Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reclassifying Squid Species in the BSAI and GOA, 31460-31470 [2018-14457]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31460-31470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14457]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 170714670-8561-02]
RIN 0648-BH05


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; 
Reclassifying Squid Species in the BSAI and GOA

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 117 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP), implement Amendment 106 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP), 
and update the species code tables for octopus. This final rule 
prohibits directed fishing for the squid species complex (squids) by 
Federally permitted groundfish fishermen, specifies a squid retention 
limit in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish fisheries consistent with 
the existing Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) 
squid retention limit, and makes minor corrections to the octopus 
species code tables. This action is intended to promote the goals and 
objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, the FMPs, and other applicable laws.

DATES: Effective August 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of Amendment 117 to the BSAI FMP, 
Amendment 106 to the GOA FMP, and the Environmental Assessment/
Regulatory Impact Review (collectively the ``Analysis'') prepared for 
this action may be obtained from www.regulations.gov.
    Electronic copies of the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analyses 
for the BSAI and GOA Groundfish Harvest Specifications for 2018 and 
2019 may be obtained from www.regulations.gov.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
final rule may be submitted by mail to NMFS, Alaska Region, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99082-1668, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, Records Officer; 
in person at NMFS, Alaska Region, 709 West 9th Street, Room 420A, 
Juneau, AK; by email to [email protected]; or by fax to (202) 
395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Mackey, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for Action

    NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zones of the BSAI and GOA under the BSAI FMP and GOA FMP (collectively 
the FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
prepared the FMPs under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 
et seq. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part 679. 
General regulations governing U.S. fisheries appear at 50 CFR part 600.
    This final rule implements Amendments 117/106 and updates the 
species code for octopus in several tables to 50 CFR part 679. The 
Council submitted Amendments 117/106 for review by the Secretary of 
Commerce, and the notice of availability of these amendments was 
published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2018, with comments 
invited through May 29, 2018 (83 FR 13117). NMFS published the proposed 
rule for this action on April 11, 2018 (83 FR 15538), with comments 
invited through May 11, 2018. NMFS received three comment letters from 
three members of the public. The comments are summarized and responded 
to under the heading ``Comments and Responses'' below.
    A detailed review of the provisions and rationale for this action 
is provided in the preamble to the proposed rule and is briefly 
summarized in this final rule.

Background

    In June 2017, the Council voted unanimously to recommend FMP 
Amendments 117/106 to reclassify squids as non-target ecosystem 
component species, not in need of conservation and management. Squids 
are currently classified as target species in the FMPs, though as 
discussed below, squids are currently only caught incidental to other 
target fisheries. To implement FMP Amendments 117/106, NMFS implements 
regulations to prohibit directed fishing for squids by Federally 
permitted groundfish fishermen and to specify a squid retention limit 
in the GOA groundfish fisheries consistent with the existing BSAI squid 
retention limit. The following sections of this preamble describe (1) 
groundfish stock classification in FMPs and a brief

[[Page 31461]]

history of this action; (2) the National Standards (NS) guidance for 
determining which species require conservation and management; (3) FMP 
Amendments 117/106; (4) the regulatory changes made by this final rule; 
and (5) the comments received and NMFS responses to those comments.

Stock Classification in FMPs and a Brief History of This Action

    Among other requirements, FMPs must comply with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act NS (16 U.S.C. 1851). Relevant to this final rule, the NS 
guidelines at 50 CFR 600.305(d)(11), (12) and (13) define three 
classifications for stocks in an FMP: (1) Target stocks in need of 
conservation and management that fishermen seek to catch; (2) non-
target stocks in need of conservation and management that are caught 
incidentally during the pursuit of target stocks; and (3) ecosystem 
component (EC) species that do not require conservation and management, 
but may be listed in an FMP in order to achieve ecosystem management 
objectives.
    Squids are currently classified as target species in the FMPs and 
directed fishing for squids is allowed. For squid, NMFS annually 
establishes an overfishing level (OFL) that should not be exceeded, an 
allowable biological catch (ABC) that is the maximum permissible 
harvest amount, and a total allowable catch (TAC). These terms, and the 
process for establishing the OFL, ABC, and TAC for squids, are 
described in the preamble to the proposed rule and are not repeated 
here (April 11, 2018, 83 FR 15538). The TAC levels established annually 
for squids are too low to support a directed fishery in either the BSAI 
or GOA. Directed fishing for squids has been closed in the BSAI and GOA 
through the annual harvest specifications each year since 2011. Thus, 
squids are only harvested incidentally in fisheries targeting other 
species.
    Since 2010, the Council's non-target committee, Plan Teams, and 
Scientific and Statistical Committee have recommended that the Council 
explore reclassifying squids as EC category species because they do not 
meet the target species category classification, there is no demand for 
squid, and squid have not been targeted or open to directed fishing in 
either the BSAI or GOA for many years (see Section 1.2 of the 
Analysis). Further, there is no conservation concern for squids because 
they are extremely short-lived and highly productive, the current 
fishing mortality is considered insignificant at a population level, 
and they are unlikely to be overfished in the absence of a directed 
fishery (see Section 3.2.5 of the Analysis).

Determining Which Species Require Conservation and Management

    Section 302(h)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires a regional 
fishery management council to prepare an FMP for each fishery under its 
authority that is in need of conservation and management. 
``Conservation and management'' is defined in section 3(5) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The NS guidelines at Sec.  600.305(c) (revised on 
October 18, 2016, 81 FR 71858), provide direction for determining which 
stocks will require conservation and management and provide direction 
to regional fishery management councils and NMFS for how to consider 
these factors in making this determination. Specifically, the 
guidelines direct regional fishery management councils and NMFS to 
consider a non-exhaustive list of ten factors when deciding whether 
stocks require conservation and management.
    Section 2.2.1 of the Analysis considers each of the 10 factors' 
relevance to squids. The Analysis showed that squids are an important 
component of the marine ecosystem, particularly due to their importance 
as prey for marine mammals, fish and other squids. However, despite 
being classified as a target species, there are currently no directed 
fisheries for squids. Squids are not important to commercial, 
recreational, or subsistence users, and the fisheries for BSAI and GOA 
squids are not important to the National or regional economy. There are 
no developing fisheries for squids in the exclusive economic zone off 
Alaska nor in waters of the State of Alaska. In the absence of a 
directed fishery, squids are unlikely to become overfished because they 
are short-lived and highly productive, and current surveys are 
considered substantial underestimates of true squids biomass in both 
the BSAI and GOA. Therefore, maintaining squids in the FMPs for 
conservation and management is not likely to improve or maintain the 
condition of the stocks.

Amendments 117/106

    In June 2017, the Council recommended, and NMFS now implements, 
Amendments 117/106 to reclassify squids as EC category species in the 
FMPs. Based on a review of the scientific information, and after 
considering the revised NS guidelines, the Council and NMFS determined 
that squids are not in need of conservation and management, and that 
classifying squids in the EC category is an appropriate action.
    Though the Council determined, and NMFS concurs, that squids are 
not in need of conservation and management, squid population status and 
bycatch should be monitored to continually assess vulnerability of 
squids to the fishery given their importance in the ecosystem. 
Therefore, this final rule retains recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements for squid bycatch. This final rule prohibits directed 
fishing for squids to meet the intent of Amendments 117/106 that squids 
are not a target species complex. Because the definition of directed 
fishing at Sec.  679.2 is based on a maximum retainable amount (MRA), 
this final rule specifies a retention limit for squids so that NMFS can 
implement the prohibition on directed fishing to meet the intent of 
Amendments 117/106.

This Final Rule and the Anticipated Effects

    In addition to classifying squids as an EC category species in the 
FMPs under Amendments 117/106, NMFS issues regulations to limit and 
monitor the catch of squids. This final rule--
     prohibits directed fishing for squids in the BSAI and GOA 
groundfish fisheries;
     maintains recordkeeping and reporting requirements of 
squids in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries, but modifies the 
pertinent regulations for clarity;
     specifies a squids retention limit, or MRA, in the GOA 
Federal groundfish fisheries consistent with the existing BSAI squids 
MRA of 20 percent; and
     revises the species code tables in the regulations to 
indicate octopus is a multi-species category by using the plural, 
octopuses.
    To prohibit directed fishing, this final rule revises Sec. Sec.  
679.20(i) and 679.22(i) to prohibit directed fishing for squids at all 
times in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries.
    To clarify definitions and recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements, this final rule adds a definition for squids at Sec.  
679.2 and adds an instruction to Sec.  679.5 to use the squids species 
code in Table 2c to 50 CFR part 679 (Table 2c) to record and report 
squid catch. These revisions maintain NMFS' ability to monitor the 
catch, retention, and discard of squids.
    The MRA is the proportion or percentage of retained catch of a 
species closed for directed fishing (incidental catch species) to the 
retained catch of a species open for directed fishing (basis species). 
This final rule moves squids out of the basis species category and

[[Page 31462]]

into the incidental catch species category consistent with the 
prohibition on directed fishing for squids under this final rule.
    In developing this final rule, the Council and NMFS considered a 
range of squids MRA percentages: 2 percent, 10 percent, and the current 
MRA of 20 percent. Section 4.6.2 of the Analysis discusses that a more 
constraining MRA is more likely to increase discards of dead squids 
rather than discourage targeting. There are no conservation concerns 
for squids. Therefore, the Council recommended and NMFS is specifying 
an MRA for squids of 20 percent in the GOA groundfish fisheries 
consistent with the existing MRA for squids in the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries.
    This final rule corrects a minor technical inaccuracy in the 
species code for octopus. This correction does not affect existing 
reporting requirements.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received three unique comments from three members of the 
public on the proposed rule.
    Comment 1: Squid is a target species in many market sectors. This 
regulation is not science based and demonstrates willful mismanagement 
of the Federal public trust. Do not enact these changes.
    Response: While there are markets for squids in some places, squids 
have limited economic value relative to many of the BSAI and GOA 
groundfish and therefore are not targeted by commercial, recreational, 
or subsistence fishery participants. In addition, the preamble to the 
proposed rule (83 FR 15538, April 11, 2018), and the Analysis state 
that squids are closed to directed fishing and therefore are not 
directly targeted in the North Pacific groundfish fisheries. This final 
rule was developed after considering the best available scientific 
information provided in the Analysis prepared by the Council and NMFS. 
Specifically, the Analysis examined the biological, economic, and 
management implications of classifying squids in the EC category. The 
Analysis describes that there are no conservation concerns for squids. 
Squids are short-lived and highly productive. Bottom trawl surveys are 
considered substantial underestimates of true squid biomass in both the 
BSAI and GOA. Fishing related mortality is extremely low compared with 
the estimated predation mortality in food web models. In the absence of 
a directed fishery, squids are very unlikely to become overfished. 
Therefore, based on the best scientific information available, NMFS 
determined that squids are not in need of conservation and management 
and that classifying squids in the EC category is an appropriate 
action.
    Comment 2: The squids retention limit should be zero.
    Response: Although squids do not require conservation and 
management, it is still appropriate to take measures to minimize squids 
bycatch to the extent practicable. This is consistent with NS 9, which 
requires that management measures, to the extent practicable, minimize 
bycatch and to the extent bycatch cannot be avoided, minimize bycatch 
mortality, and the Council's long-standing practice of minimizing the 
bycatch of species such as forage fish and grenadiers that are 
important to the ecosystem but that do not require conservation and 
management. The preferred alternative maintains the current MRA of 20 
percent, rather than imposing a more stringent MRA because a more 
restrictive MRA does not appear necessary. As noted in the response to 
Comment 1 above, there are no conservation concerns for squids. 
Further, Section 4.6.2 of the Analysis discusses that a more 
constraining MRA is more likely to increase discards of dead squids 
rather than discourage targeting. Therefore, a retention limit of zero 
would be unnecessarily constraining and would not be likely to benefit 
squids.
    Comment 3: One commenter expressed support for this action and 
noted this action provides operational relief to the owners and 
operators of trawl catcher vessels that may be constrained by a squid 
OFL in the Bering Sea pollock fishery.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges the comment.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    No changes were made from the proposed rule.

Classification

    The Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS has determined that this 
final rule is necessary to properly classify squids in the FMPs based 
on the best available scientific information, and is consistent with 
Amendment 117 to the BSAI FMP, Amendment 106 to the GOA FMP, other 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility 
analysis, the agency shall publish one or more guides to assist small 
entities in complying with the rule, and shall designate such 
publications as ``small entity compliance guides.'' The preamble to the 
proposed rule and this final rule serve as the small entity compliance 
guide. This action does not require any additional compliance from 
small entities that is not described in the preambles. Copies of the 
proposed rule and this final rule are available from the NMFS website 
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.

Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)

    An RIR was prepared to assess the costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives. A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). The Council recommended Amendments 117/106 based on 
those measures that maximized net benefits to the Nation. Specific 
aspects of the economic analysis related to the impact of this final 
rule on small entities are discussed below.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)

    This section contains the FRFA for this final rule. Section 604 of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that, when an agency 
promulgates a final rule under section 553 of Title 5 of the U.S. Code, 
after being required by that section or any other law to publish a 
general notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency shall prepare a 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 response to the 
IRFA, 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 (SBA) 
in response to the proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any 
changes 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 that will be subject to 
the requirement and the type of professional skills necessary for 
preparation of the report or record; and (6) a description of the steps 
the agency

[[Page 31463]]

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 this 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 final rule and the need for and objectives of 
the rule are contained in the preamble to this final rule and the 
preamble to the proposed rule (83 FR 15538, April 11, 2018), and are 
not repeated here.
Public and Chief Counsel for Advocacy Comments on the Proposed Rule
    NMFS published the proposed rule on April 11, 2018. An IRFA was 
prepared and summarized in the ``Classification'' section of the 
preamble to the proposed rule. The comment period closed on May 11, 
2018, for the proposed rule and on May 29, 2018, for the notice of 
availability for the amendments. NMFS received three unique comments 
from three members of the public on the proposed rule and Amendments 
117/106. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA did not file any 
comments on the proposed rule.
    NMFS received no comments specifically on the IRFA. However, one of 
the comments supported the action because it provides operational 
relief to the owners and operators of trawl catcher vessels.
Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by This Final Rule
    This final rule directly regulates any vessel operator harvesting 
squids in the Federally managed groundfish fisheries in the BSAI and 
GOA. The thresholds applied to determine if an entity or group of 
entities are ``small'' under the RFA depend on the industry 
classification for the entity or entities. Businesses classified as 
primarily engaged in commercial fishing are considered small entities 
if they have combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $11.0 
million for all affiliated operations worldwide (81 FR 4469; January 
26, 2016). The most recent estimates of the number of fishing vessels 
participating in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries that are small 
entities are provided in Table 2 in the IRFAs for the BSAI and GOA 
annual harvest specifications for 2018 and 2019 (see ADDRESSES). In 
2016, there were 119 catcher vessels and 5 catcher/processors in the 
BSAI, and 920 catcher vessels and 3 catcher/processors in the GOA. 
These estimates likely overstate the number of small entities in the 
groundfish fisheries off Alaska because some of these vessels are 
affiliated through common ownership or membership in a cooperative, and 
the affiliated vessels together would exceed the $11.0 million annual 
gross receipts threshold for small entities.
    The only potential adverse economic impact that has been identified 
for this final rule is that vessel owners or operators who may wish to 
conduct directed fishing for squids in the future, and who wish to 
retain more squids than allowed under the 20 percent MRA, will not be 
able to do so. This potential adverse impact will not affect any 
current participants relative to opportunities available to them in 
recent years, because directed fishing for squid has been closed in the 
BSAI and GOA since 2011. Therefore, no current participants will lose 
an economic opportunity that is available to them today or has been 
available to them in recent years.
    The degree to which this final rule could limit current fishery 
permit holders' future economic activity in the BSAI or GOA could be 
viewed as an adverse impact of this final rule. This adverse economic 
impact could affect any future participant in these groundfish 
fisheries. Therefore, all fishing vessels currently participating in 
the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries that are small entities could be 
adversely impacted by this final rule in the future. However, based on 
the very limited number of vessel operators who have expressed interest 
in conducting directed fishing for squids in the past, the actual 
number of small entities that will be adversely impacted by this final 
rule is likely zero or very few. Vessel operators may continue to catch 
and retain squids in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries as long as 
they maintain their catch within the 20 percent MRA.
    For operators of vessels currently participating in these 
fisheries, the economic impacts of this final rule are primarily 
beneficial or neutral. Removing squids from the BSAI target species 
category will remove the squids TAC from inclusion in the 2 million mt 
optimum yield (OY) cap in the BSAI. The amount of the OY cap that has 
been reserved for squids will be available to increase the TAC limit or 
limits for other BSAI target species. This effect will benefit 
participants in the BSAI fisheries that experience TAC increases 
relative to what the TACs would have been without this final rule. Some 
of the entities that experience benefits from increased TACs in the 
future may be small entities. The effects on target species TACs will 
be neutral for the GOA fisheries, as the OY has not constrained TACs in 
the GOA to date. Therefore, removing the squids TAC in the GOA will not 
allow for an increase in the TAC for another target species.
    For participants in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, moving squids 
from the target species category to the EC category will remove the 
squid OFL as a potential constraint for the Bering Sea pollock fishery, 
thereby increasing the flexibility of the Bering Sea pollock fishery 
participants to focus on minimizing the bycatch of salmon and other PSC 
in the pollock fisheries. Removing this constraint will reduce the 
costs associated with trying to simultaneously minimize the catch of 
squid and the catch of salmon and other PSC. However, none of the 
directly regulated entities in the Bering Sea pollock fishery are 
considered small entities because all of them are affiliated through 
either ownership or membership in a cooperative and, when considered 
together, have annual gross receipts that exceed $11.0 million 
annually.
Recordkeeping, Reporting, and Other Compliance Requirements
    Under this final rule, requirements for recording and reporting the 
catch, discard, and production of squid in logbooks or on catch or 
production reports will be maintained as they are in existing 
regulations. This final rule makes only minor modifications to clarify 
the recordkeeping and reporting requirements in Sec.  679.5, Table 2a 
to 50 CFR part 679, and Table 2c to 50 CFR part 679. Therefore, moving 
squids from the target species category to the EC category will not 
change recordkeeping and reporting costs for fishery participants or 
impose any additional or new costs on participants.
Description of Significant Alternatives That Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities
    The Council and NMFS considered three alternatives. Among the three 
alternatives, Alternative 2 Option 3 (the preferred alternative) 
provides the most economic benefits to current participants in the BSAI 
and GOA groundfish fisheries. The primary economic benefit of this 
final rule is to reduce the potential constraints imposed by the OFLs, 
ABCs, and TACs for squids on BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries. Among 
the three options considered for the squids MRA (20 percent, 10 
percent, and 2 percent), the 20 percent MRA that was selected minimizes 
the economic impact on any fishing vessel that is a small entity

[[Page 31464]]

because it provides the greatest opportunity to retain squid as catch 
in other groundfish fisheries.
    Alternative 1 is the no action alternative and would have continued 
to classify squids as target species in the FMPs. OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
would have continued to be set for squids as a species group in both 
the BSAI and GOA. Relative to Alternative 2, Alternative 1 could be 
considered less beneficial to small entities because all catch 
specifications would need to be maintained, and current constraints on 
the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries would continue. However, 
Alternative 2 (this final rule) could be considered more restrictive to 
small entities than Alternative 1 if the prohibition on directed 
fishing for squids under this final rule limits future participants' 
ability to conduct directed fishing for squids more so than would have 
occurred under the status quo. Alternative 1 would have allowed NMFS to 
determine annually whether to open a directed fishery for squids.
    Alternative 2 classifies squids in the BSAI and GOA in the EC 
category and implements a regulation prohibiting directed fishing for 
squids that could only be revised through subsequent rulemaking. 
However, the Council recommended and NMFS concurs that the benefits of 
this final rule to current fishery participants, including small 
entities, outweigh the potential future adverse impacts of the 
prohibition against directed fishing for squids. In addition, this 
provision can be re-evaluated by the Council and NMFS in the future if 
fishery participants want to develop directed fisheries for squids.
    Alternative 3 would have classified squids in the FMPs as ``non-
target'' species, in which case OFLs and ABCs would still have been 
established but TAC would no longer be specified. Relative to 
Alternative 2, Alternative 3 would have been less beneficial to small 
entities because certain catch specifications and their associated 
fishery constraints would still need to be maintained. When comparing 
Alternatives 1 and 3, Alternative 3 would have removed the requirement 
for setting TACs; however, the current potential constraints on other 
groundfish fisheries if an OFL or ABC for squids were achieved would 
continue. Therefore Alternative 3 would have been only slightly more 
beneficial than Alternative 1 to small entities.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This final rule refers to collection-of-information 
(``recordkeeping and reporting'') requirements approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 
The relevant information collections are approved under OMB Control 
Number 0648-0213 (Alaska Region Logbook Family of Forms) and OMB 
Control Number 0648-0515 (Alaska Interagency Electronic Reporting 
System). This final rule makes minor revisions to these information 
collection requirements to clarify the location of the species code for 
squids in the tables to 50 CFR part 679. These revisions do not change 
the public reporting burden of the approved information collections or 
require revisions to the currently approved supporting statements for 
these collections.
    Send comments on these or any other aspects of the collection of 
information to NMFS Alaska Region at the ADDRESSES above, by email to 
[email protected], or by fax to (202) 395-5806.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, and no person shall be subject to penalty for 
failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number. All currently approved NOAA 
collections of information may be viewed at https://www.cio.noaa.gov/services_programs/prasubs.html.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

    Dated: June 29, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regualtory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part 
679 as follows:

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

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

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 111-281.

0
2. In Sec.  679.2, add a definition for ``Squids'' in alphabetical 
order to read as follows:


Sec.  679.2   Definitions.

* * * * *
    Squids (see Table 2c to this part and Sec.  679.20(i)).
* * * * *

0
3. In Sec.  679.5, revise paragraph (a)(3) introductory text and 
paragraphs (c)(3)(vi)(F) and (c)(4)(vi)(E) to read as follows:


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

    (a) * * *
    (3) Fish to be recorded and reported. The operator or manager must 
record and report the following information (see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) 
through (iv) of this section) for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this 
part), prohibited species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see 
Table 2c to this part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), and 
squids (see Table 2c to this part). The operator or manager may record 
and report the following information (see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through 
(iv) of this section) for non-groundfish (see Table 2d to this part):
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (vi) * * *
    (F) Species codes. The operator must record and report required 
information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited 
species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this 
part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), and squids (see Table 2c 
to this part). The operator may record and report information for non-
groundfish (see Table 2d to this part).
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vi) * * *
    (E) Species codes. The operator must record and report required 
information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited 
species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this 
part), grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part), and squids (see Table 2c 
to this part). The operator may record and report information for non-
groundfish (see Table 2d to this part).
* * * * *

0
4. In Sec.  679.20, revise paragraph (b)(2) introductory text, 
paragraph (i) subject heading, and paragraphs (i)(3) through (5) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  679.20   General limitations.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (2) GOA. Initial reserves are established for pollock, Pacific cod, 
flatfish, octopuses, sharks, and sculpins, which are equal to 20 
percent of the TACs for these species or species groups.
* * * * *
    (i) Forage fish, grenadiers, and squids.
* * * * *
    (3) Closure to directed fishing. Directed fishing for forage fish,

[[Page 31465]]

grenadiers, and squids is prohibited at all times in the BSAI and GOA.
    (4) Limits on sale, barter, trade, and processing. The sale, 
barter, trade, or processing of forage fish, grenadiers, and squids is 
prohibited, except as provided in paragraph (i)(5) of this section.
    (5) Allowable fishmeal production. Retained catch of forage fish, 
grenadiers, or squids not exceeding the maximum retainable amount may 
be processed into fishmeal for sale, barter, or trade.
* * * * *

0
5. In Sec.  679.22, revise paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.22   Closures.

* * * * *
    (i) Forage fish, grenadiers, and squids closures. See Sec.  
679.20(i)(3).

0
6. Revise Table 2a to part 679 to read as follows:

           Table 2a to Part 679--Species Codes: FMP Groundfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species description                         Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel (greenling)...............................             193
Flatfish, miscellaneous (flatfish species without                    120
 separate codes)........................................
FLOUNDER:
    Alaska plaice.......................................             133
    Arrowtooth..........................................             121
    Bering..............................................             116
    Kamchatka...........................................             117
    Starry..............................................             129
Octopuses...............................................             870
Pacific cod.............................................             110
Pollock.................................................             270
ROCKFISH:
    Aurora (Sebastes aurora)............................             185
    Black (BSAI) (S. melanops)..........................             142
    Blackgill (S. melanostomus).........................             177
    Blue (BSAI) (S. mystinus)...........................             167
    Bocaccio (S. paucispinis)...........................             137
    Canary (S. pinniger)................................             146
    Chilipepper (S. goodei).............................             178
    China (S. nebulosus)................................             149
    Copper (S. caurinus)................................             138
    Darkblotched (S. crameri)...........................             159
    Dusky (S. variabilis)...............................             172
    Greenstriped (S. elongatus).........................             135
    Harlequin (S. variegatus)...........................             176
    Northern (S. polyspinis)............................             136
    Pacific Ocean Perch (S. alutus).....................             141
    Pygmy (S. wilsoni)..................................             179
    Quillback (S. maliger)..............................             147
    Redbanded (S. babcocki).............................             153
    Redstripe (S. proriger).............................             158
    Rosethorn (S. helvomaculatus).......................             150
    Rougheye (S. aleutianus)............................             151
    Sharpchin (S. zacentrus)............................             166
    Shortbelly (S. jordani).............................             181
    Shortraker (S. borealis)............................             152
    Silvergray (S. brevispinis).........................             157
    Splitnose (S. diploproa)............................             182
    Stripetail (S. saxicola)............................             183
    Thornyhead (all Sebastolobus species)...............             143
    Tiger (S. nigrocinctus).............................             148
    Vermilion (S. miniatus).............................             184
    Widow (S. entomelas)................................             156
    Yelloweye (S. ruberrimus)...........................             145
    Yellowmouth (S. reedi)..............................             175
    Yellowtail (S. flavidus)............................             155
Sablefish (blackcod)....................................             710
Sculpins................................................             160
SHARKS:
    Other (if salmon, spiny dogfish or Pacific sleeper               689
     shark--use specific species code)..................
    Pacific sleeper.....................................             692
    Salmon..............................................             690
    Spiny dogfish.......................................             691
SKATES:
    Alaska (Bathyraja parmifera)........................             703
    Aleutian (B. aleutica)..............................             704
    Whiteblotched (B. maculate).........................             705
    Big (Raja binoculata)...............................             702
    Longnose (R. rhina).................................             701
    Other (if Alaska, Aleutian, whiteblotched, big, or               700
     longnose skate--use specific species code).........
SOLE:
    Butter..............................................             126

[[Page 31466]]

 
    Dover...............................................             124
    English.............................................             128
    Flathead............................................             122
    Petrale.............................................             131
    Rex.................................................             125
    Rock................................................             123
    Sand................................................             132
    Yellowfin...........................................             127
    Turbot, Greenland...................................             134
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
7. Revise Table 2c to part 679 to read as follows:

    Table 2c to Part 679--Species Codes: FMP Forage Fish Species (All
   Species of the Following Families), Grenadier Species, and Squids.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Species identification                        Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORAGE FISH:
    Bristlemouths, lightfishes, and anglemouths (family              209
     Gonostomatidae)....................................
    Capelin smelt (family Osmeridae)....................             516
    Deep-sea smelts (family Bathylagidae)...............             773
    Eulachon smelt (family Osmeridae)...................             511
    Gunnels (family Pholidae)...........................             207
    Krill (order Euphausiacea)..........................             800
    Lanternfishes (family Myctophidae)..................             772
    Pacific Sand fish (family Trichodontidae)...........             206
    Pacific Sand lance (family Ammodytidae).............             774
    Pricklebacks, war-bonnets, eelblennys, cockscombs                208
     and Shannys (family Stichaeidae)...................
    Surf smelt (family Osmeridae).......................             515
GRENADIERS:
    Giant Grenadiers (Albatrossia pectoralis)...........             214
    Other Grenadiers....................................             213
SQUID:
    Squids..............................................             875
------------------------------------------------------------------------


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8. Revise Table 10 to part 679 to read as follows:

[[Page 31467]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR06JY18.001


[[Page 31468]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR06JY18.002


[[Page 31469]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR06JY18.003


0
9. Revise Table 11 to part 679 to read as follows:

[[Page 31470]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR06JY18.004

[FR Doc. 2018-14457 Filed 7-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P