Fishery conservation and management: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone— Pollock,

[Federal Register: December 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 237)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 69219]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr10de99-18]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 113099B]

RIN 0648-AL30

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibition of Nonpelagic Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Directed Pollock Fishery

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 57 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). This amendment would prohibit the use of nonpelagic trawl gear in the directed pollock fishery in the BSAI. Comments from the public are requested.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 57 must be submitted by February 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendments should be submitted to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel. Comments may also be hand delivered or sent by courier to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendment 57 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/ Initial Flexibility Analysis prepared for the amendment by the Council and NMFS are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4‹SUP›th‹/SUP› Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501- 2252; telephone 907-271-2809. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Mollett, 907-586-7462 or nina.mollett@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional Fishery Management Council submit any FMP or FMP amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP, immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register that the FMP or amendment is available for public review and comment.

The Council adopted Amendment 57 at its June 1998 meeting. If approved by NMFS, this amendment would prohibit the use of nonpelagic trawl gear in the directed pollock fishery in the BSAI and would reduce the bycatch limit of red king crab by 3,000 animals. The Council also recommended limits for other protected species, including halibut, C. opilio crab, and C. bairdi. NMFS may propose lowering these limits in a future proposed rule to implement Amendment 57. Amendment 57 is necessary to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act mandate that Regional Councils must take measures to reduce bycatch in the Nation's fisheries.

Public comments are being solicited on the amendment through the end of the comment period stated in this NOA; a proposed rule that would implement the amendment may be published in the Federal Register for public comment following NMFS' evaluation under the Magnuson- Stevens Act procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by the end of the comment period on the amendment in order to be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. All comments received by the end of the comment period on the amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or to the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision; comments received after that date will not be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. To be considered, comments must be received by close of business on the last day of the comment period specified in this NOA; that does not mean postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date.

Dated: December 6, 1999. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 99-32090Filed12-9-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F