[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10435]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 673
[I.D. 042595A]
Scallop Fishery off Alaska; Closure of Federal Waters to Protect
Scallop Stocks
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery management plan; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has
requested NMFS to implement a proposed Fishery Management Plan for the
Scallop Fishery off Alaska (FMP). The FMP would authorize an interim
closure of Federal waters off Alaska to fishing for scallops for up to
a 1-year period. The interim closure is necessary to prevent
overfishing of scallop stocks during the period of time an alternative
fishery management plan is developed that would allow the controlled
harvest of scallops in Federal waters. This action is intended to
promote the objective of the proposed FMP to prevent overfishing of the
scallop resource that could otherwise result from unregulated fishing
for scallops in Federal waters. Comments are requested from the public.
Copies of the revised FMP amendments may be obtained from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES).
DATES: Comments on the proposed FMP must be submitted by June 26, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the revised FMP amendments must be submitted to
Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region,
NMFS, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801, or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attention: Lori J. Gravel. Copies of the proposed amendments
and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) for the FMP may be
obtained from the same address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Salveson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The scallop resource off Alaska has been commercially exploited for
almost 30 years. Between 1969 and 1991, about 40 percent of the annual
scallop harvests came from State waters. Since 1991, however, Alaska
scallop harvests increasingly have occurred in Federal waters. In 1994,
only 14 percent of the 1.2 million lbs (544 metric tons (mt)) landed
were harvested in State waters, with the remainder harvested in Federal
waters off Alaska.
The State of Alaska has managed the scallop fishery in State and
Federal waters, consistent with section 306(a)(3) of the Magnuson
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.)(Magnuson Act), which allows a state to directly regulate any
fishing vessel outside state waters if the vessel is registered under
the laws of that state. Until 1995, all vessels participating in the
Alaska scallop fishery were registered under the laws of the State of
Alaska and the fishery was monitored and controlled under State
jurisdiction. However, participation in the 1995 scallop fishery by at
least one vessel fishing outside the jurisdiction of the State,
contemplation by other vessel owners to fish in Federal waters outside
State regulations governing the scallop fishery, and the likelihood
that uncontrolled fishing for scallops could occur anywhere off Alaska
by the highly mobile scallop processor fleet now requires that Federal
regulations be implemented to control scallop fishing activity by
vessels that choose not to register with the State of Alaska.
To respond to the need for Federal management of the scallop
fishery, the Council adopted the proposed FMP under section 303 of the
Magnuson Act. The FMP would specify a long-term optimum yield for the
scallop fishery in Federal waters off Alaska as a numerical range of 0-
1.1 million lbs (0-499 mt) of shucked scallop meats. The FMP also would
authorize up to a 1-year closure of Federal waters to fishing for
scallops. During the period of time Federal waters are closed to
fishing for scallops under the FMP, the OY would be equal to zero. The
intent of the FMP is to prevent an unregulated and uncontrolled fishery
for scallops in Federal waters that could result in overfishing of
scallop stocks during the period of time an alternative fishery
management plan is developed that would authorize fishing for scallops
in Federal waters under a Federal management regime.
The Secretary will consider the public comments received during the
comment period in determining whether to approve the proposed FMP. The
proposed regulations are scheduled to be published within 15 days of
this document.
Dated: April 24, 1995.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Director of Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-10435 Filed 4-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
