Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2016 and 2017 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 14773-14800 [2016-06182]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
Dated: March 14, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage,
AK 99510–2252, phone 907–271–2809,
or from the Council’s Web site at https://
www.npfmc.org/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[FR Doc. 2016–06183 Filed 3–17–16; 8:45 am]
Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863–6211–02]
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.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces final 2016
and 2017 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands management area
(BSAI). This action is necessary to
establish harvest limits for groundfish
during the 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
(FMP). The intended effect of this action
is to conserve and manage the
groundfish resources in the BSAI in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 18, 2016,
through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), Supplementary
Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and
the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) prepared for this action are
available from https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2015
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
November 2015, as well as the SAFE
reports for previous years, are available
from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) at 605
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
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Federal
regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS
approved it under the MagnusonStevens Act. General regulations
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at
50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify the total allowable catch (TAC)
for each target species category. The
sum TAC for all groundfish species
must be within the optimum yield (OY)
range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million
metric tons (mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)).
This final rule specifies the TAC at 2.0
million mt for both 2016 and 2017.
NMFS also must specify
apportionments of TAC, prohibited
species catch (PSC) allowances, and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves
established by § 679.21; seasonal
allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and
Atka mackerel TAC; Amendment 80
allocations; and Community
Development Quota (CDQ) reserve
amounts established by
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1
through 26 of this action satisfy these
requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires
NMFS to consider public comment on
the proposed annual TACs (and
apportionments thereof) and PSC
allowances, and to publish final harvest
specifications in the Federal Register.
The proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications and PSC allowances for
the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were
published in the Federal Register on
December 9, 2015 (80 FR 76425).
Comments were invited and accepted
through January 8, 2016. NMFS received
two letters of comment on the proposed
harvest specifications with fourteen
substantive comments. These comments
are summarized and responded to in the
‘‘Response to Comments’’ section of this
rule. NMFS consulted with the Council
on the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications during the December
2015 Council meeting in Anchorage,
AK. After considering public comments,
as well as biological and economic data
that were available at the Council’s
December meeting, NMFS implements
the final 2016 and 2017 harvest
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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14773
specifications as recommended by the
Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and
TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC levels for Alaska
groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic
information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed
distribution of stock biomass, and
revised technical methods used to
calculate stock biomass. In general, the
development of ABCs and overfishing
levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated
statistical analyses of fish populations.
The FMP specifies a series of six tiers
to define OFL and ABC amounts based
on the level of reliable information
available to fishery scientists. Tier 1
represents the highest level of
information quality available while Tier
6 represents the lowest.
In December 2015, the Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory
Panel (AP), and Council reviewed
current biological and harvest
information about the condition of the
BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council’s
Plan Team compiled and presented this
information in the final 2015 SAFE
report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries,
dated November 2015 (see ADDRESSES).
The SAFE report contains a review of
the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species’ biomass and
other biological parameters, as well as
summaries of the available information
on the BSAI ecosystem and the
economic condition of groundfish
fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the
public and asked for review of the 2015
SAFE report in the notice of proposed
harvest specifications. From these data
and analyses, the Plan Team
recommended an OFL and ABC for each
species or species category at the
November 2015 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2015, the SSC, AP, and
Council reviewed the Plan Team’s
recommendations. The final TAC
recommendations were based on the
ABCs as adjusted for other biological
and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the sum of the
TACs within the required OY range of
1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As
required by annual catch limit rules for
all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16,
2009), none of the Council’s
recommended TACs for 2016 or 2017
exceeds the final 2016 or 2017 ABCs for
any species category. The Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) approves the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council. NMFS
finds that the Council’s recommended
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent
with the preferred harvest strategy and
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2015 SAFE
report that was approved by the
Council.
Other Actions Potentially 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 ABC for the BS. The action by the
State required a downward adjustment
of the 240,000 mt proposed 2016 and
2017 Bering Sea subarea Pacific cod
TAC because the combined TAC and
GHL was greater than the proposed ABC
of 255,000 mt. The maximum
permissible TAC after subtraction of the
GHL is 238,680 mt for the BS. 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, 17,600 mt,
is less than the proposed ABC.
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. NMFS
will publish regulations implementing
trawl and non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC
limit reductions in 2016, upon approval
by the Secretary of a final rule to
implement Amendment 111. Upon
implementation of the reductions, the
2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits under
this action will be superseded by
Amendment 111 and reduced.
Changes From the Proposed 2016 and
2017 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
The Council’s recommendations for
the proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications (80 FR 76425, December
9, 2015) were based largely on
information contained in the 2014 SAFE
report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
Through the proposed harvest
specifications, NMFS notified the public
that these harvest specifications could
change, as the Council would consider
information contained in the final 2015
SAFE report, recommendations from the
Plan Team, SSC, and AP committees,
and public testimony when making its
recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December 2015
Council meeting. NMFS further notified
the public that, as required by the FMP
and its implementing regulations, the
sum of the TACs must be within the OY
range of 1.4 million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2015
SAFE reports indicates biomass changes
for several groundfish species from the
2014 SAFE reports. The 2015 report was
made available for public review during
the public comment period for the
proposed harvest specifications. At the
December 2015 Council meeting, the
SSC recommended the 2016 and 2017
ABCs for many species based on the
best and most recent information
contained in the 2015 SAFE reports.
This recommendation resulted in an
ABC sum total for all BSAI groundfish
species in excess of 2 million mt for
both 2016 and 2017. Based on the SSC
ABC recommendations and the 2015
SAFE reports, the Council recommends
increasing Bering Sea pollock by 30,000
mt in 2016 and 30,643 in 2017. In terms
of percentage, the largest increases in
TACs were for Bogoslof area pollock
and BSAI squid. These increases were to
account for higher incidental catch
needs than were specified in the
proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications. The changes to TAC
between the proposed and final harvest
specifications are based on the most
recent scientific and economic
information and are consistent with the
FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest
strategy as described in the proposed
harvest specifications. These changes
are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council’s
recommended final 2016 OFL, ABC,
TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ
reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish;
and Table 2 lists the Council’s
recommended final 2017 OFL, ABC,
TAC, ITAC, and CDQ reserve amounts
of the BSAI groundfish. NMFS concurs
in these recommendations. The final
2016 and 2017 TAC recommendations
for the BSAI are within the OY range
established for the BSAI and do not
exceed the ABC for any species or
species group. The apportionment of
TAC amounts among fisheries and
seasons is discussed below.
TABLE 1—FINAL 2016 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]
2016
Species
Area
ITAC 2
OFL
Pollock 4 ..............................
Pacific cod 5 ........................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Sablefish .............................
Yellowfin sole ......................
Greenland turbot .................
Arrowtooth flounder .............
Kamchatka flounder ............
Rock sole ............................
Flathead sole 6 ....................
Alaska plaice .......................
Other flatfish 7 .....................
Pacific ocean perch ............
VerDate Sep<11>2014
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
Bogoslof .............................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
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ABC
TAC
3,910,000
39,075
31,906
390,000
23,400
1,304
1,766
228,100
4,194
n/a
n/a
94,035
11,100
165,900
79,562
49,000
17,414
40,529
2,090,000
32,227
23,850
255,000
17,600
1,151
1,557
211,700
3,462
2,673
789
80,701
9,500
161,000
66,250
41,000
13,061
33,320
1,340,000
19,000
500
238,680
12,839
1,151
1,557
144,000
2,873
2,673
200
14,000
5,000
57,100
21,000
14,500
2,500
31,900
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
18MRR1
1,206,000
17,100
500
213,141
11,465
950
1,265
128,592
2,442
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
50,990
18,753
12,325
2,125
28,143
CDQ 3
134,000
1,900
0
25,539
1,374
158
263
15,408
n/a
286
0
1,498
0
6,110
2,247
0
0
n/a
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
14775
TABLE 1—FINAL 2016 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH
(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016
Species
Area
OFL
ABC
ITAC 2
TAC
CDQ 3
Skates .................................
Sculpins ...............................
Sharks .................................
Squids .................................
Octopuses ...........................
BS .......................................
EAI ......................................
CAI .....................................
WAI .....................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BS/EAI ................................
CAI/WAI ..............................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BSAI ...................................
BS/EAI ................................
CAI .....................................
WAI .....................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
14,689
693
n/a
n/a
690
1,667
n/a
n/a
104,749
n/a
n/a
n/a
50,215
52,365
1,363
6,912
3,452
8,353
7,916
7,355
9,696
11,960
561
179
382
518
1,250
695
555
90,340
30,832
27,216
32,292
42,134
39,725
1,022
5,184
2,589
8,000
7,900
7,000
9,000
4,500
300
100
200
200
875
325
550
55,000
28,500
16,000
10,500
26,000
4,500
125
1,500
400
6,800
7,055
6,251
8,037
3,825
255
85
170
170
744
276
468
49,115
25,451
14,288
9,377
22,100
3,825
106
1,275
340
0
845
749
963
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,885
3,050
1,712
1,124
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL .........................
.............................................
5,324,080
3,236,662
2,000,000
1,791,97
197,225
Northern rockfish .................
Rougheye rockfish 8 ............
Shortraker rockfish ..............
Other rockfish 9 ...................
Atka mackerel .....................
1 These
amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of
these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each
TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and
Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
3 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish
TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands
Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other
rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent)
and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore—50
percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400
mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
5 The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 6.4 percent from the Bering Sea subarea ABC to account for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline
harvest level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set less than 27 percent of the Aleutian Islands subarea ABC
to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
6 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
7 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
8 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian
district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district.)
TABLE 1A—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2016 AND 2017 WITH PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE
BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Species
Area1
Pollock ...................................
BS ..................
AI ...................
Bogoslof ........
BS ..................
AI ...................
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ..............
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ..............
Pacific cod .............................
Sablefish ................................
Yellowfin sole ........................
Greenland turbot ...................
Arrowtooth flounder ...............
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 238001
2016
proposed
TAC
2016 final
TAC
1,340,000
19,000
500
238,680
12,839
1,151
1,557
144,000
2,673
200
14,000
PO 00000
2016
difference
from
proposed
1,310,000
19,000
100
240,000
9,422
1,211
1,637
149,000
2,448
200
22,000
Frm 00087
Fmt 4700
30,000
0
400
¥1,320
3,417
¥60
¥80
¥5,000
225
0
¥8,000
Sfmt 4700
2016
percentage
difference
from
proposed
2.3
0.0
400.0
¥0.5
36.3
¥5.0
¥4.9
¥3.4
9.2
0.0
¥36.4
2017 final
TAC
1,340,643
19,000
500
238,680
12,839
1,052
1,423
144,000
2,673
200
14,000
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2017
proposed
TAC
1,310,000
19,000
100
240,000
9,422
1,211
1,637
149,000
2,448
200
22,000
18MRR1
2017
difference
from
proposed
30,643
0
400
¥1,320
3,417
¥159
¥214
¥5,000
225
0
¥8,000
2017
percentage
difference
from
proposed
2.3
0.0
400.0
¥0.5
36.3
¥13.1
¥13.1
¥3.4
9.2
0.0
¥36.4
14776
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TABLE 1A—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2016 AND 2017 WITH PROPOSED 2016 AND 2017 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE
BSAI—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016
percentage
difference
from
proposed
2016
difference
from
proposed
2016
proposed
TAC
2016 final
TAC
2017 final
TAC
2017
percentage
difference
from
proposed
2017
difference
from
proposed
2017
proposed
TAC
Species
Area1
Kamchatka flounder ..............
Rock sole ..............................
Flathead sole .........................
Alaska plaice .........................
Other flatfish ..........................
Pacific ocean perch ...............
Skates ...................................
Sculpins .................................
Sharks ...................................
Squid .....................................
Octopuses .............................
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BS ..................
EAI .................
CAI ................
WAI ................
BSAI ..............
BS/EAI ...........
CAI/WAI .........
BSAI ..............
BS ..................
AI ...................
EAI/BS ...........
CAI ................
WAI ................
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
BSAI ..............
5,000
57,100
21,000
14,500
2,500
8,000
7,900
7,000
9,000
4,500
100
200
200
325
550
28,500
16,000
10,500
26,000
4,500
125
1,500
400
6,500
69,250
24,250
18,500
3,620
8,021
7,970
7,000
9,000
3,250
149
200
250
325
555
27,317
17,000
10,500
25,700
4,700
125
400
400
¥1,500
¥12,150
¥3,250
¥4,000
¥1,120
¥21
¥70
0
0
1,250
¥49
0
¥50
0
¥5
1,183
¥1,000
0
300
¥200
0
1,100
0
¥23.1
¥17.5
¥13.4
¥21.6
¥30.9
¥0.3
¥0.9
0.0
0.0
38.5
¥32.9
0.0
¥20.0
0.0
¥0.9
4.3
¥5.9
0.0
1.2
¥4.3
0.0
275.0
0.0
5,000
57,100
21,000
14,500
2,500
7,953
7,537
7,000
9,000
4,500
100
200
200
325
550
28,500
16,000
10,500
26,000
4,500
125
1,500
400
6,500
69,250
24,250
18,500
3,620
8,021
7,970
7,000
9,000
3,250
149
200
250
325
555
27,317
17,000
10,500
25,700
4,700
125
400
400
¥1,500
¥12,150
¥3,250
¥4,000
¥1,120
¥68
¥433
0
0
1,250
¥49
0
¥50
0
¥5
1,183
¥1,000
0
300
¥200
0
1,100
0
¥23.1
¥17.5
¥13.4
¥21.6
¥30.9
¥0.8
¥5.4
0.0
0.0
38.5
¥32.9
0.0
¥20.0
0.0
¥0.9
4.3
¥5.9
0.0
1.2
¥4.3
0.0
275.0
0.0
TOTAL ............................
BSAI ..............
2,000,000
2,000,000
0
0.0
2,000,000
2,000,000
0
0.0
Northern rockfish ...................
Rougheye rockfish ................
Shortraker rockfish ................
Other rockfish ........................
Atka mackerel .......................
1 Bering
Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI), Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
TABLE 2—FINAL 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]
2017
Species
Area
ITAC 2
OFL
Pollock 4 ..............................
Pacific cod 5 ........................
Sablefish .............................
Yellowfin sole ......................
Greenland turbot .................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Arrowtooth flounder .............
Kamchatka flounder ............
Rock sole ............................
Flathead sole 6 ....................
Alaska plaice .......................
Other flatfish 7 .....................
Pacific ocean perch ............
Northern rockfish .................
Rougheye rockfish 8 ............
Shortraker rockfish ..............
Other rockfish 9 ...................
Atka mackerel .....................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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 .....................................
18:10 Mar 17, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00088
ABC
TAC
3,540,000
44,455
31,906
412,000
23,400
1,241
1,681
219,200
7,416
n/a
n/a
84,156
11,700
149,400
77,544
46,800
17,414
38,589
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
14,085
855
n/a
n/a
690
1,667
n/a
n/a
99,490
n/a
n/a
2,019,000
36,664
23,850
255,000
17,600
1,052
1,423
203,500
6,132
4,734
1,398
72,216
10,000
145,000
64,580
39,100
13,061
31,724
7,953
7,537
7,002
9,232
11,468
694
216
478
518
1,250
695
555
85,840
29,296
25,860
1,340,643
19,000
500
238,680
12,839
1,052
1,423
144,000
2,873
2,673
200
14,000
5,000
57,100
21,000
14,500
2,500
31,490
7,953
7,537
7,000
9,000
4,500
300
100
200
200
875
325
550
55,000
28,500
16,000
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
18MRR1
1,206,579
17,100
500
213,141
11,465
447
302
128,592
2,442
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
50,990
18,753
12,325
2,125
27,779
6,760
6,731
6,251
8,037
3,825
255
85
170
170
744
276
468
49,115
25,451
14,288
CDQ 3
134,064
1,900
0
25,539
1,374
39
27
15,408
n/a
286
0
1,498
0
6,110
2,247
0
0
n/a
0
806
749
963
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5,885
3,050
1,712
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
14777
TABLE 2—FINAL 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—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017
Species
Area
OFL
ABC
ITAC 2
TAC
CDQ 3
Skates .................................
Sculpins ...............................
Sharks .................................
Squids .................................
Octopuses ...........................
WAI .....................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
n/a
47,674
52,365
1,363
6,912
3,452
30,684
39,943
39,725
1,022
5,184
2,589
10,500
26,000
4,500
125
1,500
400
9,377
22,100
3,825
106
1,275
340
1,124
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL .........................
.............................................
4,935,455
3,128,135
2,000,000
1,790,446
196,895
1 These
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of
these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each
TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and
Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
3 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish
TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands
Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other
rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent)
and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: Inshore—50
percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400
mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
5 The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 6.4 percent from the Bering Sea subarea ABC to account for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline
harvest level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set less than 27 percent of the Aleutian Islands subarea ABC
to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
6 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
7 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
8 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian
district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district.)
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental
Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock,
Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS
to reserve 15 percent of the TAC for
each target species, except for pollock,
hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of
sablefish, and Amendment 80 species,
in a non-specified reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line
and pot gear allocation of sablefish for
the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that
NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl
gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7
percent of the Bering Sea Greenland
turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to
the respective CDQ reserves. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS
allocate 10.7 percent of the TAC for
Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific
ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also
require that 10 percent of the BSAI
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:10 Mar 17, 2016
Jkt 238001
pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA).
The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA (see
§ 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of
the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish
CDQ reserve, the regulations do not
further apportion the CDQ allocations
by gear.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1),
NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 4.0
percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC
after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ
reserve. This allowance is based on
NMFS’ examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from
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 establishes 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
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
catch, including the incidental catch by
CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other
than pollock from 2003 through 2015.
During this 13-year period, the
incidental catch of pollock ranged from
a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of
17 percent in 2014, with a 13-year
average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10),
NMFS allocates ICAs of 5,000 mt of
flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole,
3,500 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of WAI
Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of CAI
Pacific ocean perch, 200 mt of EAI
Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka
mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel,
and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea
Atka mackerel TAC after subtracting the
10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA
allowances are based on NMFS’
examination of the incidental catch in
other target fisheries from 2003 through
2015.
The regulations do not designate the
remainder of the non-specified reserve
by species or species group. Any
amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species category
that contributed to the non-specified
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
18MRR1
14778
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
supplemented from the non-specified
reserve because U.S. fishing vessels
have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in
reserves during the year, provided that
such apportionments do not result in
overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The
Regional Administrator has determined
that the ITACs specified for the species
listed in Table 1 need to be
Table 3 from the non-specified reserve
to increase the ITAC for shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other
rockfish,’’ sharks, and octopuses by 15
percent of the TAC in 2016 and 2017.
TABLE 3—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species-area or subarea
2016 reserve
amount
2016 ITAC
2016 final
ITAC
2017 reserve
amount
2017 ITAC
2017 final
ITAC
Shortraker rockfish-BSAI .........................
Rougheye rockfish-BS/EAI ......................
Rougheye rockfish-CAI/WAI ....................
Other rockfish-Bering Sea subarea .........
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea ..
Sharks ......................................................
Octopuses ................................................
170
85
170
276
468
106
340
30
15
30
49
82
19
60
200
100
200
325
550
125
400
170
85
170
276
468
106
340
30
15
30
49
82
19
60
200
100
200
325
550
125
400
Total ..................................................
1,615
285
1,900
1,615
285
1,900
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the
American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that
the BS subarea pollock TAC be
apportioned, after subtracting 10
percent for the CDQ program and 4.0
percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows:
50 percent to the inshore sector, 40
percent to the catcher/processor (C/P)
sector, and 10 percent to the mothership
sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the A season
(January 20–June 10), and 60 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the B season
(June 10–November 1)
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI-directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut
Corporation is the amount of pollock
remaining in the AI subarea after
subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA
(10 percent) and 2,400 mt for the ICA
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI
subarea, the total A season
apportionment of the TAC is less than
or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and
the remainder of the TAC is allocated to
the B season. Tables 4 and 5 list these
2016 and 2017 amounts.
The Steller sea lion protection
measure final rule (79 FR 70286,
November 25, 2014) sets harvest limits
for pollock in the A season (January 20
to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541,
see § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). 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 BS subarea pollock
allocations. First, it requires that 8.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the
C/P sector be available for harvest by
AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P
sector endorsements, unless the
Regional Administrator receives a
cooperative contract that allows the
distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps
and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by
all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not
listed in the AFA are limited to
harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of
the pollock allocated to the C/P sector.
Tables 4 and 5 list the 2016 and 2017
allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 21
through 26 list the AFA C/P and CV
harvesting sideboard limits. The tables
for the pollock allocations to the BS
subarea inshore pollock cooperatives
and open access sector will be posted on
the Alaska Region Web site at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Tables 4 and 5 also list seasonal
apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion
Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at
§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more
than 28 percent of the annual DFA
before 12:00 noon, April 1, as provided
in § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season
pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each sector in proportion
to each sector’s allocated percentage of
the DFA. Tables 4 and 5 list these 2016
and 2017 amounts by sector.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA)1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season1
Area and sector
2016 Allocations
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
A season DFA
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................
CDQ DFA .........................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................
AFA Inshore .....................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...............................
Catch by C/Ps ..........................................
Catch by CVs 3 .........................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...................................
AFA Motherships .............................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:10 Mar 17, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
1,340,000
134,000
48,240
578,880
463,104
423,740
39,364
2,316
115,776
Frm 00090
Fmt 4700
SCA Harvest
limit 2
n/a
53,600
n/a
231,552
185,242
169,496
15,746
926
46,310
Sfmt 4700
2016 B season1
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
n/a
37,520
n/a
162,086
129,669
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,417
18MRR1
B season DFA
n/a
80,400
n/a
347,328
277,862
254,244
23,618
1,389
69,466
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
14779
TABLE 4—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA)1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 A season1
Area and sector
2016 Allocations
2016 B season1
SCA Harvest
limit 2
A season DFA
B season DFA
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...........................
Total Bering Sea DFA .....................................
202,608
347,328
1,157,760
n/a
n/a
463,104
n/a
n/a
324,173
n/a
n/a
694,656
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................
CDQ DFA .........................................................
ICA ...................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................
Area harvest limit 7
541 ............................................................
542 ............................................................
543 ............................................................
32,227
19,000
1,900
2,400
14,700
n/a
n/a
760
1,200
10,931
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,200
3,769
9,668
4,834
1,611
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................
500
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, 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 (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS
subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June
10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A
season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
processors sector’s allocation of pollock.
5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
7 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.
8 The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and
are not apportioned by season or sector.
NOTE: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 5–FINAL 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017 A season 1
Area and sector
2017 Allocations
2017 B season 1
SCA Harvest
limit 2
A season DFA
B season DFA
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................
CDQ DFA .........................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................
AFA Inshore .....................................................
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ...............................
Catch by C/Ps ..........................................
Catch by CVs 3 .........................................
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...................................
AFA Motherships .............................................
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................
Excessive Processing Limit 6 ...........................
Total Bering Sea DFA .....................................
1,340,643
134,064
48,263
579,158
463,326
423,943
39,383
2,317
115,832
202,705
347,495
1,158,316
n/a
53,626
n/a
231,663
185,330
169,577
15,753
927
46,333
n/a
n/a
463,326
n/a
37,538
n/a
162,164
129,731
n/a
n/a
n/a
32,433
n/a
n/a
324,328
n/a
80,439
n/a
347,495
277,996
254,366
23,630
1,390
69,499
n/a
n/a
694,989
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................
CDQ DFA .........................................................
ICA ...................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................
Area harvest limit 7
541 ............................................................
542 ............................................................
543 ............................................................
36,664
19,000
1,900
2,400
14,700
n/a
n/a
760
1,200
12,706
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,200
1,994
10,999
5,500
1,833
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:10 Mar 17, 2016
Jkt 238001
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
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14780
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 53 / Friday, March 18, 2016 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 5–FINAL 2017 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017 A season 1
Area and sector
2017 Allocations
SCA Harvest
limit 2
A season DFA
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................
500
2017 B season 1
n/a
B season DFA
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant
to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, 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 (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS
subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June
10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A
season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
4 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
processors sector’s allocation of pollock.
5 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
6 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
7 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.
8 The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and
are not apportioned by season or sector.
NOTE: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka
mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors,
after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig
gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector and nontrawl gear sector (Tables 6 and 7). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka
mackerel allocated to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors
is listed in Table 33 to part 679 and in
§ 679.91. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8)(i),
up to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS
subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be
allocated to vessels using jig gear. The
percent of this allocation is
recommended annually by the Council
based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig
gear fleet. The Council recommended,
and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent
allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in
the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear
sector in 2015 and 2016. This
percentage is applied to the Atka
mackerel 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
divide the annual TAC between the A
and B seasons as defined at
§ 679.23(e)(3). Section
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that 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.
Tables 6 and 7 list these 2016 and
2017 Atka mackerel seasons, area
allowances, and the sector allocations.
The 2017 allocations for Atka mackerel
between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in
the program by November 1, 2016.
TABLE 6—FINAL 2016 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCE, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 Allocation by area
Eastern
Aleutian
District/Bering Sea
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC .......................................................................
CDQ reserve .........................................................
n/a .........................................................................
Total ......................................................................
A ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
B ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
Total ......................................................................
Total ......................................................................
ICA ........................................................................
Jig 6 .......................................................................
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28,500
3,050
1,525
n/a
1,525
n/a
1,000
122
18MRR1
Central
Aleutian
District 5
16,000
1,712
856
514
856
514
75
0
Western
Aleutian
District
10,500
1,124
562
337
562
337
40
0
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TABLE 6—FINAL 2016 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCE, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 Allocation by area
Eastern
Aleutian
District/Bering Sea
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
BSAI trawl limited access .....................................
Total ......................................................................
A ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
B ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
Total ......................................................................
A ...........................................................................
B ...........................................................................
Total 6 ...................................................................
A ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
B ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
Total 6 ...................................................................
A ...........................................................................
Critical Habitat ......................................................
B ...........................................................................
Habitat ..................................................................
Amendment 80 sectors .........................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ............................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................................
2,433
1,216
n/a
1,216
n/a
21,895
10,948
10,948
12,349
6,175
n/a
6,175
n/a
9,546
4,773
n/a
4,773
n/a
Western
Aleutian
District
Central
Aleutian
District 5
1,421
711
426
711
426
12,792
6,396
6,396
7,615
3,808
2,285
3,808
2,285
5,177
2,589
1,553
2,589
1,553
0
0
0
0
0
9,337
4,668
4,668
5,742
2,871
1,723
2,871
1,723
3,595
1,798
1,079
1,798
1,079
1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
2 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; (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and (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 the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear
after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 7—FINAL 2017 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2017 Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC .................................................................
CDQ reserve ...................................................
n/a ..................................................................
Total ...............................................................
A .....................................................................
Critical Habitat ................................................
B .....................................................................
Critical Habitat ................................................
Total ...............................................................
Total ...............................................................
Total ...............................................................
A .....................................................................
Critical Habitat ................................................
B .....................................................................
Critical Habitat ................................................
Total ...............................................................
A .....................................................................
B .....................................................................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
ICA ..................................................................
Jig 6 .................................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ...............................
Amendment 80 sectors 7 .................................
Eastern Aleutian District/
Bering Sea 5
28,500
3,050
1,525
n/a
1,525
n/a
1,000
122
2,433
1,216
n/a
1,216
n/a
21,895
10,948
10,948
Central Aleutian District 5
16,000
1,712
856
514
856
514
75
0
1,421
711
426
711
426
12,792
6,396
6,396
Western Aleutian District 5
10,500
1,124
562
337
562
337
40
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,337
4,668
4,668
1 Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
2 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.
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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; (a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and (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 the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear
after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
7 The 2017 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known
until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80 allocations when they
become available in December 2016.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated BS and AI
subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for
Pacific cod in 2014 (79 FR 12108, March
4, 2014). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)
allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC
and AI TAC to the CDQ program. After
CDQ allocations have been deducted
from the respective BS and AI Pacific
cod TACs, the remaining BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs are combined for
calculating further BSAI Pacific cod
sector allocations. However, if the nonCDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be
reached in either the BS or AI subareas,
NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed
fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as
provided in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii)
allocate the Pacific cod TAC in the
combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting
10.7 percent for the CDQ program, as
follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig
gear; 2.0 percent to hook-and-line and
pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length
overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-andline CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-andline C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5
percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3 percent to AFA
trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA
trawl C/Ps; and 22.1 percent to trawl
CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and
pot sectors will be deducted from the
aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. For 2016 and 2017, the Regional
Administrator establishes an ICA of 500
mt based on anticipated incidental catch
by these sectors in other fisheries.
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to
the Amendment 80 sector is established
in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91.
The 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.
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 2015 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 will first
subtract the State GHL Pacific cod
amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC.
Then NMFS will determine the harvest
limit in Area 543 by multiplying the
percentage of Pacific cod estimated in
Area 543 by the remaining ABC for AI
Pacific cod. Based on these calculations,
the Area 543 harvest limit is 3,379 mt.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season
allowances by gear based on the 2016
and 2017 Pacific cod TACs are listed in
Tables 8 and 9, and are based on the
sector allocation percentages of Pacific
cod set forth at §§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at
§ 679.23(e)(5).
TABLE 8—FINAL 2016 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2016 Share of
gear sector
total
2016 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 .............
.....................
0.2 ...............
238,680 .........
25,539 ...........
213,141 .........
12,839 ...........
1,374 .............
11,465 ...........
3,379 .............
224,606 .........
136,561 .........
500 ................
136,061 .........
n/a .................
.......................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
n/a .................
108,983 .........
.......................
448 ................
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 ......................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) .....................
n/a ......................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 .....................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 ..................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 .....................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
55,581
53,402
228
.....................
1.5 ...............
.....................
8.4 ...............
.....................
2 ..................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
3,357 .............
.......................
18,798 ...........
.......................
4,476 .............
Jun 10–Dec 31 ..................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 .....................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ...................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 .....................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ...................................
n/a ......................................................
219
1,712
1,645
9,587
9,211
n/a
22.1 .............
49,638 ...........
n/a .................
Jan 20–Apr 1 .....................................
36,732
Gear sector
Percent
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
BS TAC ..............................................
BS CDQ .............................................
BS non-CDQ TAC .............................
AI TAC ...............................................
AI CDQ ..............................................
AI non-CDQ TAC ...............................
Western Aleutian Island 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/processor .......
Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft
LOA.
Pot catcher/processor ........................
Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA .........
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel ..........................
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TABLE 8—FINAL 2016 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear sector
Percent
AFA trawl catcher/processor .............
Amendment 80 ..................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative .........
Alaska Seafood Cooperative .............
Jig ......................................................
.....................
.....................
2.3 ...............
.....................
.....................
13.4 .............
.....................
.....................
n/a ...............
.....................
.....................
n/a ...............
.....................
.....................
1.4 ...............
.....................
.....................
2016 Share of
gear sector
total
2016 Share of
sector total
.......................
.......................
5,166 .............
.......................
.......................
30,097 ...........
.......................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
.......................
3,144 .............
.......................
.......................
.......................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
.......................
4,751 .............
.......................
.......................
25,346 ...........
.......................
.......................
n/a .................
.......................
.......................
2016 Seasonal apportionment
Seasons
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–Dec 31 ..................................
Jan 20–Apr 1 .....................................
Apr 1–Jun 10 .....................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 ..................................
Jan 1–Apr 30 .....................................
Apr 30–Aug 31 ..................................
Aug 31–Dec 31 ..................................
Amount
5,460
7,446
3,874
1,291
0
22,573
7,524
0
3,563
1,188
0
19,010
6,337
0
1,887
629
629
1 The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line
and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2016 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 9—FINAL 2017 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Gear sector
BS TAC ....................................................
BS CDQ ...................................................
BS non-CDQ TAC ...................................
AI TAC .....................................................
AI CDQ ....................................................
AI non-CDQ TAC .....................................
Western Aleutian Island 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/processor .............
Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft
LOA.
Pot catcher/processor ..............................
Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ...............
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hookand-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel ................................
AFA trawl catcher/processor ...................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
2017 Share
of gear sector total
2017 Share of
sector total
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
n/a .........
60.8 .......
n/a .........
n/a .........
48.7 .......
...............
0.2 .........
238,680
25,539
213,141
12,839
1,374
11,465
3,379
224,606
136,561
500
136,061
n/a
....................
n/a
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
n/a ....................
108,983 ............
..........................
448 ...................
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 ...........................................................
see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ..........................
n/a ...........................................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..........................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .......................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..........................................
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
55,581
53,402
228
...............
1.5 .........
...............
8.4 .........
...............
2 ............
....................
n/a
....................
n/a
....................
n/a
..........................
3,357 ................
..........................
18,798 ..............
..........................
4,476 ................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .......................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..........................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ........................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ..........................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ........................................
n/a ...........................................................
219
1,712
1,645
9,587
9,211
n/a
22.1 .......
...............
...............
2.3 .........
...............
...............
13.4 .......
...............
...............
1.4 .........
...............
...............
49,638
....................
....................
5,166
....................
....................
30,097
....................
....................
3,144
....................
....................
n/a ....................
..........................
..........................
n/a ....................
..........................
..........................
n/a ....................
..........................
..........................
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–Dec 31 .......................................
Jan 1–Apr 30 ..........................................
Apr 30–Aug 31 .......................................
Aug 31–Dec 31 .......................................
36,732
5,460
7,446
3,874
1,291
0
22,573
7,524
0
1,887
629
629
Percent
Amendment 80 ........................................
Jig ............................................................
2017 Seasonal apportionment
Seasons
Amount
1 The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
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2 The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line
and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2017 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)
require allocation of the sablefish TAC
for the BS and AI subareas between
trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear
sectors. Gear allocations of the TAC for
the BS subarea are 50 percent for trawl
gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or
pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs
for the AI subarea are 25 percent for
trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-andline or pot gear. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to
apportion 20 percent of the hook-andline and pot gear allocation of sablefish
to the CDQ reserve. Additionally,
§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of
sablefish from the non-specified
reserves, established under
§ 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ
reserve. The Council recommended that
only trawl sablefish TAC be established
biennially. The harvest specifications
for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries will be limited to the 2016
fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut
IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and
halibut IFQ fisheries will reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and
sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain
closed at the beginning of each fishing
year until the final harvest
specifications for the sablefish IFQ
fisheries are in effect. Table 10 lists the
2016 and 2017 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve
amounts.
TABLE 10—FINAL 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 ITAC
2016 CDQ
Reserve
2017 Share
of TAC
2017 ITAC
2017 CDQ
Reserve
Bering Sea:
Trawl 1 ...............................................
Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ...................
50
50
576
576
489
460
43
115
526
n/a
447
n/a
39
n/a
Total ...........................................
100
1,151
950
158
526
447
39
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl 1 ...............................................
Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ...................
25
75
389
1,168
331
934
29
234
356
n/a
302
n/a
27
n/a
Total ...........................................
100
1,557
1,265
263
356
302
27
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 subtracting these reserves.
2 For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean
Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii)
require that NMFS allocate AI Pacific
ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole TAC
between the Amendment 80 sector and
BSAI trawl limited access sector, after
subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and vessels using
non-trawl gear. The allocation of the
ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80
sector is established in accordance with
Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and
§ 679.91.
The 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. Tables 11 and 12 list
the 2016 and 2017 allocations of the AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
TABLE 11—FINAL 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND
AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK
SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
District
TAC ..................................................................................
CDQ .................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ................................................
Amendment 80 .................................................................
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative .......................................
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7,900
845
200
685
6,169
3,271
Fmt 4700
Central
Aleutian
District
Western
Aleutian
District
7,000
749
75
618
5,558
2,947
Sfmt 4700
Flathead
sole
9,000
963
10
161
7,866
4,171
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
Rock
sole
Yellowfin
sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
21,000
2,247
5,000
0
13,753
1,411
18MRR1
57,100
6,110
6,000
0
44,990
11,129
144,000
15,408
3,500
14,979
110,113
43,748
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14785
TABLE 11—FINAL 2016 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]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
District
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...........................................
Central
Aleutian
District
2,898
Flathead
sole
2,611
3,695
Yellowfin
sole
BSAI
Western
Aleutian
District
Rock
sole
BSAI
BSAI
12,342
33,861
66,365
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 12—FINAL 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]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
District
TAC ..................................................................................
CDQ .................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ................................................
Amendment 80 1 ..............................................................
Central
Aleutian
District
7,537
806
200
653
5,877
Flathead
sole
7,002
749
75
618
5,560
9,000
963
10
161
7,866
Yellowfin
sole
BSAI
Western
Aleutian
District
Rock
sole
BSAI
BSAI
21,000
2,247
5,000
0
13,753
57,100
6,110
6,000
0
44,990
144,000
15,408
3,500
14,979
110,113
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. NMFS will publish 2017 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2016.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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 units and the total
Amendment 80 quota share units,
multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC
reserve for each respective species.
Table 13 lists the 2016 and 2017 ABC
surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole.
TABLE 13—FINAL 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]
2016 Flathead
sole
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Sector
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 ..
2016 Rock
sole
2016 Yellowfin
sole
2017 Flathead
sole
2017 Rock
sole
2017 Yellowfin
sole
66,250
21,000
45,250
45,250
4,842
40,408
161,100
57,100
104,000
104,000
11,128
92,872
211,700
144,000
67,700
67,700
7,244
60,456
64,580
21,000
43,580
43,580
4,663
38,917
145,000
57,100
87,900
87,900
9,405
78,495
203,500
144,000
59,500
59,500
6,367
53,134
4,145
36,263
22,974
69,898
24,019
36,437
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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.
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PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab,
and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI
PSC limits. Reductions to the BSAI
halibut PSC limits are expected to be
implemented in 2016, pending
Secretarial approval of Amendment 111
and the effective date of publication of
a final rule. On implementation of the
reductions, the 2016 and 2017 halibut
PSC limits under this action will be
superseded by Amendment 111 and
reduced. 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
679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326 mt of the
trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5
percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl
halibut mortality limit as the PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ
program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes
apportioning the non-trawl halibut PSC
limit into PSC bycatch allowances
among six fishery categories. Tables 15
and 16 list the fishery bycatch
allowances for the trawl fisheries, and
Table 17 lists the fishery bycatch
allowances for the non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP,
the Council recommends, and NMFS
agrees, that certain specified non-trawl
fisheries be exempt from the halibut
PSC limit. As in past years, after
consulting with the Council, NMFS
exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery
categories from halibut bycatch
restrictions for the following reasons: (1)
The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates
halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to
be negligible because of the small size
of the fishery and the selectivity of the
gear; and (3) the IFQ program requires
legal-size halibut to be retained by
vessels using hook-and-line gear if a
halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired
master is aboard and is holding unused
halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part
679). In 2015, total groundfish catch for
the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 38,149 mt, with an
associated halibut bycatch mortality of
about 3 mt.
The 2015 jig gear fishery harvested
about 29 mt of groundfish. Most vessels
in the jig gear fleet are exempt from
observer coverage requirements. As a
result, observer data are not available on
halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery.
However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates the jig gear sector will have a
negligible amount of halibut bycatch
mortality because of the selective nature
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of jig gear and the low mortality rate of
halibut caught with jig gear and
released.
Section 679.21(f)(2) annually allocates
portions of either 47,591 or 60,000
Chinook salmon PSC limits among the
AFA sectors, depending on past catch
performance and on whether Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements are formed. If an AFA sector
participates in an approved Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement, then NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that
sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement is approved, or if the sector
has exceeded its performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6), then NMFS will
allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook
salmon PSC limit to that sector, as
specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In
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, 2016 allocations, and
reports at https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/
sustainablefisheries/bycatch/
default.htm when they become
available.
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, to the AI
subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and
allocates the remaining 647 Chinook
salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies
42,000 fish as the 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 in the CVOA as the PSC limit for
the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are
specified annually based on abundance
and spawning biomass. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7
percent from each trawl gear PSC limit
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specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for
use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2015 survey data, the
red king crab mature female abundance
is estimated to be 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 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 of more than
8.4 million king crab and the effective
spawning biomass estimate of less than
55 million lb (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 red king
crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the
red king crab PSC limit, based on the
need to optimize the groundfish harvest
relative to red king crab bycatch. In
December 2015, the Council
recommended and NMFS concurs that
the red king crab bycatch limit be equal
to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC
limit within the RKCSS (Table 15).
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
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 is set at 0.1133
percent of the BS abundance index
minus 150,000 crab. 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 BS herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2016 and 2017 herring
biomass is 263,098 mt. This amount was
developed by the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game based on spawning
location estimates. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2016 and 2017 is
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2,361 mt for all trawl gear as listed in
Tables 14 and 15.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires
PSQ reserves to be subtracted from the
total trawl PSC limits. The 2015 PSC
limits assigned to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors
are specified in Table 35 to part 679.
The resulting allocations of PSC limit to
CDQ PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector,
and the BSAI trawl limited access
fisheries are listed in Table 10. Pursuant
to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and § 679.91(d)
through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC
limits assigned to the Amendment 80
sector are then further allocated to
Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC
cooperative quota as listed in Table 18.
PSC cooperative quota assigned to
Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories.
In 2016, there are no vessels in the
Amendment 80 limited access sector.
The 2017 PSC allocations between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector
will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in
the program by November 1, 2016.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires
NMFS to apportion each trawl PSC limit
not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch
allowances for seven specified fishery
categories.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes
NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal
apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and
Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet
14787
to harvest the available groundfish TAC
and to minimize bycatch. The factors to
be considered are (1) seasonal
distribution of prohibited species, (2)
seasonal distribution of target
groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relevant to
prohibited species biomass, (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout
the year, (5) expected start of fishing
effort, and (6) economic effects of
seasonal PSC apportionments on
industry sectors. The Council
recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables
15 and 16 to maximize harvest among
gear types, fisheries, and seasons while
minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the
above criteria.
TABLE 14—FINAL 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
PSC species and
Non-trawl
PSC remaining
after CDQ
PSQ2
area1
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI ......................
Herring (mt) BSAI ....................................
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 ..............
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ .......................
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 ...............
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 ...............
Non-trawl
PSC remaining
after CDQ
PSQ2
900
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
832
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Total trawl
PSC
3,675
2,631
97,000
4,708,314
830,000
2,520,000
Trawl PSC
remaining
after CDQ
PSQ2
CDQ PSQ
reserve2
3,349
n/a
86,621
4,204,524
741,190
2,250,360
393
n/a
10,379
503,790
88,810
269,640
Amendment
80 sector3
BSAI trawl
limited access fishery
2,325
n/a
43,293
2,066,524
312,115
532,660
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. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 Section
TABLE 15—FINAL 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
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
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 species 2,3 ..........................................................................................................................
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 4 ................................................................................................
179
29
19
13
40
2,151
199
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
24,250
Total trawl PSC ........................................................................................................................................................
2,631
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 skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
4 In December 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)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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TABLE 16—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS
SECTOR
Prohibited species and area 1
BSAI trawl limited
access fisheries
Halibut
mortality
(mt) BSAI
Red king
crab
(animals)
Zone 1
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
Zone 2
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 .....................................................
167
0
0
5
453
250
23,338
0
0
0
2,954
197
1,273,886
0
0
2,104
54,298
21,046
293,234
0
0
0
50,816
4,235
1,005,879
0
0
849
42,424
4,242
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC ...............................................
875
26,489
1,351,334
348,285
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), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
2 ‘‘Other
TABLE 17—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES BY CATCH ALLOWANCES FOR NON-TRAWL FISHERIES
[Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI]
Catcher/
processor
Catcher
vessel
Non-trawl fisheries
Seasons
All Non-Trawl
Pacific cod ..........................................................
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total .........................
Groundfish pot and jig ........................................
Sablefish hook-and-line ......................................
Total Pacific cod ................................................
January 1–June 10 ............................................
June 10–August 15 ............................................
August 15–December 31 ...................................
May 1–December 31 .........................................
n/a ......................................................................
n/a ......................................................................
760
455
190
115
n/a
n/a
n/a
15
10
3
2
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
58
Exempt.
Exempt.
Total for all non-trawl PSC .........................
n/a ......................................................................
n/a
n/a
833
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 18—FINAL 2016 PROHIBITED SPECIES BY CATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES
Prohibited species and zones 1
Cooperative
Halibut
mortality (mt)
BSAI
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ...........................................
Alaska Seafood Cooperative ...............................................
Red king crab
(animals)
Zone 1
632
1,693
12,459
30,834
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
650,551
1,415,973
C. bairdi (animals)
Zone 1
82,136
229,979
Zone 2
137,369
395,291
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the
Regional Administrator uses observed
halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, and
estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery’s halibut bycatch
mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The DMRs
are based on the best information
available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS is implementing the halibut
DMRs developed and recommended by
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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 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18). The
IPHC and the Council developed these
DMRs for the 2016 and 2017 BSAI
fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs
for those fisheries. Long-term average
DMRs were not available for some
fisheries, so rates from the most recent
years were used. For the skate, sculpin,
shark, squid, and octopus target
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fisheries, where not enough halibut
mortality data are available, the
mortality rate of halibut caught in the
Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was
recommended as a default rate. The
IPHC and Council staff will analyze
observer data annually and recommend
changes to the DMRs when a fishery
DMR shows large variation from the
mean. A discussion of the DMRs and
how they are established is available
from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table
19 lists the 2016 and 2017 DMRs.
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TABLE 19—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 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 ....................................................................
Pelagic pollock ............................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Greenland turbot ........................................................................
Rockfish ......................................................................................
Rock sole ....................................................................................
Yellowfin sole .............................................................................
Greenland turbot ........................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Pacific cod ..................................................................................
Sablefish .....................................................................................
Non-CDQ trawl ...........................................................................
Non-CDQ Pot .............................................................................
CDQ trawl ...................................................................................
CDQ hook-and-line .....................................................................
CDQ pot ......................................................................................
11
9
9
9
66
84
82
72
82
84
81
88
63
66
66
83
86
66
84
9
9
82
84
79
84
86
90
87
89
70
86
85
10
10
1
41
1 ‘‘Other
species’’ includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
2 ‘‘Other
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator may
establish a DFA for a species or species
group if the Regional Administrator
determines that any allocation or
apportionment of a target species has
been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and
that allowance is or will be reached
before the end of the fishing year, NMFS
will prohibit directed fishing for that
species or species group in the specified
subarea or district (see
§ 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant
to § 679.21(e), if the Regional
Administrator determines that a fishery
category’s bycatch allowance of halibut,
red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio
crab for a specified area has been
reached, the Regional Administrator
will prohibit directed fishing for each
species in that category in the specified
area.
Based on historic catch patterns and
anticipated fishing activity, the Regional
Administrator has determined that the
groundfish allocation amounts in Table
20 will be necessary as incidental catch
to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2016 and 2017 fishing
years. Consequently, in accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the DFA for
the species and species groups in Table
20 as zero. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified
areas effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March
18, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2017. Also, for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector, bycatch
allowances of halibut, red king crab, C.
bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in
Table 20 are insufficient to support
directed fisheries. Therefore, in
accordance with § 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and fishery categories in the
specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., March 18, 2016, through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
TABLE 20—2016 AND 2017 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
2016 Incidental catch
allowance
Area
Sector
Species
Bogoslof District .........................................
All ..............................................................
Pollock .......................................................
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2017 Incidental catch
allowance
500
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TABLE 20—2016 AND 2017 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1—Continued
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
2016 Incidental catch
allowance
2017 Incidental catch
allowance
Area
Sector
Species
Aleutian Islands subarea ...........................
All ..............................................................
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea .........
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI
trawl limited access.
All ..............................................................
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI
trawl limited access.
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI
trawl limited access.
ICA pollock ................................................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ......................................
ICA Atka mackerel ....................................
2,400
550
1,000
2,400
550
1,000
Rougheye rockfish ....................................
ICA Pacific ocean perch ...........................
100
200
100
200
ICA Atka mackerel ....................................
75
75
ICA Pacific ocean perch ...........................
ICA Atka mackerel ....................................
75
40
75
40
ICA Pacific ocean perch ...........................
Rougheye rockfish ....................................
Pacific ocean perch ...................................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ......................................
ICA pollock ................................................
Northern rockfish .......................................
Shortraker rockfish ....................................
Skates .......................................................
Sculpins .....................................................
Sharks .......................................................
Squids .......................................................
Octopuses .................................................
ICA Pacific cod ..........................................
ICA flathead sole .......................................
ICA rock sole .............................................
ICA yellowfin sole ......................................
10
200
6,800
325
48,240
3,825
200
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
500
5,000
6,000
3,500
10
200
6,760
325
48,263
3,825
200
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
500
5,000
6,000
3,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish—halibut mortality, red king crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish—halibut mortality, red king crab Zone 1, C. opilio
COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish—red king crab Zone 1 ...............
0
0
0
0
0
0
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea .........
Eastern Aleutian District ............................
Central Aleutian District .............................
Western Aleutian District ...........................
Non-amendment 80, CDQ and BSAI trawl
limited access.
Western and Central Aleutian Districts .....
Bering Sea subarea ...................................
All ..............................................................
All ..............................................................
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands ...............
All ..............................................................
Hook-and-line and pot gear ......................
Non-amendment 80 and CDQ ..................
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and BSAI
trawl limited access.
BSAI trawl limited access .........................
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
2 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Closures implemented under the final
2015 and 2016 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (80 FR
11919, March 5, 2015) remain effective
under authority of these final 2016 and
2017 harvest specifications, and are
posted at the following Web sites:
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/
info_bulletins/ and https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries_
reports/reports/. While these closures
are in effect, the maximum retainable
amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at
any time during a fishing trip. These
closures to directed fishing are in
addition to closures and prohibitions
found at 50 CFR part 679.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor
Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of listed AFA
C/Ps to engage in directed fishing for
groundfish species other than pollock to
protect participants in other groundfish
fisheries from adverse effects resulting
from the AFA and from fishery
cooperatives in the pollock directed
fishery. These restrictions are set out as
‘‘sideboard’’ limits on catch. The basis
for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing
the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and
Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 21 lists the
2016 and 2017 AFA C/P sideboard
limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard
species by listed AFA C/Ps, whether as
targeted catch or incidental catch, will
be deducted from the sideboard limits
in Table 21. However, groundfish
sideboard species that are delivered to
listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be
deducted from the 2016 and 2017
sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
TABLE 21—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH
SIDEBOARD LIMITS
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Target species
Sablefish trawl .................
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total catch
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0
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2016 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps 1
2016 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
489
331
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0
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2017 ITAC
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447
302
2017 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
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14791
TABLE 21—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH
SIDEBOARD LIMITS—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Target species
Atka mackerel ..................
Rock sole .........................
Greenland turbot .............
Arrowtooth flounder .........
Kamchatka flounder ........
Flathead sole ...................
Alaska plaice ...................
Other flatfish ....................
Pacific ocean perch .........
Northern rockfish .............
Shortraker rockfish ..........
Rougheye rockfish ...........
Other rockfish ..................
Skates ..............................
Sculpins ...........................
Sharks .............................
Squids ..............................
Octopuses .......................
Area/season
Retained
catch
Central AI A
season 2.
Central AI B
season 2.
Western AI
A season 2.
Western AI
B season 2.
BSAI ...........
BS ..............
AI ................
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BS ..............
Eastern AI ..
Central AI ...
Western AI
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
EBS/EAI .....
CAI/WAI .....
BS ..............
AI ................
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
Total catch
Ratio of
retained
catch to
total catch
2016 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps 1
2016 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
2017 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps1
2017 AFA
C/P sideboard limit
n/a
n/a
0.115
7,144
822
8,000
920
n/a
n/a
0.115
7,144
822
8,000
920
n/a
n/a
0.2
4,688
938
5,250
1,050
n/a
n/a
0.2
4,688
938
5,250
1,050
6,317
121
23
76
76
1,925
14
3,058
12
125
3
54
91
50
50
50
18
22
553
553
553
73
553
169,362
17,305
4,987
33,987
33,987
52,755
9,438
52,298
4,879
6,179
5,698
13,598
13,040
2,811
2,811
2,811
621
806
68,672
68,672
68,672
3,328
68,672
0.037
0.007
0.005
0.002
0.002
0.036
0.001
0.058
0.002
0.02
0.001
0.004
0.007
0.018
0.018
0.018
0.029
0.027
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.022
0.008
50,990
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
18,753
12,325
2,125
6,800
7,055
6,251
8,037
3,825
200
100
200
325
550
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
1,887
16
1
24
9
675
12
123
14
141
6
32
27
4
2
4
9
15
177
31
1
28
3
50,990
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
18,753
12,325
2,125
6,760
6,731
6,251
8,037
3,825
200
100
200
325
550
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
1,887
16
1
24
9
675
12
123
14
135
6
32
27
4
2
4
9
15
177
31
1
28
3
1 Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of
the TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
2 The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of
the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40
and 41 of part 679 establish a formula
for calculating PSC sideboard limits for
listed AFA C/Ps. The basis for these
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 22 that are
caught by listed AFA C/Ps participating
in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the 2016 and
2017 PSC sideboard limits for the listed
AFA C/Ps. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorizes NMFS to close directed
fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2016
or 2017 PSC sideboard limit listed in
Table 22 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed
AFA C/Ps while fishing for pollock will
accrue against the bycatch allowances
annually specified for either the
midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka
mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery
categories under § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
TABLE 22—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 BSAI AFA LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS
Ratio of PSC
catch to total
PSC
PSC species and area 1
Halibut mortality BSAI ..................................................................................................................
Red king crab zone 1 ..................................................................................................................
C. opilio (COBLZ) ........................................................................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 1 ...........................................................................................................................
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n/a
0.007
0.153
0.14
18MRR1
2016 and
2017 PSC
available to
trawl vessels
after subtraction of PSQ 2
n/a
86,621
4,204,524
741,190
2016 and
2017 AFA
catcher/
processor
sideboard
limit 2
286
606
643,292
103,767
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TABLE 22—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 BSAI AFA LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
Ratio of PSC
catch to total
PSC
PSC species and area 1
C. bairdi Zone 2 ...........................................................................................................................
1 Refer
2016 and
2017 PSC
available to
trawl vessels
after subtraction of PSQ 2
0.05
2,250,360
2016 and
2017 AFA
catcher/
processor
sideboard
limit 2
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
Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional
Administrator is responsible for
restricting the ability of AFA CVs to
engage in directed fishing for groundfish
species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish
fisheries from adverse effects resulting
from the AFA and from fishery
September 14, 2007). Tables 23 and 24
list the 2016 and 2017 AFA CV
sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard
species made by non-exempt AFA CVs,
whether as targeted catch or incidental
catch, will be deducted from the 2016
and 2017 sideboard limits listed in
Table 23.
cooperatives in the pollock directed
fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a
formula for setting AFA CV groundfish
and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI.
The basis for these sideboard limits is
described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of
the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
TABLE 23—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 AFA CV
catch to 1995–
1997 TAC
2016 initial
TAC 1
2016 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
2017 initial
TAC 1
2017 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
Species/gear
Fishery by area/season
Pacific cod/Jig gear .............................
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV ≥ 60
feet LOA.
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 .............................
0
0.0006
n/a
228
0
0
n/a
228
0
0
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
Jun 10–Dec 31 ..........................
Jan 1–Jun 10 .............................
Sept 1–Dec 31 ...........................
....................................................
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
219
9,587
9,211
4,476
0
6
6
3
219
9,587
9,211
4,476
0
6
6
3
BSAI Jan 20–Apr 1 .............................
BSAI Apr 1–Jun 10 .............................
BSAI Jun 10–Nov 1 ............................
BS .......................................................
AI .........................................................
Eastern AI/BS Jan 1–Jun 10 ..............
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10–Nov 1 ..............
Central AI Jan 1–Jun 10 .....................
Central AI Jun 10–Nov 1 ....................
Western AI Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................
Western AI Jun 10–Nov 1 ..................
BSAI ....................................................
BS .......................................................
AI .........................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BS .......................................................
BS .......................................................
Eastern AI ...........................................
Central AI ............................................
Western AI ..........................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
EBS/EAI ..............................................
CAI/WAI ..............................................
BS .......................................................
AI .........................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
BSAI ....................................................
0.8609
0.8609
0.8609
0.0906
0.0645
0.0032
0.0032
0.0001
0.0001
0
0
0.0341
0.0645
0.0205
0.069
0.069
0.0441
0.0441
0.0505
0.1
0.0077
0.0025
0
0.0084
0.0037
0.0037
0.0037
0.0048
0.0095
0.0541
0.0541
0.0541
0.3827
0.0541
36,732
5,460
7,446
489
331
12,725
12,725
7,144
7,144
4,688
4,688
50,990
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
12,325
2,125
18,753
6,800
7,055
6,251
8,037
3,825
200
100
200
325
550
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
31,623
4,701
6,410
44
21
41
41
1
1
0
0
1,739
147
3
821
293
544
94
947
680
54
16
0
32
1
0
1
2
5
1,196
207
7
488
22
36,732
5,460
7,446
447
302
12,725
12,725
7,144
7,144
4,688
4,688
50,990
2,272
170
11,900
4,250
12,325
2,125
18,753
6,760
6,731
6,251
8,037
3,825
200
100
200
325
550
22,100
3,825
125
1,275
400
31,623
4,701
6,410
40
19
41
41
1
1
0
0
1,739
147
3
821
293
544
94
947
676
52
16
0
32
1
0
1
2
5
1,196
207
7
488
22
Pacific cod pot gear CV ......................
Pacific cod CV < 60 feet LOA using
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV ....................
Sablefish trawl gear .............................
Atka mackerel ......................................
Rock sole .............................................
Greenland turbot .................................
Arrowtooth flounder .............................
Kamchatka flounder ............................
Alaska plaice .......................................
Other flatfish ........................................
Flathead sole .......................................
Pacific ocean perch .............................
Northern rockfish .................................
Shortraker rockfish ..............................
Rougheye rockfish ...............................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Other rockfish ......................................
Skates ..................................................
Sculpins ...............................................
Sharks .................................................
Squids ..................................................
Octopuses ...........................................
1 Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the
subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
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Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in
Table 24 that are caught by AFA CVs
participating in any groundfish fishery
for groundfish other than pollock will
accrue against the 2016 and 2017 PSC
sideboard limits for the AFA CVs.
Sections 679.21(d)(7) and 679.21(e)(3)(v)
authorize NMFS to close directed
fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA CVs once a 2016 or
2017 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table
24 is reached. The PSC that is caught by
14793
AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in
the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch
allowances annually specified for either
the midwater pollock or the pollock/
Atka mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery
categories under § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 24—FINAL 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 .............................................................
2016 and
2017 PSC limit
after subtraction of PSQ
reserves 3
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/sablefish 5 .........
Rockfish ..........................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 6 ...........
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
Red king crab Zone 1 .....................................
C. opilio COBLZ ..............................................
C. bairdi Zone 1 ..............................................
C. bairdi Zone 2 ..............................................
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
fishery categories are defined 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), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
5 Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
6 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
2 Target
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher
Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based on historical catch patterns, the
Regional Administrator has determined
that many of the AFA C/P and CV
sideboard limits listed in Tables 25 and
26 are necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2016 and 2017 fishing
years. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator establishes the sideboard
limits listed in Tables 25 and 26 as
DFAs. Because many of these DFAs will
be reached before the end of 2016, the
Regional Administrator has determined,
in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii),
that NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing by listed AFA C/Ps for the
species in the specified areas set out in
Table 25, and directed fishing by nonexempt AFA CVs for the species in the
specified areas set out in Table 26.
TABLE 25—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED
FISHING CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Gear types
Sablefish trawl ..................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BS ....................................................................
Eastern AI ........................................................
Central AI .........................................................
Western AI .......................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
EBS/EAI ...........................................................
CAI/WAI ...........................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
2017
Sideboard limit
8
0
1,887
17
1
24
9
12
123
675
14
141
6
32
27
4
2
4
9
15
177
7
0
1,887
16
1
24
9
12
123
675
14
135
6
32
27
4
2
4
9
15
177
trawl .............
trawl .............
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
Rock sole .........................................................
Greenland turbot ..............................................
Arrowtooth flounder ..........................................
Kamchatka flounder .........................................
Alaska plaice ....................................................
Other flatfish 2 ...................................................
Flathead sole ...................................................
Pacific ocean perch .........................................
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
2016
Sideboard limit
Northern rockfish ..............................................
Shortraker rockfish ...........................................
Rougheye rockfish ...........................................
Other rockfish 3 .................................................
Skates ..............................................................
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TABLE 25—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED
FISHING CLOSURES 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Sculpins ............................................................
Sharks ..............................................................
Squids ..............................................................
Octopuses ........................................................
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
Gear types
.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................
all
all
all
all
2016
Sideboard limit
2017
Sideboard limit
31
1
28
3
31
1
28
3
................
................
................
................
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
TABLE 26—FINAL 2016 AND 2017 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING
CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Gear types
..........................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
2016
Sideboard limit
2017
Sideboard limit
0
0
12
12
3
3
0
44
21
82
2
0
147
3
821
293
544
94
947
1,739
680
54
16
0
32
1
0
1
2
5
1,196
207
7
488
22
0
40
19
82
2
0
147
3
821
293
544
94
947
1,739
676
52
16
0
32
1
0
1
2
5
1,196
207
7
488
22
hook-and-line
CV ≥ 60
feet LOA.
pot CV ≥ 60
feet LOA.
hook-and-line
or pot
CV < 60
feet LOA.
jig ................
trawl ............
trawl .............
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
all ................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
Sablefish ..........................................................
Atka mackerel ..................................................
Greenland turbot ..............................................
Arrowtooth flounder ..........................................
Kamchatka flounder .........................................
Alaska plaice ....................................................
Other flatfish 2 ...................................................
Flathead sole ...................................................
Rock sole .........................................................
Pacific ocean perch .........................................
Northern rockfish ..............................................
Shortraker rockfish ...........................................
Rougheye rockfish ...........................................
Other rockfish 3 .................................................
Skates ..............................................................
Sculpins ............................................................
Sharks ..............................................................
Squids ..............................................................
Octopuses ........................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
Eastern AI/BS ..................................................
Central AI .........................................................
Western AI .......................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BS ....................................................................
Eastern AI ........................................................
Central AI .........................................................
Western AI .......................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BS/EAI .............................................................
CAI/WAI ...........................................................
BS ....................................................................
AI .....................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
BSAI .................................................................
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole,
Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
3 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
2 ‘‘Other
Response to Comments
NMFS received two letters with
fourteen substantive comments during
the public comment period for the
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proposed BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. No changes were made to
the final rule in response to comment
letters received. NMFS’ response to the
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public comments on the proposed BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications is
provided below.
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Comment 1: The allocation of the
sablefish TAC between trawl gear and
hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering
Sea should be revised to match the
allocation percentages used to apportion
the Aleutian Islands sablefish TAC. That
would mean that the Bering Sea
sablefish TAC would be allocated 25
percent to trawl gear and 75 percent to
hook-and-line or pot gear, rather than
allocating 50 percent of the Bering Sea
sablefish TAC to each gear category.
Doing so would decrease the adverse
impacts, such as bycatch and habitat
damage, that trawl gear would have in
the Bering Sea sablefish fishery.
Response: The allocation of the BSAI
sablefish TACs between trawl gear and
hook-and-line gear or pot gear is
required by regulations at
§ 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv). Revising
these allocations is outside of the scope
of this action.
Comment 2: The use of trawl gear to
catch sablefish in the BSAI results in the
bycatch of other species and destruction
of habitat.
Response: Trawl gear is a legal gear
type in the BSAI for a variety of
groundfish species. Pelagic and nonpelagic trawl gears are authorized under
both the FMP and regulations at 50 CFR
part 679. Additionally, most of the
sablefish harvested in the BSAI is
caught by hook-and-line or pot gear, not
trawl gear. The catch reports on the
Alaska Region’s Web site show that
from 2010 through 2015 the highest
trawl catch was 18 percent of the Bering
Sea trawl gear TAC compared to hookand-line or pot gear at 63 percent of the
Bering Sea hook-and-line or pot gear
TAC (see https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-catchlandings).
The Council and NMFS have taken a
variety of measures to control the use of
trawl gear and the impacts of trawl gear
on non-target species and habitat.
Examples of the former include
prohibiting the use of trawl gear or
certain types of trawl gear in some
groundfish fisheries and requiring that
the trawl sweeps of nonpelagic trawl
gear be elevated a minimum distance off
the sea floor (75 FR 61642, October 6,
2010). The Council and NMFS have also
established a variety of restrictions and
prohibitions associated with bycatch in
the BSAI groundfish fisheries, including
prohibitions against directing fishing for
some species, as well as regulations
designed to minimize the bycatch of
prohibited species by trawl gear.
Examples of habitat conservation
measures include identifying essential
fish habitat and establishing geographic
area closures to trawl gear. The use of
trawl gear in the BSAI groundfish
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fisheries is consistent with the National
Standards 1 and 5 of the MagnusonStevens Act, which require the
prevention of overfishing while
achieving optimum yield from each
fishery and consideration of efficiency
in the use of fish resources.
Comment 3: The Council made a good
start toward minimizing halibut bycatch
in the BSAI groundfish fisheries by
reducing halibut PSC limits through the
BSAI FMP Amendment 111. However,
the Council and NMFS need to take
additional action to achieve further
bycatch reduction to comply with
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements.
Response: The Council and NMFS are
committed to minimizing halibut
bycatch in the BSAI consistent with
Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations to
minimize bycatch to the extent
practicable and to achieve, on a
continuing basis, optimum yield from
the groundfish fisheries. Pursuant to
section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP, the
Secretary, after consultation with the
Council, considers the following
information when evaluating measures
to minimize halibut bycatch in the BSAI
fisheries:
1. Estimated change in halibut biomass and
stock condition;
2. potential impacts on halibut stocks and
fisheries;
3. potential impacts on groundfish
fisheries;
4. estimated bycatch mortality during prior
years;
5. expected halibut bycatch mortality;
6. methods available to reduce halibut
bycatch mortality;
7. the cost of reducing halibut bycatch
mortality; and
8. other biological and socioeconomic
factors that affect the appropriateness of a
specific bycatch mortality limit in terms of
FMP objectives.
Pursuant to section 3.6.2.1.4 of the
FMP, annual BSAI-wide Pacific halibut
bycatch mortality limits for trawl and
non-trawl gear fisheries are established
in regulations and may be amended by
regulatory amendment. NMFS will
publish regulations implementing trawl
and non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC limit
reductions in 2016, upon approval by
the Secretary of a final rule to
implement Amendment 111.
The Council and NMFS will continue
to evaluate the need to implement
additional measures to minimize halibut
bycatch in the BSAI groundfish fisheries
consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act
obligations. In evaluating the need for
further halibut bycatch reduction
measures, the Council and NMFS must
balance, for example, National Standard
9 obligations to minimize halibut
bycatch to the extent practicable with
National Standard 1 obligations to
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14795
achieve optimum yield from the BSAI
groundfish fisheries on a continuing
basis, and National Standard 8
obligations to minimize adverse
economic consequences on fishing
communities to the extent practicable.
Comment 4: Halibut bycatch or PSC
levels differ among the various
groundfish fisheries. NMFS should take
into consideration halibut bycatch rates
associated with the groundfish fisheries
when establishing groundfish harvest
limits.
Response: NMFS interprets this
comment as requesting NMFS to
establish TACs based on the relative
rates of halibut PSC use among the
groundfish fisheries and that groundfish
fisheries with higher bycatch rates
should receive lower TAC amounts.
NMFS disagrees that setting TACs based
on halibut bycatch rates would
necessarily minimize halibut bycatch to
the extent practicable. Annual BSAIwide Pacific halibut bycatch mortality
limits for trawl and non-trawl gear
fisheries are established in regulations.
Therefore, while reducing the TAC in a
particular fishery may limit halibut
bycatch in that target fishery, sectors
have the ability to target other species
and may encounter higher halibut
bycatch rates in those fisheries. Thus,
fishing sectors may still reach the
halibut PSC limit as a result. In
addition, it is important for multispecies
trawl fisheries to have several options
for target species to allow this sector to
avoid target fisheries with high halibut
bycatch rates. Setting a TAC so low that
the directed fishery cannot open limits
the ability of sectors to move between
target fisheries to avoid high halibut
bycatch rates. As described previously
in this rule, NMFS will publish
regulations implementing trawl and
non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC limit
reductions in 2016, upon approval by
the Secretary of a final rule to
implement Amendment 111.
Comment 5: The Council approved a
TAC for arrowtooth flounder that was
600% higher than the TAC
recommended by the AP. Arrowtooth
flounder has the highest average halibut
bycatch mortality rate of all target
groundfish fisheries. Had the Council
followed the AP’s arrowtooth flounder
TAC recommendation, the TACs could
have resulted in higher overall
wholesale values and optimum yield for
both the groundfish and halibut
fisheries.
Response: The AP’s TAC
recommendations were higher than the
Council’s for pollock (34,392 mt),
yellowfin sole (6,000 mt), Pacific ocean
perch (724 mt), and Atka mackerel
(4,500 mt). NMFS has determined that
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the Council ultimately recommended
TACs that more efficiently utilized
fishery resources. The Council
considered halibut bycatch in the BSAI
groundfish fisheries and the importance
of the fishery resources to the fishing
communities, while also achieving
optimum yield in the groundfish
fisheries within the statutory 2 million
metric ton limit.
As described in response to Comment
4, a significant reduction in the
arrowtooth flounder TACs would likely
have little impact on minimizing halibut
bycatch. Annual BSAI-wide Pacific
halibut bycatch mortality limits for
trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries are
established in regulations. While
significantly reducing the arrowtooth
flounder TAC would prevent opening
the directed fishery for arrowtooth
flounder and would limit halibut
bycatch in that fishery, such action
would not necessarily minimize halibut
bycatch.
For example, if a reduced arrowtooth
flounder TAC prevents this directed
fishery from opening, multispecies trawl
sectors that typically target arrowtooth
flounder have the ability to target other
species. However, the multispecies
trawl fishery would have fewer targeting
options and a limited ability to move
between target fisheries to avoid high
halibut PSC in seasons and areas with
higher halibut bycatch rates. Thus, the
multispecies trawl sectors may still
reach the halibut PSC limit
notwithstanding significant reductions
in the arrowtooth flounder TAC.
Further, eliminating the opportunity to
target arrowtooth flounder may
jeopardize continued optimum yield in
the groundfish fisheries because the
multispecies trawl fishery may be
closed early if it is unable to avoid
halibut bycatch and reaches the halibut
PSC limits during seasons and areas
with higher halibut bycatch rates.
The Council recognized that some of
the AP’s TAC recommendations,
including arrowtooth flounder, would
not be sufficient to allow for a directed
fishery or support incidental catch in
other fisheries. In 2015, more than 5,000
mt of arrowtooth flounder was taken in
targets other than arrowtooth flounder
in the BSAI. At the AP’s arrowtooth
flounder TAC recommendation of 2,000
mt, all of the TAC would be taken in
other fisheries, NMFS would not open
directed fishing for arrowtooth, and
would be required to prohibit retention
of arrowtooth flounder. This would
require regulatory discards of
arrowtooth flounder when the TAC was
reached. Despite prohibiting retention,
the incidental catch of arrowtooth
flounder would still exceed 2,000 mt,
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unless catch in the target fisheries with
the highest arrowtooth flounder
incidental catch (pollock, Pacific cod,
and yellowfin sole) were also greatly
curtailed. Curtailment of these fisheries
may jeopardize continued optimum
yield in the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
The Council set the arrowtooth TAC
at 14,000 mt to acknowledge that
arrowtooth flounder is targeted as part
of the annual fishing plan for some of
the fleet. Also, arrowtooth flounder is an
important ecosystem component as a
predator and may impact the biomass of
other species. The 2014 arrowtooth
flounder stock assessment indicates that
nearly half of the adult diet is
comprised of juvenile pollock (47%)
followed by adult pollock (19%), and
euphausiids (9%). The Ecosystem
Considerations chapter states predation
by arrowtooth flounder has exceeded
cannibalism as the largest source of
predation mortality of age-1 pollock
since 2007.
Comment 6: At their October 2015
meeting, the Council stated that it
would consider halibut bycatch in
making TAC recommendations for the
final 2016 and 2017 BSAI harvest
specifications. However, the Council
failed to consider halibut bycatch in the
groundfish fisheries when it ultimately
made TAC recommendations. Therefore,
NMFS’ acceptance of the Council’s
recommended TACs for the 2016 and
2017 BSAI harvest specifications would
be arbitrary, capricious, and irrational.
Response: As stated in responses to
Comments 4 and 5, the Council did
consider halibut bycatch in various
groundfish fisheries in making TAC
recommendations for the final 2016 and
2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. Also, the Council
considered the potential effects of
groundfish harvest on directed halibut
fisheries and the health of the halibut
resource, while also recognizing a
shared responsibility to maintain the
viability of halibut commercial, sport,
and personal use fisheries, and the
communities dependent on them.
Halibut was one of many bycatch
species that the Council balanced with
the groundfish TACs, and the
arrowtooth flounder fishery received the
greatest percentage decrease of any
species from the proposed harvest
specifications. Also, the Council
acknowledged the voluntary efforts in
2015 by the Amendment 80 sector to
reduce halibut PSC.
Comment 7: The proposed groundfish
harvest specifications stated that the
proposed OFL, ABCs, and TACs are
subject to change pending completion of
the final 2015 SAFE report and the
Council’s recommendations for final
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2016 and 2017 harvest specifications
during its December Council meeting.
This statement is an admission that the
proposed rule is a placeholder.
Therefore, the proposed groundfish
harvest specifications failed to give
adequate public notice and an
opportunity for public comment and do
not comply with the Administrative
Procedure Act.
Response: The proposed 2016 and
2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications provided adequate notice
and opportunity for the public to
comment consistent with obligations
under the Administrative Procedure
Act. NMFS published the Council’s
recommended TACs from the October
2015 meeting in the proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS explained in the
preamble to the proposed harvest
specifications that some of the final
harvest specifications could differ from
the proposed specifications. The
preamble stated that changes to the
proposed BSAI harvest specifications in
the final rule would likely be based on
updated scientific information included
in the 2015 SAFE, Groundfish Plan
Team recommendations, information
from the December 2015 Scientific and
Statistical Committee and Advisory
Panel meetings, public testimony, and
relevant written comment. The
preamble to the proposed BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications also
stated that the Council could
recommend changes to the proposed
harvest specifications 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.
Finally, the preamble stated that
changes in groundfish biomass trends
could affect the Council’s recommended
final harvest specifications, but that the
groundfish harvest specifications must
comply with governing statutes,
regulations, and the FMP. Based on
information provided in the proposed
harvest specifications, interested
members of the public were aware of
issues involved in establishing the final
harvest specification levels and
therefore had adequate notice of
information relevant to the final harvest
specifications. The public has had the
opportunity to comment on all parts of
this process.
Comment 8: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications are not
consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act
National Standard 1 obligations to
achieve optimum yield. The AP’s
groundfish TAC recommendations
would be far more responsive to the
Magnuson-Stevens Act National
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Standard 1 because they could have
resulted in higher estimated overall
wholesale values to the groundfish
sector, as well as higher quotas and
value in the directed halibut fishery.
Response: As mentioned in the
response to Comments 4 and 5, the AP’s
TAC recommendations are not
guaranteed to lower halibut PSC. Also,
while in a single year it may be more
profitable overall to shift the fisheries to
pollock and Atka mackerel, this could
significantly reduce revenues or force
out of business those fishermen and
vessels from the flatfish sector. In years
of lower pollock and Atka mackerel
abundance, the absence of these vessels
could create far smaller groundfish
catches, and on a continuing basis
create harvests below the optimum
yield.
Comment 9: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications are not
consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act
National Standard 3. The groundfish
and halibut stocks are clearly
interrelated in the Bering Sea
ecosystem, as is evident by the high
bycatch rates in certain groundfish
species, which disproportionately
impacts the directed halibut fishermen.
Response: NMFS interprets this
comment as suggesting that NMFS
should manage halibut as a unit or in
close coordination with the BSAI
groundfish fisheries. NMFS does not
directly manage halibut or halibut
fisheries through the implementation of
the 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish
harvest specifications. NMFS
implements the BSAI groundfish
harvest specifications under the
authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Actions taken by the Council to manage
halibut fisheries are developed under
the authority of the Halibut Act, and
National Standard 3 of the MagnusonStevens Act does not apply. Section
5.2.1 of the FMP describes that the IPHC
manages the Pacific halibut stocks in its
jurisdiction through regulations
implementing the Northern Pacific
Halibut Act of 1982 (16 U.S.C. 773–
773k).
Halibut is not managed under the
FMP. However the Council and NMFS
manage halibut bycatch limits under the
FMP and believe that treatment of
halibut as a prohibited species is
appropriate. Under the MagnusonStevens Act, it is the Council’s
responsibility to recommend
management measures that minimize
halibut bycatch in the groundfish
fisheries to the extent practicable. As
described previously in this rule, NMFS
expects to publish regulations
implementing trawl and non-trawl BSAI
halibut PSC limit reductions in 2016,
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pending Secretarial approval of a final
rule to implement Amendment 111 and
the effective date of the final rule.
Comment 10: The 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with National
Standard 4 obligations to ensure
allocations are fair and equitable. The
AP’s recommended TACs would have
achieved a far more equitable allocation
of the halibut resource as a whole.
Response: NMFS interprets this
comment as suggesting that the BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications are not
consistent with National Standard 4
because lower groundfish TACs for
specific fisheries would have reduced
halibut bycatch in the groundfish
fisheries and more fairly reallocated the
unused halibut to the directed halibut
fishery. NMFS disagrees. NMFS does
not allocate halibut through the
groundfish harvest specifications. As
described in response to Comment 3,
Section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP requires
that annual BSAI-wide Pacific halibut
bycatch mortality limits for trawl and
non-trawl gear fisheries be established
in regulations and may be amended by
regulatory amendment. The halibut PSC
limits are not an allocation of halibut
bycatch in the groundfish fishery.
Rather, the halibut PSC limits impose an
absolute limit on the amount of halibut
bycatch that may be caught in the trawl
and non-trawl groundfish fisheries.
NMFS uses the halibut PSC limits to
minimize the amount of halibut bycatch
in the groundfish fisheries to the extent
practicable.
Further, as described in response to
Comment 4, a reduction in groundfish
TACs would likely have little impact on
reducing halibut bycatch. For example,
while significantly reducing the
arrowtooth flounder TAC might limit
halibut bycatch in that fishery, sectors
targeting arrowtooth flounder have the
ability to target other species. These
sectors may still reach the halibut PSC
limit notwithstanding reductions in the
TACs. Therefore, the AP’s
recommended TACs would not likely
result in reduced halibut bycatch in the
groundfish fisheries or increase the
availability of halibut for directed
halibut users.
Comment 11: The 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with MagnusonStevens Act National Standard 5. The
AP’s recommended TACs optimize
harvest by the groundfish sector and
PSC reduction.
Response: NMFS has determined that
the 2016 and 2017 groundfish harvest
specifications are consistent with
National Standard 5. National Standard
5 requires the conservation and
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management measures shall, where
practicable, consider efficiency in the
utilization of fishery resources. The
2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications establish groundfish
harvest limits that result in as efficient
a fishery as is practicable. The BSAI
harvest specifications allow for the
combined groundfish fisheries to
harvest up to the statutory 2 million
metric ton OY limit with the least
amount of regulatory discards and
economic waste as is practicable.
NMFS interprets this Comment 11 as
suggesting that the AP’s recommended
TAC reductions for some groundfish
species and increases in TACs for other
groundfish species would have resulted
in greater halibut PSC reduction and
greater efficiency in the utilization of
the BSAI groundfish and halibut
fisheries. NMFS disagrees. While the
AP’s recommended TACs would have
resulted in different distributions of
gains and burdens among the various
BSAI groundfish sectors, the AP’s
recommended TACs would not have
resulted in an increase in efficiency of
the groundfish and halibut fisheries.
Although significant TAC reductions in
some groundfish species would have
allowed for increases in TACs for other
groundfish species, the AP’s
recommended TACs would likely have
increased costs for some fisheries and
resulted in increased regulatory
discards.
For example, if NMFS implemented
the AP’s arrowtooth flounder TAC
recommendation, NMFS would not
open directed fishing for arrowtooth and
would reserve the 2,000 mt arrowtooth
TAC for incidental take in other
directed fisheries. Incidental take of
arrowtooth in other fisheries would
likely reach the 2,000 mt TAC early in
the fishing season. Pursuant to
§ 679.20(d)(2), NMFS would require that
arrowtooth flounder be treated as a
prohibited species for the remainder of
the year, and incidental catch
arrowtooth flounder would be required
to be discarded.
Further, as stated in response to
Comments 4 and 5, the AP’s
recommended TAC reductions would
not contribute to the objective of
reducing halibut bycatch in the
groundfish fisheries. While significant
TAC reductions in particular fisheries
may limit halibut bycatch in those target
fisheries, sectors have the ability to
target other species and may encounter
higher halibut bycatch rates in those
fisheries. Thus, fishing sectors may still
reach the halibut PSC limit. For the
forgoing reasons, NMFS has determined
that the Council’s recommended BSAI
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groundfish TACs provide for as efficient
a fishery as is practicable.
Comment 12: The 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with MagnusonStevens Act National Standard 6
obligations to take into account
contingencies in the fisheries and
fishery resources. The BSAI halibut
fishery and dependent halibut
fishermen and communities are facing
an extraordinary situation with low
halibut quotas that threaten their
participation in the fisheries. National
Standard 6 requires an FMP to be
flexible and responsive to such
variations. The BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications do not take this
contingency into account.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications do
take this contingency into account.
Some of the largest TAC reductions
from the proposed rule are in the flatfish
fisheries, with arrowtooth flounder
having the highest percentage reduction.
However, further reducing flatfish TACs
could prevent flatfish fishermen from
adapting to variations in their fisheries.
As stated in previous responses to
comments, potentially significantly
reducing revenues or forcing out of
business fishermen that are dependent
on flatfish could jeopardize achieving
optimum yield if variations in the
pollock biomass produce lower
available pollock TACs.
Comment 13: The 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with MagnusonStevens Act National Standard 8
obligations to take into account the
importance of fishery resources to
fishing communities, their sustained
participation in those fisheries, and
minimization of adverse impacts on
such communities to the extent
practicable. The sustained participation
of St. Paul and other Bering Sea
communities in the halibut fishery is
clearly in jeopardy. The AP’s
recommendation demonstrated
practicable allocations of groundfish
TACs that would be consistent with
National Standard 8 and could result in
higher economic value to the groundfish
sector.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI
harvest specifications are consistent
with National Standard 8. The impact of
the BSAI groundfish fisheries, and in
particular the arrowtooth flounder
fishery, on halibut bycatch mortality
was one of the many environmental and
socioeconomic considerations that the
Council evaluated in making the TAC
recommendations for the 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications.
In recommending the final TACs for all
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groundfish fisheries, the Council took
into account the importance of both the
halibut and groundfish fisheries to
communities that depend on them. The
Council evaluated the burdens
groundfish fishery communities would
experience from significant TAC
reductions with the benefits of such
TAC reductions that would flow to the
communities that rely on directed
halibut fisheries. NMFS determined that
significant TAC reductions in some
groundfish fisheries would likely
adversely impact communities
dependent on groundfish fisheries,
potentially increase halibut PSC use,
and would provide little benefit to the
communities that depend on the halibut
resources.
Comment 14: The 2016 and 2017
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with MagnusonStevens Act National Standard 9
obligations to minimize bycatch and to
minimize mortality of such bycatch. The
AP’s recommended TACs showed a
practicable way to minimize halibut
bycatch, resulting in the potential for
over 840,000 pounds of savings.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications are
consistent with National Standard 9. As
described in several previous
comments, NMFS disagrees that the
AP’s recommended TACs would have
minimized halibut bycatch. The AP’s
recommended TAC reductions would
have resulted in increased bycatch and
regulatory discards of some groundfish
species, and potentially increased
halibut PSC use.
For example, the AP’s arrowtooth
flounder TAC would have required the
regulatory discard of large amounts of
arrowtooth flounder and hindered the
ability of some fishermen to reduce
halibut bycatch. Further, the Council
also considered bycatch of other
prohibited species such as salmon, crab,
and herring in various groundfish
fisheries. The Council and NMFS are
committed to minimizing bycatch in the
BSAI groundfish fisheries consistent
with Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations
to minimize bycatch to the extent
practicable and to achieve, on a
continuing basis, optimum yield from
the groundfish fisheries. As described in
responses to previous comments, NMFS
will publish regulations implementing
trawl and non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC
limit reductions in 2016, upon approval
by the Secretary of a final rule to
implement Amendment 111 and the
publication of the final rule.
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final
harvest specifications are consistent
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with the FMP and with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50
CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review
under Executive Orders 12866 and
13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS that covers
this action (see ADDRESSES) and made it
available to the public on January 12,
2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13,
2007, NMFS issued the Record of
Decision (ROD) for the EIS. In January
2016, NMFS prepared a Supplemental
Information Report (SIR) for this action.
Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this
action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the
groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on
resources in the action area. The EIS
found no significant environmental
consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need
to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for
the 2016 and 2017 groundfish harvest
specifications.
An SEIS should be prepared if (1) the
agency makes substantial changes in the
proposed action that are relevant to
environmental concerns; or (2)
significant new circumstances or
information exist relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on
the proposed action or its impacts (40
CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the
information contained in the SIR and
SAFE reports, the Regional
Administrator has determined that (1)
approval of the 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications, which were set according
to the preferred harvest strategy in the
EIS, do not constitute a change in the
action; and (2) there are no significant
new circumstances or information
relevant to environmental concerns and
bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope
of those analyzed and disclosed in the
EIS. Therefore, supplemental NEPA
documentation is not necessary to
implement the 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications.
Section 604 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act requires that, when an
agency promulgates a final rule under
section 553 of Title 5 of the United
States Code, after being required by that
section, or any other law, to publish a
general notice of proposed rulemaking,
the agency shall prepare a final
regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA).
Section 604 describes the required
contents of a FRFA: (1) A statement of
the need for, and objectives of, the rule;
(2) a statement of the significant issues
raised by the public comments in
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response to the initial regulatory
flexibility analysis, a statement of the
assessment of the agency of such issues,
and a statement of any changes made in
the proposed rule as a result of such
comments; (3) the response of the
agency to any comments filed by the
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration in response to
the proposed rule, and a detailed
statement of any change made to the
proposed rule in the final rule as a
result of the comments; (4) a description
of and an estimate of the number of
small entities to which the rule will
apply or an explanation of why no such
estimate is available; (5) a description of
the projected reporting, recordkeeping
and other compliance requirements of
the rule, including an estimate of the
classes of small entities which will be
subject to the requirement and the type
of professional skills necessary for
preparation of the report or record; (6)
a description of the steps the agency has
taken to minimize the significant
economic impact on small entities
consistent with the stated objectives of
applicable statutes, including a
statement of the factual, policy, and
legal reasons for selecting the alternative
adopted in the final rule and why each
one of the other significant alternatives
to the rule considered by the agency
which affect the impact on small
entities was rejected.
A description of this action, its
purpose, and its legal basis are
contained at the beginning of the
preamble to this final rule and are not
repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on
December 9, 2015 (80 FR 76425). The
rule was accompanied by an initial
regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA),
which was summarized in the proposed
rule. The comment period closed on
January 8, 2016. No comments were
received on the IRFA.
The entities directly regulated by this
action are those that receive allocations
of groundfish in the exclusive economic
zone of the BSAI, and in parallel
fisheries within State of Alaska waters,
during the annual harvest specifications
process. These directly regulated
entities include the groundfish CVs and
C/Ps active in these areas. Direct
allocations of groundfish are also made
to certain organizations, including the
CDQ groups, AFA C/P and inshore CV
sectors, Aleut Corporation, and
Amendment 80 cooperatives. These
entities are, therefore, also considered
directly regulated.
The Small Business Administration
has established size standards for all
major industry sectors in the United
States. A business primarily involved in
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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
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.
This action does not modify
recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were
those considered as alternative harvest
strategies when the Council selected its
preferred harvest strategy (Alternative 2)
in December 2006. These included the
following:
• Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce
fishing mortality rates, F, that are equal
to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC
is constrained by the OY established in
the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting
TAC to produce harvest levels equal to
the maximum permissible ABC, as
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constrained by OY. The term
‘‘maxFABC’’ refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under
Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs.
Historically, the TAC has been set at or
below the ABC; therefore, this
alternative represents a likely upper
limit for setting the TAC within the OY
and ABC limits.
• Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1,
2, and 3, set TAC to produce F equal to
the most recent 5-year average actual F.
For species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC
equal to the most recent 5-year average
actual catch. For stocks with a high
level of scientific information, TAC
would be set to produce harvest levels
equal to the most recent 5-year average
actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks
with insufficient scientific information,
TAC would be set equal to the most
recent 5-year average actual catch. This
alternative recognizes that for some
stocks, catches may fall well below
ABC, and recent average F may provide
a better indicator of actual F than FABC
does.
• Alternative 4: (1) Set TAC for
rockfish species in Tier 3 at F75%. Set
TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at
F=0.5M. Set spatially explicit TAC for
shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TAC as
calculated above, reduce all other TAC
by a proportion that does not vary
across species, so that the sum of all
TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal
to the lower bound of the area OY
(1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This
alternative sets conservative and
spatially explicit TAC for rockfish
species that are long-lived and late to
mature, and sets conservative TAC for
the other groundfish species.
• Alternative 5: Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred
alternative chosen by the Council: Set
TAC that fall within the range of ABC
recommended through the Council
harvest specifications process and TACs
recommended by the Council. Under
this scenario, F is set equal to a constant
fraction of maxFABC. The
recommended fractions of maxFABC
may vary among species or stocks, based
on other considerations unique to each.
This is the method for determining TAC
that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet
the objectives of this action, although
they have a smaller adverse economic
impact on small entities than the
preferred alternative. The Council
rejected these alternatives as harvest
strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of
Commerce did so in 2007. Alternative 1
would lead to TAC limits whose sum
exceeds the fishery OY, which is set out
in statute and the FMP. As shown in
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Table 1 and Table 2, the sum of ABCs
in 2016 and 2017 would be 3,236,662
and 3,143,135 million mt, respectively.
Both of these are substantially in excess
of the fishery OY for the BSAI. This
result would be inconsistent with the
objectives of this action, in that it would
violate the Consolidated Appropriations
Act of 2004, Public Law 108–199,
Section 803(c), and the FMP for the
BSAI groundfish fishery, which both set
a 2 million mt maximum harvest for
BSAI groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates
based on the most recent 5 years’ worth
of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1
through 3) or for the most recent 5 years’
worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is also
inconsistent with the objectives of this
action, because it does not take into
account the most recent biological
information for this fishery.
Alternative 4 would lead to
significantly lower harvests of all
species to reduce TAC from the upper
end of the OY range in the BSAI, to its
lower end. This result would lead to
significant reductions in harvests of
species by small entities. While
reductions of this size could be
associated with offsetting price
increases, the size of these increases is
very uncertain, and NMFS has no
confidence that they would be sufficient
to offset the volume decreases and leave
revenues unchanged. Thus, this action
would have an adverse economic
impact on small entities, compared to
the preferred alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests
equal to zero, may also address
conservation issues, but would have a
significant adverse economic impact on
small entities.
Impacts on marine mammals resulting
from fishing activities conducted under
this rule are discussed in the EIS (see
ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries,
NOAA, finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness for this
rule, because delaying this rule is
contrary to the public interest. Plan
Team review occurred in November
2015, and Council consideration and
recommendations occurred in December
2015. Accordingly, NMFS’ review could
not begin until after the December 2015
Council meeting, and after the public
had time to comment on the proposed
action. If this rule’s effectiveness is
delayed, fisheries that might otherwise
remain open under these rules may
prematurely close based on the lower
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TACs established in the final 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications (80 FR
11919, March 5, 2015). If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow
these fisheries to continue fishing
without worrying about a potential
closure because the new TAC limits are
higher than the ones under which they
are currently fishing. Certain fisheries,
such as those for pollock and Pacific
cod are intensive, fast-paced fisheries.
Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, skates, sculpins,
sharks, and octopuses, are critical as
directed fisheries and as incidental
catch in other fisheries. U.S. fishing
vessels have demonstrated the capacity
to catch the TAC allocations in these
fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TAC limits in these fisheries
would cause confusion in the industry
and potential economic harm through
unnecessary discards. Determining
which fisheries may close is impossible
because these fisheries are affected by
several factors that cannot be predicted
in advance, including fishing effort,
weather, movement of fishery stocks,
and market price. Furthermore, the
closure of one fishery has a cascading
effect on other fisheries by freeing up
fishing vessels, allowing them to move
from closed fisheries to open ones,
increasing the fishing capacity in those
open fisheries and causing them to close
at an accelerated pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to
declining sideboards, delaying this
rule’s effectiveness could allow some
vessels to inadvertently reach or exceed
their new sideboard levels. Because
sideboards are intended to protect
traditional fisheries in other sectors,
allowing one sector to exceed its new
sideboards by delaying this rule’s
effectiveness would effectively reduce
the available catch for sectors without
sideboard limits. Moreover, the new
TAC and sideboard limits protect the
fisheries from being overfished. Thus,
the delay is contrary to the public
interest in protecting traditional
fisheries and fish stocks.
If the final harvest specifications are
not effective by March 19, 2016, which
is the start of the 2016 Pacific halibut
season as specified by the IPHC, the
hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result
in confusion for sablefish harvesters and
economic harm from unnecessary
discard of sablefish that are caught
along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut
PO 00000
Frm 00112
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
are managed under the same IFQ
program. Immediate effectiveness of the
final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish
IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with
the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also,
immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available
scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species that
have lower 2016 ABC and TAC limits
than those established in the 2015 and
2016 harvest specifications (80 FR
11919, March 5, 2015). Immediate
effectiveness also would give the fishing
industry the earliest possible
opportunity to plan and conduct its
fishing operations with respect to new
information about TAC limits.
Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
This final rule is a plain language
guide to assist small entities in
complying with this final rule as
required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
1996. This final rule’s primary purpose
is to announce the final 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications and prohibited
species bycatch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This
action is necessary to establish harvest
limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2016
and 2017 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of
the FMP. This action directly affects all
fishermen who participate in the BSAI
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL,
ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in
tables to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in
the Federal Register and information
bulletins released by the Alaska Region.
Affected fishermen should keep
themselves informed of such closures.
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: March 14, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–06182 Filed 3–17–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\18MRR1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14773-14800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06182]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 150916863-6211-02]
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.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 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 (FMP). The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 18,
2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and
the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this
action are available from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final
2015 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2015, as well as the
SAFE reports for previous years, are available from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web
site at https://www.npfmc.org/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear
at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species category. The sum TAC for all groundfish
species must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to
2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). This final
rule specifies the TAC at 2.0 million mt for both 2016 and 2017. NMFS
also must specify apportionments of TAC, prohibited species catch (PSC)
allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by
Sec. 679.21; seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka
mackerel TAC; Amendment 80 allocations; and Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final
harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 26 of this action
satisfy these requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs (and apportionments thereof) and
PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in the
Federal Register. The proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications and
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in
the Federal Register on December 9, 2015 (80 FR 76425). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 8, 2016. NMFS received two letters
of comment on the proposed harvest specifications with fourteen
substantive comments. These comments are summarized and responded to in
the ``Response to Comments'' section of this rule. NMFS consulted with
the Council on the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications during
the December 2015 Council meeting in Anchorage, AK. After considering
public comments, as well as biological and economic data that were
available at the Council's December meeting, NMFS implements the final
2016 and 2017 harvest specifications as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC levels for Alaska groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass,
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In
general, the development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves
sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP
specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts based on
the level of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier
1 represents the highest level of information quality available while
Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In December 2015, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC),
Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed current biological and
harvest information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks.
The Council's Plan Team compiled and presented this information in the
final 2015 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2015 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report contains a review of the
latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and
other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available
information on the BSAI ecosystem and the economic condition of
groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the public and asked for
review of the 2015 SAFE report in the notice of proposed harvest
specifications. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team recommended
an OFL and ABC for each species or species category at the November
2015 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2015, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs
as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the sum of the TACs within the required OY range
of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by annual catch limit
rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 2009), none of the
Council's recommended TACs for 2016 or 2017 exceeds the final 2016 or
2017 ABCs for any species category. The Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) approves the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy
and
[[Page 14774]]
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2015
SAFE report that was approved by the Council.
Other Actions Potentially 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 ABC for the BS. The action
by the State required a downward adjustment of the 240,000 mt proposed
2016 and 2017 Bering Sea subarea Pacific cod TAC because the combined
TAC and GHL was greater than the proposed ABC of 255,000 mt. The
maximum permissible TAC after subtraction of the GHL is 238,680 mt for
the BS. 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, 17,600 mt, is less than the proposed
ABC.
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. NMFS will publish regulations implementing
trawl and non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC limit reductions in 2016, upon
approval by the Secretary of a final rule to implement Amendment 111.
Upon implementation of the reductions, the 2016 and 2017 halibut PSC
limits under this action will be superseded by Amendment 111 and
reduced.
Changes From the Proposed 2016 and 2017 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
The Council's recommendations for the proposed 2016 and 2017
harvest specifications (80 FR 76425, December 9, 2015) were based
largely on information contained in the 2014 SAFE report for the BSAI
groundfish fisheries. Through the proposed harvest specifications, NMFS
notified the public that these harvest specifications could change, as
the Council would consider information contained in the final 2015 SAFE
report, recommendations from the Plan Team, SSC, and AP committees, and
public testimony when making its recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December 2015 Council meeting. NMFS further
notified the public that, as required by the FMP and its implementing
regulations, the sum of the TACs must be within the OY range of 1.4
million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2015 SAFE reports indicates biomass
changes for several groundfish species from the 2014 SAFE reports. The
2015 report was made available for public review during the public
comment period for the proposed harvest specifications. At the December
2015 Council meeting, the SSC recommended the 2016 and 2017 ABCs for
many species based on the best and most recent information contained in
the 2015 SAFE reports. This recommendation resulted in an ABC sum total
for all BSAI groundfish species in excess of 2 million mt for both 2016
and 2017. Based on the SSC ABC recommendations and the 2015 SAFE
reports, the Council recommends increasing Bering Sea pollock by 30,000
mt in 2016 and 30,643 in 2017. In terms of percentage, the largest
increases in TACs were for Bogoslof area pollock and BSAI squid. These
increases were to account for higher incidental catch needs than were
specified in the proposed 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications. The
changes to TAC between the proposed and final harvest specifications
are based on the most recent scientific and economic information and
are consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest
strategy as described in the proposed harvest specifications. These
changes are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2016 OFL, ABC, TAC,
initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish; and
Table 2 lists the Council's recommended final 2017 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC,
and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish. NMFS concurs in these
recommendations. The final 2016 and 2017 TAC recommendations for the
BSAI are within the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed
the ABC for any species or species group. The apportionment of TAC
amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.
TABLE 1--Final 2016 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................... BS.......................... 3,910,000 2,090,000 1,340,000 1,206,000 134,000
AI.......................... 39,075 32,227 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof.................... 31,906 23,850 500 500 0
Pacific cod \5\........................... BS.......................... 390,000 255,000 238,680 213,141 25,539
AI.......................... 23,400 17,600 12,839 11,465 1,374
Sablefish................................. BS.......................... 1,304 1,151 1,151 950 158
AI.......................... 1,766 1,557 1,557 1,265 263
Yellowfin sole............................ BSAI........................ 228,100 211,700 144,000 128,592 15,408
Greenland turbot.......................... BSAI........................ 4,194 3,462 2,873 2,442 n/a
BS.......................... n/a 2,673 2,673 2,272 286
AI.......................... n/a 789 200 170 0
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 94,035 80,701 14,000 11,900 1,498
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 11,100 9,500 5,000 4,250 0
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 165,900 161,000 57,100 50,990 6,110
Flathead sole \6\......................... BSAI........................ 79,562 66,250 21,000 18,753 2,247
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 49,000 41,000 14,500 12,325 0
Other flatfish \7\........................ BSAI........................ 17,414 13,061 2,500 2,125 0
Pacific ocean perch....................... BSAI........................ 40,529 33,320 31,900 28,143 n/a
[[Page 14775]]
BS.......................... n/a 8,353 8,000 6,800 0
EAI......................... n/a 7,916 7,900 7,055 845
CAI......................... n/a 7,355 7,000 6,251 749
WAI......................... n/a 9,696 9,000 8,037 963
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 14,689 11,960 4,500 3,825 0
Rougheye rockfish \8\..................... BSAI........................ 693 561 300 255 0
BS/EAI...................... n/a 179 100 85 0
CAI/WAI..................... n/a 382 200 170 0
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 690 518 200 170 0
Other rockfish \9\........................ BSAI........................ 1,667 1,250 875 744 0
BS.......................... n/a 695 325 276 0
AI.......................... n/a 555 550 468 0
Atka mackerel............................. BSAI........................ 104,749 90,340 55,000 49,115 5,885
BS/EAI...................... n/a 30,832 28,500 25,451 3,050
CAI......................... n/a 27,216 16,000 14,288 1,712
WAI......................... n/a 32,292 10,500 9,377 1,124
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 50,215 42,134 26,000 22,100 0
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 52,365 39,725 4,500 3,825 0
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 1,363 1,022 125 106 0
Squids.................................... BSAI........................ 6,912 5,184 1,500 1,275 0
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 3,452 2,589 400 340 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL................................. ............................ 5,324,080 3,236,662 2,000,000 1,791,97 197,225
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is
put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80
species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland
turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other
rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent)
and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50
percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands
subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400
mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 6.4 percent from the Bering Sea subarea ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest
level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set less than 27 percent of the Aleutian Islands subarea ABC to account for
the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\6\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\7\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin
sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\8\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian
district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district.)
Table 1A--Comparison of Final 2016 and 2017 With Proposed 2016 and 2017 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 2017
2016 2016 percentage 2017 2017 percentage
Species Area\1\ 2016 final proposed difference difference 2017 final proposed difference difference
TAC TAC from from TAC TAC from from
proposed proposed proposed proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock....................... BS.............. 1,340,000 1,310,000 30,000 2.3 1,340,643 1,310,000 30,643 2.3
AI.............. 19,000 19,000 0 0.0 19,000 19,000 0 0.0
Bogoslof........ 500 100 400 400.0 500 100 400 400.0
Pacific cod................... BS.............. 238,680 240,000 -1,320 -0.5 238,680 240,000 -1,320 -0.5
AI.............. 12,839 9,422 3,417 36.3 12,839 9,422 3,417 36.3
Sablefish..................... BS.............. 1,151 1,211 -60 -5.0 1,052 1,211 -159 -13.1
AI.............. 1,557 1,637 -80 -4.9 1,423 1,637 -214 -13.1
Yellowfin sole................ BSAI............ 144,000 149,000 -5,000 -3.4 144,000 149,000 -5,000 -3.4
Greenland turbot.............. BS.............. 2,673 2,448 225 9.2 2,673 2,448 225 9.2
AI.............. 200 200 0 0.0 200 200 0 0.0
Arrowtooth flounder........... BSAI............ 14,000 22,000 -8,000 -36.4 14,000 22,000 -8,000 -36.4
[[Page 14776]]
Kamchatka flounder............ BSAI............ 5,000 6,500 -1,500 -23.1 5,000 6,500 -1,500 -23.1
Rock sole..................... BSAI............ 57,100 69,250 -12,150 -17.5 57,100 69,250 -12,150 -17.5
Flathead sole................. BSAI............ 21,000 24,250 -3,250 -13.4 21,000 24,250 -3,250 -13.4
Alaska plaice................. BSAI............ 14,500 18,500 -4,000 -21.6 14,500 18,500 -4,000 -21.6
Other flatfish................ BSAI............ 2,500 3,620 -1,120 -30.9 2,500 3,620 -1,120 -30.9
Pacific ocean perch........... BS.............. 8,000 8,021 -21 -0.3 7,953 8,021 -68 -0.8
EAI............. 7,900 7,970 -70 -0.9 7,537 7,970 -433 -5.4
CAI............. 7,000 7,000 0 0.0 7,000 7,000 0 0.0
WAI............. 9,000 9,000 0 0.0 9,000 9,000 0 0.0
Northern rockfish............. BSAI............ 4,500 3,250 1,250 38.5 4,500 3,250 1,250 38.5
Rougheye rockfish............. BS/EAI.......... 100 149 -49 -32.9 100 149 -49 -32.9
CAI/WAI......... 200 200 0 0.0 200 200 0 0.0
Shortraker rockfish........... BSAI............ 200 250 -50 -20.0 200 250 -50 -20.0
Other rockfish................ BS.............. 325 325 0 0.0 325 325 0 0.0
AI.............. 550 555 -5 -0.9 550 555 -5 -0.9
Atka mackerel................. EAI/BS.......... 28,500 27,317 1,183 4.3 28,500 27,317 1,183 4.3
CAI............. 16,000 17,000 -1,000 -5.9 16,000 17,000 -1,000 -5.9
WAI............. 10,500 10,500 0 0.0 10,500 10,500 0 0.0
Skates........................ BSAI............ 26,000 25,700 300 1.2 26,000 25,700 300 1.2
Sculpins...................... BSAI............ 4,500 4,700 -200 -4.3 4,500 4,700 -200 -4.3
Sharks........................ BSAI............ 125 125 0 0.0 125 125 0 0.0
Squid......................... BSAI............ 1,500 400 1,100 275.0 1,500 400 1,100 275.0
Octopuses..................... BSAI............ 400 400 0 0.0 400 400 0 0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL..................... BSAI............ 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 0.0 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 0.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
Table 2--Final 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................... BS.......................... 3,540,000 2,019,000 1,340,643 1,206,579 134,064
AI.......................... 44,455 36,664 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof.................... 31,906 23,850 500 500 0
Pacific cod \5\........................... BS.......................... 412,000 255,000 238,680 213,141 25,539
AI.......................... 23,400 17,600 12,839 11,465 1,374
Sablefish................................. BS.......................... 1,241 1,052 1,052 447 39
AI.......................... 1,681 1,423 1,423 302 27
Yellowfin sole............................ BSAI........................ 219,200 203,500 144,000 128,592 15,408
Greenland turbot.......................... BSAI........................ 7,416 6,132 2,873 2,442 n/a
BS.......................... n/a 4,734 2,673 2,272 286
AI.......................... n/a 1,398 200 170 0
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 84,156 72,216 14,000 11,900 1,498
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 11,700 10,000 5,000 4,250 0
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 149,400 145,000 57,100 50,990 6,110
Flathead sole \6\......................... BSAI........................ 77,544 64,580 21,000 18,753 2,247
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 46,800 39,100 14,500 12,325 0
Other flatfish \7\........................ BSAI........................ 17,414 13,061 2,500 2,125 0
Pacific ocean perch....................... BSAI........................ 38,589 31,724 31,490 27,779 n/a
BS.......................... n/a 7,953 7,953 6,760 0
EAI......................... n/a 7,537 7,537 6,731 806
CAI......................... n/a 7,002 7,000 6,251 749
WAI......................... n/a 9,232 9,000 8,037 963
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 14,085 11,468 4,500 3,825 0
Rougheye rockfish \8\..................... BSAI........................ 855 694 300 255 0
EBS/EAI..................... n/a 216 100 85 0
CAI/WAI..................... n/a 478 200 170 0
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 690 518 200 170 0
Other rockfish \9\........................ BSAI........................ 1,667 1,250 875 744 0
BS.......................... n/a 695 325 276 0
AI.......................... n/a 555 550 468 0
Atka mackerel............................. BSAI........................ 99,490 85,840 55,000 49,115 5,885
EAI/BS...................... n/a 29,296 28,500 25,451 3,050
CAI......................... n/a 25,860 16,000 14,288 1,712
[[Page 14777]]
WAI......................... n/a 30,684 10,500 9,377 1,124
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 47,674 39,943 26,000 22,100 0
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 52,365 39,725 4,500 3,825 0
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 1,363 1,022 125 106 0
Squids.................................... BSAI........................ 6,912 5,184 1,500 1,275 0
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 3,452 2,589 400 340 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL................................. ............................ 4,935,455 3,128,135 2,000,000 1,790,446 196,895
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is
put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80
species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland
turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other
rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent)
and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: Inshore--50
percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands
subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400
mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 6.4 percent from the Bering Sea subarea ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest
level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set less than 27 percent of the Aleutian Islands subarea ABC to account for
the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\6\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\7\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin
sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\8\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian
district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district.)
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for
Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and
Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS to reserve 15 percent of the
TAC for each target species, except for pollock, hook-and-line and pot
gear allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species, in a non-
specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of
sablefish for the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the
trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of the Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ
reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS allocate 10.7
percent of the TAC for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require
that 10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof District
pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA (see Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With
the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve,
the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 4.0 percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting the
10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of
the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 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 establishes 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 2015. During this
13-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5
percent in 2006 to a high of 17 percent in 2014, with a 13-year average
of 8 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 3,500 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of WAI Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of CAI Pacific ocean
perch, 200 mt of EAI Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka mackerel,
75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea Atka
mackerel TAC after subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA
allowances are based on NMFS' examination of the incidental catch in
other target fisheries from 2003 through 2015.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species category that contributed to the non-
specified
[[Page 14778]]
reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments do not
result in overfishing (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional
Administrator has determined that the ITACs specified for the species
listed in Table 1 need to be supplemented from the non-specified
reserve because U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to
catch the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(b)(3), NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 3 from
the non-specified reserve to increase the ITAC for shortraker rockfish,
rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' sharks, and octopuses by 15
percent of the TAC in 2016 and 2017.
Table 3--Final 2016 and 2017 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 reserve 2016 final 2017 reserve 2017 final
Species-area or subarea 2016 ITAC amount ITAC 2017 ITAC amount ITAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish-BSAI................................ 170 30 200 170 30 200
Rougheye rockfish-BS/EAI................................ 85 15 100 85 15 100
Rougheye rockfish-CAI/WAI............................... 170 30 200 170 30 200
Other rockfish-Bering Sea subarea....................... 276 49 325 276 49 325
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea................. 468 82 550 468 82 550
Sharks.................................................. 106 19 125 106 19 125
Octopuses............................................... 340 60 400 340 60 400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 1,615 285 1,900 1,615 285 1,900
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS subarea pollock TAC
be apportioned, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program and
4.0 percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the inshore
sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (C/P) sector, and 10
percent to the mothership sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the
DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 60 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI-directed pollock fishery allocation to the
Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock remaining in the AI subarea
after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 2,400 mt
for the ICA (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI subarea, the
total A season apportionment of the TAC is less than or equal to 40
percent of the ABC and the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B
season. Tables 4 and 5 list these 2016 and 2017 amounts.
The Steller sea lion protection measure final rule (79 FR 70286,
November 25, 2014) sets harvest limits for pollock in the A season
(January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541, see Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). 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 BS subarea pollock allocations. First, it
requires that 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector be
available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P sector
endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative
contract that allows the distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps and AFA
CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not listed
in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
pollock allocated to the C/P sector. Tables 4 and 5 list the 2016 and
2017 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 21 through 26 list the AFA C/P
and CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the pollock
allocations to the BS subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open
access sector will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Tables 4 and 5 also list seasonal apportionments of pollock and
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The
harvest within the SCA, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is
limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual DFA before 12:00 noon,
April 1, as provided in Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock
SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to each sector in proportion to
each sector's allocated percentage of the DFA. Tables 4 and 5 list
these 2016 and 2017 amounts by sector.
TABLE 4--Final 2016 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA)\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 A season\1\ 2016 B season\1\
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Area and sector 2016 Allocations SCA Harvest limit
A season DFA \2\ B season DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................................... 1,340,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................................... 134,000 53,600 37,520 80,400
ICA \1\......................................................... 48,240 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore..................................................... 578,880 231,552 162,086 347,328
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................................... 463,104 185,242 129,669 277,862
Catch by C/Ps............................................... 423,740 169,496 n/a 254,244
Catch by CVs \3\............................................ 39,364 15,746 n/a 23,618
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................................... 2,316 926 n/a 1,389
AFA Motherships................................................. 115,776 46,310 32,417 69,466
[[Page 14779]]
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................................. 202,608 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................................. 347,328 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA............................................ 1,157,760 463,104 324,173 694,656
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................................... 32,227 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................................ 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 10,931 n/a 3,769
Area harvest limit \7\
541......................................................... 9,668 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................................... 4,834 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................................... 1,611 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................................... 500 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated as
a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40
percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1).
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\7\ 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.
\8\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are
not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 5-Final 2017 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 A season \1\ 2017 B season \1\
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Area and sector 2017 Allocations SCA Harvest limit
A season DFA \2\ B season DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................................... 1,340,643 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................................... 134,064 53,626 37,538 80,439
ICA \1\......................................................... 48,263 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore..................................................... 579,158 231,663 162,164 347,495
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................................... 463,326 185,330 129,731 277,996
Catch by C/Ps............................................... 423,943 169,577 n/a 254,366
Catch by CVs \3\............................................ 39,383 15,753 n/a 23,630
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................................... 2,317 927 n/a 1,390
AFA Motherships................................................. 115,832 46,333 32,433 69,499
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................................. 202,705 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................................. 347,495 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA............................................ 1,158,316 463,326 324,328 694,989
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................................... 36,664 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................................ 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 12,706 n/a 1,994
Area harvest limit \7\
541......................................................... 10,999 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................................... 5,500 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................................... 1,833 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 14780]]
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................................... 500 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated as
a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40
percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1).
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\7\ 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.
\8\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are
not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and non-trawl gear sector (Tables 6 and 7). The
percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in Table 33 to part 679
and in Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent
of the EAI and the BS subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated to
vessels using jig gear. The percent of this allocation is recommended
annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council
recommended, and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear sector in 2015
and 2016. This percentage is applied to the Atka mackerel 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 divide 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 that 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.
Tables 6 and 7 list these 2016 and 2017 Atka mackerel seasons, area
allowances, and the sector allocations. The 2017 allocations for Atka
mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2016.
Table 6--Final 2016 Seasonal and Spatial Allowance, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------
Eastern Central
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Aleutian Aleutian Western
District/ District Aleutian
Bering Sea \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC....................................... n/a.......................... 28,500 16,000 10,500
CDQ reserve............................... Total........................ 3,050 1,712 1,124
A............................ 1,525 856 562
Critical Habitat............. n/a 514 337
B............................ 1,525 856 562
Critical Habitat............. n/a 514 337
ICA....................................... Total........................ 1,000 75 40
Jig \6\................................... Total........................ 122 0 0
[[Page 14781]]
BSAI trawl limited access................. Total........................ 2,433 1,421 0
A............................ 1,216 711 0
Critical Habitat............. n/a 426 0
B............................ 1,216 711 0
Critical Habitat............. n/a 426 0
Amendment 80 sectors...................... Total........................ 21,895 12,792 9,337
A............................ 10,948 6,396 4,668
B............................ 10,948 6,396 4,668
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative............. Total \6\.................... 12,349 7,615 5,742
A............................ 6,175 3,808 2,871
Critical Habitat............. n/a 2,285 1,723
B............................ 6,175 3,808 2,871
Critical Habitat............. n/a 2,285 1,723
Alaska Seafood Cooperative................ Total \6\.................... 9,546 5,177 3,595
A............................ 4,773 2,589 1,798
Critical Habitat............. n/a 1,553 1,079
B............................ 4,773 2,589 1,798
Habitat..................... n/a 1,553 1,079
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679
and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ 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; (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 (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 the Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation
is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 7--Final 2017 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocation of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------
Eastern
Sector \1\ Season \2\ \3\ \4\ Aleutian Central Western
District/ Aleutian Aleutian
Bering Sea \5\ District \5\ District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC................................... n/a..................... 28,500 16,000 10,500
CDQ reserve........................... Total................... 3,050 1,712 1,124
A....................... 1,525 856 562
Critical Habitat........ n/a 514 337
B....................... 1,525 856 562
Critical Habitat........ n/a 514 337
ICA................................... Total................... 1,000 75 40
Jig \6\............................... Total................... 122 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access............. Total................... 2,433 1,421 0
A....................... 1,216 711 0
Critical Habitat........ n/a 426 0
B....................... 1,216 711 0
Critical Habitat........ n/a 426 0
Amendment 80 sectors \7\.............. Total................... 21,895 12,792 9,337
A....................... 10,948 6,396 4,668
B....................... 10,948 6,396 4,668
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679
and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ 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.
[[Page 14782]]
\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; (a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B
seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3); and (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 the Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation
is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2017 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2016. NMFS will post 2017 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2016.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated BS and AI subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for
Pacific cod in 2014 (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014). Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC and AI TAC to
the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations have been deducted from the
respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the remaining BS and AI Pacific
cod TACs are combined for calculating further BSAI Pacific cod sector
allocations. However, if the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be
reached in either the BS or AI subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ
directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as provided in Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocate the Pacific cod TAC in
the combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear; 2.0 percent
to hook-and-line and pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall
(LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot C/Ps;
2.3 percent to AFA trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA trawl C/Ps; and
22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot
sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2016 and 2017, the
Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The 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.
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 2015 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 will
first subtract the State GHL Pacific cod amount from the AI Pacific cod
ABC. Then NMFS will determine the harvest limit in Area 543 by
multiplying the percentage of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543 by the
remaining ABC for AI Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area
543 harvest limit is 3,379 mt.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the 2016 and
2017 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 8 and 9, and are based on
the sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. 679.23(e)(5).
Table 8--Final 2016 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent 2016 Share of gear 2016 Share of sector ---------------------------------------------
sector total total Seasons Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC............................. n/a................... 238,680............... n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
BS CDQ............................. n/a................... 25,539................ n/a.................. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC..................... n/a................... 213,141............... n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
AI TAC............................. n/a................... 12,839................ n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
AI CDQ............................. n/a................... 1,374................. n/a.................. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC..................... n/a................... 11,465................ n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit...... n/a................... 3,379................. n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\......... 100................... 224,606............... n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear....... 60.8.................. 136,561............... n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.......... n/a................... 500................... n/a.................. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total........ n/a................... 136,061............... n/a.................. n/a.................. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor.... 48.7.................. n/a................... 108,983.............. Jan 1-Jun 10......... 55,581
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Dec 31........ 53,402
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 0.2................... n/a................... 448.................. Jan 1-Jun 10......... 228
ft LOA.
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Dec 31........ 219
Pot catcher/processor.............. 1.5................... n/a................... 3,357................ Jan 1-Jun 10......... 1,712
...................... ...................... ..................... Sept 1-Dec 31........ 1,645
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA.... 8.4................... n/a................... 18,798............... Jan 1-Jun 10......... 9,587
...................... ...................... ..................... Sept 1-Dec 31........ 9,211
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using 2..................... n/a................... 4,476................ n/a.................. n/a
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel............... 22.1.................. 49,638................ n/a.................. Jan 20-Apr 1......... 36,732
[[Page 14783]]
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 1-Jun 10......... 5,460
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Nov 1......... 7,446
AFA trawl catcher/processor........ 2.3................... 5,166................. n/a.................. Jan 20-Apr 1......... 3,874
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 1-Jun 10......... 1,291
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Nov 1......... 0
Amendment 80....................... 13.4.................. 30,097................ n/a.................. Jan 20-Apr 1......... 22,573
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 1-Jun 10......... 7,524
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Nov 1......... 0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...... n/a................... n/a................... 4,751................ Jan 20-Apr 1......... 3,563
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 1-Jun 10......... 1,188
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Dec 31........ 0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative......... n/a................... n/a................... 25,346............... Jan 20-Apr 1......... 19,010
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 1-Jun 10......... 6,337
...................... ...................... ..................... Jun 10-Dec 31........ 0
Jig................................ 1.4................... 3,144................. n/a.................. Jan 1-Apr 30......... 1,887
...................... ...................... ..................... Apr 30-Aug 31........ 629
...................... ...................... ..................... Aug 31-Dec 31........ 629
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of
CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a
BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2016 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 9--Final 2017 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017 Share 2017 Seasonal apportionment
of gear 2017 Share of ---------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector sector total
total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC....................... n/a............. 238,680 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
BS CDQ....................... n/a............. 25,539 n/a............. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i
)(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC............... n/a............. 213,141 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
AI TAC....................... n/a............. 12,839 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
AI CDQ....................... n/a............. 1,374 n/a............. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i
)(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC............... n/a............. 11,465 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit n/a............. 3,379 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\... n/a............. 224,606 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear. 60.8............ 136,561 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.... n/a............. 500 n/a............. see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i
i)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.. n/a............. 136,061 n/a............. n/a............ n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7............ n/a 108,983......... Jan 1-Jun 10... 55,581
processor.
................ ........... ................ Jun 10-Dec 31.. 53,402
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2............. n/a 448............. Jan 1-Jun 10... 228
>= 60 ft LOA.
................ ........... ................ Jun 10-Dec 31.. 219
Pot catcher/processor........ 1.5............. n/a 3,357........... Jan 1-Jun 10... 1,712
................ ........... ................ Sept 1-Dec 31.. 1,645
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4............. n/a 18,798.......... Jan 1-Jun 10... 9,587
LOA.
................ ........... ................ Sept 1-Dec 31.. 9,211
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2............... n/a 4,476........... n/a............ n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel......... 22.1............ 49,638 n/a............. Jan 20-Apr 1... 36,732
................ ........... ................ Apr 1-Jun 10... 5,460
................ ........... ................ Jun 10-Nov 1... 7,446
AFA trawl catcher/processor.. 2.3............. 5,166 n/a............. Jan 20-Apr 1... 3,874
................ ........... ................ Apr 1-Jun 10... 1,291
................ ........... ................ Jun 10-Nov 1... 0
Amendment 80................. 13.4............ 30,097 n/a............. Jan 20-Apr 1... 22,573
................ ........... ................ Apr 1-Jun 10... 7,524
................ ........... ................ Jun 10-Dec 31.. 0
Jig.......................... 1.4............. 3,144 n/a............. Jan 1-Apr 30... 1,887
................ ........... ................ Apr 30-Aug 31.. 629
................ ........... ................ Aug 31-Dec 31.. 629
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
[[Page 14784]]
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2017
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the
sablefish TAC for the BS and AI subareas between trawl and hook-and-
line or pot gear sectors. Gear allocations of the TAC for the BS
subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line
or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the AI subarea are 25
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to apportion 20 percent of
the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ
reserve. Additionally, Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish from the non-
specified reserves, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be
assigned to the CDQ reserve. The Council recommended that only trawl
sablefish TAC be established biennially. The harvest specifications for
the hook-and-line gear and pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota
(IFQ) fisheries will be limited to the 2016 fishing year to ensure
those fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ
fishery. Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries will reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain closed at the beginning of each
fishing year until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish
IFQ fisheries are in effect. Table 10 lists the 2016 and 2017 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 10--Final 2016 and 2017 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2016 Share 2016 CDQ 2017 Share 2017 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC 2016 ITAC Reserve of TAC 2017 ITAC Reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl \1\................................................ 50 576 489 43 526 447 39
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 50 576 460 115 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 1,151 950 158 526 447 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl \1\................................................ 25 389 331 29 356 302 27
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 75 1,168 934 234 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 1,557 1,265 263 356 302 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 subtracting these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TAC between the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access
sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve and an ICA
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-trawl
gear. The allocation of the ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in accordance with Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and
Sec. 679.91.
The 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. Tables 11 and 12 list the 2016 and 2017
allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 11--Final 2016 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment
80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin
Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead Rock sole Yellowfin
--------------------------------------- sole ------------- sole
Sector Eastern Central Western ------------- ------------
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI
District District District BSAI BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................... 7,900 7,000 9,000 21,000 57,100 144,000
CDQ............................... 845 749 963 2,247 6,110 15,408
ICA............................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access......... 685 618 161 0 0 14,979
Amendment 80...................... 6,169 5,558 7,866 13,753 44,990 110,113
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative..... 3,271 2,947 4,171 1,411 11,129 43,748
[[Page 14785]]
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........ 2,898 2,611 3,695 12,342 33,861 66,365
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 12--Final 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead Rock sole Yellowfin
--------------------------------------- sole ------------- sole
Sector Eastern Central Western ------------- ------------
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI
District District District BSAI BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................... 7,537 7,002 9,000 21,000 57,100 144,000
CDQ............................... 806 749 963 2,247 6,110 15,408
ICA............................... 200 75 10 5,000 6,000 3,500
BSAI trawl limited access......... 653 618 161 0 0 14,979
Amendment 80 \1\.................. 5,877 5,560 7,866 13,753 44,990 110,113
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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. NMFS will publish 2017 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2016.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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 units and the total Amendment 80 quota share
units, multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for each respective
species. Table 13 lists the 2016 and 2017 ABC surplus and ABC reserves
for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
Table 13--Final 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Flathead 2016 Yellowfin 2017 Flathead 2017 Yellowfin
Sector sole 2016 Rock sole sole sole 2017 Rock sole sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 66,250 161,100 211,700 64,580 145,000 203,500
TAC..................................................... 21,000 57,100 144,000 21,000 57,100 144,000
ABC surplus............................................. 45,250 104,000 67,700 43,580 87,900 59,500
ABC reserve............................................. 45,250 104,000 67,700 43,580 87,900 59,500
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 4,842 11,128 7,244 4,663 9,405 6,367
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 40,408 92,872 60,456 38,917 78,495 53,134
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2016 \1\.............. 4,145 22,974 24,019 n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2016 \1\................. 36,263 69,898 36,437 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
[[Page 14786]]
PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Reductions to the
BSAI halibut PSC limits are expected to be implemented in 2016, pending
Secretarial approval of Amendment 111 and the effective date of
publication of a final rule. On implementation of the reductions, the
2016 and 2017 halibut PSC limits under this action will be superseded
by Amendment 111 and reduced. 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 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326 mt of the
trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the non-
trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes apportioning the non-trawl
halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery
categories. Tables 15 and 16 list the fishery bycatch allowances for
the trawl fisheries, and Table 17 lists the fishery bycatch allowances
for the non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends, and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from
the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, after consulting with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the IFQ program requires
legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-line gear
if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard and is
holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In 2015,
total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 38,149 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality
of about 3 mt.
The 2015 jig gear fishery harvested about 29 mt of groundfish. Most
vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, as mentioned above, NMFS
estimates the jig gear sector will have a negligible amount of halibut
bycatch mortality because of the selective nature of jig gear and the
low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and released.
Section 679.21(f)(2) annually allocates portions of either 47,591
or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits among the AFA sectors, depending on
past catch performance and on whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive
plan agreements are formed. If an AFA sector participates in an
approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement, then NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook salmon bycatch
incentive plan agreement is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), then NMFS will allocate
a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector, as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 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, 2016 allocations, and reports at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm when
they become available.
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,
to the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 42,000 fish as the 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 in the CVOA as
the PSC limit for the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates
10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2015 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated to be 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 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 of more than 8.4 million
king crab and the effective spawning biomass estimate of less than 55
million lb (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 red
king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit,
based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red
king crab bycatch. In December 2015, the Council recommended and NMFS
concurs that the red king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of
the red king crab PSC limit within the RKCSS (Table 15).
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 is set at 0.1133
percent of the BS abundance index minus 150,000 crab. 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 BS herring biomass. The best estimate of
2016 and 2017 herring biomass is 263,098 mt. This amount was developed
by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game based on spawning location
estimates. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 2016 and 2017 is
[[Page 14787]]
2,361 mt for all trawl gear as listed in Tables 14 and 15.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted
from the total trawl PSC limits. The 2015 PSC limits assigned to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are specified in
Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocations of PSC limit to CDQ
PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access
fisheries are listed in Table 10. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and Sec. 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits
assigned to the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to
Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota as listed in Table
18. PSC cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories. In 2016, there are no vessels
in the Amendment 80 limited access sector. The 2017 PSC allocations
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2016. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires NMFS to apportion each trawl PSC limit not
assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for
seven specified fishery categories.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered
are (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a
seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout the year, (5) expected start of
fishing effort, and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments
on industry sectors. The Council recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 15 and 16 to maximize harvest
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.
Table 14--Final 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 Non-trawl
PSC PSC Trawl PSC Amendment BSAI trawl
PSC species and area\1\ remaining remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ 80 limited
after CDQ after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve\2\ sector\3\ access
PSQ\2\ PSQ\2\ PSQ\2\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI.................................. 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,325 875
Herring (mt) BSAI............................................ n/a n/a 2,631 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. These reductions are
not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 15--Final 2016 and 2017 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king
Herring crab
Fishery Categories (mt) BSAI (animals)
Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................ 179 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \1\.... 29 n/a
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka 19 n/a
flounder/sablefish...........................
Rockfish...................................... 13 n/a
Pacific cod................................... 40 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock........................ 2,151 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \2,3\..... 199 n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic n/a 24,250
trawl gear \4\...............................
-------------------------
Total trawl PSC........................... 2,631 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 skates, sculpins,
sharks, squids, and octopuses.
\4\ In December 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)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
[[Page 14788]]
Table 16--Final 2016 and 2017 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Halibut crab C. opilio -------------------------
mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................. 167 23,338 1,273,886 293,234 1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\..... 0 0 0 0 0
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/Kamchatka 0 0 0 0 0
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 species \3\........ 250 197 21,046 4,235 4,242
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC........ 875 26,489 1,351,334 348,285 1,053,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 17--Final 2016 and 2017 Halibut Prohibited Species by Catch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
[Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/ Catcher
Non-trawl fisheries Seasons processor vessel All Non-Trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................ Total Pacific cod..... 760 15 n/a
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-Total.... 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 18--Final 2016 Prohibited Species by Catch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
mortality (mt) (animals) (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI Zone 1 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.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, DMRs,
and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut
bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The
DMRs are based on the best information available, including information
contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS is implementing 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 14, 15, 16, 17,
and 18). The IPHC and the Council developed these DMRs for the 2016 and
2017 BSAI fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries.
Long-term average DMRs were not available for some fisheries, so rates
from the most recent years were used. For the skate, sculpin, shark,
squid, and octopus target fisheries, where not enough halibut mortality
data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific
cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default rate. The
IPHC and Council staff will analyze observer data annually and
recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation
from the mean. A discussion of the DMRs and how they are established is
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 19 lists the 2016 and
2017 DMRs.
[[Page 14789]]
Table 19--Final 2016 and 2017 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............ 9
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........... 66
Yellowfin sole...... 84
Non-CDQ Pot....................... Other species.\1\... 9
Pacific cod......... 9
CDQ trawl......................... Atka mackerel....... 82
Arrowtooth flounder. 84
Flathead sole....... 79
Kamchatka flounder.. 84
Non-pelagic pollock. 86
Pelagic pollock..... 90
Pacific cod......... 87
Greenland turbot.... 89
Rockfish............ 70
Rock sole........... 86
Yellowfin sole...... 85
CDQ hook-and-line................. Greenland turbot.... 10
Pacific cod......... 10
CDQ pot........................... Pacific cod......... 1
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), Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland
turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea or
district (see Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery
category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab,
or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional
Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that
category in the specified area.
Based on historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing activity,
the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 20 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2016 and 2017
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and
species groups in Table 20 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., March 18, 2016, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, bycatch allowances of
halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in
Table 20 are insufficient to support directed fisheries. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for these sectors and fishery categories in the specified areas
effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 18, 2016, through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2017.
Table 20--2016 and 2017 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 2017
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 500 500
[[Page 14790]]
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 2,400 2,400
``Other rockfish'' 550 550
\2\.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80, ICA Atka mackerel.... 1,000 1,000
Sea. CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 100 100
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, ICA Pacific ocean 200 200
CDQ, and BSAI trawl perch.
limited access.
Central Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean 75 75
perch.
Western Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, CDQ ICA Atka mackerel.... 40 40
and BSAI trawl
limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Western and Central Aleutian All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 200 200
Districts.
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 6,800 6,760
``Other rockfish'' 325 325
\2\.
ICA pollock.......... 48,240 48,263
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Northern rockfish.... 3,825 3,825
Shortraker rockfish.. 200 200
Skates............... 22,100 22,100
Sculpins............. 3,825 3,825
Sharks............... 125 125
Squids............... 1,275 1,275
Octopuses............ 400 400
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 500 500
gear.
Non-amendment 80 and ICA flathead sole.... 5,000 5,000
CDQ.
ICA rock sole........ 6,000 6,000
Non-amendment 80, ICA yellowfin sole... 3,500 3,500
CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead 0 0
access. sole/other flatfish--
halibut mortality,
red king crab Zone
1, C. opilio COBLZ,
C. bairdi Zone 1 and
2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/ 0 0
sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king 0 0
crab Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Closures implemented under the final 2015 and 2016 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015) remain
effective under authority of these final 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/info_bulletins/ and https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries_reports/reports/. While these
closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at Sec.
679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These
closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and
prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA C/Ps to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. These restrictions are set out as ``sideboard''
limits on catch. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA
(67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 21 lists the 2016 and 2017 AFA C/P sideboard
limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA C/Ps,
whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Table 21. However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2016 and 2017 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Table 21--Final 2016 and 2017 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
--------------------------------------- 2016 ITAC 2017 ITAC
Ratio of available 2016 AFA C/ available 2017 AFA C/
Target species Area/season Retained retained to trawl C/ P side- to trawl C/ P side-
catch Total catch catch to Ps \1\ board limit Ps1 board limit
total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... 8 497 0.016 489 8 447 7
AI..................... 0 145 0 331 0 302 0
[[Page 14791]]
Atka mackerel....................... Central AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 7,144 822 8,000 920
Central AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 7,144 822 8,000 920
Western AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 4,688 938 5,250 1,050
Western AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 4,688 938 5,250 1,050
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 50,990 1,887 50,990 1,887
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... 121 17,305 0.007 2,272 16 2,272 16
AI..................... 23 4,987 0.005 170 1 170 1
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 11,900 24 11,900 24
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 4,250 9 4,250 9
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 18,753 675 18,753 675
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... 14 9,438 0.001 12,325 12 12,325 12
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,125 123 2,125 123
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... 12 4,879 0.002 6,800 14 6,760 14
Eastern AI............. 125 6,179 0.02 7,055 141 6,731 135
Central AI............. 3 5,698 0.001 6,251 6 6,251 6
Western AI............. 54 13,598 0.004 8,037 32 8,037 32
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... 91 13,040 0.007 3,825 27 3,825 27
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 200 4 200 4
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 100 2 100 2
CAI/WAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 200 4 200 4
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... 18 621 0.029 325 9 325 9
AI..................... 22 806 0.027 550 15 550 15
Skates.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 22,100 177 22,100 177
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 3,825 31 3,825 31
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 125 1 125 1
Squids.............................. BSAI................... 73 3,328 0.022 1,275 28 1,275 28
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 400 3 400 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the
TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA C/Ps. The
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final
rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
PSC species listed in Table 22 that are caught by listed AFA C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2016 and 2017 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2016 or 2017
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 22 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for
pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 22--Final 2016 and 2017 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 and 2017
PSC available 2016 and 2017
Ratio of PSC to trawl AFA catcher/
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after processor
PSC subtraction of sideboard
PSQ \2\ limit \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI.......................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab zone 1............................................ 0.007 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)............................................... 0.153 4,204,524 643,292
C. bairdi Zone 1................................................ 0.14 741,190 103,767
[[Page 14792]]
C. bairdi 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(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting
AFA CV groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for
these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Tables 23 and
24 list the 2016 and 2017 AFA CV sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted
from the 2016 and 2017 sideboard limits listed in Table 23.
Table 23--Final 2016 and 2017 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- 2016 AFA 2017 AFA
1997 AFA CV 2016 initial catcher vessel 2017 initial catcher vessel
Species/gear Fishery by area/season catch to 1995- TAC \1\ sideboard TAC \1\ sideboard
1997 TAC limits limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod/Jig gear...................... BSAI........................ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV >= 60 feet BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 228 0 228 0
LOA.
BSAI Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 219 0 219 0
Pacific cod pot gear CV................... BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 9,587 6 9,587 6
BSAI Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 9,211 6 9,211 6
Pacific cod CV < 60 feet LOA using hook- BSAI........................ 0.0006 4,476 3 4,476 3
and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV................. BSAI Jan 20-Apr 1........... 0.8609 36,732 31,623 36,732 31,623
BSAI Apr 1-Jun 10........... 0.8609 5,460 4,701 5,460 4,701
BSAI Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0.8609 7,446 6,410 7,446 6,410
Sablefish trawl gear...................... BS.......................... 0.0906 489 44 447 40
AI.......................... 0.0645 331 21 302 19
Atka mackerel............................. Eastern AI/BS Jan 1-Jun 10.. 0.0032 12,725 41 12,725 41
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10-Nov 1.. 0.0032 12,725 41 12,725 41
Central AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... 0.0001 7,144 1 7,144 1
Central AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... 0.0001 7,144 1 7,144 1
Western AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... 0 4,688 0 4,688 0
Western AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... 0 4,688 0 4,688 0
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 0.0341 50,990 1,739 50,990 1,739
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 0.0645 2,272 147 2,272 147
AI.......................... 0.0205 170 3 170 3
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 0.069 11,900 821 11,900 821
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 0.069 4,250 293 4,250 293
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 0.0441 12,325 544 12,325 544
Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 0.0441 2,125 94 2,125 94
Flathead sole............................. BS.......................... 0.0505 18,753 947 18,753 947
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 0.1 6,800 680 6,760 676
Eastern AI.................. 0.0077 7,055 54 6,731 52
Central AI.................. 0.0025 6,251 16 6,251 16
Western AI.................. 0 8,037 0 8,037 0
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0084 3,825 32 3,825 32
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 200 1 200 1
Rougheye rockfish......................... EBS/EAI..................... 0.0037 100 0 100 0
CAI/WAI..................... 0.0037 200 1 200 1
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 0.0048 325 2 325 2
AI.......................... 0.0095 550 5 550 5
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 22,100 1,196 22,100 1,196
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 3,825 207 3,825 207
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 125 7 125 7
Squids.................................... BSAI........................ 0.3827 1,275 488 1,275 488
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 400 22 400 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that
species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
[[Page 14793]]
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 24 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2016 and 2017 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Sections 679.21(d)(7) and 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorize
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for
AFA CVs once a 2016 or 2017 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 24 is
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in
the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 24--Final 2016 and 2017 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 and 2017
AFA catcher PSC limit 2016 and 2017
Target fishery category vessel PSC after AFA catcher
PSC species and area \1\ \2\ sideboard subtraction of vessel PSC
limit ratio PSQ reserves 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/sablefish
\5\.
Rockfish................ n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ n/a n/a 5
other species \6\.
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), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\5\ Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\6\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses.
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based on historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator has
determined that many of the AFA C/P and CV sideboard limits listed in
Tables 25 and 26 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2016 and 2017 fishing years.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 25 and 26 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of 2016, the
Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by listed
AFA C/Ps for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 25,
and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA CVs for the species in the
specified areas set out in Table 26.
Table 25--Final 2016 and 2017 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Sideboard 2017 Sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl................... BS................... trawl................ 8 7
AI................... trawl................ 0 0
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,887 1,887
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 17 16
AI................... all.................. 1 1
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 24 24
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 9 9
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 12 12
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 123 123
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 675 675
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 14 14
Eastern AI........... all.................. 141 135
Central AI........... all.................. 6 6
Western AI........... all.................. 32 32
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 27 27
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 4 4
Rougheye rockfish................. EBS/EAI.............. all.................. 2 2
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 4 4
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 9 9
AI................... all.................. 15 15
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 177 177
[[Page 14794]]
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 31 31
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Squids............................ BSAI................. all.................. 28 28
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 3 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Table 26--Final 2016 and 2017 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Sideboard 2017 Sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI................. hook-and-line CV >= 0 0
60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. pot CV >= 60 feet LOA 12 12
BSAI................. hook-and-line or pot 3 3
CV < 60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. jig.................. 0 0
Sablefish......................... BS................... trawl................ 44 40
AI................... trawl................ 21 19
Atka mackerel..................... Eastern AI/BS........ all.................. 82 82
Central AI........... all.................. 2 2
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 147 147
AI................... all.................. 3 3
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 821 821
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 293 293
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 544 544
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 94 94
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 947 947
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,739 1,739
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 680 676
Eastern AI........... all.................. 54 52
Central AI........... all.................. 16 16
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 32 32
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Rougheye rockfish................. BS/EAI............... all.................. 0 0
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 1 1
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 2 2
AI................... all.................. 5 5
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1,196 1,196
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 207 207
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 7 7
Squids............................ BSAI................. all.................. 488 488
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 22 22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Response to Comments
NMFS received two letters with fourteen substantive comments during
the public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. No changes were made to the final rule in response to
comment letters received. NMFS' response to the public comments on the
proposed BSAI groundfish harvest specifications is provided below.
[[Page 14795]]
Comment 1: The allocation of the sablefish TAC between trawl gear
and hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea should be revised to
match the allocation percentages used to apportion the Aleutian Islands
sablefish TAC. That would mean that the Bering Sea sablefish TAC would
be allocated 25 percent to trawl gear and 75 percent to hook-and-line
or pot gear, rather than allocating 50 percent of the Bering Sea
sablefish TAC to each gear category. Doing so would decrease the
adverse impacts, such as bycatch and habitat damage, that trawl gear
would have in the Bering Sea sablefish fishery.
Response: The allocation of the BSAI sablefish TACs between trawl
gear and hook-and-line gear or pot gear is required by regulations at
Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv). Revising these allocations is outside
of the scope of this action.
Comment 2: The use of trawl gear to catch sablefish in the BSAI
results in the bycatch of other species and destruction of habitat.
Response: Trawl gear is a legal gear type in the BSAI for a variety
of groundfish species. Pelagic and non-pelagic trawl gears are
authorized under both the FMP and regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
Additionally, most of the sablefish harvested in the BSAI is caught by
hook-and-line or pot gear, not trawl gear. The catch reports on the
Alaska Region's Web site show that from 2010 through 2015 the highest
trawl catch was 18 percent of the Bering Sea trawl gear TAC compared to
hook-and-line or pot gear at 63 percent of the Bering Sea hook-and-line
or pot gear TAC (see https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-catch-landings).
The Council and NMFS have taken a variety of measures to control
the use of trawl gear and the impacts of trawl gear on non-target
species and habitat. Examples of the former include prohibiting the use
of trawl gear or certain types of trawl gear in some groundfish
fisheries and requiring that the trawl sweeps of nonpelagic trawl gear
be elevated a minimum distance off the sea floor (75 FR 61642, October
6, 2010). The Council and NMFS have also established a variety of
restrictions and prohibitions associated with bycatch in the BSAI
groundfish fisheries, including prohibitions against directing fishing
for some species, as well as regulations designed to minimize the
bycatch of prohibited species by trawl gear. Examples of habitat
conservation measures include identifying essential fish habitat and
establishing geographic area closures to trawl gear. The use of trawl
gear in the BSAI groundfish fisheries is consistent with the National
Standards 1 and 5 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which require the
prevention of overfishing while achieving optimum yield from each
fishery and consideration of efficiency in the use of fish resources.
Comment 3: The Council made a good start toward minimizing halibut
bycatch in the BSAI groundfish fisheries by reducing halibut PSC limits
through the BSAI FMP Amendment 111. However, the Council and NMFS need
to take additional action to achieve further bycatch reduction to
comply with Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements.
Response: The Council and NMFS are committed to minimizing halibut
bycatch in the BSAI consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations to
minimize bycatch to the extent practicable and to achieve, on a
continuing basis, optimum yield from the groundfish fisheries. Pursuant
to section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP, the Secretary, after consultation with
the Council, considers the following information when evaluating
measures to minimize halibut bycatch in the BSAI fisheries:
1. Estimated change in halibut biomass and stock condition;
2. potential impacts on halibut stocks and fisheries;
3. potential impacts on groundfish fisheries;
4. estimated bycatch mortality during prior years;
5. expected halibut bycatch mortality;
6. methods available to reduce halibut bycatch mortality;
7. the cost of reducing halibut bycatch mortality; and
8. other biological and socioeconomic factors that affect the
appropriateness of a specific bycatch mortality limit in terms of
FMP objectives.
Pursuant to section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP, annual BSAI-wide Pacific
halibut bycatch mortality limits for trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries
are established in regulations and may be amended by regulatory
amendment. NMFS will publish regulations implementing trawl and non-
trawl BSAI halibut PSC limit reductions in 2016, upon approval by the
Secretary of a final rule to implement Amendment 111.
The Council and NMFS will continue to evaluate the need to
implement additional measures to minimize halibut bycatch in the BSAI
groundfish fisheries consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations.
In evaluating the need for further halibut bycatch reduction measures,
the Council and NMFS must balance, for example, National Standard 9
obligations to minimize halibut bycatch to the extent practicable with
National Standard 1 obligations to achieve optimum yield from the BSAI
groundfish fisheries on a continuing basis, and National Standard 8
obligations to minimize adverse economic consequences on fishing
communities to the extent practicable.
Comment 4: Halibut bycatch or PSC levels differ among the various
groundfish fisheries. NMFS should take into consideration halibut
bycatch rates associated with the groundfish fisheries when
establishing groundfish harvest limits.
Response: NMFS interprets this comment as requesting NMFS to
establish TACs based on the relative rates of halibut PSC use among the
groundfish fisheries and that groundfish fisheries with higher bycatch
rates should receive lower TAC amounts. NMFS disagrees that setting
TACs based on halibut bycatch rates would necessarily minimize halibut
bycatch to the extent practicable. Annual BSAI-wide Pacific halibut
bycatch mortality limits for trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries are
established in regulations. Therefore, while reducing the TAC in a
particular fishery may limit halibut bycatch in that target fishery,
sectors have the ability to target other species and may encounter
higher halibut bycatch rates in those fisheries. Thus, fishing sectors
may still reach the halibut PSC limit as a result. In addition, it is
important for multispecies trawl fisheries to have several options for
target species to allow this sector to avoid target fisheries with high
halibut bycatch rates. Setting a TAC so low that the directed fishery
cannot open limits the ability of sectors to move between target
fisheries to avoid high halibut bycatch rates. As described previously
in this rule, NMFS will publish regulations implementing trawl and non-
trawl BSAI halibut PSC limit reductions in 2016, upon approval by the
Secretary of a final rule to implement Amendment 111.
Comment 5: The Council approved a TAC for arrowtooth flounder that
was 600% higher than the TAC recommended by the AP. Arrowtooth flounder
has the highest average halibut bycatch mortality rate of all target
groundfish fisheries. Had the Council followed the AP's arrowtooth
flounder TAC recommendation, the TACs could have resulted in higher
overall wholesale values and optimum yield for both the groundfish and
halibut fisheries.
Response: The AP's TAC recommendations were higher than the
Council's for pollock (34,392 mt), yellowfin sole (6,000 mt), Pacific
ocean perch (724 mt), and Atka mackerel (4,500 mt). NMFS has determined
that
[[Page 14796]]
the Council ultimately recommended TACs that more efficiently utilized
fishery resources. The Council considered halibut bycatch in the BSAI
groundfish fisheries and the importance of the fishery resources to the
fishing communities, while also achieving optimum yield in the
groundfish fisheries within the statutory 2 million metric ton limit.
As described in response to Comment 4, a significant reduction in
the arrowtooth flounder TACs would likely have little impact on
minimizing halibut bycatch. Annual BSAI-wide Pacific halibut bycatch
mortality limits for trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries are established
in regulations. While significantly reducing the arrowtooth flounder
TAC would prevent opening the directed fishery for arrowtooth flounder
and would limit halibut bycatch in that fishery, such action would not
necessarily minimize halibut bycatch.
For example, if a reduced arrowtooth flounder TAC prevents this
directed fishery from opening, multispecies trawl sectors that
typically target arrowtooth flounder have the ability to target other
species. However, the multispecies trawl fishery would have fewer
targeting options and a limited ability to move between target
fisheries to avoid high halibut PSC in seasons and areas with higher
halibut bycatch rates. Thus, the multispecies trawl sectors may still
reach the halibut PSC limit notwithstanding significant reductions in
the arrowtooth flounder TAC. Further, eliminating the opportunity to
target arrowtooth flounder may jeopardize continued optimum yield in
the groundfish fisheries because the multispecies trawl fishery may be
closed early if it is unable to avoid halibut bycatch and reaches the
halibut PSC limits during seasons and areas with higher halibut bycatch
rates.
The Council recognized that some of the AP's TAC recommendations,
including arrowtooth flounder, would not be sufficient to allow for a
directed fishery or support incidental catch in other fisheries. In
2015, more than 5,000 mt of arrowtooth flounder was taken in targets
other than arrowtooth flounder in the BSAI. At the AP's arrowtooth
flounder TAC recommendation of 2,000 mt, all of the TAC would be taken
in other fisheries, NMFS would not open directed fishing for
arrowtooth, and would be required to prohibit retention of arrowtooth
flounder. This would require regulatory discards of arrowtooth flounder
when the TAC was reached. Despite prohibiting retention, the incidental
catch of arrowtooth flounder would still exceed 2,000 mt, unless catch
in the target fisheries with the highest arrowtooth flounder incidental
catch (pollock, Pacific cod, and yellowfin sole) were also greatly
curtailed. Curtailment of these fisheries may jeopardize continued
optimum yield in the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
The Council set the arrowtooth TAC at 14,000 mt to acknowledge that
arrowtooth flounder is targeted as part of the annual fishing plan for
some of the fleet. Also, arrowtooth flounder is an important ecosystem
component as a predator and may impact the biomass of other species.
The 2014 arrowtooth flounder stock assessment indicates that nearly
half of the adult diet is comprised of juvenile pollock (47%) followed
by adult pollock (19%), and euphausiids (9%). The Ecosystem
Considerations chapter states predation by arrowtooth flounder has
exceeded cannibalism as the largest source of predation mortality of
age-1 pollock since 2007.
Comment 6: At their October 2015 meeting, the Council stated that
it would consider halibut bycatch in making TAC recommendations for the
final 2016 and 2017 BSAI harvest specifications. However, the Council
failed to consider halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries when it
ultimately made TAC recommendations. Therefore, NMFS' acceptance of the
Council's recommended TACs for the 2016 and 2017 BSAI harvest
specifications would be arbitrary, capricious, and irrational.
Response: As stated in responses to Comments 4 and 5, the Council
did consider halibut bycatch in various groundfish fisheries in making
TAC recommendations for the final 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. Also, the Council considered the potential effects of
groundfish harvest on directed halibut fisheries and the health of the
halibut resource, while also recognizing a shared responsibility to
maintain the viability of halibut commercial, sport, and personal use
fisheries, and the communities dependent on them. Halibut was one of
many bycatch species that the Council balanced with the groundfish
TACs, and the arrowtooth flounder fishery received the greatest
percentage decrease of any species from the proposed harvest
specifications. Also, the Council acknowledged the voluntary efforts in
2015 by the Amendment 80 sector to reduce halibut PSC.
Comment 7: The proposed groundfish harvest specifications stated
that the proposed OFL, ABCs, and TACs are subject to change pending
completion of the final 2015 SAFE report and the Council's
recommendations for final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications during
its December Council meeting. This statement is an admission that the
proposed rule is a placeholder. Therefore, the proposed groundfish
harvest specifications failed to give adequate public notice and an
opportunity for public comment and do not comply with the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Response: The proposed 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications provided adequate notice and opportunity for the public
to comment consistent with obligations under the Administrative
Procedure Act. NMFS published the Council's recommended TACs from the
October 2015 meeting in the proposed harvest specifications. NMFS
explained in the preamble to the proposed harvest specifications that
some of the final harvest specifications could differ from the proposed
specifications. The preamble stated that changes to the proposed BSAI
harvest specifications in the final rule would likely be based on
updated scientific information included in the 2015 SAFE, Groundfish
Plan Team recommendations, information from the December 2015
Scientific and Statistical Committee and Advisory Panel meetings,
public testimony, and relevant written comment. The preamble to the
proposed BSAI groundfish harvest specifications also stated that the
Council could recommend changes to the proposed harvest specifications
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. Finally, the
preamble stated that changes in groundfish biomass trends could affect
the Council's recommended final harvest specifications, but that the
groundfish harvest specifications must comply with governing statutes,
regulations, and the FMP. Based on information provided in the proposed
harvest specifications, interested members of the public were aware of
issues involved in establishing the final harvest specification levels
and therefore had adequate notice of information relevant to the final
harvest specifications. The public has had the opportunity to comment
on all parts of this process.
Comment 8: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National Standard 1
obligations to achieve optimum yield. The AP's groundfish TAC
recommendations would be far more responsive to the Magnuson-Stevens
Act National
[[Page 14797]]
Standard 1 because they could have resulted in higher estimated overall
wholesale values to the groundfish sector, as well as higher quotas and
value in the directed halibut fishery.
Response: As mentioned in the response to Comments 4 and 5, the
AP's TAC recommendations are not guaranteed to lower halibut PSC. Also,
while in a single year it may be more profitable overall to shift the
fisheries to pollock and Atka mackerel, this could significantly reduce
revenues or force out of business those fishermen and vessels from the
flatfish sector. In years of lower pollock and Atka mackerel abundance,
the absence of these vessels could create far smaller groundfish
catches, and on a continuing basis create harvests below the optimum
yield.
Comment 9: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National Standard 3. The
groundfish and halibut stocks are clearly interrelated in the Bering
Sea ecosystem, as is evident by the high bycatch rates in certain
groundfish species, which disproportionately impacts the directed
halibut fishermen.
Response: NMFS interprets this comment as suggesting that NMFS
should manage halibut as a unit or in close coordination with the BSAI
groundfish fisheries. NMFS does not directly manage halibut or halibut
fisheries through the implementation of the 2016 and 2017 BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications. NMFS implements the BSAI groundfish
harvest specifications under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Actions taken by the Council to manage halibut fisheries are developed
under the authority of the Halibut Act, and National Standard 3 of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act does not apply. Section 5.2.1 of the FMP describes
that the IPHC manages the Pacific halibut stocks in its jurisdiction
through regulations implementing the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of
1982 (16 U.S.C. 773-773k).
Halibut is not managed under the FMP. However the Council and NMFS
manage halibut bycatch limits under the FMP and believe that treatment
of halibut as a prohibited species is appropriate. Under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, it is the Council's responsibility to recommend management
measures that minimize halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries to
the extent practicable. As described previously in this rule, NMFS
expects to publish regulations implementing trawl and non-trawl BSAI
halibut PSC limit reductions in 2016, pending Secretarial approval of a
final rule to implement Amendment 111 and the effective date of the
final rule.
Comment 10: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications are not consistent with National Standard 4 obligations
to ensure allocations are fair and equitable. The AP's recommended TACs
would have achieved a far more equitable allocation of the halibut
resource as a whole.
Response: NMFS interprets this comment as suggesting that the BSAI
groundfish harvest specifications are not consistent with National
Standard 4 because lower groundfish TACs for specific fisheries would
have reduced halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries and more
fairly reallocated the unused halibut to the directed halibut fishery.
NMFS disagrees. NMFS does not allocate halibut through the groundfish
harvest specifications. As described in response to Comment 3, Section
3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP requires that annual BSAI-wide Pacific halibut
bycatch mortality limits for trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries be
established in regulations and may be amended by regulatory amendment.
The halibut PSC limits are not an allocation of halibut bycatch in the
groundfish fishery. Rather, the halibut PSC limits impose an absolute
limit on the amount of halibut bycatch that may be caught in the trawl
and non-trawl groundfish fisheries. NMFS uses the halibut PSC limits to
minimize the amount of halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries to
the extent practicable.
Further, as described in response to Comment 4, a reduction in
groundfish TACs would likely have little impact on reducing halibut
bycatch. For example, while significantly reducing the arrowtooth
flounder TAC might limit halibut bycatch in that fishery, sectors
targeting arrowtooth flounder have the ability to target other species.
These sectors may still reach the halibut PSC limit notwithstanding
reductions in the TACs. Therefore, the AP's recommended TACs would not
likely result in reduced halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries or
increase the availability of halibut for directed halibut users.
Comment 11: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National
Standard 5. The AP's recommended TACs optimize harvest by the
groundfish sector and PSC reduction.
Response: NMFS has determined that the 2016 and 2017 groundfish
harvest specifications are consistent with National Standard 5.
National Standard 5 requires the conservation and management measures
shall, where practicable, consider efficiency in the utilization of
fishery resources. The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications establish groundfish harvest limits that result in as
efficient a fishery as is practicable. The BSAI harvest specifications
allow for the combined groundfish fisheries to harvest up to the
statutory 2 million metric ton OY limit with the least amount of
regulatory discards and economic waste as is practicable.
NMFS interprets this Comment 11 as suggesting that the AP's
recommended TAC reductions for some groundfish species and increases in
TACs for other groundfish species would have resulted in greater
halibut PSC reduction and greater efficiency in the utilization of the
BSAI groundfish and halibut fisheries. NMFS disagrees. While the AP's
recommended TACs would have resulted in different distributions of
gains and burdens among the various BSAI groundfish sectors, the AP's
recommended TACs would not have resulted in an increase in efficiency
of the groundfish and halibut fisheries. Although significant TAC
reductions in some groundfish species would have allowed for increases
in TACs for other groundfish species, the AP's recommended TACs would
likely have increased costs for some fisheries and resulted in
increased regulatory discards.
For example, if NMFS implemented the AP's arrowtooth flounder TAC
recommendation, NMFS would not open directed fishing for arrowtooth and
would reserve the 2,000 mt arrowtooth TAC for incidental take in other
directed fisheries. Incidental take of arrowtooth in other fisheries
would likely reach the 2,000 mt TAC early in the fishing season.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(d)(2), NMFS would require that arrowtooth
flounder be treated as a prohibited species for the remainder of the
year, and incidental catch arrowtooth flounder would be required to be
discarded.
Further, as stated in response to Comments 4 and 5, the AP's
recommended TAC reductions would not contribute to the objective of
reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries. While significant
TAC reductions in particular fisheries may limit halibut bycatch in
those target fisheries, sectors have the ability to target other
species and may encounter higher halibut bycatch rates in those
fisheries. Thus, fishing sectors may still reach the halibut PSC limit.
For the forgoing reasons, NMFS has determined that the Council's
recommended BSAI
[[Page 14798]]
groundfish TACs provide for as efficient a fishery as is practicable.
Comment 12: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National
Standard 6 obligations to take into account contingencies in the
fisheries and fishery resources. The BSAI halibut fishery and dependent
halibut fishermen and communities are facing an extraordinary situation
with low halibut quotas that threaten their participation in the
fisheries. National Standard 6 requires an FMP to be flexible and
responsive to such variations. The BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications do not take this contingency into account.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
do take this contingency into account. Some of the largest TAC
reductions from the proposed rule are in the flatfish fisheries, with
arrowtooth flounder having the highest percentage reduction. However,
further reducing flatfish TACs could prevent flatfish fishermen from
adapting to variations in their fisheries. As stated in previous
responses to comments, potentially significantly reducing revenues or
forcing out of business fishermen that are dependent on flatfish could
jeopardize achieving optimum yield if variations in the pollock biomass
produce lower available pollock TACs.
Comment 13: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National
Standard 8 obligations to take into account the importance of fishery
resources to fishing communities, their sustained participation in
those fisheries, and minimization of adverse impacts on such
communities to the extent practicable. The sustained participation of
St. Paul and other Bering Sea communities in the halibut fishery is
clearly in jeopardy. The AP's recommendation demonstrated practicable
allocations of groundfish TACs that would be consistent with National
Standard 8 and could result in higher economic value to the groundfish
sector.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI harvest specifications are
consistent with National Standard 8. The impact of the BSAI groundfish
fisheries, and in particular the arrowtooth flounder fishery, on
halibut bycatch mortality was one of the many environmental and
socioeconomic considerations that the Council evaluated in making the
TAC recommendations for the 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. In recommending the final TACs for all groundfish
fisheries, the Council took into account the importance of both the
halibut and groundfish fisheries to communities that depend on them.
The Council evaluated the burdens groundfish fishery communities would
experience from significant TAC reductions with the benefits of such
TAC reductions that would flow to the communities that rely on directed
halibut fisheries. NMFS determined that significant TAC reductions in
some groundfish fisheries would likely adversely impact communities
dependent on groundfish fisheries, potentially increase halibut PSC
use, and would provide little benefit to the communities that depend on
the halibut resources.
Comment 14: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications are not consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act National
Standard 9 obligations to minimize bycatch and to minimize mortality of
such bycatch. The AP's recommended TACs showed a practicable way to
minimize halibut bycatch, resulting in the potential for over 840,000
pounds of savings.
Response: The 2016 and 2017 BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
are consistent with National Standard 9. As described in several
previous comments, NMFS disagrees that the AP's recommended TACs would
have minimized halibut bycatch. The AP's recommended TAC reductions
would have resulted in increased bycatch and regulatory discards of
some groundfish species, and potentially increased halibut PSC use.
For example, the AP's arrowtooth flounder TAC would have required
the regulatory discard of large amounts of arrowtooth flounder and
hindered the ability of some fishermen to reduce halibut bycatch.
Further, the Council also considered bycatch of other prohibited
species such as salmon, crab, and herring in various groundfish
fisheries. The Council and NMFS are committed to minimizing bycatch in
the BSAI groundfish fisheries consistent with Magnuson-Stevens Act
obligations to minimize bycatch to the extent practicable and to
achieve, on a continuing basis, optimum yield from the groundfish
fisheries. As described in responses to previous comments, NMFS will
publish regulations implementing trawl and non-trawl BSAI halibut PSC
limit reductions in 2016, upon approval by the Secretary of a final
rule to implement Amendment 111 and the publication of the final rule.
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563.
NMFS prepared an EIS that covers this action (see ADDRESSES) and
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the
EIS. In January 2016, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report
(SIR) for this action. Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action
are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS
found no significant environmental consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS
(SEIS) for the 2016 and 2017 groundfish harvest specifications.
An SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns; or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Regional Administrator has
determined that (1) approval of the 2016 and 2017 harvest
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest
strategy in the EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; and (2)
there are no significant new circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed
in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental NEPA documentation is not necessary
to implement the 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications.
Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that, when
an agency promulgates a final rule under section 553 of Title 5 of the
United States Code, after being required by that section, or any other
law, to publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency
shall prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA).
Section 604 describes the required contents of a FRFA: (1) A
statement of the need for, and objectives of, the rule; (2) a statement
of the significant issues raised by the public comments in
[[Page 14799]]
response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, a statement of
the assessment of the agency of such issues, and a statement of any
changes made in the proposed rule as a result of such comments; (3) the
response of the agency to any comments filed by the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in response to the
proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change made to the
proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the comments; (4) a
description of and an estimate of the number of small entities to which
the rule will apply or an explanation of why no such estimate is
available; (5) a description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping
and other compliance requirements of the rule, including an estimate of
the classes of small entities which will be subject to the requirement
and the type of professional skills necessary for preparation of the
report or record; (6) a description of the steps the agency has taken
to minimize the significant economic impact on small entities
consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, including
a statement of the factual, policy, and legal reasons for selecting the
alternative adopted in the final rule and why each one of the other
significant alternatives to the rule considered by the agency which
affect the impact on small entities was rejected.
A description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are
contained at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are
not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on December 9, 2015 (80 FR 76425).
The rule was accompanied by an initial regulatory flexibility analysis
(IRFA), which was summarized in the proposed rule. The comment period
closed on January 8, 2016. No comments were received on the IRFA.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
receive allocations of groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the
BSAI, and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters, during
the annual harvest specifications process. These directly regulated
entities include the groundfish CVs and C/Ps active in these areas.
Direct allocations of groundfish are also made to certain
organizations, including the CDQ groups, AFA C/P and inshore CV
sectors, Aleut Corporation, and Amendment 80 cooperatives. These
entities are, therefore, also considered directly regulated.
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 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.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were those considered as alternative
harvest strategies when the Council selected its preferred harvest
strategy (Alternative 2) in December 2006. These included the
following:
Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce fishing mortality rates,
F, that are equal to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC is constrained
by the OY established in the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting TAC to
produce harvest levels equal to the maximum permissible ABC, as
constrained by OY. The term ``maxFABC'' refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs.
Historically, the TAC has been set at or below the ABC; therefore, this
alternative represents a likely upper limit for setting the TAC within
the OY and ABC limits.
Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1, 2, and 3, set TAC
to produce F equal to the most recent 5-year average actual F. For
species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC equal to the most recent 5-year
average actual catch. For stocks with a high level of scientific
information, TAC would be set to produce harvest levels equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks
with insufficient scientific information, TAC would be set equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual catch. This alternative recognizes
that for some stocks, catches may fall well below ABC, and recent
average F may provide a better indicator of actual F than FABC does.
Alternative 4: (1) Set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 3
at F75%. Set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M. Set
spatially explicit TAC for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TAC as calculated above, reduce all other
TAC by a proportion that does not vary across species, so that the sum
of all TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal to the lower bound of the
area OY (1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This alternative sets conservative
and spatially explicit TAC for rockfish species that are long-lived and
late to mature, and sets conservative TAC for the other groundfish
species.
Alternative 5: Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TAC that fall within the range of ABC recommended through the
Council harvest specifications process and TACs recommended by the
Council. Under this scenario, F is set equal to a constant fraction of
maxFABC. The recommended fractions of maxFABC may vary among species or
stocks, based on other considerations unique to each. This is the
method for determining TAC that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet the objectives of this
action, although they have a smaller adverse economic impact on small
entities than the preferred alternative. The Council rejected these
alternatives as harvest strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of
Commerce did so in 2007. Alternative 1 would lead to TAC limits whose
sum exceeds the fishery OY, which is set out in statute and the FMP. As
shown in
[[Page 14800]]
Table 1 and Table 2, the sum of ABCs in 2016 and 2017 would be
3,236,662 and 3,143,135 million mt, respectively. Both of these are
substantially in excess of the fishery OY for the BSAI. This result
would be inconsistent with the objectives of this action, in that it
would violate the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, Public Law
108-199, Section 803(c), and the FMP for the BSAI groundfish fishery,
which both set a 2 million mt maximum harvest for BSAI groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5
years' worth of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for
the most recent 5 years' worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is also inconsistent with the objectives
of this action, because it does not take into account the most recent
biological information for this fishery.
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
species to reduce TAC from the upper end of the OY range in the BSAI,
to its lower end. This result would lead to significant reductions in
harvests of species by small entities. While reductions of this size
could be associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these
increases is very uncertain, and NMFS has no confidence that they would
be sufficient to offset the volume decreases and leave revenues
unchanged. Thus, this action would have an adverse economic impact on
small entities, compared to the preferred alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may also
address conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse
economic impact on small entities.
Impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness for this rule, because delaying this rule is contrary to
the public interest. Plan Team review occurred in November 2015, and
Council consideration and recommendations occurred in December 2015.
Accordingly, NMFS' review could not begin until after the December 2015
Council meeting, and after the public had time to comment on the
proposed action. If this rule's effectiveness is delayed, fisheries
that might otherwise remain open under these rules may prematurely
close based on the lower TACs established in the final 2015 and 2016
harvest specifications (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to continue fishing
without worrying about a potential closure because the new TAC limits
are higher than the ones under which they are currently fishing.
Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod are
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses, are
critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TAC limits in these fisheries would cause confusion in the
industry and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards.
Determining which fisheries may close is impossible because these
fisheries are affected by several factors that cannot be predicted in
advance, including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks,
and market price. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a
cascading effect on other fisheries by freeing up fishing vessels,
allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open ones, increasing
the fishing capacity in those open fisheries and causing them to close
at an accelerated pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to declining sideboards,
delaying this rule's effectiveness could allow some vessels to
inadvertently reach or exceed their new sideboard levels. Because
sideboards are intended to protect traditional fisheries in other
sectors, allowing one sector to exceed its new sideboards by delaying
this rule's effectiveness would effectively reduce the available catch
for sectors without sideboard limits. Moreover, the new TAC and
sideboard limits protect the fisheries from being overfished. Thus, the
delay is contrary to the public interest in protecting traditional
fisheries and fish stocks.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 19,
2016, which is the start of the 2016 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result in confusion for sablefish
harvesters and economic harm from unnecessary discard of sablefish that
are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both hook-and-line sablefish
and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ program. Immediate
effectiveness of the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications will
allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. Also, immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species that have lower 2016 ABC and TAC
limits than those established in the 2015 and 2016 harvest
specifications (80 FR 11919, March 5, 2015). Immediate effectiveness
also would give the fishing industry the earliest possible opportunity
to plan and conduct its fishing operations with respect to new
information about TAC limits. Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive
the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
This final rule is a plain language guide to assist small entities
in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary
purpose is to announce the final 2016 and 2017 harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries
of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2016 and 2017
fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP.
This action directly affects all fishermen who participate in the BSAI
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided
in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will announce closures of directed
fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins released by
the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep themselves informed
of such closures.
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: March 14, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06182 Filed 3-17-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
