[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 36036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17437]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Docket No. 960111003-6068-03; I.D. 070296C]


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; 1996 Halibut Landing Report No. 4

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

ACTION: Inseason 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. These actions are 
intended to enhance the conservation of the Pacific halibut stock.

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. 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.

Inseason Action

1996 Halibut Landing Report No. 4

Area 2B Commercial Fishery Update
    Halibut landings from Area 2B total 4.45 million pounds (2,018.50 
metric tons (mt)) through June 17, leaving 5.07 million pounds 
(2,299.73 mt) of the catch limit to be caught. The fishery will 
continue until all Individual Vessel Quotas (IFQ) have been filled, or 
November 15, whichever is earlier. Annette Island Reserve Fishery in 
Area 2C.
    The Metlakatla Indian community has been authorized by the U.S. 
Government to conduct a commercial halibut fishery within the Annette 
Island Reserve. Four 48-hour fishing periods occurred between April 27 
and June 10, producing a total catch of 21,400 pounds (9.70 mt).
Alaskan Commercial Fishery Update
    It is estimated that the following catches and number of landings 
were made in the Alaskan IFQ and Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
fisheries through June 12, 1996.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Catch                     
                                              limit     Catch    Number 
                   Area                      (000's    (000's      of   
                                             pounds)   pounds)  landings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2C........................................     9,000     4,803     1,334
3A........................................    20,000     8,196     1,139
3B........................................     3,700       806       131
4A........................................     1,950       268        40
4B........................................     2,310       314        16
4C........................................       770         1         2
4D........................................       770       157         7
4E........................................        20        34        45
                                           -----------------------------
   Total..................................    38,620    14,579     2,714
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    During the same time period in 1995, March 15 through June 9, 8.0 
million pounds (3,628.77 mt) were landed in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ 
fisheries.

    Dated: July 2, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17437 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P