[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6630]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 676

[I.D. 031396B]
RIN 0648-AG41


Limited Access Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of 
Alaska

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.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 33 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI) 
and Amendment 37 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 
These amendments are necessary to assist persons to fully utilize the 
fishery resources in and off of Alaska. This will be accomplished by 
allowing persons using individual fishing quota (IFQ) resulting from 
sablefish quota share (QS) assigned to vessel categories B and C to 
process non-IFQ species. The Council intends that amendments promote 
management and conservation of IFQ species and further the goals and 
objectives contained in the FMPs that govern their management. Comments 
are requested from the public.

DATES: Comments on the FMP amendments must be received by May 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed FMP amendments must be submitted to 
Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, Room 453, 709 W. 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 
(EA/RIR) prepared for the amendments may be obtained from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99501-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Lepore, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) 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, upon reviewing the plan or amendment, must immediately 
publish a notice that the plan or amendment is available for public 
review and comment.
    Amendments 33 and 37 would allow a category of persons using IFQ 
resulting from sablefish QS assigned to either vessel category B or C 
to process non-IFQ species. Several changes to the regulatory text 
implementing the IFQ program are necessary to accomplish this task. 
First, the definitions of ``freezer vessel'' and ``catcher vessel'' are 
eliminated and the definition of ``processing'' is added. Second, 
references to the eliminated definitions are removed and replaced with 
alternative language. Third, a provision is added that specifically 
prescribes who may, and when they may, process non-IFQ species.
    NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment 
period in determining whether to approve the proposed amendments. The 
proposed regulations are scheduled to be published within 15 days of 
this document.

    Dated: March 14, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-6630 Filed 3-15-96; 2:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F