Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 25881

issuance, suspension, revocation, or

denial of permits. You must respond to

obtain or retain a permit. We estimate

the public reporting burden for these

reporting requirements to vary from 20

minutes to 2 hours per response, with

an average of 1 hour per response,

including time for reviewing

instructions, gathering and maintaining

data, and completing and reviewing the

forms.

Dated: April 7, 2000.

Stephen C. Saunders,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and

Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 00–11055 Filed 5–3–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 660

[Docket No. 991223347–9347; I.D. 042600B]

Fisheries Off West Coast States and in

the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast

Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit

Adjustments

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to

trip limits in the Pacific Coast

groundfish fishery. These actions,

which are authorized by the Pacific

Coast groundfish fishery management

plan (FMP), are intended to help the

fisheries achieve optimum yield (OY).

DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time

May 1, 2000 (May 16, 2000 for the ‘‘B’’

platoon), unless modified, superseded

or rescinded, until the effective date of

the 2001 annual specifications and

management measures for the Pacific

Coast groundfish fishery, which will be

published in the Federal Register.

Comments on this rule will be accepted

through May 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to

William Stelle, Jr., Administrator,

Northwest Region (Regional

Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point

Way N.E., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle,

WA 98115–0070; or Rodney McInnis,

Acting Administrator, Southwest

Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd.,

Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802–

4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Katherine King or Yvonne deReynier,

Northwest Region, NMFS, 206–526–

6140.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

following changes to current

management measures were

recommended by the Pacific Fishery

Management Council (Council), in

consultation with the States of

Washington, Oregon, and California, at

its April 3–7, 2000, meeting in Portland,

OR. Pacific coast groundfish landings

will be monitored throughout the year,

and further adjustments to the trip

limits will be made as necessary to stay

within the OYs and allocations

announced in the annual specifications

and management measures for the

groundfish fishery, published in the

Federal Register at 65 FR 221 (January

4, 2000), as amended at 65 FR 17805

(April 5, 2000).

Housekeeping

The Council made a number of

housekeeping recommendations that

would remedy minor problems in the

management measures that were

implemented at the beginning of the

year. (1) The trip limits for Pacific ocean

perch (POP) were inadvertently applied

coastwide even though POP south of

40°10′ N. lat. were already included in

the trip limits for minor slope rockfish.

This document clarifies that the trip

limits for POP (line 5 in Tables 3, 4, and

5) apply only north of 40°10′ N. lat.,

South of 40°10′ N. lat., POP remains in

the minor slope rockfish category. (2)

Flag rockfish are not found north of

40°10′ N. lat., and in Table 2 are

removed from the minor shelf rockfish

category in that area. (3) New testimony

from fishers revealed that red-banded

rockfish are not caught on the

continental shelf, but are taken in

deeper waters. Consequently, redbanded rockfish, which is one of the

minor rockfish species that occurs both

north and south of 40°10′ N. lat., is

moved from the shelf to the slope

category in Table 2. These

reassignments result in no change to the

OYs or trip limits for any species or

species group. Other provisions remain

the same except as explained below.

Flatfish

The Council heard testimony that

limited entry trawl fishers were

encountering small amounts of flatfish,

particularly English sole, when fishing

with large footropes in deeper water on

the continental slope. Current

restrictions would have required the use

of small footrope gear for landings of

any flatfish except Dover and rex soles

between May 1–October 31, 2000. (This

provision also applies to petrale sole

from March 1–April 30, 2000.) The

Council recommended an incidental

trip limit for other flatfish of 400 lb (181

kg) per trip for large footrope trawls

between May and October so that

unavoidable incidental catch would not

have to be discarded. This amount is

believed to be too small to encourage

any target fishing for flatfish on the shelf

with large footrope gear, which is

discouraged due to the potential

interception of depleted species. Dover

and rex soles remain in the only flatfish

species in the FMP that are not managed

according to the size of the trawl

footrope onboard; there continues to be

no poundage limit on arrowtooth

flounder, petrale sole, and other flatfish

taken with small footrope trawls.

Nearshore Minor Rockfish

A new strategy for managing rockfish

was implemented on January 1, 2000,

which reduced the amount of rockfish

available to nearshore commercial

fisheries (65 FR 221, January 4, 2000, as

amended). When the current limits were

recommended by the Council in

November 1999, there was a clear need

to reduce landings significantly, but

there was no way to anticipate

reductions in participation. The best

available information at the April

Council meeting indicated that landings

of rockfish through February 2000 were

minimal. Although the commercial

nontrawl fisheries are subject to a high

degree of seasonality, it appears

unlikely that the current limits would

allow achievement of the nearshore

rockfish limited entry and open access

allocations. The Council recommended

that cautious increases to the nearshore

rockfish limits begin May 1, with further

adjustments to be made later in the year

as needed. Any increase runs some risk

of accelerating the fisheries to the point

where they would need to be closed

before the end of the year, but the

Council believed the risk to be

preferable to continuing with limits that

provide very little opportunity for

profitable trips. Even with these

increases, the trip limits for nearshore

rockfish remain significantly lower than

in recent years, and will not

accommodate the needs of the entire

open access fleet. The Council made the

following recommendations:

For the limited entry nontrawl fishery

north of 40°10′ N. lat., the nearshore

minor rockfish trip limit is changed

from 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) per 2 months,

of which no more than 1,200 lb (544 kg)

may be species other than black or blue

rockfish, to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) per 2

months, of which no more than 1,400 lb

(635 kg) may be species other than black

or blue rockfish.

25882 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

For the limited entry nontrawl fishery

south of 40°10′ N. lat., the nearshore

minor rockfish trip limit is increased

from 1,000 (454 kg) to 1,300 lb (590 kg)

per 2-month period.

For the open access nontrawl fishery

north of 40°10′ N. lat., the nearshore

minor rockfish trip limit is increased

from 1,000 lb (454 kg) per 2 months, of

which no more than 500 lb (227 kg) per

2 months, of which no more than 700

lb (318 kg) may be species other than

black or blue rockfish. In addition,

special provisions were made for vessels

landing in Pacific City, OR.

The Council heard testimony from

two dory fishers from Pacific City, who

stated that the limits were so low that

vessels were not fishing and virtually no

landings of groundfish had occurred so

far this year. (Less than 200 lb (113 kg)

of groundfish have been landed in

Pacific City through March 30, 2000.)

The dory representatives asked the

Council to consider compressing their

groundfish fishery into a 5-month

season, from May 1 through September

30, 2000, after which no landings of

groundfish would be allowed in Pacific

City for the rest of the year. This could

provide larger monthly cumulative

limits when the season is open, at the

expense of closing Pacific City to

landings of groundfish for the rest of the

year.

Pacific City is a small community,

geographically isolated from the rest of

the coast. The nearest ports with

processing facilities are Garibaldi to the

north and Newport to the south, both in

Oregon. The higher limit and later

closure would be linked to landing in

Pacific City. There are no docks for

offloading in Pacific City. Therefore,

these limits are only available to small

vessels that can land on the beach, and

cannot be harvested by larger vessels

that later can land in other areas. The

Pacific City groundfish fleet consists

entirely of open access dories, small

vessels less than 25 feet (7.68 m) in

length, that are launched from, and land

on, the beach. These vessels are so small

that they conduct only day trips near

shore. This dory fleet consists of about

11 vessels of which half are active in the

fishery. The groundfish taken by these

vessels are almost entirely black and

blue rockfish, predominantly black.

Occasionally a dory fisher also

participates in the salmon fishery.

Alternative fisheries do not exist for the

dory fleet in Pacific City.

The Council carefully considered the

composition of the fleet, the inability of

dories to participate in other fisheries,

the geographical isolation and lack of

port and processing facilities that would

discourage other vessels from landing in

Pacific City, and agreed to recommend

a variation in the season and trip limit

for this localized fleet. The Council

recommended a cumulative trip limit of

2,200 lb (998 kg) per month from May

1 through September 30, after which no

open access landings of groundfish may

be made in Pacific City, even if taken in

the salmon fishery. The amount of

groundfish available during the year is

intended to be no different than for

open access fishers operating under a

longer season and landing elsewhere

along the coast. This action is consistent

with the Council’s intent ‘‘* * * to

provide a continued opportunity to

nearshore fishers to selectively harvest

black and blue rockfish * * *’’ (65 FR

235, January 4, 2000).

For the open access nontrawl fishery

south of 40°10′ N. lat., the nearshore

minor rockfish trip limit is increased

from 550 lb (249 kg) to 800 lb (363 kg)

per 2-month period. Sablefish North of

35° N. lat.

Similarly, landing by the daily trip

limit fisheries for sablefish taken with

nontrawl gear north of 36° N. lat., were

lower than expected through the end of

February 2000, although close to 1999

levels. The Council recommended

continuing the 300-lb (136-kg) daily trip

limit, but increasing the cumulative

amount that may be landed from 2,100

(953 kg) to 2,400 lb (1,089 kg) per 2-

month period in both the limited entry

and open access nontrawl sablefish

fisheries.

At its June meeting in Portland,

Oregon, the Council will make

recommendations for the opening date,

duration, and level of cumulative trip

limits for the nontrawl, limited entry

regular sablefish season.

NMFS Actions

For the reasons stated here, NMFS

concurs with the Council’s

recommendations and announces the

following changes to the 2000 annual

management measures (65 FR 221,

January 4, 2000, as amended at 65 FR

17805, April 5, 2000), as follows:

In Section IV., a new paragraph C.(4)

is added and Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 are

revised to read as follows:

IV. NMFS Actions

* * * * *

TABLE 2.—MINOR ROCKFISH SPECIES (EXCLUDES THORNYHEADS)

North of 40° 10′′ N. lat. South of 40° 10′′ N. lat.

Nearshore

black, Sebastes melanops ........................................................................................................... black, Sebastes melanops.

black and yellow, S. chrysolmelas ............................................................................................... black and yellow, S. chrysolmelas.

blue, S. mystinus .......................................................................................................................... blue, S. mystinus.

brown, S. auriculatus .................................................................................................................... brown, S. auriculatus.

calico, S. dalli ............................................................................................................................... calico, S. dalli.

China, S. Nebulosus ..................................................................................................................... California scorpionfish, Scorpaena guttata.

copper, S. caurinus ...................................................................................................................... China, Sebastes nebulosus.

gopher, S. carnatus ...................................................................................................................... copper, S. caurinus.

grass, S. rastrelliger ..................................................................................................................... gopher, S. carnatus.

kelp, S. atrovirens ......................................................................................................................... grass, S. rastrelliger.

olive, S. serranoides ..................................................................................................................... kelp, S. atrovirens.

quillback, S. maliger ..................................................................................................................... olive, S. serranoides.

treefish, S. serriceps ..................................................................................................................... quillback, S. maliger.

treefish, S. serriceps.

Shelf

bronzespotted, S. gilli ................................................................................................................... bronzespotted, S. gilli.

bocaccio, S. paucispinis ............................................................................................................... chameleon, S. phillipsi.

chameleon, S. phillipsi .................................................................................................................. dwarf-red, S. rufinanus.

chilipepper, S. goddei ................................................................................................................... flag, S. rubrivinctus.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 25883

TABLE 2.—MINOR ROCKFISH SPECIES (EXCLUDES THORNYHEADS)—Continued

North of 40° 10′′ N. lat. South of 40° 10′′ N. lat.

cowcod, S. levis ............................................................................................................................ freckled, S. lentiginosus.

dwarf-red, S. rufinanus ................................................................................................................. greenblotched, S. rosenblatti.

freckled, S. lentiginosus ............................................................................................................... greenspotted, S. chlorostictus.

greenblotched, S. rosenblatti ........................................................................................................ greenstriped, S. elongatus.

greenspotted, S. chlorostictus ...................................................................................................... halfbanded, S. semicinctus.

greenstriped, S. elongatus ........................................................................................................... honeycomb, S. umbrosus.

halfbanded, S. semicinctus .......................................................................................................... Mexican, S. macdonaldi.

honeycomb, S. umbrosus ............................................................................................................. pink, S. eos.

Mexican, S. macdonaldi ............................................................................................................... pinkrose, S. simulator.

pink, S. eos ................................................................................................................................... pygmy, S. wilsoni.

pinkrose, S. simulator ................................................................................................................... redstriped, S. proriger.

pygmy, S. wilsoni .......................................................................................................................... rosethorn, S. helvomaculatus.

redstriped, S. proriger ................................................................................................................... rosy, S. rosaceus.

rosethorn, S. helvomaculatus ....................................................................................................... silvergrey, S. brevispinis.

rosy, S. rosaceus .......................................................................................................................... speckled, S. ovalis.

silvergrey, S. brevispinis ............................................................................................................... squarespot, S. hopkinsi.

speckled, S. ovalis ........................................................................................................................ starry, S. constellatus.

squarespot, S. hopkinsi ................................................................................................................ stripetail, S. saxicola.

starry, S. constellatus ................................................................................................................... swordspine, S. ensifer.

stripetail, S. saxicola ..................................................................................................................... tiger, S. nigrocinctus.

swordspine, S. ensifer .................................................................................................................. vermilion, S. miniatus.

tiger, S. nigrocinctus ..................................................................................................................... yelloweye, S. ruberrimus.

vermilion, S. miniatus ................................................................................................................... yellowtail, S. flavidus.

yelloweye, S. ruberrimus.

Slope

aurora, S. aurora .......................................................................................................................... aurora, S. aurora.

bank, S. rufus ............................................................................................................................... bank, S. rufus.

blackgill, S. melanostomus ........................................................................................................... blackgill, S. melanostomus.

darkblotched, S. crameri .............................................................................................................. darkblotched, S. crameri.

redbanded, S. babcocki ................................................................................................................ Pacific ocean perch (POP), S. alutus.

rougheye, S. aleutianus ................................................................................................................ redbanded, S. babcocki.

sharpchin, S. zacentrus ................................................................................................................ rougheye, S. aleutianus.

shortraker, S. borealis .................................................................................................................. sharpchin, S. zacentrus.

splitnose, S. diploproa .................................................................................................................. shortraker, S. borealis.

yellowmouth, S. reedi ................................................................................................................... yellowmouth, S. reedi.

* * * * *

TABLE 3.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 AND GEAR REQUIREMENTS 2 FOR LIMITED ENTRY TRAWL GEAR

[Read Section IV.A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups Jan–Feb Mar–Apr May–Jun Jul–Aug Sep–Oct Nov–Dec

Minor slope rockfish:

North ........................... 3,000 lb/2 months 5,000 lb/2 months 1,500 lb/month.

South .......................... 3,000 lb/2 months 5,000 lb/2 months 1,500 lb/month.

Splitnose-South ................. 8,500 lb/2 months 14,000 lb/2 months 4,000 lb/month.

POP-North ......................... 500 lb/month 2,000 lb/month 500 lb/month.

Sablefish ............................ 7,000 lb/2 months; 22-inch size

limit 3

10,000 lb/2 months; 22-inch size limit 3 3,000 lb/month;

22-inch size

limit.3

Longspine thornyhead ....... 2,000 lb/2 months 4,000 lb/2 months 6,000 lb/month.

Shortspine thornyhead ...... 3,000 lb/2 months 1,000 lb/2 months 1,500 lb/month.

Dover Sole ......................... 55,000 lb/2 months 20,000 lb/2 months 20,000 lb/month.

Arrowtooth flounder ........... 10,000 lb/ trip Small footrope—No pound limit; Large footrope—Included in ‘‘other flatfish’’ trip limit 210,000 lb/trip.

Petrale sole ....................... No restriction No limit but small

footrope required

Small footrope—No pound limit; Large footrope—Included in ‘‘other flatfish’’ trip limit 2No restriction.

Rex sole ............................ No limit

Other flatfish 4 .................... Small footrope—No pound limit; Large footrope—400 lb per trip 2

Whiting shoreside 5 ............ 20,000 lb/trip before primary season Primary season 20,000 lb/trip

after primary

season.

Use of small footrope bottom trawl or midwater trawl required for landing all the following species: 6

Minor shelf rockfish:

North ........................... 300 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 300 lb/month.

25884 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

TABLE 3.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 AND GEAR REQUIREMENTS 2 FOR LIMITED ENTRY TRAWL GEAR—Continued

[Read Section IV.A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups Jan–Feb Mar–Apr May–Jun Jul–Aug Sep–Oct Nov–Dec

South .......................... 500 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 500 lb/month.

Canary rockfish ................. 100 lb/month 300 lb/month 100 lb/month.

Widow rockfish:

Mid-water trawl ........... 30,000 lb/2 months 30,000 lb/2 months 30,000 lb/2

months.

Small footrope trawl ... 1,000 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 1,000 lb/month.

Yellowtail—North: 7

Mid-Water trawl .......... 10,000 lb/2 months 30,000 lb/2 months 10,000 lb/2

months.

Small footrope trawl ... 1,500 lb/month 1,500 lb/month 1,500 lb/month.

Bocaccio—South 7 ............. 300 lb/month 500 lb/month 300 lb/month.

Chilipepper—South: 7

Mid-water trawl ........... 25,000 lb/2 months 25,000 lb/2 months 25,000 lb/2

months.

Small footrope trawl ... 7,500 lb/2 months 7,500 lb/2 months 7,500 lb/2

months.

Cowcod—South 7 ............... 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing.

Minor nearshore rockfish:

North ........................... 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

South .......................... 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

Lingcod .............................. CLOSED 400 lb/month; 24-inch size limit 8 CLOSED.

1These trip limits apply coastwide unless otherwise specified. ‘‘North’’ means 40°10′ N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ‘‘South’’ means 40°10′

N. lat to the US–Mexico border. 40°10′ N. lat. is about 20 nautical miles south of Cape Mendocino CA. 2Gear requirements and prohibitions are explained at paragraph IV.A.(14).

3 No more than 500 lbs (227 kg) per trip may be sablefish smaller than 22 inches (56 cm) total length, which counts toward the cumulative

limit. 4Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 3 with a trip limit (excludes rex sole).

5The whiting ‘‘per trip’’ limit in the Eureka area inside 100 fm is 10,000 lb/trip throughout the year (See IV.B.(3)(c)).

6Small footrope trawl means a bottom trawl net with a footrope no larger than 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter. Midwater gear also may be used;

the footrope must be bare. See paragraph IV.A.(14). 7Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in the trip limits for minor

shelf rockfish in the appropriate area (Table 2). 8 Lingcod must be greater than or equal to 24 inches (61 cm) total length. See IV.A.(6).

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.

TABLE 4.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 FOR LIMITED ENTRY FIXED GEAR

[Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups Jan–Feb Mar–Apr May–Jun July–Aug Sep–Oct Nov–Dec

Minor slope rockfish:

North ........................... 3,000 lb/2 months 5,000 lb/2 months 1,500 lb/month.

South .......................... 3,000 lb/2 months 5,000 lb/2 months 1,500 lb/month.

Splitnose—South ............... 8,500 lb/2 months 14,000 lb/2 months 4,000 lb/month.

POP—North ....................... 500 lb/month 2,500 lb/month 500 lb/month.

Sablefish (daily trip limit

fishery):2

North of 361⁄2 N. lat. ... 300 lb/day, 2,100 lb/2 months or 1

landing above 300 lb but less than

600 lb/week, less than 1,800 lb/2

months

300 lb/day, 2,400 lb/2 months (option to make one landing per week above 300 lb removed May 1; may be

reinstated in July)

300 lb/day,

2,400 lb/2

months.

South of 361⁄2 N. lat. .. 350 lb/day; or 1 landing above 350

lb per week, up to 1,050 lb

350 lb/day; or 1 landing above 350 lb per week, up to

1,050 lb

350 lb/day; or 1

landing above

350 lb per

week, up to

1,050 lb.

Longspine thornyhead ....... 12,000 lb/2 months 4,000 lb/2 months 6,000 lb/month.

Shortspine thornyhead ...... 1,000 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 1,000 lb/month.

Dover sole ......................... 55,000 lb/2 months 20,000 lb/2 months 20,000 lb/month.

Arrowtooth flounder ........... 10,000 lb/trip No restriction 10,000 lb/trip.

Petrale sole ....................... No restriction No restriction No restriction.

Rex sole ............................ No restriction No restriction No restriction.

Other flatfish 3 .................... No restriction No restriction No restriction.

Shoreside whiting 4 ............ 20,000 lb/trip Open 20,000 lb/trip.

Minor shelf rockfish:

North ........................... 300 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 300 lb/month.

South:

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat..

500 lb/month CLOSED 5 1,000 lb/month 500 lb/month.

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 25885

TABLE 4.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 FOR LIMITED ENTRY FIXED GEAR—Continued

[Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups Jan–Feb Mar–Apr May–Jun July–Aug Sep–Oct Nov–Dec

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat..

CLOSED 500 lb/month 1,000 lb/month 500 lb/month.

Canary—Coastwise:

North ........................... 100 lb/month 300 lb/month 100 lb/month.

South:

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

100 lb/month CLOSED 300 lb/month 100 lb/month.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

CLOSED 100 lb/month 300 lb/month 100 lb/month.

Widow rockfish—

Coastwide:

North ........................... 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month.

South:

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

3,000 lb/month CLOSED 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

CLOSED 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month 3,00 lb/month.

Yellowtail—North 6 ............. 1,500 lb/month 1,500 lb/month 1,500 lb/month.

Bocaccio—South: 6

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

300 lb/month CLOSED 500 lb/month 300 lb/month.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

CLOSED 300 lb/month 500 lb/month 300 lb/month.

Chilipepper—South: 6

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

2,000 lb/month CLOSED 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

CLOSED 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month.

Cowcod—South: 6

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

1 fish per landing CLOSED 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4.

CLOSED 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing.

Minor nearshore rockfish:

North ........................... 2,400 lb/2 months, of which no more

than 1,200 lb may be species

other than black or blue rockfish 7

3,000 lb/2months, of which no more than 1,400 lb may

be species other than black or blue rockfish

3,000 lb/2

months, of

which no more

than 1,400 lb

may be species other than

black or blue

rockfish.7

South:

401⁄2101⁄4-

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

1,000 lb/2

months

CLOSED 1,300 lb/2 months 1,300 lb/2

months.

South of

361⁄2001⁄4 N. lat.

CLOSED 1,000 lb/2

months

1,300 lb/2months 1,300 lb/2

months.

Lingcod 8 ............................ CLOSED 400 lb/month; size limit 24 inches north, 26 inches south CLOSED.

1Trip limits apply coastwise unless otherwise specified. North means 401⁄2 101⁄4 N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ‘‘South’’ means 401⁄2 101⁄4 N.

lat. to the U.S.-Mexico border. 2The sablefish size limit does not apply during the daily trip limit fishery, but does apply during the ‘‘regular’’ and ‘‘mop-up’’ seasons north of

361⁄2 N. lat. See IV.B(2). 3Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 4 with a trip limit.

4The whiting ‘‘per trip’’ limit in the Eureka area for catch inside 100 fathoms is 10,000 lb/trip throughout the year.

5 Closed means it is prohibited to take and retain, possess, or land the designated species in the time or area indicated (see IV.A(7)). 6Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in trip limits for minor

shelf rockfish (Table 2). 7The ‘‘per trip’’ limit for black rockfish off Washington also applies. See paragraph IV.B.(4).

8The size limit for lingcod is 24 inches (61 cm) in the north and 26 inches (66 cm) in the south, total length.

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.

* * * * *

C. Trip Limits in the Open Access

Fishery

* * * * *

(4) Landings in Pacific City, Oregon.

For purposes of this paragraph, Pacific

City, Oregon is the area between

45°20′15′′N. lat.

(a) May 1–September 30, 2000: No

more than 2,200 lb (998 kg) of minor

nearshore rockfish may be landed per

month in Pacific City. Within the 2,200

lb (998 kg) monthly limit, no more than

700 lb (318 kg) may be species other

than black or blue rockfish.

October 1–December 31, 2000:

Groundfish may not be landed in Pacific

City, even if harvested in a

nongroundfish fishery.

* * * * *

25886 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

TABLE 5.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 FOR ALL OPEN ACCESS GEAR EXCEPT EXEMPTED TRAWL GEAR ENGAGED IN FISHING FOR

PINK SHRIMP *

[Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups JAN–FEB MAR–APR MAY–JUN JULY–AUG SEP–OCT NOV DEC

Minor slope rockfish:

North .................... 500 lb/2 months 500 lb/2 months 500 lb/2 months.

South .................... 500 lb/2 months 500 lb/2 months 500 lb/2 months.

Splitnose—South ........ 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

POP—North ................ 100 lb/month 100 lb/month 100 lb/month.

Sablefish:2

North of 36° ......... 300 lb/day, but no more than

2,100 lb/2 months

300 lb/day, but no more than 2,400 lb/2months

South of 36° ......... 350 lb/day 350 lb/day 350 lb/day.

Thornyheads

(longspine and

shortspine combined):

North of Pt. Conception.

CLOSED 3 CLOSED CLOSED.

South of Pt. Conception.50 lb/day 50 lb/day 50 lb/day.

Arrowtooth ................... 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

Dover sole ................... (included in ‘‘other’’ flatfish limit)

Petrale sole ................. (included in ‘‘other’’ flatfish limit)

Nearshore flatfish ........ (included in ‘‘other’’ flatfish limit)

‘‘Other’’ flatfish 4 .......... 300 lb/month 300 lb/month 300 lb/month.

Shoreside whiting ........ 300 lb/month 300 lb/month 300 lb/month.

Minor shelf rockfish:

North .................... 100 lb/month 100 lb/month 100 lb/month.

South:

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

200 lb/month CLOSED 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

Canary:

North .................... 50 lb/month 50 lb/month 50 lb/month.

South:

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

50 lb/month CLOSED 50 lb/month 50 lb/month.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 50 lb/month 50 lb/month 50 lb/month.

Widow:

North .................... 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month.

South:

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

3,000 lb/month CLOSED 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month 3,000 lb/month.

Yellowtail—North 5 ...... 100 lb/month 100 lb/month 100 lb/month.

Bocaccio—South:5

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

200 lb/month CLOSED 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 200 lb/month 200 lb/month 200 lb/month.

Chilipepper—South:5

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

2,000 lb/month CLOSED 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month 2,000 lb/month.

Cowcod—South:5

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

1 fish per landingCLOSED 1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 1 fish per landing1 fish per landing 1 fish per landing.

Minor nearshore rockfish:

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 87 / Thursday, May 4, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 25887

TABLE 5.—2000 TRIP LIMITS 1 FOR ALL OPEN ACCESS GEAR EXCEPT EXEMPTED TRAWL GEAR ENGAGED IN FISHING FOR

PINK SHRIMP *—Continued

[Read Section IV. A. NMFS Actions before using this table.]

Species/groups JAN–FEB MAR–APR MAY–JUN JULY–AUG SEP–OCT NOV DEC

North .................... 1,000 lb/2 months,6 of which no

more than 500 lb may be

species other than black or

blue rockfish

1,500 lb/2 months,6 7 of which no more than 700

lb may be species other than black or blue

rockfish

1,500 lb/2 months,6 7 of which

no more than 700 lb may be

species other than black or

blue rockfish.

South:

40°10′–36°00′

N. lat.

550 lb/2

months

CLOSED 800 lb/2 months 800 lb/2 months.

South of

36°00′ N.

lat.

CLOSED 550 lb/2

months

800 lb/2 months 800 lb/2 months.

Lingcod 8 ..................... CLOSED 400 lb/month size limit 24 inches north, 26 inches

south

CLOSED.

1Trip limits apply coastwide unless otherwise specified. North means 40°10′ N. lat. to the US-Canada border. ‘‘South’’ means 40°10′ N. lat. to

the US-Mexico border. 2There is no size limit for sablefish taken and retained with nontrawl gear in the open access fishery. See IV.B.2.

3 Closed means it is prohibited to take and retain, possess, or land the species in the time or area indicated (see IV.A.(7)).

4Other flatfish means all flatfish listed at 50 CFR 660.302 except those in this Table 5 with a trip limit.

5Yellowtail rockfish and POP in the south and bocaccio, chilipepper, and cowcod rockfishes in the north are included in the trip limits for minor

shelf rockfish in the appropriate area (Table 2). 6The ‘‘per trip’’ limit for black rockfish off Washington also applies. See paragraph IV.B.(4).

7Provisions for landing groundfish in Pacific City, OR are found at paragraph IV.C.(4).

8The size limit for lingcod is 25 inches (61 cm) in the north and 26 inches (66 cm) in the south, total length.

To convert pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.20462, the number of pounds in one kilogram.

* * * * *

Classification

These actions are authorized by the

regulations implementing the FMP and

the emergency rule published at 65 FR

221 (January 4, 2000), and are based on

the most recent data available. The

aggregate data upon which these actions

are based are available for public

inspection at the office of the

Administrator, Northwest Region,

NMFS (see ADDRESSES) during business

hours.

NMFS finds good cause to waive the

requirement to provide prior notice and

an opportunity for public comment on

this action pursuant to 5 U.S.C.

553(b)(B), because providing prior

notice and opportunity for comment

would be impracticable. It would be

impracticable because the next

cumulative limit period begins on May

1, 2000, and affording additional notice

and opportunity for public comment

would impede the due and timely

execution of the agency’s function of

managing fisheries to achieve OY. In

addition, the affected public had the

opportunity to comment on these

actions at the April 3–7, 2000 Council

meeting.

NMFS also finds good cause to waive

the 30-day delay in effectiveness

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), because

all of the trip limit changes in this

notice liberalize trip limits, thereby

relieving restrictions. This action should

be implemented at the beginning of the

cumulative trip limit period to avoid

confusion and provide fishers the

uninterrupted opportunity to achieve

the new trip limits. For these reasons

good cause exists to waive the 30-day

delay in effectiveness.

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: April 28, 2000.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–11108 Filed 5–1–00; 3:07 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Part 648

[Docket No. 000426114–0114–01; I.D.

041000F]

RIN 0648–AN53

Fisheries of the Northeastern United

States; Spiny Dogfish Fishery; 2000

Specifications

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Interim final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: NMFS implements

specifications and seasonal trip limits

for fishing year 2000 (May 1, 2000,

through April 30, 2001) for the spiny

dogfish (Squalus acanthias) fishery.

This action establishes a total quota for

the 2000 fishing year and sets aside a

portion of the total quota for vessels

participating in spiny dogfish exempted

fishing projects. This interim final rule

is implemented to prevent overfishing

of spiny dogfish.

DATES: Effective May 1, 2000, through

October 28, 2000. Comments must be

received at the appropriate address or

fax number (see ADDRESSES) no later

than 5 p.m., eastern daylight time, June

5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this interim

final rule should be sent to Patricia A.

Kurkul, Regional Administrator,

Northeast Regional Office, NMFS,

1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA

01930–2298. Please mark the envelope

‘‘Comments—2000 Spiny Dogfish

Specifications.’’ Comments also may be

sent via facsimile (fax) to 978–281–

9135. Comments will not be accepted if

submitted via e-mail or Internet. Copies

of documents supporting this action are

available from the Regional Office at the

address specified here.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter W. Christopher, Fishery Policy

Analyst, 978–281–9288, fax 978–281–