[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 233 (Monday, December 6, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68054-68055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31555]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990720198-9307-02; I.D. 070799B]
RIN 0648-AM36


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Maximum 
Retainable Bycatch Percentages, Gulf of Alaska

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues a regulatory amendment that separates shortraker 
and rougheye (SR/RE) rockfish from the aggregated rockfish species 
group for purposes of calculating maximum retainable bycatch (MRB) and 
reduces the percentages for SR/RE rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory 
Area (ERA) of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries. This 
action is necessary to slow the harvest rate of SR/RE thereby reducing 
the potential for overfishing. This action is intended to further the 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 
Alaska (FMP).

DATES: Effective January 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact 
Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/FRFA) prepared for 
this action may be obtained from NMFS, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori 
Gravel or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at 907-586-7228.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in 
the exclusive economic zone of the GOA is managed by NMFS according to 
the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) under authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Fishing by US 
vessels is governed by regulations implementing the FMP at 50 CFR part 
679. General regulations governing Federal fisheries are also found at 
50 CFR part 600.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(e) establish MRB percentages for 
groundfish species or species groups that are closed to directed 
fishing. The MRB amount is calculated as a percentage of the species 
that are closed to directed fishing relative to the amount of other 
species retained on board the vessel that are open for directed 
fishing. The MRB percentages serve as a management tool to slow down 
the harvest rates of non-target species by limiting the amount that can 
be retained on board a vessel. This total also is used to minimize 
regulatory discard of non-target species when they are taken incidental 
to other directed fisheries because MRBs avoid or delay placing a 
species on ``prohibited'' status, which prohibits any retention. The 
MRB percentages reflect a balance between slowing harvest rates and 
minimizing the potential for undesirable discard. Although directed 
fishing for a species or species group may be prohibited under 50 CFR 
679.20(d)(1)(iii), fishermen may ``top off'' their retained catch of 
these species by deliberately targeting the incidental species up to 
the MRB amount.
    This final rule makes the following regulatory changes: (1) Removes 
SR/RE rockfish from the GOA-wide aggregated rockfish species group for 
deep-water complex species (primarily Pacific ocean perch and 
sablefish), (2) Creates a new species group for SR/RE rockfish in the 
ERA of the GOA for deep-water complex species, and (3) Sets the new SR/
RE rockfish MRB at 7 percent relative to deep-water complex species. 
This final rule does not change the MRB of 5 percent for SR/RE rockfish 
in the GOA-wide aggregated rockfish category relative to shallow-water 
complex species.
    Additional information on this action is contained in the preamble 
to the proposed rule and the EA/RIR/FRFA. The proposed rule was 
published in the Federal Register on August 3, 1999 (64 FR 42080), and 
the public comment period ended on September 2, 1999. NMFS received no 
comments on the proposed rule and no changes from the proposed rule are 
made in this final rule.

Compliance Guide for Small Entities

    In compliance with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, NMFS is publishing this paragraph as a compliance 
guide that explains how small entities must comply with the regulatory 
changes made by this final rule. This rule changes the maximum 
retainable amounts of SR/RE rockfish in the ERA of the GOA and affects 
all small entities that participate in groundfish fisheries in the ERA 
of the GOA and experience incidental catch of SR/RE rockfish. Affected 
fishermen should be aware that the MRB rates have changed for SR/RE in 
the ERA of the GOA. Affected fishermen must comply with the regulations 
concerning MRB rates at Sec. 679.20(e) and Table 10 to part 679.

Classification

    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), 
determined that this final rule is necessary for the conservation and 
management of the groundfish fisheries of the GOA. The Regional 
Administrator also determined that this final rule is consistent with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. This action has been 
determined to be not significant for purposes of E.O. 12866.
    NMFS prepared a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) that 
describes the impact this final rule will

[[Page 68055]]

have on small entities. A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). NMFS received no comments on the Interim Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis prepared for the proposed rule for this action.
    This action is being taken because harvest of SR/RE has 
significantly exceeded the total allowable catch (TAC) for SR/RE in the 
ERA of the GOA in each of the last 4 years. In 1998, while 
participating in the rockfish fisheries, 23 small trawl catcher vessels 
and 17 catcher/processors accounted for 772 mt of SR/RE harvest in the 
GOA (roughly 45 percent of the total harvest of SR/RE). Also in 1998, 
484 small hook-and-line catcher vessels harvested 710 mt of SR/RE while 
participating in the sablefish fishery. Of the total 1,482 mt of SR/RE 
harvested by these two sectors, only 1,064 mt was actually retained 
(about 72 percent of the total catch amount). About 50 percent of the 
SR/RE harvested was in SR/RE directed hauls. These hauls, composed 
primarily of SR/RE, are likely to be ``top off'' hauls, some of which 
would no longer be available given the reduced ability to ``top off'' 
at historic levels. Any marginal loss in the short-term due to reduced 
retention of SR/RE would be offset by the long-term viability of the 
fishery by harvesting at maximum acceptable biological levels.
    The preferred alternative, which this rule implements, of reducing 
the MRB for SR/RE in the ERA of the GOA was found to be the least 
restrictive on small entities while maximizing the harvest of SR/RE 
within the TAC amount. Under the status quo alternative, fishing 
mortality of SR/RE would continue at levels above the acceptable 
biological catch and would likely cause adverse impacts to the fishery 
resulting in reduced stocks; therefore, the alternative was rejected. 
The alternative of reducing the MRB in all areas of the GOA also was 
rejected because it was too restrictive on entities fishing in areas 
that have not exceeded acceptable harvest amounts within the last 3 
years.
    This final rule does not contain reporting, recordkeeping, or 
compliance requirements and no relevant Federal rules duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with this final rule.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: November 30, 1999.
Garry F. Mayer,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is 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 part 679, Table 10 to Part 679--Gulf of Alaska Retainable 
Percentages is revised to read as follows:
* * * * *

                                                                  Table 10 to Part 679.--Gulf of Alaska Retainable Percentages
                                                                                 [Incidental Catch Species \1\]
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                                                                                                                                                                             Aggregated
                                                    Pollock  Pacific    Deep      Rex    Flathead   Shallow  Arrowtooth  Sablefish   Aggregated   SR/RE   DSR SEO    Atka      forage     Other
                                                               cod    flatfish    sole     sole    flatfish                           rockfish   ERA \3\    \4\    mackerel   fish \5\   species
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\2\-----------------------------------------------------
                 BASIS SPECIES \1\
Pollock...........................................   \6\ na       20        20       20        20        20         35          1           5     \6\ na       10        20          2        20
Pacific cod.......................................       20   \6\ na        20       20        20        20         35          1           5     \6\ na       10        20          2        20
Deep flatfish.....................................       20       20    \6\ na       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Rex sole..........................................       20       20        20   \6\ na        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Flathead sole.....................................       20       20        20       20    \6\ na        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Shallow flatfish..................................       20       20        20       20        20    \6\ na         35          1           5     \6\ na       10        20          2        20
Arrowtooth........................................        5        5         0        0         0         0     \6\ na          0           0          0        0         0          2         0
Sablefish.........................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35     \6\ na          15          7        1        20          2        20
Pacific ocean perch...............................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Shortraker/rougheye...............................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15     \6\ na        1        20          2        20
Other rockfish....................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Northern rockfish.................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Pelagic rockfish..................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
DSR-SEO...........................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7   \6\ na        20          2        20
Thornyhead........................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          7          15          7        1        20          2        20
Atka mackerel.....................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          1           5     \6\ na       10    \6\ na          2        20
Other species.....................................       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          1           5     \6\ na       10        20          2    \6\ na
Aggregated amount of non-groundfish species.......       20       20        20       20        20        20         35          1           5     \6\ na       10        20          2        20
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\1\ For definition of species, see Table 1 of the GOA groundfish specifications.
\2\ Aggregated rockfish means rockfish defined at Sec.  679.2 except in the Southeast Outside District where demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) is a separate category and in the Eastern Regulatory
  Area where shortraker/rougheye (SR/RE) rockfish is a separate category for the deep water complex only.
\3\ SR/RE ERA=shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area.
\4\ SEO=Southeast Outside District.
\5\ Forage fish are defined at Sec.  679.2.
\6\ na=not applicable.

[FR Doc. 99-31555 Filed 12-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P