[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 223 (Thursday, November 19, 1998)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 64209-64210] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-30954] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Parts 600 and 660 [Docket No.971229312-7312-01; I.D. 111398A] Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Revisions AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces an increase to the monthly cumulative trip limit for Dover sole taken in the limited entry Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. This change is intended to ensure that the 1998 harvest guidelines and allocations are taken. NMFS also announces the last cumulative trip limit period in 1998 for the ``B'' platoon, those limited entry trawl vessels that are authorized to take their cumulative trip limits 2 weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet, and makes several housekeeping changes. These actions are authorized under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP). DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time (l.t.) December 1, 1998, except for the trip limits for vessels operating in the ``B'' platoon, whose trip limit changes will become effective at 0001 hours l.t. November 16, 1998. These changes are in effect, unless modified, superseded, or rescinded, until the effective date of the 1999 annual specifications and management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which will be published in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted through December 4, 1998. ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator, Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or William Hogarth, Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, Northwest Region, NMFS, 206-526-6140; or Svein Fougner, Southwest Region, NMFS, 562-980- 4040. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following trip limit change was recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, at its November 2-6, 1998, meeting in Portland, OR. Increase to the Limited Entry Monthly Cumulative Trip Limit for Dover Sole Preliminary landing estimates for Dover sole, which is within the DTS complex, consisting of Dover sole, thornyheads, and trawl-caught sablefish, indicate that the limited entry allocation would not be reached. The current monthly cumulative trip limits for the limited entry fishery for species in the DTS complex are: Dover sole, 18,000 lb (8,165 kg); longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402 kg); shortspine thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg), and trawl-caught sablefish, 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). The best available information at the November 1998 Council meeting indicated that 1,390 mt of trawl-caught sablefish, 5,543 mt of Dover sole, 1,671 mt of longspine thornyheads, and 941 mt of shortspine thornyheads had been taken through September 30, 1998. The Dover sole landing levels for January through September are well below the levels that were projected for this period. Although the estimated attainment date for the shortspine thornyhead allocation is December 20, relatively little bycatch is expected to be taken in the Dover sole fishery during winter months, so increasing the Dover sole trip limit is not expected to result in increased bycatch and discard of shortspine thornyheads. Therefore, the Council recommended increasing the monthly cumulative trip limit of Dover sole on December 1, 1998, to 36,000 lb (16,329 kg). Longspine thornyheads and [[Page 64210]] trawl-caught sablefish also are projected to be below their limited entry allocations, but increases to their trip limits were not recommended because of expected bycatch of shortspine thornyheads. Final Period for the ``B'' Platoon NMFS also announces the last cumulative trip limit period in 1998 for the ``B'' platoon, those limited entry trawl vessels authorized (on their limited entry permit) to take their cumulative trip limits 2 weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet. For vessels in the ``B'' platoon, the final cumulative trip limit period will be from November 16, 1998, through December 31, 1998. At any time during this period, each vessel in the ``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain, possess, and land the equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits (the November and December cumulative trip limits). Therefore, the ``B'' platoon cumulative trip limit for Dover sole between November 16 and December 31, 1998, is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg), which is derived by adding 18,000 lb (8,165 kg), the amount of the November cumulative trip limit, plus 36,000 lb (16,329 kg), the amount of the December cumulative trip limit. Housekeeping This document also updates portions of the 1998 annual specifications and management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998), as amended. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery, the introductory text at (1)(a) is deleted because it was replaced by paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (ii) on October 1, 1998 (63 FR 53313, October 5, 1998). Also, paragraphs C(1)(a)(ii) and C(2)(a) are revised to include longline gear which was inadvertently deleted. These changes clarify the Council's intent. NMFS Action For the reasons stated above, NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations and announces the following changes to the 1998 annual management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998, as amended at 63 FR 24970, May 6, 1998; 63 FR 36612, July 7, 1998; and 63 FR 45966, August 28, 1998, 63 FR 53313, October 5, 1998). 1. In Section IV., under A. General Definitions and Provisions, paragraph (1)(c)(iii)(C) is revised to read as follows: A. General Definitions and Provisions * * * * * (1) * * * (c) * * * (iii) * * * (C) Special provisions will be made for ``B'' platoon vessels so that the amount of fish made available in 1998 to both ``A'' and ``B'' vessels is the same. For vessels in the ``B'' platoon, the final cumulative trip limit period will be from November 16, 1998, through December 31, 1998. At any time during this period, each vessel in the ``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain, possess, and land the equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits which is the sum of the cumulative trip limits for November and December 1998. * * * * * 2. In Section IV., under B. Limited Entry Fishery, (4)(c)(i) is revised to read as follows: B. Limited Entry Fishery * * * * * (4) * * * (c) * * * (i) The monthly cumulative trip limits for species in the Dover sole, thornyhead, and trawl-caught sablefish complex are: for Dover sole, 36,000 lb (16,329 kg); for longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402 kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg); and for trawl- caught sablefish, 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). For vessels in the ``B'' platoon, during November 16-December 31, 1998, the cumulative trip limit for Dover sole is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg); for longspine thornyheads, 15,000 lb (6,804 kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 3,000 lb (1361 kg); and for trawl-caught sablefish, 10,000 lb (4,536 kg). * * * * * 3. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery, paragraph (1)(a) is revised, paragraph (1)(e)(ii)(A) is revised, and the heading of paragraph (2)(a) is revised to read as follows: C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery * * * * * (1) * * * (a) All rockfish. (i) North of Cape Blanco. Rockfish may not be taken and retained, possessed, or landed by any open access gear, including exempted trawl gear, north of Cape Blanco. (ii) South of Cape Blanco. South of Cape Blanco the trip limit for rockfish taken with hook-and-line, longline or pot gear is 10,000 lb (4,536 kg) per vessel per fishing trip. Rockfish taken under this trip limit count toward cumulative trip limits. * * * * * (e) * * * (ii) * * * (A) All open access gear except setnets or trammel nets. For all open access gear except setnets or trammel nets, bocaccio may not be taken and retained, possessed, or landed north of Cape Blanco. South of Cape Mendocino, the monthly cumulative limit for bocaccio is 1,000 lb (454 kg) of which no more than 500 lb (227 kg) per trip may be taken and retained with hook-and-line, longline, or pot gear. * * * * * (2) * * * (a) Hook-and-line, longline, pot, setnet, trammel net. * * * * * * * * Classification These actions are authorized by the regulations implementing the FMP. The determination to take these actions is based on the most recent data available. Because of the need for immediate action to implement these changes at the beginning of the final ``B'' platoon period which starts November 16, 1998, and because the public had an opportunity to comment on the action at the November 1998 Council meeting, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this document to be published without affording a prior opportunity for public comment or a 30-day delayed effectiveness period. These actions are taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(1) and are exempt from review under E.O. 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 13, 1998. Bruce C. Morehead, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 98-30954 Filed 11-16-98; 4:59 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F