[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 69219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32090]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 113099B]
RIN 0648-AL30


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibition 
of Nonpelagic Trawl Gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Directed Pollock Fishery

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 57 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (BSAI). 
This amendment would prohibit the use of nonpelagic trawl gear in the 
directed pollock fishery in the BSAI. Comments from the public are 
requested.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 57 must be submitted by February 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendments should be submitted to Sue 
Salveson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: 
Lori Gravel. Comments may also be hand delivered or sent by courier to 
the Federal Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of 
Amendment 57 and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/
Initial Flexibility Analysis prepared for the amendment by the Council 
and NMFS are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, 605 West 4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-
2252; telephone 907-271-2809. Comments will not be accepted if 
submitted via e-mail or Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Mollett, 907-586-7462 or 
[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.
    The Council adopted Amendment 57 at its June 1998 meeting. If 
approved by NMFS, this amendment would prohibit the use of nonpelagic 
trawl gear in the directed pollock fishery in the BSAI and would reduce 
the bycatch limit of red king crab by 3,000 animals. The Council also 
recommended limits for other protected species, including halibut, C. 
opilio crab, and C. bairdi. NMFS may propose lowering these limits in a 
future proposed rule to implement Amendment 57. Amendment 57 is 
necessary to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Act mandate that Regional 
Councils must take measures to reduce bycatch in the Nation's 
fisheries.
    Public comments are being solicited on the amendment through the 
end of the comment period stated in this NOA; a proposed rule that 
would implement the amendment may be published in the Federal Register 
for public comment following NMFS' evaluation under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be 
received by the end of the comment period on the amendment in order to 
be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. 
All comments received by the end of the comment period on the 
amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or to the 
proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision; 
comments received after that date will not be considered in the 
approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. To be considered, 
comments must be received by 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: December 6, 1999.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32090 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
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