[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44502-44503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21097]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 980212037-8142-02; I.D. 080499A]
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: Selection of an authorized distributor.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the selection of Northwest Food Strategies 
(NFS) as an authorized distributor for purposes of distributing Pacific 
salmon to economically disadvantaged individuals under the prohibited 
species donation (PSD) program. These salmon are caught incidentally 
during groundfish fishing operations off Alaska. This action is 
necessary to comply with provisions of the PSD Program.

DATES: Effective August 16, 1999, through August 16, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD Permit for Salmon 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 50/50 
and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR) 
prepared for the amendments may be obtained from the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Salveson, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic 
zone of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area (BSAI) is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Area and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Gulf of Alaska (FMPs). These FMPs were prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.) (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). Regulations governing the Alaska groundfish fisheries 
appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.
    NMFS approved Amendments 26/29 to the BSAI and GOA FMPs, 
respectively, on July 10, 1996, and implemented a Salmon Donation 
Program. These amendments were superseded by Amendments 50/50 to the 
FMPs, which were approved by NMFS on May 6, 1998, and authorize the PSD 
Program for salmon and Pacific halibut. A final rule implementing 
Amendments 50/50 was published 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 rules for 
Amendments 26/29 and 50/50 (May 16, 1996, 61 FR 24750 and March 4, 
1998, 63 FR 10583, respectively).
    Regulations at Sec. 679.26 authorize the voluntary distribution of 
Pacific salmon taken incidentally in the groundfish trawl fisheries off 
Alaska 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 Sec. 679.2, based on the information submitted by applicants 
under Sec. 679.26. After review of qualified applicants, NMFS must 
announce the selection of authorized distributor(s) in the Federal 
Register and issue the selected distributor(s) PSD permits.
    On June 29, 1999, the Regional Administrator received an 
application from NFS. This application was submitted to renew an 
existing PSD permit issued to NFS on August 16, 1996 (August 16, 1996, 
61 FR 42591), which authorized the voluntary distribution of Pacific 
salmon taken incidentally in groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska 
through August 16, 1999. The Regional Administrator 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 to distribute salmon taken incidentally in the Alaska 
groundfish trawl fisheries. NFS has been coordinating the distribution 
of salmon taken incidentally in these fisheries since 1993 under 
exempted fishing permits and the Salmon Donation Program. NFS employs 
independent seafood quality control experts to ensure product quality 
and has received support from cold storage facilities and common 
carriers servicing the areas where Pacific salmon are donated.
    2. The number of harvesters and the quantity of salmon that 
applicants can effectively administer. The number of processors and 
vessels currently participating in the PSD program administered by NSF 
include: 4 shoreside processors, 11 catcher/processor vessels, and 47 
catcher vessels. According to its application, NFS has the capacity to 
receive and distribute salmon from as many as 40 processors and their 
associated catcher vessels. In 1996, 1997, and 1998, NFS processed 
102,735 lbs, 212,143 lbs, and 93,751 lbs, respectively, of salmon for 
distribution under a food bank program. NMFS does not have information 
to convert accurately these weights to numbers of salmon. Nonetheless, 
assuming a recovery rate of 30 percent and an average recovered weight 
of 8 lbs per fish, the above poundages could represent between 39,000 
and 88,400 fish.

[[Page 44503]]

    3. The anticipated level of salmon incidental catch based on salmon 
incidental catch from previous years. During 1997 and 1998, about 
118,000 and 128,000 salmon, respectively, were caught incidentally in 
the BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries. Another 18,500 and 30,000 salmon, 
respectively, were taken in the GOA trawl fisheries.
    4. The potential number of vessels and processors participating in 
the groundfish trawl fisheries. In 1997, about 8 shoreside processors, 
59 trawl catcher/processors, 3 motherships, and 113 trawl catcher 
vessels participated in the BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries. During the 
same year, about 18 shoreside processors, 29 trawl catcher/processors, 
and 174 trawl catcher vessels participated in the GOA groundfish trawl 
fisheries.
    This PSD permit is in effect for a 3-year period from the 
publication date of this notice unless suspended or revoked. It may not 
be transferred; however it may be renewed following the application 
procedures in Sec. 679.26.
    If the authorized distributor modifies any information on the PSD 
permit application submitted under Sec. 679.26(b)(1)(xi) or 
(b)(1)(xiii), the authorized distributor must submit a modified list of 
participants or a modified list of delivery locations to the Regional 
Administrator.
    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., 1408 et seq., and 3631 et seq.

    Dated: August 9, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-21097 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F