[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 174 (Friday, September 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47108-47109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22724]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 082796A]
RIN 0648-AH28


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Protection 
of Red King Crab in Bristol Bay

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of an Amendment to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands area; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) 
for Secretarial review. Amendment 37 would establish the Red King Crab 
Savings Area trawl closure and the Nearshore Bristol Bay trawl closure, 
require increased observer coverage on some vessels in the closure 
areas, and adjust the Zone 1 red king crab prohibited species catch 
limits based on Bristol Bay red king crab abundance and biomass.

DATES: Comments on the FMP amendment should be submitted on or before 
October 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendment should be submitted to Ronald 
J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, Alaska, 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or 
delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. 
Copies of Amendment 37 and the environmental assessment/regulatory 
impact review/initial regulatory flexibility analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) 
prepared for the amendment are available from the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 
99501-2252; telephone 907-271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaja Brix, 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 or plan amendment 
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial 
disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving a 
fishery management plan or amendment, immediately publish a notice that 
the fishery management plan 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.
    Bering Sea crab stocks are currently at relatively low levels based 
on 1995 NMFS bottom trawl survey data, which indicated that exploitable 
biomass of Bristol Bay red king crab is at about one-fifth record 
levels. The red king crab

[[Page 47109]]

stock is at its lowest level since the fishery was closed after the 
first stock collapse in 1983. In 1994 and 1995, Bristol Bay was closed 
to red king crab fishing because the female threshold of 8.4 million 
crab was not reached. In addition, the annual NMFS trawl surveys 
indicated little prospect for increased recruitment of mature males or 
females, and low female spawning biomass. Also, the area east of 
163 deg. W. long. was closed to Tanner crab fishing to minimize the 
bycatch of female red king crabs.
    In view of the declining red king crab stock and the need to 
further protect and conserve red king crab in the Bristol Bay area of 
the Bering Sea, Amendment 37 would implement the following management 
measures:
    1. A year round closure in a portion of Bristol Bay, the Red King 
Crab Savings Area (RKCSA), to directed fishing for groundfish by 
vessels using non-pelagic trawl gear;
    2. A year round closure to all trawling in the nearshore waters of 
Bristol Bay, except that a portion would be left open during the period 
April 1 to June 15 each year; and
    3. Adjustments to the Zone 1 PSC limit for red king crab taken in 
trawl fisheries.
    Amendment 37 is intended to protect declining populations of red 
king crab and to further the goals and objectives of the FMP.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. and 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 30, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-22724 Filed 8-30-96; 4:55 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F