Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone Pacific cod,
[Federal Register: September 4, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 172)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 47218-47219]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04se98-31]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[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.
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 9‹SUP›th‹/SUP›, 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. 98-23796Filed9-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
