[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