[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18704]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 071494B]

 

Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

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

ACTION: Renewal of an experimental fishing permit.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the renewal of experimental fishing permit 
(EFP) #93-1 to Terra Marine Research and Education, Inc. (TMRE), and 
participating vessels and shoreside processors. Under the renewal 
process, a new EFP #94-2 will be issued to authorize vessel operators, 
shoreside processors, and TMRE to retain voluntarily Pacific salmon 
caught as bycatch that would otherwise be required to be discarded at 
sea as prohibited species. This EFP was designed and modified to 
develop qualifying criteria for vessels and processors that may wish to 
participate in a voluntary salmon bycatch donation program being 
considered by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). 
Activities authorized under this EFP are intended to provide 
information not otherwise available through research or commercial 
fishing operations.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP and the Environmental Assessment (EA) may 
be obtained from Steven Pennoyer, Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. 
Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (Attn: Lori Gravel).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issuance of EFPs to authorize fishing that 
would otherwise be prohibited are authorized by the Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Area (BSAI) and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 
675. The procedures for renewing EFPs are contained in the regulations 
at Sec. 675.6.
    An EFP was issued to TMRE to test the feasibility of mandatory 
retention of Pacific salmon caught as bycatch in directed BSAI 
groundfish fisheries that would be processed and distributed to 
economically disadvantaged individuals (58 FR 42947, August 12, 1993). 
This EFP covered the period during: (1) The 1993 directed pollock non-
roe season; (2) the 1994 directed pollock roe season; and (3) the 1994 
directed Pacific cod season. However, NMFS lacks the authority to 
require mandatory retention of salmon for this purpose.
    NMFS announced the receipt of an application for an EFP from TMRE 
in the Federal Register on May 4, 1994 (59 FR 23054). The application 
requested authorization for voluntary retention and processing of 
Pacific salmon caught as bycatch in the BSAI pollock and Pacific cod 
trawl fisheries for donation to economically disadvantaged individuals 
via foodbanks. The 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 TMRE and the participating vessels and shoreside 
processors. The EFP authorizes these vessel operators, shoreside 
processors, and TMRE to retain Pacific salmon caught as bycatch during: 
(1) The 1994 BSAI directed pollock non-roe or ``B'' season fishery; (2) 
the 1995 BSAI directed pollock roe or ``A'' season fishery; and (3) the 
1995 BSAI directed Pacific cod fishery, for the purpose of producing 
salmon products to be distributed to economically disadvantaged 
individuals via foodbanks. The objective of this EFP is to provide a 
framework for voluntary retention and processing of salmon bycatch, 
which is currently required to be discarded at sea, and to develop 
standards and criteria for vessel operators and processors who may wish 
to participate in a voluntary salmon donation program being considered 
by the Council.

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 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: July 27, 1994.
Joe P. Clem,
Acting Director, Office of Conservation and Management, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-18704 Filed 8-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F