[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14379-14380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7800]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 031398C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Community
Development Quota Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Approval of the Community Development Plans for Pacific
halibut, fixed gear sablefish, and crab for the years 1998-2000.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of recommendations made by the
State of Alaska (State) for the 1998-2000 halibut, fixed gear
sablefish, and crab Community Development Plans (CDPs) under the
Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This action
announces the decision by NMFS to approve the State's recommended CDPs,
including the percentage allocations of the halibut, fixed gear
sablefish, and crab CDQ reserves to each CDP, and the availability of
findings underlying NMFS's decision. This action is intended to further
the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act.
DATES: Approval of the CDPs is effective March 23, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the findings made by NMFS in approving the State's
recommendations may be obtained from the Alaska Region, National Marine
Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally Bibb, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The CDQ Program for Pacific halibut and fixed gear sablefish was
developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and
implemented by NMFS under regulations at subpart C of 50 CFR part 679.
The Crab CDQ Program was developed by the Council as part of Amendment
5 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Commercial King and
Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area which
was approved by NMFS on September 12, 1997. Regulations implementing
the crab CDQ reserves were published by NMFS in the Federal Register on
February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8356).
Eligible western Alaska communities submitted six proposed CDPs to
the State under Sec. 679.30. The CDPs included requests for allocations
of the available Pacific halibut, sablefish, and crab CDQ reserves
established at Sec. 679.31. The State conducted a public hearing on
September 9, 1997, in Anchorage, AK, during which all interested
persons had an opportunity to be heard. The hearing covered the
substance and content of the proposed CDPs in such a manner that the
general public, and particularly the affected parties, had a reasonable
opportunity to
[[Page 14380]]
understand the impact of each proposed CDP. The State made available
for public review all State of Alaska materials pertinent to the
hearing at the time the hearing was announced. The public hearing held
by the State satisfied the requirements of Sec. 679.30(a)(2).
The State consulted the Council concerning the proposed CDPs during
the Council's September 1997 meeting. The Council reviewed copies of
the CDP executive summaries, summary sheets, and the State's
recommended allocations, and concurred with the State's
recommendations.
The State sent its recommendations for approval of the proposed
CDPs to NMFS on February 20, 1998. NMFS has determined that the State's
recommendations for approval of proposed CDPs are consistent with the
community eligibility conditions and evaluation criteria and other
applicable provisions of the Federal regulations governing the CDQ
Program.
As required by Sec. 679.30(c)(1)(iii), NMFS publishes this notice
of approval of the State's recommendations, including the CDQ allocated
to each CDP (see following table), and announces the availability of
the findings by the Secretary of Commerce regarding this decision (see
ADDRESSES).
Table--State of Alaska 1998-2000 Halibut, Fixed Gear Sablefish, and Crab Community Development Quota Allocation
Recommendations
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Community development quota group
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CDQ allocation APICDA \1\ BBEDC \2\ CBSFA \3\ CVRF NSEDC \4\ YDFDA \5\
(percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent)
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Halibut:
Area 4B....................... 100 0 0 0 0 0
Area 4C....................... 10 0 90 0 0 0
Area 4D....................... 0 23 0 24 26 27
Area 4E....................... 0 30 0 70 0 0
Fixed Gear Sablefish:
Aleutian Islands.............. 15 20 0 30 20 15
Bering Sea.................... 15 22 18 0 20 25
Crab:
Bristol Bay Red King Crab..... 20 20 0 20 20 20
Norton Sound Red King Crab.... 0 0 0 0 50 50
Pribilof Red & Blue King Crab. 0 0 100 0 0 0
St. Matthew Blue King Crab.... 50 12 0 12 14 12
Bering Sea C. opilio crab..... 10 19 19 17 18 17
Bering Sea c. bairdi crab..... 10 19 19 17 18 17
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\1\ APICDA = Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association.
\2\ BBEDC = Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation.
\3\ CBSFA = Central Bering Sea Fishermen's's Association.
\4\ NSEDC = Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation.
\5\ YDFDA = Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association.
CDQ fishing for halibut and fixed gear sablefish is authorized
beginning March 15, 1998, under Sec. 679.23 and CDQ fishing for crab is
authorized beginning March 23, 1998 (the effective date of the final
rule implementing the crab CDQ reserves).
Dated: March 20, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7800 Filed 3-20-98; 4:29 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
