Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 43 / Monday, March 6, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 12149

1. A copy of all accident reports

prepared and required by State or other

governmental entities or insurers.

2. Interview information with the

driver and occupants of the CMV

involved. The information shall

specifically indicate whether the driver

of the transponder-equipped vehicle

believed that the presence of the

transponder was a factor in the accident.

The interview shall be conducted by a

motor carrier employee responsible for

supervising the driver of the

transponder-equipped vehicle.

IV. State and Local Laws

This waiver applies to all

participating vehicles operating in

interstate commerce. Although

incompatible State laws or regulations

perhaps cannot be changed to coincide

with the start of the waiver period, the

FHWA strongly encourages State and

local authorities with safety regulations

that would prohibit the use of the

proposed transponders to accept the

terms and conditions of this waiver.

V. Vehicles To Be Equipped With

Transponders

The names and USDOT numbers of

the motor carriers participating in the

ADVANTAGE I–75 and HELP programs,

as well as the number of transponderequipped CMVs operated by each

carrier, shall be provided to the FHWA.

Motor carriers not participating in these

programs may not equip straight trucks,

tractors, or motor coaches with the

transponders discussed in this waiver.

VI. Termination of Waiver

The FHWA may terminate this waiver

at any time without prior warning if it

determines that continued use of the

transponders decreases the operational

safety of the vehicles on which they are

installed. Upon receipt of a notice of

termination, motor carriers participating

in the ADVANTAGE I–75 and HELP

projects must immediately remove the

transponders from their vehicles.

VII. Report

ADVANTAGE I–75 and HELP shall

provide separate reports describing the

transponder’s installation and use

within two years after the effective date

of the waiver. The reports shall include

information obtained from the drivers

on the device’s effect on visibility

through the windshield.

The FHWA has fully considered the

information presented in the request for

waiver, engineering and other technical

material reviewed concerning

requirements for visibility from

vehicles, and the comments received.

The FHWA hereby concludes that the

waiver is consistent with the public

interest and the safe operation of

commercial motor vehicles.

Accordingly, the FHWA hereby grants

the Commonwealth of Kentucky and

Heavy Vehicle Electronic License Plate,

Inc., their petition for a waiver from the

requirements of 49 CFR 393.60(c).

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31502; 49 CFR

1.48.

Issued on: February 21, 1995.

Rodney E. Slater,

Federal Highway Administrator.

[FR Doc. 95–5323 Filed 3–3–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

50 CFR Parts 672 and 675

[Docket No. 95022357–5057–01; I.D.

120594A]

RIN 0648–AG95

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska;

Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea

and Aleutian Islands Area; Pacific

Halibut Bycatch

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; final 1995

specification of Pacific halibut bycatch

allowances.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues a final rule to

revise the management of seasonal

Pacific halibut bycatch allowances

annually specified for nontrawl fisheries

in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

management area (BSAI). This final rule

also provides NMFS the authority to

determine annually whether to

apportion a halibut bycatch allowance

to the BSAI jig gear fishery or the BSAI

or Gulf of Alaska (GOA) hook-and-line

gear fisheries for sablefish or to exempt

these fisheries from halibut bycatch

restrictions. Final 1995 halibut bycatch

allowances for the GOA hook-and-line

gear fisheries and the BSAI nontrawl

fisheries, seasonal apportionments

thereof, and the manner in which these

seasonal apportionments will be

managed under the final rule are

specified. This action is necessary to

manage halibut bycatch allowances

consistent with seasonal

apportionments of groundfish total

allowable catch (TAC) amounts, prevent

preemption of the BSAI jig gear fisheries

by the attainment of halibut bycatch

allowances apportioned to other

nontrawl fisheries, and support the

implementation of the sablefish/halibut

individual fishing quota (IFQ) program.

This action is intended to promote

management and conservation of

groundfish and other fish resources and

to further the objectives contained in the

fishery management plans for Alaska

groundfish fisheries.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 3, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental

assessment/regulatory impact review

prepared for this action may be obtained

from the Fisheries Management

Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O.

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668,

Attn: Lori J. Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan Salveson, 907–586–7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Fishing for groundfish by vessels in

the exclusive economic zone of the GOA

and BSAI is managed by NMFS

according to the Fishery Management

Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Gulf

of Alaska and the FMP for the

Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea

and Aleutian Islands Area. The FMPs

were prepared by the North Pacific

Fishery Management Council (Council)

under the Magnuson Fishery

Conservation and Management Act and

are implemented by regulations

governing the U.S. groundfish fisheries

at 50 CFR parts 620, 672, 675, and 676.

Regulations for the management of

halibut bycatch limits established for

the GOA groundfish fisheries are set out

at § 672.20(f). Regulations for the

management of prohibited species

bycatch limits established for the BSAI

groundfish fisheries are set out at

§ 675.21. A proposed rule was

published in the Federal Register on

December 29, 1994 (59 FR 67268), that

would revise the management of the

halibut bycatch limits established for

the GOA hook-and-line gear groundfish

fisheries and the BSAI nontrawl

groundfish fisheries. The proposed

action would (1) address concerns about

the potential closure of the BSAI jig gear

fishery due to halibut bycatch in other

nontrawl fisheries, (2) allow for the

management of the seasonal

apportionment of the halibut bycatch

allowances annually specified for the

BSAI Pacific cod hook-and-line gear

fishery consistent with the management

of the amount of Pacific cod TAC

allocated to this fishery, and (3)

authorize the exemption of the GOA and

BSAI hook-and-line gear sablefish

fishery from halibut bycatch restrictions

to support the new sablefish/halibut IFQ

program. Comments on the proposed
12150 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 43 / Monday, March 6, 1995 / Rules and Regulations

rule were invited through January 30,

1995. No written comments were

received within the comment period.

Upon reviewing the reasons for

revisions to regulations addressing the

management of the halibut bycatch

limits established for the GOA hookand-line gear fisheries and the BSAI

nontrawl fisheries, NMFS has

determined that this final rule

implementing the following measures is

necessary for fishery conservation and

management:

1. Separately define the GOA

sablefish hook-and-line gear fishery

under § 672.20(f)(1)(ii) and the BSAI

groundfish jig gear fishery and the BSAI

sablefish hook-and-line gear fishery

under § 675.21(b)(2)(ii) so that these

fisheries annually either receive a

separate halibut bycatch allowance or

are exempted from halibut bycatch

restrictions. These determinations will

be implemented by NMFS, after

consultation with the Council, as part of

the annual specification process set out

at §§ 672.20(c) and 675.20(a)(7); and

2. Authorize NMFS, after consultation

with the Council, to specify annually

how seasonal bycatch allowances

established for the BSAI nontrawl

fisheries will be reapportioned among

remaining seasons during the same

fishing year.

Further explanation of, and reasons

for, these measures are contained in the

preamble to the proposed rule (59 FR

67268, December 29, 1994).

Final 1995 Specifications of the Pacific

Halibut Bycatch Mortality Limit

Established for the BSAI Nontrawl

Fisheries

NMFS published with the proposed

rule the proposed 1995 halibut bycatch

allowances for the GOA hook-and-line

gear fisheries and the BSAI nontrawl

fisheries, seasonal apportionments

thereof, and the manner in which these

seasonal apportionments would be

managed. The proposed specifications

were recommended by the Council

during its September 1994 meeting.

At its December 1994 meeting, the

Council recommended final halibut

bycatch specifications under the

assumption that this final rule would be

implemented early in 1995. These final

recommendations would exempt the

1995 GOA and BSAI sablefish hookand-line gear fisheries from halibut

bycatch restrictions and establish a 300

metric ton (mt) halibut bycatch

mortality limit for the 1995 GOA hookand-line gear fisheries.

NMFS concurs with the Council’s

GOA halibut bycatch specifications for

the hook-and-line gear fisheries as set

out in Table 1. The justification for the

300 mt bycatch limit is discussed in the

preamble to the proposed rule (59 FR

67268, December 29, 1994). This

bycatch limit is apportioned between

the demersal shelf rockfish fishery (10

mt) and the ‘‘other hook-and-line gear’’

fisheries (290 mt). Over 80 percent of

the halibut bycatch mortality allowance

apportioned to the ‘‘other hook-and-line

gear’’ fisheries is seasonally apportioned

to the first 5 months of the year to

support the hook-and-line gear fishery

for Pacific cod. The remaining amount

of this halibut bycatch mortality

allowance is divided between the last

two seasons of the year to support the

hook-and-line gear fishery for rockfish.

TABLE 1.—FINAL 1995 PACIFIC HALIBUT BYCATCH LIMIT, BYCATCH ALLOWANCES, AND SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS THEREOF, FOR THE GOA

HOOK-AND-LINE (H&L) GEAR FISHERIES

Fishery

Halibut

bycatch

mortality

allowance

in mt

Demersal shelf rockfish ............... 10 mt.

Sablefish ...................................... Exempt.

Other H&L gear fisheries

Jan. 1–May 14 .......................... 242 mt.

May 15–Aug. 31 ....................... 29 mt.

Sep. 1–Dec. 31 ........................ 19 mt.

Total 1995 bycatch allowance specified for other

H&L fisheries.

290 mt.

Total .................................. 300 mt

NMFS also concurs with the Council’s

final recommendation for 1995 BSAI

nontrawl fishery halibut bycatch

allowances as set out in Table 2. The

halibut bycatch allowances are

unchanged from those implemented

under the final 1995 groundfish

specifications published in the Federal

Register February 14, 1995 (60 FR

8479). Under the authority of this final

rule, however, Table 2 specifies that the

BSAI sablefish hook-and-line gear

fishery is exempt from 1995 halibutbycatch restrictions. Table 2 also

specifies the accounting for any

underharvest or overharvest of a

seasonal apportionment of the Pacific

cod halibut bycatch allowance.

TABLE 2.—FINAL 1995 PACIFIC HALIBUT BYCATCH ALLOWANCES, AND

SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS

THEREOF, FOR THE BSAI

NONTRAWL FISHERIES

Fishery

Halibut

bycatch

mortality

allowance

in mt

Pacific cod hook-and-line 1

Jan. 1–Apr. 30 .......................... 475 mt.

May 1–Aug. 31 ......................... 40 mt.

Sep. 1–Dec. 31 ........................ 210 mt.

Total .................................. 725 mt.

Sablefish hook-and-line ............... Exempt.

Jig gear ........................................ Exempt.

Other nontrawl ............................. 175 mt.

Groundfish pot gear ..................... Exempt.

Total .................................. 900 mt.

1Any unused portion of the first season’s

halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line gear fishery would be

reapportioned to the third seasonal allowance.

Any overage of a seasonal bycatch allowance

specified for this fishery would be deducted

from the remaining seasonal bycatch allowances specified for 1995 in amounts proportional to these remaining seasonal bycatch allowances.

The specifications set out in Tables 1

and 2 supersede the halibut bycatch

specifications for the GOA hook-andline gear fisheries published in the

Federal Register February 14, 1995 (60

FR 8470) and for the BSAI nontrawl

fisheries published in the Federal

Register February 14, 1995 (60 FR

8479), respectively.

NMFS notes that separate halibut

bycatch allowances may be established

for the GOA and BSAI sablefish hookand-line gear fisheries in future years

under the annual specification process

if halibut discard mortality in these

fisheries is not reduced in the manner

anticipated under the IFQ program.

Classification

This final rule is exempt from review

under E.O. 12866.

The Assistant General Counsel of the

Department of Commerce certified to

the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the

Small Business Administration that this

would not have a significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small

entities. The reasons were published in

the Federal Register on December 29,

1994 (59 FR 67268). As a result, a

regulatory flexibility analysis was not

prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 672 and

675

Fisheries, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 43 / Monday, March 6, 1995 / Rules and Regulations 12151

Dated: February 28, 1995.

Gary Matlock,

Program Management Officer, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR parts 672 and 675 are

amended as follows:

PART 672—GROUNDFISH OF THE

GULF OF ALASKA

1. The authority citation for part 672

continues to read as follows:

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

2. In § 672.20, paragraphs (f)(1)(ii) and

(f)(3)(ii) are revised to read as follows:

§ 672.20 General limitations.

* * * * *

(f) * * *

(1) * * *

(ii) Hook-and-line and pot gear

fisheries. (A) After consultation with the

Council, NMFS will publish notification

in the Federal Register specifying the

proposed and final halibut PSC limits

for vessels using hook-and-line gear.

The notification also may specify a

halibut PSC limit for the pot gear

fisheries. The halibut PSC limit

specified for vessels using hook-andline gear may be further apportioned, as

bycatch allowances, to the fishery

categories listed in paragraph (f)(1)(ii)(B)

of this section, based on each category’s

proportional share of the anticipated

halibut bycatch mortality during a

fishing year and the need to optimize

the amount of total groundfish harvest

under the halibut PSC limit. The sum of

all bycatch allowances will equal the

halibut PSC limit established under this

paragraph (f)(1)(ii).

(B) For purposes of apportioning the

hook-and-line halibut PSC limit among

fisheries, the following fishery

categories are specified and defined in

terms of round-weight equivalents of

those groundfish species for which a

TAC has been specified under

paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section:

(1) Demersal shelf rockfish in the

Southeast Outside District. Fishing with

hook-and-line gear in the Southeast

Outside District of the Eastern

Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska

during any weekly reporting period that

results in a retained catch of demersal

shelf rockfish that is greater than the

retained amount of any other fishery

category defined under this paragraph

(f)(1)(ii)(B).

(2) Sablefish fishery. Fishing with

hook-and-line gear during any weekly

reporting period that results in a

retained catch of sablefish that is greater

than the retained amount of any other

fishery category defined under this

paragraph (f)(1)(ii)(B).

(3) Other hook-and-line gear fishery.

Fishing with hook-and-line gear during

any weekly reporting period that results

in a retained catch of groundfish and is

not a demersal shelf rockfish fishery or

a sablefish fishery as defined under

paragraphs (f)(1)(ii)(B) (1) and (2) of this

section.

* * * * *

(3) * * *

(ii) Hook-and-line fisheries. If, during

the fishing year, the Regional Director

determines that U.S. fishing vessels

participating in any of the three hookand-line gear fishery categories listed in

paragraph (f)(1)(ii)(B) of this section will

catch the Pacific halibut bycatch

allowance, or apportionments thereof,

specified for that fishery category under

paragraph (f)(1) of this section, NMFS

will publish notification in the Federal

Register closing the entire Gulf of

Alaska or the applicable regulatory area

or district to directed fishing with hookand-line gear for each species and/or

species group that comprises that

fishing category.

* * * * *

PART 675—GROUNDFISH OF THE

BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

AREA

3. The authority citation for part 675

continues to read as follows:

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

4. In § 675.21, paragraph (b)(2)(ii) (B)

and (C) are redesignated as paragraphs

(b)(2)(ii) (D) and (E) respectively;

paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (b)(3)(iii) are

redesignated as paragraphs (b)(3)(ii)(A)

and (b)(3)(ii)(B), respectively; newly

redesignated paragraph (b)(2)(ii)(E) and

paragraphs (b)(4) and (d) are revised;

and new paragraphs (b)(2)(ii)(B),

(b)(2)(ii)(C), (b)(3)(ii) heading, and

paragraph (b)(3)(iii) are added to read as

follows:

§ 675.21 Prohibited species catch (PSC)

limitations.

* * * * *

(b) * * *

(2) * * *

(ii) * * *

(B) Sablefish hook-and-line fishery.

Fishing with hook-and-line gear during

any weekly reporting period that results

in a retained catch of sablefish that is

greater than the retained amount of any

other groundfish species.

(C) Groundfish jig gear fishery.

Fishing with jig gear during any weekly

reporting period that results in a

retained catch of groundfish.

* * * * *

(E) Other nontrawl fisheries. Fishing

for groundfish with nontrawl gear

during any weekly reporting period that

results in a retained catch of groundfish

and does not qualify as a Pacific cod

hook-and-line fishery, a sablefish hookand-line fishery, a groundfish jig gear

fishery, or a groundfish pot gear fishery

as defined under this paragraph

(b)(2)(ii).

(3) * * *

(ii) Management of seasonal trawl

fishery bycatch allowances.

* * * * *

(iii) Management of seasonal

nontrawl fishery bycatch allowances.

(A) Any unused portion of a seasonal

fishery bycatch allowance made under

paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section will be

reapportioned to the fishery’s remaining

seasonal bycatch allowances during a

current fishing year in a manner

determined by NMFS, after consultation

with the Council, based on the types of

information listed under paragraph

(b)(3)(i) of this section.

(B) If a seasonal apportionment of a

fishery bycatch allowance made under

paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section is

exceeded, the amount by which the

seasonal apportionment is exceeded

will be deducted from the fishery’s

remaining seasonal bycatch allowances

during a current fishing year in a

manner determined by NMFS, after

consultation with the Council, based on

the types of information listed under

paragraph (b)(3)(i) of this section.

(4) NMFS will publish annually in the

Federal Register the proposed and final

bycatch allowances, seasonal

apportionments thereof, and the manner

in which seasonal apportionments of

nontrawl fishery bycatch allowances

will be managed, as required under

§ 675.20(a)(7). Public comment will be

accepted by NMFS on the proposed

bycatch allowances, seasonal

apportionments thereof, and the manner

in which seasonal apportionments of

nontrawl fishery bycatch allowances

will be managed, for a period of 30 days

after publication in the Federal

Register.

* * * * *

(d) Attainment of a Pacific halibut

nontrawl fishery bycatch allowance. If,

during the fishing year, the Regional

Director determines that U.S. fishing

vessels participating in any of the

nontrawl fishery categories listed in

paragraphs (b)(2)(ii) (A) through (E) of

this section will catch the Pacific

halibut bycatch allowance, or seasonal

apportionment thereof, specified for that

fishery category under paragraph (b) of

this section, NMFS will publish in the

Federal Register the closure of the

entire Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

management area to directed fishing
12152 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 43 / Monday, March 6, 1995 / Rules and Regulations

with the relevant gear type for each

species and/or species group in that

fishery category.

[FR Doc. 95–5392 Filed 3–3–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P

50 CFR Parts 672 and 676

[Docket No. 950223056–5056–01; I.D.

022195C]

RIN 0648–AG45

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska;

Limited Access Management of

Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska;

Authority To Establish the Sablefish

Season

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS); National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; season opening date.

SUMMARY: NMFS issues a final rule

amending the regulations establishing

the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)

sablefish fishing season. This action is

necessary to provide the Director,

Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional

Director), with the authority to establish

the IFQ sablefish season and announce

it by publication in the Federal

Register. It is intended to provide

flexibility in starting the IFQ sablefish

season to allow coordination with the

IFQ halibut season established by the

International Pacific Halibut

Commission (IPHC).

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Copies of this action, and

the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR),

including the Final Regulatory

Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), for this

action, can be obtained from Fisheries

Management Division, Alaska Region,

NMFS, 709 W. 9th Street, Room 453,

Juneau, AK 99801, or P.O. Box 21688,

Juneau, AK 99802, Attention: Lori J.

Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John

Lepore, 907–586–7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section

676.23(b) is revised to authorize the

Regional Director to establish the start of

the IFQ sablefish fishing season by

publication in the Federal Register.

This framework provision allows the

Regional Director to take into account

the opening date of the IFQ halibut

season when determining the opening

date for the IFQ sablefish season.

Allowing flexibility in starting the IFQ

sablefish season facilitates its

coordination with the start of the IFQ

halibut season, which is determined by

the IPHC annually each January.

Starting the IFQ sablefish and IFQ

halibut seasons concurrently benefits

persons harvesting IFQ species and the

Nation’s fishery resource. Persons

harvesting IFQ species would benefit

economically because they would be

able to retain both species, rather than

having to discard one species because

its season was closed. Also, the fisheries

under the IFQ Program would benefit

because regulatory discards, and the

resulting mortality caused by those

discards, would be reduced.

The IPHC, during its annual January

meeting, decided that the Pacific halibut

fixed gear season will start March 15,

1995, and end November 15, 1995.

Consequently, the Regional Director

announces under this final rule that the

sablefish fixed gear directed fishing

season will start 12 noon, Alaska local

time (A.l.t.), March 15, 1995, and end 12

noon, A.l.t., November 15, 1995.

NMFS will publicize the March 15

opening date for both IFQ fisheries,

which will give the public sufficient

time to prepare for the IFQ season

opening date.

No public comments were received on

the proposed rule, published at 60 FR

2935 (January 12, 1995).

Changes in the Final Rule from the

Proposed Rule

In § 676.23(b), the text of the third

sentence of the proposed rule is

changed slightly in the final rule to

clarify the regulatory text because it was

grammatically awkward. The change is

not substantive. Also, § 672.23(c) of this

chapter currently includes an opening

date for the fishing season for sablefish

with hook and line gear. This paragraph

conflicts with the intent to framework

the opening date of the sablefish fishing

season under the IFQ Program and is

therefore removed.

Classification

The RIR prepared for this action

describes changes that are made to the

IFQ Program. These changes are minor

and do not substantially alter the

current management process.

A Final Regulatory Flexibility

Analysis (FRFA) was prepared for the

IFQ Program. The FRFA described and

estimated the total number of small

entities affected, and analyzed the

economic impact on those small

entities. Based on the FRFA, it was

determined that the IFQ Program would

have a significant economic impact on

a substantial number of small entities. A

copy of the FRFA can be obtained by

contacting the Alaska Region, NMFS

(see ADDRESSES).

The benefits referenced above will not

be realized unless this final rule is

effective March 1, 1995, the IFQ

sablefish season start date originally

specified in the IFQ regulations.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), a rule

may be made effective prior to 30 days

after publication for good cause found

and published with the rule. Opening

the IFQ sablefish season on March 15,

rather than March 1, avoids discards of

halibut bycatch in the IFQ sablefish

fishery from March 1 through March 15.

Avoiding unnecessary discards is

economically and biologically beneficial

to the Nation’s fishery resources and

constitutes good cause for waiving

requirement for a 30-day delay in

effective date.

This rule has been determined to be

not significant for purposes of E.O.

12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 672 and

676

Fisheries, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements.

Dated: February 28, 1995.

Gary Matlock,

Program Management Officer, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, 50 CFR parts 672 and 676 are

amended as follows:

PART 672—GROUNDFISH OF THE

GULF OF ALASKA

1. The authority citation for 50 CFR

part 672 continues to read as follows:

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

2. Section 672.23 is amended by

removing paragraph (c) and

redesignating paragraphs (d), (e), and (f)

as (c), (d), and (e), respectively.

PART 676—LIMITED ACCESS

MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL

FISHERIES IN AND OFF OF ALASKA

3. The authority citation for 50 CFR

part 676 continues to read as follows:

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

et seq.

4. Section 676.23 is amended by

revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:

§ 676.23 IFQ fishing season.

* * * * *

(b) Directed fishing for sablefish using

fixed gear in any IFQ regulatory area

may be conducted in any fishing year

during the period specified by the

Regional Director and announced by

publication in the Federal Register. The

Regional Director will take into account

the opening date of the Pacific halibut

season when determining the opening

date for sablefish for the purposes of

reducing bycatch and regulatory