[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 60682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29769]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[I.D. 110597A]
RIN: 0648-AH67


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Forage Fish 
Species Category

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of amendments to fishery management 
plans; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has 
submitted Amendment 36 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area and 
Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf 
of Alaska (FMPs) for Secretarial review. Amendments 36 and 39 would 
define a forage fish species category in both FMPs and implement 
associated management measures. The intended effect of the amendments 
is to prevent the development of an unrestricted fishery for forage 
fish, which are a critical food source for many marine mammal, seabird, 
and fish species.

DATES: Comments on Amendment 36 and 39 must be received by January 12, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments on Amendments 36 and 39 should be submitted to the 
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 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 the amendments and the Environmental Assessment/
Regulatory Impact Review prepared for the amendments are available from 
NMFS at the above address, or by calling the Alaska Region, NMFS, at 
907-586-7228.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Lind, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The intent of the Council is to implement a 
program that would establish a forage fish species category and would 
allow for the management of these species in a manner that prevents the 
development of a commercial directed fishery for forage fish, which are 
a critical food source for many marine mammal, seabird and fish 
species. Management measures for this species category will be 
specified in regulations and may include such measures as prohibitions 
on directed fishing, limitations on allowable bycatch retention 
amounts, or limitations on the sale, barter, trade or any other 
commercial exchange, as well as the processing of forage fish in a 
commercial processing facility.
    A proposed rule to implement Amendments 36 and 39 has been received 
from the Council. In accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 
evaluating the proposed rule to determine whether it is consistent with 
the amendments, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law. If 
that determination is affirmative, NMFS will publish it in the Federal 
Register for public review and comment.
    Comments received by January 12, 1998, whether specifically 
directed to the amendment or the proposed rule, will be considered by 
NMFS in its decision to approve, disapprove, or partially approve 
Amendments 36 and 39. Comments received after that date will not be 
considered by NMFS in this decision. All comments received by NMFS on 
these amendments or on the proposed rule during their respective 
comment periods will be addressed in the final rule.

    Dated: November 5, 1997.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-29769 Filed 11-10-97; 8:45 am]
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