[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]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


 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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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