[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 22542] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-11175] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 671, 672, 675, and 676 [I.D. 050195A] Limited Access Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska; Groundfish and Crab Fisheries Moratorium AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of amendments to fishery management plans; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Revised Amendment 23 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Revised Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), and Revised Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) for review by NMFS. Revised FMP Amendments 23, 28, and 4 would establish a moratorium on the entry of new vessels into groundfish fisheries of the GOA and the BSAI and the king and Tanner crab fisheries in the BSAI. Comments are requested from the public. DATES: Comments on the revised amendments to the fishery management plans (FMP) are requested from the public and must be submitted by June 1, 1995. ADDRESSES: Comments on the revised FMP amendments must be submitted to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801, or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attention: Lori J. Gravel. Copies of the proposed amendments and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for the moratorium may be obtained from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, P.O. Box 103136, Anchorage, AK 99510. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Ginter, 907-586-7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) requires that each Regional Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan or plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, after reviewing the plan or plan amendment, immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register that the plan or plan amendment is available for public review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment period in determining whether to approve these revised FMP amendments. The three revised FMP amendments would establish a 3-year moratorium on the entry of new vessels into the groundfish fisheries of the GOA and the BSAI and the king and Tanner crab fisheries of the BSAI. The purpose of the moratorium is to curtail increases in harvesting capacity and provide industry stability while the Council assesses long-term management alternatives for the affected fisheries. The vessel moratorium would be implemented through the issuance of a Federal moratorium permit to a vessel that meets specific length restrictions and on which a legal landing of any moratorium species was made during the qualification period. A moratorium permit will not be valid unless the permit has at least one endorsement for the use of authorized fishing gear. Specific eligibility requirements for the moratorium permit and the fishing gear endorsements are contained in the Federal regulations proposed by the Council to implement Revised FMP Amendments 23, 28, and 4. The proposed regulations are scheduled to be published within 15 days of this document. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 2, 1995. Richard W. Surdi, Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 95-11175 Filed 5-2-95; 3:53 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F