[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43579-43580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20769]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 675
[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 081595B]
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area;
Change in Assumed Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rate
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed change in assumed Pacific halibut discard mortality
rate; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes to reduce the Pacific halibut discard mortality
rate assumed for the 1995 hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) from 12.5
percent to 11.5 percent. This action is necessary to implement the
intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to
assess discard mortality rates observed in this fishery during the
first half of 1995 and, if warranted, adjust the 12.5 assumed rate
specified for this fishery to reflect more closely the 1995 observed
rate.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 5, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be sent to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel. The final Environmental Assessment
prepared for the 1995 BSAI groundfish total allowable catch
specifications or the report prepared by the International Pacific
Halibut Commission titled ``Halibut Discard Mortality Rates in the 1995
BSA Pacific Cod Hook-and-Line Fishery: Results From Inseason Data
Analysis'' may be obtained from the same address, or by calling 907-
586-7228. The final Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE)
report, dated November 1994, may be requested from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council, P.O. Box 103136, Anchorage, AK 99510 (907-
271-2809).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Salveson, NMFS, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal
regulations at 50 CFR part 675 that implement the Fishery Management
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island
area (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the Council and approved by NMFS
under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson
Act).
NMFS, in consultation with the Council, annually establishes
Pacific halibut bycatch allowances for specified BSAI groundfish
fisheries. The Director, NMFS, Alaska Region (Regional Director),
monitors each fishery's halibut bycatch allowance using assumed discard
mortality rates that are based on the best information available. NMFS
published the 1995 halibut bycatch mortality allowances and assumed
discard mortality rates in the Federal Register on February 14, 1995
(60 FR 8479) as part of the final 1995 specifications of groundfish and
associated management measures. NMFS noted in this publication that the
12.5 percent discard mortality rate specified for the BSAI Pacific cod
hook-and-line gear fishery would be subject to change pending the
results of a mid-year analysis of halibut discard mortality rate data
collected by NMFS-certified observers during the first half of 1995.
The reasons and justification for this mid-year assessment are
discussed in the February 14, 1995, final 1995 groundfish
specifications.
Staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)
conducted an analysis of 1995 halibut viability data collected by NMFS-
certified observers during the period January 1 to May 6. The results
of this analysis are presented in a report titled ``Halibut Discard
Mortality Rates in the 1996 (BSAI) Pacific Cod Hook-and-Line Fishery:
Results From Inseason Data Analysis'' (see Addresses). Results of this
analysis indicate that a halibut discard mortality rate of 11.5 percent
is more appropriate in estimating halibut bycatch mortality in the 1995
BSAI hook-and-line fishery for Pacific cod than the 12.5 percent rate
established in the final 1995 groundfish specifications (February 14,
1995, 60 FR 8479). These
[[Page 43580]]
results were based on data collected by 32 observers from 26 different
vessels, which represented 60 percent of the groundfish catch in the
BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery through early May. The 11.5
percent discard mortality rate is a reduction from the 18 percent
discard mortality rate previously estimated for this fishery based on
observer data collected during 1992 and 1993. An estimate of the 1994
discard mortality rate has not been completed, because final 1994
observer data are not yet available. The IPHC believes that the
apparent reduction in halibut discard mortality rates is a result of
several factors. First, the hook-and-line gear fleet has gained a
greater awareness of careful release procedures that increase survival
rates of discarded halibut. In 1993, regulations at Sec. 675.7(m) were
implemented to require vessels to follow careful release procedures (58
FR 28799, May 17, 1993) and the hook-and-line industry has made an
effort to inform vessel operators and crew of these mandatory
requirements.
Second, a greater number of vessels is using swivels where the
gangion ties into the groundline or the gangion connects to the hook.
The swivels help prevent halibut from twisting and winding the gangion
around the groundline, thus providing greater movement of the halibut
and enhancing a fish's ability to avoid sand flea predation. Observer
data from 1995, as well as previous years, suggest that sand flea
predation is a significant contributor to the overall mortality of
halibut taken as bycatch in the hook-and-line gear fisheries.
Third, the 1995 BSAI hook-and-line fleet participated in a
voluntary program to monitor halibut discard mortality rates inseason
on a vessel-by-vessel basis. This action provided feedback to the
individual vessels when observer data suggested that bycatch halibut
was improperly handled.
At its June 1995 meeting, the Council reviewed the IPHC's analysis
of 1995 observer data and recommended that NMFS reduce the discard
mortality rate for the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery from
12.5 percent to 11.5 percent. NMFS concurs with the analytical results
of the IPHC's assessment, as well as the Council's recommendation.
Accordingly, NMFS proposes to revise Table 9 of the final 1995
groundfish specifications published February 14, 1995 (60 FR 8479), as
follows:
Table 9.--Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
During 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assumed
Hook-and-line gear fisheries mortality
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rockfish..................................................... 24.0
Pacific cod.................................................. 11.5
Greenland turbot............................................. 19.0
Sablefish.................................................... 17.0
Trawl Gear Fisheries:
Midwater pollock............................................. 89.0
Non-pelagic pollock.......................................... 77.0
Yellowfin sole............................................... 76.0
Rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish..................... 75.0
Rockfish..................................................... 69.0
Pacific cod.................................................. 65.0
Atka mackerel................................................ 59.0
Arrowtooth................................................... 49.0
Greenland Turbot............................................. 48.0
Pot Gear Fisheries:
Pacific cod.................................................. 8.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NMFS proposes to recalculate the 1995 halibut bycatch mortality for
the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery using the 11.5 percent
assumed discard mortality rate. Based on catch and observer data
through mid-July 1995, the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line fleet has
taken 3,613 metric tons (mt) of halibut bycatch. This equates to 452 mt
bycatch mortality using the 12.5 percent mortality rate assumption and
415 mt bycatch mortality using the 11.5 mortality rate assumption.
Using this latter assumption, 310 mt of halibut mortality remains of
the 725 mt halibut bycatch mortality allowance specified for this
fishery in 1995.
NMFS estimates that less than 2,200 mt of halibut bycatch will be
taken by the Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fleet during the remainder
of 1995 based on the assumption that 21,000 mt of groundfish may be
harvested by this fleet during the remainder of 1995 at a halibut
bycatch rate of 103.26 kg per mt of groundfish, as experienced in the
1994 fall fishery. Given the projection for another 2,200 mt of halibut
bycatch during the remainder of 1995, NMFS anticipates that an
additional 253 mt of halibut bycatch mortality would result using the
11.5 percent discard mortality rate, compared to 275 mt of halibut
mortality, if a 12.5 percent discard mortality rate were used. Neither
assumption for discard mortality rate would result in the attainment of
the 725 mt halibut bycatch allowance before the amount of Pacific cod
allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear is reached.
Classification
This action is authorized under 50 CFR part 675.20 and is exempt
from review under E.O. 12866.
NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 1995
groundfish specifications. The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, concluded that no significant impact on the environment will
result from their implementation. A copy of the EA is available (see
Addresses).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 16, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-20769 Filed 8-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W
