[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25493-25494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11444]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 106 / Monday, June 3, 2019 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 25493]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[Docket No. 190204057-9057-01]
RIN 0648-WCR-A001
Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Directed Commercial Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason action.
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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, on behalf of the International Pacific
Halibut Commission, publishes notice of an inseason action pursuant to
International Pacific Halibut Commission regulations approved by the
Secretary of State to govern the Pacific halibut fishery. This inseason
action removes the June 27, 2019, designated opening date for the Area
2A directed commercial fishery from the list of openings. This action
is intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut and promote
safety at sea.
DATES: This action is effective May 31, 2019, through December 31,
2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Blair, phone: 503-231-6858,
fax: 503-231-6893, or email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Pacific Halibut Commission
(IPHC), pursuant to the Convention between the Canada and the United
States for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific
Ocean and Bering Sea (Convention), signed at Ottawa, Ontario, on March
2, 1953, as amended by a Protocol Amending the Convention (signed at
Washington, DC, on March 29, 1979), issued this inseason action
pursuant to IPHC regulations governing the Pacific halibut fishery. The
Secretary of State approved the regulations, including season dates,
catch limits, and annual management measures in accordance with 50 CFR
300.62. NMFS published the regulations in the Federal Register on March
14, 2019 (84 FR 9243). On behalf of the IPHC, NMFS publishes the
inseason action below in the Federal Register to provide additional
notice of its effectiveness, and to inform fishery participants of the
restrictions and requirements established in this inseason action.
IPHC News Release 2019-009 Non-Tribal Directed Commercial Fishery in
IPHC Regulatory Area 2A: Fishing Period Limits for 26 June 2019 and 10
July 2019
Published 2 May 2019
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) has established
fishing period limits for the 26 June 2019 and 10 July 2019 fishing
periods for the non-tribal directed commercial fishery (the fishery) in
IPHC Regulatory Area 2A. The overall allocation for this fishery for
2019 is 254,426 pounds; 115.41 metric tons.
Note that the IPHC does not intend to establish fishing period
limits for the 27 June 2019 fishing period listed in the Pacific
Halibut Fishery Regulations (2019), and thus the fishery will not be
open that day. The decision not to open on 27 June was informed by the
response to a survey of fishery license holders conducted by the IPHC
during April 2019.
The 26 June and 10 July fishing periods will each begin at 08:00
hrs and end at 18:00 hrs Pacific Daylight Time. The fishery is
restricted to waters south of Point Chehalis, Washington (46[deg]53.30'
N latitude). A total of 176 fishery licenses have been issued thus far
for 2019, with 14 more applications currently being processed. Fishing
period limits as indicated in the following table will be in effect for
each of these two fishing periods:
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Vessel class Fishing period catch limit
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Number of Dressed, head-on Dressed, head-on
Length Letter licenses for with ice/slime with ice/slime
2019 * (pounds) (metric tons)
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0-25..................................... A 16 4,525 2.05
26-30.................................... B 11 4,525 2.05
31-35.................................... C 18 4,525 2.05
36-40.................................... D 36 6,820 3.09
41-45.................................... E 29 6,820 3.09
46-50.................................... F 31 9,090 4.12
51-55.................................... G 10 9,090 4.12
56+...................................... H 25 10,225 4.64
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* As of 2 May 2019. Note there are 14 license applications still to be processed.
The appropriate vessel length class and letter are printed on each
vessel license. The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the
individual fisher, and any landings over the vessel limit will be
subject to forfeiture and fine.
The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-on
weight, and fishers are reminded that regulations require that all
Pacific halibut be landed with the head naturally attached.
Additionally, fishers are reminded that there is a 72-hour rule,
whereby a vessel that will be used in the fishery may not be used to
fish for any species of fish anywhere in IPHC Regulatory Area 2A during
the 72-hour period immediately before the non-tribal directed
[[Page 25494]]
commercial fishing period unless all catch of other species has been
completely offloaded or the vessel has submitted to a hold inspection
by an authorized officer prior to the start of the fishing period (see
Pacific Halibut Fishery Regulations 2019, sections 20(7) and 20(8)).
NOAA Fisheries has implemented mandatory area closures that are in
effect for the directed Pacific halibut fishery to protect specific
rockfish species. For the exact coordinates of the closed areas, please
refer to their web page: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/management/groundfish_closures/groundfish_closed_areas.html.
For further information, call the NOAA Fisheries hotline at 1 800-662-
9825, then press ``7'' for the Pacific halibut fisheries.
Following the 10 July 2019 fishing period, the IPHC may establish
and announce fishing period limits for subsequent fishing periods in
2019, dependent upon allocation remaining for the fishery.
Dated: May 28, 2019.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-11444 Filed 5-31-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P