Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 12108-12130 [2014-04762]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Area
De tour
Any point in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, except the Algoma Steel Corporation Wharf ....
Sault Ste. Marie, MI .........................................................................................................
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(c) Area 8 (Undesignated Waters):
prohibited species catch allowances,
and closures for the groundfish fishery
Service
Lake Superior
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
management area (BSAI). This action is
6-hour Period ......................
$601 necessary to establish harvest limits for
Docking or Undocking ........
571
groundfish during the 2014 and 2015
fishing years, and to accomplish the
§ 401.420 [Amended]
goals and objectives of the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the
■ 7. Amend § 401.420 as follows:
BSAI (FMP). The intended effect of this
■ a. In paragraph (a), remove the text
action is to conserve and manage the
‘‘$126’’ and add, in its place, the text
groundfish resources in the BSAI in
‘‘$129’’; and remove the text ‘‘$1,972’’
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
and add, in its place, the text ‘‘$2,021’’;
■ b. In paragraph (b), remove the text
Fishery Conservation and Management
‘‘$126’’ and add, in its place, the text
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
‘‘$129’’; and remove the text ‘‘$1,972’’
DATES: Specifications and closures are
and add, in its place, the text ‘‘$2,021’’;
effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local
and
time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2014, through
■ c. In paragraph (c)(1), remove the text
2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
‘‘$744’’ and add, in its place, the text
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
‘‘$763’’; and in paragraph (c)(3), remove Alaska Groundfish Harvest
the text ‘‘$126’’ and add, in its place, the Specifications Final Environmental
text ‘‘$129’’, and remove the text
Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
‘‘$1,972’’ and add, in its place, the text
Decision (ROD), Supplementary
‘‘$2,021’’.
Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and
the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
§ 401.428 [Amended]
(FRFA) prepared for this action are
■ 8. In § 401.428, remove the text
available from https://
‘‘$744’’ and add, in its place, the text
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2013
‘‘$763’’.
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Dated: February 25, 2014.
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
Gary C. Rasicot,
November 2013, as well as the SAFE
Director, Marine Transportation Systems
reports for previous years, are available
Management, U.S. Coast Guard.
from the North Pacific Fishery
[FR Doc. 2014–04591 Filed 2–28–14; 11:15 am]
Management Council (Council) at 605
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage,
AK 99510–2252, (phone) 907–271–2809,
or from the Council’s Web site at
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
https://www.npfmc.org/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
Administration
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal
50 CFR Part 679
regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the
[Docket No. 131021878–4158–02]
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
RIN 0648–XC927
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS
approved it under the MagnusonFisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Stevens Act. General regulations
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at
Aleutian Islands; 2014 and 2015
50 CFR part 600.
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
consultation with the Council, to
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
specify the total allowable catch (TAC)
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
for each target species category. The
Commerce.
sum TAC for all groundfish species
ACTION: Final rule; specifications and
must be within the optimum yield (OY)
closures.
range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2014
metric tons (mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)).
and 2015 harvest specifications,
This final rule specifies the TAC at 2.0
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2,219
2,219
N/A
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997
997
N/A
N/A
N/A
997
million mt for both 2014 and 2015.
NMFS also must specify
apportionments of TAC, prohibited
species catch (PSC) allowances, and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves
established by § 679.21; seasonal
allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and
Atka mackerel TAC; Amendment 80
allocations; and Community
Development Quota (CDQ) reserve
amounts established by
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 22 of this action satisfy these
requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires
NMFS to consider public comment on
the proposed annual TACs (and
apportionments thereof) and PSC
allowances, and to publish final harvest
specifications in the Federal Register.
The proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications and PSC allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were
published in the Federal Register on
December 10, 2013 (78 FR 74063).
Comments were invited and accepted
through January 9, 2014. NMFS received
one letter with one comment on the
proposed harvest specifications. This
comment is summarized and responded
to in the ‘‘Response to Comments’’
section of this rule. NMFS consulted
with the Council on the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications during the
December 2013 Council meeting in
Anchorage, AK. After considering
public comments, as well as biological
and economic data that were available
at the Council’s December meeting,
NMFS is implementing the final 2014
and 2015 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and
TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC levels for Alaska
groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic
information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed
distribution of stock biomass, and
revised technical methods used to
calculate stock biomass. In general, the
development of ABCs and overfishing
levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated
statistical analyses of fish populations.
The FMP specifies a series of six tiers
to define OFL and ABC amounts based
on the level of reliable information
available to fishery scientists. Tier 1
represents the highest level of
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information quality available while Tier
6 represents the lowest.
In December 2013, the Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory
Panel (AP), and Council reviewed
current biological and harvest
information about the condition of the
BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council’s
Plan Team compiled and presented this
information in the final 2013 SAFE
report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries,
dated November 2013 (see ADDRESSES).
The SAFE report contains a review of
the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species’ biomass and
other biological parameters, as well as
summaries of the available information
on the BSAI ecosystem and the
economic condition of groundfish
fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the
public and asked for review of the SAFE
report in the notice of proposed harvest
specifications. From these data and
analyses, the Plan Team recommended
an OFL and ABC for each species or
species category at the November 2013
Plan Team meeting.
In December 2013, the SSC, AP, and
Council reviewed the Plan Team’s
recommendations. The final TAC
recommendations were based on the
ABCs as adjusted for other biological
and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the sum of the
TACs within the required OY range of
1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As
required by annual catch limit rules for
all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16,
2009), none of the Council’s
recommended TACs for 2014 or 2015
exceeds the final 2014 or 2015 ABCs for
any species category. The final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications approved by
the Secretary of Commerce are
unchanged from those recommended by
the Council and are consistent with the
preferred harvest strategy alternative in
the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds
that the Council’s recommended OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the
biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2013 SAFE
report that was approved by the
Council.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the
2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications
The Council has recommended
Amendment 105 to the FMP, and NMFS
is currently developing the proposed
rule for this action. This action could
create ABC reserves for CDQ groups and
Amendment 80 cooperatives for
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole for 2015. These entities would be
able to exchange their quota share of
one of the three species (flathead sole,
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rock sole, and/or yellowfin sole) for an
equivalent amount of their allocation of
the ABC reserves for another species
(flathead sole, rock sole, and/or
yellowfin sole). The approach is
intended to increase the opportunity for
maximizing the harvest of these species,
while ensuring that the overall 2 million
mt OY, and ABCs for each individual
species, are not exceeded. If the action
is approved by the Secretary and
implemented for 2015, then the harvest
specifications will include CDQ and
Amendment 80 allocations of the ABC
reserves for these species.
For 2014, the Board of Fisheries (BOF)
for the State of Alaska (State)
established a Pacific cod guideline
harvest level (GHL) in State waters
between 164 and 167 degrees west
longitude in the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea. The Pacific cod GHL in this
area is equal to 3 percent of the sum of
the Pacific cod ABCs for the Aleutian
Islands (AI) and the BS. To account for
the State GHL fishery in 2014 and 2015,
the Council reduced the final BS
subarea TAC by three percent of the
combined BS and AI subarea ABCs. The
combined BS subarea TAC and GHL
(255,000 mt) equal the final BS subarea
ABC.
For 2014, the BOF for the State
established a Pacific cod GHL in State
waters in the AI subarea. The Pacific
cod GHL in this area is equal to 3
percent of the sum of the Pacific cod
ABCs for the AI and the BS. To account
for the State GHL fishery in 2014 and
2015, the Council reduced the final AI
subarea TAC by 3 percent of the
combined BS and AI subarea ABCs. The
combined AI TAC and GHL (15,100 mt)
equal the final AI subarea ABC.
Changes From the Proposed 2014 and
2015 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
In October 2013, the Council
proposed its recommendations for the
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (78
FR 74063, December 10, 2013), based
largely on information contained in the
2012 SAFE report for the BSAI
groundfish fisheries. Through the
proposed harvest specifications, NMFS
notified the public that these harvest
specifications could change, as the
Council would consider information
contained in the final 2013 SAFE report,
recommendations from the Plan Team,
SSC, and AP committees, and public
testimony when making its
recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December Council
meeting. NMFS further notified the
public that, as required by the FMP and
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12109
its implementing regulations, the sum of
the TACs must be within the OY range
of 1.4 million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2013
SAFE reports indicates biomass changes
for several groundfish species from the
2012 SAFE reports. At the December
2013 Council meeting, the SSC
recommended the 2014 and 2015 ABCs
for many species based on the best and
most recent information contained in
the 2013 SAFE reports. This
recommendation resulted in an ABC
sum total for all BSAI groundfish
species in excess of 2 million mt for
both 2014 and 2015. Based on the SSC
ABC recommendations and the 2013
SAFE reports, the Council recommends
increasing Bering Sea pollock by 14,500
mt. In terms of percentage, the largest
increases in TACs were for Eastern
Aleutian district and Bering Sea (EAI/
BS) Atka mackerel and Central Aleutian
district (CAI) Atka mackerel. Both of
these fisheries are valuable and likely to
be harvested to the full TAC available.
The Council increased these TACs due
to increased biomass estimates and
because the TACs were fully harvested
in 2013. Conversely, the largest decrease
in TAC in terms of tonnage is 16,000 mt
for yellowfin sole. In terms of
percentage change from the proposed
TACs, Bogoslof pollock, rock sole,
‘‘other flatfish,’’ northern rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, Western Aleutian
district (WAI) Atka mackerel, sharks,
squids, and octopuses had the largest
decreases in TAC. The Council
decreased TACs for these species due to
decreased biomass estimates, and
because they were not fully harvested in
2013. The changes to TAC between the
proposed and final harvest
specifications are based on the most
recent scientific and economic
information and are consistent with the
FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest
strategy as described in the proposed
harvest specifications. These changes
are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council’s
recommended final 2014 and 2015 OFL,
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ
reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish.
NMFS concurs in these
recommendations. The final 2014 and
2015 TAC recommendations for the
BSAI are within the OY range
established for the BSAI and do not
exceed the ABC for any species or
species group. The apportionment of
TAC amounts among fisheries and
seasons is discussed below.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 1–FINAL 2014 AND 2015 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE
CATCH (TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014
Species
2015
Area
OFL
ABC
TAC
ITAC 2
Skates ......................................................
Sculpins ...................................................
Sharks .....................................................
Squids ......................................................
Octopuses ...............................................
BS ...............
AI .................
Bogoslof ......
BS ...............
AI .................
BS ...............
AI .................
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BS ...............
AI .................
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BS ...............
EAI ..............
CAI ..............
WAI .............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
EBS/EAI ......
CAI/WAI ......
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BS ...............
AI .................
BSAI ............
EAI/BS .........
CAI ..............
WAI .............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
BSAI ............
2,795,000
42,811
13,413
299,000
20,100
1,584
2,141
259,700
2,647
n/a
n/a
125,642
8,270
228,700
79,633
66,800
16,700
39,585
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12,077
505
n/a
n/a
493
1,550
n/a
n/a
74,492
n/a
n/a
n/a
41,849
56,424
1,363
2,624
3,450
1,369,000
35,048
10,059
255,000
15,100
1,339
1,811
239,800
2,124
1,659
465
106,599
7,100
203,800
66,293
55,100
12,400
33,122
7,684
9,246
6,594
9,598
9,761
416
177
239
370
1,163
690
473
64,131
21,652
20,574
21,905
35,383
42,318
1,022
1,970
2,590
1,267,000
19,000
75
246,897
6,997
1,339
1,811
184,000
2,124
1,659
465
25,000
7,100
85,000
24,500
24,500
2,650
33,122
7,684
9,246
6,594
9,598
2,594
416
177
239
370
773
300
473
32,322
21,652
9,670
1,000
26,000
5,750
125
310
225
1,140,300
17,100
75
220,479
6,248
1,105
1,471
164,312
1,805
1,410
395
21,250
6,035
75,905
21,879
20,825
2,253
29,248
6,531
8,257
5,888
8,571
2,205
354
150
203
315
657
255
402
27,971
19,335
8,635
893
22,100
4,888
106
264
191
Total .................................................
.....................
4,196,553
2,572,819
2,000,000
1,789,338
Pollock 4 ...................................................
Pacific cod 5 .............................................
Sablefish ..................................................
Yellowfin sole ..........................................
Greenland turbot .....................................
Arrowtooth flounder .................................
Kamchatka flounder ................................
Rock sole .................................................
Flathead sole 6 .........................................
Alaska plaice ...........................................
Other flatfish 7 ..........................................
Pacific ocean perch .................................
Northern rockfish .....................................
Rougheye rockfish 8 .................................
Shortraker rockfish ..................................
Other rockfish 9 ........................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................
CDQ 3
OFL
ABC
TAC
ITAC 2
126,700
1,900
0
26,418
749
184
306
19,688
n/a
178
0
2,675
0
9,095
2,622
0
0
n/a
0
989
706
1,027
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3,458
2,317
1,035
107
0
0
0
0
0
2,693,000
47,713
13,413
319,000
20,100
1,432
1,936
268,900
3,864
n/a
n/a
125,025
8,500
213,310
77,023
66,300
16,700
37,817
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
11,943
580
n/a
n/a
493
1,550
n/a
n/a
74,898
n/a
n/a
n/a
39,746
56,424
1,363
2,624
3,450
1,258,000
39,412
10,059
272,000
15,100
1,210
1,636
248,300
3,173
2,478
695
106,089
7,300
190,100
64,127
54,700
12,400
31,641
7,340
8,833
6,299
9,169
9,652
478
201
277
370
1,163
690
473
64,477
21,769
20,685
22,023
33,545
42,318
1,022
1,970
2,590
1,258,000
19,000
75
251,712
6,487
1,210
1,636
187,000
3,173
2,478
695
25,000
7,300
85,000
25,129
25,000
3,000
31,641
7,340
8,833
6,299
9,169
3,000
478
201
277
370
873
400
473
32,491
21,769
9,722
1,000
26,000
5,750
125
325
225
1,132,200
17,100
75
224,779
5,793
514
348
166,991
2,697
2,106
591
21,250
6,205
75,905
22,440
21,250
2,550
27,940
6,239
7,888
5,625
8,188
2,550
406
171
235
315
742
340
402
29,014
19,440
8,682
893
22,100
4,888
106
276
191
CDQ 3
125,800
1,900
0
26,933
694
45
31
20,009
n/a
265
0
2,675
0
9,095
2,689
0
0
n/a
0
945
674
981
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3,477
2,329
1,040
107
0
0
0
0
0
196,694
4,107,104
2,472,832
2,000,000
1,788,625
196,213
1 These
amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these
species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
3 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl
gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3.4
percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under
§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch
allowance (2,000 mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
5 The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea.
The AI Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
6 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
7 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and
Alaska plaice.
8 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BS=Bering Sea subarea, AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western
Aleutian district.)
TABLE 1A—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2014 AND 2015 WITH PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE
BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Area 1
Pollock .........................................................
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Species
BS ..........
AI ...........
Bogoslof
BS ..........
AI ...........
BS ..........
AI ...........
BSAI .......
BS ..........
AI ...........
BSAI ......
BSAI .......
Pacific cod ...................................................
Sablefish ......................................................
Yellowfin sole ...............................................
Greenland turbot ..........................................
Arrowtooth flounder .....................................
Kamchatka flounder .....................................
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2014 final
TAC
1,267,000
19,000
75
246,897
6,997
1,339
1,811
184,000
1,659
465
25,000
7,100
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2014 proposed TAC
1,252,500
19,000
100
245,000
7,381
1,480
2,010
200,000
1,610
450
25,000
7,100
Sfmt 4700
2014 difference
from proposed
14,500
0
¥25
1,897
¥384
¥141
¥199
¥16,000
49
15
0
0
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2015 final
TAC
1,258,000
19,000
75
251,712
6,487
1,210
1,636
187,000
2,478
695
25,000
7,300
04MRR1
2015 proposed TAC
1,252,500
19,000
100
245,000
7,381
1,480
2,010
200,000
1,610
450
25,000
7,100
2015 difference
from proposed
5,500
0
¥25
6,712
¥894
¥270
¥374
¥13,000
868
245
0
200
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12111
TABLE 1A—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2014 AND 2015 WITH PROPOSED 2014 AND 2015 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE
BSAI—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014 final
TAC
2014 proposed TAC
2014 difference
from proposed
2015 final
TAC
2015 proposed TAC
2015 difference
from proposed
Species
Area 1
Rock sole .....................................................
Flathead sole ...............................................
Alaska plaice ................................................
Other flatfish ................................................
Pacific ocean perch .....................................
Skates ..........................................................
Sculpins .......................................................
Sharks ..........................................................
Squid ............................................................
Octopuses ....................................................
BSAI .......
BSAI .......
BSAI ......
BSAI ......
BS ..........
EAI .........
CAI .........
WAI ........
BSAI .......
BS/EAI ...
CAI/WAI
BSAI ......
BS ..........
AI ...........
EAI/BS ...
CAI .........
WAI ........
BSAI ......
BSAI ......
BSAI ......
BSAI ......
BSAI .......
85,000
24,500
24,500
2,650
7,684
9,246
6,594
9,598
2,594
177
239
370
300
473
21,652
9,670
1,000
26,000
5,750
125
310
225
94,569
22,699
23,700
3,500
7,680
9,240
6,590
9,590
3,000
189
240
370
400
473
16,500
7,379
1,500
24,000
5,600
150
500
500
¥9,569
1,801
800
¥850
4
6
4
8
¥406
¥12
¥1
0
¥100
0
5,152
2,291
¥500
2,000
150
¥25
¥190
¥275
85,000
25,129
25,000
3,000
7,340
8,833
6,299
9,169
3,000
201
277
370
400
473
21,769
9,722
1,000
26,000
5,750
125
325
225
94,569
22,699
23,700
3,500
7,680
9,240
6,590
9,590
3,000
189
240
370
400
473
16,500
7,379
1,500
24,000
5,600
150
500
500
¥9,569
2,430
1,300
¥500
¥340
¥407
¥291
¥421
0
12
37
0
0
0
5,269
2,343
¥500
2,000
150
¥25
¥175
¥275
Total ......................................................
BSAI .......
2,000,000
2,000,000
0
2,000,000
2,000,000
0
Northern rockfish .........................................
Rougheye rockfish .......................................
Shortraker rockfish .......................................
Other rockfish ..............................................
Atka mackerel ..............................................
1 Bering
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District
(EAI), Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental
Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock,
Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS
to reserve 15 percent of the TAC for
each target species, except for pollock,
hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of
sablefish, and Amendment 80 species,
in a non-specified reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line
and pot gear allocation of sablefish for
the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that
NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl
gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7
percent of the Bering Sea Greenland
turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to
the respective CDQ reserves. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS
allocate 10.7 percent of the TAC for
Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific
ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also
require that 10 percent of the BSAI
pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA).
The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA (see
§ 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of
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the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish
CDQ reserve, the regulations do not
further apportion the CDQ allocations
by gear.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1),
NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 3.4
percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC
after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ
reserve. This allowance is based on
NMFS’ examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from
1999 through 2013. During this 15-year
period, the pollock incidental catch
ranged from a low of 2.3 percent in 2012
to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a
15-year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii),
NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of
2,000 mt of the AI subarea TAC after
subtracting the 10-percent CDQ DFA.
This allowance is based on NMFS’
examination of the pollock incidental
catch, including the incidental catch by
CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other
than pollock from 2003 through 2013.
During this 11-year period, the
incidental catch of pollock ranged from
a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of
17 percent in 2013, with an 11-year
average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10),
NMFS allocates ICAs of 5,000 mt of
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flathead sole, 8,000 mt of rock sole,
2,400 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of WAI
Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of CAI
Pacific ocean perch, 200 mt of EAI
Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka
mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel,
and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea
Atka mackerel TAC after subtracting the
10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA
allowances are based on NMFS’
examination of the incidental catch in
other target fisheries from 2003 through
2013.
The regulations do not designate the
remainder of the non-specified reserve
by species or species group. Any
amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species category
that contributed to the non-specified
reserves during the year, provided that
such apportionments do not result in
overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The
Regional Administrator has determined
that the ITACs specified for the species
listed in Table 1 need to be
supplemented from the non-specified
reserve because U.S. fishing vessels
have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in
Table 2 from the non-specified reserve
to increase the ITAC for shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other
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rockfish,’’ sharks, and octopuses by 15
percent of the TAC in 2014 and 2015.
TABLE 2—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014
ITAC
Species-area or subarea
2014
reserve
amount
2014
final
ITAC
2015
ITAC
2015
reserve
amount
2015
final
ITAC
Shortraker rockfish—BSAI .......................................................................
Rougheye rockfish—EBS/EAI ..................................................................
Rougheye rockfish—CAI/WAI ..................................................................
Other rockfish—Bering Sea subarea .......................................................
Other rockfish—Aleutian Islands subarea ...............................................
Sharks ......................................................................................................
Octopuses ................................................................................................
315
150
203
255
402
106
191
56
27
36
45
71
19
34
370
177
239
300
473
125
225
315
171
235
340
402
106
191
56
30
42
60
71
19
34
370
201
277
400
473
125
225
Total ..................................................................................................
1,623
286
1,909
1,760
311
2,071
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the
American Fisheries Act (AFA)
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that
the BS subarea pollock TAC be
apportioned, after subtracting 10
percent for the CDQ program and 3.4
percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows:
50 percent to the inshore sector, 40
percent to the catcher/processor (C/P)
sector, and 10 percent to the mothership
sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the A season
(January 20–June 10), and 60 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the B season
(June 10–November 1)
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI-directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut
Corporation is the amount of pollock
remaining in the AI subarea after
subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA
(10 percent) and 2,000 mt for the ICA
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI
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subarea, the total A season
apportionment of the TAC is less than
or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and
the remainder of the TAC is allocated to
the B season. Table 3 lists these 2014
and 2015 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also
includes several specific requirements
regarding BS subarea pollock
allocations. First, it requires that 8.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the
C/P sector be available for harvest by
AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P
sector endorsements, unless the
Regional Administrator receives a
cooperative contract that allows the
distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps
and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by
all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not
listed in the AFA are limited to
harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of
the pollock allocated to the C/P sector.
Table 3 lists the 2014 and 2015
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allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 17
through 22 list the AFA C/P and CV
harvesting sideboard limits. The tables
for the pollock allocations to the BS
subarea inshore pollock cooperatives
and open access sector will be posted on
the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Table 3 also lists seasonal
apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion
Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at
§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more
than 28 percent of the annual DFA
before 12:00 noon, April 1, as provided
in § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season
pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each sector in proportion
to each sector’s allocated percentage of
the DFA. Table 3 lists these 2014 and
2015 amounts by sector.
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1,267,000
126,700
38,770
550,765
440,612
403,160
37,452
2,203
110,153
192,768
330,459
1,101,530
19,000
1,900
2,000
15,100
75
n/a
50,680
n/a
220,306
176,245
161,264
14,981
881
44,061
n/a
n/a
440,612
n/a
760
1,000
12,259
n/a
A season DFA
n/a
35,476
n/a
154,214
123,371
n/a
n/a
n/a
30,843
n/a
n/a
308,428
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
2014 A season 1
n/a
76,020
n/a
330,459
264,367
241,896
22,471
1,322
66,092
n/a
n/a
660,918
n/a
1,140
1,000
2,841
n/a
B season DFA
2014
B season 1
1,258,000
125,800
38,495
546,853
437,482
400,296
37,186
2,187
109,371
191,398
328,112
1,093,705
19,000
1,900
2,000
15,100
75
2015
Allocations
n/a
50,320
n/a
218,741
174,993
160,118
14,874
875
43,748
n/a
n/a
437,482
n/a
760
1,000
14,005
n/a
A season DFA
n/a
35,224
n/a
153,119
122,495
n/a
n/a
n/a
30,624
n/a
n/a
306,237
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
2015 A season 1
n/a
75,480
n/a
328,112
262,489
240,178
22,312
1,312
65,622
n/a
n/a
656,223
n/a
1,140
1,000
1,095
n/a
B season DFA
2015 B
season 1
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.4 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60
percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed
fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of
the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to
listed catcher/processors.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector’s allocation of pollock.
5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
7 The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Bering Sea subarea .................................................
CDQ DFA ................................................................
ICA 1 .........................................................................
AFA Inshore .............................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 .......................................
Catch by C/Ps .........................................................
Catch by CVs 3 ........................................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ..................................................
AFA Motherships .....................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ...................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...................................
Total Bering Sea DFA .............................................
Aleutian Islands subarea 1 .......................................
CDQ DFA ................................................................
ICA ...........................................................................
Aleut Corporation .....................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 7 .............................................
Area and sector
2014
Allocations
[Amounts are in metric tons]
TABLE 3—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES
(DFA) 1
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Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka
mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors,
after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig
gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector and nontrawl gear sector (Table 4). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka
mackerel allocated to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors
is listed in Table 33 to part 679 and in
§ 679.91. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8)(i),
up to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS
subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be
allocated to vessels using jig gear. The
percent of this allocation is
recommended annually by the Council
based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig
gear fleet. The Council recommended,
and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent
allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in
the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear
sector in 2014 and 2015. This
percentage is applied to the Atka
mackerel TAC after subtracting the CDQ
reserve and the ICA.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(3) limits
the annual Atka mackerel TAC for Area
542 (CAI) to no more than 47 percent of
the Area 542 ABC. Section 679.7(a)(19)
prohibits retention of Atka mackerel in
Area 543 (WAI), and the TAC is set to
account for discards in other fisheries.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions
the Atka mackerel TAC into two equal
seasonal allowances. Section
679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal
allowance for directed fishing with
trawl gear from January 20 through June
10 (A season), and the second seasonal
allowance from June 10 through
November 1 (B season). Section
679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel
seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing.
The ICA and jig gear allocations are not
apportioned by season.
Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and
(ii) require the Amendment 80
cooperatives and CDQ groups to limit
harvest to 10 percent of their Central
Aleutian District Atka mackerel
allocation equally divided between the
A and B seasons, within waters 10 nm
to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island,
as described on Table 12 to part 679.
Vessels not fishing under the authority
of an Amendment 80 cooperative quota
or CDQ allocation are prohibited from
conducting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel inside Steller sea lion critical
habitat in the Central Aleutian District.
Table 4 lists these 2014 and 2015 Atka
mackerel seasons, area allowances, and
the sector allocations. The 2015
allocations for Atka mackerel between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector
will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in
the program by November 1, 2014.
NMFS will post 2015 Amendment 80
allocations when they become available
in December 2014.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL
CATCH ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014 allocation by area
Eastern
Aleutian
District/Bering Sea
2015 allocation by area
Eastern
Aleutian
District/Bering Sea
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC ...................................
CDQ reserve .....................
n/a .....................................
Total ..................................
A .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
B .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
Total ..................................
Total ..................................
Total ..................................
A .......................................
B .......................................
Total ..................................
A .......................................
B .......................................
Total 7 ................................
21,652
2,317
1,158
n/a
1,158
n/a
1,000
92
1,824
912
912
16,419
8,210
8,210
9,487
9,670
1,035
517
52
517
52
75
0
856
428
428
7,704
3,852
3,852
4,597
1,000
107
54
n/a
54
n/a
40
0
0
0
0
853
427
427
500
21,769
2,329
1,165
n/a
1,165
n/a
1,000
92
1,835
917
917
16,513
8,256
8,256
n/a
9,722
1,040
520
52
520
52
75
0
861
430
430
7,746
3,873
3,873
n/a
1,000
107
54
n/a
54
n/a
40
0
0
0
0
853
427
427
n/a
A .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
B .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
Total 7 ................................
4,744
n/a
4,744
n/a
6,932
2,299
230
2,299
230
3,107
250
n/a
250
n/a
353
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
A .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
B .......................................
Critical Habitat 5 ................
3,466
n/a
3,466
n/a
1,554
155
1,554
155
177
n/a
177
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
ICA ....................................
Jig 6 ...................................
BSAI trawl limited access
Amendment 80 sectors .....
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative 7.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Alaska Seafood Cooperative 7.
Central
Aleutian
District 5
Western
Aleutian
District
Central 5
Aleutian
District
Western
Aleutian
District
1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
2 Regulations at §§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
3 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
4 Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B
season from June 10 to November 1.
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12115
5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the TAC in area 542 shall be no more than 47% of ABC, and Atka mackerel harvests for Amendment 80
cooperatives and CDQ groups within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as described in Table 12 to part 679, in Area 542
are limited to no more than 10 percent of the Amendment 80 cooperative Atka mackerel allocation or 10 percent of the CDQ Atka mackerel allocation.
6 Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear
after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
7 The 2015 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will post 2015 Amendment 80 allocations when they
become available in December 2014.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated BS and AI
subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for
Pacific cod. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)
allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC
and AI TAC to the CDQ program. After
CDQ allocations have been deducted
from the respective BS and AI Pacific
cod TACs, the remaining BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs are combined for
calculating further BSAI Pacific cod
sector allocations. However, if the nonCDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be
reached in either the BS or AI subareas,
NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed
fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as
provided in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii)
allocate the Pacific cod TAC in the
combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting
10.7 percent for the CDQ program, as
follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig
gear; 2.0 percent to hook-and-line and
pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length
overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-andline CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-andline C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5
percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3 percent to AFA
trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA
trawl C/Ps; and 22.1 percent to trawl
CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and
pot sectors will be deducted from the
aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. For 2014 and 2015, the Regional
Administrator establishes an ICA of 500
mt based on anticipated incidental catch
by these sectors in other fisheries.
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to
the Amendment 80 sector is established
in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91.
The 2015 allocations for Amendment 80
species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by
November 1, 2014. NMFS will post 2015
Amendment 80 allocations when they
become available in December 2014.
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned
into seasonal allowances to disperse the
Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing
year (see §§ 679.20(a)(7) and
679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused
portion of a seasonal Pacific cod
allowance will become available at the
beginning of the next seasonal
allowance.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season
allowances by gear based on the 2014
and 2015 Pacific cod TACs are listed in
Tables 5 and 6, and are based on the
sector allocation percentages of Pacific
cod set forth at §§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at
§ 679.23(e)(5).
Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits
retaining Pacific cod in Area 543, and
§ 679.7(a)(23) prohibits directed fishing
for Pacific cod with hook-and-line, pot,
or jig gear in the Aleutian Islands
subarea November 1 through December
31.
TABLE 5—FINAL 2014 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear sector
2014 share
of gear sector total
Percent
2014 share
of sector
total
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
100
60.8
n/a
n/a
48.7
246,897
26,418
220,479
6,997
749
6,248
226,727
137,850
500
137,350
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
110,016
Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA
0.2
n/a
452
Pot catcher/processor ...............................
1.5
n/a
3,389
Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
BS TAC .....................................................
BS CDQ ....................................................
BS non-CDQ TAC .....................................
AI TAC ......................................................
AI CDQ .....................................................
AI non-CDQ TAC ......................................
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 ......................
Total hook-and-line/pot gear .....................
Hook-and-line/pot ICA 2 ............................
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total .......................
Hook-and-line catcher/processor ..............
8.4
n/a
18,976
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hookand-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel .................................
2
n/a
4,518
22.1
50,107
n/a
AFA trawl catcher/processor .....................
2.3
5,215
n/a
Amendment 80 .........................................
13.4
30,381
n/a
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2014 seasonal apportionment
Seasons
Amount
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ............................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ............................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ...........................
n/a .............................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .........................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
56,108
53,908
230
221
1,728
1,660
9,678
9,298
n/a
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
37,079
5,512
7,516
3,911
1,304
0
22,786
7,595
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TABLE 5—FINAL 2014 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear sector
2014 share
of gear sector total
Percent
2014 share
of sector
total
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ................
n/a
n/a
5,657
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ....................
n/a
n/a
24,724
Jig .............................................................
1.4
3,174
n/a
2014 seasonal apportionment
Seasons
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 1–Apr 30 ............................................
Apr 30–Aug 31 .........................................
Aug 31–Dec 31 ........................................
Amount
0
4,243
1,414
0
18,543
6,181
0
1,905
635
635
1 The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line
and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2014 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 6—FINAL 2015 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear sector
2015 share
of gear sector total
Percent
2015 share
of sector
total
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
60.8
n/a
n/a
48.7
251,712
26,933
224,779
6,487
694
5,793
230,572
140,188
500
139,688
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
111,888
Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA
0.2
n/a
459
Pot catcher/processor ...............................
1.5
n/a
3,446
Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ................
8.4
n/a
19,299
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hookand-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel .................................
2
n/a
4,595
22.1
50,956
n/a
AFA trawl catcher/processor .....................
2.3
5,303
n/a
Amendment 80 .........................................
13.4
30,897
n/a
Jig .............................................................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
BS TAC .....................................................
BS CDQ ....................................................
BS non-CDQ TAC .....................................
AI TAC ......................................................
AI CDQ .....................................................
AI non-CDQ TAC ......................................
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 ......................
Total hook-and-line/pot gear .....................
Hook-and-line/pot ICA 2 ............................
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total .......................
Hook-and-line catcher/processor ..............
1.4
3,228
n/a
2015 seasonal apportionment
Seasons
Amount
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ............................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ............................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ...........................
n/a .............................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .........................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
57,063
54,825
234
225
1,758
1,689
9,842
9,456
n/a
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 ...........................................
Jan 1–Apr 30 ............................................
Apr 30–Aug 31 .........................................
Aug 31–Dec 31 ........................................
37,708
5,605
7,643
3,977
1,326
0
23,172
7,724
0
1,937
646
646
1 The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line
and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2015 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)
require allocation of the sablefish TAC
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for the BS and AI subareas between
trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear
sectors. Gear allocations of the TAC for
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the BS subarea are 50 percent for trawl
gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or
pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs
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for the AI subarea are 25 percent for
trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-andline or pot gear. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to
apportion 20 percent of the hook-andline and pot gear allocation of sablefish
to the CDQ reserve. Additionally,
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of
sablefish from the non-specified
reserves, established under
§ 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ
reserve. The Council recommended that
only trawl sablefish TAC be established
biennially. The harvest specifications
for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries will be limited to the 2014
fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut
IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and
halibut IFQ fisheries will reduce the
12117
potential for discards of halibut and
sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain
closed at the beginning of each fishing
year until the final harvest
specifications for the sablefish IFQ
fisheries are in effect. Table 7 lists the
2014 and 2015 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve
amounts.
TABLE 7—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Percent of
TAC
Subarea and gear
2014 Share
of TAC
2014 ITAC
2014 CDQ
reserve
2015 Share
of TAC
2015 ITAC
2015 CDQ
reserve
Bering Sea
Trawl 1 ...............................................
Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ...................
50
50
670
670
569
536
50
134
605
n/a
514
n/a
45
n/a
TOTAL .......................................
100
1,339
1,105
184
605
514
45
Aleutian Islands
Trawl 1 ...............................................
Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ...................
25
75
453
1,358
385
1,086
34
272
409
n/a
348
n/a
31
n/a
TOTAL .......................................
100
1,811
1,471
306
409
348
31
1 Except
for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of
the TAC after subtracting these reserves.
2 For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean
Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii)
require that NMFS allocate AI Pacific
ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole TAC
between the Amendment 80 sector and
BSAI trawl limited access sector, after
subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and vessels using
non-trawl gear. The allocation of the
ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80
sector is established in accordance with
Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and
§ 679.91.
The 2015 allocations for Amendment
80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by
November 1, 2014. NMFS will publish
2015 Amendment 80 allocations when
they become available in December
2014. Tables 8 and 9 list the 2014 and
2015 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean
perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole TACs.
TABLE 8—FINAL 2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian District
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ...............
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...................
Central
Aleutian District
9,246
989
200
806
7,251
3,845
3,406
Flathead sole
Western
Aleutian
District
6,594
706
75
581
5,232
2,774
2,458
9,598
1,027
10
171
8,390
4,449
3,941
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
24,500
2,622
5,000
0
16,879
3,313
13,566
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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85,000
9,095
8,000
0
67,905
19,400
48,505
184,000
19,688
2,400
29,707
132,205
56,779
75,426
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TABLE 9—FINAL 2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
district
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 801 .......................................
8,833
945
200
769
6,919
Central
Aleutian
district
Flathead sole
Western
Aleutian
district
6,299
674
75
555
4,995
9,169
981
10
164
8,014
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
25,129
2,689
5,000
0
17,440
85,000
9,095
8,000
0
67,905
187,000
20,009
2,400
30,779
133,812
1 The 2015 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will publish 2015 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2014.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab,
and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI
PSC limits. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and (e)(2), the 2014 and 2015 BSAI
halibut mortality limits are 3,675 mt for
trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the nontrawl fisheries. Sections
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and
679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326 mt of the
trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5
percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl
halibut mortality limit as the PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ
program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes
apportioning the non-trawl halibut PSC
limit into PSC bycatch allowances
among six fishery categories. Tables 11
and 12 list the fishery bycatch
allowances for the trawl fisheries, and
Table 13 lists the fishery bycatch
allowances for the non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to section 3.6 of the FMP,
the Council recommends, and NMFS
agrees, that certain specified non-trawl
fisheries be exempt from the halibut
PSC limit. As in past years, after
consulting with the Council, NMFS
exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery
categories from halibut bycatch
restrictions for the following reasons: (1)
the pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates
halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to
be negligible because of the small size
of the fishery and the selectivity of the
gear; and (3) the IFQ program requires
legal-size halibut to be retained by
vessels using hook-and-line gear if a
halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired
master is aboard and is holding unused
halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part
679). In 2013, total groundfish catch for
the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 34,368 mt, with an
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associated halibut bycatch mortality of
about 3 mt.
The 2013 jig gear fishery harvested
about 40 mt of groundfish. Most vessels
in the jig gear fleet are exempt from
observer coverage requirements. As a
result, observer data are not available on
halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery.
However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates the jig gear sector will have a
negligible amount of halibut bycatch
mortality because of the selective nature
of jig gear and the low mortality rate of
halibut caught with jig gear and
released.
Section 679.21(f)(2) annually allocates
portions of either 47,591 or 60,000
Chinook salmon PSC limits among the
AFA sectors, depending on past catch
performance and on whether Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements are formed. If an AFA sector
participates in an approved Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement, then NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that
sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement is approved, or if the sector
has exceeded its performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6), then NMFS will
allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook
salmon PSC limit to that sector, as
specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In
2014, the Chinook salmon PSC limit is
60,000 and the AFA sector Chinook
salmon allocations are seasonally
allocated with 70 percent of the
allocation for the A season pollock
fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation
for the B season pollock fishery as stated
in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for
these PSC limits is described in detail
in the final rule implementing
management measures for Amendment
91 (75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010).
NMFS publishes the approved Chinook
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salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements, 2014 allocations, and
reports at: https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/bycatch/
default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700
fish as the 2014 and 2015 Chinook
salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea
pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5
percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, to the AI
subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and
allocates the remaining 647 Chinook
salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies
42,000 fish as the 2014 and 2015 nonChinook salmon PSC limit in the
Catcher Vessel Operational Area
(CVOA). Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii)
allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 nonChinook salmon in the CVOA as the
PSQ for the CDQ program, and allocates
the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook
salmon in the CVOA as the PSC limit for
the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are
specified annually based on abundance
and spawning biomass. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7
percent from each trawl gear PSC limit
specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for
use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2013 survey data, the
red king crab mature female abundance
is estimated at 19.9 million red king
crabs, and the effective spawning
biomass is estimated at 49.3 million lb
(22,362 mt). Based on the criteria set out
at § 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2014 and 2015
PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for
trawl gear is 97,000 animals. This limit
derives from the mature female
abundance of more than 8.4 million
king crab and the effective spawning
biomass estimate of less than 55 million
lb (24,948 mt).
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)
establishes criteria under which NMFS
must specify an annual red king crab
bycatch limit for the Red King Crab
Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The
regulations limit the RKCSS red king
crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the
red king crab PSC limit, based on the
need to optimize the groundfish harvest
relative to red king crab bycatch. In
December 2013, the Council
recommended and NMFS concurs that
the red king crab bycatch limit be equal
to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC
limit within the RKCSS (Table 11).
Based on 2013 survey data, Tanner
crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is
estimated at 946 million animals.
Pursuant to criteria set out at
§ 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2014
and 2015 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for
trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1
and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These
limits derive from the C. bairdi crab
abundance estimate being in excess of
the 400 million animals for both the
Zone 1 and Zone 2 allocations.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC
limit for snow crab (C. opilio) is based
on total abundance as indicated by the
NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The
C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133
percent of the BS abundance index
minus 150,000 crab. Based on the 2013
survey estimate of 10.005 billion
animals, the calculated C. opilio crab
PSC limit is 11,185,892 animals.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC
limit of Pacific herring caught while
conducting any trawl operation for BSAI
groundfish is 1 percent of the annual
eastern BS herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2014 and 2015 herring
biomass is 217,153 mt. This amount was
derived using 2013 survey data and an
age-structured biomass projection model
developed by the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game. Therefore, the herring
PSC limit for 2014 and 2015 is 2,172 mt
for all trawl gear as listed in Tables 10
and 11.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires
PSQ reserves to be subtracted from the
total trawl PSC limits. The 2014 PSC
limits assigned to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors
are specified in Table 35 to part 679.
The resulting allocations of PSC limit to
CDQ PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector,
and the BSAI trawl limited access
fisheries are listed in Table 10. Pursuant
to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and § 679.91(d)
through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC
limits assigned to the Amendment 80
sector are then further allocated to
Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC
cooperative quota as listed in Table 14.
PSC cooperative quota assigned to
Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories.
In 2014, there are no vessels in the
Amendment 80 limited access sector.
The 2015 PSC allocations between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
12119
Amendment 80 limited access sector
will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in
the program by November 1, 2014.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires
NMFS to apportion each trawl PSC limit
not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch
allowances for seven specified fishery
categories.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes
NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal
apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and
Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet
to harvest the available groundfish TAC
and to minimize bycatch. The factors to
be considered are (1) seasonal
distribution of prohibited species; (2)
seasonal distribution of target
groundfish species; (3) PSC bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relevant to
prohibited species biomass; (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout
the year; (5) expected start of fishing
effort; and (6) economic effects of
seasonal PSC apportionments on
industry sectors. The Council
recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables
12 and 13 to maximize harvest among
gear types, fisheries, and seasons while
minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the
above criteria.
TABLE 10—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 APPORTIONMENT OF PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH ALLOWANCES TO NON-TRAWL GEAR,
THE CDQ PROGRAM, AMENDMENT 80, AND THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS SECTORS
Total nontrawl PSC
PSC species and area 1
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI ......................
Herring (mt) BSAI ....................................
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 ..............
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ .......................
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 ...............
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 ...............
Non-trawl
PSC remaining
after CDQ
PSQ 2
900
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
832
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total trawl
PSC
3,675
2,172
97,000
11,185,892
980,000
2,970,000
Trawl PSC
remaining
after CDQ
PSQ 2
CDQ PSQ
reserve 2
3,349
n/a
86,621
9,989,002
875,140
2,652,210
393
n/a
10,379
1,196,890
104,860
317,790
Amendment
80 sector 3
BSAI trawl
limited access fishery
2,325
n/a
43,293
4,909,594
368,521
627,778
875
n/a
26,489
3,210,465
411,228
1,241,500
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and § 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the
non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of
each crab PSC limit.
3 The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 Section
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
TABLE 11—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH
ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS
Herring (mt)
BSAI
Fishery categories
Yellowfin sole ...................................................................................................................................................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 1 ............................................................................................................................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 2 ...........................................................................................................................................
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24
16
Red king
crab
(animals)
Zone 1
n/a
n/a
n/a
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TABLE 11—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH
ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS—Continued
Herring (mt)
BSAI
Fishery categories
Rockfish ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .......................................................................................................................................................................
Midwater trawl pollock .....................................................................................................................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3 4 ...........................................................................................................................
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 5 ................................................................................................
Total trawl PSC ................................................................................................................................................................
Red king
crab
(animals)
Zone 1
11
33
1,776
164
n/a
2,172
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
24,250
97,000
1 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
2 ‘‘Arrowtooth flounder’’ for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
3 Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ‘‘other species’’ fishery category.
4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
5 In December 2013 the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited
to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 12—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS
SECTOR
Prohibited species and area 1
Halibut mortality (mt)
BSAI
Red king
crab (animals) Zone
1
Yellowfin sole ...........................................................................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 .....................................................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 3 ...................................................................
Rockfish April 15–December 31 ..............................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 4 .....................................................
167
0
0
5
453
250
23,338
0
0
0
2,954
197
3,026,465
0
0
5,000
129,000
50,000
346,228
0
0
0
60,000
5,000
1,185,500
0
0
1,000
50,000
5,000
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC ...............................................
875
26,489
3,210,465
411,228
1,241,500
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
Zone 2
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3 Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 ‘‘Other
TABLE 13—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR NON-TRAWL FISHERIES
Non-trawl fisheries
Catcher/
processor
Catcher
vessel
Pacific cod—Total .................................................................................................................................................................
January 1–June 10 ........................................................................................................................................................
June 10–August 15 ........................................................................................................................................................
August 15–December 31 ...............................................................................................................................................
Other non-trawl—Total ..........................................................................................................................................................
May 1–December 31 ......................................................................................................................................................
Groundfish pot and jig ...........................................................................................................................................................
Sablefish hook-and-line .........................................................................................................................................................
Total non-trawl PSC ..............................................................................................................................................................
760
455
190
115
....................
....................
....................
....................
....................
15.
10.
3.
2.
58.
58.
Exempt.
Exempt.
833.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
TABLE 14—FINAL 2014 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES
Prohibited species and zones 1
Halibut mortality (mt)
BSAI
Cooperative
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...................................................................
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1
1,602
29,285
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C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
3,150,269
04MRR1
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
257,941
Zone 2
431,195
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 42 / Tuesday, March 4, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 14—FINAL 2014 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES—
Continued
Prohibited species and zones 1
Halibut mortality (mt)
BSAI
Cooperative
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ...............................................................
Red king
crab (animals) Zone
1
723
14,008
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
1,759,325
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
Zone 2
110,580
196,583
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the
Regional Administrator uses observed
halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, and
estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery’s halibut bycatch
mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The DMRs
are based on the best information
available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS approves the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) and the Council for
the 2014 and 2015 BSAI groundfish
fisheries for use in monitoring the 2014
and 2015 halibut bycatch allowances
(see Tables 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14). The
IPHC developed these DMRs for the
2014 and 2015 BSAI fisheries using the
10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries.
The IPHC will analyze observer data
annually and recommend changes to the
DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large
variation from the mean. A discussion
of the DMRs is available from the
Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 15 lists
the 2014 and 2015 DMRs.
TABLE 15—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI
Halibut discard
mortality rate
(percent)
Gear
Fishery
Non-CDQ hook-and-line ..........................................................
Greenland turbot .....................................................................
Other species 1 ........................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Rockfish ...................................................................................
Alaska plaice ...........................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder 2 ...............................................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................................................
Flathead sole ...........................................................................
Greenland turbot .....................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock .................................................................
Pelagic pollock ........................................................................
Other flatfish 3 ..........................................................................
Other species 1 ........................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Rockfish ...................................................................................
Rock sole .................................................................................
Sablefish ..................................................................................
Yellowfin sole ..........................................................................
Other species 1 ........................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................................................
Greenland turbot .....................................................................
Flathead sole ...........................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock .................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Pelagic pollock ........................................................................
Rockfish ...................................................................................
Rock sole .................................................................................
Yellowfin sole ..........................................................................
Greenland turbot .....................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................
Sablefish ..................................................................................
Non-CDQ trawl ........................................................................
Non-CDQ Pot ...........................................................................
CDQ trawl ................................................................................
CDQ hook-and-line ..................................................................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
CDQ pot ...................................................................................
1 ‘‘Other
13
9
9
4
71
76
77
73
64
77
88
71
71
71
79
85
75
83
8
8
86
89
79
83
90
90
80
88
86
4
10
8
34
species’’ includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
flounder includes Kamchatka flounder.
3 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
2 Arrowtooth
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Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator may
establish a DFA for a species or species
group if the Regional Administrator
determines that any allocation or
apportionment of a target species has
been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and
that allowance is or will be reached
before the end of the fishing year, NMFS
will prohibit directed fishing for that
species or species group in the specified
subarea or district (see
§ 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant
to § 679.21(e), if the Regional
Administrator determines that a fishery
category’s bycatch allowance of halibut,
red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio
crab for a specified area has been
reached, the Regional Administrator
will prohibit directed fishing for each
species in that category in the specified
area.
Based on historic catch patterns and
anticipated fishing activity, the Regional
Administrator has determined that the
groundfish allocation amounts in Table
16 will be necessary as incidental catch
to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2014 and 2015 fishing
years. Consequently, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the DFA for
the species and species groups in Table
10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified
areas effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March
4, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2015. Also, for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector, bycatch
allowances of halibut, red king crab, C.
bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in
Table 10 are insufficient to support
directed fisheries. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and fishery categories in the
specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., March 4, 2014, through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
TABLE 16—2014 AND 2015 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
2014
Incidental
catch allowance
2015
Incidental
catch allowance
Area
Sector
Species
Bogoslof District ..............................
Aleutian Islands subarea ................
All ...................................................
All ...................................................
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District .................
Non-amendment 80 and BSAI
trawl limited access.
All ...................................................
Pollock ............................................
ICA pollock .....................................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ...........................
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
75
2,000
473
1,000
75
2,000
473
1,000
Rougheye rockfish .........................
177
201
BSAI
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
200
200
Central Aleutian District ..................
Non-amendment 80 and
trawl limited access.
Non-amendment 80 and
trawl limited access.
BSAI
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
75
75
Western Aleutian District ................
Non-amendment 80 and
trawl limited access.
BSAI
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
75
40
75
40
Central and Western Aleutian Districts.
Bering Sea subarea ........................
All ...................................................
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
Rougheye rockfish .........................
10
239
10
277
All ...................................................
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands ....
All ...................................................
Pacific ocean perch .......................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ...........................
ICA pollock .....................................
Northern rockfish ............................
Shortraker rockfish .........................
Skates ............................................
Sculpins ..........................................
Sharks ............................................
Squids ............................................
Octopuses ......................................
ICA Pacific cod ..............................
ICA flathead sole ...........................
ICA rock sole .................................
ICA yellowfin sole ..........................
6,531
300
38,770
2,205
370
22,100
4,888
125
264
225
500
5,000
8,000
2,400
6,239
400
38,495
2,550
370
22,100
4,888
125
276
225
500
5,000
8,000
2,400
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish—halibut mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ,
C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish—halibut mortality, red king crab
Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish—red king crab Zone 1 ....
0
0
0
0
0
0
Hook-and-line and pot gear ...........
Non-amendment 80 .......................
Non-amendment 80 and
trawl limited access.
BSAI
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
BSAI trawl limited access ..............
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
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Closures implemented under the final
2013 and 2014 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (78 FR
13813, March 1, 2013) remain effective
under authority of these final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications, and are
posted at the following Web sites:
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/
info_bulletins/ and
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
fisheries_reports/reports/.
While these closures are in effect, the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a fishing trip. These closures to
directed fishing are in addition to
closures and prohibitions found in
regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor
Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of listed AFA C/
Ps to engage in directed fishing for
groundfish species other than pollock to
protect participants in other groundfish
fisheries from adverse effects resulting
from the AFA and from fishery
cooperatives in the pollock directed
fishery. These restrictions are set out as
‘‘sideboard’’ limits on catch. The basis
12123
for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing
the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and
Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 17 lists the
2014 and 2015 C/P sideboard limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard
species by listed AFA C/Ps, whether as
targeted catch or incidental catch, will
be deducted from the sideboard limits
in Table 17. However, groundfish
sideboard species that are delivered to
listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be
deducted from the 2014 and 2015
sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
TABLE 17—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH
SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Target species
Sablefish trawl .......
Atka mackerel .......
Rock sole ..............
Greenland turbot ...
Arrowtooth flounder
Kamchatka flounder.
Flathead sole ........
Alaska plaice .........
Other flatfish ..........
Pacific ocean perch
Northern rockfish ...
Shortraker rockfish
Rougheye rockfish
Other rockfish ........
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Skates ...................
Sculpins .................
Sharks ...................
Squids ...................
Octopuses .............
2014 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
2015 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps1
2015 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
Total catch
Ratio of retained catch
to total
catch
2014 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps 1
8
0
n/a
497
145
n/a
0.016
0
0.115
569
385
4,318
9
0
497
514
348
4,341
8
0
499
n/a
n/a
0.115
4,318
497
4,341
499
n/a
Area/season
n/a
0.2
670
134
670
134
Retained
catch
BS .........................
AI ..........................
Central AI A season 2.
Central AI B season 2.
Western AI A season 2.
Western AI B season 2.
BSAI .....................
BS .........................
AI ..........................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
n/a
n/a
0.2
670
134
670
134
6,317
121
23
76
76
169,362
17,305
4,987
33,987
33,987
0.037
0.007
0.005
0.002
0.002
75,905
1,410
395
21,250
6,035
2,808
10
2
43
12
75,905
2,106
591
21,250
6,205
2,808
15
3
43
12
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
BS .........................
Eastern AI .............
Central AI .............
Western AI ............
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
EBS/EAI ................
CAI/WAI ................
BS .........................
AI ..........................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
BSAI .....................
1,925
14
3,058
12
125
3
54
91
50
50
50
18
22
553
553
553
73
553
52,755
9,438
52,298
4,879
6,179
5,698
13,598
13,040
2,811
2,811
2,811
621
806
68,672
68,672
68,672
3,328
68,672
0.036
0.001
0.058
0.002
0.02
0.001
0.004
0.007
0.018
0.018
0.018
0.029
0.027
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.022
0.008
21,879
20,825
2,253
6,531
8,257
5,888
8,571
2,205
370
177
239
300
473
22,100
4,888
125
264
225
788
21
131
13
165
6
34
15
7
3
4
9
13
177
39
1
6
2
22,440
21,250
2,550
6,239
7,888
5,625
8,188
2,550
370
201
277
400
473
22,100
4,888
125
276
225
808
21
148
12
158
6
33
18
7
4
5
12
13
177
39
1
6
2
1 Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of
the TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
2 The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of
the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40
and 41 of part 679 establish a formula
for calculating PSC sideboard limits for
listed AFA C/Ps. The basis for these
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the final rules implementing the major
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80
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(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007), and
in the proposed rule (77 FR 72791,
December 6, 2012).
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PSC species listed in Table 18 that are
caught by listed AFA C/Ps participating
in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the 2014 and
2015 PSC sideboard limits for the listed
AFA C/Ps. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorizes NMFS to close directed
fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2014
or 2015 PSC sideboard limit listed in
Table 18 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed
AFA C/Ps while fishing for pollock will
accrue against the bycatch allowances
annually specified for either the
midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka
mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery
categories under regulations at
§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 18—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 BSAI AFA LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS
Ratio of PSC
catch to total
PSC
PSC species and area 1
Halibut mortality BSAI ................................................................................................................
Red king crab zone 1 ................................................................................................................
C. opilio (COBLZ) ......................................................................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 1 .........................................................................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 2 .........................................................................................................................
1 Refer
2014 and
2015 PSC
available to
trawl vessels
after subtraction of PSQ 2
n/a
0.007
0.153
0.14
0.05
n/a
86,621
9,989,002
875,140
2,652,210
2014 and
2015 catcher/
processor
sideboard
limit 2
286
606
1,528,317
122,520
132,611
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
2 Halibut
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of AFA CVs to
engage in directed fishing for groundfish
species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish
fisheries from adverse effects resulting
from the AFA and from fishery
cooperatives in the pollock directed
fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a
formula for setting AFA CV groundfish
and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI.
The basis for these sideboard limits is
described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of
the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Tables 19 and 20
list the 2014 and 2015 AFA CV
sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard
species made by non-exempt AFA CVs,
whether as targeted catch or incidental
catch, will be deducted from the 2014
and 2015 sideboard limits listed in
Table 19.
TABLE 19—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Ratio of
1995–1997
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
2014 initial
TAC 1
2014 AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
limits
2015 initial
TAC 1
2015 AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
limits
Species/gear
Fishery by area/season
Pacific cod/Jig gear ......................
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV ≥ 60
feet LOA.
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................
0
0.0006
n/a
206
0
0
n/a
209
0
0
BSAI Jun 10–Dec 31 ....................
BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ......................
0.0006
0.0006
198
8,638
0
5
201
8,786
0
5
BSAI Sept 1–Dec 31 ....................
BSAI ..............................................
0.0006
0.0006
8,300
4,033
5
2
8,441
4,102
5
2
BSAI Jan 20–Apr 1 .......................
BSAI Apr 1–Jun 10 .......................
BSAI Jun 10–Nov 1 ......................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
Eastern AI/BS Jan 1–Jun 10 ........
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10–Nov 1 .......
Central AI Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............
Central AI Jun 10–Nov 1 ..............
Western AI Jan 1–Jun 10 .............
Western AI Jun 10–Nov 1 ............
BSAI ..............................................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BS .................................................
0.8609
0.8609
0.8609
0.0906
0.0645
0.0032
0.0032
0.0001
0.0001
0
0
0.0341
0.0645
0.0205
0.069
0.069
0.0441
0.0441
0.0505
37,079
5,512
7,516
569
385
9,668
9,668
4,318
4,318
447
447
75,905
1,410
395
21,250
6,035
20,825
2,253
21,879
31,921
4,745
6,471
52
25
31
31
0
0
0
0
2,588
91
8
1,466
416
918
99
1,105
37,708
5,605
7,643
514
348
9,720
9,720
4,341
4,341
447
447
75,905
2,106
591
21,250
6,205
21,250
2,550
22,440
32,463
4,825
6,580
47
22
31
31
0
0
0
0
2,588
136
12
1,466
428
937
112
1,133
Pacific cod pot gear CV ≥ 60 feet
LOA.
Pacific cod CV < 60 feet LOA
using hook-and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV .............
Sablefish trawl gear ......................
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Atka mackerel ...............................
Rock sole ......................................
Greenland turbot ...........................
Arrowtooth flounder ......................
Kamchatka flounder ......................
Alaska plaice ................................
Other flatfish .................................
Flathead sole ................................
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TABLE 19—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Ratio of
1995–1997
AFA CV
catch to
1995–1997
TAC
Species/gear
Fishery by area/season
Pacific ocean perch ......................
BS .................................................
Eastern AI .....................................
Central AI ......................................
Western AI ....................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
EBS/EAI ........................................
CAI/WAI ........................................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
BSAI ..............................................
Northern rockfish ..........................
Shortraker rockfish .......................
Rougheye rockfish ........................
Other rockfish ...............................
Skates ...........................................
Sculpins ........................................
Sharks ...........................................
Squids ...........................................
Octopuses .....................................
0.1
0.0077
0.0025
0
0.0084
0.0037
0.0037
0.0037
0.0048
0.0095
0.0541
0.0541
0.0541
0.3827
0.0541
2014 AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
limits
2014 initial
TAC 1
6,531
8,257
5,888
8,571
2,205
370
177
239
300
473
22,100
4,888
125
264
225
653
64
15
0
19
1
1
1
1
4
1,196
264
7
101
12
2015 initial
TAC 1
6,239
7,888
5,625
8,188
2,550
370
201
277
400
473
22,100
4,888
125
276
225
2015 AFA
catcher
vessel
sideboard
limits
624
61
14
0
21
1
1
1
2
4
1,196
264
7
106
12
1 Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of
that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in
Table 20 that are caught by AFA CVs
participating in any groundfish fishery
for groundfish other than pollock will
accrue against the 2014 and 2015 PSC
sideboard limits for the AFA CVs.
Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorize NMFS to close directed
fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA CVs once a 2014 or
2015 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table
20 is reached. The PSC that is caught by
AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in
the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch
allowances annually specified for either
the midwater pollock or the pollock/
Atka mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery
categories under regulations at
§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 20—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD
LIMITS FOR THE BSAI1
PSC species and area 1
Target fishery category 2
Halibut .............................................................................................
AFA catcher
vessel PSC
sideboard
limit ratio
2014 and
2015 PSC
limit after
subtraction
of PSQ reserves 3
2014 and
2015 AFA
catcher vessel PSC
sideboard
limit 3
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
887
2
101
228
n/a
n/a
0
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2
5
0.299
0.168
0.33
0.186
86,621
9,989,002
875,140
2,652,210
25,900
1,678,152
288,796
493,311
Pacific cod trawl .........................
Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot
Yellowfin sole total .....................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other
flatfish 4.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 5.
Rockfish ......................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 6.
n/a ..............................................
n/a ..............................................
n/a ..............................................
n/a ..............................................
Red king crab Zone 1 .....................................................................
C. opilio COBLZ ..............................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 1 ..............................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 2 ..............................................................................
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
fishery categories are defined in regulation at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
4 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
5 Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
6 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
2 Target
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3 Halibut
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AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher
Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based on historical catch patterns, the
Regional Administrator has determined
that many of the AFA C/P and CV
sideboard limits listed in Tables 21 and
22 are necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2014 and 2015 fishing
years. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator establishes the sideboard
limits listed in Tables 21 and 22 as
DFAs. Because many of these DFAs will
be reached before the end of 2014, the
Regional Administrator has determined,
in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
that NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing by listed AFA C/Ps for the
species in the specified areas set out in
Table 21, and directed fishing by nonexempt AFA CVs for the species in the
specified areas set out in Table 22.
TABLE 21—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED
FISHING CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014
sideboard
limit
Species
Area
Gear types
Sablefish trawl ............................................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
BSAI .............................................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BS .................................................
Eastern AI ....................................
Central AI .....................................
Western AI ...................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
EBS/EAI .......................................
CAI/WAI ........................................
BS .................................................
AI ..................................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
BSAI .............................................
trawl ..............................................
trawl ..............................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
all ..................................................
Rock sole ...................................................
Greenland turbot ........................................
Arrowtooth flounder ....................................
Kamchatka flounder ...................................
Alaska plaice ..............................................
Other flatfish 2 .............................................
Flathead sole ..............................................
Pacific ocean perch ....................................
Northern rockfish ........................................
Shortraker rockfish .....................................
Rougheye rockfish .....................................
Other rockfish 3 ...........................................
Skates ........................................................
Sculpins ......................................................
Sharks ........................................................
Squids ........................................................
Octopuses ..................................................
2015
sideboard
limit
9
0
2,808
10
2
43
12
21
131
788
13
165
6
34
15
7
3
4
9
13
177
39
1
6
2
8
0
2,808
15
3
43
12
21
148
808
12
158
6
33
18
7
3
5
12
13
177
39
1
6
2
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
TABLE 22—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING
CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2014
sideboard limit
Species
Area
Gear types
Pacific cod ......................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
0
10
2
0
10
2
0
52
25
62
0
0
91
8
1,466
416
918
99
1,105
2,588
653
0
47
22
62
0
0
136
12
1,466
428
937
112
1,133
2,588
624
hook-and-line CV ≥ 60 feet LOA ...
pot CV ≥ 60 feet LOA ....................
hook-and-line or pot CV< 60 feet
LOA.
jig ....................................................
trawl ................................................
trawl ................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
Sablefish .........................................
Atka mackerel .................................
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
2015
sideboard limit
Greenland turbot .............................
Arrowtooth flounder ........................
Kamchatka flounder ........................
Alaska plaice ..................................
Other flatfish 2 .................................
Flathead sole ..................................
Rock sole ........................................
Pacific ocean perch ........................
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BSAI ...............................................
BS ..................................................
AI ....................................................
Eastern AI/BS ................................
Central AI .......................................
Western AI .....................................
BS ..................................................
AI ....................................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BS ..................................................
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TABLE 22—FINAL 2014 AND 2015 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING
CLOSURES 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Northern rockfish ............................
Shortraker rockfish .........................
Rougheye rockfish ..........................
Other rockfish 3 ...............................
Skates .............................................
Sculpins ..........................................
Sharks .............................................
Squids .............................................
Octopuses .......................................
2014
sideboard limit
Gear types
Eastern AI ......................................
Central AI .......................................
Western AI .....................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BS/EAI ............................................
CAI/WAI .........................................
BS ..................................................
AI ....................................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
2015
sideboard limit
64
15
0
19
1
1
1
1
4
1,196
264
7
101
12
61
14
0
21
1
1
1
2
4
1,196
264
7
106
12
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
Response to Comments
NMFS received one letter with one
comment.
Comment: The harvest of all
groundfish quotas in the BSAI should be
cut by 50 percent.
Response: Pursuant to National
Standard One of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, NMFS must achieve, on a
continuing basis, the optimum yield
from each fishery for the U.S. fishing
industry. The optimum yield for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries ranges from
1.4 million mt to two million mt. Based
on the best available science, the
Council determined that the optimum
yield for 2014 and 2015 is two million
metric tons, and recommended TACs to
achieve this optimum yield. NMFS
agrees with this recommendation.
Reducing the harvest of all groundfish
by 50 percent would not achieve
optimum yield for the BSAI groundfish
fisheries, and would not comply with
National Standard One.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final
harvest specifications are consistent
with the FMP and with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50
CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Orders 12866 and
13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS that covers
this action (see ADDRESSES) and made
it available to the public on January 12,
2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13,
2007, NMFS issued the Record of
Decision (ROD) for the EIS. In January
2014, NMFS prepared a Supplemental
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Information Report (SIR) for this action.
Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this
action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the
groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on
resources in the action area. The EIS
found no significant environmental
consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need
to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for
the 2014 and 2015 groundfish harvest
specifications.
An SEIS should be prepared if (1) the
agency makes substantial changes in the
proposed action that are relevant to
environmental concerns; or (2)
significant new circumstances or
information exist relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on
the proposed action or its impacts (40
CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the
information contained in the SIR and
SAFE reports, the Regional
Administrator has determined that (1)
approval of the 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications, which were set according
to the preferred harvest strategy in the
EIS, do not constitute a change in the
action; and (2) there are no significant
new circumstances or information
relevant to environmental concerns and
bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope
of those analyzed and disclosed in the
EIS. Therefore, supplemental National
Environmental Policy Act
documentation is not necessary to
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implement the 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications.
Pursuant to section 604 of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5
U.S.C. 601, et seq., a FRFA was
prepared for this action. The FRFA
incorporates the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and
includes a summary of the significant
issues raised by public comments in
response to the IRFA, as well as NMFS’
responses to those comments. A
summary of the analyses completed to
support the action is also included in
the FRFA.
A copy of the FRFA prepared for this
final rule is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). A description of this
action, its purpose, and its legal basis
are contained at the beginning of the
preamble to this final rule and are not
repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on
December 10, 2013 (78 FR 74063). The
rule was accompanied by an IRFA,
which was summarized in the proposed
rule. The comment period closed on
January 9, 2014. No comments were
received on the IRFA.
The entities directly regulated by this
action are those that receive allocations
of groundfish in the exclusive economic
zone of the BSAI, and in parallel
fisheries within State of Alaska waters,
during the annual harvest specifications
process. These directly regulated
entities include the groundfish CVs and
C/Ps active in these areas. Direct
allocations of groundfish are also made
to certain organizations, including the
CDQ groups, AFA C/P and inshore CV
sectors, Aleut Corporation, and
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Amendment 80 cooperatives. These
entities are, therefore, also considered
directly regulated.
According to the Small Business
Administration, a small entity engaged
in fishing activities is one that is not
dominant in its field, and individually
has annual revenues of $19 million or
less. In 2012, there were 428 individual
catcher vessels with total gross revenues
less than or equal to $19 million. Many
of these vessels are members in AFA
inshore pollock cooperatives. However,
vessels that participate in these
cooperatives are considered to be large
entities within the meaning of the RFA.
After accounting for membership in
these cooperatives, there are an
estimated 112 small CVs remaining in
the BSAI.
In 2012, 45 C/Ps grossed less than $19
million. Some of these vessels were
affiliated through ownership by the
same business firm. By 2012, the vessels
in this group were also affiliated
through membership in two
cooperatives (the Amendment 80 ‘‘Best
Use’’ cooperative, or the Freezer
Longline Conservation Cooperative
(FLCC)). Applying the 2012 firm and
cooperative affiliations to these vessels,
NMFS estimates that these 45 vessels
currently represent seven small entities.
Through the CDQ program, the
Council and NMFS allocate a portion of
the BSAI groundfish TACs, and halibut
and crab PSC limits, to 65 eligible
Western Alaska communities. These
communities work through six nonprofit CDQ groups, and are required to
use the proceeds from the CDQ
allocations to start or support activities
that will result in ongoing, regionally
based, commercial fishery or related
businesses. The CDQ groups receive
allocations through the harvest
specifications process, and are directly
regulated by this action, but the 65
communities are not directly regulated.
Because they are nonprofit entities that
are independently owned and operated,
and are not dominant in their field, the
CDQ groups are considered small
entities for RFA purposes.
The AFA and Amendment 80
fisheries cooperatives are directly
regulated because they receive
allocations of TAC through the harvest
specifications process. However, the
FLCC, a voluntary private cooperative
that became fully effective in 2010, is
not considered to be directly regulated.
The FLCC manages a catch share
program among its members, but it does
not receive an allocation under the
harvest specifications. NMFS allocates
TAC to the freezer longline sector, and
the cooperative members voluntarily
allocate this TAC among themselves via
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the FLCC. The AFA and Amendment 80
cooperatives are large entities, since
they are affiliated with firms with joint
revenues of more than $19 million.
The Aleut Corporation is an Alaska
Native Corporation that receives an
allocation of pollock in the Aleutian
Islands. The Aleut Corporation is a
holding company and evaluated
according to the Small Business
Administration criteria for Office or
Other Holding Companies, at 13 CFR
121.201, which uses a threshold of $7
million gross annual receipts threshold
for small entities. The Aleut Corporation
revenues exceed this threshold, and the
Aleut Corporation is considered to be a
large entity. This determination follows
the analysis in the RFA certification for
BSAI FMP.
This action does not modify
recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were
those considered as alternative harvest
strategies when the Council selected its
preferred harvest strategy (Alternative 2)
in December 2006. These included the
following:
• Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce
fishing mortality rates, F, that are equal
to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC
is constrained by the OY established in
the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting
TAC to produce harvest levels equal to
the maximum permissible ABC, as
constrained by OY. The term
‘‘maxFABC’’ refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under
Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs.
Historically, the TAC has been set at or
below the ABC; therefore, this
alternative represents a likely upper
limit for setting the TAC within the OY
and ABC limits.
• Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1,
2, and 3, set TAC to produce F equal to
the most recent 5-year average actual F.
For species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC
equal to the most recent 5-year average
actual catch. For stocks with a high
level of scientific information, TAC
would be set to produce harvest levels
equal to the most recent 5-year average
actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks
with insufficient scientific information,
TAC would be set equal to the most
recent 5-year average actual catch. This
alternative recognizes that for some
stocks, catches may fall well below
ABC, and recent average F may provide
a better indicator of actual F than FABC
does.
• Alternative 4: (1) Set TAC for
rockfish species in Tier 3 at F75%. Set
TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at
F=0.5M. Set spatially explicit TAC for
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TAC as
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calculated above, reduce all other TAC
by a proportion that does not vary
across species, so that the sum of all
TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal
to the lower bound of the area OY
(1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This
alternative sets conservative and
spatially explicit TAC for rockfish
species that are long-lived and late to
mature, and sets conservative TAC for
the other groundfish species.
• Alternative 5: Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred
alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TAC that fall within the range of
ABC recommended through the Council
harvest specifications process and TACs
recommended by the Council. Under
this scenario, F is set equal to a constant
fraction of maxFABC. The
recommended fractions of maxFABC
may vary among species or stocks, based
on other considerations unique to each.
This is the method for determining TAC
that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet
the objectives of this action, although
they have a smaller adverse economic
impact on small entities than the
preferred alternative. The Council
rejected these alternatives as harvest
strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of
Commerce did so in 2007. Alternative 1
would lead to TAC limits whose sum
exceeds the fishery OY, which is set out
in statute and the FMP. As shown in
Table 1, the sum of ABCs in 2014 and
2015 would be 2,572,819 and 2,472,832
million mt, respectively. Both of these
are substantially in excess of the fishery
OY for the BSAI. This result would be
inconsistent with the objectives of this
action, in that it would violate the
Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2004, Pub. L. No. 108–199, Sec. 803(c),
and the FMP for the BSAI groundfish
fishery, which both set a 2 million mt
maximum harvest for BSAI groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates
based on the most recent 5 years’ worth
of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1
through 3) or for the most recent 5 years’
worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is also
inconsistent with the objectives of this
action, because it does not take into
account the most recent biological
information for this fishery.
Alternative 4 would lead to
significantly lower harvests of all
species to reduce TAC from the upper
end of the OY range in the BSAI, to its
lower end. This result would lead to
significant reductions in harvests of
species by small entities. While
reductions of this size could be
associated with offsetting price
increases, the size of these increases is
very uncertain, and NMFS has no
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confidence that they would be sufficient
to offset the volume decreases and leave
revenues unchanged. Thus, this action
would have an adverse economic
impact on small entities, compared to
the preferred alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests
equal to zero, may also address
conservation issues, but would have a
significant adverse economic impact on
small entities.
Impacts on marine mammals resulting
from fishing activities conducted under
this rule are discussed in the EIS (see
ADDRESSES).
In December 2013, the Council
adopted separate Pacific cod harvest
specifications for the Aleutian Islands
and the Bering Sea in the 2014 and 2015
fishing years. The intent is that this will
be a permanent split in the harvest
specifications for Pacific cod. While
separate OFLs, ABCs, and TACs, have
been created for the Aleutian Islands
and for the Bering Sea, the actual sector
allocations (except CDQ allocations)
remain BSAI-wide allocations. Sector
allocations are calculated as a percent of
the summed Aleutian Island and Bering
Sea TACs, after adjustments are made to
account for CDQ allocations. Because
sector allocations (except CDQ
allocations) continue to be defined
BSAI-wide, sectors remain free to
redeploy between the two areas.
However, if the non-CDQ portion of the
TAC in either sub-area is reached NMFS
will close directed fishing for Pacific
cod in that subarea. Thus if the
resources in one of the areas is fully
utilized, one sector will not be able to
increase its harvest, unless at the
expense of another sector’s harvest.
It is possible that in some years that
an Aleutian Island-specific Pacific cod
TAC, in combination with a deduction
from the ABC for a GHL fishery, and a
deduction for an ICA, may leave the
Aleutian Islands TAC too small to
permit a directed fishery. The ultimate
impact of the Pacific cod split will
depend on policy decisions made by the
Council and the Secretary. In the 10
years since the first year of the baseline
period for this analysis (2004), the BSAI
Pacific cod TAC was only set equal to
the ABC in two years. There may be
flexibility for the Council to offset
anticipated Aleutian Island production
limits by setting the Aleutian Islands
TAC less than the ABC, and the Bering
Sea TAC equal to the ABC. The 2
million metric ton groundfish optimum
yield is the sum of the BSAI TACs, so
a decrease in the Aleutian Islands TAC,
coupled with an equal increase in the
Bering sea TAC, would leave the
aggregate BSAI Pacific cod TAC
unchanged, and would not require
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reductions in TACs for other species so
as to comply with the 2 million metric
ton optimum yield limit.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness for this
rule, because delaying this rule is
contrary to the public interest. Plan
Team review occurred in November
2013, and Council consideration and
recommendations occurred in December
2013. Accordingly, NMFS review could
not begin until after the December 2013
Council meeting, and after the public
had time to comment upon the
proposed action. If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow
these fisheries to continue fishing
without the uncertainty of a potential
closure, because the new TAC limits are
higher than the ones under which they
are currently fishing. If this rule’s
effectiveness is delayed, fisheries that
might otherwise remain open under
these rules may prematurely close based
on the lower TACs established in the
final 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications (78 FR 13813, March 1,
2013). Certain fisheries, such as those
for pollock and Pacific cod are
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other
fisheries, such as those for flatfish,
rockfish, skates, sculpins, sharks, and
octopuses, are critical as directed
fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have
demonstrated the capacity to catch the
TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any
delay in allocating the final TAC limits
in these fisheries would cause confusion
to the industry and potential economic
harm through unnecessary discards.
Determining which fisheries may close
is impossible because these fisheries are
affected by several factors that cannot be
predicted in advance, including fishing
effort, weather, movement of fishery
stocks, and market price. Furthermore,
the closure of one fishery has a
cascading effect on other fisheries by
freeing up fishing vessels, allowing
them to move from closed fisheries to
open ones, increasing the fishing
capacity in those open fisheries and
causing them to close at an accelerated
pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to
declining sideboards, delaying this
rule’s effectiveness could allow some
vessels to inadvertently reach or exceed
their new sideboard levels. Because
sideboards are intended to protect
traditional fisheries in other sectors,
allowing one sector to exceed its new
sideboards by delaying this rule’s
effectiveness would effectively reduce
the available catch for sectors without
sideboard limits. Moreover, the new
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12129
TAC and sideboard limits protect the
fisheries from being overfished. Thus,
the delay is contrary to the public
interest in protecting traditional
fisheries and fish stocks.
If the final harvest specifications are
not effective by March 8, 2014, which is
the start of the 2014 Pacific halibut
season as specified by the IPHC, the
hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result
in confusion for sablefish harvesters and
economic harm from unnecessary
discard of sablefish that are caught
along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut
are managed under the same IFQ
program. Immediate effectiveness of the
final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish
IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with
the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also,
immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available
scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species that
have lower 2014 ABC and TAC limits
than those established in the 2013 and
2014 harvest specifications (78 FR
13813, March 1, 2013). Immediate
effectiveness also would give the fishing
industry the earliest possible
opportunity to plan and conduct its
fishing operations with respect to new
information about TAC limits.
Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
This final rule is a plain language
guide to assist small entities in
complying with this final rule as
required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996. This final rule’s primary purpose
is to announce the final 2014 and 2015
harvest specifications and prohibited
species bycatch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This
action is necessary to establish harvest
limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2014
and 2015 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of
the FMP. This action directly affects all
fishermen who participate in the BSAI
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL,
ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in
tables to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in
the Federal Register and information
bulletins released by the Alaska Region.
Affected fishermen should keep
themselves informed of such closures.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106–
31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub.
L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–
479.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–04762 Filed 3–3–14; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12108-12130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04762]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 131021878-4158-02]
RIN 0648-XC927
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; 2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; specifications and closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications,
prohibited species catch allowances, and closures for the groundfish
fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI).
This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 2014 and 2015 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI
(FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the
groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Specifications and closures are effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December
31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and
the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this
action are available from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final
2013 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2013, as well as the
SAFE reports for previous years, are available from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, (phone) 907-271-2809, or from the Council's
Web site at https://www.npfmc.org/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear
at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species category. The sum TAC for all groundfish
species must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to
2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). This final
rule specifies the TAC at 2.0 million mt for both 2014 and 2015. NMFS
also must specify apportionments of TAC, prohibited species catch (PSC)
allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by
Sec. 679.21; seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka
mackerel TAC; Amendment 80 allocations; and Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final
harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 22 of this action
satisfy these requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs (and apportionments thereof) and
PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in the
Federal Register. The proposed 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications and
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in
the Federal Register on December 10, 2013 (78 FR 74063). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 9, 2014. NMFS received one letter
with one comment on the proposed harvest specifications. This comment
is summarized and responded to in the ``Response to Comments'' section
of this rule. NMFS consulted with the Council on the final 2014 and
2015 harvest specifications during the December 2013 Council meeting in
Anchorage, AK. After considering public comments, as well as biological
and economic data that were available at the Council's December
meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC levels for Alaska groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass,
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In
general, the development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves
sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP
specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts based on
the level of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier
1 represents the highest level of
[[Page 12109]]
information quality available while Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In December 2013, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC),
Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed current biological and
harvest information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks.
The Council's Plan Team compiled and presented this information in the
final 2013 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2013 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report contains a review of the
latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and
other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available
information on the BSAI ecosystem and the economic condition of
groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the public and asked for
review of the SAFE report in the notice of proposed harvest
specifications. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team recommended
an OFL and ABC for each species or species category at the November
2013 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2013, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs
as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the sum of the TACs within the required OY range
of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by annual catch limit
rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 2009), none of the
Council's recommended TACs for 2014 or 2015 exceeds the final 2014 or
2015 ABCs for any species category. The final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications approved by the Secretary of Commerce are unchanged from
those recommended by the Council and are consistent with the preferred
harvest strategy alternative in the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds
that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2013
SAFE report that was approved by the Council.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2014 and 2015 Harvest
Specifications
The Council has recommended Amendment 105 to the FMP, and NMFS is
currently developing the proposed rule for this action. This action
could create ABC reserves for CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives
for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole for 2015. These
entities would be able to exchange their quota share of one of the
three species (flathead sole, rock sole, and/or yellowfin sole) for an
equivalent amount of their allocation of the ABC reserves for another
species (flathead sole, rock sole, and/or yellowfin sole). The approach
is intended to increase the opportunity for maximizing the harvest of
these species, while ensuring that the overall 2 million mt OY, and
ABCs for each individual species, are not exceeded. If the action is
approved by the Secretary and implemented for 2015, then the harvest
specifications will include CDQ and Amendment 80 allocations of the ABC
reserves for these species.
For 2014, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) for the State of Alaska
(State) established a Pacific cod guideline harvest level (GHL) in
State waters between 164 and 167 degrees west longitude in the Bering
Sea (BS) subarea. The Pacific cod GHL in this area is equal to 3
percent of the sum of the Pacific cod ABCs for the Aleutian Islands
(AI) and the BS. To account for the State GHL fishery in 2014 and 2015,
the Council reduced the final BS subarea TAC by three percent of the
combined BS and AI subarea ABCs. The combined BS subarea TAC and GHL
(255,000 mt) equal the final BS subarea ABC.
For 2014, the BOF for the State established a Pacific cod GHL in
State waters in the AI subarea. The Pacific cod GHL in this area is
equal to 3 percent of the sum of the Pacific cod ABCs for the AI and
the BS. To account for the State GHL fishery in 2014 and 2015, the
Council reduced the final AI subarea TAC by 3 percent of the combined
BS and AI subarea ABCs. The combined AI TAC and GHL (15,100 mt) equal
the final AI subarea ABC.
Changes From the Proposed 2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
In October 2013, the Council proposed its recommendations for the
2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (78 FR 74063, December 10, 2013),
based largely on information contained in the 2012 SAFE report for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries. Through the proposed harvest specifications,
NMFS notified the public that these harvest specifications could
change, as the Council would consider information contained in the
final 2013 SAFE report, recommendations from the Plan Team, SSC, and AP
committees, and public testimony when making its recommendations for
final harvest specifications at the December Council meeting. NMFS
further notified the public that, as required by the FMP and its
implementing regulations, the sum of the TACs must be within the OY
range of 1.4 million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2013 SAFE reports indicates biomass
changes for several groundfish species from the 2012 SAFE reports. At
the December 2013 Council meeting, the SSC recommended the 2014 and
2015 ABCs for many species based on the best and most recent
information contained in the 2013 SAFE reports. This recommendation
resulted in an ABC sum total for all BSAI groundfish species in excess
of 2 million mt for both 2014 and 2015. Based on the SSC ABC
recommendations and the 2013 SAFE reports, the Council recommends
increasing Bering Sea pollock by 14,500 mt. In terms of percentage, the
largest increases in TACs were for Eastern Aleutian district and Bering
Sea (EAI/BS) Atka mackerel and Central Aleutian district (CAI) Atka
mackerel. Both of these fisheries are valuable and likely to be
harvested to the full TAC available. The Council increased these TACs
due to increased biomass estimates and because the TACs were fully
harvested in 2013. Conversely, the largest decrease in TAC in terms of
tonnage is 16,000 mt for yellowfin sole. In terms of percentage change
from the proposed TACs, Bogoslof pollock, rock sole, ``other
flatfish,'' northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, Western Aleutian
district (WAI) Atka mackerel, sharks, squids, and octopuses had the
largest decreases in TAC. The Council decreased TACs for these species
due to decreased biomass estimates, and because they were not fully
harvested in 2013. The changes to TAC between the proposed and final
harvest specifications are based on the most recent scientific and
economic information and are consistent with the FMP, regulatory
obligations, and harvest strategy as described in the proposed harvest
specifications. These changes are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2014 and 2015 OFL,
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI
groundfish. NMFS concurs in these recommendations. The final 2014 and
2015 TAC recommendations for the BSAI are within the OY range
established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any species or
species group. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and
seasons is discussed below.
[[Page 12110]]
Table 1-Final 2014 and 2015 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI
\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015
Species Area -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\................................ BS......................... 2,795,000 1,369,000 1,267,000 1,140,300 126,700 2,693,000 1,258,000 1,258,000 1,132,200 125,800
AI......................... 42,811 35,048 19,000 17,100 1,900 47,713 39,412 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof................... 13,413 10,059 75 75 0 13,413 10,059 75 75 0
Pacific cod \5\............................ BS......................... 299,000 255,000 246,897 220,479 26,418 319,000 272,000 251,712 224,779 26,933
AI......................... 20,100 15,100 6,997 6,248 749 20,100 15,100 6,487 5,793 694
Sablefish.................................. BS......................... 1,584 1,339 1,339 1,105 184 1,432 1,210 1,210 514 45
AI......................... 2,141 1,811 1,811 1,471 306 1,936 1,636 1,636 348 31
Yellowfin sole............................. BSAI....................... 259,700 239,800 184,000 164,312 19,688 268,900 248,300 187,000 166,991 20,009
Greenland turbot........................... BSAI....................... 2,647 2,124 2,124 1,805 n/a 3,864 3,173 3,173 2,697 n/a
BS......................... n/a 1,659 1,659 1,410 178 n/a 2,478 2,478 2,106 265
AI......................... n/a 465 465 395 0 n/a 695 695 591 0
Arrowtooth flounder........................ BSAI....................... 125,642 106,599 25,000 21,250 2,675 125,025 106,089 25,000 21,250 2,675
Kamchatka flounder......................... BSAI....................... 8,270 7,100 7,100 6,035 0 8,500 7,300 7,300 6,205 0
Rock sole.................................. BSAI....................... 228,700 203,800 85,000 75,905 9,095 213,310 190,100 85,000 75,905 9,095
Flathead sole \6\.......................... BSAI....................... 79,633 66,293 24,500 21,879 2,622 77,023 64,127 25,129 22,440 2,689
Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI....................... 66,800 55,100 24,500 20,825 0 66,300 54,700 25,000 21,250 0
Other flatfish \7\......................... BSAI....................... 16,700 12,400 2,650 2,253 0 16,700 12,400 3,000 2,550 0
Pacific ocean perch........................ BSAI....................... 39,585 33,122 33,122 29,248 n/a 37,817 31,641 31,641 27,940 n/a
BS......................... n/a 7,684 7,684 6,531 0 n/a 7,340 7,340 6,239 0
EAI........................ n/a 9,246 9,246 8,257 989 n/a 8,833 8,833 7,888 945
CAI........................ n/a 6,594 6,594 5,888 706 n/a 6,299 6,299 5,625 674
WAI........................ n/a 9,598 9,598 8,571 1,027 n/a 9,169 9,169 8,188 981
Northern rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 12,077 9,761 2,594 2,205 0 11,943 9,652 3,000 2,550 0
Rougheye rockfish \8\...................... BSAI....................... 505 416 416 354 0 580 478 478 406 0
EBS/EAI.................... n/a 177 177 150 0 n/a 201 201 171 0
CAI/WAI.................... n/a 239 239 203 0 n/a 277 277 235 0
Shortraker rockfish........................ BSAI....................... 493 370 370 315 0 493 370 370 315 0
Other rockfish \9\......................... BSAI....................... 1,550 1,163 773 657 0 1,550 1,163 873 742 0
BS......................... n/a 690 300 255 0 n/a 690 400 340 0
AI......................... n/a 473 473 402 0 n/a 473 473 402 0
Atka mackerel.............................. BSAI....................... 74,492 64,131 32,322 27,971 3,458 74,898 64,477 32,491 29,014 3,477
EAI/BS..................... n/a 21,652 21,652 19,335 2,317 n/a 21,769 21,769 19,440 2,329
CAI........................ n/a 20,574 9,670 8,635 1,035 n/a 20,685 9,722 8,682 1,040
WAI........................ n/a 21,905 1,000 893 107 n/a 22,023 1,000 893 107
Skates..................................... BSAI....................... 41,849 35,383 26,000 22,100 0 39,746 33,545 26,000 22,100 0
Sculpins................................... BSAI....................... 56,424 42,318 5,750 4,888 0 56,424 42,318 5,750 4,888 0
Sharks..................................... BSAI....................... 1,363 1,022 125 106 0 1,363 1,022 125 106 0
Squids..................................... BSAI....................... 2,624 1,970 310 264 0 2,624 1,970 325 276 0
Octopuses.................................. BSAI....................... 3,450 2,590 225 191 0 3,450 2,590 225 191 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................. ........................... 4,196,553 2,572,819 2,000,000 1,789,338 196,694 4,107,104 2,472,832 2,000,000 1,788,625 196,213
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these
species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and
(D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,''
skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch
allowance (3.4 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the
incidental catch allowance (2,000 mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea.
The AI Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\6\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\7\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka
flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\8\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BS=Bering Sea subarea, AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western
Aleutian district.)
Table 1A--Comparison of Final 2014 and 2015 With Proposed 2014 and 2015 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015
2014 final 2014 difference 2015 final 2015 difference
Species Area \1\ TAC proposed from TAC proposed from
TAC proposed TAC proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock..................................... BS.......................... 1,267,000 1,252,500 14,500 1,258,000 1,252,500 5,500
AI.......................... 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0
Bogoslof.................... 75 100 -25 75 100 -25
Pacific cod................................. BS.......................... 246,897 245,000 1,897 251,712 245,000 6,712
AI.......................... 6,997 7,381 -384 6,487 7,381 -894
Sablefish................................... BS.......................... 1,339 1,480 -141 1,210 1,480 -270
AI.......................... 1,811 2,010 -199 1,636 2,010 -374
Yellowfin sole.............................. BSAI........................ 184,000 200,000 -16,000 187,000 200,000 -13,000
Greenland turbot............................ BS.......................... 1,659 1,610 49 2,478 1,610 868
AI.......................... 465 450 15 695 450 245
Arrowtooth flounder......................... BSAI........................ 25,000 25,000 0 25,000 25,000 0
Kamchatka flounder.......................... BSAI........................ 7,100 7,100 0 7,300 7,100 200
[[Page 12111]]
Rock sole................................... BSAI........................ 85,000 94,569 -9,569 85,000 94,569 -9,569
Flathead sole............................... BSAI........................ 24,500 22,699 1,801 25,129 22,699 2,430
Alaska plaice............................... BSAI........................ 24,500 23,700 800 25,000 23,700 1,300
Other flatfish.............................. BSAI........................ 2,650 3,500 -850 3,000 3,500 -500
Pacific ocean perch......................... BS.......................... 7,684 7,680 4 7,340 7,680 -340
EAI......................... 9,246 9,240 6 8,833 9,240 -407
CAI......................... 6,594 6,590 4 6,299 6,590 -291
WAI......................... 9,598 9,590 8 9,169 9,590 -421
Northern rockfish........................... BSAI........................ 2,594 3,000 -406 3,000 3,000 0
Rougheye rockfish........................... BS/EAI...................... 177 189 -12 201 189 12
CAI/WAI..................... 239 240 -1 277 240 37
Shortraker rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 370 370 0 370 370 0
Other rockfish.............................. BS.......................... 300 400 -100 400 400 0
AI.......................... 473 473 0 473 473 0
Atka mackerel............................... EAI/BS...................... 21,652 16,500 5,152 21,769 16,500 5,269
CAI......................... 9,670 7,379 2,291 9,722 7,379 2,343
WAI......................... 1,000 1,500 -500 1,000 1,500 -500
Skates...................................... BSAI........................ 26,000 24,000 2,000 26,000 24,000 2,000
Sculpins.................................... BSAI........................ 5,750 5,600 150 5,750 5,600 150
Sharks...................................... BSAI........................ 125 150 -25 125 150 -25
Squid....................................... BSAI........................ 310 500 -190 325 500 -175
Octopuses................................... BSAI........................ 225 500 -275 225 500 -275
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................... BSAI........................ 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 2,000,000 2,000,000 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for
Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and
Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS to reserve 15 percent of the
TAC for each target species, except for pollock, hook-and-line and pot
gear allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species, in a non-
specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of
sablefish for the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the
trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of the Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ
reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS allocate 10.7
percent of the TAC for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require
that 10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof District
pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA (see Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With
the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve,
the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 3.4 percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting the
10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of
the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 1999 through 2013.
During this 15-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a
low of 2.3 percent in 2012 to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 15-
year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of
2,000 mt of the AI subarea TAC after subtracting the 10-percent CDQ
DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2013. During this
11-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5
percent in 2006 to a high of 17 percent in 2013, with an 11-year
average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 8,000 mt of rock sole, 2,400 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of WAI Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of CAI Pacific ocean
perch, 200 mt of EAI Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka mackerel,
75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea Atka
mackerel TAC after subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA
allowances are based on NMFS' examination of the incidental catch in
other target fisheries from 2003 through 2013.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species category that contributed to the non-
specified reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments
do not result in overfishing (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional
Administrator has determined that the ITACs specified for the species
listed in Table 1 need to be supplemented from the non-specified
reserve because U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to
catch the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(b)(3), NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from
the non-specified reserve to increase the ITAC for shortraker rockfish,
rougheye rockfish, ``other
[[Page 12112]]
rockfish,'' sharks, and octopuses by 15 percent of the TAC in 2014 and
2015.
Table 2--Final 2014 and 2015 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2014 2015 2015
Species-area or subarea 2014 reserve final 2015 reserve final
ITAC amount ITAC ITAC amount ITAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish--BSAI..................... 315 56 370 315 56 370
Rougheye rockfish--EBS/EAI.................... 150 27 177 171 30 201
Rougheye rockfish--CAI/WAI.................... 203 36 239 235 42 277
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea............ 255 45 300 340 60 400
Other rockfish--Aleutian Islands subarea...... 402 71 473 402 71 473
Sharks........................................ 106 19 125 106 19 125
Octopuses..................................... 191 34 225 191 34 225
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................................... 1,623 286 1,909 1,760 311 2,071
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS subarea pollock TAC
be apportioned, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program and
3.4 percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the inshore
sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (C/P) sector, and 10
percent to the mothership sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the
DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 60 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI-directed pollock fishery allocation to the
Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock remaining in the AI subarea
after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 2,000 mt
for the ICA (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI subarea, the
total A season apportionment of the TAC is less than or equal to 40
percent of the ABC and the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B
season. Table 3 lists these 2014 and 2015 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS subarea pollock allocations. First, it
requires that 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector be
available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P sector
endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative
contract that allows the distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps and AFA
CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not listed
in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
pollock allocated to the C/P sector. Table 3 lists the 2014 and 2015
allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 17 through 22 list the AFA C/P and
CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the pollock allocations
to the BS subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open access sector
will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Table 3 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no
more than 28 percent of the annual DFA before 12:00 noon, April 1, as
provided in Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock SCA harvest
limit will be apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's
allocated percentage of the DFA. Table 3 lists these 2014 and 2015
amounts by sector.
[[Page 12113]]
Table 3--Final 2014 and 2015 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 A season \1\ 2014 B season 2015 A season \1\ 2015 B season
2014 -------------------------------- \1\ 2015 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------- Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea.............................................. 1,267,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,258,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................................... 126,700 50,680 35,476 76,020 125,800 50,320 35,224 75,480
ICA \1\......................................................... 38,770 n/a n/a n/a 38,495 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore..................................................... 550,765 220,306 154,214 330,459 546,853 218,741 153,119 328,112
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................................... 440,612 176,245 123,371 264,367 437,482 174,993 122,495 262,489
Catch by C/Ps................................................... 403,160 161,264 n/a 241,896 400,296 160,118 n/a 240,178
Catch by CVs \3\................................................ 37,452 14,981 n/a 22,471 37,186 14,874 n/a 22,312
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.......................................... 2,203 881 n/a 1,322 2,187 875 n/a 1,312
AFA Motherships................................................. 110,153 44,061 30,843 66,092 109,371 43,748 30,624 65,622
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................................. 192,768 n/a n/a n/a 191,398 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................................. 330,459 n/a n/a n/a 328,112 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA............................................ 1,101,530 440,612 308,428 660,918 1,093,705 437,482 306,237 656,223
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.................................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA............................................................. 2,000 1,000 n/a 1,000 2,000 1,000 n/a 1,000
Aleut Corporation............................................... 15,100 12,259 n/a 2,841 15,100 14,005 n/a 1,095
Bogoslof District ICA \7\....................................... 75 n/a n/a n/a 75 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.4 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50
percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60
percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ
directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,000 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40
percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels
delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of
pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
[[Page 12114]]
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and non-trawl gear sector (Table 4). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in Table 33 to part 679
and in Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent
of the EAI and the BS subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated to
vessels using jig gear. The percent of this allocation is recommended
annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council
recommended, and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear sector in 2014
and 2015. This percentage is applied to the Atka mackerel TAC after
subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(3) limits the annual Atka mackerel TAC
for Area 542 (CAI) to no more than 47 percent of the Area 542 ABC.
Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543
(WAI), and the TAC is set to account for discards in other fisheries.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC into two
equal seasonal allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal
allowance for directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20 through
June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance from June 10
through November 1 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka
mackerel seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing. The ICA and jig gear
allocations are not apportioned by season.
Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) require the Amendment
80 cooperatives and CDQ groups to limit harvest to 10 percent of their
Central Aleutian District Atka mackerel allocation equally divided
between the A and B seasons, within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock
and Tag Island, as described on Table 12 to part 679. Vessels not
fishing under the authority of an Amendment 80 cooperative quota or CDQ
allocation are prohibited from conducting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel inside Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central
Aleutian District.
Table 4 lists these 2014 and 2015 Atka mackerel seasons, area
allowances, and the sector allocations. The 2015 allocations for Atka
mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will post 2015
Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2014.
Table 4--Final 2014 and 2015 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the
BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 allocation by area 2015 allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Central Eastern
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Aleutian Aleutian Western Aleutian Central \5\ Western
District/ District Aleutian District/ Aleutian Aleutian
Bering Sea \5\ District Bering Sea District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC........................................ n/a.......................... 21,652 9,670 1,000 21,769 9,722 1,000
CDQ reserve................................ Total........................ 2,317 1,035 107 2,329 1,040 107
A............................ 1,158 517 54 1,165 520 54
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 52 n/a n/a 52 n/a
B............................ 1,158 517 54 1,165 520 54
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 52 n/a n/a 52 n/a
ICA........................................ Total........................ 1,000 75 40 1,000 75 40
Jig \6\.................................... Total........................ 92 0 0 92 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access.................. Total........................ 1,824 856 0 1,835 861 0
A............................ 912 428 0 917 430 0
B............................ 912 428 0 917 430 0
Amendment 80 sectors....................... Total........................ 16,419 7,704 853 16,513 7,746 853
A............................ 8,210 3,852 427 8,256 3,873 427
B............................ 8,210 3,852 427 8,256 3,873 427
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative \7\.......... Total \7\.................... 9,487 4,597 500 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 4,744 2,299 250 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 230 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 4,744 2,299 250 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 230 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative \7\............. Total \7\.................... 6,932 3,107 353 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 3,466 1,554 177 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 155 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 3,466 1,554 177 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\......... n/a 155 n/a n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and
BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Regulations at Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B season
from June 10 to November 1.
[[Page 12115]]
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the TAC in area 542 shall be no more than 47% of ABC, and Atka mackerel harvests for Amendment 80 cooperatives
and CDQ groups within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as described in Table 12 to part 679, in Area 542 are limited to no more
than 10 percent of the Amendment 80 cooperative Atka mackerel allocation or 10 percent of the CDQ Atka mackerel allocation.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after
subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2015 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will post 2015 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in
December 2014.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated BS and AI subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for
Pacific cod. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the
BS TAC and AI TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations have been
deducted from the respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the remaining
BS and AI Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further BSAI
Pacific cod sector allocations. However, if the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC
is or will be reached in either the BS or AI subareas, NMFS will
prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as
provided in Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocate the Pacific cod TAC in
the combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear; 2.0 percent
to hook-and-line and pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall
(LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot C/Ps;
2.3 percent to AFA trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA trawl C/Ps; and
22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot
sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2014 and 2015, the
Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The 2015
allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2014. NMFS will post 2015 Amendment 80 allocations when
they become available in December 2014.
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next
seasonal allowance.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the 2014 and
2015 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 5 and 6, and are based on
the sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. 679.23(e)(5).
Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits retaining Pacific cod in Area 543,
and Sec. 679.7(a)(23) prohibits directed fishing for Pacific cod with
hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear in the Aleutian Islands subarea
November 1 through December 31.
Table 5--Final 2014 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 share 2014 seasonal apportionment
of gear 2014 share ------------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector of sector
total total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC.............................. ........... 246,897 n/a n/a................... n/a
BS CDQ.............................. ........... 26,418 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC...................... ........... 220,479 n/a n/a................... n/a
AI TAC.............................. ........... 6,997 n/a n/a................... n/a
AI CDQ.............................. ........... 749 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC...................... ........... 6,248 n/a n/a................... n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.......... 100 226,727 n/a n/a................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear........ 60.8 137,850 n/a n/a................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\........... n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total......... n/a 137,350 n/a n/a................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor..... 48.7 n/a 110,016 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 56,108
Jun 10-Dec 31......... 53,908
Hook-and-line catcher vessel [gteqt] 0.2 n/a 452 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 230
60 ft LOA.
Jun 10-Dec 31......... 221
Pot catcher/processor............... 1.5 n/a 3,389 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 1,728
Sept 1-Dec 31......... 1,660
Pot catcher vessel [gteqt] 60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 18,976 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 9,678
Sept 1-Dec 31......... 9,298
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using 2 n/a 4,518 n/a................... n/a
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................ 22.1 50,107 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 37,079
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 5,512
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 7,516
AFA trawl catcher/processor......... 2.3 5,215 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 3,911
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 1,304
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Amendment 80........................ 13.4 30,381 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 22,786
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 7,595
[[Page 12116]]
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative....... n/a n/a 5,657 Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 4,243
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 1,414
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.......... n/a n/a 24,724 Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 18,543
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 6,181
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Jig................................. 1.4 3,174 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.......... 1,905
Apr 30-Aug 31......... 635
Aug 31-Dec 31......... 635
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2014
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 6--Final 2015 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2015 share 2015 seasonal apportionment
of gear 2015 share ------------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector of sector
total total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC.............................. n/a 251,712 n/a n/a................... n/a
BS CDQ.............................. n/a 26,933 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a 224,779 n/a n/a................... n/a
AI TAC.............................. n/a 6,487 n/a n/a................... n/a
AI CDQ.............................. n/a 694 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a 5,793 n/a n/a................... n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.......... n/a 230,572 n/a n/a................... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear........ 60.8 140,188 n/a n/a................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\........... n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total......... n/a 139,688 n/a n/a................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor..... 48.7 n/a 111,888 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 57,063
Jun 10-Dec 31......... 54,825
Hook-and-line catcher vessel [gteqt] 0.2 n/a 459 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 234
60 ft LOA.
Jun 10-Dec 31......... 225
Pot catcher/processor............... 1.5 n/a 3,446 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 1,758
Sept 1-Dec 31......... 1,689
Pot catcher vessel [gteqt] 60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 19,299 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 9,842
Sept 1-Dec 31......... 9,456
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using 2 n/a 4,595 n/a................... n/a
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................ 22.1 50,956 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 37,708
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 5,605
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 7,643
AFA trawl catcher/processor......... 2.3 5,303 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 3,977
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 1,326
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Amendment 80........................ 13.4 30,897 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 23,172
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 7,724
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Jig................................. 1.4 3,228 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.......... 1,937
Apr 30-Aug 31......... 646
Aug 31-Dec 31......... 646
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2015
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the
sablefish TAC for the BS and AI subareas between trawl and hook-and-
line or pot gear sectors. Gear allocations of the TAC for the BS
subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line
or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs
[[Page 12117]]
for the AI subarea are 25 percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to
apportion 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of
sablefish to the CDQ reserve. Additionally, Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5 percent of the trawl gear
allocation of sablefish from the non-specified reserves, established
under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ reserve. The
Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established
biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and
pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries will be
limited to the 2014 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries will reduce the potential for
discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries will remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year
until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries
are in effect. Table 7 lists the 2014 and 2015 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 7--Final 2014 and 2015 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2014 Share 2014 CDQ 2015 Share 2015 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC 2014 ITAC reserve of TAC 2015 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
Trawl \1\................................................ 50 670 569 50 605 514 45
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 50 670 536 134 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL................................................ 100 1,339 1,105 184 605 514 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands
Trawl \1\................................................ 25 453 385 34 409 348 31
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 75 1,358 1,086 272 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL................................................ 100 1,811 1,471 306 409 348 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
after subtracting these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TAC between the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access
sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve and an ICA
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-trawl
gear. The allocation of the ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in accordance with Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and
Sec. 679.91.
The 2015 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will publish 2015 Amendment 80
allocations when they become available in December 2014. Tables 8 and 9
list the 2014 and 2015 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch, and
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 8--Final 2014 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 9,246 6,594 9,598 24,500 85,000 184,000
CDQ..................................................... 989 706 1,027 2,622 9,095 19,688
ICA..................................................... 200 75 10 5,000 8,000 2,400
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 806 581 171 0 0 29,707
Amendment 80............................................ 7,251 5,232 8,390 16,879 67,905 132,205
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........................... 3,845 2,774 4,449 3,313 19,400 56,779
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.............................. 3,406 2,458 3,941 13,566 48,505 75,426
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
[[Page 12118]]
Table 9--Final 2015 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
district district district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 8,833 6,299 9,169 25,129 85,000 187,000
CDQ..................................................... 945 674 981 2,689 9,095 20,009
ICA..................................................... 200 75 10 5,000 8,000 2,400
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 769 555 164 0 0 30,779
Amendment 80\1\......................................... 6,919 4,995 8,014 17,440 67,905 133,812
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2015 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2014. NMFS will publish 2015 Amendment 80 allocations when they become
available in December 2014.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2014 and 2015 BSAI halibut mortality
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl
fisheries. Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A)
allocate 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent,
or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve
for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes apportioning the non-trawl
halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery
categories. Tables 11 and 12 list the fishery bycatch allowances for
the trawl fisheries, and Table 13 lists the fishery bycatch allowances
for the non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends, and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from
the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, after consulting with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) the pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the IFQ program requires
legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-line gear
if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard and is
holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In 2013,
total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 34,368 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality
of about 3 mt.
The 2013 jig gear fishery harvested about 40 mt of groundfish. Most
vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates the jig gear sector will have a negligible amount of halibut
bycatch mortality because of the selective nature of jig gear and the
low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and released.
Section 679.21(f)(2) annually allocates portions of either 47,591
or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits among the AFA sectors, depending on
past catch performance and on whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive
plan agreements are formed. If an AFA sector participates in an
approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement, then NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook salmon bycatch
incentive plan agreement is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), then NMFS will allocate
a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector, as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2014, the Chinook salmon
PSC limit is 60,000 and the AFA sector Chinook salmon allocations are
seasonally allocated with 70 percent of the allocation for the A season
pollock fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation for the B season
pollock fishery as stated in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for
these PSC limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing
management measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010).
NMFS publishes the approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements, 2014 allocations, and reports at: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2014 and 2015
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon,
to the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2014 and
2015 non-Chinook salmon PSC limit in the Catcher Vessel Operational
Area (CVOA). Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent,
or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA as the PSQ for the CDQ program,
and allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA as
the PSC limit for the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates
10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2013 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 19.9 million red king crabs, and the
effective spawning biomass is estimated at 49.3 million lb (22,362 mt).
Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2014 and
2015 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000
animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance of more
than 8.4 million king crab and the effective spawning biomass estimate
of less than 55 million lb (24,948 mt).
[[Page 12119]]
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS red
king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit,
based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red
king crab bycatch. In December 2013, the Council recommended and NMFS
concurs that the red king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of
the red king crab PSC limit within the RKCSS (Table 11).
Based on 2013 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 946 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set
out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2014 and 2015 C. bairdi
crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits derive from the C. bairdi
crab abundance estimate being in excess of the 400 million animals for
both the Zone 1 and Zone 2 allocations.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for snow crab
(C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133
percent of the BS abundance index minus 150,000 crab. Based on the 2013
survey estimate of 10.005 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio
crab PSC limit is 11,185,892 animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best estimate of
2014 and 2015 herring biomass is 217,153 mt. This amount was derived
using 2013 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2014 and 2015 is 2,172 mt for all trawl gear as
listed in Tables 10 and 11.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted
from the total trawl PSC limits. The 2014 PSC limits assigned to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are specified in
Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocations of PSC limit to CDQ
PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access
fisheries are listed in Table 10. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and Sec. 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits
assigned to the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to
Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota as listed in Table
14. PSC cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories. In 2014, there are no vessels
in the Amendment 80 limited access sector. The 2015 PSC allocations
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2014. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires NMFS to apportion each trawl PSC limit not
assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for
seven specified fishery categories.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered
are (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species; (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species; (3) PSC bycatch needs on a
seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass; (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout the year; (5) expected start of
fishing effort; and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments
on industry sectors. The Council recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 12 and 13 to maximize harvest
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.
Table 10--Final 2014 and 2015 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl
PSC Trawl PSC Amendment BSAI trawl
PSC species and area \1\ Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ 80 sector limited
trawl PSC after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve \2\ \3\ access
PSQ \2\ PSQ \2\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI.................................. 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,325 875
Herring (mt) BSAI............................................ n/a n/a 2,172 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1............................... n/a n/a 97,000 86,621 10,379 43,293 26,489
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ.................................... n/a n/a 11,185,892 9,989,002 1,196,890 4,909,594 3,210,465
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1.............................. n/a n/a 980,000 875,140 104,860 368,521 411,228
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2.............................. n/a n/a 2,970,000 2,652,210 317,790 627,778 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
\2\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt,
of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of
each crab PSC limit.
\3\ The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab. These reductions are
not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 11--Final 2014 and 2015 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king
Herring crab
Fishery categories (mt) BSAI (animals)
Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................ 148 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \1\.... 24 n/a
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\............... 16 n/a
[[Page 12120]]
Rockfish...................................... 11 n/a
Pacific cod................................... 33 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock........................ 1,776 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3 4....... 164 n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic n/a 24,250
trawl gear \5\...............................
Total trawl PSC............................... 2,172 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
\2\ ``Arrowtooth flounder'' for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka
flounder.
\3\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
species'' fishery category.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins,
sharks, squids, and octopuses.
\5\ In December 2013 the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 12--Final 2014 and 2015 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Halibut crab C. opilio -------------------------
mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................. 167 23,338 3,026,465 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\..... 0 0 0 0 0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\................ 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish April 15-December 31.................. 5 0 5,000 0 1,000
Pacific cod.................................... 453 2,954 129,000 60,000 50,000
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\........ 250 197 50,000 5,000 5,000
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC........ 875 26,489 3,210,465 411,228 1,241,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\3\ Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 13--Final 2014 and 2015 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for
Non-Trawl Fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/ Catcher
Non-trawl fisheries processor vessel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod--Total.......................... 760 15.
January 1-June 10....................... 455 10.
June 10-August 15....................... 190 3.
August 15-December 31................... 115 2.
Other non-trawl--Total...................... ........... 58.
May 1-December 31....................... ........... 58.
Groundfish pot and jig...................... ........... Exempt.
Sablefish hook-and-line..................... ........... Exempt.
Total non-trawl PSC......................... ........... 833.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to
rounding.
Table 14--Final 2014 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
Cooperative Halibut crab C. opilio -------------------------
mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Seafood Cooperative..................... 1,602 29,285 3,150,269 257,941 431,195
[[Page 12121]]
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.................. 723 14,008 1,759,325 110,580 196,583
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, DMRs,
and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut
bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The
DMRs are based on the best information available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS approves the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the Council for the
2014 and 2015 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2014
and 2015 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 10, 11, 12, 13, and
14). The IPHC developed these DMRs for the 2014 and 2015 BSAI fisheries
using the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze
observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery
DMR shows large variation from the mean. A discussion of the DMRs is
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 15 lists the 2014 and
2015 DMRs.
Table 15--Final 2014 and 2015 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
for the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut discard
Gear Fishery mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line......... Greenland turbot..... 13
Other species \1\.... 9
Pacific cod.......... 9
Rockfish............. 4
Non-CDQ trawl................. Alaska plaice........ 71
Arrowtooth flounder 76
\2\.
Atka mackerel........ 77
Flathead sole........ 73
Greenland turbot..... 64
Non-pelagic pollock.. 77
Pelagic pollock...... 88
Other flatfish \3\... 71
Other species \1\.... 71
Pacific cod.......... 71
Rockfish............. 79
Rock sole............ 85
Sablefish............ 75
Yellowfin sole....... 83
Non-CDQ Pot................... Other species \1\.... 8
Pacific cod.......... 8
CDQ trawl..................... Atka mackerel........ 86
Greenland turbot..... 89
Flathead sole........ 79
Non-pelagic pollock.. 83
Pacific cod.......... 90
Pelagic pollock...... 90
Rockfish............. 80
Rock sole............ 88
Yellowfin sole....... 86
CDQ hook-and-line............. Greenland turbot..... 4
Pacific cod.......... 10
CDQ pot....................... Pacific cod.......... 8
Sablefish............ 34
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other species'' includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and
octopuses.
\2\ Arrowtooth flounder includes Kamchatka flounder.
\3\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut
(a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland
turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
[[Page 12122]]
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea or
district (see Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery
category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab,
or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional
Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that
category in the specified area.
Based on historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing activity,
the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 16 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2014 and 2015
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and
species groups in Table 10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., March 4, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015.
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, bycatch allowances of
halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in
Table 10 are insufficient to support directed fisheries. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for these sectors and fishery categories in the specified areas
effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 4, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2015.
Table 16--2014 and 2015 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 75 75
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 2,000 2,000
``Other rockfish'' 473 473
\2\.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 1,000 1,000
Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 177 201
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Pacific ocean 200 200
BSAI trawl limited perch.
access.
Central Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 75 75
perch.
Western Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 40 40
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Central and Western Aleutian All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 239 277
Districts.
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 6,531 6,239
``Other rockfish'' 300 400
\2\.
ICA pollock.......... 38,770 38,495
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Northern rockfish.... 2,205 2,550
Shortraker rockfish.. 370 370
Skates............... 22,100 22,100
Sculpins............. 4,888 4,888
Sharks............... 125 125
Squids............... 264 276
Octopuses............ 225 225
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 500 500
gear.
Non-amendment 80..... ICA flathead sole.... 5,000 5,000
ICA rock sole........ 8,000 8,000
Non-amendment 80 and ICA yellowfin sole... 2,400 2,400
BSAI trawl limited
access.
Rock sole/flathead 0 0
sole/other flatfish--
halibut mortality,
red king crab Zone
1, C. opilio COBLZ,
C. bairdi Zone 1 and
2.
BSAI trawl limited Turbot/arrowtooth/ 0 0
access. sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king 0 0
crab Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
[[Page 12123]]
Closures implemented under the final 2013 and 2014 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013) remain
effective under authority of these final 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites:
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/info_bulletins/ and
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries_reports/reports/.
While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip.
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA C/Ps to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. These restrictions are set out as ``sideboard''
limits on catch. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA
(67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 17 lists the 2014 and 2015 C/P sideboard
limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA C/Ps,
whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Table 17. However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2014 and 2015 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Table 17--Final 2014 and 2015 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
--------------------------------------- 2014 ITAC 2015 ITAC
Ratio of available 2014 AFA C/ available 2015 AFA C/
Target species Area/season Retained retained to trawl C/ P side- to trawl C/ P side-
catch Total catch catch to Ps \1\ board limit Ps1 board limit
total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... 8 497 0.016 569 9 514 8
AI..................... 0 145 0 385 0 348 0
Atka mackerel....................... Central AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 4,318 497 4,341 499
Central AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 4,318 497 4,341 499
Western AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
Western AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 75,905 2,808 75,905 2,808
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... 121 17,305 0.007 1,410 10 2,106 15
AI..................... 23 4,987 0.005 395 2 591 3
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 21,250 43 21,250 43
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 6,035 12 6,205 12
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 21,879 788 22,440 808
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... 14 9,438 0.001 20,825 21 21,250 21
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,253 131 2,550 148
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... 12 4,879 0.002 6,531 13 6,239 12
Eastern AI............. 125 6,179 0.02 8,257 165 7,888 158
Central AI............. 3 5,698 0.001 5,888 6 5,625 6
Western AI............. 54 13,598 0.004 8,571 34 8,188 33
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... 91 13,040 0.007 2,205 15 2,550 18
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 370 7 370 7
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 177 3 201 4
CAI/WAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 239 4 277 5
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... 18 621 0.029 300 9 400 12
AI..................... 22 806 0.027 473 13 473 13
Skates.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 22,100 177 22,100 177
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 4,888 39 4,888 39
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 125 1 125 1
Squids.............................. BSAI................... 73 3,328 0.022 264 6 276 6
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 225 2 225 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the
TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA C/Ps. The
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final
rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007),
and in the proposed rule (77 FR 72791, December 6, 2012).
[[Page 12124]]
PSC species listed in Table 18 that are caught by listed AFA C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2014 and 2015 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2014 or 2015
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 18 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for
pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 18--Final 2014 and 2015 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 and 2015
PSC available 2014 and 2015
Ratio of PSC to trawl catcher/
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after processor
PSC subtraction of sideboard
PSQ \2\ limit \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI.......................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab zone 1............................................ 0.007 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)............................................... 0.153 9,989,002 1,528,317
C. bairdi Zone 1................................................ 0.14 875,140 122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2................................................ 0.05 2,652,210 132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting
AFA CV groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for
these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Tables 19 and
20 list the 2014 and 2015 AFA CV sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted
from the 2014 and 2015 sideboard limits listed in Table 19.
Table 19--Final 2014 and 2015 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
1995-1997 2014 AFA 2015 AFA
Fishery by area/ AFA CV 2014 catcher 2015 catcher
Species/gear season catch to initial TAC vessel initial TAC vessel
1995-1997 \1\ sideboard \1\ sideboard
TAC limits limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod/Jig gear......... BSAI............ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV BSAI Jan 1-Jun 0.0006 206 0 209 0
[gteqt] 60 feet LOA. 10.
BSAI Jun 10-Dec 0.0006 198 0 201 0
31.
Pacific cod pot gear CV BSAI Jan 1-Jun 0.0006 8,638 5 8,786 5
[gteqt] 60 feet LOA. 10.
BSAI Sept 1-Dec 0.0006 8,300 5 8,441 5
31.
Pacific cod CV < 60 feet LOA BSAI............ 0.0006 4,033 2 4,102 2
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV.... BSAI Jan 20-Apr 0.8609 37,079 31,921 37,708 32,463
1.
BSAI Apr 1-Jun 0.8609 5,512 4,745 5,605 4,825
10.
BSAI Jun 10-Nov 0.8609 7,516 6,471 7,643 6,580
1.
Sablefish trawl gear......... BS.............. 0.0906 569 52 514 47
AI.............. 0.0645 385 25 348 22
Atka mackerel................ Eastern AI/BS 0.0032 9,668 31 9,720 31
Jan 1-Jun 10.
Eastern AI/BS 0.0032 9,668 31 9,720 31
Jun 10-Nov 1.
Central AI Jan 1- 0.0001 4,318 0 4,341 0
Jun 10.
Central AI Jun 0.0001 4,318 0 4,341 0
10-Nov 1.
Western AI Jan 1- 0 447 0 447 0
Jun 10.
Western AI Jun 0 447 0 447 0
10-Nov 1.
Rock sole.................... BSAI............ 0.0341 75,905 2,588 75,905 2,588
Greenland turbot............. BS.............. 0.0645 1,410 91 2,106 136
AI.............. 0.0205 395 8 591 12
Arrowtooth flounder.......... BSAI............ 0.069 21,250 1,466 21,250 1,466
Kamchatka flounder........... BSAI............ 0.069 6,035 416 6,205 428
Alaska plaice................ BSAI............ 0.0441 20,825 918 21,250 937
Other flatfish............... BSAI............ 0.0441 2,253 99 2,550 112
Flathead sole................ BS.............. 0.0505 21,879 1,105 22,440 1,133
[[Page 12125]]
Pacific ocean perch.......... BS.............. 0.1 6,531 653 6,239 624
Eastern AI...... 0.0077 8,257 64 7,888 61
Central AI...... 0.0025 5,888 15 5,625 14
Western AI...... 0 8,571 0 8,188 0
Northern rockfish............ BSAI............ 0.0084 2,205 19 2,550 21
Shortraker rockfish.......... BSAI............ 0.0037 370 1 370 1
Rougheye rockfish............ EBS/EAI......... 0.0037 177 1 201 1
CAI/WAI......... 0.0037 239 1 277 1
Other rockfish............... BS.............. 0.0048 300 1 400 2
AI.............. 0.0095 473 4 473 4
Skates....................... BSAI............ 0.0541 22,100 1,196 22,100 1,196
Sculpins..................... BSAI............ 0.0541 4,888 264 4,888 264
Sharks....................... BSAI............ 0.0541 125 7 125 7
Squids....................... BSAI............ 0.3827 264 101 276 106
Octopuses.................... BSAI............ 0.0541 225 12 225 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied
by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 20 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2014 and 2015 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorize
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for
AFA CVs once a 2014 or 2015 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 20 is
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in
the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 20--Final 2014 and 2015 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 and
2015 PSC 2014 and
AFA catcher limit after 2015 AFA
PSC species and area \1\ Target fishery category \2\ vessel PSC subtraction catcher
sideboard of PSQ vessel PSC
limit ratio reserves sideboard
\3\ limit \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut................................... Pacific cod trawl............ n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and-line or n/a n/a 2
pot.
Yellowfin sole total......... n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/other n/a n/a 228
flatfish \4\.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/ n/a n/a 0
sablefish \5\.
Rockfish..................... n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other n/a n/a 5
species \6\.
Red king crab Zone 1...................... n/a.......................... 0.299 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ........................... n/a.......................... 0.168 9,989,002 1,678,152
C. bairdi Zone 1.......................... n/a.......................... 0.33 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2.......................... n/a.......................... 0.186 2,652,210 493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\5\ Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\6\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
[[Page 12126]]
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based on historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator has
determined that many of the AFA C/P and CV sideboard limits listed in
Tables 21 and 22 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2014 and 2015 fishing years.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 21 and 22 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of 2014, the
Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by listed
AFA C/Ps for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 21,
and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA CVs for the species in the
specified areas set out in Table 22.
Table 21--Final 2014 and 2015 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 2015
Species Area Gear types sideboard sideboard
limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... trawl.................. 9 8
AI..................... trawl.................. 0 0
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... all.................... 2,808 2,808
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... all.................... 10 15
AI..................... all.................... 2 3
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... all.................... 43 43
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... all.................... 12 12
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... all.................... 21 21
Other flatfish \2\.................. BSAI................... all.................... 131 148
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... all.................... 788 808
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... all.................... 13 12
Eastern AI............. all.................... 165 158
Central AI............. all.................... 6 6
Western AI............. all.................... 34 33
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... all.................... 15 18
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... all.................... 7 7
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ all.................... 3 3
CAI/WAI................ all.................... 4 5
Other rockfish \3\.................. BS..................... all.................... 9 12
AI..................... all.................... 13 13
Skates.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 177 177
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... all.................... 39 39
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 1 1
Squids.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 6 6
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... all.................... 2 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Table 22--Final 2014 and 2015 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 sideboard 2015 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod....................... BSAI................. hook-and-line CV 0 0
[gteqt] 60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. pot CV [gteqt] 60 10 10
feet LOA.
BSAI................. hook-and-line or pot 2 2
CV< 60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. jig.................. 0 0
Sablefish......................... BS................... trawl................ 52 47
AI................... trawl................ 25 22
Atka mackerel..................... Eastern AI/BS........ all.................. 62 62
Central AI........... all.................. 0 0
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 91 136
AI................... all.................. 8 12
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 1,466 1,466
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 416 428
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 918 937
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 99 112
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,105 1,133
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 2,588 2,588
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 653 624
[[Page 12127]]
Eastern AI........... all.................. 64 61
Central AI........... all.................. 15 14
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 19 21
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Rougheye rockfish................. BS/EAI............... all.................. 1 1
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 1 1
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 1 2
AI................... all.................. 4 4
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1,196 1,196
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 264 264
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 7 7
Squids............................ BSAI................. all.................. 101 106
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 12 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Response to Comments
NMFS received one letter with one comment.
Comment: The harvest of all groundfish quotas in the BSAI should be
cut by 50 percent.
Response: Pursuant to National Standard One of the Magnuson-Stevens
Act, NMFS must achieve, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from
each fishery for the U.S. fishing industry. The optimum yield for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries ranges from 1.4 million mt to two million mt.
Based on the best available science, the Council determined that the
optimum yield for 2014 and 2015 is two million metric tons, and
recommended TACs to achieve this optimum yield. NMFS agrees with this
recommendation. Reducing the harvest of all groundfish by 50 percent
would not achieve optimum yield for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, and
would not comply with National Standard One.
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS that covers this action (see ADDRESSES) and
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the
EIS. In January 2014, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report
(SIR) for this action. Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action
are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS
found no significant environmental consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS
(SEIS) for the 2014 and 2015 groundfish harvest specifications.
An SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns; or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Regional Administrator has
determined that (1) approval of the 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest
strategy in the EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; and (2)
there are no significant new circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed
in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental Policy Act
documentation is not necessary to implement the 2014 and 2015 harvest
specifications.
Pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5
U.S.C. 601, et seq., a FRFA was prepared for this action. The FRFA
incorporates the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and
includes a summary of the significant issues raised by public comments
in response to the IRFA, as well as NMFS' responses to those comments.
A summary of the analyses completed to support the action is also
included in the FRFA.
A copy of the FRFA prepared for this final rule is available from
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A description of this action, its purpose, and
its legal basis are contained at the beginning of the preamble to this
final rule and are not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on December 10, 2013 (78 FR
74063). The rule was accompanied by an IRFA, which was summarized in
the proposed rule. The comment period closed on January 9, 2014. No
comments were received on the IRFA.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
receive allocations of groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the
BSAI, and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters, during
the annual harvest specifications process. These directly regulated
entities include the groundfish CVs and C/Ps active in these areas.
Direct allocations of groundfish are also made to certain
organizations, including the CDQ groups, AFA C/P and inshore CV
sectors, Aleut Corporation, and
[[Page 12128]]
Amendment 80 cooperatives. These entities are, therefore, also
considered directly regulated.
According to the Small Business Administration, a small entity
engaged in fishing activities is one that is not dominant in its field,
and individually has annual revenues of $19 million or less. In 2012,
there were 428 individual catcher vessels with total gross revenues
less than or equal to $19 million. Many of these vessels are members in
AFA inshore pollock cooperatives. However, vessels that participate in
these cooperatives are considered to be large entities within the
meaning of the RFA. After accounting for membership in these
cooperatives, there are an estimated 112 small CVs remaining in the
BSAI.
In 2012, 45 C/Ps grossed less than $19 million. Some of these
vessels were affiliated through ownership by the same business firm. By
2012, the vessels in this group were also affiliated through membership
in two cooperatives (the Amendment 80 ``Best Use'' cooperative, or the
Freezer Longline Conservation Cooperative (FLCC)). Applying the 2012
firm and cooperative affiliations to these vessels, NMFS estimates that
these 45 vessels currently represent seven small entities.
Through the CDQ program, the Council and NMFS allocate a portion of
the BSAI groundfish TACs, and halibut and crab PSC limits, to 65
eligible Western Alaska communities. These communities work through six
non-profit CDQ groups, and are required to use the proceeds from the
CDQ allocations to start or support activities that will result in
ongoing, regionally based, commercial fishery or related businesses.
The CDQ groups receive allocations through the harvest specifications
process, and are directly regulated by this action, but the 65
communities are not directly regulated. Because they are nonprofit
entities that are independently owned and operated, and are not
dominant in their field, the CDQ groups are considered small entities
for RFA purposes.
The AFA and Amendment 80 fisheries cooperatives are directly
regulated because they receive allocations of TAC through the harvest
specifications process. However, the FLCC, a voluntary private
cooperative that became fully effective in 2010, is not considered to
be directly regulated. The FLCC manages a catch share program among its
members, but it does not receive an allocation under the harvest
specifications. NMFS allocates TAC to the freezer longline sector, and
the cooperative members voluntarily allocate this TAC among themselves
via the FLCC. The AFA and Amendment 80 cooperatives are large entities,
since they are affiliated with firms with joint revenues of more than
$19 million.
The Aleut Corporation is an Alaska Native Corporation that receives
an allocation of pollock in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleut Corporation
is a holding company and evaluated according to the Small Business
Administration criteria for Office or Other Holding Companies, at 13
CFR 121.201, which uses a threshold of $7 million gross annual receipts
threshold for small entities. The Aleut Corporation revenues exceed
this threshold, and the Aleut Corporation is considered to be a large
entity. This determination follows the analysis in the RFA
certification for BSAI FMP.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were those considered as alternative
harvest strategies when the Council selected its preferred harvest
strategy (Alternative 2) in December 2006. These included the
following:
Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce fishing mortality rates,
F, that are equal to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC is constrained
by the OY established in the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting TAC to
produce harvest levels equal to the maximum permissible ABC, as
constrained by OY. The term ``maxFABC'' refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs.
Historically, the TAC has been set at or below the ABC; therefore, this
alternative represents a likely upper limit for setting the TAC within
the OY and ABC limits.
Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1, 2, and 3, set TAC
to produce F equal to the most recent 5-year average actual F. For
species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC equal to the most recent 5-year
average actual catch. For stocks with a high level of scientific
information, TAC would be set to produce harvest levels equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks
with insufficient scientific information, TAC would be set equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual catch. This alternative recognizes
that for some stocks, catches may fall well below ABC, and recent
average F may provide a better indicator of actual F than FABC does.
Alternative 4: (1) Set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 3
at F75%. Set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M. Set
spatially explicit TAC for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TAC as calculated above, reduce all other
TAC by a proportion that does not vary across species, so that the sum
of all TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal to the lower bound of the
area OY (1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This alternative sets conservative
and spatially explicit TAC for rockfish species that are long-lived and
late to mature, and sets conservative TAC for the other groundfish
species.
Alternative 5: Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TAC that fall within the range of ABC recommended through the
Council harvest specifications process and TACs recommended by the
Council. Under this scenario, F is set equal to a constant fraction of
maxFABC. The recommended fractions of maxFABC may vary among species or
stocks, based on other considerations unique to each. This is the
method for determining TAC that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet the objectives of this
action, although they have a smaller adverse economic impact on small
entities than the preferred alternative. The Council rejected these
alternatives as harvest strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of
Commerce did so in 2007. Alternative 1 would lead to TAC limits whose
sum exceeds the fishery OY, which is set out in statute and the FMP. As
shown in Table 1, the sum of ABCs in 2014 and 2015 would be 2,572,819
and 2,472,832 million mt, respectively. Both of these are substantially
in excess of the fishery OY for the BSAI. This result would be
inconsistent with the objectives of this action, in that it would
violate the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-
199, Sec. 803(c), and the FMP for the BSAI groundfish fishery, which
both set a 2 million mt maximum harvest for BSAI groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5
years' worth of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for
the most recent 5 years' worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is also inconsistent with the objectives
of this action, because it does not take into account the most recent
biological information for this fishery.
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
species to reduce TAC from the upper end of the OY range in the BSAI,
to its lower end. This result would lead to significant reductions in
harvests of species by small entities. While reductions of this size
could be associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these
increases is very uncertain, and NMFS has no
[[Page 12129]]
confidence that they would be sufficient to offset the volume decreases
and leave revenues unchanged. Thus, this action would have an adverse
economic impact on small entities, compared to the preferred
alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may also
address conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse
economic impact on small entities.
Impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS (see ADDRESSES).
In December 2013, the Council adopted separate Pacific cod harvest
specifications for the Aleutian Islands and the Bering Sea in the 2014
and 2015 fishing years. The intent is that this will be a permanent
split in the harvest specifications for Pacific cod. While separate
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs, have been created for the Aleutian Islands and
for the Bering Sea, the actual sector allocations (except CDQ
allocations) remain BSAI-wide allocations. Sector allocations are
calculated as a percent of the summed Aleutian Island and Bering Sea
TACs, after adjustments are made to account for CDQ allocations.
Because sector allocations (except CDQ allocations) continue to be
defined BSAI-wide, sectors remain free to redeploy between the two
areas. However, if the non-CDQ portion of the TAC in either sub-area is
reached NMFS will close directed fishing for Pacific cod in that
subarea. Thus if the resources in one of the areas is fully utilized,
one sector will not be able to increase its harvest, unless at the
expense of another sector's harvest.
It is possible that in some years that an Aleutian Island-specific
Pacific cod TAC, in combination with a deduction from the ABC for a GHL
fishery, and a deduction for an ICA, may leave the Aleutian Islands TAC
too small to permit a directed fishery. The ultimate impact of the
Pacific cod split will depend on policy decisions made by the Council
and the Secretary. In the 10 years since the first year of the baseline
period for this analysis (2004), the BSAI Pacific cod TAC was only set
equal to the ABC in two years. There may be flexibility for the Council
to offset anticipated Aleutian Island production limits by setting the
Aleutian Islands TAC less than the ABC, and the Bering Sea TAC equal to
the ABC. The 2 million metric ton groundfish optimum yield is the sum
of the BSAI TACs, so a decrease in the Aleutian Islands TAC, coupled
with an equal increase in the Bering sea TAC, would leave the aggregate
BSAI Pacific cod TAC unchanged, and would not require reductions in
TACs for other species so as to comply with the 2 million metric ton
optimum yield limit.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness for this rule, because delaying this rule is contrary to
the public interest. Plan Team review occurred in November 2013, and
Council consideration and recommendations occurred in December 2013.
Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until after the December 2013
Council meeting, and after the public had time to comment upon the
proposed action. If implemented immediately, this rule would allow
these fisheries to continue fishing without the uncertainty of a
potential closure, because the new TAC limits are higher than the ones
under which they are currently fishing. If this rule's effectiveness is
delayed, fisheries that might otherwise remain open under these rules
may prematurely close based on the lower TACs established in the final
2013 and 2014 harvest specifications (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013).
Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod are
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses, are
critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TAC limits in these fisheries would cause confusion to the
industry and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards.
Determining which fisheries may close is impossible because these
fisheries are affected by several factors that cannot be predicted in
advance, including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks,
and market price. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a
cascading effect on other fisheries by freeing up fishing vessels,
allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open ones, increasing
the fishing capacity in those open fisheries and causing them to close
at an accelerated pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to declining sideboards,
delaying this rule's effectiveness could allow some vessels to
inadvertently reach or exceed their new sideboard levels. Because
sideboards are intended to protect traditional fisheries in other
sectors, allowing one sector to exceed its new sideboards by delaying
this rule's effectiveness would effectively reduce the available catch
for sectors without sideboard limits. Moreover, the new TAC and
sideboard limits protect the fisheries from being overfished. Thus, the
delay is contrary to the public interest in protecting traditional
fisheries and fish stocks.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 8,
2014, which is the start of the 2014 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result in confusion for sablefish
harvesters and economic harm from unnecessary discard of sablefish that
are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both hook-and-line sablefish
and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ program. Immediate
effectiveness of the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications will
allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. Also, immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species that have lower 2014 ABC and TAC
limits than those established in the 2013 and 2014 harvest
specifications (78 FR 13813, March 1, 2013). Immediate effectiveness
also would give the fishing industry the earliest possible opportunity
to plan and conduct its fishing operations with respect to new
information about TAC limits. Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive
the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
This final rule is a plain language guide to assist small entities
in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary
purpose is to announce the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries
of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2014 and 2015
fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP.
This action directly affects all fishermen who participate in the BSAI
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided
in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will announce closures of directed
fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins released by
the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep themselves informed
of such closures.
[[Page 12130]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-04762 Filed 3-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
