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

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[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]


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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
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