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DOC/NOAA

RIN: 0648-AW54

Publication ID: Spring 2009

Title: Revisions to the Pollock Trip Limit Regulations in the Gulf of Alaska
Abstract: This regulatory action revises the current pollock trip limit regulation to prohibit a catcher vessel from retaining more than 136 mt (300,000 lb) of unprocessed pollock during a calendar day, and landing more than 136 mt (300,000 lb) of pollock during a fishing trip. The National Marine Fisheries Service also proposes to prohibit a vessel from landing a cumulative amount of unprocessed pollock from any Gulf of Alaska (GOA) reporting area that exceeds 136 mt (300,000 lb) times the number of days the pollock fishery is open to directed fishing in a season. The objective of this rule is to prevent certain pollock catch and delivery practices that allow some vessels to circumvent the intent of current trip limit regulations. These delivery practices have caused seasonal pollock quotas to be exceeded, and if allowed to continue could conflict with Steller sea lion protection measures under Endangered Species Act (ESA) that are intended to disperse pollock catches in the GOA. These delivery practices have caused seasonal pollock quotas to be exceeded, and if allowed to continue could conflict with Steller sea lion protection measures under ESA that are intended to disperse pollock catches in the GOA. Current regulations in the pollock directed fishery prohibit catcher vessels from exceeding a catch of 136 mt (300,000 lb) of pollock in a fishing trip. Since trip limits were implemented in 1999, these regulations have become less effective, as multiple trips during a day and partial offloads of pollock product during a trip have allowed for increasing amounts of pollock to be caught in some areas of the GOA. Amending the current trip limit regulation to limit legal opportunities for a vessel to exceed 136 mt (300,000 lb) of pollock caught in a day, would continue to disperse catches of pollock in a manner that is consistent with the intent of Steller sea lion protection measures in the GOA.
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)	Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda	Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Completed Actions
Major: No	Unfunded Mandates: No
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1801 et seq

Legal Deadline: None

Timetable:

Action	Date	FR Cite
NPRM	10/20/2008	73 FR 62241
NPRM Comment Period End	11/19/2008
Final Action	04/21/2009	74 FR 18156
Final Action Effective	05/21/2009

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Yes	Government Levels Affected: None
Small Entities Affected: Businesses	Federalism: No
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No
RIN Data Printed in the FR: Yes
Agency Contact: James Balisger Regional Administrator Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 Phone:907 586-7221 Fax:907 586-7249 Email: james.balsiger@noaa.gov