[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13217-13218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5074]



[[Page 13217]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 070213032-7032-01; I.D. 112206B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; 2007 and 2008 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; 
Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

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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 shallow-water 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.

DATES: Effective March 5, 2007, through December 31, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780, or e-mail at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f1859e9cdf81949083829e9fb19f9e9090df969e87"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6a1e0507441a0f0b181905042a04050b0b440d051c">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY 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 
Magnuson-Stevens 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 deep-water species complex and the 
shallow-water 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. E7-3775) 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 Deep-Water Species Complex and the
        Shallow-Water Species Complex (values are in metric tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Shallow-
                 Season                    water     Deep-water   Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1                             450          100      550
April 1-July 1                                 100          300      400
July 1-September 1                             200          400      600
September 1-October 1                          150          Any      150
                                                      remainder
Subtotal January 20-October 1                  900          800    1,700
October 1-December 31\1\                       n/a          n/a      300
Total                                          n/a          n/a    2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water 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-
                                                         Shallow-water    Deep-water complex    Annual halibut       water complex     Annual deep-water
                       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
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    Dated: March 14, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-5074 Filed 3-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


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