[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11706]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Parts 672 and 675
[Docket No. 940225-4025; I.D. 050694F]
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Emergency interim rule; extension of effective date.
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SUMMARY: An emergency rule is in effect through May 11, 1994, that:
Revises regulations applicable to the management and monitoring of the
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) halibut bycatch limit established for trawl gear
fisheries, revises directed fishing standards, and adjusts the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) flatfish seasons to
provide for additional fishing opportunities in the BSAI early in the
fishing year. NMFS is extending the portions of the emergency rule
addressing the management of the GOA halibut trawl bycatch limit and
directed fishing standards for an additional 90-day period (through
August 9, 1994) to prevent overfishing of GOA thornyhead rockfish and
Pacific ocean perch (POP) and to limit unnecessarily high bycatch
amounts of these rockfish species and Pacific halibut in the trawl
fisheries in a manner that will reduce the likelihood of premature
fishery closures. This action is intended to further the goals and
objectives contained in the fishery management plans for the groundfish
fisheries off Alaska.
EFFECTIVE DATES: The interim regulations published on February 10, 1994
(59 FR 6222), are extended from May 12, 1994, through August 9, 1994,
except for amendments to Sec. 675.23, which are effective through May
11, 1994.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 7, 1994, the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) implemented an emergency interim rule (59 FR 6222,
February 10, 1994) under section 305(c) of the Magnuson Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(c)) (Magnuson Act). The
emergency rule implemented the following measures for a 90-day period
(through May 11, 1994).
A. Establishment of two GOA trawl fishery categories for purposes
of apportioning the GOA halibut bycatch limit established for the trawl
gear fisheries (Sec. 672.20(f)). These two categories are: (1) The
shallow water fishery complex (the Alaska pollock, Pacific cod, Atka
mackerel, shallow water flatfish, flathead sole, and ``other species''
trawl fisheries), and (2) the deep water fishery complex (the deepwater
flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, sablefish, and rockfish trawl
fisheries).
B. Revision of the method for calculating retainable amounts of
groundfish species under directed fishing standards (Sec. 672.20 (h)
and (i)). Revised methods prohibit using retained amounts of arrowtooth
flounder or groundfish species closed to directed fishing as a basis
for calculating retainable amounts of other groundfish species that are
closed to directed fishing.
C. Adjustment of the opening date for the BSAI yellowfin sole and
``other flatfish'' fisheries from May 1 to January 20. As a result of
this season adjustment, directed fishing standards governing retainable
amounts of flatfish species at Sec. 675.20(h)(2) also were revised.
NMFS has published a proposed rule for public review and comment
(59 FR 23044, May 4, 1994) that would implement permanently the
management measures implemented under the emergency rule. Pending
approval by the Secretary, a final rule implementing these measures
likely would not be effective before September 1994. With the exception
of the interim adjustment of the BSAI flatfish fisheries, the
conditions justifying the emergency action remain unchanged and warrant
extension of the emergency rule until Secretarial action is taken on
the proposed rule and the measures are implemented through a final
rule. Under the emergency rule, regulations set out at Sec. 675.23 were
amended to change the opening date of the BSAI yellowfin sole and
``other flatfish'' fisheries from May 1 to January 20. This interim
provision no longer is necessary to allow a BSAI flatfish fishery early
in 1994. Therefore, with the exception of the portion of the emergency
rule addressing the season change for the BSAI flatfish fisheries
(Sec. 675.23), the Secretary, with the agreement of the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council, extends the effectiveness of the emergency
rule for an additional 90 days under section 305(c)(3)(B) of the
Magnuson Act.
Details concerning the basis for this action and the classification
of the rulemaking are contained in the initial emergency rule and are
not repeated here.
Dated: May 10, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11706 Filed 5-10-94; 4:11 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
