[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