[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 3, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 64047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30688]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 111896B]
RIN 0648-AF81
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Scallop
Fishery; Vessel Moratorium
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.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management
Plan for the Scallop Fishery off Alaska for Secretarial review.
Amendment 2 would establish a temporary moratorium on the entry of
additional vessels into the scallop fishery off Alaska. Comments from
the public are requested.
DATES: Comments on Amendment 2 must be received on or before February
3, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 2 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 2 and the Environmental Assessment/ Regulatory
Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis prepared for the
amendment are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management
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-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens 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 approval. The Magnuson-Stevens 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 2 would establish a temporary vessel moratorium, which
would remain in effect for 3 years from the date of implementation or
until repealed or replaced by a permanent limited access program.
Scallop moratorium permits would be issued to the person who was the
most recent owner of a qualifying vessel at the time of qualification.
Vessels would qualify for inclusion in the moratorium if they made a
legal landing of scallops during 1991, 1992, or 1993, or during any 4
years between 1980 and 1990. The purpose of Amendment 2 is to curtail
increases in fishing capacity and to provide stability for industry
while the Council and NMFS develop a limited access program for this
fishery.
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 2 has been submitted for
Secretarial review and approval. NMFS expects to publish proposed
regulations to implement Amendment 2 shortly for public review and
comment.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 26, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 96-30688 Filed 12-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F