federal register - U.S. Government Printing Office

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Rules and Regulations6133SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Thegroundfish fishery in the GOA exclusiveeconomic zone is managed by NMFSaccording to the Fishery ManagementPlan for Groundfish of the Gulf ofAlaska (FMP) prepared by the NorthPacific Fishery Management Councilunder authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation andManagement Act. Fishing by U.S.vessels is governed by regulationsimplementing the FMP at subpart H of50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.The interim specification of pollocktotal allowable catch in Statistical Area620 was established by the Interim 1997Harvest Specifications (61 FR 64299,December 4, 1996) as 4,575 metric tons(mt), determined in accordance with§ 679.20(c)(2)(i).In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),the Administrator, Alaska Region,NMFS (Regional Administrator), hasdetermined that the 1997 interimspecification of pollock in StatisticalArea 620 soon will be reached.Therefore, the Regional Administrator isestablishing a directed fishingallowance of 4,375 mt, and is settingaside the remaining 200 mt as bycatchto support other anticipated groundfishfisheries. In accordance with§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the RegionalAdministrator finds that this directedfishing allowance will soon be reached.Consequently, NMFS is prohibitingdirected fishing for pollock in StatisticalArea 620 until superseded by the Final1997 Harvest Specifications ofGroundfish.Maximum retainable bycatch amountsfor applicable gear types may be foundin the regulations at § 679.20(e).ClassificationThis action is required by 50 CFR679.20 and is exempt from review underE.O. 12866.Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.Dated: February 5, 1997.Bruce Morehead,Acting Director, Office of SustainableFisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.[FR Doc. 97–3258 Filed 2–5–97; 4:42 pm]BILLING CODE 3510–22–F