[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2748]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 012798A]
RIN 0648-AJ87
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Halibut
Donation Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has
submitted Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of
the Gulf of Alaska and Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan for
the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
(FMPs) for Secretarial review. These amendments would authorize the
voluntary donation of Pacific halibut taken as bycatch in specified
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged
individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS-authorized
distributor. This action is intended to support industry initiatives to
reduce regulatory discards in the groundfish fisheries by processing
halibut bycatch for human consumption. These amendments are necessary
to promote the goals and objectives of the FMPs that govern the
commercial groundfish fisheries off Alaska. Comments from the public
are requested.
DATES: Comments on Amendments 50/50 must be submitted by April 6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendments should be submitted to the
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division,
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori
Gravel, or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street,
Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendments 50/50 and the environmental assessment
(EA) and related economic analysis prepared for the proposed action are
available from NMFS, at the above address, or by calling the Alaska
Region, NMFS at 907-586-7228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Kinsolving, NMFS, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan amendment
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial
disapproval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, after
receiving a fishery management plan or amendment, immediately publish a
document in the Federal Register that the fishery management plan or
amendment is available for public review and comment. This action
constitutes such notice for Amendments 50/50 to the FMPs.
Amendments 50/50 were adopted by the Council at its April 1997
meeting. The amendments would expand the existing Salmon Donation
Program (SDP) to create a Prohibited Species Donation (PSD) program
that would include halibut as well as salmon. This action would
authorize the distribution of Pacific halibut taken as bycatch in the
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged
individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS-authorized
distributor. This action is necessary to reduce regulatory discards in
the groundfish fisheries by processing halibut bycatch for consumption
by economically disadvantaged individuals.
A proposed rule that would implement Amendments 50/50 may be
published in the Federal Register for public comment, following NMFS'
evaluation of the proposed rule under the Magnuson-Stevens Act
procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by
the end of the comment period on the FMP amendments to be considered in
the approval/disapproval decision on Amendments 50/50. All comments
received by April 6, 1998, whether specifically directed to Amendments
50/50 or the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision. Comments received after that date will not be
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on Amendments 50/50.
Dated: January 30, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2748 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
