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RIN ID: RIN 0648-AR31
DOCUMENT ID: [I.D. 071603A]
SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Allocation of Pacific Cod Among Fixed Gear Sectors
DOCUMENT SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 77 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP). This amendment would continue to apportion the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) among the fixed gear sectors. In addition, the amendment would further split the pot sector share of the TAC between pot catcher/processors and pot catcher vessels. Amendment 77 is intended to maintain the stability of the fixed gear Pacific cod fishery. Comments from the public are welcome.
SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Pacific cod,
Amendment 77 was adopted by the Council at its June 2003 meeting.
If approved by NMFS, this amendment would replace Amendment 64, which
expires on December 31, 2003. Amendment 77 would allocate the 51
percent fixed gear share of the BSAI TAC among its four components as follows:
[sbull] 80 percent to catcher/processors using hookandline gear;
[sbull] 0.3 percent to catcher vessels using hookandline gear; [sbull] 15 percent to catcher vessels using pot gear;
[sbull] 3.3 percent to pot catcher/processors using pot gear; and
[sbull] 1.4 percent to catcher vessels under 60 ft length overall (LOA), using either pots or hookandline gear.
This represents a change from the status quo because the existing 18.3 percent allocation to pot vessels would be split between the two sectors of that fleet, 15 percent to pot catcher vessels and 3.3 percent to pot catcher/processor vessels. This division would be based on each sector's historical catch between 1998 and 2001, and reflects the growth in the pot catcher vessel sector in recent years.
Specific provisions for the reallocation of unharvested amounts of these allocations to other vessels using hookandline or pot gear would continue to be set forth in regulations.
Public comments are being solicited on the amendment through the
end of the comment period stated in this NOA; a proposed rule that
would implement the amendment may be published in the Federal Register
for public comment following NMFS' evaluation under the Magnuson
Stevens Act procedures. Public comments on the proposed rule must be
received by the end of the comment period on the amendment in order to
be considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the amendment.
All comments received by the end of the comment period on the
amendment, whether specifically directed to the amendment or to the
proposed rule, will be considered in the approval/disapproval decision;
comments received after that date will not be considered in the
approval/disapproval decision on the amendment. To be considered,
comments must be received not just postmarked or otherwise transmitted
by close of business on the last day of the comment period specified in this NOA.
Dated: July 17. 2003.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 0318617 Filed 72103; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Nina Mollett, 907-586-7462 or
Nina.Mollett@noaa.gov.
14 CFR Part 39 40 CFR Part 52 14 CFR Part 71 33 CFR Part 165 50 CFR Part 679 47 CFR Part 73 26 CFR Part 1 40 CFR Part 180 33 CFR Part 117 50 CFR Part 17 44 CFR Part 67 50 CFR Part 648 14 CFR Part 97 33 CFR Part 100 40 CFR Part 63 50 CFR Part 622 44 CFR Part 65 50 CFR Part 660 26 CFR Part 301 39 CFR Part 111 40 CFR Part 300 6 CFR Part 5 40 CFR Part 271 47 CFR Part 64 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81 50 CFR Part 665 44 CFR Part 64 10 CFR Part 50 49 CFR Part 571 47 CFR Part 76