[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 6946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3261]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 011206293-3182-02; I.D. 020504A]


Pacific Halibut Fishery; Guideline Harvest Levels for the Guided 
Recreational Halibut Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of guideline harvest level.

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SUMMARY: NMFS provides notice of the guideline harvest level (GHL) for 
the guided sport halibut fishery (charter fishery) in the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory area 2C of 1,432,000 
pounds (649.5 mt), and a GHL in the IPHC regulatory area 3A of 
3,650,000 pounds (1,655.6 mt).

DATES: The GHL is effective beginning 1200 hrs, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), February 1, 2004, and will close on 2359 hours, A.l.t., 
December 31, 2004. This period is specified by the IPHC as the sport 
fishing season in all waters of Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Merrill, 907-586-7228, or email 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS implemented a final rule to establish 
GHLs in IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A for the harvest of Pacific 
halibut (Hippoglosses stenolepis) by the charter fishery on August 8, 
2003 (68 FR 47256). The GHL is intended to serve as a benchmark for 
participants in the charter fishery.
    This announcement is consistent with Sec. 300.65(i)(2), which 
requires that GHLs for IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A be specified by 
NMFS and announced by publication in the Federal Register no later than 
30 days after receiving information from the IPHC which establishes the 
constant exploitation yield (CEY) for halibut in IPHC regulatory areas 
2C and 3A for that year. Based on the regulations at Sec. 300.65(i)(1), 
the CEY established by the IPHC in 2004 in regulatory area 2C results 
in a GHL of 1,432,000 pounds (649.5 mt), and, in regulatory area 3A, 
results in a GHL of 3,650,000 pounds (1,655.6 mt).
    This notice does not require any regulatory action by NMFS and is 
intended to serve as an announcement of the GHL in Areas 2C and 3A for 
2004. If a GHL is exceeded in 2004, based on information received from 
the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NMFS will notify the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) in writing within 30 days 
pursuant to regulations at Sec. 300.65(i)(3). The Council is not 
required to take action, but may recommend additional management 
measures after receiving notification that a GHL has been exceeded.

Classification

    This action does not require any additional regulatory action by 
NMFS and does not impose any additional restrictions on harvests by the 
charter fishery. If the GHL is exceeded in any year, the Council would 
be notified, but no action would be required to be taken. This process 
of notification is intended to provide the Council an indication of the 
level of harvests by the charter fishery in a given year and could be 
used to prompt future action.

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

    Dated: February 10, 2004.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-3261 Filed 2-10-04; 2:55 pm]
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