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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 1 / Thursday, January 2, 2020 / Rules and Regulations 19 and is exempt from review under complete the required fields, and enter recommended a 2020 BSAI Atka Executive Order 12866. or attach your comments. mackerel TAC of 59,305 mt, which is • Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. and 1801 Mail: Submit written comments to more than the 53,635 mt TAC et seq. Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional established by the final 2019 and 2020 Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries harvest specifications for groundfish in Dated: December 26, 2019. Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: the BSAI. Furthermore, the Council Alan D. Risenhoover, Records. Mail comments to P.O. Box recommended a 2020 BS Pacific cod Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. TAC of 141,799 mt, and an AI Pacific National Marine Fisheries Service. Instructions: NMFS may not consider cod TAC of 13,796 mt, which is more [FR Doc. 2019–28271 Filed 12–31–19; 8:45 am] comments if they are sent by any other than the BS Pacific cod TAC of 124,625 BILLING CODE 3510–22–P method, to any other address or mt, and less than the AI Pacific cod TAC individual, or received after the of 14,214 mt established by the final comment period ends. All comments 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE received are a part of the public record, groundfish in the BSAI. In addition to and NMFS will post the comments for changes in TACs, the Council National Oceanic and Atmospheric public viewing on www.regulations.gov recommended the same percentage limit Administration without change. All personal identifying of Western Aleutian Islands Pacific cod information (e.g., name, address), of 15.7 percent of the AI Pacific cod 50 CFR Part 679 confidential business information, or ABC minus the State of Alaska’s [Docket No. 180713633–9174–02; RTID otherwise sensitive information guideline harvest level. The Council’s 0648–XY059] submitted voluntarily by the sender will recommended 2020 TACs, and the area be publicly accessible. NMFS will and seasonal apportionments, are based Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic accept anonymous comments (enter on the Stock Assessment and Fishery Zone Off Alaska; Inseason Adjustment ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish Evaluation report (SAFE), dated to the 2020 Bering Sea and Aleutian to remain anonymous). November 2019, which NMFS has Islands Pollock, Atka Mackerel, and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: determined is the best available Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228. scientific information for these fisheries. Amounts Steller sea lions occur in the same SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS location as the pollock, Atka mackerel, AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries manages the groundfish fishery in the and Pacific cod fisheries and are listed Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and BSAI exclusive economic zone as endangered under the Endangered Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), according to the Fishery Management Species Act (ESA). Pollock, Atka Commerce. Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea mackerel, and Pacific cod are a ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason and Aleutian Islands Management Area principal prey species for Steller sea adjustment; request for comments. (FMP) prepared by the North Pacific lions in the BSAI. The seasonal Fishery Management Council under SUMMARY: NMFS is adjusting the 2020 apportionment of pollock, Atka authority of the Magnuson-Stevens mackerel, and Pacific cod harvest is total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for Fishery Conservation and Management the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands necessary to ensure the groundfish Act. Regulations governing fishing by fisheries are not likely to cause jeopardy (BSAI) pollock, Atka mackerel, and U.S. vessels in accordance with the FMP Pacific cod fisheries. This action is of extinction or adverse modification of appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600 critical habitat for Steller sea lions. necessary because NMFS has and 50 CFR part 679. determined these TACs are incorrectly NMFS published regulations and the The final 2019 and 2020 harvest revised harvest limit amounts for specified, and will ensure the BSAI specifications for groundfish in the pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) set fisheries to implement Steller sea lion TACs are the appropriate amounts based the 2020 Aleutian Islands (AI) pollock protection measures to insure that on the best available scientific TAC at 19,000 metric tons (mt), the 2020 groundfish fisheries of the BSAI are not information. This action is consistent Bering Sea (BS) pollock TAC at likely to jeopardize the continued with the goals and objectives of the 1,420,000 mt, the 2020 BSAI Atka existence of the western distinct Fishery Management Plan for mackerel TAC at 53,635 mt, the 2019 BS population segment of Steller sea lions Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Pacific cod TAC at 124,625 mt, and the or destroy or adversely modify their Aleutian Islands Management Area. 2019 AI Pacific cod TAC at 14,214 mt. designated critical habitat (79 FR 70286, DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska Also set was a 2020 AI pollock ABC of November 25, 2014). The regulations at local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 2019, 55,125 mt and a Western Aleutian § 679.20(a)(5)(i) and (iii) specify how the until the effective date of the final 2020 Islands limit for Pacific cod at 15.7 BS and AI pollock TAC will be and 2021 harvest specifications for BSAI percent of the AI Pacific cod ABC minus apportioned. The regulations at groundfish, unless otherwise modified the State of Alaska’s guideline harvest § 679.20(a)(7) specify how the BSAI or superseded through publication of a level. In December 2019, the North Pacific cod TAC will be apportioned. notification in the Federal Register. Pacific Fishery Management Council The regulations at § 679.20(a)(8) specify Comments must be received at the (Council) recommended a 2020 BS how the BSAI Atka mackerel TAC will following address no later than 4:30 pollock TAC of 1,425,000 mt, which is be apportioned. p.m., A.l.t., January 17, 2020. more than the 1,420,000 mt TAC In accordance with § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, established by the final 2019 and 2020 (a)(2)(i)(B), and (a)(2)(iv), the identified by NOAA–NMFS–2018–0089, harvest specifications for groundfish in Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS by either of the following methods: the BSAI. The Council also (Regional Administrator), has • Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to recommended decreasing the AI pollock determined that, based on the November www.regulations.gov/ ABC to 55,120 mt from 55,125 mt. This 2019 SAFE report for this fishery, the #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018- decreases some 2020 area and seasonal current BSAI pollock, Atka mackerel, 0089, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, limits for AI pollock. The Council also and Pacific cod TACs are incorrectly VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:41 Dec 31, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02JAR1.SGM 02JAR1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with RULES 20 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 1 / Thursday, January 2, 2020 / Rules and Regulations specified. Pursuant to § 679.25(a)(1)(iii), Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i) and (iii), Areas 543, 542, and 541, see the Regional Administrator is adjusting Table 5 of the final 2019 and 2020 § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 541, the the 2020 BS pollock TAC to 1,425,000 harvest specifications for groundfish in 2020 A season pollock harvest limit is mt, the 2020 BSAI Atka mackerel TAC the BSAI (84 FR 9000, March 13, 2019) no more than 30 percent, or 16,536 mt, to 59,305 mt, the 2020 BS Pacific cod is revised for the 2020 BS and AI of the AI ABC of 55,120 mt. In Area 542, TAC to 141,799 mt, and the 2020 AI allocations of pollock TAC to the the 2020 A season pollock harvest limit Pacific cod TAC to 13,796 mt. directed pollock fisheries and to the is no more than 15 percent, or 8,268 mt, Therefore, Table 2 of the final 2019 and Community Development Quota (CDQ) of the AI ABC of 55,120 mt. In Area 543, 2020 harvest specifications for directed fishing allowances consistent the 2020 A season pollock harvest limit groundfish in the BSAI (843 FR 9000, with this adjustment. For AI pollock, is no more than 5 percent, or 2,756 mt, March 13, 2019) is revised consistent harvest limits are set for pollock in the of the AI pollock ABC of 55,120 mt. with this adjustment. A season (January 20 to June 10) in TABLE 5—FINAL 2020 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1 [amounts are in metric tons] 2020 A season 1 Area and sector 2020 allocations 2020 B A season DFA SCA harvest limit 2 season 1 Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................... 1,425,000 n/a n/a n/a CDQ DFA ..................................................................................................... 142,500 64,125 39,900 78,375 ICA 1 ............................................................................................................. 47,453 n/a n/a n/a Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA ................................................................. 1,235,048 555,771 345,813 679,276 AFA Inshore ................................................................................................. 617,524 277,886 172,907 339,638 AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ........................................................................... 494,019 222,309 138,325 271,710 Catch by C/Ps ...................................................................................... 452,027 203,412 n/a 248,615 Catch by CVs 3 ..................................................................................... 41,992 18,896 n/a 23,095 Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ..............................................................................
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  • Swimming Speeds of Marine Fish in Relation to Fishing Gears

    Swimming Speeds of Marine Fish in Relation to Fishing Gears

    ICES mar. Sei. Symp.. 196: 183-189. 1993 Swimming speeds of marine fish in relation to fishing gears Pingguo He He, P. 1993. Swimming speeds of marine fish in relation to fishing gears. - ICES mar. Sei. Symp., 196: 183-189. Swimming ability plays a vital role in the survival of fish in terms of catching a prey and escaping from a predator or a fishing gear. Knowledge of how fish swim and how well they can swim is very important in the design and operation of selective and energy- conserving commercial fishing gears, and in fisheries resource assessment through better understanding of selectivity and efficiency of survey trawls. This paper summar­ izes recent findings of swimming performance in marine fishes and discusses how a change in swimming ability due to biological and environmental conditions and how a change in trawl operation can influence the size selectivity of a trawl. Special attention is paid to commercially important species, including mackerel (Scomber scombrus), herring (Clupea harengus), cod (Gadus morhua), and saithe (Pollachius virens). Pingguo He: Fisheries and Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, PO Box 4920, St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5R3. Introduction L.), herring (Clupea harengus L.), jack mackerel (Tra­ ck urns japonicus (Temminck and Schlegel)), mackerel, Many contributions have been made since the 1920s on or Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.), Pacific how, and how well, fish swim (see Beamish, 1978; mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn), and saithe Videler and Wardle, 1991). However, our understand­ (Pollachius virens (L.)). ing of the swimming ability of commercial marine fishes and their swimming behaviour near fishing gears is very limited.