[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 204 (Thursday, October 22, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56601-56602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28278]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 100698A]
RIN 0648-AL40


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Description 
and Identification of Essential Fish Habitat

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 55 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area;
    Amendment 55 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; 
Amendment 8 to the FMP for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner 
Crabs; Amendment 5 to the FMP for Scallop Fisheries off Alaska; and 
Amendment 5 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the 
Coast of Alaska. These amendments would describe and identify essential 
fish habitat in Alaska, and risks to that habitat, for groundfish, 
scallops, salmon, and king and Tanner crabs. This action is intended to 
strengthen the ability of the Council to protect and conserve habitat 
used by these species at crucial stages of their life cycles.

DATES: Comments on Amendments 55/55/8/5/5 must be submitted by December 
21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendments should be submitted to Sue 
Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, 
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 Amendments 55/55/8/5/5 and the Environmental 
Assessment prepared for the amendments are available from the Council, 
605 West 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252; 
telephone 907-271-2809. The following reports, which are referenced in 
the amendments, are also available from the Council:
    1. Essential Fish Habitat Report for the Groundfish Resources of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, April 1, 1998.
    2. Essential Fish Habitat Report for the Groundfish Resources of 
the Gulf of Alaska Region, April 1, 1998.
    3. Essential Fish Habitat Report for the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands King and Tanner Crabs, March 31, 1998.
    4. Essential Fish Habitat Report for the Salmon Fisheries in the 
Exclusive Economic Zone off the Coast of Alaska, March 31, 1998.
    5. Essential Fish Habitat Report for the Scallop Fisheries off the 
Coast of Alaska, March 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Hartmann, 907-586-7312 
[email protected]; or Nina Mollett, 907-586-7492, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional 
Fishery Management Council submit any FMP or FMP amendment it prepares 
to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial approval. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP, 
immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register that the FMP or 
amendment is available for public review and comment. Therefore, NMFS 
solicits comments on the approval, disapproval, or partial approval of 
these amendments.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act emphasizes the need for increased 
attention to habitat considerations in conserving and managing the 
Nation's fisheries. Regional Fishery Management Councils are directed 
to amend their FMPs with information on EFH, which is defined as 
``those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, 
feeding or growth to maturity.'' Councils must also identify potential 
adverse impacts on essential fish habitat (EFH) and make suggestions 
for minimizing those impacts and for conserving and enhancing EFH.

Background

    The NMFS Alaska Region established a Core Team composed of NMFS 
employees and one person from the Council, which in turn established 
four Technical Teams (one each for salmon, crab, scallop and 
groundfish), comprised of Federal and state biologists. These teams 
developed habitat assessment reports for each FMP, that were 
distributed for public

[[Page 56602]]

comment in December 1997, and made available in updated versions on 
March 31, 1998.
    In accordance with NMFS EFH guidelines at 50 CFR 600.815, NMFS 
submitted draft EFH recommendations to the Council on April 3, 1998. 
The public reviewed these recommendations during a special evening 
meeting. The full Council and its advisory bodies also reviewed them. 
NMFS accepted written comments through April 27, 1998, and submitted 
final EFH recommendations to the Council in May 1998 for the Council's 
consideration at its June 1998 meeting. After reviewing the NMFS 
recommendations, the Council adopted Amendments 55/55/8/5/5.
    The proposed amendments identify and describe EFH for each species 
or species group managed under the five FMPs. The proposed amendments 
classify each species at each life stage according to how much data are 
available and summarize all available information with texts and 
tables. The proposed amendments also describe adverse impacts to the 
habitat from fishing and non-fishing activities, and make suggestions 
for conservation and enhancement of the habitat, and identify research 
needs and habitat areas of particular concern.

Definition of EFH

    Habitat descriptions and life history information were reviewed and 
the levels of information available for each life history stage were 
determined. The approach set forth in regulations at 50 CFR 
600.815(a)(2) for gathering and organizing the data necessary to 
identify EFH was applied.
    Under the proposed amendments, EFH would represent all habitat 
within a general distribution for a species life stage, for all 
information levels and under all stock conditions. For any species 
listed under the Endangered Species Act, EFH would include all areas 
identified as critical habitat.
    If approved, these amendments would enable NMFS and the Council to 
more actively protect habitat important to fish at different stages of 
their life cycles. Coordination among NMFS, the Council, and other 
Federal and state agencies engaging in activities that may adversely 
affect EFH would be improved. The Council and NMFS would be in a better 
position to make suggestions on how to mitigate potential habitat 
damage.
    NMFS will consider all public comments received during the comment 
period in determining whether to approve Amendments 55/55/8/5/5. To be 
considered, comments must be received before close of business on the 
last day of the comment period specified in this NOA; that does not 
mean postmarked or otherwise transmitted by that date.

    Dated: October 15, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-28278 Filed 10-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F