[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]



 ========================================================================
 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. 
 
 ========================================================================
 

  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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Vessel class                                      Fishing period catch limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of       Dressed, head-on   Dressed, head-on
                  Length                      Letter        licenses for      with ice/slime     with ice/slime
                                                               2019 *            (pounds)        (metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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