Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 5, 1996 / Rules and Regulations 8497

50 CFR Part 661 coho stocks is 427,300 , about 4 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), percent below the 1995 preseason Commerce. [Docket No. 950426116±5116±01; I.D. estimate of 443,000 fish. In 1994 and 022796C] ACTION: 1995, preseason abundance estimates Modification of a closure. Off the for coastal natural (OCN) coho SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed Coasts of , Oregon, and salmon, an OPI area stock component, fishing for in the ; Inseason Adjustment, Point were at record low levels, resulting in Arena, CA, to the U.S.-Mexican Border no coho retention south of Cape Falcon, Central Aleutian District of the Bering OR, when commercial and recreational Sea and Aleutian Islands management AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries salmon seasons opened May 1. Due to area (BSAI). This action is necessary to Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and the continuing low preseason fully utilize the total allowable catch Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), abundance estimates for OPI coho and (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this Commerce. OCN coho in 1996, it is necessary to area. ACTION: Inseason adjustment; request for modify the recreational in the EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, local comments. area between Point Arena, CA, and the time (A.l.t.), February 29, 1996, until 12 U.S.-Mexican border such that it will SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the open on March 2 for all salmon except midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996. retention of coho salmon will be coho. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: prohibited in the recreational salmon Modifications in the which Andrew N. Smoker, 907 586-7228. fishery in the area from Point Arena, may be caught and landed during CA, to the U.S.-Mexican border when specific seasons and the establishment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The the season opens on March 2, 1996. This or modification of limited retention groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive adjustment is intended to ensure regulations are authorized by economic zone is managed by NMFS conservation of coho salmon. regulations at 50 CFR 661.21(b)(1)(ii). according to the Fishery Management DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time, All other restrictions that apply to this Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the March 2, 1996, until the effective date fishery remain in effect as announced in and Aleutian Islands Area of the 1996 management measures, as the annual management measures. (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific published in the Federal Register. The Regional Director consulted with Fishery Management Council under Comments will be accepted through representatives of the Pacific Fishery authority of the Magnuson Fishery March 15, 1996. Management Council and the California Conservation and Management Act. ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Department of Fish and Game regarding Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by William Stelle, Jr., Director, Northwest this adjustment. The State of California regulations implementing the FMP at 50 Region, National Marine Fisheries will also prohibit retention of coho CFR parts 620 and 675. Service, NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way salmon in the recreational fishery in In accordance with § 675.20(a)(7)(ii), NE., BIN C15700–Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA State waters adjacent to this area of the the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of 98115–0070; or Hilda Diaz-Soltero, exclusive economic zone. Because of the Director, Southwest Region, National need for immediate action to conserve Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 501 coho salmon, NMFS has determined 1996) for the BSAI established 2,571 W. Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long that good cause exists to take this action metric tons (mt) as the initial TAC catch Beach, CA 90802–4213. Information without affording a prior opportunity of Pacific ocean perch for the Central relevant to this action has been for public comment. This action does Aleutian District. At the same time, the compiled in aggregate form and is not apply to other fisheries that may be directed fishery for Pacific ocean perch available for public review during operating in other areas. in the Central Aleutian District was business hours at the office of the closed to directed fishing under Classification Director, Northwest Region, NMFS § 675.20(a)(8) in order to reserve (Regional Director). This action is authorized by 50 CFR amounts anticipated to be needed for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 661.21 and 661.23 and is exempt from incidental catch in other fisheries. William L. Robinson, 206–526–6140, or review under E.O. 12866. NMFS has determined that as of Rodney R. McInnis, 310–980–4030. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. February 10, 1996, 2,571 mt remain SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Dated: February 29, 1996. unharvested. 1995 annual management measures for Richard W. Surdi, The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, ocean salmon fisheries, NMFS Acting Director, Office of Fisheries has determined that the 1996 TAC for announced 1996 recreational and Management, National Pacific ocean perch in the Central seasons opening earlier than May 1, Marine Fisheries Service. Aleutian District has not been reached. 1996 (60 FR 21746, May 3, 1995). The [FR Doc. 96–5100 Filed 2–29–96; 4:00 pm] Therefore, NMFS is terminating the 1996 recreational fishery in the area BILLING CODE 3510±22±F previous closure and is reopening between Point Arena, CA, and the U.S.- directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch Mexican border is scheduled to open on in the Central Aleutian District. March 2 (the nearest Saturday to March 50 CFR Part 675 1) for all salmon, unless an evaluation All other closures remain in full force indicates low coho abundance in 1996, [Docket No. 960129019±6019±01; I.D. and effect. 022396G] in which case inseason action may be Classification taken to prohibit retention of coho Groundfish of the Bering Sea and salmon. Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Ocean This action is taken under § 675.20 The best available information on Perch in the Central Aleutian District and is exempt from review under E.O. February 6 indicated that the 1996 12866. preseason index abundance estimate for AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Oregon Production Index (OPI) area Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 8498 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 44 / Tuesday, March 5, 1996 / Rules and Regulations

Dated: February 27, 1996. EFFECTIVE DATE: 12 noon, Alaska local needed for incidental catch in other Richard W. Surdi, time (A.l.t.), February 29, 1996, until 12 fisheries. NMFS has determined that as Acting Director, Office of Fisheries midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996. of February 10, 1996, 2,485 mt remain Conservation and Management, National FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: unharvested. Marine Fisheries Service. Andrew N. Smoker, 907 586-7228. The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, [FR Doc. 96–4997 Filed 2–28–96; 3:58 pm] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The has determined that the 1996 TAC for BILLING CODE 3510±22±F groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern economic zone is managed by NMFS Aleutian District has not been reached. according to the Fishery Management 50 CFR Part 675 Therefore, NMFS is terminating the Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the previous closure and is reopening Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area [Docket No. 960129019±6019±01; I.D. directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch 022396F] (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific in the Eastern Aleutian District. Fishery Management Council under Groundfish of the Bering Sea and authority of the Magnuson Fishery All other closures remain in full force Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific Ocean Conservation and Management Act. and effect. Perch in the Eastern Aleutian District Fishing by U.S. vessels is governed by Classification AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries regulations implementing the FMP at 50 Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and CFR parts 620 and 675. This action is taken under § 675.20 Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), In accordance with § 675.20(a)(7)(ii), and is exempt from review under E.O. Commerce. the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of 12866. ACTION: Modification of a closure. Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) for the BSAI established 2,571 Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed metric tons (mt) as the initial total Dated: February 27, 1996. fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch Richard W. Surdi, Eastern Aleutian District of the Bering for the Eastern Aleutian District. At the Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Sea and Aleutian Islands management same time, the directed fishery for Conservation and Management, National area (BSAI). This action is necessary to Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Marine Fisheries Service. fully utilize the total allowable catch Aleutian District was closed to directed [FR Doc. 96–4996 Filed 2–28–96; 3:58 pm] (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this fishing under § 675.20(a)(8) in order to area. reserve amounts anticipated to be BILLING CODE 3510±22±F