[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47218-47219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23796]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 082798B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed reallocation; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: Based on currently available information, NMFS has determined
that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not be able to harvest its
entire share of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and is proposes
to make the projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor
share of the Pacific cod TAC available to the trawl catcher vessel
sector. NMFS also is proposing to reallocate the projected unused
amount of Pacific cod from trawl catcher/processors to vessels using
hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS invites public comments,
particularly from the trawl catcher vessel sector, on NMFS's
determination that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not be able
to harvest its share of Pacific cod and NMFS's proposal to reallocate
the unused amount of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher/processor
sector to hook-and-line and pot gear. The proposed action is necessary
to
[[Page 47219]]
allow the 1998 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.
DATES: Comments must be received at the following address no later than
4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, September 18, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 West
9th, Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attention: Lori Gravel.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the Final 1998 Harvest
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (63 FR 12689, March 16, 1998)
established the amount of the 1998 Pacific cod TAC as 194,250 metric
tons (mt). Pursuant to 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 3,885 mt was allocated to
vessels using jig gear, 99,068 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot
gear, and 91,298 mt to vessels using trawl gear. The share of the
Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear was further allocated 50
percent to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processor vessels
(Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)).
As of August 1, 1998, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has
determined that 16,615 mt remain in the trawl catcher/processor vessel
share and projects that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not
harvest 7,000 mt of that share during the remainder of 1998.
Therefore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS proposes to
make the projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor share
of Pacific cod available to the trawl catcher vessel sector. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B), NMFS also is proposing to
reallocate the projected unused amount (7,000 mt) of Pacific cod from
trawl catcher/processors to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.
NMFS invites public comments, particularly from the trawl catcher
vessel sector, on NMFS's determination that the trawl catcher/processor
sector will not be able to harvest its share of the Pacific cod TAC, on
whether the catcher vessel sector would be able to harvest the
projected unused catcher/processor share, and on NMFS's proposal to
reallocate the unused amount of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher/
processor sector to hook-and-line and pot gear.
Classification
This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from OMB
review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: August 27, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-23796 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
