Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Revisions

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 600 and 660

[Docket No.971229312-7312-01; I.D. 111398A]

Fisheries off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific;

Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Trip Limit Revisions

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Fishing restrictions; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces an increase to the monthly cumulative trip

limit for Dover sole taken in the limited entry Pacific Coast

groundfish fishery. This change is intended to ensure that the 1998

harvest guidelines and allocations are taken. NMFS also announces the

last cumulative trip limit period in 1998 for the ``B'' platoon, those

limited entry trawl vessels that are authorized to take their

cumulative trip limits 2 weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet,

and makes several housekeeping changes. These actions are authorized

under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

DATES: Effective 0001 hours local time (l.t.) December 1, 1998, except

for the trip limits for vessels operating in the ``B'' platoon, whose

trip limit changes will become effective at 0001 hours l.t. November

16, 1998. These changes are in effect, unless modified, superseded, or

rescinded, until the effective date of the 1999 annual specifications

and management measures for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery, which

will be published in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted

through December 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to William Stelle, Jr., Administrator,

Northwest Region (Regional Administrator), NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way

NE., BIN C15700, Bldg. 1, Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or William Hogarth,

Administrator, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite

4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Robinson, Northwest Region,

NMFS, 206-526-6140; or Svein Fougner, Southwest Region, NMFS, 562-980-

4040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following trip limit change was

recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), in

consultation with the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, at

its November 2-6, 1998, meeting in Portland, OR.

Increase to the Limited Entry Monthly Cumulative Trip Limit for

Dover Sole

Preliminary landing estimates for Dover sole, which is within the

DTS complex, consisting of Dover sole, thornyheads, and trawl-caught

sablefish, indicate that the limited entry allocation would not be

reached. The current monthly cumulative trip limits for the limited

entry fishery for species in the DTS complex are: Dover sole, 18,000 lb

(8,165 kg); longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402 kg); shortspine

thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg), and trawl-caught sablefish, 5,000 lb

(2,268 kg).

The best available information at the November 1998 Council meeting

indicated that 1,390 mt of trawl-caught sablefish, 5,543 mt of Dover

sole, 1,671 mt of longspine thornyheads, and 941 mt of shortspine

thornyheads had been taken through September 30, 1998. The Dover sole

landing levels for January through September are well below the levels

that were projected for this period. Although the estimated attainment

date for the shortspine thornyhead allocation is December 20,

relatively little bycatch is expected to be taken in the Dover sole

fishery during winter months, so increasing the Dover sole trip limit

is not expected to result in increased bycatch and discard of

shortspine thornyheads. Therefore, the Council recommended increasing

the monthly cumulative trip limit of Dover sole on December 1, 1998, to

36,000 lb (16,329 kg). Longspine thornyheads and

[[Page 64210]]

trawl-caught sablefish also are projected to be below their limited

entry allocations, but increases to their trip limits were not

recommended because of expected bycatch of shortspine thornyheads.

Final Period for the ``B'' Platoon

NMFS also announces the last cumulative trip limit period in 1998

for the ``B'' platoon, those limited entry trawl vessels authorized (on

their limited entry permit) to take their cumulative trip limits 2

weeks out of phase with the rest of the fleet. For vessels in the ``B''

platoon, the final cumulative trip limit period will be from November

16, 1998, through December 31, 1998. At any time during this period,

each vessel in the ``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain,

possess, and land the equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits (the

November and December cumulative trip limits). Therefore, the ``B''

platoon cumulative trip limit for Dover sole between November 16 and

December 31, 1998, is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg), which is derived by adding

18,000 lb (8,165 kg), the amount of the November cumulative trip limit,

plus 36,000 lb (16,329 kg), the amount of the December cumulative trip

limit.

Housekeeping

This document also updates portions of the 1998 annual

specifications and management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998), as

amended. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access

Fishery, the introductory text at (1)(a) is deleted because it was

replaced by paragraphs (1)(a)(i) and (ii) on October 1, 1998 (63 FR

53313, October 5, 1998). Also, paragraphs C(1)(a)(ii) and C(2)(a) are

revised to include longline gear which was inadvertently deleted. These

changes clarify the Council's intent.

NMFS Action

For the reasons stated above, NMFS concurs with the Council's

recommendations and announces the following changes to the 1998 annual

management measures (63 FR 419, January 6, 1998, as amended at 63 FR

24970, May 6, 1998; 63 FR 36612, July 7, 1998; and 63 FR 45966, August

28, 1998, 63 FR 53313, October 5, 1998).

1. In Section IV., under A. General Definitions and Provisions,

paragraph (1)(c)(iii)(C) is revised to read as follows:

A. General Definitions and Provisions

* * * * *

(1) * * *

(c) * * *

(iii) * * *

(C) Special provisions will be made for ``B'' platoon vessels so

that the amount of fish made available in 1998 to both ``A'' and ``B''

vessels is the same. For vessels in the ``B'' platoon, the final

cumulative trip limit period will be from November 16, 1998, through

December 31, 1998. At any time during this period, each vessel in the

``B'' platoon is allowed to take and retain, possess, and land the

equivalent of two 1-month cumulative limits which is the sum of the

cumulative trip limits for November and December 1998.

* * * * *

2. In Section IV., under B. Limited Entry Fishery, (4)(c)(i) is

revised to read as follows:

B. Limited Entry Fishery

* * * * *

(4) * * *

(c) * * *

(i) The monthly cumulative trip limits for species in the Dover

sole, thornyhead, and trawl-caught sablefish complex are: for Dover

sole, 36,000 lb (16,329 kg); for longspine thornyheads, 7,500 lb (3,402

kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 1,500 lb (680 kg); and for trawl-

caught sablefish, 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). For vessels in the ``B''

platoon, during November 16-December 31, 1998, the cumulative trip

limit for Dover sole is 54,000 lb (24,494 kg); for longspine

thornyheads, 15,000 lb (6,804 kg); for shortspine thornyheads, 3,000 lb

(1361 kg); and for trawl-caught sablefish, 10,000 lb (4,536 kg).

* * * * *

3. In Section IV., under C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery,

paragraph (1)(a) is revised, paragraph (1)(e)(ii)(A) is revised, and

the heading of paragraph (2)(a) is revised to read as follows:

C. Trip Limits in the Open Access Fishery

* * * * *

(1) * * *

(a) All rockfish. (i) North of Cape Blanco. Rockfish may not be

taken and retained, possessed, or landed by any open access gear,

including exempted trawl gear, north of Cape Blanco.

(ii) South of Cape Blanco. South of Cape Blanco the trip limit for

rockfish taken with hook-and-line, longline or pot gear is 10,000 lb

(4,536 kg) per vessel per fishing trip. Rockfish taken under this trip

limit count toward cumulative trip limits.

* * * * *

(e) * * *

(ii) * * *

(A) All open access gear except setnets or trammel nets. For all

open access gear except setnets or trammel nets, bocaccio may not be

taken and retained, possessed, or landed north of Cape Blanco. South of

Cape Mendocino, the monthly cumulative limit for bocaccio is 1,000 lb

(454 kg) of which no more than 500 lb (227 kg) per trip may be taken

and retained with hook-and-line, longline, or pot gear.

* * * * *

(2) * * *

(a) Hook-and-line, longline, pot, setnet, trammel net. * * *

* * * * *

Classification

These actions are authorized by the regulations implementing the

FMP. The determination to take these actions is based on the most

recent data available. Because of the need for immediate action to

implement these changes at the beginning of the final ``B'' platoon

period which starts November 16, 1998, and because the public had an

opportunity to comment on the action at the November 1998 Council

meeting, NMFS has determined that good cause exists for this document

to be published without affording a prior opportunity for public

comment or a 30-day delayed effectiveness period. These actions are

taken under the authority of 50 CFR 660.323(b)(1) and are exempt from

review under E.O. 12866.

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

Dated: November 13, 1998.

Bruce C. Morehead,

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 98-30954 Filed 11-16-98; 4:59 pm]

BILLING CODE 3510-22-F