[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57780-57781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28717]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 110196A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Tanner Crab
Bycatch Allowances for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in Zone 1 of 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS has determined that the current bycatch allowances of the
Chionoecetes bairdi (C. bairdi) Tanner crab prohibited species catch
(PSC) limit allocated to the yellowfin sole and rock sole/flathead
sole/``other flatfish'' trawl fishery categories in Zone 1 of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) are incorrect.
NMFS is respecifying the PSC limit apportioned to these categories.
These actions are necessary to achieve the optimum yield from the
groundfish fisheries. They are intended to promote the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).
DATES: 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 4, 1996, until
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1996. Comments must be received at the
following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., November 19, 1996.
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: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The groundfish fishery in the BSAI exclusive
economic zone is managed by NMFS according to the FMP prepared by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Fishing by
U.S. vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at subpart
H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii) the PSC limit of C. bairdi Tanner
crab caught while conducting any trawl fishery for groundfish in Zone 1
of the BSAI during any fishing year is 1 million animals. In accordance
with Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(i) the Final 1996 Harvest Specifications of
Groundfish (61 FR 4311, February 5, 1996) apportioned this PSC limit
among the trawl gear fishery categories defined at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv) as follows: (1) Yellowfin sole, 250,000 animals;
(2) rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'', 425,000 animals; (3)
Pacific cod, 250,000 animals; and (4) pollock/Atka mackerel/other
species, 75,000 animals.
As of October 12, 1996, 80,000 animals remain of the C. bairdi
Tanner crab PSC limit to be taken in the trawl rock sole/flathead sole/
``other flatfish'' category in Zone 1. This fishery category will not
reopen during 1996. The yellowfin sole fishery category has no C.
bairdi Tanner crab PSC limit apportionment remaining in Zone 1 and
cannot harvest the 45,000 mt of yellowfin sole remaining in that
species total allowable catch (TAC) in Zone 1. NMFS has determined that
the Zone 1 PSC limit for C. bairdi Tanner crab apportioned to the
yellowfin sole and rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery
categories is incorrectly specified based on the best available
scientific information pertaining to bycatch rates reported by NMFS-
certified observers. The C. bairdi Tanner crab PSC limit apportioned to
the yellowfin sole fishery category needs to be augmented to promote
achieving the optimum yield from the yellowfin sole fishery.
Under Sec. 679.25(a)(1)(iii), the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, is adjusting the C. bairdi Tanner crab PSC limit by (1)
increasing the apportionment specified for the yellowfin sole fishery
category in Zone 1 by 80,000 animals, resulting in an adjusted
apportionment of 330,000 animals for this fishery, and (2) decreasing
the apportionment specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other
flatfish'' fishery category in Zone 1 by 80,000 animals, resulting in
an adjusted apportionment of 345,000 animals for this fishery. This
adjustment is necessary to prevent the underharvest of the BSAI
yellowfin sole TAC and is authorized pursuant to
Sec. 679.25(a)(2)(i)(C).
As required by Sec. 679.25(b), 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 C. bairdi Tanner crab bycatch
allowances in Zone 1 will prevent harvest of the remaining 45,000 mt of
yellowfin sole remaining in that
[[Page 57781]]
species TAC and 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 (see ADDRESSES).
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 679.25 and Sec. 679.20.
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
yellowfin sole fishery, which would otherwise be prevented from
conducting operations in Zone 1.
This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Dated: November 1, 1996.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-28717 Filed 11-04-96; 5:00 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
