[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 232 (Monday, December 2, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30633]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 112596C]
RIN 0648-AI62
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Prohibited Species Catch
Limits for Tanner Crab
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Area; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has
submitted Amendment 41 to the Fishery Management Plan for the
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP)
for Secretarial review. Amendment 41 would adjust the prohibited
species catch (PSC) limits for Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) (C.
bairdi) in Zones 1 and 2 of the Bering Sea. This action is necessary to
protect the C. bairdi stock in the Bering Sea, which has declined to a
level that presents a serious conservation problem. The intended effect
of the proposed action is to further limit crab bycatch in the Bering
Sea groundfish fisheries.
DATES: Comments on the FMP amendment must be received by January 31,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed FMP amendment must be submitted to
Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region,
NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK, 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or
delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK.
Copies of proposed Amendment 41 and the Environmental Assessment/
Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis are
available from the Council, 605 West Fourth Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501-
2252; telephone 907-271-2809.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim S. Rivera, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Steven Act) requires that each Regional
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan or plan
amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or
partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS,
upon receiving a plan or amendment, immediately publish a document that
the plan or amendment is available for public review and comment.
Amendment 41 would adjust the PSC limits for Tanner crab (C.
bairdi) in Zones 1 and 2 of the Bering Sea based on the total abundance
of C. bairdi crab as indicated by the NMFS bottom trawl survey. The PSC
limits would be determined on an annual basis as part of the annual
BSAI groundfish specification process, after consultation with the
Council.
NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment
period in determining whether to approve the proposed amendment.
Dated: November 26, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-30633 Filed 11-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
