen on Monday, May 27, only in the near-shore area (south of the 
Queets River to 47 deg.00 deg.00'' N. lat. and east of 
124 deg.40 deg.00'' W. long.), until the remaining quota of about 1,000 
pounds is reached. The fishery will be open 7 days a week, with a one 
fish bag limit and no minimum size limit, until the remaining quota is 
harvested and the season is closed by the Commission or until September 
30, whichever occurs first.

    Dated: June 4, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14589 Filed 6-11-96; 8:45 am]
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