Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Programs, 72869-72872 [2013-29023]
Download as PDF
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / Notices
commercial and recreational sector
annual catch limits (ACL) could be
increased without jeopardizing the
health of the population. The black sea
bass commercial and recreational ACLs
were increased through Regulatory
Amendment 19 to the FMP (78 FR
58249, September 23, 2013).
The Council and NMFS, also through
Regulatory Amendment 19, established
a prohibition on the use of black sea
bass pots from November 1 through
April 30, each year. During this closure,
no person is allowed to harvest or
possess black sea bass in or from the
South Atlantic EEZ either with sea bass
pots or from a vessel with sea bass pots
on board. In addition, sea bass pots
must be removed from the water in the
South Atlantic EEZ prior to November
1, and may not be on board a vessel in
the South Atlantic EEZ during this
seasonal closure. The black sea bass pot
seasonal prohibition became effective
on October 23, 2013.
The seasonal sea bass pot prohibition
was established as a precautionary
measure to prevent interactions between
black sea bass pot gear and whales
during periods of large whale migrations
and during the right whale calving
season off the U.S. southeastern coast.
The large whale migration period and
the right whale calving season in the
South Atlantic extends from
approximately November 1 through
April 30, each year. Since 2010, black
sea bass harvest levels have reached the
commercial ACL, triggering
accountability measures (AMs) to close
the commercial sector. Because these inseason commercial AM closures have
occurred prior to November 1 since
2010, Council and NMFS actions to
prevent black sea bass pot gear from
being in the water during periods of
higher whale concentrations have been
unnecessary. However, NMFS
determined that the increase in the
black sea bass commercial ACL
implemented through Regulatory
Amendment 19 could extend the
commercial black sea bass fishing
season beyond November 1 and into a
time period when a higher
concentration of endangered whales are
known to migrate through black sea bass
fishing grounds.
The Council, through Regulatory
Amendment 16, is considering removal
of the seasonal sea bass pot closure and/
or modifications to the closure.
Modifications currently under
consideration include shortening of the
duration of the seasonal closure and
spatially designating the closure
boundaries to be some area less than the
entire South Atlantic EEZ. The intent of
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:09 Dec 03, 2013
Jkt 232001
the proposed action is to minimize
socio-economic impacts to black sea
bass pot fishers while maintaining
protection for whales in the South
Atlantic region that are listed as
endangered and threatened under the
Endangered Species Act. Changes to the
current seasonal sea bass pot
prohibition may positively affect the
revenues and profits of the 32
commercial vessels which currently
possess black sea bass pot endorsements
to their Federal commercial snappergrouper permits.
NMFS, in collaboration with the
Council, will develop a DEIS to describe
and analyze alternatives to address the
management needs described above
including the ‘‘no action’’ alternative. In
accordance with NOAA’s
Administrative Order 216–6, Section
5.02(c), Scoping Process, NMFS, in
collaboration with the Council, has
identified preliminary environmental
issues as a means to initiate discussion
for scoping purposes only. The public is
invited to provide written comments on
the preliminary issues, which are
identified as actions and alternatives in
the Regulatory Amendment 16 scoping
document. These preliminary issues
may not represent the full range of
issues that eventually will be evaluated
in the DEIS. A copy of the Regulatory
Amendment 16 scoping document is
available at https://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/
sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/
index.html.
After the DEIS associated with
Regulatory Amendment 16 is
completed, it will be filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). After filing, the EPA will publish
a notice of availability of the DEIS for
public comment in the Federal Register.
The DEIS will have a 45-day comment
period. This procedure is pursuant to
regulations issued by the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) for
implementing the procedural provisions
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA; 40 CFR parts 1500–1508)
and to NOAA’s Administrative Order
216–6 regarding NOAA’s compliance
with NEPA and the CEQ regulations.
The Council and NMFS will consider
public comments received on the DEIS
in developing the final environmental
impact statement (FEIS), and before
voting to submit the final amendment to
NMFS for Secretarial review, approval,
and implementation. NMFS will
announce in the Federal Register the
availability of the final amendment and
FEIS for public review during the
Secretarial review period, and will
consider all public comments prior to
final agency action to approve,
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72869
disapprove, or partially approve the
final amendment.
NMFS will announce, through a
document published in the Federal
Register, all public comment periods on
the final amendment, its proposed
implementing regulations, and the
availability of its associated FEIS. NMFS
will consider all public comments
received during the Secretarial review
period, whether they are on the final
amendment, the proposed regulations,
or the FEIS, prior to final agency action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 27, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29026 Filed 12–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC937
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut
and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota
Cost Recovery Programs
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard prices
and fee percentage.
AGENCY:
NMFS publishes individual
fishing quota (IFQ) standard prices and
fee percentage for the IFQ cost recovery
program in the halibut and sablefish
fisheries of the North Pacific. The fee
percentage for 2013 is 2.8%. This action
is intended to provide holders of halibut
and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2013
standard prices and fee percentage to
calculate the required payment for IFQ
cost recovery fees due by January 31,
2014.
DATES: Effective December 4, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Troie Zuniga, Fee Coordinator, 907–
586–7231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
NMFS Alaska Region administers the
halibut and sablefish individual fishing
quota (IFQ) programs in the North
Pacific. The IFQ programs are limited
access systems authorized by the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the
Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982.
E:\FR\FM\04DEN1.SGM
04DEN1
72870
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / Notices
Fishing under the IFQ programs began
in March 1995. Regulations
implementing the IFQ program are set
forth at 50 CFR part 679.
In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act
was amended to, among other things,
require the Secretary of Commerce to
‘‘collect a fee to recover the actual costs
directly related to the management and
enforcement of any . . . individual
quota program.’’ This requirement was
further amended in 2006 to include
collection of the actual costs of data
collection, and to replace the reference
to ‘‘individual quota program’’ with a
more general reference to ‘‘limited
access privilege program’’ at section
304(d)(2)(A). This section of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act also specifies an
upper limit on these fees, when the fees
must be collected, and where the fees
must be deposited.
On March 20, 2000, NMFS published
regulations implementing the IFQ cost
recovery program (65 FR 14919), which
are set forth at § 679.45. Under the
regulations, an IFQ permit holder incurs
a cost recovery fee liability for every
pound of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish
that is landed on his or her IFQ
permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is
responsible for self-collecting the fee
liability for all IFQ halibut and IFQ
sablefish landings on his or her
permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is also
responsible for submitting a fee liability
payment to NMFS on or before the due
date of January 31 of the year following
the year in which the IFQ landings were
made. The dollar amount of the fee due
is determined by multiplying the annual
IFQ fee percentage (3 percent or less) by
the ex-vessel value of all IFQ landings
made on a permit and summing the
totals of each permit (if more than one).
Standard Prices
The fee liability is based on the sum
of all payments made to fishermen for
the sale of the fish during the year. This
includes any retro-payments (e.g.,
bonuses, delayed partial payments,
post-season payments) made to the IFQ
permit holder for previously landed IFQ
halibut or sablefish.
For purposes of calculating IFQ cost
recovery fees, NMFS distinguishes
between two types of ex-vessel value:
actual and standard. Actual ex-vessel
value is the amount of all compensation,
monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ
permit holder received as payment for
his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard exvessel value is the default value on
which to base fee liability calculations.
IFQ permit holders have the option of
using actual ex-vessel value if they can
satisfactorily document it; otherwise,
the standard ex-vessel value is used.
Regulations at § 679.45(c)(2)(i) require
the Regional Administrator to publish
IFQ standard prices during the last
quarter of each calendar year. These
standard prices are used, along with
estimates of IFQ halibut and IFQ
sablefish landings, to calculate standard
values. The standard prices are
described in U.S. dollars per IFQ
equivalent pound for IFQ halibut and
IFQ sablefish landings made during the
year. IFQ equivalent pound(s) is the
weight (in pounds) for an IFQ landing,
calculated as the round weight for
sablefish, and headed and gutted net
weight for halibut. NMFS calculates the
standard prices to closely reflect the
variations in the actual ex-vessel values
of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish
landings by month and port or portgroup. The standard prices for IFQ
halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed in
the tables that follow the next section.
Data from ports are combined as
necessary to protect confidentiality.
Fee Percentage
Section 304(d)(2)(B) of the MagnusonStevens Act specifies a maximum fee of
3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish
harvested under an IFQ Program. NMFS
annually sets a fee percentage for
sablefish and halibut IFQ holders that is
based on the actual annual costs
associated with certain management and
enforcement functions, as well as the
standard ex-vessel value of the catch
subject to the IFQ fee for the current
year. The method used by NMFS to
calculate the IFQ fee percentage is
described at § 679.45(d)(2)(ii).
Regulations at § 679.45(d)(3)(i) require
NMFS to publish the IFQ fee percentage
for the halibut and sablefish IFQ
fisheries in the Federal Register during
or before the last quarter of each year.
For the 2013 sablefish and halibut IFQ
fishing season, an IFQ permit holder is
to use a fee liability percentage of 2.8%
to calculate his or her fee for landed IFQ
in pounds. The IFQ permit holder is
responsible for submitting the fee
liability payment to NMFS on or before
January 31, 2014.
The 2013 fee liability percentage of
2.8% is an increase of 0.7% from the
2012 fee liability of 2.1% (77 FR 71783,
December 4, 2012). The IFQ fee
percentage increase in 2013 is due to a
decline in the total standard ex-vessel
value of the halibut and sablefish
fisheries as a result of lower ex-vessel
prices and catch limits in 2013. The
NMFS management and enforcement
costs for the IFQ program remained
constant from 2012 to 2013.
REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR 2013 IFQ SEASON 1
Period ending
Halibut standard ex-vessel
price
Sablefish
standard exvessel price
CORDOVA ....................................................................
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Landing location
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5.62
5.54
5.27
5.27
5.27
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
HOMER ........................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
........................
5.24
5.23
5.31
5.31
5.65
5.38
5.20
........................
........................
2.80
2.66
2.72
2.87
2.79
2.72
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:09 Dec 03, 2013
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\04DEN1.SGM
04DEN1
72871
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / Notices
REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR 2013 IFQ SEASON 1—Continued
Landing location
Halibut standard ex-vessel
price
Period ending
Sablefish
standard exvessel price
5.20
5.20
2.72
2.72
KETCHIKAN .................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
........................
5.41
5.22
........................
5.05
5.11
5.12
5.12
5.12
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
KODIAK ........................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
4.92
4.67
4.76
4.74
5.10
4.93
5.02
5.02
5.02
........................
........................
2.92
2.81
2.79
2.93
2.86
2.84
2.84
2.84
PETERSBURG .............................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
........................
........................
5.23
5.31
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
SEWARD ......................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
5.26
5.27
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
2.92
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
Port group
Period ending
Halibut standard ex-vessel
price
Sablefish
standard exvessel price
BERING SEA 2 .............................................................
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
........................
3.61
4.07
4.06
4.23
4.44
4.48
4.48
4.48
........................
........................
2.71
2.71
2.68
2.71
2.77
2.87
2.87
2.87
CENTRAL GULF 3 ........................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
........................
2.66
5.13
5.10
5.12
5.43
5.26
5.11
5.11
........................
2.91
2.90
2.77
2.78
2.89
2.80
2.85
2.85
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:09 Dec 03, 2013
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\04DEN1.SGM
04DEN1
72872
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / Notices
Port group
Halibut standard ex-vessel
price
Period ending
Sablefish
standard exvessel price
November 30 ................................................................
5.11
2.85
SOUTHEAST 4 ..............................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
5.45
5.26
5.17
5.15
5.30
5.45
5.44
5.44
5.44
........................
2.77
2.78
2.89
2.89
2.92
3.03
3.05
3.05
3.05
ALL 5 .............................................................................
February 28 ..................................................................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
........................
3.78
5.13
5.06
4.97
5.11
5.13
5.05
5.05
5.05
........................
2.77
2.84
2.80
2.81
2.87
2.87
2.93
2.93
2.93
1 Note: In many instances prices have not been reported to comply with confidentiality guidelines that prevent price reports when there are
fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month.
2 Landing locations Within Port Group—Bering Sea: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak, Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch
Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk, Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St.
Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak, Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
3 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik, Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass,
West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof, Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old
Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia, Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
4 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake, Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
5 Landing Locations Within Port Group—All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other
California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport, Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham,
Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Ranier, Fox Island, Mercer Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Haines Junction, Other Canada.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 27, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–29023 Filed 12–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Intent To Grant Partially
Exclusive Patent License; ICAP Patent
Brokerage, LLC
Department of the Navy, DoD.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of the Navy
hereby gives notice of its intent to grant
to ICAP Patent Brokerage, LLC, a
revocable, nonassignable, partially
exclusive license in the United States to
practice the Government-Owned
inventions described in U.S. Patent No.
6,011,291: Video Display With
Integrated Control Circuitry Formed On
a Dielectric Substrate//U.S. Patent No.
EMCDONALD on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:09 Dec 03, 2013
Jkt 232001
6,312,968: Method For Fabricating an
Electrically Addressable Silicon-OnSapphire Light Valve//U.S. Patent No.
8,073,804: System and Method For Type
2 KASER (Knowledge Amplification by
Structured Expert Randomization)//U.S.
Patent No. 8,085,459: Plasmonic
Transistor//U.S. Patent No. 8,094,317:
Plasmonic Router//U.S. Patent No.
8,107,151: Plasmonic Logic Device//U.S.
Patent No. 8,111,443: Plasmonic
Transistor//U.S. Patent No. 8,530,885:
Graphene-Based Conductive, Lossless
Photonic Bandgap Method and
Apparatus//U.S. Patent No. 8,537,457:
Plasmonic Correlation Spectrometer.
DATES: Anyone wishing to object to the
grant of this license must file written
objections along with supporting
evidence, if any, not later than
December 19, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Written objections are to be
filed with the Office of Research and
Technology Applications, Space and
Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific,
Code 72120, 53560 Hull St, Bldg A33
Room 2531, San Diego, CA 92152–5001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Suh, Office of Research and
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Technology Applications, Space and
Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific,
Code 72120, 53560 Hull St, Bldg A33
Room 2531, San Diego, CA 92152–5001,
telephone 619–553–5118, EMail:
brian.suh@navy.mil.
Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR Part 404.
Dated: November 25, 2013.
N. A. Hagerty-Ford,
Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate
General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013–29003 Filed 12–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
[Docket No. ED–2013–ICCD–0079]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Comment Request;
Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection
AGENCY:
OCR, Department of Education
(ED).
ACTION:
E:\FR\FM\04DEN1.SGM
Notice.
04DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72869-72872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29023]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC937
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery
Programs
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard prices and fee percentage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS publishes individual fishing quota (IFQ) standard prices
and fee percentage for the IFQ cost recovery program in the halibut and
sablefish fisheries of the North Pacific. The fee percentage for 2013
is 2.8%. This action is intended to provide holders of halibut and
sablefish IFQ permits with the 2013 standard prices and fee percentage
to calculate the required payment for IFQ cost recovery fees due by
January 31, 2014.
DATES: Effective December 4, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troie Zuniga, Fee Coordinator, 907-
586-7231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NMFS Alaska Region administers the halibut and sablefish individual
fishing quota (IFQ) programs in the North Pacific. The IFQ programs are
limited access systems authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Northern
Pacific Halibut Act of 1982.
[[Page 72870]]
Fishing under the IFQ programs began in March 1995. Regulations
implementing the IFQ program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679.
In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was amended to, among other
things, require the Secretary of Commerce to ``collect a fee to recover
the actual costs directly related to the management and enforcement of
any . . . individual quota program.'' This requirement was further
amended in 2006 to include collection of the actual costs of data
collection, and to replace the reference to ``individual quota
program'' with a more general reference to ``limited access privilege
program'' at section 304(d)(2)(A). This section of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act also specifies an upper limit on these fees, when the fees must be
collected, and where the fees must be deposited.
On March 20, 2000, NMFS published regulations implementing the IFQ
cost recovery program (65 FR 14919), which are set forth at Sec.
679.45. Under the regulations, an IFQ permit holder incurs a cost
recovery fee liability for every pound of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish
that is landed on his or her IFQ permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is
responsible for self-collecting the fee liability for all IFQ halibut
and IFQ sablefish landings on his or her permit(s). The IFQ permit
holder is also responsible for submitting a fee liability payment to
NMFS on or before the due date of January 31 of the year following the
year in which the IFQ landings were made. The dollar amount of the fee
due is determined by multiplying the annual IFQ fee percentage (3
percent or less) by the ex-vessel value of all IFQ landings made on a
permit and summing the totals of each permit (if more than one).
Standard Prices
The fee liability is based on the sum of all payments made to
fishermen for the sale of the fish during the year. This includes any
retro-payments (e.g., bonuses, delayed partial payments, post-season
payments) made to the IFQ permit holder for previously landed IFQ
halibut or sablefish.
For purposes of calculating IFQ cost recovery fees, NMFS
distinguishes between two types of ex-vessel value: actual and
standard. Actual ex-vessel value is the amount of all compensation,
monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ permit holder received as payment
for his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard ex-vessel value is the default
value on which to base fee liability calculations. IFQ permit holders
have the option of using actual ex-vessel value if they can
satisfactorily document it; otherwise, the standard ex-vessel value is
used.
Regulations at Sec. 679.45(c)(2)(i) require the Regional
Administrator to publish IFQ standard prices during the last quarter of
each calendar year. These standard prices are used, along with
estimates of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings, to calculate
standard values. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per
IFQ equivalent pound for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made
during the year. IFQ equivalent pound(s) is the weight (in pounds) for
an IFQ landing, calculated as the round weight for sablefish, and
headed and gutted net weight for halibut. NMFS calculates the standard
prices to closely reflect the variations in the actual ex-vessel values
of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings by month and port or port-
group. The standard prices for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed
in the tables that follow the next section. Data from ports are
combined as necessary to protect confidentiality.
Fee Percentage
Section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies a
maximum fee of 3 percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested under
an IFQ Program. NMFS annually sets a fee percentage for sablefish and
halibut IFQ holders that is based on the actual annual costs associated
with certain management and enforcement functions, as well as the
standard ex-vessel value of the catch subject to the IFQ fee for the
current year. The method used by NMFS to calculate the IFQ fee
percentage is described at Sec. 679.45(d)(2)(ii).
Regulations at Sec. 679.45(d)(3)(i) require NMFS to publish the
IFQ fee percentage for the halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries in the
Federal Register during or before the last quarter of each year. For
the 2013 sablefish and halibut IFQ fishing season, an IFQ permit holder
is to use a fee liability percentage of 2.8% to calculate his or her
fee for landed IFQ in pounds. The IFQ permit holder is responsible for
submitting the fee liability payment to NMFS on or before January 31,
2014.
The 2013 fee liability percentage of 2.8% is an increase of 0.7%
from the 2012 fee liability of 2.1% (77 FR 71783, December 4, 2012).
The IFQ fee percentage increase in 2013 is due to a decline in the
total standard ex-vessel value of the halibut and sablefish fisheries
as a result of lower ex-vessel prices and catch limits in 2013. The
NMFS management and enforcement costs for the IFQ program remained
constant from 2012 to 2013.
Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for 2013 IFQ Season \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut Sablefish
Landing location Period ending standard ex- standard ex-
vessel price vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORDOVA....................................... February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... .............. ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... 5.62 ..............
August 31....................... 5.54 ..............
September 30.................... 5.27 ..............
October 31...................... 5.27 ..............
November 30..................... 5.27 ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMER......................................... February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 5.24 ..............
April 30........................ 5.23 2.80
May 31.......................... 5.31 2.66
June 30......................... 5.31 2.72
July 31......................... 5.65 2.87
August 31....................... 5.38 2.79
September 30.................... 5.20 2.72
[[Page 72871]]
October 31...................... 5.20 2.72
November 30..................... 5.20 2.72
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KETCHIKAN..................................... February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ 5.41 ..............
May 31.......................... 5.22 ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... 5.05 ..............
August 31....................... 5.11 ..............
September 30.................... 5.12 ..............
October 31...................... 5.12 ..............
November 30..................... 5.12 ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KODIAK........................................ February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 4.92 ..............
April 30........................ 4.67 2.92
May 31.......................... 4.76 2.81
June 30......................... 4.74 2.79
July 31......................... 5.10 2.93
August 31....................... 4.93 2.86
September 30.................... 5.02 2.84
October 31...................... 5.02 2.84
November 30..................... 5.02 2.84
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PETERSBURG.................................... February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... 5.23 ..............
June 30......................... 5.31 ..............
July 31......................... .............. ..............
August 31....................... .............. ..............
September 30.................... .............. ..............
October 31...................... .............. ..............
November 30..................... .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEWARD........................................ February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 5.26 ..............
April 30........................ 5.27 2.92
May 31.......................... .............. ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... .............. ..............
August 31....................... .............. ..............
September 30.................... .............. ..............
October 31...................... .............. ..............
November 30..................... .............. ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut Sablefish
Port group Period ending standard ex- standard ex-
vessel price vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BERING SEA \2\................................ February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ 3.61 2.71
May 31.......................... 4.07 2.71
June 30......................... 4.06 2.68
July 31......................... 4.23 2.71
August 31....................... 4.44 2.77
September 30.................... 4.48 2.87
October 31...................... 4.48 2.87
November 30..................... 4.48 2.87
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CENTRAL GULF \3\.............................. February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 2.66 2.91
April 30........................ 5.13 2.90
May 31.......................... 5.10 2.77
June 30......................... 5.12 2.78
July 31......................... 5.43 2.89
August 31....................... 5.26 2.80
September 30.................... 5.11 2.85
October 31...................... 5.11 2.85
[[Page 72872]]
November 30..................... 5.11 2.85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOUTHEAST \4\................................. February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 5.45 2.77
April 30........................ 5.26 2.78
May 31.......................... 5.17 2.89
June 30......................... 5.15 2.89
July 31......................... 5.30 2.92
August 31....................... 5.45 3.03
September 30.................... 5.44 3.05
October 31...................... 5.44 3.05
November 30..................... 5.44 3.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL \5\....................................... February 28..................... .............. ..............
March 31........................ 3.78 2.77
April 30........................ 5.13 2.84
May 31.......................... 5.06 2.80
June 30......................... 4.97 2.81
July 31......................... 5.11 2.87
August 31....................... 5.13 2.87
September 30.................... 5.05 2.93
October 31...................... 5.05 2.93
November 30..................... 5.05 2.93
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note: In many instances prices have not been reported to comply with confidentiality guidelines that prevent
price reports when there are fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month.
\2\ Landing locations Within Port Group--Bering Sea: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak,
Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk,
Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak,
Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
\3\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik,
Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass, West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof,
Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia,
Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
\4\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin
Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake,
Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port
Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
\5\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For
California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport,
Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett,
Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Ranier, Fox Island, Mercer
Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver,
Haines Junction, Other Canada.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 27, 2013.
Emily H. Menashes,
Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29023 Filed 12-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P