[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64209-64210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30954]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 600 and 660
[Docket No.971229312-7312-01; I.D. 111398A]
Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Revisions
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 an increase to the monthly cumulative trip
limit for Dover sole taken in the limited entry Pacific Coast
groundfish fishery. This change is intended to ensure that the 1998
harvest guidelines and allocations are taken. NMFS also announces the
last cumulative trip limit period in 1998 for the ``B'' platoon, those
limited entry trawl vessels that are authorized to take their
cumulative trip limits 2 weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet,
and makes several housekeeping changes. These actions are authorized
under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time (l.t.) December 1, 1998, except
for the trip limits for vessels operating in the ``B'' platoon, whose
trip limit changes will become effective at 0001 hours l.t. November
16, 1998. These changes are in effect, unless modified, superseded, or
rescinded, until the effective date of the 1999 annual specifications
and management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which
will be published in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted
through December 4, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator,
Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way
NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or William Hogarth,
Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite
4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, Northwest Region,
NMFS, 206-526-6140; or Svein Fougner, Southwest Region, NMFS, 562-980-
4040.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following trip limit change was
recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in
consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, at
its November 2-6, 1998, meeting in Portland, OR.
Increase to the Limited Entry Monthly Cumulative Trip Limit for
Dover Sole
Preliminary landing estimates for Dover sole, which is within the
DTS complex, consisting of Dover sole, thornyheads, and trawl-caught
sablefish, indicate that the limited entry allocation would not be
reached. The current monthly cumulative trip limits for the limited
entry fishery for species in the DTS complex are: Dover sole, 18,000 lb
(8,165 kg); longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402 kg); shortspine
thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg), and trawl-caught sablefish, 5,000 lb
(2,268 kg).
The best available information at the November 1998 Council meeting
indicated that 1,390 mt of trawl-caught sablefish, 5,543 mt of Dover
sole, 1,671 mt of longspine thornyheads, and 941 mt of shortspine
thornyheads had been taken through September 30, 1998. The Dover sole
landing levels for January through September are well below the levels
that were projected for this period. Although the estimated attainment
date for the shortspine thornyhead allocation is December 20,
relatively little bycatch is expected to be taken in the Dover sole
fishery during winter months, so increasing the Dover sole trip limit
is not expected to result in increased bycatch and discard of
shortspine thornyheads. Therefore, the Council recommended increasing
the monthly cumulative trip limit of Dover sole on December 1, 1998, to
36,000 lb (16,329 kg). Longspine thornyheads and
[[Page 64210]]
trawl-caught sablefish also are projected to be below their limited
entry allocations, but increases to their trip limits were not
recommended because of expected bycatch of shortspine thornyheads.
Final Period for the ``B'' Platoon
NMFS also announces the last cumulative trip limit period in 1998
for the ``B'' platoon, those limited entry trawl vessels authorized (on
their limited entry permit) to take their cumulative trip limits 2
weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet. For vessels in the ``B''
platoon, the final cumulative trip limit period will be from November
16, 1998, through December 31, 1998. At any time during this period,
each vessel in the ``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain,
possess, and land the equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits (the
November and December cumulative trip limits). Therefore, the ``B''
platoon cumulative trip limit for Dover sole between November 16 and
December 31, 1998, is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg), which is derived by adding
18,000 lb (8,165 kg), the amount of the November cumulative trip limit,
plus 36,000 lb (16,329 kg), the amount of the December cumulative trip
limit.
Housekeeping
This document also updates portions of the 1998 annual
specifications and management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998), as
amended. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access
Fishery, the introductory text at (1)(a) is deleted because it was
replaced by paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (ii) on October 1, 1998 (63 FR
53313, October 5, 1998). Also, paragraphs C(1)(a)(ii) and C(2)(a) are
revised to include longline gear which was inadvertently deleted. These
changes clarify the Council's intent.
NMFS Action
For the reasons stated above, NMFS concurs with the Council's
recommendations and announces the following changes to the 1998 annual
management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998, as amended at 63 FR
24970, May 6, 1998; 63 FR 36612, July 7, 1998; and 63 FR 45966, August
28, 1998, 63 FR 53313, October 5, 1998).
1. In Section IV., under A. General Definitions and Provisions,
paragraph (1)(c)(iii)(C) is revised to read as follows:
A. General Definitions and Provisions
* * * * *
(1) * * *
(c) * * *
(iii) * * *
(C) Special provisions will be made for ``B'' platoon vessels so
that the amount of fish made available in 1998 to both ``A'' and ``B''
vessels is the same. For vessels in the ``B'' platoon, the final
cumulative trip limit period will be from November 16, 1998, through
December 31, 1998. At any time during this period, each vessel in the
``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain, possess, and land the
equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits which is the sum of the
cumulative trip limits for November and December 1998.
* * * * *
2. In Section IV., under B. Limited Entry Fishery, (4)(c)(i) is
revised to read as follows:
B. Limited Entry Fishery
* * * * *
(4) * * *
(c) * * *
(i) The monthly cumulative trip limits for species in the Dover
sole, thornyhead, and trawl-caught sablefish complex are: for Dover
sole, 36,000 lb (16,329 kg); for longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402
kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg); and for trawl-
caught sablefish, 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). For vessels in the ``B''
platoon, during November 16-December 31, 1998, the cumulative trip
limit for Dover sole is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg); for longspine
thornyheads, 15,000 lb (6,804 kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 3,000 lb
(1361 kg); and for trawl-caught sablefish, 10,000 lb (4,536 kg).
* * * * *
3. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery,
paragraph (1)(a) is revised, paragraph (1)(e)(ii)(A) is revised, and
the heading of paragraph (2)(a) is revised to read as follows:
C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery
* * * * *
(1) * * *
(a) All rockfish. (i) North of Cape Blanco. Rockfish may not be
taken and retained, possessed, or landed by any open access gear,
including exempted trawl gear, north of Cape Blanco.
(ii) South of Cape Blanco. South of Cape Blanco the trip limit for
rockfish taken with hook-and-line, longline or pot gear is 10,000 lb
(4,536 kg) per vessel per fishing trip. Rockfish taken under this trip
limit count toward cumulative trip limits.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(ii) * * *
(A) All open access gear except setnets or trammel nets. For all
open access gear except setnets or trammel nets, bocaccio may not be
taken and retained, possessed, or landed north of Cape Blanco. South of
Cape Mendocino, the monthly cumulative limit for bocaccio is 1,000 lb
(454 kg) of which no more than 500 lb (227 kg) per trip may be taken
and retained with hook-and-line, longline, or pot gear.
* * * * *
(2) * * *
(a) Hook-and-line, longline, pot, setnet, trammel net. * * *
* * * * *
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. Because of the need for immediate action to
implement these changes at the beginning of the final ``B'' platoon
period which starts November 16, 1998, and because the public had an
opportunity to comment on the action at the November 1998 Council
meeting, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this document
to be published without affording a 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 13, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-30954 Filed 11-16-98; 4:59 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
