[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57545-57546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28248]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 110995A]
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific
Cod by Vessels Using Hook-and-Line Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Inseason adjustment, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is redistributing the 1995 Pacific halibut bycatch
allowances specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery and
the other non-trawl gear fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to achieve the optimum
yield from the groundfish fisheries.
DATES: Effective 12 noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 9, 1995,
until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1995. Comments must be received
at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., November 24,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Attn: Lori Gravel, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, or be delivered to Room 457, Federal
Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the 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.
Pursuant to Sec. 675.21(a)(6) the prohibited species catch (PSC)
limit of Pacific halibut caught while conducting any non-trawl fishery
for groundfish in the BSAI during any fishing year is an amount of
Pacific halibut equivalent to 900 metric tons (mt) of halibut
mortality. In accordance with Secs. 675.21(b)(2)(i) and (b)(4), the
Final 1995 Harvest Specifications for the BSAI groundfish fisheries (60
FR 8479, February 14, 1995, and 60 FR 12149, March 6, 1995) apportioned
this PSC limit among the non-trawl gear fishery categories defined at
Sec. 675.21(b)(2)(ii) as follows: (1) Pacific cod hook-and-line, 725
mt; (2) ``other non-trawl,'' 175 mt; (3) jig gear (exempt for 1995), 0
mt; (4) groundfish pot gear fisheries, (exempt for 1995), 0 mt; (5)
sablefish hook-and-line (exempt for 1995), 0 mt (60 FR 12149, March 6,
1995).
As of October 21, 1995, 90 mt of halibut mortality remains of the
``other non-trawl'' fishery bycatch allowance. This fishery category
will require an additional 20 mt of halibut mortality
during 1995, leaving 70 mt of Pacific halibut mortality uncaught.
The Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery has 34 mt remaining of its
halibut bycatch allowance, which is inadequate for harvesting the 9,000
mt of Pacific cod remaining in the allocation for hook-and-line or pot
gear. The Pacific halibut bycatch allowance for the Pacific cod hook-
and-line gear fishery needs to be augmented to promote achieving the
optimum yield from the Pacific cod fishery.
Under Sec. 675.20(e), the Regional Director is making an inseason
adjustment to increase the Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified
for the Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery by 70 mt. The ``other
non-trawl'' gear fisherys halibut bycatch is decreased by 70
mt. In accordance with Sec. 675.20(e)(1)(iii), NMFS is redistributing
the Pacific halibut bycatch mortality allowances of the non-trawl
fisheries as follows: (1) Pacific cod hook-and-line, 795 mt; (2)
``other non-trawl,'' 105 mt; (3) jig gear, 0 mt; (4) groundfish pot
gear fisheries, 0 mt; (5) sablefish hook-and-line, 0 mt. This
adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of the BSAI Pacific
cod total allowable catch pursuant to Sec. 675.20(e)(2)(iii)
As required by Sec. 675.20(f), all information relevant to this
inseason adjustment, including the effect of overall fishing effort
within the statistical area and economic impacts on affected fishing
businesses, was considered. Current halibut bycatch allowances will
cause a premature closure of the Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery
and, therefore, will not promote optimum yield of groundfish and will
result in economic harm to fishermen and processors who would otherwise
participate in that fishery. Interested persons are invited to submit
comment in writing to the previously cited address on or before
November 24, 1995.
[[Page 57546]]
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 675.20(e)(1)(iii), (e)(2)(iii) and
(e)(5) and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds for good
cause that it is impractical and contrary to the public interest to
provide prior public notice and comment on the inseason adjustment.
Immediate effectiveness is necessary to prevent foregone revenue to the
Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery, which would otherwise be prevented
from conducting operations.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Dated: November 9, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-28248 Filed 11-9-95; 4:13 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
