[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 28, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 30504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11881]



[[Page 30504]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 080515668-8669-01]
RIN 0648-AW82


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

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

ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendments.

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SUMMARY: This action corrects the regulatory text of a final rule 
published on August 8, 2003 (68 FR 47256), that implemented guideline 
harvest levels (GHLs) for the guided sport charter vessel fishery in 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C and 
3A. The table of GHLs as they relate to the total constant exploitation 
yield contains errors in the conversions from pounds to metric tons, 
and rounding errors for some metric equivalents. This action is 
necessary to correct the errors in that table.

DATES: Effective May 28, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scheurer, (907) 586-7356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final rule published August 8, 2003 (68 FR 
47256, RIN 0648-AK17), implemented guideline harvest level (GHL) 
measures for managing the harvest of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus 
stenolepis) in the charter sport fishery in International Pacific 
Halibut Commission (IPHC) Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A in and off Alaska. 
This correcting amendment revises the table at 50 CFR 300.65(c)(1) that 
lists GHLs corresponding to different levels of the total constant 
exploitation yield set annually by the IPHC.

Need for Correction

    The table at Sec.  300.65(c)(1) contains three metric conversion 
errors, several rounding errors, and missing paragraph designations. 
Paragraphs (c)(1)(i) through (v) refer to different benchmark levels 
for the total constant exploitation yield for Area 2C. There are no 
similar paragraph designations for the benchmark levels for Area 3A. 
Paragraph designations are added for the Area 3A table entries for 
consistency. This final rule corrects the conversion to metric 
equivalent errors and rounding errors, adds new paragraph designations 
to paragraph (c)(1), and reorganizes the table into two columns instead 
of four for clarity and ease of reading.

Classification

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Acting Assistant Administrator 
for Fisheries finds there is good cause to waive prior notice and an 
opportunity for public comment on this action, as notice and comment 
would be unnecessary. Notice and comment are unnecessary because this 
action makes only minor, non-substantive changes to the metric 
equivalents for the GHLs, and reorganizes the table to make it easier 
to read and understand. The IPHC conducts its analyses and sets limits 
using pounds. Likewise, Canadian and U.S. management agencies use 
pounds to measure and report halibut catch information. These 
corrections will not affect the results of analyses conducted to 
support management decisions in the halibut fishery nor change the 
total catch of halibut in the charter halibut fishery. This rule does 
not make any substantive change in the rights and obligations of 
charter vessel anglers managed under the GHL halibut regulations. No 
aspect of this action is controversial and no change in operating 
practices in the fishery is required. NMFS therefore determines that 
APA requirements for public notice and comment are unnecessary for this 
action and determines that this rule is not subject to the 30-day delay 
in effectiveness requirement at 5 U.S.C. 553(d).
    This final rule complies with the Halibut Act and the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council's authority to implement allocation measures 
for the management of the halibut fishery.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Treaties.

    Dated: May 21, 2008.
Samuel D. Rauch III
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

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

PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

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.  300.65, paragraph (c)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  300.65  Catch sharing plan and domestic management measures in 
waters in and off Alaska.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) The annual GHLs for Regulatory Areas 2C and 3A are determined 
as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
  If the Annual Total Constant Exploitation
       Yield for Halibut is More Than:           Then the GHL will be:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) Regulatory Area 2C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) 9,027,000 lb                               1,432,000 lb
(4,094.6 mt)                                   (649.5 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) 7,965,000 lb                               1,217,000 lb
(3,612.9 mt)                                   (552.0 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C) 6,903,000 lb                               1,074,000 lb
(3,131.1 mt)                                   (487.2 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) 5,841,000 lb                               931,000 lb
(2,649.4 mt)                                   (422.3 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) 4,779,000 lb                               788,000 lb
(2,167.7 mt)                                   (357.4 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) Regulatory Area 3A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) 21,581,000 lb                              3,650,000 lb
(9,789.0 mt)                                   (1,655.6 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) 19,042,000 lb                              3,103,000 lb
(8,637.3 mt)                                   (1,407.5 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C) 16,504,000 lb                              2,734,000 lb
(7,486.1 mt)                                   (1,240.1 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) 13,964,000 lb                              2,373,000 lb
(6,334.0 mt)                                   (1,076.4 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E) 11,425,000 lb                              2,008,000 lb
(5,182.3 mt)                                   (910.8 mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[FR Doc. E8-11881 Filed 5-27-08; 8:45 am]
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