[Federal Register: February 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 24)]
[Notices]
[Page 6709-6710]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe08-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF46
Pacific Halibut Fishery; Guideline Harvest Levels for the Guided
Recreational Halibut Fishery
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of guideline harvest level.
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SUMMARY: NMFS provides notice of Pacific halibut guideline harvest
levels (GHLs) for the guided sport charter vessel fishery in the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas 2C and
3A. The GHLs provide a benchmark harvest level for participants in the
charter fishery. This notice is necessary to meet the management and
regulatory requirements for the GHLs and to inform the public about the
2008 GHLs for the charter halibut fishery.
DATES: The GHLs are effective beginning February 1, 2008, through
December 31, 2008. This period is specified by the IPHC as the sport
fishing season in all waters of Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Scheurer, (907) 586-7356, or
email at julie.scheurer@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS implemented a final rule to establish
GHLs in IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A for the harvest of Pacific
halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) by the charter fishery on August 8,
2003 (68 FR
[[Page 6710]]
47256). The GHLs are intended to serve as a benchmark harvest level for
participants in the charter fishery.
This announcement is consistent with 50 CFR 300.65(c)(2), which
requires that GHLs for IPHC regulatory areas 2C and 3A be specified by
NMFS and announced by publication in the Federal Register no later than
30 days after receiving information from the IPHC. The IPHC annually
establishes the constant exploitation yield (CEY) for halibut in IPHC
regulatory areas 2C and 3A. Regulations at Sec. 300.65(c)(1) establish
the GHLs based on the CEY that is established annually by the IPHC. The
CEY established by the IPHC for 2008 is 6,500,000 lb (2,948.4 mt) in
Area 2C and 28,960,000 lb (13,136.0 mt) in Area 3A. The corresponding
GHLs are 931,000 lb (447.2 mt) in Area 2C, and 3,650,000 lb (1,655.6
mt) in Area 3A. The GHL in Area 2C has been reduced from the 2007 level
of 1,432,000 lb (649.5 mt). The GHL for Area 3A did not change.
This is a notice of the GHLs in Areas 2C and 3A for 2008 and does
not require any regulatory action by NMFS. If a GHL is exceeded in
2008, NMFS will notify the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) in writing within 30 days of receipt of that information. The
Council has proposed management actions to reduce the harvest of
Pacific halibut in the Area 2C guided charter vessel fishery to the GHL
(72 FR 74257, December 31, 2007). The Secretary of Commerce may issue a
final rule after consideration of the 2008 GHL and public comments on
the proposed rule.
Classification
This notice does not require any additional regulatory action by
NMFS and does not impose any additional restrictions on harvests by the
charter fishery. If a GHL is exceeded in any year, the Council would be
notified, but would not be required to take action. This process of
notification is intended to provide the Council with information about
the level of Pacific halibut harvest by the charter fishery in a given
year and could prompt future action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.
Dated: January 30, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-2057 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
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