Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Prohibited Species Donation Program, 35659-35661 [E8-14275]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 24, 2008 / Notices
ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
Chinook salmon, SR sockeye salmon,
MCR steelhead, UWR Chinook salmon,
UWR steelhead, LCR Chinook salmon,
LCR coho salmon, LCR steelhead, and
CR chum salmon in the Willamette and
Columbia River basins. They are asking
to modify the permit so they may be
allowed to take OC coho salmon; they
also wish to add a seventh project to the
permit. The Permit currently contains
the following projects: (1) Warm Water
Fish Management Surveys; (2)
Investigations of Natural Production of
Spring Chinook Salmon in the Mohawk
System; (3) Genetic Characterization of
Rainbow Trout in the Upper Willamette
System; (4) Fish Abundance, Population
Status, Genetics and Disease Surveys in
the Upper Willamette Basin; (5) Native
Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout Surveys
for Abundance, Size Composition, and
Migration Patterns in the Mainstem
McKenzie River; (6) Resident Redband
Population Estimates in the Deschutes
River. The ODFW wishes to add (7)
Resident Redband Population Estimates
in the Crooked River.
The purpose of the research is to
gather information on fish population
structure, abundance, genetics, disease
occurrences, and species interactions
throughout many anadromous fishbearing basins in Oregon. That
information would be used to direct
management actions to benefit listed
species. Juvenile salmonids would be
collected during boat electrofishing
operations in the subbasins listed in the
project titles above. Some fish would be
anesthetized, sampled for length and
weight, allowed to recover from the
anesthesia, and released; most would
only be shocked and allowed to swim
away, or be netted and immediately
released. The ODFW does not intend to
kill any of the fish being captured, but
a small number may die as an
unintended result of the activities.
Permit 13494
The Bonneville Power Administration
(BPA) is requesting a 5–year research
permit to take LCR Chinook salmon, CR
coho salmon, and LCR steelhead during
fish collection and transport activities
on the Cowlitz River, Washington. The
purpose of the research is to determine
the fishes’ response to being collected
and transported around two dams that
currently have no downstream fish
passage. The activities will take place at
a facility that is co-located with the
Cowlitz Falls Hydroelectric dam on the
upper Cowlitz River in southeastern
Washington State.
The fish collection facility is a key
component of ongoing efforts to reestablish self-supporting populations of
anadromous salmonids in the upper
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Cowlitz river basin. The proposed
research seeks to (1) improve fish
collection efficiency by modifying the
operation and physical structure of the
fish collection facility, and (2) develop
an ongoing transportation program to
maintain fish populations. The research
would benefit the fish by helping them
get access to (and egress from) new
habitat that was previously cut off by
impassible barriers. Fish collected at the
facility would be transported by truck
and released in the free-flowing section
of the Cowlitz River downstream of the
hydropower projects. Scales and other
biological samples would be taken from
some of the fish. The BPA does not
intend to kill any of the fish being
studied, but a small percentage of them
may be killed as an unintended result of
the research.
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA. NMFS will
evaluate the application, associated
documents, and comments submitted to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of section 10(a)
of the ESA and Federal regulations. The
final permit decisions will not be made
until after the end of the 30–day
comment period. NMFS will publish
notice of its final action in the Federal
Register.
Dated: June 17, 2008.
Angela Somma,
Chief, Endangered Species Division, Office
of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–14259 Filed 6–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XH52
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 and Pacific 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
PO 00000
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35659
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: The permits are effective from
August 15, 2008, through August 15,
2011.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD permits
for salmon and halibut may be obtained
by mail from NMFS, Alaska Region, P.
O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian, Records Officer;
in person at NMFS, Alaska Region, 709
West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau,
Alaska; or via the Internet at the NMFS
Alaska Region website at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Becky Carls, 907–586–7228.
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 in
accordance with the Fishery
Management Plan for groundfish of the
BSAI and the Fishery Management Plan
for groundfish of the GOA (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 and implementing the FMPs
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. The International Pacific
Halibut Commission (IPHC)
promulgates regulations pursuant to the
Convention. The IPHC’s regulations are
subject to approval by the Secretary of
State with concurrence from the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary).
After approval by the Secretary of State
and the Secretary, the IPHC regulations
are published in the Federal Register as
annual management measures pursuant
to 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI
and GOA FMPs, respectively, authorize
a salmon donation program and were
approved by NMFS on July 10, 1996; a
final rule implementing this program
was published in the Federal Register
on July 24, 1996 (61 FR 38358). The
salmon donation program was expanded
to include halibut as part of the PSD
program under Amendments 50 and 50
to the FMPs that were approved by
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35660
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 24, 2008 / Notices
NMFS on May 6, 1998. A final rule
implementing Amendments 50 and 50
was published in the Federal Register
on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 32144).
Although that final rule contained a
sunset provision for the halibut PSD
program of December 31, 2000, the
halibut PSD program was permanently
extended under a final rule published in
the Federal Register on December 14,
2000 (65 FR 78119). A full description
of, and background information on, the
PSD program may be found in the
preambles 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 PSD permits to the
selected distributor(s).
On March 24, 2008, the Acting
Regional Administrator received two
applications from SeaShare to renew
both its salmon and halibut PSD permits
that were issued August 15, 2005 (70 FR
40987, July 15, 2005). Revisions to the
applications were received on May 6,
2008. The current salmon and halibut
PSD permits issued to SeaShare
authorize SeaShare to participate in the
PSD program through August 15, 2008.
The Acting 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 Acting Regional
Administrator based his selection on the
following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of
applicants for PSD permits. Seashare is
the only applicant for PSD permits at
this time. NMFS has previously
approved applications submitted by
SeaShare. As of the date of this notice,
no other applications have been
approved by NMFS. SeaShare has been
coordinating the distribution of salmon
taken incidentally in trawl fisheries
since 1993, and of halibut taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since
1998, under exempted fishing permits
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Jkt 214001
from 1993 to 1996, and under the PSD
program since 1996. 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 and 36
catcher vessels participate in the halibut
donation program. SeaShare has the
capacity to receive and distribute
salmon and halibut from up to 40
processors and the associated catcher
vessels. Therefore, it is anticipated that
SeaShare has more than adequate
capacity for any foreseeable expansion
of donations.
In 2005, 2006, and 2007, SeaShare
received 483,359 pounds, 171,628
pounds, and 87,330 pounds,
respectively, of salmon for distribution
to food bank organizations. During these
same years, SeaShare received 20,960
pounds, 8,757 pounds, and 16,026
pounds, respectively, of halibut for
distribution to food bank organizations.
NMFS does not have information to
convert accurately the net weights of
salmon and halibut 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
2006
2007
BSAI Trawl
Chinook
Incidental
Catch
85,914 fish
124,260 fish
BSAI Trawl
Other Salmon
Incidental
Catch
324,601 fish
90,731 fish
GOA Trawl
Chinook
Incidental
Catch
19,158 fish
40,182 fish
GOA Trawl
Other Salmon
Incidental
Catch
4,216 fish
3,368 fish
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Frm 00029
Area Fishery
2006
2007
BSAI Trawl
Halibut
Mortality
3,436 mt
3,356 mt
GOA Trawl
Halibut
Mortality
1,996 mt
1,944 mt
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 2006 and 2007. 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.
An exemption to these closures is
provided to participants in an
intercooperative agreement to reduce
salmon bycatch rates under Amendment
84 to the BSAI FMP (72 FR 61070,
October 29, 2007). 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 2007, 18
shoreside processors, out of a total of
112 permitted, processed catch from
trawl vessels. Also, in 2007, 146 trawl
catcher vessels out of 205, 40 trawl
catcher/processors out of 53, and 9
motherships and stationary floating
processors out of 45 participated in 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.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et
seq.; 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 108–447.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 24, 2008 / Notices
Dated: June 17, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8–14275 Filed 6–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
RIN 0648–XI44
Marine Mammals and Endangered
Species; National Marine Fisheries
Service File No. 10074; U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service File No. PRT–165304
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Interior.
ACTION: Issuance of permit.
ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
AGENCIES:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Michael Etnier, Ph.D., Box 353100,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
98227 has been issued a permit to
import marine mammal specimens for
purposes of scientific research.
ADDRESSES: The permit and related
documents are available for review
upon written request or by appointment
in the following office(s):
Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room
13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone
(301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521;
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand
Point Way NE, BIN C15700, Bldg. 1,
Seattle, WA 98115–0700; phone
(206)526–6150; fax (206)526–6426; and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Division of Management Authority,
4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 212,
Arlington, VA 22203 (1–800–358–2104).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate
Swails or Amy Sloan, (301)713–2289.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 25, 2008, notice was published
in the Federal Register (73 FR 4540)
that a request for a scientific research
permit to take marine mammals had
been submitted by the above-named
individual. The requested permit has
been issued under the authority of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the
regulations governing the taking and
importing of marine mammals (50 CFR
part 216), the Endangered Species Act of
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12:39 Jun 23, 2008
Jkt 214001
1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), the regulations governing the
taking, importing, and exporting of
endangered and threatened species (50
CFR parts 222–226), and the Fur Seal
Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1151
et seq.).
The permit authorizes Dr. Etnier to
possess and import/export marine
mammal and endangered and
threatened species parts (hard and soft)
from the orders of Cetacea, Pinnipedia,
and Carnivora (sea otter, Enhydra
lutris). Specimens (teeth, bone, and
whiskers) will be obtained from
museums and private collections or
collected from carcasses of beach
stranded animals or federally sponsored
subsistence harvests. No animals will be
taken or killed for the purposes of this
research. The objectives are to combine
osteometric, chemical, and genetic
analyses to test hypotheses regarding
the stability of ecological adaptations
among marine mammals in the eastern
north Pacific Ocean throughout the Late
Holocene.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), a final
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Issuance of this permit, as required by
the ESA, was based on a finding that
such permit: (1) was applied for in good
faith; (2) will not operate to the
disadvantage of such endangered
species; and (3) is consistent with the
purposes and policies set forth in
section 2 of the ESA.
Dated: June 18, 2008.
P. Michael Payne,
Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education
Division, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
Dated: June 18, 2008.
Timothy J. Van Norman,
Chief, Branch of Permits Division of
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E8–14260 Filed 6–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODES 3510–22–S, 4310–55–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Program (Formerly Patent Prosecution
Highway (PPH) Pilot Program)
ACTION:
Proposed collection; comment
request.
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35661
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, invites the
general public and other Federal
agencies to comment on the continuing
information collection, as required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before August 25, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov.
Include ‘‘0651–0058 comment’’ in the
subject line of the message.
• Fax: 571–273–0112, marked to the
attention of Susan Fawcett.
• Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records
Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, Customer Information Services
Group, Public Information Services
Division, United States Patent and
Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Robert A. Clarke,
Director, Office of Patent Legal
Administration, United States Patent
and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313–1450; by
telephone at 571–272–7735; or by e-mail
at Robert.Clarke@uspto.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The Patent Prosecution Highway
(PPH) pilot program was originally
established between the United States
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) on
July 3, 2006. The PPH program allows
applicants whose claims are determined
to be patentable in the office of first
filing to have the corresponding
application that is filed in the office of
second filing be advanced out of turn for
examination. At the same time, the PPH
program allows the office of second
filing to exploit the search and
examination results of the office of first
filing, which increases examination
efficiency and improves patent quality.
The USPTO and the JPO agreed at the
November 2007 Trilateral Conference to
fully implement the PPH program on a
permanent basis starting on January 4,
2008.
The USPTO entered into a PPH pilot
program with the United Kingdom
Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) on
September 4, 2007. Additional PPH
pilot programs have also recently been
established between the USPTO and the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35659-35661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14275]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XH52
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 and Pacific 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: The permits are effective from August 15, 2008, through August
15, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the PSD permits for salmon and halibut may be
obtained by mail from NMFS, Alaska Region, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK
99802-1668, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, Records Officer; in person at NMFS,
Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, Alaska; or via
the Internet at the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Carls, 907-586-7228.
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 in accordance with the Fishery
Management Plan for groundfish of the BSAI and the Fishery Management
Plan for groundfish of the GOA (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 and implementing
the FMPs 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. The International Pacific
Halibut Commission (IPHC) promulgates regulations pursuant to the
Convention. The IPHC's regulations are subject to approval by the
Secretary of State with concurrence from the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary). After approval by the Secretary of State and the
Secretary, the IPHC regulations are published in the Federal Register
as annual management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62.
Amendments 26 and 29 to the BSAI and GOA FMPs, respectively,
authorize a salmon donation program and were approved by NMFS on July
10, 1996; a final rule implementing this program was published in the
Federal Register on July 24, 1996 (61 FR 38358). The salmon donation
program was expanded to include halibut as part of the PSD program
under Amendments 50 and 50 to the FMPs that were approved by
[[Page 35660]]
NMFS on May 6, 1998. A final rule implementing Amendments 50 and 50 was
published in the Federal Register on June 12, 1998 (63 FR 32144).
Although that final rule contained a sunset provision for the halibut
PSD program of December 31, 2000, the halibut PSD program was
permanently extended under a final rule published in the Federal
Register on December 14, 2000 (65 FR 78119). A full description of, and
background information on, the PSD program may be found in the
preambles 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 PSD permits to the selected distributor(s).
On March 24, 2008, the Acting Regional Administrator received two
applications from SeaShare to renew both its salmon and halibut PSD
permits that were issued August 15, 2005 (70 FR 40987, July 15, 2005).
Revisions to the applications were received on May 6, 2008. The current
salmon and halibut PSD permits issued to SeaShare authorize SeaShare to
participate in the PSD program through August 15, 2008.
The Acting 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 Acting Regional Administrator based his
selection on the following criteria:
1. The number and qualifications of applicants for PSD permits.
Seashare is the only applicant for PSD permits at this time. NMFS has
previously approved applications submitted by SeaShare. As of the date
of this notice, no other applications have been approved by NMFS.
SeaShare has been coordinating the distribution of salmon taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since 1993, and of halibut taken
incidentally in trawl fisheries since 1998, under exempted fishing
permits from 1993 to 1996, and under the PSD program since 1996.
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 and 36 catcher vessels participate in the
halibut donation program. SeaShare has the capacity to receive and
distribute salmon and halibut from up to 40 processors and the
associated catcher vessels. Therefore, it is anticipated that SeaShare
has more than adequate capacity for any foreseeable expansion of
donations.
In 2005, 2006, and 2007, SeaShare received 483,359 pounds, 171,628
pounds, and 87,330 pounds, respectively, of salmon for distribution to
food bank organizations. During these same years, SeaShare received
20,960 pounds, 8,757 pounds, and 16,026 pounds, respectively, of
halibut for distribution to food bank organizations. NMFS does not have
information to convert accurately the net weights of salmon and halibut
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 2006 2007
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Chinook 85,914 fish 124,260 fish
Incidental Catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Other Salmon 324,601 fish 90,731 fish
Incidental Catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOA Trawl Chinook 19,158 fish 40,182 fish
Incidental Catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOA Trawl Other Salmon 4,216 fish 3,368 fish
Incidental Catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Trawl Halibut 3,436 mt 3,356 mt
Mortality
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOA Trawl Halibut 1,996 mt 1,944 mt
Mortality
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
2006 and 2007. 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. An exemption to these closures is provided to participants in an
intercooperative agreement to reduce salmon bycatch rates under
Amendment 84 to the BSAI FMP (72 FR 61070, October 29, 2007). 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 2007, 18 shoreside processors, out
of a total of 112 permitted, processed catch from trawl vessels. Also,
in 2007, 146 trawl catcher vessels out of 205, 40 trawl catcher/
processors out of 53, and 9 motherships and stationary floating
processors out of 45 participated in 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.; 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 108-447.
[[Page 35661]]
Dated: June 17, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-14275 Filed 6-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
