Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 243 / Monday, December 20, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 75865

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 040907255–4343–02; I.D. 

082704E]

RIN 0648–AS41

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Revision of Steller 

Sea Lion Protection Measures for the 

Pollock and Pacific Cod Fisheries in 

the Gulf of Alaska

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes a final rule 

that revises Steller sea lion protection 

measures for the pollock and Pacific cod 

fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). 

The revisions adjust Pacific cod and 

pollock fishing closure areas near four 

Steller sea lion haulouts and modify the 

seasonal management of pollock harvest 

in the GOA. The intent of the revisions 

is to maintain protection for Steller sea 

lions and their critical habitat while 

easing the economic burden on GOA 

fishing communities. This action is 

intended to promote the goals and 

objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the 

Fishery Management Plan for 

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP), 

and other applicable laws.

DATES: Effective January 19, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the 

Environmental Assessment/Regulatory 

Impact Review (EA/RIR) prepared for 

the rule and copies of the 2000 and 2001 

Biological Opinions, and the June 19, 

2003 supplement to the 2001 Biological 

Opinion, on the effects of the groundfish 

fisheries on Steller sea lions may be 

obtained from NMFS, Alaska Region, 

P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, 

Attn: Lori Durall, or from the NMFS 

Alaska Region website at 

www.fakr.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Melanie Brown, 907–586–7228 or 

melanie.brown@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive 

Economic Zone of the GOA are managed 

under the FMP. The North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council (Council) 

prepared the FMP under the authority of 

the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 

1801, et seq. Regulations implementing 

the FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679. 

General regulations governing U.S. 

fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.

Background

The western distinct population 

segment (DPS) of Steller sea lions has 

been listed as endangered under the 

Endangered Species Act (ESA), and 

critical habitat has been designated for 

this DPS (50 CFR 226.202). Temporal 

and spatial harvest restrictions were 

established for the groundfish fisheries 

of Alaska (68 FR 204, January 2, 2003) 

to protect Steller sea lions from jeopardy 

of extinction and their critical habitat 

from adverse modification or 

destruction from the effects of these 

fisheries. Pollock and Pacific cod are 

important prey species for Steller sea 

lions, and these protection measures 

apply to the pollock and Pacific cod 

fisheries in the GOA.

In June 2004, the Council 

unanimously recommended revisions to 

the Steller sea lion protection measures 

in the GOA to alleviate some of the 

economic burden on coastal 

communities while maintaining 

protection for Steller sea lions and their 

critical habitat. These revisions adjust 

pollock and Pacific cod fishing closures 

near four Steller sea lion haulouts and 

revise seasonal management of pollock 

harvest. NMFS concluded that fishing 

under the proposed revisions is not 

likely to affect Steller sea lions or their 

critical habitat beyond those effects 

already considered in the 2000 FMP 

Biological Opinion (BiOp), the 2001 

BiOp on the Steller sea lion protection 

measures, and the June 19, 2003 

supplement to the 2001 BiOp (see 

ADDRESSES). NMFS has determined that 

this action could provide some 

economic relief to participants in the 

pollock and Pacific cod fisheries while 

maintaining protection for Steller sea 

lions and their critical habitat.

The proposed rule for this action was 

published in the Federal Register on 

September 21, 2004 (69 FR 56384) with 

a comment period ending October 21, 

2004. The details of each regulatory 

revision are contained in the proposed 

rule for this action. No changes were 

made from the proposed rule in the final 

rule.

Comments and Responses

Three emails and two letters 

containing seven separate comments 

were received regarding the proposed 

rule. The comments are summarized 

and responded to below.

Comment 1: The commercial fishers 

are taking all of the fish so the Steller 

sea lions have nothing to eat. The 

commercial fishers should be thrown 

out of the GOA.

Response: Several species of 

groundfish, notably pollock and Pacific 

cod, are important prey species for 

Steller sea lions in the GOA and are also 

targeted by the GOA groundfish 

fisheries. The pollock and Pacific cod 

fisheries potentially compete with 

Steller sea lions by reducing the 

availability of prey for foraging sea 

lions. However, this potential 

competition between commercial fishers 

and Steller sea lions for pollock and 

Pacific cod is addressed by regulations 

that limit the total amount of catch and 

impose temporal and spatial controls on 

harvest. These Steller sea lion 

protection measures are designed to 

preserve prey abundance and 

availability for foraging sea lions.

Comment 2: The fishers are catching 

double what they are reporting, and no 

one checks that what they have on 

board is what they are reporting. When 

checked, the amount of fish on board is 

usually double what they have reported. 

Vessels should be seized, and the 

captain and crew should be jailed for a 

year for abusing the sacred trust to 

responsibly harvest groundfish.

Response: NMFS disagrees with the 

commentor’s assertion that groundfish 

fishers systematically under-report their 

catch. The recordkeeping and reporting 

requirements in these fisheries are 

comprehensive, and NMFS and United 

States Coast Guard law enforcement 

officers conduct numerous vessel 

boardings each year. Reporting 

violations occur, but they are relatively 

rare and are prosecuted pursuant to the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Comment 3: Quotas should be cut by 

50 percent the first year and 10 percent 

each year after. Overfishing is occurring. 

Marine sanctuaries should be 

established.

Response: This action revises certain 

Steller sea lion protection measures in 

the GOA, but does not specify 

groundfish harvest levels. The 

specification of harvest levels is done by 

separate rulemaking during the harvest 

specifications process. NMFS 

encourages the commentor to submit 

comments on the proposed 2005 and 

2006 fishery specifications when they 

are published in the Federal Register for 

public comment. However, NMFS 

disagrees with the commentor’s 

assertion that overfishing is occurring in 

the groundfish fisheries. NMFS manages 

these fisheries on a sustainable basis 

and notes that none of the groundfish 

stocks off Alaska is overfished. 

Additionally, this action does not 

address the creation of marine 

sanctuaries. The January 2004 draft 

75866 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 243 / Monday, December 20, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

environmental impact statement for 

essential fish habitat discusses the 

effects of fishing on sensitive habitat 

features and evaluates a range of options 

for minimizing adverse effects, such as 

closing areas of rockfish habitat to 

bottom trawling. Further information on 

this draft EIS may be found at the NMFS 

Alaska Region website at 

www.fakr.noaa.gov.

Comment 4: The Pew Foundation 

reports on overfishing and regional 

fishery management council bias and 

the United Nations report on overfishing 

are incorporated into the comments 

from this commentor.

Response: This action raises no issues 

related to overfishing or the 

membership of regional fishery 

management councils. The commentor’s 

specific concerns and their relationship 

to these reports are not presented by the 

commentor. Because no further details 

are provided by the commentor, NMFS 

is unable to respond further to this 

comment.

Comment 5: The Council’s decision to 

reduce Steller sea lion protection 

measures is an outrage. The protection 

measures were made years ago solely for 

the protection of Steller sea lions. To 

make changes now for the benefit of the 

fishing fleet is an outrage because the 

Steller sea lions are still listed as 

endangered. Policy was made and 

should be followed and not changed for 

the industry’s benefit.

Response: NMFS disagrees with the 

commentor’s assertion that this action 

fails to protect Steller sea lions and their 

critical habitat. The Steller sea lion 

protection measures were expected to be 

periodically reviewed and potentially 

changed based on new information 

regarding Steller sea lions and the 

fishing industry. NMFS has worked 

with the Council to identify impacts on 

the industry and new information that 

may lead to adapting the protection 

measures to ensure efficient and safe 

groundfish harvest while protecting 

Steller sea lions and their critical 

habitat. NMFS has determined that by 

revising the Pacific cod and pollock 

closure areas and improving the 

seasonal management of pollock with 

this final rule, the protection measures 

continue to protect Steller sea lions and 

their critical habitat from the potential 

effects of the pollock and Pacific cod 

fisheries.

Comment 6: Revisions to ESA 

protection measures should come from 

sound, scientific, factual evidence. The 

basis of any revisions should not be on 

‘‘informal consultations,’’ on findings of 

‘‘not likely to adversely affect,’’ or on 

‘‘could provide economic relief.’’ NMFS 

should reconsider all of the proposed 

changes.

Response: NMFS agrees that agency 

decisions should be based on the best 

available scientific information. NMFS 

has used the best available scientific 

information in the development of this 

action and has reasonably determined 

that the revised measures adequately 

protect Steller sea lions and their 

critical habitat. Unfortunately, the best 

available scientific information 

frequently does not provide unequivocal 

answers regarding the effects of fisheries 

on the environment. NMFS has no 

additional information to justify 

reconsidering this action.

Comment 7: We support the proposed 

action. Revising the Steller sea lion 

protection measures will alleviate some 

economic burden on GOA communities 

and maintain protection for Steller sea 

lions. We hope the changes may be 

made in time for the 2005 fishing year.

Response: NMFS acknowledges the 

commentors’ interest in alleviating 

economic burdens on GOA 

communities while maintaining 

protection for Steller sea lions and has 

strived to implement this final rule by 

early 2005.

Classification

This rule has been determined to be 

not significant for the purposes of 

Executive Order 12866.

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of 

the Department of Commerce certified 

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

Small Business Administration during 

the proposed rule stage that this action 

would not have a significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. No comments were received 

regarding this certification. As a result, 

a regulatory flexibility analysis was not 

required and none prepared.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

This action revises 50 CFR part 679 

which describes the Steller sea lion 

protection measures for the Alaska 

groundfish fisheries. This action 

requires small entities in the pollock 

and Pacific cod fisheries to comply with 

the amended closure areas near four 

Steller sea lion haulouts. To facilitate 

compliance with all of the Steller sea 

lion protection area restrictions, NMFS 

provides a series of maps showing the 

closure areas and links to the 

regulations that may be viewed and 

downloaded at http://

www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/

2003hrvstspecssl.htm.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and 

reporting requirements.

Dated: December 13, 2004.

Rebecca Lent,

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service.

■ For reasons set out in the preamble, 50 

CFR part 679 is amended as follows:

PART 679—FISHERIES OF THE 

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF 

ALASKA

■ 1. The authority citation for part 679 

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 

1801 et seq., and 3631 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

1540(f); Pub. L. 105–277, Title II of Division 

C; Pub. L. 106–31, Sec. 3027; Pub. L.106–554, 

Sec. 209; and Pub. L. 108–199, Sec. 803.

■ 2. In § 679.20, paragraph (a)(5)(iii)(B) is 

revised to read as follows:

§ 679.20 General limitations.

* * * * *

(a) * * *

(5) * * *

(iii) * * *

(B) GOA Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas seasonal 

apportionments. Each apportionment 

established under paragraph 

(a)(5)(iii)(A) of this section will be 

divided into four seasonal 

apportionments corresponding to the 

four fishing seasons set out at 

§ 679.23(d)(2) as follows: A Season, 25 

percent; B Season, 25 percent; C Season, 

25 percent; and D Season, 25 percent. 

Within any fishing year, underharvest or 

overharvest of a seasonal apportionment 

may be added to or subtracted from 

remaining seasonal apportionments in a 

manner to be determined by the 

Regional Administrator, provided that 

any revised seasonal apportionment 

does not exceed 20 percent of the 

seasonal TAC apportionment for the 

statistical area. The reapportionment of 

underharvest will be applied to the 

subsequent season within the same 

statistical area up to the 20 percent limit 

specified in this paragraph. Any 

underharvest remaining beyond the 20 

percent limit may be further 

apportioned to the subsequent season in 

the other statistical areas, in proportion 

to estimated biomass and in an amount 

no more than 20 percent of the seasonal 

TAC apportionment for the statistical 

area.

* * * * *

■ 3. In § 679.23, paragraphs (d)(2)(i) and 

(d)(2)(iii) are revised to read as follows:

§ 679.23 Seasons.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) * * *

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 243 / Monday, December 20, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 75867

(i) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., 

January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., 

March 10;

* * * * *

(iii) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., 

August 25 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., 

October 1; and

* * * * *

■ 4. Tables 4 and 5 to part 679 are revised 

to read as follows:

TABLE 4 TO 50 CFR PART 679 STELLER SEA LION PROTECTION AREAS POLLOCK FISHERIES RESTRICTIONS

Column Number 1 23456 7

Site Name Area or Subarea 

Boundaries 

from Latitude 

Boundaries 

from Longitude 

Boundaries to1

Latitude 

Boundaries to1

Longitude 

Pollock No-fishing 

Zones for Trawl 

Gear2,8 (nm) 

St. Lawrence I./S Punuk I. Bering Sea 63 04.00 N 168 51.00 W 20

St. Lawrence I./SW Cape Bering Sea 63 18.00 N 171 26.00 W 20

Hall I. Bering Sea 60 37.00 N 173 00.00 W 20

St. Paul I./Sea Lion Rock Bering Sea 57 06.00 N 170 17.50 W 3

St. Paul I./NE Pt. Bering Sea 57 15.00 N 170 06.50 W 3

Walrus I. (Pribilofs) Bering Sea 57 11.00 N 169 56.00 W 10

St. George I./Dalnoi Pt. Bering Sea 56 36.00 N 169 46.00 W 3

St. George I./S Rookery Bering Sea 56 33.50 N 169 40.00 W 3

Cape Newenham Bering Sea 58 39.00 N 162 10.50 W 20

Round (Walrus Islands) Bering Sea 58 36.00 N 159 58.00 W 20

Attu I./Cape Wrangell Aleutian I. 52 54.60 N 172 27.90 E 52 55.40 N 172 27.20 E 20

Agattu I./Gillon Pt. Aleutian I. 52 24.13 N 173 21.31 E 20

Attu I./Chirikof Pt. Aleutian I. 52 49.75 N 173 26.00 E 20

Agattu I./Cape Sabak Aleutian I. 52 22.50 N 173 43.30 E 52 21.80 N 173 41.40 E 20

Alaid I. Aleutian I. 52 46.50 N 173 51.50 E 52 45.00 N 173 56.50 E 20

Shemya I. Aleutian I. 52 44.00 N 174 08.70 E 20

Buldir I. Aleutian I. 52 20.25 N 175 54.03 E 52 20.38 N 175 53.85 E 20

Kiska I./Cape St. Stephen Aleutian I. 51 52.50 N 177 12.70 E 51 53.50 N 177 12.00 E 20

Kiska I./Sobaka & Vega Aleutian I. 51 49.50 N 177 19.00 E 51 48.50 N 177 20.50 E 20

Kiska I./Lief Cove Aleutian I. 51 57.16 N 177 20.41 E 51 57.24 N 177 20.53 E 20

Kiska I./Sirius Pt. Aleutian I. 52 08.50 N 177 36.50 E 20

Tanadak I. (Kiska) Aleutian I. 51 56.80 N 177 46.80 E 20

Segula I. Aleutian I. 51 59.90 N 178 05.80 E 52 03.06 N 178 08.80 E 20

Ayugadak Point Aleutian I. 51 45.36 N 178 24.30 E 20

Rat I./Krysi Pt. Aleutian I. 51 49.98 N 178 12.35 E 20

Little Sitkin I. Aleutian I. 51 59.30 N 178 29.80 E 20

Amchitka I./Column Rocks Aleutian I. 51 32.32 N 178 49.28 E 20

Amchitka I./East Cape Aleutian I. 51 22.26 N 179 27.93 E 51 22.00 N 179 27.00 E 20

Amchitka I./Cape Ivakin Aleutian I. 51 24.46 N 179 24.21 E 20

Semisopochnoi/Petrel Pt. Aleutian I. 52 01.40 N 179 36.90 E 52 01.50 N 179 39.00 E 20

Semisopochnoi I./Pochnoi Pt. Aleutian I. 51 57.30 N 179 46.00 E 20

Amatignak I. Nitrof Pt. Aleutian I. 51 13.00 N 179 07.80 W 20

Unalga & Dinkum Rocks Aleutian I. 51 33.67 N 179 04.25 W 51 35.09 N 179 03.66 W 20

Ulak I./Hasgox Pt. Aleutian I. 51 18.90 N 178 58.90 W 51 18.70 N 178 59.60 W 20

Kavalga I. Aleutian I. 51 34.50 N 178 51.73 W 51 34.50 N 178 49.50 W 20

Tag I. Aleutian I. 51 33.50 N 178 34.50 W 20

Ugidak I. Aleutian I. 51 34.95 N 178 30.45 W 20

Gramp Rock Aleutian I. 51 28.87 N 178 20.58 W 20

Tanaga I./Bumpy Pt. Aleutian I. 51 55.00 N 177 58.50 W 51 55.00 N 177 57.10 W 20

Bobrof I. Aleutian I. 51 54.00 N 177 27.00 W 20

Kanaga I./Ship Rock Aleutian I. 51 46.70 N 177 20.72 W 20

Kanaga I./North Cape Aleutian I. 51 56.50 N 177 09.00 W 20

Adak I. Aleutian I. 51 35.50 N 176 57.10 W 51 37.40 N 176 59.60 W 20

Little Tanaga Strait Aleutian I. 51 49.09 N 176 13.90 W 20

Great Sitkin I. Aleutian I. 52 06.00 N 176 10.50 W 52 06.60 N 176 07.00 W 20

Anagaksik I. Aleutian I. 51 50.86 N 175 53.00 W 20

Kasatochi I. Aleutian I. 52 11.11 N 175 31.00 W 20

Atka I./North Cape Aleutian I. 52 24.20 N 174 17.80 W 20

Amlia I./Sviech. Harbor11 Aleutian I. 52 01.80 N 173 23.90 W 20

Sagigik I.11 Aleutian I. 52 00.50 N 173 09.30 W 20

Amlia I./East11 AIX 52 05.70 N 172 59.00 W 52 05.75 N 172 57.50 W 20

Tanadak I. (Amlia11) Aleutian I. 52 04.20 N 172 57.60 W 20

Agligadak I.11 Aleutian I. 52 06.09 N 172 54.23 W 20

Seguam I./Saddleridge Pt.11 Aleutian I. 52 21.05 N 172 34.40 W 52 21.02 N 172 33.60 W 20

Seguam I./Finch Pt. Aleutian I. 52 23.40 N 172 27.70 W 52 23.25 N 172 24.30 W 20

Seguam I./South Side Aleutian I. 52 21.60 N 172 19.30 W 52 15.55 N 172 31.22 W 20

Amukta I. & Rocks Aleutian I. 52 27.25 N 171 17.90 W 20

Chagulak I. Aleutian I. 52 34.00 N 171 10.50 W 20

Yunaska I. Aleutian I. 52 41.40 N 170 36.35 W 20

Uliaga3 Bering Sea 53 04.00 N 169 47.00 W 53 05.00 N 169 46.00 W 20,10

Chuginadak Gulf of Alaska 52 46.70 N 169 41.90 W 20

Kagamil3 Bering Sea 53 02.10 N 169 41.00 W 20,10

Samalga Gulf of Alaska 52 46.00 N 169 15.00 W 20

75868 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 243 / Monday, December 20, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 4 TO 50 CFR PART 679 STELLER SEA LION PROTECTION AREAS POLLOCK FISHERIES RESTRICTIONS—Continued

Column Number 1 23456 7

Site Name Area or Subarea 

Boundaries 

from Latitude 

Boundaries 

from Longitude 

Boundaries to1

Latitude 

Boundaries to1

Longitude 

Pollock No-fishing 

Zones for Trawl 

Gear2,8 (nm) 

Adugak I.3 Bering Sea 52 54.70 N 169 10.50 W 10

Umnak I./Cape Aslik3 Bering Sea 53 25.00 N 168 24.50 W BA

Ogchul I. Gulf of Alaska 52 59.71 N 168 24.24 W 20

Bogoslof I./Fire I.3 Bering Sea 53 55.69 N 168 02.05 W BA

Polivnoi Rock Gulf of Alaska 53 15.96 N 167 57.99 W 20

Emerald I. Gulf of Alaska 53 17.50 N 167 51.50 W 20

Unalaska/Cape Izigan Gulf of Alaska 53 13.64 N 167 39.37 W 20

Unalaska/Bishop Pt.9 Bering Sea 53 58.40 N 166 57.50 W 10

Akutan I./Reef-lava9 Bering Sea 54 08.10 N 166 06.19 W 54 09.10 N 166 05.50 W 10

Unalaska I./Cape Sedanka6 Gulf of Alaska 53 50.50 N 166 05.00 W 20

Old Man Rocks6 Gulf of Alaska 53 52.20 N 166 04.90 W 20

Akutan I./Cape Morgan6 Gulf of Alaska 54 03.39 N 165 59.65 W 54 03.70 N 166 03.68 W 20

Akun I./Billings Head9 Bering Sea 54 17.62 N 165 32.06 W 54 17.57 N 165 31.71 W 10

Rootok6 Gulf of Alaska 54 03.90 N 165 31.90 W 54 02.90 N 165 29.50 W 20

Tanginak I.6 Gulf of Alaska 54 12.00 N 165 19.40 W 20

Tigalda/Rocks NE6 Gulf of Alaska 54 09.60 N 164 59.00 W 54 09.12 N 164 57.18 W 20

Unimak/Cape Sarichef9 Bering Sea 54 34.30 N 164 56.80 W 10

Aiktak6 Gulf of Alaska 54 10.99 N 164 51.15 W 20

Ugamak I.6 Gulf of Alaska 54 13.50 N 164 47.50 W 54 12.80 N 164 47.50 W 20

Round (GOA)6 Gulf of Alaska 54 12.05 N 164 46.60 W 20

Sea Lion Rock (Amak)9 Bering Sea 55 27.82 N 163 12.10 W 10

Amak I. And rocks9 Bering Sea 55 24.20 N 163 09.60 W 55 26.15 N 163 08.50 W 10

Bird I. Gulf of Alaska 54 40.00 N 163 17.2 W 10

Caton I. Gulf of Alaska 54 22.70 N 162 21.30 W 3

South Rocks Gulf of Alaska 54 18.14 N 162 41.3 W 10

Clubbing Rocks (S) Gulf of Alaska 54 41.98 N 162 26.7 W 10

Clubbing Rocks (N) Gulf of Alaska 54 42.75 N 162 26.7 W 10

Pinnacle Rock Gulf of Alaska 54 46.06 N 161 45.85 W 3

Sushilnoi Rocks Gulf of Alaska 54 49.30 N 161 42.73 W 10

Olga Rocks Gulf of Alaska 55 00.45 N 161 29.81 W 54 59.09 N 161 30.89 W 10

Jude I. Gulf of Alaska 55 15.75 N 161 06.27 W 20

Sea Lion Rocks (Shumagins) Gulf of Alaska 55 04.70 N 160 31.04 W 3

Nagai I./Mountain Pt. Gulf of Alaska 54 54.20 N 160 15.40 W 54 56.00 N 160 15.00 W 3

The Whaleback Gulf of Alaska 55 16.82 N 160 05.04 W 3

Chernabura I. Gulf of Alaska 54 45.18 N 159 32.99 W 54 45.87 N 159 35.74 W 20

Castle Rock Gulf of Alaska 55 16.47 N 159 29.77 W 3

Atkins I. Gulf of Alaska 55 03.20 N 159 17.40 W 20

Spitz I. Gulf of Alaska 55 46.60 N 158 53.90 W 3

Mitrofania Gulf of Alaska 55 50.20 N 158 41.90 W 3

Kak Gulf of Alaska 56 17.30 N 157 50.10 W 20

Lighthouse Rocks Gulf of Alaska 55 46.79 N 157 24.89 W 20

Sutwik I. Gulf of Alaska 56 31.05 N 157 20.47 W 56 32.00 N 157 21.00 W 20

Chowiet I. Gulf of Alaska 56 00.54 N 156 41.42 W 55 00.30 N 156 41.60 W 20

Nagai Rocks Gulf of Alaska 55 49.80 N 155 47.50 W 20

Chirikof I. Gulf of Alaska 55 46.50 N 155 39.50 W 55 46.44 N 155 43.46 W 20

Puale Bay12 Gulf of Alaska 57 40.60 N 155 23.10 W 3,10

Kodiak/Cape Ikolik Gulf of Alaska 57 17.20 N 154 47.50 W 3

Takli I. Gulf of Alaska 58 01.75 N 154 31.25 W 10

Cape Kuliak Gulf of Alaska 58 08.00 N 154 12.50 W 10

Cape Gull Gulf of Alaska 58 11.50 N 154 09.60 W 58 12.50 N 154 10.50 W 10

Kodiak/Cape Ugat Gulf of Alaska 57 52.41 N 153 50.97 W 10

Sitkinak/Cape Sitkinak Gulf of Alaska 56 34.30 N 153 50.96 W 10

Shakun Rock Gulf of Alaska 58 32.80 N 153 41.50 W 10

Twoheaded I. Gulf of Alaska 56 54.50 N 153 32.75 W 56 53.90 N 153 33.74 W 10

Cape Douglas (Shaw I.)12 Gulf of Alaska 59 00.00 N 153 22.50 W 20,10

Kodiak/Cape Barnabas Gulf of Alaska 57 10.20 N 152 53.05 W 3

Kodiak/Gull Point4 Gulf of Alaska 57 21.45 N 152 36.30 W 10,3

Latax Rocks Gulf of Alaska 58 40.10 N 152 31.30 W 10

Ushagat I./SW Gulf of Alaska 58 54.75 N 152 22.20 W 10

Ugak I.4 Gulf of Alaska 57 23.60 N 152 17.50 W 57 21.90 N 152 17.40 W 10,3

Sea Otter I. Gulf of Alaska 58 31.15 N 152 13.30 W 10

Long I. Gulf of Alaska 57 46.82 N 152 12.90 W 10

Sud I. Gulf of Alaska 58 54.00 N 152 12.50 W 10

Kodiak/Cape Chiniak Gulf of Alaska 57 37.90 N 152 08.25 W 10

Sugarloaf I. Gulf of Alaska 58 53.25 N 152 02.40 W 20

Sea Lion Rocks (Marmot) Gulf of Alaska 58 20.53 N 151 48.83 W 10

Marmot I.5 Gulf of Alaska 58 13.65 N 151 47.75 W 58 09.90 N 151 52.06 W 15,20

Nagahut Rocks Gulf of Alaska 59 06.00 N 151 46.30 W 10

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 243 / Monday, December 20, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 75869

TABLE 4 TO 50 CFR PART 679 STELLER SEA LION PROTECTION AREAS POLLOCK FISHERIES RESTRICTIONS—Continued

Column Number 1 23456 7

Site Name Area or Subarea 

Boundaries 

from Latitude 

Boundaries 

from Longitude 

Boundaries to1

Latitude 

Boundaries to1

Longitude 

Pollock No-fishing 

Zones for Trawl 

Gear2,8 (nm) 

Perl Gulf of Alaska 59 05.75 N 151 39.75 W 10

Gore Point Gulf of Alaska 59 12.00 N 150 58.00 W 10

Outer (Pye) I. Gulf of Alaska 59 20.50 N 150 23.00 W 59 21.00 N 150 24.50 W 20

Steep Point Gulf of Alaska 59 29.05 N 150 15.40 W 10

Seal Rocks (Kenai) Gulf of Alaska 59 31.20 N 149 37.50 W 10

Chiswell Islands Gulf of Alaska 59 36.00 N 149 34.00 W 10

Rugged Island Gulf of Alaska 59 50.00 N 149 23.10 W 59 51.00 N 149 24.70 W 10

Point Elrington7,10 Gulf of Alaska 59 56.00 N 148 15.20 W 20

Perry I.7 Gulf of Alaska 60 44.00 N 147 54.60 W

The Needle7 Gulf of Alaska 60 06.64 N 147 36.17 W

Point Eleanor7 Gulf of Alaska 60 35.00 N 147 34.00 W

Wooded I. (Fish I.) Gulf of Alaska 59 52.90 N 147 20.65 W 20

Glacier Island7 Gulf of Alaska 60 51.30 N 147 14.50 W

Seal Rocks (Cordova)10 Gulf of Alaska 60 09.78 N 146 50.30 W 20

Cape Hinchinbrook10 Gulf of Alaska 60 14.00 N 146 38.50 W 20

Middleton I. Gulf of Alaska 59 28.30 N 146 18.80 W 10

Hook Point10 Gulf of Alaska 60 20.00 N 146 15.60 W 20

Cape St. Elias Gulf of Alaska 59 47.50 N 144 36.20 W 20

1Where two sets of coordinates are given, the baseline extends in a clock-wise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates along the 

shoreline at mean lower-low water to the second set of coordinates. Where only one set of coordinates is listed, that location is the base point. 2Closures as stated in 50 CFR 679.22(a)(7)(iv), (a)(8)(ii) and (b)(2)(ii).

3This site lies within the Bogoslof area (BA). The BA consists of all waters of area 518 as described in Figure 1 of this part south of a straight 

line connecting 55°00′ N/170°00′ W, and 55°00′ N/168°11′4.75′′ W. Closure to directed fishing for pollock around Uliaga and Kagamil is 20 nm 

for waters west of 170° W long. and 10 nm for waters east of 170° W long. 4The trawl closure between 0 nm to 10 nm is effective from January 20 through May 31. Trawl closure between 0 nm to 3 nm is effective from 

August 25 through November 1. 5Trawl closure between 0 nm to 15 nm is effective from January 20 through May 31. Trawl closure between 0 nm to 20 nm is effective from 

August 25 to November 1. 6Restriction area includes only waters of the Gulf of Alaska Area.

7Contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for fishery restrictions at these sites.

8No-fishing zones are the waters between 0 nm and the nm specified in column 7 around each site and within the BA.

9This site is located in the Bering Sea Pollock Restriction Area, closed to pollock trawling during the A season. This area consists of all waters 

of the Bering Sea subarea south of a line connecting the points 163°0′00′′ W long./55°46′30′′ N lat., 165°08′00′′ W long./54°42′9′′ N lat., 

165°40′00′′ long./54°26′30′′ N lat., 166°12′00′′ W long./54°18′40′′ N lat., and 167°0′00′′ W long./54°8′50′′ N lat. 10The 20 nm closure around this site is effective in federal waters outside of State of Alaska waters of Prince William Sound. 11Some or all of the restricted area is located in the Seguam Foraging area (SFA) which is closed to all gears types. The SFA is established 

as all waters within the area between 52° N lat. and 53° N lat. and between 173°30′ W long. and 172°30′ W long. 12The 3 nm trawl closure around Puale Bay and the 20 nm trawl closure around Cape Douglas/Shaw I. are effective January 20 through May 

31. The 10 nm trawl closure around Puale Bay and the 10 nm trawl closure around Cape Douglas/Shaw I. are effective August 25 through November 1.

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[FR Doc. 04–27698 Filed 12–17–04; 8:45 am]

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