Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Guided Sport Charter Vessel Fishery for Halibut, 78276-78283 [E8-30376]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78276-78283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30376]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 300

[Docket No. 0808061071-81575-01]
RIN 0648-AX17


Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Guided Sport Charter Vessel Fishery 
for Halibut

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes regulations that would limit the harvest of 
Pacific halibut by guided sport charter vessel anglers in International 
Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Area 2C (Area 2C) of Southeast 
Alaska to one halibut per day. This proposed regulatory change is 
necessary to reduce the halibut harvest in the charter vessel sector to 
approximately the guideline harvest level for Area 2C. The intended 
effect of this action is to manage the harvest of halibut consistent 
with an allocation strategy recommended by the North Pacific Management 
Council for the guided sport charter vessel fishery and the commercial 
fishery.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by ``RIN 
0648-AX17'' by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at https://
www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Fax: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9\th\ 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    All comments received are a part of the public record and will be 
posted to https://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal 
Identifying Information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential 
Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic 
comments must be in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe 
portable document file (pdf) formats to be accepted.
    Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA), Regulatory Impact 
Review (RIR), and Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 
prepared for this action may be obtained from NMFS Alaska Region, P.O. 
Box 21668, Juneau, Alaska 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, and on the NMFS 
Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scheurer, 907-586-7356.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC) and NMFS manage fishing for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus 
stenolepis) through regulations established under the authority of the 
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). The IPHC 
promulgates regulations governing the halibut fishery under the 
Convention between the United States and Canada for the Preservation of 
the Halibut Fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea 
(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 Secretaries of State and Commerce, 
the IPHC regulations are published in the Federal Register as annual 
management measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62 (March 7, 2008; 73 FR 
12280).
    The Halibut Act also provides regulatory authority to the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and the Secretary. The 
Council, under 16 U.S.C. 773c(c), may develop regulations applicable to 
U.S. nationals or vessels, which are in addition to, and not in 
conflict with regulations adopted by the IPHC. The regulations 
developed by the Council shall only be implemented with the approval of 
the Secretary, and must meet criteria outlined in section 773c(c), 
including consistency with 16 U.S.C. 1853(b)(6). The Secretary, under 
16 U.S.C. 773c(a) and (b), has the general responsibility to carry out 
the Convention and Halibut Act. According to section 773c(b), ``In 
fulfilling [the general responsibility to carry out the Convention and 
the Halibut Act], the Secretary shall, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, 
adopt such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes 
and objectives of the Convention and [the Halibut Act].'' The 
Secretary's authority to take action under the Halibut Act has been 
delegated to NMFS.
    NMFS takes this action under section 773c(b) to adopt such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and 
objectives of the Convention and the Halibut Act. This action would 
implement, among other measures, a one halibut daily bag limit on 
charter vessel anglers in IPHC Area 2C. This bag limit originally was 
recommended by the Council in June 2007, implemented by NMFS by final 
rule on May 28, 2008, with an effective date of June 1, 2008 (73 FR 
30504). The May 28, 2008, final rule was enjoined by the U.S. District 
Court for the District of Columbia on June 10, 2008, (see Order 
Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), 
dated June 11, 2008, and Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a 
Preliminary Injunction (PI), dated June 19, 2008, Van Valin, et al. v. 
Gutierrez, Civil Action No. 1:08-cv-941). NMFS has withdrawn the May 
28, 2008, final rule that was challenged in the Van Valin lawsuit, and 
now takes action in a separate rulemaking to implement a one halibut 
daily bag limit, giving effect to the Council's intent to keep the 
harvest of charter vessel anglers to approximately the established 
guideline harvest level (GHL).
    In its Order Granting the Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary 
Injunction, dated June 19, 2007, the U.S. District Court determined 
that the Plaintiffs had met the burden for granting a preliminary 
injunction, including demonstrating a likelihood of success

[[Page 78277]]

on the merits of their claims. The Plaintiffs argued that NMFS, by 
referencing the 2003 GHL rule (68 FR 47256, August 8, 2003) in the May 
28, 2008, final rule, bound itself to use certain procedures described 
in the preamble to the 2003 GHL rule, including the requirement that a 
GHL had to be exceeded in order for management measures to be 
implemented. NMFS now proposes regulations to specifically repudiate 
such a ``policy'' and, under sections 773c(a) and (b), proposes new 
regulations that are necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives 
of the Convention and the Halibut Act and that will clarify NMFS' 
regulatory authority.
    The preamble to the 1979 Protocol Amending the Convention provides 
that ``the Convention has served to promote and coordinate scientific 
studies relating to the halibut fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean 
and the Bering Sea, and has aided in the conservation of these fishery 
resources.'' Management based on the best available science and 
conservation of the species are purposes and objectives that are 
familiar to NMFS in its role as resources manager. As such, NMFS 
proposes regulations to reduce the harvest of halibut by charter vessel 
anglers to one halibut per calendar day in order to limit the overall 
harvest of halibut by charter anglers in IPHC Area 2C to approximately 
the GHL. The GHL in IPHC Area 2C currently is 931,000 lb (422.3 mt).
    As stated above, this action by NMFS is consistent with the 
Council's intent to limit the catch to the GHL. As recently as October 
2008, when the Council was taking final action on the Catch Sharing 
Plan (CSP) for halibut between the charter and commercial sectors in 
IPHC Areas 2C and 3A, the Council reaffirmed its intent for a one 
halibut bag limit in IPHC Area 2C in order to limit the harvest of 
halibut by charter anglers in IPHC Area 2C to approximately the GHL. 
This intent was further confirmed in a letter from Chris Oliver, 
Executive Director, Council, to Dr. Bruce Leaman, Executive Director, 
IPHC. The letter, which was informing the IPHC that the Council 
approved a catch sharing plan for the guided sport and commercial 
halibut fisheries in IPHC Areas 2C and 3A, also provided that ``[t]he 
Council reiterated its support of its previous recommendation for a 
one-fish bag limit in Area 2C.'' It is important to note that 
management under the Council-approved CSP, if approved by NMFS, would 
require a one halibut daily bag limit under current halibut abundance 
levels. Therefore, a one halibut daily bag limit is consistent with the 
past management recommendation and the future management proposal of 
the Council.
    This action by NMFS is also consistent with its authority under 16 
U.S.C. 773c(a) and (b) to adopt such regulations as may be necessary to 
carry out the purposes and objectives of the Convention and the Halibut 
Act. This action addresses conservation of the resource, by restricting 
catch to approximately the GHL, so that the IPHC's projected harvest of 
halibut by charter anglers, which is assumed by the IPHC to equal the 
GHL, adequately reflects actual catches for purposes of managing 
sustainable removals of the halibut resource. This action also 
addresses an allocation of halibut fishing privileges among various 
U.S. fishermen, by giving effect to a Council recommendation on how to 
assign such privileges consistent with the criteria found in section 
773c(c).

Management of the Halibut Fisheries

    The harvest of halibut occurs in three basic fisheries(the 
commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries. Additional fishing 
mortality occurs as bycatch, incidental catch, research catch, and 
wastage. Charter fishing for halibut in Alaska is managed as part of 
the sport fishery.
    Based on a coastwide population model, the IPHC annually determines 
the amount of halibut that may be removed from the resource without 
causing biological conservation problems in all areas of Convention 
waters. In areas in and off of Alaska, the IPHC currently imposes catch 
limits only on the commercial sector. The IPHC estimates the 
exploitable biomass of halibut using a combination of harvest data from 
the commercial, recreational, subsistence fisheries, and information 
collected during scientific surveys and sampling of bycatch in other 
fisheries. The target amount of allowable harvest for a given area is 
calculated by multiplying a fixed harvest rate by the estimate of 
exploitable biomass. This target level is called the total constant 
exploitation yield (CEY) as it represents the target level for total 
removals (in net pounds) for that area in the coming year. The IPHC 
subtracts estimates of all non-commercial removals (sport, subsistence, 
bycatch, and wastage) from the total CEY. The remaining CEY, after the 
removals are subtracted, is the (fishery CEY( for an area(s directed 
commercial fixed gear fishery.
    This method of determining the commercial fishery(s catch limit in 
an area results in a decrease in the commercial fishery(s use of the 
resource as other non-commercial uses increase their proportion of the 
total CEY. As conservation of the halibut resource is the overarching 
goal of the IPHC, it attempts to include all sources of fishing 
mortality of halibut within the total CEY. This method for determining 
the limit for the commercial use of halibut has worked well for many 
years to conserve the halibut resource, provided that the other non-
commercial uses of the resource have remained relatively stable and 
small. Although most of the non-commercial uses of halibut have been 
relatively stable, growth in the guided sport charter vessel fishery in 
recent years, particularly in Area 2C, has resulted in the guided sport 
charter vessel fishery harvesting a larger amount of halibut, thereby 
reducing the amount available to the commercial fishery.

Guideline Harvest Level (GHL)

    The guideline harvest level for Area 2C serves as a benchmark for 
monitoring the charter vessel fishery relative to the commercial 
fishery and other sources of fishing mortality. The GHL does not limit 
the charter vessel fisheries. Although it is the Council(s policy that 
the charter vessel fisheries should not exceed the GHLs, the GHL in 
Area 2C has been exceeded each year since 2004. Charter removals should 
be close to the GHL or the overall harvest strategy of the IPHC is 
undermined, creating a conservation concern and resulting in a de facto 
reallocation from the commercial sector.
    From 2003-2007, the GHL for Area 2C was 1.432 million lb. In 2008, 
the IPHC reduced the CEY to 6.5 million lb (2,948.4 mt) from the 2007 
CEY of 10.8 million lb (4,899.0 mt). This was a reduction of 4.3 
million lb (1,950.4 mt) from the 2007 CEY. The reduction in the CEY 
triggered a reduction of the Area 2C GHL from 1.432 million lb (649.5 
mt) to 931,000 lb (422.3 mt) for 2008.

Recent Harvests of Halibut in Area 2C

    In Area 2C, the commercial, sport, and other harvest of halibut 
over the past 11 years (1997 through 2007) has been estimated by the 
IPHC to average about 12.215 million lb (5,540.6 mt) per year. Of this 
annual average total removal from the halibut resource, the commercial 
fishery accounts for about 75.9 percent, the sport fishery (guided and 
unguided combined) accounts for about 19.6 percent, and the remaining 
4.5 percent may be attributed to subsistence, bycatch, and wastage 
combined. Estimates of the subsistence harvest of halibut were made 
based on surveys conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G)

[[Page 78278]]

during the past three years and average about 600,000 lb (272.2 mt) per 
year.
    In the most recent three years (2005 through 2007), the average 
annual total halibut removals in Area 2C is 13.342 million lb (6,051.8 
mt) of which the commercial fishery has taken about 73 percent, the 
sport fishery has taken about 21 percent, and about 6 percent is from 
other sources of halibut mortality. The commercial fishery is the 
primary user of the halibut resource in Area 2C followed by the sport 
fishery, which together account for over 90 percent of the total 
removals from the halibut resource.
    In Area 2C, the sport fishery is comprised of guided fishing on 
charter vessels and unguided angling. Residents of Southeast Alaska and 
their family and friends are the primary unguided anglers, while non-
resident tourists are the main clients for guided fishing on charter 
vessels. Sport harvest data collected by ADF&G show that the 1995 
through 2007 average guided sport harvest of halibut has been 1.398 
million lb (634.1 mt) per year and the unguided sport harvest of 
halibut has averaged 0.928 million lb (420.9 mt) per year. Guided 
charter vessel harvest averaged about 60 percent of all sport caught 
halibut landed in Southeast Alaska over this 13-year period. The guided 
sport harvest has increased its proportion of the sport harvest in 
recent years. From 2002 through 2007, the annual guided sport charter 
vessel harvest averaged 64.6 percent of the total sport harvest of 
halibut in Area 2C, and in 2005 reached a record 71.4 percent of the 
total sport harvest (Table 1).
    Currently, the federal harvest restrictions implemented to reduce 
charter vessel harvest of halibut in Area 2C include the following:
     Halibut harvest on a charter vessel is limited to no more 
than two halibut per person per calendar day provided that at least one 
of the harvested halibut has a head-on length of no more than 32 inches 
(81.3 cm).
     If a person sport fishing on a charter vessel in Area 2C 
retains only one halibut in a calendar day, that halibut may be of any 
length.
    In addition, the nonguided sport fishery for halibut is limited to 
a two halibut daily bag limit with no size restriction on either fish. 
Under these restrictions, the total Area 2C harvest of halibut by the 
sport fishery in 2007 was 3.049 million lb (1,383.0 mt), based on final 
ADF&G sport harvest estimates reported in September 2008. Of this 
amount, the charter fishery harvested 1.918 million lb (870.0 mt) or 63 
percent and the unguided harvest was 1.131 million lb (513.0 mt) or 37 
percent. Charter harvest exceeded the 2007 Area 2C GHL of 1.432 million 
lb by 486,000 lb (220.4 mt) or 34 percent (Table 1). Harvest estimates 
are not yet available for 2008. Assuming similar harvest patterns in 
2008 as in 2007, the charter vessel harvest may be near double the 2008 
GHL of 931,000 lb (422.3 mt).

Table 1. Guided and Unguided Sport Harvest by Year in Area 2C in Millions of Pounds (Mlb) and as a Percentage of
                                                 Each Year's GHL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Charter harvest
                                  Unguided Sport     Charter      Total Sport   Charter harvest   as percentage
        Year          GHL (Mlb)    Harvest (Mlb)  Harvest (Mlb)  Harvest (Mlb)   as percentage    of total sport
                                                                                     of GHL          harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002                 n/a          0.814           1.275          2.089          n/a              61.0 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2003                 1.432        0.846           1.412          2.258          98.6 %           62.5 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004                 1.432        1.187           1.750          2.937          122.2 %          59.6 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005                 1.432        0.845           1.952          2.797          136.3 %          69.8 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006                 1.432        0.723           1.804          2.527          126.0 %          71.4 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007                 1.432        1.131           1.918          3.049          133.9 %          62.9 %
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008                 0.931        1.131\*\        1.918\*\       n/a            206.0 %          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\*\based on estimate of similar harvest rates as 2007

Proposed Action

    Consistent with a recommendation by the Council in June 2007, this 
action proposes the following management measures to reduce the charter 
vessel fishery harvest of halibut in Area 2C to approximately the GHL 
of 931,000 lb (422.3 mt). If implemented, the proposed regulations 
would remain in effect until changed by a new federal regulatory 
action.
     The number of halibut caught and retained by each charter 
vessel angler in Area 2C is limited to no more than one halibut per 
calendar day;
     A charter vessel guide, a charter vessel operator, and 
crew of a charter vessel must not catch and retain halibut during a 
charter fishing trip; and
     The number of lines used to fish for halibut must not 
exceed six or the number of charter vessel anglers onboard the charter 
vessel, whichever is less.
    One-fish daily bag limit. This restriction would substitute a daily 
catch limit for a charter vessel angler of one halibut per day of any 
size for the existing daily catch limit of two halibut per day with one 
of the two fish less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) in length. This is the 
only management option analyzed that is expected to reduce charter 
vessel harvest to the GHL of 931,000 lb. In conjunction with the 
proposed restrictions on harvest by skipper and crew and line limits, 
the one-fish daily bag limit is estimated to reduce the charter vessel 
harvest to a range of 129 percent to 161 percent of the current Area 2C 
GHL. The one-fish daily bag limit is not expected to reduce charter 
harvest to below the current GHL without a concurrent reduction in 
client demand for charter trips.
    No harvest by skipper and crew. A new Federal restriction is 
proposed prohibiting the harvest of halibut by a charter vessel guide, 
a charter vessel operator, and a charter vessel crew member during a 
charter vessel fishing trip. The language of the June 2007 Council(s 
motion adopting this recommendation reads, (no harvest by skipper and 
crew when clients are on

[[Page 78279]]

board the charter vessel.( Although a sport fishing guide on a charter 
vessel in Area 2C is likely to be the same person as the (skipper,( 
captain, or operator of the vessel, in some cases the skipper and guide 
could be different persons. Hence, this proposed rule makes clear the 
Council(s intent of applying this restriction to all persons(guide, 
skipper or operator, and crew(involved with the delivery of onboard 
services to the charter vessel angler.
    The proposed regulation deviates from the Council(s adopted motion 
language also in that the phrase (when clients are on board( is not 
used in the proposed regulation. Instead, the proposed regulation would 
limit the skipper and crew harvesting prohibition to a charter vessel 
fishing trip. A new definition is proposed in this action for (charter 
vessel fishing trip( which describes the period from the first 
deployment of fishing gear from a charter vessel until the offloading 
of any charter vessel angler or halibut. Also, an existing definition 
of (charter vessel( (at Sec.  300.61) describes such a vessel as one 
(used for hire in sport fishing for halibut, but not including a vessel 
without a hired operator.( Hence, the effect of the proposed regulation 
would be the same as that intended by the Council, which is to prohibit 
retention of halibut caught by the guide, skipper, and crew on a 
charter vessel, but not to impose this restriction when no clients or 
charter vessel anglers are onboard. A vessel without clients or paying 
anglers onboard is, by definition, not a charter vessel. Therefore, 
guides, skippers, and crew would not be prevented from sport fishing 
for halibut for themselves when they are not on a charter vessel 
fishing trip.
    The Council recommended this restriction to make it more specific 
to halibut harvest on charter vessels in Area 2C. The State 
Commissioner of the ADF&G (Commissioner) issued an emergency order 
prohibiting the retention of all fish by the skipper and crew of a 
charter vessel in Area 2C in 2007. The Commissioner could not make his 
emergency order apply only to halibut because the State of Alaska is 
not authorized to directly regulate halibut fishing. A comprehensive 
application of the emergency order to all fish effectively prevented 
charter vessel skippers and crews from harvest of salmon, rockfish, 
lingcod, and other species. Charter vessel operators requested relief 
from this comprehensive prohibition on skipper and crew harvests by 
having a Federal prohibition on skipper and crew harvest apply only to 
halibut. Assuming that the Commissioner does not issue an emergency 
order prohibiting skipper crew and harvest, this action would relieve 
charter vessel skippers and crew from the more comprehensive 
prohibition against retention of all fish on charter vessels but would 
impose this prohibition on the retention of halibut.
    Line limits. A new Federal restriction is proposed that would limit 
the number of lines that could be fished from a charter vessel to six 
or the number of charter vessel anglers onboard the charter vessel, 
whichever is less. The existing IPHC gear limitation for a person sport 
fishing for halibut is a single line with no more than two hooks 
attached, or a spear (IPHC regulation, section 25(1) at 73 FR 12289). 
Hence, this restriction would prevent more than six charter vessel 
anglers on a vessel from fishing at the same time. This restriction is 
reasonable, however, because the charter vessels and charter vessel 
skippers in Southeast Alaska (Area 2C) typically are licensed by the 
U.S. Coast Guard to carry no more than six passengers. In addition, 
existing State of Alaska regulations (at 5 AAC 47.030(b)) limit the 
number of lines fished from a charter vessel generally to the number of 
clients onboard the vessel. A six-line limit for Area 2C has been in 
Alaska regulations since 1983, and limiting the number of lines fished 
to the number of clients onboard has been a requirement since 1997. The 
proposed line limits in Federal regulations would be specifically for 
halibut fishing.
    Remove carcass retention provision. NMFS proposes to remove 
existing requirements for the retention of halibut carcasses. To help 
enforce the two-fish daily bag limit with size restrictions that went 
into place in Area 2C in 2007, NMFS prohibited mutilating or otherwise 
disfiguring a halibut carcass such that the head-on length could not be 
determined. This requirement to retain carcasses would no longer be 
necessary with a one-fish daily bag limit and would be removed from 
regulations at Sec.  300.66(m). The IPHC adopted new standards in 2008 
that were published in the annual management measures on March 7, 2008 
(73 FR 12280). The new IPHC requirement for Alaska is: ``no person 
shall possess onboard a fishing vessel, including charter vessels and 
pleasure craft, halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or 
otherwise disfigured in any manner except that each halibut may be cut 
into no more than two ventral and two dorsal pieces, and two cheeks, 
all with skin on.'' This change allows enforcement officers to count 
the number of fish in possession by an angler, and is not addressed as 
a provision of this proposed rule.
    Other proposed changes. NMFS proposes changes to Sec.  300.65(c)(2) 
and (3) to clarify its authority to limit charter angler harvest to the 
GHL. Recent litigation highlighted that these regulations must be 
changed to clarify that NMFS has the authority to take action at any 
time to limit the charter angler catch to the GHL. A new prohibition 
(p) would be added to Sec.  300.66 to ensure that charter vessel 
operators, guides, anglers, and crew members provide necessary 
documentation upon the request of an authorized officer. This 
documentation may include valid identification, U.S. Coast Guard 
operator's license, permit, ADF&G sport fishing license, or ADF&G 
Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook.
    One definition is proposed to be revised (guideline harvest level) 
and seven definitions are proposed to be added (Area 3A, charter vessel 
angler, charter vessel fishing trip, charter vessel guide, charter 
vessel operator, crew member, and sport fishing guide services) to 
define guided sport fishing activities and are intended to clarify who 
may and may not catch and retain halibut and who is responsible for 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements in Sec.  300.65(d).

Recordkeeping and Reporting

    Charter vessel operators would use the ADF&G Saltwater Sport 
Fishing Charter Trip Logbook to record the information needed to 
enforce the proposed one-fish daily bag limit. Logbook data sheets 
would be required to be submitted to the appropriate ADF&G office 
according to the time schedule described in the instructions at the 
beginning of the logbook.
    The following recordkeeping and recording information would be 
required to enforce this proposed rule: charter vessel business owner 
license number, charter vessel guide license number, date, regulatory 
area fished, angler sport fishing license number and printed name, 
number of halibut retained, charter vessel guide signature, and charter 
vessel angler signature. Additionally, for charter vessels fishing for 
halibut in both Areas 2C and 3A in a single trip, separate logbook data 
sheets would be required for each area if halibut are caught and 
retained.
    Charter vessel guides would continue to be required to complete the 
Alaska Department of Fish and Game Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip 
Logbook and charter vessel anglers would sign the logbook at the end of 
a fishing trip to

[[Page 78280]]

acknowledge that the angler-specific information recorded is correct. 
These collection-of-information requirements were reviewed under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and were approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget under Control Number 0648-0575.

Potential Future Management Actions

    This proposed action is intended to reduce charter vessel harvests 
of halibut to close to the GHL until a longer-term solution can be 
reached. Since the Council made its recommendation in June 2007, it 
subsequently adopted two additional management programs for the charter 
fishery in Areas 2C and 3A. The first program would implement a limited 
entry program for charter vessel businesses and associated vessels. The 
second program, the CSP, would implement new target harvest objectives 
for the charter fishery and associated management measures. It is 
important to note that management under the Council-approved CSP, if 
approved by NMFS, would require a one-fish bag limit under current 
halibut abundance levels. NMFS has not yet published a proposed rule 
for public review and comment for either of these proposed programs.

Classification

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    An Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The IRFA 
describes the economic impact that this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would have on directly regulated small entities. A copy of this 
analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A description of this 
action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for this action 
are discussed in the preamble above. The proposed action would 
implement a one-fish daily bag limit for the charter vessel halibut 
fishery in Area 2C. A summary of the analysis follows.
    In 2007, 403 businesses operated 724 active charter vessels in Area 
2C. All of these operations are assumed to be small entities, with 
annual gross revenues of less than the limit of $7.0 million used to 
differentiate between large and small charter operations. The largest 
companies involved in the fishery, lodges or resorts that offer 
accommodations as well as an assortment of visitor activities, may be 
large entities under the Small Business Administration size standard, 
but it is also possible that all the entities involved in the charter 
vessel halibut of harvest have grossed less than this amount. The 
number of small entities may be overestimated because of the limited 
information on vessel ownership and operator revenues and operational 
affiliations. However, it is likely that nearly all entities qualify as 
small businesses and for purposes of this analysis, all entities were 
assumed to be small entities.
    This analysis examined two alternatives, the status quo and the 
preferred alternative. The objective of this action is to reduce the 
guided sport harvest to approximately the GHL. The status quo 
alternative was introduced in 2007 with the intent of reducing halibut 
harvest in the charter vessel sector while minimizing negative impacts 
on the charter vessel sector, its sport fishing clients, and the 
coastal communities that serve as home ports for the charter vessel 
sector. The status quo would retain the two-fish bag limit with one of 
the two fish less than or equal to 32 inches (83.1 cm) in length, 
without changes. Under the status quo, both the number of charter 
customers and the volume of fish harvested rose to their highest 
recorded levels. In 2007, the GHL was 1.432 Mlb. Since that time 
reductions in the Total CEY in Area 2C have led to a reduction in the 
GHL to 0.931 Mlb. The 2007 harvest was more than double this GHL and is 
not expected to decline if the bag limit remains the same. Thus, the 
status quo would not achieve the objective of this action.
    Seven management measures, combined into 11 specific options, were 
considered for this analysis, but were ultimately rejected without 
being subjected to detailed analysis. These measures were analyzed for 
the final rule published by the Secretary on May 28, 2008 (73 FR 
30504), but prevented from taking effect in 2008 by the Federal Court's 
injunction. These alternatives were thoroughly analyzed at that time, 
and were rejected by the Council and Secretary for a number of reasons; 
primarily because none of these alternatives would reduce the guided 
charter halibut harvest to approximately the GHL. Additional reasons 
for rejecting these alternatives included 1) the economic effect of an 
option falling on too few businesses; 2) the option being easily 
diluted by changes in angler behavior; and 3) the difficulty in 
measuring large fish before bringing them onboard vessels.
    The preferred alternative would implement a one-fish daily bag 
limit for charter vessel anglers, a prohibition on harvest by charter 
vessel guides, operators, and crew, and a maximum six-line limit. A 
range of harvest results are possible under the preferred alternative. 
At current demand levels it is estimated to reduce the harvest in the 
guided sport fishery to between 129 percent and 161 percent of the 
0.931 Mlb GHL, and, under certain assumptions outlined in the analysis 
about changes in demand, it may reduce the harvest to the GHL. Thus, 
this alternative is capable of achieving the objective of this action. 
Although the status quo would have a smaller impact on directly 
regulated small entities, it would not achieve the objectives of this 
action. The preferred alternative would minimize the impacts on small 
entities and best meet the management objective of restricting the 
charter vessel harvest of halibut to as close to the GHL as management 
measures will allow. NMFS earlier considered additional alternatives to 
achieve the objectives of this action in 2007 and 2008. These 
alternatives were analyzed in the April 2008 Environmental Assessment/
Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis for a 
Regulatory Amendment to Implement Guideline Harvest Level Measures in 
the Halibut Charter Fisheries in International Pacific Halibut 
Commission Regulatory Area 2C (see ADDRESSES for availability). This 
earlier analysis found that only the preferred alternative, the one-
halibut bag limit, was capable of achieving the objectives of this 
action. The current analysis reached a similar conclusion.

Collection of Information

    The proposed action imposes new recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements on the directly regulated small entities. The Council, 
NMFS, and ADF&G stressed the importance of minimizing reporting burden 
on the charter vessel industry and developed a proposed information 
collection program that would allow for the recording of necessary 
information in the existing ADF&G Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip 
Logbook (logbook).
    The new logbook information that would be required to be provided 
for this proposed action includes the regulatory area in which halibut 
were caught and kept during the fishing trip, the printed name of the 
charter vessel angler, including youth anglers under 16 years of age, 
and the signature of the angler on the back of the logbook sheet to 
verify that the number of halibut caught and recorded is accurate.
    As currently required by the State, the charter vessel guide also 
would be required under the proposed regulations to provide 1) the 
business license number issued by ADF&G, 2) the charter vessel guide 
license number issued by ADF&G, 3) the date the charter vessel

[[Page 78281]]

fishing trip was taken, 4) the Alaska Sport Fishing License number of 
each charter vessel angler, and 5) the number of halibut retained. At 
the end of each fishing trip, each charter vessel guide would be 
required to acknowledge that the information recorded in the logbook is 
correct by signing the logbook data sheet.
    This collection of information requirement is subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and has been approved by OMB under 
Control Number 0648-0575. The public reporting burden for charter 
vessel guide respondents to fill out and submit logbook data sheets is 
estimated to average four minutes per response. The public reporting 
burden for charter vessel anglers to sign the logbook is estimated to 
be one minute per response. These estimates include the time required 
for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering 
and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. The total public reporting burden for this 
collection is estimated at 3,134 hours. The professional skill that is 
necessary for each charter vessel guide to record the required logbook 
information vessel is the ability to read and write in English.
    Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect 
of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and by e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or 
fax to 202-395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.

Halibut Act

    NMFS, through delegated authority from the Secretary of Commerce, 
is proposing this action under 16 U.S.C. 773c(a) and (b). This 
statutory provision provides NMFS with the general responsibility to 
carry out the Convention between the United States of America and 
Canada for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery of the Northern 
Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, signed at Ottawa, Canada on March 2, 
1953, as amended by the Protocol Amending the Convention, signed at 
Washington March 29, 1979 (Convention), and the Northern Pacific 
Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act), and the authority to adopt such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and goals of 
the Convention and the Halibut Act.
    According to the legislative history of the Halibut Act (Public Law 
97-176, 1982 U.S. Code Cong. and Adm. News, p. 108), the purpose of the 
Halibut Act ``is to amend U.S. law so that it will conform with the 
agreements made by the United States with Canada concerning the halibut 
fishery of the Northern Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.''
    The agreements made by the United States with Canada are integrated 
into the Convention. The Convention provides that:

Nationals and fishing vessels of, and fishing vessels licensed by, 
Canada or the United States may fish for halibut in Convention 
waters only in accordance with this Convention, including its Annex, 
and as provided by the International Pacific Halibut Commission in 
regulations promulgated pursuant to Article III of the Convention 
and designed to develop stocks of halibut in Convention waters to 
those levels which permit the optimum yield from the fishery and to 
maintain the stocks at those levels. However, it is understood that 
nothing contained in this convention shall prohibit either party 
from establishing additional regulations, applicable to its own 
nationals and fishing vessels, and to fishing licensed by that 
party, governing the taking of halibut which are more restrictive 
than those adopted by the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

Convention waters are defined as:

[T]he waters off the west coasts of Canada and the United States, 
including the southern as well as the western coasts of Alaska, 
within the respective maritime areas in which either Party exercises 
exclusive fisheries jurisdiction. For purposes of this Convention, 
the ``maritime area'' in which a Party exercises exclusive fisheries 
jurisdiction includes without distinction areas within and seaward 
of the territorial sea or internal waters of the Party.

    As outlined above, one of the Convention's primary purposes and 
goals is ``to develop stocks of halibut in Convention waters to those 
levels which permit the optimum yield from the fishery and to maintain 
the stocks at those levels.'' This overarching purpose and goal is the 
primary concern of NMFS for this fishery. Optimum yield for a fishery 
is designed to provide the greatest overall benefit to the Nation, 
particularly with respect to food production and recreational 
opportunities, and is proscribed as such on the basis of the maximum 
sustainable yield from that fishery, as reduced by any relevant 
economic, social, or ecological factors.
    At its annual meeting in January 2007, the IPHC adopted a motion to 
recommend reducing the daily bag limit for charter vessel anglers in 
Area 2C from two halibut to one halibut during certain time periods 
(June 15 - July 30) because it believed its management goals were at 
risk by the magnitude of charter halibut harvest in excess of the GHL. 
At that time, the IPHC had information that the GHL had been exceeded 
in 2004 and 2005, and most likely had been exceeded in 2006. The IPHC 
took this action reluctantly, indicating that its preference would be 
for domestic agencies to resolve allocation issues. The IPHC delayed 
the effective date of the reduced bag limit to afford NMFS time to 
resolve the issue under U.S. domestic law with regulations that would 
achieve ``comparable reductions'' in halibut harvest by charter vessel 
anglers in Area 2C.
    In order to have an effective action in 2007, NMFS took action 
under section 773c(a) and (b), independent of the Council process. 
Rather than imposing a one halibut limit for certain portions of the 
season, as proposed by the IPHC, NMFS employed other management 
measures (daily bag limit of one halibut of any size and one halibut 32 
inches or less) it determined would reduce sport fishing mortality of 
halibut to a level comparable to the level that would have been 
achieved by the proposed IPHC regulations. Note that this was not the 
same as reducing the catch to the GHL, which would have required more 
restrictive measures. Regulations implementing the above management 
measures were published on June 4, 2007 (72 FR 30714).
    During the first half of 2007, the Council also was considering 
management alternatives for the charter vessel halibut fishery in Area 
2C. Unlike the IPHC and NMFS actions, however, the Council's action was 
designed specifically to maintain the charter vessel fishery to its 
GHL.
    Section 773c(c) of the Halibut Act provides that ``[t]he Regional 
Fishery Management Council having authority for the geographical area 
concerned [in this case the North Pacific Fishery Management Council] 
may develop regulations governing the United States portion of 
Convention waters, including limited access regulations, applicable to 
nationals or vessels of the United States, or both, which are in 
addition to, and not in conflict with regulations adopted

[[Page 78282]]

by the [International Pacific Halibut] Commission.''
    The Council, through its authority under section 773c(c), developed 
regulations in June 2007 to limit the harvest of charter vessel anglers 
to the Area 2C GHL specified at 50 CFR 300.65(c). At that time, the 
Area 2C GHL was at 1.432 Mlb (649.5 mt); however, the Council was 
provided information that halibut biomass reductions might reduce the 
Area 2C GHL in 2008. Given the information that the GHL might be 
reduced, the Council proposed two options, one option if the Area 2C 
GHL remained at 1.432 Mlb (649.5 mt), and one option if the Area 2C GHL 
was reduced. NMFS published a proposed rule with those two options on 
December 31, 2007.
    At the time the Council took action in June 2007, it was aware that 
charter anglers had exceeded the Area 2C GHL in 2004 (22 percent) and 
2005 (36 percent), and preliminary estimates indicated that the 2006 
Area 2C GHL also would be exceeded. Information provided to the Council 
in October 2007 indicated that the 2006 Area 2C GHL was exceeded by 
26.5 percent.
    In January 2008, the IPHC established a constant exploitation yield 
(CEY) that reduced the GHL to 0.931 Mlb (422.3 mt). This information 
led NMFS to publish a final rule on May 28, 2008 (73 FR 30504), with 
Option B, the option that was recommended by the Council and proposed 
by NMFS if the GHL was reduced. The final rule implemented a one 
halibut daily bag limit along with several other measures, including no 
harvest of halibut by skippers and crew on a charter vessel and line 
limits. Given the 2008 GHL, no other management measures analyzed by 
the Council would have reduced the projected charter anglers overall 
catch to the GHL.
    As indicated earlier in this preamble, the May 28, 2008, final rule 
was enjoined by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on 
June 10, 2008. The full basis for the lawsuit (Van Valin, et al. v. 
Gutierrez, Civil Action No. 1:08-cv-941) and the injunctive relief 
provided by the U.S. District Court is a matter of public record and 
will not be repeated here. However, one important aspect of the lawsuit 
is clarified by this proposed rule.
    In Van Valin, the Plaintiffs argued that NMFS did not have the 
authority to impose certain management measures because it did not 
follow a procedure as outlined in the preamble to the 2003 GHL rule. 
According to the Plaintiffs, NMFS could not impose management measures 
to manage the charter sector to the GHL until that GHL was exceeded. 
This would be true even if previous GHLs had been exceeded, and the GHL 
in place at the time of action was less than the previous exceeded GHLs 
(as was the case in 2008). Although the result the Plaintiffs advocated 
could be read into the rulemaking discussion found in the preamble to 
the 2003 GHL rule, NMFS believes that such a result would be counter to 
its responsibility to manage the halibut resource based on the best 
present, as well as past, information. As such, NMFS specifically 
repudiates that policy and proposes changes to the regulations to 
clarify NMFS' authority to take actions that are necessary to carry out 
the purposes and objectives of the Convention and the Halibut Act.
    NMFS withdrew the May 28, 2008, rule on September 11, 2008 (73 FR 
52795), to ensure that any confusion that may have occurred because of 
the May 28, 2008, rule's perceived connection to the statements made in 
the preamble to the 2003 GHL rule is eliminated and to establish a new 
record and rationale for action under this proposed rule. An analysis 
was prepared for this action that analyzes the necessity of taking this 
action, the purposes of this action, and the alternatives evaluated to 
achieve those purposes. NMFS considered this analysis, as well as the 
Council's continued support for its June 2007 recommendation, as 
evidenced by its actions and intent at its October 2008 meeting, the 
impacts of potential future actions, such as the Catch Sharing Plan for 
Areas 2C and 3A and moratorium on halibut charter businesses 
recommended by the Council, and statements provided by staff of the 
Commission concerning halibut stock management, in proposing this rule.

Executive Order 12962

    This proposed action is consistent with E.O. 12962 which directs 
Federal agencies to improve the quantity, function, sustainable 
productivity, and distribution of aquatic resources for increased 
recreational fishing opportunities (to the extent permitted by law and 
where practicable.( This E.O. does not diminish NMFS( responsibility to 
address allocation issues, nor does it require NMFS or the Council to 
limit their ability to manage recreational fisheries. E.O. 12962 
provides guidance to NMFS to improve the potential productivity of 
aquatic resources for recreational fisheries. This proposed rule does 
not diminish that productivity or countermand the intent of E.O. 12962.
    This analysis did not reveal any Federal rules that duplicate, 
overlap, or conflict with the proposed action.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 300

    Fisheries, Fishing, Treaties.

    Dated: December 16, 2008.
Samuel D. Rauch III
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 
CFR part 300 as follows:

PART 300---INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart E, continues 
to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
    2. In Sec.  300.61, add definitions in alphabetical order for 
``Area 3A'', ``Charter vessel angler'', ``Charter vessel fishing 
trip'', ``Charter vessel guide'', ``Charter vessel operator'', ``Crew 
member'', and ``Sport fishing guide services'', and revise the 
definition for ``Guideline harvest level (GHL)'' to read as follows:


Sec.  300.61  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Area 3A means all waters between Area 2C and a line extending from 
the most northerly point on Cape Aklek (57[deg]41'15'' N. latitude, 
155[deg]35'00'' W. longitude) to Cape Ikolik (57[deg]17'17'' N. 
latitude, 154[deg]47'18'' W. longitude), then along the Kodiak Island 
coastline to Cape Trinity (56[deg]44'50'' N. latitude, 154[deg]08'44'' 
W. longitude), then 140[deg] true.
* * * * *
    Charter vessel angler, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), means a 
person, paying or nonpaying, using the services of a charter vessel 
guide.
    Charter vessel fishing trip, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), means 
the time period between the first deployment of fishing gear into the 
water from a vessel after any charter vessel angler is onboard and the 
offloading of one or more charter vessel anglers or any halibut from 
that vessel.
    Charter vessel guide, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), means a 
person who is required to have an annual sport guide license issued by 
the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, or a person who provides sport 
fishing guide services.
    Charter vessel operator, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), means the 
person in control of the vessel during a charter vessel fishing trip.
* * * * *

[[Page 78283]]

    Crew member, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), means an assistant, 
deckhand, or similar person who works directly under the supervision of 
and on the same vessel as a charter vessel guide.
* * * * *
    Guideline harvest level (GHL) means the level of allowable halibut 
harvest by the charter vessel fishery.
* * * * *
    Sport fishing guide services, for purposes of Sec.  300.65(d), 
means assistance, for compensation, to a person who is sport fishing, 
to take or attempt to take fish by being onboard a vessel with such 
person during any part of a charter vessel fishing trip. Sport fishing 
guide services do not include services provided by a crew member.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec.  300.65, revise paragraphs (c)(2) and (3) and paragraph 
(d) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.65  Catch sharing plan and domestic management measures in 
waters in and off Alaska.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) NMFS will publish a notice in the Federal Register on an annual 
basis announcing the GHL based on the table in paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section for Area 2C and Area 3A for that calendar year after the 
Commission establishes the constant exploitation yield for that year.
    (3) The announced GHLs for Area 2C and 3A are intended to be the 
benchmarks for charter halibut harvest in those areas for the year in 
which it is announced pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section. 
NMFS may take action at any time to limit the charter halibut harvest 
to as close to the GHL as practicable.
    (d) Charter vessels in Area 2C and Area 3A--(1) General 
requirements--(i) Logbook submission. Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook data sheets must be 
submitted to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Sport 
Fish, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599, and postmarked no 
more than seven calendar days after the end of a charter vessel fishing 
trip.
    (ii) The charter vessel guide is responsible for complying with the 
reporting requirements of this paragraph (d). The employer of the 
charter vessel guide is responsible for ensuring that the charter 
vessel guide complies with the reporting requirements of this paragraph 
(d).
    (2) Charter vessels in Area 2C--(i) Daily bag limit. The number of 
halibut caught and retained by each charter vessel angler in Area 2C is 
limited to no more than one halibut per calendar day.
    (ii) Charter vessel guide and crew restriction. A charter vessel 
guide, a charter vessel operator, and any crew member of a charter 
vessel must not catch and retain halibut during a charter fishing trip.
    (iii) Line limit. The number of lines used to fish for halibut 
onboard a vessel must not exceed six or the number of charter vessel 
anglers, whichever is less.
    (iv) Recordkeeping and reporting requirements in Area 2C. Each 
charter vessel angler and charter vessel guide onboard a vessel in Area 
2C must comply with the following recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements (see paragraphs (d)(2)(iv)(A) and (B) of this section):
    (A) Charter vessel angler signature requirement. At the end of a 
charter vessel fishing trip, each charter vessel angler who retains 
halibut caught in Area 2C must acknowledge that his or her information 
and the number of halibut retained (kept) are recorded correctly by 
signing the back of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Saltwater 
Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook data sheet on the line number that 
corresponds to the angler's information on the front of the logbook 
data sheet.
    (B) Charter vessel guide requirements. For each charter vessel 
fishing trip in Area 2C, the charter vessel guide must record the 
following information (see paragraphs (d)(2)(iv)(B)(1) through (8) of 
this section) in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Saltwater Sport 
Fishing Charter Trip Logbook:
    (1) Business owner license number. The sport fishing operator 
business license number issued by the Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game to the charter vessel guide or the charter vessel guide's 
employer.
    (2) Guide license number. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
sport fishing guide license number held by charter vessel guide who 
certified the logbook data sheet.
    (3) Date. Month and day for each charter vessel fishing trip taken. 
A separate logbook data sheet is required for each charter vessel 
fishing trip if two or more trips were taken on the same day. A 
separate logbook data sheet is required for each calendar day that 
halibut are caught and retained during a multi-day trip.
    (4) Regulatory area fished. Circle the regulatory area (Area 2C or 
Area 3A) where halibut were caught and retained during each charter 
vessel fishing trip. If halibut were caught and retained in Area 2C and 
Area 3A during the same charter vessel fishing trip, then a separate 
logbook data sheet must be used to record halibut caught and retained 
for each regulatory area.
    (5) Angler sport fishing license number and printed name. Before a 
charter vessel fishing trip begins, record for each charter vessel 
angler the Alaska Sport Fishing License number for the current year, 
resident permanent license number, or disabled veteran license number, 
and print the name of each paying and nonpaying charter vessel angler 
onboard that will fish for halibut. Record the name of each angler not 
required to have an Alaska Sport Fishing License or its equivalent.
    (6) Number of halibut retained. For each charter vessel angler, 
record the number of halibut caught and retained during the charter 
vessel fishing trip.
    (7) Signature. At the end of a charter vessel fishing trip, 
acknowledge that the recorded information is correct by signing the 
logbook data sheet.
    (8) Angler signature. The charter vessel guide is responsible for 
ensuring that charter vessel anglers comply with the signature 
requirements at paragraph (d)(2)(iv)(A) of this section.
    (3) Charter vessels in Area 3A. For each charter vessel fishing 
trip in Area 3A, the charter vessel guide must record the regulatory 
area (Area 2C or Area 3A) where halibut were caught and retained by 
circling the appropriate area in the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip Logbook. If halibut were caught 
and retained in Area 2C and Area 3A during the same charter vessel 
fishing trip, then a separate logbook data sheet must be used to record 
halibut caught and retained for each regulatory area.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec.  300.66, revise paragraph (m) and add paragraphs (o), 
(p), and (q) to read as follows:


Sec.  300.66  Prohibitions.

* * * * *
    (m) Exceed any of the harvest or gear limitations specified at 
Sec.  300.65(d).
* * * * *
    (o) Fail to comply with the requirements at Sec.  300.65(d).
    (p) Fail to submit or submit inaccurate information on any report, 
license, catch card, application or statement required under Sec.  
300.65.
    (q) Refuse to present valid identification, U.S. Coast Guard 
operator's license, permit, license, or Alaska Department of Fish and 
Game Saltwater Sport Fishing Charter Trip logbook upon the request of 
an authorized officer.
[FR Doc. E8-30376 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S