[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 58727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25170]



[[Page 58727]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 000211040-0040-01; I.D. 092100C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Cod 
in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

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

ACTION: Proposed reallocation, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Based on currently available information, NMFS has determined 
that the trawl catcher/processor sector will not be able to harvest its 
entire share of the Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). NMFS proposes 
to make the projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor 
sector share of the Pacific cod TAC available to the trawl catcher 
vessel sector. NMFS also is proposing to reallocate the projected 
unused amount of Pacific cod from the trawl catcher/processor sector to 
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI. NMFS invites 
public comments, particularly from the trawl catcher vessel sector, on 
NMFS's proposal to reallocate the unused amount of Pacific cod from the 
trawl catcher/processor sector to vessels using hook-and-line and pot 
gear. The proposed action is necessary to allow the 2000 TAC of Pacific 
cod to be harvested.

DATES: Comments must be received at the following address no later than 
4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, October 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator for Sustainable Fisheries, Alaska Region, NMFS, 709 West 
9th, room 453, Juneau, AK 99801 or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, 
Attention: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew N. Smoker, 907-586-7210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fishery in the 
BSAI exclusive economic zone according to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 
(FMP) prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council under 
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. Regulations governing fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance with 
the FMP appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii), the Final 2000 Harvest 
Specifications of Groundfish for the BSAI (65 FR 8282, February 18, 
2000) established the amount of the 2000 Pacific cod TAC as 193,000 
metric tons (mt). Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 3,571 mt was 
allocated to vessels using jig gear, 91,048 mt to vessels using hook-
and-line or pot gear, and 83,905 mt to vessels using trawl gear. The 
share of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear was further 
allocated 50 percent to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/
processor vessels (Sec.  679.20 (a)(7)(i)(B)).
    As of September 2, 2000, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), has determined that 14,150 mt remain in the 
trawl catcher/processor sector share and projects that the trawl 
catcher/processor sector will not harvest 9,000 mt of that share during 
the remainder of 2000. The Regional Administrator has also determined 
that 864 mt remain in the trawl catcher sector share.
    Pursuant to Sec. 679.20 (a)(7)(ii)(A), NMFS is required to make the 
projected unused amount of the trawl catcher/processor sector share of 
Pacific cod available to the trawl catcher vessel sector before making 
it available to other gear types. From the years 1997 through 1999 
after September 1, the trawl catcher vessel sector of the fishery has 
taken about 200 mt or less per year in the Pacific cod target and 
averaged about 800 mt of catch of Pacific cod in all targets. Current 
inseason data supports a projection of 800 mt for the catcher vessel 
sector. At the time of this proposal no evidence exists that trawl 
catcher vessel effort in the Pacific cod fishery will increase beyond 
what has occurred on the average during the last 3 years.
    In accordance with Sec. 679.20 (a)(7)(ii)(C), NMFS proposes to 
reallocate the projected unused amount (9,000 mt) of Pacific cod from 
the trawl catcher/processor sector to vessels using hook-and-line or 
pot gear.
    NMFS invites public comments, particularly from the trawl catcher 
vessel sector, on (1) NMFS' determination that the trawl catcher/
processor sector will not be able to harvest its share of the Pacific 
cod TAC, on (2) whether the catcher vessel sector would be able to 
harvest the projected unused catcher/processor sector share, and (3) 
NMFS' proposal to reallocate the unused amount of Pacific cod from the 
trawl catcher/processor sector to hook-and-line and pot gear sectors.

Classification

    This action is taken under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from Office 
of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 26, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25170 Filed 9-27-00; 3:47 pm]
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