Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Revision to the Final 2006 and 2007 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 63704-63706 [E6-18293]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 210 / Tuesday, October 31, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
action complies with the Fishery
Management Plan for the Tilefish
Fishery (FMP) and is intended to
continue the rebuilding program in the
FMP by taking into account previous
overages of the tilefish quota.
DATES: Effective November 1, 2006,
through October 31, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian R. Hooker, Fishery Policy Analyst,
(978) 281–9220.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The regulations at 50 CFR 648.290(c)
state that any overages of the quota for
any tilefish limited access category that
occur in a given fishing year will be
subtracted from the quota for that
category in the following fishing year.
This same section also states that, if the
tilefish harvest attributed to the open
access Incidental permit category
exceeds 5 percent of the total allowable
landings (TAL) for a given fishing year,
the trip limit for the Incidental category
may be reduced the following year. In
both of these instances, § 648.290(c)
specifies that, if an adjustment is
required, a notification of adjustment of
the quota will be published in the
Federal Register.
The tilefish TAL for FY 2007 remains
unchanged from FY 2006 at 1.995
million lb (905 mt). The FMP requires
that the TAL be divided between the
three limited access tilefish permit
categories after the TAL is reduced by
5 percent to account for incidental
tilefish landings (open-access Incidental
permit category) as follows: Sixty-six
percent (1,250,865 lb (466,875 kg)) to
Full-time Tier 1; 15 percent (284,288 lb
(106,108 kg)) to Full-time Tier 2; and 19
percent (360,098 lb (163,338 kg)) to Parttime vessels.
Based upon vessel reports and other
information available as of October 20,
2006, FY 2006 tilefish landings for
limited access Part-time permit category
were 453,033 lb (205,492 kg), resulting
in an overage of 92,935 lb (42,155 kg).
This overage amount is being deducted
from the FY 2007 Part-time permit
category quota through this action,
which results in an adjusted quota of
267,163 lb (121,183 kg) for this category
in FY 2007. Adjustments to the
remaining permit categories are not
needed, and the FY 2007 quotas for
these categories, therefore, remain status
quo, including the Incidental trip limit
for tilefish for FY 2007, which will
remain at its default value of 300 lb (136
kg).
The FY 2006 tilefish Part-time permit
category quota, the FY 2006 tilefish
Part-time permit category landings, and
the resulting overage of the FY 2006
tilefish Part-time permit category quota
are presented in Table 1. The resulting
adjusted FY 2007 tilefish Part-time
permit category commercial quota is
presented in Table 2.
TABLE 1.TILEFISH PART-TIME CATEGORY 2006 LANDINGS AND OVERAGE
2006 Quota
2006 Landings
2006 Overage
Permit Category
kg1
Lb
Part-time
1
360,098
163,338
Kg1
Lb
453,033
205,492
Lb
Kg1
92,935
42,155
Kilograms are as converted from pounds, and may not necessarily add due to rounding.
TABLE 2. TILEFISH PART-TIME CATEGORY ADJUSTED FY 2007 QUOTA
2007 Initial Quota
2007 Adjusted Quota
Permit Category
Kg1
Lb
Part-time
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
1
360,098
163,338
Kg1
Lb
267,163
121,183
Kilograms are as converted from pounds, and may not necessarily add due to rounding.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866. Pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Assistant
Administrator finds good cause to waive
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment, as notice and comment would
be impracticable and unnecessary. The
regulations under § 648.290(c) requires
the Regional Administrator to subtract
any overage of the quota for any tilefish
limited access category from the quota
for that category in the following fishing
year. Accordingly, the action being
taken by this temporary rule is
nondiscretionary. The procedure being
followed by this action was subject to
public comment, but there is no
discretion to modify this action based
on public comment at this time. The
rate of harvest of tilefish by the Parttime permit category is updated weekly
on the internet at https://
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:23 Oct 30, 2006
Jkt 211001
www.nero.noaa.gov. Accordingly, the
public is able to obtain information that
would provide some advanced notice of
a potential action as a result of a tilefish
quota being exceeded during FY 2006.
Further, the potential for this action was
considered and open to public comment
during the development of the tilefish
FMP. Therefore, any negative effect the
waiving of public comment may have
on the public is mitigated by these
factors.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 060606148–6274–02; I.D.
112805A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska;
Revision to the Final 2006 and 2007
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
Dated: October 24, 2006.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06–8981 Filed 10–26–06; 2:50 pm]
AGENCY:
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
SUMMARY: NMFS announces revised
final 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications for the ‘‘other species’’
complex in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) by
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 210 / Tuesday, October 31, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
reducing the total allowable catch (TAC)
for the complex to 4,500 metric tons
(mt) annually. This rule also revises the
2006 and 2007 ‘‘other species’’ harvest
sideboard limitations for non-exempt
American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher
vessels and non-AFA crab vessels. The
intended effect of this action is to
conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the GOA in accordance
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), November 30, 2006
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2007.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from Alaska Region, NMFS,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Ellen Walsh or from the Alaska
Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the 2005
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation report for the groundfish
resources of the GOA, dated November
2005, are available from the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council), 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite
306, Anchorage, AK 99510–2252, phone
907–271–2809, or from its website at
https://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries Division,
Alaska Region, 907–481–1780 or e-mail
at tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone off Alaska
under the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the GOA (FMP). The
Council prepared the FMP under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq. Regulations
governing U.S. fisheries and
implementing the FMP appear at 50
CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
On February 13, 2006, the Secretary of
Commerce approved Amendment 69 to
the FMP. A final rule implementing the
amendment was published in the
Federal Register on March 13, 2006 (71
FR 12626). Amendment 69 and its
implementing rule modify the TAC
calculation for the ‘‘other species’’
complex from a fixed 5 percent of the
sum of target species annual TACs to an
amount less than or equal to this
percentage. The intent of this
adjustment is to prevent overfishing of
species within the ‘‘other species’’
complex. The TAC for the ‘‘other
species’’ complex will continue to be
established during the annual harvest
specification process set forth in
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:23 Oct 30, 2006
Jkt 211001
regulations at § 679.20. Under this
process, the Council recommends a TAC
consistent with the provisions set forth
under Amendment 69 that then is
forwarded to the Secretary of Commerce
for review and approval.
The final 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
were published in the Federal Register
on March 3, 2006 (71 FR 10870). Under
these specifications, the 2006 and 2007
TACs for the ‘‘other species’’ complex
are 13,856 mt and 12,229 mt,
respectively. These TACs are equal to 5
percent of the sum of the target species
TACs. In December 2005, the Council
recommended that the ‘‘other species’’
TAC be reduced to 4,500 mt pending the
approval of Amendment 69. This final
rule implements the Council’s
recommendation for the ‘‘other species’’
TAC and revises the 2006 and 2007
harvest specifications accordingly.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify the TAC for each target species
and for the ‘‘other species’’ category, the
sum of which must be within the
optimum yield range of 116,000 mt to
800,000 mt. Section 679.20(c)(1) further
requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on the proposed
harvest specifications. The proposed
revisions of the 2006 and 2007 TAC for
the ‘‘other species’’ complex in the GOA
were published in the Federal Register
on July 11, 2006 (71 FR 39046).
Comments were invited and accepted
through August 10, 2006. No comments
were received regarding the proposed
reduction to the TAC for the ‘‘other
species’’ complex. Therefore, NMFS is
implementing the Council’s
recommendation to reduce the TAC for
the ‘‘other species’’ complex in 2006
and 2007 to 4,500 mt. This adjustment
reduces the total GOA 2006 TAC to
291,948 mt, a difference of 9,356 mt.
Similarly, the total GOA 2007 TAC is
reduced to 273,911 mt, a difference of
7,729 mt.
The Council’s recommendation in
December 2005 was based on the GOA
Plan Team’s 4,000 mt estimate of the
annual incidental catch of ‘‘other
species’’ in the targeted groundfish and
Pacific halibut fisheries, the Council
Advisory Panel’s recommendation, and
public testimony. A 4,500 mt TAC for
the ‘‘other species’’ complex allows for
incidental catch needs and a small
directed fishery for ‘‘other species’’ of
approximately 500 mt in each year.
As a result of lowering the TAC for
‘‘other species,’’ NMFS is also
proportionately lowering the 2006 and
2007 ‘‘other species’’ harvest sideboard
limitations for non-exempt AFA catcher
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63705
vessels and non-AFA crab vessels. For
2006 and 2007, the ‘‘other species’’
harvest sideboard limitation for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels is reduced
to 40 mt from 125 mt in 2006 and 110
mt in 2007. For 2006 and 2007, the
‘‘other species’’ harvest sideboard
limitation for non-AFA crab vessels is
reduced to 79 mt from 244 mt in 2006
and 215 mt in 2007. There are no
changes from the proposed rule to
reduce the 2006 and 2007 TACs for the
‘‘other species’’ complex in the GOA
(July 11, 2006, 71 FR 39046).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
The following information is a plain
language guide to assist small entities in
complying with this final rule as
required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996. This final rule’s primary
management measure is to reduce the
2006 and 2007 TAC for the ‘‘other
species’’ complex in the GOA to 4,500
mt. This action is necessary to revise the
TACs for the ‘‘other species’’ complex
and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the FMP. This action
affects all fishermen who participate in
the GOA fishery. NMFS will announce
closures to directed fishing in the
Federal Register.
Classification
A FRFA was prepared to evaluate the
impacts of the 2006 and 2007 final
harvest specifications on directly
regulated small entities following
Secretarial approval of Amendment 69
to the GOA FMP. This FRFA is intended
to meet the statutory requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). A
copy of the FRFA is available from
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The reason for
the action, a statement of the objective
of the action, and the legal basis are
discussed in the FRFA and in the
preamble of this final rule and are not
repeated here. No comments were
received on the IRFA or the economic
impacts of this rule.
The 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications establish harvest limits
for the groundfish species and species
groups in the GOA. Entities directly
impacted are those fishing for
groundfish in the exclusive economic
zone or in parallel fisheries in State of
Alaska waters (in which harvests are
counted against the Federal TAC). An
estimated 782 small catcher vessels and
18 small catcher processors may be
directly regulated by these harvest
specifications in the GOA. The catcher
vessel estimate in particular is subject to
various uncertainties. It may provide an
underestimate because it does not count
vessels that fish only within State of
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63706
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 210 / Tuesday, October 31, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with RULES
Alaska waters. This may be offset by
upward biases introduced by the use of
preliminary price estimates (which do
not fully account for post-season price
adjustments) and by a failure to account
for affiliations, other than AFA
cooperative affiliations, among entities.
For these reasons the catcher vessel
estimate must be considered an
approximation.
This regulation does not impose new
recordkeeping or reporting requirements
on the regulated small entities. This
analysis did not reveal any Federal rules
that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with
the final action.
The FRFA prepared for this final
action examined the status quo, or no
action alternative, in relation to
reducing the TAC for the ‘‘other
species’’ complex to 4,500 mt. A TAC of
4,500 mt exceeds the estimated annual
incidental catch needs in the groundfish
and Pacific halibut fisheries while
allowing for a limited (approximately
500 mt annually) directed fishery for the
‘‘other species’’ complex and the
development of markets for these
species.
The EA/Regulatory Impact Review/
FRFA prepared for Amendment 69
examined a range of TAC setting
alternatives. Alternative 1 would have
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:23 Oct 30, 2006
Jkt 211001
been the status quo, or no action
alternative, and the TAC for the ‘‘other
species’’ complex would continue to be
set at 5 percent of the sum of other
targeted species TACs. This alternative
was not selected for because it would
not meet the conservation objectives. If
the TAC were set at this level (and fully
harvested) it would most likely not be
sustainable. If a single species in the
complex were targeted to the exclusion
of other species in the complex that
targeted species would likely experience
overfishing. Alternative 3 would have
set the TAC at a level anticipated to
meet incidental catch needs in other
directed fisheries. This alternative was
not selected because, while it would
have allowed retention of up to 20
percent of marketable ‘‘other species,’’ it
would have precluded the possibility of
future development of directed fisheries
targeting ‘‘other species.’’ Alternative 2,
the alternative selected by the Council
and implemented by this final rule, gave
the Council the greatest amount of
flexibility to recommend a TAC up to 5
percent of the sum of the target species
TACs. This allows the Council to
recommend a TAC sufficient to meet
incidental catch needs in other directed
fisheries while allowing for the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
development of sustainable fisheries
targeting ‘‘other species.’’ The FRFA
prepared for Amendment 69 determined
that any of the alternatives considered
would not adversely impact small
entities.
The FRFA prepared for this final rule
specifically examined the impacts of
setting the TAC for the ‘‘other species’’
complex at 4,500 mt, as recommended
by the Council, versus 5 percent of the
sum of targeted species TACs that was
in effect at the time the final 2006 and
2007 harvest specifications for
groundfish in the GOA were
implemented in March 2006. The FRFA
concluded that the final action does not
appear to create adverse impacts on
directly regulated small entities.
This action is authorized under 50
CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1540(f);
1801 et seq.; 1851 note; and 3631 et seq.
Dated: October 24, 2006.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Operations, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E6–18293 Filed 10–30–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63704-63706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18293]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 060606148-6274-02; I.D. 112805A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Revision to the Final 2006 and 2007 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces revised final 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications for the ``other species'' complex in the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA) by
[[Page 63705]]
reducing the total allowable catch (TAC) for the complex to 4,500
metric tons (mt) annually. This rule also revises the 2006 and 2007
``other species'' harvest sideboard limitations for non-exempt American
Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels and non-AFA crab vessels. The
intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), November 30,
2006 through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Ellen Walsh or from the Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the 2005 Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated
November 2005, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council), 605 West 4\th\ Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from its website at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780 or e-mail at
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan
for Groundfish of the GOA (FMP). The Council prepared the FMP under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at
50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
On February 13, 2006, the Secretary of Commerce approved Amendment
69 to the FMP. A final rule implementing the amendment was published in
the Federal Register on March 13, 2006 (71 FR 12626). Amendment 69 and
its implementing rule modify the TAC calculation for the ``other
species'' complex from a fixed 5 percent of the sum of target species
annual TACs to an amount less than or equal to this percentage. The
intent of this adjustment is to prevent overfishing of species within
the ``other species'' complex. The TAC for the ``other species''
complex will continue to be established during the annual harvest
specification process set forth in regulations at Sec. 679.20. Under
this process, the Council recommends a TAC consistent with the
provisions set forth under Amendment 69 that then is forwarded to the
Secretary of Commerce for review and approval.
The final 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications for groundfish in
the GOA were published in the Federal Register on March 3, 2006 (71 FR
10870). Under these specifications, the 2006 and 2007 TACs for the
``other species'' complex are 13,856 mt and 12,229 mt, respectively.
These TACs are equal to 5 percent of the sum of the target species
TACs. In December 2005, the Council recommended that the ``other
species'' TAC be reduced to 4,500 mt pending the approval of Amendment
69. This final rule implements the Council's recommendation for the
``other species'' TAC and revises the 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications accordingly.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the TAC for each target
species and for the ``other species'' category, the sum of which must
be within the optimum yield range of 116,000 mt to 800,000 mt. Section
679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit public
comment on the proposed harvest specifications. The proposed revisions
of the 2006 and 2007 TAC for the ``other species'' complex in the GOA
were published in the Federal Register on July 11, 2006 (71 FR 39046).
Comments were invited and accepted through August 10, 2006. No comments
were received regarding the proposed reduction to the TAC for the
``other species'' complex. Therefore, NMFS is implementing the
Council's recommendation to reduce the TAC for the ``other species''
complex in 2006 and 2007 to 4,500 mt. This adjustment reduces the total
GOA 2006 TAC to 291,948 mt, a difference of 9,356 mt. Similarly, the
total GOA 2007 TAC is reduced to 273,911 mt, a difference of 7,729 mt.
The Council's recommendation in December 2005 was based on the GOA
Plan Team's 4,000 mt estimate of the annual incidental catch of ``other
species'' in the targeted groundfish and Pacific halibut fisheries, the
Council Advisory Panel's recommendation, and public testimony. A 4,500
mt TAC for the ``other species'' complex allows for incidental catch
needs and a small directed fishery for ``other species'' of
approximately 500 mt in each year.
As a result of lowering the TAC for ``other species,'' NMFS is also
proportionately lowering the 2006 and 2007 ``other species'' harvest
sideboard limitations for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels and non-AFA
crab vessels. For 2006 and 2007, the ``other species'' harvest
sideboard limitation for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels is reduced to
40 mt from 125 mt in 2006 and 110 mt in 2007. For 2006 and 2007, the
``other species'' harvest sideboard limitation for non-AFA crab vessels
is reduced to 79 mt from 244 mt in 2006 and 215 mt in 2007. There are
no changes from the proposed rule to reduce the 2006 and 2007 TACs for
the ``other species'' complex in the GOA (July 11, 2006, 71 FR 39046).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
The following information is a plain language guide to assist small
entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's
primary management measure is to reduce the 2006 and 2007 TAC for the
``other species'' complex in the GOA to 4,500 mt. This action is
necessary to revise the TACs for the ``other species'' complex and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP. This action affects all
fishermen who participate in the GOA fishery. NMFS will announce
closures to directed fishing in the Federal Register.
Classification
A FRFA was prepared to evaluate the impacts of the 2006 and 2007
final harvest specifications on directly regulated small entities
following Secretarial approval of Amendment 69 to the GOA FMP. This
FRFA is intended to meet the statutory requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA). A copy of the FRFA is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The reason for the action, a statement of the objective of
the action, and the legal basis are discussed in the FRFA and in the
preamble of this final rule and are not repeated here. No comments were
received on the IRFA or the economic impacts of this rule.
The 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications establish harvest limits
for the groundfish species and species groups in the GOA. Entities
directly impacted are those fishing for groundfish in the exclusive
economic zone or in parallel fisheries in State of Alaska waters (in
which harvests are counted against the Federal TAC). An estimated 782
small catcher vessels and 18 small catcher processors may be directly
regulated by these harvest specifications in the GOA. The catcher
vessel estimate in particular is subject to various uncertainties. It
may provide an underestimate because it does not count vessels that
fish only within State of
[[Page 63706]]
Alaska waters. This may be offset by upward biases introduced by the
use of preliminary price estimates (which do not fully account for
post-season price adjustments) and by a failure to account for
affiliations, other than AFA cooperative affiliations, among entities.
For these reasons the catcher vessel estimate must be considered an
approximation.
This regulation does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting
requirements on the regulated small entities. This analysis did not
reveal any Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the
final action.
The FRFA prepared for this final action examined the status quo, or
no action alternative, in relation to reducing the TAC for the ``other
species'' complex to 4,500 mt. A TAC of 4,500 mt exceeds the estimated
annual incidental catch needs in the groundfish and Pacific halibut
fisheries while allowing for a limited (approximately 500 mt annually)
directed fishery for the ``other species'' complex and the development
of markets for these species.
The EA/Regulatory Impact Review/FRFA prepared for Amendment 69
examined a range of TAC setting alternatives. Alternative 1 would have
been the status quo, or no action alternative, and the TAC for the
``other species'' complex would continue to be set at 5 percent of the
sum of other targeted species TACs. This alternative was not selected
for because it would not meet the conservation objectives. If the TAC
were set at this level (and fully harvested) it would most likely not
be sustainable. If a single species in the complex were targeted to the
exclusion of other species in the complex that targeted species would
likely experience overfishing. Alternative 3 would have set the TAC at
a level anticipated to meet incidental catch needs in other directed
fisheries. This alternative was not selected because, while it would
have allowed retention of up to 20 percent of marketable ``other
species,'' it would have precluded the possibility of future
development of directed fisheries targeting ``other species.''
Alternative 2, the alternative selected by the Council and implemented
by this final rule, gave the Council the greatest amount of flexibility
to recommend a TAC up to 5 percent of the sum of the target species
TACs. This allows the Council to recommend a TAC sufficient to meet
incidental catch needs in other directed fisheries while allowing for
the development of sustainable fisheries targeting ``other species.''
The FRFA prepared for Amendment 69 determined that any of the
alternatives considered would not adversely impact small entities.
The FRFA prepared for this final rule specifically examined the
impacts of setting the TAC for the ``other species'' complex at 4,500
mt, as recommended by the Council, versus 5 percent of the sum of
targeted species TACs that was in effect at the time the final 2006 and
2007 harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA were implemented
in March 2006. The FRFA concluded that the final action does not appear
to create adverse impacts on directly regulated small entities.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1540(f); 1801 et seq.; 1851
note; and 3631 et seq.
Dated: October 24, 2006.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-18293 Filed 10-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
