Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs, 56816-56818 [2017-25800]
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56816
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2017 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XF833
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area;
Cost Recovery Programs
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of standard prices and
fee percentages.
AGENCY:
NMFS publishes standard
prices and fee percentages for cost
recovery for the Amendment 80
Program, the American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Program, the Aleutian Islands
Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western
Alaska Community Development Quota
(CDQ) groundfish and halibut Programs.
The fee percentage for 2017 is 0.71
percent for the Amendment 80 Program,
0.19 percent for the AFA inshore
cooperatives, 0.21 percent for the AFA
catcher/processor sector, 0.22 percent
for the AFA mothership cooperative, 0
percent for the AIP program, and 0.55
percent for the CDQ groundfish and
halibut Programs. This action is
intended to provide the 2017 standard
prices and fee percentages to calculate
the required payment for cost recovery
fees due by December 31, 2017.
DATES: The standard prices and fee
percentages are valid on November 30,
2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl
Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907–586–7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Background
Section 304(d) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
Act) authorizes and requires the
collection of cost recovery fees for
limited access privilege programs and
the CDQ Program. Cost recovery fees
recover the actual costs directly related
to the management, data collection, and
enforcement of the programs. Section
304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act
mandates that cost recovery fees not
exceed three percent of the annual exvessel value of fish harvested by a
program subject to a cost recovery fee,
and that the fee be collected either at the
time of landing, filing of a landing
report, or sale of such fish during a
fishing season or in the last quarter of
the calendar year in which the fish is
harvested.
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NMFS manages the Amendment 80
Program, AFA Program, and AIP
Program as limited access privilege
programs. On January 5, 2016, NMFS
published a final rule to implement cost
recovery for these three limited access
privilege programs and the CDQ
groundfish and halibut programs (81 FR
150). The designated representative (for
the purposes of cost recovery) for each
program is responsible for submitting
the fee payment to NMFS on or before
the due date of December 31 of the year
in which the landings were made. The
total dollar amount of the fee due is
determined by multiplying the NMFS
published fee percentage by the exvessel value of all landings under the
program made during the fishing year.
NMFS publishes this notice of the fee
percentages for the Amendment 80,
AFA, AIP, and CDQ groundfish and
halibut fisheries in the Federal Register
by December 1 each year.
Standard Prices
The fee liability is based on the exvessel value of fish harvested in each
program. For purposes of calculating
cost recovery fees, NMFS calculates a
standard ex-vessel price (standard price)
for each species. A standard price is
determined using information on
landings purchased (volume) and exvessel value paid (value). For most
groundfish species, NMFS annually
summarizes volume and value
information for landings of all fishery
species subject to cost recovery in order
to estimate a standard price for each
species. The standard prices are
described in U.S. dollars per pound for
landings made during the year. The
standard prices for all species in the
Amendment 80, AFA, AIP, and CDQ
groundfish and halibut programs are
listed in Table 1. Each landing made
under each program is multiplied by the
appropriate standard price to arrive at
an ex-vessel value for each landing.
These values are summed together to
arrive at the ex-vessel value of each
program (fishery value).
Fee Percentage
NMFS calculates the fee percentage
each year according to the factors and
methods described in Federal
regulations at 50 CFR 679.33(c)(2),
679.66(c)(2), 679.67(c)(2), and
679.95(c)(2). NMFS determines the fee
percentage that applies to landings
made during the year by dividing the
total costs directly related to the
management, data collection, and
enforcement of each program (direct
program costs) during the year by the
fishery value. NMFS captures direct
program costs through an established
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accounting system that allows staff to
track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and
procurement. For 2017, the direct
program costs were tracked from
October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017
(the end of the fiscal year). The
individual 2017 fee percentages for the
Amendment 80 Program, the American
Fisheries Act (AFA) Program, and the
Western Alaska Community
Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish
and halibut Programs are higher relative
to percentages calculated for the
programs in 2016. This is primarily
because direct program costs in 2016
were tracked for only part of the fiscal
year, from February 4, 2016 (the
effective date of the rule) to September
30, 2016.
NMFS will provide an annual report
that summarizes direct program costs
for each of the programs in early 2018.
NMFS calculates the fishery value as
described under the section ‘‘Standard
Prices.’’
Amendment 80 Program Standard
Prices and Fee Percentage
The Amendment 80 Program allocates
total allowable catches (TACs) of
groundfish species, other than Bering
Sea pollock, to identified trawl catcher/
processors in the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands (BSAI). The
Amendment 80 Program allocates a
portion of the BSAI TACs of six species:
Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, flathead
sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch.
Participants in the Amendment 80
sector have established cooperatives to
harvest these allocations. Each
Amendment 80 cooperative is
responsible for payment of the cost
recovery fee for fish landed under the
Amendment 80 Program. Cost recovery
requirements for the Amendment 80
Program are at 50 CFR 679.95.
For most Amendment 80 species,
NMFS annually summarizes volume
and value information for landings of all
fishery species subject to cost recovery
in order to estimate a standard price for
each fishery species. Regulations specify
that for rock sole, NMFS shall calculate
a separate standard price for two
periods—January 1 through March 31,
and April 1 through October 31, which
accounts for a substantial difference in
estimated rock sole prices during the
first quarter of the year relative to the
remainder of the year. The volume and
value information is obtained from the
First Wholesale Volume and Value
Report, and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel
Volume and Value Report.
Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2017 / Notices
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year
is 0.71 percent for the Amendment 80
Program. For 2017, NMFS applied the
fee percentage to each Amendment 80
species landing that was debited from
an Amendment 80 cooperative quota
allocation between January 1 and
December 31 to calculate the
Amendment 80 fee liability for each
Amendment 80 cooperative. The 2017
fee payments must be submitted to
NMFS on or before December 31, 2017.
Payment must be made in accordance
with the payment methods set forth in
50 CFR 679.95(a)(3)(iv).
AFA Standard Price and Fee
Percentages
The AFA allocates the Bering Sea
directed pollock fishery TAC to three
sectors—catcher/processor, mothership,
and inshore. Each sector has established
cooperatives to harvest the sector’s
exclusive allocation. These cooperatives
are responsible for paying the fee for
Bering Sea pollock landed under the
AFA. Cost recovery requirements for the
AFA sectors are at 50 CFR 679.66.
NMFS calculates the standard price
for pollock using the most recent annual
value information reported to the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game for the
Commercial Operator’s Annual Report
and compiled in the Alaska Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission Gross
Earnings data for Bering Sea pollock.
Due to the time required to compile the
data, there is a one-year delay between
the gross earnings data year and the
fishing year to which it is applied. For
example, NMFS used 2016 gross
earnings data to calculate the standard
price for 2017 pollock landings.
Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year
is 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore
sector, 0.21 percent for the AFA catcher/
processor sector, and 0.22 percent for
the AFA mothership sector. For 2017,
NMFS applied the fee percentage to
each AFA inshore cooperative, AFA
mothership cooperative, and AFA
catcher/processor sector landing of
Bering Sea pollock debited from its AFA
pollock fishery allocation between
January 1 and December 31 to calculate
the AFA fee liability for each AFA
cooperative. The 2017 fee payments
must be submitted to NMFS on or before
December 31, 2017. Payment must be
made in accordance with the payment
methods set forth in 50 CFR
679.66(a)(4)(iv).
AIP Program Standard Price and Fee
Percentage
The AIP Program allocates the
Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC to the Aleut Corporation,
consistent with the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Pub. L.
108–109), and its implementing
regulations. Annually, prior to the start
of the pollock season, the Aleut
Corporation provides NMFS with the
identity of its designated representative
for harvesting the Aleutian Islands
directed pollock fishery TAC. The same
individual is responsible for the
submission of all cost recovery fees for
pollock landed under the AIP Program.
Cost recovery requirements for the AIP
Program are at 50 CFR 679.67.
NMFS calculates the standard price
for pollock using the most recent annual
value information reported to the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game for the
Commercial Operator’s Annual Report
and compiled in the Alaska Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission Gross
Earnings data for Aleutian Islands
pollock. Due to the time required to
compile the data, there is a one-year
delay between the gross earnings data
year and the fishing year to which it is
applied. For example, NMFS used 2016
gross earnings data to calculate the
standard price for 2017 pollock
landings.
For the 2017 fishing year, the Aleut
Corporation did not select any
participants to harvest or process the
Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC, and most of that TAC was
reallocated to the Bering Sea directed
pollock fishery TAC. Using the fee
percentage formula described above, the
estimated percentage of direct program
costs to fishery value for the 2017
calendar year is 0 percent for the AIP
Program.
CDQ Standard Price and Fee Percentage
The CDQ Program was implemented
in 1992 to provide access to BSAI
fishery resources to villages located in
56817
Western Alaska. Section 305(i) of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act identifies 65
villages eligible to participate in the
CDQ Program and the six CDQ groups
to represent these villages. CDQ groups
receive exclusive harvesting privileges
of the TACs for a broad range of crab
species, groundfish species, and halibut.
NMFS implemented a CDQ cost
recovery program for the BSAI crab
fisheries in 2005 (70 FR 10174, March
2, 2005) and published the cost recovery
fee percentage for the 2017/2018 crab
fishing year on July 13, 2017 (82 FR
32329). This notice provides the cost
recovery fee percentage for the CDQ
groundfish and halibut programs. Each
CDQ group is subject to cost recovery
fee requirements for landed groundfish
and halibut, and the designated
representative of each CDQ group is
responsible for submitting payment for
their CDQ group. Cost recovery
requirements for the CDQ Program are at
50 CFR 679.33.
For most CDQ groundfish species,
NMFS annually summarizes volume
and value information for landings of all
fishery species subject to cost recovery
in order to estimate a standard price for
each fishery species. The volume and
value information is obtained from the
First Wholesale Volume and Value
Report and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel
Volume and Value Report. For CDQ
halibut and fixed-gear sablefish, NMFS
calculates the standard prices using
information from the Individual Fishing
Quota (IFQ) Ex-Vessel Volume and
Value Report, which collects
information on both IFQ and CDQ
volume and value.
Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year
is 0.55 percent for the CDQ groundfish
and halibut programs. For 2017, NMFS
applied the calculated CDQ fee
percentage to all CDQ groundfish and
halibut landings made between January
1 and December 31 to calculate the CDQ
fee liability for each CDQ group. The
2017 fee payments must be submitted to
NMFS on or before December 31, 2017.
Payment must be made in accordance
with the payment methods set forth in
50 CFR 679.33(a)(3)(iv).
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TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2017 FISHING YEAR
Species
Gear type
Reporting period
Arrowtooth flounder .......................
Atka mackerel ................................
All ............................................
All ............................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
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Standard
ex-vessel
price per
pound
($)
0.32
0.36
56818
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 229 / Thursday, November 30, 2017 / Notices
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY SPECIES FOR THE 2017 FISHING YEAR—Continued
Species
Gear type
Reporting period
Flathead sole .................................
Greenland turbot ...........................
CDQ halibut ...................................
Pacific cod .....................................
All ............................................
All ............................................
Fixed gear ...............................
Fixed gear ...............................
Trawl gear ...............................
All ............................................
All ............................................
All ............................................
All ............................................
Fixed gear ...............................
Trawl gear ...............................
All ............................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
October 1, 2016–September 30, 2017 ....................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 201 ...........................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
January 1, 2016–December 31, 2016 .....................................
January 1, 2017–March 31, 2017 ............................................
April 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 ...............................................
October 1, 2016–September 30, 2017 ....................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
January 1, 2017–October 31, 2017 .........................................
Pacific ocean perch .......................
Pollock ...........................................
Rock sole .......................................
Sablefish ........................................
Yellowfin sole ................................
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–25800 Filed 11–29–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD–2017–OS–0063]
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
ACTION:
30-day information collection
notice.
The Department of Defense
has submitted to OMB for clearance, the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by January 2, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments and
recommendations on the proposed
information collection should be
emailed to Ms. Jasmeet Seehra, DoD
Desk Officer, at Oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please identify the
proposed information collection by DoD
Desk Officer and the Docket ID number
and title of the information collection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
Licari, 571–372–0493, or whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title, Associated Form and OMB
Number: Data for Payment of Retired
Personnel, DD Form 2656, OMB Control
Number 0704–XXXX.
Type of Request: Emergency.
Number of Respondents: 65,000.
SUMMARY:
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Standard
ex-vessel
price per
pound
($)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:35 Nov 29, 2017
Jkt 244001
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 65,000.
Average Burden per Response: 15
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 16,250.
Needs and Uses: This information
collection is being submitted as an
emergency. The information collection
requirement is necessary to obtain
applicable retirement information from
Uniformed Service members and allow
those members to make certain retired
pay and survivor annuity elections prior
to retirement from service or prior to
reaching eligibility to receive retired
pay. The form will also allow eligible
members covered by the Blended
Retirement System to make a voluntary
election of a partial lump sum of retired
pay, as required by Section 1415 of title
10, United States Code.
Affected Public: All Uniformed
Service members who are eligible to
retire or to begin receiving retired pay,
their spouses, and dependents.
Frequency: As Required.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
OMB Desk Officer: Ms. Jasmeet
Seehra.
You may also submit comments and
recommendations, identified by Docket
ID number and title, by the following
method:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name, Docket
ID number and title for this Federal
Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions
from members of the public is to make
these submissions available for public
viewing on the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
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0.25
0.14
0.23
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4.12
1.05
0.17
DOD Clearance Officer: Mr. Frederick
Licari.
Written requests for copies of the
information collection proposal should
be sent to Mr. Licari at WHS/ESD
Directives Division, 4800 Mark Center
Drive, East Tower, Suite 03F09,
Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.
Dated: November 27, 2017.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2017–25820 Filed 11–29–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD–2016–OS–0033]
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
ACTION:
30-Day information collection
notice.
The Department of Defense
has submitted to OMB for clearance, the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by January 2, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments and
recommendations on the proposed
information collection should be
emailed to Ms. Jasmeet Seehra, DoD
Desk Officer, at Oira_submission@
omb.eop.gov. Please identify the
proposed information collection by DoD
Desk Officer and the Docket ID number
and title of the information collection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
Licari, 571–372–0493, or whs.mcalex.esd.mbx.dd-dod-informationcollections@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30NON1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56816-56818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25800]
[[Page 56816]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF833
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Cost Recovery Programs
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of standard prices and fee percentages.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard prices and fee percentages for cost
recovery for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Program, the Aleutian Islands Pollock (AIP) Program, and the Western
Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groundfish and halibut
Programs. The fee percentage for 2017 is 0.71 percent for the Amendment
80 Program, 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore cooperatives, 0.21 percent
for the AFA catcher/processor sector, 0.22 percent for the AFA
mothership cooperative, 0 percent for the AIP program, and 0.55 percent
for the CDQ groundfish and halibut Programs. This action is intended to
provide the 2017 standard prices and fee percentages to calculate the
required payment for cost recovery fees due by December 31, 2017.
DATES: The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on November
30, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Greene, Fee Coordinator, 907-586-
7105.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) authorizes and requires the
collection of cost recovery fees for limited access privilege programs
and the CDQ Program. Cost recovery fees recover the actual costs
directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of
the programs. Section 304(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act mandates that
cost recovery fees not exceed three percent of the annual ex-vessel
value of fish harvested by a program subject to a cost recovery fee,
and that the fee be collected either at the time of landing, filing of
a landing report, or sale of such fish during a fishing season or in
the last quarter of the calendar year in which the fish is harvested.
NMFS manages the Amendment 80 Program, AFA Program, and AIP Program
as limited access privilege programs. On January 5, 2016, NMFS
published a final rule to implement cost recovery for these three
limited access privilege programs and the CDQ groundfish and halibut
programs (81 FR 150). The designated representative (for the purposes
of cost recovery) for each program is responsible for submitting the
fee payment to NMFS on or before the due date of December 31 of the
year in which the landings were made. The total dollar amount of the
fee due is determined by multiplying the NMFS published fee percentage
by the ex-vessel value of all landings under the program made during
the fishing year. NMFS publishes this notice of the fee percentages for
the Amendment 80, AFA, AIP, and CDQ groundfish and halibut fisheries in
the Federal Register by December 1 each year.
Standard Prices
The fee liability is based on the ex-vessel value of fish harvested
in each program. For purposes of calculating cost recovery fees, NMFS
calculates a standard ex-vessel price (standard price) for each
species. A standard price is determined using information on landings
purchased (volume) and ex-vessel value paid (value). For most
groundfish species, NMFS annually summarizes volume and value
information for landings of all fishery species subject to cost
recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each species. The
standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per pound for landings
made during the year. The standard prices for all species in the
Amendment 80, AFA, AIP, and CDQ groundfish and halibut programs are
listed in Table 1. Each landing made under each program is multiplied
by the appropriate standard price to arrive at an ex-vessel value for
each landing. These values are summed together to arrive at the ex-
vessel value of each program (fishery value).
Fee Percentage
NMFS calculates the fee percentage each year according to the
factors and methods described in Federal regulations at 50 CFR
679.33(c)(2), 679.66(c)(2), 679.67(c)(2), and 679.95(c)(2). NMFS
determines the fee percentage that applies to landings made during the
year by dividing the total costs directly related to the management,
data collection, and enforcement of each program (direct program costs)
during the year by the fishery value. NMFS captures direct program
costs through an established accounting system that allows staff to
track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. For 2017, the
direct program costs were tracked from October 1, 2016, to September
30, 2017 (the end of the fiscal year). The individual 2017 fee
percentages for the Amendment 80 Program, the American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Program, and the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ)
groundfish and halibut Programs are higher relative to percentages
calculated for the programs in 2016. This is primarily because direct
program costs in 2016 were tracked for only part of the fiscal year,
from February 4, 2016 (the effective date of the rule) to September 30,
2016.
NMFS will provide an annual report that summarizes direct program
costs for each of the programs in early 2018. NMFS calculates the
fishery value as described under the section ``Standard Prices.''
Amendment 80 Program Standard Prices and Fee Percentage
The Amendment 80 Program allocates total allowable catches (TACs)
of groundfish species, other than Bering Sea pollock, to identified
trawl catcher/processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI).
The Amendment 80 Program allocates a portion of the BSAI TACs of six
species: Atka mackerel, Pacific cod, flathead sole, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch. Participants
in the Amendment 80 sector have established cooperatives to harvest
these allocations. Each Amendment 80 cooperative is responsible for
payment of the cost recovery fee for fish landed under the Amendment 80
Program. Cost recovery requirements for the Amendment 80 Program are at
50 CFR 679.95.
For most Amendment 80 species, NMFS annually summarizes volume and
value information for landings of all fishery species subject to cost
recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each fishery
species. Regulations specify that for rock sole, NMFS shall calculate a
separate standard price for two periods--January 1 through March 31,
and April 1 through October 31, which accounts for a substantial
difference in estimated rock sole prices during the first quarter of
the year relative to the remainder of the year. The volume and value
information is obtained from the First Wholesale Volume and Value
Report, and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel Volume and Value Report.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to
[[Page 56817]]
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year is 0.71 percent for the
Amendment 80 Program. For 2017, NMFS applied the fee percentage to each
Amendment 80 species landing that was debited from an Amendment 80
cooperative quota allocation between January 1 and December 31 to
calculate the Amendment 80 fee liability for each Amendment 80
cooperative. The 2017 fee payments must be submitted to NMFS on or
before December 31, 2017. Payment must be made in accordance with the
payment methods set forth in 50 CFR 679.95(a)(3)(iv).
AFA Standard Price and Fee Percentages
The AFA allocates the Bering Sea directed pollock fishery TAC to
three sectors--catcher/processor, mothership, and inshore. Each sector
has established cooperatives to harvest the sector's exclusive
allocation. These cooperatives are responsible for paying the fee for
Bering Sea pollock landed under the AFA. Cost recovery requirements for
the AFA sectors are at 50 CFR 679.66.
NMFS calculates the standard price for pollock using the most
recent annual value information reported to the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game for the Commercial Operator's Annual Report and compiled in
the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Gross Earnings data
for Bering Sea pollock. Due to the time required to compile the data,
there is a one-year delay between the gross earnings data year and the
fishing year to which it is applied. For example, NMFS used 2016 gross
earnings data to calculate the standard price for 2017 pollock
landings.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to fishery value for the 2017
calendar year is 0.19 percent for the AFA inshore sector, 0.21 percent
for the AFA catcher/processor sector, and 0.22 percent for the AFA
mothership sector. For 2017, NMFS applied the fee percentage to each
AFA inshore cooperative, AFA mothership cooperative, and AFA catcher/
processor sector landing of Bering Sea pollock debited from its AFA
pollock fishery allocation between January 1 and December 31 to
calculate the AFA fee liability for each AFA cooperative. The 2017 fee
payments must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 31, 2017.
Payment must be made in accordance with the payment methods set forth
in 50 CFR 679.66(a)(4)(iv).
AIP Program Standard Price and Fee Percentage
The AIP Program allocates the Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC to the Aleut Corporation, consistent with the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-109), and its implementing
regulations. Annually, prior to the start of the pollock season, the
Aleut Corporation provides NMFS with the identity of its designated
representative for harvesting the Aleutian Islands directed pollock
fishery TAC. The same individual is responsible for the submission of
all cost recovery fees for pollock landed under the AIP Program. Cost
recovery requirements for the AIP Program are at 50 CFR 679.67.
NMFS calculates the standard price for pollock using the most
recent annual value information reported to the Alaska Department of
Fish & Game for the Commercial Operator's Annual Report and compiled in
the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission Gross Earnings data
for Aleutian Islands pollock. Due to the time required to compile the
data, there is a one-year delay between the gross earnings data year
and the fishing year to which it is applied. For example, NMFS used
2016 gross earnings data to calculate the standard price for 2017
pollock landings.
For the 2017 fishing year, the Aleut Corporation did not select any
participants to harvest or process the Aleutian Islands directed
pollock fishery TAC, and most of that TAC was reallocated to the Bering
Sea directed pollock fishery TAC. Using the fee percentage formula
described above, the estimated percentage of direct program costs to
fishery value for the 2017 calendar year is 0 percent for the AIP
Program.
CDQ Standard Price and Fee Percentage
The CDQ Program was implemented in 1992 to provide access to BSAI
fishery resources to villages located in Western Alaska. Section 305(i)
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act identifies 65 villages eligible to
participate in the CDQ Program and the six CDQ groups to represent
these villages. CDQ groups receive exclusive harvesting privileges of
the TACs for a broad range of crab species, groundfish species, and
halibut. NMFS implemented a CDQ cost recovery program for the BSAI crab
fisheries in 2005 (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005) and published the cost
recovery fee percentage for the 2017/2018 crab fishing year on July 13,
2017 (82 FR 32329). This notice provides the cost recovery fee
percentage for the CDQ groundfish and halibut programs. Each CDQ group
is subject to cost recovery fee requirements for landed groundfish and
halibut, and the designated representative of each CDQ group is
responsible for submitting payment for their CDQ group. Cost recovery
requirements for the CDQ Program are at 50 CFR 679.33.
For most CDQ groundfish species, NMFS annually summarizes volume
and value information for landings of all fishery species subject to
cost recovery in order to estimate a standard price for each fishery
species. The volume and value information is obtained from the First
Wholesale Volume and Value Report and the Pacific Cod Ex-Vessel Volume
and Value Report. For CDQ halibut and fixed-gear sablefish, NMFS
calculates the standard prices using information from the Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Ex-Vessel Volume and Value Report, which collects
information on both IFQ and CDQ volume and value.
Using the fee percentage formula described above, the estimated
percentage of direct program costs to fishery value for the 2017
calendar year is 0.55 percent for the CDQ groundfish and halibut
programs. For 2017, NMFS applied the calculated CDQ fee percentage to
all CDQ groundfish and halibut landings made between January 1 and
December 31 to calculate the CDQ fee liability for each CDQ group. The
2017 fee payments must be submitted to NMFS on or before December 31,
2017. Payment must be made in accordance with the payment methods set
forth in 50 CFR 679.33(a)(3)(iv).
Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Species for the 2017 Fishing Year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard
ex-vessel
Species Gear type Reporting period price per
pound ($)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.32
2017.
Atka mackerel.......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.36
2017.
[[Page 56818]]
Flathead sole.......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.22
2017.
Greenland turbot....................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.55
2017.
CDQ halibut............................ Fixed gear................ October 1, 2016-September 30, 5.97
2017.
Pacific cod............................ Fixed gear................ January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.33
Trawl gear................ 2017. 0.28
January 1, 2017-October 31, 201
Pacific ocean perch.................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.25
2017.
Pollock................................ All....................... January 1, 2016-December 31, 0.14
2016.
Rock sole.............................. All....................... January 1, 2017-March 31, 2017. 0.23
All....................... April 1, 2017-October 31, 2017. 0.17
Sablefish.............................. Fixed gear................ October 1, 2016-September 30, 4.12
Trawl gear................ 2017. 1.05
January 1, 2017-October 31,
2017.
Yellowfin sole......................... All....................... January 1, 2017-October 31, 0.17
2017.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: November 27, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-25800 Filed 11-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P