[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11119-11120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4416]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 000831250-0250-01; I.D. 013100D]


Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Change in Pacific Mackerel 
Incidental Catch

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

ACTION: Fishing restrictions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces changes to the restriction on landings of 
Pacific mackerel for individuals participating in the coastal pelagic 
species (CPS) fishery and for individuals involved in other fisheries 
who harvest small amounts of Pacific mackerel. The incidental limit on 
landings of 20 percent by weight of Pacific mackerel in landings of 
Pacific sardine, northern anchovy, jack mackerel, and market squid 
remains in effect; however, CPS fishermen may land up to 1 metric ton 
(mt) of Pacific mackerel even if they land no other species from the 
trip. Non-CPS fisherman may land no more than 1 mt or Pacific mackerel 
per trip. After the harvest guideline of 20,740 mt is reached, all 
landings of Pacific mackerel will be restricted to 1 mt per trip. This 
action is authorized by the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management 
Plan (FMP) and is intended to ensure that the fishery achieves, but 
does not exceed, the harvest guideline while minimizing the economic 
impact on small businesses.

DATES: Effective February 22, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James J. Morgan, Southwest Region, 
NMFS, 562-980-4036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS closed the directed fishery for Pacific 
mackerel in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the Pacific coast at 
12:01 a.m on October 27, 2000, and imposed an incidental landing limit 
of 20 percent by weight of Pacific mackerel in landings of Pacific 
sardine, jack mackerel, northern anchovy, and market squid (65 FR 
65272, November 1, 2000, and 65 FR 69483, November 17, 2000). At the 
time of the closure, 17,829 mt of the 20,740-mt harvest guideline had 
been landed. The remaining 2,911 mt was needed to allow for an 
incidental landing of Pacific mackerel by vessels fishing for other 
coastal pelagic species so that restricting the harvest of other 
species would not be necessary.
    The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Coastal Pelagic 
Species Management Team has reviewed the conduct of the fishery through 
November and December, including the needs of the non-CPS fisheries. 
Section 2.4 of the FMP provides for setting a small incidental harvest 
for non-CPS fisheries to minimize discards, but until this action no 
provision had been made for these harvesters during this fishing 
season.
    There also will be a need to implement further restriction on 
harvests of Pacific mackerel if the harvest guideline is reached before 
the end of the fishing season on June 30, 2001, so that bycatch can be 
minimized. As a result, the Council has recommended that no more than 1 
mt of Pacific mackerel may be landed per trip by CPS and non-CPS 
fishermen after the harvest guideline is reached. This measure will be 
implemented when the harvest guideline is reached, and announced in the 
Federal Register. The NMFS Southwest Regional Administrator has decided 
to take this action in accordance with the FMP and its implementing 
rules. This action was reviewed by members of the Council's Coastal 
Pelagic Species Advisory Subpanel, the Council, and the State of 
California.
    For the reasons stated here and in accordance with the FMP and its 
implementing regulations, the following incidental limits are in effect 
for harvesters of Pacific mackerel:
    No fishing vessel may land more than 1 mt of Pacific mackerel per 
fishing trip, except that fishing vessels with other CPS on board may 
land more than 1 mt of Pacific mackerel in a fishing trip if the total 
amount of Pacific mackerel on board the vessel does not exceed 20

[[Page 11120]]

percent by weight of the combined weight of all CPS on board the 
vessel.

Classification

    This action is required by 50 CFR 660.509 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: February 14, 2001.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 01-4416 Filed 2-21-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S