[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 16223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8673]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 032698A]
RIN 0648-AJ99
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gear
Allocation of Shortraker and Rougheye Rockfish in the Aleutian Islands
Subarea
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 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for the
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP)
for Secretarial review. This amendment would allocate shortraker
rockfish and rougheye rockfish (SR/RE) in the Aleutian Islands subarea
(AI) between vessels using trawl gear and vessels using non-trawl gear.
This action is necessary to prevent SR/RE bycatch in trawl fisheries
from causing closure of non-trawl fisheries and is intended to further
the objectives of the FMP.
DATES: Comments on Amendment 53 must be submitted by June 1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendment should be submitted to Susan
Salveson, 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 Amendment 53, the environmental assessment and
the regulatory impact review 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
approval. 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 Amendment 53 to the FMP.
Amendment 53 was adopted by the Council at its February 1998
meeting. If approved by NMFS, this amendment would allocate 30 percent
of the total allowable catch of SR/RE in the Aleutian Islands subarea
to non-trawl gear and 70 percent to trawl gear. This action is
necessary to prevent SR/RE bycatch in the Atka mackerel and Pacific
ocean perch trawl fisheries from closing non-trawl fisheries in which
SR/RE are also taken.
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 53 has been submitted for
Secretarial review and approval. The proposed rule to implement this
amendment is scheduled to be published within 15 days of this document.
Public comments on the proposed rule must be received by the end of the
comment period on the FMP/amendment to be considered in the approval/
disapproval decision on the FMP/amendment.
Dated: March 27, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-8673 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F