[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 12771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4887]



[[Page 12771]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 031207D]


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 levels (GHL) 
for the guided sport halibut fishery (charter fishery) in the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C and 
3A. The GHLs provide a benchmark harvest level for participants in the 
charter fishery. This notice is necessary to meet the management and 
regulatory requirements for the GHLs and to inform the public about the 
2007 GHLs for the charter fishery.

DATES:  The GHLs are effective beginning 1200 h, Alaska local time 
(A.l.t.), February 1, 2007, and will close at 2400 h, A.l.t., December 
31, 2007. This period is specified by the IPHC as the sport fishing 
season in all waters of Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Gasper, 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 GHLs are intended to serve as a benchmark 
harvest level for participants in the charter fishery.
    This announcement is consistent with 50 CFR 300.65(c)(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. The IPHC annually 
establishes the constant exploitation yield (CEY) for halibut in IPHC 
regulatory areas 2C and 3A. Regulations at Sec.  300.65(c)(1) establish 
the GHLs based on the CEY that is established annually by the IPHC. The 
CEY established by the IPHC for 2007 in Areas 2C and 3A result in GHLs 
of 1,432,000 lb (649.5 t), and 3,650,000 lb (1,655.6 t), respectively.
    This notice does not require any regulatory action by NMFS and is 
intended to serve as a notice of the GHLs in Areas 2C and 3A for 2007. 
If a GHL is exceeded in 2007, NMFS will notify the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council) in writing within 30 days of 
receipt of that information. 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 notice does not require any additional regulatory action by 
NMFS and does not impose any additional restrictions on harvests by the 
charter fishery.
    If a GHL is exceeded in any year, the Council would be notified, 
but would not be required to take action. This process of notification 
is intended to provide the Council with information about the level of 
Pacific halibut harvest by the charter fishery in a given year and 
could prompt future action.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.

    Dated: March 12, 2007.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4887 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
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