[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43689-43690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21596]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 080597F]
RIN: 0648-AK14


Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish 
Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of an amendment to a fishery management 
plan; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) 
for Secretarial review. Amendment 34 would authorize an allocation of 
Atka mackerel to vessels using jig gear. Annually, up to 2 percent of 
the total allowable catch (TAC) specified for this species in the 
Eastern Aleutian Islands District (AI)/Bering Sea subarea (BS) could be 
allocated to the jig gear fleet fishing in this area. This action is 
necessary to provide an opportunity to a localized, small-vessel jig 
gear fleet to fish for Atka mackerel in summer months. The large-scale 
trawl fisheries typically harvest the available TAC for this species 
early in the fishing year, which does not allow the jig gear fishermen 
an opportunity for a summer fishery. Comments from the public are 
requested.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 34 must be submitted on or before October 
14, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendment 34 should be submitted to Chief, 
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to the Federal 
Building, 709 West 9th. Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendment 34 and 
the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis prepared for the amendment are 
available from NMFS at the above

[[Page 43690]]

address, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS at 907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Salveson, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that each Regional 
Fishery Management Council submit any fishery management plan (FMP) or 
plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, 
disapproval, or partial approval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also 
requires that NMFS, upon receiving an FMP or amendment, immediately 
publish a document that the FMP or amendment is available for public 
review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period in determining whether to approve the FMP or 
amendment.
    Amendment 34 was adopted by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council at its June 1997 meeting and would authorize an allocation of 
Atka mackerel to vessels using jig gear. Annually, up to 2 percent of 
the annual TAC specified for Atka mackerel in the Eastern AI/BS could 
be allocated to vessels using jig gear as part of the annual groundfish 
specifications process. The percent allocation, up to the 2 percent 
ceiling, would be based on recent and anticipated harvest capacity of 
the jig gear fleet. This amendment is being proposed to respond to 
concerns that the developing small vessel jig gear fishery for Atka 
mackerel during spring and summer months routinely is precluded by the 
fast-paced trawl fisheries for this species that typically harvest the 
available TAC in the Eastern AI/BS early in the fishing year.
    NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment 
period in determining whether to approve the proposed amendment. A 
proposed rule to implement Amendment 34 has been submitted for 
Secretarial review and approval. The proposed rule to implement this 
amendment is scheduled to be published within 15 days of this document.

    Dated: August 11, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-21596 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F