[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50504-50505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24188]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 675

[Docket No. 950206040-5040-01; I.D. 081595B]


Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; 
Change in Assumed Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rate

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

ACTION: Change in assumed Pacific halibut discard mortality rate.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a reduction of the Pacific halibut discard 
mortality rate assumed for the 1995 hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) from 12.5 
percent to 11.5 percent. This action is necessary to implement the 
intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to 
assess discard mortality rates observed in this fishery during the 
first half of 1995 and, if warranted, adjust the 12.5 assumed rate 
specified for this fishery to reflect more closely the 1995 observed 
rate.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 28, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Salveson, NMFS, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS, in consultation with the Council, annually establishes 
Pacific halibut bycatch allowances for specified BSAI groundfish 
fisheries (Sec. 675.21(b)). The Director, NMFS, Alaska Region, monitors 
each fishery's halibut bycatch allowance using assumed discard 
mortality rates that are based on the best information available. NMFS 
published the 1995 halibut bycatch mortality allowances and assumed 
discard mortality rates in the Federal Register on February 14, 1995 
(60 FR 8479), as part of the final 1995 specifications of groundfish 
and associated management measures.
    On August 22, 1995, NMFS published in the Federal Register a 
proposed change to the halibut discard mortality rate specified for the 
1995 Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery (60 FR 43579). Comments on 
the proposed change were invited through September 5, 1995.
    The proposed action was based on the results of a mid-year analysis 
of 1995 observed halibut discard mortality rates that was conducted by 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The results of 
this analysis indicated that a halibut discard rate of 11.5 percent is 

[[Page 50505]]
more appropriate in estimating halibut bycatch mortality for the 1995 
BSAI hook-and-line gear fishery for Pacific cod than the 12.5 percent 
rate established in the final 1995 groundfish specifications (February 
14, 1995, 60 FR 8479).
    At its June 1995 meeting, the Council reviewed the IPHC's analysis 
and recommended that NMFS take appropriate action to reduce the halibut 
discard mortality rate specified for the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line 
gear fishery. A fuller discussion of the IPHC's analysis and 
justification for the proposed reduction in this discard mortality rate 
assumption was presented in the August 22, 1995, Federal Register 
publication of the proposed change.
    Upon reviewing the reasons for the proposed change to the halibut 
discard mortality rate specified for the BSAI Pacific cod fishery and 
public comments received on this action, NMFS revises Table 9 of the 
final 1995 groundfish specifications published February 14, 1995 (60 FR 
8479), as follows:

Table 9.--Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
                               During 1995                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Assumed  
                                                              mortality 
                                                              (percent) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-Line Gear Fisheries:                                           
  Rockfish.................................................         24.0
  Pacific cod..............................................         11.5
  Greenland turbot.........................................         19.0
  Sablefish................................................         17.0
Trawl Gear Fisheries:                                                   
  Midwater pollock.........................................         89.0
  Non-pelagic pollock......................................         77.0
  Yellowfin sole...........................................         76.0
  Rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish.................         75.0
  Rockfish.................................................         69.0
  Pacific cod..............................................         65.0
  Atka mackerel............................................         59.0
  Arrowtooth...............................................         49.0
  Greenland Turbot.........................................         48.0
Pot Gear Fisheries:                                                     
  Pacific cod..............................................          8.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS will recalculate the 1995 halibut bycatch mortality for the 
BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery using the 11.5 percent 
assumed discard mortality rate.

Response to Comments

    One letter was received within the comment period that ended 
September 5, 1995. A summary of comments of the proposed action and 
NMFS's response follows.
    Comment. An adjustment of the halibut discard mortality rate 
assumption for the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery from 
12.5 percent to 11.5 percent is appropriate based on the IPHC analysis 
of 1995 observer data. This action would encourage industry pursuit of 
further conservation efforts to reduce halibut mortality in the hook-
and-line gear fisheries.
    Response. NMFS concurs and has adjusted the halibut discard 
mortality rate specified for the BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear 
fishery accordingly.

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 675.20 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: September 22, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-24188 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
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