NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processor vessels using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated for catcher/processor vessels using

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallowwater species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action is necessary because the second seasonal

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document corrects errors in the amendatory instructions and table titles of the final rule published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2003. That final rule implemented Amendment 72
[[Page 51712]]
to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (Amendment 72) and Amendment 64 to the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This proposed rule would modify the management of the ``other species'' Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve by eliminating specific allocations of ``other species'' to individual CDQ managing organizations (CDQ groups) and instead allow NMFS to manage the ``other species'' CDQ reserve with the general limitations used to manage the catch of

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rock sole by catcher processors that are listed under the American Fisheries Act (AFA) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 2003 sideboard limit of rock sole specified for listed AFA catcher processors in the BSAI.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS announces opening and closing dates of the first and second directed fisheries for Atka mackerel within the harvest limit area (HLA) in Statistical Areas 542 and 543. These actions are necessary to fully use the 2003 HLA limits established for the Central (area 542) and Western (area 543) Aleutian Districts pursuant to the 2003 Atka mackerel

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS proposes to correct the definition of the area in which salmon fishing regulations implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Salmon Fisheries in the EEZ off the Coast of Alaska (Salmon FMP) apply, to remove the words ``high seas'' wherever they appear in the salmon fishing regulations, and to remove an obsolete reference to the North

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting retention of Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of Pacific cod in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels
[[Page 69050]]
using hookandline gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod allocated to catcher vessels using hookandline gear in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 2003 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod apportioned to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a proposed rule to amend eligibility criteria for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab species licenses issued under the License Limitation Program (LLP)and required for participation in the BSAI crab fisheries. This action is necessary to allow participation in the BSAI crab fisheries in a manner intended by the North Pacific

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting retention of shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). NMFS is requiring that catch of shortraker/rougheye rockfish in this area be treated in the same manner as prohibited species and discarded at sea with a minimum of injury. This action is necessary because the allocation of the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2003 Atka mackerel total allowable catch (TAC) in this area.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues an inseason adjustment opening the B fishing season for pollock in Statistical Area 630 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) for 12 hours effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 20, 2003, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., March 20, 2003. This adjustment is necessary to allow the fishing industry opportunity to harvest the B season allowance

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This final rule increases from 7 to 9 percent the percentage of pollock roe that may be retained by operators of catcher/processors and motherships processing pollock harvested in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. This action is necessary because catcher/processors and motherships have been able to increase their pollock roe recovery

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues an inseason adjustment opening the B season for Atka mackerel with gears other than jig in the Eastern Aleutian District (area 541) and the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) for 12 hours, from 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), September 1, 2003, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 2,

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This action revises the descriptions of Gulf of Alaska (GOA) statistical and reporting areas 620 and 630 in Figure 3b to part 679 to include the entire Alitak/Deadman's/Portage Bay complex of Kodiak Island within area 620. This action is necessary to improve quota management and fishery enforcement in the GOA. This action is intended to meet the

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts of shortraker/rougheye rockfish and northern rockfish in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2003 interim CDQ reserve amounts of shortraker/ rougheye rockfish

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) for Statistical Area 620 of the GOA.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues a final rule to implement Amendment 72 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (Amendment 72) and Amendment 64 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (Amendment 64) (collectively, Amendments 72/64). This action will revise certain recordkeeping

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for species that comprise the shallowwater species fishery by vessels using trawl gear in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), except for vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear in those portions of the GOA open to directed fishing for pollock. This action is necessary because the 2003 Pacific halibut bycatch

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS issues interim 2004 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and sideboard amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is closing directed fishing for groundfish with non- pelagic trawl gear in the red king crab savings subarea (RKCSS) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the interim 2003 red king crab prohibited species catch (PSC) limit that is specified for the RKCSS of the BSAI.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This document corrects Figure 6 to Part 679 published in the Federal Register of September 12, 2001, and corrected on April 24, 2003, which amended the definition of length overall (LOA) of a vessel. This action is necessary to correct errors contained in this figure.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for non-Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock with trawl gear in the Chinook Salmon Savings Areas of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2003 nonCDQ limit of chinook salmon caught by vessels using trawl gear while directed fishing for

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration