Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 2009 and 2010 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 7333-7359 [E9-3295]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 0910091344–9056–02]
RIN 0648–XL23
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 2009
and 2010 Final Harvest Specifications
for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2009 and
2010 final 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 2009 and 2010 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.
DATES: Effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 2009,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2010.
Copies of the
Supplementary Information Report (SIR)
to the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), and Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for
this action are available from the Alaska
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, or
from the Alaska Region Web site at
https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Copies of the final 2008 Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
(SAFE) report for the groundfish
resources of the GOA, dated November
2008, are available from the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council), 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite
306, Anchorage, AK 99510–2252, phone
907–271–2809, or from its Web site at
https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
npfmc.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries Division,
Alaska Region, 907–481–1780, or e-mail
at tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the
GOA under the FMP. The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(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, 679, and
680.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify and apportion the total
allowable catch (TAC) for each target
species and for the ‘‘other species’’
category, and the sum of which must be
within the optimum yield (OY) range of
116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). The
final specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 27 of this document satisfy this
requirement. For 2009, the sum of the
TAC amounts is 242,727 mt. For 2010,
the sum of the TAC amounts is 284,688
mt.
50 CFR 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 proposed GOA
groundfish specifications and Pacific
halibut PSC allowances for 2009 and
2010 were published in the Federal
Register on December 2, 2008 (73 FR
73222). Comments were invited and
accepted through January 2, 2009.
NMFS received one letter of comment
on the proposed specifications. This
letter of comment is summarized in the
Response to Comments section of this
action. In December 2008, NMFS
consulted with the Council regarding
the 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications. After considering public
comments received, as well as biological
and economic data that were available
at the Council’s December 2008
meeting, NMFS is implementing the
2009 and 2010 final harvest
specifications, as recommended by the
Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and
TAC Specifications
In December 2008, 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. This
information was compiled by the
Council’s GOA Plan Team and was
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
7333
presented in the final 2008 SAFE report
for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2008 (see ADDRESSES). 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 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 to compute ABCs and overfishing
levels (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 quality
available and tier six the lowest level of
information quality available.
The final TAC recommendations were
based on the ABCs as adjusted for other
biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining
the sum of all TACs within the required
OY range of 116,000 to 800,000 mt. The
Council adopted the AP’s TAC
recommendations. The Council
recommended TACs for 2009 and 2010
that are equal to ABCs for pollock, deepwater 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, and other skates.
The Council recommended TACs for
2009 and 2010 that are less than the
ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead sole,
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth
flounder, other rockfish, Atka mackerel,
and ‘‘other species.’’ None of the
Council’s recommended TACs for 2009
and 2010 exceeds the final ABC for any
species or species category. The 2009
and 2010 harvest specifications
approved by the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) are unchanged from those
recommended by the Council and are
consistent with the preferred harvest
strategy alternative in the Final EIS.
NMFS finds that the Council’s
recommended ABCs, OFLs, and TACs
are consistent with the biological
condition of the groundfish stocks as
described in the 2008 SAFE report and
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7334
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
approved by the Council. NMFS also
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 OY range. NMFS reviewed
the Council’s recommended TAC
specifications and apportionments and
approves these specifications under 50
CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The apportionment
of TAC amounts among gear types,
processing sectors, and seasons is
discussed below.
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2009 and
2010 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the
GOA. The sums of the 2009 and 2010
ABCs are 516,055 mt and 562,762 mt,
respectively, which are lower in 2009
and higher in 2010 than the 2008 ABC
sum of 536,201 mt (73 FR 10562,
February 27, 2008).
Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts
As in 2008, the SSC and Council
recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among
management areas in 2009 and 2010
include commercial fishery and survey
data. NMFS stock assessment scientists
believe the use of unbiased commercial
fishery data reflecting catch-per-uniteffort provides a desirable input for
stock distribution assessments. NMFS
evaluates the use of commercial fishery
data annually to ensure 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 Regulatory Area and
makes available 5 percent of the
combined Eastern Regulatory Area
ABCs to trawl gear for use as incidental
catch in other directed groundfish
fisheries in the West Yakutat (WYK)
District (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
Since the inception of a State of
Alaska (State) managed pollock fishery
in Prince William Sound (PWS), the
GOA Plan Team has recommended the
guideline harvest level (GHL) for the
pollock fishery in PWS be deducted
from the ABC for the western stock of
pollock in the GOA in the Western/
Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK) Area.
For the 2009 and 2010 pollock fisheries
in PWS, the State’s GHL is 1,650 mt.
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
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
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) (50 CFR 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv)
and 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted
the Plan Team’s OFL and ABC
recommendations for all groundfish
species, complexes, and categories.
The SSC, AP, and Council
recommended apportionment of the
ABC for Pacific cod in the GOA among
regulatory areas based on the three most
recent NMFS summer trawl surveys.
The 2009 and 2010 Pacific cod TACs
are affected by the State’s fishery for
Pacific cod in State waters in the Central
and Western Regulatory Areas, as well
as in 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 reducing the
2009 and 2010 Pacific cod TACs from
the ABCs in the Central and Western
Regulatory Areas to account for State
GHLs. Therefore, the 2009 Pacific cod
TACs are less than the ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA,
221 mt; (2) Central GOA, 7,880 mt; and
(3) Western GOA, 5,392 mt; the 2010
Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs
by the following amounts: (1) Eastern
GOA, 318 mt; (2) Central GOA, 11,329
mt; and (3) Western GOA, 7,751 mt.
These amounts reflect the sum of the
State’s 2009 and 2010 GHLs in these
areas, which are 10 percent, 25 percent,
and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central,
and Western GOA ABCs, respectively.
The percentages of the ABCs used to
calculate the 2009 and 2010 GHLs for
the State managed Pacific cod fisheries
are unchanged from 2008.
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 (50
CFR 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
As in 2008, NMFS establishes for
2009 and 2010 an A season directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
cod fisheries in the GOA based on the
management area TACs minus the
recent average A season incidental catch
of Pacific cod in each management area
before June 10 (§ 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 accrue against 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 for hook-and-line, pot,
and jig gear; January 20 through June 10
for trawl gear). The seasonal
apportionments of the annual Pacific
cod TAC are discussed in greater detail
below.
Other Actions Affecting the 2009 and
2010 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 79 to the GOA FMP was
approved by the Secretary on August 20,
2008 (73 FR 49963, August 25, 2008).
Amendment 79 requires that aggregate
OFL, ABC, and TAC levels for the
‘‘other species’’ category be established
as part of the annual groundfish harvest
specification process. Previously only
an annual TAC was established. NMFS
is implementing an OFL of 8,720 mt and
an ABC of 6,540 mt for 2009 and 2010
(see Tables 1 and 2). Stock assessments
for the major taxonomic groups which
comprise the ‘‘other species’’ category
(sharks, sculpins, squid, and octopus)
are included in 2008 SAFE report.
Following the publication of a
proposed rule (73 FR 55010, September
24, 2008) and comment period to
implement Amendment 77 to the GOA
FMP the Secretary approved
Amendment 77 on December 15, 2008
and NMFS published a final rule
implementing the amendment on
December 31, 2008 (73 FR 80307).
Amendment 77 removed dark rockfish
from the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR)
complex in the GOA FMP in order to
allow the State of Alaska (State) to
assume management of dark rockfish
beginning in 2009. This action was
necessary to allow the State to
implement more responsive, regionallybased management measures than are
currently possible under the FMP. The
effect of removing dark rockfish from
the PSR complex is to reduce the OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs for the PSR complex in
these harvest specifications. Compared
to the final 2008 harvest specifications
the OFL is reduced from 6,400 mt in
2008 to 5,803 mt in 2009 and to 5,420
mt in 2010. Compared to the final 2008
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
harvest specifications the ABCs and
TACs are reduced from 5,227 mt in 2008
to 4,781 mt in 2009 and to 4,465 mt in
2010 (see Tables 1 and 2). The final
2008 SAFE report accounted for the
removal of dark rockfish from the PSR
complex. Based on the approval of
Amendment 77, the Council
recommended final 2009 and 2010
harvest specifications for GOA
groundfish.
Changes From the Proposed 2009 and
2010 Harvest Specifications in the GOA
In October 2008, the Council’s
recommendations for the proposed 2009
and 2010 harvest specifications (73 FR
73222, December 2, 2008) were based
largely upon information contained in
the final 2007 SAFE report for the GOA
groundfish fisheries, dated November
2007 (see ADDRESSES). The Council
recommended that the proposed OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs established for the
groundfish fisheries in 2009 (73 FR
10562, February 27, 2008 see Table 2) be
rolled over to 2009 and 2010, with the
exception of sablefish and ‘‘other
species’’ pending completion and
review of the 2008 SAFE report at its
December 2008 meeting.
The 2008 SAFE report, which was not
available when the Council made its
recommendations in October 2008,
contains the best and most recent
scientific information on the condition
of the groundfish stocks. This report
was considered in December 2008 by
the Council when it made
recommendations for the final 2009 and
2010 harvest specifications. Based on
the final 2008 SAFE report, the sum of
the 2009 final TACs for the GOA
(242,727 mt) is 36,537 mt lower than the
sum of the proposed 2009 TACs
(279,264 mt). The largest 2009 decreases
occurred for pollock, from 78,170 mt to
49,900 mt (36 percent decrease); for
Pacific cod, from 50,269 mt to 41,807 mt
(17 percent decrease); for sablefish, from
11,633 mt to 11,160 mt (4 percent
decrease); for pelagic shelf rockfish,
from 5,140 mt to 4,781 mt (7 percent
decrease); and for demersal shelf
rockfish, from 382 mt to 362 mt (5
percent decrease). The largest increases
occurred for rex sole, from 8,468 mt to
8,996 mt (6 percent increase) and for
Atka mackerel, from 1,500 mt to 2,000
mt (33 percent increase). Other
increases or decreases in 2009 are
within 2 percent of the proposed
specifications.
The sum of the 2010 final TACs for
the GOA (284,688 mt) is 5,424 mt higher
than the sum of the proposed 2010
TACs (279,264 mt). The largest 2010
decreases occurred for pollock, from
78,170 mt to 74,330 mt (5 percent
decrease); for sablefish, from 11,633 mt
to 10,337 mt (11 percent decrease), for
pelagic shelf rockfish, from 5,140 mt to
4,465 (13 percent decrease); and for
demersal shelf rockfish, from 382 mt to
362 mt (5 percent decrease). The largest
increases occurred for Pacific cod from
7335
50,269 mt to 60,102 (20 percent
increase); for deep-water flatfish from
9,172 mt to 9,793 (7 percent increase);
for rex sole, from 8,468 mt to 8,827 mt
(4 percent increase); and for Atka
mackerel, from 1,500 mt to 2,000 mt (33
percent increase). Other increases or
decreases in 2010 are within 2 percent
of the proposed specifications.
Compared to the proposed 2009 and
2010 harvest specifications, the
Council’s final 2009 and 2010 TAC
recommendations increase fishing
opportunities for species for which the
Council had sufficient information to
raise TAC levels. For 2009, these
include rex sole, Pacific ocean perch,
and Atka mackerel. For 2010, TACs
were increased for Pacific cod, deepwater flatfish, rex sole, flathead sole,
Pacific ocean perch, and Atka mackerel.
Conversely, the Council reduced TAC
levels to provide greater protection for
some species. In 2009, TACs were
reduced for pollock, Pacific cod,
sablefish, pelagic shelf rockfish, and
demersal shelf rockfish. In 2010, TACs
were again reduced for pollock,
sablefish, pelagic shelf rockfish, and
demersal shelf rockfish. The changes in
the final rule from the proposed rule are
based on the most recent scientific
information and implement the harvest
strategy described in the proposed rule
for the harvest specifications. Tables 1
and 2 list the 2009 and 2010 final OFL,
ABC, and TAC amounts for GOA
groundfish, respectively.
TABLE 1—FINAL 2009 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS 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
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district 1
Species
Pollock 2
ABC
TAC
OFL
Shumagin (610) ..............................................
Chirikof (620) ..................................................
Kodiak (630) ...................................................
WYK (640) ......................................................
15,249
14,098
11,058
1,215
15,249
14,098
11,058
1,215
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
W/C/WYK .......................................................
41,620
41,620
58,590
SEO (650) ......................................................
8,280
8,280
11,040
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
49,900
49,900
69,630
Pacific cod 3 ....................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
21,567
31,521
2,212
16,175
23,641
1,991
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
55,300
41,807
66,600
Flatfish 4 (deep-water) .....................................
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
..........................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
706
6,927
997
538
706
6,927
997
538
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
9,168
9,168
11,578
Rex sole ..........................................................
W ....................................................................
1,007
1,007
n/a
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7336
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1—FINAL 2009 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS 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—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district 1
Species
ABC
TAC
OFL
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
6,630
513
846
6,630
513
846
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
8,996
8,996
11,756
Flathead sole ..................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
13,010
29,273
3,531
650
2,000
5,000
3,531
650
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
46,464
11,181
57,911
Flatfish 5 (shallow-water) .................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
26,360
29,873
3,333
1,423
4,500
13,000
3,333
1,423
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
60,989
22,256
74,364
Arrowtooth flounder .........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
30,148
164,251
14,908
12,205
8,000
30,000
2,500
2,500
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
221,512
43,000
261,022
Sablefish 6 .......................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
1,640
4,990
1,784
2,746
1,640
4,990
1,784
2,746
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
E (WYK and SEO) .........................................
4,530
4,530
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
11,160
11,160
13,190
......................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
3,713
8,246
1,108
2,044
3,713
8,246
1,108
2,044
4,409
9,790
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
E (WYK and SEO) .........................................
3,152
3,152
3,741
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
15,111
15,111
17,940
Shortraker rockfish 8 ........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
120
315
463
120
315
463
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
898
898
1,197
Rougheye rockfish 9 ........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
125
833
326
125
833
326
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
1,284
1,284
1,545
Other rockfish 10 11 ..........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
357
569
604
2,767
357
569
604
200
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,297
1,730
5,624
Northern rockfish 11 12 .....................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
2,054
2,308
0
2,054
2,308
0
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,362
4,362
5,204
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Pacific ocean
VerDate Nov<24>2008
perch 7
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7337
TABLE 1—FINAL 2009 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS 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—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district 1
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ..................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
819
3,404
234
324
819
3,404
234
324
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,781
4,781
5,803
Thornyhead rockfish .......................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
267
860
783
267
860
783
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
1,910
1,910
2,540
Big skates 14 ....................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
632
2,065
633
632
2,065
633
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
3,330
3,330
4,439
Longnose skates 15 .........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
78
2,041
768
78
2,041
768
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
2,887
2,887
3,849
Other skates 16 ................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish 17 ...............................
Atka mackerel .................................................
Other species 18 ..............................................
GW .................................................................
SEO ................................................................
GW .................................................................
GW .................................................................
2,104
362
4,700
6,540
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
2,806
580
6,200
8,720
Total ..................................................
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Species
.........................................................................
516,055
242,727
632,498
ABC
TAC
OFL
1 Regulatory areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska;
WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
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 32 percent, 43 percent, and 25 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 32
percent, 54 percent, and 14 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 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO 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 in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments and component allocations of the Pacific cod TAC.
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 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4 list the 2008 and 2009 allocations
of sablefish.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
9 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK 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 Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
12 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area has been combined with
the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
13 ‘‘Pelagic shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes 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 ‘‘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).
18 ‘‘Other species’’ means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7338
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 2—FINAL 2010 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS 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
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district 1
Species
Pollock 2
ABC
TAC
OFL
Shumagin (610) ..............................................
Chirikof (620) ..................................................
Kodiak (630) ...................................................
WYK (640) ......................................................
24,199
22,374
17,548
1,929
24,199
22,374
17,548
1,929
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
W/C/WYK .......................................................
66,050
66,050
90,920
SEO (650) ......................................................
8,280
8,280
11,040
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
74,330
74,330
101,960
Pacific cod 3 ....................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
31,005
45,315
3,180
23,254
33,986
2,862
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
79,500
60,102
126,000
Flatfish 4 (deep-water) .....................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
747
7,405
1,066
575
747
7,405
1,066
575
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
9,793
9,793
12,367
Rex sole ..........................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
988
6,506
503
830
988
6,506
503
830
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
8,827
8,827
11,535
Flathead sole ..................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
13,342
30,021
3,622
667
2,000
5,000
3,622
667
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
47,652
11,289
59,349
Flatfish 5 (shallow-water) .................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
26,360
29,873
3,333
1,423
4,500
13,000
3,333
1,423
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
60,989
22,256
74,364
Arrowtooth flounder .........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
29,843
162,591
14,757
12,082
8,000
30,000
2,500
2,500
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
219,273
43,000
258,397
Sablefish 6 .......................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
1,523
4,625
1,645
2,544
1,523
4,625
1,645
2,544
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
E (WYK and SEO) .........................................
4,189
4,189
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
10,337
10,337
12,321
Pacific ocean perch 7 ......................................
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
..........................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
3,710
8,239
1,107
2,042
3,710
8,239
1,107
2,042
4,405
9,782
n/a
n/a
Subtotal ....................................................
E (WYK and SEO) .........................................
3,149
3,149
3,738
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
15,098
15,098
17,925
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7339
TABLE 2—FINAL 2010 ABCS, TACS, AND OFLS 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—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district 1
Species
Shortraker
rockfish 8
ABC
TAC
OFL
........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
120
315
463
120
315
463
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total .........................................................
.........................................................................
898
898
1,197
Rougheye rockfish 9 ........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
126
842
329
126
842
329
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
1,297
1,297
1,562
Other rockfish 10 11 ..........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
357
569
604
2,767
357
569
604
200
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,297
1,730
5,624
Northern rockfish 11 12 .....................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
1,965
2,208
0
1,965
2,208
0
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,173
4,173
4,979
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ..................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
WYK ...............................................................
SEO ................................................................
765
3,179
219
302
765
3,179
219
302
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
4,465
4,465
5,420
Thornyhead rockfish .......................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
267
860
783
267
860
783
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
1,910
1,910
2,540
Big skates 14 ....................................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
632
2,065
633
632
2,065
633
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
3,330
3,330
4,439
.........................................
W ....................................................................
C .....................................................................
E .....................................................................
78
2,041
768
78
2,041
768
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
2,887
2,887
3,849
Other
................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish 17 ...............................
Atka mackerel .................................................
Other species 18 ..............................................
GW .................................................................
SEO ................................................................
GW .................................................................
GW .................................................................
2,104
362
4,700
6,540
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
2,806
580
6,200
8,720
Total ..................................................
.........................................................................
562,762
284,688
722,134
Longnose
skates 15
skates 16
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
1 Regulatory
areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska;
WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
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 32 percent, 43 percent, and 25 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 32
percent, 54 percent, and 14 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 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO 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 in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments and component allocations of the Pacific cod TAC.
4 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7340
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
5 ‘‘Shallow-water
6 Sablefish
flatfish’’ means flatfish not including ‘‘deep water flatfish,’’ flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4 list the 2008 and 2009 allocations
of sablefish.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
9 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK 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 Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
12 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern Regulatory Area has been combined with
the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
13 ‘‘Pelagic shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes 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 ‘‘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).
18 ‘‘Other species’’ means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus.
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires 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
during the fishing year. In 2008, NMFS
reapportioned all the reserves in the
final harvest specifications. For 2009
and 2010, NMFS proposed
reapportionment of all the reserves in
the proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications published in the Federal
Register on December 2, 2008 (73 FR
73222). NMFS received no public
comments on the proposed
reapportionments. For the final 2009
and 2010 harvest specifications, NMFS
reapportioned as proposed all the
reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish,
and ‘‘other species.’’ Specifications of
TAC shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect
reapportionment of reserve amounts for
these species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC
Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-andLine and Trawl Gear
Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require
allocations of sablefish TACs for each of
the regulatory areas and districts 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 (§ 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 with the allocation of 5 percent
of the combined Eastern Regulatory
Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the
WYK District and the remainder of the
WYK sablefish TAC be available to
vessels using hook-and-line gear. As a
result, NMFS allocates 100 percent of
the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to
vessels using hook-and-line gear. The
Council recommended that the hookand-line sablefish TAC be established
annually to ensure that the Individual
Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery is
conducted concurrent with the halibut
IFQ fishery and is based on the most
recent survey information. This
recommendation results in an allocation
of 227 mt to trawl gear and 1,557 mt to
hook-and-line gear in the WYK District
in 2009, an allocation of 2,746 mt to
hook-and-line gear in the SEO District
in 2009, and 209 mt to trawl gear in the
WYK District in 2010. Table 3 lists the
allocations of the 2009 sablefish TACs
to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 4
lists the allocations of the 2010 sablefish
TACs to trawl gear. The Council
recommended that only a trawl
sablefish TAC be established for two
years so that retention of incidental
catch of sablefish by trawl gear could
commence in January in the second year
of the groundfish harvest specifications.
However, since there is an annual
assessment for sablefish and the final
specifications are expected to be
published before the IFQ season begins,
the industry and Council recommended
that the sablefish TAC be set on an
annual basis so that the best and most
recent scientific information could be
considered in recommending the ABCs
and TACs. Since sablefish is on bycatch
status for trawl gear the entire fishing
year and given that fishing for
groundfish is prohibited prior to January
20, it is not likely that the sablefish
allocation to trawl gear would be
reached before the effective date of the
final harvest specifications.
TABLE 3—FINAL 2009 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS TO HOOK-AND-LINE
AND TRAWL GEAR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/District
Hook-and-line
apportionment
TAC
Trawl
apportionment
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Western ......................................................................................................................
Central .......................................................................................................................
West Yakutat 1 ...........................................................................................................
Southeast Outside .....................................................................................................
1,640
4,990
1,784
2,746
1,312
3,992
1,557
2,746
328
998
227
0
Total ....................................................................................................................
11,160
9,607
1,553
1 Represents
VerDate Nov<24>2008
an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District.
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7341
TABLE 4—FINAL 2010 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATION TO TRAWL GEAR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/District
Trawl
apportionment
Hook-and-line
apportionment1
TAC
Western ......................................................................................................................
Central .......................................................................................................................
West Yakutat 2 ...........................................................................................................
Southeast Outside .....................................................................................................
1,523
4,625
1,645
2,544
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
305
925
209
0
Total ....................................................................................................................
10,337
0
1,439
1 The
Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishery Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year.
2 Represents an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District.
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. Pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(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 to March 10,
March 10 to May 31, August 25 to
October 1, and October 1 to November
1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are
apportioned among Statistical Areas
610, 620, and 630. In the A and B
seasons, the apportionments are in
proportion to the distribution of pollock
biomass based on the four most recent
NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D
seasons, the apportionments are in
proportion to the distribution of pollock
biomass based on the four most recent
NMFS summer surveys. For 2009 and
2010, the Council recommends and
NMFS approves averaging the winter
and summer distribution of pollock in
the Central Regulatory Area for the A
season. The average is intended to
reflect the distribution of pollock and
the performance of the fishery in the
area during the A season for the 2009
and 2010 fishing years. Within any
fishing year, the amount by which a
seasonal allowance is underharvested or
overharvested may be added to, or
subtracted from, subsequent seasonal
allowances in a manner to be
determined by the Regional
Administrator. The rollover amount of
unharvested pollock 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)(iv)(B)). The WYK and
SEO District pollock TACs of 1,215 mt
and 8,280 mt, respectively, in 2009, and
1,929 mt and 8,280 mt, respectively, in
2010, are not allocated by season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the
allocation of 100 percent of the pollock
TAC in all regulatory areas and all
seasonal allowances to vessels catching
pollock for processing by the inshore
component after subtracting amounts
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 by
§ 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these
incidental catch amounts are unknown
and will be determined during the
fishing year.
The 2009 and 2010 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 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 2009 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]
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Season
A
B
C
D
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
Annual Total .....................................................................
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Kodiak
(Area 630)
Total 1
3,234 (32.01%)
3,233 (32.01%)
4,391 (43.47%)
4,391 (43.47%)
4,365 (43.21%)
5,413 (53.59%)
2,160 (21.38%)
2,160 (21.38%)
2,503 (24.78%)
1,455 (14.90%)
3,550 (35.15%)
3,550 (35.15%)
10,102 (100%)
10,101 (100%)
10,101 (100%)
10,101 (100%)
15,249
14,098
11,058
40,405
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
1 The
WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
NOTE: As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March
10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7342
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 6—FINAL 2010 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]
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Season
A
B
C
D
...............................................................................................
...............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
Annual Total .....................................................................
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Kodiak
(Area 630)
Total 1
5,132 (32.01%)
5,131 (32.01%)
6,968 (43.47%)
6,968 (43.47%)
6,927 (43.21%)
8,591 (53.39%)
3,428 (21.38%)
3,428 (21.38%)
3,972 (24.78%)
2,308 (14.40%)
5,634 (35.15%)
5,634 (35.15%)
16,031 (100%)
16,030 (100%)
16,030 (100%)
16,030 (100%)
24,199
22,374
17,548
64,121
1 The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
NOTE: As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10,
March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore
and offshore components are not shown in this table.
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
is January 1 through June 10, and the B
season is September 1 through
December 31. For trawl gear, the A
season is January 20 through June 10,
and the B season is September 1 through
November 1 (§ 679.23(d)(3)). After
subtracting incidental catch from the A
season, 60 percent of the annual TAC
will be available as a DFA 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. The
seasonal allocations will be apportioned
between the inshore and offshore
components, as provided in
§ 679.20(a)(6)(ii). Under
§ 679.20(a)(11)(ii), any overage or
underage of the Pacific cod allowance
from the A season may be subtracted
from or added to the subsequent B
season allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires
allocation of the TAC apportionments of
Pacific cod in all regulatory areas 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. Tables 7 and 8
lists the seasonal apportionments and
allocations of the final 2009 and 2010
Pacific cod TACs, respectively.
TABLE 7—FINAL 2009 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
TAC
Western .................................................
Inshore
(90%)
Offshore
(10%)
Eastern ..................................................
16,175
9,705
6,470
23,641
14,185
9,456
1,991
14,558
8,735
5,823
21,277
12,767
8,510
1,792
1,617
970
647
2,364
1,418
946
199
................................................................
41,807
37,627
4,180
A season (60%) .....................................
B season (40%) .....................................
Central ...................................................
A season (60%) .....................................
B season (40%) .....................................
Total ................................................
TABLE 8—FINAL 2010 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
TAC
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Western .................................................
A season (60%) .....................................
B season (40%) .....................................
Central ...................................................
A season (60%) .....................................
B season (40%) .....................................
Eastern ..................................................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Inshore
(90%)
23,254
13,952
9,302
33,986
20,392
13,594
2,862
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
20,929
12,557
8,371
30,587
18,352
12,235
2,576
17FER1
Offshore
(10%)
2,325
1,395
930
3,399
2,039
1,359
286
7343
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 8—FINAL 2010 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA; ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Component allocation
Season
Regulatory area
Total ................................................
TAC
................................................................
Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)
In 2006 the Alaska Board of Fish
(BOF) allocated the Southeast Outside
District DSR TAC between the
commercial fishery (84 percent) and the
sportfish fishery (16 percent). This
results in an 2009 and 2010 allocation
of 304 mt to the commercial fishery and
58 mt to the sportfish fishery. Estimates
of incidental catch of DSR in the
commercial halibut fishery are deducted
from the DSR commercial fishery
allocation. In 2008 this resulted in 120
mt being available for the directed
commercial DSR fishery of which 41 mt
were harvested. The Alaska Department
of Fish and Game (ADF&G) will
announce the opening of directed
fishing for DSR in January following the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission’s (IPHC) annual meeting to
be held January 13–16, 2009. DSR
harvest in the halibut fishery is linked
to the halibut quota, therefore ADF&G
cannot estimate potential DSR
incidental catch in that fishery until
those quotas are established. Full
Inshore
(90%)
60,102
retention of all DSR by federally
permitted catcher vessels using hookand-line or jig gear fishing for
groundfish and Pacific halibut in the
SEO District of the GOA is required
(§ 679.20(j)).
Apportionments to the Central GOA
Rockfish Pilot Program
Section 679.81(a)(1) and (2) require
the allocation of the primary rockfish
species TACs in the Central Regulatory
Area after deducting incidental catch
needs in other directed groundfish
fisheries, to participants in the Rockfish
Pilot Program. Five percent (2.5 percent
to trawl gear and 2.5 percent to fixed
gear) of the final TACs for Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic
shelf rockfish in the Central Regulatory
Area are allocated to the entry level
rockfish fishery and the remaining 95
percent to those vessels eligible to
participate in the Rockfish Program.
NMFS is setting aside in 2009 and 2010
incidental catch amounts (ICAs) of 200
mt of Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of
northern rockfish, and 100 mt of pelagic
Offshore
(10%)
54,092
6,010
shelf rockfish for other directed fisheries
in the Central Regulatory Area. These
amounts are based on the 2003 through
2007 average incidental catch in the
Central Regulatory Area by these other
groundfish fisheries.
Section 679.83(a)(1)(i) requires
allocations to the trawl entry level
fishery to be made first from the
allocation of Pacific ocean perch
available to the rockfish entry level
fishery. If the amount of Pacific ocean
perch available for allocation is less
than the total allocation allowable for
trawl catcher vessels in the rockfish
entry level fishery, then northern
rockfish and pelagic shelf rockfish must
be allocated to trawl catcher vessels.
Allocations of Pacific ocean perch,
northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf
rockfish to longline gear vessels must be
made after the allocations to trawl gear.
Tables 9 and 10 list the final 2009 and
2010 allocations of rockfish in the
Central GOA to trawl and longline gear
in the entry level rockfish fishery,
respectively.
TABLE 9—FINAL 2009 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA TO TRAWL AND LONGLINE GEAR 1
IN THE ENTRY LEVEL ROCKFISH FISHERY
[Values are rounded to nearest mt]
Species
Incidental
catch
allowance
TAC
TAC minus
ICA
5% TAC
minus ICA
2.5% TAC
minus ICA
Entry level
trawl
allocation
Entry level
longline
allocation
Pacific ocean perch .................................
Northern rockfish ......................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...............................
8,246
2,308
3,404
200
100
100
8,046
2,208
3,304
402
110
165
201
55
83
339
0
0
63
110
165
Total ..................................................
13,958
400
13,558
678
339
339
339
1 Longline
gear includes jig and hook-and-line gear.
TABLE 10—FINAL 2010 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA TO TRAWL AND LONGLINE GEAR 1
IN THE ENTRY LEVEL ROCKFISH FISHERY
[Values are rounded to nearest mt]
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Species
Incidental
catch
allowance
TAC
TAC minus
ICA
5% TAC
minus ICA
2.5% TAC
minus ICA
Entry level
trawl
allocation
Entry level
longline
allocation
Pacific ocean perch .................................
Northern rockfish ......................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...............................
8,239
2,208
3,179
200
100
100
8,039
2,108
3,079
402
105
154
201
53
77
331
0
0
71
105
154
Total ..................................................
13,626
400
13,226
661
331
331
330
1 Longline
gear includes jig and hook-and-line gear.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7344
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
Halibut PSC Limits
Section 679.21(d) establishes the
annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl and hook-andline gear and permits the establishment
of apportionments for pot gear. In
December 2008, the Council
recommended that NMFS maintain the
2008 halibut PSC limits of 2,000 mt for
the trawl fisheries and 300 mt for the
hook-and-line fisheries. Ten mt of the
hook-and-line limit is further allocated
to the DSR fishery in the SEO District.
The DSR fishery is defined at
§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has
been apportioned 10 mt in recognition
of its small-scale harvests. Most vessels
in the DSR fishery are less than 60 ft
(18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and are
exempt from observer coverage.
Therefore, observer data are not
available to verify actual bycatch
amounts. NMFS assumes the halibut
bycatch in the DSR fishery is 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. Finally,
much of the DSR TAC is not available
to the directed DSR commercial fishery.
The Alaska Department of Fish and
Game sets the Guideline Harvest Level
(GHL) after estimates of incidental catch
in all fisheries (including halibut and
subsistence) and allocation to the
sportfish fishery have been deducted. Of
the 382 mt TAC for DSR in 2008, 120
mt was available for the commercial
fishery of which 41 mt were harvested.
Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) authorizes the
exemption of specified non-trawl
fisheries from the halibut PSC limit.
NMFS, after consultation with the
Council, exempts pot gear, jig gear, and
the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear
fishery from the non-trawl halibut limit
for 2009 and 2010. The Council
recommended these exemptions
because (1) the pot gear fisheries have
low annual halibut bycatch mortality
(averaging 19 mt annually from 2001
through 2008); (2) the halibut and
sablefish IFQ fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality because the IFQ
program requires retention of legal-sized
halibut by vessels using hook-and-line
gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is
aboard and is holding unused halibut
IFQ; and (3) halibut mortality for the jig
gear fisheries is assumed to be
negligible. Halibut mortality is assumed
to be negligible in the jig gear fisheries
given the small amount of groundfish
harvested by jig gear (averaging 268 mt
annually from 2001 through 2008), the
selective nature of jig gear, and the high
survival rates of halibut caught and
released with jig gear.
Section 679.21(d)(5) provides NMFS
the authority to seasonally apportion the
halibut PSC limits after consultation
with the Council. The FMP and
regulations require the Council and
NMFS to 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 2008 and 2009 groundfish
harvest specifications (73 FR 10562,
February 27, 2008) summarized the
Council and NMFS’s findings with
respect to each of these FMP
considerations. The Council and
NMFS’s findings for 2009 and 2010 are
unchanged from 2008. The opening
dates and halibut PSC limitations for
vessels using trawl gear participating in
the Rockfish Program in the Central
Regulatory Area are described in the
final rule to implement the Rockfish
Program (71 FR 67210, November 20,
2006).
NMFS concurs in the Council’s
recommendations listed in Table 11,
which shows the final 2009 and 2010
Pacific halilbut PSC limits, allowances,
and apportionments. Sections
679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any
underages or overages of a seasonal
apportionment of a PSC limit will be
deducted from or added to the next
respective seasonal apportionment
within the fishing year. The information
to establish the halibut PSC limits was
obtained from the 2008 SAFE report,
NMFS, ADF&G, the IPHC, and public
testimony.
TABLE 11—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS
[Values are in metric tons]
Hook-and-line gear 1
Trawl gear
DSR
Season
Amount
Other than DSR
January 20–April 1 ..........
April 1–July 1 ..................
July 1–September 1 ........
550 (27.5%)
400 (20%)
600 (30%)
September 1–October 1 ..
October 1–December 31
Total .........................
Season
Amount
Season
250 (86%)
5 (2%)
35 (12%)
January 1–December 31
.........................................
.........................................
10 (100%)
..............................
..............................
150 (7.5%)
300 (15%)
January 1–June 10 .........
June 10–September 1 ....
September 1–December
31.
n/a ...................................
n/a ...................................
n/a
n/a
.........................................
.........................................
..............................
..............................
2,000 (100%)
n/a ...................................
290 (100%)
.........................................
10 (100%)
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
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
further apportionment of the trawl
halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery
categories. The annual apportionments
are based on each category’s
proportional share of the anticipated
halibut bycatch mortality during the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
fishing year and optimization of 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
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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’’ (( 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 12
lists the final 2009 and 2010
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7345
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
apportionments of Pacific halibut PSC
trawl limits between the trawl gear
deep-water species complex and
shallow-water species complex.
TABLE 12—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 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]
Shallow-water
species complex
Season
Deep-water species complex 1
Total
January 20–April 1 ..................................................
April 1–July 1 ..........................................................
July 1–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 2 ......................................
900
n/a
800 .........................................................................
n/a ..........................................................................
1,700
300
Total ..........................................................
n/a
n/a ..........................................................................
2,000
1 Vessels
participating in cooperatives in the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program will receive a portion of the third season (July 1–
September 1) deep-water category halibut PSC apportionment. At this time, this amount is unknown but will be posted later on the Alaska Region Web site at https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov when it becomes available.
2 There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery complexes during the 5th season (October 1–December 31).
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior
Years
The best available information on
estimated halibut bycatch is data
collected by observers during 2008. The
calculated halibut bycatch mortality by
trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gears
through December 31, 2008, is 1,950 mt,
413 mt, and 29 mt, respectively, for a
total halibut mortality of 2,392 mt.
Halibut bycatch restrictions
seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2008 fishing year.
The trawl fishery during the second
season was closed for the deep-water
species category on April 21 (73 FR
22062, April 24, 2008), and during the
fourth season on September 11 (73 FR
53159, September 15, 2008). The trawl
fishery during the first season was
closed for the shallow-water species
category on March 10 (73 FR 13464,
March 13, 2008) and opened on March
21 through May 21 (73 FR 15942, March
26, 2008, and 73 FR 30318, May 27,
2008). To prevent exceeding the fourth
season halibut PSC limit for the
shallow-water species category, directed
fishing using trawl gear was limited to
one 48-hour open period beginning
September 1 (73 FR 51601, September 4,
2008), and to one 36-hour period
beginning September 10 (73 FR 52930,
September 12, 2008). The trawl fishery
for all groundfish targets (with the
exception of vessels targeting pollock
where open using pelagic trawl gear and
vessels participating in the Rockfish
Program in the Central GOA) closed for
the fifth season on November 6, 2008
(73 FR 66561, November 10, 2008) and
reopened on November 16, 2008 (73 FR
69586, November 19, 2008) following
the reallocation of unused halibut PSC
from rockfish cooperatives in the
Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot
Program to vessels using trawl gear in
the GOA (73 FR 69587, November 19,
2008). Directed fishing for groundfish
using hook-and-line gear closed for the
year on October 16 (73 FR 62212,
October 20, 2008). The amount of
groundfish that vessels using hook-andline and trawl gear might have
harvested if halibut PSC limits had not
restricted the 2008 season is unknown.
Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks
and Catch
The final 2009 ABCs for deep-water
flatfish, flathead sole, and Pacific ocean
perch are higher than those established
for 2008, while the final 2009 ABCs for
pollock, Pacific cod, rex sole,
arrowtooth flounder, rougheye rockfish,
northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
demersal shelf rockfish, and sablefish
are lower than those established for
2008. The final 2010 ABCs for pollock,
Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, flathead
sole, Pacific ocean perch, and rougheye
rockfish are higher than those
established for 2008, while the final
2010 ABCs for arrowtooth flounder, rex
sole, rougheye rockfish, northern
rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
demersal shelf rockfish, and sablefish
are lower than those established for
2008. For the remaining target species,
the Council recommended that ABC
levels remain unchanged from 2008.
More information on these changes is
included in the final SAFE report
(November 2008). This document is
available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES).
In the GOA, the total final 2009 TAC
amounts are 242,727 mt, a decrease of
7.6 percent from the 2008 TAC total of
262,826 mt. The total final 2010 TAC
amounts are 284,688 mt, an increase of
8.3 percent from the 2008 TAC total of
262,826 mt. Table 13 compares the final
2008 TACs to the final 2009 and 2010
TACs.
TABLE 13—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2008 AND FINAL 2009 AND 2010 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Species
2008
Pollock .......................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .................................................................................................................
Deep-water flatfish .....................................................................................................
Rex sole .....................................................................................................................
Flathead sole .............................................................................................................
Shallow-water flatfish .................................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ...................................................................................................
Sablefish ....................................................................................................................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
2009
60,180
50,269
8,903
9,132
11,054
22,256
43,000
12,730
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2010
49,900
41,807
9,168
8,996
11,181
22,256
43,000
11,160
17FER1
74,330
60,102
9,793
8,827
11,289
22,256
43,000
10,337
7346
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 13—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2008 AND FINAL 2009 AND 2010 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE GULF OF
ALASKA—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
2008
2009
2010
14,999
898
1,286
1,730
4,549
5,227
1,910
3,330
2,887
2,104
382
1,500
4,500
15,111
898
1,284
1,730
4,362
4,781
1,910
3,330
2,887
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
15,098
898
1,297
1,730
4,173
4,465
1,910
3,330
2,887
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
Total ....................................................................................................................
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Pacific ocean perch ...................................................................................................
Shortraker rockfish .....................................................................................................
Rougheye rockfish .....................................................................................................
Other rockfish ............................................................................................................
Northern rockfish .......................................................................................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish .................................................................................................
Thornyhead rockfish ..................................................................................................
Big skates ..................................................................................................................
Longnose skates ........................................................................................................
Other skates ..............................................................................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish .............................................................................................
Atka mackerel ............................................................................................................
‘‘Other species’’ .........................................................................................................
262,826
242,727
284,688
Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass
and Stock Condition
The most recent halibut stock
assessment was developed by the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) staff in December
2008 for the 2009 commercial fishery;
this assessment was considered by the
IPHC at its annual January 2009
meeting. Information from ongoing
passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag
recoveries, as well as inconsistencies in
the traditional closed-area stock
assessments for some areas has
prompted the IPHC to reexamine the
stock assessment framework and
corresponding harvest policy. It had
been assumed that once the halibut
reached legal commercial size there was
little movement between regulatory
areas. PIT tag recoveries indicate greater
movement between regulatory areas
than previously thought. In response to
this new information, IPHC staff
developed a coast-wide assessment
based on a single stock. The assessment
recommends a coast-wide harvest rate of
20 percent of the exploitable biomass
(Ebio) overall, but a lower harvest rate
of 15 percent for Areas 4A, B, C, D, and
E. The current estimate of coast-wide
(United States and Canada) EBio for
2009 is 147,419 mt, down from 163,749
mt estimated for 2008. Virtually all of
the decrease is due to lower survey and
commercial catch rates of legal-sized
halibut. Projections based on the
currently estimated age compositions
suggest that the exploitable and female
spawning biomass will increase over the
next several years as a sequence of
strong year classes recruit to the legal-
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
sized component of the population. The
female spawning biomass (Sbio) is
estimated to be 14,288 mt for 2009, an
increase of 3 percent from 2008, and
approximately 35 percent of the
estimated unfished SBio of 398,258 mt.
The halibut resource is fully utilized.
Recent catches, over the last 14 years
(1994–2007) in the commercial halibut
fisheries in Alaska have averaged 33,675
mt round weight. In January 2009, the
IPHC approved Alaska commercial
catch limits totaling 27,518 mt round
weight for 2009, a 9 percent decrease
from 30,349 mt in 2008. Through
December 31, 2008, commercial hookand-line harvests of halibut off Alaska
totaled 29,577 mt round weight.
Additional information on the Pacific
halibut stock assessment may be found
in the IPHC’s 2008 Pacific halibut stock
assessment (December 2008), available
on the IPHC Web site at https://
www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC
considered the 2008 Pacific halibut
assessment for 2009 at its January 2009
annual meeting when the IPHC set the
2009 commercial halibut fishery catch
limits.
Other Factors
The proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications (73 FR 73222, December
2, 2008) 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.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
The Council recommends and NMFS
concurs that the halibut discard
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
mortality rates (DMRs) developed and
recommended by the IPHC for the 2009
and 2010 GOA groundfish fisheries be
used to monitor the 2009 and 2010 GOA
halibut bycatch mortality limits. The
IPHC recommended use of long-term
average DMRs for the 2009 and 2010
groundfish fisheries. The IPHC will
analyze observer data annually and
recommend changes to the DMRs where
a DMR shows large variation from the
mean. Most of the IPHC’s assumed
DMRs were based on an average of
mortality rates determined from NMFS
observer data collected between 1996
and 2005. Long-term average DMRs
were not available for some fisheries, so
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 Pacific cod fishery
for that gear type was recommended as
a default rate. The GOA DMRs for 2009
and 2010 are unchanged from those
used in 2008. The DMRs for hook-andline targeted fisheries range from 10 to
14 percent. The DMRs for trawl target
fisheries range from 53 to 76 percent.
Each DMR for the pot target fisheries is
16 percent. The final halibut DMRs for
vessels fishing in the GOA for 2009 and
2010 are listed in Table 14. A copy of
the document justifying these DMRs is
available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES) and is discussed in the final
2008 SAFE report, dated November
2008. The IPHC intends to review all of
the DMRs in 2009 for use in the
groundfish fisheries during 2010
through 2012.
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7347
TABLE 14—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA
[Values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
Gear
Target fishery
Hook-and-line ...........................................................................
Other species ..........................................................................
Skates ......................................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Rockfish ...................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder .................................................................
Atka mackere ..........................................................................
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 ............................................................................................
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/
Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish
harvesting and processing sideboard
limitations on AFA catcher/processors
and catcher vessels in the GOA. These
sideboard limits 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. Section
679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA
catcher/processors from harvesting any
species of fish in the GOA.
Additionally, § 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits
listed AFA catcher/processors from
processing any pollock harvested in a
directed pollock fishery in the GOA and
any groundfish harvested in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA.
AFA catcher vessels that are less than
125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, have annual
landings of pollock in the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands less than 5,100 mt,
and have made at least 40 groundfish
landings from 1995 through 1997 are
exempt from GOA sideboard limits
under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard
limits for non-exempt AFA catcher
vessels in the GOA are based on their
traditional harvest levels 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 non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels of each sideboard
species from 1995 through 1997 divided
Mortality rate (%)
14
14
14
10
69
l60
53
61
59
63
63
63
76
63
67
65
71
16
16
16
by the TAC for that species over the
same period. The final 2009 and 2010
non-exempt AFA catcher vessel
groundfish harvest sideboard limitations
are listed in Tables 15 and 16,
respectively. All catch of sideboard
species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted
catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in
Tables 15 and 16. The ratios used to
calculate these sideboard limits were
adjusted slightly to reflect changing two
separate vessels’ status from nonexempt to exempt, based on NMFS
administrative review of these vessels’
applications for non-exempt versus
exempt status. This results in slight
decreases to the catch-to-TAC ratios
used in 2008 to establish the nonexempt AFA CV sideboard limits.
TABLE 15—FINAL 2009 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by
season/gear
Area/component
Pollock .............................
A Season ........................
January 20–March 10 .....
Shumagin ........................
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin ........................
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin ........................
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin ........................
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
WYK (640) ......................
SEO (650) .......................
B Season ........................
March 10—May 31 .........
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
C Season ........................
August 25–October 1 .....
D Season ........................
October 1—November 1
Annual .............................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:52 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Ratio of 1995–
1997 non-exempt
AFA CV catch to
1995–1997 TAC
2009 TAC
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.3495
0.3495
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
3,234
4,365
2,503
3,233
5,413
1,455
4,391
2,160
3,550
4,391
2,160
3,550
1,215
8,280
17FER1
2009 non-exempt
AFA CV sideboard
limit
1,956
509
508
1,955
632
295
2,655
252
720
2,655
252
720
425
2,894
7348
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 15—FINAL 2009 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by
season/gear
Area/component
Pacific cod .......................
A Season 1 ......................
January 1–June 10 .........
W inshore .......................
W offshore ......................
C inshore ........................
C offshore .......................
W inshore .......................
W offshore.
.........................................
C inshore ........................
C offshore .......................
E inshore ........................
E offshore .......................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
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 .....................................
Gulfwide ..........................
SEO ................................
.........................................
Gulfwide ..........................
Gulfwide ..........................
B Season 2 ......................
September 1–
December 31 ..................
Annual
Annual .............................
Rex sole ..........................
Annual
Flathead sole ...................
Annual .............................
Flatfish, shallow-water .....
Annual .............................
Arrowtooth flounder .........
Annual .............................
Sablefish ..........................
Annual, trawl gear ...........
Pacific ocean perch .........
Annual .............................
Shortraker rockfish ..........
Annual .............................
Rougheye rockfish ..........
Annual .............................
Other rockfish ..................
Annual .............................
Northern rockfish .............
Annual .............................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ......
Annual .............................
Thornyhead rockfish ........
Annual .............................
Big skates ........................
Annual .............................
Longnose skates .............
Annual .............................
Other skates ....................
Demersal shelf rockfish ...
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Flatfish, deep-water .........
Annual .............................
Annual .............................
Atka .................................
Other ...............................
Annual .............................
Annual .............................
1 The
2 The
Ratio of 1995–
1997 non-exempt
AFA CV catch to
1995–1997 TAC
2009 TAC
0.1365
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.1365
8,735
970
12,767
1,418
5,823
1,192
100
880
102
795
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.0079
0.0078
0.0000
0.0647
0.0128
0.0007
0.0384
0.0029
0.0036
0.0213
0.0009
0.0156
0.0587
0.0126
0.0021
0.0280
0.0002
0.0000
0.0642
0.0433
0.0023
0.0748
0.0466
0.0000
0.0218
0.0110
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0034
0.1699
0.0000
0.0003
0.0277
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
0.0280
0.0280
0.0280
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
..............................
0.0020
0.0309
0.0063
647
8,510
946
1,792
199
706
6,927
1,535
1,007
6,630
1,359
2,000
5,000
4,181
4,500
13,000
4,756
8,000
30,000
5,000
328
998
227
3,713
8,246
3,152
120
315
463
125
833
326
357
569
804
2,054
2,308
819
3,404
558
267
860
783
632
2,065
633
78
2,041
768
2,104
..............................
362
2,000
4,500
66
586
68
14
2
0
448
20
1
255
4
7
107
4
70
763
60
17
840
1
0
64
10
9
617
147
0
7
5
0
20
4
1
97
0
1
64
0
0
4
7
24
22
4
13
4
0
13
5
13
..............................
1
62
28
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:52 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
2009 non-exempt
AFA CV sideboard
limit
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7349
TABLE 16—FINAL 2010 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 non-exempt
AFA CV catch to
1995–1997 TAC
2010 non-exempt
AFA CV sideboard
limit
Species
Apportionments by
season/gear
Area/component
Pollock .............................
A Season ........................
January 20–March 10 .....
Shumagin (610) ..............
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin (610) ..............
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin (610) ..............
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
Shumagin (610) ..............
Chirikof (620) ..................
Kodiak (630) ...................
WYK (640) ......................
SEO (650) .......................
W inshore .......................
W offshore ......................
C inshore ........................
C offshore .......................
W inshore .......................
W offshore ......................
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.6047
0.1167
0.2028
0.3495
0.3495
0.1365
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.1365
0.1026
5,132
6,927
3,972
5,131
8,591
2,308
6,968
3,428
5,634
6,968
3,428
5,634
1,929
8,280
12,557
1,395
18,352
2,039
8,371
930
3,103
808
806
3,103
1,003
468
4,214
400
1,143
4,214
400
1,143
674
2,894
1,714
143
1,264
147
1,143
95
C inshore ........................
C offshore .......................
E inshore ........................
E offshore .......................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
C .....................................
E .....................................
W ....................................
0.0689
0.0721
0.0079
0.0078
0.0000
0.0647
0.0128
0.0007
0.0384
0.0029
0.0036
0.0213
0.0009
0.0156
0.0587
0.0126
0.0021
0.0280
0.0002
0.0000
0.0642
0.0433
0.0023
0.0748
0.0466
0.0000
0.0218
0.0110
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
0.0034
0.1699
0.0000
0.0003
0.0277
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
0.0280
0.0280
0.0280
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
12,235
1,359
2,576
286
747
7,405
1,641
988
6,506
1,333
2,000
5,000
4,289
4,500
13,000
4,756
8,000
30,000
5,000
305
925
209
3,710
8,239
3,149
120
315
463
126
842
329
357
569
804
1,965
2,208
765
3,179
521
267
860
783
632
2,065
633
78
843
98
20
2
0
479
21
1
250
4
7
107
4
70
763
60
17
840
1
0
59
9
9
616
147
0
7
5
0
20
4
1
97
0
1
61
0
0
3
7
24
22
4
13
4
0
B Season ........................
March 10–May 31 ...........
C Season ........................
August 25–October 1 .....
D Season ........................
October 1–November 1 ..
Annual .............................
Pacific cod .......................
A Season 1 ......................
January 1–June 10 .........
B Season 2 ......................
September 1–December
31.
Annual .............................
Annual .............................
Rex sole ..........................
Annual .............................
Flathead sole ...................
Annual .............................
Flatfish, shallow-water .....
Annual .............................
Arrowtooth flounder .........
Annual .............................
Sablefish ..........................
Annual, trawl gear ...........
Pacific ocean perch .........
Annual .............................
Shortraker rockfish ..........
Annual .............................
Rougheye rockfish ..........
Annual .............................
Other rockfish ..................
Annual .............................
Northern rockfish .............
Annual .............................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ......
Annual .............................
Thornyhead rockfish ........
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Flatfish, deep-water .........
Annual .............................
Big skates ........................
Annual .............................
Longnose skates .............
Annual .............................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:52 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2010 TAC
17FER1
7350
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 16—FINAL 2010 GOA NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL (CV) GROUNDFISH HARVEST
SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Apportionments by
season/gear
Species
Other skates ....................
Demersal shelf rockfish ...
Atka mackerel .................
Other species ..................
1 The
2 The
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Ratio of 1995–
1997 non-exempt
AFA CV catch to
1995–1997 TAC
Area/component
.............................
.............................
.............................
.............................
C .....................................
E .....................................
Gulfwide ..........................
SEO ................................
Gulfwide ..........................
Gulfwide ..........................
2010 TAC
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0020
0.0309
0.0063
2010 non-exempt
AFA CV sideboard
limit
2,041
768
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
13
5
13
1
62
28
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The PSC sideboard limits for nonexempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA
are based on the aggregate retained
groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels in each PSC target
exempt AFA catcher vessel halibut PSC
limits for vessels using trawl gear in the
GOA.
category from 1995 through 1997
divided by the retained catch of all
vessels in that fishery from 1995
through 1997 (§ 679.64(b)(4)). Table 17
lists the final 2009 and 2010 non-
TABLE 17—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED
SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA
[Values are in metric tons]
Ratio of 1995–1997
non-exempt AFA
CV retained catch
to total retained
catch
Seasonal allowance
Season
Target fishery
1 .................
2 .................
January 20–April 1 .................
April 1–July 1 ..........................
3 .................
July 1–September 1 ...............
4 .................
September 1–October 1 .........
5 .................
October 1–December 31 ........
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water 1 ...........................
all targets ................................
2009 and 2010
PSC limit
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.205
450
100
100
300
200
400
150
0
300
2009 and 2010
non-exempt AFA
CV PSC limit
153
7
34
21
68
28
51
0
61
1 There is no apportionment of halibut PSC to the deep-water targets in September. However any unused apportionment to the deep-water targets from earlier in the fishing year may be used to support the deep-water targets in September.
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish
Harvest Limitations
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish
catch limits for vessels with a history of
participation in the Bering Sea snow
crab fishery from using the increased
flexibility provided by the Crab
Rationalization Program to expand their
level of participation in the GOA
groundfish fisheries. These sideboard
limits restrict these vessels’ catch to
their collective historical landings in
each GOA groundfish fishery (except
the fixed-gear sablefish fishery).
Sideboard limits also will apply to catch
made using a License Limitation
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:52 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
Program (LLP) license derived from the
history of a restricted vessel, even if that
LLP license is used on another vessel.
Sideboard limits for non-AFA crab
vessels in the GOA are based on their
traditional harvest levels of TAC in
groundfish fisheries covered by the
GOA FMP. Sections 680.22(d) and (e)
base the groundfish sideboard
limitations in the GOA on the retained
catch by non-AFA crab vessels of each
sideboard species from 1996 through
2000 divided by the total retained
harvest of that species over the same
period. The 2009 and 2010 final GOA
non-AFA crab vessel groundfish harvest
sideboard limits are listed in Tables 18
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
and 19. All targeted or incidental catch
of sideboard species made by non-AFA
crab vessels will be deducted from the
sideboard limits in Tables 18 and 19.
Vessels exempt from Pacific cod
sideboards are those that landed less
than 45,359 kilograms of Bering Sea
snow crab and more than 500 mt of
groundfish (in round weight
equivalents) from the GOA between
January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000,
and any vessel named on an LLP that
was generated in whole or in part by the
fishing history of a vessel meeting the
criteria in § 680.22(a)(3).
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7351
TABLE 18—FINAL 2009 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1996–2000
non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996–
2000 total harvest
Season/gear
Area/component
Pollock ...........................
A Season ......................
January 20–March 10 ..
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
WYK (640) ....................
SEO (650) ....................
W inshore .....................
W offshore ....................
C inshore ......................
C offshore .....................
W inshore .....................
W offshore ....................
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0000
0.0000
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
0.0902
0.2046
3,234
4,365
2,503
3,233
5,413
1,455
4,391
2,160
3,550
4,391
2,160
3,550
1,215
8,280
8,735
970
12,767
1,418
5,823
647
32
14
1
32
17
0
43
7
1
43
7
1
0
0
788
198
489
294
525
132
C inshore ......................
C offshore .....................
E inshore ......................
E offshore .....................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
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 ...................................
0.0383
0.2074
0.0110
0.0000
0.0035
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0002
0.0004
0.0000
0.0059
0.0001
0.0000
0.0004
0.0001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0013
0.0012
0.0009
0.0067
0.0047
0.0008
0.0035
0.0033
0.0000
0.0005
0.0000
0.0017
0.0000
0.0000
0.0047
0.0066
0.0045
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
0.0392
0.0159
8,510
946
1,792
199
706
6,927
1,535
1,007
6,630
1,359
2,000
5,000
4,181
4,500
13,000
4,756
8,000
30,000
5,000
328
998
227
3,713
8,246
3,152
120
315
463
125
833
326
357
569
804
2,054
2,308
819
3,404
558
267
860
783
632
2,065
633
78
2,041
326
196
20
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
27
1
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
6
4
25
33
0
3
32
B Season ......................
March 10–May 31 ........
C Season ......................
August 25–October 1 ...
D Season ......................
October 1–November 1
Annual ..........................
Pacific cod .....................
A Season 1 ....................
January 1–June 10 .......
B Season 2 ....................
September 1–December 31.
Annual ..........................
Annual ..........................
Rex sole .........................
Annual ..........................
Flathead sole .................
Annual ..........................
Flatfish shallow-water ....
Annual ..........................
Arrowtooth flounder .......
Annual ..........................
Sablefish ........................
Annual, trawl gear ........
Pacific ocean perch .......
Annual ..........................
Shortraker rockfish ........
Annual ..........................
Rougheye rockfish .........
Annual ..........................
Other rockfish ................
Annual ..........................
Northern rockfish ...........
Annual ..........................
Pelagic shelf rockfish .....
Annual ..........................
Thornyhead rockfish ......
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Flatfish deep-water ........
Annual ..........................
Big skate ........................
Annual ..........................
Longnose skate .............
Annual ..........................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2009 TAC
2009 non-AFA crab
vessel sideboard
limit
Species
17FER1
7352
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 18—FINAL 2009 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Other skates ..................
Demersal shelf rockfish
Atka mackerel ................
Other species ................
1 The
2 The
Season/gear
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Area/component
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
Ratio of 1996–2000
non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996–
2000 total harvest
E ...................................
Gulfwide ........................
SEO ..............................
Gulfwide ........................
Gulfwide ........................
2009 TAC
0.0000
0.0176
0.0000
0.0000
0.0176
768
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
2009 non-AFA crab
vessel sideboard
limit
0
37
0
0
79
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
TABLE 19—FINAL 2010 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1996–2000
non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996–
2000 total harvest
Season/gear
Area/component
Pollock ...........................
A Season ......................
January 20–March 10 ..
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
WYK (640) ....................
SEO (650) ....................
W inshore .....................
W offshore ....................
C inshore ......................
C offshore .....................
W inshore .....................
W offshore ....................
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0098
0.0031
0.0002
0.0000
0.0000
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
0.0902
0.2046
5,132
6,927
3,972
5,131
8,591
2,308
6,968
3,428
5,634
6,968
3,428
5,634
1,929
8,280
12,557
1,395
18,352
2,039
8,371
930
50
21
1
50
27
0
68
11
1
68
11
1
0
0
1,133
285
703
423
755
190
C inshore ......................
C offshore .....................
E inshore ......................
E offshore .....................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
0.0383
0.2074
0.0110
0.0000
0.0035
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0002
0.0004
0.0000
0.0059
0.0001
0.0000
0.0004
0.0001
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0013
0.0012
0.0009
0.0067
12,235
1,359
2,576
286
747
7,405
1,641
988
6,506
1,333
2,000
5,000
4,289
4,500
13,000
4,756
8,000
30,000
5,000
305
925
209
3,710
8,239
3,149
120
315
463
126
469
282
28
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
27
1
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
B Season ......................
March 10–May 31 ........
C Season ......................
August 25–October 1 ...
D Season ......................
October 1–November 1
Annual ..........................
Pacific cod .....................
A Season 1 ....................
January 1–June 10 .......
B Season 2 ....................
September 1–December 31.
Annual ..........................
Annual ..........................
Rex sole .........................
Annual ..........................
Flathead sole .................
Annual ..........................
Flatfish shallow-water ....
Annual ..........................
Arrowtooth flounder .......
Annual ..........................
Sablefish ........................
Annual, trawl gear ........
Pacific ocean perch .......
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Flatfish deep-water ........
Annual ..........................
Shortraker rockfish ........
Annual ..........................
Rougheye rockfish .........
Annual ..........................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00068
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2010 TAC
2010 non-AFA crab
vessel sideboard
limit
Species
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7353
TABLE 19—FINAL 2010 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Area/component
Other rockfish ................
Annual ..........................
Northern rockfish ...........
Annual ..........................
Pelagic shelf rockfish .....
Annual ..........................
Thornyhead rockfish ......
Annual ..........................
Big skate ........................
Annual ..........................
Longnose skate .............
Annual ..........................
Other skates ..................
Demersal shelf rockfish
Atka mackerel ................
Other species ................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
1 The
2 The
..........................
..........................
..........................
..........................
Ratio of 1996–2000
non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996–
2000 total harvest
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
E ...................................
Gulfwide ........................
SEO ..............................
Gulfwide ........................
Gulfwide ........................
2010 non-AFA crab
vessel sideboard
limit
2010 TAC
0.0047
0.0008
0.0035
0.0033
0.0000
0.0005
0.0000
0.0017
0.0000
0.0000
0.0047
0.0066
0.0045
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
0.0176
0.0000
0.0000
0.0176
842
329
357
569
804
1,965
2,208
765
3,179
521
267
860
783
632
2,065
633
78
2,041
768
2,104
362
2,000
4,500
4
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
6
4
25
33
0
3
32
0
37
0
0
79
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Rockfish Program Groundfish
Sideboard Limitations and Halibut
Mortality Limitations
Section 679.82(d)(7) establishes
sideboards to limit the ability of
participants eligible for the Rockfish
Program to harvest fish in fisheries other
than the Central GOA rockfish fisheries.
The Rockfish Program provides certain
economic advantages to harvesters.
Harvesters could use this economic
advantage to increase their participation
in other fisheries, adversely affecting the
participants in other fisheries. The final
sideboards for 2009 and 2010 limit the
total amount of catch that could be
taken by eligible harvesters and limit
the amount of halibut mortality to
historic levels. The sideboard measures
are in effect only during the month of
July. Traditionally, the Central GOA
rockfish fisheries opened in July. The
sideboards are designed to restrict
fishing during the historical season for
the fishery, but allow eligible rockfish
harvesters to participate in fisheries
before or after the historical rockfish
season. The sideboard provisions are
discussed in detail in the proposed rule
(71 FR 33040, June 7, 2006) and final
rule (71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006
and 72 FR 37678, July 11, 2007) for the
Rockfish Program. Tables 20 and 21 list
the final 2009 and 2010 Rockfish
Program harvest limits in the WYK
District and the Western GOA. Table 22
lists the final 2009 and 2010 Rockfish
Program halibut mortality limits for
catcher/processors and catcher vessels.
TABLE 20—FINAL 2009 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS BY SECTOR FOR WEST YAKUTAT DISTRICT AND WESTERN
REGULATORY AREA BY THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (CP) AND CATCHER VESSEL (CV) SECTORS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
CP sector
(% of TAC)
Management area
Fishery
West Yakutat District ....................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ....................
Pacific ocean perch ......................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ....................
Pacific ocean perch ......................
Northern rockfish ..........................
Western Regulatory Area .............
CV sector
(% of TAC)
72.4
76.0
63.3
61.1
78.9
1.7
2.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
2009 TAC
234
1,108
819
3,713
2,054
2009
CP limit
169
842
518
2,269
1,621
2009
CV limit
4
32
0
0
0
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
TABLE 21—FINAL 2010 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS BY SECTOR FOR WEST YAKUTAT DISTRICT AND WESTERN
REGULATORY AREA BY THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (CP) AND CATCHER VESSEL (CV) SECTORS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
CP sector
(% of TAC)
Management area
Fishery
West Yakutat District ....................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ....................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 4700
CV sector
(% of TAC)
72.4
1.7
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2010 TAC
219
17FER1
2010
CP limit
159
2010
CV limit
4
7354
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 21—FINAL 2010 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS BY SECTOR FOR WEST YAKUTAT DISTRICT AND WESTERN
REGULATORY AREA BY THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (CP) AND CATCHER VESSEL (CV) SECTORS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
CP sector
(% of TAC)
Management area
Fishery
Western Regulatory Area .............
CV sector
(% of TAC)
76.0
63.3
61.1
78.9
2.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
Pacific ocean perch ......................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ....................
Pacific ocean perch ......................
Northern rockfish ..........................
2010
CP limit
2010 TAC
1,107
765
3,710
1,965
841
484
2,267
1,550
2010
CV limit
32
0
0
0
TABLE 22—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR AND
CATCHER VESSEL SECTORS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Shallow-water complex halibut PSC
sideboard ratio
(in percent)
Sector
Catcher/processor ........................
Catcher vessel .............................
Deep-water complex halibut PSC
sideboard ratio
(in percent)
0.54
6.32
Gulf of Alaska Amendment 80 Vessel
Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits
Amendment 80 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area, hereinafter referred
to as the ‘‘Amendment 80 Program,’’
established a limited access privilege
program for the non-AFA trawl catcher
processor sector. In order to limit the
ability of participants eligible for the
Amendment 80 Program to expand their
harvest efforts in the GOA, the
Amendment 80 Program established
groundfish and halibut PSC catch limits
for Amendment 80 Program participants
in the GOA.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish
harvesting sideboard limits on all
Amendment 80 Program vessels, other
than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE, to
Annual halibut mortality limit
(mt)
Annual shallowwater complex halibut PSC sideboard
limit
(mt)
Annual deep-water
complex halibut
PSC sideboard limit
(mt)
2,000
2,000
11
126
80
22
3.99
1.08
amounts no greater than the limits
shown in Table 37 to part 679.
Sideboard limits in the GOA are for
pollock in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas and in the WYK
District, for Pacific cod gulfwide, for
Pacific ocean perch and pelagic shelf
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area
and WYK District, and for northern
rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area.
The harvest of Pacific ocean perch,
pelagic shelf rockfish, and northern
rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area
of the GOA is subject to regulation
under the Central GOA Rockfish
Program. Amendment 80 Program
vessels not qualified under the Rockfish
Program are excluded from directed
fishing for these rockfish species in the
Central GOA. Under regulations, the F/
V GOLDEN FLEECE is prohibited from
directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod,
Pacific ocean perch, pelagic shelf
rockfish, and northern rockfish in the
GOA. These sideboard limits are
necessary to protect the interests of
fishermen who do not directly benefit
from Amendment 80 from expansion
into their fisheries by the Amendment
80 Program participants.
Groundfish sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels
operating in the GOA are based on their
average aggregate harvests from 1998 to
2004. Tables 23 and 24 list the final
2009 and 2010 sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels,
respectively. All targeted or incidental
catch of sideboard species made by
Amendment 80 Program vessels will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in
Tables 23 and 24.
TABLE 23—FINAL 2009 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
amendment 80
program sector
vessels 1998–2004
catch to TAC
Area
Pollock ...........................
A Season ......................
January 20–February
25.
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
0.003
0.002
3,234
4,365
10
9
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
2,503
3,233
5,413
1,455
4,391
2,160
5
10
11
3
13
4
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
3,550
4,391
2,160
3,550
7
13
4
7
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
B Season ......................
March 10–May 31 ........
C Season ......................
August 25–September
15.
D Season ......................
October 1–November 1
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
PO 00000
Frm 00070
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
2009 TAC
(mt)
2009 amendment
80 program vessel
sideboard limits
(mt)
Species
Apportionments and
allocations by season
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7355
TABLE 23—FINAL 2009 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
amendment 80
program sector
vessels 1998–2004
catch to TAC
Area
WYK (640) ....................
W ..................................
C ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
0.002
0.020
0.044
0.020
0.044
1,215
9,705
14,185
6,470
9,456
2
194
624
129
416
Pacific ocean perch .......
Annual ..........................
A Season 1 ....................
January 1–June 10 .......
B Season 2 ....................
September 1–December 31.
Annual ..........................
Annual ..........................
Northern rockfish ...........
Annual ..........................
Pelagic shelf rockfish .....
Annual ..........................
WYK .............................
W ..................................
WYK .............................
W ..................................
W ..................................
WYK .............................
0.034
0.994
0.961
1.000
0.764
0.896
1,991
3,713
1,108
2,054
819
234
68
3,691
1,065
2,054
626
210
Species
Pacific cod .....................
1 The
2 The
2009 TAC
(mt)
2009 amendment
80 program vessel
sideboard limits
(mt)
Apportionments and
allocations by season
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
TABLE 24—FINAL 2010 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
Amendment 80
Program sector
vessels 1998–2004
catch to TAC
Area
Pollock ...........................
A Season ......................
January 20–February
25.
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
0.003
0.002
5,132
6,927
15
14
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
3,972
5,131
8,591
2,308
6,968
3,428
8
15
17
5
21
7
Kodiak (630) .................
Shumagin (610) ............
Chirikof (620) ................
Kodiak (630) .................
WYK (640) ....................
W ..................................
C ...................................
W ..................................
C ...................................
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.020
0.044
0.020
0.044
5,634
6,968
3,428
5,634
1,929
13,952
20,392
9,302
13,594
11
21
7
11
4
279
897
186
598
WYK .............................
W ..................................
WYK .............................
W ..................................
W ..................................
WYK .............................
0.034
0.994
0.961
1.000
0.764
0.896
2,862
3,710
1,107
1,965
765
219
97
3,688
1,064
1,965
584
196
B Season ......................
March 10–May 31 ........
C Season ......................
August 25–September
15.
D Season ......................
October 1–November 1
Pacific ocean perch .......
Annual ..........................
A Season 1 ....................
January 1–June 10 .......
B Season 2 ....................
September 1–December 31.
Annual ..........................
Annual ..........................
Northern rockfish ...........
Pelagic shelf rockfish .....
Annual ..........................
Annual ..........................
Pacific cod .....................
1 The
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
2 The
2010 TAC
(mt)
2010 Amendment
80 Program vessel
sideboard limits
(mt)
Species
Apportionments and allocations by season
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The PSC sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 Program vessels in the
GOA are based on the historic use of
halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program
vessels in each PSC target category from
1998 through 2004 (Table 38 to 50 CFR
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
part 679). These values are slightly
lower than the average historic use to
accommodate two factors: allocation of
halibut PSC Cooperative Quotas (CQs)
under the Central GOA Rockfish
Program and the exemption of the F/V
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction.
Table 25 lists the final 2009 and 2010
halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80
Program vessels.
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7356
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 25—FINAL 2009 AND 2010 HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM
VESSELS IN THE GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Historic
Amendment 80
Program use of the
annual halibut PSC
limit catch
Seasonal
allowance
Season
Target fishery
1 .................
January 20–April 1 .................
2 .................
April 1–July 1 ..........................
3 .................
July 1–September 1 ...............
4 .................
September 1–October 1 .........
5 .................
October 1–December 31 ........
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
shallow-water ..........................
deep-water ..............................
Directed Fishing Closures
Pursuant to § 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the
Regional Administrator determines (1)
that any allocation or apportionment of
a target species or ‘‘other species’’
category allocated or apportioned to a
fishery will be reached; or (2) with
respect to pollock and Pacific cod, that
an allocation or apportionment to an
2009 and 2010
annual PSC limit
(mt)
0.0048
0.0115
0.0189
0.1072
0.0146
0.0521
0.0074
0.0014
0.0227
0.0371
inshore or offshore component
allocation will be reached, the Regional
Administrator may establish a directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for that species
or species group. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA and
that allowance is or will be reached
before the end of the fishing year, NMFS
will prohibit directed fishing for that
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2009 and 2010
Amendment 80
Program vessel
PSC limit
(mt)
10
23
38
214
29
104
15
3
45
74
species or 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 26 are necessary as
incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the
2009 and 2010 fishing years.
TABLE 26—2009 AND 2010 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES IN THE GOA
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Target
Incidental catch
amount
Area/component/gear
Atka mackerel ........................................................................
Thornyhead rockfish ..............................................................
Shortraker rockfish ................................................................
Rougheye rockfish .................................................................
all
all
all
all
Other rockfish ........................................................................
Sablefish ................................................................................
all ...........................................................................................
all/trawl ...................................................................................
Big skates ..............................................................................
Longnose skates ...................................................................
Other skates ..........................................................................
Pollock ...................................................................................
all ...........................................................................................
all ...........................................................................................
all ...........................................................................................
all/offshore .............................................................................
1 Pollock
2,000
1,910
898
1,284 (2009)
1,297 (2010)
1,730
1,553 (2009)
1,439 (2010)
3,300
2,887
2,104
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 DFA for
the species or species groups listed in
Table 26 as zero. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
those species, areas, gear types, and
components in the GOA listed in Table
26. These closures will remain in effect
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2010.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
...........................................................................................
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
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 15 and 16 are necessary as
incidental catch to support other
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the
2009 and 2010 fishing years. In
accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the
Regional Administrator sets the DFAs
for the species and species groups in
Table 27 at 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 27. These closures will
remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2010.
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
7357
TABLE 27—2009 AND 2010 NON-EXEMPT AFA CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES FOR ALL
GEAR TYPES IN THE GOA
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Regulatory area/district
Pacific cod .............................................................
Eastern .................................................................
Deep-water flatfish ................................................
Rex sole ................................................................
Flathead sole .........................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ...............................................
Pacific ocean perch ...............................................
Northern rockfish ...................................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ............................................
Western ................................................................
Eastern and Western ...........................................
Eastern and Western ...........................................
Eastern and Western ...........................................
Western ................................................................
Western ................................................................
Entire GOA ...........................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish .........................................
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Species
SEO District ..........................................................
Section 680.22 provides for the
management of non-AFA crab vessel
groundfish harvest limits using directed
fishing closures in accordance with
§ 680.22(e)(2) and (3). The Regional
Administrator has determined that the
non-AFA crab vessel sideboards listed
in Tables 18 and 19 are insufficient to
support a directed fishery and set the
sideboard DFA at zero, with the
exception of Pacific cod in the Western
and Central Regulatory Areas.
Therefore, in accordance with
§ 680.22(e)(3), NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing by non-AFA crab
vessels in the GOA for all species and
species groups listed in Tables 18 and
19, with the exception of Pacific cod in
the Western and Central Regulatory
Areas.
Section 679.82 provides for the
management of Rockfish Program
sideboard limits using directed fishing
closures in accordance with
§ 679.82(d)(7)(i) and (ii). The Regional
Administrator has determined that the
catcher vessel sideboards listed in
Tables 20 and 21 are insufficient to
support a directed fishery and set the
sideboard DFA at zero. Therefore,
NMFS is closing directed fishing for
pelagic shelf rockfish and Pacific ocean
perch in the WYK District and the
Western Regulatory Area and for
northern rockfish in the Western
Regulatory Area by catcher vessels
participating in the Central GOA
Rockfish Program during the month of
July in 2009 and 2010. These closures
will remain in effect through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2010.
NMFS adjusted the 2009 TAC
amounts for the GOA pollock and
Pacific cod fisheries on January 5, 2009
(74 FR 233) because NMFS determined
these TACs were incorrectly specified in
the 2008 and 2009 GOA harvest
specifications published February 27,
2008 (73 FR 10562). This adjustment
will ensure the GOA pollock and Pacific
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
cod TACs do not exceed the appropriate
amounts, based on the best available
scientific information for pollock and
Pacific cod in the GOA. Closures
implemented under the 2008 and 2009
Gulf of Alaska harvest specifications for
groundfish (73 FR 10562, February 27,
2008) remain effective under authority
of these final 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the
following Web sites: https://www.alaska
fisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/
infobulletins.asp?Yr=2009, and https://
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2009/
status.htm. 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 part 679. NMFS
may implement other closures during
the 2009 and 2010 fishing years as
necessary for effective conservation and
management.
Response to Comments
NMFS received one letter of comment
(three comments) in response to the
proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications. These comments are
summarized and responded to below.
Comment 1: NMFS administers the
federal fisheries off Alaska for the
benefit of a few Alaska fishermen, not
for the benefit of the nation or all U.S.
citizens.
Response: NMFS manages the Gulf of
Alaska groundfish fisheries on behalf of
all United States citizens, as well as on
behalf of the commercial fishing
industry. Companies involved in this
industry are based in various states,
including Alaska. The individuals
participating in these fisheries reside in
other states besides Alaska. NMFS’s
primary objective in the harvest
specifications process is the
conservation and management of fish
resources for the Nation as a whole. The
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
Incidental catch amount
14 (inshore) and 2 (offshore) in 2009.
20 (inshore) and 2 (offshore) in 2010.
0.
4 and 1.
4 and 7.
1 and 17.
9.
1.
0 (W), 0 (C), 4 (E) in 2009.
0 (W), 0 (C), 3 (E) in 2010.
1.
annual harvest specifications process is
a key element to ensuring that Alaska
fisheries are sustainably managed in a
controlled and orderly manner.
Comment 2: Commercial fishing
activities off of Alaska have an adverse
and detrimental effect on marine
mammals and other marine resources.
Response: The EIS prepared for the
Alaska groundfish fisheries identified a
preferred harvest strategy for groundfish
and concluded that the preferred
harvest strategy, under existing
regulations, would have no lasting
adverse impacts on marine mammals
and other marine life. Further, pursuant
to the Endangered Species Act, NMFS
consults to ensure that federal actions,
including this one, do not jeopardize the
continued existence of any endangered
or threatened marine mammal species.
Additional protections for marine
mammals are provided under the
Marine Mammal Protection Act. Any
taking of a marine mammal, such as
harassment or shooting, is a violation
and a potentially prosecutable offense.
Comment 3: Commercial fishing is
killing off fish and other marine life to
the point of extinction.
Response: As previously mentioned,
the harvest specifications process is
intended to foster conservation and
management of marine resources. This
process incorporates the best available
scientific information from the most
recent stock assessment and fisheries
evaluation reports prepared by multidisciplinary teams of scientists. Such
reports contain the most recent
scientific information on the condition
of various groundfish stocks, as well as
the condition of other ecosystem
components. None of the NMFSmanaged groundfish species off Alaska
is overfished or subject to overfishing.
The Council and NMFS annually
respond to new developments in the
natural environment as part of the
harvest specifications process.
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
7358
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final
harvest specifications are consistent
with the FMP and with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50
CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS prepared a Final EIS for the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications and made it available to
the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR
1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS
issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for
the Final EIS. In January 2009, NMFS
prepared a Supplemental Information
Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of
the Final EIS, ROD, and SIR for this
action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the
groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on
resources in the action area. The SIR
evaluates the need to prepare a
Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2009
and 2010 groundfish harvest
specifications.
A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the
agency makes substantial changes in the
proposed action that are relevant to
environmental concerns, or (2)
significant new circumstances or
information exist relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on
the proposed action or its impacts (40
CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the
information contained in the SIR and
SAFE reports, the Administrator, Alaska
Region, has determined that (1)
approval of the 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications, which were set according
to the preferred harvest strategy in the
Final EIS, do not constitute a change in
the action; and (2) there are no
significant new circumstances or
information relevant to environmental
concerns and bearing on the action or its
impacts. Additionally, the 2009 and
2010 harvest specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope
of those analyzed and disclosed in the
Final EIS. Therefore, supplemental
National Environmental Protection Act
(NEPA) documentation is not necessary
to implement the 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications.
The proposed harvest specifications
were published in the Federal Register
on December 2, 2008 (73 FR 73222). An
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) was prepared to evaluate the
impacts on small entities of alternative
harvest strategies for the groundfish
fisheries in the Exclusive Economic
Zone off Alaska on small entities. The
public comment period ended on
January 2, 2009. No comments were
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
received regarding the IRFA or the
economic impacts of this action. A Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)
was prepared that meets the statutory
requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by
the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5
U.S.C. 601–612). Copies of the IRFA and
FRFA prepared for this action are
available from NMFS, Alaska Region
(see ADDRESSES).
Each year, NMFS promulgates a rule
establishing the harvest specifications
pursuant to the adopted harvest
strategy. While the harvest specification
numbers may change from year to year,
the harvest strategy for establishing
those numbers does not change.
Therefore, the impacts discussed in the
IRFA are essentially the same. NMFS
considers the annual rulemakings
establishing the harvest specification
numbers to be a series of closely related
rules stemming from the harvest strategy
and representing one rule for purposes
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 605(c)). A summary of the FRFA
follows.
The action under consideration is a
harvest strategy to govern the harvest of
groundfish in the GOA. The preferred
alternative is the status quo harvest
strategy in which TACs fall within the
range of ABCs recommended by the
Council’s harvest specifications process
and TACs recommended by the Council.
This action is taken in accordance with
the FMP prepared by the Council
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The directly regulated small entities
include approximately 747 small
catcher vessels and fewer than 20 small
catcher/processors. The entities directly
regulated by this action are those that
harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the
GOA, and in parallel fisheries within
State of Alaska waters. These include
entities operating catcher vessels and
catcher/processor vessels within the
action area, and entities receiving direct
allocations of groundfish. Catcher
vessels and catcher/processors were
considered to be small entities if they
had annual gross receipts of $4 million
per year or less from all economic
activities, including the revenue of their
affiliated operations. Data from 2005
were the most recent available to
determine the number of small entities.
Estimates of first wholesale gross
revenues for the GOA were used as
indices of the potential impacts of the
alternative harvest strategies on small
entities. An index of revenues was
projected to decline under the preferred
alternative due to declines in ABCs for
key species in the GOA. The index of
revenues declined by less than 4 percent
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
between 2007 and 2008 and by less than
one percent between 2007 and 2009.
The preferred alternative (Alternative
2) was compared to four other
alternatives. These included Alternative
1, which would have set TACs to
generate fishing rates equal to the
maximum permissible ABC (if the full
TAC were harvested), unless the sum of
TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which
case harvests would be limited to the
OY. Alternative 3 would have set TACs
to produce fishing rates equal to the
most recent five-year average fishing
rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs
to equal the lower limit of the GOA OY
range. Alternative 5 would have set
TACs equal to zero. Alternative 5 is the
(no action) alternative.
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all
associated with smaller levels for
important fishery TACs than Alternative
2. Estimated total first wholesale gross
revenues were used as an index of
potential adverse impacts to small
entities. As a consequence of the lower
TAC levels, Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 all
had smaller of these first wholesale
revenue indices than Alternative 2.
Thus, Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 had
greater adverse impacts on small
entities. Alternative 1 appeared to
generate higher values of the gross
revenue index for fishing operations in
the GOA than Alternative 2. A large part
of the Alternative 1 GOA revenue
appears to be due to the assumption that
the full Alternative 1 TAC would be
harvested. This increased revenue is
due to increases in flatfish TACs that
were much higher for Alternative 1 than
for Alternative 2. In recent years, halibut
bycatch constraints in these fisheries
have kept actual flatfish catches from
reaching Alternative 1 levels. Therefore,
a large part of the revenues associated
with Alternative 1 is unlikely to occur.
Also, Alternative 2 TACs are
constrained by the ABCs the Plan Teams
and SSC are likely to recommend to the
Council on the basis of a full
consideration of biological issues. These
ABCs are often less than Alternative 1’s
maximum permissible ABCs. Therefore
higher TACs under Alternative 1 may
not be consistent with prudent
biological management of the resource.
For these reasons, Alternative 2 is the
preferred alternative.
This action does not modify
recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or
conflict with any Federal rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals
resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed
in the Final EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 17, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
NOAA, finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness for this
rule. Plan Team review occurred in
November 2008, and Council
recommendations were not received
until December 2008, so NMFS could
not undertake review and development
until January 2009. For all fisheries not
currently closed because the TACs
established under the 2008 and 2009
final harvest specifications (73 FR
10562, February 27, 2008) were not
reached, the likely possibility exists that
they will be closed prior to the
expiration of a 30-day delayed
effectiveness period because their TACs
could be reached. Certain fisheries, such
as those for pollock and Pacific cod are
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other
fisheries, such as those for flatfish,
rockfish, and ‘‘other species,’’ are
critical as directed fisheries and as
incidental catch in other fisheries. U.S.
fishing vessels have demonstrated the
capacity to catch the TAC allocations in
these fisheries. Any delay in allocating
the final TACs in these fisheries would
cause disruption to the industry and
potential economic harm through
unnecessary discards. 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.
If the final harvest specifications are
not effective by March 21, 2009, which
is the start of the 2009 Pacific halibut
season as specified by the IPHC, the
hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut season. This would result in the
needless discard of sablefish that are
caught along with Pacific halibut as
both hook-and-line sablefish and Pacific
halibut are managed under the same IFQ
program. Immediate effectiveness of the
final 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish
fishery to begin concurrently with the
Pacific halibut season. Also, the
immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available
scientific information, and to give the
fishing industry the earliest possible
opportunity to plan its fishing
operations. Therefore NMFS finds good
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:58 Feb 13, 2009
Jkt 217001
cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
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 purpose
is to announce the 2009 and 2010 final
harvest specifications and prohibited
species bycatch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the GOA. This
action is necessary to establish harvest
limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2009
and 2010 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of
the FMP. This action affects all
fishermen who participate in the GOA
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL,
ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in
tables to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in
the Federal Register and information
bulletins released by the Alaska Region.
Affected fishermen should keep
themselves informed of such closures.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
1540(f), 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106–31; Pub. L.
106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. L. 108–447;
Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–479.
Dated: February 9, 2009.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9–3295 Filed 2–13–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 0810141351–9087–02]
RIN 0648–XL28
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; Final 2009 and 2010
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2009
and 2010 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
7359
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 2009 and 2010 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 Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act.
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), February 17, 2009,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Alaska
Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
Record of Decision (ROD),
Supplementary Information Report (SIR)
to the EIS, and Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for
this action are available on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. Printed
copies can be obtained from the Alaska
Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Copies
of the 2008 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI) dated November 2008, are
available from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council, West 4th Avenue,
Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510–2252,
phone 907–271–2809, or from its Web
site at https://
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269, or e-mail
steven.whitney@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal
regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) prepared the FMP,
and NMFS approved it under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens 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 the total allowable catch (TAC)
for each target species and for the ‘‘other
species’’ category, and the sum must be
within the optimum yield (OY) range of
1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons
(mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)). NMFS also
must specify apportionments of TACs,
prohibited species catch (PSC)
E:\FR\FM\17FER1.SGM
17FER1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7333-7359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3295]
[[Page 7333]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 0910091344-9056-02]
RIN 0648-XL23
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; 2009 and 2010 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2009 and 2010 final 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 2009 and 2010 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.
DATES: Effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 17,
2009, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact
Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision (ROD), and Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are available from
the Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen
Sebastian, or from the Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2008 Stock Assessment
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of
the GOA, dated November 2008, are available from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council), 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from its Web site at
https://www.alaskafisheries.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: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (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, 679, and 680.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify and apportion the total
allowable catch (TAC) for each target species and for the ``other
species'' category, and the sum of which must be within the optimum
yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). The final
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 27 of this document
satisfy this requirement. For 2009, the sum of the TAC amounts is
242,727 mt. For 2010, the sum of the TAC amounts is 284,688 mt.
50 CFR 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
proposed GOA groundfish specifications and Pacific halibut PSC
allowances for 2009 and 2010 were published in the Federal Register on
December 2, 2008 (73 FR 73222). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 2, 2009. NMFS received one letter of comment on the
proposed specifications. This letter of comment is summarized in the
Response to Comments section of this action. In December 2008, NMFS
consulted with the Council regarding the 2009 and 2010 harvest
specifications. After considering public comments received, as well as
biological and economic data that were available at the Council's
December 2008 meeting, NMFS is implementing the 2009 and 2010 final
harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
In December 2008, 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. This information was compiled by the Council's GOA Plan Team and
was presented in the final 2008 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2008 (see ADDRESSES). 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 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 to compute ABCs and overfishing levels
(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 quality available and tier six the lowest level of
information quality available.
The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including
maintaining the sum of all TACs within the required OY range of 116,000
to 800,000 mt. The Council adopted the AP's TAC recommendations. The
Council recommended TACs for 2009 and 2010 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, and other skates. The Council recommended TACs
for 2009 and 2010 that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, other rockfish, Atka
mackerel, and ``other species.'' None of the Council's recommended TACs
for 2009 and 2010 exceeds the final ABC for any species or species
category. The 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications approved by the
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) are unchanged from those recommended
by the Council and are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy
alternative in the Final EIS. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended
ABCs, OFLs, and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of
the groundfish stocks as described in the 2008 SAFE report and
[[Page 7334]]
approved by the Council. NMFS also 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 OY range. NMFS reviewed the Council's recommended
TAC specifications and apportionments and approves these specifications
under 50 CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The apportionment of TAC amounts among
gear types, processing sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2009 and 2010 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sums of the 2009 and
2010 ABCs are 516,055 mt and 562,762 mt, respectively, which are lower
in 2009 and higher in 2010 than the 2008 ABC sum of 536,201 mt (73 FR
10562, February 27, 2008).
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
As in 2008, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2009 and 2010
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment
scientists believe the use of unbiased commercial fishery data
reflecting catch-per-unit-effort provides a desirable input for stock
distribution assessments. NMFS evaluates the use of commercial fishery
data annually to ensure 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
Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area ABCs to trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other
directed groundfish fisheries in the West Yakutat (WYK) District (Sec.
679.20(a)(4)(i)).
Since the inception of a State of Alaska (State) managed pollock
fishery in Prince William Sound (PWS), the GOA Plan Team has
recommended the guideline harvest level (GHL) for the pollock fishery
in PWS be deducted from the ABC for the western stock of pollock in the
GOA in the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK) Area. For the 2009
and 2010 pollock fisheries in PWS, the State's GHL is 1,650 mt.
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) (50 CFR 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted the Plan Team's OFL and ABC
recommendations for all groundfish species, complexes, and categories.
The SSC, AP, and Council recommended apportionment of the ABC for
Pacific cod in the GOA among regulatory areas based on the three most
recent NMFS summer trawl surveys.
The 2009 and 2010 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's
fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Central and Western
Regulatory Areas, as well as in 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
reducing the 2009 and 2010 Pacific cod TACs from the ABCs in the
Central and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs.
Therefore, the 2009 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 221 mt; (2) Central GOA, 7,880 mt;
and (3) Western GOA, 5,392 mt; the 2010 Pacific cod TACs are less than
the ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 318 mt; (2) Central
GOA, 11,329 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 7,751 mt. These amounts reflect
the sum of the State's 2009 and 2010 GHLs in these areas, which are 10
percent, 25 percent, and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and
Western GOA ABCs, respectively. The percentages of the ABCs used to
calculate the 2009 and 2010 GHLs for the State managed Pacific cod
fisheries are unchanged from 2008.
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 (50 CFR 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
As in 2008, NMFS establishes for 2009 and 2010 an A season directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA based
on the management area TACs minus the recent average A season
incidental catch of Pacific cod in each management area before June 10
(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 accrue against 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 for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear;
January 20 through June 10 for trawl gear). The seasonal apportionments
of the annual Pacific cod TAC are discussed in greater detail below.
Other Actions Affecting the 2009 and 2010 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 79 to the GOA FMP was approved by the Secretary on August
20, 2008 (73 FR 49963, August 25, 2008). Amendment 79 requires that
aggregate OFL, ABC, and TAC levels for the ``other species'' category
be established as part of the annual groundfish harvest specification
process. Previously only an annual TAC was established. NMFS is
implementing an OFL of 8,720 mt and an ABC of 6,540 mt for 2009 and
2010 (see Tables 1 and 2). Stock assessments for the major taxonomic
groups which comprise the ``other species'' category (sharks, sculpins,
squid, and octopus) are included in 2008 SAFE report.
Following the publication of a proposed rule (73 FR 55010,
September 24, 2008) and comment period to implement Amendment 77 to the
GOA FMP the Secretary approved Amendment 77 on December 15, 2008 and
NMFS published a final rule implementing the amendment on December 31,
2008 (73 FR 80307). Amendment 77 removed dark rockfish from the pelagic
shelf rockfish (PSR) complex in the GOA FMP in order to allow the State
of Alaska (State) to assume management of dark rockfish beginning in
2009. This action was necessary to allow the State to implement more
responsive, regionally-based management measures than are currently
possible under the FMP. The effect of removing dark rockfish from the
PSR complex is to reduce the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for the PSR complex
in these harvest specifications. Compared to the final 2008 harvest
specifications the OFL is reduced from 6,400 mt in 2008 to 5,803 mt in
2009 and to 5,420 mt in 2010. Compared to the final 2008
[[Page 7335]]
harvest specifications the ABCs and TACs are reduced from 5,227 mt in
2008 to 4,781 mt in 2009 and to 4,465 mt in 2010 (see Tables 1 and 2).
The final 2008 SAFE report accounted for the removal of dark rockfish
from the PSR complex. Based on the approval of Amendment 77, the
Council recommended final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications for GOA
groundfish.
Changes From the Proposed 2009 and 2010 Harvest Specifications in the
GOA
In October 2008, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2009 and 2010 harvest specifications (73 FR 73222, December 2, 2008)
were based largely upon information contained in the final 2007 SAFE
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2007 (see
ADDRESSES). The Council recommended that the proposed OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs established for the groundfish fisheries in 2009 (73 FR 10562,
February 27, 2008 see Table 2) be rolled over to 2009 and 2010, with
the exception of sablefish and ``other species'' pending completion and
review of the 2008 SAFE report at its December 2008 meeting.
The 2008 SAFE report, which was not available when the Council made
its recommendations in October 2008, contains the best and most recent
scientific information on the condition of the groundfish stocks. This
report was considered in December 2008 by the Council when it made
recommendations for the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications.
Based on the final 2008 SAFE report, the sum of the 2009 final TACs for
the GOA (242,727 mt) is 36,537 mt lower than the sum of the proposed
2009 TACs (279,264 mt). The largest 2009 decreases occurred for
pollock, from 78,170 mt to 49,900 mt (36 percent decrease); for Pacific
cod, from 50,269 mt to 41,807 mt (17 percent decrease); for sablefish,
from 11,633 mt to 11,160 mt (4 percent decrease); for pelagic shelf
rockfish, from 5,140 mt to 4,781 mt (7 percent decrease); and for
demersal shelf rockfish, from 382 mt to 362 mt (5 percent decrease).
The largest increases occurred for rex sole, from 8,468 mt to 8,996 mt
(6 percent increase) and for Atka mackerel, from 1,500 mt to 2,000 mt
(33 percent increase). Other increases or decreases in 2009 are within
2 percent of the proposed specifications.
The sum of the 2010 final TACs for the GOA (284,688 mt) is 5,424 mt
higher than the sum of the proposed 2010 TACs (279,264 mt). The largest
2010 decreases occurred for pollock, from 78,170 mt to 74,330 mt (5
percent decrease); for sablefish, from 11,633 mt to 10,337 mt (11
percent decrease), for pelagic shelf rockfish, from 5,140 mt to 4,465
(13 percent decrease); and for demersal shelf rockfish, from 382 mt to
362 mt (5 percent decrease). The largest increases occurred for Pacific
cod from 50,269 mt to 60,102 (20 percent increase); for deep-water
flatfish from 9,172 mt to 9,793 (7 percent increase); for rex sole,
from 8,468 mt to 8,827 mt (4 percent increase); and for Atka mackerel,
from 1,500 mt to 2,000 mt (33 percent increase). Other increases or
decreases in 2010 are within 2 percent of the proposed specifications.
Compared to the proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications, the
Council's final 2009 and 2010 TAC recommendations increase fishing
opportunities for species for which the Council had sufficient
information to raise TAC levels. For 2009, these include rex sole,
Pacific ocean perch, and Atka mackerel. For 2010, TACs were increased
for Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, flathead sole, Pacific
ocean perch, and Atka mackerel. Conversely, the Council reduced TAC
levels to provide greater protection for some species. In 2009, TACs
were reduced for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, pelagic shelf
rockfish, and demersal shelf rockfish. In 2010, TACs were again reduced
for pollock, sablefish, pelagic shelf rockfish, and demersal shelf
rockfish. The changes in the final rule from the proposed rule are
based on the most recent scientific information and implement the
harvest strategy described in the proposed rule for the harvest
specifications. Tables 1 and 2 list the 2009 and 2010 final OFL, ABC,
and TAC amounts for GOA groundfish, respectively.
Table 1--Final 2009 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs 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
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area/district \1\ ABC TAC OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\........................... Shumagin (610).......... 15,249 15,249 n/a
Chirikof (620).......... 14,098 14,098 n/a
Kodiak (630)............ 11,058 11,058 n/a
WYK (640)............... 1,215 1,215 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... W/C/WYK................. 41,620 41,620 58,590
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO (650)............... 8,280 8,280 11,040
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 49,900 49,900 69,630
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\....................... W....................... 21,567 16,175 n/a
C....................... 31,521 23,641 n/a
E....................... 2,212 1,991 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 55,300 41,807 66,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)............. W....................... 706 706 n/a
C....................... 6,927 6,927 n/a
WYK..................... 997 997 n/a
SEO..................... 538 538 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 9,168 9,168 11,578
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole.............................. W....................... 1,007 1,007 n/a
[[Page 7336]]
C....................... 6,630 6,630 n/a
WYK..................... 513 513 n/a
SEO..................... 846 846 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 8,996 8,996 11,756
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole......................... W....................... 13,010 2,000 n/a
C....................... 29,273 5,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,531 3,531 n/a
SEO..................... 650 650 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 46,464 11,181 57,911
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).......... W....................... 26,360 4,500 n/a
C....................... 29,873 13,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,333 3,333 n/a
SEO..................... 1,423 1,423 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 60,989 22,256 74,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder................... W....................... 30,148 8,000 n/a
C....................... 164,251 30,000 n/a
WYK..................... 14,908 2,500 n/a
SEO..................... 12,205 2,500 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 221,512 43,000 261,022
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \6\......................... W....................... 1,640 1,640 n/a
C....................... 4,990 4,990 n/a
WYK..................... 1,784 1,784 n/a
SEO..................... 2,746 2,746 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 4,530 4,530 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 11,160 11,160 13,190
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\............... W....................... 3,713 3,713 4,409
C....................... 8,246 8,246 9,790
WYK..................... 1,108 1,108 n/a
SEO..................... 2,044 2,044 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 3,152 3,152 3,741
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 15,111 15,111 17,940
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \8\............... W....................... 120 120 n/a
C....................... 315 315 n/a
E....................... 463 463 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 898 898 1,197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish \9\................. W....................... 125 125 n/a
C....................... 833 833 n/a
E....................... 326 326 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,284 1,284 1,545
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish \10\ \11\.............. W....................... 357 357 n/a
C....................... 569 569 n/a
WYK..................... 604 604 n/a
SEO..................... 2,767 200 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,297 1,730 5,624
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \11\ \12\........... W....................... 2,054 2,054 n/a
C....................... 2,308 2,308 n/a
E....................... 0 0 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,362 4,362 5,204
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 7337]]
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\........... W....................... 819 819 n/a
C....................... 3,404 3,404 n/a
WYK..................... 234 234 n/a
SEO..................... 324 324 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,781 4,781 5,803
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish................... W....................... 267 267 n/a
C....................... 860 860 n/a
E....................... 783 783 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,910 1,910 2,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates \14\....................... W....................... 632 632 n/a
C....................... 2,065 2,065 n/a
E....................... 633 633 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 3,330 3,330 4,439
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \15\.................. W....................... 78 78 n/a
C....................... 2,041 2,041 n/a
E....................... 768 768 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 2,887 2,887 3,849
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \16\..................... GW...................... 2,104 2,104 2,806
Demersal shelf rockfish \17\.......... SEO..................... 362 362 580
Atka mackerel......................... GW...................... 4,700 2,000 6,200
Other species \18\.................... GW...................... 6,540 4,500 8,720
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 516,055 242,727 632,498
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
\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 32 percent, 43 percent, and 25 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 32 percent,
54 percent, and 14 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 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal
apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO 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 in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments and component
allocations of the Pacific cod TAC.
\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 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4
list the 2008 and 2009 allocations of sablefish.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK 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 Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes
northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern
Regulatory Area has been combined with the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes 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\ ``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).
\18\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus.
[[Page 7338]]
Table 2--Final 2010 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs 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
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area/district \1\ ABC TAC OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\........................... Shumagin (610).......... 24,199 24,199 n/a
Chirikof (620).......... 22,374 22,374 n/a
Kodiak (630)............ 17,548 17,548 n/a
WYK (640)............... 1,929 1,929 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... W/C/WYK................. 66,050 66,050 90,920
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO (650)............... 8,280 8,280 11,040
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 74,330 74,330 101,960
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\....................... W....................... 31,005 23,254 n/a
C....................... 45,315 33,986 n/a
E....................... 3,180 2,862 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 79,500 60,102 126,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)............. W....................... 747 747 n/a
C....................... 7,405 7,405 n/a
WYK..................... 1,066 1,066 n/a
SEO..................... 575 575 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 9,793 9,793 12,367
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole.............................. W....................... 988 988 n/a
C....................... 6,506 6,506 n/a
WYK..................... 503 503 n/a
SEO..................... 830 830 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 8,827 8,827 11,535
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole......................... W....................... 13,342 2,000 n/a
C....................... 30,021 5,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,622 3,622 n/a
SEO..................... 667 667 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 47,652 11,289 59,349
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).......... W....................... 26,360 4,500 n/a
C....................... 29,873 13,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,333 3,333 n/a
SEO..................... 1,423 1,423 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 60,989 22,256 74,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder................... W....................... 29,843 8,000 n/a
C....................... 162,591 30,000 n/a
WYK..................... 14,757 2,500 n/a
SEO..................... 12,082 2,500 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 219,273 43,000 258,397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \6\......................... W....................... 1,523 1,523 n/a
C....................... 4,625 4,625 n/a
WYK..................... 1,645 1,645 n/a
SEO..................... 2,544 2,544 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 4,189 4,189 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 10,337 10,337 12,321
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\............... W....................... 3,710 3,710 4,405
C....................... 8,239 8,239 9,782
WYK..................... 1,107 1,107 n/a
SEO..................... 2,042 2,042 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 3,149 3,149 3,738
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 15,098 15,098 17,925
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 7339]]
Shortraker rockfish \8\............... W....................... 120 120 n/a
C....................... 315 315 n/a
E....................... 463 463 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................. ........................ 898 898 1,197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish \9\................. W....................... 126 126 n/a
C....................... 842 842 n/a
E....................... 329 329 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,297 1,297 1,562
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish \10\ \11\.............. W....................... 357 357 n/a
C....................... 569 569 n/a
WYK..................... 604 604 n/a
SEO..................... 2,767 200 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,297 1,730 5,624
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \11\ \12\........... W....................... 1,965 1,965 n/a
C....................... 2,208 2,208 n/a
E....................... 0 0 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,173 4,173 4,979
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\........... W....................... 765 765 n/a
C....................... 3,179 3,179 n/a
WYK..................... 219 219 n/a
SEO..................... 302 302 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,465 4,465 5,420
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish................... W....................... 267 267 n/a
C....................... 860 860 n/a
E....................... 783 783 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,910 1,910 2,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates \14\....................... W....................... 632 632 n/a
C....................... 2,065 2,065 n/a
E....................... 633 633 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 3,330 3,330 4,439
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \15\.................. W....................... 78 78 n/a
C....................... 2,041 2,041 n/a
E....................... 768 768 n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 2,887 2,887 3,849
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \16\..................... GW...................... 2,104 2,104 2,806
Demersal shelf rockfish \17\.......... SEO..................... 362 362 580
Atka mackerel......................... GW...................... 4,700 2,000 6,200
Other species \18\.................... GW...................... 6,540 4,500 8,720
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 562,762 284,688 722,134
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
\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 32 percent, 43 percent, and 25 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 32 percent,
54 percent, and 14 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 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal
apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO 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 in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2009 and 2010 seasonal apportionments and component
allocations of the Pacific cod TAC.
\4\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
[[Page 7340]]
\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 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4
list the 2008 and 2009 allocations of sablefish.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK 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 Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes
northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern
Regulatory Area has been combined with the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes 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\ ``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).
\18\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus.
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires 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 during the
fishing year. In 2008, NMFS reapportioned all the reserves in the final
harvest specifications. For 2009 and 2010, NMFS proposed
reapportionment of all the reserves in the proposed 2009 and 2010
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on December 2,
2008 (73 FR 73222). NMFS received no public comments on the proposed
reapportionments. For the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications,
NMFS reapportioned as proposed all the reserves for pollock, Pacific
cod, flatfish, and ``other species.'' Specifications of TAC shown in
Tables 1 and 2 reflect reapportionment of reserve amounts for these
species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line
and Trawl Gear
Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts 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 (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
with the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory
Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District and the remainder
of the WYK sablefish TAC be available to vessels using hook-and-line
gear. As a result, NMFS allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in
the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. The Council
recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be established
annually to ensure that the Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery is
conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on the
most recent survey information. This recommendation results in an
allocation of 227 mt to trawl gear and 1,557 mt to hook-and-line gear
in the WYK District in 2009, an allocation of 2,746 mt to hook-and-line
gear in the SEO District in 2009, and 209 mt to trawl gear in the WYK
District in 2010. Table 3 lists the allocations of the 2009 sablefish
TACs to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 4 lists the allocations of
the 2010 sablefish TACs to trawl gear. The Council recommended that
only a trawl sablefish TAC be established for two years so that
retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear could commence
in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest specifications.
However, since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and the
final specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season
begins, the industry and Council recommended that the sablefish TAC be
set on an annual basis so that the best and most recent scientific
information could be considered in recommending the ABCs and TACs.
Since sablefish is on bycatch status for trawl gear the entire fishing
year and given that fishing for groundfish is prohibited prior to
January 20, it is not likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl
gear would be reached before the effective date of the final harvest
specifications.
Table 3--Final 2009 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and
Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/District TAC apportionment apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western................................................ 1,640 1,312 328
Central................................................ 4,990 3,992 998
West Yakutat \1\....................................... 1,784 1,557 227
Southeast Outside...................................... 2,746 2,746 0
--------------------------------------------------------
Total.............................................. 11,160 9,607 1,553
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Represents an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in
the WYK District.
[[Page 7341]]
Table 4--Final 2010 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/District TAC apportionment\1\ apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western................................................ 1,523 n/a 305
Central................................................ 4,625 n/a 925
West Yakutat \2\....................................... 1,645 n/a 209
Southeast Outside...................................... 2,544 n/a 0
====================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishery Quota
fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ Represents an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in
the WYK District.
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.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(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
Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May
31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630. In the A and
B seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of
pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In
the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the
distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS
summer surveys. For 2009 and 2010, the Council recommends and NMFS
approves averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock in the
Central Regulatory Area for the A season. The average is intended to
reflect the distribution of pollock and the performance of the fishery
in the area during the A season for the 2009 and 2010 fishing years.
Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance is
underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the
R
