Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 105; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Flatfish Harvest Specifications Flexibility, 36702-36718 [2014-15185]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36702-36718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15185]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 130424402-4509-01]
RIN 0648-BD23


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 105; Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Flatfish Harvest Specifications Flexibility

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 105 
to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP). If approved, Amendment 105 
would establish a process for Western Alaska Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) groups, and cooperatives established under the Amendment 80 
Program (Amendment 80 cooperatives), to exchange harvest quota from one 
of three flatfish species (flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin

[[Page 36703]]

sole) for an equal amount of another of these three flatfish species, 
while maintaining total catch below acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
limits. This action would modify the annual harvest specification 
process to allow the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
to establish the maximum amount of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole that may be exchanged based on social, economic, or 
biological considerations. This action is necessary to mitigate the 
operational variability, environmental conditions, and economic factors 
that may constrain the CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives from 
achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield (OY) in the BSAI 
groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and 
objectives of the BSAI FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and other applicable law.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by, NOAA-NMFS-2013-0074, 
by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2013-0074, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). 
Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and the Categorical Exclusion 
prepared for this action, the supplemental information report prepared 
for the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (Harvest 
Specifications Supplemental Information Report (SIR)), or the Alaska 
Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(Harvest Specifications EIS) may be obtained from https://www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
action may be submitted to NMFS at the above address and by email to 
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Seanbob Kelly, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory Authority

    NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 105 to the BSAI 
FMP. NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the Exclusive 
Economic Zone off Alaska under the BSAI FMP and the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The Council prepared the 
BSAI FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law. 
Regulations implementing the BSAI FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679. 
General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 
600.

Background

    The proposed action would revise Federal regulations and amend the 
BSAI FMP to:
     Define an amount of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole in the BSAI, that is the difference between each 
species' annual ABC and annual total allowable catch (TAC), as the ABC 
surplus for that flatfish species.
     Allow the Council to recommend, and NMFS to specify, that 
some, none, or all, of the ABC surplus for flathead sole, rock sole, or 
yellowfin sole in the BSAI be set aside each year through the annual 
harvest specifications process. The amount of ABC surplus set aside for 
a species is the ABC reserve.
     Allow CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives to apply to 
NMFS to receive a portion of the ABC reserve for flathead sole, rock 
sole, or yellowfin sole in the BSAI if they exchange a portion of their 
unused annual allocations of one or two flatfish species for an equal 
amount of another flatfish species (e.g., exchange an amount of unused 
annual allocation of flathead sole or allocations of flathead sole and 
rock sole for an equal amount of yellowfin sole ABC reserve). This 
exchange would be defined as a Flatfish Exchange.
     Allow a Flatfish Exchange only if it would not cause a CDQ 
group or an Amendment 80 cooperative to exceed the ABC or ABC reserve 
amount for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole.
     Limit the number of Flatfish Exchanges that each CDQ group 
or Amendment 80 cooperative could undertake in a calendar year.
     Require that Amendment 80 cooperatives provide an annual 
report on the use of Flatfish Exchanges.
    The purpose of this proposed action is to maximize catch, 
retention, and utilization of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole while maintaining catch at, or below, the ABC and ABC reserve for 
each species. The following sections provide necessary background to 
describe the effects of the proposed action. These sections are: (1) 
The annual harvest specification process; (2) the CDQ Program; (3) the 
Amendment 80 Program; (4) the objectives for and effects of the 
proposed action; and (5) the proposed action. The proposed action 
section includes a description of: The process for setting the ABC 
surplus and the ABC reserve; the method for determining the portion of 
the ABC reserve for each flatfish species available to each CDQ group 
and Amendment 80 cooperative; the Flatfish Exchange process each CDQ 
group and Amendment 80 cooperative must use; and annual Amendment 80 
cooperative Flatfish Exchange reporting requirements.

Annual Harvest Specification Process

General Annual Harvest Specifications Process

    Section 3.2.3 of the BSAI FMP and its implementing regulations at 
Sec.  679.20(c) require that the Council recommend and NMFS specify an 
overfishing level (OFL), an ABC, and a TAC for each stock or stock 
complex (i.e., species or species group) of groundfish on an annual 
basis. The OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for BSAI groundfish are specified 
through the annual harvest specification process. A detailed 
description of the annual harvest specification process is provided in 
the Harvest Specifications EIS, the Harvest Specifications SIR, and the 
final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications for groundfish of the BSAI 
(79 FR 12108, March 04, 2014) and is briefly summarized here.
    Section 3.2.1 of the BSAI FMP defines the OFL as the level above 
which

[[Page 36704]]

overfishing is occurring for a species or species group. NMFS manages 
fisheries in an effort to ensure that no OFLs are exceeded in any year. 
Section 3.2.4.3 of the BSAI FMP clarifies that if catch is approaching 
an OFL, NMFS will prevent overfishing by closing specific fisheries 
identified by gear and area that incur the greatest catch. Closures 
expand to other fisheries if the rate of take is not sufficiently 
slowed. Regulations at Sec. Sec.  679.20(d)(1), (d)(2), and (d)(3) 
define the process NMFS uses to limit or prohibit fishing to prevent 
overfishing and maintain total catch at or below the OFL.
    Section 3.2.1 of the BSAI FMP defines the ABC as the level of a 
species or species group's annual catch that accounts for the 
scientific uncertainty in the estimate of OFL and any other scientific 
uncertainty. The ABC cannot exceed the OFL as described in section 
3.2.3.3.1 of the BSAI FMP. NMFS attempts to manage all fisheries so 
that total catch does not exceed the ABC by monitoring fisheries, 
imposing necessary closures, and other limitations. Regulations at 
Sec. Sec.  679.20(d)(1) and (d)(2) describe the range of management 
measures that NMFS uses to maintain total catch at or below the ABC.
    Section 3.2.1 of the BSAI FMP defines the TAC as the annual catch 
target for a species or species group, derived from the ABC by 
considering social and economic factors and management uncertainty. 
Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the BSAI FMP requires that the TAC must be set 
lower than or equal to the ABC. Section 3.2.4.3 of the BSAI FMP 
clarifies that NMFS may use a variety of management measures to limit 
catch to avoid exceeding the TAC. Regulations at Sec. Sec.  
679.20(d)(1) and (d)(2) describe the range of management measures that 
NMFS uses to maintain total catch at or below the TAC.
    The development of the OFLs and ABCs are based on annual Stock 
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports compiled by the 
Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) and reviewed by the 
Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Advisory Panel 
(AP). 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 the groundfish fisheries 
off Alaska. The Plan Team publicly reviews the SAFE reports, receives 
input from the public, and recommends any needed revisions to the SAFE 
reports, estimates an OFL and ABC for each species or species group, 
and provides those recommendations to the Council.
    Annually at the December Council meeting, the Council, the SSC, and 
the AP, publicly review the Plan Team's recommendations. During this 
meeting, the Council adopts OFLs and ABCs that cannot exceed the 
amounts recommended by the SSC. In setting specific TAC levels, the 
Council considers 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.
    Section 3.2.2.2 of the BSAI FMP and regulations at Sec.  
679.20(a)(2) require the sum of the TACs in all BSAI groundfish 
fisheries to be set within a range from 1.4 to 2 million metric tons 
(mt). This regulation implements the statutory requirement that ``[t]he 
optimum yield for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area shall not exceed 2 million metric tons'' (See section 
803(c) of Pub. L. No. 108-199). Pursuant to Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the 
BSAI FMP, the Council may recommend TACs that are lower than the ABCs 
recommended by the SSC if setting TACs equal to ABCs would cause TACs 
to exceed 2 million mt. NMFS adheres to the statutory provision by 
limiting the sum of the TACs for all BSAI groundfish to 2 million mt. 
Generally, the sum of the ABCs for BSAI groundfish exceeds 2 million 
mt. For example, in 2014 the sum of all BSAI groundfish ABCs was 
2,572,819 mt (79 FR 12108, March 04, 2014). In recent years, the 
Council and NMFS have specified TACs for several species below their 
respective ABCs to ensure that the sum of the TACs for groundfish in 
the BSAI does not exceed 2 million mt.
    In addition to public comment received and considered by the 
Council during the development of annual harvest specifications, NMFS 
provides the public with notice and an opportunity to comment when it 
issues a proposed rule to implement the annual harvest specifications, 
which covers the Council's OFL, ABC, and TAC recommendations. The 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) will approve the final rule 
implementing the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs if she 
finds them consistent with the FMP, MSA, and other applicable law. The 
final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications provide additional detail on 
this process (79 FR 12108, March 04, 2014).

Annual Specification Process for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and 
Yellowfin Sole

    Flatfish in the BSAI are harvested by vessels primarily using trawl 
gear. In this mixed species fishery, operators target certain species 
of flatfish but also take a variety of species incidentally, including 
halibut and crab (species that are prohibited for harvest by vessels 
fishing for groundfish), and other groundfish that typically occupy the 
same habitat at the same times of year. The composition of groundfish 
species taken in the BSAI flatfish fisheries varies by season and by 
fishing year.
    Three of the most valuable BSAI flatfish fisheries, and the focus 
of this proposed action, are flathead sole, rock sole (Lepidopsetta 
polyxystra), and yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera). In the BSAI, flathead 
sole represents two morphologically similar species managed by NMFS as 
single species group. The flathead sole referred to in this document, 
and targeted in BSAI flatfish fisheries, is comprised of flathead sole 
(Hippoglossoides elassodon) and Bering flounder (Hippoglossoides 
robustus); the harvest of both species accrues toward a flathead sole 
TAC.
    Typically the Council has recommended, and NMFS has approved, 
setting flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs below the 
ABCs for those species for a variety of factors summarized here and 
described in greater detail in Sections 1.5 and 1.6 of the RIR/IRFA 
prepared for this action. In the Bering Sea, pollock is the target of a 
highly valued fishery; therefore, the Council often recommends, and 
NMFS approves, a TAC that is at, or near, the ABC for Bering Sea 
pollock, and that TAC is almost always completely harvested each year. 
The pollock TAC accounts for a large portion of the total groundfish 
available for harvest under the OY range for all BSAI groundfish. For 
example, in 2014 the Bering Sea pollock ABC is 1,369,000 mt and the TAC 
is 1,267,000 mt (79 FR 12108, March 04, 2014). This TAC level means 
that the sum of the TACs for all remaining BSAI groundfish in 2014 must 
not exceed 733,000 mt to ensure that the sum of the TACs for all BSAI 
groundfish does not exceed 2 million mt. It follows that setting TACs 
equal to ABCs for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole would 
further limit or eliminate harvest opportunities in the remaining non-
pollock groundfish fisheries that also must be accommodated within the 
2 million mt TAC limit. Although there is a relatively large biomass of 
flathead sole, rock sole,

[[Page 36705]]

and yellowfin sole, and relatively large ABCs, compared to other BSAI 
groundfish species, the TACs set for these three flatfish species have 
not been fully harvested in recent years. Some of the reasons for the 
relatively limited harvests of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole include the uncertain nature of harvest in these multi-species 
flatfish fisheries, operational factors specific to the CDQ Program and 
Amendment 80 fisheries, and economic conditions. These factors are 
described in more detail below in the ``CDQ Program'' and ``Amendment 
80 Program'' sections of this preamble. For these reasons the Council 
did not recommend setting the TAC equal to ABC for flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole in 2014.
    During the annual harvest specification process, the Council and 
NMFS must apportion the flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole 
TAC according to specific regulatory requirements. First, regulations 
require that NMFS reserve 10.7 percent of the TAC for each of these 
species for use by CDQ groups (see regulations at Sec. Sec.  
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Second, the remaining TAC for each of 
these species is reduced by an incidental catch allowance (ICA) to 
account for incidental catch of flathead sole, rock sole and yellowfin 
sole by non-CDQ and non-Amendment 80 Program participants (see 
regulations at Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(8) and (10)). For the purposes of 
this proposed action, incidental catch refers to the flatfish caught 
and retained while targeting another species or species group. For 
example, NMFS must accommodate incidental catch of yellowfin sole in 
the Bering Sea pollock fishery by including an amount in the ICA that 
will accommodate incidental catch in that fishery; NMFS must also add 
an amount to the yellowfin sole ICA to accommodate incidental catch in 
all other non-CDQ and non-Amendment 80 fisheries. Third, the remainder 
of the TAC is assigned to Amendment 80 Program and non-Amendment 80 
Program participants as required for each species. Regulations require 
that the flathead sole and rock sole TACs remaining after establishing 
the CDQ reserves and ICAs are fully assigned to the Amendment 80 
Program (see Table 33 to part 679). The yellowfin sole TAC remaining 
after establishing the CDQ reserve and the ICA is apportioned between 
the Amendment 80 sector and the BSAI trawl limited access sector (i.e., 
non-Amendment 80 trawl vessels) according to a specific formula that 
varies with the abundance of yellowfin sole (see Table 34 to part 679 
for additional detail).

CDQ Program

    The CDQ Program is an economic development program associated with 
federally managed fisheries in the BSAI. The purpose of the CDQ Program 
is to provide western Alaska communities with the opportunity to 
participate and invest in BSAI fisheries, to support economic 
development in western Alaska, to alleviate poverty, to provide 
economic and social benefits for residents of western Alaska, and to 
achieve sustainable and diversified local economies in western Alaska.
    Regulations establishing the CDQ Program were first implemented in 
1992 (57 FR 46133, October 7, 1992). Additional provisions applicable 
to the CDQ Program were incorporated in the Magnuson-Stevens Act in 
1996 through the Sustainable Fisheries Act (Pub. L. 104-297). 
Regulations implementing the CDQ Program provide an exclusive harvest 
privilege for a portion of the groundfish, crab, and halibut annual 
catch limits for use by non-profit entities representing specific 
eligible western Alaska communities. These exclusive harvest privileges 
are known as CDQ allocations. A total of 65 communities are authorized 
under section 305(i)(1)(D) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to participate 
in the CDQ Program. These communities participate in the CDQ Program 
through six nonprofit corporations (CDQ groups) that manage and 
administer the CDQ allocations, investments, and economic development 
projects. These communities, and their CDQ groups, are identified in 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act at section 305(i)(1)(D).
    The CDQ Program is defined as a catch share program because it 
provides an exclusive harvest privilege (i.e., a CDQ allocation) to a 
specific fishery participant (i.e., a CDQ group) for its exclusive use. 
The CDQ Program allocates a portion of commercially important BSAI 
groundfish species, including flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole, to the CDQ groups. Specific to this proposed action, section 
305(i)(1)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires an annual allocation 
of 10.7 percent of the TAC of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole to the CDQ Program. Section 305(i)(1)(C) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act clarifies that 10 percent of the TAC for flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole is allocated among the six CDQ groups, based on the 
percentage allocations that were in effect on March 1, 2006, while the 
remaining 0.7 percent of the TAC for each of these species is 
distributed among CDQ groups based on the percentage allocations agreed 
on by a Board of Directors, serving in its capacity as the 
Administrative Panel or is allocated by the Secretary based on the 
nontarget needs of eligible CDQ groups in the absence of an 
Administrative Panel decision (see section 305(i)(1)(G) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act). Currently, the Western Alaska Community 
Development Association (WACDA) serves as the Administrative Panel 
specified in the Magnuson-Stevens Act and defines the allocation of 0.7 
percent of the TAC for each of these species among the CDQ groups. 
Section 1.6.1 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action provides 
additional detail on the CDQ allocations of flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole to the CDQ Program as a whole, and to each CDQ 
group.
    NMFS prohibits any CDQ group from exceeding its CDQ allocation (see 
regulations at Sec.  679.7(d)(3)). NMFS established this regulatory 
prohibition to hold CDQ groups accountable for maintaining their catch 
below their CDQ allocations. NMFS determined that this management 
measure is appropriate because CDQ groups have greater control over 
their harvesting activities, and are not engaged in a ``race for fish'' 
that can occur in fisheries that do not receive an exclusive harvest 
privilege. The CDQ allocations allow CDQ groups to make operational 
choices to improve fishery returns, reduce bycatch, and reduce fish 
discards. These operational changes are not likely to occur under a 
race for fish. Since the implementation of the CDQ Program, CDQ groups 
have maintained all harvests within their CDQ allocations with very few 
overages.
    CDQ groups can also transfer their CDQ allocation among CDQ groups 
to provide an opportunity for CDQ groups to more fully harvest their 
allocations (see regulations at Sec.  679.5(n)). This transfer 
provision helps CDQ groups ensure that they can receive a transfer if 
needed and have adequate allocations to avoid exceeding their CDQ 
allocation.
    Currently, the six CDQ groups harvest their flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ allocations through contracts with 
Amendment 80 and non-Amendment 80 harvesting partners. Although the CDQ 
groups vary individually in the degree to which they harvest their 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ allocations, the six 
CDQ groups have not collectively harvested their allocations in recent 
years. For example, from 2008 through 2012, CDQ groups have 
collectively harvested approximately 12 percent of their flathead sole, 
30 percent of their rock sole, and 39 percent of their

[[Page 36706]]

yellowfin sole CDQ allocations. Section 1.6.1 of the RIR/IRFA provides 
additional detail on the dynamics that can affect the ability of CDQ 
groups to fully harvest their flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole CDQ allocations. Those dynamics are also summarized in the 
``Amendment 80 Program'' section of the preamble.

Amendment 80 Program

    In June 2006, the Council adopted Amendment 80 to the BSAI FMP, 
which was implemented in 2008 with a final rule published in 2007 (72 
FR 52668, September 14, 2007) and is commonly known as the Amendment 80 
Program. Among other measures, the Amendment 80 Program authorized the 
allocation of six BSAI groundfish species to trawl catcher/processors 
(C/Ps) that are not specifically listed as authorized to conduct 
directed fishing for Bering Sea pollock under the American Fisheries 
Act of 1998 (AFA) (Pub. L. 105-227, Title II of Division C). The 
minimum participation requirements to enter this non-AFA trawl C/P 
subsector were established by Congress in section 219(a)(7) of the BSAI 
Catcher Processor Capacity Reduction Program, which is contained within 
the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
2005 (Pub. L. No. 108-447). Based on these criteria, NMFS determined 
that 28 non-AFA trawl C/Ps originally qualified for the Amendment 80 
Program. These non-AFA trawl C/Ps are commonly referred to as Amendment 
80 vessels or the Amendment 80 sector. The final rule implementing 
Amendment 80 provides additional detail on the Amendment 80 Program (72 
FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Key elements of the Amendment 80 Program 
applicable to this proposed action are summarized here.
    NMFS issued an Amendment 80 quota share (QS) permit to each person 
holding the catch history of an original qualifying Amendment 80 vessel 
beginning in 2008. The amount of QS issued was based on the qualifying 
Amendment 80 vessel's catch history of six license limitation 
groundfish species, known as Amendment 80 species (i.e., Aleutian 
Islands Pacific ocean perch, Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod, 
rock sole, and yellowfin sole), in the BSAI from 1998 through 2004. The 
sum of all Amendment 80 QS issued for an Amendment 80 species is 
defined as the Amendment 80 QS pool.
    The Amendment 80 Program is intended primarily to improve retention 
and utilization of fishery resources; encourage fishing practices with 
lower discard rates; and improve the opportunity for increasing the 
value of harvested species while lowering operational costs. The 
Amendment 80 Program accomplishes these goals by encouraging the 
formation of cooperatives and the development of cooperative fishing 
practices among all persons holding Amendment 80 QS permits. Amendment 
80 cooperatives are eligible to receive cooperative quota (CQ), which 
represents an exclusive harvest privilege for a portion of the TAC for 
each Amendment 80 species annually. Throughout this preamble, the term 
CQ is used to refer to Amendment 80 CQ. An Amendment 80 cooperative 
receives an allocation of CQ for a specific Amendment 80 species based 
on the proportion of the total amount of Amendment 80 QS assigned to 
that cooperative (e.g., an Amendment 80 cooperative would receive 60 
percent of the flathead sole CQ if the members of the cooperative held 
60 percent of the flathead sole QS). In any given fishing year, 
Amendment 80 sector participants who do not choose to join a harvesting 
cooperative must fish in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery, 
without an exclusive harvest privilege. Participants in the Amendment 
80 limited access fishery race for fish with other participants in that 
fishery. Amendment 80 cooperatives receive CQ that allows vessel 
operators to make operational choices to reduce discards, reduce 
bycatch, and improve the value of Amendment 80 species harvests because 
the incentives of the Amendment 80 limited access fishery--to maximize 
catch rates to capture a larger share of the available catch--are 
removed. Amendment 80 cooperatives, like CDQ groups, operate as catch 
share fisheries. The Amendment 80 Program provides an exclusive harvest 
privilege (i.e., CQ) to a specific fishery participant (i.e., an 
Amendment 80 cooperative) for its exclusive use. The benefits realized 
by the Amendment 80 Program are described more fully in the final rule 
implementing Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
    NMFS prohibits any Amendment 80 cooperative from exceeding its CQ 
allocation (see regulations at Sec.  679.7(o)(4)(iv)). NMFS established 
this regulatory prohibition to hold Amendment 80 cooperatives 
accountable for maintaining their catch below their CQ allocations. 
NMFS determined that this management measure is appropriate because 
Amendment 80 cooperatives have greater control over their harvesting 
activities, and are not engaged in a race for fish that can occur in 
fisheries that do not receive exclusive harvest privileges. No 
Amendment 80 cooperative has exceeded any of its CQ allocations since 
the implementation of the Amendment 80 Program.
    Although the Amendment 80 Program has met many of its goals, 
Amendment 80 cooperatives have found it difficult to predict the amount 
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole that can be taken when 
specifically targeting those species, while ensuring adequate CQ 
remains to accommodate incidental harvest of these species while 
targeting other species (e.g., an Amendment 80 cooperative must ensure 
that it has adequate yellowfin sole CQ to accommodate both a targeted 
yellowfin sole fishery and all incidental harvest of yellowfin sole in 
all other BSAI fisheries). Section 1.5.3 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for 
this action provides additional detail on specific conditions that can 
constrain the full use of a cooperative's flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole CQ. Those factors are briefly summarized here.
    As an Amendment 80 cooperative approaches the maximum harvest 
permitted under its CQ, all participants in the cooperative must modify 
their fishing behavior to avoid exceeding that CQ allocation. Amendment 
80 cooperative members rely on their cooperative managers to assist 
them in their multi-species flatfish fisheries to ensure cooperatives 
do not exceed their CQ allocation. Prior to the start of the fishing 
year, Amendment 80 cooperative managers consider the specific fishing 
plans of cooperative members, and anticipated incidental catch of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole by cooperative members in 
other fisheries in the BSAI. However, the relative catch composition of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole can be unpredictable from 
month to month, and from year to year. Because of this uncertainty, 
Amendment 80 cooperative managers may recommend cooperative members 
limit the harvest of certain species early in the fishing year. For 
example, Amendment 80 cooperative members may choose to stop fishing in 
the valuable rock sole roe fishery that occurs in the early part of the 
year (winter), to ensure adequate rock sole CQ is available to 
accommodate incidental harvest of rock sole while fishing for yellowfin 
sole from late summer through fall. If rock sole incidental catch is 
lower than expected in the fall fisheries, too much rock sole CQ may 
have been set aside and there may no longer be adequate opportunity for 
cooperative members to target rock sole at the end of the fishing year 
and fully use the remaining rock sole CQ. The economic loss of this 
foregone

[[Page 36707]]

harvest may be amplified because the Amendment 80 cooperative members 
did not harvest as much of the higher value roe-bearing rock sole as 
could have been possible earlier in the fishing year.
    Variations in environmental conditions also can constrain the 
ability of cooperative managers and cooperative members to predict 
changes in catch composition over time and space. The location of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole aggregations on fishing 
grounds, particularly those that can be harvested with limited bycatch 
of halibut, is affected by the location of colder water, ``cold pool,'' 
on the Eastern Bering Sea shelf. Ice conditions in the Bering Sea, 
which can vary substantially from year to year, can effectively 
preclude vessels from reaching specific fishing grounds where flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are typically harvested. Vessel 
operators may have to shift harvesting to other non-flatfish species 
during these conditions. This shift could increase incidental harvest 
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole, and decrease the 
number of opportunities for cooperative members to target these 
flatfish later in the fishing year. The unpredictable nature of 
environmental conditions limits the ability of cooperative managers and 
vessel operators to predict harvest rates or harvest amounts.
    Market conditions may also affect harvests. BSAI flatfish are sold 
into a global market, and a wide array of factors may make harvests of 
a given flatfish species more or less economically desirable, or not 
economically viable to harvest. These market conditions may change 
throughout the year, and cooperative managers may have a difficult time 
coordinating fishing plans to accommodate uncertainty in incidental 
harvest rates, unpredictable environmental conditions, and changing 
market conditions.
    As the fishing year progresses, vessel operators and cooperative 
managers can better predict whether they will fully harvest their 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CQ. However, harvest 
opportunities later in the year may be limited due to the lack of time 
to fully harvest CQ for a specific species before the end of the year 
and the expiration of the annual CQ permit. As noted earlier, 
environmental conditions could limit access to fishing grounds for 
specific species, and changing market conditions may make it uneconomic 
to harvest a species later in a year.
    During the development of the Amendment 80 Program, the Council and 
NMFS recognized the broad range of intra- and inter-annual factors that 
can affect catch composition. As noted in the preamble to the final 
rule for the Amendment 80 Program, this variability could be addressed 
within cooperatives and between cooperatives through non-regulatory 
contractual agreements (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Specifically, 
Amendment 80 cooperatives have established private contractual 
arrangements stipulating processes and procedures cooperative members 
use to share information on catch rates and ensure access to CQ issued 
to the cooperative (i.e., intra-cooperative transfers) as needed, while 
ensuring other members are not unduly constrained.
    The Amendment 80 Program incorporates regulatory provisions that 
are designed to facilitate the harvest of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole. Regulations provide that if, during a fishing year, 
NMFS determines that a portion of the flathead sole, rock sole, or 
yellowfin sole ICA or yellowfin sole TAC assigned to the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector is unlikely to be harvested, NMFS may reallocate 
that remaining amount to Amendment 80 cooperatives in proportion to the 
amount of Amendment 80 QS for that flatfish species assigned to that 
cooperative (see regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(10)(iii)(B)). This 
provision provides additional harvest opportunities to Amendment 80 
cooperatives to the extent there are remaining amounts of ICAs or BSAI 
trawl limited access yellowfin sole TAC.
    The Amendment 80 Program established provisions that allow the 
transfer of CQ between cooperatives to allow more efficient use of 
Amendment 80 species among cooperatives (72 FR 52668, September 14, 
2007, see regulations at Sec.  679.91(g)). Inter-cooperative transfers 
have been used to maximize the harvest of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole CQ. Beginning in 2011, and in each year since, each 
Amendment 80 QS holder has been a member of one of the two Amendment 80 
cooperatives. Since 2011, the use of inter-cooperative transfers 
increased (see Section 1.4.1 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action).
    In 2009, the Council recommended, and NMFS adopted, revisions to 
the inter-cooperative transfer provisions to allow post-delivery 
transfers in the Amendment 80 Program (74 FR 42178, August 21, 2009). 
These revisions mitigate potential overages, reduce enforcement costs, 
and provide for more precise TAC management and more value from the 
harvests for participants. Post-delivery transfers also increase fleet 
flexibility and allow more efficient use of resources. The flexibility 
to complete transfers after deliveries reduces the potential that some 
CQ will remain unharvested if a cooperative is not able to harvest its 
CQ allocation without the risk of an overage, and minimizes the 
potential for CQ overages because a CQ account can be balanced after 
delivery (see regulations at Sec.  679.7(o)(4)(v)). Section 1.4.1 of 
the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action provides additional detail on 
non-regulatory and regulatory measures used to maximize the harvest of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CQ.
    Although a broad range of non-regulatory arrangements exist and 
regulatory measures have been implemented to aid in the more complete 
harvesting of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CQ, these 
measures do not fully address the range of conditions summarized here 
that can constrain harvest. Although annual harvest rates by Amendment 
80 cooperatives can vary, from 2008 through 2012, Amendment 80 
cooperatives harvested approximately 21 percent of their flathead sole, 
55 percent of their rock sole, and 48 percent of their yellowfin sole 
CQ. The fact that harvests of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole are substantially below the available CQ suggests that existing 
management measures may not provide the flexibility needed to allow 
more complete harvest.
    The factors discussed here that limit Amendment 80 cooperatives 
from fully harvesting their allocations also apply to the CDQ groups. 
As noted in the ``CDQ Program'' section of this preamble, CDQ groups 
contract with both Amendment 80 and non-Amendment 80 vessels to harvest 
their flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CDQ allocations. 
Both Amendment 80 vessels and non-Amendment 80 vessels fishing CDQ 
allocations are affected by the same uncertain operational conditions 
(e.g., difficultly predicting harvest rates of flatfish in target and 
non-target fisheries), unpredictable environmental conditions, and 
market conditions that can limit harvest. Recent harvests of flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole by the six CDQ groups have been 
substantially below CDQ allocations, as described in Section 1.6.1 of 
the RIR/IRFA and the ``CDQ Program'' section of this preamble. This 
indicates that existing management measures applicable to CDQ groups 
may not provide the flexibility needed to allow more complete harvest.

[[Page 36708]]

Objectives of and Rationale for This Proposed Action

    The objective of this proposed action is to establish a new 
accounting methodology that would provide CDQ groups and Amendment 80 
cooperatives with additional opportunities to fully harvest flathead 
sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole allocations, while ensuring ABCs 
cannot be exceeded. This proposed action would establish regulatory 
limits to ensure that the individual ABCs for flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole would not be exceeded, while facilitating a more 
complete harvest of one or more of these flatfish species, up to the 
ABC for a species, if specific conditions are met. Although an 
individual TAC (not ABC) may be exceeded, this proposed rule would 
establish a regulatory mechanism designed to prevent the sum of all 
TACs for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole from being 
exceeded, thereby ensuring the sum of BSAI groundfish TACs does not 
exceed 2 million mt. Moreover, because no exchange can exceed the ABC 
reserve and because the action requires the consideration of flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole catch during the harvest of 
groundfish and incidental catch of non-groundfish species prior to any 
flatfish exchange, this proposed action would ensure that the ABC for 
each flatfish species would not be exceeded. This proposed action is 
designed to provide the tools necessary to maximize the sustainable 
harvest of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole, and thus 
continues to achieve the OY in the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
    The rationale for this proposed action follows. Flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole are valuable species that are not fully 
harvested due to a variety of statutory and regulatory constraints on 
the setting of TACs and operational, economic, and environmental 
limitations described previously in this preamble and detailed in 
Sections 1.5 and 1.6 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action. The 
proposed modifications provide additional flexibility to existing 
management practices and are appropriate given the fact that CDQ groups 
and Amendment 80 cooperatives are participating in catch share 
fisheries that are capable of limiting their overall harvests within 
specific catch limits, and CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives are 
subject to strict management controls that prohibit fishing beyond 
these catch limits as described in the ``CDQ Program'' and ``Amendment 
80 Program'' sections of this preamble.
    Although CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives have a range of 
regulatory tools available to maximize harvests, such as the ability to 
transfer allocations of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole 
between CDQ groups or between Amendment 80 cooperatives to increase 
overall harvesting opportunities, the existing harvest patterns 
indicate that neither CDQ groups or Amendment 80 cooperatives are 
likely to fully harvest their existing allocations (see the ``CDQ 
Program'' and ``Amendment 80 Program'' sections of this preamble and 
Sections 1.5 and 1.6 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action). The 
Council and NMFS expect that additional regulatory tools will promote 
increased harvest of CDQ and CQ allocations. This proposed action is 
not intended to completely resolve the complex issues that have 
constrained the CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives from fully 
harvesting their flatfish allocations. This proposed action is intended 
to provide the flexible management necessary to mitigate a diverse 
range of conditions that may limit catch of flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole.
    This proposed action is also intended to preserve the Council's and 
NMFS' ability to consider a broad range of factors when determining how 
much flexibility to provide CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives 
through the annual harvest specifications process. For example, the 
Council could recommend setting the ABC reserve below the ABC surplus 
for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to account for any 
management uncertainty as a precautionary measure. If approved, this 
action promotes the Council's and NMFS' ability to ensure a transparent 
annual harvest specification process and articulate the criteria by 
which the Council and NMFS are making those decisions.
    The objectives of this proposed action are consistent with the 10 
National Standards established under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The 
proposed action addresses the Magnuson-Stevens Act National Standards 
and would balance a number of competing objectives for fishery 
conservation and management. These include National Standard 1, 
National Standard 8, and National Standard 9. National Standard 1 
requires that conservation and management measures shall prevent 
overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield 
from each fishery for the U.S. fishing industry. The ability to harvest 
the entire TAC for each groundfish fishery, in any given year, is not 
determinative of whether the BSAI groundfish fishery achieves optimum 
yield. Providing the opportunity for the CDQ groups and the Amendment 
80 cooperatives to maximize catch, retention, and utilization of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole while maintaining catch at 
or below the ABC for each species is one aspect of achieving optimum 
yield in the long term. National Standard 8 requires considering the 
importance of fishery resources to fishing communities and minimizing 
adverse economic impacts on such communities. This action is intended 
to improve the ability of CDQ groups to harvest their allocations, 
which could increase the economic benefits that CDQ groups and western 
Alaska communities derive from the BSAI groundfish fisheries. National 
Standard 9 requires that conservation and management measures shall, to 
the extent practicable, minimize bycatch. This proposed action is 
intended to result in higher retention and utilization of groundfish 
without increasing overall bycatch of groundfish or non-groundfish 
species beyond existing limitations, such as the ABCs.
    Other species of flatfish that are harvested by CDQ groups and the 
Amendment 80 sector would not be subject to this proposed action, 
because only Arrowtooth flounder and Bering Sea Greenland turbot are 
allocated to the CDQ groups, and no other flatfish species are 
allocated to the Amendment 80 Program. Therefore, these other flatfish 
species are still subject to a race for fish. This limits the ability 
of CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives to constrain harvests of 
non-allocated flatfish species, and reduces the management and 
enforcement tools available to NMFS to ensure harvests do not exceed an 
ABC. In addition, other flatfish fisheries are not allocated to CDQ 
groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives and are not prosecuted in the same 
manner as mixed-stock flatfish fisheries that include flathead sole, 
rock sole, and yellowfin sole (see Sections 1.5.3 and 1.6.1 of the RIR/
IRFA prepared for this action). Therefore, there is no need to provide 
the same management flexibility to the other flatfish fisheries as this 
proposed action would provide to the CDQ groups and Amendment 80 
cooperatives. Participants that do not join an Amendment 80 cooperative 
and participate in an Amendment 80 limited access fishery would not be 
subject to this proposed rule and would not receive the opportunity to 
access an ABC reserve (see Section 1.4.2 in the RIR/IRFA prepared for 
this action). The

[[Page 36709]]

participants in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery would continue 
in a race for fish. Such participants are not subject to the strict 
management controls that apply to CDQ groups and Amendment 80 
cooperatives, such as prohibitions against fishing once a CDQ or CQ 
allocation is reached. Similarly, the BSAI trawl limited access sector, 
which is allocated a portion of the yellowfin sole TAC, is not assigned 
an exclusive harvest privilege as are CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 
cooperatives. The lack of exclusive harvest privileges in the Amendment 
80 limited access fishery and the BSAI trawl limited access sector 
limits NMFS' ability to strictly manage harvests to ensure an ABC is 
not exceeded; therefore, those sectors would not be eligible for 
Flatfish Exchanges.

Proposed Action

Summary of Regulatory Changes

    This action proposes the following changes to the existing 
regulatory text at 50 CFR part 679:
     Add definitions for ``ABC reserve,'' ``ABC surplus,'' 
``Amendment 80 ABC reserve,'' ``CDQ ABC reserve,'' and ``Flatfish 
Exchange'' to Sec.  679.2.
     Add Sec.  679.4(p) to establish the Flatfish Exchange 
Application requirements and annual limitations on the number of 
Flatfish Exchanges.
     Add requirements for the Preliminary Amendment 80 
Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report to Sec.  679.5(s)(7).
     Add Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) to establish the ABC reserves, 
CDQ ABC reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC reserves as part of the general 
limitations.
     Revise Sec.  679.20(c)(1)(iv) to include Flatfish Exchange 
specifications in the annual proposed groundfish harvest 
specifications.
     Revise Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(iii) to include Flatfish 
Exchange specifications in the annual final groundfish harvest 
specifications.
     In Sec.  679.31, revise the headings of paragraphs (a) and 
(b) to be consistent with this proposed rule.
     Add Sec.  679.31(a)(5) to establish the CDQ ABC reserve as 
part of the CDQ allocations.
     Add Sec.  679.31(b)(4) to allocate CDQ ABC reserves among 
CDQ groups.
     Add Sec.  679.31(d) to allow CDQ groups to access the CDQ 
ABC reserves.
     Add Sec.  679.91(i) to establish the Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves as annual harvest privileges allocated to Amendment 80 
cooperatives, and to allow Amendment 80 cooperatives to access the 
Amendment 80 ABC reserves.

ABC Surplus

    NMFS proposes revising regulations at Sec.  679.2 to define the ABC 
surplus for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the BSAI as 
the difference between each species' annual ABC and TAC. NMFS proposes 
to revise regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(1)(iv) to clarify that the ABC 
surplus would be specified in the annual harvest specifications. Under 
this proposed action, the Council would continue to set the OFLs, ABCs, 
and TACs, and allocations of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole in the annual harvest specifications process, and once those 
amounts are determined, the annual harvest specifications would also 
specify an ABC surplus for each flatfish species. The ABC surplus would 
represent the maximum additional amount of flathead sole, rock sole or 
yellowfin sole that could be harvested above the TAC. However, the 
actual amount available for harvest would be the ABC reserve.

ABC Reserve

    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.2 to define the 
ABC reserve for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole in the 
BSAI as an amount equal to or less than the ABC surplus, depending on 
whether the Council and NMFS reduce the surplus for social, economic, 
or ecological considerations during the determination of the annual 
harvest specifications. NMFS proposes to revise annual harvest 
specifications regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A) to clarify 
that the ABC reserve would be set after consultation with the Council. 
Unless the Council recommends otherwise, or NMFS determines there is a 
need to set the ABC reserve below the ABC surplus, NMFS would set the 
ABC reserve equal to the ABC surplus for each species. Setting the ABC 
reserve as a portion of the ABC surplus, or equal to the ABC surplus, 
would ensure that the total amount of each species that is accessible 
would not exceed the ABC.
    Section 1.4.3 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action provides 
additional detail on why the ABC reserve may be set below the ABC 
surplus, and those factors are briefly summarized here. The Council or 
NMFS could choose to establish a precautionary buffer to accommodate 
uncertainty in harvests under an ICA, or to address a range of 
socioeconomic considerations. As noted in the ``Annual Harvest 
Specifications'' section of this preamble, the amount of harvest in the 
ICA can be uncertain from year to year because it is difficult to 
predict specific incidental harvest rates in the non-CDQ and non-
Amendment 80 fisheries. The Council and NMFS may deem it appropriate to 
set the ABC reserve below the ABC surplus to accommodate potential 
harvests of non-target species greater than the ICA. Similarly, the 
Council may recommend establishing an ABC reserve less than the ABC 
surplus to accommodate market conditions. For example, the Council may 
be concerned that setting an ABC reserve for a given species at a 
specific harvest level could increase supply, and thereby reduce demand 
and reduce the ex-vessel value of that flatfish species. These effects 
could affect CDQ groups, Amendment 80 cooperatives, and other fishery 
participants differently. The Council and NMFS could evaluate these 
socioeconomic considerations when setting the ABC reserve. The specific 
recommendation to set an ABC reserve below the ABC surplus for a 
specific flatfish species would be described in the annual harvest 
specifications.
    Once the ABC reserve is identified for a flatfish species, the ABC 
reserve for that flatfish species would then be apportioned among CDQ 
groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives. NMFS would publish the allocation 
of ABC reserve available to CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives in 
the proposed and final harvest specifications. NMFS proposes revising 
annual harvest specification regulations at Sec. Sec.  679.20(c)(1)(iv) 
and (3)(iii) to clarify that the proposed and final harvest 
specifications would include the ABC surplus, the ABC reserve, the CDQ 
ABC reserve, the apportionment of the CDQ ABC reserve among CDQ groups, 
the Amendment 80 ABC reserve, and the apportionment of the Amendment 80 
ABC reserve among Amendment 80 cooperatives. This revision would be 
necessary to clearly inform the public about the specific proposed and 
final allocations. Section 1.4.2 of the RIR/IRFA provides additional 
detail on the process for allocating the ABC reserve among CDQ groups 
and Amendment 80 cooperatives.

CDQ ABC Reserve

    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.2 to define a 
``CDQ ABC reserve'' as 10.7 percent of the amount of the flathead sole, 
rock sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that is allocated among CDQ 
groups as annually calculated according to the methods described at 
Sec.  679.31(b)(4). As noted in the ``CDQ Program'' portion of the 
preamble, the CDQ Program is currently allocated 10.7 percent of the 
TAC for these flatfish species. This proposed rule would allocate 10.7 
percent of the ABC reserve of each of these flatfish species to the CDQ

[[Page 36710]]

Program to be consistent with section 305(i)(1)(B) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act that requires that 10.7 of the TAC be assigned to the CDQ 
Program.
    NMFS proposes to revise annual harvest specification regulations at 
Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) to clarify that an amount equal to 10.7 
percent of the ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole would be allocated to CDQ ABC reserves for each species. The CDQ 
ABC reserves would be further allocated to each CDQ group as described 
under Sec.  679.31(b)(4). NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  
679.31(b)(4) to clarify that NMFS would allocate each CDQ ABC reserve 
among CDQ groups consistent with the requirements in section 305(i)(1) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act for allocating TAC among CDQ groups. 
Specifically, 10 percent of the ABC reserve would be allocated in fixed 
percentages to specific CDQ groups as described in section 305(i)(1)(C) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, while the remaining 0.7 percent of the ABC 
reserve would be allocated among CDQ groups according to WACDA 
agreements (i.e., the Administrative Panel established in section 
305(i)(1)(G) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act). Alternative methods for 
calculating catch limits and allocating the CDQ ABC reserve were 
considered by the Council and NMFS and rejected because they would not 
be consistent with 305(i)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (see Section 
1.4.6 of the RIR/IRFA for additional information).

Amendment 80 ABC Reserve

    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.2 to define an 
``Amendment 80 ABC reserve'' as the amount of the flathead sole, rock 
sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that remains for each species after 
designating the amount assigned to the CDQ ABC reserves. The Amendment 
80 ABC reserve would be allocated among Amendment 80 cooperatives 
annually as calculated according to the methods described at Sec.  
679.91(i)(2).
    NMFS proposes to revise annual harvest specification regulations at 
Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(C) to clarify that the Amendment 80 ABC reserve 
would be calculated as the ABC reserves as reduced by the CDQ ABC 
reserve. Given the allocation of 10.7 percent of the ABC reserve to the 
CDQ ABC reserve, 89.3 percent of the ABC reserve would be allocated to 
the Amendment 80 ABC reserve. The Amendment 80 ABC reserves would be 
apportioned to each Amendment 80 cooperative as described under Sec.  
679.91(i)(2).
    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.91(i)(2) to 
clarify that the amount of Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each species of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole assigned to an Amendment 
80 cooperative is equal to the amount of Amendment 80 QS units of that 
species assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative by Amendment 80 QS 
holders divided by the total Amendment 80 QS pool for that species 
multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for that species. For 
example, if 60 percent of the flathead sole, 30 percent of the rock 
sole, and 20 percent of the yellowfin sole Amendment 80 QS were 
assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative by Amendment 80 QS holders, 
that Amendment 80 cooperative would receive access to 60 percent of the 
flathead sole, 30 percent of the rock sole, and 20 percent of the 
yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserves. This approach would ensure 
that each Amendment 80 cooperative would receive access to a portion of 
the Amendment 80 ABC reserve in proportion to its Amendment 80 QS 
holdings of a species, and in turn would provide flexibility for 
Amendment 80 cooperatives to engage in exchanges to maximize their 
overall harvest of flatfish. Alternative methods for allocating the 
Amendment 80 ABC reserve among Amendment 80 cooperatives were 
considered and rejected because they did not provide an equitable 
allocation of the Amendment 80 ABC reserve in proportion to Amendment 
80 QS holdings (see Section 1.4.6 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this 
action for additional information).
    Under these proposed regulations, it is important to note that if 
all Amendment 80 QS holders have not joined an Amendment 80 
cooperative, not all of an Amendment 80 ABC reserve would be allocated. 
Using the example provided in this section of the preamble, if there is 
only one Amendment 80 cooperative in the Amendment 80 sector that is 
assigned 60 percent of the flathead sole, 30 percent of the rock sole, 
and 20 percent of the yellowfin sole Amendment 80 QS, and all other 
Amendment 80 QS holders are participating in the Amendment 80 limited 
access fishery, then NMFS would allocate only 60 percent of the 
flathead sole, 30 percent of the rock sole, and 20 percent of the 
yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC reserve to that Amendment 80 
cooperative. The remaining 40 percent of the flathead sole, 70 percent 
of the rock sole, and 80 percent of the yellowfin sole Amendment 80 ABC 
reserve would not be allocated. NMFS notes that this example differs 
from the one previously provided to the Council in the Section 1.4.2 of 
the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action when the Council recommended 
Amendment 105. Under both examples, the scenario is identical (i.e. 
some Amendment 80 QS holders are not members of the single 
cooperative). Unfortunately, the example in the RIR/IRFA prepared for 
Amendment 45 that was available to the Council at that time did not 
consider that allocating 100 percent of the Amendment 80 ABC reserve to 
a portion of the Amendment 80 QS holders is inconsistent with overall 
Council intent that the apportionment of the Amendment 80 ABC reserve 
for a species be in proportion the amount of the Amendment 80 QS pool 
the Amendment 80 cooperative is assigned for that species. Allocating 
all the Amendment 80 ABC reserve to a cooperative out of proportion to 
its Amendment 80 QS holdings could create incentives for members of the 
sole Amendment 80 cooperative to exclude Amendment 80 QS holders from 
an Amendment 80 cooperative to increase the amount of the Amendment 80 
ABC reserve available to it. These effects on Amendment 80 cooperative 
formation and membership were not considered or addressed by the 
Council at the time it recommended Amendment 105. The example and 
method for apportioning the Amendment 80 ABC reserve provided above in 
this preamble is consistent with Council intent and would instead 
assign the Amendment 80 ABC reserve in proportion to the amount of the 
Amendment 80 QS pool an Amendment 80 cooperative is assigned. 
Additional detail on this example and the consistency of this example 
with the Council's overall recommendation for Amendment 105 is provided 
in Section 1.4.2 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action.
    In years where no CQ is assigned, Flatfish Exchanges could not 
occur among Amendment 80 Program participants. Since the establishment 
of the Amendment 80 Program, one or two Amendment 80 cooperatives have 
been established each year. Since 2011, all Amendment 80 QS holders are 
members of an Amendment 80 cooperative. However, it is possible that 
Amendment 80 QS holders may be unwilling or unable to establish a 
cooperative. In years when no Amendment 80 cooperatives are 
established, NMFS would not assign any Amendment 80 ABC reserve because 
there would be no Amendment 80 cooperatives receiving CQ.

[[Page 36711]]

Example of an Annual Harvest Specification of ABC Surplus, ABC Reserve, 
CDQ ABC Reserve, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserve

    To aid the reader in understanding this proposed action, this 
section provides a hypothetical example of the annual harvest 
specification process and the allocation of the ABC surplus, ABC 
reserve, CDQ ABC reserve, and Amendment 80 ABC reserve. This example 
uses the 2014 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs established for flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole in the final 2014 and 2015 harvest 
specifications (79 FR 12108, March 04, 2014). This example also uses 
the 2014 apportionments of CDQ among CDQ groups, and the allocation of 
CQ among Amendment 80 cooperatives that existed at the time of 
publication of the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 
12108, March 04, 2014). Specifically, there are six CDQ groups, and two 
Amendment 80 cooperatives that include all of the Amendment 80 QS 
holders. For this example, the flathead sole and rock sole ABC reserves 
are set 1,000 mt below the ABC surpluses for those species, the 
yellowfin sole ABC reserve is set 500 mt below the yellowfin sole ABC 
surplus.
    Table 1 describes the OFLs, ABCs, ABC surpluses, ABC surpluses, CDQ 
ABC reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC reserves based on the proposed 
allocation methodologies described previously in this preamble. Table 2 
shows the allocation of the TAC among the ICA, CDQ Program, Amendment 
80 Program, and the BSAI trawl limited access sector.

       Table 1--Example of Allocation of ABC Surplus, ABC Reserve, CDQ ABC Reserve, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserve for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Using Final 2014 Harvest
                                                                              Specification Amounts in Metric Tons
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                               CDQ ABC reserve  Amendment 80 ABC
                              Species                                      OFL               ABC               TAC           ABC surplus       ABC reserve      (10.7% of ABC    reserve (89.3%
                                                                                                                                                                  reserve)       of ABC reserve)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole.....................................................            79,633            66,293            24,500            41,793            40,793             4,365            36,428
Rock sole.........................................................           228,700           203,800            85,000           118,800           117,800            12,605           105,195
Yellowfin sole....................................................           259,700           238,800           184,000            54,800            54,300             5,810            48,490
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table 2--Example of Allocation of TAC Among ICA, CDQ Program, Amendment 80 Program, and BSAI Trawl Limited Access Fishery Allocations for Flathead Sole,
                               Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Using Final 2014 Harvest Specification Amounts in Metric Tons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                           BSAI trawl
                                                                                                       CDQ program      Amendment 80     limited access
                            Species                                    TAC               ICA           allocation          program           fishery
                                                                                                                         allocation        allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole.................................................            24,500             5,000             2,622            16,879                 0
Rock sole.....................................................            85,000             8,000             9,095            67,905                 0
Yellowfin sole................................................           184,000             2,400            19,688           132,205            29,707
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Table 3 describes the allocation of the ABC reserve among the six 
CDQ groups based on the CDQ allocations that existed at the time of 
publication of the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 
12108, March 04, 2014). A matrix describing the specific allocations to 
each CDQ group, for each CDQ species, is available on the Alaska Region 
Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cdq/allocations/annualmatrix2014.pdf. As noted earlier in this preamble, the CDQ ABC 
reserve is equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC reserve for each of these 
flatfish species. Table 3 describes the allocation of the CDQ ABC 
reserve based on the CDQ allocations to CDQ groups applicable in 2014.

          Table 3--Example of CDQ ABC Reserve Allocations to CDQ Groups for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Using Final 2014 Harvest Specification Amounts in Metric Tons
                                                     [The allocations to each CDQ group are provided as a percentage within the parentheses]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                      CDQ group and allocation of CDQ ABC reserve
                              Species                                CDQ ABC reserve -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           APICDA             BBEDC             CBSFA             CVRF              NSEDC             YDFDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole.....................................................             4,365               875               921               387               654               653               875
                                                                    ................          (20.05%)          (21.09%)           (8.87%)          (14.98%)          (14.96%)          (20.05%)
Rock sole.........................................................            12,605             3,034             2,900             1,004             1,379             1,382             2,907
                                                                    ................          (24.07%)          (23.00%)           (7.96%)          (10.96%)          (10.96%)          (23.06%)
Yellowfin sole....................................................             5,810             1,610             1,390               465               369               423             1,552
                                                                    ................          (27.71%)          (23.92%)           (8.00%)           (6.35%)           (7.29%)          (26.72%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands Pribilof Community Development Association (APICDA), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation (BBEDC), Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association (CBSFA), Coastal Villages
  Region Fund (CVRF), Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation (NSEDC), Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA).

    Table 4 describes the allocation of the Amendment 80 ABC reserve 
between the two Amendment 80 cooperatives that applied for CQ in 2014. 
In 2014, all Amendment 80 QS holders are members of one of these 
cooperatives. The allocation of ABC reserve is based on the proportion 
of the Amendment 80 QS of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole 
that each Amendment 80 cooperative is assigned. As noted earlier in 
this preamble, the Amendment 80

[[Page 36712]]

ABC reserve is equal to 89.3 percent of the ABC reserve for each 
species.

  Table 4--Example of Amendment 80 ABC Reserve Allocations to Amendment 80 Cooperatives for Flathead Sole, Rock
             Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Using Final 2014 Harvest Specification Amounts in Metric Tons
     [The allocations to each Amendment 80 cooperative are provided as a percentage within the parentheses]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Amendment 80 cooperative
                                                                                allocation of amendment 80 ABC
                                                                                            reserve
                                                            Amendment 80 ABC -----------------------------------
                          Species                                reserve           Alaska
                                                                                 groundfish      Alaska seafood
                                                                                 cooperative       cooperative
                                                                                    (AGC)             (ASC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole.............................................            36,428             7,151            29,277
                                                            ................          (19.63%)          (80.37%)
Rock sole.................................................           105,195            30,054            75,141
                                                            ................          (28.57%)          (71.43%)
Yellowfin sole............................................            48,490            20,826            27,664
                                                            ................          (42.95%)          (57.05%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flatfish Exchange Application

    This proposed action would require that a CDQ group or an Amendment 
80 cooperative would have to submit a Flatfish Exchange Application to 
NMFS. That application would have to be approved by NMFS, and revised 
TACs would have to be published in the Federal Register, before unused 
CDQ or CQ would be exchanged for a portion of its CDQ ABC reserve or 
Amendment 80 reserve. NMFS' approval of a Flatfish Exchange Application 
is necessary to ensure that ABC's are not exceeded. As proposed, NMFS 
would have the authority to disapprove an application if it is likely 
that an ABC will be exceeded. This section describes this process and 
associated, proposed regulations, and provides an example of a Flatfish 
Exchange.
    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.2 to define a 
``Flatfish Exchange'' as the exchange of unused CDQ, or Amendment 80 
CQ, of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole in the BSAI for an 
equivalent amount (in metric tons) of CDQ ABC reserve or Amendment 80 
ABC reserve, respectively, for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin 
sole in the BSAI other than the species listed for exchange on the 
Flatfish Exchange Application as described in a notice of adjustment or 
apportionment in the Federal Register.
    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.4(p) to describe 
the Flatfish Exchange Application. NMFS would process any completed 
Flatfish Exchange Application submitted by a CDQ group or Amendment 80 
cooperative. The Flatfish Exchange Application must specify the amounts 
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to be exchanged, and 
certify the information submitted is true, correct, and complete. The 
specific requirements of the Flatfish Exchange Application are provided 
on the form that would be posted at the Alaska Region Web site: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov once Amendment 105 and its implementing 
regulations become effective. All Flatfish Exchange Applications would 
be submitted electronically through the Alaska Region Web site: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. Currently, CDQ groups and Amendment 80 
cooperatives submit a range of applications and reports electronically. 
This provision would be consistent with existing electronic submittal 
requirements applicable to CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives and 
would reduce administrative burden and costs.
    NMFS' approval of a Flatfish Exchange Application would be required 
prior to the use of the CDQ or CQ subject to the Flatfish Exchange. 
NMFS would approve the Flatfish Exchange Application if: (1) The CDQ 
group or Amendment 80 cooperative exchanging flathead sole, rock sole, 
or yellowfin sole has sufficient CDQ ABC reserves or Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves for the flatfish species for which it is requesting to 
increase its CDQ or CQ; (2) the CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative 
requesting an exchange of flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole 
exchanges an equal amount of unused CDQ allocation or unused CQ for the 
amount of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole received from the 
CDQ ABC reserve or Amendment 80 ABC reserve; and (3) the CDQ group or 
Amendment 80 cooperative has not submitted three Flatfish Exchange 
applications, as described in the next section of this preamble. NMFS 
notes that unused CDQ allocation could only be exchanged for CDQ ABC 
reserve, and unused CQ could only be exchanged for Amendment 80 ABC 
reserve. Furthermore, NMFS notes that a CDQ group could only submit a 
Flatfish Exchange Application for an amount of CDQ ABC reserve assigned 
to that CDQ group, and an Amendment 80 cooperative could only submit a 
Flatfish Exchange Application for an amount of Amendment 80 ABC reserve 
assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative.
    Proposed regulations at Sec.  679.4(p)(4) would provide that no 
Flatfish Exchange would take effect until notification has been 
published in the Federal Register with a statement of the findings on 
which the apportionment or adjustment is based. This provision would 
provide clear notification to the public and the affected CDQ group or 
Amendment 80 cooperative that the Flatfish Exchange Application has 
been approved and display the resulting adjustment in CDQ ABC reserve 
and CDQ allocation for that CDQ group, or the resulting adjustment in 
Amendment 80 ABC reserve and CQ for that Amendment 80 cooperative.
    Proposed regulations at Sec.  679.4(p)(5) would provide that each 
NMFS-approved Flatfish Exchange Application is debited as one Flatfish 
Exchange, and that an approved Flatfish Exchange is effective on the 
date of publication of the notice of adjustment or apportionment in the 
Federal Register. NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  
679.31(d) to note that CDQ groups would need to submit and have NMFS 
approve a Flatfish Exchange Application to access their CDQ ABC 
reserve. Similarly, NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  
679.91(i)(3) to note that Amendment 80 cooperatives would need to 
submit and have NMFS approve a Flatfish Exchange Application to access 
their Amendment 80 ABC reserve.

[[Page 36713]]

    To aid the reader, an example of a Flatfish Exchange is provided in 
Table 5. For this example, NMFS assumes that the Amendment 80 
cooperative, Alaska Seafood Cooperative (ASC), has submitted, and NMFS 
has approved, a Flatfish Exchange Application. This example assumes the 
2014 allocations of Amendment 80 ABC reserve that ASC would receive are 
based on the final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications and described 
in Table 4 of this preamble. This example assumes that ASC has not 
previously engaged in any Flatfish Exchanges, has an adequate amount of 
unused CQ remaining, and has adequate ABC reserve. In this example, ASC 
is requesting an additional 3,500 mt of yellowfin sole CQ from its ABC 
reserve, for which it would exchange 1,500 mt of unused flathead sole 
CQ, and 2,000 mt of unused rock sole CQ. No net change in the total 
flatfish available for harvest to the ASC would result, but the 
Amendment 80 cooperative would gain additional access to yellowfin sole 
and forego access to flathead sole and rock sole.

   Table 5--Example of Flatfish Exchange by an Amendment 80 Cooperative (ASC) for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Using Final 2014 Annual
                                                      Harvest Specification Amounts in Metric Tons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Before exchange                        Exchange                         After exchange
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species                     ASC ABC reserve    ASC CQ before     Adjustment to                      ASC ABC reserve    ASC CQ after
                                               before flatfish      flatfish         ABC reserve    Adjustment to CQ   after flatfish       flatfish
                                                  exchange          exchange           amount            amount           exchange          exchange
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole...............................            29,277            13,566            +1,500            -1,500            30,777            12,066
                                                                                                                              (+1,500)          (-1,500)
Rock sole...................................            75,141            48,505            +2,000            -2,000            77,141            46,505
                                                                                                                              (+2,000)          (-2,000)
Yellowfin sole..............................            27,664            75,426            -3,500            +3,500            24,164            78,926
                                                                                                                              (-3,500)          (+3,500)
                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sum.....................................           132,082           137,497                 0                 0           132,082           137,497
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted earlier in this preamble and illustrated in Table 5, under 
this proposed action there would be no net change in the total 
available sum of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole available 
for harvest as CDQ or CQ. However, CDQ groups or Amendment 80 
cooperatives could use Flatfish Exchanges to increase the available CDQ 
or CQ of one or two flatfish species, by foregoing an amount of unused 
CDQ or CQ for another flatfish species, but not maximize the harvest of 
all three flatfish species during a calendar year. In the example 
provided in Table 5, the ASC cooperative has increased the amount of 
yellowfin sole available for harvest. In this example, ASC would reduce 
the amount of yellowfin sole ABC reserve available to exchange for 
flathead sole or rock sole CQ in future exchanges. As is clear from the 
example, there is no net increase in the ABC reserve, as summed across 
the three flatfish species as a result of this exchange. Moreover, 
Table 5 clarifies that Flatfish Exchanges will result in the same sum 
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole available for harvest 
before, and after the exchange.
    NMFS is proposing regulations at Sec.  679.4(p)(3) to provide that 
NMFS would not approve any Flatfish Exchange that could result in 
exceeding an ABC or ABC reserve for a species. As proposed, this method 
for implementing Flatfish Exchanges is designed to ensure that although 
an individual flatfish TAC could be exceeded, the ABC will not be 
exceeded. As proposed, NMFS would have the authority to disapprove an 
application if NMFS determines it is likely that an ABC will be 
exceeded because of fishing effort in another groundfish fishery. For 
example, the risk of exceeding an ABC could arise if incidental catch 
of the allocated flatfish species in other fisheries (e.g., catch of 
yellowfin sole by AFA vessels in the BSAI pollock fishery) was much 
higher than anticipated. NMFS will review each Flatfish Exchange 
Application and consider approval or disapproval in light of incidental 
catch levels occurring in other groundfish fisheries. NMFS would 
consider the amount of incidental harvest under the ICAs and the amount 
of harvest in the yellowfin sole BSAI limited access fishery before a 
Flatfish Exchange Application would be approved. For example, if the 
ICAs for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole were exceeded, or 
the BSAI trawl limited access fishery exceeded its yellowfin sole 
allocation, NMFS would not approve a Flatfish Exchange Application to 
harvest from an ABC reserve if the exchange would cause a species' ABC 
to be exceeded. Moreover, NMFS would consider increases in an Amendment 
80 cooperative's CQ from unused ICAs or reallocations of yellowfin sole 
from the BSAI limited access fishery, and inter-cooperative CQ or CDQ 
transfers, before approving a Flatfish Exchange Application to ensure 
accurate amounts in CDQ allocation and CQ accounts.
    As noted earlier in this preamble, Flatfish Exchanges would not be 
effective until publication of a notice in the Federal Register. The 
requirement for publication in the Federal Register would allow NMFS to 
fully consider the Flatfish Exchange Application and total catch of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. NMFS could disapprove the 
Flatfish Exchange if, upon further review of the Flatfish Exchange 
Application and all other sources of catch, approval of the Flatfish 
Exchange Application could cause an ABC or ABC reserve to be exceeded. 
NMFS believes that any such situation is highly unlikely given methods 
in place to accurately track catch, but this provision would ensure 
proper accounting before any Flatfish Exchange is approved.
    To further simplify the catch accounting for Flatfish Exchanges, 
NMFS proposes regulations at Sec.  679.4(p)(3)(vii) to clarify that 
Flatfish Exchanges would not be approved unless the Flatfish Exchange 
Application is received and approved by NMFS during the same calendar 
year that the Flatfish Exchange would be implemented. As described 
earlier in this preamble, CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives have 
initiated CDQ and CQ transfers at the end of the year to account for 
catch that occurred earlier during the year. This proposed provision 
would clarify that all Flatfish Exchanges would need to be completed 
and received by NMFS prior

[[Page 36714]]

the end of the calendar year to ensure proper accounting for catch and 
ABC reserves. NMFS notes that CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives 
would need to submit a Flatfish Exchange Application prior to the end 
of the calendar year that the exchange would occur to allow for at 
least 10 business days for NMFS review and approve (or deny) the 
Flatfish Exchange Application (i.e., publication in the Federal 
Register).
    The Council considered and rejected alternatives that would have 
either limited the ability to exchange flathead sole or rock sole ABC 
reserve for yellowfin sole CQ, or limit the maximum amount of yellowfin 
sole CQ that could be received through a Flatfish Exchange (see Section 
1.8.4 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action). These measures were 
considered as a way to mitigate potential adverse impacts of additional 
harvest opportunities that a Flatfish Exchange could provide to 
Amendment 80 cooperatives relative to other fishery participants. 
Participants in the yellowfin sole fishery in the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector raised specific concerns. The Council and NMFS rejected 
these alternative approaches because the Council and NMFS have the 
ability to set the TAC amounts and modify the yellowfin sole ABC 
reserve under this proposed action based on a broad range of biological 
and socioeconomic factors, including the potential impact on the 
yellowfin sole BSAI trawl limited access fishery during the annual 
harvest specifications process. Section 1.4.6 of the RIR/IRFA provides 
additional detail on these alternatives considered but not selected for 
this proposed action.

Flatfish Exchange Limits

    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.4(p)(5) to limit 
to three the number of Flatfish Exchanges each CDQ group or Amendment 
80 cooperative could execute within a fishing year to limit the 
administrative burden associated with Flatfish Exchanges. The Council 
and NMFS considered an option that would not limit the number of 
Flatfish Exchanges. However, as noted in Section 1.8.3 of the RIR/IRFA, 
unlimited Flatfish Exchanges would increase administrative burden and 
costs for NMFS, and was not deemed as necessary to provide adequate 
opportunities for CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives to engage in 
Flatfish Exchanges for additional harvest opportunities. For example, a 
CDQ group could exchange unused yellowfin sole CDQ allocation for an 
equal tonnage of rock sole CDQ ABC reserve early in the year if such a 
need is projected. Subsequently, the same CDQ group could exchange any 
unused yellowfin sole CDQ allocation for an equal tonnage of flathead 
sole or rock sole ABC reserve if needed later in the year. This would 
still provide CDQ group an opportunity for a final Flatfish Exchange by 
the end of the calendar year if needed. The Council recommended, and 
NMFS proposes an annual limit of three Flatfish Exchanges based on 
input from CDQ groups, Amendment 80 cooperatives, and the need to 
balance the administrative concerns raised by NMFS. Assuming that the 
same number of CDQ groups (six) and Amendment 80 cooperatives (two) 
that existed in 2014 exist in future years, NMFS could process a 
maximum of 24 Flatfish Exchanges per year.

Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report

    NMFS proposes to revise regulations at Sec.  679.5(s)(7) to require 
each Amendment 80 cooperative to submit annually to the Council a 
Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report reviewing 
the use of the cooperative's Amendment 80 ABC reserve for flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. Each Amendment 80 cooperative 
would report the number of vessels used to harvest the Amendment 80 
cooperative's quota; the number of Flatfish Exchanges and dates those 
exchanges were approved; the types and amounts of CQ and Amendment 80 
ABC reserve used; and the dates, types, and amounts of inter-
cooperative CQ transfers. This report would be due to the Council by 
December 1 of each year. This report would allow the Council, during 
the annual harvest specifications process, to assess the use of 
Flatfish Exchanges, the use of CQ, and weigh the potential 
socioeconomic impact of Flatfish Exchanges before establishing the ABC 
reserve. The Council would make this report available to the public.
    NMFS is not proposing to require Amendment 80 cooperatives to 
disclose catch data that may be considered confidential. When the 
Council recommended this proposed action, it requested that NMFS 
implement Federal regulations that would require each Amendment 80 
cooperative to provide catch information for flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole catch as part of this new proposed reporting 
requirement. However, Amendment 80 cooperative catch data at this level 
of fisheries participation currently is considered confidential and 
therefore protected under section 402 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 
U.S.C. 1881a). Therefore, these data cannot be disclosed to the Council 
or the public. NMFS notes that information on aggregate catch by all 
vessels operating in the BSAI are available by species at NMFS Web site 
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or could be provided to the Council 
on request at the December meeting, or any time prior to that meeting.
    NMFS has issued a proposed rule that, if implemented, will provide 
additional clarification on the release of catch information under 
``limited access privilege'' programs, as defined under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act (see 77 FR 30486, May 23, 2012). As proposed, that rule 
addresses the release of catch information collected under the 
Amendment 80 Program. NMFS is currently in the process of developing a 
final rule for that proposed rule. Because that proposed rule broadly 
addresses the release of confidential data under section 402 of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, it could provide for the release of the 
currently-confidential catch information on flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole the Council requested when it recommended this 
proposed action. If that final rule provides additional clarification 
on the amount and type of data that may be released by Amendment 80 
cooperatives prior to the publication of a final rule for this proposed 
action (if approved), then NMFS would amend the rule proposed here so 
that the final rule accommodates the specific catch information 
requests made by the Council.
    The proposed reporting requirements are intended to maintain a 
transparent groundfish harvest specifications process while providing 
the Council and the public additional information that could be used to 
identify any fishery impacts of this proposed action on non-Amendment 
80 cooperative participants. The Council and NMFS acknowledged that the 
use of the flexibility provided by this proposed rule could have 
impacts on other fishery participants, which were previously assessed 
(see Categorical Exclusion, see Addresses), but could be better 
understood by obtaining information on the use of CQ transfers and 
Flatfish Exchanges by Amendment 80 cooperatives. For example, the use 
of Flatfish Exchanges could allow additional access to markets or 
modify the timing of harvests that may have socioeconomic impacts on 
non-Amendment 80 Program fisheries (see Sections 1.8.2.3 and 1.8.2.4 of 
the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action for more detail).
    The Council and NMFS determined the best way to monitor potential 
socioeconomic changes in non-

[[Page 36715]]

Amendment 80 Program fisheries would be to review the transfers of 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole CQ among Amendment 80 
cooperatives, and the amount of Amendment 80 ABC reserves used by 
Amendment 80 cooperatives. Reporting the amounts and frequency of 
Flatfish Exchanges (and CQ transfers) could aid the Council, NMFS, and 
the public in providing a greater understanding of the relative impacts 
of this proposed action on harvests of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole. The Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish 
Exchange Report would provide the Council, NMFS, and the public with 
specific data on the timing and amount CQ transferred between 
cooperatives, and the number and amounts of flathead sole, rock sole, 
and yellowfin sole exchanged through Flatfish Exchanges.
    The proposed Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange 
Report would be integrated into the annual harvest specifications 
process. The Council would receive the reports, receive public comment 
on these reports, and incorporate that information in its ABC reserve 
decisions. Under this proposed action, the Council would use these data 
when deciding whether to recommend ABC reserve amounts below the ABC 
surplus amounts for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. This 
proposed reporting requirement is intended to maximize the Council's 
ability to consider factors that it may not otherwise have available 
relating to the use of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole 
when it considers establishing an ABC reserve during its December 
Council meeting.
    This proposed action would not modify existing reporting 
requirements for the CDQ groups. The Council did not recommend, and 
this proposed rule would not propose a similar report from CDQ groups, 
given the small amount of the ABC reserve (10.7 percent) allocated to 
CDQ Program, and the limited impact that the use of Flatfish Exchanges 
by CDQ groups would be likely to have on other fishery participants. 
The potential impact of the use of the CDQ ABC reserve is limited by 
the fact that the CDQ ABC reserve is allocated among six CDQ groups, 
and no one CDQ group is likely to be able to substantially increase its 
harvests relative to the TAC for any species under this proposed action 
(see Tables 1 and 3 of this preamble for an example of the amount of 
TAC and ABC reserve available to each CDQ group). This proposed rule 
would not modify existing regulations that require each Amendment 80 
cooperative to submit an Annual Amendment 80 cooperative report (see 
regulations at Sec.  679.5(s)(6)).

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) and 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that Amendment 105 
to the BSAI FMP and this proposed rule are consistent with the BSAI 
FMP, provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable law, 
subject to further consideration after public comment.
    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    An IRFA was prepared, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA). The IRFA describes the economic impact this 
proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A description 
of the action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for this 
action are contained at the beginning of this section and in the 
SUMMARY section of the preamble and are not repeated here. Each of the 
statutory requirements of section 603(b) and (c) has been addressed and 
is summarized as follows. A copy of the complete IRFA is available from 
NMFS (see ADDRESSES).

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by the Proposed 
Action

    CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives are directly regulated 
through this proposed action through their allocations of harvesting 
privileges for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
    On June 20, 2013, the Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a 
final rule revising the small business size standards for several 
industries effective July 22, 2013. 78 FR 37398 (June 20, 2013). The 
rule increased the size standard for Finfish Fishing from $4.0 to 19.0 
million, Shellfish Fishing from $4.0 to 5.0 million, and Other Marine 
Fishing from $4.0 to 7.0 million, Id. at 37400 (Table 1). The new size 
standards were used to prepare the IRFA for this action.
    All the vessels and companies participating in the Amendment 80 
sector have been affiliated with one of two Amendment 80 cooperatives, 
the Alaska Seafood Cooperative or the Alaska Groundfish Cooperative, 
since 2011. The most recent gross revenue data for Amendment 80 
cooperatives is from 2011, and these data indicate that the total gross 
revenues earned by the vessels in each of the Amendment 80 cooperatives 
exceed $19.0 million. Thus, the vessels and companies participating in 
Amendment 80 cooperatives are all large entities, either by virtue of 
their own gross revenues or by virtue of their affiliation with other 
large entities through their cooperative membership. Therefore, this 
analysis addresses the impact on the directly regulated small entities 
(i.e., CDQ groups) and not Amendment 80 cooperatives.
    The six CDQ groups are all small entities by virtue of their non-
profit status. These groups include Aleutian Pribilof Island Community 
Development Association, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, 
Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association, Coastal Villages Region 
Fund, Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, and Yukon Delta 
Fisheries Development Association. Each of these groups is organized as 
an independently owned and operated not-for-profit entity and none is 
dominant in its field; consequently, each is a ``small entity'' under 
the RFA.
    All six CDQ groups annually are allocated groundfish, halibut, and 
crab CDQ allocations. These groups participate, either directly or 
indirectly, in the commercial harvest of these allocations. 
Commercially valuable allocations include (among others) Alaska 
pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, Pacific halibut, Greenland turbot, 
Atka mackerel, various flatfish species, as well as king and Tanner 
crab. CDQ groups receive royalties from the successful harvest of CDQ 
by commercial fishing companies, as well as access to employment and 
training opportunities for their communities' residents. Royalties and 
income from CDQ harvesting activities are used to fund economic 
development projects in CDQ communities. In 2011, the six CDQ groups 
earned approximately $311.5 million in royalties (i.e., gross revenues) 
from the harvest of CDQ allocations. CDQ Program activities are 
discussed in detail in Section 1.6 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this 
action.

Duplicate, Overlapping, or Conflicting Federal Rules

    No duplication, overlap or conflict between this proposed action 
and existing Federal rules has been identified.

Description of Significant Alternatives That Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities

    An IRFA also requires a description of any significant alternatives 
to the preferred alternative (Alternative 3, option 1 described below) 
that accomplish the stated objectives, are consistent with applicable 
statutes, and that would minimize any significant economic impact of 
the proposed rule on small entities. The suite of potential

[[Page 36716]]

actions includes three alternatives and associated options. A detailed 
description of these alternatives and options is provided in Section 
1.4 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action.
    Alternative 1 is the status quo, and does not provide additional 
harvesting flexibility for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole 
to CDQ groups. Alternative 2 would establish a CDQ ABC reserve for 
flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole that is allocated among CDQ 
groups equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC surplus for each species, while 
Alternative 3 would allow the Council or NMFS to establish a CDQ ABC 
reserve for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole that is 
allocated among CDQ groups that may be less than or equal to 10.7 
percent of the ABC surplus for each species after considering 
socioeconomic or biological considerations.
    Alternative 2 is less restrictive, and thus has fewer adverse 
impacts on the directly regulated CDQ groups. While Alternative 2 may 
be less restrictive to CDQ groups, Alternative 3 was adopted because it 
provides the Council flexibility to address socioeconomic or biological 
considerations during the annual harvest specifications process. The 
Council and NMFS may deem it appropriate to set the ABC reserve below 
the ABC surplus to accommodate potential harvests of non-target species 
greater than the ICA. Similarly, the Council may recommend establishing 
an ABC reserve less than the ABC surplus to accommodate market 
conditions.
    The Council also considered three options that could apply to 
either Alternative 2 or Alternative 3; however, options 2 and 3 are 
mutually exclusive. Option 1 would establish an ABC surplus, ABC 
reserve, and CDQ ABC reserve for flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole, but limit the number of Flatfish Exchanges to no more 
than three Flatfish Exchanges per CDQ group per calendar year. Option 2 
would create an ABC surplus, ABC reserve, and CDQ ABC reserve only for 
flathead sole and rock sole. Option 3 limits the maximum amount of the 
ABC surplus, ABC reserve, and CDQ ABC reserve for yellowfin sole 
available to CDQ groups. Options 2 and 3 are more restrictive than 
Option 1 and provide fewer opportunities for CDQ groups to use Flatfish 
Exchanges to maximize their harvests, particularly their harvests of 
yellowfin sole. Therefore, Options 2 or 3 would have more adverse 
impacts on CDQ groups than the preferred alternative, which combines 
Alternative 3 and Option 1.
    Option 1, which limits CDQ groups to three Flatfish Exchanges 
during a year, is more restrictive than the adoption of Alternative 3 
without the option. Alternative 3 without Option 1 would not limit the 
number of Flatfish Exchanges that a CDQ group could undertake each 
calendar year. However, Option 1 was meant to limit the potential 
administrative burden and costs on NMFS of the proposed action. As 
explained in Section 1.8.3 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action, 
the Council determined and NMFS agreed that a maximum of three Flatfish 
Exchanges per calendar year per CDQ group would meet the goals and 
objectives for the proposed action, would not unduly constrain CDQ 
groups, and would reduce administrative burden and costs on NMFS. The 
Flatfish Exchange limits are intended to allow the CDQ groups to make 
an adequate number of exchanges needed to accommodate uncertain 
harvesting conditions throughout the year as described earlier in the 
preamble and in Section 1.6.1 of the RIR/IRFA prepared for this action.

Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance Requirements

    This action is projected to have a negligible impact on the 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements of CDQ groups participating in 
the BSAI groundfish fisheries. The regulations proposed under this 
amendment directly impact the recordkeeping and reporting requirements 
of Amendment 80 cooperatives, but not those of the CDQ groups. Under 
this action, NMFS would not require the directly regulated small 
entities (i.e., CDQ groups) to annually report data on Flatfish 
Exchanges. Moreover, the decision to submit a Flatfish Exchange 
Application is entirely voluntary on the part of all affected entities. 
If a CDQ group chooses to submit a Flatfish Exchange Application, it 
will need to submit the information required. The information required 
in a Flatfish Exchange Application is similar to the information 
already required by for transfers of CDQ allocations among CDQ groups 
(see regulations at Sec.  679.5(n)). Some recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements would be required by Amendment 80 cooperatives, which are 
considered large entities and is not addressed further here.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to review and approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA). These requirements have been submitted to OMB for approval under 
OMB Control Number 0648-0565. Public reporting burden is estimated to 
average 30 minutes for the Flatfish Exchange Application and 25 hours 
for Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report. The 
estimated response times include the time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
    Public comment is sought regarding: Whether this proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and ways to minimize the burden of collecting the 
information, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Send comments on these or any 
other aspects of the collection of information to NMFS at the ADDRESSES 
above, and email to OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov, or fax to (202) 395-
7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: June 24, 2014.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447.

0
2. In Sec.  679.2, add definitions for ``ABC reserve''; ``ABC 
surplus''; ``Amendment 80 ABC reserve''; ``CDQ ABC reserve''; and 
``Flatfish Exchange'' in alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  679.2  Definitions.

* * * * *

[[Page 36717]]

    ABC reserve means, for purposes of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole in the BSAI, an amount, not to exceed the ABC surplus, 
that may be reduced for social, economic, or ecological considerations 
according to Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii).
    ABC surplus means, for purposes of flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole in the BSAI, the difference between each species' annual 
ABC and TAC.
* * * * *
    Amendment 80 ABC reserve means the amount of the flathead sole, 
rock sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that remains after designating 
the amount assigned to the CDQ ABC reserve and that is allocated among 
Amendment 80 cooperatives as calculated annually as described at Sec.  
679.91(i)(2).
* * * * *
    CDQ ABC reserve means 10.7 percent of the amount of the flathead 
sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole ABC reserve that is allocated among 
the CDQ groups as calculated annually as described at Sec.  
679.31(b)(4).
* * * * *
    Flatfish Exchange means the exchange of unused CDQ, or Amendment 80 
CQ, of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole in the BSAI for an 
equivalent amount (in metric tons) of CDQ ABC reserve or Amendment 80 
ABC reserve, respectively, for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin 
sole in the BSAI other than the species listed for exchange on the 
Flatfish Exchange Application as described in a notice of adjustment or 
apportionment in the Federal Register.
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  679.4, add paragraph (p) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.4  Permits.

* * * * *
    (p) Flatfish Exchange Application. (1) Completed application. NMFS 
will process only completed Flatfish Exchange Applications submitted by 
CDQ groups or Amendment 80 cooperatives.
    (2) Certification. The designated representative must log into the 
Alaska Region Online application Web site and complete an exchange 
application form provided on the Web site. By using the NMFS ID, 
password, and Transfer Key and submitting the Flatfish Exchange 
Application, the designated representative certifies that all 
information submitted is true, correct, and complete.
    (3) Approval. A CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative must receive 
NMFS' approval of a Flatfish Exchange Application prior to using the 
CDQ or Amendment 80 CQ subject to the Flatfish Exchange. NMFS will 
approve the Flatfish Exchange Application if:
    (i) The CDQ group has sufficient CDQ ABC reserves of flathead sole, 
rock sole, or yellowfin sole;
    (ii) The Amendment 80 cooperative has sufficient Amendment 80 ABC 
reserves of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole;
    (iii) The CDQ group receiving flathead sole, rock sole, or 
yellowfin sole from its CDQ ABC reserve exchanges an equal amount of 
unused CDQ of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole, other than 
the species received from its CDQ ABC reserve;
    (iv) The Amendment 80 cooperative receiving flathead sole, rock 
sole, or yellowfin sole from its Amendment 80 ABC reserve exchanges an 
equal amount of unused Amendment 80 CQ of flathead sole, rock sole, or 
yellowfin sole, other than the species received from its Amendment 80 
ABC reserve;
    (v) The CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative has not received at 
least three approved Flatfish Exchanges during that calendar year, as 
described at paragraph (p)(5) of this section;
    (vi) Approval of the Flatfish Exchange Application will not cause 
flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole to exceed an ABC or an ABC 
reserve for that species; and
    (vii) NMFS receives a completed Flatfish Exchange Application from 
a CDQ group or Amendment 80 cooperative during the calendar year for 
which the Flatfish Exchange would be effective, and NMFS can approve 
that Flatfish Exchange Application before the end of the calendar year 
in which the Flatfish Exchange would be effective.
    (4) Notification. (i) No exchange, adjustment, or apportionment of 
flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole may take effect until a 
notice of adjustment or apportionment has been published in the Federal 
Register with a statement of the findings on which the apportionment or 
adjustment is based.
    (ii) Each NMFS approved Flatfish Exchange is debited as one 
Flatfish Exchange. An approved Flatfish Exchange is effective on the 
date of publication of the notice of adjustment or apportionment in the 
Federal Register.
    (5) CDQ ABC reserve and Amendment 80 ABC reserve exchange 
limitations. Each CDQ group and each Amendment 80 cooperative is 
limited to no more than three Flatfish Exchanges per calendar year.
0
4. In Sec.  679.5, redesignate paragraph (s)(7) as (s)(8) and add a new 
paragraph (s)(7) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.5  Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).

* * * * *
    (s) * * *
    (7) Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report--
(i) Applicability. An Amendment 80 cooperative issued a CQ permit must 
submit annually to the Council a Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative 
Flatfish Exchange Report reviewing the use of the cooperative's ABC 
reserve for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
    (ii) Time limits and submittal. (A) The Preliminary Amendment 80 
Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report must be submitted to the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99501.
    (B) The Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange 
Report must include a review of the Flatfish Exchanges for that 
calendar year through October 31.
    (C) The Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative Flatfish Exchange 
Report must be received by the Council not later than 1700 hours, 
A.l.t., December 1 of each year.
    (iii) Information required. Each Preliminary Amendment 80 
Cooperative Flatfish Exchange Report must include all of the 
information required on the Preliminary Amendment 80 Cooperative 
Flatfish Exchange Report form and all required additional 
documentation.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  679.20, add paragraph (b)(1)(iii) and revise paragraphs 
(c)(1)(iv) and (c)(3)(iii) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iii) ABC reserves. (A) ABC reserves are annually established for 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. For each flatfish 
species, the ABC reserve is calculated as an amount less than or equal 
to the ABC surplus. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, may set 
the ABC reserve for flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole below 
the ABC surplus for that species based on social, economic, or 
ecological considerations.
    (B) CDQ ABC reserves. An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC 
reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole will be 
allocated to a CDQ ABC reserve. The CDQ ABC reserves will be:
    (1) Calculated during the annual harvest specifications described 
at

[[Page 36718]]

paragraph (c) of this section, as allocations to CDQ groups; and
    (2) Allocated to each CDQ group as described under Sec.  
679.31(b)(4).
    (C) Amendment 80 ABC reserves. Amendment 80 ABC reserves shall be 
calculated as the ABC reserves described under paragraph (b)(1)(iii)(A) 
of this section as reduced by the CDQ ABC reserves under paragraph 
(b)(1)(iii)(B) of this section. The Amendment 80 ABC reserves will be:
    (1) Calculated during the annual harvest specifications described 
at paragraph (c) of this section, as allocations to Amendment 80 
cooperatives; and
    (2) Allocated to each Amendment 80 cooperative as described under 
Sec.  679.91(i)(2).
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (iv) BSAI. (A) The proposed harvest specifications will specify for 
up to two fishing years the annual TAC for each target species and 
apportionments thereof, PSQ reserves and prohibited species catch 
allowances, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka 
mackerel TAC (including pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel CDQ), 
and CDQ reserves.
    (B) The proposed harvest specifications will specify for up to two 
fishing years the ABC surpluses, ABC reserves, CDQ ABC reserves, CDQ 
ABC reserves for each CDQ group, Amendment 80 ABC reserves, and 
Amendment 80 ABC reserves for each Amendment 80 cooperative for 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
* * * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) BSAI. (A) The final harvest specifications will specify for 
up to two fishing years the annual TAC for each target species and 
apportionments thereof, PSQ reserves and prohibited species catch 
allowances, seasonal allowances of pollock (including pollock, Pacific 
cod, and Atka mackerel CDQ), and CDQ reserves.
    (B) The final harvest specifications will specify for up to two 
fishing years the annual ABC surpluses, ABC reserves, CDQ ABC reserves, 
CDQ ABC reserves for each CDQ group, Amendment 80 ABC reserves, and 
Amendment 80 ABC reserves for each Amendment 80 cooperative for 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
* * * * *
0
6. In Sec.  679.31, revise paragraphs (a) heading and (b) heading and 
add paragraphs (a)(5), (b)(4), and (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.31  CDQ and PSQ reserves, allocations, and transfers.

    (a) CDQ, PSQ, and CDQ ABC reserves. * * *
    (5) CDQ ABC reserves. (See Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A)).
    (b) Allocations of CDQ, PSQ, and CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ 
groups. * * *
    (4) Annual allocations of CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ groups. 
(i) An amount equivalent to 10 percent of the ABC reserve for flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole as determined under the annual 
harvest specifications at Sec.  679.20(c) shall be allocated among the 
CDQ groups based on the CDQ percentage allocations under 16 U.S.C. 
1855(i)(1)(C), unless modified under 16 U.S.C. 1855(i)(1)(H); and
    (ii) An amount equivalent to 0.7 percent of the ABC reserve for 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole as determined under the 
annual harvest specifications at Sec.  679.20(c) shall be allocated 
among the CDQ groups by the panel established in section 305(i)(1)(G) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
* * * * *
    (d) Accessing CDQ ABC reserves. Each CDQ group may request that 
NMFS approve a Flatfish Exchange to add flathead sole, rock sole, or 
yellowfin sole to its CDQ account in exchange for reducing its CDQ 
account by an equal amount of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin 
sole. CDQ groups may request Flatfish Exchanges by submitting a 
completed Flatfish Exchange Application as described at Sec.  679.4(p).
0
7. In Sec.  679.91, add paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.91  Amendment 80 Program annual harvester privileges.

* * * * *
    (i) Amendment 80 ABC reserves. (1) General. The Regional 
Administrator will determine the Amendment 80 ABC reserves for flathead 
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole that will be assigned to the 
Amendment 80 sector as part of the annual harvest specifications 
described at Sec.  679.20(c). Amendment 80 ABC reserves will be further 
allocated to Amendment 80 cooperative(s), as described in paragraph 
(i)(2) of this section.
    (2) Allocation of Amendment 80 ABC reserves to Amendment 80 
cooperatives. The amount of Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each species 
of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole assigned to an 
Amendment 80 cooperative is equal to the amount of Amendment 80 QS 
units of that species assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative by 
Amendment 80 QS holders divided by the total Amendment 80 QS pool for 
that species multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for that 
species.
    (3) Accessing Amendment 80 ABC reserves. An Amendment 80 
cooperative may request that NMFS approve a Flatfish Exchange to add 
flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole CQ to its Amendment 80 CQ 
account in exchange for reducing its Amendment 80 CQ by an equal amount 
of flathead sole, rock sole, or yellowfin sole. An Amendment 80 
cooperative may request Flatfish Exchanges by submitting a completed 
Flatfish Exchange Application as described in Sec.  679.4(p).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2014-15185 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P