[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8179-8187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4456]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 961126334-7025-02; I.D. 111296A]
RIN 0648-XX74


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Final 1997 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final 1997 harvest specifications for groundfish and associated 
management measures; closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 1997 harvest specifications for Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA) groundfish and associated management measures. This action 
is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management 
measures for groundfish during the 1997 fishing year. NMFS is also 
closing fisheries as specified in the final 1997 groundfish 
specifications. These measures are intended to carry out management 
objectives contained in the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of 
the Gulf of Alaska (FMP).

EFFECTIVE DATES: The final 1997 harvest specifications are effective at 
noon on February 19, 1997 through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), 
December 31, 1997, or until changed by subsequent notification in the 
Federal Register. The closures to directed fishing are effective 
February 19, 1997 through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 1997, or until 
changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for 1997 
Groundfish Total Allowable Catch Specifications, dated January 1997, 
may be obtained from NMFS, Fisheries Management Division, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or by calling 907-586-
7228. The Final Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report (SAFE 
report), dated November 1996, is available from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, 
AK 99501-2252, or by calling 907-271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson 907-486-6919.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the GOA are 
managed by NMFS according to the FMP. The FMP was prepared by the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The FMP is 
implemented by regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
    NMFS announces for the 1997 fishing year: (1) Specifications of 
total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each groundfish species 
category in the GOA, and reserves; (2) apportionments of reserves; (3) 
allocations of the sablefish TAC to vessels using hook-and-line and 
trawl gear; (4) apportionments of pollock TAC among regulatory areas, 
seasons, and allocations for processing between inshore and offshore 
components; (5) allocations for processing of Pacific cod TAC between 
inshore and offshore components; (6) ``other species'' TAC; (7) 
closures to directed fishing; (8) Pacific halibut prohibited species 
catch (PSC) limits; and (9) fishery and seasonal apportionments of the 
Pacific halibut PSC limits. A discussion of each of these measures 
follows.
    The process of determining TACs for groundfish species in the GOA 
is established in regulations implementing the FMP. Pursuant to 
Sec. 679.20(a)(2), the sum of the TACs for all species must fall within 
the combined optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000-800,000 metric tons 
(mt) established for these species in Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(ii).
    The Council met from September 18 through 22, 1996, and developed 
recommendations for proposed 1997 TAC specifications for each species 
category of groundfish on the basis of the best available scientific 
information. The Council also recommended other management measures 
pertaining to the 1997 fishing year. Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1)(ii), the 
proposed GOA groundfish specifications and specifications for 
prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the 
GOA were published in the Federal Register on December 4, 1996 (61 FR 
64310). Comments were invited through December 30, 1996. Two letters 
were received that expressed a comment on the environmental assessment 
prepared for the 1997 GOA specifications. The comment is summarized and 
responded to below in the Response to Comments

[[Page 8180]]

section. Interim amounts of one-fourth the TAC were published in the 
Federal Register on December 4, 1996 (61 FR 64299). The final 1997 
initial groundfish harvest specifications and prohibited species 
bycatch allowances implemented under this action supersede the interim 
1997 specifications.
    The Council met December 11 through 15, 1996, to review the best 
available scientific information concerning groundfish stocks and to 
consider public testimony regarding 1997 groundfish fisheries. 
Scientific information is contained in the November 1996 SAFE report 
for the GOA. The SAFE report was prepared and presented by the GOA Plan 
Team (Plan Team) to the Council and the Council's Scientific and 
Statistical Committee (SSC) and Advisory Panel (AP) and includes the 
most recent information concerning the status of groundfish stocks, 
based on the most recent catch data, survey data, and biomass 
projections using different modeling approaches or assumptions.
    For establishment of the acceptable biological catches (ABCs) and 
TACs, the Council considered information in the SAFE report, 
recommendations from its SSC and AP, as well as public testimony. The 
SSC adopted the overfishing level (OFL) recommendations from the Plan 
Team, which were provided in the SAFE report, for all groundfish 
species categories, except for the nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish 
species (black rockfish and blue rockfish) in the Eastern and Western 
GOA. The SSC also adopted the ABC recommendations from the Plan Team, 
which were provided in the SAFE report, for all of the groundfish 
species categories, except sablefish, nearshore pelagic shelf rockfish 
in the Eastern and Western GOA, and Atka mackerel.
    The SSC did not adopt the Plan Team's recommendation of ABC for 
sablefish. The SSC received additional information from NMFS stock 
assessment scientists that both the Plan Team's ABC recommendation and 
an ABC based on the F<INF>40% strategy adjusted by biomass would 
increase the actual exploitation rate. This fact, combined with 15 
years of low recruitment, which could result in the biomass declining 
below the lowest observed levels since 1979, led the SSC to agree with 
the assessment authors' recommendation for ABC. The Council accepted 
the SSC's recommendation.
    The Plan Team recommended the division of the pelagic shelf 
rockfish assemblage into nearshore (black rockfish and blue rockfish) 
and offshore (dusky, widow, and yellowtail rockfish) assemblages. The 
Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for the Central GOA based, on 
historic harvests, and for the Eastern and Western GOA based, on an 
approximation of the amount of nearshore rockfish habitat relative to 
the Central GOA. The SSC adopted the Plan Team's recommendations for 
separating the pelagic shelf rockfish assemblage into nearshore and 
offshore assemblages in the Central GOA but did not agree with the Plan 
Team's apportionment method for the Eastern and Western GOA nearshore 
and offshore species because very little information is available, and 
the method assumes an equal density-per-unit area that has not been 
demonstrated. The Council accepted the SSC's recommendation.
    The SSC also did not accept the Plan Team's ABC (1,580 mt) for Atka 
mackerel. The Plan Team's recommendation was based upon the most recent 
year's harvest in 1996. The SSC noted that a brief directed fishery 
occurred in 1996, whereas none occurred in the 1995 fishing year. The 
SSC concluded that the gulfwide 1995 harvest of 801 mt more accurately 
reflects the amount of bycatch needed in other directed fisheries 
through the fishing year and adopted the assessment authors' 
recommendation of an ABC of 1,000 mt. The SSC agreed with the Plan Team 
that the ABC for Atka mackerel be 1,000 mt for the entire GOA. The 
Council accepted the SSC's recommendation.
    The Council adopted the SSC ABC recommendations for each species 
category. The Council's recommended ABCs, listed in Table 1, reflect 
harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing amounts 
(Table 1). The sum of 1997 ABCs for all groundfish is 493,050 mt, which 
is higher than the 1996 ABC total of 475,170 mt.

1. Specifications of TAC and Reserves

    The Council recommended TACs equal to ABCs for pollock, deep-water 
flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, northern rockfish, shortraker/rougheye 
rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish including the split in the assemblage 
in the Central GOA between nearshore and offshore species, demersal 
shelf rockfish, Atka mackerel, and thornyhead rockfish. The Council 
recommended TACs less than the ABC for Pacific cod, flathead sole, 
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth, other slope rockfish, and Pacific 
ocean perch (Table 1).
    The TAC for pollock has increased gulfwide but has decreased in the 
Western GOA from 25,480 mt in 1996 to 18,600 mt in 1997. This 
apportionment of TAC in the Central and Western GOA reflects the 
current biomass distribution. For 1997, the State of Alaska has 
established a guideline harvest level (GHL) of 1,800 mt for pollock in 
Prince William Sound (PWS). The SSC did not have information to 
indicate whether the PWS pollock fishery exploits a stock that is 
independent of the assessed GOA pollock population. Therefore, the SSC 
recommended that PWS pollock harvests be applied against the total GOA 
ABC of pollock. NMFS will deduct harvest of pollock in PWS from the 
Eastern GOA TAC in 1997.
    The 1997 Pacific cod TAC is affected by the State of Alaska's plan 
to develop a state-managed fishery for Pacific cod in state waters in 
the Central and Western GOA, as well as PWS. The SSC, AP, and Council 
recommended that the sum of all Pacific cod removals should not exceed 
the ABC. The Council recommended that the TAC for the Eastern GOA be 
lower than the ABC by 400 mt, the amount of the proposed GHL for PWS. 
The TACs for the Central and Western GOA are also recommended to be 
lower than the ABCs by 7,710 mt and 4,275 mt respectively, the amount 
of the proposed GHLs for these areas. The Council requested that NMFS 
review, by October 1997, the likelihood that the State of Alaska's GHLs 
of Pacific cod will be achieved in 1997. If unused amounts of the 
State's 1997 GHLs are anticipated, the Council requested that NMFS make 
these amounts available to fishermen participating in the federally 
managed fishery by October 1, 1997.
    The Council accepted the AP recommendation that the TACs for 
flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder be set 
at 1996 TAC levels, which are lower than their respective 1997 ABC 
specifications. With respect to ``other rockfish'' in the Eastern GOA, 
the Council recommended that NMFS establish a TAC that would provide 
for bycatch only. NMFS has reviewed bycatch needs for ``other 
rockfish'' and has set a TAC at 1,500 mt, which will provide enough for 
bycatch needs.
    The Council reduced the AP's recommendation for Pacific ocean perch 
(POP) TACs in the Western and Central Gulf by 20 percent to 1,472 mt 
and 5,352 mt respectively to create a management buffer between ABC and 
TAC to account for harvest overages that occurred during 1996. In the 
Eastern GOA, the Council recommended that the POP TAC be reduced from 
the 1997 ABC of 4,460 mt to the 1996 TAC level of 2,366 mt to reduce 
the bycatch of shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the POP fishery.

[[Page 8181]]

    Amendment 38 to the FMP was approved October 2, 1996 (61 FR 51374) 
giving the Council the alternative of recommending a lower POP TAC in 
the annual specification process for the purpose of addressing 
biological or resource conservation concerns that are not addressed 
under the Rebuilding Plan or SAFE reports.
    The sum of the TACs for all GOA groundfish is 282,815 mt, which is 
within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sum of the TACs is higher 
than the 1996 TAC sum of 260,207 mt.
    NMFS has reviewed the Council's recommendation for TAC 
specifications and apportionments and hereby approves these 
specifications under Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The TAC for ``other 
species'' is calculated as 5 percent of the sum of TACs for the other 
groundfish species categories, or 13,470 mt.
    The 1997 ABCs, TACs, and overfishing levels are shown in Table 1.

  Table 1.--1997 ABCs, TACs, Initial TACs (Pacific Cod Only) and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish (Metric Tons) 
    for the Western/Central (W/C), Western (W), Central (C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas and in the West   
           Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulf-Wide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska           
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Initial TAC  Overfishing
                    Species and area \1\                        ABC (mt)     TAC (mt)     (mt)\2\        (mt)   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:\3\                                                                                                     
    Shumagin (610)..........................................       18,600       18,600  ...........  ...........
    Chirikof (620)..........................................       31,250       31,250  ...........  ...........
    Kodiak (630)............................................       24,550       24,550                          
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal:                                                                                               
            W/C.............................................       74,400       74,400  ...........      103,500
            E...............................................        5,580        5,580  ...........        7,770
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       79,980       79,980  ...........      111,270
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod:\4\                                                                                                 
    W.......................................................       28,500       24,225       19,380  ...........
    C.......................................................       51,400       43,690       34,952  ...........
    E.......................................................        1,600        1,200          960  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       81,500       69,115       55,292      180,000
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \5\ (deep-water):                                                                                      
    W.......................................................          340          340  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................        3,690        3,690  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................        3,140        3,140  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        7,170        7,170  ...........        9,440
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Rex sole:\5\                                                                                                    
    W.......................................................        1,190        1,190  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................        5,490        5,490  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................        2,470        2,470  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        9,150        9,150  ...........       11,920
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole:                                                                                                  
    W.......................................................        8,440        2,000  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................       15,630        5,000  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................        2,040        2,040  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       26,110        9,040  ...........       34,010
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \6\ (shallow-water):                                                                                   
    W.......................................................       22,570        4,500  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................       19,260       12,950  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................        1,320        1,180  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       43,150       18,630  ...........       59,540
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder:                                                                                            
    W.......................................................       31,340        5,000  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................      142,100       25,000  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................       24,400        5,000  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................      197,840       35,000  ...........      280,800
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Sablefish:\7\                                                                                                   
    W.......................................................        1,860        1,860  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................        6,410        6,410  ...........  ...........
    WYK.....................................................        2,410        2,410  ...........  ...........

[[Page 8182]]

                                                                                                                
    SEO.....................................................        3,840        3,840  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       14,520       14,520  ...........       39,950
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Pacific \8\ ocean perch:                                                                                        
    W.......................................................        1,840        1,472  ...........        2,790
    C.......................................................        6,690        5,352  ...........       10,180
    E.......................................................        4,460        2,366  ...........        6,790
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................       12,990        9,190  ...........       19,760
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Short raker/rougheye:\9\                                                                                        
    W.......................................................          160          160  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................          970          970  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................          460          460  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        1,590        1,590  ...........        2,740
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish:<SUP>10, <SUP>11, <SUP>12                                                                                       
    W.......................................................           20           20  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................          650          650  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................        4,590        1,500  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        5,260        2,170  ...........        7,560
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Northern Rockfish:\13\                                                                                          
    W.......................................................          840          840  ...........  ...........
    C.......................................................        4,150        4,150  ...........  ...........
    E.......................................................           10           10  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        5,000        5,000  ...........        9,420
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish:\14\                                                                                     
    W combined..............................................          570          570  ...........  ...........
    C nearshore.............................................          260          260  ...........  ...........
    C offshore..............................................        3,320        3,320  ...........  ...........
    E combined..............................................          990          990  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total...............................................        5,140        5,140  ...........        8,400
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish:\12\ SEO............................          950          950  ...........        1,450
Thornyhead rockfish: GW.....................................        1,700        1,700  ...........        2,400
Atka mackerel: GW...........................................        1,000        1,000  ...........        6,200
Other \15\ species: GW......................................      N/A\16\       13,470  ...........  ...........
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total \17\..............................................      493,050      282,815       55,292      784,860
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.  679.2.                                                  
\2\ Twenty percent of Pacific cod TAC is put into a reserve. The initial TAC is the remaining TAC after         
  subtracting the reserve (see Sec.  679.20(b)(2) and ``Apportionments of Reserves'' below).                    
\3\ Pollock is apportioned to three statistical areas in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Area (Table 3),
  each of which is further divided into three seasonal allowances. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is   
  not divided into seasonal allowances.                                                                         
\4\ Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore, and 10 percent for processing by the     
  offshore component. Component allocations are shown in Table 4.                                               
\5\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole and Greenland turbot.                                              
\6\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.                                                                                          
\7\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears (Table 2).                                          
\8\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.                                                              
\9\ ``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).         
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means 
  Slope rockfish.                                                                                               
\11\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), 
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegates (harlequin), S.  
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani       
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus    
  (vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth).                                                                      
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),  
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.                                                           
\14\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes melanops (black), S. mystinus (blue), S. ciliatus (dusky), S.    
  entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). ``Pelagic shelf rockfish nearshore'' means Sebastes melanops 
  (black) and S. mystinus (blue). ``Pelagic shelf rockfish offshore'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dusky), S.       
  entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).                                                              

[[Page 8183]]

                                                                                                                
\15\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon, smelts, capelin, squid, and octopus. The TAC   
  for ``other species'' equals 5 percent of the TACs of target species.                                         
\16\ N/A means not applicable.                                                                                  
\17\ The total ABC is the sum of the ABCs for target species.                                                   

2. Apportionments of Reserves

    Regulations implementing the FMP require 20 percent of each TAC for 
pollock, Pacific cod, flounder, and the ``other species'' category be 
set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date 
(Sec. 679.20(b)(2)). For the preceding 9 years, including 1996, NMFS 
has reapportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest 
specifications. NMFS proposed reapportionment of all reserves for 1997 
in the proposed GOA groundfish specifications published in the Federal 
Register on December 4, 1996 (61 FR 64310). NMFS received no public 
comments on the proposed reapportionments. For 1997, NMFS reapportions 
all the reserves for pollock, flounder, and ``other species.'' NMFS is 
retaining the Pacific cod reserves at this time to provide for a 
management buffer to account for excessive fishing effort and/or 
incomplete or late catch reporting. In recent years, unpredictable 
increases in fishing effort and harvests, uncertainty of bycatch needs 
in other directed fisheries throughout the year, and untimely 
submission and revision of weekly processing reports have resulted in 
early and late closures of the Pacific cod fishery. NMFS believes that 
the retention of Pacific cod reserve amounts to provide for TAC 
management difficulties later in the year is a conservative approach 
that will lead to a more orderly fishery and provide greater assurance 
that Pacific cod bycatch may be retained throughout the year. 
Specifications of TAC shown in Table 1 reflect apportionment of reserve 
amounts for pollock, flatfish species, and ``other species.'' Table 1 
also lists the initial TACs for Pacific cod that reflect the 
withholding of the Pacific cod TAC reserves as follows: 4,845 mt in the 
Western GOA, 8,738 mt in the Central GOA, and 240 mt in the Eastern 
GOA.

3. Allocations of the Sablefish TACs to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line and 
Trawl Gear

    Under Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii), sablefish TACs for each of the 
regulatory areas and districts are allocated to hook-and-line and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 20 percent to trawl gear. In 
the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl 
gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used as 
bycatch to support directed fisheries for other target species. 
Sablefish caught in the GOA with gear other than hook-and-line or trawl 
gear must be treated as prohibited species and may not be retained. 
Table 2 shows the allocations of the 1997 sablefish TACs between hook-
and-line and trawl gear.

 Table 2.--1997 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations Thereof to Hook-And-Line and 
                                                   Trawl Gear                                                   
                                           [Values are in metric tons]                                          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Hook-and-              
                              Area/district                                    TAC       line share  Trawl share
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western..................................................................        1,860        1,488          372
Central..................................................................        6,410        5,128        1,282
West Yakutat.............................................................        2,410        2,290          120
Southeast Outside........................................................        3,840        3,648          192
                                                                          --------------------------------------
    Total................................................................       14,520       12,554        1,966
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Regulatory Areas, Seasons, and 
Allocation for Processing Between Inshore and Offshore Components

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by area, season, and allocated 
for processing by inshore and offshore components. Regulations at 
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A) require that the TAC for pollock in the 
combined Western and Central GOA be apportioned among statistical areas 
Shumagin (610), Chirikof (620), and Kodiak (630) in proportion to the 
known distribution of the pollock biomass. This measure was intended to 
provide spatial distribution of the pollock harvest as a sea lion 
protection measure. Each statistical area apportionment is further 
apportioned into three seasonal allowances of 25, 25, and 50 percent, 
respectively (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(B)). As established under 
Sec. 679.23(d)(2), the first, second, and third seasonal allowances are 
available on January 1, June 1, and September 1, respectively. Within 
any fishing year, any unharvested amount of any seasonal allowance of 
pollock TAC is added in equal proportions to all subsequent seasonal 
allowances, resulting in a sum for each allowance not to exceed 150 
percent of the initial seasonal allowance. Similarly, harvests in 
excess of a seasonal allowance of TAC are deducted in equal proportions 
from the remaining seasonal allowances of that fishing year. The 
Eastern Regulatory Area pollock TAC of 5,580 mt is not allocated among 
smaller areas or seasons.
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) require that the pollock TAC 
in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances thereof be 
allocated for processing by the inshore and offshore components. One 
hundred percent of the pollock TAC in each regulatory area is allocated 
to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component 
after subtraction of amounts that are projected by the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) to be caught by, or 
delivered to, the offshore component incidental to directed fishing for 
other groundfish species. The amount of pollock available for harvest 
by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the offshore component 
is that amount actually taken as bycatch during directed fishing for 
groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable 
bycatch amounts allowed under regulations at Sec. 679.20(e). At this 
time, these bycatch amounts are unknown and will be determined during 
the fishing year. The distribution of pollock within the combined 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas is shown

[[Page 8184]]

in Table 3, except allocations of pollock for processing by the inshore 
and offshore component are not shown.

 Table 3.--Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (W/C GOA); 
 Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Quarterly Allowances. ABC for the W/C GOA is 74,400 Metric Tons 
(MT). Biomass Distribution is Based on 1996 Survey Data. TACs Are Equal to ABC. Inshore and Offshore Allocations
                    of Pollock Are Not Shown. ABCs and TACs Are Rounded to the Nearest 10 MT.                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Seasonal allowances         
                Statistical area                   Biomass     1997 ABC = --------------------------------------
                                                   percent        TAC         First        Second       Third   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (610).................................           25       18,600        4,650        4,650        9,300
Chirikof (620).................................           42       31,250        7,812        7,812       15,626
Kodiak (630)...................................           33       24,550        6,138        6,138       12,274
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................................          100       74,400       18,600       18,600       37,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Allocations for Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and 
Offshore Components

    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii) require that the TAC 
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas be allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore 
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory 
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. 
These allocations of the 69,115 mt Pacific cod TAC for 1997 are shown 
in Table 4. The Pacific cod reserves are not included in the table.

   Table 4.--1997 Allocation (Metric Tons) of Pacific Cod Initial TAC   
Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska; Allocations for Processing by the Inshore
                         and Offshore Components                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Component    
                                                           allocation   
               Regulatory area                Initial ------------------
                                                TAC    Inshore  Offshore
                                                        (90%)     (10%) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.....................................   19,380   17,442     1,938
Central.....................................   34,952   31,457     3,495
Eastern.....................................      960      864        96
                                             ---------------------------
    Total...................................   55,292   49,763     5,529
------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. ``Other Species'' TAC

    The FMP specifies that amounts for the ``other species'' category 
are calculated as 5 percent of the combined TAC amounts for target 
species. The GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is 13,470 mt, which is 5 
percent of the sum of the combined TAC amounts for the target species.

7. Closures to Directed Fishing

    The ``Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications of Groundfish, Associated 
Management Measures, and Closures'' for the GOA (61 FR 64299, December 
4, 1996) contained several closures to directed fishing for groundfish 
during 1997. The closures for the final specifications, which supersede 
the closures announced in the interim specifications, are listed in 
Table 5.
    Under Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)(A), the Regional Administrator 
determined that the entire TACs or allocations of TAC of groundfish 
species and species groups listed in Table 5 will be needed as 
incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries 
during 1997. The Regional Administrator is establishing directed 
fishing allowances of zero mt and prohibiting directed fishing for the 
remainder of the year for the fisheries listed in Table 5. Maximum 
retainable bycatch amounts for the aforementioned closures may be found 
at Sec. 679.20(e).
    Under authority of the interim 1997 specifications (61 FR 64299, 
December 4, 1996), pollock fishing opened on January 1, 1997, for 
amounts specified in that notice. NMFS has since closed Statistical 
Area 610 to directed fishing for pollock, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 
January 26, 1997 (62 FR 4192, January 29, 1997); Statistical Area 620 
to directed fishing for pollock, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 
7, 1997 (62 FR 6132, February 11, 1997); and Statistical Area 630 to 
directed fishing for pollock, effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 4, 
1997 (62 FR 5781, February 7, 1997). The closures for Statistical Areas 
610-630 will remain in effect until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., June 1, 1997, or 
until changed by subsequent notification in the Federal Register. The 
above closures are in addition to the closures listed in Table 5.

  Table 5.--Closures To Directed Fishing For Total Allowable Catches Implemented By This Action.\1\ Both = Offshore and Inshore Components; Offshore =  
              Offshore Component; All = All Gears; WG = Western Regulatory Area; EG = Eastern Regulatory Area; GOA = Entire Gulf of Alaska              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Fishery                                     Component                                  Gear                        Closed areas     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel..................................  Both...................................  All...................................  GOA.                  
Northern rockfish..............................  Both...................................  All...................................  WG, EG.               
Deep-water flatfish............................  Both...................................  All...................................  WG.                   
Other rockfish \2\.............................  Both...................................  All...................................  GOA.                  

[[Page 8185]]

                                                                                                                                                        
Pacific cod....................................  Offshore...............................  All...................................  GOA.                  
Pollock........................................  Offshore...............................  All...................................  GOA.                  
Sablefish......................................  Both...................................  All...................................  GOA.                  
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish...................  Both...................................  All...................................  GOA.                  
Thornyhead rockfish............................  Both...................................  All...................................  GOA.                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.                            
\2\ Other rockfish includes slope and demersal shelf rockfish in the Western and Central GOA.                                                           

8. Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Mortality Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d), annual Pacific halibut PSC limits are 
established and apportioned to trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be 
established for pot gear.
    As in 1996, the Council recommended that pot gear, jig gear, and 
the hook-and-line sablefish fishery be exempted from the non-trawl 
halibut limit for 1997. The Council recommended these exemptions 
because of the low halibut bycatch mortality experienced in the pot 
gear fisheries (17 mt in 1996) and the jig gear fisheries (not 
estimated in 1996) and because of the 1995 implementation of the 
sablefish and halibut Individual Fishing Quota program, which allows 
legal-sized halibut to be retained in the sablefish fishery.
    As in 1996, the Council recommended a hook-and-line halibut PSC 
mortality limit of 300 mt. Ten mt of this limit are apportioned to the 
DSR fishery. The remainder is seasonally apportioned among the non-
sablefish hook-and-line fisheries as shown in Table 6.
    The Council continued to recommend a trawl PSC mortality limit of 
2,000 mt. The PSC limit has remained unchanged since 1989. Regulations 
at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize separate apportionments of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit between trawl fisheries for deep-water and 
shallow-water species fisheries. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(5) 
authorize seasonal apportionments of halibut PSC limits.
    NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations listed above. The 
following types of information as presented in, and summarized from, 
the 1996 SAFE report, or as otherwise available from NMFS, Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game, the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) or public testimony were considered:
(A) Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is 
available from 1996 observations of the groundfish fisheries as a 
result of the NMFS Observer Program. The calculated halibut bycatch 
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gear through December 28, 
1996, is 1,964 mt, 172 mt, and 17 mt, respectively, for a total of 
2,153 mt.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear 
fisheries throughout the year. Trawling for the deep-water fishery 
complex was closed during the first quarter on March 21, 1996 (61 FR 
13462), for the second quarter on April 15, 1996 (61 FR 17256) and for 
the third quarter on August 7, 1996 (61 FR 41523). The shallow-water 
fishery complex was closed in the second quarter on May 13, 1996 (61 FR 
24729) and in the third quarter on August 5, 1996 (61 FR 41363). All 
trawling was closed in the fourth quarter on December 2, 1996 (61 FR 
64487).
    The amount of groundfish that trawl gear might have harvested if 
halibut had not been seasonally limiting in 1996 is unknown.
(B) Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks
    At its December 1996 meeting, the Council adopted higher ABCs for 
pollock, Pacific cod, and POP than those established for 1996. The 
Council adopted lower ABCs for deep-water flatfish, rex sole, flathead 
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, sablefish, other 
rockfish, northern rockfish, shortraker and rougheye rockfish, pelagic 
shelf rockfish, and Atka mackerel than those established for 1996. More 
information on these changes is included in the Final SAFE Report dated 
November 1996 and in the Council and SSC minutes.
(C) Expected Changes in Groundfish Catch
    The total of the 1997 TACs for the GOA is 282,815 mt, a slight 
increase from the 1996 TAC total of 260,207 mt. At its December 1996 
meeting, the Council changed the 1997 TACs for some fisheries from the 
1996 TACs. Those fisheries for which the 1997 TACs are lower than in 
1996 are deep-water flatfish (decreased to 7,170 mt from 11,080 mt), 
rex sole (decreased to 9,150 mt from 9,690 mt), flathead sole 
(decreased to 9,040 mt from 9,740), sablefish (decreased to 14,520 mt 
from 17,080 mt), northern rockfish (decreased to 5,000 mt from 5,270 
mt), shortraker and rougheye rockfish (decreased to 1,590 from 1,910 
mt), pelagic shelf rockfish (decreased to 5,140 from 5,190 mt), and 
Atka mackerel (decreased to 1,000 mt from 3,240 mt). Those species for 
which the 1997 TACs are higher than in 1996 are pollock (increased to 
79,980 mt from 54,810 mt), Pacific cod (increased to 69,115 mt from 
65,000 mt), POP (increased to 9,190 mt from 6,959 mt), other rockfish 
(increased to 2,170 mt from 2,020 mt), and other species (increased to 
13,470 mt from 12,390 mt).
(D) Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
    The stock assessment for 1996 conducted by the IPHC indicates that 
the total exploitable biomass and recruitment of Pacific halibut in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and GOA has been underestimated in 
previous years. Due to substantial changes in the assessment model and 
methods, new estimates of exploitable biomass are not yet available but 
will be included in next year's SAFE.
    The increase in estimated biomass under the new method can be 
attributed to three factors: (1) Halibut size at age information (a 
growth rate parameter) is better represented in the population model. 
Growth rates have declined, and the new method more appropriately 
accounts for the capture of young halibut by setline gear. The 
estimated abundance of young halibut has increased accordingly; (2) 
bycatch mortality of legal-sized halibut (32 inches or greater) is now 
included in the assessment along with other removals such as commercial 
and sport. This increases the estimated biomass to account for the 
increase in removals; and (3) catch rates from IPHC setline

[[Page 8186]]

surveys are included in the analysis. These data support trends 
observed in the commercial fishery that the halibut population has 
increased.
    The old method not only underestimated the exploitable biomass of 
halibut in recent years, but the catch limits were set lower than they 
might have been if it had been known that biomass was being 
underestimated. This low rate of exploitation plus above average 
recruitment of juvenile halibut during the 1980s allowed halibut 
abundance to increase beyond historically normal levels. The 1987 year 
class of halibut, although small in individual size, appears to be very 
abundant. The strength of this year class has increased current 
estimates of abundance and suggests that halibut biomass is likely to 
stay high for the next several years.
(E) Other Factors
    Potential impacts of expected fishing for groundfish on halibut 
stocks and U.S. halibut fisheries and methods available for, and costs 
of, reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries were discussed 
in the proposed 1997 specifications (61 FR 64310, December 4, 1996). 
That discussion is not repeated here.

9. Fishery and Seasonal Apportionments of the Halibut PSC Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d)(5), NMFS seasonally apportions the halibut PSC 
limits based on recommendations from the Council. The FMP requires that 
the following information be considered by the Council in recommending 
seasonal apportionments of halibut: (a) Seasonal distribution of 
halibut, (b) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species 
relative to halibut distribution, (c) expected halibut bycatch needs on 
a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected 
catches of target groundfish species, (d) expected bycatch rates on a 
seasonal basis, (e) expected changes in directed groundfish fishing 
seasons, (f) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (g) economic 
effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the 
target groundfish industry.
    The publication of the final 1996 initial groundfish and PSC 
specifications (61 FR 4304, February 5, 1996) summarizes Council 
findings with respect to each of the FMP considerations set forth 
above. At this time, the Council's findings are unchanged from those 
set forth for 1996. Pacific halibut PSC limits, and apportionments 
thereof, are presented in Table 6. Regulations specify that any 
overages or shortfalls in a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will 
be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment 
within the 1997 season.

  Table 6.--Final 1997 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments. The Pacific Halibut PSC Limit for Hook-and-Line Gear is Allocated to 
                                         the Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) Fishery and Fisheries Other Than DSR                                         
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]                                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Trawl gear                                                               Hook-and-line gear                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Other than DSR                                      DSR                     
                  Dates                         Amount     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Dates                  Amount                  Dates                  Amount    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1-Mar 31.............................        600 (30%)  Jan 1-May 17................        250 (86%)  Jan 1-Dec 31................        10 (100%)
Apr 1-Jun 30.............................        400 (20%)  May 18-Aug 31...............          15 (5%)                                               
Jul 1-Sep 30.............................        600 (30%)  Sep 1-Dec 31................          25 (9%)                                               
Oct 1-Dec 31.............................        400 (20%)                                                                                              
                                          -----------------                              -----------------                              ----------------
    Total................................     2,000 (100%)  ............................       290 (100%)  ............................        10 (100%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize apportionments of 
the trawl halibut PSC limit to a deep-water species fishery, comprised 
of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth 
flounder and a shallow-water species fishery, comprised of pollock, 
Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and 
other species. The apportionment for these two fishery categories is 
presented in Table 7.

 Table 7.--Final 1997 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits 
  Between the Deep-water Species Complex and the Shallow-water Species  
                                 Complex                                
                       [Values are in metric tons]                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Shallow-   Deep-          
                   Season                       water    water    Total 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 20-Mar. 31.............................       500      100      600
Apr. 1-Jun. 30..............................       100      300      400
Jul. 1-Sep. 30..............................       200      400      600
                                             ---------------------------
Jan. 20-Sep. 30\1\..........................       800      800    1,600
Oct. 1-Dec. 31..............................  ........  .......      400
                                             ---------------------------
    Total...................................  ........  .......    2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery       
  categories during the 4th quarter.                                    

    The Council recommended that the revised halibut discard mortality 
rates recommended by the IPHC be adopted for purposes of monitoring 
halibut bycatch mortality limits established for the 1997 groundfish 
fisheries. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation. Most of the 
IPHC's assumed halibut mortality rates were based on an average of 
mortality rates determined from NMFS-observer data collected during 
1994 and 1995. For fisheries where a steady trend from 1992 to 1995 
towards increasing or decreasing mortality rates was observed, the IPHC 
recommended using the most recent year's observed rate. Rates for 1994 
and 1995 were lacking for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent 
years were used. Seasonal variation in halibut mortality rates in the 
deep-water flatfish and rex sole target fisheries are not recommended 
for 1997 as they were in 1996, nor were separate rates for

[[Page 8187]]

pollock harvested for processing by the inshore component and the 
offshore component. Most of the assumed mortality rates recommended for 
1997 differ slightly from those used in 1996. The recommended mortality 
rates for specific targets range from 6 to 27 percent for hook-and-line 
gear, from 51 to 66 percent for trawl gear, and from 19 to 100 percent 
for pot gear. The halibut mortality rates are listed in Table 8.

   Table 8.--1997 Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for Vessels   
                      Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska                     
    [Table values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Gear and target                         (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line:                                                          
    Sablefish................................................         27
    Pacific cod..............................................         12
    Rockfish.................................................          6
    Other species............................................         12
Trawl:                                                                  
    Midwater pollock.........................................         51
    Rockfish.................................................         65
    Shallow-water flatfish...................................         66
    Pacific cod..............................................         59
    Deep-water flatfish......................................         58
    Flathead sole............................................         59
    Rex sole.................................................         66
    Bottom pollock...........................................         57
    Atka mackerel............................................         53
    Sablefish................................................         62
    Other species............................................         66
Pot:                                                                    
    Pacific cod..............................................         19
    Bottom pollock...........................................        100
    Other species............................................         19
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment and Response

    Comment. The draft environmental assessment prepared for the 1997 
specifications provides an inadequate basis for a Finding of No 
Significant Impact. The environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared 
for the GOA groundfish fishery was drafted in 1977. Since that time, 
the conduct of the fisheries has changed, new information regarding the 
affected groundfish species exists, and substantial and unanalyzed 
questions exist regarding the impact of the groundfish fisheries on the 
GOA ecosystem. NMFS should prepare a supplement to the EIS that fully 
evaluates the potential impacts of the groundfish TACs on the GOA 
ecosystem.
    Response. NMFS acknowledges that the final EIS prepared for the GOA 
groundfish fishery is 20 years old. Nonetheless, NMFS believes the 
final EA prepared for the 1997 GOA groundfish specifications, as well 
as the documents incorporated by reference into the EA, adequately 
support a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI is based 
on the best available information contained in the SAFE report on the 
biological condition of groundfish stocks, the socioeconomic condition 
of the fishing industry, and consultation with the Council at its 
December 1996 meeting. For each species category, the Council 
recommended harvest amounts such that catches at or below these amounts 
would not result in overfishing as defined by the FMP. The Council's 
recommended final TACs for many groundfish species differ from the 
proposed TACs due to new information on status of stocks and/or changes 
in exploitation strategy. Each of the Council's recommended TACs for 
1997 is equal to or less than the ABC for each species category. 
Therefore, NMFS finds that the recommended TACs are consistent with the 
biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.
    This action adopts final 1997 harvest specifications for the GOA, 
revises associated management measures, and closes specified fisheries. 
Generally, this action does not significantly revise management 
measures in a manner that would require time to plan or prepare for 
those revisions. In some cases, such as closures, action must be taken 
immediately to conserve fishery resources. Without these closures, 
specified TAC amounts would be overharvested, and retention of these 
species would become prohibited, which would disadvantage fishermen who 
could no longer retain bycatch amounts of these species. In some cases, 
the interim specifications in effect would be insufficient to allow 
directed fisheries to operate during a 30-day delayed effectiveness 
period, which would result in unnecessary closures and disruption 
within the fishing industry; in many of these cases, the final 
specifications will allow the fisheries to continue without 
interruption. The immediate effectiveness of this action is required to 
provide consistent management and conservation of fishery resources. 
Accordingly, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds 
there is good cause to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness period 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) with respect to such provisions and to the 
apportionment discussed above.
    Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NMFS and the 
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have determined that the groundfish 
fishery operating under the 1997 GOA TAC specifications is unlikely to 
jeopardize the continued existence or recovery of species listed as 
endangered or threatened or to adversely modify critical habitat.
    NMFS prepared an environmental assessment (EA) on the 1997 TAC 
specifications. The AA concluded that no significant impact on the 
environment will result from their implementation. A copy of the EA is 
available (see ADDRESSES).
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the 
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for the Advocacy 
of the Small Business Administration that this final specification will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The number of fixed gear and trawl catcher vessels expected 
to be operating as small entities in the Gulf of Alaska groundfish 
fishery is 1,541, excluding catcher/processor vessels. All these small 
entities will be affected by the harvest limits established in the 1997 
specifications but changes from 1996 are relatively minor and are 
expected to be shared proportionally among participants. For this 
reason, the expected effects would not likely cause a reduction in 
gross revenues of more than 5 percent, increase compliance costs by 
more than 10 percent, or force small entities out of business.
    The Alaska commercial fishing industry is accustomed to shifting 
effort among alternative species and management areas in response to 
changes in TAC between years and inseason closures. Such mobility is 
necessary to survive in the open access fishery. Therefore, the annual 
specification process for Alaska groundfish for 1997 would not have 
significant economic impact on a significant number of small entities. 
No comments were received regarding this certification.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: February 19, 1997.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4456 Filed 2-19-97; 2:14 pm]
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