"Groundfish Assessment Program"

NOAA Fisheries has received an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from the Best Use Cooperative (BUC). The EFP would allow three vessels in the BUC to sort halibut removed from a codend on the deck of the vessel, and release those fish back to the water after accounting for the halibut condition using standard International Pacific Halibut Commission viability methods for predicting mortality of individual fish. The EFP will allow these vessels to alter the amount of time that halibut are in a codend, on deck and the amount of handling they receive prior to release.

This non-controversial rule removes regulations in 50 CFR part 679 that are expired. The corrections in this rule will remove the clutter of outdated regulations which will result in clearer regulations and will reduce the potential for confusion. In§ 679.20, NMFS would remove paragraphs (a)(5)(i)(D), (E), and (F), (a)(5)(iv)(C), and (c)(2); and remove the parenthetical phrase "(Effective April 1, 2005)" from paragraphs ( c )(5) and (c)(6). This action improves the efficiency of the regulations and is necessary to remove the clutter of outdated regulations and potential confusion.

NAO 216-6, Environmental Review Procedures, requires all proposed agency actions to be reviewed with respect to potential impacts on the human environment. This memorandum summarizes the determination that this Proposed Rule to revise pollock trip limit regulations in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) qualifies to be categorically excluded from further National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

The purpose of the first section, Ecosystem Assessment, is to summarize historical climate and fishing effects on the eastern Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska ecosystems using information from the other two sections and stock assessment reports. In future drafts, the Ecosystem Assessment section will also provide an assessment of the possible future effects of climate and fishing on ecosystem structure and function. We are currently working on a more concise ecosystem assessment utilizing a blend of data analysis and modeling to clearly communicate the current status and possible future directions of ecosystems.

The purpose of the first section, Ecosystem Assessment, is to summarize historical climate and fishing effects on the eastern Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska ecosystems using information from the other two sections and stock assessment reports. In future drafts, the Ecosystem Assessment section will also provide an assessment of the possible future effects of climate and fishing on ecosystem structure and function. We are currently working on a more concise ecosystem assessment utilizing a blend of data analysis and modeling to clearly communicate the current status and possible future directions of ecosystems.

All groundfish and halibut vessels and processors may be required to accommodate one or more NMFS-certified observers or an electronic monitoring system, in order to verify catch composition and quantity, including catch discarded at sea, and to collect biological information on marine resources. Vessels and processors are included in one of two coverage categories: partial and full. Vessels and processors in the partial coverage category are subject to an ex-vessel value-based fee not to exceed 2%, and are required to carry an observer or electronic monitoring system as determined by NMFS through an Annual Deployment Plan. Vessels and processors in the full observer coverage category are required to obtain observer coverage by contracting directly with observer providers to meet coverage requirements in regulation.

From the years 1982 until 2006 the Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Groundfish Assessment Program, conducted a trawl survey in the eastern Bering Sea at which time water column temperature data was collected. To better utilize this data in biological comparisons, statistics were calculated from each water column sample.

The purpose of the first section, Ecosystem Assessment, is to summarize historical climate and fishing effects on the eastern Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska ecosystems using information from the other two sections and stock assessment reports. In future drafts, the Ecosystem Assessment section will also provide an assessment of the possible future effects of climate and fishing on ecosystem structure and function.

This proposed action is an amendment to 50 CFR 6 79.22 regarding closures to groundfish fishing in waters off Cape Sari chef and in the Chiniak Gully Research Area. This proposed regulatory change would open the Cape SarichefResearch Restriction Arca in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSA!) to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl, pot, or hook-and-line gear from March 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006. Opening this area would allow vessels participating in ground fish fisheries to harvest their total allowable catch amounts without the operational constraints imposed by the closure. This proposed rule also would remove the regulations for the Cape Sari chef Research Restriction Area, as well as regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area because both research projects have ended.

The purpose of the first section, Ecosystem Assessment, is to summarize historical climate and fishing effects on the eastern Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska ecosystems using information from the other two sections and stock assessment reports. In future drafts, the Ecosystem Assessment section will also provide an assessment of the possible future effects of climate and fishing on ecosystem structure and function.