Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 63100-63115 [E9-28831]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63100-63115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28831]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0910131363-91412-01]
RIN 0648-XS44


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications and 
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2010 
and 2011 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. 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: Comments must be received by January 4, 2010.

[[Page 63101]]


ADDRESSES: Send comment to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-
XS44, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
     Fax: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    All comments received are a part of the public record. No comments 
will be posted to https://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until 
after the comment period has closed. Comments will generally be posted 
without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, 
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be 
publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) and the Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be 
obtained from https://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web 
site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2008 Stock 
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish 
resources of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, dated November 2008, 
are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, 
phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 
implement the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and govern the groundfish 
fisheries in the BSAI. The 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 annually the total allowable 
catch (TAC) for each target species and the ``other species'' category, 
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million 
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)). Section 
679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish proposed harvest 
specifications in the Federal Register and solicit public comments on 
proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, prohibited species 
catch (PSC) allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves 
established by Sec.  679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific 
cod, and Atka mackerel TAC, American Fisheries Act allocations, 
Amendment 80 allocations, and Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve 
amounts established by Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii). The proposed harvest 
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 12 of this action satisfy 
these requirements.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final harvest 
specifications for 2010 and 2011 after (1) considering comments 
received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the 
Council at its December 2009 meeting, and (3) considering new 
information presented in the final 2009 SAFE reports prepared for the 
2010 and 2011 groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2010 and 2011 Harvest 
Specifications

    The Council is developing an amendment to the FMP to comply with 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements associated with annual catch limits 
and accountability measures. That amendment may result in revisions to 
how total annual groundfish mortality is estimated and accounted for in 
the annual SAFE reports, which in turn may affect the OFL, ABC, and TAC 
for certain groundfish species. NMFS will attempt to identify 
additional sources of mortality to groundfish stocks not currently 
reported or considered by the groundfish stock assessments in 
recommending OFL, ABC, and TAC for certain groundfish species. These 
additional sources of mortality may include recreational fishing, 
subsistence fishing, catch of groundfish during the NMFS trawl and 
hook-and-line surveys, catch taken under experimental fishing permits 
issued by NMFS, discarded catch of groundfish in the commercial halibut 
fisheries, use of groundfish as bait in the crab fisheries, or other 
sources of mortality not yet identified.
    At its October 2009 meeting the Council approved Amendment 95 to 
the FMP. This amendment would separate skates from the ``other 
species'' category so that individual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs may be 
established for skates. If the Secretary of Commerce approves the 
amendment, the change would be in effect for the 2011 fishing year.
    At its April 2009 meeting the Council adopted Amendment 91 to the 
FMP. This amendment would establish new measures to minimize Chinook 
salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fisheries, including new 
Chinook salmon PSC limits that when reached would prohibit directed 
fishing for pollock. If approved, Amendment 91 could be effective by 
2011.

Proposed ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

    The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available biological 
information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed 
distribution of stock biomass, and revised technical methods used to 
calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of ABCs and OFLs 
involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The 
FMP specifies a series of six tiers based on the level of reliable 
information available to fishery scientists. Tier one represents the 
highest level of information quality available while tier six 
represents the lowest level of information quality available.
    Appendix A to the final 2008 SAFE report dated November 2008 (see 
ADDRESSES) sets forth the best information currently available. 
Information on the status of stocks, including the 2009 survey results, 
will be updated and considered by the Council's Groundfish Plan Team 
(Plan Team) in November 2009 for the 2009 SAFE report. The final 2010 
and 2011 harvest specifications will be based on the 2009 SAFE report.
    In October 2009, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
Advisory Panel, and the Council reviewed the Plan Team's recommended 
proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL and ABC amounts. The SSC concurred with the 
Plan Team's recommendations. The recommendations are based on rollovers 
of the current 2010 amounts, except for Bering Sea pollock. The Bering 
Sea pollock OFL and ABC amounts are based on 2009 amounts that are 
lower than the 2010 amounts. This recommendation uses the best

[[Page 63102]]

information available from the 2008 stock assessments.
    The Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts recommended by the SSC 
(Table 1). The Council recommended that all the proposed 2010 and 2011 
TAC amounts be set equal to the 2010 TAC amounts except for Bering Sea 
pollock that was set equal to the 2009 TAC amount. The Plan Team 
recommended and the SSC, AP, and Council approved the use of the lower 
amount used in 2009 as a notice to the public that the 2010 Bering Sea 
pollock spawning biomass is not expected to be as high as projected in 
2008.
    As in previous years, the Plan Team, Advisory Panel, SSC, and 
Council recommended that total removals of Pacific cod from the BSAI 
not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council recommended 
that the proposed 2010 and 2011 Pacific cod TACs be adjusted downward 
from the ABCs by amounts equal to 3 percent of the ABC. This adjustment 
is necessary to account for the guideline harvest level established for 
Pacific cod by the State of Alaska (State) for a State-managed fishery 
that occurs in State waters in the AI subarea.
    Finally, the Council recommended using the 2010 PSC allowances for 
the proposed 2010 and 2011 PSC allowances. The Council will reconsider 
the OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts in December 2009 after the Plan Team 
incorporates new status of groundfish stocks information into a final 
2009 SAFE report for the 2010 and 2011 BSAI groundfish fisheries. None 
of the Council's recommended proposed TACs for 2010 or 2011 exceeds the 
recommended 2010 or 2011 proposed ABCs for any species category. NMFS 
finds the Council's recommended proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL, ABC, and 
TAC amounts consistent with the best available information on the 
biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
    The proposed amounts are subject to change pending the completion 
of the 2009 SAFE report and the Council's recommendations for final 
2010 and 2011 harvest specifications during its December 2009 meeting. 
Table 1 lists the proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC 
(ITAC), and CDQ amounts for groundfish for the BSAI. The proposed 
apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed 
below.

   Table 1--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable
            Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
                                          (Amounts are in metric tons)
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                                                                      Proposed 2010 and 2011
           Species                   Area       ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     OFL          ABC          TAC        ITAC \2\   CDQ \3,4,5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  BS..............      977,000      815,000      815,000      733,500       81,500
                               AI..............       36,800       30,400       19,000       17,100        1,900
                               Bogoslof........       58,400        7,970           10           10  ...........
Pacific cod \4\..............  BSAI............      235,000      199,000      193,030      172,376       20,654
Sablefish \5\................  BS..............        2,980        2,520        2,520        1,109           98
                               AI..............        2,410        2,040        2,040          474           41
Atka mackerel................  BSAI............       84,400       71,100       71,100       63,492        7,608
                               EAI/BS..........  ...........       22,900       22,900       20,450        2,450
                               CAI.............  ...........       28,500       28,500       25,451        3,050
                               WAI.............  ...........       19,700       19,700       17,592        2,108
Yellowfin sole...............  BSAI............      210,000      198,000      180,000      160,740       19,260
Rock sole....................  BSAI............      314,000      310,000       75,000       66,975        8,025
Greenland tubot..............  BSAI............       14,400        7,130        7,130        6,061          n/a
                               BS..............  ...........        4,920        4,920        4,182          526
                               AI..............  ...........        2,210        2,210        1,879  ...........
Arrowtooth flounder..........  BSAI............      196,000      161,000       60,000       51,000        6,420
Flathead sole................  BSAI............       81,800       69,800       50,000       44,650        5,350
Other flatfish \6\...........  BSAI............       23,100       17,400       17,400       14,790  ...........
Alaska plaice................  BSAI............      354,000      275,000       30,000       25,500  ...........
Pacific ocean perch..........  BSAI............       22,100       18,600       18,600       16,447          n/a
                               BS..............  ...........        3,780        3,780        3,213  ...........
                               EAI.............  ...........        4,160        4,160        3,715          445
                               CAI.............  ...........        4,210        4,210        3,760          450
                               WAI.............  ...........        6,450        6,450        5,760          690
Northern rockfish............  BSAI............        8,580        7,190        6,000        5,100  ...........
Shortraker rockfish..........  BSAI............          516          387          387          329  ...........
Rougheye rockfish............  BSAI............          640          552          552          469  ...........
Other rockfish \7\...........  BSAI............        1,380        1,040        1,040          884  ...........
                               BS..............  ...........          485          485          412  ...........
                               AI..............  ...........          555          555          472  ...........
Squid........................  BSAI............        2,620        1,970        1,970        1,675  ...........
Other species \8\............  BSAI............       80,700       63,680       34,221       29,088  ...........
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total....................  ................    2,706,826    2,259,779    1,585,000    1,411,768      152,968
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of
  pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the
  Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment
  80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the
  TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for
  the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (4 percent), is
  further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor--
  40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian
  Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and
  second for the incidental catch allowance (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed
  pollock fishery.

[[Page 63103]]

 
\4\ The Pacific cod TAC is reduced by three percent from the ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State)
  guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\5\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock
  sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see
  Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line
  gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for
  Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea
  Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' squid, and
  ``other species'' are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole,
  Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern,
  shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2,
  are not included in the ``other species'' category. Pending approval of amendment 95 from the Secretary,
  skates will be broken out from the ``other species'' category in the 2011 fishing year. The OFL, ABC, and TAC
  for ``other species'' will be 42,507, 31,680, and 31,680 mt, respectively. The OFL, ABC, and TAC for skates
  will be 38,200, 32,000, and 30,000 mt, respectively.

Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, Atka 
Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian 
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch

    Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires the placement of 15 percent of the 
TAC for each target species or ``other species'' category, except for 
pollock, the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, and 
the Amendment 80 species, in a non-specified reserve. Section 
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20 percent of the hook-and-line and 
pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the fixed gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that 7.5 
percent of the trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of 
Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder be allocated to the 
respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that 10.7 
percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean 
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod be 
allocated to the CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 
679.31(a) also require the allocation of 10 percent of the BSAI pollock 
TACs to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). The entire 
Bogoslof District pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA (see Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ 
reserves by gear. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires withholding 7.5 
percent of the Chinook salmon PSC limit, 10.7 percent of the crab and 
non-Chinook salmon PSC limits, and 343 mt of halibut PSC as PSQ 
reserves for the CDQ fisheries. Sections 679.30 and 679.31 set forth 
regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS proposes a pollock 
ICA of 4 percent of the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after 
subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on 
NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the 
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock 
from 1999 through 2009. During this 11-year period, the pollock 
incidental catch ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006 to a high of 
5 percent in 1999, with an 11-year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS proposes a pollock ICA 
of 1,600 mt for the AI subarea after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ 
DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock 
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in 
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2009. During this 
7-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 
percent in 2006 to a high of 10 percent in 2003, with a 7-year average 
of 7 percent.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS proposes ICAs of 
5,500 mt of flathead sole, 10,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of 
yellowfin sole, 50 mt each of Western and Central Aleutian District 
Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern Aleutian District Pacific ocean 
perch, 50 mt for Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel, 75 mt for 
Central Aleutian District Atka mackerel, and 75 mt of Eastern Aleutian 
District and Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel after subtraction of the 
10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These allowances are based on NMFS's 
examination of the incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003 
through 2009.
    The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified 
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be 
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified 
reserve and the ``other species'' category during the year, provided 
that such apportionments do not result in overfishing (see Sec.  
679.20(b)(1)(i)).

Allocations of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)

    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the pollock TAC 
apportioned to the Bering Sea subarea, after subtraction of 10 percent 
for the CDQ program and 4 percent for the ICA, be allocated as a DFA as 
follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/
processor sector, and 10 percent to the mothership sector. In the 
Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season 
(January 20 to June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B 
season (June 10 to November 1) Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(B). The AI 
directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the 
amount of pollock remaining in the AI subarea after subtracting 1,900 
mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 1,600 mt for the ICA Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii). In the AI subarea, 40 percent of the ABC 
is allocated to the A season and the remainder of the directed pollock 
fishery is allocated to the B season. Table 2 lists these proposed 2010 
and 2011 amounts.
    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific 
requirements regarding Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations. First, 
8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector 
will be available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels with catcher/
processor sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator 
receives a cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of 
harvest among AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels in a 
manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA catcher/processors not 
listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent 
of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector. Table 2 lists 
the proposed 2010 and 2011 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 9 through 
12 list the AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel harvesting 
sideboard limits. In past years, the proposed harvest specifications 
included text and tables describing pollock allocations to the Bering 
Sea subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open access sector. These 
allocations are based on the submission of AFA inshore cooperative 
applications due to NMFS on December 1 of each calendar year. Because 
AFA inshore cooperative applications for 2010 have not been submitted 
to NMFS, thereby

[[Page 63104]]

preventing NMFS from calculating 2010 allocations, NMFS has not 
included inshore cooperative text and tables in these proposed harvest 
specifications. NMFS will post 2010 AFA inshore cooperative allocations 
on the Alaska Region Web site at https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov 
when they become available in December 2009.
    Table 2 also lists proposed seasonal apportionments of pollock and 
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The 
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.  
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 percent of the DFA until April 1 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(C) . The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent 
annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside the SCA 
before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent 
of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder 
will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1. The A 
season pollock SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to each sector in 
proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the DFA. Table 2 
lists by sector these proposed 2010 and 2011 amounts.

  Table 2--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ
                                      Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      2010 and 2011 A season       2010 and 2011
                                                   2010 and 2011 --------------------------------  B season \1\
                 Area and sector                    allocations                     SCA harvest  ---------------
                                                                   A season DFA      limit \2\     B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC..........................         815,000             n/a             n/a             n/a
CDQ DFA.........................................          81,500          32,600          22,820          48,900
ICA \1\.........................................          29,340             n/a             n/a             n/a
AFA Inshore.....................................         352,080         140,832          98,582         211,248
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\......................         281,664         112,666          78,866         168,998
    Catch by C/Ps...............................         257,723         103,089             n/a         154,634
    Catch by C/Vs \3\...........................          23,941           9,577             n/a          14,365
        Unlisted C/P Limit \4\..................           1,408             563             n/a             845
AFA Motherships.................................          70,416          28,166          19,716          42,250
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\..................         123,228             n/a             n/a             n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\..................         211,248             n/a             n/a             n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA (non-CDQ)..................         704,160         281,664         197,165         422,496
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\....................          19,000             n/a             n/a             n/a
CDQ DFA.........................................           1,900             760             n/a           1,140
ICA.............................................           1,600             800             n/a             800
Aleut Corporation...............................          15,500          10,600             n/a           4,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA\7\........................              10             n/a             n/a             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtraction for the
  CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector 50 percent,
  catcher/processor sector 40 percent, and mothership sector 10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent
  of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20 to June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
  B season (June 10 to November 1). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI
  pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated
  to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40
  percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA
  before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of
  the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside
  the SCA before April 1, the remainder is available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
  processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed
  catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
  not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
  percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
  percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\7\ The Regional Administrator proposes closing the Bogoslof pollock fishery for directed fishing under the
  final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for the BSAI. The amounts specified are for incidental catch only
  and are not apportioned by season or sector.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

    Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the 
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtraction 
of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector and non-trawl gear (Table 3). The allocation of 
the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited 
access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.  679.91. 
The 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be 
known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants apply for 
participation in the program.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern 
Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be 
allocated to jig gear. The amount of this allocation is determined 
annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the 
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council 
recommended and NMFS proposes a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka 
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea 
to jig gear in 2010 and 2011. Based on the proposed 2010 and 2011 TAC 
of 20,250 mt after subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig 
gear

[[Page 63105]]

allocation would be 102 mt for 2010 and 2011.
    Section 679.20(a)(8)(iv) apportions the Atka mackerel ITAC into two 
equal seasonal allowances. The first seasonal allowance is made 
available for directed fishing from January 1 (January 20 for trawl 
gear) to April 15 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance is made 
available from September 1 to November 1 (B season). The jig gear 
allocation is not apportioned by season.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii), the Regional Administrator will 
establish a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent 
of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
    NMFS will establish HLA limits for the CDQ reserve and each of the 
three non-CDQ fishery categories: the BSAI trawl limited access sector, 
the Amendment 80 limited access fishery, and an aggregate HLA limit 
applicable to all Amendment 80 cooperatives. NMFS will assign vessels 
in each of the three non-CDQ fishery categories that apply to fish for 
Atka mackerel in the HLA to an HLA fishery based on a random lottery of 
the vessels that apply (see Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)). There is no 
allocation of Atka mackerel to the BSAI trawl limited access sector in 
the Western Aleutian District. Therefore, no vessels in the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector will be assigned to the Western Aleutian District 
HLA fishery.
    Each trawl sector will have a separate lottery. A maximum of two 
HLA fisheries will be established in Area 542 for the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be 
established for vessels assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives: a first 
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery 
in Area 543. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be established for 
vessels assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery: A first 
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery 
in Area 543. NMFS will initially open fishing for the first HLA fishery 
in all three fishery categories at the same time. The initial opening 
of fishing in the HLA will be based on the first directed fishing 
closure of Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering 
Sea subarea allocation for any one of the three non-CDQ fishery 
categories allocated Atka mackerel TAC.

 Table 3--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of
                                                               the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2010 allocation by area                2011 allocation by area
                                                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Eastern                                Eastern
                 Sector \2\                           Season 1 3 4            Aleutian     Central      Western      Aleutian     Central      Western
                                                                             District/     Aleutian     Aleutian    District/     Aleutian     Aleutian
                                                                             Bering Sea    District     District    Bering Sea    District     District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC........................................  n/a..........................       22,900       28,500       19,700       22,900       28,500       19,700
CDQ reserve................................  Total........................        2,450        3,050        2,108        2,450        3,050        2,108
                                             HLA \5\......................          n/a        1,830        1,265          n/a        1,830        1,265
ICA........................................  Total........................           75           75           50           75           75           50
Jig \6\....................................  Total........................          102            0            0          102            0            0
BSAI trawl limited access..................  Total........................        1,216        1,523            0        1,622        2,030            0
                                             A............................          608          761            0          811        1,015            0
                                             HLA..........................          n/a          457            0          n/a          609            0
                                             B............................          608          761            0          811        1,015            0
                                             HLA..........................          n/a          457            0          n/a          609            0
Amendment 80 limited access................  Total........................       10,129       14,358       10,814          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             A............................        5,065        7,179        5,407          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             HLA..........................          n/a        4,308        3,244          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             B............................        5,065        7,179        5,407          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             HLA..........................          n/a        4,308        3,244          n/a          n/a          n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives..................  Total........................        8,927        9,495        6,728          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             A............................        4,464        4,747        3,364          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             HLA..........................          n/a        2,848        2,018          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             B............................        4,464        4,747        3,364          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                             HLA..........................          n/a        2,848        2,018          n/a          n/a          n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\2\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and the jig gear allocation, to the
  Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access
  sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15, and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\5\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2010 and 2011, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after
  subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.


[[Page 63106]]

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

    Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) require that the Pacific cod TAC 
in the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ program, be 
allocated as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear, 2.0 
percent to hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 
m) length overall (LOA), 0.2 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels 
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 48.7 percent to hook-and-
line catcher/processors, 8.4 percent to pot catcher vessels greater 
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot catcher/
processors, 2.3 percent to AFA trawl catcher/processors, 13.4 percent 
to non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and 22.1 percent to trawl catcher 
vessels. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted 
from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-
and-line and pot sectors. For 2010 and 2011 the Regional Administrator 
proposes an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch in 
these fisheries. The allocation of the ITAC for Pacific cod to the 
Amendment 80 sector is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.  
679.91.
    The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to 
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see 
Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific 
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next 
seasonal allowance.
    The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the proposed 
2010 and 2011 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Table 4 based on the 
sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal allowances 
of Pacific cod set forth at Sec.  679.23(e)(5).

         Table 4--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2010 and                       2010 and 2011 seasonal
                                                    2011 share    2010 and              apportionment
             Gear sector                Percent      of gear     2011 share ------------------------------------
                                                      sector     of sector
                                                      total        total             Season             Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC...........................          100      193,030          n/a  n/a...................          n/a
CDQ.................................         10.7       20,654          n/a  See Sec.                        n/a
                                                                              679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear........         60.8      104,804          n/a  n/a...................          n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \1\...........          n/a          n/a          500  n/a...................          n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.........          n/a      104,304          n/a  n/a...................          n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors....         48.7          n/a       83,547  Jan 1-Jun 10..........       42,609
                                                                             Jun 10-Dec 31.........       40,938
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >= 60           0.2          n/a          343  Jan 1-Jun 10..........          175
 ft LOA.                                                                     Jun 10-Dec 31.........          168
Pot catcher/processors..............          1.5          n/a        2,573  Jan 1-Jun 10..........        1,312
                                                                             Sept 1-Dec 31.........        1,261
Pot catcher vessels= 60            8.4          n/a       14,410  Jan 1-Jun 10..........        7,349
 ft LOA.                                                                     Sept-1-Dec 31.........        7,061
Catcher vessels < 60 ft LOA using               2          n/a        3,431  n/a...................          n/a
 hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels...............         22.1       38,095          n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1..........       28,190
                                                                             Apr 1-Jun 10..........        4,190
                                                                             Jun 10-Nov 1..........        5,714
AFA trawl catcher processors........          2.3        3,965          n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1..........        2,973
                                                                             Apr 1-Jun 10..........          991
                                                                             Jun 10-Nov 1..........            0
Amendment 80........................         13.4       23,098          n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1..........       17,324
                                                                             Apr 1-Jun 10..........        5,775
                                                                             Jun 10-Nov 1..........            0
Amendment 80 limited access for 2010          n/a        3,795          n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1..........        2,847
 only \2\.                                                                   Apr 1-Jun 10..........          949
                                                                             Jun 10-Nov 1..........            0
Amendment 80 cooperative for 2010             n/a       19,303          n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1..........       14,477
 only \2\.                                                                   Apr 1-Jun 10..........        4,826
                                                                             Jun 10-Nov 1..........            0
Jig.................................          1.4        2,413          n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30..........        1,448
                                                                             Apr 30-Aug 31.........          483
                                                                             Aug 31-Dec 31.........          483
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator proposes an ICA of 500 mt for 2010
  and 2011 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
  access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
  1, 2010.


[[Page 63107]]

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) requires the allocation of 
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl gear 
and hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the 
Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for 
hook-and-line or pot gear and for the AI subarea are 25 percent for 
trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. Section 
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires apportionment of 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. 
Additionally, Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires apportionment of 7.5 
percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. 
The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established 
biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and 
pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries will be 
limited to the 2010 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are 
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent 
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries would reduce the potential for 
discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ 
fisheries would remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year 
until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries 
are in effect. Table 5 lists the proposed 2010 and 2011 gear 
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.

                                   Table 5--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent of   2010 Share   2010 ITAC     2010 CDQ    2011 Share                 2011 CDQ
                       Subarea and gear                            TAC         of TAC        \1\        reserve       of TAC     2011 ITAC     reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
    Trawl....................................................           50        1,260        1,071           95        1,260        1,071           95
    Hook-and-line gear \2\...................................           50        1,260          n/a          252          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total................................................          100        2,520        1,071          347        2,520        1,071           95
Aleutian Islands:
    Trawl....................................................           25          510          434           38          510          434           38
    Hook-and-line gear \2\...................................           75        1,530          n/a          306          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total................................................          100        2,040          434          344        2,040          434           38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
  after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
  CDQ participants. Section 679.20(b)(1) does not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.

Allocation of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, Flathead Sole, 
Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs

    Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require the allocation between 
the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors for Aleutian 
Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole TACs in the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ 
reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels 
using non-trawl gear. The allocation of the ITAC for Aleutian Islands 
Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to 
the Amendment 80 sector is established in Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 
and Sec.  679.91. The 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between 
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector 
will not be known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants 
apply for participation in the program. Table 6 lists the proposed 2010 
and 2011 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Aleutian 
Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole TACs.

Table 6--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and
  Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin
                                                    Sole TACS
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              2010 and 2011 allocations
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Pacific ocean perch             Flathead    Rock sole    Yellowfin
              Sector               ---------------------------------------     sole    -------------     sole
                                      Eastern      Central      Western   -------------             ------------
                                      Aleutian     Aleutian     Aleutian                    BSAI
                                      District     District     District       BSAI                      BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC...............................        4,160        4,210        6,450       50,000       75,000      180,000
CDQ...............................          445          450          690        5,350        8,025       19,260
ICA...............................          100           50           50        5,000       10,000        2,000
BSAI trawl limited access.........          361          371          114            0            0       28,438
Amendment 80......................        3,253        3,339        5,596       39,650       56,975      130,302
Amendment 80 limited access for           1,725        1,770        2,967        4,658       14,174       52,109
 2010 only\1\.....................
Amendment 80 cooperatives for 2010        1,528        1,568        2,629       34,992       42,801       78,193
 only \1\.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
  access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
  1, 2010.


[[Page 63108]]

Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring

    Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2010 and 2011 BSAI halibut mortality 
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl 
fisheries. Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326 
mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of 
the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the prohibited species quota 
(PSQ) reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Section 
679.21(e)(1)(vi) specifies 29,000 fish as the 2010 and 2011 Chinook 
salmon PSC limit for the Bering Sea subarea pollock fishery. Section 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 2,175 Chinook 
salmon, as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program and allocates the 
remaining 26,825 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 
679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2010 and 2011 Chinook 
salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Section 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, 
as the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates the remaining 
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) 
specifies 42,000 fish as the 2010 and 2011 non-Chinook salmon PSC 
limit. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 
4,494 non-Chinook salmon, as the PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates 
the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. The 
regulations and allocations of Chinook salmon are subject to change in 
2011 pending approval of amendment 91 to the FMP.
    PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on 
abundance and spawning biomass. Due to the lack of new information as 
of October 2009 regarding PSC limits and apportionments, the Council 
recommended and NMFS proposes using the crab and herring 2010 and 2011 
PSC limits and apportionments for the proposed 2010 and 2011 limits and 
apportionments. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 
2009. Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent of each PSC 
limit specified for crab is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the 
groundfish CDQ program.
    The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 
2008 survey data at 35 million red king crabs, and the effective 
spawning biomass is estimated at 75 million lb (34,020 mt). Based on 
the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i), the proposed 2010 and 
2011 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 197,000 
animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate 
of more than 8.4 million king crab and the effective spawning biomass 
estimate of more than 55 million lbs (24,948 mt).
    Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which 
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red 
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS to 
up to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance based on the need 
to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. 
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the red king crab 
bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance 
within the RKCSS (Table 7b).
    Based on 2008 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) 
abundance is estimated at 435 million animals. Given the criteria set 
out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2010 and 2011 C. bairdi 
crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits derive from the C. bairdi 
crab abundance estimate being in excess of the 400 million animal 
threshold specified in Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii).
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for snow crab 
(C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual 
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 
percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2008 survey 
estimate of 2.6 billion animals, the calculated limit is 4,350,000 
animals.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring 
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1 
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best 
estimate of 2010 and 2011 herring biomass is 169,675 mt. This amount 
was derived using 2008 survey data and an age-structured biomass 
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 
Therefore, the herring PSC limit proposed for 2010 and 2011 is 1,697 mt 
for all trawl gear as presented in Tables 7a and 7b.
    Section 679.21(e)(3) requires, after subtraction of PSQ reserves, 
that crab and halibut trawl PSC be apportioned between the BSAI trawl 
limited access and Amendment 80 sectors as presented in Table 7a. The 
amount of the 2010 PSC limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector is 
specified in Table 35 to part 679. Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv) 
and Sec.  679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC assigned to 
the Amendment 80 sector is then sub-allocated to Amendment 80 
cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota and to the Amendment 80 limited 
access fishery as presented in Tables 7d and e. PSC cooperative quota 
assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to specific 
fishery categories. The 2011 PSC allocations between Amendment 80 
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be 
known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants apply to 
participate in the program. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires 
apportionment of each trawl PSC limit not assigned to Amendment 80 
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery 
categories.
    Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes the apportionment of the non-
trawl halibut PSC limits into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery 
categories. Table 7c lists the fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl 
and non-trawl fisheries.
    Section 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years after 
consultation with the Council, NMFS proposes to exempt pot gear, jig 
gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery categories from 
halibut bycatch restrictions because (1) The pot gear fisheries have 
low halibut bycatch mortality, (2) halibut mortality for the jig gear 
fleet is assumed to be negligible, and (3) the sablefish and halibut 
IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ 
program requires legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using 
hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is 
aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 
679). In 2009, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the 
BSAI was approximately 15,000 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch 
mortality of about 1 mt. The 2009 jig gear fishery harvested about 33 
mt of groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 
ft (18.3 m) LOA and thus are exempt from observer coverage 
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut 
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of 
halibut bycatch mortality is assumed because of the selective nature of 
jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and 
released.

[[Page 63109]]

    Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consultation with the 
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the 
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in 
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available 
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors considered are (1) 
Seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal distribution 
of target groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis 
relevant to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected variations in 
bycatch rates throughout the year, (5) expected start of fishing 
effort, and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments on 
industry sectors. NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation of the 
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 7c and 7e to maximize harvest 
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of 
PSC based on the above criteria.

  Table 7a--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the