[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 5777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2748]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 012798A]
RIN 0648-AJ87 


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Halibut 
Donation Program

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

ACTION: Notice of availability, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Gulf of Alaska and Amendment 50 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(FMPs) for Secretarial review. These amendments would authorize the 
voluntary donation of Pacific halibut taken as bycatch in specified 
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged 
individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS-authorized 
distributor. This action is intended to support industry initiatives to 
reduce regulatory discards in the groundfish fisheries by processing 
halibut bycatch for human consumption. These amendments are necessary 
to promote the goals and objectives of the FMPs that govern the 
commercial groundfish fisheries off Alaska. Comments from the public 
are requested.

DATES: Comments on Amendments 50/50 must be submitted by April 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendments should be submitted to the 
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori 
Gravel, or delivered to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, 
Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendments 50/50 and the environmental assessment 
(EA) and related economic analysis prepared for the proposed action are 
available from NMFS, at the above address, or by calling the Alaska 
Region, NMFS at 907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Kinsolving, NMFS, 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 amendment 
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial 
disapproval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, after 
receiving a fishery management plan or amendment, immediately publish a 
document in the Federal Register that the fishery management plan or 
amendment is available for public review and comment. This action 
constitutes such notice for Amendments 50/50 to the FMPs.
    Amendments 50/50 were adopted by the Council at its April 1997 
meeting. The amendments would expand the existing Salmon Donation 
Program (SDP) to create a Prohibited Species Donation (PSD) program 
that would include halibut as well as salmon. This action would 
authorize the distribution of Pacific halibut taken as bycatch in the 
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to economically disadvantaged 
individuals by tax-exempt organizations through a NMFS-authorized 
distributor. This action is necessary to reduce regulatory discards in 
the groundfish fisheries by processing halibut bycatch for consumption 
by economically disadvantaged individuals.
    A proposed rule that would implement Amendments 50/50 may be 
published in the Federal Register for public comment, following NMFS' 
evaluation of the proposed rule under the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by 
the end of the comment period on the FMP amendments to be considered in 
the approval/disapproval decision on Amendments 50/50. All comments 
received by April 6, 1998, whether specifically directed to Amendments 
50/50 or the proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision. Comments received after that date will not be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on Amendments 50/50.

    Dated: January 30, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-2748 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]
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