Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2005 and 2006 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 8958-8979 [05-3581]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
SUMMARY: NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/
processor vessels using hook-and-line
gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area (BSAI). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the 2005 Pacific cod interim total
allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific cod
specified for catcher/processor vessels
using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.
DATES: Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local
time (A.l.t.), February 22, 2005, until
superseded by the notice of 2005 and
2006 final harvest specifications of
groundfish for the BSAI, which will be
published in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
BSAI according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP) prepared by
the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council under authority of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
Regulations governing fishing by U.S.
vessels in accordance with the FMP
appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600
and 50 CFR part 679.
The 2005 Pacific cod interim TAC
specified for catcher/processor vessels
using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI is
established as a directed fishing
allowance of 44,695 metric tons by the
2005 interim harvest specifications for
groundfish in the BSAI (69 FR 76870,
December 23, 2004). See
§ 679.20(c)(2)(ii)(A), § 679.20(c)(5), and
§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A) and (C)(1)(i).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
the Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS, has determined that the 2005
Pacific cod interim TAC allocated to
catcher/processor vessels using hookand-line gear in the BSAI has been
reached. Consequently, NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific
cod by catcher/processor vessels using
hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.
After the effective date of this closure
the maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
Classification
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA,
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
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interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of the fisheries under
the 2005 Pacific cod interim TAC
specified for catcher/processor vessels
using hook-and-line gear in the BSAI.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30–day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: February 18, 2005.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–3555 Filed 2–18–05; 1:33 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126333–5040–02; I.D.
112204C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final
2005 and 2006 Harvest Specifications
for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications for groundfish and
associated management measures;
closures.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2005
and 2006 harvest specifications,
reserves and apportionments thereof,
Pacific halibut prohibited species catch
(PSC) limits, and associated
management measures for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits and associated
management measures for groundfish
during the 2005 and 2006 fishing years
and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of
this action is to conserve and manage
the groundfish resources in the GOA in
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accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: The final 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications and associated
management measures are effective at
1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
February 24, 2005, through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from Alaska Region, NMFS,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Lori Durall or from the Alaska
Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final
2004 Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the GOA, dated
November 2004, are available from the
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council), West 4th Avenue,
Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510–2252
(907–271–2809) or from its Web site at
https://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries Division,
Alaska Region, 907–481–1780, or e-mail
at tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NMFS manages the groundfish
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) prepared the FMP
under the authority of the MagnusonStevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and
implementing the FMP appear at 50
CFR parts 600 and 679.
Amendments 48/48 to the FMP and to
the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area
(BSAI) were approved by NMFS on
October 12, 2004. The final rule
implementing Amendments 48/48 was
published November 8, 2004 (69 FR
64683). Amendments 48/48 revise the
administrative process used to establish
annual specifications for the groundfish
fisheries of the GOA and the BSAI. The
goals of Amendments 48/48 in revising
the specifications process are to: (1)
Manage fisheries based on the best
scientific information available, (2)
provide for adequate prior public review
and comment on Council
recommendations, (3) provide for
additional opportunity for Secretarial
review, (4) minimize unnecessary
public confusion and disruption to
fisheries, and (5) promote
administrative efficiency.
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Based on the approval of
Amendments 48/48, the Council
recommended 2005 and 2006 proposed
specifications for GOA groundfish.
These proposed specifications were
based on the 2003 SAFE report. The
2004 SAFE report, dated November
2004, was used to develop the final
2005 and 2006 groundfish acceptable
biological catch (ABC) and overfishing
level (OFL) amounts. The 2006
specifications will be updated in early
2006, when final specifications for 2006
and new specifications for 2007 are
implemented.
In October 2004, the Council also
recommended a biennial harvest
specifications process for certain longlived species and for species for which
little new management information is
available on other than a biennial basis.
Based on current survey schedules, the
GOA species for which biennial harvest
specifications process would be used
are deep water flatfish, rex sole, shallow
water flatfish, flathead sole, arrowtooth
flounder, slope rockfish, northern
rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish,
demersal shelf rockfish, skates, and
Atka mackerel. Stock assessment
surveys are conducted biennially in the
GOA for these species. Because new
information is currently updated every
two years and harvest amounts are fairly
stable from year to year, the harvest
specification process for these species is
anticipated every two years. If new
management information becomes
available for any of those species on a
more frequent basis, an annual harvest
specifications process could still be
used. Amendment 48 to the GOA FMP
allows harvest specifications to be
established for up to two fishing years,
and the administrative process to
establish these biennial harvest
specifications will be done every other
year, concurrent with the annual harvest
specifications process used for other
species.
Allowing for up to two years of
specifications during the specification
process recognizes the time period of
projections that must be used for
establishing harvest specifications that
will allow for rulemaking in the
following year and provides the Council
and NMFS the flexibility to conduct
either an annual or biennial
specification process in response to
potential changes in the frequency of
stock assessment surveys or in other
data or administrative issues. Based on
current survey schedules and available
information, pollock, trawl sablefish,
Pacific cod, and ‘‘other species’’
category fisheries in the GOA will be
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managed using an annual harvest
specification process. However, this
process will provide specifications for
two years. The second year’s
specifications will be replaced by the
new harvest specifications through
rulemaking based on the annual harvest
specification process. Any proposed
changes from using either an annual
process or a biennial process for a
particular target species will be
analyzed during the harvest
specification process.
The Council recommended that
specifications for the hook-and-line gear
and pot gear sablefish individual fishing
quota (IFQ) fisheries continue to be
limited to one year to ensure that those
fisheries are conducted concurrent with
the halibut IFQ fishery and are based on
the most recent survey information (69
FR 44634, July 27, 2004). Having the
sablefish IFQ fisheries concurrent with
the halibut IFQ fishery will reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and
sablefish in these fisheries. Because of
the high value of this fishery, the
Council recommended the setting of
TAC be based on the most recent survey
information. Under the current IFQ
fishery season start date, sablefish stock
assessments based on the most recent
survey are available before the
beginning of the fishery to allow for
rulemaking each year. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries remain closed at the beginning
of each fishing year, until the final
specifications for the sablefish IFQ
fisheries are in effect. The trawl
sablefish fishery will be managed using
specifications for up to a 2-year period,
similar to GOA pollock, Pacific cod, and
the ‘‘other species’’ category.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify the total allowable catch (TAC)
for each target species and for the ‘‘other
species’’ category, the sum of which
must be within the optimum yield (OY)
range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons
(mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further
requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual
TACs, halibut PSC amounts, and
seasonal allowances of pollock and
inshore/offshore Pacific cod. The final
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 16 of this document satisfy
these requirements. For 2005, the sum
of the TAC amounts is 291,298 mt. For
2006, the sum of the TAC amounts is
284,023 mt.
The proposed GOA groundfish
specifications and Pacific halibut PSC
allowances for 2005 and 2006 were
published in the Federal Register on
December 7, 2004 (69 FR 70605).
Comments were invited and accepted
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through January 6, 2005. NMFS received
two letters of comment on the proposed
specifications. These letters of comment
are summarized in the ‘‘Response to
Comments’’ section of this action.
NMFS consulted with the Council
during the December 2004 Council
meeting in Anchorage, AK. After
considering public comments received,
as well as biological and economic data
that were available at the Council’s
December 2004 meeting, NMFS is
implementing the final 2005 and 2006
groundfish specifications as
recommended by the Council.
Regulations at § 679.20(c)(2)(i)
establish interim amounts of each
proposed TAC and allocations, and
proposed PSC allowances established
under § 679.21 that become available at
0001 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, and remain
available until superceded by the final
specifications. NMFS published the
interim 2005 harvest specifications in
the Federal Register on December 17,
2004 (69 FR 74455). With the
implementation of Amendment 48 to
the GOA FMP, the publication of
interim specifications will not be
necessary beyond 2005. The final 2005
groundfish specifications,
apportionments, and halibut PSC
allowances contained in this action
supercede the interim 2005 groundfish
harvest specifications.
Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures
Revisions
In June 2004, the Council
unanimously recommended revisions to
the Steller sea lion protection measures
in the GOA to alleviate part of the
economic burden on coastal
communities while maintaining
protection for Steller sea lions and their
critical habitat. NMFS published a final
rule to implement these revisions on
December 20, 2004 (69 FR 75865) with
the effective date of January 19, 2005.
These revisions adjust pollock and
Pacific cod fishing closures near four
Steller sea lion haulouts and revise
seasonal management of pollock
harvest. The revised pollock harvest
management measures would affect the
annual specifications by extending the
A and C season dates for pollock and
provide clarification as to how the
Regional Administrator, Alaska Region,
NMFS (Regional Administrator), would
rollover unharvested amounts of pollock
between seasons.
The final rule extends the pollock A
season dates from January 20 through
February 25 to January 20 through
March 10 (§ 679.23(d)(2)(i)) and extends
the pollock C season dates from August
25 through September 15 to August 25
through October 1 (§ 679.23(d)(2)(iii)) in
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the Western and Central Regulatory
Areas of the GOA. The final action also
changes regulatory provisions for the
rollover of a statistical area’s
unharvested pollock apportionment into
the subsequent season. The rollover
amount is limited to 20 percent of the
seasonal apportionment for the
statistical area. Any unharvested
pollock above the 20 percent limit could
be further distributed to the other
statistical areas, in proportion to the
estimated biomass in the subsequent
season in those statistical areas
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and
TAC Specifications
The final ABC levels are based on the
best available biological and
socioeconomic information, including
projected biomass trends, information
on assumed distribution of stock
biomass, and revised methods used to
calculate stock biomass. The FMP
specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be
used in computing ABCs and OFLs. The
formulas applicable to a particular stock
or stock complex are determined by the
level of reliable information available to
fisheries scientists. This information is
categorized into a successive series of
six tiers with tier one representing the
highest level of information and tier six
the lowest level of information.
The Council, its Advisory Panel (AP),
and its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC) reviewed current
biological and harvest information about
the condition of groundfish stocks in the
GOA in December 2004. This
information was compiled by the
Council’s GOA Plan Team and was
presented in the final 2004 SAFE report
for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2004.
The SAFE report contains a review of
the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species’ biomass and
other biological parameters, as well as
summaries of the available information
on the GOA ecosystem and the
economic condition of the groundfish
fisheries off Alaska. From these data and
analyses, the Plan Team estimates an
ABC for each species or species
category.
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted
the Plan Team’s ABC recommendations
for all groundfish species categories.
The final ABCs, as adopted by the
Council for the 2005 and 2006 fishing
years, are listed in Tables 1 and 2.
As in 2004, the SSC and Council
recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among
management areas in 2005 and 2006
include commercial fishery and survey
data. NMFS stock assessment scientists
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believe that the use of unbiased
commercial fishery data reflecting
catch-per-unit effort provides a
desirable input for stock distribution
assessments. The use of commercial
fishery data is evaluated annually to
ensure that unbiased information is
included in stock distribution models.
The Council’s recommendation for
sablefish area apportionments also takes
into account the prohibition on the use
of trawl gear in the Southeast Outside
(SEO) District of the Eastern GOA and
makes available 5 percent of the
combined Eastern GOA ABCs to trawl
gear for use as incidental catch in other
directed groundfish fisheries in the
West Yakutat District (see
§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
The AP and Council recommended
that the ABC for Pacific cod in the GOA
be apportioned among regulatory areas
based on the three most recent NMFS’
summer trawl surveys. As in previous
years, the Plan Team, AP, SSC, and
Council recommended that total
removals of Pacific cod from the GOA
not exceed ABC recommendations.
Accordingly, the Council recommended
that the 2005 and 2006 TACs be
adjusted downward from the ABCs by
amounts equal to the 2005 guideline
harvest levels (GHL) established for
Pacific cod by the State of Alaska (State)
for fisheries that occur in State waters
in the GOA. The effect of the State’s
GHL on the Pacific cod TAC is
discussed in greater detail below. As in
2004, NMFS will establish for 2005 and
2006 an A season directed fishing
allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod
fisheries in the GOA based on the
management area TACs less the recent
average A season incidental catch of
Pacific cod in each management area
before June 10 (see § 679.20(d)(1)). The
DFA and incidental catch before June 10
will be managed such that total harvest
in the A season will be no more than 60
percent of the annual TAC. Incidental
catch taken after June 10 will continue
to be taken from the B season TAC. This
action meets the intent of the Steller Sea
Lion Protection Measures by achieving
temporal dispersion of the Pacific cod
removals and by reducing the likelihood
of harvest exceeding 60 percent of the
annual TAC in the A season (January 1
through June 10).
The final TAC recommendations were
based on the ABCs as adjusted for other
biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining
the total TAC within the required OY
range of 116,000 to 800,000 mt. The
Council adopted the AP’s TAC
recommendations. None of the
Council’s recommended TACs for 2005
and 2006 exceeds the final ABC for any
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species or species category. NMFS finds
that the recommended ABCs and TACs
are consistent with the biological
condition of the groundfish stocks as
described in the 2004 SAFE report and
approved by the Council.
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2005 and
2006 OFL, ABC, TAC, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the
GOA. The sum of 2005 and of 2006
ABCs for all assessed groundfish are
539,263 and 542,456 mt respectively,
which are higher than the 2004 ABC
total of 507,092 mt (69 FR 26320, May
12, 2004). The apportionment of TAC
amounts among gear types, processing
sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts
The Council recommended TACs for
2005 and 2006 that are equal to ABCs
for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
sablefish, Pacific ocean perch,
shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish,
northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf
rockfish, big skate, longnose skate, other
skates, and Atka mackerel. The Council
recommended TACs that are less than
the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead sole,
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth
flounder, and other rockfish.
The apportionment of annual pollock
TAC among the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the
seasonal biomass distribution and is
discussed in greater detail below. The
annual pollock TAC in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is
apportioned among Statistical Areas
610, 620, and 630, as well as equally
among each of the following four
seasons: the A season (January 20
through March 10), the B season (March
10 through May 31), the C season
(August 25 through October 1), and the
D season (October 1 through November
1) (see §§ 693.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv)
and 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The 2005 and 2006 Pacific cod TACs
are affected by the State’s developing
fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in
the Central and Western GOA, as well
as in Prince William Sound (PWS). The
SSC, AP, and Council recommended
that the sum of all State and Federal
water Pacific cod removals not exceed
the ABC. Accordingly, the Council
recommended the 2005 and 2006 Pacific
cod TACs be reduced from ABC levels
to account for State GHLs in each
regulatory area of the GOA. Therefore,
the 2005 TACs are reduced from ABCs
as follows: (1) Eastern GOA, 407 mt; (2)
Central GOA, 8,031 mt; and (3) Western
GOA, 5,229 mt. Similarly, the 2006
TACs are reduced from ABCs as follows:
(1) Eastern GOA, 358 mt; (2) Central
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GOA, 7,063 mt; and (3) Western GOA,
4,599 mt. These amounts reflect the sum
of the State’s 2005 GHLs in these areas,
which are 10 percent, 24.25 percent,
and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central,
and Western GOA ABCs, respectively.
The percentages of ABC used to
calculate the GHLs for the State
managed Pacific cod fisheries are
unchanged from 2004.
NMFS also is establishing seasonal
apportionments of the annual Pacific
cod TAC in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the
annual TAC is apportioned to the A
season for hook-and-line, pot and jig
gear from January 1 through June 10,
and for trawl gear from January 20
through June 10. Forty percent of the
annual TAC is apportioned to the B
season for hook-and-line, pot and jig
gear from September 1 through
December 31, and for trawl gear from
September 1 through November 1 (see
§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(11)).
These seasonal apportionments of the
annual Pacific cod TAC are discussed in
greater detail below.
The FMP specifies that the TAC
amount for the ‘‘other species’’ category
is calculated as 5 percent of the
combined TAC amounts for target
species. The 2005 GOA-wide ‘‘other
species’’ TAC is 13,871 mt, and the 2006
TAC is 13,525 mt, which is 5 percent of
the sum of the combined TAC amounts
(277,427 mt for 2005 and 270,498 mt for
2006) for the target species. The sum of
the TACs for all GOA groundfish is
291,298 mt for 2005 and 284,023 mt for
2006, which is within the OY range
specified by the FMP. The sums of the
2005 and 2006 TACs are higher than the
2004 TAC sum of 271,776 mt (69 FR
26320, May 12, 2004).
NMFS finds that the Council’s
recommendations for OFL, ABC, and
TAC amounts are consistent with the
biological condition of groundfish
stocks as adjusted for other biological
and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the total TAC
within the required OY range of 116,000
to 800,000 mt. NMFS has reviewed the
Council’s recommended TAC
specifications and apportionments and
hereby approves these specifications
under § 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final 2005
and 2006 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs are
shown in Tables 1 and 2.
Changes From the Proposed 2005 and
2006 Harvest Specifications in the GOA
In October 2004, the Council’s
recommendations for the proposed 2005
and 2006 harvest specifications (69 FR
70605, December 7, 2004) were based
largely upon information contained in
the final 2003 SAFE report for the GOA
groundfish fisheries, dated November
2003. The Council recommended that
OFLs and ABCs for stocks in tiers 1
through 3, except for pollock, be based
on biomass projections as set forth in
the 2003 SAFE report and estimates of
groundfish harvests through the 2004
and 2005 fishing years. For stocks in
tiers 4 through 6, for which projections
could not be made, the Council
recommended that OFL and ABC levels
be unchanged from 2004 until the final
2004 SAFE report could be completed.
The final 2004 SAFE report (dated
November 2004), which was not
available when the Council made its
recommendations in October 2004,
contains the best and most recent
scientific information on the condition
of the groundfish stocks and was
considered in December by the Council
in making its recommendations for the
final 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications. Based on the final 2004
SAFE report, the sum of the 2005
recommended final TACs for the GOA
(291,298 mt) is 27,033 mt more than the
proposed sum of TACs (264,265 mt),
representing a 10-percent increase
8961
overall. The largest increases occurred
for pollock, from 71,260 mt to 91,710 mt
(29 percent increase); for sablefish, from
13,392 mt to 15,940 mt (19 percent
increase); and for deep-water flatfish,
from 6,070 mt to 6,820 mt (12 percent
increase). The largest decrease occurred
for demersal shelf rockfish, from 450 mt
to 410 mt (9 percent decrease). Other
increases or decreases in both 2005 and
2006 are within these ranges.
The 2005 and 2006 final TAC
recommendations for the GOA are
within the OY range established for the
GOA and do not exceed ABCs for any
single species or complex. Compared to
the proposed 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications, the Council’s final 2005
and 2006 TAC recommendations
increase fishing opportunities for
species for which the Council had
sufficient information to raise TAC
levels. These include, pollock, sablefish,
and deep-water flatfish. Conversely, the
Council reduced TAC levels to provide
greater protection for several species;
these include Pacific cod, shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, demersal
shelf rockfish, and skates. The Council
also further divided the TACs of two
species categories among individual
species (shortraker and rougheye
rockfish and big and longnose skates).
The intent of this action is to provide
greater protection for those individual
species that are most sought after within
their species categories, most notably
shortraker rockfish and big skates. The
changes recommended by the Council
for the 2005 and 2006 fishing years were
based on the best scientific information
available, consistent with National
Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, and within a reasonable range of
variation from the proposed TAC
recommendations so that the affected
public was fairly apprized and could
have made meaningful comments.
TABLE 1.—FINAL 2005 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1
[Values are Rounded to the Nearest Metric Ton.]
Overfishing
level
Species
Area 1
Pollock 2 ........................................................
Shumagin (610) ........
Chirikof (620) ............
Kodiak (630) .............
WYK (640) ................
30,380
34,404
18,718
1,688
30,380
34,404
18,718
1,688
........................
........................
........................
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
W/C/WYK ..................
SEO (650) .................
85,190
6,520
85,190
6,520
144,340
8,690
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
91,710
91,710
153,030
Pacific cod 3 ..................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
20,916
33,117
15,687
25,086
........................
Totals
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TABLE 1.—FINAL 2005 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1—Continued
[Values are Rounded to the Nearest Metric Ton.]
Totals
Area 1
Species
ABC
Overfishing
level
TAC
E ................................
4,067
3,660
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
58,100
44,433
86,200
Flatfish 4 (deep-water) ..................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
330
3,340
2,120
1,030
330
3,340
2,120
1,030
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
6,820
6,820
8,490
Rex sole .......................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
1,680
7,340
1,340
2,290
1,680
7,340
1,340
2,290
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
12,650
12,650
16,480
Flathead sole ................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
11,690
30,020
3,000
390
2,000
5,000
3,000
390
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
45,100
10,390
56,500
Flatfish 5 (shallow-water) ..............................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
21,580
27,250
2,030
1,210
4,500
13,000
2,030
1,210
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
52,070
20,740
63,840
Arrowtooth flounder ......................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
26,250
168,950
11,790
9,910
8,000
25,000
2,500
2,500
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
216,900
38,000
253,900
Sablefish 6 .....................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
2,540
7,250
2,580
3,570
2,540
7,250
2,580
3,570
........................
........................
........................
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
E ................................
6,150
6,150
........................
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
15,940
15,940
19,280
Pacific ocean perch 7 ....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
2,567
8,535
841
1,632
2,567
8,535
841
1,632
3,076
10,226
........................
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
E ................................
........................
........................
2,964
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
13,575
13,575
16,266
Shortraker rockfish 8 .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
155
324
274
155
324
274
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
753
753
982
Rougheye rockfish 9 .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
188
557
262
188
557
262
........................
........................
........................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
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8963
TABLE 1.—FINAL 2005 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1—Continued
[Values are Rounded to the Nearest Metric Ton.]
Overfishing
level
Species
Area 1
.......................................................................
...................................
1,007
1,007
1,531
Other rockfish 10,
.......................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
40
300
130
3,430
40
300
130
200
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
3,900
670
5,150
Northern rockfish 10,
.............................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
808
4,283
0
808
4,283
0
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
5,091
5,091
6,050
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
377
3,067
211
898
377
3,067
211
898
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
4,553
4,553
5,680
Thornyhead rockfish .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
410
1,010
520
410
1,010
520
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
1,940
1,940
2,590
Big skates 14 .................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
727
2,463
809
727
2,463
809
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
3,999
3,999
5,332
Longnose skates 15 ......................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
66
1,972
780
66
1,972
780
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
2,818
2,818
3,757
Other skates 16 .............................................
Demersal shelf rockfish 18 ............................
Atka mackerel ...............................................
Other species 17, 19 .......................................
GW ............................
SEO ..........................
GW ............................
GW ............................
1,327
410
600
N/A
1,327
410
600
13,871
1,769
640
6,200
N/A
.......................................................................
...................................
539,263
291,298
713,667
Totals
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total 20 ................
11
11, 12
ABC
1 Regulatory
TAC
areas and districts are defined at § 679.2.
is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A season, the apportionment is
based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 24 percent, 56 percent, and 20 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 24
percent, 66 percent, and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the apportionment is
based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 49 percent, 21 percent, and 30 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. These seasonal apportionments for 2005 and 2006 are shown in Tables 5 and 6. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of
the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
3 The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to an A season and 40 percent to a B season in the Western and Central Regulatory
Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore
component. Seasonal apportionments and component allocations of TAC for 2005 and 2006 are shown in Tables 7 and 8.
4 ‘‘Deep water flatfish’’ means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
5 ‘‘Shallow water flatfish’’ means flatfish not including ‘‘deep water flatfish’’, flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
6 Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2005 and 2006 and these amounts are shown in Tables 3 and 4.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
9 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus.
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf
rockfish. The category ‘‘other rockfish’’ in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
11 ‘‘Slope rockfish’’ means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri
(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S.
zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion),
and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
12 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinis.
2 Pollock
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13 ‘‘Pelagic
shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
skate means Raja binoculata.
skate means Raja rhina.
16 Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
17 N/A means not applicable.
18 ‘‘Demersal shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S.
helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
19 ‘‘Other species’’ means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ‘‘other species’’, the TAC for ‘‘other species’’
equals 5 percent of the TACs for assessed target species.
20 The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
14 Big
15 Longnose
These footnotes also apply to Table 2.
TABLE 2.—FINAL 2006 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.]
Overfishing
level
Species
Area 1
Pollock 2 ........................................................
Shumagin (610) ........
Chirikof (620) ............
Kodiak (630) .............
WYK (640) ................
30,452
34,485
18,762
1,691
30,452
34,485
18,762
1,691
........................
........................
........................
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
W/C/WYK ..................
SEO (650) .................
85,390
6,520
85,390
6,520
103,250
8,690
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
91,910
91,910
111,940
Pacific cod 3 ..................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
18,396
29,127
3,557
13,797
22,064
3,219
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
51,100
39,080
65,800
Flatfish 4 (deep-water) ..................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
330
3,340
2,120
1,030
330
3,340
2,120
1,030
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
6,820
6,820
8,490
Rex sole .......................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
1,680
7,340
1,340
2,290
1,680
7,340
1,340
........................
........................
........................
........................
2,290
.......................................................................
...................................
12,650
12,650
16,480
Flathead sole ................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
11,111
28,527
2,842
370
2,000
5,000
2,842
370
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
42,850
10,212
53,800
Flatfish 5 (shallow-water) ..............................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
21,580
27,250
2,030
1,210
4,500
13,000
2,030
1,210
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
52,070
20,740
63,840
Arrowtooth flounder ......................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
27,924
179,734
12,539
10,543
8,000
25,000
2,500
2,500
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
230,740
38,000
270,050
Sablefish 6 .....................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
2,407
6,870
2,445
2,407
6,870
2,445
........................
........................
........................
Total
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
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8965
TABLE 2.—FINAL 2006 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.]
Total
Area 1
Species
ABC
Overfishing
level
TAC
SEO ..........................
3,383
3,383
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
E ................................
5,828
5,828
........................
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
15,105
15,105
17,530
Pacific ocean perch 7 ....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
2,525
8,375
813
1,579
2,525
8,375
813
1,579
3,019
10,008
........................
........................
Subtotal ..............
.......................................................................
E ................................
........................
........................
2,860
Total ...................
.......................................................................
...................................
13,292
13,292
15,887
Shortraker rockfish 8 .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
155
324
274
155
324
274
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
753
753
982
Rougheye rockfish 9 .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
188
557
262
188
557
262
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
1,007
1,007
1,531
Other rockfish 10 11 ........................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
40
300
130
3,430
40
300
130
200
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
3,900
670
5,150
Northern rockfish 11 12 ...................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
755
3,995
0
755
3,995
0
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
4,750
4,750
5,640
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
WYK ..........................
SEO ..........................
366
2,973
205
871
366
2,973
205
871
........................
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
4,415
4,415
5,510
Thornyhead rockfish .....................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
410
1,010
520
410
1,010
........................
........................
........................
520
.......................................................................
...................................
1,940
1,940
2,590
Big skates 14 .................................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
727
2,463
809
727
2,463
809
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
3,999
3,999
5,332
Longnose skates 15 ......................................
W ...............................
C ...............................
E ................................
66
1,972
780
66
1,972
780
........................
........................
........................
.......................................................................
...................................
2,818
2,818
3,757
Other skates 16 .............................................
Demersal shelf rockfish 18 ............................
Atka mackerel ...............................................
GW ............................
SEO ..........................
GW ............................
1,327
410
600
1,327
410
600
1,769
640
6,200
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
Total ...................
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TABLE 2.—FINAL 2006 ABCS, TACS, AND OVERFISHING LEVELS OF GROUNDFISH FOR THE WESTERN/CENTRAL/WEST
YAKUTAT (W/C/WYK), WESTERN (W), CENTRAL (C), EASTERN (E) REGULATORY AREAS, AND IN THE WEST YAKUTAT
(WYK), SOUTHEAST OUTSIDE (SEO), AND GULFWIDE (GW) DISTRICTS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA1—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.]
Overfishing
level
Species
Area 1
Other species 17 19 ........................................
GW ............................
N/A
13,525
N/A
.......................................................................
...................................
542,456
284,023
622,918
Total
Total 20 ................
ABC
The footnotes in Table 2 are identical
to those presented in Table 1.
Apportionment of Reserves
Regulations at § 679.20(b)(2) require
20 percent of each TAC for pollock,
Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ‘‘other
species’’ category be set aside in
reserves for possible apportionment at a
later date. In 2004, NMFS reapportioned
all of the reserves in the final harvest
specifications. NMFS proposed
reapportionment of all the reserves for
2005 and 2006 in the proposed GOA
groundfish specifications published in
the Federal Register on December 7,
2004 (69 FR 70605). NMFS received no
public comments on the proposed
reapportionments. For the final 2005
and 2006 GOA harvest specifications,
NMFS has reapportioned all of the
reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish,
and ‘‘other species.’’ Specifications of
TAC shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect
apportionment of reserve amounts for
these species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC
Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-andLine and Trawl Gear
Under § 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii),
sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory
areas and districts are allocated to hookand-line and trawl gear. In the Western
and Central Regulatory Areas, 80
percent of each TAC is allocated to
hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of
each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In
the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent
of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line
gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl
gear. The trawl gear allocation in the
Eastern Regulatory Area may only be
used to support incidental catch of
sablefish in directed fisheries for other
target species (see § 679.20(a)(1)). In
TAC
recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area,
the Council recommended and NMFS
concurs that 5 percent of the combined
Eastern GOA sablefish TAC be allocated
to trawl gear in the WYK District and
the remainder to vessels using hookand-line gear. In the SEO District, 100
percent of the sablefish TAC is allocated
to vessels using hook-and-line gear. The
Council recommended that only trawl
sablefish TAC be established biennially.
This recommendation results in an
allocation of 307 mt to trawl gear and
2,273 mt to hook-and-line gear in the
WYK District and 3,570 mt to hook-andline gear in the SEO District in 2005,
and 291 mt to trawl gear in the WYK
District in 2006. Tables 3 and 4 show
the allocations of the final 2005 and
2006 sablefish TACs between hook-andline and trawl gear.
TABLE 3.—FINAL 2005 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS THEREOF TO HOOKAND-LINE AND TRAWL GEAR (VALUES ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST METRIC TON.)
Area/District
Hook-and-line
apportionment
TAC
Trawl apportionment
Western ............................................................................................................................
Central .............................................................................................................................
West Yakutat ...................................................................................................................
Southeast Outside ...........................................................................................................
2,540
7,250
2,580
3,570
2,032
5,800
2,273
3,570
508
1,450
307
0
Total ..........................................................................................................................
15,940
13,675
2,265
TABLE 4.—FINAL 2006 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS THEREOF TO TRAWL
GEAR (VALUES ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST METRIC TON.)
Area/District
Hook-and-line
apportionment 1
TAC
Trawl apportionment
Western ............................................................................................................................
Central .............................................................................................................................
West Yakutat ...................................................................................................................
Southeast Outside ...........................................................................................................
2,407
6,870
2,445
3,383
............................
............................
............................
............................
481
1,374
291
0
Total ..........................................................................................................................
15,105
............................
2,146
1 The
Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to 1 year.
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Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among
Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and
Allocations for Processing by Inshore
and Offshore Components
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by
season and area, and is further allocated
for processing by inshore and offshore
components. Under regulations at
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B), the annual pollock
TAC specified for the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is
apportioned into four equal seasonal
allowances of 25 percent. As established
by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A,
B, C, and D season allowances are
available from January 20 through
March 10, from March 10 through May
31, from August 25 through October 1,
and from October 1 through November
1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA in
the A and B seasons are apportioned
among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and
630, in proportion to the distribution of
pollock biomass as determined by a
composite of NMFS’ winter surveys and
in the C and D seasons in proportion to
the distribution of pollock biomass as
determined by the four most recent
NMFS summer surveys. As in 2004, the
Council recommended that, during the
A season, the winter and summer
distribution of pollock be averaged in
the Central Regulatory Area to better
reflect the distribution of pollock and
the performance of the fishery in the
area during the A season for the 2005
and 2006 fishing years. Within any
fishing year, the underage or overage of
a seasonal allowance may be added to
or subtracted from subsequent seasonal
allowances in a manner to be
determined by the Regional
Administrator, provided that any
rollover amount of unharvested pollock
would be limited to 20 percent of the
seasonal apportionment for the
statistical area. Any unharvested
pollock above the 20-percent limit could
be further distributed to the other
statistical areas, in proportion to the
estimated biomass in the subsequent
season in those statistical areas
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)). Because the
harvest of pollock is apportioned among
four seasons, the 20-percent seasonal
apportionment rollover limit would be
equivalent annually to the 30-percent
annual rollover limit in effect for the
2004 Western and Central pollock
fisheries. The WYK and SEO District
pollock TACs of 1,688 mt and 6,520 mt
in 2005 and 1,691 mt and 6,520 mt in
2006, respectively, are not allocated by
season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires that
100 percent of the pollock TAC in all
regulatory areas and all seasonal
allowances be allocated to vessels
catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component after subtraction of
amounts that are projected by the
Regional Administrator to be caught by,
or delivered to, the offshore component
incidental to directed fishing for other
groundfish species. The amount of
pollock available for harvest by vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by the
offshore component is that amount
actually taken as incidental catch during
directed fishing for groundfish species
other than pollock, up to the maximum
retainable amounts allowed under
regulations at § 679.20(e) and (f). At this
time, these incidental catch amounts are
unknown and will be determined
during the fishing year.
The seasonal biomass distribution of
pollock in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas, area apportionments,
and seasonal apportionments for the A,
B, C, and D seasons for 2005 and 2006
are summarized in Tables 5 and 6,
except that amounts of pollock for
processing by the inshore and offshore
components are not shown.
TABLE 5.—FINAL 2005 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA; SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC
(VALUES ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST METRIC TON.)
[Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass]
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Season
A
B
C
D
.......................................................................................
.......................................................................................
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
5,035
5,035
10,155
10,155
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630)
(24.12%)
(24.12%)
(48.64%)
(48.64%)
11,692 (56.01%)
13,820 (66.2%)
4,446 (21.3%)
4,446 (21.3%)
4,148 (19.87%)
2,021 (9.68%)
6,274 (30.06%)
6,275 (30.06%)
30,380
34,404
Total
18,718
Annual Total .............................................................
20,875
20,876
20,875
20,876
(100%)
(100%)
(100%)
(100%)
83,502
TABLE 6.—FINAL 2006 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GULF OF
ALASKA; SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC
(VALUES ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST METRIC TON.)
[Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass]
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Season
A
B
C
D
.......................................................................................
.......................................................................................
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
5,047
5,047
10,179
10,179
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Kodiak (Area 630)
(24.12%)
(24.12%)
(48.64%)
(48.64%)
11,719 (56.01%)
13,852 (66.2%)
4,457 (21.3%)
4,457 (21.3%)
4,159 (19.87%)
2,026 (9.68%)
6,289 (30.06%)
6,288 (30.06%)
30,452
34,485
18,762
Annual Total .............................................................
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(Area 620)
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Total
20,925
20,925
20,925
20,924
(100%)
(100%)
(100%)
(100%)
83,699
8968
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific
Cod TAC and Allocations for
Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between
Inshore and Offshore Components
Pacific cod fishing is divided into two
seasons in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. For hookand-line, pot and jig gear, the A season
begins on January 1 and ends on June
10, and the B season begins on
September 1 and ends on December 31.
For trawl gear, the A season begins on
January 20 and ends on June 10, and the
B season begins on September 1 and
ends on November 1 (§ 679.23(d)(3)).
After subtraction of incidental catch
needs by the inshore and offshore
components in other directed fisheries
through the A season ending June 10, 60
percent of the annual TAC will be
available as a directed fishing allowance
during the A season for the inshore and
offshore components. The remaining 40
percent of the annual TAC will be
available for harvest during the B season
and will be apportioned between the
inshore and offshore components, as
provided in § 679.20(a)(6)(ii). Any
amount of the A season apportionment
of Pacific cod TAC under or over
harvested will be added to or subtracted
from the B season apportionment of
Pacific cod TAC (see § 679.20(a)(11)(ii)).
For purposes of clarification, NMFS
points out that the dates for the A
season and the B season Pacific cod
fishery differ from those of the A, B, C,
and D seasons for the pollock fisheries.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires that
the TAC apportionment of Pacific cod in
all regulatory areas be allocated to
vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore and offshore
components. Ninety percent of the
Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory area
is allocated to vessels catching Pacific
cod for processing by the inshore
component. The remaining 10 percent
of the TAC is allocated to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by
the offshore component. These seasonal
apportionments and allocations of the
2005 and 2006 Pacific cod TACs are
shown in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.
TABLE 7.—FINAL 2005 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA; ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS (VALUES ARE ROUNDED TO
THE NEAREST METRIC TON.)
[Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass]
Component allocation
Season
Regulatory area
A season (60%) ....................................................
B season (40%) ....................................................
A season (60%) ....................................................
B season (40%) ....................................................
Total ...............................................................
TAC
Inshore
(90%)
Offshore
(10%)
Western ................................................................
...............................................................................
...............................................................................
Central ..................................................................
...............................................................................
...............................................................................
Eastern .................................................................
15,687
9,412
6,275
25,086
15,052
10,034
3,660
14,118
8,471
5,647
22,577
13,547
9,031
3,294
1,569
941
628
2,509
1,505
1,003
366
...............................................................................
44,433
39,989
4,444
TABLE 8.—FINAL 2006 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA; ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.]
Component allocation
Season
Regulatory area
A season (60%) ..............................................................................
B season (40%) ..............................................................................
A season (60%) ..............................................................................
B season (40%) ..............................................................................
Total .........................................................................................
Demersal Shelf Rockfish
NMFS reminds all fishermen that full
retention of all demersal shelf rockfish
(DSR) by federally permitted catcher
vessels using hook-and-line or jig gear
fishing for groundfish and Pacific
halibut in the SEO District of the GOA
is now required (see § 679.20(j)). NMFS
has published a final rule (69 FR 68095,
November 23, 2004) implementing this
regulation effective December 23, 2004.
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Inshore
(90%)
Offshore
(10%)
Western ......................................
....................................................
....................................................
Central ........................................
....................................................
....................................................
Eastern .......................................
13,797
8,278
5,519
22,064
13,238
8,826
3,219
12,417
7,450
4,967
19,858
11,914
7,944
2,897
1,380
828
552
2,206
1,324
882
322
....................................................
39,080
35,172
3,908
Halibut PSC Limits
In accordance with regulations at
§ 679.21(d), annual halibut PSC limits
are established and apportioned to trawl
and hook-and-line gear and may be
established for pot gear. In December
2004, the Council recommended that
NMFS maintain the 2004 halibut PSC
limits of 2,000 mt for the trawl fisheries
and of 300 mt for the hook-and-line
fisheries, with 10 mt of the hook-and-
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Fmt 4700
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line limit allocated to the DSR fishery in
the SEO District and the remainder to
the remaining hook-and-line fisheries
for each of the 2005 and 2006
groundfish fisheries. Historically, the
DSR fishery, defined at
§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A), has been
apportioned this amount in recognition
of its small scale harvests. Although
observer data are not available to verify
actual bycatch amounts, given most
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vessels in the DSR fishery are less than
60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and
thus are exempt from observer coverage,
halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery is
assumed to be low because of the short
soak times for the gear and duration of
the DSR fishery. Also, the DSR fishery
occurs in the winter when less overlap
occurs in the distribution of DSR and
halibut.
Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A) authorizes
the exemption of specified non-trawl
fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. The
Council recommended that pot gear, jig
gear, and the hook-and-line sablefish
fishery be exempted from the non-trawl
halibut limit for 2005 and 2006. The
Council recommended these
exemptions because: (1) The pot gear
fisheries experience low annual halibut
bycatch mortality (averaging 11 mt
annually from 2001 through 2004); (2)
the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
program requires legal-sized halibut to
be retained by vessels using hook-andline gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder
is aboard and is holding unused halibut
IFQ; and (3) halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet cannot be estimated because
these vessels do not carry observers.
Halibut mortality is assumed to be very
low, given the small amount of
groundfish harvested annually by jig
gear (averaging 318 mt annually from
2001 through 2004), and survival rates
of any halibut incidentally caught by jig
gear and released are assumed to be
high.
Under § 679.21(d)(5), NMFS
seasonally apportions the halibut PSC
limits based on recommendations from
the Council. The FMP and regulations
require that the Council and NMFS
consider the following information in
seasonally apportioning halibut PSC
limits: (1) Seasonal distribution of
halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of
target groundfish species relative to
halibut distribution, (3) expected
halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal
basis relative to changes in halibut
biomass and expected catch of target
groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch
rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected
changes in directed groundfish fishing
seasons, (6) expected actual start of
fishing effort, and (7) economic effects
of establishing seasonal halibut
allocations on segments of the target
groundfish industry.
The final 2004 groundfish and PSC
specifications (69 FR 9261, February 27,
2004) summarized the Council’s and
NMFS’ findings with respect to each of
the FMP considerations set forth here.
At this time, the Council’s and NMFS’
findings are unchanged from those set
forth in 2004. The opening date for the
third seasonal allowance of the trawl
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
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halibut PSC limit and the start date for
directed fishing for rockfish by trawl
gear is July 5 in 2005 and 2006. This
date will facilitate inseason
management of the rockfish fisheries
and reduce the effect of the rockfish
fisheries on the annual NMFS sablefish
survey which occurs later in July.
NMFS concurs with the Council’s
recommendations described here and
listed in Table 9. Section 679.21,
paragraphs (d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify
that any underages or overages in a
seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit
will be deducted from or added to the
next respective seasonal apportionment
within the 2005 and 2006 fishing years.
When establishing the halibut PSC
limits, the following types of
information were considered as
presented in, or summarized from, the
2004 SAFE report, or as otherwise
available from NMFS, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game, the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) or public testimony.
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior
Years
The best available information on
estimated halibut bycatch is data
collected by observers during 2004. The
calculated halibut bycatch mortality by
trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gear
through December 31, 2004, is 2,256 mt,
296 mt, and 24 mt, respectively, for a
total halibut mortality of 2,576 mt.
Halibut bycatch restrictions
seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2004 fishing year.
Trawling closed during the fourth
season for the shallow-water complex
on September 10 (69 FR 55783,
September 16, 2004), trawling closed
during the first season for the deepwater fishery complex on March 19 (69
FR 12980, March 19, 2004), during the
second season on April 26 (69 FR
23450, April 29, 2004), during the third
and fourth seasons on July 25 (69 FR
44973, July 28, 2004), and during the
fifth season for all trawling for the
remainder of the year on October 1 (69
FR 57655, September 27, 2004). The use
of hook-and-line gear for groundfish
other than DSR and sablefish closed
during the third season for the
remainder of the year on October 2 (69
FR 59835, October 6, 2004).
The amount of groundfish that trawl
and hook-and-line gear might have
harvested if halibut PSC limitations had
not restricted the season in 2004 is
unknown.
Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks
In December 2004, the Council
adopted higher ABCs for pollock (2005
and 2006), deep-water flatfish (2005 and
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8969
2006), arrowtooth flounder (2005 and
2006), Pacific ocean perch (2005),
northern rockfish (2005), and pelagic
shelf rockfish (2005) than those
established for 2004. The Council
adopted lower ABCs for Pacific cod
(2005 and 2006), flathead sole (2005 and
2006), sablefish (2005 and 2006), Pacific
ocean perch (2006), northern rockfish
(2006), pelagic shelf rockfish (2006), and
demersal shelf rockfish (2005 and 2006)
than those established for 2004. For the
remaining targets, the Council
recommended that ABC levels remain
unchanged from 2004. More information
on these changes is included in the final
SAFE report (November 2004) and in
the Council and SSC December 2004
meeting minutes.
Expected Changes in Groundfish Catch
The total TAC amounts for the GOA
are 291,298 mt for 2005, and 284,023 mt
for 2006, an increase of about 10 percent
in 2005 and about 7 percent in 2006
from the 2004 TAC total of 271,776 mt.
Those fisheries for which the 2005 and
2006 TACs are lower than in 2004 are
Pacific cod (decreased to 44,433 mt in
2005 and 39,080 mt in 2006 from 48,033
mt in 2004), flathead sole (decreased to
10,390 mt in 2005 and 10,212 mt in
2006 from 10,880 mt in 2004), sablefish
(decreased to 15,940 mt in 2005 and
15,105 mt in 2006 from 16,550 mt in
2004), northern rockfish (decreased to
4,750 mt in 2006 from 4,870 mt in
2004), pelagic shelf rockfish (decreased
to 4,415 mt in 2006 from 4,470 mt in
2004), and demersal shelf rockfish
(decreased to 410 mt in 2005 and 2006
from 450 mt in 2004). Those fisheries
for which the 2005 or 2006 TACs are
higher than in 2004 are pollock
(increased to 91,710 mt in 2005 and
91,910 mt in 2006 from 71,260 mt in
2004), deep-water flatfish (increased to
6,820 mt in 2005 and 2006 from 6,070
mt in 2004), Pacific ocean perch
(increased to 13,575 mt in 2005 and
decreased to 13,292 mt in 2006 from
13,340 mt in 2004), northern rockfish
(increased to 5,091 mt in 2005 from
4,870 mt in 2004), pelagic shelf rockfish
(increased to 4,553 mt in 2005 from
4,470 mt in 2004), and ‘‘other species’’
(increased to 13,871 mt in 2005 and
13,525 mt in 2006 from 12,942 mt in
2004).
Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass
and Stock Condition
The most recent halibut stock
assessment was conducted by the IPHC
in December 2003. The halibut resource
is considered to be healthy, with total
catch near record levels. The current
exploitable halibut biomass in Alaska
E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
for 2004 was estimated to be 215,912
mt.
The exploitable biomass of the Pacific
halibut stock apparently peaked at
326,520 mt in 1988. According to the
IPHC, the long-term average
reproductive biomass for the Pacific
halibut resource was estimated at
118,000 mt. Long-term average yield
was estimated at 26,980 mt, round
weight. The species is fully utilized.
Recent average catches (1994–2003) in
the commercial halibut fisheries in
Alaska have averaged 34,100 mt, round
weight. This catch in Alaska is 26
percent higher than the long-term
potential yield for the entire halibut
stock, which reflects the good condition
of the Pacific halibut resource. In
December 2004, IPHC staff made
preliminary recommendations for
commercial catch limits totaling 35,822
mt (round weight equivalents) for
Alaska in 2005. Through December 31,
2004, commercial hook-and-line
harvests of halibut in Alaska totaled
34,610 mt (round weight equivalents).
In making catch limit
recommendations for 2005, IPHC staff
have considered the results of the
analytic stock assessment, changes in
the commercial and survey results used
to monitor the stock, recruitment of
incoming year classes, and an updated
analysis of an appropriate harvest
strategy. Changes in the relative
abundance results from information
obtained from IPHC surveys and the
commercial fishery, and the choice of an
appropriate harvest rate were the
primary factors influencing the IPHC
staff’s preliminary recommendations.
Additional information on the Pacific
halibut stock assessment and the
Conditional Constant Catch harvest
policy may be found in the IPHC’s 2003
Pacific halibut stock assessment
(December 2003), available from the
IPHC and on its Web site at https://
www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC
will consider the 2004 Pacific halibut
assessment at its January 2005 annual
meeting when it sets the 2005
commercial halibut fishery quotas.
Other Factors
The proposed 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications (69 FR 70605, December
7, 2004) discuss potential impacts of
expected fishing for groundfish on
halibut stocks, as well as methods
available for, and costs of, reducing
halibut bycatch in the groundfish
fisheries.
TABLE 9.—FINAL 2005 AND 2006 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS
[Values are in metric tons]
Hook-and-line gear 1
Trawl gear
Other than DSR
Dates
DSR
Amount
Dates
January 20–April 1 ............
April 1–July 5 .....................
July 5–September 1 ..........
550 (27.5%)
400 (20%)
600 (30%)
September 1–October 1 ....
October 1–December 31 ...
January 1–June 10 ...........
June 10–September 1 ......
September 1–December
31.
2,000 (100%)
250 (86%)
5 (2%)
35 (12%)
Dates
Amount
150 (7.5%)
300 (15%)
Total ............................
Amount
January 1–December 31 ..
290 (100%)
10 (100%)
10 (100%)
1 The
Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR.
The hook-and-line sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits.
Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes
apportionments of the trawl halibut PSC
limit to be further apportioned to trawl
fishery categories, based on each
category’s proportional share of the
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality
during the fishing year and the need to
optimize the total amount of groundfish
harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The
fishery categories for the trawl halibut
PSC limits are: (1) A deep-water species
complex, comprised of sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole
and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a
shallow-water species complex,
comprised of pollock, Pacific cod,
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole,
Atka mackerel, skates, and ‘‘other
species’’ (see § 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). The
final 2005 and 2006 apportionment for
these two fishery complexes is
presented in Table 10.
TABLE 10.—FINAL 2005 AND 2006 APPORTIONMENT OF PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC TRAWL LIMITS BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR
DEEP-WATER SPECIES COMPLEX AND THE SHALLOW-WATER SPECIES COMPLEX
[Values are in metric tons]
Season
Shallowwater
Deep-water
January 20–April 1 .................................................................................................................................
April 1–July 5 .........................................................................................................................................
July 5–September 1 ...............................................................................................................................
September 1–October 1 ........................................................................................................................
450
100
200
150
100
300
400
Any remainder
550
400
600
150
Subtotal.
January 20–October 1 ...........................................................................................................................
October 1–December 31 1 .....................................................................................................................
900
....................
800
..........................
1,700
300
Total ................................................................................................................................................
....................
..........................
2,000
1 No
apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery complexes during the 5th season (October 1–December 31).
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
The Council recommends and NMFS
concurs that the recommended halibut
discard mortality rates (DMRs)
developed by the staff of the IPHC for
the 2004 GOA groundfish fisheries be
used to monitor halibut bycatch
mortality limits established for the 2005
and 2006 GOA groundfish fisheries. The
IPHC recommended use of long-term
average DMRs for the 2004–2006
groundfish fisheries. The IPHC
recommendation also includes a
provision that DMRs could be revised
should analysis indicate that a fishery’s
annual DMR deviates substantially (up
or down) from the long-term average.
Most of the IPHC’s assumed DMRs were
based on an average of mortality rates
determined from NMFS observer data
collected between 1993 and 2002. DMRs
were lacking for some fisheries, in those
instances rates from the most recent
years were used. For the ‘‘other species’’
and skate fisheries, where insufficient
mortality data are available, the
mortality rate of halibut caught in the
8971
Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was
recommended as a default rate. The
DMRs proposed for 2005 and 2006 are
unchanged from those used in 2004 in
the GOA. The DMRs for hook-and-line
targeted fisheries range from 8 to 13
percent. The DMRs for trawl targeted
fisheries range from 57 to 75 percent.
The DMRs for all pot targeted fisheries
are 17 percent. The final DMRs for 2005
and 2006 are listed in Table 11. The
justification for these DMRs is discussed
in Appendix A of the final SAFE report
dated November 2004.
TABLE 11.—FINAL 2005 AND 2006 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
[Listed values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
Mortality
rate
Gear
Target
Hook-and-line ................................................................................
Other species ...............................................................................
Skates ..........................................................................................
Pacific cod ...................................................................................
Rockfish .......................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder .....................................................................
Atka mackerel ..............................................................................
Deep-water flatfish .......................................................................
Flathead sole ...............................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock .....................................................................
Other species ...............................................................................
Skates ..........................................................................................
Pacific cod ...................................................................................
Pelagic pollock .............................................................................
Rex sole .......................................................................................
Rockfish .......................................................................................
Sablefish ......................................................................................
Shallow-water flatfish ...................................................................
Other species ...............................................................................
Skates ..........................................................................................
Pacific cod ...................................................................................
Trawl ..............................................................................................
Pot .................................................................................................
Non-exempt American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Catcher Vessel Groundfish
Harvest and PSC Sideboard Limitations
Section 679.64 established groundfish
harvesting and processing sideboard
limitations on AFA catcher/processors
and catcher vessels in the GOA. These
sideboard limitations are necessary to
protect the interests of fishermen and
processors who have not directly
benefitted from the AFA from fishermen
and processors who have received
exclusive harvesting and processing
privileges under the AFA. In the GOA,
listed AFA catcher/processors are
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
prohibited from harvesting any species
of fish (see § 679.7(k)(1)(ii)) and from
processing any pollock in the GOA and
any groundfish harvested in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA (see
§ 679.7(k)(1)(iv)). Section 679.64(b)(2)(ii)
exempts from sideboard limitation those
AFA catcher vessels in the GOA less
than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA whose annual
BSAI pollock landings totaled less than
5,100 mt and that made 40 or more GOA
groundfish landings from 1995 through
1997.
For non-exempt AFA catcher vessels
in the GOA, sideboards limitations are
based on their traditional harvest levels
PO 00000
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13
13
13
8
69
60
57
62
59
61
61
61
75
62
67
62
68
17
17
17
of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered
by the GOA FMP. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the
groundfish sideboard limitations in the
GOA based on the retained catch of nonexempt AFA catcher vessels of each
sideboard species from 1995 through
1997 divided by the TAC for that
species over the same period. These
amounts are listed in Table 12 for 2005
and in Table 13 for 2006. All harvests
of sideboard species made by nonexempt AFA catcher vessels, whether as
targeted catch or incidental catch, will
be deducted from the sideboard limits
in Tables 12 and 13.
E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
24FER1
8972
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 12.—FINAL 2005 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS
[Values are in metric tons]
Species
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/
gear
Pollock ...................................................
A Season (W/C areas only) .................................................
January 20–February 25 .....................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
B Season (W/C areas only) .................................................
March 10–May 31 ................................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
C Season (W/C areas only) ................................................
August 25–September 15 ....................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
D Season (W/C areas only) ................................................
October 1–November 1 .......................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
Annual ..................................................................................
WYK (640) ...........................................................................
SEO (650) ............................................................................
A Season 1 ...........................................................................
January 1–June 10 ..............................................................
W inshore .............................................................................
W offshore ...........................................................................
C inshore .............................................................................
C offshore ............................................................................
B Season 2 ...........................................................................
September 1–December 31 ................................................
W inshore .............................................................................
W offshore ...........................................................................
C inshore .............................................................................
C offshore ............................................................................
Annual ..................................................................................
E inshore ..............................................................................
E offshore ............................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W trawl gear ........................................................................
C trawl gear .........................................................................
E trawl gear .........................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
Pacific cod .............................................
Flatfish deep-water ................................
Rex sole ................................................
Flathead sole .........................................
Flatfish shallow-water ............................
Arrowtooth flounder ...............................
Sablefish ................................................
Pacific ocean perch ...............................
Shortraker rockfish ................................
Rougheye rockfish .................................
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
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E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
2005 TAC
2005 nonexempt AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
5,035
11,692
4,148
3,077
1,668
1,011
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
5,035
13,820
2,021
3,077
1,972
493
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
10,155
4,446
6,274
6,207
634
1,530
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
10,155
4,446
6,275
6,207
634
1,530
0.3499
0.3499
1,688
6,520
591
2,281
0.1423
0.1026
0.0722
0.0721
8,471
941
13,547
1,505
1,205
97
978
109
0.1423
0.1026
0.0722
0.0721
5,647
628
9,031
1,003
804
64
652
72
0.0079
0.0078
0.0000
0.0670
0.0171
0.0010
0.0402
0.0153
0.0036
0.0261
0.0048
0.0156
0.0598
0.0126
0.0021
0.0309
0.0020
0.0000
0.0720
0.0488
0.0623
0.0866
0.0466
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0000
0.0237
3,294
366
330
3,340
3,150
1,680
7,340
3,630
2,000
5,000
3,390
4,500
13,000
3,240
8,000
25,000
5,000
508
1,450
307
2,567
8,535
2,473
155
324
274
188
557
26
3
0
224
54
2
295
56
7
131
16
70
777
41
17
773
10
0
104
15
160
739
115
0
8
3
0
13
24FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
8973
TABLE 12.—FINAL 2005 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are in metric tons]
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/
gear
Species
Other rockfish ........................................
Northern rockfish ...................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ............................
Thornyhead rockfish ..............................
Big skates ..............................................
Longnose skates ...................................
Other skates ..........................................
Demersal shelf rockfish .........................
Atka mackerel ........................................
Other species ........................................
1 The
2 The
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
GW .......................................................................................
SEO .....................................................................................
Gulfwide ...............................................................................
Gulfwide ...............................................................................
0.0124
0.0034
0.2065
0.0000
0.0003
0.0336
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
0.0308
0.0308
0.0308
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0020
0.0309
0.0090
2005 TAC
282
40
300
330
808
4,283
377
3,067
1,109
410
1,010
520
727
2,463
809
66
1,972
780
1,327
410
600
13,871
2005 nonexempt AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
3
0
62
0
0
144
0
0
7
13
31
16
7
22
7
1
18
7
12
1
19
125
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
TABLE 13.—FINAL 2006 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS
[Values are in metric tons]
Species
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/
gear
Pollock ...................................................
A Season (W/C areas only) .................................................
January 20–February 25 .....................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
B Season (W/C areas only) .................................................
March 10–May 31 ................................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
C Season (W/C areas only) ................................................
August 25–September 15 ....................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
D Season (W/C areas only) ................................................
October 1–November 1 .......................................................
Shumagin (610) ...................................................................
Chirikof (620) .......................................................................
Kodiak (630) ........................................................................
Annual ..................................................................................
WYK (640) ...........................................................................
SEO (650) ............................................................................
A Season 1 ...........................................................................
January 1–June 10 ..............................................................
W inshore .............................................................................
Pacific cod .............................................
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
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E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
2006 TAC
2006 nonexempt AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
5,047
11,719
4,159
3,085
1,672
1,014
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
5,047
13,852
2,026
3,085
1,977
494
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
10,179
4,457
6,289
6,221
636
1,533
0.6112
0.1427
0.2438
10,179
4,457
6,288
6,221
636
1,533
0.3499
0.3499
1,691
6,520
592
2,281
0.1423
7,450
1,060
24FER1
8974
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 13.—FINAL 2006 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are in metric tons]
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/processor/
gear
Species
Flatfish deep-water ................................
Rex sole ................................................
Flathead sole .........................................
Flatfish shallow-water ............................
Arrowtooth flounder ...............................
Sablefish ................................................
Pacific ocean perch ...............................
Shortraker rockfish ................................
Shortraker rockfish ................................
Other rockfish ........................................
Northern rockfish ...................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ............................
Thornyhead rockfish ..............................
Big skates ..............................................
Big and Longnose skates ......................
Other skates ..........................................
Demersal shelf rockfish .........................
Atka mackerel ........................................
Other species ........................................
1 The
2 The
W offshore ...........................................................................
C inshore .............................................................................
C offshore ............................................................................
B Season 2 ...........................................................................
September 1–December 31 ................................................
W inshore .............................................................................
W offshore ...........................................................................
C inshore .............................................................................
C offshore ............................................................................
Annual ..................................................................................
E inshore ..............................................................................
E offshore ............................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W trawl gear ........................................................................
C trawl gear .........................................................................
E trawl gear .........................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
W ..........................................................................................
C ..........................................................................................
E ...........................................................................................
GW .......................................................................................
SEO .....................................................................................
Gulfwide ...............................................................................
Gulfwide ...............................................................................
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
0.1026
0.0722
0.0721
828
11,914
1,324
85
860
95
0.1423
0.1026
0.0722
0.0721
4,967
552
7,944
882
707
51
574
64
0.0079
0.0078
0.0000
0.0670
0.0171
0.0010
0.0402
0.0153
0.0036
0.0261
0.0048
0.0156
0.0598
0.0126
0.0021
0.0309
0.0020
0.0000
0.0720
0.0488
0.0623
0.0866
0.0466
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0034
0.2065
0.0000
0.0003
0.0336
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
0.0308
0.0308
0.0308
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0090
0.0020
0.0309
0.0090
2,897
322
330
3,340
3,150
1,680
7,340
3,630
2,000
5,000
3,212
4,500
13,000
3,240
8,000
25,000
5,000
481
1,374
291
2,525
8,375
2,392
155
324
274
188
557
282
40
300
330
755
3,995
366
2,973
1,076
410
1,010
520
727
2,463
809
66
1,972
780
1,327
410
600
13,525
23
3
0
224
54
2
295
56
7
131
15
70
777
41
17
773
10
0
99
14
157
725
111
0
8
3
0
13
3
0
62
0
0
134
0
0
7
13
31
16
7
22
7
1
18
7
12
1
19
122
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
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E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
2006 TAC
2006 nonexempt AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
24FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
In accordance with § 679.64(b)(4),
PSC sideboard limitations for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA
are based on the ratio of aggregate
retained groundfish catch by nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in each
PSC target category from 1995 through
1997, relative to the retained catch of all
8975
vessels in that fishery from 1995
through 1997. These amounts are shown
in Table 14.
TABLE 14.—FINAL 2005 AND 2006 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES
CATCH (PSC)
[Limits for the GOA Values are in metric tons]
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV retained catch
to total retained catch
PSC species
Season
Target fishery
Halibut (mortality in mt)
Trawl 1st seasonal allowance, January 20–
April 1.
Trawl 2nd seasonal allowance, April 1–July 1 ..
shallow-water ...............
deep-water ...................
shallow-water ...............
deep-water ...................
shallow-water ...............
deep-water ...................
shallow-water ...............
deep-water ...................
all targets .....................
Trawl 3rd seasonal allowance, July 1–September 1.
Trawl 4th seasonal allowance, September 1–
October 1.
Trawl 5th seasonal allowance, October 1–December 31.
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), if
the Regional Administrator determines:
(1) That any allocation or
apportionment of a target species or
‘‘other species’’ category apportioned to
a fishery will be reached or, (2) with
respect to pollock and Pacific cod, an
allocation or apportionment to an
inshore or offshore component
allocation will be reached, the Regional
Administrator may establish a directed
fishing allowance for that species or
species group. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a directed
fishing allowance and that allowance is
or will be reached before the end of the
fishing year, NMFS will prohibit
directed fishing for that species or
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.205
2005 and
2006 PSC
limit
2005 and
2006 nonexempt AFA
catcher vessel PSC
limit
450
100
100
300
200
400
150
0
300
153
7
34
21
68
28
51
0
61
species group in the specified GOA
regulatory area or district
(§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
The Regional Administrator has
determined that the following TAC
amounts in Table 15 are necessary as
incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the
2005 and 2006 fishing years.
TABLE 15.—DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES IN THE GOA 2005 AND 2006
[Amounts needed for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in mt.]
Target
Regulatory area
Atka mackerel ..........................................
Thornyhead rockfish ................................
Shortraker rockfish ..................................
Rougheye rockfish ...................................
Other rockfish ..........................................
Sablefish ..................................................
entire
entire
entire
entire
entire
entire
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
..............................................
all ............................................................
all ............................................................
all ............................................................
all ............................................................
all ............................................................
trawl ........................................................
Longnose skates .....................................
Other skates ............................................
Pollock .....................................................
W GOA ...................................................
entire GOA ..............................................
entire GOA ..............................................
all ............................................................
all ............................................................
all/offshore ..............................................
1 Pollock
GOA
GOA
GOA
GOA
GOA
GOA
Gear/component
Amount
600
1,940
753
1,007
670
2,265 (2005)
2,146 (2006)
66
1,327
unknown 1
is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore component under § 679.20(a)(6)(i).
Consequently, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the directed
fishing allowances for the above species
or species groups as zero. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
those species, regulatory areas, gear
types, and components listed in Table
15. These closures will remain in effect
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2006.
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
Section 679.64(b)(5) provides for
management of AFA catcher vessel
groundfish harvest limits and PSC
bycatch limits using directed fishing
closures and PSC closures according to
procedures set out at §§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv),
679.21(d)(8), and 679.21(e)(3)(v). The
Regional Administrator has determined
that, in addition to the closures listed
above, many of the non-exempt AFA
catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in
Tables 12 and 13 are necessary as
incidental catch to support other
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the
2005 and 2006 fishing years. In
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the
Regional Administrator establishes the
directed fishing allowances for the
species and species groups in Table 16
as zero. Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels in the GOA for the
species and specified areas set out in
Table 16. These closures will remain in
E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
24FER1
8976
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December
31, 2006.
TABLE 16.—2005 AND 2006 NON-EXEMPT AFA CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES IN THE
GOA
[Amounts needed for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Species
Regulatory area/district
Gear
Pacific cod .....................................................
Eastern GOA ................................................
all ..............................
Deep-water flatfish ........................................
Rex sole ........................................................
Flathead sole ................................................
Shallow-water flatfish ....................................
Arrowtooth flounder .......................................
Northern rockfish ...........................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ....................................
Big skates .....................................................
Longnose skates ...........................................
Demersal shelf rockfish ................................
Western GOA ...............................................
Western GOA ...............................................
Eastern and Western GOA ..........................
Eastern GOA ................................................
Eastern and Western GOA ..........................
Western GOA ...............................................
entire GOA ...................................................
entire GOA ...................................................
Central and Eastern GOA ............................
SEO District .................................................
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
Under authority of the interim 2005
specifications (69 FR 74455, December
14, 2004), pollock fishing opened on
January 20, 2005, for amounts specified
in that notice. NMFS has since closed
Statistical Area 610 to directed fishing
for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
January 23, 2005, through March 10,
2005 (70 FR 3896, January 27, 2005).
NMFS closed Statistical Area 630 to
directed fishing for pollock effective
1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 29 , 2005 (70 FR
5062, February 1, 2005) until 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., February 6, 2005 (70 FR 6781,
February 9, 2005) and 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 14, 2005, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
March 10, 2005 (70 FR 7901, February
16, 2005). NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by
the inshore component in the Central
Regulatory Area GOA, effective 12 noon,
A.l.t., January 26, 2005 (70 FR 4039,
January 28, 2005).
These closures supercede the closures
announced under the authority of the
interim 2005 harvest specifications (69
FR 74455, December 14, 2004). While
these closures are in effect, the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a fishing trip. These closures to
directed fishing are in addition to
closures and prohibitions found in
regulations at 50 CFR 679. NMFS may
implement other closures during the
2005 and 2006 fishing years as
necessary for effective conservation and
management.
Response to Comments
NMFS received 2 letters of comment
in response to the 2005 and 2006
proposed harvest specifications. These
letters contained 13 separate comments
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
that are summarized and responded to
below.
Comment 1: The Council has yet to
take any action on the review of the
‘‘Scientific Review of the Harvest
Strategy Currently Used in the BSAI and
GOA Groundfish Fishery Management
Plans.’’ The Council’s current approach
to setting catch rates results in rates that
are too high for rockfish.
Response: The report referred to in
the comment is: Goodman, Daniel, Marc
Mangel, Graeme Parkes, Terry Quinn,
Victor Restrepo, Tony Smith, Kevin
Stokes. 2002. ‘‘Scientific Review of the
harvest Strategy Currently Used in the
BSAI and GOA Groundfish Fishery
Management Plans.’’ Prepared for the
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council. November 21, 2002.
Evaluation of fishery management
strategies has been an ongoing research
activity of the NMFS, Alaska Fisheries
Science Center (AFSC) for years. Most
recently, the Programmatic
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (PSEIS) for the BSAI and
GOA Groundfish FMPs devoted
thousands of pages to evaluate both
current and alternative fishery
management strategies. A working
group (WG) has been established to
ensure the fisheries are managed based
on the best available science, and tasked
with continuing and expanding the
AFSC’s research in the area of
management strategy evaluation (MSE).
MSE research is ongoing and the WG is
expected to make significant
advancements in this area over the next
few years. The GOA SAFE report (page
387) evaluated the harvest strategy used
in the rockfish assessments with
particular attention given to the
consideration of the harvest rates for
rockfish because of their ‘‘low
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..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
Amount
26 (inshore).
3 (offshore).
0.
2.
7 and 16 (15 in 2006).
41.
17 and 10.
0.
0 (W), 0(C), 7(E).
7(W), 22(C), 7(E).
18(C), 7(E).
1.
productivity’’ (Goodman et al., 2002).
The evaluation indicated that the
harvest strategy is sufficiently
conservative. The stock assessments are
updated annually and adjustments will
be made if new data indicates a
downturn in the fishery populations.
Also, the rockfish section of the SSC’s
minutes from the December 2004
Council meeting states, ‘‘The SSC
appreciates the attention given by the
SAFE authors and the Plan Teams to the
recommendations that the SSC made
last year regarding the ‘‘F40 report’’ by
Goodman et al., the contributions to
stock productivity of older female
rockfish, local depletion, and the effects
of disaggregation of the ABCs.’’ At the
February 2005 Council meeting, a
discussion paper on rockfish
management will be presented by
Council staff. Also, the Council includes
ecosystem research information in an
ecosystem considerations appendix to
the SAFE reports.
Comment 2: The EA fails to provide
the public with a full and fair analysis
of the consequence of implementing the
FMPs; and there is no FMP level
environmental impact statement (EIS)
that evaluates the effects of authorizing
fishing pursuant to the FMPs.
Response: Pursuant to NEPA, NMFS
prepared an EA for this action. The EA
comprehensively analyzes the potential
impacts of the 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications and provides the
evidence to decide whether an agency
must prepare and EIS. The analysis in
the EA supports a finding of no
significant impact on the human
environment as a result of the 2005 and
2006 final harvest specifications.
Therefore, an EIS is not required.
Comment 3: The commentor is
concerned about the serious limitations
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and disappointed about the insufficient
action taken regarding the Improved
Retention/Improved Utilization (IR/IU)
program.
Response: This action does not
address IR/IU. In 1998, Groundfish FMP
Amendments 49/49 were implemented,
requiring 100 percent retention of all
pollock and Pacific cod in all fisheries,
regardless of gear type. This provided
incentives for fishermen to avoid
catching these species if they were not
targeted, and also required that they be
retained for processing if they were
caught. An overall minimum groundfish
retention standard was approved by the
Council in June 2003, with increasing
retention standards being phased in
starting in 2005. NMFS is preparing a
proposed rule based on the Council
recommendations. Concurrently, the
Council is developing a program that
allows sectors targeting flatfish species
in the BSAI to form fishery
cooperatives. This program is intended
to program these sectors with the
operational tools necessary to adhere to
the increased retention standards.
Comment 4: The Council and NMFS
have taken no action to ensure that
adverse impacts on essential fish habitat
(EFH) will not occur during the EIS
process and that the choice of
reasonable alternatives will not be
limited.
Response: NMFS prepared a draft EIS
for EFH dated January 2004, which
included a broad range of alternatives
for minimizing the effects of fishing on
EFH. Further information on the draft
EIS may be found at the NMFS Alaska
Region website at www.fakr.noaa.gov.
NMFS is revising the EIS to include two
additional alternatives based on public
comments. The final EFH EIS is
scheduled for publication by June 1,
2005. Fishing in accordance with this
action in the context of the fishery as a
whole could have led to adverse
impacts on EFH. Therefore, NMFS
prepared an EFH Assessment that
incorporates all of the information
required in 50 CFR 600.920(e)(3), and
initiated EFH consultation pursuant to
50 CFR 600.920(i). The EFH Assessment
is contained in the EA prepared for this
action. The consultation found that this
action continues to minimize to the
extent practicable adverse effects on
EFH.
Comment 5: Fishing, as allowed
under the current specifications, is
overfishing and starves all other marine
life of food.
Response: None of the groundfish
species managed in Alaska are known to
be experiencing overfishing or are
overfished as defined by the MagnusonStevens Act. Ecosystem considerations
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are part of the harvest specification
process to ensure fish harvests impacts
on the ecosystem are minimized as
much as possible and that all organisms
dependent on the marine ecosystem are
adequately protected.
Comment 6: All quotas should be cut
by 50 percent starting in 2005 and 10
percent each year thereafter. Also,
marine sanctuaries should be
established.
Response: The commentor provided
no reason for the quotas to be reduced.
The decisions on the amount of harvest
are based on the best available science
and socioeconomic considerations.
NMFS finds that the ABCs and TACs are
consistent with the biological condition
of the groundfish stocks as described in
the 2004 SAFE report and approved by
the Council. Additionally, this action
does not address the creation of marine
sanctuaries. The concept of establishing
marine reserves is explored in the draft
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for essential fish habitat (EFH), dated
January 2004. Further information on
the draft EIS may be found at the NMFS
Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov.
Comment 7: A commentor
incorporated the Pew Foundation
reports on overfishing and the United
Nations report on overfishing into their
comment.
Response: The specific concerns and
relationship of these reports to this
action are not presented by the
commentor. Because no further details
are provided by the commentor, NMFS
is unable to respond further to this
comment.
Comment 8: The number of vessels
that are allowed to catch fish are far too
great.
Response: On January 1, 2000, the
NMFS implemented the License
Limitation Program (LLP), which limits
the number, size, and specific operation
of vessels that may be deployed in the
groundfish fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone off Alaska. By limiting
the number of vessels that are eligible to
participate in the affected fisheries, the
LLP places an upper limit on the
amount of capitalization that may occur
in those fisheries. This upper limit will
prevent future overcapitalization in
those fisheries at levels that could occur
if such a constraint was not present. The
number of vessels participating in the
groundfish fisheries off Alaska has
decreased approximately 16 percent
from 1,228 vessels in 2000 to 1,037
vessels in 2003.
Comment 9: Steller sea lions and
other seal populations are being
decimated by the commercial fisheries.
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8977
Response: Several species of
groundfish, notably pollock, Pacific cod,
and Atka mackerel, are important prey
species for Steller sea lions and are also
targeted by the groundfish fisheries. The
pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel
fisheries may compete with Steller sea
lions by reducing the availability of prey
for foraging sea lions. However, this
potential competition between
commercial fishers and Steller sea lions
for pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka
mackerel is addressed by regulations
that limit the total amount of catch and
impose temporal and spatial controls on
harvest. These Steller sea lion
protection measures are designed to
preserve prey abundance and
availability for foraging sea lions. These
protection measures ensure the
groundfish fisheries are unlikely to
cause jeopardy of extinction or adverse
modification or destruction of critical
habitat for the Western distinct
population segment of Steller sea lions.
Comment 10: NMFS does not use the
‘‘best’’ information. It uses manipulated
information submitted by commercial
fisheries. NMFS does zero law
enforcement to catch illegal raping of
the sea.
Response: NMFS used data from
sources other than the fishing industry
reported data. NMFS uses data from
fisheries observers who are biologists
working independently to collect
biological information aboard
commercial fishing vessels and at
shoreside processing plants in Alaska.
Observers are deployed by private,
federally permitted observer providers.
The NMFS, AFSC, Resource Assessment
and Conservation Engineering Division
conducts fishery surveys to measure the
distribution and abundance of
commercially important fish stocks in
the BSAI and GOA. This data is used to
investigates biological processes and
interactions with the environment to
estimate growth, mortality, and
recruitment to improve the precision
and accuracy of forecasting stock
dynamics. Data derived from groundfish
surveys are documented in scientific
reports and are incorporated into stock
assessment advice to the Council,
international fishery management
organizations, the fishing industry, and
the general public. See comment 12
regarding NMFS fishery enforcement.
Comment 11: The time period for the
public to comment on this proposed
rule should be extended by 120 days.
Response: The commentor provided
no reason for the comment period
extension request. Because no
justification is known for extending the
comment period, the comment period
remains 30 days for the proposed rule.
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Comment 12: The fisherman are
taking 3 times what they report.
Response: NMFS disagrees with the
commentor’s assertion that groundfish
fishers systematically under-report their
catch. The recordkeeping and reporting
requirements in these fisheries are
comprehensive, and NMFS and United
States Coast Guard law enforcement
officers conduct numerous vessel
boardings each year. Reporting
violations do occur, but they are
relatively rare compared to the
participation in the overall fishery and
are prosecuted pursuant to the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Comment 13: A commentor provided
an article regarding the United Nations
recommendations for banning of high
seas bottom trawling.
Response: The commentor did not
provide the relationship of this action to
the article. This action is limited to the
EEZ off Alaska and does not address
high seas commercial fishing activities.
However, NMFS does work on issues
concerning high seas commercial
fishing activities. One example is the
limitation of high seas drift net fishing
for salmon in the north Pacific. As a
result of this international treaty the
United States is empowered to prohibit
United States vessels from participating
in this activity and enforce the terms of
the treaty on the high seas. Also, NMFS,
AFSC is conducting studies on the
impacts of bottom trawls on the sea
floor and the description of bottom
types.
Small Entity Compliance Guide
The following information is a plain
language guide to assist small entities in
complying with this final rule as
required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996. This final rule’s primary
management measures are to announce
2005 and 2006 final harvest
specifications and prohibited species
bycatch allowances for the groundfish
fishery of the GOA. This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits and
associated management measures for
groundfish during the 2005 and 2006
fishing years and to accomplish the
goals and objectives of the FMP. This
action affects all fishermen who
participate in the GOA fishery. The
specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC and
PSC amounts are provided in tabular
form to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in
the Federal Register and in information
bulletins released by the Alaska Region.
Affected fishermen should keep
themselves informed of such closures.
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
Classification
This action is authorized under
§ 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
A Final Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (FRFA) was prepared to
evaluate the impacts of the 2005 and
2006 harvest level specifications on
directly regulated small entities. This
FRFA is intended to meet the statutory
requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA).
The proposed rule for the GOA
specifications was published in the
Federal Register on December 7, 2004
(69 FR 70605). An Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was
prepared for the proposed rule, and
described in the classifications section
of the preamble to the rule. Copies of
the IRFA prepared for this action are
available from Alaska, Region, NMFS,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Lori Durall. The public comment
period ended on January 6, 2005. No
comments were received on the IRFA or
regarding the economic impacts of this
rule.
The 2005 and 2006 harvest
specifications establish harvest limits
for the groundfish species and species
groups in the GOA. This action is
necessary to allow fishing in 2005 and
2006. About 758 small catcher vessels,
24 small catcher-processors, and six
small private non-profit CDQ groups
may be directly regulated by the GOA
specifications.
This regulation does not impose new
recordkeeping or reporting requirements
on the regulated small entities. This
regulation does not duplicate, overlap,
or conflict with any other Federal rules.
The FRFA examined the impacts of
the preferred alternative on small
entities within fisheries defined by the
harvest of species groups whose TACs
might be affected by the specifications.
The FRFA identified the following
adverse impacts from the preferred
alternative on small fishing operations
harvesting sablefish and Pacific cod in
the GOA.
The aggregate gross revenues for an
estimated 382 small GOA sablefish
entities were estimated to decline by
about $5.7 million. A reduction in
revenues of this magnitude would have
accounted for about 3.0% of total 2003
gross revenues from all sources for these
small entities.
The aggregate gross revenues for an
estimated 207 small GOA Pacific cod
entities were estimated to decline by
about $3.9 million. A reduction in
revenues of this magnitude would have
accounted for about 3.2% of total 2003
gross revenues from all sources for these
small entities.
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Although the preferred alternative
had adverse impacts on some classes of
small entities, compared to the fishery
in the preceding year, alternatives that
had smaller adverse impacts were
precluded by biological management
concerns. Four alternatives were
evaluated, in addition to the preferred
alternative. Alternative 1 set TACs equal
to the maxFABC fishing rate. Alternative
1 was associated with high TACs, high
revenues, and TACs that exceeded the
statutory BSAI OY. Alternative 2, the
preferred alternative, set TACs to
produce the fishing rates recommended
by the Council on the basis of Plan
Team and SSC recommendations.
Alternative 3 set TACs to produce
fishing rates equal to half the maxFABC,
and Alternative 4 set TACs to produce
fishing rates equal to the last five years’
average fishing rate. Alternative 5 set
TACs equal to zero.
GOA Pacific cod fishermen would
have had larger gross revenues under
two other alternatives, Alternatives 1
and 4, than under the preferred
alternative. GOA sablefish fishermen
would not have had larger gross
revenues under any alternative. The
sablefish TACs are set equal to the
recommended ABC. The ABCs are
recommended by the Council on the
basis of the biological recommendations
made to it by its Plan Teams and its
SSC. Higher TACs would not be
consistent with prudent biological
management of the fishery. The
situation is very similar for Pacific cod.
Although the Pacific cod TACs under
the preferred alternative are lower than
the ABC, these lower TACs reflect
guideline harvest levels for Pacific cod
set by the State of Alaska for its own
waters. To protect the resource, the sum
of the State’s GHL and the Federal TAC
are not allowed to exceed the ABC.
Thus, this TAC also has been set as high
as possible while still protecting the
biological health of the stock. The
Pacific cod Federal TACs and State
GHLs under Alternatives 1 and 4 would
have exceeded the ABCs. Alternative 2
was chosen because it provided Pacific
cod fishermen with larger gross
revenues than Alternatives 3 or 5, and
sablefish fishermen larger gross
revenues than Alternatives 3, 4, or 5.
Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(1), an agency can waive a delay
in the effective date of a substantive rule
if it relieves a restriction. Unless this
delay is waived, fisheries that are
currently closed (see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION) because the interim TACs
were reached would remain closed until
the final harvest specifications became
effective. Those closed fisheries are
restrictions on the industry that can be
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 36 / Thursday, February 24, 2005 / Rules and Regulations
relieved by making the final harvest
specifications effective on publication.
Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), an agency can waive a delay
in the effective date for good cause
found and published with the rule. For
all other fisheries not currently closed
because the interim TACs were reached,
the likely possibility exists for their
closures prior to the expiration of a 30day delayed effectiveness period
because their interim TACs or PSC
allowances could be reached.
Determining which fisheries may close
is impossible because these fisheries are
affected by several factors that cannot be
predicted in advance, including fishing
effort, weather, movement of fishery
stocks, and market price. Furthermore,
the closure of one fishery has a
cascading effect on other fisheries by
freeing-up fishing vessels, allowing
them to move from closed fisheries to
open ones, increasing the fishing
capacity in those open fisheries and
causing them to close at an accelerated
pace. The interim harvest specifications
currently in effect are not sufficient to
allow directed fisheries to continue
predictably, resulting in unnecessary
closures and disruption within the
fishing industry and the potential for
regulatory discards. The final harvest
specifications establish increased TACs
and PSC allowances to provide
continued directed fishing for species
that would otherwise be prohibited
under the interim harvest specifications.
These final harvest specifications were
developed as quickly a possible, given
Plan Team review in November 2004,
Council consideration and
recommendations in December 2004,
and NOAA fisheris review and
development in January–February 2005.
Additionally, if the final harvest
specifications are not effective by
February 27, 2005, which is the start of
the Pacific halibut season as specified
by the IPHC, the longline sablefish
fishery will not begin concurrently with
the Pacific halibut season. This would
cause sablefish that is caught with
Pacific halibut to be discarded, as both
longline sablefish and Pacific halibut
are managed under the same IFQ
program. These final harvest
specifications were developed as
quickly as possible, given plan team
review in November 2004, Council
consideration and recommendations in
December 2004, and NMFS review and
development in January through
February 2005.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et
seq., and 3631 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); Pub.
L. 105–277, Title II of Division C; Pub L. 106–
31, Sec. 3027; and Pub L. 106–554, Sec. 209.
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18:17 Feb 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
Dated: February 17, 2005.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05–3581 Filed 2–23–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126332–5039–02; I.D.
112204A]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; 2005 and 2006 Final
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: 2005 and 2006 final harvest
specifications for groundfish;
apportionment of reserves; closures.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2005 and
2006 final harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch (PSC)
allowances for the groundfish fishery of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for
groundfish during the 2005 and 2006
fishing years and to accomplish the
goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP). The intended
effect of this action is to conserve and
manage the groundfish resources in the
BSAI in accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act).
DATES: The 2005 and 2006 final harvest
specifications and associated
apportionment of reserves are effective
at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.),
February 24, 2005 through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from Alaska Region, NMFS,
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Lori Durall or from the Alaska
Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final
2004 Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
November 2004, are available from the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
8979
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council), West 4th Avenue,
Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510–2252
(907–271–2809) or from its Web site at
https://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Furuness, 907–586–7228 or e-mail
mary.furuness@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS
approved it under the MagnusonStevens Act. General regulations
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at
50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species and
for the ‘‘other species’’ category, the
sum of which must be within the
optimum yield range of 1.4 million to
2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see
§ 679.20(a)(1)(i)). Also specified are
apportionments of TACs, and
Community Development Quota (CDQ)
reserve amounts, PSC allowances, and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserve
amounts. Regulations at § 679.20(c)(3)
further require NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs
and apportionments thereof and the
proposed PSC allowances, and to
publish final harvest specifications in
the Federal Register. The final harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 17 of this action satisfy these
requirements. For 2005 and 2006, the
sum of TACs for each year is 2 million
mt.
The 2005 and 2006 proposed harvest
specifications and PSC allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were
published in the Federal Register on
December 8, 2004 (69 FR 70974).
Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2005. NMFS received
three letters of comment on the
proposed harvest specifications. These
letters of comment are summarized and
responded to in the Response to
Comments section. NMFS consulted
with the Council during the December
2004 Council meeting in Anchorage,
AK. After considering public comments,
as well as biological and economic data
that were available at the Council’s
December meeting, NMFS is
implementing the 2005 and 2006 final
harvest specifications as recommended
by the Council.
Regulations at § 679.20(c)(2)(ii)
establish the interim amounts of each
E:\FR\FM\24FER1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 36 (Thursday, February 24, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8958-8979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3581]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041126333-5040-02; I.D. 112204C]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Final 2005 and 2006 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications for groundfish and
associated management measures; closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications,
reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species
catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2005 and 2006 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: The final 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications and associated
management measures are effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), February 24, 2005, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802,
Attn: Lori Durall or from the Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2004 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the
GOA, dated November 2004, are available from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99510-2252 (907-271-2809) or from its Web site at https://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780, or e-mail at
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq. Regulations governing
U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600 and
679.
Amendments 48/48 to the FMP and to the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(BSAI) were approved by NMFS on October 12, 2004. The final rule
implementing Amendments 48/48 was published November 8, 2004 (69 FR
64683). Amendments 48/48 revise the administrative process used to
establish annual specifications for the groundfish fisheries of the GOA
and the BSAI. The goals of Amendments 48/48 in revising the
specifications process are to: (1) Manage fisheries based on the best
scientific information available, (2) provide for adequate prior public
review and comment on Council recommendations, (3) provide for
additional opportunity for Secretarial review, (4) minimize unnecessary
public confusion and disruption to fisheries, and (5) promote
administrative efficiency.
[[Page 8959]]
Based on the approval of Amendments 48/48, the Council recommended
2005 and 2006 proposed specifications for GOA groundfish. These
proposed specifications were based on the 2003 SAFE report. The 2004
SAFE report, dated November 2004, was used to develop the final 2005
and 2006 groundfish acceptable biological catch (ABC) and overfishing
level (OFL) amounts. The 2006 specifications will be updated in early
2006, when final specifications for 2006 and new specifications for
2007 are implemented.
In October 2004, the Council also recommended a biennial harvest
specifications process for certain long-lived species and for species
for which little new management information is available on other than
a biennial basis. Based on current survey schedules, the GOA species
for which biennial harvest specifications process would be used are
deep water flatfish, rex sole, shallow water flatfish, flathead sole,
arrowtooth flounder, slope rockfish, northern rockfish, Pacific ocean
perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, skates, and Atka
mackerel. Stock assessment surveys are conducted biennially in the GOA
for these species. Because new information is currently updated every
two years and harvest amounts are fairly stable from year to year, the
harvest specification process for these species is anticipated every
two years. If new management information becomes available for any of
those species on a more frequent basis, an annual harvest
specifications process could still be used. Amendment 48 to the GOA FMP
allows harvest specifications to be established for up to two fishing
years, and the administrative process to establish these biennial
harvest specifications will be done every other year, concurrent with
the annual harvest specifications process used for other species.
Allowing for up to two years of specifications during the
specification process recognizes the time period of projections that
must be used for establishing harvest specifications that will allow
for rulemaking in the following year and provides the Council and NMFS
the flexibility to conduct either an annual or biennial specification
process in response to potential changes in the frequency of stock
assessment surveys or in other data or administrative issues. Based on
current survey schedules and available information, pollock, trawl
sablefish, Pacific cod, and ``other species'' category fisheries in the
GOA will be managed using an annual harvest specification process.
However, this process will provide specifications for two years. The
second year's specifications will be replaced by the new harvest
specifications through rulemaking based on the annual harvest
specification process. Any proposed changes from using either an annual
process or a biennial process for a particular target species will be
analyzed during the harvest specification process.
The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line
gear and pot gear sablefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) fisheries
continue to be limited to one year to ensure that those fisheries are
conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and are based on the
most recent survey information (69 FR 44634, July 27, 2004). Having the
sablefish IFQ fisheries concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery will
reduce the potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in these
fisheries. Because of the high value of this fishery, the Council
recommended the setting of TAC be based on the most recent survey
information. Under the current IFQ fishery season start date, sablefish
stock assessments based on the most recent survey are available before
the beginning of the fishery to allow for rulemaking each year. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries remain closed at the beginning of each fishing
year, until the final specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries
are in effect. The trawl sablefish fishery will be managed using
specifications for up to a 2-year period, similar to GOA pollock,
Pacific cod, and the ``other species'' category.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species and for the ``other species'' category,
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000
to 800,000 metric tons (mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS
to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs, halibut
PSC amounts, and seasonal allowances of pollock and inshore/offshore
Pacific cod. The final specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 16
of this document satisfy these requirements. For 2005, the sum of the
TAC amounts is 291,298 mt. For 2006, the sum of the TAC amounts is
284,023 mt.
The proposed GOA groundfish specifications and Pacific halibut PSC
allowances for 2005 and 2006 were published in the Federal Register on
December 7, 2004 (69 FR 70605). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 6, 2005. NMFS received two letters of comment on the
proposed specifications. These letters of comment are summarized in the
``Response to Comments'' section of this action. NMFS consulted with
the Council during the December 2004 Council meeting in Anchorage, AK.
After considering public comments received, as well as biological and
economic data that were available at the Council's December 2004
meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2005 and 2006 groundfish
specifications as recommended by the Council.
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i) establish interim amounts of
each proposed TAC and allocations, and proposed PSC allowances
established under Sec. 679.21 that become available at 0001 hrs,
A.l.t., January 1, and remain available until superceded by the final
specifications. NMFS published the interim 2005 harvest specifications
in the Federal Register on December 17, 2004 (69 FR 74455). With the
implementation of Amendment 48 to the GOA FMP, the publication of
interim specifications will not be necessary beyond 2005. The final
2005 groundfish specifications, apportionments, and halibut PSC
allowances contained in this action supercede the interim 2005
groundfish harvest specifications.
Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures Revisions
In June 2004, the Council unanimously recommended revisions to the
Steller sea lion protection measures in the GOA to alleviate part of
the economic burden on coastal communities while maintaining protection
for Steller sea lions and their critical habitat. NMFS published a
final rule to implement these revisions on December 20, 2004 (69 FR
75865) with the effective date of January 19, 2005. These revisions
adjust pollock and Pacific cod fishing closures near four Steller sea
lion haulouts and revise seasonal management of pollock harvest. The
revised pollock harvest management measures would affect the annual
specifications by extending the A and C season dates for pollock and
provide clarification as to how the Regional Administrator, Alaska
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), would rollover unharvested
amounts of pollock between seasons.
The final rule extends the pollock A season dates from January 20
through February 25 to January 20 through March 10 (Sec.
679.23(d)(2)(i)) and extends the pollock C season dates from August 25
through September 15 to August 25 through October 1 (Sec.
679.23(d)(2)(iii)) in
[[Page 8960]]
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. The final action
also changes regulatory provisions for the rollover of a statistical
area's unharvested pollock apportionment into the subsequent season.
The rollover amount is limited to 20 percent of the seasonal
apportionment for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above
the 20 percent limit could be further distributed to the other
statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass in the
subsequent season in those statistical areas (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
The final ABC levels are based on the best available biological and
socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends,
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised
methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the
formulas, or tiers, to be used in computing ABCs and OFLs. The formulas
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the
level of reliable information available to fisheries scientists. This
information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers with
tier one representing the highest level of information and tier six the
lowest level of information.
The Council, its Advisory Panel (AP), and its Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed current biological and harvest
information about the condition of groundfish stocks in the GOA in
December 2004. This information was compiled by the Council's GOA Plan
Team and was presented in the final 2004 SAFE report for the GOA
groundfish fisheries, dated November 2004.
The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses
and estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters,
as well as summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem
and the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From
these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each
species or species category.
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted the Plan Team's ABC
recommendations for all groundfish species categories. The final ABCs,
as adopted by the Council for the 2005 and 2006 fishing years, are
listed in Tables 1 and 2.
As in 2004, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2005 and 2006
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment
scientists believe that the use of unbiased commercial fishery data
reflecting catch-per-unit effort provides a desirable input for stock
distribution assessments. The use of commercial fishery data is
evaluated annually to ensure that unbiased information is included in
stock distribution models. The Council's recommendation for sablefish
area apportionments also takes into account the prohibition on the use
of trawl gear in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District of the Eastern
GOA and makes available 5 percent of the combined Eastern GOA ABCs to
trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish
fisheries in the West Yakutat District (see Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
The AP and Council recommended that the ABC for Pacific cod in the
GOA be apportioned among regulatory areas based on the three most
recent NMFS' summer trawl surveys. As in previous years, the Plan Team,
AP, SSC, and Council recommended that total removals of Pacific cod
from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council
recommended that the 2005 and 2006 TACs be adjusted downward from the
ABCs by amounts equal to the 2005 guideline harvest levels (GHL)
established for Pacific cod by the State of Alaska (State) for
fisheries that occur in State waters in the GOA. The effect of the
State's GHL on the Pacific cod TAC is discussed in greater detail
below. As in 2004, NMFS will establish for 2005 and 2006 an A season
directed fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries in the
GOA based on the management area TACs less the recent average A season
incidental catch of Pacific cod in each management area before June 10
(see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)). The DFA and incidental catch before June 10
will be managed such that total harvest in the A season will be no more
than 60 percent of the annual TAC. Incidental catch taken after June 10
will continue to be taken from the B season TAC. This action meets the
intent of the Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures by achieving
temporal dispersion of the Pacific cod removals and by reducing the
likelihood of harvest exceeding 60 percent of the annual TAC in the A
season (January 1 through June 10).
The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including
maintaining the total TAC within the required OY range of 116,000 to
800,000 mt. The Council adopted the AP's TAC recommendations. None of
the Council's recommended TACs for 2005 and 2006 exceeds the final ABC
for any species or species category. NMFS finds that the recommended
ABCs and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of the
groundfish stocks as described in the 2004 SAFE report and approved by
the Council.
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2005 and 2006 OFL, ABC, TAC, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sum of 2005 and of 2006
ABCs for all assessed groundfish are 539,263 and 542,456 mt
respectively, which are higher than the 2004 ABC total of 507,092 mt
(69 FR 26320, May 12, 2004). The apportionment of TAC amounts among
gear types, processing sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
The Council recommended TACs for 2005 and 2006 that are equal to
ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, Pacific
ocean perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish,
pelagic shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish,
big skate, longnose skate, other skates, and Atka mackerel. The Council
recommended TACs that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and other rockfish.
The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass
distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, as well as
equally among each of the following four seasons: the A season (January
20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C
season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1
through November 1) (see Sec. Sec. 693.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The 2005 and 2006 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's
developing fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Central and
Western GOA, as well as in Prince William Sound (PWS). The SSC, AP, and
Council recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific
cod removals not exceed the ABC. Accordingly, the Council recommended
the 2005 and 2006 Pacific cod TACs be reduced from ABC levels to
account for State GHLs in each regulatory area of the GOA. Therefore,
the 2005 TACs are reduced from ABCs as follows: (1) Eastern GOA, 407
mt; (2) Central GOA, 8,031 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 5,229 mt.
Similarly, the 2006 TACs are reduced from ABCs as follows: (1) Eastern
GOA, 358 mt; (2) Central
[[Page 8961]]
GOA, 7,063 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 4,599 mt. These amounts reflect the
sum of the State's 2005 GHLs in these areas, which are 10 percent,
24.25 percent, and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western GOA
ABCs, respectively. The percentages of ABC used to calculate the GHLs
for the State managed Pacific cod fisheries are unchanged from 2004.
NMFS also is establishing seasonal apportionments of the annual
Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot and jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot and jig gear from
September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1
through November 1 (see Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(11)).
These seasonal apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TAC are
discussed in greater detail below.
The FMP specifies that the TAC amount for the ``other species''
category is calculated as 5 percent of the combined TAC amounts for
target species. The 2005 GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is 13,871 mt,
and the 2006 TAC is 13,525 mt, which is 5 percent of the sum of the
combined TAC amounts (277,427 mt for 2005 and 270,498 mt for 2006) for
the target species. The sum of the TACs for all GOA groundfish is
291,298 mt for 2005 and 284,023 mt for 2006, which is within the OY
range specified by the FMP. The sums of the 2005 and 2006 TACs are
higher than the 2004 TAC sum of 271,776 mt (69 FR 26320, May 12, 2004).
NMFS finds that the Council's recommendations for OFL, ABC, and TAC
amounts are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required
OY range of 116,000 to 800,000 mt. NMFS has reviewed the Council's
recommended TAC specifications and apportionments and hereby approves
these specifications under Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final 2005 and
2006 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
Changes From the Proposed 2005 and 2006 Harvest Specifications in the
GOA
In October 2004, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2005 and 2006 harvest specifications (69 FR 70605, December 7, 2004)
were based largely upon information contained in the final 2003 SAFE
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2003. The
Council recommended that OFLs and ABCs for stocks in tiers 1 through 3,
except for pollock, be based on biomass projections as set forth in the
2003 SAFE report and estimates of groundfish harvests through the 2004
and 2005 fishing years. For stocks in tiers 4 through 6, for which
projections could not be made, the Council recommended that OFL and ABC
levels be unchanged from 2004 until the final 2004 SAFE report could be
completed.
The final 2004 SAFE report (dated November 2004), which was not
available when the Council made its recommendations in October 2004,
contains the best and most recent scientific information on the
condition of the groundfish stocks and was considered in December by
the Council in making its recommendations for the final 2005 and 2006
harvest specifications. Based on the final 2004 SAFE report, the sum of
the 2005 recommended final TACs for the GOA (291,298 mt) is 27,033 mt
more than the proposed sum of TACs (264,265 mt), representing a 10-
percent increase overall. The largest increases occurred for pollock,
from 71,260 mt to 91,710 mt (29 percent increase); for sablefish, from
13,392 mt to 15,940 mt (19 percent increase); and for deep-water
flatfish, from 6,070 mt to 6,820 mt (12 percent increase). The largest
decrease occurred for demersal shelf rockfish, from 450 mt to 410 mt (9
percent decrease). Other increases or decreases in both 2005 and 2006
are within these ranges.
The 2005 and 2006 final TAC recommendations for the GOA are within
the OY range established for the GOA and do not exceed ABCs for any
single species or complex. Compared to the proposed 2005 and 2006
harvest specifications, the Council's final 2005 and 2006 TAC
recommendations increase fishing opportunities for species for which
the Council had sufficient information to raise TAC levels. These
include, pollock, sablefish, and deep-water flatfish. Conversely, the
Council reduced TAC levels to provide greater protection for several
species; these include Pacific cod, shortraker rockfish, rougheye
rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, and skates. The Council also further
divided the TACs of two species categories among individual species
(shortraker and rougheye rockfish and big and longnose skates). The
intent of this action is to provide greater protection for those
individual species that are most sought after within their species
categories, most notably shortraker rockfish and big skates. The
changes recommended by the Council for the 2005 and 2006 fishing years
were based on the best scientific information available, consistent
with National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and within a
reasonable range of variation from the proposed TAC recommendations so
that the affected public was fairly apprized and could have made
meaningful comments.
Table 1.--Final 2005 ABCs, TACs, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern
(E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska\1\
[Values are Rounded to the Nearest Metric Ton.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overfishing
Totals Species Area \1\ ABC TAC level
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\..................... Shumagin (610)............. 30,380 30,380 ..............
Chirikof (620)............. 34,404 34,404 ..............
Kodiak (630)............... 18,718 18,718 ..............
WYK (640).................. 1,688 1,688 ..............
-----------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ W/C/WYK.................... 85,190 85,190 144,340
SEO (650).................. 6,520 6,520 8,690
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 91,710 91,710 153,030
==========================================
Pacific cod \3\................. W.......................... 20,916 15,687 ..............
C.......................... 33,117 25,086
[[Page 8962]]
E.......................... 4,067 3,660 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 58,100 44,433 86,200
==========================================
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)....... W.......................... 330 330 ..............
C.......................... 3,340 3,340 ..............
WYK........................ 2,120 2,120 ..............
SEO........................ 1,030 1,030 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 6,820 6,820 8,490
==========================================
Rex sole........................ W.......................... 1,680 1,680 ..............
C.......................... 7,340 7,340 ..............
WYK........................ 1,340 1,340 ..............
SEO........................ 2,290 2,290 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 12,650 12,650 16,480
==========================================
Flathead sole................... W.......................... 11,690 2,000 ..............
C.......................... 30,020 5,000 ..............
WYK........................ 3,000 3,000 ..............
SEO........................ 390 390 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 45,100 10,390 56,500
==========================================
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).... W.......................... 21,580 4,500 ..............
C.......................... 27,250 13,000 ..............
WYK........................ 2,030 2,030 ..............
SEO........................ 1,210 1,210 ..............
-----------------------------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 52,070 20,740 63,840
==========================================
Arrowtooth flounder............. W.......................... 26,250 8,000 ..............
C.......................... 168,950 25,000 ..............
WYK........................ 11,790 2,500 ..............
SEO........................ 9,910 2,500 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 216,900 38,000 253,900
==========================================
Sablefish \6\................... W.......................... 2,540 2,540 ..............
C.......................... 7,250 7,250 ..............
WYK........................ 2,580 2,580 ..............
SEO........................ 3,570 3,570 ..............
-----------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ E.......................... 6,150 6,150 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 15,940 15,940 19,280
==========================================
Pacific ocean perch \7\......... W.......................... 2,567 2,567 3,076
C.......................... 8,535 8,535 10,226
WYK........................ 841 841 ..............
SEO........................ 1,632 1,632 ..............
-----------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ E.......................... .............. .............. 2,964
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 13,575 13,575 16,266
==========================================
Shortraker rockfish \8\......... W.......................... 155 155 ..............
C.......................... 324 324 ..............
E.......................... 274 274 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 753 753 982
==========================================
Rougheye rockfish \9\........... W.......................... 188 188 ..............
C.......................... 557 557 ..............
E.......................... 262 262 ..............
-----------------
[[Page 8963]]
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 1,007 1,007 1,531
==========================================
Other rockfish 10, 11........... W.......................... 40 40 ..............
C.......................... 300 300 ..............
WYK........................ 130 130 ..............
SEO........................ 3,430 200 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 3,900 670 5,150
==========================================
Northern rockfish 10, 11, 12.... W.......................... 808 808 ..............
C.......................... 4,283 4,283 ..............
E.......................... 0 0 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 5,091 5,091 6,050
==========================================
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\..... W.......................... 377 377 ..............
C.......................... 3,067 3,067 ..............
WYK........................ 211 211 ..............
SEO........................ 898 898 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 4,553 4,553 5,680
==========================================
Thornyhead rockfish............. W.......................... 410 410 ..............
C.......................... 1,010 1,010 ..............
E.......................... 520 520 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 1,940 1,940 2,590
==========================================
Big skates \14\................. W.......................... 727 727 ..............
C.......................... 2,463 2,463 ..............
E.......................... 809 809 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 3,999 3,999 5,332
==========================================
Longnose skates \15\............ W.......................... 66 66 ..............
C.......................... 1,972 1,972 ..............
E.......................... 780 780 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 2,818 2,818 3,757
==========================================
Other skates \16\............... GW......................... 1,327 1,327 1,769
Demersal shelf rockfish \18\.... SEO........................ 410 410 640
Atka mackerel................... GW......................... 600 600 6,200
Other species 17, 19............ GW......................... N/A 13,871 N/A
-----------------
Total \20\........................... ................................ ........................... 539,263 291,298 713,667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2.
\2\ Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A season, the apportionment is based on an
adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 24 percent, 56 percent, and 20 percent in Statistical Areas 610,
620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 24 percent, 66 percent,
and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative
distribution of pollock biomass at 49 percent, 21 percent, and 30 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. These seasonal
apportionments for 2005 and 2006 are shown in Tables 5 and 6. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area,
pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to an A season and 40 percent to a B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the
GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Seasonal
apportionments and component allocations of TAC for 2005 and 2006 are shown in Tables 7 and 8.
\4\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish'', flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2005 and 2006 and these amounts are shown in Tables 3 and 4.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus.
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish.
The category ``other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
\11\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri
(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S.
zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
[[Page 8964]]
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\ Big skate means Raja binoculata.
\15\ Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
\16\ Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
\17\ N/A means not applicable.
\18\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus
(rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\19\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ``other species'', the TAC for ``other species'' equals 5
percent of the TACs for assessed target species.
\20\ The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
These footnotes also apply to Table 2.
Table 2.--Final 2006 ABCs, TACs, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern
(E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska\1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overfishing
Total Species Area \1\ ABC TAC level
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\..................... Shumagin (610)............. 30,452 30,452 ..............
Chirikof (620)............. 34,485 34,485 ..............
Kodiak (630)............... 18,762 18,762 ..............
WYK (640).................. 1,691 1,691 ..............
-----------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ W/C/WYK.................... 85,390 85,390 103,250
SEO (650).................. 6,520 6,520 8,690
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 91,910 91,910 111,940
==========================================
Pacific cod \3\................. W.......................... 18,396 13,797 ..............
C.......................... 29,127 22,064 ..............
E.......................... 3,557 3,219 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 51,100 39,080 65,800
==========================================
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)....... W.......................... 330 330 ..............
C.......................... 3,340 3,340 ..............
WYK........................ 2,120 2,120 ..............
SEO........................ 1,030 1,030 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 6,820 6,820 8,490
==========================================
Rex sole........................ W.......................... 1,680 1,680 ..............
C.......................... 7,340 7,340 ..............
WYK........................ 1,340 1,340 ..............
SEO........................ 2,290 .............. 2,290
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 12,650 12,650 16,480
==========================================
Flathead sole................... W.......................... 11,111 2,000 ..............
C.......................... 28,527 5,000 ..............
WYK........................ 2,842 2,842 ..............
SEO........................ 370 370 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 42,850 10,212 53,800
==========================================
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).... W.......................... 21,580 4,500 ..............
C.......................... 27,250 13,000 ..............
WYK........................ 2,030 2,030 ..............
SEO........................ 1,210 1,210 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 52,070 20,740 63,840
==========================================
Arrowtooth flounder............. W.......................... 27,924 8,000 ..............
C.......................... 179,734 25,000 ..............
WYK........................ 12,539 2,500 ..............
SEO........................ 10,543 2,500 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 230,740 38,000 270,050
==========================================
Sablefish \6\................... W.......................... 2,407 2,407 ..............
C.......................... 6,870 6,870 ..............
WYK........................ 2,445 2,445 ..............
[[Page 8965]]
SEO........................ 3,383 3,383 ..............
-----------------------------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ E.......................... 5,828 5,828 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 15,105 15,105 17,530
==========================================
Pacific ocean perch \7\......... W.......................... 2,525 2,525 3,019
C.......................... 8,375 8,375 10,008
WYK........................ 813 813 ..............
SEO........................ 1,579 1,579 ..............
-----------------------------------
Subtotal............................. ................................ E.......................... .............. .............. 2,860
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 13,292 13,292 15,887
==========================================
Shortraker rockfish \8\......... W.......................... 155 155 ..............
C.......................... 324 324 ..............
E.......................... 274 274 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 753 753 982
==========================================
Rougheye rockfish \9\........... W.......................... 188 188 ..............
C.......................... 557 557 ..............
E.......................... 262 262 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 1,007 1,007 1,531
==========================================
Other rockfish 10 11............ W.......................... 40 40 ..............
C.......................... 300 300 ..............
WYK........................ 130 130 ..............
SEO........................ 3,430 200 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 3,900 670 5,150
==========================================
Northern rockfish 11 12......... W.......................... 755 755 ..............
C.......................... 3,995 3,995 ..............
E.......................... 0 0 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 4,750 4,750 5,640
==========================================
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\..... W.......................... 366 366 ..............
C.......................... 2,973 2,973 ..............
WYK........................ 205 205 ..............
SEO........................ 871 871 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 4,415 4,415 5,510
==========================================
Thornyhead rockfish............. W.......................... 410 410 ..............
C.......................... 1,010 1,010 ..............
E.......................... 520 .............. 520
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 1,940 1,940 2,590
==========================================
Big skates \14\................. W.......................... 727 727 ..............
C.......................... 2,463 2,463 ..............
E.......................... 809 809 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 3,999 3,999 5,332
==========================================
Longnose skates \15\............ W.......................... 66 66 ..............
C.......................... 1,972 1,972 ..............
E.......................... 780 780 ..............
-----------------
Total................................ ................................ ........................... 2,818 2,818 3,757
==========================================
Other skates \16\............... GW......................... 1,327 1,327 1,769
Demersal shelf rockfish \18\.... SEO........................ 410 410 640
Atka mackerel................... GW......................... 600 600 6,200
[[Page 8966]]
Other species 17 19............. GW......................... N/A 13,525 N/A
-----------------
Total \20\........................... ................................ ........................... 542,456 284,023 622,918
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The footnotes in Table 2 are identical to those presented in Table
1.
Apportionment of Reserves
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(2) require 20 percent of each TAC
for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category
be set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date. In
2004, NMFS reapportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest
specifications. NMFS proposed reapportionment of all the reserves for
2005 and 2006 in the proposed GOA groundfish specifications published
in the Federal Register on December 7, 2004 (69 FR 70605). NMFS
received no public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For the
final 2005 and 2006 GOA harvest specifications, NMFS has reapportioned
all of the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and ``other
species.'' Specifications of TAC shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect
apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line
and Trawl Gear
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii), sablefish TACs for each of
the regulatory areas and districts are allocated to hook-and-line and
trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of
each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each TAC
is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent
of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 5 percent is
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern
Regulatory Area may only be used to support incidental catch of
sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species (see Sec.
679.20(a)(1)). In recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of
the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS concurs
that 5 percent of
