[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 156 (Thursday, August 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43380-43381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21765]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980212037-8142-02; I.D. 080498C]
RIN 0648-AJ87


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Prohibited 
Species Donation Program

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

ACTION: Notification of selection of an authorized distributor.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces the selection of Northwest Food Strategies 
(NFS) as an authorized distributor for purposes of distributing Pacific 
halibut to economically disadvantaged individuals under the prohibited 
species donation (PSD) program. This action is necessary to comply with 
provisions of the PSD Program implemented at 50 CFR part 679.

DATES: Effective August 13, 1998 through December 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD Permit may be obtained from the 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-21668, Attn: Lori Gravel. Copies of Amendments 50 and 
50 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR) 
prepared for the amendments may be obtained from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, Suite 306, 605 West 4th Ave., Anchorage, AK 
99510-2252.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Kinsolving, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS manages the domestic groundfish fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and the 
FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council prepared the FMPs under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Regulations 
governing the Alaska groundfish fisheries appear at 50 CFR parts 600 
and 679. Fishing for Pacific halibut in waters in and off Alaska is 
governed by the Convention between the United States and Canada for the 
Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific Ocean and 
Bering Sea and by regulations adopted by the International Pacific 
Halibut Commission and approved by the Secretary of State of the United 
States pursuant to section 4 of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act (16 
U.S.C. 773-773k).
    NMFS approved Amendments 50/50 to the FMPs, authorizing the PSD 
program, on May 6, 1998, and published a final rule implementing the 
amendments in the Federal Register on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 32144). A 
full description of, and background information on, the PSD program may 
be found in the preamble to the proposed rule published in the Federal 
Register on March 4, 1998 (63 FR 10583) and in the EA/RIR prepared for 
that action.
    The regulations implementing Amendments 50/50 expand the existing 
Salmon Donation Program by creating a PSD program that includes Pacific 
halibut as well as salmon. The regulations authorize the voluntary 
distribution of Pacific halibut, taken incidentally in groundfish trawl 
fisheries off Alaska and landed at shoreside processing plants, to 
economically disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt organizations 
through an authorized distributor. The Regional Administrator, Alaska 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) may select one or more tax-exempt 
organizations to be authorized distributors, as defined by 50 CFR 
679.2, based on the information submitted by applicants under 
Sec. 679.26. After review of qualified applicants, NMFS must announce 
the selection of the authorized distributor(s) in the Federal Register, 
and issue the selected distributor(s) PSD permits. The regulations 
implementing the donation of halibut under the PSD program are 
applicable only through December 31, 2000. Thus, any PSD permits issued 
for halibut will expire on that date.
    On July 16, 1998, the Regional Administrator received an 
application to be an authorized distributor of Pacific halibut from 
NFS, 600 Erickson Avenue, Suite 395, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110. The 
Regional Administrator

[[Page 43381]]

reviewed the application and determined that it provided the required 
information and that NFS met the requirements for an authorized 
distributor. As required by Sec. 679.26(b)(2), the Regional 
Administrator based his selection on the following criteria:
    1. The number and qualifications of applicants for PSD permits. As 
of the date of this notice, only the application from NFS has been 
received. NFS has been coordinating the distribution of prohibited 
salmon bycatch since 1993 under experimental fishing permits and the 
Salmon Donation Program. NFS employs an independent seafood laboratory 
to ensure product quality and has received support from cold storage 
facilities and common carriers servicing the areas where Pacific 
halibut donation would take place.
    2. The number of harvesters and the quantity of halibut that 
applicants can effectively administer. The donation of halibut is 
limited to halibut taken by trawl catcher vessels and landed at 
shoreside processing facilities. NFS has obtained statements of support 
from three shoreside processors located in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. 
According to its application, NFS has the capacity to receive and 
distribute halibut from as many as 40 processors and their associated 
catcher vessels.
    3. The anticipated level of halibut bycatch. Total halibut bycatch 
mortality in the Alaska groundfish fisheries was estimated to be 6,757 
metric tons (mt) during 1996. Much of this bycatch is discarded at-sea. 
NMFS estimates that no more than 25 mt of Pacific halibut will be 
landed at participating shoreside processing plants.
    4. The potential number of vessels and processors participating in 
the groundfish trawl fisheries. During 1996, 56 shoreside processors 
and 213 trawl catcher vessels participated the groundfish trawl 
fisheries.
    This PSD permit is in effect through December 31, 2000 unless 
suspended or revoked. It may not be transferred.
    This permit may be suspended, modified, or revoked under 15 CFR 
part 904 for noncompliance with terms and conditions specified in the 
permit or for a violation of this section or other regulations in 50 
CFR part 679.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.26.

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

    Dated: August 6, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-21765 Filed 8-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F