Federal Register: March 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 54)
DOCID: fr21mr07-11 FR Doc E7-5074
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679
Docket ID: [Docket No. 070213032-7032-01; I.D. 112206B]
NOTICE: RULES
DOCID: fr21mr07-11
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Final rule; correction.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 2007 and 2008 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Correction
DATES: Effective March 5, 2007, through December 31, 2008.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
On March 5, 2007, NMFS published a final rule implementing 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications, reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Table 10 of that document identifies the apportionment of Pacific halibut PSC trawl limits between the trawl gear and deep water species complex and the shallowwater species complex. The heading to Table 10 indicated that the final apportionments were for fishing years 2006 and 2007 rather than for 2007 and 2008. In addition, Table 20 of that document contained the final 2007 and 2008 rockfish program halibut mortality limits for the catcher/processor and catcher vessel sectors. That table also contained inadvertent errors. This final rule document corrects errors published in the final harvest specifications.
SUMMARY:
Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Gulf of Alaska groundfish; correction,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone under the Fishery Management Plan for the Gulf of Alaska Groundfish Fishery (FMP). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council prepared the FMP under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
On March 5, 2007, NMFS published a final rule (72 FR 9676) announcing specifications for the 2007 and 2008 fishing years for the groundfish fishery in the GOA. The intended effect of the action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA. In the final specification document NMFS announced the apportionment of PSC trawl limits between the trawl gear deepwater species complex and the shallowwater species complex. However, NMFS inadvertently indicated that the apportionment was for fishing years 2006 and 2007 rather than 2007 and 2008. This document corrects the error and republishes Table 10 in its entirety. In addition, section 679.82(d)(7) establishes sideboards to limit the ability of participants eligible for the Rockfish Program to catch fish in fisheries other than the Central GOA rockfish fisheries. Table 20 identifies the final 2007 and 2008 halibut mortality limits for the rockfish program. However, the rockfish program halibut mortality limits identified in Table 20 were inadvertently placed in reverse order among the columns. This document corrects the errors and republishes Table 12 in its entirety. Correction
Accordingly, the final rule published on March 5, 2007, at 72 FR 9676 (FR Doc. E73775) is corrected as follows:
1. On page 9689, Table 10 is corrected and republished in its entirety to read as follows:
Table 10 Final 2007 and 2008 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC
Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear DeepWater Species Complex and the
ShallowWater Species Complex (values are in metric tons) Shallow
Season water Deepwater Total
January 20April 1 450 100 550
April 1July 1 100 300 400
July 1September 1 200 400 600
September 1October 1 150 Any 150
remainder
Subtotal January 20October 1 900 800 1,700
October 1December 31\1\ n/a n/a 300
Total n/a n/a 2,000
\1\No apportionment between shallowwater and deepwater fishery
complexes during the 5th season (October 1 December 31). [[Page 13218]]
2. On page 9700, Table 20 is corrected and republished in its entirety to read as follows:
Table 20 Final 2007 and 2008 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sectors (values are rounded to
nearest metric ton)
Annual shallow
Shallowwater Deepwater complex Annual halibut water complex Annual deepwater
Sector complex halibut halibut PSC mortality limit halibut PSC complex halibut
PSC sideboard sideboard ratio (mt) sideboard limit PSC sideboard
ratio (mt) limit (mt)
Catcher/processor 0.54 3.99 2,000 11 80
Catcher vessel 6.32 1.08 2,000 126 22
Dated: March 14, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E75074 Filed 32007; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 351022S
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, 9074811780, or email at
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.