[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47218-47219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23796]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 971208298-8055-02; I.D. 082798B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Proposed reallocation; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Based on currently available information, NMFS has determined 
that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not be able to harvest its 
entire share of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and is proposes 
to make the projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor 
share of the Pacific cod TAC available to the trawl catcher vessel 
sector. NMFS also is proposing to reallocate the projected unused 
amount of Pacific cod from trawl catcher/processors to vessels using 
hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS invites public comments, 
particularly from the trawl catcher vessel sector, on NMFS's 
determination that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not be able 
to harvest its share of Pacific cod and NMFS's proposal to reallocate 
the unused amount of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher/processor 
sector to hook-and-line and pot gear. The proposed action is necessary 
to

[[Page 47219]]

allow the 1998 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.

DATES: Comments must be received at the following address no later than 
4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, September 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 West 
9th, Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802, Attention: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(iii), the Final 1998 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (63 FR 12689, March 16, 1998) 
established the amount of the 1998 Pacific cod TAC as 194,250 metric 
tons (mt). Pursuant to 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 3,885 mt was allocated to 
vessels using jig gear, 99,068 mt to vessels using hook-and-line or pot 
gear, and 91,298 mt to vessels using trawl gear. The share of the 
Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear was further allocated 50 
percent to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processor vessels 
(Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)).
    As of August 1, 1998, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, has 
determined that 16,615 mt remain in the trawl catcher/processor vessel 
share and projects that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not 
harvest 7,000 mt of that share during the remainder of 1998.
    Therefore, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS proposes to 
make the projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor share 
of Pacific cod available to the trawl catcher vessel sector. In 
accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B), NMFS also is proposing to 
reallocate the projected unused amount (7,000 mt) of Pacific cod from 
trawl catcher/processors to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear.
    NMFS invites public comments, particularly from the trawl catcher 
vessel sector, on NMFS's determination that the trawl catcher/processor 
sector will not be able to harvest its share of the Pacific cod TAC, on 
whether the catcher vessel sector would be able to harvest the 
projected unused catcher/processor share, and on NMFS's proposal to 
reallocate the unused amount of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher/
processor sector to hook-and-line and pot gear.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from OMB 
review under E.O. 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: August 27, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-23796 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
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