Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2016 and 2017 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 76425-76442 [2015-31003]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
fishing vessels operating in the GOA are
members of AFA inshore pollock
cooperatives, GOA rockfish
cooperatives, or BSAI Crab
Rationalization Program 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 915
small CV 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 CVs, pot
gear vessels, and trawl gear vessels are
estimated to be $400,000, $740,000, and
$2.5 million, respectively. Revenue data
for the four C/Ps 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 2015,
as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for
the species were based on
recommendations prepared by the
Council’s GOA Plan Team in September
2015, and reviewed by the Council’s
SSC in October 2015. 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 2016 and 2017 would
be 731,049 mt, which falls below the
upper bound of the OY range. The sum
of TACs is 590,161 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.
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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 2016 TACs by about
80 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
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Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under
Alternative 5, all 915 individual CVs
impacted by this rule would have gross
revenues of $0. Additionally, the four
small C/Ps impacted by this rule also
would have gross revenues of $0.
The proposed harvest specifications
(Alternative 2) extend the current 2016
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2016 and
2017. As noted in the IRFA, the Council
may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs in December 2015, when it
reviews the November 2015 SAFE
report from its Groundfish Plan Team,
and the December 2015 Council meeting
reports of its SSC and AP. Because 2016
TACs in the proposed 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications are unchanged
from the 2016 TACs, NMFS does not
expect adverse impacts on small
entities. Also, NMFS does not expect
any changes made by the Council in
December 2015 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
fishing activities conducted under this
rule are discussed in the Final 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: December 3, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–31002 Filed 12–7–15; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–5863–01]
RIN 0648–XE202
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; 2016 and 2017
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
Proposed rule; request for
comments.
ACTION:
NMFS proposes 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and prohibited species
catch allowances for the groundfish
fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands (BSAI) management area. This
action is necessary to establish harvest
limits for groundfish during the 2016
and 2017 fishing years, and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area. The
intended effect of this action is to
conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the BSAI in accordance
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
DATES: Comments must be received by
January 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this document, identified by NOAA–
NMFS–2015–0118, by any of the
following methods:
• Electronic Submission: Submit all
electronic public comments via the
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20150118, 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).
Electronic copies of the Alaska
Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Final
EIS), Record of Decision (ROD),
Supplementary Information Report
(SIR), 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 2014
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SUMMARY:
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Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
November 2014, is available from the
North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) at 605 West 4th
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99501–2252, phone 907–271–2809, or
from the Council’s Web site at https://
www.npfmc.org/. The draft 2015 SAFE
report for the BSAI is available from the
same source.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal
regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area
(FMP) and govern the groundfish
fisheries in the BSAI. The Council
prepared the FMP and NMFS approved
it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). General
regulations governing U.S. fisheries also
appear at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species
category. The sum TAC for all
groundfish species must be within the
optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see
§ 679.20(a)(1)(i)). Section 679.20(c)(1)
further requires NMFS to publish
proposed harvest specifications in the
Federal Register and solicit public
comments on proposed annual TACs
and apportionments thereof, prohibited
species catch (PSC) allowances,
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves
established by § 679.21, seasonal
allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and
Atka mackerel TAC, American Fisheries
Act allocations, Amendment 80
allocations, and Community
Development Quota (CDQ) reserve
amounts established by
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The proposed harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 17 of this action satisfy these
requirements.
Under § 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will
publish the final harvest specifications
for 2016 and 2017 after (1) considering
comments received within the comment
period (see DATES), (2) consulting with
the Council at its December 2015
meeting, (3) considering information
presented in the SIR that assesses the
need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (see
ADDRESSES) and (4) considering
information presented in the final 2015
SAFE reports prepared for the 2016 and
2017 groundfish fisheries.
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Other Actions Affecting the 2016 and
2017 Harvest Specifications
On November 30, 2015, the Alaska
Board of Fisheries (BOF), a regulatory
body for the State of Alaska Department
of Fish and Game (State), established a
guideline harvest level (GHL) in State
waters between 164 and 167 degrees
west longitude in the Bering Sea subarea
(BS) equal to 6.4 percent of the Pacific
cod acceptable biological catch (ABC)
for the BS. The action by the State will
require a downward adjustment of the
proposed 2016 and 2017 Bering Sea
subarea Pacific cod TAC because the
combined TAC and GHL is greater than
the proposed ABC of 255,000 mt.
The BOF for the State established a
GHL in State waters in the Aleutian
Islands subarea (AI) equal to 27 percent
of the Pacific cod ABC for the AI. The
action by the State does not require a
downward adjustment of the proposed
Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod
TAC because the combined TAC and
GHL (14,174 mt) is less than the
proposed ABC of 17,600 mt.
Accordingly, the Council will need to
consider these GHLs when
recommending the final 2016 and 2017
BSAI TACs. The Council is expected to
set the final Bering Sea subarea and
Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod
TACs less than the ABCs by amounts
that account for these 2016 and 2017
GHLs.
In addition, the Council’s BSAI
Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) is
reviewing the stock structure of BSAI
groundfish and may recommend
allocating current overfishing levels
(OFLs) or ABCs by subareas or reporting
areas.
At its June 2015 meeting, the Council
recommended reductions to the BSAI
halibut PSC limits by 21 percent
through Amendment 111 to the FMP. A
notice of availability associated with
those recommendations was published
on October 29, 2015 (80 FR 66486). The
specific reductions are 25 percent for
Amendment 80 cooperatives, 15 percent
for BSAI trawl limited access fisheries,
20 percent for CDQ fisheries, and 15
percent for non-trawl fisheries. These
reductions are expected to be
implemented in 2016, pending
Secretarial approval of Amendment 111.
On implementation of the reductions,
the 2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits
proposed by this action would be
reduced.
Proposed ABC and TAC Harvest
Specifications
At the October 2015 Council meeting,
the Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC), Advisory Panel (AP), and Council
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reviewed the most recent biological and
harvest information on the condition of
the BSAI groundfish stocks. The Plan
Team compiled and presented this
information, which was initially
compiled by the Plan Team and
presented in the final 2014 SAFE report
for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2014 (see ADDRESSES). The
amounts proposed for the 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications are based on
the 2014 SAFE report, and are subject to
change in the final harvest
specifications to be published by NMFS
following the Council’s December 2015
meeting. In November 2015, the Plan
Team updated the 2014 SAFE report to
include new information collected
during 2015, such as NMFS stock
surveys, revised stock assessments, and
catch data. At its December 2015
meeting, the Council will consider
information contained in the final 2015
SAFE report, recommendations from the
November 2015 Plan Team meeting,
public testimony from the December
2015 SSC and AP meetings, and
relevant written comments in making its
recommendations for the final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications.
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, which provide
updated estimates of stock biomass and
spatial distribution, and changes to the
models used in the stock assessments.
These changes were recommended by
the Plan Team in November 2015 and
are included in the final 2015 SAFE
report. The final 2015 SAFE report
includes the most recent information,
such as 2015 catch data. The final
harvest specification amounts for these
stocks are not expected to vary greatly
from the proposed harvest specification
amounts published here.
If the final 2015 SAFE report indicates
that the stock biomass trend is
increasing for a species, then the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications
may reflect an increase from the
proposed harvest specifications.
Conversely, if the final 2015 SAFE
report indicates that the stock biomass
trend is decreasing for a species, then
the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications may reflect a decrease
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from the proposed harvest
specifications. In addition to changes
driven by biomass trends, there may be
changes in TACs due to the sum of
ABCs exceeding 2 million mt. Since the
FMP requires TACs to be set to an OY
between 1.4 and 2 million mt, the
Council may be required to recommend
TACs that are lower than the ABCs
recommended by the Plan Team, if
setting TACs equal to ABCs would
cause TACs to exceed an OY of 2
million mt. Generally, ABCs greatly
exceed 2 million mt in years with a
large pollock biomass. NMFS
anticipates that, both for 2016 and 2017,
the sum of the ABCs will exceed 2
million mt. NMFS expects that the final
total TAC for the BSAI for both 2016
and 2017 will equal 2 million mt.
The proposed ABCs and TACs are
based on the best available biological
and socioeconomic data, including
projected biomass trends, information
on assumed distribution of stock
biomass, and revised methods used to
calculate stock biomass. In general, the
development of ABCs and OFLs
involves statistical modeling of fish
populations. The FMP specifies a series
of six tiers to define OFLs and ABCs
based on the level of reliable
information available to fishery
scientists. Tier 1 represents the highest
level of information quality available
while Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In October 2015, the SSC adopted the
proposed 2016 and 2017 OFLs and
ABCs recommended by the Plan Team
for all groundfish species. The Council
adopted the SSC’s OFL and ABC
recommendations. These amounts are
unchanged from the final 2016 harvest
specifications published in the Federal
Register on March 5, 2015 (80 FR
11919). The Council adopted the AP’s
TAC recommendations. For 2016 and
2017, the Council recommended and
NMFS proposes the OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs listed in Table 1. The proposed
ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are
less than the specified OFLs. The sum
of the proposed 2016 and 2017 ABCs for
all assessed groundfish is 2,731,897 mt,
which is the same as the final 2016 ABC
total in the final 2015 and 2016 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications (80 FR
11919, March 5, 2015).
Specification and Apportionment of
TAC Amounts
The Council recommended proposed
TACs for 2016 and 2017 that are equal
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to proposed ABCs for Bering Sea
sablefish, AI sablefish, AI ‘‘other
rockfish’’ and eastern Aleutian Islands
(EAI) Pacific ocean perch. The Council
recommended proposed TACs for 2016
and 2017 that are less than the proposed
ABCs for Bering Sea pollock, AI pollock,
Bogoslof pollock, Bering Sea Pacific
cod, AI Pacific cod, yellowfin sole,
Bering Sea Greenland turbot, AI
Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder,
rock sole, flathead sole, Alaska plaice,
‘‘other flatfish,’’ Bering Sea Pacific
ocean perch, central Aleutian Islands
(CAI) Pacific ocean perch, western
Aleutian Islands (WAI) Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, eastern Bering
Sea (EBS)/EAI rougheye rockfish, CAI/
WAI rougheye rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, Bering Sea ‘‘other rockfish,’’
Bering Sea/EAI, CAI, and WAI Atka
mackerel, skates, sculpins, sharks,
squids, and octopuses. Section
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI
pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when
the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds
19,000 mt. The Bogoslof pollock TAC is
set to accommodate incidental catch
amounts. TACs are set so that the sum
of the overall TAC does not exceed the
BSAI OY.
The proposed groundfish OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs are subject to change
pending the completion of the final
2015 SAFE report and the Council’s
recommendations for final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications during its
December 2015 meeting. These
proposed amounts are consistent with
the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2014 SAFE
report, and have been adjusted for other
biological and socioeconomic
considerations. 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.’’ Table 1 lists the
proposed 2016 and 2017 OFL, ABC,
TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ
amounts for groundfish for the BSAI.
The proposed apportionment of TAC
amounts among fisheries and seasons is
discussed below.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 1— PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL
ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Proposed 2016 and 2017
Species
Area
OFL
ABC
TAC
ITAC 2
Skates ............................................................
Sculpins ..........................................................
Sharks ............................................................
Squids ............................................................
Octopuses ......................................................
BS ............
AI .............
Bogoslof ...
BS ............
AI .............
BS ............
AI .............
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BS ............
AI .............
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BS ............
EAI ...........
CAI ...........
WAI ..........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
EBS/EAI ..
CAI/WAI ...
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BS ............
AI .............
BSAI ........
EAI/BS .....
CAI ...........
WAI ..........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
3,490,000
38,699
21,200
389,000
23,400
1,431
1,934
262,900
6,453
n/a
n/a
91,663
11,000
170,100
76,504
51,600
17,700
40,809
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
15,100
688
n/a
n/a
690
1,667
n/a
n/a
115,908
n/a
n/a
n/a
47,035
52,365
1,363
2,624
3,452
1,554,000
31,900
15,900
255,000
17,600
1,211
1,637
245,500
5,248
4,050
1,198
78,661
9,500
164,800
63,711
42,900
13,250
33,550
8,411
7,970
7,406
9,763
12,295
555
178
377
518
1,250
695
555
98,137
35,637
30,652
31,848
39,468
39,725
1,022
1,970
2,589
1,310,000
19,000
100
240,000
9,422
1,211
1,637
149,000
2,648
2,448
200
22,000
6,500
69,250
24,250
18,500
3,620
31,991
8,021
7,970
7,000
9,000
3,250
349
149
200
250
880
325
555
54,817
27,317
17,000
10,500
25,700
4,700
125
400
400
1,179,000
17,100
100
214,320
8,414
515
348
133,057
2,251
2,081
170
18,700
5,525
61,840
21,655
15,725
3,077
28,223
6,818
7,117
6,251
8,037
2,763
297
127
170
213
748
276
472
48,952
24,394
15,181
9,377
21,845
3,995
106
340
340
131,000
1,900
0
25,680
1,008
167
276
15,943
0
262
0
2,354
0
7,410
2,595
0
0
2,565
0
853
749
963
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,865
2,923
1,819
1,124
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL ....................................................
..................
4,935,285
2,731,897
2,000,000
1,789,447
197,025
Pollock ............................................................
Pacific cod ......................................................
Sablefish ........................................................
Yellowfin sole .................................................
Greenland turbot ............................................
Arrowtooth flounder ........................................
Kamchatka flounder .......................................
Rock sole 6 .....................................................
Flathead sole 7 ...............................................
Alaska plaice ..................................................
Other flatfish 8 ................................................
Pacific ocean perch .......................................
Northern rockfish ............................................
Rougheye rockfish 9 .......................................
Shortraker rockfish .........................................
Other rockfish 10 .............................................
Atka mackerel ................................................
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1 These
CDQ 3 4 5
amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of
these harvest specifications, the (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel,
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The
ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
3 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows:
inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian
Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
4 The Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod TACs are set to account for the State of Alaska guideline harvest level in
state waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
5 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific
cod), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish
TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, and 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC is allocated to trawl gear. The 2016 hook-and-line and
pot gear portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve will not be specified until the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications. 10.7 percent of
the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)).
Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other rockfish,’’ squids, octopuses, skates, sculpins, and sharks are not allocated to the CDQ program.
6 ‘‘Rock sole’’ includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
7 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
8 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
9 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye
rockfish.
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Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental
Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, Atka
Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole,
Yellowfin Sole, and AI Pacific Ocean
Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS
to reserve 15 percent of the TAC for
each target species category, except for
pollock, hook-and-line or pot gear
allocation of sablefish, and Amendment
80 species, in a non-specified reserve.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires
NMFS to allocate 20 percent of the
hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of
sablefish to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ
reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)
requires NMFS to allocate 7.5 percent of
the trawl gear allocation of sablefish and
10.7 percent of Bering Sea Greenland
turbot and arrowtooth flounder to the
respective CDQ reserves. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires NMFS to
allocate 10.7 percent of the TACs for
Atka mackerel, AI Pacific ocean perch,
yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole,
and Pacific cod to the CDQ reserves.
Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a)
also require allocation of 10 percent of
the BSAI pollock TACs to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA).
The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA (see
§ 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of
the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish
CDQ reserve, the regulations do not
further apportion the CDQ reserves by
gear.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1),
NMFS proposes a pollock ICA of 4.0
percent or 47,160 mt of the Bering Sea
subarea pollock TAC after subtracting
the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This
allowance is based on NMFS’
examination of the pollock incidentally
retained and discarded catch, including
the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from
2000 through 2015. During this 16-year
period, the pollock incidental catch
ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006
to a high of 4.8 percent in 2014, with a
16-year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii),
NMFS proposes a pollock ICA of 2,400
mt of the AI subarea TAC after
subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA.
This allowance is based on NMFS’
examination of the pollock incidental
catch, including the incidental catch by
CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other
than pollock from 2003 through 2014.
During this 12-year period, the
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incidental catch of pollock ranged from
a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of
17 percent in 2013, with a 12-year
average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10),
NMFS proposes ICAs of 5,000 mt of
flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole,
3,500 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of
Western Aleutian District Pacific ocean
perch, 75 mt of Central Aleutian District
Pacific ocean perch, 200 mt of Eastern
Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 40
mt of Western Aleutian District Atka
mackerel, 75 mt of Central Aleutian
District Atka mackerel, and 1,000 mt of
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea
subarea Atka mackerel after subtracting
the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These
ICAs are based on NMFS’ examination
of the average incidental retained and
discarded catch in other target fisheries
from 2003 through 2014.
The regulations do not designate the
remainder of the non-specified reserve
by species or species group. Any
amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that
contributed to the non-specified reserve,
provided that such apportionments do
not result in overfishing (see
§ 679.20(b)(1)(i)).
Allocations of Pollock TAC Under the
American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that
Bering Sea pollock TAC be apportioned
after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ
program and 4.0 percent for the ICA as
a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the
inshore sector, 40 percent to the
catcher/processor sector, and 10 percent
to the mothership sector. In the Bering
Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is
allocated to the A season (January 20 to
June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is
allocated to the B season (June 10 to
November 1) (§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)). The
AI directed pollock fishery allocation to
the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock remaining in the AI subarea
after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ
DFA (10 percent), and 2,400 mt for the
ICA (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the
AI subarea, the A season pollock TAC
may equal up to 40 percent of the ABC,
and the remainder of the pollock TAC
is allocated to the B season. Table 2 lists
these proposed 2016 and 2017 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets
harvest limits for pollock in the A
season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas
543, 542, and 541. In Area 543, the A
season pollock harvest limit is no more
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than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands
pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A season
pollock harvest limit is no more than 15
percent of the Aleutian Islands ABC. In
Area 541, the A season pollock harvest
limit is no more than 30 percent of the
Aleutian Islands ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also
includes several specific requirements
regarding Bering Sea subarea pollock
allocations. First, it requires that 8.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the
catcher/processor sector be available for
harvest by AFA catcher vessels with
catcher/processor sector endorsements,
unless the Regional Administrator
receives a cooperative contract that
allows the distribution of harvest among
AFA catcher/processors and AFA
catcher vessels in a manner agreed to by
all members. Second, AFA catcher/
processors not listed in the AFA are
limited to harvesting not more than 0.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the
catcher/processor sector. Table 2 lists
the proposed 2016 and 2017 allocations
of pollock TAC. Tables 14 through 17
list the AFA catcher/processor and
catcher vessel harvesting sideboard
limits. The Bering Sea subarea inshore
pollock cooperative and open access
sector allocations are based on the
submission of AFA inshore cooperative
applications due to NMFS on December
1 of each calendar year. Because AFA
inshore cooperative applications for
2016 have not been submitted to NMFS,
and NMFS therefore cannot calculate
2016 allocations, NMFS has not
included inshore cooperative text and
tables in these proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS will post 2016
AFA inshore cooperative allocations on
the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the
start of the fishing year on January 1,
2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
Table 2 also lists proposed seasonal
apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion
Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest of
pollock within the SCA, as defined at
§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more
than 28 percent of the DFA before noon,
April 1, as provided in
§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season
pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each sector in proportion
to each sector’s allocated percentage of
the DFA. Table 2 lists these proposed
2016 and 2017 amounts by sector.
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TABLE 2—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO
THE CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
A season 1
2016 and 2017
Allocations
Area and sector
Bering Sea subarea TAC ..........................................................................
CDQ DFA ...................................................................................................
ICA 1 ...........................................................................................................
AFA Inshore ...............................................................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 .........................................................................
Catch by C/Ps ....................................................................................
Catch by C/Vs 3 ..................................................................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ......................................................................
AFA Motherships .......................................................................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ......................................................................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 .....................................................................
Total Bering Sea DFA (non-CDQ) .............................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ...................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC ...................................................................
CDQ DFA ...................................................................................................
ICA .............................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .......................................................................................
Area 541 harvest limit 7 ..............................................................................
Area 542 harvest limit 7 ..............................................................................
Area 543 harvest limit 7 ..............................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 7 ................................................................................
1,310,000
131,000
47,160
565,920
452,736
414,253
38,483
2,264
113,184
198,072
339,552
1,131,840
31,900
19,000
1,900
2,400
14,700
9,570
4,785
1,595
100
A season DFA
n/a
52,400
n/a
226,368
181,094
165,701
15,393
905
45,274
n/a
n/a
452,736
n/a
n/a
760
1,200
13,520
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
B season 1
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
36,680
n/a
158,458
126,766
n/a
n/a
n/a
31,692
n/a
n/a
316,915
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
B season DFA
n/a
78,600
n/a
339,552
271,642
248,552
23,090
1,358
67,910
n/a
n/a
679,104
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,200
1,180
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0
percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector 50 percent, catcher/processor sector 40 percent, and mothership sector 10 percent. In
the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ
DFA (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A
season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC, and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
2 In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors (C/Ps) shall be available for
harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed C/Ps.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
processor sector’s allocation of pollock.
5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock
DFAs not including CDQ.
6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock
DFAs not including CDQ.
7 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka
mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors,
after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig
gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector and nontrawl gear sectors (Table 3). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka
mackerel allocated to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors
is listed in Table 33 to part 679 and in
§ 679.91. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8)(i),
up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian
District and Bering Sea subarea Atka
mackerel ITAC may be allocated to jig
gear. The percent of this allocation is
recommended annually by the Council
based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig
gear fleet. The Council recommended
and NMFS proposes a 0.5 percent
allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in
the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering
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Sea subarea to jig gear in 2016 and 2017.
This percentage is applied to the TAC
after subtracting the CDQ reserve and
the ICA.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions
the Atka mackerel TAC into two equal
seasonal allowances. Section
679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal
allowance for directed fishing with
trawl gear from January 20 through June
10 (A season), and the second seasonal
allowance from June 10 through
December 31 (B season). Section
679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel
seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing.
The ICA and jig gear allocations are not
apportioned by season.
Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and
(ii) limit Atka mackerel catch within
waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion
sites listed in Table 6 to this part and
located west of 178° W longitude to no
more than 60 percent of the annual
TACs in Areas 542 and 543; and equally
divides the annual TAC between the A
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and B seasons as defined at
§ 679.23(e)(3). Section
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the annual
TAC in Area 543 will be no more than
65 percent of the ABC in Area 543.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that
any unharvested Atka mackerel A
season allowance that is added to the B
season be prohibited from being
harvested within waters 0 nm to 20 nm
of Steller sea lion sites listed in Table
6 to this part and located in Areas 541,
542, and 543.
Two Amendment 80 cooperatives
have formed for the 2016 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are
part of a cooperative, no allocation to
the Amendment 80 limited access sector
is required. NMFS will post 2016
Amendment 80 cooperative allocations
on the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the
start of the fishing year on January 1,
2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
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Table 3 lists these 2016 and 2017 Atka
mackerel season allowances, area
allowances, and the sector allocations.
The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80
species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by
November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017
Amendment 80 cooperatives and
Amendment 80 limited access
76431
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
prior to the start of the fishing year on
January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
TABLE 3–PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL
CATCH ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC .......................................................
CDQ reserve .........................................
n/a ..........................................................
Total .......................................................
A .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
B .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
Total .......................................................
Total .......................................................
Total .......................................................
A .............................................................
B .............................................................
Total .......................................................
Total .......................................................
27,317
2,923
1,461
n/a
1,461
n/a
1,000
117
2,328
1,164
1,164
20,949
11,766
17,000
1,819
910
91
910
91
75
0
1,511
755
755
13,595
8,114
10,500
1,124
562
n/a
562
n/a
40
0
0
0
0
9,337
5,742
A .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
B .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
Total .......................................................
A .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
B .............................................................
Critical habitat 5 ......................................
5,883
n/a
5,883
n/a
9,183
4,592
n/a
4,592
n/a
4,057
406
4,057
406
5,481
2,741
274
2,741
274
2,871
n/a
2,871
n/a
3,595
1,798
n/a
1,798
n/a
ICA .........................................................
Jig 6 ........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ......................
Amendment 80 7 ....................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for
2016.
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 ..
Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Sea
Central Aleutian
District
Western Aleutian
District
1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and the jig gear allocation, to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited
access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants
(see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
2 Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
3 The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
4 Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10, and the B
season from June 10 to December 31.
5 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of critical habitat; paragraph (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and paragraph
(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC.
6 Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear
after subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
7 The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector
will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council recommended and
NMFS proposes separate BS and AI
subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for
Pacific cod. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)
allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC
and the AI TAC to the CDQ program.
After CDQ allocations have been
deducted from the respective BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, the remaining BS and
AI Pacific cod TACs are combined for
calculating further BSAI Pacific cod
sector allocations. However, if the nonCDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be
reached in either the BS or AI subareas,
NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed
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fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea,
as provided in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii)
allocate the Pacific cod TAC in the
combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting
10.7 percent for the CDQ program, as
follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig
gear, 2.0 percent to hook-and-line and
pot catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3
m) length overall (LOA), 0.2 percent to
hook-and-line catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 48.7
percent to hook-and-line catcher/
processors, 8.4 percent to pot catcher
vessels greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot
catcher/processors, 2.3 percent to AFA
trawl catcher/processors, 13.4 percent to
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non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and
22.1 percent to trawl catcher vessels.
The BSAI ICA for the hook-and-line and
pot sectors will be deducted from the
aggregate portion of BSAI Pacific cod
TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and
pot sectors. For 2016 and 2017, the
Regional Administrator proposes a BSAI
ICA of 500 mt, based on anticipated
incidental catch by these sectors in
other fisheries.
The BSAI ITAC allocation of Pacific
cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and
§ 679.91. Two Amendment 80
cooperatives have formed for the 2016
fishing year. Because all Amendment 80
vessels are part of a cooperative, no
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allocation to the Amendment 80 limited
access sector is required. NMFS will
post 2016 Amendment 80 cooperative
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
prior to the start of the fishing year on
January 1, 2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 allocations for Amendment
80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by
November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017
Amendment 80 cooperatives and
Amendment 80 limited access
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
prior to the start of the fishing year on
January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned
into seasonal allowances to disperse the
Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing
year (see §§ 679.20(a)(7) and
679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with
§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused
portion of a seasonal Pacific cod
allowance will become available at the
beginning of the next seasonal
allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires the
Regional Administrator to establish an
Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based
on Pacific cod abundance in Area 543.
Based on the 2014 stock assessment, the
Regional Administrator determined the
Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit to be
26.3 percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC
for 2016 and 2017. NMFS first
subtracted the State GHL Pacific cod
amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC
and then multiplied the remaining ABC
for AI Pacific cod by the percentage of
Pacific cod estimated in Area 543. Based
on these calculations, the Area 543
harvest limit is 2,478 mt.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season
allowances by gear based on the
proposed 2016 and 2017 Pacific cod
TACs are listed in Table 4 based on the
sector allocation percentages of Pacific
cod set forth at § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and
(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at
§ 679.23(e)(5).
TABLE 4—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI 1 PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Sector
2016 and
2017 share of
gear sector
total
Percent
2016 and
2017 share of
sector total
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
100
60.8
n/a
n/a
48.7
240,000
25,680
214,320
9,422
1,008
8,414
2,478
222,734
135,422
n/a
134,922
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
500
n/a
08,071
Hook-and-line catcher vessels ≥60 ft LOA ...
0.2
n/a
444
Pot catcher/processors .................................
1.5
n/a
3,329
Pot catcher vessels >60 ft LOA ...................
8.4
n/a
18,641
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using hookand-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels ...................................
2
n/a
4,438
22.1
49,224
n/a
AFA trawl catcher/processors .......................
2.3
5,123
n/a
Amendment 80 .............................................
13.4
29,846
n/a
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 3 ...
n/a
4,711
n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 3 .......
n/a
25,135
n/a
Jig .................................................................
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Total Bering Sea TAC ..................................
Bering Sea CDQ ...........................................
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC ...........................
Total Aleutian Islands TAC ...........................
Aleutian Islands CDQ ...................................
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC ....................
Western Aleutians Islands Limit ...................
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 ..........................
Total hook-and-line/pot gear .........................
Hook-and-line/pot ICA 2 ................................
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ...........................
Hook-and-line catcher/processors ................
1.4
3,118
n/a
2016 and 2017 seasonal apportionment
Season
Amount
n/a .........................................
See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ........
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
See § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ........
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
n/a .........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .....................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .....................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ......................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ......................
n/a .........................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
55,116
52,955
226
217
1,698
1,631
9,507
9,134
n/a
Jan 20–Apr 1 ........................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .......................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ........................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .......................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ........................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .......................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ........................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .......................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ........................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ........................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .......................
Jan 1–Apr 30 ........................
Apr 30–Aug 31 .....................
Aug 31–Dec 31 .....................
36,426
5,415
7,384
3,842
1,281
0
22,385
7,462
0
3,533
1,178
0
18,851
6,284
0
1,871
624
624
1 The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs. If the TAC for
Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line
and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator proposes an ICA of 500 mt for 2016 and 2017 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
3 The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
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Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)
require allocation of sablefish TACs for
the Bering Sea and AI subareas between
trawl gear and hook-and-line or pot
gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for
the Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent
for trawl gear and 50 percent for hookand-line or pot gear. Gear allocations for
the TACs for the AI subarea are 25
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to
fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut
IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and
halibut IFQ fisheries would reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and
sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries would remain
closed at the beginning of each fishing
year until the final harvest
specifications for the sablefish IFQ
fisheries are in effect. Table 5 lists the
proposed 2016 and 2017 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and
CDQ reserve amounts.
apportion 20 percent of the hook-andline and pot gear allocation of sablefish
to the CDQ reserve. Additionally,
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of
sablefish from the nonspecified
reserves, established under
§ 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ
reserve. The Council recommended that
only trawl sablefish TAC be established
biennially. The harvest specifications
for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries will be limited to the 2016
TABLE 5—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Percent of
TAC
Subarea and gear
2016 share of
TAC
2016 CDQ
reserve
2016 ITAC 1
2017 share of
TAC
2017 ITAC
2017 CDQ
reserve
Bering Sea:
Trawl ......................................................
Hook-and-line gear 2 ..............................
50
50
606
606
515
n/a
45
121
606
n/a
515
n/a
45
n/a
Total ................................................
100
1,211
515
167
606
515
45
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl ......................................................
Hook-and-line gear 2 ..............................
25
75
409
1,228
348
n/a
31
246
409
n/a
348
n/a
31
n/a
Total ................................................
100
1,637
348
276
409
348
31
1 Except
for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
2 For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants.
Section 679.20(b)(1) does not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead
Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii)
require that NMFS allocate AI Pacific
ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs
between the Amendment 80 and BSAI
trawl limited access sectors, after
subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and vessels using
non-trawl gear. The allocation of the
ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80
sector is established in Tables 33 and 34
to part 679 and in § 679.91.
Two Amendment 80 cooperatives
have formed for the 2016 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are
part of a cooperative, no allocation to
the Amendment 80 limited access sector
is required. NMFS will post 2016
Amendment 80 cooperative allocations
on the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the
start of the fishing year on January 1,
2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 allocations for Amendment
80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by
November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017
Amendment 80 cooperatives and
Amendment 80 limited access
allocations on the Alaska Region Web
site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
prior to the start of the fishing year on
January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
Table 6 lists the proposed 2016 and
2017 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean
perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole TACs.
TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH
AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI
FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2016 and 2017 allocations
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Flathead sole
Eastern
Aleutian
District
TAC ..........................................................
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
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7,970
853
200
692
6,225
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Central
Aleutian
District
Western
Aleutian
District
7,000
749
75
618
5,558
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9,000
963
10
161
7,866
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
24,250
2,595
5,000
0
16,655
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69,250
7,410
6,000
0
55,840
149,000
15,943
3,500
16,765
112,792
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TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH
AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI
FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 and 2017 allocations
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Flathead sole
Eastern
Aleutian
District
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for
2016 1 ...................................................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 1 ..
Central
Aleutian
District
3,301
2,924
Western
Aleutian
District
2,947
2,611
4,171
3,695
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
1,708
14,947
13,813
42,027
44,812
67,980
1 The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus
for flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole as the difference between
the annual ABC and TAC for each
species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii)
establishes ABC reserves for flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The
ABC surpluses and the ABC reserves are
necessary to mitigate the operational
variability, environmental conditions,
and economic factors that may constrain
the CDQ groups and the Amendment 80
cooperatives from achieving, on a
continuing basis, the optimum yield in
the BSAI groundfish fisheries. NMFS,
after consultation with the Council, may
set the ABC reserve at or below the ABC
surplus for each species thus
maintaining the TAC below ABC limits.
An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the
ABC reserves will be allocated as CDQ
reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole. The Amendment 80 ABC
reserves shall be the ABC reserves
minus the CDQ ABC reserves. Section
679.91(i)(2) establishes each
Amendment 80 cooperative ABC reserve
to be the ratio of each cooperatives’
quota share (QS) units and the total
Amendment 80 QS units, multiplied by
the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for
each respective species. Table 7 lists the
2016 and 2017 ABC surplus and ABC
reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole.
TABLE 7—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 ABC SURPLUS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC RESERVES, AND
AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Sector
Flathead sole
ABC ..............................................................................................................................................
TAC ..............................................................................................................................................
ABC surplus .................................................................................................................................
ABC reserve ................................................................................................................................
CDQ ABC reserve .......................................................................................................................
Amendment 80 ABC reserve .......................................................................................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 1 ..................................................................................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 1 ......................................................................................
63,711
24,250
39,461
39,461
4,222
35,239
3,615
31,624
Rock sole
164,800
69,250
95,550
95,550
10,224
85,326
21,107
64,219
Yellowfin sole
245,500
149,000
96,500
96,500
10,326
86,175
34,240
51,935
1 The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Proposed PSC Limits for Halibut,
Salmon, Crab, and Herring
As discussed above, NMFS published
a notice of availability to implement
Amendment 111 to the FMP (80 FR
66486, October 29, 2015). Amendment
95 would reduce halibut PSC limits in
the BSAI by 25 percent for Amendment
80 cooperatives, 15 percent for BSAI
trawl limited access fisheries, 20
percent for CDQ fisheries, and 15
percent for non-trawl fisheries. These
reductions are expected to be
implemented in 2016, pending
Secretarial approval of Amendment 111.
On implementation of the reductions,
the 2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits
proposed by this action would be
reduced.
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Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI
PSC limits. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and (e)(2), the 2016 and 2017 BSAI
halibut mortality limits are 3,675 mt for
trawl fisheries, and 900 mt for the nontrawl fisheries. Sections
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A)
allocate 326 mt of the trawl halibut
mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67
mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality
limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes
apportionment of the non-trawl halibut
PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances
among six fishery categories. Table 10
lists the fishery bycatch allowances for
the trawl fisheries, and Table 11 lists the
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fishery bycatch allowances for the nontrawl fisheries.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP,
the Council recommends, and NMFS
agrees, that certain specified non-trawl
fisheries be exempt from the halibut
PSC limit. As in past years after
consultation with the Council, NMFS
exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery
categories from halibut bycatch
restrictions for the following reasons: (1)
The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates
halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to
be negligible because of the small size
of the fishery and the selectivity of the
gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut
IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
mortality because the IFQ program
requires legal-size halibut to be retained
by vessels using hook-and-line gear if a
halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired
master is aboard and is holding unused
halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part
679). In 2015, total groundfish catch for
the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
35,298 mt, with an associated halibut
bycatch mortality of 1.8 mt.
The 2015 jig gear fishery harvested
about 28 mt of groundfish. Most vessels
in the jig gear fleet are exempt from
observer coverage requirements. As a
result, observer data are not available on
halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery.
However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates a negligible amount of halibut
bycatch mortality because of the
selective nature of jig gear and the low
mortality rate of halibut caught with jig
gear and released.
Under § 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually
allocates portions of either 47,591 or
60,000 Chinook salmon PSC among the
AFA sectors, depending on past catch
performance and on whether Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements are formed. If an AFA sector
participates in an approved Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement, then NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that
sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement is approved, or if the sector
has exceeded its performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6), NMFS will allocate
a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon
PSC limit to that sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2016, the
Chinook salmon PSC limit is 60,000,
and the AFA sector Chinook salmon
allocations are seasonally allocated with
70 percent of the allocation for the A
season pollock fishery, and 30 percent
of the allocation for the B season
pollock fishery as stated in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for these
PSC limits is described in detail in the
final rule implementing management
measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR
53026, August 30, 2010). NMFS
publishes the approved Chinook salmon
bycatch incentive plan agreements,
allocations, and reports at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/bycatch/
default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700
fish as the 2016 and 2017 Chinook
salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea
pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5
percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the
AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program
and allocates the remaining 647
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Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ
fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies
42,000 fish as the 2016 and 2017 nonChinook salmon PSC limit in the
Catcher Vessel Operational Area
(CVOA). Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii)
allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494, nonChinook salmon in the CVOA as the
PSQ for the CDQ program, and allocates
the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook
salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are
specified annually based on abundance
and spawning biomass. Due to the lack
of new information as of October 2015
regarding herring PSC limits and
apportionments, the Council
recommended and NMFS proposes
basing the herring 2016 and 2017 PSC
limits and apportionments on the 2014
survey data. The Council will
reconsider these amounts in December
2015.
Section § 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1)
allocates 10.7 percent of each trawl gear
PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ
program.
Based on 2015 survey data, the red
king crab mature female abundance is
estimated at 18.6 million red king crabs,
which is above the threshold of 8.4
million red king crabs, and the effective
spawning biomass is estimated at 46.5
million lbs (21,092 mt). Based on the
criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(i), the
proposed 2016 and 2017 PSC limit of
red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear
is 97,000 animals. This limit derives
from the mature female abundance
estimate of more than 8.4 million red
king crab and the effective spawning
biomass estimate of more than 14.5
million lbs (6,577 mt) but less than 55
million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)
establishes criteria under which NMFS
must specify an annual red king crab
bycatch limit for the Red King Crab
Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The
regulations limit the RKCSS to up to 25
percent of the red king crab PSC
allowance based on the need to
optimize the groundfish harvest relative
to red king crab bycatch. NMFS
proposes the Council’s recommendation
that the red king crab bycatch limit be
equal to 25 percent of the red king crab
PSC allowance within the RKCSS (Table
8). Based on 2015 survey data, Tanner
crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is
estimated at 329 million animals.
Pursuant to criteria set out at
§ 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2016
and 2017 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for
trawl gear is 830,000 animals in Zone 1,
and 2,520,000 animals in Zone 2. In
Zone 1, C. bairdi abundance was
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76435
estimated to be greater than 270 million
and less than 400 million animals. In
Zone 2, C. bairdi abundance was
estimated to be greater than 290 million
animals and less than 400 million
animals.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC
limit for snow crab (C. opilio) is based
on total abundance as indicated by the
NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The
C. opilio crab PSC limit in the C. opilio
bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set
at 0.1133 percent of the Bering Sea
abundance index minus 150,000 crabs.
Based on the 2015 survey estimate of
4.288 billion animals, the calculated C.
opilio crab PSC limit is 4,708,314
animals.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC
limit of Pacific herring caught while
conducting any trawl operation for BSAI
groundfish is 1 percent of the annual
eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The
best estimate of 2016 and 2017 herring
biomass is 274,236 mt. This amount was
developed by the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game based on spawning
location estimates. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit proposed for 2016 and
2017 is 2,742 mt for all trawl gear as
listed in Tables 8 and 9.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires
PSQ reserves to be subtracted from the
total trawl PSC limits. The amount of
the 2016 PSC limits assigned to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited
access sectors are specified in Table 35
to part 679. The resulting allocations of
PSC limits to CDQ PSQ, the
Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI
trawl limited access sector are listed in
Table 8. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and § 679.91(d) through (f), crab and
halibut trawl PSC limits assigned to the
Amendment 80 sector is then further
allocated to Amendment 80
cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota
as listed in Table 12. Two Amendment
80 cooperatives have formed for the
2016 fishing year. Because all
Amendment 80 vessels are part of a
cooperative, no allocation to the
Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required. NMFS will post 2016
Amendment 80 cooperative allocations
on the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the
start of the fishing year on January 1,
2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 PSC limit allocations
between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in
the program by November 1, 2016.
NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80
cooperatives and Amendment 80
limited access allocations on the Alaska
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Amendment 80 limited access sectors to
maximize the ability of the fleet to
harvest the available groundfish TAC
and to minimize bycatch. The factors
considered are (1) seasonal distribution
of prohibited species, (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species,
(3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal
basis relevant to prohibited species
biomass, (4) expected variations in
Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the
start of the fishing year on January 1,
2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes
NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal
apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and
bycatch rates throughout the year, (5)
expected start of fishing effort, and (6)
economic effects of seasonal PSC
apportionments on industry sectors. The
Council recommended and NMFS
proposes the seasonal PSC
apportionments in Table 10 to maximize
harvest among gear types, fisheries, and
seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.
TABLE 8—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 APPORTIONMENT OF PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH ALLOWANCES TO NON–TRAWL
GEAR, THE CDQ PROGRAM, AMENDMENT 80, AND THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS SECTORS
Total non-trawl
PSC
PSC species and area 1
Non-trawl PSC
remaining after
CDQ PSQ 2
900
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
832
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI ...........................
Herring (mt) BSAI ..........................................
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 ...................
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ ............................
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 ....................
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 ....................
Trawl PSC
remaining after
CDQ PSQ 2
Total trawl
PSC
3,675
2,742
97,000
4,708,314
830,000
2,520,000
CDQ PSQ
reserve 2
3,349
n/a
86,621
4,204,524
741,190
2,250,360
Amendment
80 sector 3
393
n/a
10,379
503,790
88,810
269,640
2,325
n/a
43,293
2,066,524
312,115
532,660
BSAI trawl
limited access
fishery
875
n/a
26,489
1,351,334
348,285
1,053,394
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and § 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut
mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit.
3 The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab PSC. These reductions are not
apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
2 Section
TABLE 9—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED, SPECIES CATCH
ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS
Herring (mt)
BSAI
Fishery categories
Red king crab
(animals)
Zone 1
Yellowfin sole ...........................................................................................................................................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 1 ....................................................................................................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka flounder/sablefish .....................................................................
Rockfish ...................................................................................................................................................................
Pacific cod ...............................................................................................................................................................
Midwater trawl pollock .............................................................................................................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species2 3 ...................................................................................................................
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 4 ........................................................................................
187
30
20
14
42
2,242
207
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
24,250
Total trawl PSC ................................................................................................................................................
2,742
97,000
1 ‘‘Other
flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
2 Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ‘‘other species’’ fishery category.
3 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, squids, and octopuses.
4 In October 2015 the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited to
25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
TABLE 10—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED
ACCESS SECTOR
Prohibited species and area 1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries
Red king
crab
(animals)
Zone 1
Halibut
mortality
(mt) BSAI
Yellowfin sole .......................................................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 .................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish ...........................................................................
Rockfish April 15–December 31 ..........................................
Pacific cod ............................................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3 .................................
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC ..................................
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
Zone 2
167
0
23,338
0
1,273,886
0
293,234
0
1,005,879
0
0
5
453
250
875
0
0
2,954
197
26,489
0
2,104
54,298
21,046
1,351,334
0
0
50,816
4,235
348,285
0
849
42,424
4,242
1,053,394
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
3 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, squids, and octopuses.
2 ‘‘Other
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR NON-TRAWL
FISHERIES
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
Catcher/
processor
Non-trawl fisheries
Seasons
Pacific cod ................................................
Total Pacific cod .......................................
January 1–June 10 ...................................
June 10–August 15 ..................................
August 15–December 31 .........................
May 1–December 31 ................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
n/a .............................................................
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl .........................
Groundfish pot and jig ..............................
Sablefish hook-and-line ............................
Total for all non-trawl PSC .......................
Catcher vessel
760
455
190
115
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
All Non-trawl
15
10
3
2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
775
n/a
n/a
n/a
58
Exempt
Exempt
833
TABLE 12—PROPOSED 2016 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES
Prohibited species and zones 1
Cooperative
Halibut mortality
(mt) BSAI
Red king crab
(animals) Zone 1
632
1,693
12,459
30,834
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative .......................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...........................
1 Refer
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
650,551
1,415,973
82,136
229,979
Zone 2
137,369
395,291
to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMRs)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the
Regional Administrator uses observed
halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, and
estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery’s halibut bycatch
mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The DMRs
are based on the best information
available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) and the Council for
the 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish
fisheries for use in monitoring the 2016
and 2017 halibut bycatch allowances
(see Tables 8, 10, 11, and 12). The IPHC
developed these DMRs for the 2016 to
2017 BSAI fisheries using the 10-year
mean DMRs for those fisheries. The
IPHC will analyze observer data
annually and recommend changes to the
DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large
variation from the mean. A discussion
of the DMRs and their justification is
available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES). Table 13 lists the 2016 and
2017 DMRs.
TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 ASSUMED PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI
Halibut discard
mortality rate
(percent)
Gear
Fishery
Non-CDQ hook-and-line ..........
Greenland turbot ...........................................................................................................................
Other species 1 ..............................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Rockfish ........................................................................................................................................
Alaska plaice .................................................................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder .......................................................................................................................
Atka mackerel ...............................................................................................................................
Flathead sole ................................................................................................................................
Greenland turbot ...........................................................................................................................
Kamchatka flounder ......................................................................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock .......................................................................................................................
Pelagic pollock ..............................................................................................................................
Other flatfish 2 ................................................................................................................................
Other species 1 ..............................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Rockfish ........................................................................................................................................
Rock sole ......................................................................................................................................
Sablefish .......................................................................................................................................
Yellowfin sole ................................................................................................................................
Other species 1 ..............................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Atka mackerel ...............................................................................................................................
Arrowtooth flounder .......................................................................................................................
Flathead sole ................................................................................................................................
Kamchatka flounder ......................................................................................................................
Non-pelagic pollock .......................................................................................................................
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Non-CDQ trawl .........................
Non-CDQ pot ...........................
CDQ trawl ................................
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11
9
9
4
66
84
82
72
82
84
81
88
63
66
66
83
86
75
84
20
20
82
84
79
84
86
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 ASSUMED PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI—
Continued
Gear
Halibut discard
mortality rate
(percent)
Fishery
CDQ hook-and-line ..................
CDQ pot ...................................
Pelagic pollock ..............................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Greenland turbot ...........................................................................................................................
Rockfish ........................................................................................................................................
Rock sole ......................................................................................................................................
Yellowfin sole ................................................................................................................................
Greenland turbot ...........................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Pacific cod .....................................................................................................................................
Sablefish .......................................................................................................................................
90
87
89
69
86
85
4
10
8
41
1 ‘‘Other
species’’ includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
2 ‘‘Other
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor
Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of listed AFA
catcher/processors to engage in directed
fishing for groundfish species other than
pollock, to protect participants in other
groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery
cooperatives in the directed pollock
fishery. These restrictions are set out as
‘‘sideboard’’ limits on catch. The basis
for these proposed sideboard limits is
described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of
the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 14 lists the
proposed 2016 and 2017 catcher/
processor sideboard limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard
species by listed AFA catcher/
processors, whether as targeted catch or
incidental catch, will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Table 14.
However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA catcher/
processors by catcher vessels will not be
deducted from the 2016 and 2017
sideboard limits for the listed AFA
catcher/processors.
TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR LISTED AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT
CATCHER/PROCESSORS (C/PS)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Retained catch
Target species
Sablefish trawl .....................
Greenland turbot .................
Arrowtooth flounder .............
Kamchatka flounder ............
Rock sole ............................
Flathead sole ......................
Alaska plaice .......................
Other flatfish ........................
Pacific ocean perch ............
Northern rockfish .................
Rougheye rockfish ..............
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Shortraker rockfish ..............
Other rockfish ......................
Atka mackerel .....................
Skates .................................
Sculpins ...............................
Sharks .................................
Squids .................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Total catch
Ratio of
retained catch
to total catch
8
0
121
23
76
76
6,317
1,925
14
3,058
12
125
3
54
91
50
50
50
18
22
........................
n/a
n/a
........................
n/a
n/a
553
553
553
73
497
145
17,305
4,987
33,987
33,987
169,362
52,755
9,438
52,298
4,879
6,179
5,698
13,598
13,040
2,811
2,811
2,811
621
806
........................
n/a
n/a
........................
n/a
n/a
68,672
68,672
68,672
3,328
0.016
0
0.007
0.005
0.002
0.002
0.037
0.036
0.001
0.058
0.002
0.02
0.001
0.004
0.007
0.018
0.018
0.018
0.029
0.027
........................
0.115
0.115
........................
0.2
0.2
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.022
Area
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BS .......................................
Eastern AI ..........................
Central AI ...........................
Western AI .........................
BSAI ...................................
EBS/EAI .............................
CAI/WAI ..............................
BSAI ...................................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
Central AI ...........................
A season 2 ..........................
B season 2 ..........................
Western AI .........................
A season 2 ..........................
B season 2 ..........................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
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2016 and
2017 ITAC
available to all
trawl C/Ps 1
2016 and
2017 AFA C/P
sideboard limit
515
348
2,081
170
18,700
5,525
61,840
21,655
15,725
3,077
6,818
7,117
6,251
8,037
2,763
149
200
250
325
555
........................
7,591
7,591
........................
4,689
4,689
21,845
3,995
125
340
8
0
15
1
37
11
2,288
780
16
178
14
142
6
32
19
3
4
5
9
15
........................
873
873
........................
938
938
175
32
1
7
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
76439
TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR LISTED AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT
CATCHER/PROCESSORS (C/PS)—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Target species
Area
Retained catch
Octopuses ...........................
BSAI ...................................
Total catch
553
Ratio of
retained catch
to total catch
2016 and
2017 ITAC
available to all
trawl C/Ps 1
2016 and
2017 AFA C/P
sideboard limit
0.008
400
3
68,672
1 Aleutians
Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of
the TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
2 The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of
the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Note: Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2016 and 2017 aggregate
ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40
and 41 to part 679 establish a formula
for calculating PSC sideboard limits for
listed AFA catcher/processors. The
basis for these sideboard limits is
described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of
the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007).
PSC species listed in Table 15 that are
caught by listed AFA catcher/processors
participating in any groundfish fishery
other than pollock will accrue against
the proposed 2016 and 2017 PSC
sideboard limits for the listed AFA
catcher/processors. Section
679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to
close directed fishing for groundfish
other than pollock for listed AFA
catcher/processors once a proposed
2016 or 2017 PSC sideboard limit listed
in Table 15 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed
AFA catcher/processors while fishing
for pollock will accrue against the
bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the
pollock/Atka mackerel/‘‘other species’’
fishery categories, according to
§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 15–PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 BSAI PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT
LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSORS
Ratio of PSC to
total PSC
PSC species and area 1
BSAI Halibut mortality ......................................................................................................
Red king crab Zone 1 ......................................................................................................
C. opilio (COBLZ) ............................................................................................................
C. bairdi ...........................................................................................................................
Zone 1 ..............................................................................................................................
Zone 2 ..............................................................................................................................
1 Refer
Proposed 2016
and 2017 PSC
available to trawl
vessels after
subtraction of
PSQ 2
n/a
0.007
0.153
n/a
0.14
0.05
n/a
86,621
4,204,524
n/a
741,190
2,250,360
Proposed 2016
and 2017 C/P
sideboard limit 2
286
606
643,292
n/a
103,767
112,518
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
2 Halibut
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Pursuant to § 679.64(b), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of AFA catcher
vessels to engage in directed fishing for
groundfish species other than pollock,
to protect participants in other
groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery
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16:34 Dec 08, 2015
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cooperatives in the directed pollock
fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes
formulas for setting AFA catcher vessel
groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for
the BSAI. The basis for these sideboard
limits is described in detail in the final
rules implementing the major
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80
(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
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Tables 16 and 17 list the proposed 2016
and 2017 AFA catcher vessel sideboard
limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard
species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted
catch or as incidental catch, will be
deducted from the 2016 and 2017
sideboard limits listed in Table 16.
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 16–PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER
VESSELS (CVS)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Fishery by area/gear/season
Pacific cod .......................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
Jig gear ..........................................................
Hook-and-line CV ...........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 ...........................................
Pot gear CV ...................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ............................................
CV <60 ft LOA using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl gear CV ................................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 ..............................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .............................................
BS trawl gear .................................................
AI trawl gear ...................................................
BS ...................................................................
AI ....................................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BS trawl gear .................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BS ...................................................................
Eastern AI ......................................................
Central AI .......................................................
Western AI .....................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
EBS/EAI .........................................................
CAI/WAI ..........................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BS ...................................................................
AI ....................................................................
Eastern AI/BS .................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .............................................
Central AI .......................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .............................................
Western AI .....................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............................................
Jun 10–Nov 1 .............................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
BSAI ...............................................................
Sablefish .........................................................
Greenland turbot .............................................
Arrowtooth flounder .........................................
Kamchatka flounder ........................................
Rock sole ........................................................
Flathead sole ..................................................
Alaska plaice ...................................................
Other flatfish ....................................................
Pacific ocean perch ........................................
Northern rockfish .............................................
Rougheye rockfish ..........................................
Shortraker rockfish ..........................................
Other rockfish ..................................................
Atka mackerel .................................................
Skates .............................................................
Sculpins ...........................................................
Sharks .............................................................
Squids .............................................................
Octopuses .......................................................
Ratio of 1995–
1997 AFA CV
catch to 1995–
1997 TAC
2016 and
2017 initial
TAC 1
2016 and
2017 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
n/a
0
n/a
0.0006
0.0006
n/a
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
n/a
3,118
n/a
226
217
n/a
9,507
9,134
4,438
n/a
0
n/a
0
0
n/a
6
5
3
n/a
0.8609
0.8609
0.8609
0.0906
0.0645
0.0645
0.0205
0.069
0.069
0.0341
0.0505
0.0441
0.0441
0.1
0.0077
0.0025
0
0.0084
0.0037
0.0037
0.0037
0.0048
0.0095
n/a
0.0032
0.0032
n/a
0.0001
0.0001
n/a
0
0
0.0541
0.0541
0.0541
0.3827
0.0541
n/a
36,426
5,415
7,384
514
348
2,081
170
18,700
5,525
61,840
21,655
15,725
3,077
6,818
7,117
6,251
8,037
2,763
149
200
250
325
555
n/a
12,197
12,197
n/a
7,591
7,591
n/a
4,689
4,689
21,845
3,995
125
340
400
n/a
31,359
4,662
6,357
47
22
134
3
1,290
381
2,109
1,094
693
136
682
55
16
0
23
1
1
1
2
5
n/a
39
39
n/a
1
1
n/a
0
0
1,182
216
7
130
22
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
1 Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC
of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Note: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2016 and 2017 aggregate ITAC of
yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in
Table 17 that are caught by AFA catcher
vessels participating in any groundfish
fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2016 and 2017 PSC
sideboard limits for the AFA catcher
vessels. Sections 679.21(e)(7) and
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16:34 Dec 08, 2015
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679.21(e)(3)(v) authorize NMFS to close
directed fishing for groundfish other
than pollock for AFA catcher vessels
once a proposed 2016 and 2017 PSC
sideboard limit listed in Table 17 is
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA
catcher vessels while fishing for pollock
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in the Bering Sea subarea will accrue
against the bycatch allowances annually
specified for either the midwater
pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
‘‘other species’’ fishery categories under
§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
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TABLE 17–PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH
SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1
AFA catcher
vessel PSC
sideboard limit
ratio
PSC species and area 1
Target fishery category 2
Halibut ....................................
Proposed
2016 and
2017 PSC limit
after subtraction of PSQ
reserves 3
Proposed
2016 and
2017 AFA
catcher vessel
PSC
sideboard
limit 3
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
0.299
0.168
0.33
0.186
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
86,621
4,204,524
741,190
2,250,360
887
2
101
228
0
2
5
25,900
706,360
244,593
418,567
Pacific cod trawl ......................................................................
Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot .............................................
Yellowfin sole total ..................................................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 4 ....................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder/sablefish ..
Rockfish ..................................................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 5 ....................................
n/a ...........................................................................................
n/a ...........................................................................................
n/a ...........................................................................................
n/a ...........................................................................................
Red king crab Zone 1 ............
C. opilio COBLZ .....................
C. bairdi Zone 1 .....................
C. bairdi Zone 2 .....................
1
Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
Target fishery categories are defined at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
3 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
4 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
5 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
2
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
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, and
subject to further review after public
comment.
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, analyzing the
methodology for establishing the
relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluates the
impacts on small entities of alternative
harvest strategies for the groundfish
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fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
off Alaska. As set forth in the
methodology, TACs are set to a level
that falls within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC; the sum of
the TACs must achieve OY specified in
the FMP. While the specific numbers
that the methodology may produce 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 BSAI. The preferred
alternative is the existing harvest
strategy in which TACs fall within the
range of ABCs recommended by the
SSC, but, as discussed below, NMFS
considered other alternatives. 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 exclusive economic zone of the
BSAI and in parallel fisheries within
State waters. These include entities
operating catcher vessels and catcher/
processors within the action area and
entities receiving direct allocations of
groundfish.
The Small Business Administration
has established size standards for all
major industry sectors in the United
States. A business primarily involved in
finfish harvesting is classified as a small
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
business if it is independently owned
and operated, is not dominant in its
field of operation (including its
affiliates), and has combined annual
gross receipts not in excess of $20.5
million, for all its affiliated operations
worldwide. 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 some catcher
vessels and catcher/processors 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 190
catcher vessels, two catcher/processors,
and six CDQ groups. Some of these
vessels are members of AFA inshore
pollock cooperatives, GOA rockfish
cooperatives, or crab rationalization
cooperatives, and, since under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) it is the
aggregate gross receipts of all
participating members of the
cooperative that must meet the ‘‘under
$20.5 million’’ threshold, they are
considered to be large entities within
the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the
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mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
estimate of 190 catcher vessels may be
an overstatement of the number of small
entities. Average gross revenues were
$446,000 for small hook-and-line
vessels, $1.31 million for small pot
vessels, and $2.28 million for small
trawl vessels. Revenue data for catcher/
processors is confidential; however, in
2014, NMFS estimates that there are two
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 2015,
as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for
the species were based on
recommendations prepared by the
Council’s BSAI Plan Team in September
2015, and reviewed and modified by the
Council’s SSC in October 2015. 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 BSAI OY of two million
mt. As shown in Table 1 of the
preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2016 and
2017 would be about 2,731,897 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,
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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.
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
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
achieve OY on a continuing basis, as
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens
Act.
The proposed harvest specifications
extend the current 2016 OFLs, ABCs,
and TACs to 2016 and 2017. As noted
in the IRFA, the Council may modify
these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in
December 2015, when it reviews the
November 2015 SAFE report from its
groundfish Plan Team, and the
December Council meeting reports of its
SSC and AP. Because 2016 TACs in the
proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications are unchanged from the
2016 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 2015 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 2015
SIR (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
analyses/specs/15_16bsaigoasir.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 4, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–31003 Filed 12–7–15; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76425-76442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31003]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-5863-01]
RIN 0648-XE202
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; 2016 and 2017 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
[[Page 76426]]
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
management area. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits
for groundfish during the 2016 and 2017 fishing years, and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area. The
intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
DATES: Comments must be received by January 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0118, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0118, 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).
Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR), 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 2014 Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish
resources of the BSAI, dated November 2014, is available from the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue,
Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from the
Council's Web site at https://www.npfmc.org/. The draft 2015 SAFE report
for the BSAI is available from the same source.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and govern the groundfish
fisheries in the BSAI. The Council prepared the FMP and NMFS approved
it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(Magnuson-Stevens Act). General regulations governing U.S. fisheries
also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species category. The sum TAC for all
groundfish species must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4
million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)).
Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish proposed harvest
specifications in the Federal Register and solicit public comments on
proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, prohibited species
catch (PSC) allowances, prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves
established by Sec. 679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific
cod, and Atka mackerel TAC, American Fisheries Act allocations,
Amendment 80 allocations, and Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve
amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The proposed harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 17 of this action satisfy
these requirements.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final harvest
specifications for 2016 and 2017 after (1) considering comments
received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the
Council at its December 2015 meeting, (3) considering information
presented in the SIR that assesses the need to prepare a Supplemental
EIS (see ADDRESSES) and (4) considering information presented in the
final 2015 SAFE reports prepared for the 2016 and 2017 groundfish
fisheries.
Other Actions Affecting the 2016 and 2017 Harvest Specifications
On November 30, 2015, the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF), a
regulatory body for the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game
(State), established a guideline harvest level (GHL) in State waters
between 164 and 167 degrees west longitude in the Bering Sea subarea
(BS) equal to 6.4 percent of the Pacific cod acceptable biological
catch (ABC) for the BS. The action by the State will require a downward
adjustment of the proposed 2016 and 2017 Bering Sea subarea Pacific cod
TAC because the combined TAC and GHL is greater than the proposed ABC
of 255,000 mt.
The BOF for the State established a GHL in State waters in the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) equal to 27 percent of the Pacific cod
ABC for the AI. The action by the State does not require a downward
adjustment of the proposed Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod TAC
because the combined TAC and GHL (14,174 mt) is less than the proposed
ABC of 17,600 mt.
Accordingly, the Council will need to consider these GHLs when
recommending the final 2016 and 2017 BSAI TACs. The Council is expected
to set the final Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands subarea
Pacific cod TACs less than the ABCs by amounts that account for these
2016 and 2017 GHLs.
In addition, the Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) is
reviewing the stock structure of BSAI groundfish and may recommend
allocating current overfishing levels (OFLs) or ABCs by subareas or
reporting areas.
At its June 2015 meeting, the Council recommended reductions to the
BSAI halibut PSC limits by 21 percent through Amendment 111 to the FMP.
A notice of availability associated with those recommendations was
published on October 29, 2015 (80 FR 66486). The specific reductions
are 25 percent for Amendment 80 cooperatives, 15 percent for BSAI trawl
limited access fisheries, 20 percent for CDQ fisheries, and 15 percent
for non-trawl fisheries. These reductions are expected to be
implemented in 2016, pending Secretarial approval of Amendment 111. On
implementation of the reductions, the 2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits
proposed by this action would be reduced.
Proposed ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications
At the October 2015 Council meeting, the Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), Advisory Panel (AP), and Council
[[Page 76427]]
reviewed the most recent biological and harvest information on the
condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The Plan Team compiled and
presented this information, which was initially compiled by the Plan
Team and presented in the final 2014 SAFE report for the BSAI
groundfish fisheries, dated November 2014 (see ADDRESSES). The amounts
proposed for the 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications are based on the
2014 SAFE report, and are subject to change in the final harvest
specifications to be published by NMFS following the Council's December
2015 meeting. In November 2015, the Plan Team updated the 2014 SAFE
report to include new information collected during 2015, such as NMFS
stock surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. At its
December 2015 meeting, the Council will consider information contained
in the final 2015 SAFE report, recommendations from the November 2015
Plan Team meeting, public testimony from the December 2015 SSC and AP
meetings, and relevant written comments in making its recommendations
for the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications.
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,
which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial
distribution, and changes to the models used in the stock assessments.
These changes were recommended by the Plan Team in November 2015 and
are included in the final 2015 SAFE report. The final 2015 SAFE report
includes the most recent information, such as 2015 catch data. The
final harvest specification amounts for these stocks are not expected
to vary greatly from the proposed harvest specification amounts
published here.
If the final 2015 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications may reflect an increase from the proposed harvest
specifications. Conversely, if the final 2015 SAFE report indicates
that the stock biomass trend is decreasing for a species, then the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications may reflect a decrease from
the proposed harvest specifications. In addition to changes driven by
biomass trends, there may be changes in TACs due to the sum of ABCs
exceeding 2 million mt. Since the FMP requires TACs to be set to an OY
between 1.4 and 2 million mt, the Council may be required to recommend
TACs that are lower than the ABCs recommended by the Plan Team, if
setting TACs equal to ABCs would cause TACs to exceed an OY of 2
million mt. Generally, ABCs greatly exceed 2 million mt in years with a
large pollock biomass. NMFS anticipates that, both for 2016 and 2017,
the sum of the ABCs will exceed 2 million mt. NMFS expects that the
final total TAC for the BSAI for both 2016 and 2017 will equal 2
million mt.
The proposed ABCs and TACs are based on the best available
biological and socioeconomic data, including projected biomass trends,
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised
methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of
ABCs and OFLs involves statistical modeling of fish populations. The
FMP specifies a series of six tiers to define OFLs and ABCs based on
the level of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier
1 represents the highest level of information quality available while
Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In October 2015, the SSC adopted the proposed 2016 and 2017 OFLs
and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The
Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations. These amounts
are unchanged from the final 2016 harvest specifications published in
the Federal Register on March 5, 2015 (80 FR 11919). The Council
adopted the AP's TAC recommendations. For 2016 and 2017, the Council
recommended and NMFS proposes the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table
1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are less than the
specified OFLs. The sum of the proposed 2016 and 2017 ABCs for all
assessed groundfish is 2,731,897 mt, which is the same as the final
2016 ABC total in the final 2015 and 2016 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015).
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
The Council recommended proposed TACs for 2016 and 2017 that are
equal to proposed ABCs for Bering Sea sablefish, AI sablefish, AI
``other rockfish'' and eastern Aleutian Islands (EAI) Pacific ocean
perch. The Council recommended proposed TACs for 2016 and 2017 that are
less than the proposed ABCs for Bering Sea pollock, AI pollock,
Bogoslof pollock, Bering Sea Pacific cod, AI Pacific cod, yellowfin
sole, Bering Sea Greenland turbot, AI Greenland turbot, arrowtooth
flounder, rock sole, flathead sole, Alaska plaice, ``other flatfish,''
Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, central Aleutian Islands (CAI) Pacific
ocean perch, western Aleutian Islands (WAI) Pacific ocean perch,
northern rockfish, eastern Bering Sea (EBS)/EAI rougheye rockfish, CAI/
WAI rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, Bering Sea ``other
rockfish,'' Bering Sea/EAI, CAI, and WAI Atka mackerel, skates,
sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. Section
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000
mt when the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. The Bogoslof
pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts. TACs are
set so that the sum of the overall TAC does not exceed the BSAI OY.
The proposed groundfish OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are subject to change
pending the completion of the final 2015 SAFE report and the Council's
recommendations for final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications during
its December 2015 meeting. These proposed amounts are consistent with
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2014
SAFE report, and have been adjusted for other biological and
socioeconomic considerations. 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.'' Table 1 lists the proposed
2016 and 2017 OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ amounts for
groundfish for the BSAI. The proposed apportionment of TAC amounts
among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.
[[Page 76428]]
Table 1-- Proposed 2016 and 2017 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ
Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2016 and 2017
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ 3 4 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock................................... BS.......................... 3,490,000 1,554,000 1,310,000 1,179,000 131,000
AI.......................... 38,699 31,900 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof.................... 21,200 15,900 100 100 0
Pacific cod............................... BS.......................... 389,000 255,000 240,000 214,320 25,680
AI.......................... 23,400 17,600 9,422 8,414 1,008
Sablefish................................. BS.......................... 1,431 1,211 1,211 515 167
AI.......................... 1,934 1,637 1,637 348 276
Yellowfin sole............................ BSAI........................ 262,900 245,500 149,000 133,057 15,943
Greenland turbot.......................... BSAI........................ 6,453 5,248 2,648 2,251 0
BS.......................... n/a 4,050 2,448 2,081 262
AI.......................... n/a 1,198 200 170 0
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 91,663 78,661 22,000 18,700 2,354
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 11,000 9,500 6,500 5,525 0
Rock sole \6\............................. BSAI........................ 170,100 164,800 69,250 61,840 7,410
Flathead sole \7\......................... BSAI........................ 76,504 63,711 24,250 21,655 2,595
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 51,600 42,900 18,500 15,725 0
Other flatfish \8\........................ BSAI........................ 17,700 13,250 3,620 3,077 0
Pacific ocean perch....................... BSAI........................ 40,809 33,550 31,991 28,223 2,565
BS.......................... n/a 8,411 8,021 6,818 0
EAI......................... n/a 7,970 7,970 7,117 853
CAI......................... n/a 7,406 7,000 6,251 749
WAI......................... n/a 9,763 9,000 8,037 963
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 15,100 12,295 3,250 2,763 0
Rougheye rockfish \9\..................... BSAI........................ 688 555 349 297 0
EBS/EAI..................... n/a 178 149 127 0
CAI/WAI..................... n/a 377 200 170 0
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 690 518 250 213 0
Other rockfish \10\....................... BSAI........................ 1,667 1,250 880 748 0
BS.......................... n/a 695 325 276 0
AI.......................... n/a 555 555 472 0
Atka mackerel............................. BSAI........................ 115,908 98,137 54,817 48,952 5,865
EAI/BS...................... n/a 35,637 27,317 24,394 2,923
CAI......................... n/a 30,652 17,000 15,181 1,819
WAI......................... n/a 31,848 10,500 9,377 1,124
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 47,035 39,468 25,700 21,845 0
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 52,365 39,725 4,700 3,995 0
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 1,363 1,022 125 106 0
Squids.................................... BSAI........................ 2,624 1,970 400 340 0
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 3,452 2,589 400 340 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL................................. ............................ 4,935,285 2,731,897 2,000,000 1,789,447 197,025
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for
these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows:
inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian
Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance
(2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\4\ The Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod TACs are set to account for the State of Alaska guideline harvest level in state
waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\5\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC is
allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, and 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC is allocated to trawl gear. The 2016 hook-and-line and pot gear
portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve will not be specified until the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications. 10.7 percent of the TACs for
Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian
Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' squids, octopuses, skates, sculpins, and sharks are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin
sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
[[Page 76429]]
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for
Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and
AI Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS to reserve 15 percent of the
TAC for each target species category, except for pollock, hook-and-line
or pot gear allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species, in a
non-specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of
sablefish to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires NMFS to allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl
gear allocation of sablefish and 10.7 percent of Bering Sea Greenland
turbot and arrowtooth flounder to the respective CDQ reserves. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires NMFS to allocate 10.7 percent of the TACs
for Atka mackerel, AI Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the CDQ reserves. Sections
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require allocation of 10 percent
of the BSAI pollock TACs to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance
(DFA). The entire Bogoslof District pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA
(see Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of the hook-and-line
and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not further
apportion the CDQ reserves by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS proposes a pollock
ICA of 4.0 percent or 47,160 mt of the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC
after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based
on NMFS' examination of the pollock incidentally retained and discarded
catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target
fisheries other than pollock from 2000 through 2015. During this 16-
year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a low of 2.4
percent in 2006 to a high of 4.8 percent in 2014, with a 16-year
average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i)
and (ii), NMFS proposes a pollock ICA of 2,400 mt of the AI subarea TAC
after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on
NMFS' examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock
from 2003 through 2014. During this 12-year period, the incidental
catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of 17
percent in 2013, with a 12-year average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS proposes ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 3,500 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of
Central Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 200 mt of Eastern
Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of Western Aleutian
District Atka mackerel, 75 mt of Central Aleutian District Atka
mackerel, and 1,000 mt of Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea
subarea Atka mackerel after subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve.
These ICAs are based on NMFS' examination of the average incidental
retained and discarded catch in other target fisheries from 2003
through 2014.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified
reserve, provided that such apportionments do not result in overfishing
(see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)).
Allocations of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that Bering Sea pollock TAC be
apportioned after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program and 4.0
percent for the ICA as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the inshore
sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor sector, and 10 percent to
the mothership sector. In the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA
is allocated to the A season (January 20 to June 10) and 60 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10 to November 1) (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)). The AI directed pollock fishery allocation to the
Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock remaining in the AI subarea
after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent), and 2,400 mt
for the ICA (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI subarea, the
A season pollock TAC may equal up to 40 percent of the ABC, and the
remainder of the pollock TAC is allocated to the B season. Table 2
lists these proposed 2016 and 2017 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets harvest limits for pollock in
the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In
Area 543, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A season pollock
harvest limit is no more than 15 percent of the Aleutian Islands ABC.
In Area 541, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 30
percent of the Aleutian Islands ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding Bering Sea subarea pollock allocations. First,
it requires that 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/
processor sector be available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels with
catcher/processor sector endorsements, unless the Regional
Administrator receives a cooperative contract that allows the
distribution of harvest among AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher
vessels in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA catcher/
processors not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more
than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor
sector. Table 2 lists the proposed 2016 and 2017 allocations of pollock
TAC. Tables 14 through 17 list the AFA catcher/processor and catcher
vessel harvesting sideboard limits. The Bering Sea subarea inshore
pollock cooperative and open access sector allocations are based on the
submission of AFA inshore cooperative applications due to NMFS on
December 1 of each calendar year. Because AFA inshore cooperative
applications for 2016 have not been submitted to NMFS, and NMFS
therefore cannot calculate 2016 allocations, NMFS has not included
inshore cooperative text and tables in these proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS will post 2016 AFA inshore cooperative allocations
on the Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior
to the start of the fishing year on January 1, 2016, based on the
harvest specifications effective on that date.
Table 2 also lists proposed seasonal apportionments of pollock and
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the DFA
before noon, April 1, as provided in Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A
season pollock SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to each sector in
proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the DFA. Table 2
lists these proposed 2016 and 2017 amounts by sector.
[[Page 76430]]
Table 2--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ
Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A season \1\ B season \1\
2016 and 2017 -----------------------------------------------
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC....................... 1,310,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA...................................... 131,000 52,400 36,680 78,600
ICA \1\...................................... 47,160 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore.................................. 565,920 226,368 158,458 339,552
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\................... 452,736 181,094 126,766 271,642
Catch by C/Ps............................ 414,253 165,701 n/a 248,552
Catch by C/Vs \3\........................ 38,483 15,393 n/a 23,090
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\............... 2,264 905 n/a 1,358
AFA Motherships.............................. 113,184 45,274 31,692 67,910
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\............... 198,072 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\............... 339,552 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA (non-CDQ)............... 1,131,840 452,736 316,915 679,104
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC................. 31,900 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC................. 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA...................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA.......................................... 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................ 14,700 13,520 n/a 1,180
Area 541 harvest limit \7\................... 9,570 n/a n/a n/a
Area 542 harvest limit \7\................... 4,785 n/a n/a n/a
Area 543 harvest limit \7\................... 1,595 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \7\.................... 100 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ
DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector 50 percent,
catcher/processor sector 40 percent, and mothership sector 10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock
TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the
Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of
the ABC, and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA
before noon, April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed C/
Ps.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processor sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and non-trawl gear sectors (Table 3). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in Table 33 to part 679
and in Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent
of the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel
ITAC may be allocated to jig gear. The percent of this allocation is
recommended annually by the Council based on several criteria,
including the anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The
Council recommended and NMFS proposes a 0.5 percent allocation of the
Atka mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea
subarea to jig gear in 2016 and 2017. This percentage is applied to the
TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC into
two equal seasonal allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first
seasonal allowance for directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20
through June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance from June
10 through December 31 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies
Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing. The ICA and jig
gear allocations are not apportioned by season.
Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) limit Atka mackerel
catch within waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion sites listed in
Table 6 to this part and located west of 178[deg] W longitude to no
more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543; and
equally divides the annual TAC between the A and B seasons as defined
at Sec. 679.23(e)(3). Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the
annual TAC in Area 543 will be no more than 65 percent of the ABC in
Area 543. Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that any unharvested
Atka mackerel A season allowance that is added to the B season be
prohibited from being harvested within waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller
sea lion sites listed in Table 6 to this part and located in Areas 541,
542, and 543.
Two Amendment 80 cooperatives have formed for the 2016 fishing
year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of a cooperative, no
allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required. NMFS
will post 2016 Amendment 80 cooperative allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
[[Page 76431]]
Table 3 lists these 2016 and 2017 Atka mackerel season allowances,
area allowances, and the sector allocations. The 2017 allocations for
Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80 cooperatives and Amendment 80
limited access allocations on the Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start of the fishing year on
January 1, 2017, based on the harvest specifications effective on that
date.
Table 3-Proposed 2016 and 2017 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch
Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea District District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 27,317 17,000 10,500
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,923 1,819 1,124
A................... 1,461 910 562
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 91 n/a
B................... 1,461 910 562
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 91 n/a
ICA.............................. Total............... 1,000 75 40
Jig \6\.......................... Total............... 117 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 2,328 1,511 0
A................... 1,164 755 0
B................... 1,164 755 0
Amendment 80 \7\................. Total............... 20,949 13,595 9,337
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for Total............... 11,766 8,114 5,742
2016.
A................... 5,883 4,057 2,871
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 406 n/a
B................... 5,883 4,057 2,871
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 406 n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for Total............... 9,183 5,481 3,595
2016.
A................... 4,592 2,741 1,798
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 274 n/a
B................... 4,592 2,741 1,798
Critical habitat \5\ n/a 274 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and the
jig gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679
and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10, and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of critical habitat; paragraph (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the
A and B seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3); and paragraph (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543
shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this
allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2016.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council recommended and NMFS proposes separate BS and AI
subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for Pacific cod. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC and the AI TAC
to the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations have been deducted from the
respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the remaining BS and AI Pacific
cod TACs are combined for calculating further BSAI Pacific cod sector
allocations. However, if the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be
reached in either the BS or AI subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ
directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea, as provided in Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocate the Pacific cod TAC in
the combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear, 2.0 percent
to hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m)
length overall (LOA), 0.2 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 48.7 percent to hook-and-
line catcher/processors, 8.4 percent to pot catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot catcher/
processors, 2.3 percent to AFA trawl catcher/processors, 13.4 percent
to non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and 22.1 percent to trawl catcher
vessels. The BSAI ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be
deducted from the aggregate portion of BSAI Pacific cod TAC allocated
to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2016 and 2017, the Regional
Administrator proposes a BSAI ICA of 500 mt, based on anticipated
incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
The BSAI ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. Two Amendment
80 cooperatives have formed for the 2016 fishing year. Because all
Amendment 80 vessels are part of a cooperative, no
[[Page 76432]]
allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required. NMFS
will post 2016 Amendment 80 cooperative allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80
cooperatives and Amendment 80 limited access allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next
seasonal allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires the Regional Administrator to
establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod
abundance in Area 543. Based on the 2014 stock assessment, the Regional
Administrator determined the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit to be
26.3 percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC for 2016 and 2017. NMFS first
subtracted the State GHL Pacific cod amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC
and then multiplied the remaining ABC for AI Pacific cod by the
percentage of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543. Based on these
calculations, the Area 543 harvest limit is 2,478 mt.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the proposed
2016 and 2017 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Table 4 based on the
sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and (a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal allowances of
Pacific cod set forth at Sec. 679.23(e)(5).
Table 4--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI \1\ Pacific COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 and 2017 seasonal
2016 and 2017 2016 and 2017 apportionment
Sector Percent share of gear share of ---------------------------------
sector total sector total Season Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC.......... n/a 240,000 n/a n/a............. n/a
Bering Sea CDQ................ n/a 25,680 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC........ n/a 214,320 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC.... n/a 9,422 n/a n/a............. n/a
Aleutian Islands CDQ.......... n/a 1,008 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC.. n/a 8,414 n/a n/a............. n/a
Western Aleutians Islands n/a 2,478 n/a n/a............. n/a
Limit.
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.... 100 222,734 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 135,422 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a n/a 500 n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 134,922 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 08,071 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 55,116
processors. Jun 10-Dec 31... 52,955
Hook-and-line catcher vessels 0.2 n/a 444 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 226
>=60 ft LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31... 217
Pot catcher/processors........ 1.5 n/a 3,329 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,698
Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,631
Pot catcher vessels >60 ft LOA 8.4 n/a 18,641 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 9,507
Sept 1-Dec 31... 9,134
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA 2 n/a 4,438 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessels......... 22.1 49,224 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 36,426
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 5,415
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 7,384
AFA trawl catcher/processors.. 2.3 5,123 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 3,842
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 1,281
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 29,846 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 22,385
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 7,462
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative n/a 4,711 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 3,533
for 2016 \3\.
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 1,178
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for n/a 25,135 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 18,851
2016 \3\.
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 6,284
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Jig........................... 1.4 3,118 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,871
Apr 30-Aug 31... 624
Aug 31-Dec 31... 624
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for
Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator proposes an ICA of 500 mt for 2016
and 2017 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\3\ The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
1, 2016.
[[Page 76433]]
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of sablefish
TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl gear and hook-
and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the Bering Sea
subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line
or pot gear. Gear allocations for the TACs for the AI subarea are 25
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to apportion 20 percent of
the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ
reserve. Additionally, Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish from the nonspecified
reserves, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the
CDQ reserve. The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be
established biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-
line gear and pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries will be limited to the 2016 fishing year to ensure those
fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery.
Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries would reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries would remain closed at the beginning of each
fishing year until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish
IFQ fisheries are in effect. Table 5 lists the proposed 2016 and 2017
gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 5--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 share of 2016 CDQ 2017 share of 2017 CDQ
Subarea and gear Percent of TAC TAC 2016 ITAC \1\ reserve TAC 2017 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl............................... 50 606 515 45 606 515 45
Hook-and-line gear \2\.............. 50 606 n/a 121 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 1,211 515 167 606 515 45
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl............................... 25 409 348 31 409 348 31
Hook-and-line gear \2\.............. 75 1,228 n/a 246 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 1,637 348 276 409 348 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants. Section 679.20(b)(1) does not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TACs between the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access
sectors, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve and an ICA
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-trawl
gear. The allocation of the ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and in Sec. 679.91.
Two Amendment 80 cooperatives have formed for the 2016 fishing
year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of a cooperative, no
allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required. NMFS
will post 2016 Amendment 80 cooperative allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80
cooperatives and Amendment 80 limited access allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date. Table 6 lists the proposed 2016
and 2017 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 6--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the
Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Tacs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 and 2017 allocations
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
Sector -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 7,970 7,000 9,000 24,250 69,250 149,000
CDQ..................................................... 853 749 963 2,595 7,410 15,943
ICA..................................................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 692 618 161 0 0 16,765
Amendment 80............................................ 6,225 5,558 7,866 16,655 55,840 112,792
[[Page 76434]]
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 \1\.............. 3,301 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,813 44,812
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 \1\................. 2,924 2,611 3,695 14,947 42,027 67,980
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus for flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole as the difference between the annual ABC and TAC for
each species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) establishes ABC reserves for
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC surpluses and the
ABC reserves are necessary to mitigate the operational variability,
environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the
CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperatives from achieving, on a
continuing basis, the optimum yield in the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
NMFS, after consultation with the Council, may set the ABC reserve at
or below the ABC surplus for each species thus maintaining the TAC
below ABC limits. An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC reserves
will be allocated as CDQ reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole. The Amendment 80 ABC reserves shall be the ABC reserves
minus the CDQ ABC reserves. Section 679.91(i)(2) establishes each
Amendment 80 cooperative ABC reserve to be the ratio of each
cooperatives' quota share (QS) units and the total Amendment 80 QS
units, multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each respective
species. Table 7 lists the 2016 and 2017 ABC surplus and ABC reserves
for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
Table 7--Proposed 2016 and 2017 ABC Surplus, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80
ABC Reserves in the BSAI for Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC............................................................. 63,711 164,800 245,500
TAC............................................................. 24,250 69,250 149,000
ABC surplus..................................................... 39,461 95,550 96,500
ABC reserve..................................................... 39,461 95,550 96,500
CDQ ABC reserve................................................. 4,222 10,224 10,326
Amendment 80 ABC reserve........................................ 35,239 85,326 86,175
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 \1\...................... 3,615 21,107 34,240
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 \1\......................... 31,624 64,219 51,935
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2017 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
1, 2016.
Proposed PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
As discussed above, NMFS published a notice of availability to
implement Amendment 111 to the FMP (80 FR 66486, October 29, 2015).
Amendment 95 would reduce halibut PSC limits in the BSAI by 25 percent
for Amendment 80 cooperatives, 15 percent for BSAI trawl limited access
fisheries, 20 percent for CDQ fisheries, and 15 percent for non-trawl
fisheries. These reductions are expected to be implemented in 2016,
pending Secretarial approval of Amendment 111. On implementation of the
reductions, the 2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits proposed by this
action would be reduced.
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2016 and 2017 BSAI halibut mortality
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries, and 900 mt for the non-trawl
fisheries. Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326
mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of
the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes apportionment of the non-trawl
halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery
categories. Table 10 lists the fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl
fisheries, and Table 11 lists the fishery bycatch allowances for the
non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends, and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from
the halibut PSC limit. As in past years after consultation with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch
[[Page 76435]]
mortality because the IFQ program requires legal-size halibut to be
retained by vessels using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit
holder or a hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ
(subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In 2015, total groundfish catch for the
pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 35,298 mt, with an associated halibut
bycatch mortality of 1.8 mt.
The 2015 jig gear fishery harvested about 28 mt of groundfish. Most
vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of
the selective nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut
caught with jig gear and released.
Under Sec. 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of
either 47,591 or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC among the AFA sectors,
depending on past catch performance and on whether Chinook salmon
bycatch incentive plan agreements are formed. If an AFA sector
participates in an approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to
that sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement is approved, or if the sector
has exceeded its performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that
sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2016, the Chinook
salmon PSC limit is 60,000, and the AFA sector Chinook salmon
allocations are seasonally allocated with 70 percent of the allocation
for the A season pollock fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation for
the B season pollock fishery as stated in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A).
The basis for these PSC limits is described in detail in the final rule
implementing management measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR 53026, August
30, 2010). NMFS publishes the approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive
plan agreements, allocations, and reports at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2016 and 2017
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon,
as the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates the remaining
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2016 and
2017 non-Chinook salmon PSC limit in the Catcher Vessel Operational
Area (CVOA). Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent,
or 4,494, non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA as the PSQ for the CDQ
program, and allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon to the
non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Due to the lack of new information as
of October 2015 regarding herring PSC limits and apportionments, the
Council recommended and NMFS proposes basing the herring 2016 and 2017
PSC limits and apportionments on the 2014 survey data. The Council will
reconsider these amounts in December 2015.
Section Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7 percent of each
trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Based on 2015 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 18.6 million red king crabs, which is above
the threshold of 8.4 million red king crabs, and the effective spawning
biomass is estimated at 46.5 million lbs (21,092 mt). Based on the
criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the proposed 2016 and 2017
PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000 animals.
This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate of more
than 8.4 million red king crab and the effective spawning biomass
estimate of more than 14.5 million lbs (6,577 mt) but less than 55
million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS to
up to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance based on the need
to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the red king crab
bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance
within the RKCSS (Table 8). Based on 2015 survey data, Tanner crab
(Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is estimated at 329 million animals.
Pursuant to criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated
2016 and 2017 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 830,000
animals in Zone 1, and 2,520,000 animals in Zone 2. In Zone 1, C.
bairdi abundance was estimated to be greater than 270 million and less
than 400 million animals. In Zone 2, C. bairdi abundance was estimated
to be greater than 290 million animals and less than 400 million
animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for snow crab
(C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit in the C. opilio
bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent of the Bering
Sea abundance index minus 150,000 crabs. Based on the 2015 survey
estimate of 4.288 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio crab PSC
limit is 4,708,314 animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2016 and 2017 herring biomass is 274,236 mt. This amount
was developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game based on
spawning location estimates. Therefore, the herring PSC limit proposed
for 2016 and 2017 is 2,742 mt for all trawl gear as listed in Tables 8
and 9.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted
from the total trawl PSC limits. The amount of the 2016 PSC limits
assigned to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are
specified in Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocations of PSC
limits to CDQ PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited
access sector are listed in Table 8. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and Sec. 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits
assigned to the Amendment 80 sector is then further allocated to
Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota as listed in Table
12. Two Amendment 80 cooperatives have formed for the 2016 fishing
year. Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of a cooperative, no
allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required. NMFS
will post 2016 Amendment 80 cooperative allocations on the Alaska
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2016, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
The 2017 PSC limit allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80 cooperatives and
Amendment 80 limited access allocations on the Alaska
[[Page 76436]]
Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov prior to the start
of the fishing year on January 1, 2017, based on the harvest
specifications effective on that date.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors to
maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available groundfish
TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors considered are (1) seasonal
distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal distribution of target
groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relevant
to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected variations in bycatch rates
throughout the year, (5) expected start of fishing effort, and (6)
economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments on industry sectors.
The Council recommended and NMFS proposes the seasonal PSC
apportionments in Table 10 to maximize harvest among gear types,
fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the
above criteria.
Table 8--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, The CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI
Trawl Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl PSC Trawl PSC
Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ Amendment 80 BSAI trawl
PSC species and area \1\ trawl PSC after CDQ PSQ PSC after CDQ PSQ reserve \2\ sector \3\ limited access
\2\ \2\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI............. 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,325 875
Herring (mt) BSAI....................... n/a n/a 2,742 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1.......... n/a n/a 97,000 86,621 10,379 43,293 26,489
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ............... n/a n/a 4,708,314 4,204,524 503,790 2,066,524 1,351,334
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1......... n/a n/a 830,000 741,190 88,810 312,115 348,285
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2......... n/a n/a 2,520,000 2,250,360 269,640 532,660 1,053,394
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
\2\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt,
of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of
each crab PSC limit.
\3\ The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab PSC. These reductions
are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Table 9--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Herring and Red King Crab Savings
Subarea Prohibited, Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals)
BSAI Zone \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.......................... 187 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 30 n/a
\1\....................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ 20 n/a
Kamchatka flounder/sablefish...........
Rockfish................................ 14 n/a
Pacific cod............................. 42 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock.................. 2,242 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species2 3.. 207 n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 24,250
pelagic trawl gear \4\.................
-------------------------------
Total trawl PSC..................... 2,742 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
\2\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
species'' fishery category.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks,
skates, squids, and octopuses.
\4\ In October 2015 the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Table 10--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
fisheries mortality (animals) (animals) -------------------------------
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................. 167 23,338 1,273,886 293,234 1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other 0 0 0 0 0
flatfish \2\...................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth 0 0 0 0 0
flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish......................
Rockfish April 15-December 31... 5 0 2,104 0 849
Pacific cod..................... 453 2,954 54,298 50,816 42,424
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 250 197 21,046 4,235 4,242
species \3\....................
Total BSAI trawl limited access 875 26,489 1,351,334 348,285 1,053,394
PSC............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, squids, and octopuses.
[[Page 76437]]
Table 11--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/
Non-trawl fisheries Seasons processor Catcher vessel All Non-trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................ Total Pacific cod.... 760 15 775
January 1-June 10.... 455 10 n/a
June 10-August 15.... 190 3 n/a
August 15-December 31 115 2 n/a
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl.......... May 1-December 31.... n/a n/a 58
Groundfish pot and jig............. n/a.................. n/a n/a Exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line............ n/a.................. n/a n/a Exempt
Total for all non-trawl PSC........ n/a.................. n/a n/a 833
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 12--Proposed 2016 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative Halibut C. bairdi (animals)
mortality (mt) Red king crab C. opilio -----------------------------------
BSAI (animals) Zone 1 (animals) COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative................................. 632 12,459 650,551 82,136 137,369
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.................................... 1,693 30,834 1,415,973 229,979 395,291
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMRs)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, DMRs,
and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut
bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The
DMRs are based on the best information available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the Council for the
2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2016
and 2017 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8, 10, 11, and 12). The
IPHC developed these DMRs for the 2016 to 2017 BSAI fisheries using the
10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer
data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR
shows large variation from the mean. A discussion of the DMRs and their
justification is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 13
lists the 2016 and 2017 DMRs.
Table 13--Proposed 2016 and 2017 Assumed Pacific Halibut Discard
Mortality Rates for the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut
discard
Gear Fishery mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line............. Greenland turbot.... 11
Other species \1\... 9
Pacific cod......... 9
Rockfish............ 4
Non-CDQ trawl..................... Alaska plaice....... 66
Arrowtooth flounder. 84
Atka mackerel....... 82
Flathead sole....... 72
Greenland turbot.... 82
Kamchatka flounder.. 84
Non-pelagic pollock. 81
Pelagic pollock..... 88
Other flatfish \2\.. 63
Other species \1\... 66
Pacific cod......... 66
Rockfish............ 83
Rock sole........... 86
Sablefish........... 75
Yellowfin sole...... 84
Non-CDQ pot....................... Other species \1\... 20
Pacific cod......... 20
CDQ trawl......................... Atka mackerel....... 82
Arrowtooth flounder. 84
Flathead sole....... 79
Kamchatka flounder.. 84
Non-pelagic pollock. 86
[[Page 76438]]
Pelagic pollock..... 90
Pacific cod......... 87
Greenland turbot.... 89
Rockfish............ 69
Rock sole........... 86
Yellowfin sole...... 85
CDQ hook-and-line................. Greenland turbot.... 4
Pacific cod......... 10
CDQ pot........................... Pacific cod......... 8
Sablefish........... 41
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other species'' includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and
octopuses.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut
(a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA catcher/
processors to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other
than pollock, to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries
from adverse effects resulting from the AFA and from fishery
cooperatives in the directed pollock fishery. These restrictions are
set out as ``sideboard'' limits on catch. The basis for these proposed
sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing
the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and
Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 14 lists the
proposed 2016 and 2017 catcher/processor sideboard limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA catcher/
processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in Table 14. However, groundfish
sideboard species that are delivered to listed AFA catcher/processors
by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2016 and 2017
sideboard limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors.
Table 14--Proposed 2016 and 2017 BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Listed American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processors (C/Ps)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
------------------------------------------------ 2016 and 2017 2016 and 2017
Ratio of ITAC available AFA C/P
Target species Area retained catch to all trawl C/ sideboard
Retained catch Total catch to total Ps \1\ limit
catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl........................... BS.......................... 8 497 0.016 515 8
AI.......................... 0 145 0 348 0
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 121 17,305 0.007 2,081 15
AI.......................... 23 4,987 0.005 170 1
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 76 33,987 0.002 18,700 37
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 76 33,987 0.002 5,525 11
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 6,317 169,362 0.037 61,840 2,288
Flathead sole............................. BSAI........................ 1,925 52,755 0.036 21,655 780
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 14 9,438 0.001 15,725 16
Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 3,058 52,298 0.058 3,077 178
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 12 4,879 0.002 6,818 14
Eastern AI.................. 125 6,179 0.02 7,117 142
Central AI.................. 3 5,698 0.001 6,251 6
Western AI.................. 54 13,598 0.004 8,037 32
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 91 13,040 0.007 2,763 19
Rougheye rockfish......................... EBS/EAI..................... 50 2,811 0.018 149 3
CAI/WAI..................... 50 2,811 0.018 200 4
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 50 2,811 0.018 250 5
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 18 621 0.029 325 9
AI.......................... 22 806 0.027 555 15
Atka mackerel............................. Central AI.................. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
A season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.115 7,591 873
B season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.115 7,591 873
Western AI.................. .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
A season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.2 4,689 938
B season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.2 4,689 938
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 553 68,672 0.008 21,845 175
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 553 68,672 0.008 3,995 32
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 553 68,672 0.008 125 1
Squids.................................... BSAI........................ 73 3,328 0.022 340 7
[[Page 76439]]
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 553 68,672 0.008 400 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the
TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Note: Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2016 and 2017 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin
sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 to part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/
processors. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14,
2007).
PSC species listed in Table 15 that are caught by listed AFA
catcher/processors participating in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the proposed 2016 and 2017 PSC sideboard
limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for listed AFA catcher/processors once a proposed 2016 or 2017
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 15 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while
fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually
specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories, according to Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 15-Proposed 2016 and 2017 BSAI Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits for American Fisheries Act Listed
Catcher/Processors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2016
and 2017 PSC
available to Proposed 2016
PSC species and area \1\ Ratio of PSC to trawl vessels and 2017 C/P
total PSC after sideboard limit
subtraction of \2\
PSQ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Halibut mortality.................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab Zone 1...................................... 0.007 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)......................................... 0.153 4,204,524 643,292
C. bairdi................................................. n/a n/a n/a
Zone 1.................................................... 0.14 741,190 103,767
Zone 2.................................................... 0.05 2,250,360 112,518
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA catcher vessels to
engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock,
to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse
effects resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the
directed pollock fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes formulas for
setting AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the
BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in
the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14,
2007). Tables 16 and 17 list the proposed 2016 and 2017 AFA catcher
vessel sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch, will
be deducted from the 2016 and 2017 sideboard limits listed in Table 16.
[[Page 76440]]
Table 16-Proposed 2016 and 2017 BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels
(CVs)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 and 2017
Ratio of 1995- 2016 and 2017 AFA catcher
Species Fishery by area/gear/ 1997 AFA CV initial TAC vessel
season catch to 1995- \1\ sideboard
1997 TAC limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................... BSAI.................... n/a n/a n/a
Jig gear................ 0 3,118 0
Hook-and-line CV........ n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0006 226 0
Jun 10-Dec 31 0.0006 217 0
Pot gear CV............. n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0006 9,507 6
Sept 1-Dec 31 0.0006 9,134 5
CV <60 ft LOA using hook- 0.0006 4,438 3
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl gear CV........... n/a n/a n/a
Jan 20-Apr 1 0.8609 36,426 31,359
Apr 1-Jun 10 0.8609 5,415 4,662
Jun 10-Nov 1 0.8609 7,384 6,357
Sablefish............................. BS trawl gear........... 0.0906 514 47
AI trawl gear........... 0.0645 348 22
Greenland turbot...................... BS...................... 0.0645 2,081 134
AI...................... 0.0205 170 3
Arrowtooth flounder................... BSAI.................... 0.069 18,700 1,290
Kamchatka flounder.................... BSAI.................... 0.069 5,525 381
Rock sole............................. BSAI.................... 0.0341 61,840 2,109
Flathead sole......................... BS trawl gear........... 0.0505 21,655 1,094
Alaska plaice......................... BSAI.................... 0.0441 15,725 693
Other flatfish........................ BSAI.................... 0.0441 3,077 136
Pacific ocean perch................... BS...................... 0.1 6,818 682
Eastern AI.............. 0.0077 7,117 55
Central AI.............. 0.0025 6,251 16
Western AI.............. 0 8,037 0
Northern rockfish..................... BSAI.................... 0.0084 2,763 23
Rougheye rockfish..................... EBS/EAI................. 0.0037 149 1
CAI/WAI................. 0.0037 200 1
Shortraker rockfish................... BSAI.................... 0.0037 250 1
Other rockfish........................ BS...................... 0.0048 325 2
AI...................... 0.0095 555 5
Atka mackerel......................... Eastern AI/BS........... n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0032 12,197 39
Jun 10-Nov 1 0.0032 12,197 39
Central AI.............. n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0001 7,591 1
Jun 10-Nov 1 0.0001 7,591 1
Western AI.............. n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10 0 4,689 0
Jun 10-Nov 1 0 4,689 0
Skates................................ BSAI.................... 0.0541 21,845 1,182
Sculpins.............................. BSAI.................... 0.0541 3,995 216
Sharks................................ BSAI.................... 0.0541 125 7
Squids................................ BSAI.................... 0.3827 340 130
Octopuses............................. BSAI.................... 0.0541 400 22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are
multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Note: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2016
and 2017 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access
sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 17 that are caught by
AFA catcher vessels participating in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the 2016 and 2017 PSC sideboard limits for
the AFA catcher vessels. Sections 679.21(e)(7) and 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorize NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA catcher vessels once a proposed 2016 and 2017 PSC
sideboard limit listed in Table 17 is reached. The PSC that is caught
by AFA catcher vessels while fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea
subarea will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
[[Page 76441]]
Table 17-Proposed 2016 and 2017 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2016
AFA catcher and 2017 PSC Proposed 2016
Target fishery category vessel PSC limit after and 2017 AFA
PSC species and area \1\ \2\ sideboard subtraction of catcher vessel
limit ratio PSQ reserves PSC sideboard
\3\ limit \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut............................... Pacific cod trawl....... n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and- n/a n/a 2
line or pot.
Yellowfin sole total.... n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/ n/a n/a 228
other flatfish \4\.
Greenland turbot/ n/a n/a 0
arrowtooth/Kamchatka
flounder/sablefish.
Rockfish................ n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ n/a n/a 5
other species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1.................. n/a..................... 0.299 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ....................... n/a..................... 0.168 4,204,524 706,360
C. bairdi Zone 1...................... n/a..................... 0.33 741,190 244,593
C. bairdi Zone 2...................... n/a..................... 0.186 2,250,360 418,567
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
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, and subject to further review after public
comment.
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, analyzing
the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluates
the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the
groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone off Alaska. As set
forth in the methodology, TACs are set to a level that falls within the
range of ABCs recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve
OY specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the
methodology may produce 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 BSAI. The preferred alternative is the
existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC, but, as discussed below, NMFS considered other
alternatives. 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 exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and in
parallel fisheries within State waters. These include entities
operating catcher vessels and catcher/processors within the action area
and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish.
The Small Business Administration has established size standards
for all major industry sectors in the United States. A business
primarily involved in finfish harvesting is classified as a small
business if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in
its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has combined
annual gross receipts not in excess of $20.5 million, for all its
affiliated operations worldwide. 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 some
catcher vessels and catcher/processors 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 190 catcher vessels, two catcher/processors, and six CDQ
groups. Some of these vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock
cooperatives, GOA rockfish cooperatives, or crab rationalization
cooperatives, and, since under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) it
is the aggregate gross receipts of all participating members of the
cooperative that must meet the ``under $20.5 million'' threshold, they
are considered to be large entities within the meaning of the RFA.
Thus, the
[[Page 76442]]
estimate of 190 catcher vessels may be an overstatement of the number
of small entities. Average gross revenues were $446,000 for small hook-
and-line vessels, $1.31 million for small pot vessels, and $2.28
million for small trawl vessels. Revenue data for catcher/processors is
confidential; however, in 2014, NMFS estimates that there are two
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 2015, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and
ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the
Council's BSAI Plan Team in September 2015, and reviewed and modified
by the Council's SSC in October 2015. 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 BSAI OY of two million mt. As
shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2016 and 2017
would be about 2,731,897 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 achieve OY on a continuing basis, as mandated by the
Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The proposed harvest specifications extend the current 2016 OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs to 2016 and 2017. As noted in the IRFA, the Council may
modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2015, when it reviews the
November 2015 SAFE report from its groundfish Plan Team, and the
December Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because 2016 TACs
in the proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications are unchanged from
the 2016 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 2015 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 2015 SIR (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/analyses/specs/15_16bsaigoasir.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 4, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31003 Filed 12-7-15; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
