[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24524-24532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10071]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 300
[Docket No. 040209049-4117-02; I.D. 012204B]
RIN 0648-AR83
Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; annual management measures and sport fishing
regulations for Area 2A Pacific halibut fisheries, and final rule;
changes to the Catch Sharing Plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), on
behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC),
publishes annual management measures promulgated as regulations by the
IPHC and accepted by the Secretary of State governing the Pacific
halibut fishery. The AA also announces modifications to the Catch
Sharing Plan (CSP) for Area 2A and implementing regulations for 2004.
These actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific
halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Pacific Council).
DATES: The rule is effective May 1 2004, except for amendments to Sec.
300.63, which are effective June 3, 2004
ADDRESSES: Copies of the CSP and background documents for this action
are available at NMFS Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98115-0070. The CSP is also available on the Northwest
Region home page at www.nwr.noaa.gov/1sustfsh/halibut01.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Goen or Yvonne deReynier, 206-
526-6150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
This final rule also is accessible via the Internet at the Office
of the Federal Register's website at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
Background
The IPHC manages Pacific halibut in waters off Alaska, British
Columbia, and the U.S. West Coast. On January 20-23, 2004, the IPHC
held its annual meeting in Juneau, AK, and recommended its bilateral
regulations for 2004. The Secretary of State of the United States has
accepted the 2004 IPHC regulations under section 4 of the Northern
Pacific Halibut Act (Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 773-773k). For U.S. waters,
NMFS works with the North Pacific and Pacific Fishery Management
Councils to set area-specific fishery management measures. IPHC refers
to waters off the U.S. West Coast as ``Area 2A.''
On February 23, 2004, NMFS published a proposed rule to implement
2004 revisions to the Area 2A CSP for Pacific halibut (69 FR 8162). A
complete description of the Pacific Council recommended changes to the
CSP and management measures were published in the proposed rule for
this action. NMFS requested comment on the proposed rule through March
9, 2004. On February 27, 2004, NMFS published a final rule (69 FR 9231)
to implement the IPHC's recommendations, to announce IPHC's approval of
the Area 2A CSP, and to announce fishery regulations for U.S. waters
off Alaska and fishery regulations for treaty commercial and ceremonial
and subsistence fisheries and some regulations for non-treaty
commercial fisheries for U.S. waters off the West Coast. None of the
Pacific Council's proposed 2004 revisions to the CSP addressed either
the treaty fisheries or the non-treaty commercial fisheries.
This final rule implements the Area 2A Pacific halibut CSP for 2004
and the Area 2A management measures for 2004. These management measures
are effective until superceded by the 2005 management measures that
NMFS will publish in the Federal Register. The proposed rule for this
action also included a minor revision to the Federal halibut
regulations at 50 CFR 300.63, which authorizes vessels with IPHC
licenses that are operating in the primary sablefish longline fishery
north of Pt. Chehalis to land halibut taken incidentally in that
fishery. With this final rule, Federal regulations will state that, in
addition to the prohibition on possessing and landing halibut south of
Pt. Chehalis, no halibut taken in this fishery may be purchased south
of Pt. Chehalis.
Comments and Responses
During the comment period on the proposed rule for implementing the
Area 2A CSP, NMFS received two letters and one e-mail of comment. The
letters are addressed below in the section on the CSP for Area 2A.
The email generally objected to most of the proposals for changes
to the CSP, referred to halibut as an overfished species under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), and suggested shortening fishing seasons, cutting fishing
quotas and establishing marine sanctuaries. Pacific halibut is an
abundant, healthy stock and is not overfished. The IPHC establishes
overall catch limits for halibut. NMFS regulations are intended to give
fisheries access to the Area 2A total allowable catch (TAC) and to the
various subquotas for sport, commercial, and ceremonial and subsistence
fisheries in Area 2A. Where halibut fishing activities may affect
overfished groundfish stocks, halibut fishing is restricted to protect
those stocks. For example, sport and commercial fisheries off the U.S.
West Coast are prohibited within fishery-specific Groundfish
Conservation Areas (GCAs) implemented by this action.
Marine sanctuaries are created under the National Marine
Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431-1445). This action is taken under the
authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, which does not authorize
the establishment of marine sanctuaries. This action does, however,
establish closed areas requirements for the sport and commercial
halibut fisheries to reduce harvest of overfished rockfish. Sport
fishing for halibut off the Washington coast is prohibited within the
Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA), implemented herein at
Section 24(4)(b)(ii)(C). Commercial fishing for halibut off the U.S.
West Coast and sport fishing for halibut off the Oregon coast are
prohibited within the non-trawl and recreational (sport) Rockfish
Conservation Areas, respectively, implemented herein at Section 27.
Catch Sharing Plan for Area 2
The Pacific Council's Area 2A CSP allocates the halibut catch limit
for Area 2A among treaty Indian, non-treaty commercial, and non-treaty
sport fisheries in and off Washington, Oregon, and California. Those
allocations were described in the proposed rule for this action (69 FR
8162, February 23, 2004). For 2004, the Pacific Council recommended
changes to the CSP to modify the Pacific halibut fisheries in Area 2A
in 2004 and beyond pursuant to recommendations from the Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). These changes to the CSP will: provide more
flexibility for Washington inseason sport fishery management;
[[Page 24525]]
revise the public announcement process for the Puget Sound sport
fishery (Washington's inside waters subarea); revise season dates for
the Washington North Coast and South Coast sport fisheries; combine the
Oregon North Central and South Central subareas; revise the
``additional fishing days'' season structure for Oregon's spring and
summer sport fisheries; extend the season closing date for Oregon/
California sport fisheries in the South of Humbug Mountain subarea; and
change the depth restriction for Oregon's nearshore sport fishery. NMFS
has approved the proposed changes to the CSP. Copies of the complete
CSP for Area 2A as modified are available from the NMFS Northwest
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
The ODFW held a public workshop (after the IPHC set the Area 2A
quota) in Newport, OR, on January 28, 2004, to develop recommendations
on the opening dates of Oregon sport fisheries. WDFW held a public
workshop in Olympia, WA on January 30, 2004, to develop recommendations
on the opening dates of Washington sport fisheries. The WDFW and ODFW
sent letters to NMFS providing the following recommendations on the
opening dates and season structure for managing the sport fisheries
consistent with the CSP.
WDFW recommended a May 6 to July 24 season for eastern Puget Sound
and a May 27 to August 14 season for western Puget Sound, 5 days per
week (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). The recommended number of fishing
days is based on an analysis of past harvest patterns in this fishery
and meets the requirements of the CSP for the overall Puget Sound sport
fishery subarea. For the Washington North Coast subarea, WDFW has
recommended a season opening May 11 and continuing until the May sub-
quota is taken, 5 days per week (closed Sunday and Monday), and a
second season opening June 15 and continuing until the remaining quota
is projected to be taken, 5 days per week (closed Sunday and Monday).
For the Washington South Coast subarea, WDFW has recommended a season
opening May 2 and continuing until the quota is taken, 5 days per week
(closed Friday and Saturday) in the offshore area and 7 days per week
in the nearshore area. WDFW recommendations for the Puget Sound, North
Coast and South Coast Washington subareas meet the requirements of the
CSP.
Both WDFW and ODFW have recommended opening the Columbia River
subarea on May 1 and continuing the season until the quota has been
reached, 7 days per week. This recommended season meets the
requirements of the CSP.
ODFW recommended starting the nearshore fishery in the Oregon
Central Coast subarea, on May 1 and continuing the season until the
sub-quota for that fishery is taken, 7 days per week. For the all-depth
fishery in that subarea, ODFW recommended a 12 day spring season of May
13-15, 20-22, 27-29, and June 10-12, based on an analysis of past
harvest rates. If the spring season does not take the entire spring
sub-quota for this subarea, ODFW recommended these additional potential
opening dates: June 25, 26, and July 9, 10, 23, and 24. ODFW further
recommended re-opening the all-depth fishery on Friday, August 6 to
take the summer sub-quota for this subarea and if sufficient quota
remains. This summer fishery would remain open every other Friday and
Saturday until the quota is taken, or October 31st, whichever occurs
first. These recommendations meet the requirements of the CSP for this
subarea.
For the southernmost subarea, south of Humbug Mountain, Oregon,
ODFW recommended opening this subarea on May 1 and continuing the
season until October 31, 7 days per week. This recommended season meets
the requirements of the CSP.
NMFS is implementing sport fishing management measures in Area 2A
based on recommendations from the states in accordance with the CSP.
NMFS Actions
For the reasons stated herein, NMFS concurs with Pacific Council's
recommendations and hereby announces the following changes to the 2004
annual halibut management measures at 69 FR 9231 (February 27, 2004) to
read as follows:
1. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on
February 27, 2004, in Section 24, ``Sport Fishing for Halibut,''
paragraphs (4) and (10) are revised to read as follows:
* * * * *
(4) In all waters off California, Oregon, and Washington:
(a) The total allowable catch of halibut shall be limited to
272,942 lb (123.8 mt) in waters off Washington and 297,029 pounds
(134.7 metric tons) in waters off California and Oregon;
(b) The sport fishing subareas, subquotas, fishing dates, and daily
bag limits are as follows, except as modified under the inseason
actions in Section 25. All sport fishing in Area 2A is managed on a
``port of landing'' basis, whereby any halibut landed into a port
counts toward the quota for the area in which that port is located, and
the regulations governing the area of landing apply, regardless of the
specific area of catch.
(i) In Puget Sound and the U.S. waters in the Strait of Juan de
Fuca, east of a line extending from 48[deg]17'30'' N. lat.,
124[deg]23'70'' W. long. north to 48[deg]24'10'' N. lat.,
124[deg]23'70'' W. long., there is no quota. This area is managed by
setting a season that is projected to result in a catch of 76,220 lb
(34.6 mt).
(A) The fishing season in eastern Puget Sound (east of
123[deg]49'30'' W. long.) is May 6 through July 24 and the fishing
season in western Puget Sound (west of 123[deg]49'30'' W. long.) is May
27 through August 14, 5 days a week (Thursday through Monday).
(B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per
person.
(ii) The quota for landings into ports in the area off the north
Washington coast, west of the line described in paragraph (4)(b)(i) of
this section and north of the Queets River (47[deg]31'42'' N. lat.), is
126,857 lb (57.5 mt).
(A) The fishing seasons are:
(1) Commencing May 11 and continuing 5 days a week (Tuesday through
Saturday) until 91,337 lb (41.4 mt) are estimated to have been taken
and the season is closed by the Commission.
(2) From June 15, and continuing thereafter for 5 days a week
(Tuesday through Saturday) until the overall quota of 126,857 lb (57.5
mt) are estimated to have been taken and the area is closed by the
Commission, or until September 30, whichever occurs first.
(B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per
person.
(C) A ``C-shaped'' yelloweye rockfish conservation area southwest
of Cape Flattery is closed to sport fishing for halibut. This area is
defined by the following coordinates in the order listed:
48[deg]18' N. lat.; 125[deg]18' W. long.;
48[deg]18' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
48[deg]11' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
48[deg]11' N. lat.; 125[deg]11' W. long.;
48[deg]04' N. lat.; 125[deg]11' W. long.;
48[deg]04' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
48[deg]00' N. lat.; 124[deg]59' W. long.;
48[deg]00' N. lat.; 125[deg]18' W. long.;
and connecting back to 48[deg]18' N. lat.; 125[deg]18' W. long.
(iii) The quota for landings into ports in the area between the
Queets River, WA (47[deg]31'42'' N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point, WA
(46[deg]38'10'' N. lat.), is 61,565 lb (28 mt).
(A) The fishing season commences on May 2 and continues 5 days a
week (Sunday through Thursday) in all waters, except that in the area
from Queets River south to 47[deg]00'00'' N. lat.
[[Page 24526]]
and east of 124[deg]40'00'' W. long, the fishing season commences on
May 2 and continues 7 days a week. Beginning July 1, the halibut
fishery between Queets River and Leadbetter Point will be open 7 days
per week. The fishery will continue from May 2 until 61,565 lb (28 mt)
are estimated to have been taken and the season is closed by the
Commission, or until September 30, whichever occurs first.
(B) The daily bag limit is one halibut of any size per day per
person.
(iv) The quota for landings into ports in the area between
Leadbetter Point, WA (46[deg]38'10'' N. lat.) and Cape Falcon, OR
(45[deg]46'00'' N. lat.), is 14,241 lb (6.5 mt).
(A) The fishing season commences on May 1, and continues every day
through September 30, or until 14,241 lb (6.5 mt) are estimated to have
been taken and the area is closed by the Commission, whichever occurs
first.
(B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
(v) The quota for landings into ports in the area off Oregon
between Cape Falcon (45[deg]46'00'' N. lat.) and Humbug Mountain
(42[deg]40'30'' N. lat.), is 282,178 lb (128 mt).
(A) The fishing seasons are:
(1) The first season commences May 1 and continues every day
through October 31, in the area inside of a boundary line approximating
the 40-fathom (73-m) depth contour, or until the sub-quota for the
central Oregon inside 40-fm fishery (22,574 lb) 102.2 mt)) or any
inseason revised subquota is estimated to have been taken and the
season is closed by the Commission, whichever is earlier. The boundary
line approximating the 40-fathom (73- m) depth contour between
45[deg]46'00'' N. lat. and 42[deg]40'30'' N. lat. is defined by
straight lines connecting all of the following points in the order
stated:
(1) 45[deg]47.07'N. lat., 124[deg]04.21'W. long.;
(2) 45[deg]44.34'N. lat., 124[deg]05.09'W. long.;
(3) 45[deg]40.64'N. lat., 124[deg]04.90'W. long.;
(4) 45[deg]33.00'N. lat., 124[deg]04.46'W. long.;
(5) 45[deg]32.27'N. lat., 124[deg]04.74'W. long.;
(6) 45[deg]29.26'N. lat., 124[deg]04.22'W. long.;
(7) 45[deg]19.99'N. lat., 124[deg]04.62'W. long.;
(8) 45[deg]17.50'N. lat., 124[deg]04.91'W. long.;
(9) 45[deg]11.29'N. lat., 124[deg]05.19'W. long.;
(10) 45[deg]05.79'N. lat., 124[deg]05.40'W. long.;
(11) 45[deg]05.07'N. lat., 124[deg]05.93'W. long.;
(12) 45[deg]01.70'N. lat., 124[deg]06.53'W. long.;
(13) 44[deg]58.75'N. lat., 124[deg]07.14'W. long.;
(14) 44[deg]51.28'N. lat., 124[deg]10.21'W. long.;
(15) 44[deg]49.49'N. lat., 124[deg]10.89'W. long.;
(16) 44[deg]44.96'N. lat., 124[deg]14.39'W. long.;
(17) 44[deg]43.44'N. lat., 124[deg]14.78'W. long.;
(18) 44[deg]42.27'N. lat., 124[deg]13.81'W. long.;
(19) 44[deg]41.68'N. lat., 124[deg]15.38'W. long.;
(20) 44[deg]34.87'N. lat., 124[deg]15.80'W. long.;
(21) 44[deg]33.74'N. lat., 124[deg]14.43'W. long.;
(22) 44[deg]27.66'N. lat., 124[deg]16.99'W. long.;
(23) 44[deg]19.13'N. lat., 124[deg]19.22'W. long.;
(24) 44[deg]15.35'N. lat., 124[deg]17.37'W. long.;
(25) 44[deg]14.38'N. lat., 124[deg]17.78'W. long.;
(26) 44[deg]12.80'N. lat., 124[deg]17.18'W. long.;
(27) 44[deg]09.23'N. lat., 124[deg]15.96'W. long.;
(28) 44[deg]08.38'N. lat., 124[deg]16.80'W. long.;
(29) 44[deg]01.18'N. lat., 124[deg]15.42'W. long.;
(30) 43[deg]51.60'N. lat., 124[deg]14.68'W. long.;
(31) 43[deg]42.66'N. lat., 124[deg]15.46'W. long.;
(32) 43[deg]40.49'N. lat., 124[deg]15.74'W. long.;
(33) 43[deg]38.77'N. lat., 124[deg]15.64'W. long.;
(34) 43[deg]34.52'N. lat., 124[deg]16.73'W. long.;
(35) 43[deg]28.82'N. lat., 124[deg]19.52'W. long.;
(36) 43[deg]23.91'N. lat., 124[deg]24.28'W. long.;
(37) 43[deg]17.96'N. lat., 124[deg]28.81'W. long.;
(38) 43[deg]16.75'N. lat., 124[deg]28.42'W. long.;
(39) 43[deg]13.98'N. lat., 124[deg]31.99'W. long.;
(40) 43[deg]13.71'N. lat., 124[deg]33.25'W. long.;
(41) 43[deg]12.26'N. lat., 124[deg]34.16'W. long.;
(42) 43[deg]10.96'N. lat., 124[deg]32.34'W. long.;
(43) 43[deg]05.65'N. lat., 124[deg]31.52'W. long.;
(44) 42[deg]59.66'N. lat., 124[deg]32.58'W. long.;
(45) 42[deg]54.97'N. lat., 124[deg]36.99'W. long.;
(46) 42[deg]53.81'N. lat., 124[deg]38.58'W. long.;
(47) 42[deg]49.14'N. lat., 124[deg]39.92'W. long.;
(48) 42[deg]46.47'N. lat., 124[deg]38.65'W. long.;
(49) 42[deg]45.60'N. lat., 124[deg]39.04'W. long.;
(50) 42[deg]44.79'N. lat., 124[deg]37.96'W. long.;
(51) 42[deg]45.00'N. lat., 124[deg]36.39'W. long.;
(52) 42[deg]44.14'N. lat., 124[deg]35.16'W. long.;
(53) 42[deg]42.15'N. lat., 124[deg]32.82'W. long.; and
(54) 42[deg]38.82'N. lat., 124[deg]31.09'W. long.;
(2) The second season (spring season), which is for the ``all-
depth'' fishery, is open on May 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and
June 10, 11, and 12. The projected catch for this season is 194,703 lb
(88.3 mt). If sufficient unharvested catch remains for additional
fishing days, the season will re-open. Dependent on the amount of
unharvested catch available, the potential season re-opening dates will
be: June 25, and 26, and July 9, 10, 23, and 24. If NMFS decides
inseason to allow fishing on any of these re-opening dates, notice of
the re-opening will be announced on the NMFS hotline (206) 526-6667 or
(800) 662-9825. No halibut fishing will be allowed on the re-opening
dates unless the date is announced on the NMFS hotline.
(3) If sufficient unharvested catch remains, the third season
(summer season), which is for the ``all-depth'' fishery, will be open
August 6, 7, 20, and 21, September 3, 4, 17, and 18, and October 1, 2,
15, 16, 29, and 30, or until the combined spring season and summer
season quotas in the area between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mountain, OR,
totaling 259,604 lb (117.8 mt), are estimated to have been taken and
the area is closed by the Commission, whichever is earlier. NMFS will
announce on the NMFS hotline in mid-July whether the fishery will re-
open in August. No halibut fishing will be allowed in the summer season
fishery unless the dates are announced on the NMFS hotline.
(B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
(vi) In the area south of Humbug Mountain, Oregon (42[deg]40'30''
N. lat.) and off the California coast, there is no quota. This area is
managed on a season that is projected to result in a catch of less than
8,911 lb (4 mt).
(A) The fishing season will commence on May 1 and continue every
day through October 31.
[[Page 24527]]
(B) The daily bag limit is the first halibut taken, per person, of
32 inches (81.3 cm) or greater in length.
(c) The Commission shall determine and announce closing dates for
any area in which the subquotas in this Section are estimated to have
been taken.
(d) When the Commission has determined that a subquota under
paragraph (4)(b) of this section is estimated to have been taken, and
has announced a date on which the season will close, no person shall
sport fish for halibut in that area after that date for the rest of the
year, unless a reopening of that area for sport halibut fishing is
scheduled in accordance with the Catch Sharing Plan for Area 2A, or
announced by the Commission.
* * * * *
(10) The possession limit for halibut on land in Area 2A is two
daily bag limits.
* * * * *
2. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on
February 27, 2004, Section 25, ``Flexible Inseason Management
Provisions in Area 2A'' is added to read as follows:
25. Flexible Inseason Management Provisions in Area 2A
(1) The Regional Administrator, NMFS Northwest Region, after
consultation with the Chairman of the Pacific Fishery Management
Council, the Commission Executive Director, and the Fisheries
Director(s) of the affected state(s), or their designees, is authorized
to modify regulations during the season after making the following
determinations.
(a) The action is necessary to allow allocation objectives to be
met.
(b) The action will not result in exceeding the catch limit for the
area.
(c) If any of the sport fishery subareas north of Cape Falcon, OR,
are not projected to utilize their respective quotas by September 30,
NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any projected unused quota to
another Washington sport subarea.
(d) If any of the sport fishery subareas south of Leadbetter Point,
WA, are not projected to utilize their respective quotas by their
season ending dates, NMFS may take inseason action to transfer any
projected unused quota to another Oregon sport subarea.
(2) Flexible inseason management provisions include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(a) Modification of sport fishing periods;
(b) Modification of sport fishing bag limits;
(c) Modification of sport fishing size limits;
(d) Modification of sport fishing days per calendar week; and
(e) Modification of subarea quotas north of Cape Falcon, OR.
(3) Notice procedures.
(a) Actions taken under this section will be published in the
Federal Register.
(b) Actual notice of inseason management actions will be provided
by a telephone hotline administered by the Northwest Region, NMFS, at
206-526-6667 or 800-662-9825 (May through October) and by U.S. Coast
Guard broadcasts. These broadcasts are announced on Channel 16 VHF-FM
and 2182 kHz at frequent intervals. The announcements designate the
channel or frequency over which the notice to mariners will be
immediately broadcast. Since provisions of these regulations may be
altered by inseason actions, sport fishers should monitor either the
telephone hotline or U.S. Coast Guard broadcasts for current
information for the area in which they are fishing.
(4) Effective dates.
(a) Any action issued under this section is effective on the date
specified in the publication or at the time that the action is filed
for public inspection with the Office of the Federal Register,
whichever is later.
(b) If time allows, pursuant to the requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act, NMFS will invite public comment prior to
the effective date of any inseason action filed with the Federal
Register. If the Regional Administrator determines, for good cause,
that an inseason action must be filed without affording a prior
opportunity for public comment, public comments will be received for a
period of 15 days after publication of the action in the Federal
Register.
(c) Any inseason action issued under this section will remain in
effect until the stated expiration date or until rescinded, modified,
or superseded. However, no inseason action has any effect beyond the
end of the calendar year in which it is issued.
(5) Availability of data. The Regional Administrator will compile,
in aggregate form, all data and other information relevant to the
action being taken and will make them available for public review
during normal office hours at the Northwest Regional Office, NMFS,
Sustainable Fisheries Division, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA.
3. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on
February 27, 2004, Section 26, ``Fishery Election in Area 2A'' is added
to read as follows:
26. Fishery Election in Area 2A
(1) A vessel that fishes in Area 2A may participate in only one of
the following three fisheries in Area 2A:
(a) The sport fishery under Section 24;
(b) The commercial directed fishery for halibut during the fishing
period(s) established in Section 8 and/or the incidental retention of
halibut during the primary sablefish fishery described at 50 CFR
660.323(a)(2); or
(c) The incidental catch fishery during the salmon troll fishery as
authorized in Section 8.
(2) No person shall fish for halibut in the sport fishery in Area
2A under Section 24 from a vessel that has been used during or that has
been issued a permit for the same calendar year for commercial halibut
fishing in Area 2A.
(3) No person shall fish for halibut in the directed commercial
halibut fishery during the fishing periods established in Section 8
and/or retain halibut incidentally taken in the primary sablefish
fishery in Area 2A from a vessel that has been used during the same
calendar year for the incidental catch fishery during the salmon troll
fishery as authorized in Section 8.
(4) No person shall fish for halibut in the directed commercial
halibut fishery and/or retain halibut incidentally taken in the primary
sablefish fishery in Area 2A from a vessel that, during the same
calendar year, has been used in the sport halibut fishery in Area 2A or
that is licensed for the sport charter halibut fishery in Area 2A.
(5) No person shall retain halibut in the salmon troll fishery in
Area 2A as authorized under Section 8 taken on a vessel that, during
the same calendar year, has been used in the sport halibut fishery in
Area 2A, or that is licensed for the sport charter halibut fishery in
Area 2A.
(6) No person shall retain halibut in the salmon troll fishery in
Area 2A as authorized under Section 8 taken on a vessel that, during
the same calendar year, has been used in the directed commercial
halibut fishery during the fishing periods established in Section 8
and/or retained halibut incidentally taken in the primary sablefish
fishery for Area 2A or that is licensed to participate in these
commercial fisheries during the fishing periods established in Section
8 in Area 2A.
4. On page 9238, in the Federal Register document published on
February 27, 2004, Section 27, ``Area 2A Non-Treaty Commercial Fishery
Closed Area'' is added to read as follows:
[[Page 24528]]
27. Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery Closed Areas
Non-treaty commercial vessels operating in the directed commercial
fishery for halibut in Area 2A must fish outside of a closed area,
known as the Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA), that extends along the
coast from the U.S./Canada border south to 40[deg]10' N. lat.
Coordinates for the closed area are as follows:
(1) Between the U.S./Canada border and 46[deg]16' N. lat., the
eastern boundary of the RCA is the shoreline.
(2) Between 46[deg]16' N. lat. and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the eastern,
inshore boundary of the RCA approximates the 30 fm (55 m) depth
contour. The boundary is defined by straight lines connecting all of
the following points in the order stated:
(1) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.13' W. long.;
(2) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]13.05' W. long.;
(3) 46[deg]07.00' N. lat., 124[deg]07.01' W. long.;
(4) 45[deg]55.95' N. lat., 124[deg]02.23' W. long.;
(5) 45[deg]54.53' N. lat., 124[deg]02.57' W. long.;
(6) 45[deg]50.65' N. lat., 124[deg]01.62' W. long.;
(7) 45[deg]48.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.16' W. long.;
(8) 45[deg]43.47' N. lat., 124[deg]01.28' W. long.;
(9) 45[deg]40.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.03' W. long.;
(10) 45[deg]39.04' N. lat., 124[deg]01.68' W. long.;
(11) 45[deg]35.48' N. lat., 124[deg]01.89' W. long.;
(12) 45[deg]29.81' N. lat., 124[deg]02.45' W. long.;
(13) 45[deg]27.96' N. lat., 124[deg]01.89' W. long.;
(14) 45[deg]27.22' N. lat., 124[deg]02.67' W. long.;
(15) 45[deg]24.20' N. lat., 124[deg]02.94' W. long.;
(16) 45[deg]20.60' N. lat., 124[deg]01.74' W. long.;
(17) 45[deg]16.44' N. lat., 124[deg]03.22' W. long.;
(18) 45[deg]13.63' N. lat., 124[deg]02.70' W. long.;
(19) 45[deg]11.04' N. lat., 124[deg]03.59' W. long.;
(20) 45[deg]08.55' N. lat., 124[deg]03.47' W. long.;
(21) 45[deg]02.82' N. lat., 124[deg]04.64' W. long.;
(22) 44[deg]58.06' N. lat., 124[deg]05.03' W. long.;
(23) 44[deg]53.97' N. lat., 124[deg]06.92' W. long.;
(24) 44[deg]48.89' N. lat., 124[deg]07.04' W. long.;
(25) 44[deg]46.94' N. lat., 124[deg]08.25' W. long.;
(26) 44[deg]42.72' N. lat., 124[deg]08.98' W. long.;
(27) 44[deg]38.16' N. lat., 124[deg]11.48' W. long.;
(28) 44[deg]33.38' N. lat., 124[deg]11.54' W. long.;
(29) 44[deg]28.51' N. lat., 124[deg]12.03' W. long.;
(30) 44[deg]27.65' N. lat., 124[deg]12.56' W. long.;
(31) 44[deg]19.67' N. lat., 124[deg]12.37' W. long.;
(32) 44[deg]10.79' N. lat., 124[deg]12.22' W. long.;
(33) 44[deg]09.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.28' W. long.;
(34) 44[deg]00.22' N. lat., 124[deg]12.80' W. long.;
(35) 43[deg]51.56' N. lat., 124[deg]13.17' W. long.;
(36) 43[deg]44.26' N. lat., 124[deg]14.50' W. long.;
(37) 43[deg]33.82' N. lat., 124[deg]16.28' W. long.;
(38) 43[deg]28.66' N. lat., 124[deg]18.72' W. long.;
(39) 43[deg]23.12' N. lat., 124[deg]24.04' W. long.;
(40) 43[deg]20.49' N. lat., 124[deg]25.90' W. long.;
(41) 43[deg]16.41' N. lat., 124[deg]27.52' W. long.;
(42) 43[deg]14.23' N. lat., 124[deg]29.28' W. long.;
(43) 43[deg]14.03' N. lat., 124[deg]28.31' W. long.;
(44) 43[deg]11.92' N. lat., 124[deg]28.26' W. long.;
(45) 43[deg]11.02' N. lat., 124[deg]29.11' W. long.;
(46) 43[deg]10.13' N. lat., 124[deg]29.15' W. long.;
(47) 43[deg]09.27' N. lat., 124[deg]31.03' W. long.;
(48) 43[deg]07.73' N. lat., 124[deg]30.92' W. long.;
(49) 43[deg]05.93' N. lat., 124[deg]29.64' W. long.;
(50) 43[deg]01.59' N. lat., 124[deg]30.64' W. long.;
(51) 42[deg]59.73' N. lat., 124[deg]31.16' W. long.;
(52) 42[deg]53.75' N. lat., 124[deg]36.09' W. long.;
(53) 42[deg]49.37' N. lat., 124[deg]38.81' W. long.;
(54) 42[deg]46.42' N. lat., 124[deg]37.69' W. long.;
(55) 42[deg]46.07' N. lat., 124[deg]38.56' W. long.;
(56) 42[deg]45.29' N. lat., 124[deg]37.95' W. long.;
(57) 42[deg]45.61' N. lat., 124[deg]36.87' W. long.;
(58) 42[deg]44.28' N. lat., 124[deg]33.64' W. long.;
(59) 42[deg]42.75' N. lat., 124[deg]31.84' W. long.;
(60) 42[deg]40.04' N. lat., 124[deg]29.19' W. long.;
(61) 42[deg]38.09' N. lat., 124[deg]28.39' W. long.;
(62) 42[deg]36.72' N. lat., 124[deg]27.54' W. long.;
(63) 42[deg]36.56' N. lat., 124[deg]28.40' W. long.;
(64) 42[deg]35.76' N. lat., 124[deg]28.79' W. long.;
(65) 42[deg]34.03' N. lat., 124[deg]29.98' W. long.;
(66) 42[deg]34.19' N. lat., 124[deg]30.58' W. long.;
(67) 42[deg]31.27' N. lat., 124[deg]32.24' W. long.;
(68) 42[deg]27.07' N. lat., 124[deg]32.53' W. long.;
(69) 42[deg]24.21' N. lat., 124[deg]31.23' W. long.;
(70) 42[deg]20.47' N. lat., 124[deg]28.87' W. long.;
(71) 42[deg]14.60' N. lat., 124[deg]26.80' W. long.;
(72) 42[deg]10.90' N. lat., 124[deg]24.57' W. long.;
(73) 42[deg]07.04' N. lat., 124[deg]23.35' W. long.;
(74) 42[deg]02.16' N. lat., 124[deg]22.59' W. long.;
(75) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.81' W. long.;
(76) 41[deg]59.95' N. lat., 124[deg]21.56' W. long.;
(77) 41[deg]55.75' N. lat., 124[deg]20.72' W. long.;
(78) 41[deg]50.93' N. lat., 124[deg]23.76' W. long.;
(79) 41[deg]42.53' N. lat., 124[deg]16.47' W. long.;
(80) 41[deg]37.02' N. lat., 124[deg]17.05' W. long.;
(81) 41[deg]24.58' N. lat., 124[deg]10.51' W. long.;
(82) 41[deg]20.73' N. lat., 124[deg]11.73' W. long.;
(83) 41[deg]17.59' N. lat., 124[deg]10.66' W. long.;
(84) 41[deg]04.54' N. lat., 124[deg]14.47' W. long.;
(85) 40[deg]54.26' N. lat., 124[deg]13.09' W. long.;
(86) 40[deg]40.31' N. lat., 124[deg]26.24' W. long.;
(87) 40[deg]34.00' N. lat., 124[deg]27.39' W. long.;
(88) 40[deg]28.89' N. lat., 124[deg]32.43' W. long.;
(89) 40[deg]24.77' N. lat., 124[deg]29.51' W. long.;
(90) 40[deg]22.47' N. lat., 124[deg]24.12' W. long.;
(91) 40[deg]19.73' N. lat., 124[deg]23.59' W. long.;
(92) 40[deg]18.64' N. lat., 124[deg]21.89' W. long.;
(93) 40[deg]17.67' N. lat., 124[deg]23.07' W. long.;
(94) 40[deg]15.58' N. lat., 124[deg]23.61' W. long.;
[[Page 24529]]
(95) 40[deg]13.42' N. lat., 124[deg]22.94' W. long.; and
(96) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]16.65' W. long.;
(3) Between the U.S./Canada border and 40[deg]10' N. lat., the
western, offshore boundary of the RCA approximates the 100-fm (183-m)
depth contour. The boundary is defined by straight lines connecting all
of the following points in the order stated:
(1) 48[deg]15.00' N. lat., 125[deg]41.00' W. long.;
(2) 48[deg]14.00' N. lat., 125[deg]36.00' W. long.;
(3) 48[deg]09.50' N. lat., 125[deg]40.50' W. long.;
(4) 48[deg]08.00' N. lat., 125[deg]38.00' W. long.;
(5) 48[deg]05.00' N. lat., 125[deg]37.25' W. long.;
(6) 48[deg]02.60' N. lat., 125[deg]34.70' W. long.;
(7) 47[deg]59.00' N. lat., 125[deg]34.00' W. long.;
(8) 47[deg]57.26' N. lat., 125[deg]29.82' W. long.;
(9) 47[deg]59.87' N. lat., 125[deg]25.81' W. long.;
(10) 48[deg]01.80' N. lat., 125[deg]24.53' W. long.;
(11) 48[deg]02.08' N. lat., 125[deg]22.98' W. long.;
(12) 48[deg]02.97' N. lat., 125[deg]22.89' W. long.;
(13) 48[deg]04.47' N. lat., 125[deg]21.75' W. long.;
(14) 48[deg]06.11' N. lat., 125[deg]19.33' W. long.;
(15) 48[deg]07.95' N. lat., 125[deg]18.55' W. long.;
(16) 48[deg]09.00' N. lat., 125[deg]18.00' W. long.;
(17) 48[deg]11.31' N. lat., 125[deg]17.55' W. long.;
(18) 48[deg]14.60' N. lat., 125[deg]13.46' W. long.;
(19) 48[deg]16.67' N. lat., 125[deg]14.34' W. long.;
(20) 48[deg]18.73' N. lat., 125[deg]14.41' W. long.;
(21) 48[deg]19.67' N. lat., 125[deg]13.70' W. long.;
(22) 48[deg]19.70' N. lat., 125[deg]11.13' W. long.;
(23) 48[deg]22.95' N. lat., 125[deg]10.79' W. long.;
(24) 48[deg]21.61' N. lat., 125[deg]02.54' W. long.;
(25) 48[deg]23.00' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
(26) 48[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]56.50' W. long.;
(27) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]00.00' W. long.;
(28) 48[deg]04.62' N. lat., 125[deg]01.73' W. long.;
(29) 48[deg]04.84' N. lat., 125[deg]04.03' W. long.;
(30) 48[deg]06.41' N. lat., 125[deg]06.51' W. long.;
(31) 48[deg]06.00' N. lat., 125[deg]08.00' W. long.;
(32) 48[deg]07.08' N. lat., 125[deg]09.34' W. long.;
(33) 48[deg]07.28' N. lat., 125[deg]11.14' W. long.;
(34) 48[deg]03.45' N. lat., 125[deg]16.66' W. long.;
(35) 47[deg]59.50' N. lat., 125[deg]18.88' W. long.;
(36) 47[deg]58.68' N. lat., 125[deg]16.19' W. long.;
(37) 47[deg]56.62' N. lat., 125[deg]13.50' W. long.;
(38) 47[deg]53.71' N. lat., 125[deg]11.96' W. long.;
(39) 47[deg]51.70' N. lat., 125[deg]09.38' W. long.;
(40) 47[deg]49.95' N. lat., 125[deg]06.07' W. long.;
(41) 47[deg]49.00' N. lat., 125[deg]03.00' W. long.;
(42) 47[deg]46.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.00' W. long.;
(43) 47[deg]46.58' N. lat., 125[deg]03.15' W. long.;
(44) 47[deg]44.07' N. lat., 125[deg]04.28' W. long.;
(45) 47[deg]43.32' N. lat., 125[deg]04.41' W. long.;
(46) 47[deg]40.95' N. lat., 125[deg]04.14' W. long.;
(47) 47[deg]39.58' N. lat., 125[deg]04.97' W. long.;
(48) 47[deg]36.23' N. lat., 125[deg]02.77' W. long.;
(49) 47[deg]34.28' N. lat., 124[deg]58.66' W. long.;
(50) 47[deg]32.17' N. lat., 124[deg]57.77' W. long.;
(51) 47[deg]30.27' N. lat., 124[deg]56.16' W. long.;
(52) 47[deg]30.60' N. lat., 124[deg]54.80' W. long.;
(53) 47[deg]29.26' N. lat., 124[deg]52.21' W. long.;
(54) 47[deg]28.21' N. lat., 124[deg]50.65' W. long.;
(55) 47[deg]27.38' N. lat., 124[deg]49.34' W. long.;
(56) 47[deg]25.61' N. lat., 124[deg]48.26' W. long.;
(57) 47[deg]23.54' N. lat., 124[deg]46.42' W. long.;
(58) 47[deg]20.64' N. lat., 124[deg]45.91' W. long.;
(59) 47[deg]17.99' N. lat., 124[deg]45.59' W. long.;
(60) 47[deg]18.20' N. lat., 124[deg]49.12' W. long.;
(61) 47[deg]15.01' N. lat., 124[deg]51.09' W. long.;
(62) 47[deg]12.61' N. lat., 124[deg]54.89' W. long.;
(63) 47[deg]08.22' N. lat., 124[deg]56.53' W. long.;
(64) 47[deg]08.50' N. lat., 124[deg]57.74' W. long.;
(65) 47[deg]01.92' N. lat., 124[deg]54.95' W. long.;
(66) 47[deg]01.14' N. lat., 124[deg]59.35' W. long.;
(67) 46[deg]58.48' N. lat., 124[deg]57.81' W. long.;
(68) 46[deg]56.79' N. lat., 124[deg]56.03' W. long.;
(69) 46[deg]58.01' N. lat., 124[deg]55.09' W. long.;
(70) 46[deg]55.07' N. lat., 124[deg]54.14' W. long.;
(71) 46[deg]59.60' N. lat., 124[deg]49.79' W. long.;
(72) 46[deg]58.72' N. lat., 124[deg]48.78' W. long.;
(73) 46[deg]54.45' N. lat., 124[deg]48.36' W. long.;
(74) 46[deg]53.99' N. lat., 124[deg]49.95' W. long.;
(75) 46[deg]54.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.73' W. long.;
(76) 46[deg]52.38' N. lat., 124[deg]52.02' W. long.;
(77) 46[deg]48.93' N. lat., 124[deg]49.17' W. long.;
(78) 46[deg]41.50' N. lat., 124[deg]43.00' W. long.;
(79) 46[deg]34.50' N. lat., 124[deg]28.50' W. long.;
(80) 46[deg]29.00' N. lat., 124[deg]30.00' W. long.;
(81) 46[deg]20.00' N. lat., 124[deg]36.50' W. long.;
(82) 46[deg]18.00' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
(83) 46[deg]17.52' N. lat., 124[deg]35.35' W. long.;
(84) 46[deg]17.00' N. lat., 124[deg]22.50' W. long.;
(85) 46[deg]16.00' N. lat., 124[deg]20.62' W. long.;
(86) 46[deg]13.52' N. lat., 124[deg]25.49' W. long.;
(87) 46[deg]12.17' N. lat., 124[deg]30.75' W. long.;
(88) 46[deg]10.63' N. lat., 124[deg]37.95' W. long.;
(89) 46[deg]09.29' N. lat., 124[deg]39.01' W. long.;
(90) 46[deg]02.40' N. lat., 124[deg]40.37' W. long.;
(91) 45[deg]56.45' N. lat., 124[deg]38.00' W. long.;
(92) 45[deg]51.92' N. lat., 124[deg]38.49' W. long.;
(93) 45[deg]47.19' N. lat., 124[deg]35.58' W. long.;
(94) 45[deg]46.41' N. lat., 124[deg]32.36' W. long.;
(95) 45[deg]41.75' N. lat., 124[deg]28.12' W. long.;
(96) 45[deg]36.96' N. lat., 124[deg]24.48' W. long.;
(97) 45[deg]31.84' N. lat., 124[deg]22.04' W. long.;
(98) 45[deg]27.10' N. lat., 124[deg]21.74' W. long.;
(99) 45[deg]18.14' N. lat., 124[deg]17.59' W. long.;
[[Page 24530]]
(100) 45[deg]11.08' N. lat., 124[deg]16.97' W. long.;
(101) 45[deg]04.38' N. lat., 124[deg]18.36' W. long.;
(102) 44[deg]58.05' N. lat., 124[deg]21.58' W. long.;
(103) 44[deg]47.67' N. lat., 124[deg]31.41' W. long.;
(104) 44[deg]44.55' N. lat., 124[deg]33.58' W. long.;
(105) 44[deg]39.88' N. lat., 124[deg]35.01' W. long.;
(106) 44[deg]32.90' N. lat., 124[deg]36.81' W. long.;
(107) 44[deg]30.33' N. lat., 124[deg]38.56' W. long.;
(108) 44[deg]30.04' N. lat., 124[deg]42.31' W. long.;
(109) 44[deg]26.84' N. lat., 124[deg]44.91' W. long.;
(110) 44[deg]17.99' N. lat., 124[deg]51.03' W. long.;
(111) 44[deg]13.68' N. lat., 124[deg]56.38' W. long.;
(112) 43[deg]56.67' N. lat., 124[deg]55.45' W. long.;
(113) 43[deg]56.47' N. lat., 124[deg]34.61' W. long.;
(114) 43[deg]42.73' N. lat., 124[deg]32.41' W. long.;
(115) 43[deg]30.93' N. lat., 124[deg]34.43' W. long.;
(116) 43[deg]17.45' N. lat., 124[deg]41.16' W. long.;
(117) 43[deg]07.04' N. lat., 124[deg]41.25' W. long.;
(118) 43[deg]03.45' N. lat., 124[deg]44.36' W. long.;
(119) 43[deg]03.90' N. lat., 124[deg]50.81' W. long.;
(120) 42[deg]55.70' N. lat., 124[deg]52.79' W. long.;
(121) 42[deg]54.12' N. lat., 124[deg]47.36' W. long.;
(122) 42[deg]44.00' N. lat., 124[deg]42.38' W. long.;
(123) 42[deg]38.23' N. lat., 124[deg]41.25' W. long.;
(124) 42[deg]33.03' N. lat., 124[deg]42.38' W. long.;
(125) 42[deg]31.89' N. lat., 124[deg]42.04' W. long.;
(126) 42[deg]30.09' N. lat., 124[deg]42.67' W. long.;
(127) 42[deg]28.28' N. lat., 124[deg]47.08' W. long.;
(128) 42[deg]25.22' N. lat., 124[deg]43.51' W. long.;
(129) 42[deg]19.23' N. lat., 124[deg]37.92' W. long.;
(130) 42[deg]16.29' N. lat., 124[deg]36.11' W. long.;
(131) 42[deg]05.66' N. lat., 124[deg]34.92' W. long.;
(132) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.27' W. long.;
(133) 42[deg]00.00' N. lat., 124[deg]35.26' W. long.;
(134) 41[deg]47.04' N. lat., 124[deg]27.64' W. long.;
(135) 41[deg]32.92' N. lat., 124[deg]28.79' W. long.;
(136) 41[deg]24.17' N. lat., 124[deg]28.46' W. long.;
(137) 41[deg]10.12' N. lat., 124[deg]20.50' W. long.;
(138) 40[deg]51.41' N. lat., 124[deg]24.38' W. long.;
(139) 40[deg]43.71' N. lat., 124[deg]29.89' W. long.;
(140) 40[deg]40.14' N. lat., 124[deg]30.90' W. long.;
(141) 40[deg]37.35' N. lat., 124[deg]29.05' W. long.;
(142) 40[deg]34.76' N. lat., 124[deg]29.82' W. long.;
(143) 40[deg]36.78' N. lat., 124[deg]37.06' W. long.;
(144) 40[deg]32.44' N. lat., 124[deg]39.58' W. long.;
(145) 40[deg]24.82' N. lat., 124[deg]35.12' W. long.;
(146) 40[deg]23.30' N. lat., 124[deg]31.60' W. long.;
(147) 40[deg]23.52' N. lat., 124[deg]28.78' W. long.;
(148) 40[deg]22.43' N. lat., 124[deg]25.00' W. long.;
(149) 40[deg]21.72' N. lat., 124[deg]24.94' W. long.;
(150) 40[deg]21.87' N. lat., 124[deg]27.96' W. long.;
(151) 40[deg]21.40' N. lat., 124[deg]28.74' W. long.;
(152) 40[deg]19.68' N. lat., 124[deg]28.49' W. long.;
(153) 40[deg]17.73' N. lat., 124[deg]25.43' W. long.;
(154) 40[deg]18.37' N. lat., 124[deg]23.35' W. long.;
(155) 40[deg]15.75' N. lat., 124[deg]26.05' W. long.;
(156) 40[deg]16.75' N. lat., 124[deg]33.71' W. long.;
(157) 40[deg]16.29' N. lat., 124[deg]34.36' W. long.;
(158) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.12' W. long.; and
(159) 40[deg]10.00' N. lat., 124[deg]21.50' W. long.
* * * * *
Classification
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Under the CSP, recreational fisheries for Pacific halibut off the
U.S. West Coast begin in early May. The Federal regulations implemented
for 2003 remain in place until they are replaced by these regulations.
Therefore, if there is a 30-day delay in effectiveness for these
regulations, the fishery would operate under last year's regulations
for the first month. The start dates for most of the recreational
fisheries off Washington and Oregon are slightly different in 2004 than
they were in 2003. For example, in Puget Sound, the fishery started on
May 8 in 2003, but is scheduled to start on May 6 in 2004. A delay in
effectiveness of this rule would delay the season by two days,
effectively missing the first weekend for which the fishery is
scheduled. In the North Coast of Washington, the fishery is scheduled
to start May 11, 2004, which is 10 days later than in 2003, so a delay
in effectiveness would allow the fishery to start 10 days earlier than
planned. In the area between the Queets River and Leadbetter Point, the
fishery is scheduled for Sunday through Thursday. However, if last
year's regulations are left in place, the dates in place will not cover
Sunday through Thursday, rather they will cover Saturday through
Wednesday. In areas off Oregon the May 1 season is scheduled to open
inside of a line approximating 40 fms (73 m), whereas last year's
season was within the 30 fm (55 m) curve. Finally the all-depth season
in this area, which was carefully crafted to avoid adverse tidal
conditions in 2004 would fall a week earlier than planned, possibly in
challenging circumstances, and on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, rather
than on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Recreational fisheries start dates primarily differ from year to
year because the CSP has a long history of managing the different
subareas so that fisheries occur on particular days of the week. Thus,
a Sunday through Thursday fishery will always occur Sundays through
Thursdays, but will have different calendar dates from year to year.
The IPHC crafted its annual regulations and adopted TACs for all of its
management areas, including Area 2A in late January 2004. Following the
January IPHC meeting, NMFS worked with IPHC and state management staff
to craft a proposed rule for this action, published on February 23,
2004 (69 FR 8162). Both Oregon and Washington states adopted state
regulations for their halibut fisheries after the IPHC's TACs and 2004
regulations became effective on February 29, 2004. Although NMFS was
able to provide a public comment period following the proposed rule,
the agency did not have time to publish a final rule and allow a 30-day
delay in effectiveness period prior to May 1. A delay in effectiveness
of 30 days would cause the state and Federal regulations to be in
conflict, would cause great confusion in the recreational fishing
industry, and would result in fishing seasons that differ from the
seasons carefully crafted by the states, the industry, and the Pacific
Council. In addition, anglers visiting coastal areas
[[Page 24531]]
must plan ahead to arrange transportation to and lodging at the coast,
therefore, many of the May charter opportunities are booked months in
advance, based on the seasons recommended by the Pacific Council.
Allowing last year's regulations to remain in place during May would
upset these plans. For the reasons described above, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the AA finds good cause to waive the requirement to
provide a 30-day delay in effectiveness of this rule so that this final
rule may become effective in time for the May 1, 2004 recreational
halibut fishing seasons.
NMFS prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) that
describes the economic impact this final rule will have on small
entities. A description of the action, why it is being considered, and
the legal basis for this action are contained in the preamble. The FRFA
is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and a summary of the FRFA
follows:
During the comment period for the proposed rule, NMFS received 2
letters and one e-mail letter of comment. None of these comments
addressed the initial regulatory flexibility analysis or economic
impacts of the rule on small businesses. There are no recordkeeping,
reporting, or other compliance issues forthcoming from this final rule.
This rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other Federal
laws.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 603 et seq.,
requires government agencies to assess the effects that various
regulatory alternatives would have on small entities, including small
businesses, and to determine ways to minimize those effects. A fish-
harvesting business is considered a ``small'' business by the Small
Business Administration (SBA) if it has annual receipts not in excess
of $3.5 million. A fish-processing business is considered ``small'' if
it employs 500 or fewer persons. For marinas and charter/party boats, a
small business is one with annual receipts not in excess of $6.0
million. All of the businesses that would be affected by this action
are considered small businesses under SBA guidance.
Approximately 700 vessels were issued IPHC licenses to retain
halibut in 2003. IPHC issues licenses for: the directed commercial
fishery in Area 2A, including licenses issued to retain halibut caught
incidentally in the primary sablefish fishery (260 licenses in 2003);
incidental halibut caught in the salmon troll fishery (323 licenses in
2003); and the charterboat fleet (127 licenses in 2003). No vessel may
participate in more than one of these three fisheries per year.
Individual recreational anglers and private boats are the only sectors
that are not required to have an IPHC license to retain halibut.
Specific data on the economics of halibut charter operations are
unavailable. However, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
(Commission) is completing a report on the overall West Coast
charterboat fleet. In surveying charterboat vessels concerning their
operations in 2000, the Commission estimated that there were about 315
charterboat vessels in operation off Washington and Oregon. Compared
with the 127 IPHC licenses in 2003, this estimate suggests that
approximately 40 percent of the charterboat fleet participates in the
halibut fishery. The Commission has developed preliminary estimates of
the annual revenues earned by this fleet and they vary by size class of
the vessels and home state. Small charterboat vessels range from 15 to
30 ft (4.572 to 9.144 m) and typically carry 5 to 6 passengers. Medium
charterboat vessels range from 31 to 49 ft (9.4488 to 14.9352 m) in
length and typically carry 19 to 20 passengers. (Neither state has
large vessels of greater than 49 ft (14.9352 m) in their fleet.)
Average annual revenues from all types of recreational fishing,
whalewatching and other activities ranged from $7,000 for small Oregon
vessels to $131,000 for medium Washington vessels. These data confirm
that charterboat vessels qualify as small entities under the RFA.
The changes to the Area 2A Plan, which allocates the catch of
Pacific halibut among users in Washington, Oregon and California, will:
(1) provide more flexibility for Washington inseason sport fishery
management; (2) revise the public announcement process for the Puget
Sound sport fishery (Washington's inside waters subarea); (3) revise
season dates for the Washington North Coast and South Coast sport
fisheries; (4) combine the Oregon North Central and South Central
subareas; (5) revise the ``additional fishing days' season structure
for Oregon's spring and summer sport fisheries; (6) extend the season
closing date for Oregon/California sport fisheries south of Humbug
Mountain subarea; and (7) change the depth restriction for Oregon's
nearshore sport fishery. The 2004 Area 2A halibut management measures
revise the eastern, inshore boundary of an area closed to non-treaty
commercial halibut fishing. One minor change in the flexible inseason
management provisions for Area 2A is that the NMFS telephone hotline
will be maintained from May through October rather than May through
September to cover the duration of the commercial and sport halibut
seasons in Area 2A.
The changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut
management measures will affect charter fishing operations, anglers and
commercial halibut fishermen who operate off Washington and Oregon. In
2003, IPHC issued 127 licenses to the charterboat fleet, 260 licenses
to the commercial directed fishery which includes licenses for vessels
retaining halibut caught incidentally to the primary sablefish fishery,
and 323 licenses to salmon troll vessels to retain incidentally caught
halibut. For 2004, the changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A
halibut management measures are non-substantive. These changes are
within the Plan's management objective of allocating the TAC in Area
2A, while also allowing commercial, sport, and tribal fisheries to
target halibut in the manner most appropriate for the user's needs
within that fishery. These changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area
2A halibut management measures are authorized under the Halibut Act and
implementing regulations at 50 CFR 300.60-65.
The changes to the Plan and annual domestic Area 2A halibut
management measures are expected to result in either no impact at all,
or a modest increase in fishing opportunity for commercial and sport
halibut fishermen and operators. The sport management measures for 2004
implement the Plan by managing the sport fishery to meet the differing
fishery needs of the various areas along the coast according to the
Plan's objectives. The non-treaty commercial management measures for
2004 will allow the fishery access to the commercial portion of the
Area 2A TAC while protecting overfished rockfish species that co-occur
with halibut. The measures for 2004 will be very similar to last year's
management measures.
Pursuant to Executive Order 13175, the Secretary of Commerce
recognizes the sovereign status and co-manager role of Indian tribes
over shared Federal and tribal fishery resources. At section 302(b)(5),
the Magnuson-Stevens Act reserves a seat on the Pacific Council for a
representative of an Indian tribe with federally recognized fishing
rights from California, Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.
The U.S. Government formally recognizes that the 12 Washington
Tribes have treaty rights to fish for Pacific halibut. In general
terms, the quantification of those rights is 50 percent of the
harvestable surplus of Pacific halibut available in the tribes'
[[Page 24532]]
usual and accustomed (U and A) fishing areas (described at 50 CFR
660.324). Each of the treaty tribes has the discretion to administer
its fisheries and to establish its own policies to achieve program
objectives. Accordingly, tribal allocations and regulations, including
the changes to the Plan, have been developed in consultation with the
affected tribe(s) and, insofar as possible, with tribal consensus.
Dated: April 28, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 300 is amended as
follows:
PART 300--INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS
Subpart E--Pacific Halibut Fisheries
0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 300, subpart E continues to
read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773-773k.
0
2. In Sec. 300.63, paragraph (b)(3)(ii) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 300.63 Catch sharing plans and domestic management measures in
Area 2A.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(3) * * *
(ii) It is unlawful for any person to possess, land or purchase
halibut south of 46[deg]53'18'' N. lat. that were taken and retained as
incidental catch authorized by this section in the directed longline
sablefish fishery.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 04-10071 Filed 4-29-04; 4:27 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S