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DOC/NOAA RIN: 0648-AW97 Publication ID: Spring 2009 
Title: Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab 
Abstract: This action would implement Amendment 28 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs to allow unlimited post-delivery transfers of shares to cover overages within the crab fishing year ending June 30. Under the crab rationalization program, harvesters receive annual allocations of individual fishing quota that provide an exclusive privilege to harvest a specific number of pounds of crab from a fishery. Any harvest in excess of an individual fishing quota allocation is a regulatory violation punishable by confiscation of crab or other penalties. Precisely estimating of catch at sea during the fishery is difficult and costly due to variation in size of crab, and sorting and measurement requirements. Overages can result from inadvertent mistakes by participants attempting to accurately estimate catch. A provision allowing for post-delivery transfer of individual fishing quota to cover overages could reduce the number of inadvertent violations, allowing for more complete harvest of allocations, and reduce enforcement costs without increasing the risk of overharvest of allocations. 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 680   
Legal Authority: 16 USC 1862    PL 109-241    PL 109-479   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
Notice of Availability  11/25/2008  73 FR 71598   
NPRM  12/12/2008  73 FR 75661   
Notice of Availability Comment Period End  12/25/2008    
NPRM Comment Period End  01/26/2009    
Final Action  05/00/2009    
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