Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendments 20 and 21; Trawl Rationalization Program; Allocations for the Start of the 2011 Fishery, 82296-82316 [2010-32833]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 82296-82316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32833]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 101221628-0628-01]
RIN 0648-BA40


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery 
Management Plan; Amendments 20 and 21; Trawl Rationalization Program; 
Allocations for the Start of the 2011 Fishery

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule; emergency action; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this rule to implement an interim reduction to the 
2010 harvest level for sablefish, issue revised quota pounds for 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) species, revise the calculation for the 
Pacific halibut trawl bycatch mortality limit for the trawl 
rationalization program; and adjust the trawl Rockfish Conservation 
Areas (RCAs) and landing allowances for non-IFQ species and Pacific 
whiting for the start of the 2011 groundfish fishery.

DATES: This rule is effective January 1, 2011. Comments must be 
received no later than 5 p.m. local time on January 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 0648-BA40, by any of 
the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, at https://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: 206-526-6736, Attn: Kevin Duffy.
     Mail: William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE., Seattle, WA 98115-
0070, Attn: Kevin Duffy.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (if submitting comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking 
portal, enter ``N/A'' in the relevant required fields if you wish to 
remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted 
in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats 
only.
    Background information and documents, including the environmental 
assessment for this action, are available from William W. Stelle, Jr., 
Regional Administrator, Northwest Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way, 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; or by phone at 206-526-6150.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin C. Duffy, 206-526-4743; (fax) 
206-526-6736; Kevin.Duffy@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In this emergency action, NMFS is implementing interim measures for 
the Pacific coast groundfish fisheries beginning in January, 2011. The 
interim measures include: interim reductions to the 2010 harvest level 
for sablefish; issuance of quota pounds (QP) for IFQ species; revisions 
to the calculation for the Pacific halibut trawl bycatch mortality 
limit; and adjustment of the trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) 
and landing allowances for non-IFQ species and Pacific whiting. These 
interim measures are necessary due to a delay in the finalization of 
the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and management measures, and are 
needed to meet the scheduled implementation of the trawl 
rationalization program in January 2011. These measures are intended to 
manage the early part of the 2011 groundfish fishery in a manner that 
prevents any conservation concerns until the 2011-2012 harvest 
specifications and management measures are implemented, currently 
anticipated in April 2011, and to accommodate the transition to a 
rationalized trawl fishery. For more background on the trawl 
rationalization program, see the preamble to the June 10, 2010, 
proposed rule (75 FR 32994), the August 31, 2010, proposed rule (75 FR 
53380), the October 1, 2010, final rule (74 FR 60868), and the December 
15, 2010, final rule (75 FR 78344).
    The 2011-2012 harvest specifications and management measures final 
rule was scheduled to publish late in 2010 so that the trawl 
rationalization program and the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and 
management measures (2011-2012 specifications) would be implemented 
simultaneously. However, the 2011-2012 specifications, including 
several pieces necessary to sustainably manage the entire fishery and 
to begin the rationalized trawl fishery, have been delayed and will not 
be in place for the start of the 2011 groundfish fisheries. As a result 
of this delay, the harvest specifications and management measures that 
were implemented during 2010 will remain in place for the start of 
2011, until NMFS takes action through a rulemaking to revise them. This 
may be problematic in some instances, as discussed below. Therefore, 
NMFS is taking action in this interim, emergency rulemaking to revise 
some harvest specifications and management measures.

Interim 2011 Harvest Specifications

    Because the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and management 
measures rulemaking is delayed, if NMFS does not take any action, the 
harvest specifications and management measures that were implemented 
during 2010 will remain in place in 2011 until they are revised through 
a subsequent rulemaking. If the 2010 harvest specifications are allowed 
to remain in place and if catch early in 2011 is too high, both the 
biological resource and communities may be subject to overfishing and 
early fishery closure, respectively. This concern is highest for 
species that are caught by fisheries early in the year and where there 
may be limited ability to manage the fishery inseason to reduce catch 
later in the year. NMFS raised these issues to the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council at its November 2-9, 2010 meeting in Costa Mesa, 
California, and received recommendations from the Council regarding 
this interim rule to address these concerns.
    The proposed rule for the 2011-2012 Biennial Harvest Specifications 
and Management Measures; Amendment 16-5; and Amendment 23 published on 
November 3, 2010 (75 FR 67810). As part of that rulemaking, in August 
2010, the Council published a draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Proposed Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for the 2011-
2012 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery (DEIS), which included a range of 
2011-2012 harvest levels. When the proposed 2011 harvest levels are 
compared with the levels that were in place for 2010, there are many 
species of groundfish for which the proposed 2011 harvest levels are 
lower than those that were in place for 2010. However, for many of 
those species, there is a low level of concern

[[Page 82297]]

that starting the year with the same harvest specifications as those in 
place for 2010 would result in a conservation issues.
    Therefore, in this action, NMFS is making no changes to the 2010 
harvest levels for species other than sablefish north of 36[deg] N. 
lat. (i.e., the 2010 harvest levels will remain in place at the start 
of the 2011 fishing year, except for sablefish north of 36[deg] N. 
lat.). For sablefish, NMFS proposed harvest levels for 2011 based on 
the best available scientific information and management policy, as 
described in detail in the November 3, 2010 proposed rule for the 2011-
2012 harvest specifications and management measures (75 FR 67810). In 
this action, NMFS is reducing the sablefish harvest level for the area 
north of 36[deg] N. lat. consistent with the proposed harvest 
specifications for 2011, from 6,471 mt to 5,515 mt for the start of 
2011. This interim measure is necessary to prevent conservation 
concerns with issuance of trawl fishery QP. Also, this interim 
reduction to the harvest level will allow NMFS to calculate the fixed 
gear primary sablefish fishery tier limits for 2011 at a level that 
will reduce concerns for overfishing, and will allow NMFS to take 
routine inseason actions to control catch of sablefish in the limited 
entry fixed gear and open access daily trip limit fisheries in early 
2011, if necessary.

Issuance of QPs for the Shorebased IFQ Fishery

    As a result of the delay in implementing 2011-2012 harvest 
specifications and management measures rulemaking, NMFS must determine 
what value to base the issuance of QP to quota share (QS) accounts. The 
shorebased trawl allocation for IFQ species is used to calculate how 
many QP to issue to QS accounts at the start of the fishing year (QS 
percent for a species multiplied by the shorebased trawl allocation 
equals QP for that species). NMFS calculated what the shorebased trawl 
allocation would be under the 2010 OYs and what it would be under 
Council-recommended amounts for 2011. To avoid the risk of over-issuing 
QP, which would then require reductions in April when the 2011 harvest 
specifications become finalized, NMFS is adopting the lower of these 
calculated amounts in this rule. These shorebased trawl allocations 
announced in this interim rule may be revised once the 2011 harvest 
specifications are finalized, and QP will be adjusted as appropriate.
    NMFS determined the shorebased trawl allocations for IFQ species 
based on either the 2010 OY or proposed 2011 annual catch limits (ACLs) 
by taking the following steps. As specified at Sec.  660.55(b), the OY 
(or ACL) was reduced by a specific amount for: the Pacific Coast treaty 
Indian Tribal harvest; projected scientific research catch of all 
groundfish species; estimates of fishing mortality in non-groundfish 
fisheries; and, as necessary, set-asides for EFPs. In order to retain 
the greatest flexibility when the final 2011 harvest specifications 
become available, NMFS used the larger of these amounts from 2010 and 
2011, which resulted in a greater deduction from the OY (or ACL), and 
thus a more conservative amount for the calculation of the allocations. 
The remaining amount of available harvest after these deductions are 
made is called the fishery harvest guideline, which is then further 
divided into allocations for groundfish trawl (shorebased and at-sea) 
and non-trawl (limited entry fixed gear, open access, and recreational) 
fisheries. For most species, this was done according to the allocation 
percentages specified at Sec.  660.55(c); however, IFQ species not 
listed in the table at Sec.  660.55(c) are allocated between the trawl 
and nontrawl fisheries through the biennial harvest specifications 
process. Due to the delay of final 2011 harvest specifications and 
management measures, NMFS calculated the trawl allocation for species 
not listed in the table at Sec.  660.55(c) by using either the proposed 
trawl allocation (in metric tons) from the proposed 2011 harvest 
specifications and management measures (75 FR 67810, November 3, 2010) 
or a proportional amount of the 2010 OY. The trawl allocation is 
further subdivided among the trawl sectors (mothership (MS), catcher/
processor (C/P), and shorebased trawl (or IFQ)). The resulting 
shorebased trawl allocation (mt) is then used to calculate individual 
QPs. NMFS calculated the shorebased trawl allocation under both the 
2010 OYs and under proposed 2011 ACLs, and is adopting the lower of the 
two for each IFQ species on an interim basis, so that quota pounds may 
be issued for the start of the 2011 fishery.
    In some cases, NMFS is adopting a more conservative shorebased 
trawl allocation based upon current regulations, recommendations 
provided by the Council at its November 2010 meeting, or to provide 
NMFS flexibility in order to be consistent with the court order when 
the 2011 harvest specifications are finalized. In particular, this rule 
adopts a shorebased trawl allocation for Pacific whiting based on the 
lower end of the range of potential ACLs analyzed in the DEIS for the 
2011 harvest specifications, consistent with current regulations at 
Sec.  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(B)(2). This rule also adopts an interim 
shorebased trawl allocation for calculation of yelloweye rockfish QP 
based on the Council's November 2010 recommendation that the shorebased 
trawl allocation be set at 0.3 mt, as opposed to the 0.6 mt allocation 
that was recommended in June 2010 under a proposed 2011 yelloweye 
rockfish ACL of 20 mt. NMFS also applied the Council's November 2010 
recommended increased set asides in the calculation of yellowtail 
rockfish QP. NMFS declined to apply the Council's November 2010 
recommendation to temporarily suspend the petrale sole trawl/non-trawl 
split, because doing so would result in a larger issuance of petrale 
sole QP. This rule also adopts a shorebased trawl allocation for 
calculation of cowcod QP based on a more conservative harvest level of 
3 mt, to provide flexibility in order to be consistent within the April 
22, 2010 court order in NRDC v. Locke, Case 3:01-cv-00421-JLI, when the 
2011 harvest specifications are finalized.
    NMFS is adopting the lower shorebased trawl allocations in this 
rule in order to avoid the risk of over-issuing QP; these shorebased 
trawl allocations may change once the 2011 harvest specifications are 
finalized. NMFS will recalculate QP for IFQ species, other than Pacific 
halibut, once final 2011 harvest specifications are put in place, and 
will make adjustments in QS accounts as appropriate. If the final 2011 
harvest specifications are greater than those used for the issuance of 
QP in this interim rule for the start of the fishing year, NMFS will 
issue additional QP later in 2011 for the difference.

Calculation of the Pacific Halibut Trawl Bycatch Mortality Limit

    Under the trawl rationalization program, individual bycatch quota 
(IBQ) pounds for Pacific halibut north of 40[deg]10' N. lat. are issued 
based on a calculation where a QS permit owner's IBQ (expressed as a 
percent) is multiplied by the trawl mortality bycatch limit for halibut 
after any set-asides have been deducted. As specified in current 
regulations at Sec.  660.55(m), the FMP sets a trawl mortality bycatch 
limit for legal and sublegal halibut at 15 percent of the Area 2A 
constant exploitation yield (CEY) for legal size halibut, not to exceed 
130,000 pounds for the first four years of trawl rationalization and 
not to exceed 100,000 pounds starting in the fifth year. This total 
bycatch limit may be adjusted downward or upward through

[[Page 82298]]

the biennial specifications and management measures process. Part of 
the overall total catch limit is a set-aside of 10 mt of Pacific 
halibut to accommodate bycatch in the at-sea Pacific whiting fishery 
and in the shoreside trawl fishery south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. 
(estimated to be approximately 5 mt each). The intent of the Council 
for this approach was to reduce halibut mortality that has been 
observed in recent years in the trawl fishery by approximately 50 
percent.
    At the November 2010 Council meeting, the Council and NMFS received 
the most recent total mortality information from the Northwest Fishery 
Science Center (NWFSC), in a report titled ``Pacific Halibut Bycatch in 
the U.S. West Coast Groundfish Fishery from 2002 through 2009'', 
published in October 2010. This report indicated that the proportion of 
sublegal sized halibut (under 32 inches) to legal sized halibut (length 
32 inches and over) was higher than the Council had realized when the 
IBQ pound provisions were adopted. The method of calculating halibut 
IBQ pounds specified in current regulations at Sec.  660.55(m), which 
was developed prior to the October 2010 NWFSC report, would result in 
issuance of fewer individual bycatch quota pounds than the target set 
by the Council, and could create a chokehold species that would 
threaten successful implementation of the rationalization program.
    The calculation of the trawl mortality bycatch limit, as specified 
at Sec.  660.55(m) and in the FMP, would include both legal (length 32 
inches and over) and sublegal (under 32 inches) halibut. At its 
November 2010 Council meeting, the Council discussed an alternate 
approach for calculation of the total trawl mortality bycatch limit, 
which includes legal-sized halibut only and is greater than 15 percent 
of the 2010 total CEY of Pacific halibut. This approach more closely 
reflects the Council's intent of a 50-percent reduction in halibut 
mortality.
    Consistent with the Council's recommendation at its November 2010 
meeting, NMFS is revising Sec. Sec.  660.55(m) and 660.140(d)(1)(ii)(C) 
in this rule to modify the calculation of the trawl mortality bycatch 
limit so that it is based on ``130,000 pounds of legal sized halibut, 
net weight.'' Because halibut IBQ pounds are expressed in round weight, 
this limit, expressed in net weight, is converted to round weight by 
dividing by 0.75 (a conversion factor used by the International Pacific 
Halibut Commission (IPHC)), resulting in 173,333 pounds. In addition, 
because halibut IBQ pounds cover both legal and sublegal sized halibut, 
the calculation is further divided by 0.62 to determine the total 
number of both legal and sublegal sized halibut, in round pounds. The 
conversion factor of 0.62 to convert legal sized halibut into both 
legal and sublegal sized halibut is based on the Council's November 
2010 recommendation, which was derived from the October 2011 NWFSC 
report. The resulting 2011 trawl bycatch mortality limit is 279,570 
pounds. In order to calculate IBQ pounds, this amount is reduced by the 
10 mt (22,046 pounds) set aside to accommodate bycatch in the at-sea 
Pacific whiting fishery and in the shoreside trawl fishery south of 
40[deg]10' N. lat. NMFS will issue Pacific halibut IBQ pounds to QS 
permit owners based on their halibut IBQ percent multiplied by 257,524 
pounds.

Trawl Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) and Landing Allowances for 
Non-IFQ Species

    Because the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and management 
measures rulemaking is delayed, if NMFS does not take any action, the 
harvest specifications and management measures that were in place and 
implemented during 2010 will remain in place in 2011 until they are 
revised through rulemaking. Also, the trawl rationalization program is 
scheduled to begin in January 2011. Because of this circumstance, 
management measures for the 2010 limited entry trawl fishery, which 
would have been amended for the 2011-2012 biennium, will remain in 
place. However, some of these measures are not appropriate for managing 
a rationalized fishery. In particular, trip limits would remain in 
place for the limited entry trawl fishery, including trip limits for 
IFQ species. Also, the trawl RCA boundaries that were in place in 2010 
would be repeated for 2011, and those also may not be appropriate for a 
fishery that is operating under the trawl rationalization program. NMFS 
requested guidance from the Council on what the appropriate trip limits 
for non-IFQ species might be and what the appropriate RCA boundaries 
might be for the rationalized trawl fishery at its November 2010 
meeting.
    In June 2010, the Council recommended landing allowances for non-
IFQ species and Pacific whiting (outside the primary whiting season) 
for implementation in the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and 
management measures, with the intent that they would be implemented 
with similar timing of the trawl rationalization program, in January 
2011. However, with the delay in implementation of the 2011 harvest 
specifications and management measures, the Council, at its November 
2010 meeting, re-considered appropriate landing allowances for non-IFQ 
species and whiting and RCA boundaries to be implemented via interim 
emergency rule for the start of the 2011 fishery.
    The Council's Groundfish Management Team considered whether the 
landing allowances for non-IFQ species and whiting that were adopted by 
the Council in June 2010 would still be appropriate for the start of 
2011, given the most recent fishery information and a NWFSC report on 
total groundfish mortality from 2009 fisheries that was released in 
November 2010. Considering the most recent fishery information, the 
landing allowances that were recommended by the Council in June 2010 
were deemed appropriate by the Council and were recommended for 
implementation for the interim period until the 2011-2012 harvest 
specification and management measures are finalized later in 2011. The 
Council did, however, consider changes to the longnose skate landing 
allowances for the beginning of 2011, but did not recommend changes, 
based on the reasons described below.
    The 2009 total mortality report indicated that the total mortality 
of longnose skate exceeded the 2009 OY of 1,349 mt by 106 mt, or 8 
percent. 2009 was the first year that longnose skate was managed with a 
species-specific harvest specification and was therefore required to be 
sorted by species for catch accounting against the OY. Until 2009, the 
best available catch information indicated that catch of longnose skate 
was only about 800 mt per year. The trip limit that the Council 
recommended in June 2010 for longnose skate, a non-IFQ species, for 
2011 was ``Not limited,'' based on the information on catch and 
discards that was available at the time, which indicated that a trip 
limit was unnecessary with a proposed harvest level of 1,349 mt. In 
2009, only about 800 mt of longnose skate were landed, so much of the 
additional mortality was from discarding, bringing the total mortality 
above the 2009 OY. Trip limits, or landing allowances have a limited 
ability to control total mortality; they directly affect the amount of 
fish that may be landed, and may have indirect effects on whether 
vessels will target a species if the trip limit is low. However, with 
much of the mortality of longnose skate coming from discards at sea, 
trip limits may be less effective at keeping total mortality of 
longnose skate below the OY. Additional analysis of available observer 
data may provide additional information on the management

[[Page 82299]]

measures that may be necessary to keep total mortality of longnose 
skate within the harvest specifications; however there was not 
sufficient time between receiving the 2009 total mortality report in 
November 2010 to develop and implement those measures in this interim 
emergency rulemaking. The total mortality of longnose skate in 2009 was 
well below the ABC (only 48 percent of the ABC), therefore the risk of 
overfishing in 2011 if no action were taken is very low. Therefore, the 
Council recommended keeping an interim landing allowance for longnose 
skate at ``Not limited'' for the start of 2011 and continuing analysis 
of potential management measures for longnose skate that can be 
implemented inseason during 2011 to keep the total mortality within the 
2011 harvest specifications.
    The Council also considered adjustments to the boundaries of the 
trawl RCA for the start of 2011. In June 2010, the Council recommended 
that the trawl RCA boundaries that were scheduled for the 2010 calendar 
year, as of June 2010, be in place for 2011 as well. The Council 
considered extending the seaward boundary of the trawl RCA seaward to 
close some deeper areas where darkblotched rockfish are encountered, 
given concerns with higher than anticipated darkblotched rockfish 
mortality in 2010. However, given the personal accountability features 
offered by a rationalized fishery, the Council did not recommend 
additional restrictions for the trawl RCA implemented by this rule.
    No changes to management measures are being made for non-trawl 
commercial fisheries or recreational fisheries; however, the titles for 
the trip limit tables that are not otherwise revised by this interim 
rule are re-titled to reflect their ongoing effectiveness.
    Therefore, the Council recommended and NMFS is implementing changes 
to the trip limits and RCA boundaries in Table 1 (North) and Table 1 
(South) to subpart D. These changes will establish landing allowances 
for non-IFQ species and Pacific whiting outside the primary season and 
will adjust the trawl RCA boundaries. NMFS is also implementing changes 
to Sec. Sec.  660.60 and 660.130 to remove obsolete language about trip 
limits in the trawl fishery, which are being removed for IFQ species in 
this interim rule. NMFS acknowledges that some obsolete language 
regarding trip limits, crossover provisions, and varying trip limits 
based on the gear type that is used will remain in regulations. NMFS 
intends to issue a follow-up rulemaking that will remove or revise 
outdated language that is outside of the scope of this interim rule. 
Also, NMFS is implementing revisions to the titles of Tables 2 (North) 
and 2 (South) to Part 660, subpart E and to Tables 3 (North) and 3 
(South) to Part 660, subpart F, to reflect the ongoing effectiveness of 
the trip limits contained therein.

Classification

    These interim measures are issued under the authority of, and are 
consistent with section 305(c)(1) of, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act and regulations at 50 CFR part 660, 
subparts C through G (the groundfish regulations implementing the FMP).
    The Assistant Administrator Fisheries, NOAA (AA) finds good cause 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive the requirement for prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment, as such procedures are impracticable 
and contrary to the public interest.
    In June 2010, the Council recommended, and NMFS is working to 
implement, specifications and management measures for the 2011-2012 
biennium. Given the complexity of the biennial specifications and 
management measures, the need for adequate NEPA-related documents and 
public review periods, and competing workloads, NMFS did not have 
enough time to implement a final rule by January 1, 2011. In light of 
the delay in availability of the 2011-2012 harvest specifications and 
management measures rulemaking, the interim measures set out in this 
rule are necessary to implement the trawl rationalization program in 
January 2011 without causing risk of overfishing or the need for 
potentially severe restrictions to fishery management measures later in 
the year to prevent the final harvest specifications or allocations for 
2011 from being exceeded.
    It is in the public interest to reduce the harvest level for 
sablefish for the beginning of 2011. Failure to implement an interim 
harvest level reduction by January 1, 2011 would prevent NMFS from 
having the ability to take routine inseason action, if necessary, to 
keep projected mortality below the sablefish harvest level during the 
interim period (between January 1, 2011 and when the final 2011 harvest 
specifications are implemented) and would risk premature closure of 
fisheries that are important to coastal communities, which would fail 
to meet the objectives of the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP to allow for 
year round fishing opportunities to provide community stability. This 
is contradictory to one of the goals of the FMP to keep year round 
fishing opportunities for target stocks.
    It is also in the public interest to issue QP for IFQ species as 
described in this interim emergency rule by January 1, 2011. For some 
species for which the final 2011 harvest level may be lower than in 
2010, without this rule, the rationalized trawl fishery would receive 
total QP that could: (1) Preclude fishing for such species in other 
non-trawl sectors (e.g., sablefish); or (2) exceed the final 2011 
harvest specifications when they are implemented later in the year 
(e.g., petrale sole). Failure to implement interim QP for IFQ species 
would keep harvest levels for the trawl fishery in place that are not 
based on the best available data and would risk premature closure of 
fisheries that are important to coastal communities, which would fail 
to meet the objectives of the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP to allow for 
year round fishing opportunities to provide community stability.
    It is also in the public interest to revise the calculation method 
for Pacific halibut IBQ pounds. New information was received by the 
Council at its November 2010 meeting indicating that the proportion of 
sublegal sized halibut to legal sized halibut in bycatch of the limited 
entry trawl fishery was higher than the Council had realized when the 
IBQ pound provisions were adopted. There was not sufficient time after 
that meeting to draft this document and undergo proposed and final 
rulemaking before these actions need to be in effect. It would be 
contrary to the public interest to wait to implement these changes 
until after public notice and comment, because making this regulatory 
change quickly allows additional harvest in fisheries that are 
important to coastal communities. Failure to implement an interim 
calculation method for Pacific halibut IBQ would keep regulations in 
place that are not based on the best available data and could lead to 
early closures of the fishery because such regulations would result in 
issuance of fewer IBQ pounds than the target set by the Council. 
Premature closure of fisheries that are important to coastal 
communities would fail to meet the objectives of the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish FMP to allow for year round fishing opportunities to provide 
community stability.
    It is also in the public interest to adjust RCAs and landing 
allowances for non-IFQ species. RCAs are important to facilitate 
rebuilding of overfished species. Failure to adjust interim trawl RCAs 
would keep regulations in place that are not based on the best 
available data, as they were not specifically

[[Page 82300]]

developed for use in a rationalized trawl fishery. This would be 
contrary to the public interest and with the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
FMP to rebuild overfished species while allowing for harvest 
opportunities to support local communities. Failure to remove trip 
limits for IFQ species would cause duplicative regulations, where 
vessels would be fishing for their QP for IFQ species and would then 
also be restricted by trip limits. This would be very confusing to the 
regulated public. Removal of trip limits for IFQ species relieves an 
unnecessary restriction and allows flexibility for vessels fishing IFQ 
species.
    For the same reasons, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day 
delay in effectiveness pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), so that this 
final rule may become effective on January 1, 2011.
    Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are 
inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required and has not been prepared.
    This interim rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    A Regulatory Impact Review was completed and is available upon 
request from the NMFS, Northwest Region (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS issued Biological Opinions under the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) on August 10, 1990, November 26, 1991, August 28, 1992, September 
27, 1993, May 14, 1996, and December 15, 1999 pertaining to the effects 
of the Pacific Coast groundfish FMP fisheries on Chinook salmon (Puget 
Sound, Snake River spring/summer, Snake River fall, upper Columbia 
River spring, lower Columbia River, upper Willamette River, Sacramento 
River winter, Central Valley spring, California coastal), coho salmon 
(Central California coastal, southern Oregon/northern California 
coastal), chum salmon (Hood Canal summer, Columbia River), sockeye 
salmon (Snake River, Ozette Lake), and steelhead (upper, middle and 
lower Columbia River, Snake River Basin, upper Willamette River, 
central California coast, California Central Valley, south/central 
California, northern California, southern California). These biological 
opinions have concluded that implementation of the FMP for the Pacific 
Coast groundfish fishery was not expected to jeopardize the continued 
existence of any endangered or threatened species under the 
jurisdiction of NMFS, or result in the destruction or adverse 
modification of critical habitat.
    NMFS reinitiated a formal section 7 consultation under the ESA in 
2005 for both the Pacific whiting midwater trawl fishery and the 
groundfish bottom trawl fishery. The December 19, 1999, Biological 
Opinion had defined an 11,000 Chinook incidental take threshold for the 
Pacific whiting fishery. During the 2005 Pacific whiting season, the 
11,000 fish Chinook incidental take threshold was exceeded, triggering 
reinitiation. Also in 2005, new data from the West Coast Groundfish 
Observer Program became available, allowing NMFS to complete an 
analysis of salmon take in the bottom trawl fishery.
    NMFS prepared a Supplemental Biological Opinion dated March 11, 
2006, which addressed salmon take in both the Pacific whiting midwater 
trawl and groundfish bottom trawl fisheries. In its 2006 Supplemental 
Biological Opinion, NMFS concluded that catch rates of salmon in the 
2005 whiting fishery were consistent with expectations considered 
during prior consultations. Chinook bycatch has averaged about 7,300 
fish over the last 15 years and has only occasionally exceeded the 
reinitiation trigger of 11,000 fish.
    Since 1999, annual Chinook bycatch has averaged about 8,450 fish. 
The Chinook ESUs most likely affected by the whiting fishery has 
generally improved in status since the 1999 section 7 consultation. 
Although these species remain at risk, as indicated by their ESA 
listing, NMFS concluded that the higher observed bycatch in 2005 does 
not require a reconsideration of its prior ``no jeopardy'' conclusion 
with respect to the fishery. For the groundfish bottom trawl fishery, 
NMFS concluded that incidental take in the groundfish fisheries is 
within the overall limits articulated in the Incidental Take Statement 
of the 1999 Biological Opinion. The groundfish bottom trawl limit from 
that opinion was 9,000 fish annually. NMFS will continue to monitor and 
collect data to analyze take levels. NMFS also reaffirmed its prior 
determination that implementation of the Groundfish FMP is not likely 
to jeopardize the continued existence of any of the affected ESUs.
    Lower Columbia River coho (70 FR 37160, June 28, 2005) were 
recently listed and Oregon Coastal coho (73 FR 7816, February 11, 2008) 
were recently relisted as threatened under the ESA. The 1999 biological 
opinion concluded that the bycatch of salmonids in the Pacific whiting 
fishery were almost entirely Chinook salmon, with little or no bycatch 
of coho, chum, sockeye, and steelhead.
    The Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of green sturgeon 
was listed as threatened under the ESA (71 FR 17757, April 7, 2006). 
The southern DPS of Pacific eulachon was listed as threatened on March 
18, 2010, under the ESA (75 FR 13012). NMFS has reinitiated 
consultation on the fishery, including impacts on green sturgeon, 
eulachon, marine mammals, and turtles. After reviewing the available 
information, NMFS has concluded that, consistent with Sections 7(a)(2) 
and 7(d) of the ESA, the proposed action would not jeopardize any 
listed species, would not adversely modify any designated critical 
habitat, and would not result in any irreversible or irretrievable 
commitment of resources that would have the effect of foreclosing the 
formulation or implementation of any reasonable and prudent alternative 
measures.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, and Indian fisheries.

    Dated: December 22, 2010.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR Chapter VI is amended 
as follows:

50 CFR Chapter VI

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. and 16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.

Subpart C--West Coast Groundfish Fisheries

0
2. In Sec.  660.50, paragraph (f)(2)(ii) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  660.50  Pacific Coast treaty Indian fisheries.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) The Tribal allocation is set at 543 mt as an interim measure 
until the 2011 harvest specifications are finalized. This allocation is 
10 percent of the Monterey through Vancouver area (North of 36[deg] N. 
lat.) OY, less 1.6 percent estimated discard mortality.
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  660.55, paragraph (m) is revised to read as follows:

[[Page 82301]]

Sec.  660.55  Allocations.

* * * * *
    (m) Pacific halibut bycatch allocation. The Pacific halibut fishery 
off Washington, Oregon and California (Area 2A in the halibut 
regulations) is managed under regulations at 50 CFR part 300, subpart 
E. Beginning with the 2011-2012 biennial specifications process, the 
PCGFMP sets a trawl mortality bycatch limit for legal size halibut of 
130,000 pounds, net weight, for the first four years of trawl 
rationalization and not to exceed 100,000 pounds starting in the fifth 
year. This total bycatch limit may be adjusted downward or upward 
through the biennial specifications and management measures process. 
Part of the overall total catch limit is a set-aside of 10 mt of 
Pacific halibut (legal and sublegal, round weight), to accommodate 
bycatch in the at-sea Pacific whiting fishery and in the shorebased 
trawl fishery south of 40[deg]10' N. lat. (estimated to be 
approximately 5 mt each).

0
4. In Sec.  660.60, paragraphs (h)(7) introductory text and (h)(7)(i) 
are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  660.60  Specifications and management measures.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (7) Crossover provisions. NMFS uses different types of management 
areas for West Coast groundfish management. One type of management area 
is the north-south management area, a large ocean area with northern 
and southern boundary lines wherein trip limits, seasons, and 
conservation areas follow a single theme. Within each north-south 
management area, there may be one or more conservation areas, defined 
at Sec.  660.11 and Sec. Sec.  660.60 through 660.74, subpart C. The 
provisions within this paragraph apply to vessels operating in 
different north-south management areas. Crossover provisions also apply 
to vessels that fish in both the limited entry and open access 
fisheries, or that use open access non-trawl gear while registered to 
limited entry fixed gear permits. Fishery specific crossover provisions 
can be found in subparts D through F of this part.
    (i) Operating in north-south management areas with different trip 
limits. Trip limits for a species or a species group may differ in 
different north-south management areas along the coast. The following 
crossover provisions apply to vessels operating in different 
geographical areas that have different cumulative or ``per trip'' trip 
limits for the same species or species group. Such crossover provisions 
do not apply to: IFQ species defined at Sec.  660.140(c), subpart D, 
for vessels that are declared into the shorebased IFQ sector (see 
660.13 (d)(5)(iv)(A) for valid shorebased IFQ declaration reports), 
species that are subject only to daily trip limits, or to the trip 
limits for black rockfish off Washington, as described at Sec.  
660.230(d), subpart E and Sec.  660.330(e), subpart F.
* * * * *

0
5a. Table 2a to part 660, subpart C is revised to read as follows:
* * * * *
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30DE10.000


[[Page 82302]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30DE10.001

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30DE10.002


[[Page 82303]]


0
5b. Table 2c to part 660, subpart C and footnotes a through ll to Table 
2c are revised to read as follows:
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR30DE10.003

    a/ ABCs apply only to the U.S. portion of the Vancouver area.
    b/ Optimum Yields (OYs) and Harvest Guidelines (HGs) are 
specified as total catch values. A harvest guideline is a specified 
harvest target and not a quota. The use of this term may differ from 
the use of similar terms in State regulation.
    c/ Lingcod--A coastwide lingcod stock assessment was prepared in 
2005. The lingcod biomass was estimated to be at 64 percent of its 
unfished biomass coastwide in 2005. The ABC of 4,829 mt was 
calculated using an FMSY proxy of F45%. Because the stock is above 
B40% coastwide, the coastwide OY was set equal to the ABC. The 
Tribal harvest guideline is 250 mt.
    d/ ``Other species''--These species are neither common nor 
important to the commercial and recreational fisheries in the areas 
footnoted. Accordingly, these species are included in the harvest 
guidelines of ``other fish'', ``other rockfish'' or ``remaining 
rockfish''.
    e/ Pacific Cod--The 3,200 mt ABC for the Vancouver-Columbia area 
is based on historical landings data. The 1,600 mt OY is the ABC 
reduced by 50 percent as a precautionary adjustment. A Tribal 
harvest guideline of 400 mt is deducted from the OY resulting in a 
commercial OY of 1,200 mt.
    f/ Pacific whiting--The most recent stock assessment was 
prepared in January 2010. The stock assessment base model estimated 
the Pacific whiting biomass to be at 31 percent (50th percentile 
estimate of depletion) of its unfished biomass in 2010. The U.S.-
Canada coastwide ABC is 455,550 mt, the U.S. share of the ABC is 
336,560 mt (73.88 percent of the coastwide ABC). The U.S.-Canada 
coastwide Pacific whiting OY is 262,500 mt, with a corresponding 
U.S. OY of 193,935 mt. The Tribal allocation is 49,939 mt. The 
amount estimated to be taken as research catch and in non-groundfish 
fisheries is 3,000 mt. The commercial OY is 140,996 mt. Each sector 
receives a portion of the commercial OY, with the catcher/processors 
getting 34 percent (47,939 mt), motherships getting 24 percent 
(33,839 mt), and the shore-based sector getting 42 percent (59,218 
mt). No more than 2,961 mt (5 percent of the shore-based allocation) 
may be taken in the fishery south of 42[deg] N. lat. prior to the 
start of the primary season for the shorebased fishery north of 
42[deg] N. lat.
    g/ Sablefish--A coastwide sablefish stock assessment was 
prepared in 2007. The coastwide sablefish biomass was estimated to 
be at 38.3 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. The 2010 
coastwide ABC of 9,217 mt was based on the new stock assessment with 
a FMSY proxy of F45%. The 40-10 harvest policy was applied to the 
ABC, then apportioned between the northern and southern areas with 
28 percent going to the area south of 36[deg] N. lat. The OY for the 
area north of 36[deg] N. lat. is set at 5,515 mt as an interim 
measure until the 2011 harvest specifications are finalized. When 
establishing the OY for the area south of 36[deg] N. lat. a 50 
percent reduction was made resulting in a Conception area OY of 
1,258 mt. The Tribal allocation for the area north of 36[deg] N. 
lat. is set at 552 mt (10 percent of the OY north of 36[deg] N. 
lat.) as an interim measure until the 2011 harvest specifications 
are finalized, which is further reduced by 1.6 percent to account 
for discard mortality. The Tribal landed catch value is set at 543 
mt as an interim measure until the 2011 harvest specifications are 
finalized.
    h/ Cabezon south of 42[deg] N. lat. was assessed in 2005. The 
Cabezon stock was estimated to be at 40 percent of its unfished 
biomass north of 34[deg] 27' N. lat. and 28 percent of its unfished 
biomass south of 34[deg] 27' N. lat. in 2005. The ABC of 111 mt is 
based on the 2005 stock assessment with a harvest rate proxy of 
F45%. The OY of 79 mt is consistent with the application of a 60-20 
harvest rate policy specified in the California Nearshore Fishery 
Management Plan.
    i/ Dover sole north of 34[deg] 27' N. lat. was assessed in 2005. 
The Dover sole biomass

[[Page 82304]]

was estimated to be at 59.8 percent of its unfished biomass in 2005 
and was projected to be increasing. The ABC of 28,582 mt is based on 
the results of the 2005 assessment with an FMSY proxy of F40%. 
Because the stock is above B40% coastwide, the OY could be set equal 
to the ABC. The OY of 16,500 mt is less than the ABC. The OY is set 
at the MSY harvest level which is considerably larger than the 
coastwide catches in any recent years.
    j/ A coastwide English sole stock assessment was prepared in 
2005 and updated in 2007. The stock was estimated to be at 116 
percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. The stock biomass is 
believed to be declining. The ABC of 9,745 mt is based on the 
results of the 2007 assessment update with an FMSY proxy of F40%. 
Because the stock is above B40%, the OY was set equal to the ABC.
    k/ A petrale sole stock assessment was prepared for 2005. In 
2005 the petrale sole stock was estimated to be at 32 percent of its 
unfished biomass coastwide (34 percent in the northern assessment 
area and 29 percent in the southern assessment area). The 2010 ABC 
of 2,751 mt is based on the 2005 assessment with a F40% FMSY proxy. 
To derive the 2010 OY, the 40-10 harvest policy was applied to the 
ABC for both the northern and southern assessment areas. As a 
precautionary measure, an additional 25 percent reduction was made 
in the OY contribution for the southern area due to assessment 
uncertainty. As another precautionary measure, an additional 1,193 
mt reduction was made in the coastwide OY due to preliminary results 
of the more pessimistic 2009 stock assessment. The coastwide OY is 
1,200 mt in 2010.
    l/ Arrowtooth flounder was assessed in 2007 and was estimated to 
be at 79 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. Because the stock 
is above B40%, the OY is set equal to the ABC.
    m/ Starry Flounder was assessed for the first time in 2005 and 
was estimated to be above 40 percent of its unfished biomass in 
2005. However, the stock was projected to decline below 40 percent 
in both the northern and southern areas after 2008. For 2010, the 
coastwide ABC of 1,578 mt is based on the 2005 assessment with a 
FMSY proxy of F40%. To derive the OY of 1,077 mt, the 40-10 harvest 
policy was applied to the ABC for both the northern and southern 
assessment areas then an additional 25 percent reduction was made 
due to assessment uncertainty.
    n/ ``Other flatfish'' are those flatfish species that do not 
have individual ABC/OYs and include butter sole, curlfin sole, 
flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rex sole, rock sole, and sand sole. 
The other flatfish ABC is based on historical catch levels. The ABC 
of 6,731 mt is based on the highest landings for sanddabs (1995) and 
rex sole (1982) for the 1981-2003 period and on the average landings 
from the 1994-1998 period for the remaining other flatfish species. 
The OY of 4,884 mt is based on the ABC with a 25 percent 
precautionary adjustment for sanddabs and rex sole and a 50 percent 
precautionary adjustment for the remaining species.
    o/ A POP stock assessment was prepared in 2005 and was updated 
in 2007. The stock assessment update estimated the stock to be at 
27.5 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. The ABC of 1,173 mt 
for the Vancouver and Columbia areas is based on the 2007 stock 
assessment update with an FMSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 200 mt is 
based on a rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild of 2017 and 
an SPR harvest rate of 86.4 percent. The OY is reduced by 2.0 mt for 
the amount anticipated to be taken during research activity and 0.14 
mt for the amount expected to be taken during EFP fishing.
    p/ Shortbelly rockfish remains an unexploited stock and is 
difficult to assess quantitatively. To understand the potential 
environmental determinants of fluctuations in the recruitment and 
abundance of an unexploited rockfish population in the California 
Current ecosystem, a non-quantitative assessment was conducted in 
2007. The results of the assessment indicated the shortbelly stock 
was healthy with an estimated spawning stock biomass at 67 percent 
of its unfished biomass in 2005. The ABC and OY are being set at 
6,950 mt which is 50 percent of the 2008 ABC and OY values. The 
stock is expected to remain at its current equilibrium with these 
harvest specifications.
    q/ Widow rockfish was assessed in 2005, and an update was 
prepared in 2007. The stock assessment update estimated the stock to 
be at 36.2 percent of its unfished biomass in 2006. The ABC of 6,937 
mt is based on the stock assessment update with an F50% FMSY proxy. 
The OY of 509 mt is based on a rebuilding plan with a target year to 
rebuild of 2015 and an SPR harvest rate of 95 percent. To derive the 
commercial harvest guideline of 447.4 mt, the OY is reduced by 1.1 
mt for the amount anticipated to be taken during research activity, 
45.5 mt for the Tribal set-aside, 7.2 mt the amount estimated to be 
taken in the recreational fisheries, 0.4 mt for the amount expected 
to be taken incidentally in non-groundfish fisheries, and 7.4 mt for 
EFP fishing activities.
    r/ Canary rockfish--A canary rockfish stock assessment was 
completed in 2007 and the stock was estimated to be at 32.7 percent 
of its unfished biomass coastwide in 2007. The coastwide ABC of 940 
mt is based on a FMSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 105 mt is based on a 
rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild of 2021 and a SPR 
harvest rate of 88.7 percent. To derive the commercial harvest 
guideline of 42.3 mt, the OY is reduced by 8.0 mt for the amount 
anticipated to be taken during research activity, 7.3 mt the Tribal 
set-aside, 43.8 mt the amount estimated to be taken in the 
recreational fisheries, 0.9 mt for the amount expected to be taken 
incidentally in non-groundfish fisheries, and 2.7 mt for the amount 
expected to be taken during EFP fishing. The following harvest 
guidelines are being specified for catch sharing in 2009: 19.7 mt 
for limited entry Non-Whiting Trawl, 18.0 mt for limited entry 
Whiting Trawl, 2.2 mt for limited entry fixed gear, 2.5 mt for 
directed open access, 4.9 mt for Washington recreational, 16.0 mt 
for Oregon recreational, and 22.9 mt for California recreational.
    s/ Chilipepper rockfish was assessed in 2007 and the stock was 
estimated to be at 71 percent of its unfished biomass coastwide in 
2007. The ABC of 2,576 mt is based on the new assessment with an 
FMSY proxy of F50%. Because the unfished biomass is estimated to be 
above 40 percent of the unfished biomass, the default OY could be 
set equal to the ABC. However, the OY of 2,447 mt was the ABC 
reduced by 5 percent as a precautionary measure. Open access is 
allocated 44.3 percent (1,084 mt) of the commercial HG and limited 
entry is allocated 55.7 percent (1,363 mt) of the commercial HG.
    t/ A bocaccio stock assessment and a rebuilding analysis were 
prepared in 2007. The bocaccio stock was estimated to be at 13.8 
percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. The ABC of 793 mt for the 
Monterey-Conception area is based on the new stock assessment with 
an FMSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 288 is based on a rebuilding plan 
with a target year to rebuild of 2026 and a SPR harvest rate of 77.7 
percent. To derive the commercial harvest guideline of 206.4 mt, the 
OY is reduced by 2.0 mt for the amount anticipated to be taken 
during research activity, 67.3 mt for the amount estimated to be 
taken in the recreational fisheries, 1.3 mt for the amount expected 
to be taken incidentally in non-groundfish fisheries, and 11.0 mt 
for the amount expected to be taken during EFP fishing.
    u/ Splitnose rockfish--The ABC is 615 mt in the Monterey-
Conception area. The 461 mt OY for the area reflects a 25 percent 
precautionary adjustment because of the less rigorous stock 
assessment for this stock. In the north (Vancouver, Columbia and 
Eureka areas), splitnose is included within the minor slope rockfish 
OY. Because the harvest assumptions used to forecast future harvest 
were likely overestimates, carrying the previously used ABCs and OYs 
forward into 2010 was considered to be conservative and based on the 
best available data.
    v/ Yellowtail rockfish--A yellowtail rockfish stock assessment 
was prepared in 2005 for the Vancouver, Columbia, Eureka areas. 
Yellowtail rockfish was estimated to be above 40 percent of its 
unfished biomass in 2005. The ABC of 4,562 mt is based on the 2005 
stock assessment with the FMSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 4,562 mt was 
set equal to the ABC, because the stock is above the precautionary 
threshold of B40%.
    w/ Shortspine thornyhead was assessed in 2005 and the stock was 
estimated to be at 63 percent of its unfished biomass in 2005. The 
ABC of 2,411 mt is based on a F50%FMSYproxy. For that portion of the 
stock (66 percent of the biomass) north of Point Conception (34[deg] 
27' N. lat.), the OY of 1,591 mt was set at equal to the ABC because 
the stock is estimated to be above the precautionary threshold. For 
that portion of the stock south of 34[deg] 27' N. lat. (34 percent 
of the biomass), the OY of 410 mt was the portion of the ABC for the 
area reduced by 50 percent as a precautionary adjustment due to the 
short duration and amount of survey data for that area.
    x/ Longspine thornyhead was assessed coastwide in 2005 and the 
stock was estimated to be at 71 percent of its unfished biomass in 
2005. The coastwide ABC of 3,671 mt is based on a F50%FMSYproxy. The 
OY is set equal to the ABC because the stock is above the 
precautionary threshold. Separate

[[Page 82305]]

OYs are being established for the areas north and south of 34[deg] 
27' N. lat. (Point Conception). The OY of 2,175 mt for that portion 
of the stock in the northern area (79 percent) was the ABC reduced 
by 25 percent as a precautionary adjustment. For that portion of the 
stock in the southern area (21 percent), the OY of 385 mt was the 
portion of the ABC for the area reduced by 50 percent as a 
precautionary adjustment due to the short duration and amount of 
survey data for that area.
    y/ Cowcod in the Conception area was assessed in 2007 and the 
stock was estimated to be between 3.4 to 16.3 percent of its 
unfished biomass. The ABC for the Monterey and Conception areas is 
14 mt and is based on the 2007 rebuilding analysis in which the 
Conception area stock assessment projection was doubled to account 
for both areas. A single OY of 4 mt is being set for both areas. The 
OY of 4 mt is based on the need to conform the 2010 cowcod harvest 
specifications to the Court's Order in Natural Resources Defense 
Council v. Locke, Civil Action No. C 01-0421 JL. The amount 
anticipated to be taken during scientific research activity is 0.2 
mt and the amount expected to be taken during EFP activity is 0.24 
mt.
    z/ Darkblotched rockfish was assessed in 2007 and a rebuilding 
analysis was prepared. The new stock assessment estimated the stock 
to be at 22.4 percent of its unfished biomass in 2007. The ABC is 
projected to be 440 mt and is based on the 2007 stock assessment 
with an FMSY proxy of F50%. The OY of 330 mt is based on the need to 
conform the 2010 darkblotched rockfish harvest specifications to the 
Court's Order in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Locke, Civil 
Action No. C 01-0421 JL. The amount anticipated to be taken during 
scientific research activity is 2.0 mt and the amount anticipated to 
be taken during EFP activity is 0.95 mt.
    aa/ Yelloweye rockfish was fully assessed in 2006 and an 
assessment update was completed in 2007. The 2007 stock assessment 
update estimated the spawning stock biomass in 2006 to be at 14 
percent of its unfished biomass coastwide. The 32 mt coastwide ABC 
was derived from the base model in the new stock assessment with an 
FMSY proxy of F50%. The 14 mt OY is based on the need to conform the 
2010 yelloweye rockfish harvest specifications to the Court's Order 
in Natural Resources Defense Council v. Locke, Civil Action No. C 
01-0421 JL. The amount anticipated to be taken during scientific 
research activity is 1.3 mt, the amount anticipated to be taken in 
the Tribal fisheries is 2.3 mt, and the amount anticipated to be 
taken incidentally in non-groundfish fisheries is 0.3 mt. The catch 
sharing harvest guidelines for yelloweye rockfish in 2010 are: 
Limited entry non-whiting trawl 0.3 mt, limited entry whiting 0.0 
mt, limited entry fixed gear 0.8 mt, directed open access 1.2 mt, 
Washington recreational 2.6 mt, Oregon recreational 2.3 mt, 
California recreational 2.7 mt, and 0.2 mt for exempted fishing.
    bb/ California Scorpionfish south of 34[deg] 27' N. lat. (point 
Conception) was assessed in 2005 and was estimated to be above 40 
percent of its unfished biomass in 2005. The ABC of 155 mt is based 
on the new assessment with a harvest rate proxy of F50%. Because the 
stock is above B40%coastwide, the OY is set equal to the ABC.
    cc/ New assessments were prepared for black rockfish south of 
45[deg] 56.00 N. lat. (Cape Falcon, Oregon) and for black rockfish 
north of Cape Falcon. The ABC for the area north of 46[deg] 16' N. 
lat. (Washington) is 464 mt (97 percent) of the 478 mt ABC 
contribution from the northern assessment area. The ABC for the area 
south of 46[deg] 16' N. lat. (Oregon and California) is 1,317 mt 
which is the sum of a contribution of 14 mt (3 percent) from the 
northern area assessment, and 1,303 mt from the southern area 
assessment. The ABCs were derived using an FMSY proxy of F50%. 
Because both portions of the stock are above 40 percent, the OYs 
could be set equal to the ABCs. For the area north of 46[deg]16' N. 
lat., the OY of 490 mt is set equal to the ABC. The following Tribal 
harvest guidelines are being set: 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) north of Cape 
Alava, WA (48[deg] 09.50' N. lat.) and 10,000 lb (4.5 mt) between 
Destruction Island, WA (47[deg] 40' N. lat.) and Leadbetter Point, 
WA (46[deg] 38.17' N. lat.) For the area south of 46[deg] 16' N. 
lat., the OY of 1,000 mt is a constant harvest level. The black 
rockfish OY in the area south of 46[deg] 16' N. lat., is subdivided 
with separate HGs being set for the area north of 42[deg] N. lat. 
(580 mt/58 percent) and for the area south of 42[deg] N. lat. (420 
mt/42 percent).
    dd/ Minor rockfish north includes the ``remaining rockfish'' and 
``other rockfish'' categories in the Vancouver, Columbia, and Eureka 
areas combined. These species include ``remaining rockfish'', which 
generally includes species that have been assessed by less rigorous 
methods than stock assessments, and ``other rockfish'', which 
includes species that do not have quantifiable stock assessments. 
Blue rockfish has been removed from the ``other rockfish'' and added 
to the remaining rockfish. The ABC of 3,678 mt is the sum of the 
individual ``remaining rockfish'' ABCs plus the ``other rockfish'' 
ABCs. The remaining rockfish ABCs continue to be reduced by 25 
percent (F = 0.75M) as a precautionary adjustment. To obtain the 
total catch OY of 2,283 mt, the remaining rockfish ABCs were further 
reduced by 25 percent and other rockfish ABCs were reduced by 50 
percent. This was a precautionary measure to address limited stock 
assessment information.
    ee/ Minor rockfish south includes the ``remaining rockfish'' and 
``other rockfish'' categories in the Monterey and Conception areas 
combined. These species include ``remaining rockfish'' which 
generally includes species that have been assessed by less rigorous 
methods than stock assessment, and ``other rockfish'' which includes 
species that do not have quantifiable stock assessments. Blue 
rockfish has been removed from the ``other rockfish'' and added to 
the remaining rockfish. The ABC of 3,382 mt is the sum of the 
individual ``remaining rockfish'' ABCs plus the ``other rockfish'' 
ABCs. The remaining rockfish ABCs continue to be reduced by 25 
percent (F = 0.75M) as a precautionary adjustment. The remaining 
rockfish ABCs are further reduced by 25 percent, with the exception 
of blackgill rockfish (see footnote gg). The other rockfish ABCs 
were reduced by 50 percent. This was a precautionary measure due to 
limited stock assessment information. The resulting minor rockfish 
OY is 1,990 mt.
    ff/ Bank rockfish--The ABC is 350 mt which is based on a 2000 
stock assessment for the Monterey and Conception areas. This stock 
contributes 263 mt towards the minor rockfish OY in the south.
    gg/ Blackgill rockfish in the Monterey and Conception areas was 
assessed in 2005 and is estimated to be at 49.9 percent of its 
unfished biomass in 2008. The ABC of 292 mt for the Monterey and 
Conception areas is based on the 2005 stock assessment with an FMSY 
proxy of F50% and is the two year average ABC for the 2007 and 2008 
periods. This stock contributes 292 mt towards minor rockfish south.
    hh/ ``Other rockfish'' includes rockfish species listed in 50 
CFR 660.302. A new stock assessment was conducted for blue rockfish 
in 2007. As a result of the new stock assessment, the blue rockfish 
contribution to the other rockfish group, of 30 mt in the north and 
232 mt in the south, are removed. A new contribution of 28 mt 
contribution in the north and 202 mt contribution in the south is 
added to the remaining rockfish. The ABC for the remaining species 
is based on historical data from a 1996 review landings and includes 
an estimate of recreational landings. Most of these species have 
never been assessed quantitatively.
    ii/ Longnose skate was fully assessed in 2006 and an assessment 
update was completed in 2007. The ABC of 3,428 is based on the 2007 
with an FMSY proxy of F45%. Longnose skate was previously managed as 
part of the Other Fish complex. The 2009 OY of 1,349 mt is a 
precautionary OY based on historical total catch increased by 50 
percent.
    jj/ ``Other fish'' includes sharks, skates, rays, ratfish, 
morids, grenadiers, kelp greenling, and other groundfish species 
noted above in footnote d/. The longnose skate contribution is being 
removed from this complex.
    kk/ Sablefish allocation north of 36[deg] N. lat.--The limited 
entry allocation is further divided with 58 percent allocated to the 
trawl fishery and 42 percent allocated to the fixed-gear fishery.
    ll/ Specific open access/limited entry allocations specified in 
the FMP have been suspended during the rebuilding period as 
necessary to meet the overall rebuilding target while allowing 
harvest of healthy stocks.

Subpart D--West Coast Groundfish--Limited Entry Trawl Fisheries

0
6. In Sec.  660.130, paragraphs (c) introductory text and (c)(4)(ii)(B) 
are revised to read as follows:


Sec.  660.130  Trawl fishery--management measures.

* * * * *
    (c) Prohibitions by limited entry trawl gear type. Management 
measures may vary depending on the type of trawl gear

[[Page 82306]]

(i.e., large footrope, small footrope, selective flatfish, or midwater 
trawl gear) used and/or on board a vessel during a fishing trip, 
cumulative limit period, and the area fished. Trawl nets may be used on 
and off the seabed. For some species or species groups, Table 1 (North) 
and Table 1 (South) of this subpart provide trip limits that are 
specific to different types of trawl gear: large footrope, small 
footrope (including selective flatfish), selective flatfish, midwater, 
and multiple types. If Table 1 (North) and Table 1 (South) of this 
subpart provide gear specific limits for a particular species or 
species group, it is unlawful to take and retain, possess or land that 
species or species group with limited entry trawl gears other than 
those listed.
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (B) For vessels using more than one type of trawl gear during a 
cumulative limit period, limits are additive up to the largest limit 
for the type of gear used during that period.
* * * * *

0
7. Section 660.140, as amended at 75 FR 78391, December 15, 2010, is 
further amended by revising paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(C) and adding 
paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.140  Shorebased IFQ Program.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (C) Pacific halibut IBQ pounds annual allocation. NMFS will issue 
IBQ pounds for Pacific halibut annually by multiplying the QS permit 
owner's IBQ percent by the Shorebased IFQ Program component of the 
trawl mortality limit for that year (expressed in net weight), dividing 
by 0.75 to convert to round weight pounds, and dividing by 0.62 to 
convert from legal sized to legal and non-legal sized halibut. 
Consistent with Sec.  660.55(m), the Shorebased IFQ Program component 
of the trawl mortality limit will be 130,000 pounds of legal size 
halib