[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59844-59845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29284]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 102997A]
RIN 0648-AK13 


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revise 
Management Authority of Pelagic Shelf Rockfish; Notice of Availability

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 46 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Gulf of Alaska (FMP) for Secretarial review. This amendment would 
remove black and blue rockfish from the FMP. The State of Alaska would 
then assume management of those species. This action is necessary to 
allow the State of Alaska to implement more responsive, regionally 
based, management of these species than is currently possible under the 
FMP. NMFS is requesting comments from the public on the proposed 
amendment, copies of which may be obtained from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).
DATES: Comments on Amendment 46 must be submitted by January 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the FMP amendment should be submitted to Chief, 
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Lori Gravel, or delivered to the Federal 
Building, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK. Copies of Amendment 46 and 
the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review (EA/RIR) and 
related economic analysis prepared for the proposed action are 
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252; telephone: 907-271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Kinsolving, 907-586-7228.


[[Page 59845]]


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 amendment 
it prepares to NMFS for review and approval, disapproval, or partial 
disapproval. The Magnuson-Stevens Act also requires that NMFS, after 
receiving a fishery management plan or amendment, immediately publish a 
document in the Federal Register that the fishery management plan or 
amendment is available for public review and comment. This action 
constitutes such notice for Amendment 46 to the FMP.
    Amendment 46 was adopted by the Council at its June 1997 meeting. 
It would remove black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) and blue rockfish 
(Sebastes mystinus) from the FMP and allow the State of Alaska to 
extend its management authority for these species into Federal waters. 
This action would allow the State of Alaska to implement small area 
harvest guidelines, developed by using more appropriate sampling 
methodologies than are currently used under Federal management. This 
action is necessary to prevent possible overexploitation and localized 
depletion of black and blue rockfish resources.
    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 46 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.
    Comments received by January 5, 1998, whether specifically directed 
to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered in the 
approval/disapproval decision on Amendment 46. Comments received after 
that date will not be considered in the approval/disapproval decision. 
All comments received on Amendment 46 or on the proposed rule during 
their respective comment periods will be addressed in the final rule.

    Dated: October 30, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29284 Filed 11-4-97; 8:45 am]
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