[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 61700-61702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30386]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 660
[Docket No. 961227373-6373-01; I.D. 111297A]
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Changes
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces further routine management measures adjusting
the Pacific Coast groundfish limited entry fisheries for the Sebastes
complex and its components, canary and yellowtail rockfish, and the
Dover sole, thornyhead, trawl-caught sablefish (DTS) complex and all
its components. These actions are authorized by regulations
implementing the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan
(FMP), which governs the groundfish fishery off Washington, Oregon, and
California. These changes are intended to keep landings close to the
1997 harvest guidelines and allocations for these species.
DATES: Effective from 0001 hours (local time) November 16, 1997,
including trawl vessels operating in the B platoon. These changes
remain in effect, unless modified, superseded or rescinded, until the
effective date of the 1998 annual specifications and management
measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which will be
[[Page 61701]]
published in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted through
December 4, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator,
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), National Marine Fisheries
Service, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or William
Hogarth, Acting Administrator, Southwest Region, National Marine
Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA
90802-4213.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson at 206-526-6140 or
Rodney McInnis at 562-980-4040.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following changes to current management
measures are based on the best available information, and were
recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in
consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and California at
its November 4-7, 1997, meeting in Portland, OR.
The Sebastes Complex. The Sebastes complex consists of all
rockfish managed by the FMP except Pacific ocean perch (POP), widow
rockfish, shortbelly rockfish, and thornyheads. On January 1, 1997 (62
FR 700, January 6, 1997), the limited entry fishery for the Sebastes
complex was managed under a 2-month cumulative trip limit of 30,000 lb
(13,608 kg) north of Cape Mendocino (40 deg.30' N. lat.) and 150,000 lb
(68,039 kg) south of Cape Mendocino. Within these 2-month cumulative
limits for the Sebastes complex, no more than 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) could
be yellowtail rockfish north of Cape Mendocino, no more than 12,000 lb
(5,443 kg) could be bocaccio south of Cape Mendocino, and no more than
14,000 lb (6,350 kg) could be canary rockfish coastwide. On May 1, 1997
(62 FR 24845, May 7, 1997), the 2-month cumulative trip limit for
bocaccio was reduced to 10,000 lb (4,536 kg), so that its harvest
guideline would not be exceeded. However, landings were lower than
expected, and on October 1, 1997 (62 FR 51814, October 3, 1997), the 2-
month cumulative trip limits were converted to 1-month limits and
increased to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) per month for yellowtail rockfish and
10,000 lb (4,534 kg) per month for canary rockfish. This increased the
Sebastes complex limits to 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) per month north of Cape
Mendocino and 75,000 lb (34,020 kg) per month south of Cape Mendocino.
The best available information at the November 1997 Council meeting
indicated that landings still were lower than expected, most likely due
to poor weather and reduced fishing effort in October. If rates do not
change, landings of yellowtail rockfish would be 22 percent below its
harvest guideline, and canary rockfish would be 14 percent below its
harvest guideline at the end of the year. Therefore, the Council
recommended increasing the 1-month cumulative trip limits for
yellowtail and canary rockfish at the earliest date so that the
industry would have an opportunity to achieve the harvest guidelines
for these species. The trip limit for bocaccio is not changed.
The new 1-month cumulative trip limits for the Sebastes complex
are: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg) north of Cape Mendocino and 80,000 lb
(36,287 kg) south of Cape Mendocino. Within these 1-month cumulative
limits, no more than 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) may be yellowtail rockfish
north of Cape Mendocino, no more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) may be
bocaccio south of Cape Mendocino, and no more than 15,000 lb (6,804 kg)
may be canary rockfish coastwide.
Dover Sole, Thornyheads, and Trawl-Caught Sablefish (the DTS
Complex). In January 1997 (62 FR 700, January 6, 1997), the 2-month
cumulative trip limit for the DTS complex was 70,000 lb (31,752 kg)
north of Cape Mendocino and 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) south of Cape
Mendocino. Within this 2-month cumulative limit, no more than 38,000 lb
(17,236 kg) could be Dover sole north of Cape Mendocino, and coastwide
no more than 12,000 lb (5,443 kg) could be trawl-caught sablefish and
no more than 20,000 lb (9,072 kg) could be thornyheads. No more than
4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of the thornyheads could be shortspine thornyheads.
On May 1, 1997 (62 FR 24845, May 7, 1997), the 2-month cumulative
trip limits were reduced for Dover sole north of Cape Mendocino to
30,000 lb (13,608 kg)), and for thornyheads coastwide to 15,000 lb
(6,804 kg), of which only 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) could be shortspine
thornyheads. The 2-month cumulative limit for the DTS complex north of
Cape Mendocino increased by the same amount to 57,000 lb (25,855 kg),
while remaining at 100,000 lb (45,359 kg) south of Cape Mendocino. The
coastwide 2-month cumulative trip limit for sablefish remained at
12,000 lb (5,443 kg).
On September 1 (62 FR 36228, July 7, 1997) the 2-month cumulative
trip limits for the DTS complex and its components were converted to 1-
month cumulative limits: For the DTS complex, 28,500 lb (12,927 kg)
north of Cape Mendocino and 50,000 lb (22,680 kg) south of Cape
Mendocino; for sablefish coastwide, 6,000 lb (2,722 kg); for Dover sole
north of Cape Mendocino, 15,000 lb (6,804 kg); and for thornyheads
coastwide, 7,500 lb (3,402 kg), of which no more than 1,500 lb (680 kg)
could be shortspine thornyheads.
The 1-month cumulative trip limit for sablefish was reduced on
October 1, 1997 (62 FR 51814, October 3, 1997), and a 1-month
cumulative trip limit was set for Dover sole south of Cape Mendocino;
previously Dover sole could comprise the amount of DTS limit that was
left over after taking sablefish and thornyheads. As a result, the
limited entry fishery for the DTS complex and its components is
currently managed under a 1-month cumulative trip limit of 11,000 lb
(4,990 kg) north of Cape Mendocino. Within these 1-month cumulative
limits, no more than 1,500 lb (680 kg) may be Dover sole north of Cape
Mendocino, no more than 2,000 lb (907 kg) may be sablefish coastwide,
and no more than 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) may be thornyheads coastwide. No
more than 1,500 lb (680 kg) of the thornyheads may be shortspine
thornyheads. The same limits for sablefish and thornyheads apply south
of Cape Mendocino, but the limit for Dover sole is 30,000 lb (13,608
kg), which changes the DTS limit in that area to 39,500 lb (17,917 kg).
As of October 1, 1997, the cumulative limit for the DTS complex is the
sum of the cumulative limits of its components.
Reduced effort in October, likely due to bad weather and extremely
low cumulative trip limits, resulted in much lower landings than
expected. The best available information at the November 1997 Council
meeting indicated that the harvest guidelines for all three species
would not be reached in 1998 if current landing rates continued. Dover
sole is expected to be 12 percent below its coastwide harvest
guideline, and trawl-caught sablefish is projected to be 7 percent
below its trawl allocation. Landings of longspine and shortspine
thornyheads are projected to be 35 and 19 percent below their harvest
guidelines, respectively, by the end of the year. Consequently, the
Council recommended increasing the 1-month cumulative trip limits for
these species to the end of the year to keep landings of the DTS
complex and its components within the 1997 harvest guidelines and
allocations without increasing discards. Current trip limits are so low
that it is felt that these increases will enable fishermen to land fish
that otherwise may have been caught and discarded.
The new monthly limits for the DTS complex are 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
north of Cape Mendocino, and 43,000 lb (19,504 kg) south of Cape
Mendocino.
[[Page 61702]]
Within these limits, no more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) may be Dover sole
north of Cape Mendocino and 30,000 lb (13,608 kg) south of Cape
Mendocino (no change to southern Dover sole); no more than 3,000 lb
(1,361 kg) coastwide may be trawl-caught sablefish; and no more than
10,000 lb (4,536 kg) coastwide may be thornyheads. No more than 3,000
lb (1,361 kg) of the thornyheads may be shortspine thornyheads.
Implementation. These changes are implemented in the middle of a 1-
month cumulative trip limit period for the ``A'' platoon (whose
cumulative trip limits begin at the beginning of a month). The new
limits are the total amount that may be landed in November. Therefore,
the ``A'' platoon will have the opportunity to harvest the new limits
in both November and December. Two-month cumulative trip limits and the
60 percent monthly limits remain in effect only for POP, widow
rockfish, and lingcod.
For vessels in the ``B'' platoon (whose cumulative trip limits
begin on November 16, 1997) the final 2-month cumulative trip limits
for POP, widow rockfish, and lingcod apply to the 6-week period from
November 16, 1997, through December 31, 1997, and there is no 60
percent monthly limit for this period. In addition, the equivalent of
two 1-month cumulative trip limits for the Sebastes complex and its
components and for the DTS complex and its components may be landed
during the 6-week period from November 16, 1997 through December 31,
1997. (In the previous Federal Register notice (62 FR 51814, October 3,
1997), reference to lingcod describing the final cumulative period for
the ``B'' platoon was inadvertently deleted.)
NMFS Action
For the reasons stated above, NMFS concurs with the Council's
recommendations and makes the following changes to the 1997 annual
management measures (62 FR 700, January 6, 1997, as modified at 62 FR
51815, October 3, 1997).
1. For yellowtail rockfish, canary rockfish, and the Sebastes
complex, paragraphs C.(2)(a)(i) and (ii) of section IV. (regarding
cumulative trip limits in the limited entry fishery) are amended, to
read as follows:
C. Sebastes Complex (including Bocaccio, Yellowtail, and Canary
Rockfish)
* * * * *
(2) * * *
(a) * * *
(i) North of Cape Mendocino. The cumulative trip limit for the
Sebastes complex taken and retained north of Cape Mendocino is 40,000
lb (18,144 kg) per vessel per 1-month period. Within this cumulative
trip limit for the Sebastes complex, no more than 20,000 lb (9,072 kg)
may be yellowtail rockfish taken and retained north of Cape Mendocino,
and no more than 15,000 lb (6,804 kg) may be canary rockfish.
(ii) South of Cape Mendocino. The cumulative trip limit for the
Sebastes complex taken and retained south of Cape Mendocino is 80,000
lb (36,287 kg) per vessel per 1-month period. Within this cumulative
trip limit for the Sebastes complex, no more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
may be bocaccio taken and retained south of Cape Mendocino, and no more
than 15,000 lb (6,804 kg) may be canary rockfish.
* * * * *
2. For the DTS complex, paragraph E.(2)(b) of section IV.
(regarding limited entry trip and size limits) is revised, to read as
follows:
E. Sablefish and the DTS Complex (Dover Sole, Thornyheads, and
Trawl-Caught Sablefish)
* * * * *
(2) * * *
(b) * * *
(i) North of Cape Mendocino. The cumulative trip limit for the DTS
complex taken and retained north of Cape Mendocino is 16,000 lb (7,257
kg) per vessel per 1-month period. Within this cumulative trip limit,
no more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) may be sablefish, no more than 3,000
lb (1,361 kg) may be Dover sole, and no more than 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
may be thornyheads. No more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of the thornyheads
may be shortspine thornyheads.
(ii) South of Cape Mendocino. The cumulative trip limit for the DTS
complex taken and retained south of Cape Mendocino is 43,000 lb (19,504
kg) per vessel per 1-month period. Within this cumulative trip limit,
no more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) may be sablefish, no more than 30,000
lb (13,608 kg) may be Dover sole, and no more than 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
may be thornyheads. No more than 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of the thornyheads
may be shortspine thornyheads.
* * * * *
Classification
These actions are authorized by the regulations implementing the
FMP. The determination to take these actions is based on the most
recent data available. The aggregate data upon which the determinations
are based are available for public inspection at the office of the
Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS (see ADDRESSES) during business
hours. Because this action relieves a burden and must be implemented
swiftly to relieve the burden, and because the public had an
opportunity to comment on the action at the November 1997 Council
meeting, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this document
to be published without affording additional prior opportunity for
public comment or a 30-day delayed effectiveness period. These actions
are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(1), and are exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 14, 1997.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service
[FR Doc. 97-30386 Filed 11-14-97; 4:37 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
