[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17131-17132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7626]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XV14
Pacific Halibut Fishery; Guideline Harvest Levels for the Charter
Vessel Fishery for Pacific Halibut in International Pacific Halibut
Commission Areas 2C and 3A
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 the 2010 Pacific halibut guideline
harvest levels (GHLs) for the charter vessel fishery in International
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) regulatory areas (Area) 2C and 3A.
This notice is necessary to meet the regulatory requirement to publish
notice announcing the GHLs and to inform the public about the 2010 GHLs
for the charter vessel fishery for halibut. The GHLs are benchmark
harvest levels for participants in the charter vessel fishery. The 2010
GHLs remain the same as the 2009 GHLs; the Area 2C GHL is 788,000 lb
(357.4 mt), and the Area 3A GHL is 3,650,000 lb (1,655.6 mt).
DATES: The GHLs are effective beginning February 1, 2010, through
December 31, 2010. This period is specified by IPHC as the sport
fishing season in all waters in and off Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peggy Murphy, (907) 586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 2003, NMFS implemented a final rule (68 FR 47256, August 8,
2003) to establish GHLs for Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)
harvested by the charter vessel fishery in IPHC regulatory area (Area)
2C and Area 3A. Regulations implementing the GHLs have been amended
twice. In 2008, the GHL table was corrected at 50 CFR 300.65(c)(1) (73
FR 30504, May 28, 2008). In 2009, regulatory provisions were amended
for NMFS' annual publication of the GHL notice and to clarify NMFS'
authority to take action at any time to limit the charter vessel angler
catch to the GHL (74 FR 21194, May 6, 2009).
This notice is consistent with Sec. 300.65(c) and announces the
2010 GHLs for the charter vessel fishery for halibut in IPHC Areas 2C
and 3A. Regulations at Sec. 300.65(c)(1) specify the GHLs based on the
total constant exploitation yield (CEY) that is established annually by
the IPHC. The total CEY for 2010 is 5,020,000 lb (2,277 mt) in Area 2C,
and 26,192,000 lb (11,880 mt) in Area 3A. The corresponding GHLs are
788,000 lb (357.4 mt) in Area 2C, and 3,650,000 lb (1,655.6 mt) in Area
3A. The GHLs in Areas 2C and 3A did not change from the 2009 level.
NMFS may take action at any time to limit the charter halibut harvest
to as close to the GHL as practicable (50 CFR 300.65 (c)(3)).
NMFS is in the process of implementing a new limited entry system
for charter vessels in the guided sport fishery for halibut in Areas 2C
and 3A. Beginning in 2011, the limited access system limits the number
of charter vessels that may participate in the fishery to qualified
business owners (75 FR 554, January 5, 2010). The North Pacific Fishery
Management Council also has proposed alternative management measures to
allocate an annual halibut catch limit established
[[Page 17132]]
by the IPHC between the commercial and charter vessel fisheries. If
approved by the Secretary of Commerce, this new allocation program
would not be effective before 2012.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.
Dated: March 30, 2010.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-7626 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
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