[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60288-60291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29945]



[[Page 60288]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981021264-8264-01; I.D. 092998A]
[RIN 0648-AL29]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Season and 
Area Apportionment of Atka Mackerel Total Allowable Catch

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations that would divide the Atka mackerel 
total allowable catch (TAC) specified for the Aleutian Islands Subarea 
into two seasonal allowances; reduce the percentage of Atka mackerel 
TAC taken from Steller sea lion critical habitat over a 4-year period 
in the Western and Central Districts of the Aleutian Islands Subarea; 
and extend the seaward 20 nautical miles (nm) no-trawl zone around the 
Seguam and Agligadak rookeries in the Eastern District of the Aleutian 
Islands into a year round closure. The purpose of this action is to 
avoid significant fishery-induced localized depletions of Atka 
mackerel, a primary prey species for Steller sea lions in the Aleutian 
Islands and to avoid potential jeopardy to the continued existence of 
Steller sea lion populations and their critical habitat through 
excessive removal of prey. This action is intended to further the 
conservation goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for 
the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(FMP).

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received no later than 
December 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori J. Gravel, or delivered to the 
Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of the 
Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR) prepared for 
this action are available from NMFS at the same address, or by calling 
the Alaska Region, NMFS, at 907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) pursuant to the 
FMP. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared 
the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). The FMP is 
implemented by regulations appearing at 50 CFR part 679 issued under 
the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. General regulations 
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.

Purpose and Need for Action

    In 1990, NMFS designated the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) 
as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). 
The designation followed severe declines throughout much of the Gulf of 
Alaska and Aleutian Islands region. In 1993, NMFS defined critical 
habitat for the species to include the marine areas within 20 nm of 
major rookeries and haulouts of the species west of 144 deg. W. long., 
as well as major foraging areas. In 1997, NMFS recognized two separate 
populations and reclassified the western population (west of 144 deg. 
W. long.) as endangered. The estimated number of Steller sea lions in 
the western population has declined by more than 80 percent since the 
mid-1960s. The ultimate cause or causes of the decline are unknown, but 
lack of available prey is believed to be an important contributing 
factor.
    NMFS is the lead agency responsible for the recovery and 
conservation of the Steller sea lion. As such, it has periodically 
consulted with itself on the FMP and on the potential effects of the 
various groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions. Since listing the 
Steller sea lion as threatened in 1990, NMFS has expressed concern in 
three subsequent biological opinions (the products of ESA section 7 
consultations) that fisheries may reduce sea lion foraging success by 
causing changes in prey composition, age/size composition of available 
prey species, or localized depletions of prey.
    Atka mackerel are an important prey species for Steller sea lions. 
In a recent study, NMFS researchers found that Atka mackerel were the 
most common prey item (based on split-sample frequency of occurrence) 
for Steller sea lions in portions of the Central and Western Districts 
of the Aleutian Islands Subarea. These results were based on scats 
collected in summer months and assumed to be primarily from adult 
females. Atka mackerel were also found in 84 percent of 241 Steller sea 
lion scats collected in 1989-92 in the Aleutian Islands (92 percent in 
the Central Aleutian Islands).
    Recent statistical evaluations of catch per unit effort (CPUE) at 
various sites in the 1990s have indicated that the Atka mackerel 
fishery has led to localized depletions of Steller sea lion prey, 
thereby increasing evidence of competition. Thus, the first of two main 
objectives of this proposed rule is to modify the management of the 
Atka mackerel fishery to avoid such depletions.
    The second objective is based on the statutory requirement of the 
ESA that Federal actions within the critical habitat of a listed 
species not jeopardize the continued existence of populations of those 
species or adversely modify their critical habitat. The single most 
important feature of critical habitat for the Steller sea lion is its 
prey base. Areas designated as critical habitat for this species must 
include sufficient food to meet the energetic demands of a stable and 
healthy sea lion population. Thus, the availability of prey in critical 
habitat is a matter of considerable concern, particularly because lack 
of available prey may have contributed to the decline of the western 
population or may be impeding its recovery.
    Since 1977, the portion of Atka mackerel catch taken annually 
within Steller sea lion critical habitat has varied from 15 percent to 
98 percent, with an average of 71 percent. A marked increase in the 
annual catch in the 1990s and the high percent of the catch generally 
taken within Steller sea lion critical habitat have resulted in a 
marked increase in the tonnage of Atka mackerel taken from areas 
considered essential to the recovery and conservation of the Steller 
sea lion, again increasing concerns that the fishery competes with 
Steller sea lions. The point at which fishery removals of prey from 
critical habitat jeopardize the continued existence of Steller sea lion 
populations or result in adverse modification of critical habitat is 
not clear. In spite of such uncertainty, the ESA requires that a 
judgment be made on the basis of the best available scientific and 
commercial data. To prevent potential jeopardy to the continued 
existence of Steller sea lion populations and adverse modification of 
their critical habitat, this proposed rule seeks to reduce the 
proportion of the annual Atka mackerel catch taken from within 
designated critical habitat.
    The ultimate cause or causes of the decline of the western 
population of Steller sea lions remain uncertain.

[[Page 60289]]

However, NMFS believes that an important contributing factor may be the 
lack of available prey of which Atka mackerel are an important 
component. NMFS is responsible for ensuring that the Atka mackerel 
fishery does not jeopardize the continued existence of Steller sea lion 
populations or adversely modify their critical habitat. Given the 
apparent importance of Atka mackerel in the diet of Steller sea lions, 
particularly in the central and western Aleutian Islands, careful 
management of the Atka mackerel fishery is essential to ameliorate 
potential impacts of the fishery on Steller sea lions and their 
critical habitat.
    At its June 1998 meeting, the Council considered this information 
and the analysis prepared by NMFS in support of this action and 
recommended that NMFS proceed with the development of regulations to 
reduce competition between the Atka mackerel fishery and Steller sea 
lions. Six alternatives were presented to the Council for 
consideration. The alternative adopted by the Council and set out in 
this proposed rule would (1) divide the Atka mackerel TACs specified 
for each subarea and district of the BSAI into two equal seasonal 
allowances, (2) reduce the percentage of Atka mackerel TAC taken from 
Steller sea lion critical habitat over a 4-year period in the Western 
and Central Districts of the Aleutian Islands Subarea, and (3) extend 
the seasonal 20 nm no-trawl zone around the Seguam and Agligadak 
rookeries in the Eastern District of the Aleutian Islands into a year-
round closure.

Elements of the Proposed Rule

Atka Mackerel Season Split

    To address the issue of localized depletions of Steller sea lion 
prey, this action would establish two Atka mackerel fishing seasons: 
The A season would run from 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), 
January 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 15 and the B season would 
run from 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., 
November 1. The TAC specified for the Atka mackerel fishery after 
subtraction of the jig gear allocation and reserves would be divided 
equally into A and B season allowances during the annual specification 
process. This split is proposed as an effective means to ameliorate 
concerns about localized depletion while still providing reasonable 
opportunity to the fishing industry to harvest Atka mackerel without 
significantly increased operational costs. The jig gear allocation and 
Community Development Quota (CDQ) would not be divided into seasonal 
allowances because jig gear and CDQ fishing occur outside the time 
period of the open access trawl fishery, and the jig gear and CDQ 
fisheries are too small, widely dispersed, and slowly paced to lead to 
localized depletions of Atka mackerel.

Progressive Reduction of Catch Within Critical Habitat

    This action would prohibit trawling for groundfish within areas 
designated as Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Western or 
Central Districts of the Aleutian Islands when NMFS determines that the 
harvest of a seasonal allowance of Atka mackerel within a district 
reaches the following percentage identified for each year and district:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Western     Central
                      Year                           (543)       (542)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999............................................          65          80
2000............................................          57          67
2001............................................          48          46
2002 and after..................................          40          40
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A critical habitat trawl closure within a district would remain in 
effect until NMFS closes Atka mackerel to directed fishing within the 
same district. Steller sea lion critical habitat areas in the Aleutian 
Islands are defined in Table 1, Table 2, and Figure 4 of 50 CFR part 
226. The purpose of this action is to ensure that the percentage of 
Atka mackerel catch taken inside critical habitat does not exceed the 
percentages identified above. CDQ groups would be limited to the same 
percentages of Atka mackerel catch taken inside critical habitat. 
However, critical habitat closures would be imposed on CDQ groups 
individually when their percentage of Atka mackerel CDQ harvest reaches 
the limit for each year and district.

Extension of 20 nm No-Trawl Zones

    This action also would extend the 20 nm no-trawl zones around the 
Seguam and Agligadak rookeries in the Eastern District of the Aleutian 
Islands into a year round closure. At present, these rookeries are 
protected year-round by a 10 nm no-trawl zone, and from January 1 
through April 15 by a 20 nm no-trawl zone. The current 10 and 20 nm no-
trawl zones are set out in Table 5 to part 679.

Additional Actions To Be Taken in the Future

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

    The Council recommended that NMFS establish a VMS requirement to 
monitor the activity of vessels fishing with trawl gear after critical 
habitat areas are closed. NMFS hopes to implement VMS requirements for 
the Atka mackerel fishery prior to the start of the 1999 Atka mackerel 
B season, which would open on September 1, 1999. Until then, 
enforcement of the critical habitat closures contained in this rule 
would be accomplished through traditional methods, such as Coast Guard 
overflights and reports from vessels and on board observers.
    The Council also requested that NMFS conduct an annual review of 
the impact and effectiveness of the management measures outlined above, 
i.e., the Atka mackerel season split, the progressive reduction of 
catch within critical habitat, the extension of 20 nm no-trawl zones, 
and the VMS, and develop a research plan to determine the effects of 
these management measures by area. NMFS intends to report annually to 
the Council on the impact and effectiveness of these management 
measures. Ongoing research on the effectiveness of these and other 
Steller sea lion protection measures is a critical element of NMFS' 
recovery program for Steller sea lions.

Classification

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    NMFS prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on 
small entities. A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES). The analysis made the following conclusions with respect to 
impacts on small entities:

    Business entities affected directly. The actions being 
considered for the BSAI Atka mackerel fishery would have direct 
effects on fewer than 15 fishing vessels all of which are expected 
to be factory trawlers. In 1997, 12 factory trawlers participated in 
the BSAI Atka mackerel fishery and eight of these vessels accounted 
for 81 percent of the retained catch in that fishery. All of the 
factory trawlers in the Atka mackerel fishery are owned by seafood 
companies with annual receipts that exceed the $3 million small 
entity threshold by the Small Business Administration for fish 
harvesting businesses. The combined annual receipts for the 
companies involved in the Atka mackerel fishery are not known. 
However, based on the value of fish these companies harvest in 
Alaska, and the annual reports of the publically held companies, the 
annual worldwide receipts for the companies involved in the Atka 
mackerel fishery is estimated to range from $5 million to over $3 
billion. In 1998, 1 percent of the Atka mackerel TAC in Area 541 
(127 mt) was allocated to vessels using jig gear. However, as of 
September 12, 1998, NMFS has not received any Atka mackerel catch 
reports by

[[Page 60290]]

vessels using jig gear in Area 541 and the entire 127 mt TAC 
allocation remains unharvested. Up to 10 vessels using jig gear had 
expressed interest in fishing for Atka mackerel in Area 541 and all 
of these vessels are small entities. However, the preferred 
alternative would exempt vessels using jig gear from the A-B season 
split, critical habitat restrictions, and VMS requirements. 
Therefore, all small entities using jig gear to fish for Atka 
mackerel would be unaffected by the proposed action.
    Small communities and groups affected directly. Because, very 
little BSAI Atka mackerel is delivered to on-shore processors and 
because the principal participants in this fishery are not residents 
of Alaska fishing communities, with the exception of the CDQ 
communities, few small communities would be affected directly. With 
the expansion of the CDQ program to include all BSAI groundfish and 
crab, the 50 plus CDQ communities would be affected by actions that 
affect the Atka mackerel CDQ. However, the effects on these 
communities are not expected to be significant because Atka mackerel 
is expected to account for less than 5% of the value of the CDQs to 
these communities, none of the actions would eliminate all of the 
value of the Atka mackerel CDQs, and the CDQs are but one source of 
income for these communities. To further reduce the potential 
impacts of this action on CDQ groups, the Council's preferred 
alternative would exempt CDQ groups from the A-B season split so 
that CDQ groups are not forced to fish small amounts of Atka 
mackerel CDQ during two separate time periods.
    Business entities affected indirectly. A much larger number of 
entities would be affected indirectly if the proposed actions result 
in the factory trawlers, that have dominated the Atka mackerel 
fishery, switching effort from the Atka mackerel fishery to other 
groundfish fisheries. If the fishing capacity of the eight factory 
trawlers that were the core of the Atka mackerel fleet in 1997 were 
diverted to other fisheries, these vessels could take substantially 
larger shares of the catch in the BSAI rock sole, Pacific cod, 
flathead sole, or other flatfish fishery or the GOA flatfish 
fisheries. Much of any such increase in catch by the core Atka 
mackerel fleet would be at the expense of other factory trawlers in 
the BSAI and both catcher vessels and other factory trawlers in the 
GOA. In 1996, 67 factory trawlers participated in BSAI and GOA 
Pacific cod fisheries and 42 factory trawlers participated in the 
various BSAI and GOA flatfish fisheries. In 1996, 180 trawl catcher 
vessels participated in the Pacific cod fisheries of the BSAI and 
GOA and 62 trawl catcher vessels participated in the various 
flatfish fisheries of the BSAI and GOA. Due to inshore/offshore TAC 
allocations for Pacific cod in the GOA and TAC splits between 
catcher vessels and catcher processors in the BSAI, catcher vessels 
participating in the Pacific cod fishery will be unaffected if Atka 
mackerel factory trawlers shift into the Pacific cod fishery. 
However, catcher vessels fishing for flatfish in the BSAI and GOA 
could face impacts if effort shifts away from Atka mackerel as a 
result of this action. The extent to which these shifts may occur is 
impossible to quantify or predict.
    Most of the factory trawlers operating in the BSAI and GOA 
Pacific cod and flatfish fisheries are owned by or affiliated with 
``large'' entities. In addition, up to half of the catcher vessels 
fishing in the BSAI are believed to be owned by or affiliated with 
large entities. However, in a written comment to the Council 
submitted for this action, an industry representative for flatfish 
and Pacific cod factory trawlers indicated that more than 30 percent 
of the factory trawlers in the BSAI flatfish and Pacific cod 
fisheries expected 1998 annual gross revenues to be less than $3 
million. NMFS does not have information to confirm or refute this 
figure. Furthermore, the ownership characteristics of these vessels 
has not been analyzed to determine if they are independently owned 
and operated or affiliated with a larger parent company. Because 
NMFS cannot quantify the number of small entities that may be 
indirectly affected by this action, or quantify the magnitude of 
those effects, NMFS concludes that it is possible that this action 
could have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    Measures taken to reduce impacts on small entities. The Council 
considered and adopted a series of exemptions to reduce the impacts 
of this action on small entities. The preferred alternative contains 
the following elements to reduce impacts on small entities: (1) 
Vessels using jig gear would be exempted from all aspects of the 
proposed action, (2) CDQ groups would be exempted from the A-B 
season split to prevent having to fish for small Atka mackerel CDQ 
amounts during two times of the year, and (3) vessels using hook-
and-line gear would be exempt from the closure to fishing inside 
critical habitat. The critical habitat closures would affect vessels 
using trawl gear only, (4) both jig and hook and line vessels would 
be exempted from future VMS requirements for the Atka mackerel 
fishery.

    As stated in the preceding paragraph and in the section entitled, 
``Business entities affected directly,'' all small entities in the Atka 
mackerel fishery (jig boats) are exempt from all aspects of this 
proposed action. NMFS is not aware of additional alternatives that 
could further mitigate this action's economic impact on small entities.
    NMFS initiated a formal section 7 consultation under the ESA for 
this action. A biological opinion is under preparation that will 
determine whether the fishing activities conducted under this rule are 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or 
threatened species under the jurisdiction of NMFS or to result in the 
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 3, 1998.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

    1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 679.20, paragraphs (a)(8) and (c)(2)(ii)(A) are revised 
to read as follows:


Sec. 679.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (8) BSAI Atka mackerel--(i) Jig gear. Vessels using jig gear will 
be allocated up to 2 percent of the TAC of Atka mackerel specified for 
the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and Bering Sea subarea, after 
subtraction of reserves, based on the following criteria:
    (A) The amount of Atka mackerel harvested by vessels using jig gear 
during recent fishing years;
    (B) The anticipated harvest of Atka mackerel by vessels using jig 
gear during the upcoming fishing year; and
    (C) The extent to which the jig-gear allocation will support the 
development of a jig-gear fishery for Atka mackerel while minimizing 
the amount of Atka mackerel TAC annually allocated to vessels using jig 
gear that remains unharvested at the end of the fishing year.
    (ii) Other gears. The remainder of the Atka mackerel TAC, after 
subtraction of the jig gear allocation and reserves, will be allocated 
to vessels using other authorized gear types.
    (A) Seasonal allowances. The Atka mackerel TAC specified for each 
subarea or district of the BSAI will be divided equally, after 
subtraction of the jig gear allocation and reserves, into two seasonal 
allowances corresponding to the A and B seasons defined at 
Sec. 679.23(e)(3).
    (B) Overages and underages. Within any fishing year, unharvested 
amounts of the A season allowance will be added to the B season 
allowance and harvests in excess of the A season allowance will be 
deducted from the B season allowance.
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) * * *

[[Page 60291]]

    (A) The interim specifications for pollock and Atka mackerel will 
be equal to the first seasonal allowance for pollock and Atka mackerel 
that is published in the proposed specifications under paragraph (c)(1) 
of this section.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 679.22, paragraphs (a)(7) and (a)(8) are revised to read 
as follows:


Sec. 679.22  Closures.

    (a) * * *
    (7) Steller sea lion protection areas, Bering Sea Subarea and 
Bogoslof District--(i) Year-round closures. Trawling is prohibited 
within 10 nm of each of the eight Steller sea lion rookeries shown in 
Table 4a of this part.
    (ii) Seasonal closures. During January 1 through April 15, or a 
date earlier than April 15, if adjusted under Sec. 679.20, trawling is 
prohibited within 20 nm of each of the six Steller sea lion rookeries 
shown in Table 4b of this part.
    (8) Steller sea lion protection areas, Aleutian Islands Subarea--
(i) 10-nm closures. Trawling is prohibited within 10 nm of each of the 
17 Steller sea lion rookeries shown in Table 5a of this part.
    (ii) 20-nm closures. Trawling is prohibited within 20 nm of each of 
the two Steller sea lion rookeries shown in Table 5b of this part.
    (iii) Western and Central Aleutian Islands critical habitat 
closures--(A) General. Trawling is prohibited within areas designated 
as Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Western or Central 
Districts of the AI (see Table 1, Table 2, and Figure 4 of 50 CFR part 
226) when the Regional Administrator announces by notification in the 
Federal Register that the criteria for a trawl closure in a district 
set out in paragraph (a)(8)(iii)(B) of this section has been met.
    (B) Criteria for closure. The trawl closures identified in 
paragraph (a)(8)(iii)(A) of this section will take effect when the 
Regional Administrator determines that the harvest of a seasonal 
allowance of Atka mackerel specified under Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) 
reaches the following percentage identified for each year and district:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Western     Central
                      Year                           (543)       (542)
                                                   (percent)   (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999............................................          65          80
2000............................................          57          67
2001............................................          48          46
2002 and after..................................          40          40
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (C) Duration of closure. A Steller sea lion critical habitat area 
trawl closure within a district will remain in effect until NMFS closes 
Atka mackerel to directed fishing within the same district.
    (D) CDQ fishing. Harvesting groundfish CDQ with trawl gear is 
prohibited within areas designated as Steller sea lion critical habitat 
in the Western and/or Central Districts of the AI (see Table 1, Table 
2, and Figure 4 of 50 CFR part 226) for an eligible vessel listed on an 
approved CDP after the CDQ group has harvested the percent of the 
annual Atka mackerel CDQ specified for the year and district at 
paragraph (a)(8)(iii)(B) of this section.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 679.23, paragraph (e)(3) is redesignated as paragraph 
(e)(4) and a new paragraph (e)(3) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 679.23  Seasons.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (3) Directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear. Subject to 
other provisions of this part, directed fishing for Atka mackerel with 
trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands Subarea is authorized only during 
the following two seasons:
    (i) A season. From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., April 15;
    (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, through 1200 
hours, A.l.t., November 1.
* * * * *
    5. In part 679, Table 5 is revised to read as follows: Table 5 to 
Part 679--Aleutian Islands Subarea Steller Sea Lion Protection Areas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                From                                                       To
           Name of Island            -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Latitude                    Longitude                     Latitude                    Longitude
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-nm NO TRANSIT ZONES described at part 227.12(a)(2) of this title
    a. Trawling Prohibited Year-
     Round Within 10 nm:
        Yunaska Island..............  52 deg.42.0'N                170 deg.38.5'W               52 deg.41.0'N                170 deg.34.5'W.
        Kasatochi Island............  52 deg.10.0'N                175 deg.31.0'W               52 deg.10.5'N                175 deg.29.0'W.
        Adak Island.................  51 deg.36.5'N                176 deg.59.0'W               51 deg.38.0'N                176 deg.59.5'W.
        Gramp Rock..................  51 deg.29.0'N                178 deg.20.5'W               ...........................  ...........................
        Tag Island..................  51 deg.33.5'N                178 deg.34.5'W               ...........................  ...........................
        Ulak Island.................  51 deg.20.0'N                178 deg.57.0'W               51 deg.18.5'N                178 deg.59.5'W.
        Semisopochnoi...............  51 deg.58.5'N                179 deg.45.5'E               51 deg.57.0'N                179 deg.46.0'E.
        Semisopochnoi...............  52 deg.01.5'N                179 deg.37.5'E               52 deg.01.5'N                179 deg.39.0'E.
        Amchitka Island.............  51 deg.22.5'N                179 deg.28.0'E               51 deg.21.5'N                179 deg.25.0'E.
        Amchitka Is/Column Rocks....  51 deg.32.5'N                178 deg.49.5'E               ...........................  ...........................
        Ayugadak Point..............  51 deg.45.5'N                178 deg.24.5'E               ...........................  ...........................
        Kiska Island................  51 deg.57.5'N                177 deg.21.0'E               51 deg.56.5'N                177 deg.20.0'E.
        Kiska Island................  51 deg.52.5'N                177 deg.13.0'E               51 deg.53.5'N                177 deg.12.0'E.
        Buldir Island...............  52 deg.20.5'N                175 deg.57.0'E               52 deg.23.5'N                175 deg.51.0'E.
        Agattu Is./Gillion Pt.......  52 deg.24.0'N                173 deg.21.5'E
        Agattu Island...............  52 deg.23.5'N                173 deg.43.5'E               52 deg.22.0'N                173 deg.41.0'E.
        Attu Island.................  52 deg.54.5'N                172 deg.28.5'E               52 deg.57.5'N                172 deg.31.5'E.
    b. Trawling Prohibited Year-
     Round Within 20 nm:
        Seguam Island...............  52 deg.21.0'N                172 deg.35.0'W               52 deg.21.0'N                172 deg.33.0'W.
        Agligadak Island............  52 deg.06.5'N                172 deg.54.0'W               ...........................  ...........................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Each rookery extends in a clockwise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates, along the shoreline at mean lower low water, to the
  second set of coordinates; if only one set of geographic coordinates is listed, the rookery extends around the entire shoreline of the island at mean
  lower low water.

[FR Doc. 98-29945 Filed 11-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P