[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24524-24532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10071]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 040209049-4117-02; I.D. 012204B]
RIN 0648-AR83


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan

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

ACTION: Final rule; annual management measures and sport fishing 
regulations for Area 2A Pacific halibut fisheries, and final rule; 
changes to the Catch Sharing Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), on 
behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), 
publishes annual management measures promulgated as regulations by the 
IPHC and accepted by the Secretary of State governing the Pacific 
halibut fishery. The AA also announces modifications to the Catch 
Sharing Plan (CSP) for Area 2A and implementing regulations for 2004. 
These actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific 
halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Pacific Council).

DATES: The rule is effective May 1 2004, except for amendments to Sec.  
300.63, which are effective June 3, 2004

ADDRESSES: Copies of the CSP and background documents for this action 
are available at NMFS Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-0070. The CSP is also available on the Northwest 
Region home page at www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/halibut01.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Goen or Yvonne deReynier, 206-
526-6150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This final rule also is accessible via the Internet at the Office 
of the Federal Register's website at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

Background

    The IPHC manages Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska, British 
Columbia, and the U.S. West Coast. On January 20-23, 2004, the IPHC 
held its annual meeting in Juneau, AK, and recommended its bilateral 
regulations for 2004. The Secretary of State of the United States has 
accepted the 2004 IPHC regulations under section 4 of the Northern 
Pacific Halibut Act (Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 773-773k). For U.S. waters, 
NMFS works with the North Pacific and Pacific Fishery Management 
Councils to set area-specific fishery management measures. IPHC refers 
to waters off the U.S. West Coast as ``Area 2A.''
    On February 23, 2004, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement 
2004 revisions to the Area 2A CSP for Pacific halibut (69 FR 8162). A 
complete description of the Pacific Council recommended changes to the 
CSP and management measures were published in the proposed rule for 
this action. NMFS requested comment on the proposed rule through March 
9, 2004. On February 27, 2004, NMFS published a final rule (69 FR 9231) 
to implement the IPHC's recommendations, to announce IPHC's approval of 
the Area 2A CSP, and to announce fishery regulations for U.S. waters 
off Alaska and fishery regulations for treaty commercial and ceremonial 
and subsistence fisheries and some regulations for non-treaty 
commercial fisheries for U.S. waters off the West Coast. None of the 
Pacific Council's proposed 2004 revisions to the CSP addressed either 
the treaty fisheries or the non-treaty commercial fisheries.
    This final rule implements the Area 2A Pacific halibut CSP for 2004 
and the Area 2A management measures for 2004. These management measures 
are effective until superceded by the 2005 management measures that 
NMFS will publish in the Federal Register. The proposed rule for this 
action also included a minor revision to the Federal halibut 
regulations at 50 CFR 300.63, which authorizes vessels with IPHC 
licenses that are operating in the primary sablefish longline fishery 
north of Pt. Chehalis to land halibut taken incidentally in that 
fishery. With this final rule, Federal regulations will state that, in 
addition to the prohibition on possessing and landing halibut south of 
Pt. Chehalis, no halibut taken in this fishery may be purchased south 
of Pt. Chehalis.

Comments and Responses

    During the comment period on the proposed rule for implementing the 
Area 2A CSP, NMFS received two letters and one e-mail of comment. The 
letters are addressed below in the section on the CSP for Area 2A.
    The email generally objected to most of the proposals for changes 
to the CSP, referred to halibut as an overfished species under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), and suggested shortening fishing seasons, cutting fishing 
quotas and establishing marine sanctuaries. Pacific halibut is an 
abundant, healthy stock and is not overfished. The IPHC establishes 
overall catch limits for halibut. NMFS regulations are intended to give 
fisheries access to the Area 2A total allowable catch (TAC) and to the 
various subquotas for sport, commercial, and ceremonial and subsistence 
fisheries in Area 2A. Where halibut fishing activities may affect 
overfished groundfish stocks, halibut fishing is restricted to protect 
those stocks. For example, sport and commercial fisheries off the U.S. 
West Coast are prohibited within fishery-specific Groundfish 
Conservation Areas (GCAs) implemented by this action.
    Marine sanctuaries are created under the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431-1445). This action is taken under the 
authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, which does not authorize 
the establishment of marine sanctuaries. This action does, however, 
establish closed areas requirements for the sport and commercial 
halibut fisheries to reduce harvest of overfished rockfish. Sport 
fishing for halibut off the Washington coast is prohibited within the 
Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA), implemented herein at 
Section 24(4)(b)(ii)(C). Commercial fishing for halibut off the U.S. 
West Coast and sport fishing for halibut off the Oregon coast are 
prohibited within the non-trawl and recreational (sport) Rockfish 
Conservation Areas, respectively, implemented herein at Section 27.

Catch Sharing Plan for Area 2

    The Pacific Council's Area 2A CSP allocates the halibut catch limit 
for Area 2A among treaty Indian, non-treaty commercial, and non-treaty 
sport fisheries in and off Washington, Oregon, and California. Those 
allocations were described in the proposed rule for this action (69 FR 
8162, February 23, 2004). For 2004, the Pacific Council recommended 
changes to the CSP to modify the Pacific halibut fisheries in Area 2A 
in 2004 and beyond pursuant to recommendations from the Washington 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of 
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). These changes to the CSP will: provide more 
flexibility for Washington inseason sport fishery management;

[[Page 24525]]

revise the public announcement process for the Puget Sound sport 
fishery (Washington's inside waters subarea); revise season dates for 
the Washington North Coast and South Coast sport fisheries; combine the 
Oregon North Central and South Central subareas; revise the 
``additional fishing days'' season structure for Oregon's spring and 
summer sport fisheries; extend the season closing date for Oregon/
California sport fisheries in the South of Humbug Mountain subarea; and 
change the depth restriction for Oregon's nearshore sport fishery. NMFS 
has approved the proposed changes to the CSP. Copies of the complete 
CSP for Area 2A as modified are available from the NMFS Northwest 
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
    The ODFW held a public workshop (after the IPHC set the Area 2A 
quota) in Newport, OR, on January 28, 2004, to develop recommendations 
on the opening dates of Oregon sport fisheries. WDFW held a public 
workshop in Olympia, WA on January 30, 2004, to develop recommendations 
on the opening dates of Washington sport fisheries. The WDFW and ODFW 
sent letters to NMFS providing the following recommendations on the 
opening dates and season structure for managing the sport fisheries 
consistent with the CSP.
    WDFW recommended a May 6 to July 24 season for eastern Puget Sound 
and a May 27 to August 14 season for western Puget Sound, 5 days per 
week (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). The recommended number of fishing 
days is based on an analysis of past harvest patterns in this fishery 
and meets the requirements of the CSP for the overall Puget Sound sport 
fishery subarea. For the Washington North Coast subarea, WDFW has 
recommended a season opening May 11 and continuing until the May sub-
quota is taken, 5 days per week (closed Sunday and Monday), and a 
second season opening June 15 and continuing until the remaining quota 
is projected to be taken, 5 days per week (closed Sunday and Monday). 
For the Washington South Coast subarea, WDFW has recommended a season 
opening May 2 and continuing until the quota is taken, 5 days per week 
(closed Friday and Saturday) in the offshore area and 7 days per week 
in the nearshore area. WDFW recommendations for the Puget Sound, North 
Coast and South Coast Washington subareas meet the requirements of the 
CSP.
    Both WDFW and ODFW have recommended opening the Columbia River 
subarea on May 1 and continuing the season until the quota has been 
reached, 7 days per week. This recommended season meets the 
requirements of the CSP.
    ODFW recommended starting the nearshore fishery in the Oregon 
Central Coast subarea, on May 1 and continuing the season until the 
sub-quota for that fishery is taken, 7 days per week. For the all-depth 
fishery in that subarea, ODFW recommended a 12 day spring season of May 
13-15, 20-22, 27-29, and June 10-12, based on an analysis of past 
harvest rates. If the spring season does not take the entire spring 
sub-quota for this subarea, ODFW recommended these additional potential 
opening dates: June 25, 26, and July 9, 10, 23, and 24. ODFW further 
recommended re-opening the all-depth fishery on Friday, August 6 to 
take the summer sub-quota for this subarea and if sufficient quota 
remains. This summer fishery would remain open every other Friday and 
Saturday until the quota is taken, or October 31st, whichever occurs 
first. These recommendations meet the requirements of the CSP for this 
subarea.
    For the southernmost subarea, south of Humbug Mountain, Oregon, 
ODFW recommended opening this subarea on May 1 and continuing the 
season until October 31, 7 days per week. This recommended season meets 
the requirements of the CSP.
    NMFS is implementing sport fishing management measures in Area 2A 
based on recommendations from the states in accordance with the CSP.

NMFS Actions

    For the reasons stated herein, NMFS concurs with Pacific Council's 
recommendations and hereby announces the following changes to the 2004 
annual halibut management measures at 69 FR 9231 (February 27, 2004) to 
read as follows:
    1. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on 
February 27, 2004, in Section 24, ``Sport Fishing for Halibut,'' 
paragraphs (4) and (10) are revised to read as follows:
* * * * *
    (4) In all waters off California, Oregon, and Washington:
    (a) The total allowable catch of halibut shall be limited to 
272,942 lb (123.8 mt) in waters off Washington and 297,029 pounds 
(134.7 metric tons) in waters off California and Oregon;
    (b) The sport fishing subareas, subquotas, fishing dates, and daily 
bag limits are as follows, except as modified under the inseason 
actions in Section 25. All sport fishing in Area 2A is managed on a 
``port of landing'' basis, whereby any halibut landed into a port 
counts toward the quota for the area in which that port is located, and 
the regulations governing the area of landing apply, regardless of the 
specific area of catch.
    (i) In Puget Sound and the U.S. waters in the Strait of Juan de 
Fuca, east of a line extending from 48[deg]17'30'' N. lat., 
124[deg]23'70'' W. long. north to 48[deg]24'10'' N. lat., 
124[deg]23'70'' W. long., there is no quota. This area is managed by 
setting a season that is projected to result in a catch of 76,220 lb 
(34.6 mt).
    (A) The fishing season in eastern Puget Sound (east of 
123[deg]49'30'' W. long.) is May 6 through July 24 and the fishing 
season in western Puget Sound (west of 123[deg]49'30'' W. long.) is May 
27 through August 14, 5 days a week (Thursday through Monday).
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (ii) The quota for landings into ports in the area off the north 
Washington coast, west of the line described in paragraph (4)(b)(i) of 
this section and north of the Queets River (47[deg]31'42'' N. lat.), is 
126,857 lb (57.5 mt).
    (A) The fishing seasons are:
    (1) Commencing May 11 and continuing 5 days a week (Tuesday through 
Saturday) until 91,337 lb (41.4 mt) are estimated to have been taken 
and the season is closed by the Commission.
    (2) From June 15, and continuing thereafter for 5 days a week 
(Tuesday through Saturday) until the overall quota of 126,857 lb (57.5 
mt) are estimated to have been taken and the area is closed by the 
Commission, or until September 30, whichever occurs first.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (C) A ``C-shaped'' yelloweye rockfish conservation area southwest 
of Cape Flattery is closed to sport fishing for halibut. This area is 
defined by the following coordinates in the order listed:
    48[deg]18' N. lat.; 125[deg]18' W. long.;
    48[deg]18' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
    48[deg]11' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
    48[deg]11' 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.
    (iii) The quota for landings into ports in the area between the 
Queets River, WA (47[deg]31'42'' N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point, WA 
(46[deg]38'10'' N. lat.), is 61,565 lb (28 mt).
    (A) The fishing season commences on May 2 and continues 5 days a 
week (Sunday through Thursday) in all waters, except that in the area 
from Queets River south to 47[deg]00'00'' N. lat.

[[Page 24526]]

and east of 124[deg]40'00'' W. long, the fishing season commences on 
May 2 and continues 7 days a week. Beginning July 1, the halibut 
fishery between Queets River and Leadbetter Point will be open 7 days 
per week. The fishery will continue from May 2 until 61,565 lb (28 mt) 
are estimated to have been taken and the season is closed by the 
Commission, or until September 30, whichever occurs first.
    (B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per 
person.
    (iv) The quota for landings into ports in the area between 
Leadbetter Point, WA (46[deg]38'10'' N. lat.) and Cape Falcon, OR 
(45[deg]46'00'' N. lat.), is 14,241 lb (6.5 mt).
    (A) The fishing season commences on May 1, and continues every day 
through September 30, or until 14,241 lb (6.5 mt) are estimated to have 
been taken and the area is closed by the Commission, whichever occurs 
first.
    (B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of 
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
    (v) The quota for landings into ports in the area off Oregon 
between Cape Falcon (45[deg]46'00'' N. lat.) and Humbug Mountain 
(42[deg]40'30'' N. lat.), is 282,178 lb (128 mt).
    (A) The fishing seasons are:
    (1) The first season commences May 1 and continues every day 
through October 31, in the area inside of a boundary line approximating 
the 40-fathom (73-m) depth contour, or until the sub-quota for the 
central Oregon inside 40-fm fishery (22,574 lb) 102.2 mt)) or any 
inseason revised subquota is estimated to have been taken and the 
season is closed by the Commission, whichever is earlier. The boundary 
line approximating the 40-fathom (73- m) depth contour between 
45[deg]46'00'' N. lat. and 42[deg]40'30'' N. lat. is defined by 
straight lines connecting all of the following points in the order 
stated:
    (1) 45[deg]47.07'N. lat., 124[deg]04.21'W. long.;
    (2) 45[deg]44.34'N. lat., 124[deg]05.09'W. long.;
    (3) 45[deg]40.64'N. lat., 124[deg]04.90'W. long.;
    (4) 45[deg]33.00'N. lat., 124[deg]04.46'W. long.;
    (5) 45[deg]32.27'N. lat., 124[deg]04.74'W. long.;
    (6) 45[deg]29.26'N. lat., 124[deg]04.22'W. long.;
    (7) 45[deg]19.99'N. lat., 124[deg]04.62'W. long.;
    (8) 45[deg]17.50'N. lat., 124[deg]04.91'W. long.;
    (9) 45[deg]11.29'N. lat., 124[deg]05.19'W. long.;
    (10) 45[deg]05.79'N. lat., 124[deg]05.40'W. long.;
    (11) 45[deg]05.07'N. lat., 124[deg]05.93'W. long.;
    (12) 45[deg]01.70'N. lat., 124[deg]06.53'W. long.;
    (13) 44[deg]58.75'N. lat., 124[deg]07.14'W. long.;
    (14) 44[deg]51.28'N. lat., 124[deg]10.21'W. long.;
    (15) 44[deg]49.49'N. lat., 124[deg]10.89'W. long.;
    (16) 44[deg]44.96'N. lat., 124[deg]14.39'W. long.;
    (17) 44[deg]43.44'N. lat., 124[deg]14.78'W. long.;
    (18) 44[deg]42.27'N. lat., 124[deg]13.81'W. long.;
    (19) 44[deg]41.68'N. lat., 124[deg]15.38'W. long.;
    (20) 44[deg]34.87'N. lat., 124[deg]15.80'W. long.;
    (21) 44[deg]33.74'N. lat., 124[deg]14.43'W. long.;
    (22) 44[deg]27.66'N. lat., 124[deg]16.99'W. long.;
    (23) 44[deg]19.13'N. lat., 124[deg]19.22'W. long.;
    (24) 44[deg]15.35'N. lat., 124[deg]17.37'W. long.;
    (25) 44[deg]14.38'N. lat., 124[deg]17.78'W. long.;
    (26) 44[deg]12.80'N. lat., 124[deg]17.18'W. long.;
    (27) 44[deg]09.23'N. lat., 124[deg]15.96'W. long.;
    (28) 44[deg]08.38'N. lat., 124[deg]16.80'W. long.;
    (29) 44[deg]01.18'N. lat., 124[deg]15.42'W. long.;
    (30) 43[deg]51.60'N. lat., 124[deg]14.68'W. long.;
    (31) 43[deg]42.66'N. lat., 124[deg]15.46'W. long.;
    (32) 43[deg]40.49'N. lat., 124[deg]15.74'W. long.;
    (33) 43[deg]38.77'N. lat., 124[deg]15.64'W. long.;
    (34) 43[deg]34.52'N. lat., 124[deg]16.73'W. long.;
    (35) 43[deg]28.82'N. lat., 124[deg]19.52'W. long.;
    (36) 43[deg]23.91'N. lat., 124[deg]24.28'W. long.;
    (37) 43[deg]17.96'N. lat., 124[deg]28.81'W. long.;
    (38) 43[deg]16.75'N. lat., 124[deg]28.42'W. long.;
    (39) 43[deg]13.98'N. lat., 124[deg]31.99'W. long.;
    (40) 43[deg]13.71'N. lat., 124[deg]33.25'W. long.;
    (41) 43[deg]12.26'N. lat., 124[deg]34.16'W. long.;
    (42) 43[deg]10.96'N. lat., 124[deg]32.34'W. long.;
    (43) 43[deg]05.65'N. lat., 124[deg]31.52'W. long.;
    (44) 42[deg]59.66'N. lat., 124[deg]32.58'W. long.;
    (45) 42[deg]54.97'N. lat., 124[deg]36.99'W. long.;
    (46) 42[deg]53.81'N. lat., 124[deg]38.58'W. long.;
    (47) 42[deg]49.14'N. lat., 124[deg]39.92'W. long.;
    (48) 42[deg]46.47'N. lat., 124[deg]38.65'W. long.;
    (49) 42[deg]45.60'N. lat., 124[deg]39.04'W. long.;
    (50) 42[deg]44.79'N. lat., 124[deg]37.96'W. long.;
    (51) 42[deg]45.00'N. lat., 124[deg]36.39'W. long.;
    (52) 42[deg]44.14'N. lat., 124[deg]35.16'W. long.;
    (53) 42[deg]42.15'N. lat., 124[deg]32.82'W. long.; and
    (54) 42[deg]38.82'N. lat., 124[deg]31.09'W. long.;
    (2) The second season (spring season), which is for the ``all-
depth'' fishery, is open on May 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and 
June 10, 11, and 12. The projected catch for this season is 194,703 lb 
(88.3 mt). If sufficient unharvested catch remains for additional 
fishing days, the season will re-open. Dependent on the amount of 
unharvested catch available, the potential season re-opening dates will 
be: June 25, and 26, and July 9, 10, 23, and 24. If NMFS decides 
inseason to allow fishing on any of these re-opening dates, notice of 
the re-opening will be announced on the NMFS hotline (206) 526-6667 or 
(800) 662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed on the re-opening 
dates unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (3) If sufficient unharvested catch remains, the third season 
(summer season), which is for the ``all-depth'' fishery, will be open 
August 6, 7, 20, and 21, September 3, 4, 17, and 18, and October 1, 2, 
15, 16, 29, and 30, or until the combined spring season and summer 
season quotas in the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, OR, 
totaling 259,604 lb (117.8 mt), are estimated to have been taken and 
the area is closed by the Commission, whichever is earlier. NMFS will 
announce on the NMFS hotline in mid-July whether the fishery will re-
open in August. No halibut fishing will be allowed in the summer season 
fishery unless the dates are announced on the NMFS hotline.
    (B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of 
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
    (vi) In the area south of Humbug Mountain, Oregon (42[deg]40'30'' 
N. lat.) and off the California coast, there is no quota. This area is 
managed on a season that is projected to result in a catch of less than 
8,911 lb (4 mt).
    (A) The fishing season will commence on May 1 and continue every 
day through October 31.

[[Page 24527]]

    (B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of 
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
    (c) The Commission shall determine and announce closing dates for 
any area in which the subquotas in this Section are estimated to have 
been taken.
    (d) When the Commission has determined that a subquota under 
paragraph (4)(b) of this section is estimated to have been taken, and 
has announced a date on which the season will close, no person shall 
sport fish for halibut in that area after that date for the rest of the 
year, unless a reopening of that area for sport halibut fishing is 
scheduled in accordance with the Catch Sharing Plan for Area 2A, or 
announced by the Commission.
* * * * *
    (10) The possession limit for halibut on land in Area 2A is two 
daily bag limits.
* * * * *
    2. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on 
February 27, 2004, Section 25, ``Flexible Inseason Management 
Provisions in Area 2A'' is added to read as follows:

25. Flexible Inseason Management Provisions in Area 2A

    (1) The Regional Administrator, NMFS Northwest Region, after 
consultation with the Chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council, the Commission Executive Director, and the Fisheries 
Director(s) of the affected state(s), or their designees, is authorized 
to modify regulations during the season after making the following 
determinations.
    (a) The action is necessary to allow allocation objectives to be 
met.
    (b) The action will not result in exceeding the catch limit for the 
area.
    (c) If any of the sport fishery subareas north of Cape Falcon, OR, 
are not projected to utilize their respective quotas by September 30, 
NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any projected unused quota to 
another Washington sport subarea.
    (d) If any of the sport fishery subareas south of Leadbetter Point, 
WA, are not projected to utilize their respective quotas by their 
season ending dates, NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any 
projected unused quota to another Oregon sport subarea.
    (2) Flexible inseason management provisions include, but are not 
limited to, the following:
    (a) Modification of sport fishing periods;
    (b) Modification of sport fishing bag limits;
    (c) Modification of sport fishing size limits;
    (d) Modification of sport fishing days per calendar week; and
    (e) Modification of subarea quotas north of Cape Falcon, OR.
    (3) Notice procedures.
    (a) Actions taken under this section will be published in the 
Federal Register.
    (b) Actual notice of inseason management actions will be provided 
by a telephone hotline administered by the Northwest Region, NMFS, at 
206-526-6667 or 800-662-9825 (May through October) and by U.S. Coast 
Guard broadcasts. These broadcasts are announced on Channel 16 VHF-FM 
and 2182 kHz at frequent intervals. The announcements designate the 
channel or frequency over which the notice to mariners will be 
immediately broadcast. Since provisions of these regulations may be 
altered by inseason actions, sport fishers should monitor either the 
telephone hotline or U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts for current 
information for the area in which they are fishing.
    (4) Effective dates.
    (a) Any action issued under this section is effective on the date 
specified in the publication or at the time that the action is filed 
for public inspection with the Office of the Federal Register, 
whichever is later.
    (b) If time allows, pursuant to the requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act, NMFS will invite public comment prior to 
the effective date of any inseason action filed with the Federal 
Register. If the Regional Administrator determines, for good cause, 
that an inseason action must be filed without affording a prior 
opportunity for public comment, public comments will be received for a 
period of 15 days after publication of the action in the Federal 
Register.
    (c) Any inseason action issued under this section will remain in 
effect until the stated expiration date or until rescinded, modified, 
or superseded. However, no inseason action has any effect beyond the 
end of the calendar year in which it is issued.
    (5) Availability of data. The Regional Administrator will compile, 
in aggregate form, all data and other information relevant to the 
action being taken and will make them available for public review 
during normal office hours at the Northwest Regional Office, NMFS, 
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA.
    3. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on 
February 27, 2004, Section 26, ``Fishery Election in Area 2A'' is added 
to read as follows:

26. Fishery Election in Area 2A

    (1) A vessel that fishes in Area 2A may participate in only one of 
the following three fisheries in Area 2A:
    (a) The sport fishery under Section 24;
    (b) The commercial directed fishery for halibut during the fishing 
period(s) established in Section 8 and/or the incidental retention of 
halibut during the primary sablefish fishery described at 50 CFR 
660.323(a)(2); or
    (c) The incidental catch fishery during the salmon troll fishery as 
authorized in Section 8.
    (2) No person shall fish for halibut in the sport fishery in Area 
2A under Section 24 from a vessel that has been used during or that has 
been issued a permit for the same calendar year for commercial halibut 
fishing in Area 2A.
    (3) No person shall fish for halibut in the directed commercial 
halibut fishery during the fishing periods established in Section 8 
and/or retain halibut incidentally taken in the primary sablefish 
fishery in Area 2A from a vessel that has been used during the same 
calendar year for the incidental catch fishery during the salmon troll 
fishery as authorized in Section 8.
    (4) No person shall fish for halibut in the directed commercial 
halibut fishery and/or retain halibut incidentally taken in the primary 
sablefish fishery in Area 2A from a vessel that, during the same 
calendar year, has been used in the sport halibut fishery in Area 2A or 
that is licensed for the sport charter halibut fishery in Area 2A.
    (5) No person shall retain halibut in the salmon troll fishery in 
Area 2A as authorized under Section 8 taken on a vessel that, during 
the same calendar year, has been used in the sport halibut fishery in 
Area 2A, or that is licensed for the sport charter halibut fishery in 
Area 2A.
    (6) No person shall retain halibut in the salmon troll fishery in 
Area 2A as authorized under Section 8 taken on a vessel that, during 
the same calendar year, has been used in the directed commercial 
halibut fishery during the fishing periods established in Section 8 
and/or retained halibut incidentally taken in the primary sablefish 
fishery for Area 2A or that is licensed to participate in these 
commercial fisheries during the fishing periods established in Section 
8 in Area 2A.
    4. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on 
February 27, 2004, Section 27, ``Area 2A Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery 
Closed Area'' is added to read as follows:

[[Page 24528]]

27. Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery Closed Areas

    Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the directed commercial 
fishery for halibut in Area 2A must fish outside of a closed area, 
known as the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA), that extends along the 
coast from the U.S./Canada border south to 40[deg]10' N. lat. 
Coordinates for the closed area are as follows:
    (1) Between the U.S./Canada border and 46[deg]16' N. lat., the 
eastern boundary of the RCA is the shoreline.
    (2) Between 46[deg]16' N. lat. and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the eastern, 
inshore boundary of the RCA approximates the 30 fm (55 m) depth 
contour. The boundary is defined by straight lines connecting all of 
the following points in the order stated:
    (1) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.13' W. long.;
    (2) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.05' W. long.;
    (3) 46[deg]07.00' N. lat., 124[deg]07.01' W. long.;
    (4) 45[deg]55.95' N. lat., 124[deg]02.23' W. long.;
    (5) 45[deg]54.53' N. lat., 124[deg]02.57' W. long.;
    (6) 45[deg]50.65' N. lat., 124[deg]01.62' W. long.;
    (7) 45[deg]48.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.16' W. long.;
    (8) 45[deg]43.47' N. lat., 124[deg]01.28' W. long.;
    (9) 45[deg]40.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.03' W. long.;
    (10) 45[deg]39.04' N. lat., 124[deg]01.68' W. long.;
    (11) 45[deg]35.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.89' W. long.;
    (12) 45[deg]29.81' N. lat., 124[deg]02.45' W. long.;
    (13) 45[deg]27.96' N. lat., 124[deg]01.89' W. long.;
    (14) 45[deg]27.22' N. lat., 124[deg]02.67' W. long.;
    (15) 45[deg]24.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.94' W. long.;
    (16) 45[deg]20.60' N. lat., 124[deg]01.74' W. long.;
    (17) 45[deg]16.44' N. lat., 124[deg]03.22' W. long.;
    (18) 45[deg]13.63' N. lat., 124[deg]02.70' W. long.;
    (19) 45[deg]11.04' N. lat., 124[deg]03.59' W. long.;
    (20) 45[deg]08.55' N. lat., 124[deg]03.47' W. long.;
    (21) 45[deg]02.82' N. lat., 124[deg]04.64' W. long.;
    (22) 44[deg]58.06' N. lat., 124[deg]05.03' W. long.;
    (23) 44[deg]53.97' N. lat., 124[deg]06.92' W. long.;
    (24) 44[deg]48.89' N. lat., 124[deg]07.04' W. long.;
    (25) 44[deg]46.94' N. lat., 124[deg]08.25' W. long.;
    (26) 44[deg]42.72' N. lat., 124[deg]08.98' W. long.;
    (27) 44[deg]38.16' N. lat., 124[deg]11.48' W. long.;
    (28) 44[deg]33.38' N. lat., 124[deg]11.54' W. long.;
    (29) 44[deg]28.51' N. lat., 124[deg]12.03' W. long.;
    (30) 44[deg]27.65' N. lat., 124[deg]12.56' W. long.;
    (31) 44[deg]19.67' N. lat., 124[deg]12.37' W. long.;
    (32) 44[deg]10.79' N. lat., 124[deg]12.22' W. long.;
    (33) 44[deg]09.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.28' W. long.;
    (34) 44[deg]00.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.80' W. long.;
    (35) 43[deg]51.56' N. lat., 124[deg]13.17' W. long.;
    (36) 43[deg]44.26' N. lat., 124[deg]14.50' W. long.;
    (37) 43[deg]33.82' N. lat., 124[deg]16.28' W. long.;
    (38) 43[deg]28.66' N. lat., 124[deg]18.72' W. long.;
    (39) 43[deg]23.12' N. lat., 124[deg]24.04' W. long.;
    (40) 43[deg]20.49' N. lat., 124[deg]25.90' W. long.;
    (41) 43[deg]16.41' N. lat., 124[deg]27.52' W. long.;
    (42) 43[deg]14.23' N. lat., 124[deg]29.28' W. long.;
    (43) 43[deg]14.03' N. lat., 124[deg]28.31' W. long.;
    (44) 43[deg]11.92' N. lat., 124[deg]28.26' W. long.;
    (45) 43[deg]11.02' N. lat., 124[deg]29.11' W. long.;
    (46) 43[deg]10.13' N. lat., 124[deg]29.15' W. long.;
    (47) 43[deg]09.27' N. lat., 124[deg]31.03' W. long.;
    (48) 43[deg]07.73' N. lat., 124[deg]30.92' W. long.;
    (49) 43[deg]05.93' N. lat., 124[deg]29.64' W. long.;
    (50) 43[deg]01.59' N. lat., 124[deg]30.64' W. long.;
    (51) 42[deg]59.73' N. lat., 124[deg]31.16' W. long.;
    (52) 42[deg]53.75' N. lat., 124[deg]36.09' W. long.;
    (53) 42[deg]49.37' N. lat., 124[deg]38.81' W. long.;
    (54) 42[deg]46.42' N. lat., 124[deg]37.69' W. long.;
    (55) 42[deg]46.07' N. lat., 124[deg]38.56' W. long.;
    (56) 42[deg]45.29' N. lat., 124[deg]37.95' W. long.;
    (57) 42[deg]45.61' N. lat., 124[deg]36.87' W. long.;
    (58) 42[deg]44.28' N. lat., 124[deg]33.64' W. long.;
    (59) 42[deg]42.75' N. lat., 124[deg]31.84' W. long.;
    (60) 42[deg]40.04' N. lat., 124[deg]29.19' W. long.;
    (61) 42[deg]38.09' N. lat., 124[deg]28.39' W. long.;
    (62) 42[deg]36.72' N. lat., 124[deg]27.54' W. long.;
    (63) 42[deg]36.56' N. lat., 124[deg]28.40' W. long.;
    (64) 42[deg]35.76' N. lat., 124[deg]28.79' W. long.;
    (65) 42[deg]34.03' N. lat., 124[deg]29.98' W. long.;
    (66) 42[deg]34.19' N. lat., 124[deg]30.58' W. long.;
    (67) 42[deg]31.27' N. lat., 124[deg]32.24' W. long.;
    (68) 42[deg]27.07' N. lat., 124[deg]32.53' W. long.;
    (69) 42[deg]24.21' N. lat., 124[deg]31.23' W. long.;
    (70) 42[deg]20.47' N. lat., 124[deg]28.87' W. long.;
    (71) 42[deg]14.60' N. lat., 124[deg]26.80' W. long.;
    (72) 42[deg]10.90' N. lat., 124[deg]24.57' W. long.;
    (73) 42[deg]07.04' N. lat., 124[deg]23.35' W. long.;
    (74) 42[deg]02.16' N. lat., 124[deg]22.59' W. long.;
    (75) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.81' W. long.;
    (76) 41[deg]59.95' N. lat., 124[deg]21.56' W. long.;
    (77) 41[deg]55.75' N. lat., 124[deg]20.72' W. long.;
    (78) 41[deg]50.93' N. lat., 124[deg]23.76' W. long.;
    (79) 41[deg]42.53' N. lat., 124[deg]16.47' W. long.;
    (80) 41[deg]37.02' N. lat., 124[deg]17.05' W. long.;
    (81) 41[deg]24.58' N. lat., 124[deg]10.51' W. long.;
    (82) 41[deg]20.73' N. lat., 124[deg]11.73' W. long.;
    (83) 41[deg]17.59' N. lat., 124[deg]10.66' W. long.;
    (84) 41[deg]04.54' N. lat., 124[deg]14.47' W. long.;
    (85) 40[deg]54.26' N. lat., 124[deg]13.09' W. long.;
    (86) 40[deg]40.31' N. lat., 124[deg]26.24' W. long.;
    (87) 40[deg]34.00' N. lat., 124[deg]27.39' W. long.;
    (88) 40[deg]28.89' N. lat., 124[deg]32.43' W. long.;
    (89) 40[deg]24.77' N. lat., 124[deg]29.51' W. long.;
    (90) 40[deg]22.47' N. lat., 124[deg]24.12' W. long.;
    (91) 40[deg]19.73' N. lat., 124[deg]23.59' W. long.;
    (92) 40[deg]18.64' N. lat., 124[deg]21.89' W. long.;
    (93) 40[deg]17.67' N. lat., 124[deg]23.07' W. long.;
    (94) 40[deg]15.58' N. lat., 124[deg]23.61' W. long.;

[[Page 24529]]

    (95) 40[deg]13.42' N. lat., 124[deg]22.94' W. long.; and
    (96) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]16.65' W. long.;
    (3) Between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the 
western, offshore boundary of the RCA approximates the 100-fm (183-m) 
depth contour. The boundary is defined by straight lines connecting all 
of the following points in the order stated:
    (1) 48[deg]15.00' N. lat., 125[deg]41.00' W. long.;
    (2) 48[deg]14.00' N. lat., 125[deg]36.00' W. long.;
    (3) 48[deg]09.50' N. lat., 125[deg]40.50' W. long.;
    (4) 48[deg]08.00' N. lat., 125[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (5) 48[deg]05.00' N. lat., 125[deg]37.25' W. long.;
    (6) 48[deg]02.60' N. lat., 125[deg]34.70' W. long.;
    (7) 47[deg]59.00' N. lat., 125[deg]34.00' W. long.;
    (8) 47[deg]57.26' N. lat., 125[deg]29.82' W. long.;
    (9) 47[deg]59.87' N. lat., 125[deg]25.81' W. long.;
    (10) 48[deg]01.80' N. lat., 125[deg]24.53' W. long.;
    (11) 48[deg]02.08' N. lat., 125[deg]22.98' W. long.;
    (12) 48[deg]02.97' N. lat., 125[deg]22.89' W. long.;
    (13) 48[deg]04.47' N. lat., 125[deg]21.75' W. long.;
    (14) 48[deg]06.11' N. lat., 125[deg]19.33' W. long.;
    (15) 48[deg]07.95' N. lat., 125[deg]18.55' W. long.;
    (16) 48[deg]09.00' N. lat., 125[deg]18.00' W. long.;
    (17) 48[deg]11.31' N. lat., 125[deg]17.55' W. long.;
    (18) 48[deg]14.60' N. lat., 125[deg]13.46' W. long.;
    (19) 48[deg]16.67' N. lat., 125[deg]14.34' W. long.;
    (20) 48[deg]18.73' N. lat., 125[deg]14.41' W. long.;
    (21) 48[deg]19.67' N. lat., 125[deg]13.70' W. long.;
    (22) 48[deg]19.70' N. lat., 125[deg]11.13' W. long.;
    (23) 48[deg]22.95' N. lat., 125[deg]10.79' W. long.;
    (24) 48[deg]21.61' N. lat., 125[deg]02.54' W. long.;
    (25) 48[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
    (26) 48[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]56.50' W. long.;
    (27) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]00.00' W. long.;
    (28) 48[deg]04.62' N. lat., 125[deg]01.73' W. long.;
    (29) 48[deg]04.84' N. lat., 125[deg]04.03' W. long.;
    (30) 48[deg]06.41' N. lat., 125[deg]06.51' W. long.;
    (31) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]08.00' W. long.;
    (32) 48[deg]07.08' N. lat., 125[deg]09.34' W. long.;
    (33) 48[deg]07.28' N. lat., 125[deg]11.14' W. long.;
    (34) 48[deg]03.45' N. lat., 125[deg]16.66' W. long.;
    (35) 47[deg]59.50' N. lat., 125[deg]18.88' W. long.;
    (36) 47[deg]58.68' N. lat., 125[deg]16.19' W. long.;
    (37) 47[deg]56.62' N. lat., 125[deg]13.50' W. long.;
    (38) 47[deg]53.71' N. lat., 125[deg]11.96' W. long.;
    (39) 47[deg]51.70' N. lat., 125[deg]09.38' W. long.;
    (40) 47[deg]49.95' N. lat., 125[deg]06.07' W. long.;
    (41) 47[deg]49.00' N. lat., 125[deg]03.00' W. long.;
    (42) 47[deg]46.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.00' W. long.;
    (43) 47[deg]46.58' N. lat., 125[deg]03.15' W. long.;
    (44) 47[deg]44.07' N. lat., 125[deg]04.28' W. long.;
    (45) 47[deg]43.32' N. lat., 125[deg]04.41' W. long.;
    (46) 47[deg]40.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.14' W. long.;
    (47) 47[deg]39.58' N. lat., 125[deg]04.97' W. long.;
    (48) 47[deg]36.23' N. lat., 125[deg]02.77' W. long.;
    (49) 47[deg]34.28' N. lat., 124[deg]58.66' W. long.;
    (50) 47[deg]32.17' N. lat., 124[deg]57.77' W. long.;
    (51) 47[deg]30.27' N. lat., 124[deg]56.16' W. long.;
    (52) 47[deg]30.60' N. lat., 124[deg]54.80' W. long.;
    (53) 47[deg]29.26' N. lat., 124[deg]52.21' W. long.;
    (54) 47[deg]28.21' N. lat., 124[deg]50.65' W. long.;
    (55) 47[deg]27.38' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
    (56) 47[deg]25.61' N. lat., 124[deg]48.26' W. long.;
    (57) 47[deg]23.54' N. lat., 124[deg]46.42' W. long.;
    (58) 47[deg]20.64' N. lat., 124[deg]45.91' W. long.;
    (59) 47[deg]17.99' N. lat., 124[deg]45.59' W. long.;
    (60) 47[deg]18.20' N. lat., 124[deg]49.12' W. long.;
    (61) 47[deg]15.01' N. lat., 124[deg]51.09' W. long.;
    (62) 47[deg]12.61' N. lat., 124[deg]54.89' W. long.;
    (63) 47[deg]08.22' N. lat., 124[deg]56.53' W. long.;
    (64) 47[deg]08.50' N. lat., 124[deg]57.74' W. long.;
    (65) 47[deg]01.92' N. lat., 124[deg]54.95' W. long.;
    (66) 47[deg]01.14' N. lat., 124[deg]59.35' W. long.;
    (67) 46[deg]58.48' N. lat., 124[deg]57.81' W. long.;
    (68) 46[deg]56.79' N. lat., 124[deg]56.03' W. long.;
    (69) 46[deg]58.01' N. lat., 124[deg]55.09' W. long.;
    (70) 46[deg]55.07' N. lat., 124[deg]54.14' W. long.;
    (71) 46[deg]59.60' N. lat., 124[deg]49.79' W. long.;
    (72) 46[deg]58.72' N. lat., 124[deg]48.78' W. long.;
    (73) 46[deg]54.45' N. lat., 124[deg]48.36' W. long.;
    (74) 46[deg]53.99' N. lat., 124[deg]49.95' W. long.;
    (75) 46[deg]54.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.73' W. long.;
    (76) 46[deg]52.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.02' W. long.;
    (77) 46[deg]48.93' N. lat., 124[deg]49.17' W. long.;
    (78) 46[deg]41.50' N. lat., 124[deg]43.00' W. long.;
    (79) 46[deg]34.50' N. lat., 124[deg]28.50' W. long.;
    (80) 46[deg]29.00' N. lat., 124[deg]30.00' W. long.;
    (81) 46[deg]20.00' N. lat., 124[deg]36.50' W. long.;
    (82) 46[deg]18.00' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (83) 46[deg]17.52' N. lat., 124[deg]35.35' W. long.;
    (84) 46[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]22.50' W. long.;
    (85) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]20.62' W. long.;
    (86) 46[deg]13.52' N. lat., 124[deg]25.49' W. long.;
    (87) 46[deg]12.17' N. lat., 124[deg]30.75' W. long.;
    (88) 46[deg]10.63' N. lat., 124[deg]37.95' W. long.;
    (89) 46[deg]09.29' N. lat., 124[deg]39.01' W. long.;
    (90) 46[deg]02.40' N. lat., 124[deg]40.37' W. long.;
    (91) 45[deg]56.45' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
    (92) 45[deg]51.92' N. lat., 124[deg]38.49' W. long.;
    (93) 45[deg]47.19' N. lat., 124[deg]35.58' W. long.;
    (94) 45[deg]46.41' N. lat., 124[deg]32.36' W. long.;
    (95) 45[deg]41.75' N. lat., 124[deg]28.12' W. long.;
    (96) 45[deg]36.96' N. lat., 124[deg]24.48' W. long.;
    (97) 45[deg]31.84' N. lat., 124[deg]22.04' W. long.;
    (98) 45[deg]27.10' N. lat., 124[deg]21.74' W. long.;
    (99) 45[deg]18.14' N. lat., 124[deg]17.59' W. long.;

[[Page 24530]]

    (100) 45[deg]11.08' N. lat., 124[deg]16.97' W. long.;
    (101) 45[deg]04.38' N. lat., 124[deg]18.36' W. long.;
    (102) 44[deg]58.05' N. lat., 124[deg]21.58' W. long.;
    (103) 44[deg]47.67' N. lat., 124[deg]31.41' W. long.;
    (104) 44[deg]44.55' N. lat., 124[deg]33.58' W. long.;
    (105) 44[deg]39.88' N. lat., 124[deg]35.01' W. long.;
    (106) 44[deg]32.90' N. lat., 124[deg]36.81' W. long.;
    (107) 44[deg]30.33' N. lat., 124[deg]38.56' W. long.;
    (108) 44[deg]30.04' N. lat., 124[deg]42.31' W. long.;
    (109) 44[deg]26.84' N. lat., 124[deg]44.91' W. long.;
    (110) 44[deg]17.99' N. lat., 124[deg]51.03' W. long.;
    (111) 44[deg]13.68' N. lat., 124[deg]56.38' W. long.;
    (112) 43[deg]56.67' N. lat., 124[deg]55.45' W. long.;
    (113) 43[deg]56.47' N. lat., 124[deg]34.61' W. long.;
    (114) 43[deg]42.73' N. lat., 124[deg]32.41' W. long.;
    (115) 43[deg]30.93' N. lat., 124[deg]34.43' W. long.;
    (116) 43[deg]17.45' N. lat., 124[deg]41.16' W. long.;
    (117) 43[deg]07.04' N. lat., 124[deg]41.25' W. long.;
    (118) 43[deg]03.45' N. lat., 124[deg]44.36' W. long.;
    (119) 43[deg]03.90' N. lat., 124[deg]50.81' W. long.;
    (120) 42[deg]55.70' N. lat., 124[deg]52.79' W. long.;
    (121) 42[deg]54.12' N. lat., 124[deg]47.36' W. long.;
    (122) 42[deg]44.00' N. lat., 124[deg]42.38' W. long.;
    (123) 42[deg]38.23' N. lat., 124[deg]41.25' W. long.;
    (124) 42[deg]33.03' N. lat., 124[deg]42.38' W. long.;
    (125) 42[deg]31.89' N. lat., 124[deg]42.04' W. long.;
    (126) 42[deg]30.09' N. lat., 124[deg]42.67' W. long.;
    (127) 42[deg]28.28' N. lat., 124[deg]47.08' W. long.;
    (128) 42[deg]25.22' N. lat., 124[deg]43.51' W. long.;
    (129) 42[deg]19.23' N. lat., 124[deg]37.92' W. long.;
    (130) 42[deg]16.29' N. lat., 124[deg]36.11' W. long.;
    (131) 42[deg]05.66' N. lat., 124[deg]34.92' W. long.;
    (132) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.27' W. long.;
    (133) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.26' W. long.;
    (134) 41[deg]47.04' N. lat., 124[deg]27.64' W. long.;
    (135) 41[deg]32.92' N. lat., 124[deg]28.79' W. long.;
    (136) 41[deg]24.17' N. lat., 124[deg]28.46' W. long.;
    (137) 41[deg]10.12' N. lat., 124[deg]20.50' W. long.;
    (138) 40[deg]51.41' N. lat., 124[deg]24.38' W. long.;
    (139) 40[deg]43.71' N. lat., 124[deg]29.89' W. long.;
    (140) 40[deg]40.14' N. lat., 124[deg]30.90' W. long.;
    (141) 40[deg]37.35' N. lat., 124[deg]29.05' W. long.;
    (142) 40[deg]34.76' N. lat., 124[deg]29.82' W. long.;
    (143) 40[deg]36.78' N. lat., 124[deg]37.06' W. long.;
    (144) 40[deg]32.44' N. lat., 124[deg]39.58' W. long.;
    (145) 40[deg]24.82' N. lat., 124[deg]35.12' W. long.;
    (146) 40[deg]23.30' N. lat., 124[deg]31.60' W. long.;
    (147) 40[deg]23.52' N. lat., 124[deg]28.78' W. long.;
    (148) 40[deg]22.43' N. lat., 124[deg]25.00' W. long.;
    (149) 40[deg]21.72' N. lat., 124[deg]24.94' W. long.;
    (150) 40[deg]21.87' N. lat., 124[deg]27.96' W. long.;
    (151) 40[deg]21.40' N. lat., 124[deg]28.74' W. long.;
    (152) 40[deg]19.68' N. lat., 124[deg]28.49' W. long.;
    (153) 40[deg]17.73' N. lat., 124[deg]25.43' W. long.;
    (154) 40[deg]18.37' N. lat., 124[deg]23.35' W. long.;
    (155) 40[deg]15.75' N. lat., 124[deg]26.05' W. long.;
    (156) 40[deg]16.75' N. lat., 124[deg]33.71' W. long.;
    (157) 40[deg]16.29' N. lat., 124[deg]34.36' W. long.;
    (158) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.12' W. long.; and
    (159) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.50' W. long.
* * * * *

Classification

    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    Under the CSP, recreational fisheries for Pacific halibut off the 
U.S. West Coast begin in early May. The Federal regulations implemented 
for 2003 remain in place until they are replaced by these regulations. 
Therefore, if there is a 30-day delay in effectiveness for these 
regulations, the fishery would operate under last year's regulations 
for the first month. The start dates for most of the recreational 
fisheries off Washington and Oregon are slightly different in 2004 than 
they were in 2003. For example, in Puget Sound, the fishery started on 
May 8 in 2003, but is scheduled to start on May 6 in 2004. A delay in 
effectiveness of this rule would delay the season by two days, 
effectively missing the first weekend for which the fishery is 
scheduled. In the North Coast of Washington, the fishery is scheduled 
to start May 11, 2004, which is 10 days later than in 2003, so a delay 
in effectiveness would allow the fishery to start 10 days earlier than 
planned. In the area between the Queets River and Leadbetter Point, the 
fishery is scheduled for Sunday through Thursday. However, if last 
year's regulations are left in place, the dates in place will not cover 
Sunday through Thursday, rather they will cover Saturday through 
Wednesday. In areas off Oregon the May 1 season is scheduled to open 
inside of a line approximating 40 fms (73 m), whereas last year's 
season was within the 30 fm (55 m) curve. Finally the all-depth season 
in this area, which was carefully crafted to avoid adverse tidal 
conditions in 2004 would fall a week earlier than planned, possibly in 
challenging circumstances, and on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, rather 
than on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
    Recreational fisheries start dates primarily differ from year to 
year because the CSP has a long history of managing the different 
subareas so that fisheries occur on particular days of the week. Thus, 
a Sunday through Thursday fishery will always occur Sundays through 
Thursdays, but will have different calendar dates from year to year. 
The IPHC crafted its annual regulations and adopted TACs for all of its 
management areas, including Area 2A in late January 2004. Following the 
January IPHC meeting, NMFS worked with IPHC and state management staff 
to craft a proposed rule for this action, published on February 23, 
2004 (69 FR 8162). Both Oregon and Washington states adopted state 
regulations for their halibut fisheries after the IPHC's TACs and 2004 
regulations became effective on February 29, 2004. Although NMFS was 
able to provide a public comment period following the proposed rule, 
the agency did not have time to publish a final rule and allow a 30-day 
delay in effectiveness period prior to May 1. A delay in effectiveness 
of 30 days would cause the state and Federal regulations to be in 
conflict, would cause great confusion in the recreational fishing 
industry, and would result in fishing seasons that differ from the 
seasons carefully crafted by the states, the industry, and the Pacific 
Council. In addition, anglers visiting coastal areas

[[Page 24531]]

must plan ahead to arrange transportation to and lodging at the coast, 
therefore, many of the May charter opportunities are booked months in 
advance, based on the seasons recommended by the Pacific Council. 
Allowing last year's regulations to remain in place during May would 
upset these plans. For the reasons described above, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the AA finds good cause to waive the requirement to 
provide a 30-day delay in effectiveness of this rule so that this final 
rule may become effective in time for the May 1, 2004 recreational 
halibut fishing seasons.
    NMFS prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) that 
describes the economic impact this final rule will have on small 
entities. A description of the action, why it is being considered, and 
the legal basis for this action are contained in the preamble. The FRFA 
is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and a summary of the FRFA 
follows:
    During the comment period for the proposed rule, NMFS received 2 
letters and one e-mail letter of comment. None of these comments 
addressed the initial regulatory flexibility analysis or economic 
impacts of the rule on small businesses. There are no recordkeeping, 
reporting, or other compliance issues forthcoming from this final rule. 
This rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other Federal 
laws.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq., 
requires government agencies to assess the effects that various 
regulatory alternatives would have on small entities, including small 
businesses, and to determine ways to minimize those effects. A fish-
harvesting business is considered a ``small'' business by the Small 
Business Administration (SBA) if it has annual receipts not in excess 
of $3.5 million. A fish-processing business is considered ``small'' if 
it employs 500 or fewer persons. For marinas and charter/party boats, a 
small business is one with annual receipts not in excess of $6.0 
million. All of the businesses that would be affected by this action 
are considered small businesses under SBA guidance.
    Approximately 700 vessels were issued IPHC licenses to retain 
halibut in 2003. IPHC issues licenses for: the directed commercial 
fishery in Area 2A, including licenses issued to retain halibut caught 
incidentally in the primary sablefish fishery (260 licenses in 2003); 
incidental halibut caught in the salmon troll fishery (323 licenses in 
2003); and the charterboat fleet (127 licenses in 2003). No vessel may 
participate in more than one of these three fisheries per year. 
Individual recreational anglers and private boats are the only sectors 
that are not required to have an IPHC license to retain halibut.
    Specific data on the economics of halibut charter operations are 
unavailable. However, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(Commission) is completing a report on the overall West Coast 
charterboat fleet. In surveying charterboat vessels concerning their 
operations in 2000, the Commission estimated that there were about 315 
charterboat vessels in operation off Washington and Oregon. Compared 
with the 127 IPHC licenses in 2003, this estimate suggests that 
approximately 40 percent of the charterboat fleet participates in the 
halibut fishery. The Commission has developed preliminary estimates of 
the annual revenues earned by this fleet and they vary by size class of 
the vessels and home state. Small charterboat vessels range from 15 to 
30 ft (4.572 to 9.144 m) and typically carry 5 to 6 passengers. Medium 
charterboat vessels range from 31 to 49 ft (9.4488 to 14.9352 m) in 
length and typically carry 19 to 20 passengers. (Neither state has 
large vessels of greater than 49 ft (14.9352 m) in their fleet.) 
Average annual revenues from all types of recreational fishing, 
whalewatching and other activities ranged from $7,000 for small Oregon 
vessels to $131,000 for medium Washington vessels. These data confirm 
that charterboat vessels qualify as small entities under the RFA.
    The changes to the Area 2A Plan, which allocates the catch of 
Pacific halibut among users in Washington, Oregon and California, will: 
(1) provide more flexibility for Washington inseason sport fishery 
management; (2) revise the public announcement process for the Puget 
Sound sport fishery (Washington's inside waters subarea); (3) revise 
season dates for the Washington North Coast and South Coast sport 
fisheries; (4) combine the Oregon North Central and South Central 
subareas; (5) revise the ``additional fishing days' season structure 
for Oregon's spring and summer sport fisheries; (6) extend the season 
closing date for Oregon/California sport fisheries south of Humbug 
Mountain subarea; and (7) change the depth restriction for Oregon's 
nearshore sport fishery. The 2004 Area 2A halibut management measures 
revise the eastern, inshore boundary of an area closed to non-treaty 
commercial halibut fishing. One minor change in the flexible inseason 
management provisions for Area 2A is that the NMFS telephone hotline 
will be maintained from May through October rather than May through 
September to cover the duration of the commercial and sport halibut 
seasons in Area 2A.
    The changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut 
management measures will affect charter fishing operations, anglers and 
commercial halibut fishermen who operate off Washington and Oregon. In 
2003, IPHC issued 127 licenses to the charterboat fleet, 260 licenses 
to the commercial directed fishery which includes licenses for vessels 
retaining halibut caught incidentally to the primary sablefish fishery, 
and 323 licenses to salmon troll vessels to retain incidentally caught 
halibut. For 2004, the changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A 
halibut management measures are non-substantive. These changes are 
within the Plan's management objective of allocating the TAC in Area 
2A, while also allowing commercial, sport, and tribal fisheries to 
target halibut in the manner most appropriate for the user's needs 
within that fishery. These changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 
2A halibut management measures are authorized under the Halibut Act and 
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 300.60-65.
    The changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut 
management measures are expected to result in either no impact at all, 
or a modest increase in fishing opportunity for commercial and sport 
halibut fishermen and operators. The sport management measures for 2004 
implement the Plan by managing the sport fishery to meet the differing 
fishery needs of the various areas along the coast according to the 
Plan's objectives. The non-treaty commercial management measures for 
2004 will allow the fishery access to the commercial portion of the 
Area 2A TAC while protecting overfished rockfish species that co-occur 
with halibut. The measures for 2004 will be very similar to last year's 
management measures.
    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, the Secretary of Commerce 
recognizes the sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes 
over shared Federal and tribal fishery resources. At section 302(b)(5), 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act reserves a seat on the Pacific Council for a 
representative of an Indian tribe with federally recognized fishing 
rights from California, Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.
    The U.S. Government formally recognizes that the 12 Washington 
Tribes have treaty rights to fish for Pacific halibut. In general 
terms, the quantification of those rights is 50 percent of the 
harvestable surplus of Pacific halibut available in the tribes'

[[Page 24532]]

usual and accustomed (U and A) fishing areas (described at 50 CFR 
660.324). Each of the treaty tribes has the discretion to administer 
its fisheries and to establish its own policies to achieve program 
objectives. Accordingly, tribal allocations and regulations, including 
the changes to the Plan, have been developed in consultation with the 
affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal consensus.

    Dated: April 28, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 300 is amended as 
follows:

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

Subpart E--Pacific Halibut Fisheries

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart E continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.

0
2. In Sec.  300.63, paragraph (b)(3)(ii) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  300.63  Catch sharing plans and domestic management measures in 
Area 2A.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) It is unlawful for any person to possess, land or purchase 
halibut south of 46[deg]53'18'' N. lat. that were taken and retained as 
incidental catch authorized by this section in the directed longline 
sablefish fishery.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 04-10071 Filed 4-29-04; 4:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S