[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 70420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29318]



[[Page 70420]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA801


Fisheries of the Pacific Region

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

ACTION: Notification of determination of an overfished condition.

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SUMMARY: This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that Pacific ocean 
perch, (Sebastes alutus), which is managed by the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, is in an overfished condition.
    NMFS notifies the appropriate fishery management council (Council) 
whenever it determines that overfishing is occurring, a stock is in an 
overfished condition, or a stock is approaching an overfished 
condition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Nelson, (301) 427-8565.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to sections 304(e)(2) and (e)(7) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1854(e)(2) and (e)(7), and implementing 
regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(2), NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary, 
notifies Councils whenever it determines; a stock or stock complex is 
approaching an overfished condition, a stock or stock complex is 
overfished, or existing action taken to prevent previously identified 
overfishing or rebuilding a previously identified overfished stock or 
stock complex has not resulted in adequate progress. NMFS also notifies 
Councils when it determines a stock or stock complex is subject to 
overfishing.
    On September 30, 2011, NMFS informed the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council that the most recent stock assessment for Pacific ocean perch 
found that the biomass is below the overfished threshold. A review of 
the stock assessment determined that it constituted the best available 
information and that the change in the stock status was primarily a 
result of using a different model to assess the stock. The assessment 
also found that overfishing was not occurring and that the stock of 
Pacific ocean perch is rebuilding.
    Pacific ocean perch are currently under a rebuilding plan. The 
Council must continue to take measures to ensure that overfishing does 
not occur and that the stock rebuilds on schedule. If additional 
information were to reveal any concern over maintaining the current 
rebuilding progress, changes to the management or rebuilding parameters 
of Pacific ocean perch could be addressed through the biennial 
specification and management measures process.

    Dated: November 8, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-29318 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P