[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 190 (Friday, September 29, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58501-58502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25036]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 091900B]
RIN 0648-A027


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Rebuilding 
Overfished Fisheries

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted for Secretarial review Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP). 
This amendment contains a rebuilding plan for the overfished stock of 
Bering Sea snow crab. It is an action intended to ensure that 
conservation and management measures continue to be based upon the best 
scientific information available and enhance the Council's ability to 
achieve, on a continuing basis, optimum yield from fisheries under its 
authority.

DATES: Comments on the amendment must be submitted on or before 
November 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to Sue Salveson, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel. 
Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) to 907-586-7465. Comments 
will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail or Internet. Courier or 
hand delivery of comments may be made to NMFS in the Federal Building, 
Room 453, Juneau, AK 99801. Copies of Amendment 14 to the FMP, and the 
Environmental Assessment prepared for the amendment are available from 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Ave., Suite 
306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252; telephone 907-271-2809.

[[Page 58502]]


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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS declared the Bering Sea stock of snow 
crab (Chionoecetes opilio) overfished on September 24, 1999, because 
the spawning stock biomass was below the minimum stock size threshold 
defined in Amendment 7 to the FMP (64 FR 11390, March 9, 1999). 
Amendment 7 specified objective and measurable criteria for identifying 
when all of the crab fisheries covered by the FMP are overfished or 
when overfishing is occurring.
    On September 24, 1999, NMFS notified the Council that the stock was 
overfished (64 FR 54791, October 8, 1999). The Council then took action 
to develop a rebuilding plan within 1 year of notification as required 
by section 304(e)(3) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). In June 2000, the Council 
adopted Amendment 14, the rebuilding plan, to accomplish the purposes 
outlined in the national standard guidelines to rebuild the overfished 
stock. Amendment 14 specifies a time period for rebuilding the stock 
intended to satisfy the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under 
the rebuilding plan, the Bering Sea snow crab stock is estimated to 
rebuild, with a 50 percent probability, within 10 years. The stock will 
be considered ``rebuilt'' when it attains the maximum sustainable yield 
stock size level for 2 consecutive years.
    The rebuilding plan consists of a framework that references the 
State of Alaska's harvest strategy, bycatch control measures, and 
habitat protection measures. The plan uses the harvest strategy 
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The harvest 
strategy was reviewed and adopted by the Alaska Board of Fisheries. 
Section 8.3 of the FMP defers development of harvest strategies to the 
State of Alaska, with oversight by NMFS and the Council. The rebuilding 
harvest strategy should result in more spawning biomass because more 
large male crab would be conserved and fewer juveniles and females 
would die due to incidental catch and discard mortality. More spawning 
biomass would be expected to produce larger year-classes when 
environmental conditions are favorable. Protection of habitat and 
reduction of bycatch may reduce mortality of juvenile crabs, thus 
allowing a higher percentage of each year-class to contribute to 
spawning and future landings.
    The Council prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Amendment 
14 that describes the management background, the purpose and need for 
action, the management alternatives, and the environmental and the 
socio-economic impacts of the alternatives. A copy of the EA can be 
obtained from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires that each regional fishery 
management council submit each 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 or 
FMP amendment, immediately publish a notification in the Federal 
Register that the amendment is available for public review and comment. 
This action constitutes such notice for FMP Amendment 14. NMFS will 
consider the public comments received during the comment period in 
determining whether to approve this FMP amendment. To be considered, a 
comment must be received by close of business on the last day of the 
comment period (see DATES), regardless of the comment's postmark or 
transmission date.

    Dated: September 25, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25036 Filed 9-28-00; 8:45 am]
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