[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4719-4724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1910]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 021209299-2299-01; I.D. 112502B]


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries off the West Coast 
States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 
Groundfish Fishery Management Measures; Correction

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

ACTION: Emergency rule; correction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document contains corrections to the emergency rule 
published on January 7, 2003 for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.

DATES: Effective January 27, 2003 through February 28, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Goen or Carrie Nordeen (NMFS, 
Northwest Region), 206-526-6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The specifications and management measures 
for the 2003 fishing year (January 1 through December 31, 2003) are 
initially being published in the Federal Register as an emergency rule 
for January 1 through February 28, 2003 (68 FR 908, January 7, 2003), 
and as a proposed rule for March 1 through December 31, 2003 (68 FR 
936, January 7, 2003). The final rule for March 1 through December 31, 
2003, will be published in the Federal Register after the public 
comment period ends on February 7, 2003.
    Management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, 
effective January 1 through February 28, 2003 (68 FR 908, January 7, 
2003), contained errors in the trawl trip limit tables, errors in 
management area coordinates for both commercial and recreational 
fisheries, and technical errors that require correction.
    The limited entry trawl trip limit table, Table 3 (North)- line 23, 
is corrected to clarify the yellowtail rockfish small footrope trawl 
trip limit north of 40[deg]10' N. latitude (lat.). The original 
language was confusing, and this correction adds a section to emphasize 
the limits to the amount of yellowtail that can be harvested if it's 
not associated with flatfish. Coastwide, the whiting trip limits, Table 
3 (North)- line 14 and Table 3 (South)- line 18, are corrected to allow 
only mid-water trawling for Pacific whiting inside the rockfish 
conservation area (RCA) during the primary season (May through August). 
This is because harvest of whiting outside of the primary season is 
only allowed as an incidental catch in other groundfish fisheries, 
which are not supposed to occur in the RCA. Regulatory language for the 
recreational groundfish fishery off California is corrected to prohibit 
the retention of bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish and 
cowcod in the Rockfish, Cabezon, Greenling Complex (RCG Complex) bag 
limits south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. This prohibition was explained in 
the preamble to the proposed rule, which was published in the same 
issue of the Federal Register with the emergency rule which this rule 
corrects. The emergency rule crossed referenced the proposed rule for 
the rationale for the management measures.
    Coordinates for the following lines are corrected in this notice: 
the 50-fm (91-m) depth contour used between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and 
34[deg]27' N. lat. as an eastern boundary for the trawl RCA in the 
months of January and February; the 60-fm (110-m) depth contour used 
between 40[deg]10' N. lat. and 34[deg]27' N. lat. as an eastern 
boundary for the trawl RCA in March through October; the 100-fm (183-m) 
depth contour used north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. as an eastern

[[Page 4720]]

boundary for the trawl RCA and as a western boundary for the non-trawl 
RCA; the 100-fm (183-m) depth contour used between 34[deg]27' N. lat. 
and the U.S. border with Mexico as an eastern boundary for the trawl 
RCA; the 150-fm (274-m) depth contour used between 40[deg]10' N. lat. 
and the U.S. border with Mexico as a western boundary for the trawl RCA 
and used between 38[deg] N. lat. and the U.S. border with Mexico as a 
western boundary for the non-trawl RCA; and the Winter Petrale Boundary 
(explained at 68 FR, 936, January 7, 2003) used north of 38[deg] N. 
lat. as a western boundary for the trawl RCA and modified to allow 
fishing for petrale in winter months of January, February, November, 
and December.
    The Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA), an ``L-shaped'' 
area off Washington closed to recreational fishing for groundfish and 
halibut, is corrected to read an ``L-shaped'' rather than a ``C-
shaped'' area. The YRCA is proposed to become a ``C-shaped'' area from 
March - December 2003 (68 FR 936, January 7, 2003). The YRCA 
coordinates are also corrected by rearranging them to read 
consecutively in the right order from top to bottom.

Technical Corrections

    The emergency rule for January 1 through February 28, 2003 (68 FR 
908, January 7, 2003), contained errors in references to regulatory 
section 50 CFR 660.304. The 2003 emergency rule specifications and 
management measures should refer to the Cowcod Conservation Areas 
(CCAs) in Sec.  660.304(i) not in Sec.  660.304(c).
    This document corrects the errors and re-publishes the limited 
entry trawl trip limit tables (Table 3 (North) and Table 3 (South)).

Corrections

    In the rule FR Doc. 02-32755, in the issue of Tuesday, January 7, 
2003 (68 FR 908), under IV. NMFS Actions, make the following 
corrections:
Under A. General Definitions and Provisions:
    1. On page 912, in columns 2 and 3, paragraphs (19)(a) and (b) are 
corrected to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (19) * * *
    (a) Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. Recreational fishing for 
groundfish is prohibited within the YRCA. It is unlawful for 
recreational fishing vessels to take, retain, possess, or land 
groundfish inside the YRCA. The YRCA is an ``L-shaped'' area off the 
northern Washington coast that is bound by straight lines connecting 
all of the following points in the order listed:
    48[deg]18' N. lat., 125[deg]18' W. long.;
    48[deg]18' N. lat., 125[deg]11' W. long.;
    48[deg]04' N. lat., 125[deg]11' W. long.;
    48[deg]04' N. lat., 124[deg]59' W. long.;
    48[deg]00' N. lat., 124[deg]59' W. long.;
    48[deg]00' N. lat., 125[deg]18' W. long.;
    and connecting back to 48[deg]18' N. lat., 125[deg]18' W. long.
    (b) Cowcod Conservation Areas. The coordinates of the Cowcod 
Conservation Areas (CCAs) are defined at Sec.  660.304(i). Recreational 
and commercial fishing for groundfish is prohibited within the CCAs, 
except that recreational and commercial fishing for rockfish and 
lingcod is permitted in waters inside 20 fathoms (36.9 m). It is 
unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish inside the 
CCAs, except for rockfish and lingcod taken in waters inside the 20-
fathom (36.9 m) depth contour, when those waters are open to fishing. 
Commercial fishing vessels may transit through the Western CCA with 
their gear stowed and groundfish on board only in a corridor through 
the Western CCA bounded on the north by the latitude line at 
33[deg]00'30'' N. lat., and bounded on the south by the latitude line 
at 32[deg]59'30'' N. lat.
* * * * *
    2. On page 914, in column 3, line 49, number (81) is corrected to 
read as follows:
    ``(81) 46[deg]17.52' N. lat., 124[deg]35.35' W. long.;''
    3. On page 917, in column 3, paragraph (19)(e)(v) introductory text 
and on page 918, paragraphs (109) through (129) are corrected and 
paragraphs (130) through (150) are correctly added to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (v) The Winter Petrale Boundary used north of 38[deg] N. lat. as a 
western boundary for the trawl RCA, modified to allow fishing for 
petrale in winter months of January, February, November, and December, 
is defined by straight lines connecting all of the following points in 
the order stated:
* * * * *
    (109) 41[deg]47.79' N. lat., 124[deg]29.52' W. long.;
    (110) 41[deg]21.00' N. lat., 124[deg]29.00' W. long.;
    (111) 41[deg]11.00' N. lat., 124[deg]23.00' W. long.;
    (112) 41[deg]5.00' N. lat., 124[deg]23.00' W. long.;
    (113) 40[deg]54.00' N. lat., 124[deg]26.00' W. long.;
    (114) 40[deg]50.00' N. lat., 124[deg]26.00' W. long.;
    (115) 40[deg]44.51' N. lat., 124[deg]30.83' W. long.;
    (116) 40[deg]40.61' N. lat., 124[deg]32.06' W. long.;
    (117) 40[deg]37.36' N. lat., 124[deg]29.41' W. long.;
    (118) 40[deg]35.64' N. lat., 124[deg]30.47' W. long.;
    (119) 40[deg]37.43' N. lat., 124[deg]37.10' W. long.;
    (120) 40[deg]36.00' N. lat., 124[deg]40.00' W. long.;
    (121) 40[deg]31.59' N. lat., 124[deg]40.72' W. long.;
    (122) 40[deg]24.64' N. lat., 124[deg]35.62' W. long.;
    (123) 40[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]32.00' W. long.;
    (124) 40[deg]23.39' N. lat., 124[deg]28.70' W. long.;
    (125) 40[deg]22.28' N. lat., 124[deg]25.25' W. long.;
    (126) 40[deg]21.90' N. lat., 124[deg]25.17' W. long.;
    (127) 40[deg]22.00' N. lat., 124[deg]28.00' W. long.;
    (128) 40[deg]21.35' N. lat., 124[deg]29.53' W. long.;
    (129) 40[deg]19.75' N. lat., 124[deg]28.98' W. long.;
    (130) 40[deg]18.15' N. lat., 124[deg]27.01' W. long.;
    (131) 40[deg]17.45' N. lat., 124[deg]25.49' W. long.;
    (132) 40[deg]18.00' N. lat., 124[deg]24.00' W. long.;
    (133) 40[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]26.00' W. long.;
    (134) 40[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.00' W. long.;
    (135) 40[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]36.00' W. long.;
    (136) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]22.75' W. long.;
    (137) 40[deg]03.00' N. lat., 124[deg]14.75' W. long.;
    (138) 39[deg]49.25' N. lat., 124[deg]06.00' W. long.;
    (138) 39[deg]34.75' N. lat., 123[deg]58.50' W. long.;
    (140) 39[deg]03.07' N. lat., 123[deg]57.81' W. long.;
    (141) 38[deg]52.25' N. lat., 123[deg]56.25' W. long.;
    (142) 38[deg]41.42' N. lat., 123[deg]46.75' W. long.;
    (143) 38[deg]39.47' N. lat., 123[deg]46.59' W. long.;
    (144) 38[deg]35.25' N. lat., 123[deg]42.00' W. long.;
    (145) 38[deg]19.97' N. lat., 123[deg]32.95' W. long.;
    (146) 38[deg]15.00' N. lat., 123[deg]26.50' W. long.;
    (147) 38[deg]08.09' N. lat., 123[deg]23.39' W. long.;
    (148) 38[deg]10.08' N. lat., 123[deg]26.82' W. long.;
    (149) 38[deg]04.08' N. lat., 123[deg]32.12' W. long.; and
    (150) 38[deg]00.00' N. lat., 123[deg]29.85' W. long.
* * * * *

[[Page 4721]]

    4. On page 919,
    a. In column 1, the last two lines, number (34) is corrected to 
read as follows:
    ``(34) 34[deg]27.00' N. lat., 120[deg]36.00' W. long.;''
    b. In column 3, line 3, number (34) is corrected to read as 
follows:
    ``(34) 34[deg]27.00' N. lat., 120[deg]36.00' W. long.;''
    c. In column 3, line 12, number (1) is corrected to read as 
follows:
    ``(1) 34[deg]27.00' N. lat., 120[deg]39.00' W. long.;''
    5. On page 920, in column 1, line 9, paragraph (19)(e)(ix) is 
corrected to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (ix) The 150-fm (274-m) depth contour used between 40[deg]10' N. 
lat. and the U.S. border with Mexico as a western boundary for the 
trawl RCA and used between 38[deg] N. lat. and the U.S. border with 
Mexico as a western boundary for the non-trawl RCA is defined by 
straight lines connecting all of the following points in the order 
stated:
    (1) 40[deg]10.01' N. lat., 124[deg]22.90' W. long.;
    (2) 40[deg]7.00' N. lat., 124[deg]19.00' W. long.;
    (3) 40[deg]8.10' N. lat., 124[deg]16.70' W. long.;
    (4) 40[deg]5.90' N. lat., 124[deg]17.77' W. long.;
    (5) 40[deg]1.46' N. lat., 124[deg]12.85' W. long.;
    (6) 40[deg]4.32' N. lat., 124[deg]10.33' W. long.;
    (7) 40[deg]3.21' N. lat., 124[deg]8.83' W. long.;
    (8) 40[deg]1.33' N. lat., 124[deg]8.70' W. long.;
    (9) 39[deg]58.51' N. lat., 124[deg]12.44' W. long.;
    (10) 39[deg]55.73' N. lat., 124[deg]7.49' W. long.;
    (11) 39[deg]34.75' N. lat., 123[deg]58.50' W. long.;
    (12) 39[deg]03.07' N. lat., 123[deg]57.81' W. long.;
    (13) 38[deg]54.00' N. lat., 123[deg]57.00' W. long.;
    (14) 38[deg]08.09' N. lat., 123[deg]23.39' W. long.;
    (15) 38[deg]10.08' N. lat., 123[deg]26.82' W. long.;
    (16) 38[deg]04.08' N. lat., 123[deg]32.12' W. long.;
    (17) 37[deg]59.73' N. lat., 123[deg]29.85' W. long.;
    (18) 37[deg]51.46' N. lat., 123[deg]25.16' W. long.;
    (19) 37[deg]44.06' N. lat., 123[deg]11.44' W. long.;
    (20) 37[deg]35.26' N. lat., 123[deg]2.29' W. long.;
    (21) 37[deg]14.00' N. lat., 122[deg]50.00' W. long.;
    (22) 37[deg]1.00' N. lat., 122[deg]36.00' W. long.;
    (23) 36[deg]58.07' N. lat., 122[deg]28.35' W. long.;
    (24) 37[deg]0.71' N. lat., 122[deg]24.53' W. long.;
    (25) 36[deg]57.50' N. lat., 122[deg]24.98' W. long.;
    (26) 36[deg]58.38' N. lat., 122[deg]21.85' W. long.;
    (27) 36[deg]55.85' N. lat., 122[deg]21.95' W. long.;
    (28) 36[deg]52.86' N. lat., 122[deg]12.89' W. long.;
    (29) 36[deg]48.71' N. lat., 122[deg]9.28' W. long.;
    (30) 36[deg]46.65' N. lat., 122[deg]4.10' W. long.;
    (31) 36[deg]51.00' N. lat., 121[deg]58.00' W. long.;
    (32) 36[deg]44.00' N. lat., 121[deg]59.00' W. long.;
    (33) 36[deg]38.00' N. lat., 122[deg]2.00' W. long.;
    (34) 36[deg]26.00' N. lat., 121[deg]59.50' W. long.;
    (35) 36[deg]22.00' N. lat., 122[deg]1.00' W. long.;
    (36) 36[deg]19.00' N. lat., 122[deg]5.00' W. long.;
    (37) 36[deg]14.00' N. lat., 121[deg]58.00' W. long.;
    (38) 36[deg]10.61' N. lat., 121[deg]44.51' W. long.;
    (39) 35[deg]50.53' N. lat., 121[deg]29.93' W. long.;
    (40) 35[deg]46.00' N. lat., 121[deg]28.00' W. long.;
    (41) 35[deg]38.94' N. lat., 121[deg]23.16' W. long.;
    (42) 35[deg]26.00' N. lat., 121[deg]8.00' W. long.;
    (43) 35[deg]7.42' N. lat., 120[deg]57.08' W. long.;
    (44) 34[deg]42.00' N. lat., 120[deg]54.00' W. long.;
    (45) 34[deg]29.00' N. lat., 120[deg]44.00' W. long.;
    (46) 34[deg]22.00' N. lat., 120[deg]32.00' W. long.;
    (47) 34[deg]21.00' N. lat., 120[deg]21.00' W. long.;
    (48) 34[deg]24.00' N. lat., 120[deg]15.00' W. long.;
    (49) 34[deg]22.11' N. lat., 119[deg]56.63' W. long.;
    (50) 34[deg]19.00' N. lat., 119[deg]48.00' W. long.;
    (51) 34[deg]15.00' N. lat., 119[deg]48.00' W. long.;
    (52) 34[deg]8.00' N. lat., 119[deg]37.00' W. long.;
    (53) 34[deg]7.00' N. lat., 120[deg]11.00' W. long.;
    (54) 34[deg]13.00' N. lat., 120[deg]30.00' W. long.;
    (55) 34[deg]9.00' N. lat., 120[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (56) 33[deg]58.00' N. lat., 120[deg]29.00' W. long.;
    (57) 33[deg]51.00' N. lat., 120[deg]9.00' W. long.;
    (58) 33[deg]38.00' N. lat., 119[deg]58.00' W. long.;
    (59) 33[deg]38.00' N. lat., 119[deg]50.00' W. long.;
    (60) 33[deg]46.25' N. lat., 119[deg]49.32' W. long.;
    (61) 33[deg]53.82' N. lat., 119[deg]53.42' W. long.;
    (62) 33[deg]59.00' N. lat., 119[deg]21.00' W. long.;
    (63) 34[deg]2.00' N. lat., 119[deg]13.00' W. long.;
    (64) 34[deg]1.52' N. lat., 119[deg]4.50' W. long.;
    (65) 33[deg]58.83' N. lat., 119[deg]3.76' W. long.;
    (66) 33[deg]56.55' N. lat., 118[deg]40.50' W. long.;
    (67) 33[deg]51.00' N. lat., 118[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (68) 33[deg]39.63' N. lat., 118[deg]18.75' W. long.;
    (69) 33[deg]35.44' N. lat., 118[deg]17.57' W. long.;
    (70) 33[deg]31.98' N. lat., 118[deg]12.59' W. long.;
    (71) 33[deg]33.25' N. lat., 117[deg]54.15' W. long.;
    (72) 33[deg]31.43' N. lat., 117[deg]49.84' W. long.;
    (73) 33[deg]16.53' N. lat., 117[deg]36.13' W. long.;
    (74) 33[deg]6.51' N. lat., 117[deg]24.11' W. long.;
    (75) 32[deg]54.11' N. lat., 117[deg]21.45' W. long.;
    (76) 32[deg]46.15' N. lat., 117[deg]24.26' W. long.;
    (77) 32[deg]41.97' N. lat., 117[deg]22.10' W. long.;
    (78) 32[deg]39.00' N. lat., 117[deg]28.13' W. long.; and
    (79) 32[deg]34.84' N. lat., 117[deg]24.62' W. long.
* * * * *
Under B. Limited Entry Fishery:
    6. On pages 924-925, Table 3 (North) and Table 3 (South) are 
corrected to read as follows:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

[[Page 4722]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30JA03.001


[[Page 4723]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30JA03.002

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

[[Page 4724]]

Under D. Recreational Fishery:
    7. On page 931, in column 2, paragraph (1)(a) is corrected to read 
as follows:
* * * * *
    (1) * * *
    (a) Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area. The YRCA is an ``L-
shaped'' area which is closed to recreational groundfish and halibut 
fishing. The coordinates for the YRCA are defined at A.(19).
* * * * *
    8. On page 932, in column 1, line 29, paragraph (3)(b)(i)(A) is 
corrected to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (i) * * *
    (A) Cowcod Conservation Areas. Recreational fishing for groundfish 
is prohibited within the CCAs, for coordinates described in Federal 
regulations at 50 CFR 660.304(i), except that fishing for sanddabs is 
permitted subject to the provisions in paragraph D.(3)(iv) and that 
fishing for species managed under this section (not including cowcod, 
bocaccio, canary, and yelloweye rockfishes) is permitted in waters 
shoreward of the 20- fm (37-m) depth contour within the CCAs from July 
1 through December 31, 2003, subject to the bag limits in this section.
* * * * *
    9. On page 932, in column 2, line 3, paragraph (3)(b)(ii)(B) is 
corrected to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) Bag limits, boat limits, hook limits. South of 40[deg]10' N. 
lat., in times and areas when the recreational season for the RCG 
Complex is open, there is a limit of two hooks and one line when 
fishing for rockfish, and the bag limit is 10 RCG Complex fish per day 
(not including bocaccio, canary rockfish, yelloweye rockfish and cowcod 
which are prohibited), of which up to 10 may be rockfish, no more than 
2 of which may be shallow nearshore rockfish. [Note: The shallow 
nearshore rockfish group off California are composed of kelp, grass, 
black-and-yellow, China, and gopher rockfishes.] Also within the 10 RCG 
Complex fish per day limit, no more than 2 fish per day may be 
greenling (kelp and/or rock greenling) and no more than 3 fish per day 
may be cabezon. Lingcod, California scorpionfish, and sanddabs taken in 
recreational fisheries off California do not count toward the 10 RCG 
Complex fish per day bag limit. Multi-day limits are authorized by a 
valid permit issued by California and must not exceed the daily limit 
multiplied by the number of days in the fishing trip.
* * * * *

Classification

    The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds that 
good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice 
and opportunity for public comment as such prior notice and opportunity 
for public comment is unnecessary, impracticable, and contrary to the 
public interest. It is unnecessary because this notice publishes a 
minor technical correction, changing the 2003 emergency rule 
specifications and management measures to refer to the CCAs in section 
660.304(i) to section 660.304(c). It is impracticable because NMFS does 
not have sufficient time to seek public comment on the clarifications 
to harvest levels and management measures in this notice and to 
incorporate such comments into the notice before it is published in the 
Federal Register. NMFS must act quickly to publish this notice as it 
corrects harvest trip limits and other management measures that will 
protect overfished groundfish stocks. Such measures include clarifying 
the trip limits of yellowtail rockfish and Pacific whiting, allowing 
only mid-water trawling for Pacific whiting inside the RCA from May 
through August, and prohibiting the retention of bocaccio, canary 
rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, and cowcod in the RCG complex bag limits 
south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. Prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment is contrary to the public interest because such notice and 
opportunity for public comment will delay implementing this correction 
notice, thereby increasing the risk of further depletion of overfished 
groundfish stocks. Such depletion would most likely result in the 
premature closure of certain sectors in the Pacific Coast groundfish 
fishery later in 2003 to protect such stocks. These fishery closures 
would likely have a negative socio-economic impact on local fishing 
communities. Finally, one of the measures corrects the western boundary 
of the trawl RCA in order to allow access to areas where petrale sole 
congregate in the winter. Delay in implementing this correction would 
prevent fishers from accessing the petrale sole before they disperse, 
and would have a negative socio-economic impact on local fishing 
communities.
    The AA also finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(D)(3) to 
waive the 30 day delay in the effective date of this correction notice. 
Such a delay would increase the probability that fishermen would 
further deplete overfished groundfish species as they would continue to 
fish in areas and with gear that are incompatible with the conservation 
efforts contained in the 2003 harvest specifications and management 
measures. For the correction of the petrale sole area, the delay would 
prevent fishermen of taking advantage of an opportunity to harvest 
healthy stocks of petrale sole when they can be taken with minimal 
bycatch.

    Authority: 1801 et seq.

    Dated: January 23, 2003.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-1910 Filed 1-27-03; 2:12 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S