Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area Opening for the Groundfish Fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

NMFS issues a final rule to open the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl, pot, and hook-and-line gear from March 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006. Because NMFS' Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) will not conduct research in this area in 2006, closure of the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area is not needed. This action is intended to relieve an unnecessary restriction on groundfish fisheries and allow the optimum utilization of fishery resources, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This final rule also will remove the regulations for the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area, and regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area because both research projects have ended.

DATES:

Effective February 10, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the Environmental Assessment/Regulatory Impact Review/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/RIR/IRFA) prepared for the original action closing the area, and dated November 2002, and the Categorical Exclusion and the RIR prepared for this action, are available from: NMFS, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Durall; NMFS, Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK; or the NMFS Alaska Region website at www.fakr.noaa.gov .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Becky Carls, 907-586-7228 or becky.carls@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) are managed by NMFS under the Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) for Groundfish of the BSAI and Groundfish of the GOA. The FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and 679.

Background and Need for Action

The background and need for this action were described in the preamble to the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2005 (70 FR 61775). In summary, the final year of a research project in the waters off Cape Sarichef will not be conducted in 2006. Thus, the closure of the study area specified in § 679.22(a)(11) for March 15-31, 2006, will not be needed. Maintaining the closure would unnecessarily restrict the groundfish fisheries because no research will be conducted in this area in 2006. Removing the 2006 trawl, pot, and hook-and-line gear closure will allow vessels participating in groundfish fisheries to harvest their total allowable catch amounts without the operational constraints imposed by the closure.

In addition, this regulatory amendment includes a housekeeping measure that removes regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area off Kodiak Island, which were applicable through December 31, 2004.

Regulatory Amendments

In § 679.22, paragraphs (a)(11) and (b)(3) are removed. Also removed is Figure 21 to part 679, which shows the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area.

Response to Comments

The proposed rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2005 (70 FR 61775). NMFS received two letters of comment that contained four separate comments. The comments are summarized and responded to below.

Comment 1: This research area should not be opened to more overfishing.

Response: This action opens an area to fishing which otherwise would be closed only two weeks in 2006 and does not change the amount of fish authorized to be harvested. Currently, no Alaska groundfish species are considered by NMFS to be overfished, and overfishing is not occurring.

Comment 2: Birds are being killed by hook-and-line fishing.

Response: Hook-and-line fishing would be allowed in this area, but this action would not change the total amount of fishing activity with hook-and-line gear. Hook-and-line fishing must be done in compliance with seabird avoidance regulations at 50 CFR 679.24(e) to reduce the incidental take of seabirds.

Comment 3: NOAA must stop commercial fish profiteers from overfishing. Overfishing causes the death of all marine life that needs fish to survive, which is an assault on the environment.

Response: This action does not change the amount of fish that may be harvested. None of the Alaska groundfish stocks are overfished or experiencing overfishing. The groundfish fisheries off Alaska are managed using science-based conservation and management practices. NMFS limits the amount of fish that may be harvested in the groundfish fisheries off Alaska by setting annual catch limits based on the best scientific information available about each specific managed stock. In the course of considering catch limits and regulatory changes, NMFS and the Council consider a broad range of alternatives to address biological, environmental, and economic concerns. This process also includes an examination of the potential impacts of alternatives on other marine resources and the environment. This action would result in insignificant impacts on other marine animals as described in the EA/RIR/IRFA prepared for the original action and dated November 2002 (see ADDRESSES).

Comment 4: Thank you. With all the other closed areas we have today, it's nice to have some areas back. Every little bit will help with our rising fuel costs.

Response: NMFS notes this support.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

No changes are made in this final rule from the proposed rule.

Classification

This final rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

• Alaska
• Fisheries
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended as follows:

PART 679—FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

1. The authority citation for part 679 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1540(f); 1801 et seq.; 1851 note; 3631 et seq.

2. In § 679.22, remove and reserve paragraphs (a)(11) and (b)(3).

PART 679—[AMENDED]

3. In part 679, remove and reserve Figure 21 to Part 679—Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area (Applicable through March 31, 2006).