[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14988]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 060994K]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Issuance of an experimental fishing permit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the issuance of an experimental fishing permit 
#94-1 (EFP) to Coastal Villages Fishing Cooperative (CVFC) and Golden 
Age Fisheries (GAF). The EFP authorizes CVFC, GAF, and the factory 
trawler (F/T) REBECCA IRENE to conduct a trawl survey limited to 500 
metric tons (mt) of groundfish in Kuskokwim Bay, Etolin Strait, and the 
area north of Nunivak Island. Results of the survey will be used to 
assess whether sufficient amounts of marketable groundfish are located 
in near-shore waters to support the development of a small-boat fishery 
in this area. This EFP will provide information not otherwise available 
through research or commercial fishing operations. The intended effect 
of this action is to promote the purposes and policies of the Magnuson 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP and the Environmental Assessment (EA) are 
available by writing to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management 
Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (Attn: 
Lori Gravel).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen R. Varosi, Fisheries Management 
Biologist, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issuance of an EFP is authorized by the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands area and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 
part 675. Regulations at Sec. 675.6 set out the procedures for issuing 
EFPs to authorize fishing that would otherwise be prohibited.
    NMFS announced the receipt of an application for an EFP from CVFC 
and GAF in the Federal Register on May 4, 1994
    (59 FR 23054). The application requested authorization for CVFC to 
conduct a 1994 summer trawl survey limited to 500 mt of groundfish in 
Kuskokwim Bay, Etolin Strait, and an area north of Nunivak Island. The 
vessel that will participate in the trawl survey is the F/T REBECCA 
IRENE. Results of the survey will be used to ascertain the abundance of 
marketable fish species in near-shore waters that could be harvested 
from small fishing vessels in this area. CVFC consists of the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta communities of Chefornak, Chevak, Eek, Goodnews Bay, 
Hooper Bay, Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, Mekoryuk, Newtok, Nightmute, 
Platinum, Quinhagak, Scammon Bay, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak, and 
Tununak. One of the goals of CVFC is to train individuals from these 
villages to work at all levels of the groundfish industry, including 
harvesting, processing, marketing, and corporate management. The North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council reviewed the EFP application at its 
April 18-24, 1994, meeting and recommended to the Director of the 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director), that the EFP be approved.
    The Regional Director has approved the EFP application and has 
issued an EFP to CVFC, GAF, and the F/T REBECCA IRENE. The EFP 
authorizes the F/T REBECCA IRENE to harvest 500 mt of groundfish in the 
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area during the time period extending from June 
15 through September 30, 1994. The objective of this allocation is to 
support a survey of fishery resources in this area so that CVFC, in 
cooperation with GAF, may assess the feasibility of a future near-shore 
fishery for fishing vessels in this area. This EFP will provide 
information not otherwise available through research or commercial 
fishing operations because this area is not fished during NMFS 
assessment surveys and it is not economically feasible for a commercial 
vessel to survey this area during the open access fishery. Groundfish 
and prohibited species amounts associated with this permit will not be 
deducted from total allowable catch and prohibited species catch (PSC) 
amounts specified for 1994. Under this EFP, all vessels must comply 
with existing Federal regulations at 50 CFR parts 620 and 675, except 
Sec. 675.21 and 675.20(a). PSC limits established for fishing 
activities authorized under this EFP are as follows: 1,250 red king 
crab; 2.5 mt Pacific halibut; and 0.5 mt Pacific herring.

Classification

    Based on the EA prepared for this EFP, the Assistant Administrator 
for Fisheries, NOAA, determined that no significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment will result from this EFP. The 
Regional Director determined that this experiment will not affect 
species listed as threatened or endangered, or areas that are critical 
habitat for these species under the Endangered Species Act in a way 
that was not already considered in previous formal and informal section 
7 consultations. Additional information, including gear restrictions, 
scientific sampling procedures, project design, and disposition of 
harvested fish, is contained in the EFP.
    This notice is exempt from OMB review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: June 13, 1994.
David S. Crestin,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-14988 Filed 6-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F