[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39362-39363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19207]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 960111003-6068-03; I.D. 072496A]


International Fisheries Regulations; 1996 Halibut Report No. 5

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

ACTION: Inseason action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, on behalf of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes these 
inseason actions pursuant to IPHC regulations approved by the U.S. 
Government to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This action is 
intended to enhance the conservation of the Pacific halibut stock.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery Reopening: 8:00 
a.m., Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), July 24, 1996, until 6:00 p.m. PDT, 
July 24, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Pennoyer, 907-586-7221; William 
W. Stelle, Jr., 206-526-6140; or Donald McCaughran, 206-634-1838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IPHC, under the Convention between the 
United States of America and Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut 
Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea (signed at Ottawa, 
Ontario, on March 2, 1953), as amended by a Protocol Amending the 
Convention (signed at Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), has issued 
this inseason action pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific 
halibut fishery. The regulations have been approved by NMFS (60 FR 
14651, March 20, 1995, and amended at 61 FR 11337, March 20, 1996). On 
behalf of the IPHC, this inseason action is published in the Federal 
Register to provide additional notice of its effectiveness, and to 
inform persons subject to the inseason action of the restrictions and 
requirements established therein.

[[Page 39363]]

Inseason Action

1996 Halibut Report No. 5

Incidental Commercial Halibut Catch in the Area 2A Salmon Troll Fishery
    The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut 
allocated to the salmon troll fishery was 16,068 lb (7.28 metric tons 
(mt)). The salmon troll fishery closed June 30 with an estimated 
halibut catch of 8,002 lb (3.62 mt). The remaining catch of 8,066 lb 
(3.65 mt) is added to the directed commercial catch limit.
Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery to Reopen on July 24
    The July 10 fishing period in Area 2A resulted in a catch of about 
70,000 lb (31.75 mt), leaving 21,052 lb (9.54 mt) in the commercial 
catch limit. The total catch limit remaining, including the additional 
amount from the salmon troll fishery, is 29,118 (13.20 mt).
    Area 2A will reopen on July 24 for 10 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 
p.m. local time. The fishery is restricted to waters that are south of 
Point Chehalis, Washington (46 deg.53 deg.18'' N. lat.) under 
regulations promulgated by NMFS. Fishing period limits as indicated in 
the following table will be in effect for this opening.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Vessel class                        Fishing period  
-----------------------------------------------------   limit (pounds)  
                                                     -------------------
                                                                Dressed,
               Length                     Letter      Dressed,    head- 
                                                       head-on    off*  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-25...............................  A                     225       200
26-30..............................  B                     225       200
31-35..............................  C                     285       250
36-40..............................  D                     790       695
41-45..............................  E                     850       750
46-50..............................  F                   1,020       895
51-55..............................  G                   1,135     1,000
56+................................  H                   1,705     1,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Weights are after 2% has been deducted for ice and slime if fish are  
  not washed prior to weighing.                                         

    The appropriate vessel length class and letter is printed on each 
halibut license.
    The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-off 
weight as well as dressed, head-on weight, although fishermen are 
reminded that regulations require that all halibut from Area 2A be 
landed with the head on.
    The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the individual 
fisherman, and any landings over the vessel limit will be subject to 
forfeiture and fine.
Area 2B Commercial Fishery Update
    Halibut landings from Area 2B total 5.57 million lb (2,526.53 mt) 
through July 11, leaving 3.95 million lb (1,791.70 mt) of the catch 
limit to be caught. The fishery will continue until all quotas have 
been filled, or November 15, whichever is earlier.
Annette Island Reserve Fishery in Area 2C
    The Metlakatla Indian community has been authorized by the U.S. 
Government to conduct a commercial halibut fishery within the Annette 
Island Reserve. Six 48-hour fishing periods occurred between April 27 
and July 7, producing a total catch of 43,837 lb (19.88 mt).
Alaskan Commercial Fishery Update
    It is estimated that the following catches and number of landings 
were made in the Alaskan Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community 
Development Quota (CDQ) fisheries through July 10, 1996.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Catch                       
                                            limit      Catch     Number 
                  Area                      (000's     (000's      of   
                                           pounds)    pounds)   landings
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2C......................................      9,000      5,529     1,640
3A......................................     20,000     10,071     1,465
3B......................................      3,700      1,278       182
4A......................................      1,950        616        72
4B......................................      2,310        677       120
4C......................................        770        428       280
4D......................................        770        346        37
4E......................................        120        118       507
                                         -------------------------------
      Total.............................     38,620     19,063     4,303
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    During the same time period in 1995, March 15 through July 14, 
13.56 million lb (6,150.77 mt) were landed in the Alaskan IFQ and CDQ 
fisheries.

    Dated: July 24, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-19207 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P