[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43587-43588]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20699]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 072595A]


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) #94-2 to Northwest Food Strategies (NWFS), and participating 
vessels and shoreside processors. Under the renewal process, a new EFP 
#95-1, will be issued to authorize vessels and shoreside processors to 
voluntarily retain Pacific salmon caught as bycatch, which would 
otherwise be discarded as prohibited species under current regulations, 
for donation to food bank programs. This action is necessary to allow 
for the collection of additional data that may be used to evaluate 
proposed regulations.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EFP are available from: 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: 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 authorize issuance 
of EFPs for fishing that would otherwise be prohibited. Under this 
authority, NMFS announced the approval of EFP #94-2 in the Federal 
Register on August 2, 1994 (59 FR 39326) to test the feasibility of 
voluntary retention of salmon caught as bycatch for donation to 
foodbanks to feed economically disadvantaged individuals. This EFP 
expired after the 1995 BSAI pollock roe season. Preliminary results 
from this EFP indicated that voluntary retention and processing 
successfully reduced salmon discard amounts. However, the collection of 
additional data could assist NMFS in evaluating proposed regulations 
currently being considered by the Council. Therefore, this renewal will 
allow the collection of data that may be used to evaluate Amendment 26 
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and Amendment 29 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska that authorizes a 

[[Page 43588]]
voluntary Salmon Donation Program (SDP) being considered by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council). This renewal authorizes 
the continuation of this EFP for 1 more year. During the extended 
effectiveness period of the EFP, NMFS will initiate review of proposed 
Amendments 26 and 29. If approved, these amendments would implement a 
permanent SDP for 1996 and beyond.
    The procedures for renewing EFPs are contained in the regulations 
at Sec. 672.6. NMFS received a request from NWFS to renew the EFP for 
an additional year on May 9, 1995. NMFS forwarded this request to the 
Alaska Fishery Science Center, which determined that this application 
constitutes a valid fishing experiment. NWFS informed the Council of 
its intent to renew the EFP for a year to allow for the continued 
collection of data regarding the feasibility of the SDP. After 
reviewing NWFS' request for a renewal at its June 1995 meeting, the 
Council recommended that the EFP be approved.
    The Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Director) has reviewed 
the Council's recommendation and issued an EFP to NWFS and the 
participating vessels and shoreside processors. This EFP authorizes 
these vessels, shoreside processors, and NWFS to retain Pacific salmon 
caught as bycatch during following trawl fisheries: (1) The 1995 BSAI 
pollock non-roe season fishery; (2) the 1996 BSAI directed pollock roe 
season fishery; and (3) the 1996 BSAI directed Pacific cod fishery, for 
the purpose of providing salmon products to economically disadvantaged 
individuals via foodbanks.

Classification

    The Regional Director determined that renewal of this EFP 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.
    This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: August 7, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-20699 Filed 8-21-95; 8:45 am]
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