[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43689-43690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21596]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[I.D. 080597F]
RIN: 0648-AK14
Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish
Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce
ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management
plan; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has
submitted Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the
Groundfish Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP)
for Secretarial review. Amendment 34 would authorize an allocation of
Atka mackerel to vessels using jig gear. Annually, up to 2 percent of
the total allowable catch (TAC) specified for this species in the
Eastern Aleutian Islands District (AI)/Bering Sea subarea (BS) could be
allocated to the jig gear fleet fishing in this area. This action is
necessary to provide an opportunity to a localized, small-vessel jig
gear fleet to fish for Atka mackerel in summer months. The large-scale
trawl fisheries typically harvest the available TAC for this species
early in the fishing year, which does not allow the jig gear fishermen
an opportunity for a summer fishery. Comments from the public are
requested.
DATES: Comments on Amendment 34 must be submitted on or before October
14, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 34 should be submitted to Chief,
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to the Federal
Building, 709 West 9th. Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendment 34 and
the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis prepared for the amendment are
available from NMFS at the above
[[Page 43690]]
address, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS at 907-586-7228.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Salveson, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or
plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval,
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately
publish a document that the FMP or amendment is available for public
review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received
during the comment period in determining whether to approve the FMP or
amendment.
Amendment 34 was adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council at its June 1997 meeting and would authorize an allocation of
Atka mackerel to vessels using jig gear. Annually, up to 2 percent of
the annual TAC specified for Atka mackerel in the Eastern AI/BS could
be allocated to vessels using jig gear as part of the annual groundfish
specifications process. The percent allocation, up to the 2 percent
ceiling, would be based on recent and anticipated harvest capacity of
the jig gear fleet. This amendment is being proposed to respond to
concerns that the developing small vessel jig gear fishery for Atka
mackerel during spring and summer months routinely is precluded by the
fast-paced trawl fisheries for this species that typically harvest the
available TAC in the Eastern AI/BS early in the fishing year.
NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment
period in determining whether to approve the proposed amendment. A
proposed rule to implement Amendment 34 has been submitted for
Secretarial review and approval. The proposed rule to implement this
amendment is scheduled to be published within 15 days of this document.
Dated: August 11, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-21596 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
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