[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 20, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 43035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21124]


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


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 081296A]
RIN 0648-AI70


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Allocations 
of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 46 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area for 
Secretarial review. Amendment 46 would allocate the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) Pacific cod total allowable 
catch (TAC) among vessels using trawl gear, fixed gear (hook-and-line 
and pot), and jig gear and would provide authority for the fixed gear 
allocation to be divided into seasonal allowances.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Ronald J. Berg, Chief, 
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to the Federal 
Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendment 46 and 
the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review prepared for the 
amendment are available from the Council, 605 West Fourth Avenue, 
Anchorage, AK 99501-2252; telephone 907-271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act) requires that each Regional Fishery 
Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or plan 
amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or 
partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, upon 
receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately publish a notice that the 
FMP or amendment is available for public review and comment. NMFS will 
consider the public comments received during the comment period in 
determining whether to approve the FMP or amendment.
    Amendment 46 would allocate the BSAI TAC among vessels using trawl 
gear, fixed gear, and jig gear. This amendment also would provide 
authority for the fixed gear allocation of Pacific cod to be divided 
into seasonal allowances, and would allow any unused portion of one 
gear's allocation to be reallocated to other gear types. This amendment 
is necessary to respond to socioeconomic needs of the fishing industry 
that have been identified by the Council and is intended to further the 
goals and objectives of the FMP.
    NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment 
period in determining whether to approve the proposed amendment. A 
proposed rule to implement Amendment 46 has been submitted for 
Secretarial review and approval. The proposed rule to implement this 
amendment is scheduled to be published within 15 days of this document.

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

    Dated: August 14, 1996.
Richard H. Schaefer,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-21124 Filed 8-15-96; 9:10 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F