Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 11111-11139 [2011-4402]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
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[FR Doc. 2011–4036 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–C
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126522–0640–02]
RIN 0648–XZ89
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final
2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications
for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces final 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut
prohibited species catch limits for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 2011 and 2012 fishing years
and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. 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.), March 1, 2011,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD), Supplementary Information
Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)
prepared for this action are available
from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
The final 2010 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the GOA, dated
November 2010, is 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.
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SUMMARY:
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Tom
Pearson, 907–481–1780, or Obren Davis,
907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS
manages the GOA groundfish fisheries
in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of
the GOA under the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (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 the total allowable catch (TAC)
for each target species, the sum of which
must be within the optimum yield (OY)
range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons
(mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further
requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual
TACs, halibut prohibited species catch
(PSC) amounts, and seasonal allowances
of pollock and inshore/offshore Pacific
cod. Upon consideration of public
comment received under § 679.20(c)(1),
NMFS must publish notice of final
harvest specifications for up to two
fishing years as annual target TAC, per
§ 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 25 of this document reflect the
outcome of this process, as required at
§ 679.20(c).
The proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications for groundfish of the GOA
and Pacific halibut PSC allowances
were published in the Federal Register
on December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76352).
Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2011. NMFS did not
receive any comments on the proposed
harvest specifications. In December
2010, NMFS consulted with the Council
regarding the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications. After considering public
testimony, as well as biological and
economic data that were available at the
Council’s December 2010 meeting,
NMFS is implementing the final 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications, as
recommended by the Council. For 2011,
the sum of the TAC amounts is 318,288
mt. For 2012, the sum of the TAC
amounts is 335,078 mt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: February 10, 2011.
Thomas L. Strickland,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and
Parks.
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Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and
TAC Specifications
In December 2010, the Council, its
Advisory Panel (AP), and its Scientific
and Statistical Committee (SSC),
reviewed current biological and harvest
information about the condition of
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11111
groundfish stocks in the GOA. This
information was compiled by the
Council’s GOA Plan Team and was
presented in the draft 2010 SAFE report
for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2010 (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
overfishing level (OFL) and ABC for
each species or species group. The 2010
SAFE report was made available for
public review upon notification of the
proposed harvest specifications.
In previous years the largest changes
from the proposed to the final harvest
specifications have been based on the
most recent NMFS stock surveys, which
provide updated estimates of stock
biomass and spatial distribution, and
changes to the models used for making
stock assessments. NMFS scientists
presented updated and new survey
results, changes to assessment models,
and accompanying stock estimates at
the November Plan Team meeting, and
the SSC reviewed this information at the
December 2010 Council meeting. In
November 2010, the Plan Team
considered updated stock assessments
for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish,
sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses
that are included in the final 2010 SAFE
report. For the other groundfish stocks
without recent surveys or other new
scientific information, the final 2010
SAFE report updates the final 2009
SAFE assessments to include any other
available, recent information, such as
2010 catch information, which does not
result in significant changes from the
proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications. Changes from the
proposed to the final harvest
specifications in 2011 for newly
assessed groundfish stocks are
discussed below. New stock surveys and
assessments are scheduled for 2011 and
will be considered at the Plan Team and
Council meetings in 2011 for the 2012
and 2013 groundfish fisheries.
The final ABCs and TACs 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 OFLs. The
formulas applicable to a particular stock
or stock complex are determined by the
level of reliable information available to
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fisheries scientists. This information is
categorized into a successive series of
six tiers to define OFL and ABC
amounts, with tier one representing the
highest level of information quality
available and tier six representing the
lowest level of information quality
available.
The SSC adopted the final 2011 and
2012 OFLs and ABCs recommended by
the Plan Team for all groundfish
species, with the exception of sharks.
The Plan Team’s ABC recommendation
for the shark species group was based
on a 0.04 fishing mortality rate.
However, the SSC preferred an ABC
based on the tier 5 ABC calculation for
spiny dogfish (where the ABC equals 75
percent of the OFL) and a tier 6
calculation for other sharks in the
group. The Council adopted the SSC’s
OFL and ABC recommendations and the
AP’s TAC recommendations. 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 recommended TACs for
2011 and 2012 that are equal to ABCs
for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
sablefish, Pacific ocean perch,
shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish,
northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf
rockfish, big skate, longnose skate, other
skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins. The Council recommended
TACs for 2011 and 2012 that are less
than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth
flounder, other rockfish, and Atka
mackerel. The Pacific cod TACs are set
to accommodate the State of Alaska’s
(State’s) guideline harvest levels (GHLs)
for Pacific cod so that the ABC is not
exceeded. The flathead sole, shallowwater flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder
TACs are set to conserve the halibut
PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The
other rockfish TAC is set to reduce the
amount of discards in the Southeast
Outside (SEO) District. The Atka
mackerel TAC is set to accommodate
incidental catch amounts in other
fisheries.
The 2011 and 2012 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 EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds
that the Council’s recommended OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the
biological condition of the groundfish
stocks as described in the final 2010
SAFE report. NMFS also finds that the
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Council’s recommendations for OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs 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 harvest 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 2011 and
2012 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the
GOA. The sums of the 2011 and 2012
ABCs are 590,121 mt and 603,990 mt,
respectively, which are higher in 2011
and 2012 than the 2010 ABC sum of
565,499 mt (75 FR 11749, March 12,
2010).
Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts
The ABC for the pollock stock in the
combined Western, Central, and West
Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK)
has been adjusted to reflect the GHL
established by the State for the Prince
William Sound (PWS) pollock fishery
since its inception in 1995. Genetic
studies have led fisheries scientists to
believe that the pollock in PWS is not
a separate stock from the combined W/
C/WYK population. Accordingly, the
Council recommended decreasing the
W/C/WYK pollock ABC to account for
the State’s PWS GHL. For 2011 and
2012, the PWS GHL for pollock 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)(iv)(A) through (B)).
As in 2010, the SSC and Council
recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among
management areas in 2011 and 2012
include commercial fishery and survey
data. NMFS stock assessment scientists
believe the use of unbiased commercial
fishery data reflecting catch-per-uniteffort provides rational input for stock
distribution assessments. NMFS
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evaluates annually the use of
commercial fishery data 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 SEO District of the Eastern
Regulatory Area and makes available
five percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area ABCs to trawl gear for
use as incidental catch in other directed
groundfish fisheries in the WYK District
(§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
The AP, SSC, 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 2011 and 2012 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 Plan Team, SSC, AP, and
Council recommended that the sum of
all State and Federal water Pacific cod
removals from the GOA not exceed ABC
recommendations. Accordingly, the
Council recommended reducing the
2011 and 2012 Pacific cod TACs from
the ABCs in the Eastern, Central and
Western Regulatory Areas to account for
State GHLs. Therefore, the 2011 Pacific
cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA,
651 mt; (2) Central GOA, 13,454 mt; and
(3) Western GOA, 7,595 mt. The 2012
Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs
by the following amounts: (1) Eastern
GOA, 587 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,121
mt; and (3) Western GOA, 6,842 mt.
These amounts reflect the sum of the
State’s 2011 and 2012 GHLs in these
areas, which are 25 percent of the
Eastern, Central, and Western GOA
ABCs, respectively. The percentage of
the ABC used to calculate the 2011 and
2012 GHL for the State-managed Pacific
cod fishery in PWS fisheries has been
increased to 25 percent of the Eastern
GOA ABC in 2011 and 2012, an increase
from 15 percent in 2010.
NMFS establishes 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
(§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
For 2011 and 2012, NMFS establishes
an A season directed fishing allowance
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(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
(§ 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.
Other Actions Affecting the 2011 and
2012 Harvest Specifications
NMFS published a final rule to
implement Amendment 87 to the FMP
on October 6, 2010 (75 FR 61639),
effective November 5, 2010.
Amendment 87 moved squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins from the ‘‘other
species’’ category to the ‘‘target species’’
category in the GOA and eliminated the
‘‘other species’’ category in the GOA
FMP. Amendment 87 revised the FMP
to meet the National Standard 1
guidelines for annual catch limits and
accountability measures and requires
that OFLs, ABCs, and TACs be
established for squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins as part of the
annual groundfish harvest specifications
process. Based on the 2010 final SAFE
report, NMFS is establishing ABCs,
TACs, and OFLs for squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins for 2011 and
2012 (see Tables 1 and 2).
In October 2008, the Council adopted
Amendment 34 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs.
Amendment 34 would amend the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab
Rationalization Program (Crab
Rationalization Program) to exempt
additional fishery participants from
harvest limits, called sideboards, which
apply to some vessels and license
limitation program (LLP) licenses that
are used to participate in GOA Pacific
cod and pollock fisheries. These
particular sideboards are discussed
under the subsequent section titled
‘‘Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish
Harvest Limitations.’’ Tables 17 and 18
specify the 2011 and 2012 sideboard
amounts. If the Secretary approves
Amendment 34, NMFS would revise the
sideboard amounts specified in Tables
17 and 18. Pending completion of
applicable rulemaking, these revisions
could be effective as soon as the latter
half of 2011.
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Changes From the Proposed 2011 and
2012 Harvest Specifications in the GOA
In October 2010, the Council’s
recommendations for the proposed 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications (75 FR
76352, December 8, 2010) were based
largely upon information contained in
the final 2009 SAFE report for the GOA
groundfish fisheries, dated November
2009 (see ADDRESSES). The Council
proposed that the OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs established for the 2011
groundfish fisheries (75 FR 11749,
March 12, 2010) be rolled over to 2011
and 2012, pending completion and
review of the 2010 SAFE report at its
December 2010 meeting.
As described previously, the SSC
adopted the final 2011 and 2012 OFLs
and ABCs recommended by the Plan
Team, with the exception of sharks. The
Council adopted the SSC’s OFL and
ABC recommendations and the AP’s
TAC recommendations for 2011 and
2012. The final 2011 ABCs are higher
than the 2011 ABCs published in the
proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications (75 FR 76352, December
8, 2010) for sablefish, arrowtooth
flounder, northern rockfish, other
rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish,
demersal shelf rockfish, squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins. Separate ABCs
for squid, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins are being established for the
first time in 2011 and 2012. These four
species were formerly grouped under
the ‘‘other species’’ category, with an
aggregate OFL, ABC, and TAC. The final
2011 ABCs are lower than the proposed
2011 ABCs for pollock, Pacific cod,
deepwater flatfish, rex sole, flathead
sole, and rougheye rockfish. The final
2012 ABCs are higher than the proposed
2012 ABCs for pollock, sablefish,
deepwater flatfish, flathead sole, other
rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish,
squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins.
In contrast, the final 2012 ABCs are
lower than the proposed 2012 ABCs for
Pacific cod, rex sole, arrowtooth
flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish. For the remaining
target species, the Council
recommended, and the Secretary
approved, final 2011 and 2012 ABC
levels that are the same as the proposed
2011 and 2012 ABC levels.
Additional information explaining the
changes between the proposed and final
ABCs is included in the final 2010
SAFE report, which was not available
when the Council made its proposed
ABC and TAC recommendations in
October 2010. At that time, the most
recent stock assessment information was
contained in the final 2009 SAFE report.
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The final 2010 SAFE report contains the
best and most recent scientific
information on the condition of the
groundfish stocks, as previously
discussed in this preamble. This
document currently is available from
the Council (see ADDRESSES). The
Council considered the final 2010 SAFE
report in December 2010 when it made
recommendations for the final 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications, including
recommendations for 2011 and 2012
TAC limits. The Council’s final 2011
and 2012 TAC recommendations
increase fishing opportunities for
species for which the Council had
sufficient information to raise TAC
levels. Conversely, the Council reduced
TAC levels to provide greater protection
for some species. In the GOA, the total
final 2011 TAC amount is 318,288 mt,
a decrease of four percent from the total
proposed 2011 TAC limit of 330,746 mt.
The total final 2012 TAC amount is
335,078 mt, an increase of one percent
from the total proposed 2011 TAC limit
of 330,746 mt. For the species and
species groups for which a new
assessment was prepared, the greatest
TAC increases were for sablefish,
sharks, octopuses, and sculpins, while
the greatest decreases were for pollock
and Pacific cod. These TAC changes
corresponded to associated changes in
the ABC levels, as recommended by the
SSC.
The largest 2011 decreases in TAC
occurred for pollock and Pacific cod.
Pollock decreased from the proposed
limit 109,105 mt to the final limit of
96,215 mt (12 percent decrease). While
the 2010 SAFE report indicates an
increase in spawning biomass, the
current spawning biomass level places
this stock in Tier 3b. Accordingly, ABC
was calculated as required by the FMP
for Tier 3b stocks, and TAC was set
equal to ABC. Although the final TAC
for pollock is reduced from the
proposed level by 12 percent, this limit
is still an increase over the final 2010
pollock TAC. Pacific cod decreased
from 73,426 mt to 65,100 mt (11 percent
decrease) in light of a new assessment
model that projects a slight decline of
Pacific cod biomass in coming years
(rather than a slight increase as
projected in 2009) and a decrease in the
biomass estimates for recent year (2006–
2009) classes.
The basis for the increased TACs for
sablefish, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins varied. Sablefish increased
from 9,300 mt to 11,290 mt (21 percent
increase) due to an increased biomass
estimate from the 2010 sablefish hookand-line survey. Sharks increased from
957 mt to 6,197 mt (548 percent
increase) due to the SSC’s modification
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of the Plan Team’s recommendations for
calculating shark ABC. The SSC
recommended estimating the spiny
dogfish ABC on a tier 5 approach, using
the best available estimates for biomass
and natural mortality rates for this
species. For all other shark species, the
SSC recommended using tier 6, which
is based on recent average catch
information. In combination, these
recommendations led to the increased
ABC for the shark complex. Octopuses
increased from 224 mt to 954 mt (326
percent increase) due to the adoption of
a biomass-based estimate placing
octopuses in tier 5, rather than tier 6.
Tier 6 management is based on the use
of average historic catch data, which the
Plan Team and SSC agreed was not an
appropriate method to use for setting
the OFL for octopuses. Instead, the
octopus OFL was set using a modified
tier 5 approach, using the average of the
three most recent GOA trawl survey
estimates of biomass as a minimum
estimate, and applying a conservative
natural mortality rate to that estimate to
establish the OFL. Sculpins increased
from 4,746 mt to 5,496 mt (16 percent
increase) due to revised estimates of
natural mortality.
The SSC recommended, and the
Council concurred, that sharks and
octopuses be placed on bycatch status.
This eliminates the possibility that these
species could be subject to directed
fishing, and minimizes the potential
catch of the species in these categories.
The SSC believed that the stock
assessment models for these species
groups should be improved before
considering allowing any directed
fishing to occur. As such, NMFS is
placing sharks and octopuses on
bycatch status for the entire year.
Detailed information providing the
basis for the changes described above is
contained in the final 2010 SAFE report.
The other TAC increases or decreases in
the final 2011 harvest specifications are
within 2 percent of the proposed 2011
harvest specifications. The final TACs
are based on the most recent scientific
information available. These TACs are
specified in compliance with the
harvest strategy described in both the
proposed and final rules for the 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications. The
changes in TAC limits between the
proposed and this final rule are
compared in the following table.
COMPARISON OF PROPOSED AND FINAL 2011 AND 2012 GOA TACS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
2011 final
TAC
Species
2011
difference
from
proposed
2011
proposed
TAC
2012 final
TAC
2012
proposed
TAC
2012
difference
from
proposed
Pollock ......................................................................
Pacific cod ................................................................
Sablefish ..................................................................
Shallow-water flatfish ...............................................
Deep-water flatfish ...................................................
Rex sole ...................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ..................................................
Flathead sole ...........................................................
Pacific ocean perch .................................................
Northern rockfish ......................................................
Shortraker rockfish ...................................................
Other rockfish ...........................................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...............................................
Rougheye rockfish ...................................................
Demersal shelf rockfish ...........................................
Thornyhead rockfish ................................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................................
Big skate ..................................................................
Longnose skates ......................................................
Other skates .............................................................
Squids ......................................................................
Sharks ......................................................................
Octopuses ................................................................
Sculpins ....................................................................
96,215
65,100
11,290
20,062
6,305
9,565
43,000
10,587
16,997
4,854
914
1,195
4,754
1,312
300
1,770
2,000
3,328
2,852
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
109,105
73,426
9,300
20,062
6,325
9,592
43,000
10,576
16,993
4,808
914
1,192
4,727
1,313
295
1,770
2,000
3,328
2,852
2,093
1,148
957
224
4,746
¥12,890
¥8,326
1,990
0
¥20
¥27
0
11
4
46
0
3
27
¥1
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,240
224
750
121,649
58,650
10,345
20,062
6,486
9,396
43,000
10,693
16,187
4,614
914
1,914
4,438
1,312
300
1,770
2,000
3,328
2,852
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
109,105
73,426
9,300
20,062
6,325
9,592
43,000
10,576
16,993
4,808
914
1,192
4,727
1,313
295
1,770
2,000
3,328
2,852
2,093
1,148
957
224
4,746
12,544
¥14,776
1,045
0
161
¥196
0
117
¥806
¥194
0
2
¥289
¥1
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,240
730
750
Total ..................................................................
318,288
330,746
¥12,458
335,078
330,746
4,332
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
The final 2011 and 2012 TAC
recommendations for the GOA are
within the OY range established for the
GOA and do not exceed the ABC for any
single species or complex. Tables 1 and
2 list the 2011 and 2012, respectively,
final OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts for
GOA groundfish.
TABLE 1—FINAL 2011 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 1
Pollock 2 ......................................................................
Shumagin (610) ..........................................................
Chirikof (620) ..............................................................
Kodiak (630) ...............................................................
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01MRR1
n/a
n/a
n/a
ABC
TAC
27,031
37,365
20,235
27,031
37,365
20,235
11115
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TABLE 1—FINAL 2011 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 1
Species
OFL
ABC
TAC
n/a
118,030
12,326
130,356
2,339
86,970
9,245
96,215
2,339
86,970
9,245
96,215
Pacific cod 3 ................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
102,600
30,380
53,816
2,604
86,800
22,785
40,362
1,953
65,100
Sablefish 4 ...................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) .....................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
13,340
1,620
4,740
1,990
2,940
4,930
11,290
1,620
4,740
1,990
2,940
4,930
11,290
Shallow-water flatfish 6 ................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
67,768
23,681
29,999
1,228
1,334
56,242
4,500
13,000
1,228
1,334
20,062
Deep-water flatfish 5 ....................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
7,823
529
2,919
2,083
774
6,305
529
2,919
2,083
774
6,305
Rex sole ......................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12,499
1,517
6,294
868
886
9,565
1,517
6,294
868
886
9,565
Arrowtooth flounder ....................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
251,068
34,317
144,559
22,551
11,723
213,150
8,000
30,000
2,500
2,500
43,000
Flathead sole ..............................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
61,412
17,442
28,104
2,064
1,523
49,133
2,000
5,000
2,064
1,523
10,587
Pacific ocean perch 7 ..................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) .....................................
Total ............................................................................
3,221
11,948
n/a
n/a
4,397
19,566
2,798
10,379
1,937
1,883
3,820
16,997
2,798
10,379
1,937
1,883
3,820
16,997
Northern rockfish 8, 9 ....................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
WYK (640) ..................................................................
W/C/WYK (subtotal) ...................................................
SEO (650) ..................................................................
Total ............................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
5,784
2,573
2,281
0
4,854
2,573
2,281
0
4,854
Shortraker rockfish 11 ..................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,219
134
325
455
914
134
325
455
914
Other rockfish 9, 12 .......................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
212
507
276
2,757
212
507
276
200
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1—FINAL 2011 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 1
Species
OFL
ABC
TAC
Total ............................................................................
4,881
3,752
1,195
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ..............................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
5,570
611
3,052
407
684
4,754
611
3,052
407
684
4,754
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish 10 .....................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,579
81
868
363
1,312
81
868
363
1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish 14 ...........................................
SEO ............................................................................
479
300
300
Thornyhead rockfish ...................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
2,360
425
637
708
1,770
425
637
708
1,770
Atka mackerel .............................................................
GW .............................................................................
6,200
4,700
2,000
Big skate 15 .................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,438
598
2,049
681
3,328
598
2,049
681
3,328
Longnose skate 16 .......................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
3,803
81
2,009
762
2,852
81
2,009
762
2,852
Other skates 17 ............................................................
Squids .........................................................................
Sharks .........................................................................
Octopuses ...................................................................
Sculpins ......................................................................
GW
GW
GW
GW
GW
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
2,791
1,530
8,263
1,273
7,328
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
.....................................................................................
723,928
590,121
318,288
Total .....................................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
1 Regulatory
areas and districts are defined at § 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. Table 5 lists the final 2011 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
3 The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of
the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and 10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 7 lists
the final 2011 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.
4 Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2011. Table 3 lists the final 2011 sablefish TACs.
5 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
6 ‘‘Shallow-water flatfish’’ means flatfish not including ‘‘deep-water flatfish,’’ flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
9 ‘‘Slope rockfish’’ means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri
(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S.
zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion),
and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
10 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
11 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
12 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf
rockfish. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
13 ‘‘Pelagic shelf rockfish’’ means, S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
14 ‘‘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).
15 ‘‘Big skate’’ means Raja binoculata.
16 ‘‘Longnose skate’’ means Raja rhina.
17 ‘‘Other skates’’ means Bathyraja spp.
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11117
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 2—FINAL 2012 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 1
Species
Pollock 2
OFL
ABC
TAC
Shumagin (610) ..........................................................
Chirikof (620) ..............................................................
Kodiak (630) ...............................................................
WYK (640) ..................................................................
W/C/WYK (subtotal) ...................................................
SEO (650) ..................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
151,030
12,326
163,356
34,932
48,293
26,155
3,024
112,404
9,245
121,649
34,932
48,293
26,155
3,024
112,404
9,245
121,649
Pacific cod 3 ................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
92,300
27,370
48,484
2,346
78,200
20,528
36,362
1,760
58,650
Sablefish 4 ...................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) .....................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12,232
1,484
4,343
1,818
2,700
4,518
10,345
1,484
4,343
1,818
2,700
4,518
10,345
Shallow-water flatfish 6 ................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
67,768
23,681
29,999
1,228
1,334
56,242
4,500
13,000
1,228
1,334
20,062
Deep-water flatfish 5 ....................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
8,046
541
3,004
2,144
797
6,486
541
3,004
2,144
797
6,486
Rex sole ......................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12,279
1,490
6,184
853
889
9,396
1,490
6,184
853
889
9,396
Arrowtooth flounder ....................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
248,576
33,975
143,119
22,327
11,606
211,027
8,000
30,000
2,500
2,500
43,000
Flathead sole ..............................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
63,202
17,960
28,938
2,125
1,568
50,591
2,000
5,000
2,125
1,568
10,693
Pacific ocean perch 7 ..................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) .....................................
Total ............................................................................
3,068
11,379
n/a
n/a
4,188
18,635
2,665
9,884
1,845
1,793
3,638
16,187
2,665
9,884
1,845
1,793
3,638
16,187
Northern rockfish 8, 9 ....................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
......................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
5,498
2,446
2,168
0
4,614
2,446
2,168
0
4,614
Shortraker rockfish 11 ..................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,219
134
325
455
914
134
325
455
914
Other rockfish 9, 12 .......................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
n/a
n/a
212
507
212
507
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 2—FINAL 2012 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 1
Species
OFL
ABC
TAC
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
4,881
275
2,757
3,751
275
200
1,194
Pelagic shelf rockfish 13 ..............................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
WYK ...........................................................................
SEO ............................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
5,387
570
2,850
380
638
4,438
570
2,850
380
638
4,438
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish 10 .....................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,579
81
868
363
1,312
81
868
363
1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish 14 ...........................................
SEO ............................................................................
479
300
300
Thornyhead rockfish ...................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
2,360
425
637
708
1,770
425
637
708
1,770
Atka mackerel .............................................................
GW .............................................................................
6,200
4,700
2,000
Longnose skate 16 .......................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
W ................................................................................
C .................................................................................
E .................................................................................
Total ............................................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
4,438
n/a
n/a
n/a
3,803
598
2,049
681
3,328
81
2,009
762
2,852
598
2,049
681
3,328
81
2,009
762
2,852
Other skates 17 ............................................................
Squids .........................................................................
Sharks .........................................................................
Octopuses ...................................................................
Sculpins ......................................................................
GW
GW
GW
GW
GW
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
.............................................................................
2,791
1,530
8,263
1,272
7,328
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
.....................................................................................
743,421
603,990
335,078
Big
skate 15
.................................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Total .....................................................................
1 Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 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. Table 6 lists the final 2012 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
3 The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of
the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and 10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 8 lists
the final 2012 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.
4 Sablefish is allocated to trawl gear only for 2012. Table 3 lists the final 2012 trawl allocation of sablefish TACs.
5 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
6 ‘‘Shallow-water flatfish’’ means flatfish not including ‘‘deep-water flatfish,’’ flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
7 ‘‘Pacific ocean perch’’ means Sebastes alutus.
8 ‘‘Northern rockfish’’ means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 2 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
9 ‘‘Slope rockfish’’ means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri
(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S.
zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion),
and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
10 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
11 ‘‘Shortraker rockfish’’ means Sebastes borealis.
12 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf
rockfish. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
13 ‘‘Pelagic shelf rockfish’’ means, S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
14 ‘‘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).
15 ‘‘Big skate’’ means Raja binoculata.
16 ‘‘Longnose skate’’ means Raja rhina.
17 ‘‘Other skates’’ means Bathyraja spp.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to
set aside 20 percent of each TAC for
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, squids,
sharks, octopuses, and sculpins in
reserves for possible apportionment at a
later date during the fishing year. In
2010, NMFS reapportioned all the
reserves in the final harvest
specifications. For 2011 and 2012,
NMFS proposed reapportionment of all
the reserves in the proposed 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications published in
the Federal Register on December 8,
2010 (75 FR 76352). NMFS did not
receive any public comments on the
proposed reapportionments. For the
final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications, NMFS reapportioned, as
proposed, all the reserves for pollock,
Pacific cod, flatfish, squids, sharks,
octopuses, and sculpins. 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 five 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)(4)(i)). In
recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area,
the Council recommended allocating
five percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl
gear in the WYK District and making the
remainder of the WYK sablefish TAC
available to vessels using hook-and-line
gear. NMFS concurs with the Council’s
recommendation, and, as a result,
allocates 100 percent of the sablefish
TAC in the SEO District to vessels using
hook-and-line gear. This
recommendation results in an allocation
of 247 mt to trawl gear and 1,744 mt to
hook-and-line gear in the WYK District
in 2011, an allocation of 2,940 mt to
hook-and-line gear in the SEO District
in 2011, and 226 mt to trawl gear in the
WYK District in 2012. Table 3 lists the
allocations of the 2011 sablefish TACs
to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 4
lists the allocations of the 2012 sablefish
TACs to trawl gear.
The Council recommended that the
hook-and-line sablefish TAC be
established annually to ensure that this
Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery
is conducted concurrent with the
halibut IFQ fishery and is based on the
most recent sablefish survey
information. The Council also
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
harvest specifications are expected to be
published before the IFQ season begins
(typically, early March), the Council
recommended that the hook-and-line
sablefish TAC be set on an annual basis,
rather than for two years, so that the
best and most recent scientific
information could be considered in
establishing the sablefish ABCs and
TACs. Since sablefish is on bycatch
status for trawl gear during the entire
fishing year, and given that fishing for
groundfish is prohibited prior to January
20, it is not likely that the trawl
allocation of sablefish would be reached
before the effective date of the final
harvest specifications.
TABLE 3—FINAL 2011 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GOA AND ALLOCATIONS TO HOOK-AND-LINE AND TRAWL
GEAR
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district
Hook-and-line
allocation
TAC
Trawl
allocation
Western ........................................................................................................................................
Central .........................................................................................................................................
West Yakutat 1 .............................................................................................................................
Southeast Outside .......................................................................................................................
1,620
4,740
1,990
2,940
1,296
3,792
1,744
2,940
324
948
247
0
Total ......................................................................................................................................
11,290
9,772
1,519
1 The
trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2012 SABLEFISH TAC SPECIFICATIONS IN THE GOA AND ALLOCATION TO TRAWL GEAR 1
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district
Hook-and-line
allocation
TAC
Trawl
allocation
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Western ........................................................................................................................................
Central .........................................................................................................................................
West Yakutat 2 .............................................................................................................................
Southeast Outside .......................................................................................................................
1,484
4,343
1,818
2,700
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
297
869
226
0
Total ......................................................................................................................................
10,345
n/a
1,391
1 The
Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to one
year.
2 The trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.
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Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among
Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and
Allocations for Processing by Inshore
and Offshore Components
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by
season and area, and is further allocated
for processing by inshore and offshore
components. 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, pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). 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 2011 and
2012, 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 2011
and 2012 fishing years. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on
an adjusted estimate of the relative
distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 23 percent, 56 percent,
and 21 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 23 percent, 67 percent, and
10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620,
and 630, respectively. During the C and
D seasons, the apportionment is based
on the relative distribution of pollock
biomass at 41 percent, 27 percent, and
32 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620,
and 630, respectively. 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 (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)).
The rollover amount is limited to 20
percent of the unharvested 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 pollock TACs in the WYK and SEO
District of 2,339 mt and 9,245 mt,
respectively, in 2011, and 3,024 mt and
9,245 mt, respectively, in 2012, 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 subtraction of amounts
projected by the Regional Administrator
to be caught by, or delivered to, the
offshore component incidental to
directed fishing for other groundfish
species. Thus, the amount of pollock
available for harvest by vessels
harvesting pollock for processing by the
offshore component is that amount that
will be 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 of pollock are
unknown and will be determined
during the fishing year during the
course of fishing activities by the
offshore component.
Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal
biomass distribution of pollock in the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas,
area apportionments, and seasonal
allowances. The amounts of pollock for
processing by the inshore and offshore
components are not shown.
TABLE 5—FINAL 2011 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GOA;
SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Season 1
Shumagin
(Area 610)
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Total 2
Kodiak
(Area 630)
A (Jan 20–Mar 10) .......
B (Mar 10–May 31) ......
C (Aug 25–Oct 1) .........
D (Oct 1–Nov 1) ...........
4,787
4,787
8,729
8,729
(22.62%)
(22.62%)
(41.25%)
(41.25%)
11,896
14,232
5,618
5,618
(56.22%)
(67.26%)
(26.55%)
(26.55%)
4,475
2,139
6,811
6,811
(21.15%)
(10.11%)
(32.19%)
(32.19%)
21,159
21,158
21,158
21,158
Annual Total 3 .......
27,031
........................
37,365
........................
20,235
........................
84,631
1 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.
2 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.
3 Seasonal apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 6—FINAL 2012 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GOA;
SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Season 1
A (Jan 20–Mar 10) .......
B (Mar 10–May 31) ......
C (Aug 25–Oct 1) .........
D (Oct 1–Nov 1) ...........
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Shumagin
(Area 610)
6,186
6,185
11,280
11,280
Jkt 223001
Chirikof
(Area 620)
(22.62%)
(22.62%)
(41.25%)
(41.25%)
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15,374
18,393
7,262
7,262
Fmt 4700
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Total 2
Kodiak
(Area 630)
(56.22%)
(67.26%)
(26.55%)
(26.55%)
E:\FR\FM\01MRR1.SGM
5,783
2,765
8,803
8,803
01MRR1
(21.15%)
(10.11%)
(32.19%)
(32.19%)
27,345
27,345
27,345
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11121
TABLE 6—FINAL 2012 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GOA;
SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC—Continued
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Annual Total 3 .......
34,932
........................
48,293
........................
26,155
........................
109,380
1 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.
2 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.
3 Seasonal apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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)(i)). After
subtraction of 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. Under
§ 679.20(a)(12)(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
list the seasonal apportionments and
allocations of the final 2011 and 2012
Pacific cod TACs, respectively.
TABLE 7—FINAL 2011 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GOA;
ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Component allocation
Regulatory area
Season
Western ...........................................................
Annual ............................................................
A season (60%) .............................................
B season (40%) .............................................
Annual ............................................................
A season (60%) .............................................
B season (40%) .............................................
Annual ............................................................
Total ...............................................................
Central .............................................................
Eastern ............................................................
TAC
Inshore
(90%)
22,785
13,671
9,114
40,362
24,217
16,145
1,953
65,100
Offshore
(10%)
20,507
12,304
8,203
36,326
21,795
14,530
1,758
58,590
2,279
1,367
911
4,036
2,422
1,614
195
6,510
TABLE 8—FINAL 2012 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF PACIFIC COD TAC AMOUNTS IN THE GOA;
ALLOCATIONS FOR PROCESSING BY THE INSHORE AND OFFSHORE COMPONENTS
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Component allocation
Regulatory area
Season
Western ...........................................................
Annual ............................................................
A season (60%) .............................................
B season (40%) .............................................
Annual ............................................................
A season (60%) .............................................
B season (40%) .............................................
Annual ............................................................
Total ...............................................................
Central .............................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Eastern ............................................................
Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)
The recommended 2011 and 2012
DSR TAC is 300 mt. Management of
DSR is delegated to the State. In 2006,
the Alaska Board of Fish allocated
future SEO District DSR TACs between
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18:07 Feb 28, 2011
Jkt 223001
TAC
the commercial fishery (84 percent) and
the sport fishery (16 percent) after
deductions were made for anticipated
subsistence harvests (8 mt). This results
in 2011 and 2012 allocations of 245 mt
to the commercial fishery and 47 mt to
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Inshore
(90%)
20,528
12,317
8,211
36,363
21,818
14,545
1,759
58,650
18,475
11,085
7,390
32,727
19,636
13,091
1,583
52,785
Offshore
(10%)
2,053
1,232
821
3,636
2,182
1,455
176
5,865
the sport fishery. The Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
deducts estimates of incidental catch of
DSR in the commercial halibut fishery
and test fishery mortality from the DSR
commercial fishery allocation. In 2010,
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this resulted in 100 mt being available
for the directed commercial DSR fishery
apportioned between four outer coast
areas. Only one of these areas, the South
Southeast Outside area was open to
directed commercial fishery with a GHL
of 30 mt and a harvest of 30 mt. DSR
harvest in the halibut fishery is linked
to the halibut quota; therefore the
ADF&G cannot estimate potential DSR
incidental catch in that fishery until
those quotas are established. Federally
permitted catcher vessels using hookand-line or jig gear fishing for
groundfish and Pacific halibut in the
SEO District of the GOA are required to
retain all DSR (§ 679.20(j)). The ADF&G
will announce the opening of directed
fishing for DSR in 2011 in January
following the International Pacific
Halibut Commission’s (IPHC) January
2011 annual meeting.
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
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; the remaining 95
percent are allocated to those vessels
eligible to participate in the Rockfish
Program. The Rockfish Program will
expire in December 2011, although the
Council has proposed a new program to
supersede the existing Rockfish Program
by 2012. NMFS is developing a
proposed rule to implement the
Council’s revised program and
anticipates that it will be published in
the Federal Register for public review
and comment early in 2011.
In 2011, NMFS is setting aside
incidental catch amounts (ICAs) of 500
mt of Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of
northern rockfish, and 100 mt of pelagic
shelf rockfish for other directed fisheries
in the Central Regulatory Area. These
amounts are based on recent average
incidental catch in the Central
Regulatory Area by these other
groundfish fisheries.
Section 679.83(a)(1)(i) requires that
allocations to the trawl entry level
fishery must 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 catcher vessels must
be made after the allocations to trawl
gear.
Table 9 lists the final 2011 allocations
of rockfish in the Central GOA to trawl
and longline gear in the entry level
rockfish fishery. Allocations of primary
rockfish species TACs among
participants in the Rockfish Program are
not included in the final harvest
specifications because applications for
catcher/processor and catcher vessel
cooperatives are due to NMFS on March
1 of each calendar year, thereby
preventing NMFS from calculating final
2011 allocations. NMFS will post these
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm)
when they become available
TABLE 9—FINAL 2011 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 the nearest metric ton]
Species
Incidental
catch
allowance
TAC
TAC minus
ICA
5% TAC
2.5% TAC
Entry-level
trawl allocation
Entry-level
longline
allocation
Pacific ocean perch .....
Northern rockfish ..........
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...
10,379
2,281
3,052
500
100
100
9,879
2,181
2,952
494
109
148
247
55
74
375
0
0
119
109
148
Total ......................
15,712
700
15,012
751
375
375
375
1 Longline
gear includes jig and hook-and-line gear.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
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 2010, the Council
recommended that NMFS maintain the
2010 halibut PSC limits of 2,000 mt for
the trawl fisheries and 300 mt for the
hook-and-line fisheries for the 2011 and
2012 groundfish 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 and are exempt
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18:07 Feb 28, 2011
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from observer coverage. Therefore,
observer data are not available to verify
actual bycatch amounts. NMFS
estimates low halibut bycatch in the
DSR fishery because: The duration of
the DSR fisheries and the gear soak
times are short; the DSR fishery occurs
in the winter when less overlap occurs
in the distribution of DSR and halibut;
and, the directed commercial DSR
fishery has a low DSR TAC. Of the 295
mt TAC for DSR in 2010, 100 mt was
available for the commercial fishery, of
which 30 mt were harvested.
The FMP authorizes the Council to
exempt specific gear from the halibut
PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation
with the Council, exempts pot gear, jig
gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-andline gear fishery from the non-trawl
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
halibut limit for 2011 and 2012. The
Council recommended these
exemptions because (1) the pot gear
fisheries have low annual halibut
bycatch mortality (averaging 19 mt
annually from 2001 through 2010);
(2) IFQ program regulations prohibit
discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ
permit holder on board a catcher vessel
holds unused halibut IFQ
(§ 679.7(f)(11)); sablefish IFQ fishermen
typically hold halibut IFQ permits and
are therefore required to retain the
halibut they catch while fishing
sablefish IFQ; and (3) NMFS estimates
negligible halibut mortality for the jig
gear fisheries. NMFS estimates that
halibut mortality is negligible in the jig
gear fisheries given the small amount of
groundfish harvested by jig gear
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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 Council
obtained the information it considered
when setting the halibut PSC limits
from the 2010 SAFE report, NMFS catch
(averaging 275 mt annually from 2001
through 2010), the selective nature of jig
gear, and the high survival rates of
halibut caught (and subsequently
released) with jig gear.
Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS
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
11123
data, ADF&G catch data, IPHC stock
assessment and mortality data, and
public testimony.
NMFS concurs in the Council’s
recommendations listed in Table 10,
which shows the final 2011 and 2012
Pacific halibut 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.
TABLE 10—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS
[Values are in metric tons]
Hook-and-line gear 1
Trawl gear
Other than DSR
Season
Percent
Season
January 20–April 1 .............
April 1–July 1 ......................
July 1–September 1 ...........
September 1–October 1 .....
October 1–December 31 ....
DSR
Amount
27.5
20
30
7.5
15
550
400
600
150
300
Total ............................
Percent
Amount
86
2
12
250
5
35
January 1–June 10 ............
June 10–September 1 ........
September 1–December 31
2,000
Season
Amount
January 1–December 31 ....
10
290
10
1 The
Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the 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
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
category, comprised of sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole,
and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a
shallow-water species category,
comprised of pollock, Pacific cod,
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole,
Atka mackerel, skates, and ‘‘other
species’’ (§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 11
lists the final 2011 and 2012
apportionments of Pacific halibut PSC
trawl limits between the trawl gear
deep-water and the shallow-water
species complexes.
TABLE 11—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 APPORTIONMENT OF PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC TRAWL LIMITS BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR
DEEP-WATER SPECIES COMPLEX AND THE SHALLOW-WATER SPECIES COMPLEX
[Values are in metric tons]
Season
Shallow-water
450
100
200
150
Subtotal January 20–October 1 .......................................................................................
October 1–December 31 2 ......................................................................................................
Total .................................................................................................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
January 20–April 1 ..................................................................................................................
April 1–July 1 ..........................................................................................................................
July 1–September 1 ................................................................................................................
September 1–October 1 .........................................................................................................
Deep-water 1
100
300
400
Any
Total
.....................
.....................
.....................
remainder ....
550
400
600
150
900
........................
800 .....................
............................
1,700
300
........................
............................
2,000
1 Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA Rockfish Program will receive a portion of the third season (July 1–September 1)
deep-water category halibut PSC apportionment. This amount is not currently known but will be posted later on the Alaska Region Web site
(https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov) when it becomes available.
2 There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl fishery categories during the fifth season (October 1–December 31).
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior
Years
The best available information on
estimated halibut bycatch was data
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collected by observers during 2010. The
calculated halibut bycatch mortality by
trawl and hook-and-line gears in 2010 is
1,637 mt and 232 mt, respectively, for
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a total halibut mortality of 1,869 mt.
This mortality was calculated using
groundfish and halibut catch data from
the NMFS Alaska Region’s catch
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accounting system. This system
contains historical and recent catch
information compiled from each Alaska
groundfish fishery.
Halibut bycatch restrictions
seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2010 fishing year.
Table 12 displays the closure dates for
fisheries that resulted from the
attainment of seasonal or annual halibut
PSC limits. NMFS does not know the
amount of groundfish that trawl gear
might have harvested if halibut PSC
limits had not restricted some 2010
GOA groundfish fisheries. The hookand-line fishery category was not
constrained by halibut bycatch during
2010.
TABLE 12—2010 FISHERY CLOSURES DUE TO ATTAINMENT OF PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS
Fishery category
Opening date
Closure date
Trawl Deep-water, season 1 ............................
Trawl Shallow-water, season 4 ........................
Trawl Shallow-water, season 4 ........................
January 20, 2010 .......
September 1, 2010 ....
September 11, 2010 ..
April 28, 2010 .............
September 3, 2010 ....
October 1, 2010 .........
Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass
and Stock Condition
due to continued stock declines,
decreases in halibut growth rate, and a
recent history of high exploitation rates
in some areas. The IPHC staff has
recommended the SUFD policy be
modified to a ‘‘Slow Up-Full Down
(SUFullD)’’ policy to achieve the
necessary reductions in harvest rate and
promote increases in exploitable
biomass. The SUFullD policy
incorporates the existing policy of a 33
percent increase from the previous
year’s catch limits when stock yields are
expected to increase but would use a
100 percent decrease in recommended
catch when stock yields are projected to
decrease.
The largest decreases in the 2011
catch limit recommendations in Alaska
are for Area 2C, down from 2,661 mt
round weight in 2010 to 1,409 mt round
weight in 2011 (the decline is primarily
the result of the application of the
SUFullD harvest policy adjustment),
and, for Areas 3A and 3B, down from
18,077 mt round weight in 2010 to
13,233 mt round weight in 2011 (the
decline is primarily due to a decline in
estimated exploitable biomass).
Additional information on the Pacific
halibut stock assessment may be found
in the IPHC’s 2010 Pacific halibut stock
assessment (December 2010), available
on the IPHC Web site at https://
www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC
considered the 2010 Pacific halibut
assessment for 2011 at its January 2011
annual meeting when it set the 2011
commercial halibut fishery catch limits.
The proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications (75 FR 76352, December
8, 2010) discuss potential impacts of
expected fishing for groundfish on
The most recent halibut stock
assessment was developed by the IPHC
staff in December 2010 for the 2011
commercial fishery; this assessment was
considered by the IPHC at its annual
January 2011 meeting. Since 2006, the
IPHC stock assessment has been fitted to
a coastwide data set (including the
United States and Canada) to estimate
total exploitable biomass. Coastwide
exploitable biomass at the beginning of
2011 is estimated to be 317 million
pounds (143,790 mt), down from 334
million pounds (151,500 mt) in 2010.
The coastwide exploitable biomass was
apportioned among regulatory areas in
accordance with survey estimates of
relative abundance and other
considerations.
The halibut resource is fully utilized.
Recent catches in the commercial
halibut fisheries in Alaska over the last
17 years (1994–2010) have averaged
32,336 mt round weight per year. In
December 2010, IPHC staff
recommended Alaska commercial catch
limits totaling 19,662 mt round weight
for 2011, a 21 percent decrease from
25,008 mt in 2010. Through December
31, 2010, commercial hook-and-line
harvests of halibut off Alaska totaled
24,095 mt round weight.
The IPHC and its staff have expressed
concerns that the IPHC’s Slow Up-Fast
Down (SUFD) harvest policy
adjustments—which applied a policy of
a 33 percent increase from the previous
year’s catch limit and a 50 percent
decrease in recommended catch—have
not achieved target harvest rate goals
Federal Register citation
75 FR 23189, May 3, 2010.
75 FR 54290, September 7, 2010.
75 FR 56017, September 15, 2010.
halibut stocks, as well as methods
available for reducing halibut bycatch in
the groundfish fisheries.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
The Council recommended that the
halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs)
developed and recommended by the
IPHC for the 2010 through 2012 GOA
groundfish fisheries be used to monitor
the 2011 and 2012 GOA halibut bycatch
mortality allowances. The IPHC will
analyze observer data annually and
recommend changes to the DMRs when
a DMR shows large variation from the
mean. Most of the IPHCs assumed DMRs
were based on an average of mortality
rates determined from NMFS observer
data collected between 1999 and 2008.
Long-term average DMRs were not
available for some fisheries (for
example, the deepwater flatfish fishery
has not been prosecuted in recent
years), so the IPHC used the average
rates from the available years between
1999 and 2008. For other fisheries
targets (which include Atka mackerel,
skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins for all gear types; and for the
hook-and-line sablefish targets), where
no data mortality was available, the
IPHC recommended the mortality rate of
halibut caught in the Pacific cod fishery
for that gear type as a default rate. Table
13 lists the final GOA halibut DMRs for
2011 and 2012. These DMRs are
unchanged from the proposed 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications (75 FR
76352, December 8, 2010). A discussion
of the DMRs and their justification is
presented in Appendix 2 to the 2010
SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
TABLE 13—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 HALIBUT DMRS FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GOA
[Values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
Final 2011 and
2012 mortality
rate (%)
Gear
Target fishery
Hook-and-line .............................................................................
Other fisheries1 ...........................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Rockfish ......................................................................................
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12
9
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TABLE 13—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 HALIBUT DMRS FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GOA—Continued
[Values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
Final 2011 and
2012 mortality
rate (%)
Gear
Target fishery
Trawl ...........................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ....................................................................
Deep-water flatfish ......................................................................
Flathead sole ..............................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock ....................................................................
Other fisheries1 ...........................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Pelagic pollock ............................................................................
Rex sole .....................................................................................
Rockfish ......................................................................................
Sablefish .....................................................................................
Shallow-water flatfish ..................................................................
Other fisheries1 ...........................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Pot ..............................................................................................
1 Other
72
48
65
59
62
62
76
64
67
65
71
17
17
fisheries include all gear types for Atka mackerel, skates, squid, sharks, octopuses, sculpins, and hook-and-line sablefish.
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/
Processor (C/P) and Catcher Vessel (CV)
Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish
harvesting and processing sideboard
limitations on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the
GOA. These sideboard limits are
necessary to protect the interests of
fishermen and processors, who do not
directly benefit from the AFA, from
those fishermen and processors who
receive exclusive harvesting and
processing privileges under the AFA.
Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed
AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species
of groundfish in the GOA. Additionally,
§ 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/
Ps from harvesting any species of
groundfish in the GOA. Furthermore,
§ 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/
Ps 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 CVs that are less than 125 ft
(38.1 m) length overall, 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 CVs in the
GOA are based on their traditional
harvest levels of TAC in groundfish
fisheries covered by the FMP. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the
groundfish sideboard limitations in the
GOA based on the retained catch of nonexempt AFA CVs of each sideboard
species from 1995 through 1997 divided
by the TAC for that species over the
same period. Tables 14 and 15 list the
final 2011 and 2012 non-exempt AFA
CV groundfish sideboard limits. NMFS
will deduct all targeted or incidental
catch of sideboard species made by nonexempt AFA CVs from the sideboard
limits specified in Tables 14 and 15.
TABLE 14—FINAL 2011 GOA NON-EXEMPT AFA 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
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) .................................
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
4,787
11,896
4,475
4,787
14,232
2,139
8,729
5,618
6,811
8,729
5,618
6,811
2,339
9,245
2,895
1,388
908
2,895
1,661
434
5,278
656
1,381
5,278
656
1,381
817
3,231
W inshore .................................
W offshore ................................
C inshore ..................................
C offshore .................................
W inshore .................................
W offshore ................................
0.1365
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.1365
0.1026
12,303
1,367
21,795
2,422
8,202
911
1,679
140
1,502
175
1,120
94
B Season ..................................
March 10–May 31
C Season ..................................
August 25–October 1
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
D Season ..................................
October 1–November 1
Annual .......................................
Pacific cod .................................
A Season 1 ................................
January 1–June 10
B Season 2 ................................
September 1—December 31
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2011 TAC
2011
non-exempt
AFA CV
sideboard
limit
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TABLE 14—FINAL 2011 GOA NON-EXEMPT AFA CV GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
2011 TAC
2011
non-exempt
AFA CV
sideboard
limit
Apportionments by season/gear
Area/component
Annual .......................................
C inshore ..................................
C offshore .................................
E inshore ..................................
E offshore .................................
0.0689
0.0721
0.0079
0.0078
14,530
1,614
1,758
195
1,001
116
14
2
Annual, trawl gear ....................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0000
0.0642
0.0433
334
948
247
0
61
11
Flatfish, Shallow-water ..............
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0156
0.0587
0.0126
4,500
13,000
1,228
70
763
15
Flatfish, deep-water ...................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0000
0.0647
0.0128
529
2,919
2,083
0
189
27
Rex sole ....................................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0007
0.0384
0.0029
1,517
6,294
868
1
242
3
Arrowtooth flounder ...................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0021
0.0280
0.0002
8,000
30,000
2,500
17
840
1
Flathead sole .............................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0036
0.0213
0.0009
2,000
5,000
2,064
7
107
2
Pacific ocean perch ...................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0023
0.0748
0.0466
2,798
10,379
1,937
6
776
90
Northern rockfish .......................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
0.0003
0.0277
2,573
2,281
1
63
Shortraker rockfish ....................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0000
0.0218
0.0100
134
325
455
0
7
5
Other rockfish ............................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0034
0.1699
0.0000
212
507
276
1
86
0
Pelagic shelf rockfish ................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
611
3,052
407
0
0
3
Rougheye rockfish .....................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
81
868
363
0
21
5
Demersal shelf rockfish .............
Annual .......................................
SEO ..........................................
0.0020
300
1
Thornyhead rockfish ..................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Sablefish ....................................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0280
0.0280
0.0280
425
637
708
12
18
20
Atka mackerel ............................
Annual .......................................
Gulfwide ....................................
0.0309
2,000
62
Big skates ..................................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
E ...............................................
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
598
2,049
681
4
13
4
Longnose skates ....................
Annual .......................................
W ..............................................
C ...............................................
0.0063
0.0063
81
2,009
1
13
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11127
TABLE 14—FINAL 2011 GOA NON-EXEMPT AFA CV GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by season/gear
Area/component
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
2011 TAC
2011
non-exempt
AFA CV
sideboard
limit
E ...............................................
Other skates ..............................
Squids ........................................
Sharks .......................................
Octopuses .................................
Sculpins .....................................
1 The
2 The
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
0.0063
762
5
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
13
7
39
6
35
....................................
....................................
....................................
....................................
....................................
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
TABLE 15—FINAL 2012 GOA NON-EXEMPT AFA CV GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
Apportionments by season/gear
Area/component
A Season ...........................................
January 20–March 10
Pollock
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) ........................
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
6,186
15,374
5,783
6,185
18,392
2,765
11,280
7,262
8,803
11,280
7,262
8,803
3,024
9,245
3,741
1,794
1,173
3,740
2,146
561
6,821
847
1,785
6,821
847
1,785
1,057
3,231
W inshore .........................
W offshore ........................
C inshore ..........................
C offshore ........................
W inshore .........................
W offshore ........................
C inshore ..........................
C offshore ........................
E inshore ..........................
E offshore .........................
0.1365
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.1365
0.1026
0.0689
0.0721
0.0079
0.0078
18,475
2,053
19,636
2,182
7,390
821
13,091
1,455
1,583
176
2,522
211
1,353
157
1,009
84
902
105
13
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 ...............................................
2012 TAC
2012
non-exempt
AFA CV
sideboard
limit
Annual, trawl gear .............................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0000
0.0642
0.0433
297
869
226
0
56
10
Flatfish, Shallow-water ..............
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0156
0.0587
0.0126
4,500
13,000
1,228
70
763
15
Flatfish, deep-water ...................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Sablefish ....................................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0000
0.0647
0.0128
541
3,004
2,144
0
194
27
Rex sole ....................................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0007
0.0384
0.0029
1,490
6,184
853
1
237
2
Arrowtooth flounder ...................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
0.0021
0.0280
8,000
30,000
17
840
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TABLE 15—FINAL 2012 GOA NON-EXEMPT AFA CV GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITATIONS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by season/gear
Ratio of
1995–1997
non-exempt
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
Area/component
2012 TAC
2012
non-exempt
AFA CV
sideboard
limit
E .......................................
0.0002
2,500
1
Flathead sole .............................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0036
0.0213
0.0009
2,000
5,000
2,125
7
107
2
Pacific ocean perch ...................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0023
0.0748
0.0466
2,665
9,884
1,845
6
739
86
Northern rockfish .......................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
0.0003
0.0277
2,446
2,168
1
60
Shortraker rockfish ....................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0000
0.0218
0.0100
134
325
455
0
7
5
Other rockfish ............................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0034
0.1699
0.0000
212
507
475
0
86
0
Pelagic shelf rockfish ................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0001
0.0000
0.0067
570
2,850
380
0
0
3
Rougheye rockfish .....................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0000
0.0237
0.0124
81
868
363
0
21
5
Demersal shelf rockfish .............
Annual ...............................................
SEO ..................................
0.0020
300
1
Thornyhead rockfish ..................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0280
0.0280
0.0280
425
637
708
12
18
20
Atka mackerel ............................
Annual ...............................................
Gulfwide ...........................
0.0309
2,000
62
Big skates ..................................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
598
2,049
681
4
13
4
Longnose skates .......................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................
C .......................................
E .......................................
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
81
2,009
762
0
13
5
Other skates ..............................
Squids ........................................
Sharks .......................................
Octopuses .................................
Sculpins .....................................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
0.0063
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
13
7
39
6
35
1 The
2 The
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
...............................................
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel
Halibut PSC Limits
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for
non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are
based on the aggregate retained
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groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
CVs in each PSC target 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 16 lists the final
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2011 and 2012 non-exempt AFA CV
halibut PSC limits for vessels using
trawl gear in the GOA. These halibut
PSC limits are unchanged from the
proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications.
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TABLE 16—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 NON-EXEMPT AFA CV HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR
VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 non-exempt
AFA CV retained
catch to total retained catch
Season
Season dates
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 ................................
all targets ..................................
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish
Harvest Limitations
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish
catch limits for vessels with a history of
participation in the Bering Sea snow
crab fishery to prevent these vessels
from using the increased flexibility
provided by the Crab Rationalization
Program to expand their level of
participation in the GOA groundfish
fisheries. 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
apply to catch made using a LLP license
derived from the history of a restricted
vessel, even if that LLP license is used
on another vessel.
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.340
0.070
0.205
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
FMP. Sections 680.22(d) and (e)
establish the formulas used to calculate
groundfish sideboard limitations in the
GOA. These limitations are calculated
by dividing the non-AFA crab vessels’
retained catch for each sideboard
species from 1996–2000 by the total
retained harvest of that species over the
same period. The resultant ratios are
applied against annual TAC limits to
establish annual sideboard limits for
individual species. Tables 18 and 19 list
these final 2011 and 2012 GOA
groundfish sideboard limits for nonAFA crab vessels. NMFS will deduct all
targeted or incidental catch of sideboard
species made by non-AFA crab vessels
2011 and 2012
non-exempt AFA
CV PSC limit
2011 and 2012
PSC limit
450
100
100
300
200
400
150
0
300
153
7
34
21
68
28
51
0
62
from the sideboard limits specified in
Tables 17 and 18. The sideboard limits
in these tables are different from those
contained in the proposed 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications, since the
TACs in Tables 17 and 18 have been
updated to reflect the final 2011 and
2012 TACs contained in Tables 1 and 2
of this rule.
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).
TABLE 17—FINAL 2011 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
Species
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) ....................................
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
4,787
11,896
4,475
4,787
14,232
2,139
8,729
5,618
6,811
8,729
5,618
6,811
2,339
9,245
47
37
1
47
44
0
86
17
1
86
17
1
0
0
W inshore .....................................
W offshore ...................................
C inshore .....................................
C offshore ....................................
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
12,303
1,367
21,795
2,422
1,110
280
835
502
B Season ............................
March 10–May 31
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
C Season ............................
August 25–October 1
D Season ............................
October 1–November 1
Annual .................................
Pacific cod ....................................
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January 1–June 10
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2011 TAC
2011 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
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TABLE 17—FINAL 2011 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Ratio of
1996–2000
non-AFA
crab vessel
catch to
1996–2000
total harvest
Season/gear
Area/component
B Season 2 ..........................
September 1–December 31
W inshore .....................................
W offshore ...................................
C inshore .....................................
C offshore ....................................
E inshore ......................................
E offshore ....................................
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
0.0110
0.0000
8,202
911
14,530
1,614
1,758
195
740
186
557
335
19
0
Annual .................................
2011 TAC
2011 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
Annual, trawl gear ...............
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
334
948
247
0
0
0
Flatfish, shallow-water .................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0059
0.0001
0.0000
4,500
13,000
1,228
27
1
0
Flatfish, deep-water .....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0035
0.0000
0.0000
529
2,919
2,083
2
0
0
Rex sole .......................................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
1,517
6,294
868
0
0
0
Arrowtooth flounder ......................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0004
0.0001
0.0000
8,000
30,000
2,500
3
3
0
Flathead sole ...............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0002
0.0004
0.0000
2,000
5,000
2,064
0
2
0
Pacific ocean perch .....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
2,798
10,379
1,937
0
0
0
Northern rockfish ..........................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
0.0005
0.0000
2,573
2,281
1
0
Shortraker rockfish .......................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0013
0.0012
0.0009
134
325
455
0
0
0
Other rockfish ...............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0035
0.0033
0.0000
212
507
276
1
2
0
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0017
0.0000
0.0000
611
3,052
407
1
0
0
Rougheye rockfish .......................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0067
0.0047
0.0008
81
868
363
1
4
0
Demersal shelf rockfish ...............
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Sablefish ......................................
Annual .................................
SEO .............................................
0.0000
300
0
Thornyhead rockfish ....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0047
0.0066
0.0045
425
637
708
2
4
3
Atka mackerel ..............................
Annual .................................
Gulfwide .......................................
0.0000
2,000
0
Big skate ......................................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
0.0392
0.0159
598
2,049
23
33
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11131
TABLE 17—FINAL 2011 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Area/component
Ratio of
1996–2000
non-AFA
crab vessel
catch to
1996–2000
total harvest
2011 TAC
2011 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
E ...................................................
0.0000
681
0
Longnose skate ............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
81
2,009
762
3
32
0
Other skates .................................
Squids ..........................................
Sharks ..........................................
Octopuses ....................................
Sculpins ........................................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
37
20
109
17
97
1 The
2 The
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
TABLE 18—FINAL 2012 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
Species
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) ....................................
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
6,186
15,374
5,783
6,185
18,393
2,765
11,280
7,262
8,803
11,280
7,262
8,803
3,024
9,245
61
48
1
61
57
1
111
23
2
111
23
2
0
0
W inshore .....................................
W offshore ...................................
C inshore .....................................
C offshore ....................................
W inshore .....................................
W offshore ...................................
C inshore .....................................
C offshore ....................................
E inshore ......................................
E offshore ....................................
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
0.0902
0.2046
0.0383
0.2074
0.0110
0.0000
11,085
1,232
19,636
2,182
7,390
821
13,091
1,455
1,583
176
1,000
252
752
453
667
168
501
302
17
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 .................................
2012 TAC
2012 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Sablefish ......................................
Annual, trawl gear ...............
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
297
869
226
0
0
0
Flatfish, shallow-water .................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0059
0.0001
0.0000
4,500
13,000
1,228
27
1
0
Flatfish, deep-water .....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0035
0.0000
0.0000
541
3,004
2,144
2
0
0
Rex sole .......................................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
0.0000
1,490
0
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TABLE 18—FINAL 2012 GOA NON-AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CRAB VESSEL GROUNDFISH HARVEST SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Area/component
Ratio of
1996–2000
non-AFA
crab vessel
catch to
1996–2000
total harvest
2012 TAC
2012 nonAFA crab
vessel
sideboard
limit
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
6,184
853
0
0
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0004
0.0001
0.0000
8,000
30,000
2,500
3
3
0
Flathead sole ...............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0002
0.0004
0.0000
2,000
5,000
2,125
0
2
0
Pacific ocean perch .....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
2,665
9,884
1,845
0
0
0
Northern rockfish ..........................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
0.0005
0.0000
2,446
2,168
1
0
Shortraker rockfish .......................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0013
0.0012
0.0009
134
325
455
0
0
0
Other rockfish ...............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0035
0.0033
0.0000
212
507
275
1
2
0
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0017
0.0000
0.0000
570
2,850
380
1
0
0
Rougheye shelf rockfish ..............
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0067
0.0047
0.0008
81
868
363
1
4
0
Demersal shelf rockfish ...............
Annual .................................
SEO .............................................
0.0000
300
0
Thornyhead rockfish ....................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0047
0.0066
0.0045
425
637
708
2
4
3
Atka mackerel ..............................
Annual .................................
Gulfwide .......................................
0.0000
2,000
0
Big skate ......................................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
598
2,049
681
23
33
0
Longnose skate ............................
Annual .................................
W ..................................................
C ..................................................
E ...................................................
0.0392
0.0159
0.0000
81
2,009
762
3
32
0
Other skates .................................
Squids ..........................................
Sharks ..........................................
Octopuses ....................................
Sculpins ........................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Arrowtooth flounder ......................
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Annual
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
Gulfwide
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
0.0176
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
5,496
37
20
109
17
97
1 The
2 The
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
Rockfish Program Groundfish
Sideboard Limitations and Halibut
Mortality Limitations
Section 679.82(d) 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, which could be
used to increase their participation in
other fisheries and possibly adversely
affect the existing participants in those
fisheries. 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 final sideboards for 2011 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. Table 19 lists the final 2011
Rockfish Program harvest limits in the
WYK District and the Western GOA.
These limits reflect the final 2011
pelagic shelf rockfish, Pacific ocean
perch, and northern rockfish TACs
established by this action, including
some changes from the proposed 2011
harvest specifications. Table 20 lists the
final 2011 Rockfish Program halibut
mortality limits for C/Ps and CVs. These
mortality limits are unchanged from the
proposed 2011 harvest specifications.
As discussed earlier in this preamble,
the Rockfish Program will expire in
December 2011. The Council has
proposed a new, revised program and
associated FMP amendment. NMFS is
developing rulemaking to implement
the program, if approved by the
Secretary. The proposed rule and, if
approved, the final rule for the new
Rockfish Program will include revised
groundfish sideboards and halibut
mortality limits for 2012. Since the
current Rockfish Program expires at the
end of 2011, these final harvest
specifications for groundfish sideboards
and halibut mortality limits are only for
2011.
TABLE 19—FINAL 2011 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS BY SECTOR FOR WYK DISTRICT AND WESTERN
REGULATORY AREA BY THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (C/P) AND CATCHER VESSEL (CV) SECTORS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
C/P sector (% of
TAC)
Area
Fishery
West Yakutat District .........................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...................................
Pacific ocean perch .....................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...................................
Pacific ocean perch .....................................
Northern rockfish .........................................
Western GOA ....................................
CV sector
(% of
TAC)
72.4
76.0
63.3
61.1
78.9
1.7
2.9
0
0
0
2011
TAC
2011 C/P
limit
407
1,937
611
2,798
2,573
2011 CV
limit
295
1,472
387
1,710
2,030
7
56
0
0
0
TABLE 20—FINAL 2011 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (C/P) AND
CATCHER VESSEL (CV) SECTORS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Shallow-water
complex halibut
PSC sideboard
ratio
(percent)
Sector
C/P ...............................................
CV ................................................
0.54
6.32
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
GOA 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 (Amendment 80
program) established a limited access
privilege program for the non-AFA trawl
C/P sector. 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
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Deep-water
complex halibut
PSC sideboard
ratio
(percent)
3.99
1.08
2,000
2,000
halibut PSC catch limits for Amendment
80 program participants.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish
harvesting sideboard limits on all
Amendment 80 program vessels, other
than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE, to
amounts no greater than the limits
shown in Table 37 to 50 CFR part 679.
Under regulations at § 679.92(d), 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. Groundfish sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 program vessels
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Annual shallowwater complex
halibut PSC
sideboard limit
(mt)
Annual halibut
mortality limit
(mt)
11
126
Annual deep-water
complex halibut
PSC sideboard limit
(mt)
80
22
operating in the GOA are based on their
average aggregate harvests from 1998 to
2004. Tables 21 and 22 list the final
2011 and 2012 sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 program vessels. These
limits are based on the final 2011 and
2012 TACs established by this action,
and thus may differ proportionately
from the sideboard limits in the
proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications. NMFS will deduct all
targeted or incidental catch of sideboard
species made by Amendment 80
program vessels from the sideboard
limits in Tables 21 and 22.
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TABLE 21—FINAL 2011 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
Amendment
80 sector
vessels
1998–2004
catch to
TAC
Species
Area
Pollock .......................
A Season ..........................................
January 20–February 25
Annual ...............................................
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) ........................................
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
4,786
11,895
4,475
4,876
14,231
2,139
8,729
5,619
6,812
8,729
5,619
6,812
2,339
14
24
9
14
28
4
26
11
14
26
11
14
5
Pacific cod .................
A Season 1 ........................................
January 1–June 10
B Season 2 ........................................
September 1–December 31
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................................
C .......................................................
W ......................................................
C .......................................................
WYK ..................................................
0.020
0.044
0.020
0.044
0.034
13,671
24,217
9,114
16,145
1,953
273
1,066
182
710
66
Pacific ocean perch ...
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................................
WYK ..................................................
0.994
0.961
2,798
1,937
2,781
1,861
Northern rockfish .......
Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual ...............................................
Annual ...............................................
W ......................................................
W ......................................................
WYK ..................................................
1.000
0.764
0.896
2,573
611
407
2,573
467
365
B Season ..........................................
March 10–May 31
C Season ..........................................
August 25–September 15
D Season ..........................................
October 1–November 1
1 The
2 The
2011 TAC
(mt)
2011
Amendment
80 vessel
sideboards
(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 22—FINAL 2012 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Ratio of
Amendment
80 sector
vessels
1998–2004
catch to
TAC
2012 TAC
(mt)
2012
Amendment
80 vessel
sideboards
(mt)
Species
Apportionments and allocations by season
Area
Pollock ...........................
A Season ...................................................
January 20–February 25
Annual ........................................................
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) ..........................
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
6,186
15,375
5,783
6,186
18,392
2,765
11,281
7,261
8,803
11,281
7,261
8,803
3,024
19
31
12
19
37
6
34
15
18
34
15
18
6
Pacific cod .....................
A Season 1 .................................................
January 1–June 10
B Season 2 .................................................
September 1–December 31
Annual ........................................................
W .........................................
C ..........................................
W .........................................
C ..........................................
WYK ....................................
0.020
0.044
0.020
0.044
0.034
12,317
21,817
8,211
14,545
1,759
246
960
164
640
60
Pacific ocean perch .......
Annual ........................................................
W .........................................
0.994
2,665
2,649
B Season ...................................................
March 10–May 31
C Season ...................................................
August 25–September 15
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D Season ...................................................
October 1–November 1
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TABLE 22—FINAL 2012 GOA GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS—Continued
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments and allocations by season
Ratio of
Amendment
80 sector
vessels
1998–2004
catch to
TAC
Area
2012 TAC
(mt)
2012
Amendment
80 vessel
sideboards
(mt)
WYK ....................................
0.961
1,845
1,773
Northern rockfish ...........
Annual ........................................................
W .........................................
1.000
2,446
2,446
Pelagic shelf rockfish .....
Annual ........................................................
W .........................................
WYK ....................................
0.764
0.896
570
380
435
340
1 The
2 The
Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The halibut 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. These values are
slightly lower than the average historic
use to accommodate two factors:
allocation of halibut PSC cooperative
quota under the Central GOA Rockfish
Program and the exemption of the F/V
GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction
(§ 679.92(b)(2)). Table 23 lists the final
2011 and 2012 halibut PSC limits for
Amendment 80 program vessels, as
proscribed at Table 38 to 50 CFR part
679. These PSC limits are unchanged
from those listed in the proposed 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications.
TABLE 23—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 HALIBUT PSC LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN THE GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Historic
Amendment
80 use of
the annual
halibut PSC
limit catch
(ratio)
Season
Season dates
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 ....................
2011 and
2012 annual
PSC limit
(mt)
2011 and
2012
Amendment
80 vessel
PSC limit
(mt)
0.0048
0.0115
0.0189
0.1072
0.0146
0.0521
0.0074
0.0014
0.0227
0.0371
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
2,000
10
23
38
214
29
104
15
3
45
74
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 species group
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
inshore or offshore component
allocation will be reached, the Regional
Administrator may establish a 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 species or species group
in the specified GOA regulatory area or
district (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
The Regional Administrator has
determined that the TAC limits for the
species listed in Table 24 are necessary
to account for the incidental catch of
these species in other anticipated
groundfish fisheries for the 2011 and
2012 fishing years.
TABLE 24—2011 AND 2012 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES IN THE GOA
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Incidental catch
amount
Target
Area/component/gear
Pollock ................................................................
Sablefish2 ...........................................................
all/offshore .......................................................................................................
all/trawl ............................................................................................................
Shortraker rockfish2 ...........................................
Other rockfish .....................................................
all ....................................................................................................................
all ....................................................................................................................
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1 unknown
1,519 (2011)
1,391 (2012)
914
1,195 (2011)
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 24—2011 AND 2012 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES IN THE GOA—Continued
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Target
Rougheye rockfish .............................................
Thornyhead ........................................................
Atka mackerel ....................................................
Big skate ............................................................
Longnose skate ..................................................
Other skates .......................................................
Squids ................................................................
Sharks ................................................................
Octopuses ..........................................................
1 Pollock
Incidental catch
amount
Area/component/gear
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
1,194 (2012)
1,312
1,770
2,000
3,328
2,852
2,093
1,148
6,197
954
is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore component under § 679.20(a)(6)(i).
not applicable to participants in cooperatives conducted under the Rockfish Pilot Program.
2 Closures
Consequently, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the DFA for
the species or species groups listed in
Table 24 as zero mt. 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
24. These closures will remain in effect
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2012.
Section 679.64(b)(5) provides for
management of AFA CV 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 CV
sideboard limits listed in Tables 14 and
15 are necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2011 and 2012 fishing
years. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator sets the DFAs for the
species and species groups in Table 25
at zero. Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing by non-exempt AFA
CVs in the GOA for the species and
specified areas listed in Table 25. These
closures will remain in effect through
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
TABLE 25—2011 AND 2012 NON-EXEMPT AFA CV 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 .......................................................
Western ......................................................................
Eastern and Western .................................................
Arrowtooth flounder ......................................
Flathead sole ................................................
Pacific ocean perch ......................................
Northern rockfish ..........................................
Pelagic shelf rockfish ...................................
Demersal shelf rockfish ................................
Sculpins ........................................................
Squids ...........................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Species
Eastern and Western .................................................
Eastern and Western .................................................
Western ......................................................................
Western ......................................................................
Entire GOA .................................................................
SEO District ...............................................................
Entire GOA .................................................................
Entire GOA .................................................................
Section 680.22 provides for the
management of non-AFA crab vessel
sideboards 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 17 and 18 are insufficient to
support a directed fishery and has set
the sideboard DFA at zero, with the
exception of Pacific cod in the Western
and Central Regulatory Areas.
Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing by non-AFA crab vessels in the
GOA for all species and species groups
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18:07 Feb 28, 2011
Jkt 223001
listed in Tables 17 and 18, 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
CV sideboards listed in Table 19 are
insufficient to support a directed fishery
and has set the sideboard DFA at zero.
Therefore, NMFS is closing directed
fishing for Pacific ocean perch and
pelagic shelf rockfish in the WYK
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Incidental catch amount
14 (inshore) and 2 (offshore) in 2011.
13 (inshore) and 1 (offshore) in 2012.
0.
1 and 3 in 2011.
1 and 2 in 2012.
1 and 17.
2 and 7.
6.
1.
3.
1.
35.
7.
District and the Western Regulatory
Area and for northern rockfish in the
Western Regulatory Area by CVs
participating in the Central GOA
Rockfish Program during the month of
July in 2011. These closures will remain
in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2011.
Closures implemented under the 2010
and 2011 Gulf of Alaska harvest
specifications for groundfish (75 FR
11749, March 12, 2010) remain effective
under authority of these final 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications, and are
posted at the following Web sites:
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https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/
infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2010,
and https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
2010/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 2011 and 2012 fishing years
as necessary for effective conservation
and management.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES
Response to Comments
NMFS did not receive any comments
in response to the proposed 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications (75 FR
76352, December 8, 2010).
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 an EIS for this action
(see ADDRESSES) 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 EIS. In January 2011, NMFS
prepared a Supplemental Information
Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of
the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
The EIS analyzes the environmental
consequences of the groundfish harvest
specifications and alternative harvest
strategies on resources in the action
area. The EIS found no significant
environmental consequences of this
action and its alternatives. The SIR
evaluates the need to prepare a
Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2011
and 2012 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 Regional
Administrator has determined that (1)
approval of the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications, which were set according
to the preferred harvest strategy in the
EIS, do not constitute a change in the
action; and (2) there are no significant
new circumstances or information
relevant to environmental concerns and
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18:07 Feb 28, 2011
Jkt 223001
bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope
of those analyzed and disclosed in the
EIS. Therefore, supplemental National
Environmental Protection Act
documentation is not necessary to
implement the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications.
NMFS also prepared an Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)
as required by section 603 of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, analyzing the
methodology for establishing the
relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the
impacts on small entities of alternative
harvest strategies for the groundfish
fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska.
Accordingly, NMFS used the IRFA
prepared for the EIS is association with
this action. NMFS published a notice of
availability of the IRFA and its summary
in the Classification section of the
proposed 2006 and 2007 harvest
specifications for the GOA in the
Federal Register on December 15, 2006
(71 FR 75460). No comments were
received regarding the IRFA or on the
economic effects of the TAC-setting
methodology.
NMFS also prepared a Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA),
as required by section 604 of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. Copies of the
FRFA are available from NMFS, Alaska
Region (see ADDRESSES). The FRFA
analyzed the methodology for
establishing the relevant TACs. As set
forth in the methodology, TACs are set
to a level that fall within the range of
ABCs recommended by the SSC; the
sum of the TACs must achieve optimum
yield specified in the FMP. While the
specific numbers that the methodology
may produce vary from year to year, the
methodology itself remains constant.
Accordingly, NMFS is using the FRFA
prepared for the EIS in association with
this action. Pursuant to sections 3.2.3
and 3.2.4 of the FMP, the established
methodology produces ABCs and TACs
within specified ranges and the
numbers in this final rule’s preferred
alternative are within those ranges.
In addition, 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)). The need for, and objectives of,
this final rule are described in the
preamble. A summary of the 2007 FRFA
follows. This action is taken in
accordance with the FMP prepared by
the Council pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Act.
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11137
The directly regulated small entities
include approximately 747 small CVs
and fewer than 20 small C/Ps in the
GOA. The entities directly regulated by
this action harvest groundfish in the
EEZ of the GOA, and in parallel
fisheries within State of Alaska waters.
These include entities operating CVs
and C/Ps within the action area, and
entities receiving direct allocations of
groundfish. CVs and C/Ps 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 (see Table 37 to the
Economic Status of the Groundfish
Fisheries off Alaska, 2005, in the 2006
SAFE report, dated February 2007,
available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES)).
Estimates of gross product value for
the GOA groundfish were used as an
index of revenue and potential impacts
of the alternative harvest strategies on
small entities. Revenues were projected
to decline from 2006 levels in 2007 and
2008 under the preferred alternative due
to declines in ABCs for key species, but
by relatively small amounts. For
example, the 2006 estimated earned
revenue for GOA groundfish was 199.4
million dollars, with projected revenues
of 192.2 million dollars and 199.2
million dollars in 2007 and 2008,
respectively.
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—the ‘‘no action’’
alternative—would have set TACs equal
to zero.
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all
associated with smaller levels for
important fishery TACs than Alternative
2. Estimated total gross product values
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
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
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11138
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations
appears to be due to the assumption that
the full Alternative 1 TAC would be
harvested. Much of the larger revenue
was due to increases in flatfish TACs
that were much greater 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
are 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.
In addition to the IRFA prepared in
association with the groundfish harvest
specifications EIS, NMFS prepared a
supplemental IRFA (SIRFA) in
conjunction with the proposed harvest
specifications (see ADDRESSES). The
SIRFA evaluated the specification of
separate OFLs and TACs for squids,
sharks, octopuses, and sculpins in the
GOA, consistent with the previously
selected harvest strategy, the tier system
used to set OFL (per the FMP),
Amendment 87 to the FMP, the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other
applicable law (see ADDRESSES).
Amendment 87 to the FMP was
published on September 22, 2010, and
dissolved the ‘‘other species’’ complex
into its component species of squids,
sharks, octopuses, and sculpins.
This supplemental Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (SFRFA)
incorporates the SIRFA, a summary of
the significant issues raised by the
public comments in response to the
IRFA, NMFS’ responses to those
comments, and provides a summary of
the analyses completed to support the
action. The SFRFA augments the FRFA
prepared in connection with the 2007
Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specification EIS.
NMFS published the proposed
harvest specifications on December 8,
2010 (75 FR 76352) with comments
invited through January 7, 2011. A
SIRFA was prepared and summarized in
the ‘‘Classification’’ section of the
proposed rule. The description of this
action, its purpose, and its legal basis
are described in the preamble to the
proposed rule and are not repeated here.
No public comments were specifically
received on the SIRFA or on the
economic impacts of this action more
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generally. No changes were made from
the proposed rule to the final rule.
The 2010 Economic Status of
Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska report,
prepared in conjunction with the 2010
SAFE report (see ADDRESSES), identifies
669 small groundfish entities operating
in the GOA, with average revenues from
all sources of about $600,000. Most of
these (660) are C/Vs. A majority of the
C/Vs (510), used hook-and-line gear and
had average revenues of about $390,000.
There were 73 trawl C/Vs, with average
revenues of about $840,000, and 123 pot
C/Vs with average revenues of $550,000.
There were five C/Ps, mostly hook-andline vessels, with average gross revenues
of about $2.49 million. The 2010 SAFE
report may overstate the number of
small entities because it considers
individual vessel gross revenues, but
does not capture affiliations among
vessels. All of these small entities
would be directly regulated by this
action. As described below, however,
certain small entities may be more likely
than others to be adversely affected by
this action as a result of potential
impacts associated with the incidental
catch of sharks, octopuses, or squids in
other target fisheries.
This action does not modify any
recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
NMFS considered several alternatives
to the action to specify separate OFLs
and TACS for GOA sculpins, sharks,
octopuses, and squids species
complexes. However, each of these
alternatives has been eliminated from
further consideration because it either
does not minimize significant economic
impacts on a substantial number of
small entities or does not accomplish
the stated objectives of, or is in conflict
with the requirements of, applicable
statutes.
This action is intended to fulfill the
agency’s mandate to establish catch
limits that are based on the best
available scientific information, and to
achieve optimum yield while
preventing overfishing. This action
adopts the alternative that is both
consistent with the agency’s obligations
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
the FMP and minimizes the likelihood
that the specification of TACs and OFLs
for the sculpin, sharks, octopuses, and
squid species complexes will adversely
affect small entities.
NMFS considered dividing the TACs
for each of the species complexes among
different regulatory areas in the GOA.
Any such further division of the TACs
would not change the total TACs for
each species complex in the GOA as a
whole. However, the incidental catch of
fishing vessels that operate within each
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of the regulatory areas would be
counted against a reduced TAC and
OFL, which would increase the
likelihood that the TAC or OFL would
be reached and that one or more area
closures may be triggered.
NMFS considered excusing small
entities from compliance with the TACs
for each of the species complexes
evaluated in the SFRFA. However, the
Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS
to implement conservation and
management measures that prevent
overfishing. Authorizing unlimited
incidental catch of these species
complexes by small entities would
present an unacceptable risk of
overfishing, and would not be
consistent with the agency’s obligations
under Magnuson-Stevens Act, nor with
the requirements of the Council’s FMP.
In order to minimize the economic
impacts of this action, NMFS
considered allocating relatively large
portions of the TACs for each of the
species complexes to potentially
affected small entities. However, any
such allocation, which would be
motivated solely by economic
considerations under the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, would not be consistent
with National Standard 5, which states
that ‘‘no [conservation and management
measure] shall have economic allocation
as its sole purpose.’’ 16 U.S.C.
1851(a)(5).
Finally, NMFS considered
establishing a single group TAC for all
four of the species complexes in the
GOA, which would substantially reduce
the likelihood that incidental catch
would reach or exceed the TAC or OFL
and result in area closures of target
fisheries. However, the establishment of
a stock complex comprised of species
with such disparate life histories would
not be consistent with the statutory
requirement to establish catch limits
that prevent overfishing for stocks in the
fishery, nor with the Council’s intent in
enacting Amendment 87.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals
resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed
in the EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness for this
rule. Plan Team review occurred in
November 2010, and Council
consideration and recommendations
occurred in December 2010.
Accordingly, NMFS review could not
begin until January 2011. For all
fisheries not currently closed because
the TACs established under the final
2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (75
FR 11749, March 12, 2010) were not
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reached, the possibility exists that they
would be closed prior to the expiration
of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period,
if implemented, 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, skates, squids, sharks, and
octopuses 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. If a
TAC is reached, NMFS would close
directed fishing or prohibit retention for
the applicable species, pending
completion of the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period. Any delay in
allocating the final TACs in these
fisheries would cause confusion to the
industry and potential economic harm
through unnecessary discards. Waiving
the 30-day delay allows NMFS to
prevent economic loss to fishermen that
could occur should 2011 TACs be
reached prior to the close of the 30 day
delay. 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.
In fisheries subject to declining
sideboards, a failure to implement the
updated sideboards before initial
season’s end could preclude the
intended economic protection to the
non-sideboarded sectors. Conversely, in
fisheries with increasing sideboards,
economic benefit could be precluded to
the sideboarded sectors.
If the final harvest specifications are
not effective by March 12, 2011, which
is the start of the 2011 Pacific halibut
season as specified by the IPHC, the
hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. This would result in
confusion for the industry and
economic harm from unnecessary
discard of sablefish that are caught
along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut
are managed under the same IFQ
program. Immediate effectiveness of the
final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish
IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with
the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, the
immediate effectiveness of this action is
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18:07 Feb 28, 2011
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required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available
scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species which
have lower 2011 ABCs and TACs than
those established in the 2010 and 2011
harvest specifications (75 FR 11749,
March 12, 2010). Immediate
effectiveness also would give the fishing
industry the earliest possible
opportunity to plan and conduct its
fishing operations with respect to new
information about TAC limits.
Therefore, NMFS finds good 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 final 2011 and 2012
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 2011
and 2012 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 22, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–4402 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am]
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11139
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521–0640–02]
RIN 0648–XZ90
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; Final 2011 and 2012
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces final 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 2011 and 2012 fishing years,
and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (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
(Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 1, 2011,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2012.
SUMMARY:
Electronic copies of the
Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD), Supplementary Information
Report (SIR) to the EIS, the Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA),
and Supplemental FRFA prepared for
this action are available from https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2010
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
November 2010, is 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 FMP and govern the
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
ADDRESSES:
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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11111-11139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4402]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126522-0640-02]
RIN 0648-XZ89
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Final 2011 and 2012 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 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2011
and 2012 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. 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.), March 1,
2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2010 Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish
resources of the GOA, dated November 2010, is 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: Tom Pearson, 907-481-1780, or Obren
Davis, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (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 the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species, the sum of which must be within the
optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt).
Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual TACs, halibut prohibited species
catch (PSC) amounts, and seasonal allowances of pollock and inshore/
offshore Pacific cod. Upon consideration of public comment received
under Sec. 679.20(c)(1), NMFS must publish notice of final harvest
specifications for up to two fishing years as annual target TAC, per
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final harvest specifications set forth in
Tables 1 through 25 of this document reflect the outcome of this
process, as required at Sec. 679.20(c).
The proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for groundfish of
the GOA and Pacific halibut PSC allowances were published in the
Federal Register on December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76352). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 7, 2011. NMFS did not receive any
comments on the proposed harvest specifications. In December 2010, NMFS
consulted with the Council regarding the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications. After considering public testimony, as well as
biological and economic data that were available at the Council's
December 2010 meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council. For 2011, the
sum of the TAC amounts is 318,288 mt. For 2012, the sum of the TAC
amounts is 335,078 mt.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
In December 2010, 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 draft 2010 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2010 (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 overfishing level (OFL)
and ABC for each species or species group. The 2010 SAFE report was
made available for public review upon notification of the proposed
harvest specifications.
In previous years the largest changes from the proposed to the
final harvest specifications have been based on the most recent NMFS
stock surveys, which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and
spatial distribution, and changes to the models used for making stock
assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results,
changes to assessment models, and accompanying stock estimates at the
November Plan Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed this information at
the December 2010 Council meeting. In November 2010, the Plan Team
considered updated stock assessments for pollock, Pacific cod,
sablefish, sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses that are included in
the final 2010 SAFE report. For the other groundfish stocks without
recent surveys or other new scientific information, the final 2010 SAFE
report updates the final 2009 SAFE assessments to include any other
available, recent information, such as 2010 catch information, which
does not result in significant changes from the proposed 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications. Changes from the proposed to the final harvest
specifications in 2011 for newly assessed groundfish stocks are
discussed below. New stock surveys and assessments are scheduled for
2011 and will be considered at the Plan Team and Council meetings in
2011 for the 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries.
The final ABCs and TACs 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 OFLs. The formulas
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the
level of reliable information available to
[[Page 11112]]
fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive
series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with tier one
representing the highest level of information quality available and
tier six representing the lowest level of information quality
available.
The SSC adopted the final 2011 and 2012 OFLs and ABCs recommended
by the Plan Team for all groundfish species, with the exception of
sharks. The Plan Team's ABC recommendation for the shark species group
was based on a 0.04 fishing mortality rate. However, the SSC preferred
an ABC based on the tier 5 ABC calculation for spiny dogfish (where the
ABC equals 75 percent of the OFL) and a tier 6 calculation for other
sharks in the group. The Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC
recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations. 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 recommended TACs for 2011 and 2012 that are equal to
ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, Pacific
ocean perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish,
pelagic shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish,
big skate, longnose skate, other skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins. The Council recommended TACs for 2011 and 2012 that are less
than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish,
arrowtooth flounder, other rockfish, and Atka mackerel. The Pacific cod
TACs are set to accommodate the State of Alaska's (State's) guideline
harvest levels (GHLs) for Pacific cod so that the ABC is not exceeded.
The flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder TACs
are set to conserve the halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries.
The other rockfish TAC is set to reduce the amount of discards in the
Southeast Outside (SEO) District. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to
accommodate incidental catch amounts in other fisheries.
The 2011 and 2012 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 EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds that the Council's
recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the biological
condition of the groundfish stocks as described in the final 2010 SAFE
report. NMFS also finds that the Council's recommendations for OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs 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 harvest 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 2011 and 2012 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sums of the 2011 and
2012 ABCs are 590,121 mt and 603,990 mt, respectively, which are higher
in 2011 and 2012 than the 2010 ABC sum of 565,499 mt (75 FR 11749,
March 12, 2010).
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect
the GHL established by the State for the Prince William Sound (PWS)
pollock fishery since its inception in 1995. Genetic studies have led
fisheries scientists to believe that the pollock in PWS is not a
separate stock from the combined W/C/WYK population. Accordingly, the
Council recommended decreasing the W/C/WYK pollock ABC to account for
the State's PWS GHL. For 2011 and 2012, the PWS GHL for pollock 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)(iv)(A) through (B)).
As in 2010, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2011 and 2012
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment
scientists believe the use of unbiased commercial fishery data
reflecting catch-per-unit-effort provides rational input for stock
distribution assessments. NMFS evaluates annually the use of commercial
fishery data 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 SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes
available five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area ABCs to
trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish
fisheries in the WYK District (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
The AP, SSC, 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 2011 and 2012 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 Plan
Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and
Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC
recommendations. Accordingly, the Council recommended reducing the 2011
and 2012 Pacific cod TACs from the ABCs in the Eastern, Central and
Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. Therefore, the 2011
Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following amounts: (1)
Eastern GOA, 651 mt; (2) Central GOA, 13,454 mt; and (3) Western GOA,
7,595 mt. The 2012 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 587 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,121 mt;
and (3) Western GOA, 6,842 mt. These amounts reflect the sum of the
State's 2011 and 2012 GHLs in these areas, which are 25 percent of the
Eastern, Central, and Western GOA ABCs, respectively. The percentage of
the ABC used to calculate the 2011 and 2012 GHL for the State-managed
Pacific cod fishery in PWS fisheries has been increased to 25 percent
of the Eastern GOA ABC in 2011 and 2012, an increase from 15 percent in
2010.
NMFS establishes 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 (Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
For 2011 and 2012, NMFS establishes an A season directed fishing
allowance
[[Page 11113]]
(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.
Other Actions Affecting the 2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications
NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 87 to the FMP on
October 6, 2010 (75 FR 61639), effective November 5, 2010. Amendment 87
moved squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins from the ``other
species'' category to the ``target species'' category in the GOA and
eliminated the ``other species'' category in the GOA FMP. Amendment 87
revised the FMP to meet the National Standard 1 guidelines for annual
catch limits and accountability measures and requires that OFLs, ABCs,
and TACs be established for squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins as
part of the annual groundfish harvest specifications process. Based on
the 2010 final SAFE report, NMFS is establishing ABCs, TACs, and OFLs
for squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins for 2011 and 2012 (see
Tables 1 and 2).
In October 2008, the Council adopted Amendment 34 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs.
Amendment 34 would amend the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab
Rationalization Program (Crab Rationalization Program) to exempt
additional fishery participants from harvest limits, called sideboards,
which apply to some vessels and license limitation program (LLP)
licenses that are used to participate in GOA Pacific cod and pollock
fisheries. These particular sideboards are discussed under the
subsequent section titled ``Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest
Limitations.'' Tables 17 and 18 specify the 2011 and 2012 sideboard
amounts. If the Secretary approves Amendment 34, NMFS would revise the
sideboard amounts specified in Tables 17 and 18. Pending completion of
applicable rulemaking, these revisions could be effective as soon as
the latter half of 2011.
Changes From the Proposed 2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications in the
GOA
In October 2010, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (75 FR 76352, December 8, 2010)
were based largely upon information contained in the final 2009 SAFE
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2009 (see
ADDRESSES). The Council proposed that the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs
established for the 2011 groundfish fisheries (75 FR 11749, March 12,
2010) be rolled over to 2011 and 2012, pending completion and review of
the 2010 SAFE report at its December 2010 meeting.
As described previously, the SSC adopted the final 2011 and 2012
OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team, with the exception of
sharks. The Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and
the AP's TAC recommendations for 2011 and 2012. The final 2011 ABCs are
higher than the 2011 ABCs published in the proposed 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications (75 FR 76352, December 8, 2010) for sablefish,
arrowtooth flounder, northern rockfish, other rockfish, pelagic shelf
rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins. Separate ABCs for squid, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins are
being established for the first time in 2011 and 2012. These four
species were formerly grouped under the ``other species'' category,
with an aggregate OFL, ABC, and TAC. The final 2011 ABCs are lower than
the proposed 2011 ABCs for pollock, Pacific cod, deepwater flatfish,
rex sole, flathead sole, and rougheye rockfish. The final 2012 ABCs are
higher than the proposed 2012 ABCs for pollock, sablefish, deepwater
flatfish, flathead sole, other rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish,
squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins. In contrast, the final 2012
ABCs are lower than the proposed 2012 ABCs for Pacific cod, rex sole,
arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish, and rougheye rockfish. For the remaining target
species, the Council recommended, and the Secretary approved, final
2011 and 2012 ABC levels that are the same as the proposed 2011 and
2012 ABC levels.
Additional information explaining the changes between the proposed
and final ABCs is included in the final 2010 SAFE report, which was not
available when the Council made its proposed ABC and TAC
recommendations in October 2010. At that time, the most recent stock
assessment information was contained in the final 2009 SAFE report. The
final 2010 SAFE report contains the best and most recent scientific
information on the condition of the groundfish stocks, as previously
discussed in this preamble. This document currently is available from
the Council (see ADDRESSES). The Council considered the final 2010 SAFE
report in December 2010 when it made recommendations for the final 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications, including recommendations for 2011 and
2012 TAC limits. The Council's final 2011 and 2012 TAC recommendations
increase fishing opportunities for species for which the Council had
sufficient information to raise TAC levels. Conversely, the Council
reduced TAC levels to provide greater protection for some species. In
the GOA, the total final 2011 TAC amount is 318,288 mt, a decrease of
four percent from the total proposed 2011 TAC limit of 330,746 mt. The
total final 2012 TAC amount is 335,078 mt, an increase of one percent
from the total proposed 2011 TAC limit of 330,746 mt. For the species
and species groups for which a new assessment was prepared, the
greatest TAC increases were for sablefish, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins, while the greatest decreases were for pollock and Pacific
cod. These TAC changes corresponded to associated changes in the ABC
levels, as recommended by the SSC.
The largest 2011 decreases in TAC occurred for pollock and Pacific
cod. Pollock decreased from the proposed limit 109,105 mt to the final
limit of 96,215 mt (12 percent decrease). While the 2010 SAFE report
indicates an increase in spawning biomass, the current spawning biomass
level places this stock in Tier 3b. Accordingly, ABC was calculated as
required by the FMP for Tier 3b stocks, and TAC was set equal to ABC.
Although the final TAC for pollock is reduced from the proposed level
by 12 percent, this limit is still an increase over the final 2010
pollock TAC. Pacific cod decreased from 73,426 mt to 65,100 mt (11
percent decrease) in light of a new assessment model that projects a
slight decline of Pacific cod biomass in coming years (rather than a
slight increase as projected in 2009) and a decrease in the biomass
estimates for recent year (2006-2009) classes.
The basis for the increased TACs for sablefish, sharks, octopuses,
and sculpins varied. Sablefish increased from 9,300 mt to 11,290 mt (21
percent increase) due to an increased biomass estimate from the 2010
sablefish hook-and-line survey. Sharks increased from 957 mt to 6,197
mt (548 percent increase) due to the SSC's modification
[[Page 11114]]
of the Plan Team's recommendations for calculating shark ABC. The SSC
recommended estimating the spiny dogfish ABC on a tier 5 approach,
using the best available estimates for biomass and natural mortality
rates for this species. For all other shark species, the SSC
recommended using tier 6, which is based on recent average catch
information. In combination, these recommendations led to the increased
ABC for the shark complex. Octopuses increased from 224 mt to 954 mt
(326 percent increase) due to the adoption of a biomass-based estimate
placing octopuses in tier 5, rather than tier 6. Tier 6 management is
based on the use of average historic catch data, which the Plan Team
and SSC agreed was not an appropriate method to use for setting the OFL
for octopuses. Instead, the octopus OFL was set using a modified tier 5
approach, using the average of the three most recent GOA trawl survey
estimates of biomass as a minimum estimate, and applying a conservative
natural mortality rate to that estimate to establish the OFL. Sculpins
increased from 4,746 mt to 5,496 mt (16 percent increase) due to
revised estimates of natural mortality.
The SSC recommended, and the Council concurred, that sharks and
octopuses be placed on bycatch status. This eliminates the possibility
that these species could be subject to directed fishing, and minimizes
the potential catch of the species in these categories. The SSC
believed that the stock assessment models for these species groups
should be improved before considering allowing any directed fishing to
occur. As such, NMFS is placing sharks and octopuses on bycatch status
for the entire year.
Detailed information providing the basis for the changes described
above is contained in the final 2010 SAFE report. The other TAC
increases or decreases in the final 2011 harvest specifications are
within 2 percent of the proposed 2011 harvest specifications. The final
TACs are based on the most recent scientific information available.
These TACs are specified in compliance with the harvest strategy
described in both the proposed and final rules for the 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications. The changes in TAC limits between the proposed
and this final rule are compared in the following table.
Comparison of Proposed and Final 2011 and 2012 GOA TACs
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2011 2012 2012
Species 2011 final proposed difference 2012 final proposed difference
TAC TAC from proposed TAC TAC from proposed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock..................... 96,215 109,105 -12,890 121,649 109,105 12,544
Pacific cod................. 65,100 73,426 -8,326 58,650 73,426 -14,776
Sablefish................... 11,290 9,300 1,990 10,345 9,300 1,045
Shallow-water flatfish...... 20,062 20,062 0 20,062 20,062 0
Deep-water flatfish......... 6,305 6,325 -20 6,486 6,325 161
Rex sole.................... 9,565 9,592 -27 9,396 9,592 -196
Arrowtooth flounder......... 43,000 43,000 0 43,000 43,000 0
Flathead sole............... 10,587 10,576 11 10,693 10,576 117
Pacific ocean perch......... 16,997 16,993 4 16,187 16,993 -806
Northern rockfish........... 4,854 4,808 46 4,614 4,808 -194
Shortraker rockfish......... 914 914 0 914 914 0
Other rockfish.............. 1,195 1,192 3 1,914 1,192 2
Pelagic shelf rockfish...... 4,754 4,727 27 4,438 4,727 -289
Rougheye rockfish........... 1,312 1,313 -1 1,312 1,313 -1
Demersal shelf rockfish..... 300 295 5 300 295 5
Thornyhead rockfish......... 1,770 1,770 0 1,770 1,770 0
Atka mackerel............... 2,000 2,000 0 2,000 2,000 0
Big skate................... 3,328 3,328 0 3,328 3,328 0
Longnose skates............. 2,852 2,852 0 2,852 2,852 0
Other skates................ 2,093 2,093 0 2,093 2,093 0
Squids...................... 1,148 1,148 0 1,148 1,148 0
Sharks...................... 6,197 957 5,240 6,197 957 5,240
Octopuses................... 954 224 224 954 224 730
Sculpins.................... 5,496 4,746 750 5,496 4,746 750
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................... 318,288 330,746 -12,458 335,078 330,746 4,332
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final 2011 and 2012 TAC recommendations for the GOA are within
the OY range established for the GOA and do not exceed the ABC for any
single species or complex. Tables 1 and 2 list the 2011 and 2012,
respectively, final OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts for GOA groundfish.
Table 1--Final 2011 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 \1\ OFL ABC TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\.................................. Shumagin (610).................. n/a 27,031 27,031
Chirikof (620).................. n/a 37,365 37,365
Kodiak (630).................... n/a 20,235 20,235
[[Page 11115]]
WYK (640)....................... n/a 2,339 2,339
W/C/WYK (subtotal).............. 118,030 86,970 86,970
SEO (650)....................... 12,326 9,245 9,245
Total........................... 130,356 96,215 96,215
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.............................. W............................... n/a 30,380 22,785
C............................... n/a 53,816 40,362
E............................... n/a 2,604 1,953
Total........................... 102,600 86,800 65,100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \4\................................ W............................... n/a 1,620 1,620
C............................... n/a 4,740 4,740
WYK............................. n/a 1,990 1,990
SEO............................. n/a 2,940 2,940
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)...... n/a 4,930 4,930
Total........................... 13,340 11,290 11,290
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water flatfish \6\................... W............................... n/a 23,681 4,500
C............................... n/a 29,999 13,000
WYK............................. n/a 1,228 1,228
SEO............................. n/a 1,334 1,334
Total........................... 67,768 56,242 20,062
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \5\...................... W............................... n/a 529 529
C............................... n/a 2,919 2,919
WYK............................. n/a 2,083 2,083
SEO............................. n/a 774 774
Total........................... 7,823 6,305 6,305
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole..................................... W............................... n/a 1,517 1,517
C............................... n/a 6,294 6,294
WYK............................. n/a 868 868
SEO............................. n/a 886 886
Total........................... 12,499 9,565 9,565
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... W............................... n/a 34,317 8,000
C............................... n/a 144,559 30,000
WYK............................. n/a 22,551 2,500
SEO............................. n/a 11,723 2,500
Total........................... 251,068 213,150 43,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................................ W............................... n/a 17,442 2,000
C............................... n/a 28,104 5,000
WYK............................. n/a 2,064 2,064
SEO............................. n/a 1,523 1,523
Total........................... 61,412 49,133 10,587
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\...................... W............................... 3,221 2,798 2,798
C............................... 11,948 10,379 10,379
WYK............................. n/a 1,937 1,937
SEO............................. n/a 1,883 1,883
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)...... 4,397 3,820 3,820
Total........................... 19,566 16,997 16,997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish 8, 9....................... W............................... n/a 2,573 2,573
C............................... n/a 2,281 2,281
E............................... n/a 0 0
Total........................... 5,784 4,854 4,854
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \11\..................... W............................... n/a 134 134
C............................... n/a 325 325
E............................... n/a 455 455
Total........................... 1,219 914 914
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish 9, 12......................... W............................... n/a 212 212
C............................... n/a 507 507
WYK............................. n/a 276 276
SEO............................. n/a 2,757 200
[[Page 11116]]
Total........................... 4,881 3,752 1,195
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\.................. W............................... n/a 611 611
C............................... n/a 3,052 3,052
WYK............................. n/a 407 407
SEO............................. n/a 684 684
Total........................... 5,570 4,754 4,754
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish \10\...... W............................... n/a 81 81
C............................... n/a 868 868
E............................... n/a 363 363
Total........................... 1,579 1,312 1,312
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish \14\................. SEO............................. 479 300 300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish.......................... W............................... n/a 425 425
C............................... n/a 637 637
E............................... n/a 708 708
Total........................... 2,360 1,770 1,770
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................................ GW.............................. 6,200 4,700 2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate \15\............................... W............................... n/a 598 598
C............................... n/a 2,049 2,049
E............................... n/a 681 681
Total........................... 4,438 3,328 3,328
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skate \16\.......................... W............................... n/a 81 81
C............................... n/a 2,009 2,009
E............................... n/a 762 762
Total........................... 3,803 2,852 2,852
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \17\............................ GW.............................. 2,791 2,093 2,093
Squids....................................... GW.............................. 1,530 1,148 1,148
Sharks....................................... GW.............................. 8,263 6,197 6,197
Octopuses.................................... GW.............................. 1,273 954 954
Sculpins..................................... GW.............................. 7,328 5,496 5,496
------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... ................................ 723,928 590,121 318,288
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 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. Table 5 lists
the final 2011 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 7 lists the final 2011 Pacific cod seasonal
apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2011. Table 3 lists the final 2011 sablefish
TACs.
\5\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\6\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to
the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern
rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\10\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\11\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District means slope
rockfish.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means, S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus
(yellowtail).
\14\ ``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).
\15\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\16\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\17\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.
[[Page 11117]]
Table 2--Final 2012 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 \1\ OFL ABC TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\.................................. Shumagin (610).................. n/a 34,932 34,932
Chirikof (620).................. n/a 48,293 48,293
Kodiak (630).................... n/a 26,155 26,155
WYK (640)....................... n/a 3,024 3,024
W/C/WYK (subtotal).............. 151,030 112,404 112,404
SEO (650)....................... 12,326 9,245 9,245
Total........................... 163,356 121,649 121,649
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.............................. W............................... n/a 27,370 20,528
C............................... n/a 48,484 36,362
E............................... n/a 2,346 1,760
Total........................... 92,300 78,200 58,650
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \4\................................ W............................... n/a 1,484 1,484
C............................... n/a 4,343 4,343
WYK............................. n/a 1,818 1,818
SEO............................. n/a 2,700 2,700
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)...... n/a 4,518 4,518
Total........................... 12,232 10,345 10,345
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water flatfish \6\................... W............................... n/a 23,681 4,500
C............................... n/a 29,999 13,000
WYK............................. n/a 1,228 1,228
SEO............................. n/a 1,334 1,334
Total........................... 67,768 56,242 20,062
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \5\...................... W............................... n/a 541 541
C............................... n/a 3,004 3,004
WYK............................. n/a 2,144 2,144
SEO............................. n/a 797 797
Total........................... 8,046 6,486 6,486
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole..................................... W............................... n/a 1,490 1,490
C............................... n/a 6,184 6,184
WYK............................. n/a 853 853
SEO............................. n/a 889 889
Total........................... 12,279 9,396 9,396
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... W............................... n/a 33,975 8,000
C............................... n/a 143,119 30,000
WYK............................. n/a 22,327 2,500
SEO............................. n/a 11,606 2,500
Total........................... 248,576 211,027 43,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................................ W............................... n/a 17,960 2,000
C............................... n/a 28,938 5,000
WYK............................. n/a 2,125 2,125
SEO............................. n/a 1,568 1,568
Total........................... 63,202 50,591 10,693
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\...................... W............................... 3,068 2,665 2,665
C............................... 11,379 9,884 9,884
WYK............................. n/a 1,845 1,845
SEO............................. n/a 1,793 1,793
E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)...... 4,188 3,638 3,638
Total........................... 18,635 16,187 16,187
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish 8, 9....................... W............................... n/a 2,446 2,446
C............................... n/a 2,168 2,168
E............................... n/a 0 0
Total........................... 5,498 4,614 4,614
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \11\..................... W............................... n/a 134 134
C............................... n/a 325 325
E............................... n/a 455 455
Total........................... 1,219 914 914
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish 9, 12......................... W............................... n/a 212 212
C............................... n/a 507 507
[[Page 11118]]
WYK............................. n/a 275 275
SEO............................. n/a 2,757 200
Total........................... 4,881 3,751 1,194
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\.................. W............................... n/a 570 570
C............................... n/a 2,850 2,850
WYK............................. n/a 380 380
SEO............................. n/a 638 638
Total........................... 5,387 4,438 4,438
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish \10\...... W............................... n/a 81 81
C............................... n/a 868 868
E............................... n/a 363 363
Total........................... 1,579 1,312 1,312
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish \14\................. SEO............................. 479 300 300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish.......................... W............................... n/a 425 425
C............................... n/a 637 637
E............................... n/a 708 708
Total........................... 2,360 1,770 1,770
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................................ GW.............................. 6,200 4,700 2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate \15\............................... W............................... n/a 598 598
C............................... n/a 2,049 2,049
E............................... n/a 681 681
Total........................... 4,438 3,328 3,328
Longnose skate \16\.......................... W............................... n/a 81 81
C............................... n/a 2,009 2,009
E............................... n/a 762 762
Total........................... 3,803 2,852 2,852
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \17\............................ GW.............................. 2,791 2,093 2,093
Squids....................................... GW.............................. 1,530 1,148 1,148
Sharks....................................... GW.............................. 8,263 6,197 6,197
Octopuses.................................... GW.............................. 1,272 954 954
Sculpins..................................... GW.............................. 7,328 5,496 5,496
------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... ................................ 743,421 603,990 335,078
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 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. Table 6 lists
the final 2012 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 8 lists the final 2012 Pacific cod seasonal
apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl gear only for 2012. Table 3 lists the final 2012 trawl allocation of
sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\6\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 2 mt apportionment of ABC to
the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern
rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\10\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\11\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District means slope
rockfish.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means, S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus
(yellowtail).
\14\ ``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).
\15\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\16\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\17\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.
[[Page 11119]]
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date during
the fishing year. In 2010, NMFS reapportioned all the reserves in the
final harvest specifications. For 2011 and 2012, NMFS proposed
reapportionment of all the reserves in the proposed 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on December 8,
2010 (75 FR 76352). NMFS did not receive any public comments on the
proposed reapportionments. For the final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications, NMFS reapportioned, as proposed, all the reserves for
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, squids, sharks, octopuses, and
sculpins. 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 five 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)(4)(i)). In recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District
of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended allocating five
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl
gear in the WYK District and making the remainder of the WYK sablefish
TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. NMFS concurs with
the Council's recommendation, and, as a result, allocates 100 percent
of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line
gear. This recommendation results in an allocation of 247 mt to trawl
gear and 1,744 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK District in 2011, an
allocation of 2,940 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District in
2011, and 226 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District in 2012. Table 3
lists the allocations of the 2011 sablefish TACs to hook-and-line and
trawl gear. Table 4 lists the allocations of the 2012 sablefish TACs to
trawl gear.
The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be
established annually to ensure that this Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ)
fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is
based on the most recent sablefish survey information. The Council also
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 harvest specifications are expected to be
published before the IFQ season begins (typically, early March), the
Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be set on an
annual basis, rather than for two years, so that the best and most
recent scientific information could be considered in establishing the
sablefish ABCs and TACs. Since sablefish is on bycatch status for trawl
gear during the entire fishing year, and given that fishing for
groundfish is prohibited prior to January 20, it is not likely that the
trawl allocation of sablefish would be reached before the effective
date of the final harvest specifications.
Table 3--Final 2011 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the GOA and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC allocation allocat
