Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Crab Interim Action Committee Meeting

An appeal has been submitted to the Secretary of Commerce requesting Secretarial review of three management decisions made by the Board at its meeting in March 1999. The Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (FMP) requires the CIAC to review the appeal prior to action by the Secretary. The CIAC has no authority to grant or reject the appeal, but will comment on the appeal for the benefit of the Secretary. The CIAC will review the Board's actions to determine whether the management measures adopted by the Board are consistent with the FMP (including compliance with framework criteria), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other Federal law. The FMP delegates management of the king and Tanner crab fisheries in Federal waters to the State of Alaska, with Federal oversight. The appeal requested Secretarial review of the Board's decision to (1) move the Bristol Bay red king crab fishing season from November 1 to October 15, (2) implement a 30-day exclusion period when no pot or trawl gear can be fished in Area T before the red king crab fishery in that area, and (3) implement a 30-day exclusion period when no pot or trawl gear can be fished in Area J prior to the C. bairdi Tanner crab fishery in that area and include trawl gear in the existing 14-day exclusion period for C. opilio Tanner crab. Subsequent to the March 1999 meeting, the Board decided to abate the implementation through regulation of the trawl gear exclusion periods until consultation with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and further deliberation. The Board consulted with the Council during a joint meeting on July 27, 1999. The Board will decide at an August 6, 1999, teleconference meeting whether to proceed to implement the trawl gear exclusion periods or continue to abate this action pending further deliberation and consultation with the Council. If the Board continues to abate implementation of the exclusion periods, the CIAC only will review the Board's action to change Bristol Bay red king crab season. Further abeyance by the Board on the trawl gear exclusion periods would alleviate the urgency for the August 11, 1999, CIAC meeting and the meeting may be rescheduled for a later date. NMFS invites the public to attend the CIAC meeting to listen to staff presentations, however, no public testimony will be heard. Interested public should contact NMFS prior to August 11, 1999, to confirm the meeting date (See ADDRESSES).

Special Accommodations

This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Gretchen Harrington (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) prior to the workshop date.

Dated: August 9, 1999. Gary C. Matlock, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 99-20929 Filed 8-9-99; 4:56 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-F