[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 22542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11175]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 671, 672, 675, and 676

[I.D. 050195A]


Limited Access Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of 
Alaska; Groundfish and Crab Fisheries Moratorium

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 Revised Amendment 23 to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area, Revised 
Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf 
of Alaska (GOA), and Revised Amendment 4 to the Fishery Management Plan 
for the Commercial King and Tanner Crab Fisheries in the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) for review by NMFS. Revised FMP Amendments 23, 
28, and 4 would establish a moratorium on the entry of new vessels into 
groundfish fisheries of the GOA and the BSAI and the king and Tanner 
crab fisheries in the BSAI. Comments are requested from the public.

DATES: Comments on the revised amendments to the fishery management 
plans (FMP) are requested from the public and must be submitted by June 
1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the revised FMP amendments must be submitted to 
Ronald J. Berg, Chief, Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801, or P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802, Attention: Lori J. Gravel. Copies of the proposed amendments 
and the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for the moratorium may be obtained from 
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, P.O. Box 103136, 
Anchorage, AK 99510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Ginter, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act) 
requires that each Regional Fishery Management Council submit any 
fishery management plan or plan amendment it prepares to NMFS for 
review and approval, disapproval, or partial disapproval. The Magnuson 
Act also requires that NMFS, after reviewing the plan or plan 
amendment, immediately publish a notice in the Federal Register that 
the plan or plan amendment is available for public review and comment. 
NMFS will consider the public comments received during the comment 
period in determining whether to approve these revised FMP amendments.
    The three revised FMP amendments would establish a 3-year 
moratorium on the entry of new vessels into the groundfish fisheries of 
the GOA and the BSAI and the king and Tanner crab fisheries of the 
BSAI. The purpose of the moratorium is to curtail increases in 
harvesting capacity and provide industry stability while the Council 
assesses long-term management alternatives for the affected fisheries.
    The vessel moratorium would be implemented through the issuance of 
a Federal moratorium permit to a vessel that meets specific length 
restrictions and on which a legal landing of any moratorium species was 
made during the qualification period. A moratorium permit will not be 
valid unless the permit has at least one endorsement for the use of 
authorized fishing gear. Specific eligibility requirements for the 
moratorium permit and the fishing gear endorsements are contained in 
the Federal regulations proposed by the Council to implement Revised 
FMP Amendments 23, 28, and 4. The proposed regulations are scheduled to 
be published within 15 days of this document.

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

    Dated: May 2, 1995.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 95-11175 Filed 5-2-95; 3:53 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F