[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12027-12035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6381]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208297-8054-02; I.D. 112097A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Final 1998 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final 1998 harvest specifications for groundfish and associated 
management measures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 1998 harvest specifications for Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA) groundfish and associated management measures. This action 
is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management 
measures for groundfish during the 1998 fishing year. These measures 
are intended to carry out management objectives contained in the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP).

DATES: The final 1998 harvest specifications are effective at noon on 
March 9, 1998 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 
31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for 1998 
Groundfish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Specifications, dated January 
1998, may be obtained from the NMFS, Alaska Region, Sustainable 
Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori 
Gravel, or by calling 907-586-7228. The Final Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation Report (SAFE report), dated November 1997, is 
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th 
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, or by calling 907-271-
2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-486-6919.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the GOA are 
managed by NMFS according to the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The FMP is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 679. General regulations that 
also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at 50 CFR part 600.
    NMFS announces the following for the 1998 fishing year: (1) 
Specifications of TAC amounts for each groundfish species category in 
the GOA, and reserves; (2) apportionments of reserves; (3) allocations 
of the sablefish TAC to vessels using hook-and-line and trawl gear; (4) 
apportionments of pollock TAC among regulatory areas, seasons, and 
allocations for processing between inshore and offshore components; (5) 
allocations for processing of Pacific cod TAC between inshore and 
offshore components; (6) Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) 
limits; and (7) fishery and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific 
halibut PSC limits. A discussion of each of these measures follows.
    The process of determining TACs for groundfish species in the GOA 
is established in regulations implementing the FMP. Pursuant to 
Sec. 679.20(a)(2), the sum of the TACs for all species must fall within 
the combined optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000-800,000 metric tons 
(mt) established for these species at Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(ii).
    The Council met from September 22 through 29, 1997, and developed 
recommendations for proposed 1998 TAC specifications for each species 
category of groundfish on the basis of the best available scientific 
information. The Council also recommended other management measures 
pertaining to the 1998 fishing year. Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1)(ii), the 
proposed GOA groundfish specifications and specifications for 
prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the 
GOA were published in the Federal Register on December 15, 1997 (62 FR 
65644). Comments were invited through January 14, 1998. Interim TAC and 
PSC amounts equal to one-fourth of the proposed amounts were published 
in the Federal Register on December 15, 1997 (62 FR 65622). The final 
1998 initial groundfish harvest specifications and prohibited species 
bycatch allowances implemented under this action supersede the interim 
1998 specifications.
    The Council met December 9 through 12, 1997, to review the best 
available scientific information concerning groundfish stocks, and to 
consider public testimony regarding 1998 groundfish fisheries. The best 
available scientific information is contained in the current SAFE 
report, which includes the most recent information concerning the 
status of groundfish stocks based on the most recent catch data, survey 
data, and biomass projections using different modeling approaches or 
assumptions. The SAFE report was prepared by the GOA Plan Team and 
presented to the Council and the Council's Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) and Advisory Panel (AP) at the December 1997 Council 
meeting.
    For establishment of the acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and 
TACs, the Council considered information in the SAFE report, 
recommendations from its SSC and AP, as well as public testimony. The 
SSC adopted the overfishing level (OFL) recommendations from the Plan 
Team, which were provided in the SAFE report, for all groundfish 
species categories. The SSC also adopted the ABC recommendations from 
the Plan Team, which were provided in the SAFE report, for all of the 
groundfish species categories, except pollock in the GOA.
    The SSC did not adopt the Plan Team's recommendation of ABC for 
pollock in the GOA. The Plan Team's recommendation was to exclude 
pollock harvested in the State of Alaska (State) managed pollock 
fishery in Prince William Sound (PWS) from the ABC specified for the 
GOA. The SSC did not concur, and believed that insufficient information 
exists to conclude that pollock in PWS constituted a stock separate 
from the GOA. The SSC recommended that the State's guideline harvest 
level (GHL) of 1,800 mt in the PWS pollock fishery be deducted from the 
total GOA ABC of 131,800 mt, reducing the ABC to 130,000 mt, and that 
the 130,000 mt ABC be apportioned among GOA regulatory areas based on 
the biomass distribution throughout the GOA. The Council accepted the 
SSC's recommendation.
    The GOA Plan Team, the SSC, and the Council recommended that total 
removals of Pacific cod from the GOA not exceed the ABC recommendations 
for those areas. The Council recommended that the TACs be adjusted 
downward from the ABCs by amounts that were equal to the state's 
anticipated GHLs. At its February 9-12 meeting, the Alaska Board of 
Fisheries set GHLs for the state-managed Pacific cod fishery at 1997 
rates in all areas for the 1998 fishing year. Therefore, in order to 
utilize more fully the Pacific cod resource in the GOA, NMFS is 
adjusting the Council's recommended Pacific cod TACs upwards in the 
Central and

[[Page 12028]]

Western GOA to levels that account for the reduced state GHLs.
    The Council adopted the SSC's ABC recommendations for each species 
category, including the recommendations that the GOA wide ABC for 
thornyhead rockfish be divided into the Western, Central, and Eastern 
regulatory areas and that deepsea sole be included in the deep-water 
flatfish species assemblage. The Council recommended that a single ABC 
be adopted for sablefish in the Eastern GOA. In previous years, the 
Council has recommended that the sablefish ABC in the Eastern GOA be 
subdivided between the West Yakutat and the Southeast Outside 
Districts. The Council's recommended ABCs, listed in Table 1, reflect 
harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing amounts 
(Table 1). The sum of 1998 the ABCs for all groundfish is 548,770 mt, 
which is larger than the 1997 ABC total of 493,050 mt.

Response to Comments

    Five letters of comment raising three issues were received on the 
1998 specifications and the EA for the 1998 specifications. These 
comments are summarized and responded to here or in this section.
    Comment 1. The draft EA prepared for the 1998 specifications 
provides an inadequate basis for a Finding of No Significant Impact. 
The environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared for the GOA 
groundfish fishery was drafted 20 years ago. Since that time, the 
conduct of the fisheries has changed, new information regarding the 
affected groundfish species exists, and substantial and unanalyzed 
questions exist regarding the impact of the groundfish fisheries on the 
GOA ecosystem. NMFS should prepare a supplement to the EIS that fully 
evaluates the potential impacts of the groundfish TACs on the GOA 
ecosystem.
    Response. NMFS acknowledges that the final EIS prepared for the GOA 
groundfish fishery is 20 years old. A supplement to the EIS is being 
prepared and a public review draft is scheduled for release in April 
1998. However, NMFS believes that the final EA prepared for the 1998 
GOA groundfish specifications, as well as the documents incorporated by 
reference into the EA, adequately support a Finding of No Significant 
Impact.
    Comment 2. The draft EA does not adequately assess the impact of 
proposed 1998 fishing levels on endangered Steller sea lions, or on the 
unlisted species also suffering population declines. The draft EA also 
neglects to address dramatic increases in catches of pollock in areas 
designated as critical foraging habitat for Steller sea lions, the 
increasing effort directed on spawning pollock in the winter months, 
and the geographic and temporal concentration of fishing in the areas 
of the GOA where the greatest declines of sea lion, other marine 
mammals and seabirds have occurred. The EA fails to consider a viable 
range of alternatives, such as reducing TACs for ecosystem based 
reasons and time/area restrictions for fisheries.
    Response. The issues of concern identified in Comment 2 are 
addressed within the scope of the final EA, as well as in the documents 
incorporated by reference into the final EA. Efforts to identify 
relationships between the Alaska groundfish fisheries and Steller sea 
lions are ongoing, but any potential linkages remain unclear. Overlaps 
between Steller sea lion prey and harvested species have been 
identified, particularly with reference to pollock and Atka mackerel 
stocks. However, participants in the Alaskan groundfish fisheries are 
not expected to significantly alter their fishing practices, either 
spatially or temporally, as a result of the 1998 groundfish 
specifications, nor operate in any manner that would predictably pose 
obvious impacts to Steller sea lions.
    Comment 3. NMFS needs to more fully incorporate ecosystem level 
concerns into the TAC setting process. Harvest levels are based on 
single-species models that fail to adequately consider inter-species 
linkages and the impact of fish removal on other ecosystem components. 
The EA does not discuss or analyze the changing community structure of 
the groundfish complex resulting from disproportionate fishing pressure 
on a small set of commercially targeted species.
    Response. NMFS acknowledges the importance of ecosystem based 
management for groundfish stocks. The Council's ecosystem Committee, 
established in 1996, met during the December Council meeting to review 
the status of groundfish stocks and make recommendations to the 
Council. Based on ecosystem concerns, the Council has taken a 
precautionary approach to setting groundfish TACs. The final EA, as 
well as the documents incorporated by reference into the final EA 
(especially the Ecosystem Committee's chapter of the 1998 SAFE report), 
extensively examine ecosystem level impacts of the groundfish 
fisheries.

1998 Harvest Specifications

1. Specifications of TAC and Reserves

    The Council recommended TACs equal to ABCs for pollock in the 
Central and Western GOA, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, 
northern rockfish, shortraker/rougheye rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish 
including the split in the assemblage in the Central GOA between 
nearshore and offshore species, demersal shelf rockfish, Atka mackerel, 
and thornyhead rockfish. The Council recommended TACs less than the ABC 
for pollock in the Eastern GOA, Pacific cod, flathead sole, shallow-
water flatfish, arrowtooth, other slope rockfish, and Pacific ocean 
perch (POP) (Table 1).
    The TAC for pollock has increased in the Central and Western GOA 
from 74,400 mt in 1997 to 119,150 mt in 1998 and remained the same in 
the Eastern GOA at 5,580 mt. The apportionment of TAC in the Central 
and Western GOA reflects the current biomass distribution. The Council 
reduced the AP's recommendation for the 1998 pollock TAC in the Eastern 
GOA of 10,850 mt to 5,580 mt (equal to the 1997 TAC) in consideration 
of the large assessment of small sized pollock in the Eastern GOA, 
reduced assessment of pollock biomass in the West Yakutat district, and 
projected weak recruitment in future years.
    The Council's recommended 1998 TAC for pollock in the combined 
Western and Central (W/C) Regulatory Areas of the GOA (119,150 mt) is a 
60 percent increase from 1997 (74,400 mt). The Council received 
testimony from the public and the scientific community expressing 
concern that a substantially higher pollock TAC could lead to localized 
depletions of pollock stocks, especially during the September 1 season, 
which may have adverse impacts on Steller sea lion foraging activity. 
At its February 3 through 7, 1998, meeting, the Council approved a 
regulatory amendment to the FMP to shift 10 percent of the pollock TAC 
in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA from September 1 
to June 1. NMFS is proceeding with rulemaking to shift 10 percent of 
the pollock TAC in the combined W/C Regulatory Area from the September 
1 season to the June 1 season. The objective of this action is to 
reapportion the pollock TACs so that the projected increases in pollock 
catches during the September 1 season are reduced relative to what 
would occur under the current seasonal TAC split. This action will 
amend the seasonal TACs for pollock TAC displayed in Table 3 to 
apportion 25 percent to the January 1 season, 35

[[Page 12029]]

percent to the June 1 season, and 40 percent to the September 1 season.
    The 1998 Pacific cod TAC is affected by the State's developing 
fishery for Pacific cod in state waters in the Central and Western GOA, 
as well as PWS. The SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of 
all Pacific cod removals should not exceed the ABC. The Council 
recommended that the TAC for the Eastern GOA be lower than the ABC by 
390 mt, the amount of the State's proposed GHL for PWS. Anticipating 
increases in the State's GHLs to 17.5 percent and 20 percent of the 
ABCs for the Central and Western GOA, the Council recommended that TACs 
be lowered by 8,590 mt and 5,450 mt respectively. At its February 9 
through 12 meeting, the Alaska Board of Fisheries did not approve 
raising GHLs for the 1998 fishing year above 15 percent of the ABC for 
the Central and Western GOA. Therefore, in order to more fully utilize 
the Pacific cod fishery in the Central and Western GOA, NMFS is 
lowering the TACs for the Central and Western GOA from ABC levels by 
7,360 mt and 4,090 mt respectively, the amount of the State's GHLs for 
these areas.
    The Council accepted the AP recommendation that the TACs for 
flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder be set 
at 1997 TAC levels, which are lower than their respective 1998 ABC 
specifications. The Council recommended that NMFS reduce the ``other 
rockfish'' TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area from the level 
recommended by the AP to a level that would provide for bycatch in 
other groundfish fisheries. NMFS has reviewed bycatch needs for ``other 
rockfish'' and has set TACs equal to 1997 levels, which will provide 
enough for bycatch needs.
    The Council reduced the AP's recommendation for the POP TAC in the 
Eastern GOA from the 1998 ABC of 4,410 mt to the 1997 TAC level of 
2,366 mt to reduce the bycatch of shortraker and rougheye rockfish in 
the POP fishery.
    The Council recommended that there be a single TAC for the trawl 
allocation of sablefish in the Eastern GOA and that the hook-and-line 
allocation of sablefish TAC in the Eastern GOA continue to be 
apportioned between the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts. 
The Council made this recommendation to accommodate the existing trawl 
gear allocation of sablefish, as well as the expectation that trawl 
gear will be prohibited in 1998 in the Southeast Outside District under 
Amendment 41 to the FMP. The Council accepted the AP's recommendation 
that 1998 TACs for the remaining groundfish fisheries be set at 1998 
ABC levels.
    On February 3, 1998, NMFS approved amendment 46 to the FMP which 
removes black rockfish and blue rockfish from the FMP. The purpose of 
amendment 46 is to allow more localized management of these species by 
the State. Because amendment 46 has been approved by NMFS, black 
rockfish and blue rockfish have been removed from the 1998 
specifications and the State will manage these species under GHLs 
established in State regulations. The removal of black rockfish and 
blue rockfish from the pelagic shelf rockfish assemblage eliminates the 
nearshore component of this species assemblage in the final 
specifications. Therefore, the OFL, ABC, and TAC for pelagic shelf 
rockfish in the GOA have been adjusted accordingly.
    The FMP specifies that amounts for the ``other species'' category 
are calculated as 5 percent of the combined TAC amounts for target 
species. The GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is 15,580 mt, which is 5 
percent of the sum of the combined TAC amounts for the target species. 
The sum of the TACs for all GOA groundfish is 327,176 mt, which is 
within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sum of the TACs is higher 
than the 1997 TAC sum of 282,815 mt.
    On February 6, 1998, NMFS approved amendment 39 to the FMP which 
establishes a new species category for forage fish species. Amendment 
39 removes capelin, eulachon, and smelt from the ``other species'' 
category in the FMP and moves these species to the new forage fish 
species category. While this action changes the list of species in the 
``other species'' category, it does not affect the formula for 
specifying a TAC for the ``other species'' category which remains 5 
percent of the combined TAC amounts for target species. Under amendment 
39, ABC and TAC amounts are not specified for forage fish species. 
Instead, directed fishing for forage fish species will be prohibited 
and these species will be placed on permanent bycatch status with a 
maximum retainable bycatch of 2 percent.
    NMFS has reviewed the Council's recommended TAC specifications and 
apportionments and hereby approves these specifications under 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The 1998 ABCs, TACs, and overfishing levels are 
shown in Table 1.

Table 1.--1998 ABCs, TACs, Initial TACs (Pacific Cod Only) and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/
    Central (W/C), Western (W), Central (C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat (WYK),    
                   Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulf-Wide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Initial TAC             
                    Species                        Area \1\       ABC          TAC          (mt)     Overfishing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\                                                                                                     
    Shumagin...................................        (610)       29,790       29,790  ...........  ...........
    Chirikof...................................        (620)       50,045       50,045  ...........  ...........
    Kodiak.....................................        (630)       39,315       39,315  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Subtotal...............................          W/C      119,150      119,150  ...........      170,500
                                                           E       10,850        5,580  ...........       15,600
                                                             --------------------------             ------------
        Total..................................  ...........      130,000      124,730  ...........      186,100
Pacific cod \3\................................            W       27,260       23,170       18,536  ...........
                                                           C       49,080       41,720       33,374  ...........
                                                           E        1,560        1,170          936  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------            
        Total..................................  ...........       77,900       66,060       52,846      141,000
                                                                                       -------------            
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)......................            W          340          340  ...........  ...........
                                                           C        3,690        3,690  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        3,140        3,140  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        7,170        7,170  ...........        9,440

[[Page 12030]]

                                                                                                                
Rex sole \4\...................................            W        1,190        1,190  ...........  ...........
                                                           C        5,490        5,490  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        2,470        2,470  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        9,150        9,150  ...........       11,920
Flathead sole..................................            W        8,440        2,000  ...........  ...........
                                                           C       15,630        5,000  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        2,040        2,040                          
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........       26,110        9,040  ...........       34,010
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water)...................            W       22,570        4,500  ...........  ...........
                                                           C       19,260       12,950  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        1,320        1,180  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........       43,150       18,630  ...........       59,540
Arrowtooth flounder............................            W       33,010        5,000  ...........  ...........
                                                           C      149,640       25,000  ...........  ...........
                                                           E       25,690        5,000  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........      208,340       35,000  ...........      295,970
Sablefish \6\..................................            W        1,840        1,840  ...........  ...........
                                                           C        6,320        6,320  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        5,960          298       (Trawl             
                                                                                              only)  ...........
                                                         WYK  ...........        2,175   (H&L only)  ...........
                                                         SEO  ...........        3,487   (H&L only)  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........       14,120       14,120  ...........       23,450
Pacific \7\ ocean perch........................            W        1,810        1,810  ...........        2,550
                                                           C        6,600        6,600  ...........        9,320
                                                           E        4,410        2,366  ...........        6,220
                                                             --------------------------             ------------
        Total..................................  ...........       12,820       10,776  ...........       18,090
Short raker/rougheye\8\........................            W          160          160  ...........  ...........
                                                           C          970          970  ...........  ...........
                                                           E          460          460  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        1,590        1,590  ...........        2,740
Other rock fish \9\ \10\ \11\..................            W           20           20  ...........  ...........
                                                           C          650          650  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        4,590        1,500  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        5,260        2,170  ...........        7,560
Northern Rockfish \11\.........................            W          840          840  ...........  ...........
                                                           C        4,150        4,150  ...........  ...........
                                                           E           10           10  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        5,000        5,000  ...........        9,420
Pelagic shelf rockfish \12\....................            W          620          620  ...........  ...........
                                                           C        3,260        3,260  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        1,000        1,000  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        4,880        4,880  ...........        8,040
Thornyhead rockfish............................            W          250          250  ...........  ...........
                                                           C          710          710  ...........  ...........
                                                           E        1,040        1,040  ...........  ...........
                                                             --------------------------                         
        Total..................................  ...........        2,000        2,000  ...........        2,840
Demersal shelf rockfish \13\...................          SEO          560          560  ...........          950
Atka mackerel..................................           GW          600          600  ...........        6,200
Other \14\ species.............................           GW     \15\ N/A       15,570  ...........  ...........
                                                             ==========================             ============
        Total \16\.............................  ...........      548,650      327,046  ...........     817,270 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.  679.2.                                                  
\2\ Pollock is apportioned to three statistical areas in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Area (Table 3),
  each of which is further divided into three seasonal allowances. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is   
  not divided into seasonal allowances.                                                                         
\3\ Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by
  the offshore component. Component allocations are shown in Table 4.                                           
\4\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.                               

[[Page 12031]]

                                                                                                                
\5\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.                                                                                          
\6\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears (Table 2).                                          
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.                                                              
\8\ ``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).         
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope 
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means 
  Slope rockfish.                                                                                               
\10\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), 
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegates (harlequin), S.  
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani       
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus    
  (vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth).                                                                      
\11\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.                                                           
\12\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus          
  (yellowtail).                                                                                                 
\13\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),  
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
                                                                                                                
\14\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, skates, squid, and octopus. The TAC for ``other species'' equals 
  5 percent of the TACs of target species.                                                                      
\15\ N/A means not applicable.                                                                                  
\16\ The total ABC is the sum of the ABCs for target species.                                                   

2. Apportionments of Reserves

    Regulations implementing the FMP require 20 percent of each TAC for 
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category be 
set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date 
(Sec. 679.20(b)(2)). For the preceding 10 years, including 1997, NMFS 
has reapportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest 
specifications except for Pacific cod in 1997. Except for Pacific cod, 
NMFS proposed reapportionment of all reserves for 1998 in the proposed 
GOA groundfish specifications published in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 1997 (62 FR 65644). NMFS received no public comments on 
the proposed reapportionments. For 1998, NMFS has reapportioned all of 
the reserves for pollock, flatfish, and ``other species''. NMFS is 
retaining the Pacific cod reserves at this time to provide for a 
management buffer to account for excessive fishing effort and/or 
incomplete or late catch reporting. In recent years, unpredictable 
increases in fishing effort and harvests, uncertainty of bycatch needs 
in other directed fisheries throughout the year, and untimely 
submission and revision of weekly processing reports have resulted in 
early and late closures of the Pacific cod fishery. NMFS believes that 
the retention of Pacific cod reserve amounts to provide for TAC 
management difficulties later in the year is a conservative approach 
that will lead to a more orderly fishery and provide greater assurance 
that Pacific cod bycatch may be retained throughout the year. 
Specifications of TAC shown in Table 1 reflect apportionment of reserve 
amounts for pollock, flatfish species, and ``other species.'' Table 1 
also lists the initial TACs for Pacific cod, which reflect the 
withholding of the Pacific cod TAC reserves as follows: 4,634 mt in the 
Western GOA, 8,346 mt in the Central GOA, and 234 mt in the Eastern 
GOA.

3. Allocations of the Sablefish TACs to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line and 
Trawl Gear

    Under Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii), sablefish TACs for each of the 
regulatory areas and districts are allocated to hook-and-line and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 20 percent to trawl gear. In 
the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl 
gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used as 
bycatch to support directed fisheries for other target species. 
Sablefish caught in the GOA with gear other than hook-and-line or trawl 
gear must be treated as prohibited species and may not be retained. In 
previous years the Council has recommended the trawl allocation of 
sablefish TAC be subdivided between the West Yakutat and Southeast 
Outside Districts. However, the Council expects that part of the 
License Limitation Program (amendment 41 to the FMP) implementing a no 
trawl zone East of 140 deg. W. long. (the Southeast Outside District) 
will become effective during the 1998 fishing year. As a result, a 
single trawl allocation for the Eastern Regulatory Area is established 
with the expectation that all trawl harvest of sablefish will occur in 
the West Yakutat District once the Southeast Outside District trawl 
closure becomes effective. The 1998 management of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area allocation of sablefish to trawl gear will have no 
effect on the amount of sablefish allocated to vessels using hook-and-
line gear in either the West Yakutat or the Southeast Outside 
Regulatory Districts. Table 2 shows the allocations of the 1998 
sablefish TACs between hook-and-line and trawl gear. In the Eastern 
Regulatory Area the trawl allocation is not apportioned by district 
while the hook-and-line allocation is apportioned into the West Yakutat 
and Southeast Outside Districts.

  Table 2.--1998 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and 
           Allocations Thereof to Hook-and-line and Trawl Gear          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Hook-and-Line               
        Area/District              TAC      apportionment      Trawl    
                                                 (mt)      apportionment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................        1,840         1,472            368 
Central......................        6,320         5,056          1,264 
Eastern......................        5,960  .............           298 
West Yakutat.................  ...........         2,175   .............
Southeast Outside............  ...........         3,487   .............
                              ------------------------------------------
    Total....................       14,120        12,190          1,930 
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 12032]]

4. Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Regulatory Areas and Seasons, 
and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by area and season, and is 
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. 
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A) require that the TAC for 
pollock in the combined Western and Central GOA be apportioned in 
proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass as determined by the 
most recent NMFS surveys among the Shumagin (610), Chirikof (620), and 
Kodiak (630) statistical areas. This measure was intended to provide 
spatial distribution of the pollock harvest as a sea lion protection 
measure. Each statistical area apportionment is further apportioned 
into three seasonal allowances of 25, 25, and 50 percent, respectively 
(Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(B)). As established under Sec. 679.23(d)(2), the 
first, second, and third seasonal allowances are available on January 
1, June 1, and September 1, respectively. Within any fishing year, any 
unharvested amount of any seasonal allowance of pollock TAC is added in 
equal proportions to all subsequent seasonal allowances, resulting in a 
sum for each allowance not to exceed 150 percent of the initial 
seasonal allowance. Similarly, harvests in excess of a seasonal 
allowance of TAC are deducted in equal proportions from the remaining 
seasonal allowances of that fishing year. The Eastern Regulatory Area 
pollock TAC of 5,580 mt is not allocated among smaller areas, or 
seasons. As mentioned above, at its February 1998 meeting, the Council 
approved a regulatory amendment to shift 10 percent of the pollock TAC 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA from September 1 
to June 1. This shift will result in seasonal apportionments of 25 
percent of the pollock TAC to the January 1 season, 35 percent to the 
June 1 season, and 40 percent to the September 1 season. This change 
was identified during the section 7 consultation on the final 1998 
harvest specifications as a reasonable and prudent measure to limit the 
potential impacts of pollock fishing on sea lions during the critical 
fall and winter months. NMFS is proceeding with rulemaking to make the 
regulatory changes, which, if approved, could become effective by the 
June 1, 1998, fishing season.
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) require that the pollock TAC 
in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances thereof be 
allocated for processing by the inshore and offshore components. One 
hundred percent of the pollock TAC in each regulatory area is allocated 
to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component 
after subtraction of amounts that are projected by the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to be caught by, or 
delivered to, the offshore component incidental to directed fishing for 
other groundfish species. The amount of pollock available for harvest 
by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the offshore component 
is that amount actually taken as bycatch during directed fishing for 
groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable 
bycatch amounts allowed under regulations at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). At 
this time, these bycatch amounts are unknown and will be determined 
during the fishing year. The distribution of pollock within the 
combined Western and Central Regulatory Areas is shown in Table 3, 
except that allocations of pollock for processing by the inshore and 
offshore component are not shown.

 Table 3.--Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (W/C GOA); 
 Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Seasonal Allowances. ABC for the W/C GOA is 119,150 Metric Tons 
(mt). Biomass Distribution is Based on 1996 Survey Data. TACs are Equal to ABC. Inshore and Offshore Allocations
                     of Pollock Are Not Shown. ABCs and TACs Are Rounded to the Nearest 5 mt                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Seasonal allowances         
                Statistical area                   Biomass     1998 ABC = --------------------------------------
                                                   percent        TAC         First     Second (mt)     Third   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (610).................................           25       29,790        7,450        7,450       14,890
Chirikof (620).................................           42       50,045       12,510       12,510       25,025
Kodiak (630)...................................           33       39,315        9,830        9,830       19,655
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................          100      119,150       29,790       29,790       59,570
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Allocations for Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and 
Offshore Components

    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii) require that the TAC 
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas be allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore 
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory 
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. 
These allocations of the Pacific cod initial TAC for 1998 are shown in 
Table 4. The Pacific cod reserves are not included in the table.

Table 4.--1998 Allocation of Pacific Cod Initial TAC Amounts in the Gulf
    of Alaska; Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore   
                               Components                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Component allocation  
                                               -------------------------
         Regulatory area           Initial TAC    Inshore      Offshore 
                                                 (90%) (mt)     (10%)   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western..........................       18,536       16,682        1,854
Central..........................       33,374       30,037        3,337
Eastern..........................          936          842           94
                                  --------------------------------------

[[Page 12033]]

                                                                        
    Total........................       52,846       47,561        5,285
------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Pacific Halibut PSC Mortality Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d), annual Pacific halibut PSC limits are 
established and apportioned to trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be 
established for pot gear.
    As in 1997, the Council recommended that pot gear, jig gear, and 
the hook-and-line sablefish fishery be exempted from the non-trawl 
halibut limit for 1998. The Council recommended these exemptions 
because of the low halibut bycatch mortality experienced in the pot 
gear fisheries (14 mt in 1997), the jig gear fisheries (not estimated 
in 1997), and because of the 1995 implementation of the sablefish and 
halibut Individual Fishing Quota program, which allows legal-sized 
halibut to be retained in the sablefish fishery.
    As in 1997, the Council recommended a hook-and-line halibut PSC 
mortality limit of 300 mt. Ten mt of this limit are apportioned to the 
demersal shelf rockfish fishery. The remainder is seasonally 
apportioned among the non-sablefish hook-and-line fisheries as shown in 
Table 5.
    The Council continued to recommend a trawl halibut PSC mortality 
limit of 2,000 mt. The PSC limit has remained unchanged since 1989. 
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize separate apportionments 
of the trawl halibut PSC limit between trawl fisheries for deep-water 
and shallow-water species. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(5) authorize 
seasonal apportionments of halibut PSC limits.
    NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations. The following 
types of information as presented in, and summarized from, the current 
SAFE report, or as otherwise available from NMFS, Alaska Department of 
Fish and Game, the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) or 
public testimony were considered:
(A) Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is 
based on 1997 observed halibut bycatch rates and NMFS's estimates of 
groundfish catch. The calculated halibut bycatch mortality by trawl, 
hook-and-line, and pot gear through December 31, 1997, is 2,011 mt, 217 
mt, and 14 mt, respectively, for a total of 2,242 mt.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear 
fisheries throughout 1997. Trawling for the deep-water fishery complex 
was closed during the first quarter on March 15 (62 FR 13352, March 20, 
1997), for the second quarter on April 14 (62 FR 18725, April 17, 1997) 
and for the third quarter on July 20 (62 FR 39782, July 24, 1997). The 
shallow-water complex was closed in the second quarter on May 6 (62 FR 
25138, May 8, 1997) and in the third quarter on August 11 (62 FR 43485, 
August 14, 1997). All trawling was closed in the fourth quarter on 
November 26 (62 FR 63887, December 3, 1997).
    The amount of groundfish that trawl gear might have harvested if 
halibut had not been seasonally limiting in 1997, is unknown.
(B) Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks
    At its December 1997 meeting, the Council adopted higher ABCs for 
pollock, arrowtooth, pelagic shelf rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish 
than those established for 1997. The Council adopted lower ABCs for 
Pacific cod, sablefish, POP, demersal shelf rockfish, and Atka mackerel 
than those established for 1997. More information on these changes is 
included in the Final SAFE report and in the Council and SSC minutes.
(C) Expected Changes in Groundfish Catch
    The total of the 1998 TACs for the GOA is 327,176 mt, an increase 
of 15 percent from the 1997 TAC total of 282,815 mt. Those fisheries 
for which the 1998 TACs are lower than in 1997 are Pacific cod 
(decreased to 66,060 mt from 69,115 mt), sablefish (decreased to 14,120 
mt from 14,520 mt), pelagic shelf rockfish (decreased to 5,000 mt from 
5,140 mt), demersal shelf rockfish (decreased to 560 mt from 950 mt), 
and Atka mackerel (decreased to 600 mt from 1,000 mt). Those species 
for which the 1998 TACs are higher than in 1997 are pollock (increased 
to 124,730 mt from 79,980 mt), POP (increased to 10,776 mt from 9,190 
mt), thornyhead rockfish (increased to 2,000 mt from 1,700 mt), and 
other species (increased to 15,450 mt from 13,470 mt).
(D) Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
    The stock assessment for 1997 conducted by the IPHC indicates that 
the total exploitable biomass of Pacific halibut in the BSAI and GOA 
management areas together was 289,216 mt.
    In previous years, stock assessments used a catch-age model, which 
did not take into account that Pacific halibut have undergone a rapid 
reduction in body growth in recent years, with average weight-at-age 
now half of what it was 20 years ago. To address problems with the 
previous stock assessment model, an alternative assessment model was 
developed which accounts for possible changes in fishing selectivity 
with age that result from changes in size at age. Exploitable biomass 
estimates have increased under the new stock assessment. The increase 
in the estimates is principally due to: (1) selectivity of the 
different age classes is now better represented; (2) bycatch mortality, 
along with other removals, is now included directly in the assessment; 
and (3) information from IPHC hook-and-line surveys is now explicitly 
incorporated into the assessment. Under previous assessment methods the 
recruitment trend estimates were in severe decline. Some decline is 
still predicted; however, the decline is not severe and the strength of 
more recent year classes is better represented in the assessment model. 
The IPHC has also reduced the target exploitation rate from 0.3 to 0.2, 
based on analysis that demonstrated that harvest rates in the range of 
0.2-0.25 may achieve close to maximum yields under different 
recruitment scenarios while having a high probability that the stock 
level stays within the range of historical abundance. Additional 
information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the 
SAFE report.
(E) Other Factors
    Potential impacts of expected fishing for groundfish on halibut 
stocks, as well as methods available for, and costs of,

[[Page 12034]]

reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries were discussed in 
the proposed 1998 specifications (62 FR 65644, December 15, 1997). That 
discussion is not repeated here.

7. Fishery and Seasonal Apportionments of the Halibut PSC Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d)(5), NMFS seasonally apportions the halibut PSC 
limits based on recommendations from the Council. The FMP requires that 
the following information be considered by the Council in recommending 
seasonal apportionments of halibut PSC limits: a. Seasonal distribution 
of halibut, b. seasonal distribution of target groundfish species 
relative to halibut distribution, c. expected halibut bycatch needs on 
a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected 
catches of target groundfish species, d. expected bycatch rates on a 
seasonal basis, e. expected changes in directed groundfish fishing 
seasons, f. expected actual start of fishing effort, and g. economic 
effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the 
target groundfish industry.
    The publication of the final 1997 groundfish and PSC specifications 
(62 FR 8179, February 24, 1997) summarizes Council findings with 
respect to each of the FMP considerations set forth above. At this 
time, the Council's findings are unchanged from those set forth for 
1997. Pacific halibut PSC limits, and apportionments thereof, are 
presented in Table 5. Regulations specify that any overages or 
shortfalls in a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will be deducted 
from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment within the 
1998 season.

  Table 5.--Final 1998 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments. The Pacific Halibut PSC Limit for Hook-and-line Gear Is Allocated to 
                                         the Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) Fishery and Fisheries Other Than DSR                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Trawl gear                                                               Hook-and-line gear                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Other than DSR                                         DSR                      
                                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Dates                      Amount                                        Amount                                           Amount         
                                                                Dates         --------------------------         Dates         -------------------------
                                                                                   (mt)         (%)                                 (mt)         (%)    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1-Mar 31.......................         600 (30%)  Jan 1-May 17..........          250         (86)  Jan 1-Dec 31.........           10        (100)
Apr 1-Jun 30.......................         400 (20%)  May 18-Aug 31.........           15          (5)                                                 
Jul 1-Sep 30.......................         600 (30%)  Sep 1-Dec 31..........           25          (9)                                                 
Oct 1-Dec 31.......................         400 (20%)                                                                                                   
                                    ------------------                        --------------------------                       -------------------------
    Total..........................      2,000 (100%)  ......................          290        (100)  .....................           10        (100)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize apportionments of 
the trawl halibut PSC limit to a deep-water species complex, comprised 
of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole and arrowtooth 
flounder; and a shallow-water species complex, comprised of pollock, 
Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and 
other species. The apportionment for these two fishery complexes is 
presented in Table 6.

 Table 6.--Final 1998 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits 
  Between the Deep-water Species Complex and the Shallow-water Species  
                                 Complex                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Shallow-    Deep-water             
              Season                  water         (mt)        Total   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 20-Mar. 31..................          500          100          600
Apr. 1-Jun. 30...................          100          300          400
Jul. 1-Sep. 30...................          200          400          600
Jan. 20-Sep. 30..................          800          800        1,600
Oct. 1-Dec. 31...................  ...........  ...........          400
                                  --------------------------------------
    Total........................  ...........  ...........       2,000 
  No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery         
complexes during the 4th quarter.                                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Council recommended that the revised halibut discard mortality 
rates recommended by the IPHC be adopted for purposes of monitoring 
halibut bycatch mortality limits established for the 1998 groundfish 
fisheries. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation. Most of the 
IPHC's assumed halibut mortality rates were based on an average of 
mortality rates determined from NMFS observer data collected during 
1995 and 1996. For fisheries where a steady trend from 1993 to 1996 
towards increasing or decreasing mortality rates was observed, the IPHC 
recommended using the most recent year's observed rate. Rates for 1995 
and 1996 were lacking for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent 
years were used. For fisheries where insufficient mortality data are 
available the mortality rate for Pacific cod for that gear type was 
recommended as a default rate. Most of the assumed mortality rates 
recommended for 1998 differ slightly from those used in 1997. The 
recommended rates for hook-and-line targeted fisheries range from 9 to 
24 percent. The recommended rates for most trawl targeted fisheries are 
higher and range from 57 to 73 percent. The recommended rate for all 
pot targeted fisheries is lower at 14 percent. The 1998 assumed halibut 
mortality rates are listed in Table 7.

[[Page 12035]]



   Table 7.--1998 Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for Vessels   
   Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska. Listed Values Are Percent of Halibut  
                       Bycatch Assumed To Be Dead                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Mortality 
                      Gear and target                          rate (%) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-Line:                                                          
    Sablefish..............................................           24
    Pacific cod............................................           12
    Rockfish...............................................            9
    Other species..........................................           12
Trawl:                                                                  
    Midwater pollock.......................................           66
    Rockfish...............................................           68
    Shallow-water flatfish.................................           71
    Pacific cod............................................           67
    Deep-water flatfish....................................           64
    Flathead sole..........................................           67
    Rex sole...............................................           69
    Bottom pollock.........................................           73
    Atka mackerel..........................................           57
    Sablefish..............................................           67
    Other species..........................................           67
Pot                                                                     
    Pacific cod............................................           14
    Other species..........................................           14
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.
    This action adopts final 1998 harvest specifications for the GOA, 
and revises associated management measures. Generally, this action does 
not significantly revise management measures in a manner that would 
require time to plan or prepare for those revisions. The immediate 
effectiveness of this action is required to provide consistent 
management and conservation of fishery resources. Accordingly, the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA finds there is good cause 
to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3) with respect to such provisions and to the apportionment 
discussed above. In some cases, the interim specifications in effect 
would be insufficient to allow directed fisheries to operate during a 
30-day delayed effectiveness period, which would result in unnecessary 
closures and disruption within the fishing industry. In many of these 
cases, the final specifications will allow the fisheries to continue, 
thus relieving a restriction. Provisions of a rule relieving a 
restriction under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) are not subject to a delay in 
effective date.
    A formal section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act 
was initiated for the final 1998 GOA specifications. In a biological 
opinion dated March 2, 1998, the Assistant Administrator determined 
that fishing activities conducted under final 1998 GOA specifications 
are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the western 
population of Steller sea lions and is not likely to destroy or 
adversely modify designated critical habitat for the species in Alaska. 
The biological opinion also determined that NMFS must implement 
reasonable and prudent measures to protect Steller sea lions:

    1. NMFS will reapportion 10 percent of the 1998 pollock TAC in 
the combined W/C Regulatory Area from the September 1 season to the 
June 1 season. This will result in a 25 percent, 35 percent, and 40 
percent distribution of pollock TAC among the January 1, June 1, and 
September 1 seasons, respectively.
    2. Reapportionment will take place before the beginning of the 
June 1 season.

    NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 1998 TAC 
specifications. The total harvest levels examined in the EA do not 
exceed the OY. The models used to derive catch levels are both 
conservative and based on the best scientific information available. 
The Assistant Administrator concluded that no significant impact on the 
environment will result from implementation of the 1998 specifications. 
A copy of the EA is available (see ADDRESSES).
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the 
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for the Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that this final 
specification will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. No comments were received 
regarding this certification. Consequently, no regulatory flexibility 
analysis has been prepared.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and 
3631 et seq.

    Dated: March 9, 1998.
David L. Evans,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-6381 Filed 3-9-98; 2:05 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P