Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species Donation Program, 40987-40988 [05-13895]
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40987
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 135 / Friday, July 15, 2005 / Notices
socioeconomic environments of the
Snake River Basin.
Dated: July 12, 2005.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–13991 Filed 7–14–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 070605A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species
Donation Program
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; selection of an
authorized distributor.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the renewal
of permits to SeaShare (formerly
Northwest Food Strategies) authorizing
this organization to distribute Pacific
salmon (salmon) and Pacific halibut
(halibut) to economically disadvantaged
individuals under the prohibited
species donation (PSD) program.
Salmon and halibut are caught
incidentally during directed fishing for
groundfish with trawl gear off Alaska.
This action is necessary to comply with
provisions of the PSD program and is
intended to promote the goals and
objectives of the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council.
DATES: Effective August 15, 2005,
through August 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD permits
for salmon and halibut may be obtained
from the Sustainable Fisheries Division,
NMFS, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802–21668, Attn: Lori
Durall.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melanie N. Brown, phone: 907–586–
7228 or e-mail:
melanie.brown@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels
in the exclusive economic zone of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI) and Gulf of
Alaska (GOA) is managed by NMFS
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
and the Fishery Management Plan for
VerDate jul<14>2003
17:47 Jul 14, 2005
Jkt 205001
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
(FMPs). These FMPs were prepared by
the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.).
Regulations governing the Alaska
groundfish fisheries appear at 50 CFR
parts 600 and 679. Fishing for halibut in
waters in and off Alaska is governed by
the Convention between the United
States and Canada for the Preservation
of the Halibut Fishery of the North
Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea and by
regulations adopted by the International
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and
approved by the Secretary of State of the
United States pursuant to section 4 of
the Northern Pacific Halibut Act (16
U.S.C. 773–773k). Regulations of the
IPHC are published as annual
management measures in the Federal
Register each year pursuant to
regulations at 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI
and GOA FMPs, respectively, were
approved by NMFS on July 10, 1996,
and implemented a salmon donation
program. These amendments were
superseded by Amendments 50 and 50
to the FMPs that were approved by
NMFS on May 6, 1998, and authorize
the PSD program for salmon and
halibut. A final rule implementing
Amendments 50 and 50 was published
in the Federal Register on June 12, 1998
(63 FR 32144). A full description of, and
background information on, the PSD
program may be found in the preamble
to the proposed rules for Amendments
26 and 29, and Amendments 50 and 50
(May 16, 1996, 61 FR 24750 and March
4, 1998, 63 FR 10583, respectively).
Regulations at § 679.26 authorize the
voluntary distribution of salmon and
halibut taken incidentally in the
groundfish trawl fisheries off Alaska to
economically disadvantaged individuals
by tax-exempt organizations through an
authorized distributor. The
Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS
(Regional Administrator), may select
one or more tax-exempt organizations to
be authorized distributors, as defined by
§ 679.2, based on the information
submitted by applicants under § 679.26.
After review of qualified applicants,
NMFS must announce the selection of
authorized distributor(s) in the Federal
Register and issue the selected
distributor(s) PSD permits.
On April 7, 2005, the Regional
Administrator received applications
from SeaShare to renew its August 16,
2002, PSD permits (67 FR 47352, July
18, 2002). These permits authorize
SeaShare to participate in the PSD
program through August 16, 2005.
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Regional Administrator reviewed
the applications and determined that
they are complete and that SeaShare
continues to meet the requirements for
a PSD program authorized distributor.
As required by § 679.26(b)(2), the
Regional Administrator based his
selection on the following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of
applicants for PSD permits. As of the
date of this notice, only SeaShare has
submitted completed applications that
were approved by NMFS to distribute
salmon and halibut taken incidentally
in the Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries.
SeaShare has been coordinating the
distribution of salmon taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since
1993, and of halibut taken incidentally
since 1998, under exempted fishing
permits and the PSD program. SeaShare
employs independent seafood quality
control experts to ensure product
quality is maintained by cold storage
facilities and common carriers servicing
the areas where salmon and halibut
donations will take place.
2. The number of harvesters and the
quantity of fish that applicants can
effectively administer. For salmon, 3
shoreside processors, 17 catcher/
processor vessels, and 36 catcher vessels
currently participate in the PSD
program administered by SeaShare.
Three shoreside processors participate
in the halibut donation program.
SeaShare has the capacity to receive and
distribute salmon and halibut from as
many as 40 processors and their
associated catcher vessels.
In 2002, 2003, and 2004, SeaShare
received 102,551 pounds (46.5 mt),
248,333 pounds (112.6 mt), and 463,138
pounds (210.1 mt), respectively, of
salmon for distribution to food bank
organizations. During these same years,
SeaShare received 33,976 pounds (15.4
mt), 18,275 pounds (8.3 mt), and 15,508
pounds (7.0 mt), respectively, of halibut
for distribution to food bank
organizations. NMFS does not have
information to convert accurately the
salmon and halibut weights to numbers
of salmon and numbers of halibut.
3. The anticipated level of salmon
and halibut incidental catch based on
salmon and halibut incidental catch
from previous years. The incidental
catch of salmon and incidental catch
mortality of halibut in the GOA and
BSAI trawl fisheries are shown in the
following table:
Area Fishery
2003
2004
BSAI Trawl
Chinook Incidental Catch
54,989 fish
62,407 fish
E:\FR\FM\15JYN1.SGM
15JYN1
40988
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 135 / Friday, July 15, 2005 / Notices
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et
seq., and 3631 et seq.
Area Fishery
2003
2004
BSAI Trawl
Other Salmon Incidental
Catch
197,091 fish
465,650 fish
GOA Trawl
Chinook Incidental Catch
15,652 fish
17,798 fish
BSAI Trawl
Halibut Mortality
3,278 mt
(7,226,679
lb)
3,185 mt
(7,021,651
lb)
GOA Trawl
Halibut Mortality
2,080 mt
(4,585,568
lb)
2,248 mt
(4,955,941
lb)
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
Halibut incidental catch amounts are
constrained by an annual prohibited
species catch limit in the BSAI and
GOA. Future halibut incidental catch
levels likely will be similar to those
experienced in 2003 and 2004. Salmon
prohibited species incidental catch
limits are established for the BSAI
pollock fisheries that when attained,
result in the closure of specified fishing
grounds for a specified period of time.
Salmon incidental catch limits are not
established for the GOA. In general,
salmon incidental catch amounts tend
to be variable between years, making
accurate prediction of future incidental
take amounts difficult.
4. The potential number of vessels
and processors participating in the
groundfish trawl fisheries. In 2004, 14
shoreside processors were permitted to
process catch from trawl vessels. Also,
in 2004, 217 trawl catcher vessels, 58
trawl catcher/processors, and 59
motherships and stationary floating
processors were permitted for the
Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries.
The PSD permits are issued to
SeaShare for a 3-year period unless
suspended or revoked. They may not be
transferred; however, they may be
renewed following the application
procedures in § 679.26.
If the authorized distributor modifies
any information on the PSD permit
application submitted under
§ 679.26(b)(1)(xi) or (b)(1)(xiii), the
authorized distributor must submit a
modified list of participants or a
modified list of delivery locations to the
Regional Administrator.
These permits may be suspended,
modified, or revoked under 15 CFR part
904 for noncompliance with terms and
conditions specified in the permit or for
a violation of this section or other
regulations in 50 CFR part 679.
Classification
This action is taken under § 679.26.
VerDate jul<14>2003
Dated: July 8, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–13895 Filed 7–14–05; 8:45 am]
17:47 Jul 14, 2005
Jkt 205001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 071105D]
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; Public Meetings
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
Cancellation of public meetings and
notice of rescheduling.
SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council has cancelled its
meetings scheduled for July 11 – 15,
2005 in Fort Myers Beach, FL, due to
Hurricane Dennis. The Council has
rescheduled the meetings for August 8–
12, 2005.
DATES: The meetings will be held
August 8–12, 2005.
ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held
at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, 2000
Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 2203
North Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa,
FL 33607.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wayne E. Swingle, Executive Director,
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management
Council; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Meeting Agenda (Committees and
Council)
Committees
Monday, August 8, 2005
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. – The Scientific
and Statistical (SSC) Selection
Committee will meet in closed session
to appoint SSC members.
8:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. – The Advisory
Panel (AP) Selection Committee will
meet to develop the structure of the Ad
Hoc Red Grouper Individual Fishing
Quota (IFQ) AP.
10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – The Coral
Management Committee will meet to
review the recommendations of the
Coral SSC on coral reef research and
other matters.
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – The Joint
Budget/Personnel Committee will meet
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to consider options recommended by
staff under the Family Medical Leave
Act (FMLA) revision to the SOPPs.
1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – The Reef Fish
Management Committee will review the
new red snapper stock assessment
conducted under the SouthEast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, which yields a peer-reviewed
assessment. They will also review the
recommendations of the SSC, SEP and
Red Snapper AP on this assessment.
The Committee will review Draft Reef
Fish Amendment 26 for a red snapper
IFQ program and select their preferred
alternatives for management measures
that will be presented at public hearings
in August. The Reef Fish Management
Committee will review public hearing
summaries, public letters, AP
recommendations, SSC
recommendations, Federal
recommendations and committee
recommendations on Reef Fish
Amendment 18A/EA, which addresses
enforcement and monitoring issues
including simultaneous commercial and
recreational harvest on a commercial
fishing vessel, maximum crew size on a
vessel with a Coast Guard Certificate of
Inspection when fishing commercially,
use of reef fish for bait, and vessel
monitoring system requirements for reef
fish vessels. Reef Fish Amendment 18A/
EA also addresses revisions to the
framework procedure for setting total
allowable catch, and measures to reduce
bycatch mortality of endangered sea
turtles and smalltooth sawfish. The
Committee will then review public
hearing comments on the NMFS interim
red grouper rule and select preferred
alternatives for a Council regulatory
amendment that will replace the interim
rule once it expires.
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – The Reef Fish
Management Committee resumes.
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – The Shrimp
Management Committee will hear a
presentation on bycatch reduction
devices (BRDs), review a preliminary
scoping document on Amendment 14
and hear a report on the status of shrimp
stocks.
4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – The Sustainable
Fisheries/Ecosystem Committee will
meet to consider the recommendations
of the Ecosystem SSC and to develop
recommendations to Congress on
amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. – The joint
Sustainable Fisheries/Ecosystem
Committee continues.
E:\FR\FM\15JYN1.SGM
15JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40987-40988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13895]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 070605A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited
Species Donation Program
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; selection of an authorized distributor.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces the renewal of permits to SeaShare (formerly
Northwest Food Strategies) authorizing this organization to distribute
Pacific salmon (salmon) and Pacific halibut (halibut) to economically
disadvantaged individuals under the prohibited species donation (PSD)
program. Salmon and halibut are caught incidentally during directed
fishing for groundfish with trawl gear off Alaska. This action is
necessary to comply with provisions of the PSD program and is intended
to promote the goals and objectives of the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council.
DATES: Effective August 15, 2005, through August 15, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD permits for salmon and halibut may be
obtained from the Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS, Alaska Region,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-21668, Attn: Lori Durall.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie N. Brown, phone: 907-586-7228
or e-mail: melanie.brown@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic
zone of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) and
Gulf of Alaska (GOA) is managed by NMFS according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area and the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Gulf of Alaska (FMPs). These FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.). Regulations
governing the Alaska groundfish fisheries appear at 50 CFR parts 600
and 679. Fishing for halibut in waters in and off Alaska is governed by
the Convention between the United States and Canada for the
Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the North Pacific Ocean and
Bering Sea and by regulations adopted by the International Pacific
Halibut Commission (IPHC) and approved by the Secretary of State of the
United States pursuant to section 4 of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act
(16 U.S.C. 773-773k). Regulations of the IPHC are published as annual
management measures in the Federal Register each year pursuant to
regulations at 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI and GOA FMPs, respectively, were
approved by NMFS on July 10, 1996, and implemented a salmon donation
program. These amendments were superseded by Amendments 50 and 50 to
the FMPs that were approved by NMFS on May 6, 1998, and authorize the
PSD program for salmon and halibut. A final rule implementing
Amendments 50 and 50 was published in the Federal Register on June 12,
1998 (63 FR 32144). A full description of, and background information
on, the PSD program may be found in the preamble to the proposed rules
for Amendments 26 and 29, and Amendments 50 and 50 (May 16, 1996, 61 FR
24750 and March 4, 1998, 63 FR 10583, respectively).
Regulations at Sec. 679.26 authorize the voluntary distribution of
salmon and halibut taken incidentally in the groundfish trawl fisheries
off Alaska to economically disadvantaged individuals by tax-exempt
organizations through an authorized distributor. The Administrator,
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), may select one or more
tax-exempt organizations to be authorized distributors, as defined by
Sec. 679.2, based on the information submitted by applicants under
Sec. 679.26. After review of qualified applicants, NMFS must announce
the selection of authorized distributor(s) in the Federal Register and
issue the selected distributor(s) PSD permits.
On April 7, 2005, the Regional Administrator received applications
from SeaShare to renew its August 16, 2002, PSD permits (67 FR 47352,
July 18, 2002). These permits authorize SeaShare to participate in the
PSD program through August 16, 2005.
The Regional Administrator reviewed the applications and determined
that they are complete and that SeaShare continues to meet the
requirements for a PSD program authorized distributor. As required by
Sec. 679.26(b)(2), the Regional Administrator based his selection on
the following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of applicants for PSD permits. As
of the date of this notice, only SeaShare has submitted completed
applications that were approved by NMFS to distribute salmon and
halibut taken incidentally in the Alaska groundfish trawl fisheries.
SeaShare has been coordinating the distribution of salmon taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since 1993, and of halibut taken
incidentally since 1998, under exempted fishing permits and the PSD
program. SeaShare employs independent seafood quality control experts
to ensure product quality is maintained by cold storage facilities and
common carriers servicing the areas where salmon and halibut donations
will take place.
2. The number of harvesters and the quantity of fish that
applicants can effectively administer. For salmon, 3 shoreside
processors, 17 catcher/processor vessels, and 36 catcher vessels
currently participate in the PSD program administered by SeaShare.
Three shoreside processors participate in the halibut donation program.
SeaShare has the capacity to receive and distribute salmon and halibut
from as many as 40 processors and their associated catcher vessels.
In 2002, 2003, and 2004, SeaShare received 102,551 pounds (46.5
mt), 248,333 pounds (112.6 mt), and 463,138 pounds (210.1 mt),
respectively, of salmon for distribution to food bank organizations.
During these same years, SeaShare received 33,976 pounds (15.4 mt),
18,275 pounds (8.3 mt), and 15,508 pounds (7.0 mt), respectively, of
halibut for distribution to food bank organizations. NMFS does not have
information to convert accurately the salmon and halibut weights to
numbers of salmon and numbers of halibut.
3. The anticipated level of salmon and halibut incidental catch
based on salmon and halibut incidental catch from previous years. The
incidental catch of salmon and incidental catch mortality of halibut in
the GOA and BSAI trawl fisheries are shown in the following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Fishery 2003 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Chinook Incidental Catch 54,989 fish 62,407 fish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 40988]]
BSAI Trawl Other Salmon Incidental 197,091 fish 465,650 fish
Catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOA Trawl Chinook Incidental Catch 15,652 fish 17,798 fish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Halibut Mortality 3,278 mt 3,185 mt
(7,226,679 lb) (7,021,651 lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOA Trawl Halibut Mortality 2,080 mt 2,248 mt
(4,585,568 lb) (4,955,941 lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut incidental catch amounts are constrained by an annual
prohibited species catch limit in the BSAI and GOA. Future halibut
incidental catch levels likely will be similar to those experienced in
2003 and 2004. Salmon prohibited species incidental catch limits are
established for the BSAI pollock fisheries that when attained, result
in the closure of specified fishing grounds for a specified period of
time. Salmon incidental catch limits are not established for the GOA.
In general, salmon incidental catch amounts tend to be variable between
years, making accurate prediction of future incidental take amounts
difficult.
4. The potential number of vessels and processors participating in
the groundfish trawl fisheries. In 2004, 14 shoreside processors were
permitted to process catch from trawl vessels. Also, in 2004, 217 trawl
catcher vessels, 58 trawl catcher/processors, and 59 motherships and
stationary floating processors were permitted for the Alaska groundfish
trawl fisheries.
The PSD permits are issued to SeaShare for a 3-year period unless
suspended or revoked. They may not be transferred; however, they may be
renewed following the application procedures in Sec. 679.26.
If the authorized distributor modifies any information on the PSD
permit application submitted under Sec. 679.26(b)(1)(xi) or
(b)(1)(xiii), the authorized distributor must submit a modified list of
participants or a modified list of delivery locations to the Regional
Administrator.
These permits may be suspended, modified, or revoked under 15 CFR
part 904 for noncompliance with terms and conditions specified in the
permit or for a violation of this section or other regulations in 50
CFR part 679.
Classification
This action is taken under Sec. 679.26.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et seq.
Dated: July 8, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-13895 Filed 7-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
