Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Proposed 2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 72593-72620 [2014-28627]

Download as PDF tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules million. The IRFA estimates the number of harvesting vessels that are considered small entities, but these estimates may overstate the number of small entities because (1) some vessels may also be active as tender vessels in the salmon fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska and the West Coast, or generate revenue from other non-fishing sources; and (2) all affiliations are not taken into account, especially if the vessel has affiliations not tracked in available data (i.e., ownership of multiple vessel or affiliation with processors) and may be misclassified as a small entity. Because the 353 CVs and seven C/Ps meet this size standard, they are considered to be small entities for the purposes of this analysis. The estimated directly regulated small entities include approximately 353 catcher vessels, four catcher/processors, and six CDQ groups. Some of these vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, GOA rockfish cooperatives, or crab rationalization cooperatives, which, since under the RFA it is the aggregate gross receipts of all participating members of the cooperative that must meet the ‘‘under $20.5 million’’ threshold, are considered to be large entities within the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the estimate of 353 catcher vessels may be an overstatement of the number of small entities. Average gross revenues were $320,000 for small hook-and-line vessels, $1.25 million for small pot vessels, and $3.56 million for small trawl vessels. Revenue data for catcher/processors is confidential; however, in 2013, NMFS estimates that there are four catcher/processor small entities with gross receipts less than $20.5. The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the BSAI OY, in which case TACs would have been limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent 5-year average fishing rates. Alternative 4 would have set TACs equal to the lower limit of the BSAI OY range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no action’’ alternative, would have set TACs equal to zero. The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those adopted by the Council in October 2014, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the Council’s BSAI Plan Team in September 2014, and reviewed and modified by the Council’s SSC in October 2014. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 Council based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the SSC’s OFL and ABC recommendations. Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were constrained by the upper bound of the BSAI OY of two million mt. As shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2015 and 2016 would be about 2,472,832 mt, which falls above the upper bound of the OY range. The sum of TACs is equal to the sum of ABCs. In this instance, Alternative 1 is consistent with the preferred alternative (Alternative 2), meets the objectives of that action, and has small entity impacts that are equivalent to the preferred alternative. Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5 years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the most recent 5 years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6). This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action (the Council’s preferred harvest strategy), because it does not take account of the most recent biological information for this fishery. NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component of these estimates, but in and of themselves may not accurately portray stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all species and reduce TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the BSAI, to its lower end of 1.4 million mt. Overall, this would reduce 2015 TACs by about 30 percent, which would lead to significant reductions in harvests of species by small entities. While reductions of this size would be associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these increases is very uncertain. While production declines in the BSAI would undoubtedly be associated with significant price increases in the BSAI, these increases would still be constrained by production of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue declines from smaller production. Thus, this alternative action would have a detrimental impact on small entities. Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, would have a significant adverse impact on small entities and would be contrary to obligations to PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 72593 achieve OY on a continuing basis, as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The proposed harvest specifications extend the current 2015 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2015 and 2016. As noted in the preamble to this rule and the IRFA, the Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2014, when it reviews the November 2014 SAFE report from its groundfish Plan Team, and the December Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because 2015 TACs in the proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications are unchanged from the 2015 harvest specification TACs, NMFS does not expect adverse impacts on small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any changes made by the Council in December 2014 to be large enough to have an impact on small entities. This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal rules. Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities conducted under these harvest specifications are discussed in the Final EIS (see ADDRESSES), and in the 2014 SIR (https:// www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/analyses/ groundfish/041014bsaigoaspecssir.pdf). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106– 31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109– 479. Dated: December 2, 2014. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–28633 Filed 12–5–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679 [Docket No. 140918791–4989–01] RIN 0648–XD516 Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Proposed 2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72594 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Proposed rule; request for comments. ACTION: NMFS proposes 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2015 and 2016 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This action will conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. DATES: Comments must be received by January 7, 2015. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by Docket Number NOAA–NMFS–2014–0118, by any one of the following methods: • Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20140118, 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 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS, Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained from https://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web site at https:// tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2013 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2013, is available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907–271–2809, or from the Council’s Web site at https:// alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The draft 2014 SAFE report for the GOA will be available from the same source. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680. The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch (TAC) for each target species, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. The proposed harvest specifications in Tables 1 through 25 of this document satisfy these requirements. For 2015 and 2016, the sum of the proposed TAC amounts is 511,599 mt. Under § 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its December 2014 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the 2014 SIR that assesses the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (see ADDRESSES) and, (4) the final 2014 SAFE report prepared for the 2015 and 2016 groundfish fisheries. Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications Amendment 97: Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the Non-Pollock Trawl Groundfish Fisheries In June 2013, the Council took final action to implement measures to control Chinook salmon PSC in all non-pollock PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 trawl groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This proposed action, Amendment 97 to the FMP, would set an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon apportioned among the sectors of trawl catcher/processors, trawl catcher vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program, and trawl catcher vessels not participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program fishing for groundfish species other than pollock. The pollock directed fishery is not included in the Council’s recommended action, as that fishery is already subject to Chinook salmon PSC limits (§ 679.21(h)). If a sector reached its Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS would prohibit further fishing for nonpollock groundfish by vessels in that sector. NMFS published a notice of availability for Amendment 97 on June 5, 2014 (79 FR 32525). The public comment period for the notice of availability on Amendment 97 ended on August 4, 2014. On September 3, 2014, the Secretary approved Amendment 97. The proposed rule that would implement Amendment 97 published on June 25, 2014 (79 FR 35971), with public comments accepted through July 25, 2014. The proposed rule contains a description of the affected management areas and groundfish fisheries, the nonpollock trawl groundfish fisheries and associated sectors, the history and goals of Amendment 97, and the provisions of the proposed action. Those provisions include proposed Chinook salmon PSC limits by sector, seasonal allocations, and other aspects associated with the implementation of Chinook salmon PSC limits for the non-pollock trawl groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. One provision that could affect the 2016 Chinook salmon PSC limits is the ‘‘incentive buffer.’’ This mechanism provides for an increased annual Chinook salmon PSC limit if sectors catch less than their limit of Chinook salmon in the previous year. If NMFS publishes a final rule by December 1, 2014, these Chinook salmon PSC limits could be in effect January 1, 2015. Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications In October 2014, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed the most recent biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish stocks in the GOA. This information was compiled by the GOA Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) and presented in the final 2013 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2013 (see ADDRESSES). The E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species’ biomass and other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates and the SSC sets an overfishing level (OFL) and ABC for each species or species group. The amounts proposed for the 2015 and 2016 OFLs and ABCs are based on the 2013 SAFE report. The AP and Council recommended that the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs be set equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exception of the species categories further discussed below. The proposed ABCs and TACs could be changed in the final harvest specifications depending on the most recent scientific information contained in the final 2014 SAFE report. The draft stock assessments that will comprise, in part, the 2014 SAFE report are available at https:// www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/stocks/plan_ team/draft_assessments.htm. In November 2014, the Plan Team will update the 2013 SAFE report to include new information collected during 2014, such as NMFS stock surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team compiles this information and will produce the draft 2014 SAFE report for presentation at the December 2014 Council meeting. At that meeting, the Council will consider information in the draft 2014 SAFE report, recommendations from the November 2014 Plan Team meeting and December 2014 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public comments in making its recommendations for the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications. Pursuant to Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the Council could recommend adjusting the TACs if ‘‘warranted on the basis of bycatch considerations, management uncertainty, or socioeconomic considerations, or if required in order to cause the sum of the TACs to fall within the OY range.’’ In previous years, the OFLs and ABCs that have had the most significant changes (relative to the amount of assessed tonnage of fish) from the proposed to the final harvest specifications have been for OFLs and ABCs that are based on the most recent NMFS stock surveys. These surveys provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial distribution, and changes to the models used for producing stock assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results, changes to assessment VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 models, and accompanying stock estimates at the September 2014 Plan Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed this information at the October 2014 Council meeting. The species with possible model changes are demersal shelf rockfish, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, and rock sole. In November 2014, the Plan Team will consider updated stock assessments for groundfish, which will then be included in the draft 2014 SAFE report. If the draft 2014 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the proposed harvest specifications. Conversely, if the draft 2014 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass trend is decreasing for a species, then the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications may reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest specifications. The proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute OFLs and ABCs. The formulas applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the level of reliable information available to the fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with Tier one representing the highest level of information quality available and Tier six representing the lowest level of information quality available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier structure to calculate OFLs and ABCs for each groundfish species. The SSC adopted the proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The Council adopted the SSC’s OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP’s TAC recommendations. These amounts are unchanged from the final 2015 harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on March 6, 2014 (79 FR 12890). The Council also adopted the SSC’s recommendation to revise the terminology used when apportioning pollock in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas. The SSC recommended describing apportionments of pollock to the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas as ‘‘apportionments of annual catch limit (ACLs)’’ rather than ‘‘ABCs’’. The SSC annually recommends PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 72595 a combined pollock ABC for the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas based on factors such as scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the area-wide OFL, data uncertainty, and recruitment variability. Section 3.2.3.3.2 of Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska specifies that the ACL is equal to the ABC. Historically, the SSC has recommended apportioning the combined Western, Central, and West Yakutat ABC between these three individual Regulatory Areas. However, the subarea ABCs have not been based on scientific uncertainty in the OFL, data uncertainty, or other conservation or biological concerns, but rather on seasonal and spatial apportionment procedures established under the Steller sea lion protection measures for pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. The SSC noted that describing subarea apportionments as ‘‘apportionments of the ACL’’ more accurately reflects that such apportionments address management, rather than biological or conservation, concerns. In addition, apportionments of the ACL in this manner allow NMFS to balance any transfer of TAC from one area to another pursuant to regulations at § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) to ensure that the area-wide ACL and ABC are not exceeded. The SSC noted that this terminology change is acceptable for pollock in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas only. There is one aggregate pollock OFL in these areas, and Steller sea lion protection measures provide a spatial and seasonal apportionment procedure for the pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. This change is not applicable for pollock in the Southeast Outside GOA Regulatory Area, which is managed as a separate stock. Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts The Council recommended proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs that are equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exceptions of Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western GOA, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole in the Western and Central GOA, ‘‘other rockfish’’ in Southeast Outside, and Atka mackerel. The shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole TACs are set to allow for harvest opportunities while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ TAC is set to reduce the potential amount of discards in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72596 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS incidental catch amounts of this species in other directed fisheries. The 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State’s guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for Pacific cod in State waters in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in Prince William Sound (PWS). The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council reduced the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Eastern, Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs are less than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 631 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,615 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 9,335 mt. These amounts reflect the sum of the State’s 2015 and 2016 GHLs in these areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern and Central and 30 percent of the Western GOA proposed ABCs. The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect the GHL established by the State for the PWS pollock fishery since its inception in 1995. Based on genetic studies, fisheries scientists believe that the pollock in PWS is not a separate stock from the combined W/C/WYK population. Thus, the Plan Team calculates the initial ABC for the entire stock at the level that accounts for the scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the stock’s OFL. Since 1996, the Plan Team has further reduced the ABC from the level that accounts for scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the OFL to account for the annual State waters GHL catch in PWS. Thus, the initial, total ABC is reduced by the annual GHL amount prior to apportioning the remaining ABC by management area and season. Accordingly, the Council recommended adopting a W/C/WYK pollock ABC that has been reduced to account for the State’s PWS GHL. For 2015 and 2016, the proposed PWS pollock GHL is 4,646 mt, as recommended by State fisheries VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 managers. The proposed 2015 and 2016 ABC is 181,184 mt, and the proposed TAC is 181,184 mt. NMFS proposed apportionment for groundfish species are based on the distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas under which NMFS manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of Pacific cod, pollock, and sablefish. Additional detail on these apportionments are described below, and briefly summarized here. NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the Western, Central, West Yakutat Regulatory Areas, and the Southeast Outside District of the GOA (see Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the annual pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and divided equally among each of the following four seasons: The A season (January 20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1) (§ 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and (B)). Additional detail is provided below; Table 2 lists these amounts. NMFS proposes Pacific cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern GOA (see Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through December 31, for hook-and-line or pot gear from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1 (§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central GOA Pacific cod gear and sector apportionments are discussed in detail below; Table 3 lists these amounts. The Council’s recommendation for sablefish area apportionments takes into account the prohibition on the use of PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 trawl gear in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the WYK District (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). Additional detail is provided below; Tables 4 and 5 list these amounts. The sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 511,599 mt for 2015 and 2016, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sums of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs are higher than the final 2014 TACs currently specified for the GOA groundfish fisheries (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014). The proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for pollock, Pacific ocean perch, and rougheye rockfish are higher than the final 2014 TACs for these species. The proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for Pacific cod, sablefish, shallowwater flatfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, flathead sole, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish are lower than the final 2014 TACs for these species. The proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for the remaining species are equal to the final 2014 TACs. For 2015 and 2016, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing levels. Table 1 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. These amounts are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2013 SAFE report, and adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required OY range. These proposed amounts and apportionments by area, season, and sector are subject to change pending consideration of the draft 2014 SAFE report and the Council’s recommendations for the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications during its December 2014 meeting. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72597 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Table 1. Proposed 2015 and 2016 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central, Eastern Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat, Southeast Outside, and Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) -- --- Species -~·-· ----,-·~·----~- ... Area 1 OFL ABC TAC 2 -~~----~ ~ 2 Shumagin (610) n/a 40,254 40,254 Chirikof (620) n/a 91,272 91,272 (630) Pollock n/a 44,367 44,367 5,291 5,291 181 '184 181,184 WYK (640) n/a I W/C/WYK (subtotal) 248,384 I SEO (650) I· 16,833 12,625 12,625 . ... 193,809 193,809 n/a 31,117 21,782 n/a w c 3 ~- .. 1 265,217 50,460 37,845 2,523 1,892 84,100 61,519 --··-··--··~··-~-···~···~-· ..... r-·--····-·····--· Total Pacific cod I -- --·-~------------~ ..-- -~ E n/a Total 101,800 w c 1 n/a 1,338 1,338 n/a 4,230 4,230 1,551 1,551 2,435 2,435 3,986 3,986 9,554 9,554 --~-~·-·--~----·-----~-·~~-~-··-··- Sablefish 4 ~- WYK SEO E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal) Total Shallow-water flatfish n/a n/a I I I 11,300 w c 5 I n/a .... 18,728 - ·--~--~ 13,250 -·- -~--·~· n/a 16,372 16,372 WYK n/a 1,875 1,875 SEO n/a Total Deep-water flatfish 6 530 IW n/a 530 37,505 46,207 32,027 300 300 I c n/a 3,680 3,680 WYK ·-- n/a 5,462 5,462 3,861 3,861 13,303 13,303 1,245 1,245 6,106 6,106 796 796 SEO n/a ---··- ...- .. ~·- Total 1-· 15,955 w c n/a WYK Rex sole ···-····· n/a n/a SEO ·--- ! n/a ~--.-~--~---~~-·- Total --~-··· ---- ···-~- 11,963 1,008 -- . ···~-- 1,008 ---·--·-~ -· 9,155 9,155 w c n/a 30,217 14,500 n/a 112,178 75,000 WYK n/a 36,126 6,900 ~--sE:o n/a 11,035 6,900 189,556 103,300 12,661 8,650 Arrowtooth flounder Total VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 222,160 w Flathead sole n/a Frm 00036 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.021</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS ~- 72598 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules c n/a 15,400 n/a 3,506 3,506 n/a SEO 24,670 170 170 41,007 27,726 Total ,7 50,376 w n/a 2,456 2,456 c Pacific ocean n/a 13,158 13,158 n/a 1,976 WYK -- f------ 1,976 16,555 17,590 - 2,046 2,174 2,174 22,849 19,764 19,764 n/a 1,229 1,229 c n/a 3,781 3,781 iE n/a - - 5,010 5,010 92 92 397 397 W/C/WYK SEO Total ,s Northern ---------- w -~---- Total 9 --~-- 5,978 w n/a c n/a E Shortraker rockfish n/a I Total Dusky rockfish 834 1,764 I 10 -- 834 1,323 1,323 lw n/a 295 295 c n/a 3,318 3,318 WYK n/a 1,277 1,277 eta, n/a 191 191 SEO 6,213 r---Rou9here--and~5facl<spottea-----~ ~ rockfish n/a ..- 83 n/a ------- E 83 877 877 n/a ic --------------------------- 302 302 1,262 1,262 1,518 Total Demersal shelf rockfish 5,081 ----~ 1 12 5,081 SEO 1 Other 14 15 rockfish ' 274 n/a 235 235 n/a 875 875 E 13 274 w c Thornyhead rockfish 438 n/a 731 731 1,841 1,841 2,454 Total W/C combined n/a 1,031 1,031 WYK n/a 580 580 SEO n/a 2,470 200 ---- Total 16 4,081 1,811 GW Atka mackerel 5,347 6,200 4,700 2,000 589 w n/a 589 c Big skates n/a 1,532 1,532 n/a E 1Total Long nose skates VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 17 Jkt 235001 5,016 w PO 00000 Frm 00037 1,641 1,641 3,762 3,762 107 107 -----~- n/a Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.022</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS ---"~-·-··--- 72599 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules lc n/a E n/a 1,935 1,935 Other skates 18 Sculpins ____ _____ ,_,_ , Sharks -- Squid -- 834 834 Total 3,835 2,876 2,876 jGw GW I GW I GW ___ __ GW 2,652 1,989 1,989 5,569 5,569 7,986 5,989 5,989 1,530 1,148 1,148 , Octopuses 7,448 , - -- -- ------·- 2,009 1,507 808,215 Total 1,507 644,165 511,599 Regulatory areas and dtstncts are defined at§ 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide ). 2 The combined pollock ABC for the Western, Central, and West Yakutat areas is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among four statistical areas. These apportionments are considered subarea ACLs, rather than ABCs, for specification and reapportionment purposes. Table 2 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances. 3 Section 679.20(a)(l2)(i) requires the allocation of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned among various sectors 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. In the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA, Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments. 4 Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2015 and trawl gear in 2016. Tables 4 and 5list the proposed 2015 and 2016 allocations of sable fish TACs. 5 "Shallow-water flatfish" means flatfish not including "deep-water flatfish," flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder. 6 "Deep-water flatfish" means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deep-sea sole. 7 "Pacific ocean perch" means Sebastes alutus. 8 "Northern rockfish" means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group. 9 "Shortraker rockfish" means Sebastes borealis. 10 "Dusky rockfish" means Sebastes variabilis. 11 "Rougheye rockfish" means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted). 12 "Demersal shelf rockfish" means Sebastes pinniger (canary), 3_. nebulosus (china), 3_. caurinus (copper), 3_. maliger (quillback), 3_. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), 3_. nigrocinctus (tiger), and 3_. ruberrimus (yelloweye ). 13 "Thornyhead rockfish" means "Sebastes species" 14 "Other rockfish (slope rockfish)" means Sebastes aurora (aurora), 3_. melanostomus (blackgill), 3_. paucispinis (bocaccio ), 3_. goodei (chilipepper), 3_. crameri (darkblotch), 3_. elongatus (greenstriped), 3_. variegatus (harlequin), 3_. wilsoni (pygmy), 3_. babcocki (redbanded), 3_. proriger (redstripe), 3_. zacentrns (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), 3_. brevispinis (silvergray), 3_. diploproa (splitnose), 3_. saxicola (stripetail), 3_. miniatus (vermilion), 3_. reedi (yellowmouth), 3_. entomelas (widow), and 3_. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, 3_. polyspinous. 15 "Other rockfish" in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. 16 "Big skate" means Raja binoculata. 17 "Longnose skate" means Raja rhina. 18 "Other skates" means Bathyraja spp. BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Proposed Apportionment of Reserves Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sculpins, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 sharks, squids, and octopuses in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing year. In 2014, NMFS apportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 specifications. For 2015 and 2016, NMFS proposes reapportionment of all the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses in anticipation of the E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.023</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 1 72600 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules projected annual catch of these species. The TACs in Table 1 reflect the apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and species groups. Each proposed TAC for the above mentioned species categories contains the full TAC recommended by the Council, since none of the relevant species and species groups’ TACs contributed to a reserve that could be used for future reapportionments. Proposed Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10 through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, respectively. Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments have historically been based on the proportional distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS summer surveys. However, for 2015 and 2016, the Council recommends, and NMFS proposes, averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory Area for the A season instead of using the distribution based on only the winter surveys. This combination of summer and winter distribution has been used for area apportionments since 2002. The average is intended to reflect the best available information about migration patterns, distribution of pollock, and the performance of the fishery in the area during the A season. For the A season, the apportionment is based on the proposed adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 12 percent, 66 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. For the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 12 percent, 79 percent, and 9 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. For the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 34 percent, 32 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Regional Administrator (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those statistical areas (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2015 and 2016 pollock TACs in the WYK District of 5,291 mt and SEO District of 12,625 mt are not allocated by season. Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of the pollock apportionments in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after subtraction of pollock amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed under § 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts of pollock are unknown and will be determined as fishing activity occurs during the fishing year by the offshore component. Table 2 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown. TABLE 2—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS OF THE GULF OF ALASKA; SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF ANNUAL TAC 1 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Season 2 Shumagin (Area 610) Chirikof (Area 620) Kodiak (Area 630) Total A (Jan 20–Mar 10) ................................... B (Mar 10–May 31) .................................. C (Aug 25–Oct 1) ..................................... D (Oct 1–Nov 1) ....................................... 5,357 5,356 14,771 14,771 (16.06%) (16.06%) (36.47%) (36.47%) 28,932 34,555 13,892 13,892 (61.50%) (67.25%) (28.44%) (28.44%) 9,687 4,059 15,311 15,311 (22.45%) (9.80%) (32.10%) (32.10%) 43,973 43,973 43,973 43,973 Annual Total 3 ................................... 40,254 .................... 91,272 .................... 44,367 .................... 175,893 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 1 Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding. 2 As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10 through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table. 3 The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS proposes allocations for the 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. Pursuant § 679.20(a)(6)(ii) NMFS proposes the allocation of the Pacific cod TAC between the inshore and offshore components in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then among catcher vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 50 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hookand-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then among CVs using hook-andline gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. The overall seasonal apportionments in the Western and Central GOA are 60 percent of the annual TAC to the A season and 40 percent of the annual TAC to the B season. Under § 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the Pacific cod allowance VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:03 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 from the A season will be subtracted from, or added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that is determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be reapportioned to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the fishery year. In accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may increase up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs depending on the annual performance of the jig sector. If such allocation increases are not harvested by the jig sector, then the annual jig sector allocations may subsequently be reduced (See Table 1 of Amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig sector allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). NMFS proposes that the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Western GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.5 percent and an additional 1.0 percent because this sector harvested greater than 90 percent of its initial 2012 allocation in the Western GOA. NMFS also proposes that the jig sector would receive 2.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Central GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.0 percent and an additional 1.0 percent because this PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 72601 sector harvested greater than 90 percent of its initial 2012 allocation in the Central GOA. In 2013, neither the Western nor Central GOA jig sectors harvested 90 percent of their respective 2013 Pacific cod allocations. However, allocation increases to the jig sector are established for a minimum of 2 years. NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2013 and 2014 harvest performance of each jig sector when the 2014 fishing year is complete to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations proposed by this action in conjunction with the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications. Based on the current catch (through October 2014) by the Western GOA jig sector, the 2015 Pacific cod allocation to this sector may increase by an additional 1 percent of the annual Western GOA Pacific cod TAC in 2015. Conversely, the current catch by the Central GOA jig sector indicates that this sector’s 2015 Pacific cod allocation may decrease by 1 percent of the annual Central GOA Pacific cod TAC. The jig sector allocations are further apportioned between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) seasons. Table 3 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72602 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Table 3. Proposed 2015 and 2016 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) A Season Regulatory area and sector Annual allocation (mt) Sector percentage of annual non-jig TAG B Season Seasonal allowances (mt) Sector percentage of annual non-jig TAG Seasonal allowances (mt) Western GOA Jig (2.5% of TAG) 545 Hook-and-line CV 297 0.70 149 0.70 149 Hook-and-line C/P 4,205 10.90 2,315 8.90 1,890 Trawl CV 8,155 27.70 5,883 10.70 2,272 Trawl C/P 510 0.90 191 1.50 319 8,070 19.80 4,205 18.20 3,865 21,782 60.00 13,069 40.00 8,713 Pot CV and Pot C/P Total N/A 327 N/A 218 Central GOA Jig (2.0% of TAG) 757 Hook-and-line < 50CV Hook-and-line ;::;: 50CV N/A 454 N/A 303 5,416 9.32 3,455 5.29 1,961 2,487 5.61 2,080 1.10 407 1,893 4.11 1,523 1.00 370 Trawl CV 15,423 21.13 7,839 20.45 7,584 Trawl C/P 1,557 2.00 743 2.19 814 Pot CV and Pot C/P 10,312 17.83 6,613 9.97 3,700 Total 37,845 60.00 22,707 40.00 15,138 Eastern GOA Inshore (90% of Annual TAG) 1,703 1,892 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TACs Amounts to Vessels Using Hookand-Line and Trawl Gear Sections 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line and trawl gear. In the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern GOA may only be used to PO 00000 Offshore (10% of Annual TAG) Frm 00041 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 189 support incidental catch of sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.024</GPH> Hook-and-line C/P Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules to trawl gear in the WYK District, making the remainder of the WYK sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. NMFS proposes to allocate 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This action results in a proposed 2015 allocation of 199 mt to trawl gear and 1,352 mt to hook-andline gear in the WYK District, and 2,435 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District. Table 4 lists the allocations of the proposed 2015 sablefish TACs to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2016 sablefish TACs to trawl gear. The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be established annually to ensure that the sablefish Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on recent survey information. The Council also recommended that only the trawl sablefish TAC be established for 2 years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest specifications. Since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and the final harvest specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season begins (typically, in early March), the Council recommended that the sablefish TAC be 72603 set on an annual basis, rather than for 2 years, so that the best available scientific information could be considered in establishing the ABCs and TACs. With the exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to the Rockfish Program cooperatives (see Table 28c to part 679), directed fishing for sablefish with trawl gear is closed during the fishing year. Also, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 20. Therefore, it is not likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached before the effective date of the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications. TABLE 4—PROPOSED 2015 SABLEFISH TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC) IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS TO HOOK-AND-LINE AND TRAWL GEAR [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Area/district Hook-and-line allocation TAC Trawl allocation Western ........................................................................................................................................ Central ......................................................................................................................................... West Yakutat 1 ............................................................................................................................. Southeast Outside ....................................................................................................................... 1,338 4,230 1,551 2,435 1,070 3,384 1,352 2,435 268 846 199 0 Total ...................................................................................................................................... 9,554 8,241 1,313 1 The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District. TABLE 5—PROPOSED 2016 SABLEFISH TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC) IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATION TO TRAWL GEAR 1 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Area/district Hook-and-line allocation TAC Trawl allocation Western ........................................................................................................................................ Central ......................................................................................................................................... West Yakutat 2 ............................................................................................................................. Southeast Outside ....................................................................................................................... 1,338 4,230 1,551 2,435 n/a n/a n/a n/a 268 846 199 0 Total ...................................................................................................................................... 9,554 n/a 1,313 1 The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year. 2 The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Proposed Apportionments to the Rockfish Program These proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for the GOA include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily trawl catcher vessels and trawl catcher/ processors, with limited participation by vessels using longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative quota to participants for primary and secondary species, allows a participant holding a license limitation program (LLP) license with rockfish VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 quota share to form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of C/P LLP licenses to opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an entry level fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using longline gear. Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species (Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) in the Central GOA are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish fisheries. Participants in the Rockfish Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of specific PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 secondary species (Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, sablefish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish). Additionally, the Rockfish Program establishes sideboard limits to restrict the ability of harvesters operating under the Rockfish Program to increase their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program fisheries. Besides groundfish species, the Rockfish Program allocates a portion of the halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants. (Rockfish Program E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72604 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules sideboards and halibut PSC limits are discussed below.) Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) requires allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30 mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level longline fishery in 2015 and 2016. The allocation for the entry level longline fishery would increase incrementally each year if the catch exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental increase in the allocation would continue each year until it is the maximum percent of the TAC for that species. In 2014, the catch did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated rockfish species. Therefore, NMFS is not proposing an increase to the entry level longline fishery 2015 and 2016 allocations in the Central GOA. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species would be allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. Table 6 lists the allocations of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for each rockfish primary species to the entry level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future years, and the maximum percent of the TAC for the entry level longline fishery. TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE FISHERY IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA Rockfish primary species Allocations of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TAC Incremental increase per year if catch exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of: Pacific ocean perch ......................................................................................... Northern rockfish ............................................................................................. Dusky rockfish ................................................................................................. 5 metric tons ............. 5 metric tons .............. 30 metric tons ........... 5 metric tons .............. 5 metric tons ............. 20 metric tons ........... Section 679.81(a)(2)(iii) requires allocations of rockfish primary species among various components of the Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA to the entry level longline fishery and other participants in the Rockfish Program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS also proposes setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 2,000 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 200 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky rockfish. These amounts are based on recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other groundfish fisheries. Allocations between vessels belonging to CV or C/P cooperatives are not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives and C/ P cooperatives are not due to NMFS Up to maximum percent of each TAC of: 1 2 5 until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2015 and 2016 allocations in conjunction with these proposed harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on the Alaska Region Web site at (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when they become available after March 1. TABLE 7—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE FISHERY AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROCKFISH PROGRAM [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Rockfish primary species Incidental catch allowance (ICA) TAC TAC minus ICA Allocation to the entry level longline 1 fishery Allocation to other participants in Rockfish Program 2 Pacific ocean perch ................................................................................. Northern rockfish ...................................................................................... Dusky rockfish .......................................................................................... 13,158 3,781 3,318 2,000 200 250 11,158 3,581 3,068 5 5 30 11,153 3,576 3,038 Total .................................................................................................. 20,257 2,450 17,807 40 17,767 1 Longline 2 Other gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear. participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Section 679.81(c) requires allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and C/P cooperatives in the GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. C/P cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl allocation, rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 the apportionments of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA to CV and C/P cooperatives. E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72605 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules TABLE 8—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 APPORTIONMENTS OF ROCKFISH SECONDARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GOA TO CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR COOPERATIVES [Values are in metric tons] Rockfish secondary species tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Pacific cod ........................................................ Sablefish .......................................................... Shortraker rockfish ........................................... Rougheye rockfish ........................................... Thornyhead rockfish ........................................ Proposed Halibut PSC Limits Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the establishment of apportionments for pot gear. Amendment 95 to the FMP (79 FR 9625, February 20, 2014) implemented measures establishing GOA halibut PSC limits in Federal regulations and reducing the halibut PSC limits in the GOA trawl and hook-and-line groundfish fisheries. These reductions are incorporated into the halibut PSC limits that are proposed by this action. For most gear and operational types, the halibut PSC limit reductions are phasedin over 3 years, beginning in 2014 and ending in 2016. In 2014, the trawl halibut PSC limit was reduced by 7 percent from the 2013 limit. Under Amendment 95 and regulations at § 679.21(d)(3)(i), the initial trawl halibut PSC limit is proposed to be reduced another 5 percent in 2015, and an additional 3 percent in 2016. This results in a total reduction of 15 percent in 2016 as compared to the 2013 halibut PSC limit. The reduced PSC limit will remain in effect each year thereafter. In addition, under Amendment 95 and regulations at § 679.21(d)(2)(iv), the initial hook-andline PSC for the other hook and-line catcher vessel sector was reduced 7 percent in 2014, and this action proposes another 5-percent reduction in 2015 and an additional 3-percent reduction in 2016. The PSC limit for the hook-and-line catcher/processor sector was reduced by 7 percent in 2014 and thereafter. In October 2014, the Council recommended proposed halibut PSC limits that reflect the reductions implemented under Amendment 95 of 1,759 mt for trawl gear, 261 mt for hookand-line gear, and 9 mt for the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District for the 2015 groundfish fisheries. The Council also recommended 1,706 mt for trawl gear, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 Catcher vessel cooperatives Central GOA annual TAC Percentage of TAC 37,845 4,230 397 877 875 Apportionment (mt) 3.81 6.78 N/A N/A 7.84 256 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the DSR fishery for the 2016 groundfish fisheries. The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at § 679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish. NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and halibut, and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the commercial GHL for the DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of DSR incidental catch in all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence) and (2) the allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. Of the 274 mt TAC for DSR in 2014, 224 mt were available for the DSR commercial directed fishery, of which 56 mt were harvested. The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2015 and 2016. The Council recommended, and NMFS is proposing, these exemptions because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality, (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ (§ 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen typically hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature of jig gear, and the high PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Catcher/processor cooperatives Percentage of TAC 1,442 287 N/A N/A 69 N/A 3.51 40.00 58.87 26.50 Apportionment (mt) N/A 148 159 516 232 survival rates of halibut caught and released with jig gear. The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2014. The calculated halibut bycatch mortality through October 25, 2014, is 1,303 mt for trawl gear and 142 mt for hook-and-line gear for a total halibut mortality of 1,445 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska Region’s catch accounting system. This account system contains historical and recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery. Section 679.21(d)(4) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on public comment and the information presented in the final 2014 SAFE report, the Council may recommend or NMFS may make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications. The final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 12890, March 6, 2014) summarized the Council’s and NMFS’ findings with respect to halibut PSC for each of these FMP considerations. The Council’s and E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72606 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules apportionments. The halibut PSC limits in these tables reflect the halibut PSC reductions implemented in accordance with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, February 20, 2014) and § 679.21(d)(3)(i). Sections 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) NMFS’ findings for 2015 are unchanged from 2014. Table 9 lists the proposed 2015 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and apportionments. Table 10 lists the proposed 2016 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and specify that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment within the fishing year. TABLE 9—PROPOSED 2015 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS [Values are in metric tons] Hook-and-line gear 1 Trawl gear Other than DSR Season Percent DSR Amount Season January 20–April 1 ........... April 1–July 1 ................... July 1–September 1 ......... 27.5 20 30 484 352 528 September 1–October 1 .. October 1–December 31 7.5 15 ................ 1,759 Amount Season Amount 132 263 Total .......................... Percent January 1–June 10 .......... June 10–September 1 ..... September 1–December 31. 86 2 12 225 5 31 January 1–December 31 9 .......................................... ................ 261 .......................................... 9 1 The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries. TABLE 10—PROPOSED 2016 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS [Values are in metric tons] Hook-and-line gear 1 Trawl gear Other than DSR Season Percent DSR Amount Season January 20–April 1 .......... April 1–July 1 .................. July 1–September 1 ........ 27.5 20 30 469 341 512 September 1–October 1 .. October 1–December 31 7.5 15 .................. 1,706 Amount Season Amount 128 256 Total ......................... Percent January 1–June 10 ......... June 10–September 1 .... September 1–December 31. 86 2 12 220 5 31 January 1–December 31 9 ......................................... ................ 256 ......................................... 9 1 The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries. Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery categories. The annual apportionments are based on each category’s proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery, composed of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallowwater species fishery, composed of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates and ‘‘other species’’ (sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses) (§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Tables 11 and 12 list, respectively, the proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deepwater and the shallow-water species fisheries. These limits proportionately incorporate the halibut PSC limit reductions implemented in accordance with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, February 20, 2014) and § 679.21(d)(3). TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS [Values are in metric tons] Season Shallow-water January 20–April 1 ....................................................................................................................... April 1–July 1 ............................................................................................................................... July 1–September 1 ..................................................................................................................... September 1–October 1 .............................................................................................................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 396 88 176 132 08DEP1 Deep-water 1 88 264 352 (3) Total 484 352 528 132 72607 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES—Continued [Values are in metric tons] Season Deep-water 1 Shallow-water Total Subtotal, January 20–October 1 .......................................................................................... 792 704 1,496 October 1–December 31 2 .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 264 Total ............................................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 1,760 1 Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deepwater species fishery halibut PSC apportionment. 2 There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31). TABLE 12—PROPOSED 2016 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES [Values are in metric tons] Season Deep-water 1 Shallow-water Total January 20–April 1 ....................................................................................................................... April 1–July 1 ............................................................................................................................... July 1–September 1 ..................................................................................................................... September 1–October 1 .............................................................................................................. 384 85 171 128 85 256 341 (3) 469 341 512 128 Subtotal, January 20–October 1 .......................................................................................... 768 682 1,450 October 1–December 31 2 .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 256 Total ............................................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 1,706 1 Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deepwater species fishery halibut PSC apportionment. 2 There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31). 3 Any remainder. Section 679.21(d)(2) requires that the ‘‘other hook-and-line fishery’’ halibut PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear must be divided between CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must calculate the halibut PSC limit apportionments for the entire GOA to hook-and-line CVs and C/Ps in accordance with § 679.21(d)(2)(iii) in conjunction with these harvest specifications. A comprehensive description and example of the calculations necessary to apportion the ‘‘other hook-and-line fishery’’ halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors were included in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 83 (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and is not repeated here. For 2015, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limit allocations of 146 mt and 115 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors, respectively. In addition, NMFS proposes 2016 annual halibut PSC limit allocations of 141 mt and 115 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors, respectively. The 2015 and 2016 annual halibut PSC limits are divided into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. Tables 13 and 14 list the proposed 2015 and 2016 annual halibut PSC limits and seasonal apportionments between the hook-and-line sectors in the GOA. No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS calculates the projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the hook-and-line sectors for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other hook-andline sector for the remainder of that fishing year if NMFS determines that an additional amount of halibut PSC limit is necessary for that sector to continue its directed fishing operations (§ 679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)). TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS [Values are in metric tons] ‘‘Other than DSR’’ allowance Hook-and-line sector 261 ....................... Catcher Vessel ................... VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Sector annual amount 146 Frm 00046 Seasonal percentage Season January 1–June 10 ................................................ June 10–September 1 ............................................ September 1–December 31 ................................... Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 86 2 12 Sector seasonal amount 126 3 18 72608 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS—Continued [Values are in metric tons] ‘‘Other than DSR’’ allowance Sector annual amount Hook-and-line sector Catcher/Processor .............. 115 Seasonal percentage Season January 1–June 10 ................................................ June 10–September 1 ............................................ September 1–December 31 ................................... Sector seasonal amount 86 2 12 99 2 14 TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2016 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS [Values are in metric tons] ‘‘Other than DSR’’ allowance Hook-andline sector Sector annual amount 256 ....................... Catcher Vessel ................... 141 January 1–June 10 ................................................ June 10–September 1 ............................................ September 1–December 31 ................................... 86 2 12 121 3 17 Catcher/Processor .............. 115 January 1–June 10 ................................................ June 10–September 1 ............................................ September 1–December 31 ................................... 86 2 12 99 2 14 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch rates, discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery’s halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best information available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report. Seasonal percentage Season NMFS proposes the Council’s recommendation that the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) for the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries be used to monitor the proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut bycatch mortality allowances (see Tables 9 through 14). The IPHC developed the DMRs for the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent Sector seasonal amount years were used. For the skate, sculpin, shark, squid, and octopus fisheries, where not enough mortality data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default rate. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the mean. A discussion of the DMRs and how the IPHC establishes them is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 15 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 DMRs. TABLE 15—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA [Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead] Mortality rate (%) Gear Target fishery Hook-and-line ............................................................... Other fisheries 1 ........................................................................................ Skates ....................................................................................................... Pacific cod ................................................................................................ Rockfish .................................................................................................... Arrowtooth flounder .................................................................................. Deep-water flatfish ................................................................................... Flathead sole ............................................................................................ Non-pelagic pollock .................................................................................. Other fisheries .......................................................................................... Pacific cod ................................................................................................ Pelagic pollock ......................................................................................... Rex sole ................................................................................................... Rockfish .................................................................................................... Sablefish ................................................................................................... Shallow-water flatfish ............................................................................... Other fisheries .......................................................................................... Pacific cod ................................................................................................ tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Trawl ............................................................................. Pot ................................................................................ 1 Other fisheries includes hook-and-line sablefish and all gear types for Atka mackerel, skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 11 11 11 9 73 43 65 60 62 62 71 69 66 71 67 17 17 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules samples from the salmon (§ 679.21(h)(4)). Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR 42629, July 20, 2012) established separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central GOA in the directed pollock fishery. These limits require NMFS to close the pollock directed fishery in the Western and Central regulatory areas of the GOA if the applicable limit is reached (§ 679.21(h)(6)). The annual Chinook salmon PSC limits in the pollock directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set in regulation at § 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). In addition, all salmon (regardless of species), taken in the pollock directed fisheries in the Western and Central GOA must be retained until an observer at the processing facility that takes delivery of the catch is provided an opportunity to count the number of salmon and to collect any scientific data or biological tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/ Processor and Catcher Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species of fish in the GOA. Additionally, § 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/ Ps from processing any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall, have VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 72609 annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs operating in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that species over the same period. Table 16 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 groundfish sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from the sideboard limits listed in Table 16. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72610 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Table 16. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) Pollock Apportionments by season/gear A Season January 20 - March 10 Area/component Shumagin (610) Chirikof (620) 5,357 28,932 Proposed 2015 and 2016 nonexemptAFA CV sideboard limit 3,239 3,376 Proposed 2015 and 2016 3 TACs 0.2028 9,687 1,965 Shumagin (610) B Season March 10- May 31 Kodiak (630) 0.6047 5,356 3,239 C Season August 25 - October 1 Chirikof (620) 0.1167 34,556 4,033 Kodiak (630) 0.2028 4,059 823 Shumagin (610) 0.6047 14,771 8,932 Chirikof (620) 0.1167 13,892 1,621 Kodiak (630) 0.2028 15,310 3,105 Shumagin (610) 0.6047 14,771 8,932 D Season October 1 November 1 0.1167 13,892 1,621 0.2028 15,309 3,105 Annual WYK (640) 0.3495 5,291 1,849 SEO (650) 0.3495 12,625 4,412 w c w c 0.1331 13,069 1,740 0.0692 22,707 1,571 B Season September 1 December 31 0.1331 8,713 1'160 0.0692 15,138 1,048 Annual E inshore 0.0079 1,703 13 E offshore 0.0078 189 1 Annual, trawl gear w c 0.0000 268 0 0.0642 8 54 E 0.04 1 9 w c 0.0156 13,250 207 0.0587 16,372 961 E Pacific cod Chirikof (620) Kodiak (630) 0.0126 2,405 30 w c 0.0000 300 0 0.0647 3,680 238 A Season 1 January 1 - June 10 2 Sablefish Flatfish, Annual shallow-water Flatfish, Annual deep-water E tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS flounder VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 119 1,245 1 0.0384 6,106 234 0.0029 1,804 5 w c Annual 9,323 0.0007 0.0021 14,500 30 0.0280 75,000 2,100 E Arrowtooth Annual 0.0128 w c E Rex sole 0.0002 13,800 3 Frm 00049 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.025</GPH> Species Ratio of 19951997 nonexempt AFA CV catch to 19951997 TAC 0.6047 0.1167 72611 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Northern Annual rockfish Shortraker Annual rockfish 31 0.0213 15,400 328 0.0009 3,676 3 0.0023 2,456 6 0.0748 13,158 984 0.0466 4,150 193 w c w c Annual perch 8,650 w c Annual 0.0036 E Pacific ocean w c E Flathead sole 0.0003 1,229 0 0.0277 3,781 105 0.0000 92 0 0.0218 397 9 G.0110l 8341 9 o.ooo1 1 295 1 0 E Dusky w c Annual Rockfish 0.0067 1,468 10 0.0000 83 0 0.0237 877 21 E rockfish 0 w c Annual 3,318 E Rougheye 0.0000 0.0124 302 4 Demersal shelf rockfish Annual SEQ 0.0020 274 1 Thornyhead Annual w c 0.0280 235 7 0.0280 875 25 rockfish E Annual Rockfish 0.0280 731 20 w c 0.0034 n/a n/a 0.1699 1,031 175 E Other 0.0000 780 0 2,000 62 Atka mackerel Annual Gulfwide 0.0309 Big skates Annual w c 0.0063 E skates 0.0063 1,641 10 w c Annual 4 10 0.0063 107 1 0.0063 1,935 12 E Long nose 589 1,532 0.0063 834 5 0.0063 1,989 13 Annual Gulfwide Squids Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 5,569 35 Sharks Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 5,989 38 Octopuses Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 1,148 7 Sculpins Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 1,455 9 The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open tmtil January 20. 2 The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1. 3 The Western and Central GOA area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs. BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the retained catch of all vessels in that PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 fishery from 1995 through 1997 (§ 679.64(b)(4)). Tables 17 and 18 list the proposed 2015 and 2016, respectively, non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.026</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Other skates 72612 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules The proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC limits between the deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries categories proportionately incorporate reductions made to the annual trawl halibut PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9 and 10). TABLE 17—PROPOSED 2015 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA [PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton] Season Season dates Target fishery 1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... 2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. 3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... 4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ 5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... Ratio of 1995– 1997 non-exempt AFA CV retained catch to total retained catch shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... all targets ............................ Proposed 2015 non-exempt AFA CV PSC limit Proposed 2015 PSC limit 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.205 396 88 88 264 176 352 132 0 264 135 6 30 18 60 25 45 0 54 TABLE 18—PROPOSED 2016 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA [PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton] Season Season dates Target fishery 1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... 2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. 3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... 4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ 5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... all targets ............................ Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these vessels’ catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Ratio of 1995– 1997 non-exempt AFA CV retained catch to total retained catch VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.340 0.070 0.205 groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on another vessel. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the Crab Rationalization Program, including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Proposed 2016 nonexempt AFA CV PSC limit Proposed 2016 PSC limit 384 85 85 256 171 341 128 0 256 131 6 29 18 58 24 44 0 52 Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005), Amendment 34 to the Crab FMP (76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011), and Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011). Table 19 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 groundfish sideboard limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72613 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Table 19. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) Species Area/component/ gear Proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs Proposed 2015 and 2016 non-AFA crab vessel sideboard limit A Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 5,357 52 January 20 - March 10 Chirikof (620) 0.0031 28,932 90 Kodiak (630) 0.0002 9,687 2 B Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 5,356 52 March 10- May 31 Chirikof (620) 0.0031 34,556 107 Kodiak (630) 0.0002 4,059 1 Shumagin (610) 0.0098 14,771 145 Chirikof (620) 0.0031 13,892 43 Kodiak (630) 0.0002 15,310 3 D Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 14,771 145 October 1 November 1 Chirikof (620) 0.0031 13,892 43 Kodiak (630) 0.0002 15,309 3 WYK (640) 0.0000 5,291 0 SEO (650) 0.0000 12,625 0 w Jig cv 0.0000 13,069 0 0.0004 13,069 5 0.0018 13,069 24 C Season August 25 - October 1 Annual Pacific cod A Season 1 W Hook-and-line cv January 1 - June 10 W Hook-and-line C/P W Pot CV 1,303 13,069 102 0.0007 13,069 9 CJig CV C Hook-and-line 0.0000 22,707 0 cv 0.0001 22,707 2 C Hook-and-line C/P 0.0012 22,707 27 C Pot CV 0.0474 22,707 1,076 C Pot C/P 0.0136 22,707 309 C Trawl CV 0.0012 22,707 27 w Jig cv 0.0000 8,713 0 cv 0.0004 8,713 3 W Hook-and-line C/P 0.0018 8,713 16 W Pot CV 0.0997 8,713 869 W Pot C/P B Season 13,069 0.0078 WTrawl CV 2 0.0997 W Pot C/P 0.0078 8,713 68 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS W Hook-and-line September 1 December 31 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.027</GPH> Pollock Season/gear Ratio of 19962000 non-AFA crab vessel catch to 19962000 total harvest 72614 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules WTrawl CV 0.0007 8,713 6 c Jig cv 0.0000 15,138 0 cv 0.0001 15,138 2 C Hook-and-line C/P 0.0012 15,138 18 C Pot CV 0.0474 15,138 718 C Pot C/P 0.0136 15,138 206 C Trawl CV 0.0012 15,138 18 E inshore 0.0110 1,703 19 E offshore 0.0000 189 0 w 0.0000 268 0 c 0.0000 846 0 E 0.0000 199 0 w 0.0059 13,250 78 c 0.0001 16,372 2 E 0.0000 2,405 0 w 0.0035 300 1 c 0.0000 3,680 0 C Hook-and-line Annual Flatfish, Annual, trawl gear Annual shallowwater Flatfish, Annual deep-water E 9,323 0 0.0000 1,245 0 0.0000 6,106 0 E 0.0000 1,804 0 w 0.0004 14,500 6 c 0.0001 75,000 8 E 0.0000 13,800 0 w 0.0002 8,650 2 c 0.0004 15,400 6 E 0.0000 3,676 0 w 0.0000 2,456 0 c 0.0000 13,158 0 E 0.0000 4,150 0 Annual w 0.0005 1,229 1 c 0.0000 3,781 0 Annual w 0.0013 92 0 c 0.0012 397 0 E 0.0009 834 1 w 0.0017 295 1 c 0.0000 3,318 0 E Arrowtooth 0.0000 w c Rex sole 0.0000 1,468 0 w 0.0067 83 1 c 0.0047 877 4 Annual Annual flounder Flathead Annual sole Pacific Annual ocean perch Northern rockfish Shortraker rockfish Dusky Annual tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS rockfish Rougheye Annual rockfish VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.028</GPH> Sablefish 72615 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules BILLING CODE 3510–22–C Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/ P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/ P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions. These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other fisheries. CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in directed fishing for dusky rockfish, northern rockfish, and Pacific ocean perch in the Western GOA and West Yakutat Districts from July 1 through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from July 1 through July 31 (§ 679.82(d)). Catcher/processors participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These C/Ps are prohibited from directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and dusky rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District from July 1 through July 31. Holders of C/Pdesignated LLP licenses that opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative will receive the portion of each sideboard limit that is not assigned to rockfish cooperatives. Table 20 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 Rockfish Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District. Due to confidentiality requirements associated with fisheries data, the sideboard limits for the West Yakutat District are not displayed. TABLE 20—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS FOR THE WESTERN GOA AND WEST YAKUTAT DISTRICT BY FISHERY FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (C/P) SECTOR [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Western GOA .............................................. Dusky rockfish ............................................. Pacific ocean perch ..................................... Northern rockfish ......................................... Dusky rockfish ............................................. Pacific ocean perch ..................................... 1 Not Proposed 2015 and 2016 C/P limit 295 2,456 1,229 1,277 1,976 213 1,243 913 N/A N/A 72.3 50.6 74.3 ( 1) (1) released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data, as established by NMFS and the State of Alaska. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.029</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Fishery West Yakutat District ................................... Proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs C/P sector (% of TAC) Area 72616 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Under the Rockfish Program, the C/P sector is subject to halibut PSC sideboard limits for the trawl deepwater and shallow-water species fisheries from July 1 through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps that opt-out of the Rockfish Program would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in § 679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are linked to the catch history of specific vessels that may choose to optout. After March 1, NMFS will determine which C/Ps have opted-out of the Rockfish Program in 2015, and will know the ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any applicable opt-out sideboard limits and post these limits on the Alaska Region Web site at https:// alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ sustainablefisheries/goarat/ default.htm). Tables 21 and 22 list the 2015 and 2016, proposed Rockfish Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P sector, respectively. These proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut PSC limits proportionately incorporate reductions made to the annual trawl halibut PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9 and 10). TABLE 21—PROPOSED 2015 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTOR [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Sector Shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent) Deep-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent) Annual halibut mortality limit (mt) Annual shallowwater species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt) Annual deepwater species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt) Catcher/processor ........................ 0.10 2.50 1,759 2 44 TABLE 22—PROPOSED 2016 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTOR [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Sector Shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent) Deep-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent) Annual halibut mortality limit (mt) Annual shallowwater species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt) Annual deepwater species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt) Catcher/processor ........................ 0.10 2.50 1,706 2 43 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Amendment 80 Program Groundfish Sideboard and PSC Limits Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/P sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit the ability of participants eligible for the Amendment VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 80 Program to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA. Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece, to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679. Under regulations at § 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA. PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 1998 through 2004. Table 23 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the sideboard limits in Table 23. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72617 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules Table 23. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) Species Season Ratio of Amendment 80 sector vessels 1998 - 2004 catch to TAC Area Proposed 2015 and 2016 TAC (mt) Proposed 2015 and 2016 Amendment 80 vessel sideboard limits (mt) A Season Shumagin (610) 0.003 5,357 16 January 20February 25 Pollock Chirikof (620) 0.002 28,932 58 0.002 9,687 19 0.003 5,356 16 0.002 34,556 69 0.002 4,059 8 0.003 14,771 44 0.002 13,892 28 0.002 15,310 31 0.003 14,771 44 Kodiak (630) Shumagin (610) Chirikof (620) Kodiak (630) Shumagin (610) B Season March 10- May 31 C Season August 25September 15 Chirikof (620) D Season Kodiak (630) Shumagin (610) October 1 November 1 Chirikof (620) 0.002 13,892 28 Kodiak (630) 0.002 15,309 31 WYK (640) 0.002 5,291 11 w c w 0.020 13,069 261 0.044 22,707 999 0.020 8,713 174 September 1 December 31 c 0.044 15,138 666 Annual WYK 0.034 1,892 64 Annual w 0.994 2,456 2,441 WYK 0.961 1,976 1,899 Annual w 1.000 1,229 1,229 Annual w 0.764 295 225 WYK 0.896 1,277 1,144 Annual A Season 1 January 1 - June 10 Pacific cod B Season Pacific ocean perch Northern rockfish Dusky rockfish 2 l BILLING CODE 3510–22–C The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels in the GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. These values are VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 slightly lower than the average historic use to accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece from this restriction (§ 679.92(b)(2)). PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Tables 24 and 25 list the proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels, respectively. These tables incorporate the maximum percentages of the halibut PSC sideboard limits that may be used E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 EP08DE14.030</GPH> tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS The Pac1fic cod A season for trawl gear does not open untll January 20. 2 The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1. 72618 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules by Amendment 80 Program vessels, as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. These proposed 2015 and 2016 PSC sideboard limits proportionately incorporate the reductions made to the annual trawl halibut PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9 and 10). TABLE 24—PROPOSED 2015 HALIBUT PSC SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN THE GOA [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Season Season dates Fishery category 1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... 2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. 3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... 4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ 5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... Historic Amendment 80 use of the annual halibut PSC limit (ratio) shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... Proposed 2016 annual PSC limit (mt) 0.0048 0.0115 0.0189 0.1072 0.0146 0.0521 0.0074 0.0014 0.0227 0.0371 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 1,759 Proposed 2016 Amendment 80 vessel PSC sideboard limit (mt) 8 20 33 189 26 92 13 2 40 65 TABLE 25—PROPOSED 2016 HALIBUT PSC SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN THE GOA [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] Season Season dates Fishery category 1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... 2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. 3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... 4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ 5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... shallow-water ...................... deep-water .......................... Classification tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Historic Amendment 80 use of the annual halibut PSC limit (ratio) NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed harvest specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563. NMFS prepared an EIS for this action and made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final EIS. A Supplemental Information Report (SIR) that assesses the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS is being prepared for the final action. Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 0.0048 0.0115 0.0189 0.1072 0.0146 0.0521 0.0074 0.0014 0.0227 0.0371 environmental consequences of the proposed groundfish harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The Final EIS found no significant environmental consequences from the proposed action or its alternatives. NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), analyzing the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set forth in the methodology, TACs are set to a level that fall within the range of ABCs recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the methodology produces may vary from year to year, the methodology itself remains constant. PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Proposed 2016 annual PSC limit (mt) 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 1,706 Proposed 2016 Amendment 80 vessel PSC sideboard limit (mt) 8 20 32 183 25 89 13 2 39 63 A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the preamble above. A copy of the analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows. The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs recommended by the SSC. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The entities directly regulated by this action are those that harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters. These include entities operating CVs and C/Ps within the action area and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. On June 12, 2014, the Small Business Administration issued an E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules interim final rule revising the small business size standards for several industries effective July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33647, June 12, 2014). The rule increased the size standard for Finfish Fishing from $19.0 million to $20.5 million, Shellfish Fishing from $5.0 million to $5.5 million, and Other Marine Fishing from $7.0 million to $7.5 million. The new size standards were used to prepare the IRFA for this action. Fishing vessels are considered small entities if their total annual gross receipts, from all their activities combined, are less than $25.0 million. The IRFA estimates the number of harvesting vessels that are considered small entities, but these estimates may overstate the number of small entities because (1) some vessels may also be active as tender vessels in the salmon fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska and the West Coast, or generate revenue from other non-fishing sources; and (2) all affiliations are not taken into account, especially if the vessel has affiliations not tracked in available data (i.e., ownership of multiple vessels or affiliation with processors) and may be misclassified as a small entity. The IRFA shows that, in 2013, there were 1,153 individual catcher vessels with gross revenues less than or equal to $20.5 million. This estimate accounts for corporate affiliations among vessels, and for cooperative affiliations among fishing entities, since some of the fishing vessels operating in the GOA are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, GOA rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI crab rationalization cooperatives. Therefore, under the RFA, it is the aggregate gross receipts of all participating members of the cooperative that must meet the ‘‘under $20.5 million’’ threshold. Vessels that participate in these cooperatives are considered to be large entities within the meaning of the RFA. After accounting for membership in these cooperatives, there are an estimated 1,153 small catcher vessel entities remaining in the GOA groundfish sector. This latter group of vessels had average gross revenues that varied by gear type. Average gross revenues for hook-and-line catcher vessels, pot gear vessels, and trawl gear vessels are estimated to be $380,000, $960,000, and $2.8 million, respectively. Revenue data for the three catcher/processors considered to be small entities are confidential. The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC were harvested), unless the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent 5-year average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the lower limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no action alternative,’’ would have set TACs equal to zero. The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those adopted by the Council in October 2014, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the Council’s GOA Plan Team in September 2014, and reviewed by the Council’s SSC in October 2014. The Council based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the SSC’s OFL and ABC recommendations. Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were constrained by the upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2015 and 2016 would be 644,165 mt, which falls below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum of TACs is 511,599 mt, which is less than the sum of ABCs. In this instance, Alternative 1 is consistent with the preferred alternative (Alternative 2), meets the objectives of that action, and has small entity impacts that are equivalent to the preferred alternative. In some instances, the selection of Alternative 1 would not reflect the practical implications that increased TACs (where the sum of TACs equals the sum of ABCs) for some species probably would not be fully harvested. This could be due to a lack of commercial or market interest in such species. Additionally, an underharvest of some TACs could result due to constraints such as the fixed, and therefore constraining, PSC limits associated with the harvest of the GOA groundfish species. Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5 years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the most recent 5 years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6). This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action, the Council’s preferred harvest strategy, because it does not take account of the most recent biological information for this fishery. NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component of these estimates, but PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 72619 in and of themselves may not accurately portray stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all species and reduce the TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, this would reduce 2015 TACs by about 73 percent and would lead to significant reductions in harvests of species harvested by small entities. While reductions of this size would be associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these increases is very uncertain. There are close substitutes for GOA groundfish species available in significant quantities from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. While production declines in the GOA would undoubtedly be associated with significant price increases in the GOA, these increases would still be constrained by production of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue declines from smaller production. Thus, this alternative would have a detrimental impact on small entities. Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, would have a significant adverse economic impact on small entities and would be contrary to obligations to achieve OY on a continuing basis, as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under Alternative 5, all 1,153 individual catcher vessels impacted by this rule would have gross revenues of $0. Additionally, the three small catcher/ processor impacted by this rule also would have gross revenues of $0. The proposed harvest specifications (Alternative 2) extend the current 2015 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2015 and 2016. As noted in the IRFA, the Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2014, when it reviews the November 2014 SAFE report from its Groundfish Plan Team, and the December 2014 Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because 2015 TACs in the proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications are unchanged from the 2015 TACs, NMFS does not expect adverse impacts on small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any changes made by the Council in December 2014 to have significant adverse impacts on small entities. This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal rules. Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered species resulting from E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1 72620 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS and its accompanying annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES). Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106– 31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109– 479. Dated: November 25, 2014. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–28627 Filed 12–5–14; 8:45 am] tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Dec 05, 2014 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08DEP1.SGM 08DEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72593-72620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28627]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140918791-4989-01]
RIN 0648-XD516

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Proposed 2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

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ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2015
and 2016 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. This
action will conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
Docket Number NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0118, 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 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD) for the EIS, Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS,
and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for
this action may be obtained from https://www.regulations.gov or from the
Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final
2013 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2013, is available from
the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the
Council's Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The draft
2014 SAFE report for the GOA will be available from the same source.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801,
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species, the sum of which must be within the
optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt).
Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual TACs, Pacific halibut prohibited
species catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and
Pacific cod. The proposed harvest specifications in Tables 1 through 25
of this document satisfy these requirements. For 2015 and 2016, the sum
of the proposed TAC amounts is 511,599 mt.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its
December 2014 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the
2014 SIR that assesses the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (see
ADDRESSES) and, (4) the final 2014 SAFE report prepared for the 2015
and 2016 groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2015 and 2016 Harvest
Specifications

Amendment 97: Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the
Non-Pollock Trawl Groundfish Fisheries

In June 2013, the Council took final action to implement measures
to control Chinook salmon PSC in all non-pollock trawl groundfish
fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This proposed action,
Amendment 97 to the FMP, would set an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500
Chinook salmon apportioned among the sectors of trawl catcher/
processors, trawl catcher vessels participating in the Central GOA
Rockfish Program, and trawl catcher vessels not participating in the
Central GOA Rockfish Program fishing for groundfish species other than
pollock. The pollock directed fishery is not included in the Council's
recommended action, as that fishery is already subject to Chinook
salmon PSC limits (Sec. 679.21(h)). If a sector reached its Chinook
salmon PSC limit, NMFS would prohibit further fishing for non-pollock
groundfish by vessels in that sector. NMFS published a notice of
availability for Amendment 97 on June 5, 2014 (79 FR 32525). The public
comment period for the notice of availability on Amendment 97 ended on
August 4, 2014. On September 3, 2014, the Secretary approved Amendment
97. The proposed rule that would implement Amendment 97 published on
June 25, 2014 (79 FR 35971), with public comments accepted through July
25, 2014. The proposed rule contains a description of the affected
management areas and groundfish fisheries, the non-pollock trawl
groundfish fisheries and associated sectors, the history and goals of
Amendment 97, and the provisions of the proposed action. Those
provisions include proposed Chinook salmon PSC limits by sector,
seasonal allocations, and other aspects associated with the
implementation of Chinook salmon PSC limits for the non-pollock trawl
groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. One provision that
could affect the 2016 Chinook salmon PSC limits is the ``incentive
buffer.'' This mechanism provides for an increased annual Chinook
salmon PSC limit if sectors catch less than their limit of Chinook
salmon in the previous year. If NMFS publishes a final rule by December
1, 2014, these Chinook salmon PSC limits could be in effect January 1,
2015.

Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

In October 2014, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed the most recent
biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish
stocks in the GOA. This information was compiled by the GOA Groundfish
Plan Team (Plan Team) and presented in the final 2013 SAFE report for
the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2013 (see ADDRESSES). The

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SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as
well as summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and
the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From
these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates and the SSC sets an
overfishing level (OFL) and ABC for each species or species group. The
amounts proposed for the 2015 and 2016 OFLs and ABCs are based on the
2013 SAFE report. The AP and Council recommended that the proposed 2015
and 2016 TACs be set equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species
groups, with the exception of the species categories further discussed
below. The proposed ABCs and TACs could be changed in the final harvest
specifications depending on the most recent scientific information
contained in the final 2014 SAFE report. The draft stock assessments
that will comprise, in part, the 2014 SAFE report are available at
https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/stocks/plan_team/draft_assessments.htm.
In November 2014, the Plan Team will update the 2013 SAFE report to
include new information collected during 2014, such as NMFS stock
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team
compiles this information and will produce the draft 2014 SAFE report
for presentation at the December 2014 Council meeting. At that meeting,
the Council will consider information in the draft 2014 SAFE report,
recommendations from the November 2014 Plan Team meeting and December
2014 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public
comments in making its recommendations for the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications. Pursuant to Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the
Council could recommend adjusting the TACs if ``warranted on the basis
of bycatch considerations, management uncertainty, or socioeconomic
considerations, or if required in order to cause the sum of the TACs to
fall within the OY range.''
In previous years, the OFLs and ABCs that have had the most
significant changes (relative to the amount of assessed tonnage of
fish) from the proposed to the final harvest specifications have been
for OFLs and ABCs that are based on the most recent NMFS stock surveys.
These surveys provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial
distribution, and changes to the models used for producing stock
assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results,
changes to assessment models, and accompanying stock estimates at the
September 2014 Plan Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed this information
at the October 2014 Council meeting. The species with possible model
changes are demersal shelf rockfish, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch,
and rock sole. In November 2014, the Plan Team will consider updated
stock assessments for groundfish, which will then be included in the
draft 2014 SAFE report.
If the draft 2014 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the
proposed harvest specifications. Conversely, if the draft 2014 SAFE
report indicates that the stock biomass trend is decreasing for a
species, then the final 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications may
reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest specifications.
The proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are based on the
best available biological and socioeconomic information, including
projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock
biomass, and revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP
specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute OFLs and ABCs.
The formulas applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are
determined by the level of reliable information available to the
fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive
series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with Tier one
representing the highest level of information quality available and
Tier six representing the lowest level of information quality
available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier structure to calculate OFLs
and ABCs for each groundfish species. The SSC adopted the proposed 2015
and 2016 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish
species. The Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and
the AP's TAC recommendations. These amounts are unchanged from the
final 2015 harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on
March 6, 2014 (79 FR 12890).
The Council also adopted the SSC's recommendation to revise the
terminology used when apportioning pollock in the Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas. The SSC recommended describing
apportionments of pollock to the Western, Central, and West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas as ``apportionments of annual catch limit (ACLs)''
rather than ``ABCs''. The SSC annually recommends a combined pollock
ABC for the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas based
on factors such as scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the area-
wide OFL, data uncertainty, and recruitment variability. Section
3.2.3.3.2 of Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska specifies that the ACL is equal to the ABC. Historically, the
SSC has recommended apportioning the combined Western, Central, and
West Yakutat ABC between these three individual Regulatory Areas.
However, the subarea ABCs have not been based on scientific uncertainty
in the OFL, data uncertainty, or other conservation or biological
concerns, but rather on seasonal and spatial apportionment procedures
established under the Steller sea lion protection measures for pollock
TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. The SSC noted that
describing subarea apportionments as ``apportionments of the ACL'' more
accurately reflects that such apportionments address management, rather
than biological or conservation, concerns. In addition, apportionments
of the ACL in this manner allow NMFS to balance any transfer of TAC
from one area to another pursuant to regulations at Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) to ensure that the area-wide ACL and ABC are not
exceeded. The SSC noted that this terminology change is acceptable for
pollock in the Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas
only. There is one aggregate pollock OFL in these areas, and Steller
sea lion protection measures provide a spatial and seasonal
apportionment procedure for the pollock TAC in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas. This change is not applicable for pollock in the
Southeast Outside GOA Regulatory Area, which is managed as a separate
stock.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

The Council recommended proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs that are equal
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the
exceptions of Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western GOA,
arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole in the Western and Central GOA,
``other rockfish'' in Southeast Outside, and Atka mackerel. The
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole TACs are
set to allow for harvest opportunities while conserving the halibut PSC
limit for use in other fisheries. The ``other rockfish'' TAC is set to
reduce the potential amount of discards in the Southeast Outside (SEO)
District. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate

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incidental catch amounts of this species in other directed fisheries.
The 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the
State's guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for Pacific cod in State waters
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in Prince
William Sound (PWS). The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended
that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from
the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council
reduced the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Eastern,
Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs.
Therefore, the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs are less than
the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 631 mt;
(2) Central GOA, 12,615 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 9,335 mt. These
amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2015 and 2016 GHLs in these
areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern and Central and 30 percent
of the Western GOA proposed ABCs.
The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect
the GHL established by the State for the PWS pollock fishery since its
inception in 1995. Based on genetic studies, fisheries scientists
believe that the pollock in PWS is not a separate stock from the
combined W/C/WYK population. Thus, the Plan Team calculates the initial
ABC for the entire stock at the level that accounts for the scientific
uncertainty in the estimate of the stock's OFL. Since 1996, the Plan
Team has further reduced the ABC from the level that accounts for
scientific uncertainty in the estimate of the OFL to account for the
annual State waters GHL catch in PWS. Thus, the initial, total ABC is
reduced by the annual GHL amount prior to apportioning the remaining
ABC by management area and season. Accordingly, the Council recommended
adopting a W/C/WYK pollock ABC that has been reduced to account for the
State's PWS GHL. For 2015 and 2016, the proposed PWS pollock GHL is
4,646 mt, as recommended by State fisheries managers. The proposed 2015
and 2016 ABC is 181,184 mt, and the proposed TAC is 181,184 mt.
NMFS proposed apportionment for groundfish species are based on the
distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas under which NMFS
manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of
Pacific cod, pollock, and sablefish. Additional detail on these
apportionments are described below, and briefly summarized here.
NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the Western, Central, West Yakutat
Regulatory Areas, and the Southeast Outside District of the GOA (see
Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the annual
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and divided equally among
each of the following four seasons: The A season (January 20 through
March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August
25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1)
(Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and
(B)). Additional detail is provided below; Table 2 lists these amounts.
NMFS proposes Pacific cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern
GOA (see Table 1). NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionment of the
Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through
December 31, for hook-and-line or pot gear from September 1 through
December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1
(Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central
GOA Pacific cod gear and sector apportionments are discussed in detail
below; Table 3 lists these amounts.
The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent
of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl gear for use as
incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the WYK
District (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)). Additional detail is provided below;
Tables 4 and 5 list these amounts.
The sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 511,599 mt
for 2015 and 2016, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP.
The sums of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs are higher than the final
2014 TACs currently specified for the GOA groundfish fisheries (79 FR
12890, March 6, 2014). The proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for pollock,
Pacific ocean perch, and rougheye rockfish are higher than the final
2014 TACs for these species. The proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for
Pacific cod, sablefish, shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish,
rex sole, flathead sole, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish are
lower than the final 2014 TACs for these species. The proposed 2015 and
2016 TACs for the remaining species are equal to the final 2014 TACs.
For 2015 and 2016, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect
harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing levels.
Table 1 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. These amounts are consistent
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the
2013 SAFE report, and adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required
OY range. These proposed amounts and apportionments by area, season,
and sector are subject to change pending consideration of the draft
2014 SAFE report and the Council's recommendations for the final 2015
and 2016 harvest specifications during its December 2014 meeting.
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Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sculpins, sharks, squids, and
octopuses in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date during
the fishing year. In 2014, NMFS apportioned all of the reserves in the
final harvest specifications. For 2015 and 2016, NMFS proposes
reapportionment of all the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish,
sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses in anticipation of the

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projected annual catch of these species. The TACs in Table 1 reflect
the apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and species
groups. Each proposed TAC for the above mentioned species categories
contains the full TAC recommended by the Council, since none of the
relevant species and species groups' TACs contributed to a reserve that
could be used for future reapportionments.

Proposed Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory
Areas, and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore
Components

In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by
Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through
November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments
have historically been based on the proportional distribution of
pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In
the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the
distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS
summer surveys. However, for 2015 and 2016, the Council recommends, and
NMFS proposes, averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock
in the Central Regulatory Area for the A season instead of using the
distribution based on only the winter surveys. This combination of
summer and winter distribution has been used for area apportionments
since 2002. The average is intended to reflect the best available
information about migration patterns, distribution of pollock, and the
performance of the fishery in the area during the A season. For the A
season, the apportionment is based on the proposed adjusted estimate of
the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 12
percent, 66 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and
630, respectively. For the B season, the apportionment is based on the
relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 12 percent,
79 percent, and 9 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630,
respectively. For the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on
the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 34
percent, 32 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and
630, respectively.
Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the
Regional Administrator (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount
is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for
the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent
limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those
statistical areas (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2015 and
2016 pollock TACs in the WYK District of 5,291 mt and SEO District of
12,625 mt are not allocated by season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of
the pollock apportionments in all regulatory areas and all seasonal
allowances to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore
component after subtraction of pollock amounts projected by the
Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore
component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species.
Thus, the amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting
pollock for processing by the offshore component is that amount that
will be taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for
groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable
amounts allowed under Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these
incidental catch amounts of pollock are unknown and will be determined
as fishing activity occurs during the fishing year by the offshore
component.
Table 2 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal biomass
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas,
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown.

Table 2--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass
Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season \2\ Shumagin
(Area 610)
Chirikof
(Area 620)
Kodiak Total
(Area 630)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10)............................................ 5,357 (16.06%) 28,932 (61.50%) 9,687 (22.45%) 43,973
B (Mar 10-May 31)............................................ 5,356 (16.06%) 34,555 (67.25%) 4,059 (9.80%) 43,973
C (Aug 25-Oct 1)............................................. 14,771 (36.47%) 13,892 (28.44%) 15,311 (32.10%) 43,973
D (Oct 1-Nov 1).............................................. 14,771 (36.47%) 13,892 (28.44%) 15,311 (32.10%) 43,973
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total \3\......................................... 40,254 ........... 91,272 ........... 44,367 ........... 175,893
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and
offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in
this table.

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Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS proposes allocations for
the 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors.
Pursuant Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) NMFS proposes the allocation of the
Pacific cod TAC between the inshore and offshore components in the
Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA. In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod
TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then
among catcher vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet in length overall using
hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 50 feet in length
overall using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hook-
and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels
using pot gear. In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned
seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then among CVs using
hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl
gear, and vessels using pot gear. The overall seasonal apportionments
in the Western and Central GOA are 60 percent of the annual TAC to the
A season and 40 percent of the annual TAC to the B season.
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the
Pacific cod allowance from the A season will be subtracted from, or
added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion
of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that is
determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be
reapportioned to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the
fishery year.
In accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may
increase up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific
cod TACs depending on the annual performance of the jig sector. If such
allocation increases are not harvested by the jig sector, then the
annual jig sector allocations may subsequently be reduced (See Table 1
of Amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig sector
allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). NMFS proposes that
the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the
Western GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.5 percent and an
additional 1.0 percent because this sector harvested greater than 90
percent of its initial 2012 allocation in the Western GOA. NMFS also
proposes that the jig sector would receive 2.0 percent of the annual
Pacific cod TAC in the Central GOA. This includes a base allocation of
1.0 percent and an additional 1.0 percent because this sector harvested
greater than 90 percent of its initial 2012 allocation in the Central
GOA. In 2013, neither the Western nor Central GOA jig sectors harvested
90 percent of their respective 2013 Pacific cod allocations. However,
allocation increases to the jig sector are established for a minimum of
2 years. NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2013 and 2014 harvest
performance of each jig sector when the 2014 fishing year is complete
to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations proposed by
this action in conjunction with the final 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications. Based on the current catch (through October 2014) by
the Western GOA jig sector, the 2015 Pacific cod allocation to this
sector may increase by an additional 1 percent of the annual Western
GOA Pacific cod TAC in 2015. Conversely, the current catch by the
Central GOA jig sector indicates that this sector's 2015 Pacific cod
allocation may decrease by 1 percent of the annual Central GOA Pacific
cod TAC. The jig sector allocations are further apportioned between the
A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) seasons.
Table 3 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the
proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

[[Page 72602]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP08DE14.024

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TACs Amounts to Vessels Using
Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line
and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent
of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each
TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95
percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern GOA
may only be used to support incidental catch of sablefish in directed
fisheries for other target species (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and
NMFS proposes the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area sablefish TAC

[[Page 72603]]

to trawl gear in the WYK District, making the remainder of the WYK
sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. NMFS
proposes to allocate 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO
District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This action results in a
proposed 2015 allocation of 199 mt to trawl gear and 1,352 mt to hook-
and-line gear in the WYK District, and 2,435 mt to hook-and-line gear
in the SEO District. Table 4 lists the allocations of the proposed 2015
sablefish TACs to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the
allocations of the proposed 2016 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be
established annually to ensure that the sablefish Individual Fishery
Quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ
fishery and is based on recent survey information. The Council also
recommended that only the trawl sablefish TAC be established for 2
years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear
could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest
specifications. Since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and
the final harvest specifications are expected to be published before
the IFQ season begins (typically, in early March), the Council
recommended that the sablefish TAC be set on an annual basis, rather
than for 2 years, so that the best available scientific information
could be considered in establishing the ABCs and TACs. With the
exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to the Rockfish
Program cooperatives (see Table 28c to part 679), directed fishing for
sablefish with trawl gear is closed during the fishing year. Also,
fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January
20. Therefore, it is not likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl
gear would be reached before the effective date of the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications.

Table 4--Proposed 2015 Sablefish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-
Line and Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC allocation allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................................................... 1,338 1,070 268
Central......................................................... 4,230 3,384 846
West Yakutat \1\................................................ 1,551 1,352 199
Southeast Outside............................................... 2,435 2,435 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 9,554 8,241 1,313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

Table 5--Proposed 2016 Sablefish Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear
\1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC allocation allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................................................... 1,338 n/a 268
Central......................................................... 4,230 n/a 846
West Yakutat \2\................................................ 1,551 n/a 199
Southeast Outside............................................... 2,435 n/a 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 9,554 n/a 1,313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing
Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district.

Proposed Apportionments to the Rockfish Program

These proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for the GOA
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations
established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily
trawl catcher vessels and trawl catcher/processors, with limited
participation by vessels using longline gear. The Rockfish Program
assigns quota share and cooperative quota to participants for primary
and secondary species, allows a participant holding a license
limitation program (LLP) license with rockfish quota share to form a
rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of C/P LLP
licenses to opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an
entry level fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using
longline gear.
Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species (Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) in the Central GOA are
allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch needs in
other directed groundfish fisheries. Participants in the Rockfish
Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of specific
secondary species (Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, sablefish,
shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish).
Additionally, the Rockfish Program establishes sideboard limits to
restrict the ability of harvesters operating under the Rockfish Program
to increase their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program
fisheries. Besides groundfish species, the Rockfish Program allocates a
portion of the halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water
species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish
Program participants. (Rockfish Program

[[Page 72604]]

sideboards and halibut PSC limits are discussed below.)
Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) requires allocations of 5 mt of Pacific
ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30 mt of dusky rockfish to
the entry level longline fishery in 2015 and 2016. The allocation for
the entry level longline fishery would increase incrementally each year
if the catch exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The
incremental increase in the allocation would continue each year until
it is the maximum percent of the TAC for that species. In 2014, the
catch did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated rockfish species.
Therefore, NMFS is not proposing an increase to the entry level
longline fishery 2015 and 2016 allocations in the Central GOA. The
remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species would be
allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. Table 6 lists the allocations
of the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for each rockfish primary species to
the entry level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future
years, and the maximum percent of the TAC for the entry level longline
fishery.

Table 6--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in
the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incremental increase per year Up to maximum
Rockfish primary species Allocations of the proposed if catch exceeds 90 percent percent of each
2015 and 2016 TAC of the allocation of: TAC of:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch............. 5 metric tons................ 5 metric tons................ 1
Northern rockfish............... 5 metric tons................ 5 metric tons................ 2
Dusky rockfish.................. 30 metric tons............... 20 metric tons............... 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 679.81(a)(2)(iii) requires allocations of rockfish primary
species among various components of the Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists
the proposed 2015 and 2016 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA
to the entry level longline fishery and other participants in the
Rockfish Program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS also
proposes setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other
directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 2,000 mt of Pacific ocean
perch, 200 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky rockfish. These
amounts are based on recent average incidental catches in the Central
GOA by other groundfish fisheries.
Allocations between vessels belonging to CV or C/P cooperatives are
not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program
applications for CV cooperatives and C/P cooperatives are not due to
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot
calculate 2015 and 2016 allocations in conjunction with these proposed
harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when they become available
after March 1.

Table 7--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the
Entry Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the Rockfish Program
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation Allocation
Incidental to the to other
Rockfish primary species TAC catch TAC minus entry level participants
allowance ICA longline in Rockfish
(ICA) \1\ fishery Program \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch........................... 13,158 2,000 11,158 5 11,153
Northern rockfish............................. 3,781 200 3,581 5 3,576
Dusky rockfish................................ 3,318 250 3,068 30 3,038
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................................... 20,257 2,450 17,807 40 17,767
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
\2\ Other participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.

Section 679.81(c) requires allocations of rockfish secondary
species to CV and C/P cooperatives in the GOA. CV cooperatives receive
allocations of Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear allocation,
and thornyhead rockfish. C/P cooperatives receive allocations of
sablefish from the trawl allocation, rougheye rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists the apportionments of
the proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the
Central GOA to CV and C/P cooperatives.

[[Page 72605]]

Table 8--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher vessel cooperatives Catcher/processor cooperatives
Central GOA -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rockfish secondary species annual TAC Percentage of Apportionment Percentage of Apportionment
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod................................................... 37,845 3.81 1,442 N/A N/A
Sablefish..................................................... 4,230 6.78 287 3.51 148
Shortraker rockfish........................................... 397 N/A N/A 40.00 159
Rougheye rockfish............................................. 877 N/A N/A 58.87 516
Thornyhead rockfish........................................... 875 7.84 69 26.50 232
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Halibut PSC Limits
Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. Amendment 95 to the FMP
(79 FR 9625, February 20, 2014) implemented measures establishing GOA
halibut PSC limits in Federal regulations and reducing the halibut PSC
limits in the GOA trawl and hook-and-line groundfish fisheries. These
reductions are incorporated into the halibut PSC limits that are
proposed by this action. For most gear and operational types, the
halibut PSC limit reductions are phased-in over 3 years, beginning in
2014 and ending in 2016.
In 2014, the trawl halibut PSC limit was reduced by 7 percent from
the 2013 limit. Under Amendment 95 and regulations at Sec.
679.21(d)(3)(i), the initial trawl halibut PSC limit is proposed to be
reduced another 5 percent in 2015, and an additional 3 percent in 2016.
This results in a total reduction of 15 percent in 2016 as compared to
the 2013 halibut PSC limit. The reduced PSC limit will remain in effect
each year thereafter. In addition, under Amendment 95 and regulations
at Sec. 679.21(d)(2)(iv), the initial hook-and-line PSC for the other
hook and-line catcher vessel sector was reduced 7 percent in 2014, and
this action proposes another 5-percent reduction in 2015 and an
additional 3-percent reduction in 2016. The PSC limit for the hook-and-
line catcher/processor sector was reduced by 7 percent in 2014 and
thereafter.
In October 2014, the Council recommended proposed halibut PSC
limits that reflect the reductions implemented under Amendment 95 of
1,759 mt for trawl gear, 261 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for
the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District for the
2015 groundfish fisheries. The Council also recommended 1,706 mt for
trawl gear, 256 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the DSR fishery
for the 2016 groundfish fisheries.
The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at Sec.
679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut
PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish.
NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the
duration of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak times are short, (2)
the DSR fishery occurs in the winter when less overlap occurs in the
distribution of DSR and halibut, and (3) the directed commercial DSR
fishery has a low DSR TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets
the commercial GHL for the DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of
DSR incidental catch in all fisheries (including halibut and
subsistence) and (2) the allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. Of
the 274 mt TAC for DSR in 2014, 224 mt were available for the DSR
commercial directed fishery, of which 56 mt were harvested.
The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the
halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2015 and
2016. The Council recommended, and NMFS is proposing, these exemptions
because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch
mortality, (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if
any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ
(Sec. 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen typically hold
halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut
they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS estimates
negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates
halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the
small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature
of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released
with jig gear.
The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2014. The
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through October 25, 2014, is 1,303
mt for trawl gear and 142 mt for hook-and-line gear for a total halibut
mortality of 1,445 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using
groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska Region's catch
accounting system. This account system contains historical and recent
catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery.
Section 679.21(d)(4) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the
halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and
regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following
information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal
distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish
species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and
expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates
on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7)
economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on
segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on public comment and
the information presented in the final 2014 SAFE report, the Council
may recommend or NMFS may make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or
fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final
2015 and 2016 harvest specifications.
The final 2014 and 2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 12890, March
6, 2014) summarized the Council's and NMFS' findings with respect to
halibut PSC for each of these FMP considerations. The Council's and

[[Page 72606]]

NMFS' findings for 2015 are unchanged from 2014. Table 9 lists the
proposed 2015 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and
apportionments. Table 10 lists the proposed 2016 Pacific halibut PSC
limits, allowances, and apportionments. The halibut PSC limits in these
tables reflect the halibut PSC reductions implemented in accordance
with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, February 20, 2014) and Sec.
679.21(d)(3)(i). Sections 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specify that any
underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will
be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment
within the fishing year.

Table 9--Proposed 2015 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Season Percent Amount -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Percent Amount Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1...................... 27.5 484 January 1-June 10.......... 86 225 January 1-December 31..... 9
April 1-July 1.......................... 20 352 June 10-September 1........ 2 5
July 1-September 1...................... 30 528 September 1-December 31.... 12 31
September 1-October 1................... 7.5 132
October 1-December 31................... 15 263
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------
Total............................... ......... 1,759 ........................... ......... 261 .......................... 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The
hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.

Table 10--Proposed 2016 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Season Percent Amount ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Percent Amount Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1...................... 27.5 469 January 1-June 10......... 86 220 January 1-December 31..... 9
April 1-July 1.......................... 20 341 June 10-September 1....... 2 5
July 1-September 1...................... 30 512 September 1-December 31... 12 31
September 1-October 1................... 7.5 128
October 1-December 31................... 15 256
----------------------- ---------------------- ----------
Total............................... .......... 1,706 .......................... ......... 256 .......................... 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The
hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.

Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the
trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery
categories. The annual apportionments are based on each category's
proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during
a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of groundfish
harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the
trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery, composed
of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth
flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species fishery, composed of pollock,
Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel,
skates and ``other species'' (sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses)
(Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)).
Tables 11 and 12 list, respectively, the proposed 2015 and 2016
seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl
gear deep-water and the shallow-water species fisheries. These limits
proportionately incorporate the halibut PSC limit reductions
implemented in accordance with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, February 20,
2014) and Sec. 679.21(d)(3).

Table 11--Proposed 2015 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between the Trawl
Gear Shallow-Water and Deep-Water Species Fisheries
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Shallow-water Deep-water \1\ Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1............................................... 396 88 484
April 1-July 1................................................... 88 264 352
July 1-September 1............................................... 176 352 528
September 1-October 1............................................ 132 (\3\) 132
----------------------------------------------

[[Page 72607]]

Subtotal, January 20-October 1............................... 792 704 1,496
----------------------------------------------
October 1-December 31 \2\.................................... ............... ............... 264
==============================================
Total.................................................... ............... ............... 1,760
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July
1 through September 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth
season (October 1 through December 31).

Table 12--Proposed 2016 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between the Trawl
Gear Shallow-Water and Deep-Water Species Fisheries
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Shallow-water Deep-water \1\ Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1............................................... 384 85 469
April 1-July 1................................................... 85 256 341
July 1-September 1............................................... 171 341 512
September 1-October 1............................................ 128 (\3\) 128
----------------------------------------------
Subtotal, January 20-October 1............................... 768 682 1,450
----------------------------------------------
October 1-December 31 \2\.................................... ............... ............... 256
==============================================
Total.................................................... ............... ............... 1,706
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July
1 through September 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth
season (October 1 through December 31).
\3\ Any remainder.

Section 679.21(d)(2) requires that the ``other hook-and-line
fishery'' halibut PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear
must be divided between CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must calculate the halibut
PSC limit apportionments for the entire GOA to hook-and-line CVs and C/
Ps in accordance with Sec. 679.21(d)(2)(iii) in conjunction with these
harvest specifications. A comprehensive description and example of the
calculations necessary to apportion the ``other hook-and-line fishery''
halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors were
included in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 83 (76 FR 44700,
July 26, 2011) and is not repeated here.
For 2015, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limit allocations of 146
mt and 115 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors,
respectively. In addition, NMFS proposes 2016 annual halibut PSC limit
allocations of 141 mt and 115 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-
line C/P sectors, respectively. The 2015 and 2016 annual halibut PSC
limits are divided into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal
percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. Tables 13 and 14
list the proposed 2015 and 2016 annual halibut PSC limits and seasonal
apportionments between the hook-and-line sectors in the GOA.
No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS calculates the
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the hook-and-
line sectors for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount
of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other hook-and-line
sector for the remainder of that fishing year if NMFS determines that
an additional amount of halibut PSC limit is necessary for that sector
to continue its directed fishing operations (Sec.
679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)).

Table 13--Proposed 2015 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fisheries'' Halibut PSC Allowance Between
the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Sector
``Other than DSR'' Hook-and-line sector annual Season Seasonal seasonal
allowance amount percentage amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
261................... Catcher Vessel................... 146 January 1-June 86 126
10. 2 3
June 10- 12 18
September 1.
September 1-
December 31.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 72608]]

Catcher/Processor................ 115 January 1-June 86 99
10. 2 2
June 10- 12 14
September 1.
September 1-
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 14--Proposed 2016 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fisheries'' Halibut PSC Allowance Between
the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Sector
``Other than DSR'' Hook-and- line sector annual Season Seasonal seasonal
allowance amount percentage amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
256................... Catcher Vessel................... 141 January 1-June 86 121
10. 2 3
June 10- 12 17
September 1.
September 1-
December 31.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/Processor................ 115 January 1-June 86 99
10. 2 2
June 10- 12 14
September 1.
September 1-
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch
rates, discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of groundfish
catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance
or seasonal apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best
information available, including information contained in the annual
SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) for the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries be
used to monitor the proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut bycatch mortality
allowances (see Tables 9 through 14). The IPHC developed the DMRs for
the 2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean
DMRs for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for
some fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the
skate, sculpin, shark, squid, and octopus fisheries, where not enough
mortality data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in
the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default
rate. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend
changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the
mean. A discussion of the DMRs and how the IPHC establishes them is
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 15 lists the proposed
2015 and 2016 DMRs.

Table 15--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortality rate
Gear Target fishery (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line.................. Other fisheries \1\.... 11
Skates................. 11
Pacific cod............ 11
Rockfish............... 9
Trawl.......................... Arrowtooth flounder.... 73
Deep-water flatfish.... 43
Flathead sole.......... 65
Non-pelagic pollock.... 60
Other fisheries........ 62
Pacific cod............ 62
Pelagic pollock........ 71
Rex sole............... 69
Rockfish............... 66
Sablefish.............. 71
Shallow-water flatfish. 67
Pot............................ Other fisheries........ 17
Pacific cod............ 17
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Other fisheries includes hook-and-line sablefish and all gear types
for Atka mackerel, skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.

[[Page 72609]]

Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits

Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR 42629, July 20, 2012) established
separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central GOA in
the directed pollock fishery. These limits require NMFS to close the
pollock directed fishery in the Western and Central regulatory areas of
the GOA if the applicable limit is reached (Sec. 679.21(h)(6)). The
annual Chinook salmon PSC limits in the pollock directed fishery of
6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA
are set in regulation at Sec. 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). In addition,
all salmon (regardless of species), taken in the pollock directed
fisheries in the Western and Central GOA must be retained until an
observer at the processing facility that takes delivery of the catch is
provided an opportunity to count the number of salmon and to collect
any scientific data or biological samples from the salmon (Sec.
679.21(h)(4)).

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Sideboard Limits

Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing
sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits
are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who
do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and
processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges
under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from
harvesting any species of fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.
679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from processing any pollock
harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish
harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall,
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits
under Sec. 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs
operating in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of
TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in
the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each
sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that
species over the same period.
Table 16 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 groundfish sideboard
limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or
incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from
the sideboard limits listed in Table 16.
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Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits

The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA
are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997
(Sec. 679.64(b)(4)). Tables 17 and 18 list the proposed 2015 and 2016,
respectively, non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using
trawl gear in the GOA.

[[Page 72612]]

The proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC
limits between the deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries
categories proportionately incorporate reductions made to the annual
trawl halibut PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see
Tables 9 and 10).

Table 17--Proposed 2015 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC)
Limits for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non-exempt Proposed 2015 non-
Season Season dates Target fishery AFA CV retained Proposed 2015 PSC exempt AFA CV PSC
catch to total limit limit
retained catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................. January 20-April shallow-water... 0.340 396 135
1. deep-water...... 0.070 88 6
2................. April 1-July 1... shallow-water... 0.340 88 30
deep-water...... 0.070 264 18
3................. July 1-September shallow-water... 0.340 176 60
1. deep-water...... 0.070 352 25
4................. September 1- shallow-water... 0.340 132 45
October 1. deep-water...... 0.070 0 0
5................. October 1- all targets..... 0.205 264 54
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 18--Proposed 2016 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC)
Limits for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non-exempt Proposed 2016 non-
Season Season dates Target fishery AFA CV retained Proposed 2016 PSC exempt AFA CV
catch to total limit PSC limit
retained catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................. January 20-April shallow-water... 0.340 384 131
1. deep-water...... 0.070 85 6
2................. April 1-July 1... shallow-water... 0.340 85 29
deep-water...... 0.070 256 18
3................. July 1-September shallow-water... 0.340 171 58
1. deep-water...... 0.070 341 24
4................. September 1- shallow-water... 0.340 128 44
October 1. deep-water...... 0.070 0 0
5................. October 1- all targets..... 0.205 256 52
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits

Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by
the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation
in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these
vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA
groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard
limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license derived from
the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on
another vessel.
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the
final rules implementing the major provisions of the Crab
Rationalization Program, including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery
Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs
(Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005), Amendment 34 to the Crab FMP
(76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011), and Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR
74670, December 1, 2011).
Table 19 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 groundfish sideboard
limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch
of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP
licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits.
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Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish
sideboard restrictions, and C/P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions.
These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of rockfish
harvesters to expand into other fisheries.
CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, northern rockfish, and Pacific
ocean perch in the Western GOA and West Yakutat Districts from July 1
through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for
arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from
July 1 through July 31 (Sec. 679.82(d)).
Catcher/processors participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives
are restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These C/Ps
are prohibited from directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific
ocean perch, and dusky rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat
District from July 1 through July 31. Holders of C/P-designated LLP
licenses that opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative will
receive the portion of each sideboard limit that is not assigned to
rockfish cooperatives. Table 20 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016
Rockfish Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA and
West Yakutat District. Due to confidentiality requirements associated
with fisheries data, the sideboard limits for the West Yakutat District
are not displayed.

Table 20--Proposed 2015 and 2016 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits for the Western GOA and West Yakutat District
by Fishery for the Catcher/Processor (C/P) Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2015
Area Fishery C/P sector (% Proposed 2015 and 2016 C/P
of TAC) and 2016 TACs limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA......................... Dusky rockfish......... 72.3 295 213
Pacific ocean perch.... 50.6 2,456 1,243
Northern rockfish...... 74.3 1,229 913
West Yakutat District............... Dusky rockfish......... (\1\) 1,277 N/A
Pacific ocean perch.... (\1\) 1,976 N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data, as established by NMFS
and the State of Alaska.

[[Page 72616]]

Under the Rockfish Program, the C/P sector is subject to halibut
PSC sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species
fisheries from July 1 through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits
apply to the CV sector as vessels participating in a rockfish
cooperative receive a portion of the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps
that opt-out of the Rockfish Program would be able to access that
portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit
not assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for
C/Ps that elect to opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative
are described in Sec. 679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are
linked to the catch history of specific vessels that may choose to opt-
out. After March 1, NMFS will determine which C/Ps have opted-out of
the Rockfish Program in 2015, and will know the ratios and amounts used
to calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any
applicable opt-out sideboard limits and post these limits on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm). Tables 21 and 22 list the
2015 and 2016, proposed Rockfish Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P
sector, respectively. These proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut PSC limits
proportionately incorporate reductions made to the annual trawl halibut
PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9 and
10).

Table 21--Proposed 2015 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water Annual shallow- Annual deep- water
species fishery Deep-water species Annual halibut water species species fishery
Sector halibut PSC fishery halibut PSC mortality limit fishery halibut PSC halibut PSC
sideboard ratio sideboard ratio (mt) sideboard limit sideboard limit
(percent) (percent) (mt) (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor.............................. 0.10 2.50 1,759 2 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 22--Proposed 2016 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water Annual shallow- Annual deep- water
species fishery Deep-water species Annual halibut water species species fishery
Sector halibut PSC fishery halibut PSC mortality limit fishery halibut PSC halibut PSC
sideboard ratio sideboard ratio (mt) sideboard limit sideboard limit
(percent) (percent) (mt) (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor.............................. 0.10 2.50 1,706 2 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment 80 Program Groundfish Sideboard and PSC Limits

Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program)
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/
P sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut
PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit the ability
of participants eligible for the Amendment 80 Program to expand their
harvest efforts in the GOA.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece,
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679.
Under regulations at Sec. 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is
prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific
ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from
1998 through 2004. Table 23 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 sideboard
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted
or incidental catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program
vessels from the sideboard limits in Table 23.
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BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels
in the GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80
Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004.
These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to
accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece
from this restriction (Sec. 679.92(b)(2)). Tables 24 and 25 list the
proposed 2015 and 2016 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80
Program vessels, respectively. These tables incorporate the maximum
percentages of the halibut PSC sideboard limits that may be used

[[Page 72618]]

by Amendment 80 Program vessels, as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR
part 679. These proposed 2015 and 2016 PSC sideboard limits
proportionately incorporate the reductions made to the annual trawl
halibut PSC limits and associated seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9
and 10).

Table 24--Proposed 2015 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Proposed 2016
Amendment 80 use Proposed 2016 Amendment 80
Season Season dates Fishery category of the annual annual PSC limit vessel PSC
halibut PSC limit (mt) sideboard limit
(ratio) (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................. January 20-April shallow-water... 0.0048 1,759 8
1. deep-water...... 0.0115 1,759 20
2................. April 1-July 1... shallow-water... 0.0189 1,759 33
deep-water...... 0.1072 1,759 189
3................. July 1-September shallow-water... 0.0146 1,759 26
1. deep-water...... 0.0521 1,759 92
4................. September 1- shallow-water... 0.0074 1,759 13
October 1. deep-water...... 0.0014 1,759 2
5................. October 1- shallow-water... 0.0227 1,759 40
December 31. deep-water...... 0.0371 1,759 65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 25--Proposed 2016 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Proposed 2016
Amendment 80 use Proposed 2016 Amendment 80
Season Season dates Fishery category of the annual annual PSC limit vessel PSC
halibut PSC limit (mt) sideboard limit
(ratio) (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................. January 20-April shallow-water... 0.0048 1,706 8
1. deep-water...... 0.0115 1,706 20
2................. April 1-July 1... shallow-water... 0.0189 1,706 32
deep-water...... 0.1072 1,706 183
3................. July 1-September shallow-water... 0.0146 1,706 25
1. deep-water...... 0.0521 1,706 89
4................. September 1- shallow-water... 0.0074 1,706 13
October 1. deep-water...... 0.0014 1,706 2
5................. October 1- shallow-water... 0.0227 1,706 39
December 31. deep-water...... 0.0371 1,706 63
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed
harvest specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS for this action and made it available to the
public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS
issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final EIS. A Supplemental
Information Report (SIR) that assesses the need to prepare a
Supplemental EIS is being prepared for the final action. Copies of the
Final EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of
the proposed groundfish harvest specifications and alternative harvest
strategies on resources in the action area. The Final EIS found no
significant environmental consequences from the proposed action or its
alternatives.
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA),
analyzing the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA
evaluated the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest
strategies for the groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set
forth in the methodology, TACs are set to a level that fall within the
range of ABCs recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve
the OY specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the
methodology produces may vary from year to year, the methodology itself
remains constant.
A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered,
and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the
preamble above. A copy of the analysis is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the
catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the
existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP
prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel fisheries
within State of Alaska waters. These include entities operating CVs and
C/Ps within the action area and entities receiving direct allocations
of groundfish. On June 12, 2014, the Small Business Administration
issued an

[[Page 72619]]

interim final rule revising the small business size standards for
several industries effective July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33647, June 12,
2014). The rule increased the size standard for Finfish Fishing from
$19.0 million to $20.5 million, Shellfish Fishing from $5.0 million to
$5.5 million, and Other Marine Fishing from $7.0 million to $7.5
million. The new size standards were used to prepare the IRFA for this
action. Fishing vessels are considered small entities if their total
annual gross receipts, from all their activities combined, are less
than $25.0 million. The IRFA estimates the number of harvesting vessels
that are considered small entities, but these estimates may overstate
the number of small entities because (1) some vessels may also be
active as tender vessels in the salmon fishery, fish in areas other
than Alaska and the West Coast, or generate revenue from other non-
fishing sources; and (2) all affiliations are not taken into account,
especially if the vessel has affiliations not tracked in available data
(i.e., ownership of multiple vessels or affiliation with processors)
and may be misclassified as a small entity.
The IRFA shows that, in 2013, there were 1,153 individual catcher
vessels with gross revenues less than or equal to $20.5 million. This
estimate accounts for corporate affiliations among vessels, and for
cooperative affiliations among fishing entities, since some of the
fishing vessels operating in the GOA are members of AFA inshore pollock
cooperatives, GOA rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI crab rationalization
cooperatives. Therefore, under the RFA, it is the aggregate gross
receipts of all participating members of the cooperative that must meet
the ``under $20.5 million'' threshold. Vessels that participate in
these cooperatives are considered to be large entities within the
meaning of the RFA. After accounting for membership in these
cooperatives, there are an estimated 1,153 small catcher vessel
entities remaining in the GOA groundfish sector. This latter group of
vessels had average gross revenues that varied by gear type. Average
gross revenues for hook-and-line catcher vessels, pot gear vessels, and
trawl gear vessels are estimated to be $380,000, $960,000, and $2.8
million, respectively. Revenue data for the three catcher/processors
considered to be small entities are confidential.
The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four
other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate
fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC
were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which
case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent 5-year average
fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the lower
limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ``no action
alternative,'' would have set TACs equal to zero.
The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those
adopted by the Council in October 2014, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and
ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the
Council's GOA Plan Team in September 2014, and reviewed by the
Council's SSC in October 2014. The Council based its TAC
recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations.
Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to
harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were
constrained by the upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in
Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2015 and 2016 would be
644,165 mt, which falls below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum
of TACs is 511,599 mt, which is less than the sum of ABCs. In this
instance, Alternative 1 is consistent with the preferred alternative
(Alternative 2), meets the objectives of that action, and has small
entity impacts that are equivalent to the preferred alternative. In
some instances, the selection of Alternative 1 would not reflect the
practical implications that increased TACs (where the sum of TACs
equals the sum of ABCs) for some species probably would not be fully
harvested. This could be due to a lack of commercial or market interest
in such species. Additionally, an underharvest of some TACs could
result due to constraints such as the fixed, and therefore
constraining, PSC limits associated with the harvest of the GOA
groundfish species.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5
years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the
most recent 5 years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6).
This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action,
the Council's preferred harvest strategy, because it does not take
account of the most recent biological information for this fishery.
NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as
well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible
harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component
of these estimates, but in and of themselves may not accurately portray
stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
species and reduce the TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the
GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, this would reduce 2015
TACs by about 73 percent and would lead to significant reductions in
harvests of species harvested by small entities. While reductions of
this size would be associated with offsetting price increases, the size
of these increases is very uncertain. There are close substitutes for
GOA groundfish species available in significant quantities from the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. While production
declines in the GOA would undoubtedly be associated with significant
price increases in the GOA, these increases would still be constrained
by production of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue
declines from smaller production. Thus, this alternative would have a
detrimental impact on small entities.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, would have a
significant adverse economic impact on small entities and would be
contrary to obligations to achieve OY on a continuing basis, as
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under Alternative 5, all 1,153
individual catcher vessels impacted by this rule would have gross
revenues of $0. Additionally, the three small catcher/processor
impacted by this rule also would have gross revenues of $0.
The proposed harvest specifications (Alternative 2) extend the
current 2015 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2015 and 2016. As noted in the
IRFA, the Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December
2014, when it reviews the November 2014 SAFE report from its Groundfish
Plan Team, and the December 2014 Council meeting reports of its SSC and
AP. Because 2015 TACs in the proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications are unchanged from the 2015 TACs, NMFS does not expect
adverse impacts on small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any
changes made by the Council in December 2014 to have significant
adverse impacts on small entities.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal
rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered species resulting
from

[[Page 72620]]

fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS
and its accompanying annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.

Dated: November 25, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-28627 Filed 12-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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