[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F