[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 38508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15665]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 061500B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Interactions 
with Steller Sea Lions

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces two public meetings to review evidence for 
competitive interactions between Steller sea lions and the Pacific cod 
fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Island region and Gulf of Alaska, 
suggest additional analyses of such interaction, and suggest fishery 
management alternatives to avoid competition and its potential 
detrimental impact on the endangered western population of Steller sea 
lions and its critical habitat.

DATES: The meeting dates are:
    1. June 27, 2000, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Alaska local time, Kodiak, 
Alaska.
    2. June 29, 2000, 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., Seattle, Washington.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
    1. Kodiak--Kodiak Fisheries Research Center (second building on 
Near Island), large conference room, 301 Research Court, Kodiak, 
Alaska.
    2. Seattle--Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Building 4, Room 2039, 
7600 Sand Point Way, NE. Seattle, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Capron, 907/586-7312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS' Office of Sustainable Fisheries (OSF), 
is responsible for management of the groundfish fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone off Alaska, including fisheries for Pacific 
cod. As such, OSF is required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to 
insure that these fisheries do not jeopardize the continued existence 
of listed species nor destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. 
Section 7 of the ESA requires that OSF consult with NMFS' Office of 
Protected Resources (OPR) to evaluate the potential effects of the 
fisheries. During a previous consultation completed December 23, 1999, 
OPR identified information indicating a potential for competition 
between the Pacific cod fisheries and Steller sea lions. Steller sea 
lions are considered to be food-limited, may use the same Pacific cod 
resources as are taken by the fisheries, and may be disadvantaged if 
fishery removals reduce the availability of cod to foraging sea lions. 
The information is not conclusive, but indicates that such competition 
may occur to the detriment of sea lions.
    Two meetings will be held to allow the public to review the 
existing scientific and commercial data pertinent to the issue of 
competition between Steller sea lions and the Pacific cod fisheries, 
suggest additional analyses that may shed light on this issue, and 
suggest possible management measures to avoid competition and adverse 
modification of critical habitat.
    OSF and OPR are currently involved in an additional section 7 
consultation under the ESA. This consultation is focused on the overall 
effects of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska as implemented under the 
Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish 
and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. 
The potential effect of the Pacific cod fisheries on the western 
population of Steller sea lions and its critical habitat is one of many 
issues that will be addressed in this comprehensive consultation. Input 
from the public meetings announced here, and any resulting changes to 
Pacific cod fishery management measures, will be reflected in the 
portion of the comprehensive consultation dealing with this particular 
issue.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Shane Capron (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting dates.

    Dated: June 15, 2000.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-15665 Filed 6-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F