[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14379-14380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7800]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 031398C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Community 
Development Quota Program

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

ACTION: Approval of the Community Development Plans for Pacific 
halibut, fixed gear sablefish, and crab for the years 1998-2000.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of recommendations made by the 
State of Alaska (State) for the 1998-2000 halibut, fixed gear 
sablefish, and crab Community Development Plans (CDPs) under the 
Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program. This action 
announces the decision by NMFS to approve the State's recommended CDPs, 
including the percentage allocations of the halibut, fixed gear 
sablefish, and crab CDQ reserves to each CDP, and the availability of 
findings underlying NMFS's decision. This action is intended to further 
the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act.

DATES: Approval of the CDPs is effective March 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the findings made by NMFS in approving the State's 
recommendations may be obtained from the Alaska Region, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally Bibb, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The CDQ Program for Pacific halibut and fixed gear sablefish was 
developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and 
implemented by NMFS under regulations at subpart C of 50 CFR part 679. 
The Crab CDQ Program was developed by the Council as part of Amendment 
5 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Commercial King and 
Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area which 
was approved by NMFS on September 12, 1997. Regulations implementing 
the crab CDQ reserves were published by NMFS in the Federal Register on 
February 19, 1998 (63 FR 8356).
    Eligible western Alaska communities submitted six proposed CDPs to 
the State under Sec. 679.30. The CDPs included requests for allocations 
of the available Pacific halibut, sablefish, and crab CDQ reserves 
established at Sec. 679.31. The State conducted a public hearing on 
September 9, 1997, in Anchorage, AK, during which all interested 
persons had an opportunity to be heard. The hearing covered the 
substance and content of the proposed CDPs in such a manner that the 
general public, and particularly the affected parties, had a reasonable 
opportunity to

[[Page 14380]]

understand the impact of each proposed CDP. The State made available 
for public review all State of Alaska materials pertinent to the 
hearing at the time the hearing was announced. The public hearing held 
by the State satisfied the requirements of Sec. 679.30(a)(2).
    The State consulted the Council concerning the proposed CDPs during 
the Council's September 1997 meeting. The Council reviewed copies of 
the CDP executive summaries, summary sheets, and the State's 
recommended allocations, and concurred with the State's 
recommendations.
    The State sent its recommendations for approval of the proposed 
CDPs to NMFS on February 20, 1998. NMFS has determined that the State's 
recommendations for approval of proposed CDPs are consistent with the 
community eligibility conditions and evaluation criteria and other 
applicable provisions of the Federal regulations governing the CDQ 
Program.
    As required by Sec. 679.30(c)(1)(iii), NMFS publishes this notice 
of approval of the State's recommendations, including the CDQ allocated 
to each CDP (see following table), and announces the availability of 
the findings by the Secretary of Commerce regarding this decision (see 
ADDRESSES).

 Table--State of Alaska 1998-2000 Halibut, Fixed Gear Sablefish, and Crab Community Development Quota Allocation
                                                 Recommendations                                                
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                                                          Community development quota group                     
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          CDQ allocation             APICDA \1\   BBEDC \2\    CBSFA \3\       CVRF      NSEDC \4\    YDFDA \5\ 
                                     (percent)    (percent)    (percent)    (percent)    (percent)    (percent) 
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Halibut:                                                                                                        
    Area 4B.......................          100            0            0            0            0            0
    Area 4C.......................           10            0           90            0            0            0
    Area 4D.......................            0           23            0           24           26           27
    Area 4E.......................            0           30            0           70            0            0
Fixed Gear Sablefish:                                                                                           
    Aleutian Islands..............           15           20            0           30           20           15
    Bering Sea....................           15           22           18            0           20           25
Crab:                                                                                                           
    Bristol Bay Red King Crab.....           20           20            0           20           20           20
    Norton Sound Red King Crab....            0            0            0            0           50           50
    Pribilof Red & Blue King Crab.            0            0          100            0            0            0
    St. Matthew Blue King Crab....           50           12            0           12           14           12
    Bering Sea C. opilio crab.....           10           19           19           17           18           17
    Bering Sea c. bairdi crab.....           10           19           19           17           18          17 
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\1\ APICDA = Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Association.                                        
\2\ BBEDC = Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation.                                                       
\3\ CBSFA = Central Bering Sea Fishermen's's Association.                                                       
\4\ NSEDC = Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation.                                                      
\5\ YDFDA = Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association.                                                      

    CDQ fishing for halibut and fixed gear sablefish is authorized 
beginning March 15, 1998, under Sec. 679.23 and CDQ fishing for crab is 
authorized beginning March 23, 1998 (the effective date of the final 
rule implementing the crab CDQ reserves).

    Dated: March 20, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7800 Filed 3-20-98; 4:29 pm]
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