Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Final 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, 9000-9027 [2019-04539]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
catch, possess, transfer, land, or sell
more than 20,000 lb (9.08 mt) of
Atlantic mackerel per trip or calendar
day through December 31, 2019. Vessels
with more than 20,000 lb (9.08 mt) of
Atlantic mackerel that have entered port
before 00:01 hr local time, March 12,
2019, may land and sell more than
20,000 lb (9.08 mt) of Atlantic mackerel
from that trip.
Classification
This action is required by 50 CFR part
648 and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
NMFS finds good cause pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice
and the opportunity for public comment
because it would be contrary to the
public interest and impracticable. This
action restricts the catch of Atlantic
mackerel for the remainder of the
fishing year. Data have only recently
become available indicating that
directed Atlantic mackerel trips by
federally permitted vessels will have
caught 95 percent of the river herring
and shad catch cap established for the
2019 calendar year. Once NMFS
projects that river herring and shad
catch will reach 95 percent of the catch
cap, NMFS is required by Federal
regulation to implement a 20,000 lb
(9.08 mt) Atlantic mackerel possession
limit and prohibit vessels from landing
Atlantic mackerel more than once per
calendar day through December 31,
2019. The regulations at § 648.24(b)(6)
require such action to ensure that such
vessels do not exceed the river herring
and shad catch cap for the Atlantic
mackerel fishery. If implementation of
this closure is delayed to solicit prior
public comment, the river herring and
shad catch cap for this fishing year will
likely be exceeded; thereby,
undermining the conservation
objectives of the Atlantic Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish Fishery
Management Plan. NMFS further finds,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good
cause to waive the 30-day delayed
effectiveness period for the reasons
stated above.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 8, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–04594 Filed 3–8–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 170816769–8162–02]
fishing allowance has been reached.
Consequently, NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing for pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA.
While this closure is effective, the
maximum retainable amounts at
§ 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a trip.
RIN 0648–XG885
Classification
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical
Area 610 in the Gulf of Alaska
This action responds to the best
available information recently obtained
from the fishery. The Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA
(AA), finds good cause to waive the
requirement to provide prior notice and
opportunity for public comment
pursuant to the authority set forth at 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(B) as such requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest. This requirement is
impracticable and contrary to the public
interest as it would prevent NMFS from
responding to the most recent fisheries
data in a timely fashion and would
delay the closure of directed fishing for
pollock in Statistical Area 610 of the
GOA. NMFS was unable to publish a
notice providing time for public
comment because the most recent,
relevant data only became available as
of March 7, 2019.
The AA also finds good cause to
waive the 30-day delay in the effective
date of this action under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3). This finding is based upon
the reasons provided above for waiver of
prior notice and opportunity for public
comment.
This action is required by § 679.20
and is exempt from review under
Executive Order 12866.
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; closure.
AGENCY:
NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for pollock in Statistical Area
610 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This
action is necessary to prevent exceeding
the B season allowance of the 2019 total
allowable catch of pollock for Statistical
Area 610 in the GOA.
DATES: Effective 1200 hours, Alaska
local time (A.l.t.), March 10, 2019,
through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31,
2019.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Josh
Keaton, 907–586–7228.
NMFS
manages the groundfish fishery in the
GOA exclusive economic zone
according to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of
Alaska (FMP) prepared by the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council
under authority of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act. Regulations governing
fishing by U.S. vessels in accordance
with the FMP appear at subpart H of 50
CFR part 600 and 50 CFR part 679.
The B season allowance of the 2019
total allowable catch (TAC) of pollock in
Statistical Area 610 of the GOA is 848
metric tons (mt) as established by the
final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications for groundfish in the GOA
(83 FR 8768, March 1, 2018) and
inseason adjustment (84 FR 33, January
4, 2019).
In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator has
determined that the B season allowance
of the 2019 TAC of pollock in Statistical
Area 610 of the GOA will soon be
reached. Therefore, the Regional
Administrator is establishing a directed
fishing allowance of 748 mt and is
setting aside the remaining 100 mt as
bycatch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), the Regional
Administrator finds that this directed
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: March 8, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–04593 Filed 3–8–19; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180713633–9174–02]
RIN 0648–XG356
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands; Final 2019 and 2020
Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications
and closures.
NMFS announces final 2019
and 2020 harvest specifications,
apportionments, 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
remainder of the 2019 and the start of
the 2020 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 2019 harvest specifications
supersede those previously set in the
final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications, and the 2020 harvest
specifications will be superseded in
early 2020 when the final 2020 and
2021 harvest specifications are
published. 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: Harvest specifications and
closures are effective from 1200 hours,
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 13,
2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), annual Supplementary
Information Reports (SIRs) to the EIS,
and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action
are available from https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The 2018
Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated
November 2018, 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 website 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 MagnusonStevens Act. General regulations
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SUMMARY:
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governing U.S. fisheries also appear at
50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing
regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to
specify annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species
category. The sum of all TAC for all
groundfish species in the BSAI 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)(A)). This final
rule specifies the total TAC at 2.0
million mt for both 2019 and 2020.
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; American Fisheries
Act allocations; Amendment 80
allocations; Community Development
Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts
established by § 679.20(b)(1)(ii); and
acceptable biological catch (ABC)
surpluses and reserves for CDQ groups
and the Amendment 80 cooperative for
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole. The final harvest specifications set
forth in Tables 1 through 25 of this
action satisfy these requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires
that NMFS consider public comment on
the proposed harvest specifications and,
after consultation with the Council,
publish final harvest specifications in
the Federal Register. The proposed
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for
the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were
published in the Federal Register on
December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815).
Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2019. NMFS received
no comments on the proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS consulted with
the Council on the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications during the
December 2018 Council meeting in
Anchorage, AK. After considering
public comments, as well as biological
and socioeconomic data that were
available at the Council’s December
meeting, in this final rule NMFS
implements the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications as recommended
by the Council.
ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC amounts 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
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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 2018, the Council, its
Scientific and Statistical Committee
(SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP)
reviewed current biological and harvest
information about the condition of the
BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council’s
BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan
Team) compiled and presented this
information in the 2018 SAFE report for
the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated
November 2018 (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 of the comment period for these
harvest specifications—and of the
publication of the 2018 SAFE report—
in the notice of proposed harvest
specifications. From the data and
analyses in the SAFE report, the Plan
Team recommended an OFL and ABC
for each species or species group at the
November 2018 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2018, 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 all 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 2019 or 2020 TACs
exceed the final 2019 or 2020 ABCs for
any species or species group. NMFS
finds that the Council’s recommended
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent
with the preferred harvest strategy and
the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2018 SAFE
report that was approved by the
Council. Therefore, this final rule
provides notice that the Secretary of
Commerce approves the final 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council.
The 2019 harvest specifications set in
this final action will supersede the 2019
harvest specifications previously set in
the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications (83 FR 8365, February 27,
2018). The 2020 harvest specifications
herein will be superseded in early 2020
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when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications are published. Pursuant
to this final action, the 2019 harvest
specifications therefore will apply for
the remainder of the current year (2019),
while the 2020 harvest specifications
are projected only for the following year
(2020) and will be superseded in early
2020 by the final 2020 and 2021 harvest
specifications. Because this final action
(published in early 2019) will be
superseded in early 2020 by the
publication of the final 2020 and 2021
harvest specifications, it is projected
that this final action will implement the
harvest specifications for the BSAI for
approximately one year.
Other Actions Affecting the 2019 and
2020 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 117: Reclassify Squid as an
Ecosystem Species
As described in the proposed harvest
specifications, NMFS published the
final rule to implement Amendment 117
to the FMP (83 FR 31460, July 6, 2018).
This rule reclassified squid in the FMP
as an ‘‘Ecosystem Component’’ species,
which is a category of non-target species
that are not in need of conservation and
management. NMFS will no longer set
an OFL, ABC, and TAC for squid.
Therefore, the final 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications for the BSAI do
not include an OFL, ABC, and TAC for
squid. Amendment 117 prohibits
directed fishing for squid, while
maintaining recordkeeping and
reporting requirements for squid.
Amendment 117 also establishes a squid
maximum retainable amount when
directed fishing for groundfish species
at 20 percent to discourage targeting
squid species.
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Rulemaking To Prohibit Directed
Fishing for American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Sideboard Limits
On February 8, 2019, NMFS
published a final rule (84 FR 2723,
February 8, 2019) that modifies
regulations for the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) Program participants subject
to limits on the catch of specific species
(sideboard limits) in the BSAI.
Sideboard limits are intended to prevent
AFA Program participants who benefit
from receiving exclusive harvesting
privileges in a particular fishery from
shifting effort to other fisheries.
Specifically, the final rule primarily
establishes regulations to prohibit
directed fishing for sideboard limits for
specific groundfish species or species
groups, rather than prohibiting directed
fishing for AFA sideboard limits
through the BSAI annual harvest
specifications. Currently, NMFS
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calculates numerous AFA Program
sideboard limits as part of the annual
BSAI groundfish harvest specifications
process and publishes these sideboard
limits in the Federal Register.
Concurrently, NMFS prohibits directed
fishing for the majority of the
groundfish sideboard limits because
most limits are too small to support
directed fishing. Rather than continue
this annual process, the final rule
revises regulations to prohibit directed
fishing in regulation for most AFA
Program groundfish sideboard limits.
Once the final rule is effective (effective
March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer
publish in the annual BSAI harvest
specifications the AFA Program
sideboard limit amounts for groundfish
species subject to the final rule
(contained in Tables 20 and 22 of this
action), and those groundfish species
subject to the final rule will be
prohibited to directed fishing in
regulation (84 FR 2723).
State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels
For 2019 and 2020, the Board of
Fisheries (BOF) for the State of Alaska
(State) established the guideline harvest
level (GHL) for vessels using pot gear in
State waters in the Bering Sea subarea
(BS) equal to 8 percent of the Pacific cod
ABC in the BS. Also, for 2019 and 2020,
the BOF established an additional GHL
for vessels using jig gear in State waters
in the BS equal to 45 mt of Pacific cod
in the BS. The Council and its Plan
Team, SSC, and AP recommended that
the sum of all State and Federal water
Pacific cod removals from the BS not
exceed the ABC recommendations for
Pacific cod in the BS. Accordingly, the
Council recommended and NMFS
approves that the 2019 and 2020 Pacific
cod TACs in the BS account for the
State’s GHLs for Pacific cod caught in
State waters in the BS. Also, the BOF
approved a one percent annual increase
in the BS GHL for vessels using pot gear,
up to 15 percent of the BS ABC, if 90
percent of the GHL is harvested by
November 15 of the preceding year. If 90
percent of the 2019 BS GHL is not
harvested by November 15, 2019, the
2020 GHL will remain at 8 percent. If,
however, 90 percent of the 2019 BS GHL
is harvested by November 15, 2019, the
2020 GHL will increase by 1 percent to
9 percent of the 2020 BS ABC, and the
2020 BS TAC will be set to account for
the increased BS GHL.
For 2019 and 2020, the BOF
established a GHL in State waters in the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) equal to
31 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the
AI. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC,
and AP recommended that the sum of
all State and Federal water Pacific cod
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removals from the AI not exceed the
ABC recommendations for Pacific cod
in the AI. Accordingly, the Council
recommended and NMFS approves that
the 2019 and 2020 Pacific cod TACs in
the AI account for the State’s GHL for
Pacific cod caught in State waters in the
AI.
Changes from the Proposed 2019 and
2020 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
The Council’s recommendations for
the proposed 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications (83 FR 62815, December
6, 2018) were based largely on
information contained in the 2017 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 2018 SAFE
report; recommendations from the Plan
Team, SSC, and AP committees; and
public comments when making its
recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December 2018
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 2018
SAFE report indicates biomass changes
from the 2017 SAFE report for several
groundfish species. The 2018 report was
made available for public review during
the public comment period for the
proposed harvest specifications. At the
December 2018 Council meeting, the
SSC recommended the 2019 and 2020
ABCs based on the best and most recent
information contained in the 2018 SAFE
report. This recommendation resulted in
an ABC sum total for all BSAI
groundfish species in excess of 2.0
million mt for both 2019 and 2020.
Based on increased fishing effort in
2018, the Council recommends final BS
pollock TACs increase by 12,800 mt in
2019 and 35,800 mt in 2020 compared
to the proposed 2019 and 2020 BS
pollock TACs. In terms of percentage,
the largest increases in final 2019 and
2020 TACs relative to the proposed
2019 and 2020 TACs include BSAI
shortraker rockfish and octopuses. The
increases account for anticipated higher
incidental catches of these species,
based on increased incidental catches in
2018. Other increases in the final 2019
TACs relative to the proposed 2019
TACs include Bering Sea Pacific cod,
Alaska plaice, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Pacific
ocean perch, Central Aleutian and
Western Aleutian (CAI/WAI)
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and
Western Aleutian Islands (WAI) Atka
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mackerel. The 2019 increases account
for higher interest in directed fishing or
higher anticipated incidental catch
needs.
Decreases in final 2019 TACs
compared to the proposed 2019 TACs
include Bogoslof pollock, Aleutian
Islands (AI) Pacific cod, BS sablefish, AI
sablefish, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth
flounder, rock sole, flathead sole, AI
‘‘other rockfish,’’ Eastern Aleutian
Islands and Bering Sea (EAI/BS) Atka
mackerel, Central Aleutian Islands (CAI)
Atka mackerel, skates, and sharks. The
decreases for AI Pacific cod, EAI/BS and
CAI Atka mackerel, BS sablefish, AI
sablefish, and ‘‘other rockfish’’ are to
account for ABC constraints. The
remaining decreases are for anticipated
lower incidental catch needs of these
species relative to 2018.
The changes to TACs 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, including the
upper limit for OY of 2.0 million mt.
These changes are compared in Table
1A.
Table 1 lists the Council’s
recommended final 2019 OFL, ABC,
9003
TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ
reserve allocations of the BSAI
groundfish species or species groups;
and Table 2 lists the Council’s
recommended final 2020 OFL, ABC,
TAC, ITAC, and CDQ reserve allocations
of the BSAI groundfish species or
species groups. NMFS concurs in these
recommendations. These final 2019 and
2020 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 2019 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]
2019
Species
Area
CDQ 3
ABC
TAC
Skates ......................................................
Sculpins ...................................................
Sharks ......................................................
Octopuses ................................................
BS ..................
AI ...................
Bogoslof .........
BS ..................
AI ...................
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
EAI .................
CAI .................
WAI ................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS/EAI ...........
CAI/WAI .........
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
BS/EAI ...........
CAI .................
WAI ................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
3,914,000
64,240
183,080
216,000
27,400
3,221
4,350
290,000
11,362
n/a
n/a
82,939
10,965
122,000
80,918
39,880
21,824
61,067
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
15,507
676
n/a
n/a
722
1,793
n/a
n/a
79,200
n/a
n/a
n/a
51,152
53,201
689
4,769
2,163,000
52,887
137,310
181,000
20,600
1,489
2,008
263,200
9,658
8,431
1,227
70,673
9,260
118,900
66,625
33,600
16,368
50,594
14,675
11,459
8,435
16,025
12,664
555
351
204
541
1,344
956
388
68,500
23,970
14,390
30,140
42,714
39,995
517
3,576
1,397,000
19,000
75
166,475
14,214
1,489
2,008
154,000
5,294
5,125
169
8,000
5,000
47,100
14,500
18,000
6,500
44,069
14,675
11,009
8,385
10,000
6,500
279
75
204
358
663
275
388
57,951
23,970
14,390
19,591
26,000
5,000
125
400
1,257,300
17,100
75
148,662
12,693
1,228
1,632
137,522
4,500
4,356
144
6,800
4,250
42,060
12,949
15,300
5,525
38,723
12,474
9,831
7,488
8,930
5,525
237
64
173
304
564
234
330
51,750
21,405
12,850
17,495
22,100
4,250
106
340
139,700
1,900
........................
17,813
1,521
205
339
16,478
n/a
548
........................
856
........................
5,040
1,552
........................
........................
n/a
........................
1,178
897
1,070
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
6,201
2,565
1,540
2,096
........................
........................
........................
........................
Total ..................................................
........................
5,340,955
3,367,578
2,000,000
1,791,495
195,297
Pollock 4 ...................................................
Pacific cod 5 .............................................
Sablefish ..................................................
Yellowfin sole ...........................................
Greenland turbot ......................................
Arrowtooth flounder .................................
Kamchatka flounder .................................
Rock sole 6 ...............................................
Flathead sole 7 .........................................
Alaska plaice ...........................................
Other flatfish 8 ..........................................
Pacific ocean perch .................................
Northern rockfish .....................................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 9 ...........
Shortraker rockfish ...................................
Other rockfish 10 .......................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
ITAC 2
OFL
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 subarea (BS) 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 (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified
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 4).
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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, blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish, ‘‘other rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 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), the annual AI 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 set to account for the 8 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline harvest
level in State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in
State waters of the AI.
6 ‘‘Rock sole’’ includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
7 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
8 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
9 ‘‘Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
*Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, 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 2019 AND 2020 WITH PROPOSED 2019 AND 2020 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE
BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2019 Difference from
proposed
2019 Percentage difference
from proposed
1,384,200
19,000
500
156,355
14,835
2,061
2,798
156,000
5,125
169
14,000
5,000
49,100
16,500
16,252
4,000
11,499
9,715
7,549
9,117
6,500
75
12,800
........................
(425)
10,120
(621)
(572)
(790)
(2,000)
........................
........................
(6,000)
........................
(2,000)
(2,000)
1,748
2,500
3,176
1,294
836
883
........................
........................
0.9
........................
(85.0)
6.5
(4.2)
(27.8)
(28.2)
(1.3)
........................
........................
(42.9)
........................
(4.1)
(12.1)
10.8
62.5
27.6
13.3
11.1
9.7
........................
........................
1,420,000
19,000
75
124,625
14,214
1,994
2,688
166,425
5,125
169
8,000
5,000
57,100
14,500
18,000
6,500
14,274
11,146
8,205
10,000
6,500
75
204
358
275
388
23,970
14,390
19,591
26,000
5,000
125
400
150
150
275
570
33,780
24,895
13,825
27,000
5,000
180
200
54
208
........................
(182)
(9,810)
(10,505)
5,766
(1,000)
........................
(55)
200
36.0
138.7
........................
(31.9)
(29.0)
(42.2)
41.7
(3.7)
........................
(30.6)
100.0
2,000,000
1,996,375
3,625
0.2
2019 Final
TAC
Species
Area 1
Pollock ......................
BS ..............
AI ................
Bogoslof .....
BS ..............
AI ................
BS ..............
AI ................
BSAI ...........
BS ..............
AI ................
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BS ..............
EAI .............
CAI .............
WAI ............
BSAI ...........
BS/EAI ........
1,397,000
19,000
75
166,475
14,214
1,489
2,008
154,000
5,125
169
8,000
5,000
47,100
14,500
18,000
6,500
14,675
11,009
8,385
10,000
6,500
75
Skates .......................
Sculpins ....................
Sharks .......................
Octopuses .................
CAI/WAI .....
BSAI ...........
BS ..............
AI ................
EAI/BS ........
CAI .............
WAI ............
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
BSAI ...........
Total ...................
BSAI ...........
Pacific cod ................
Sablefish ...................
Yellowfin sole ............
Greenland turbot .......
Arrowtooth flounder ..
Kamchatka flounder ..
Rock sole ..................
Flathead sole ............
Alaska plaice ............
Other flatfish .............
Pacific ocean perch ..
Northern rockfish ......
Blackspotted and
Rougheye rockfish.
Shortraker rockfish ...
Other rockfish ...........
Atka mackerel ...........
2019 Proposed TAC
2020 Difference from
proposed
2020 Percentage difference
from proposed
1,384,200
19,000
500
156,355
14,835
2,061
2,798
156,000
5,125
169
14,000
5,000
49,100
16,500
16,252
4,000
11,499
9,715
7,549
9,117
6,500
75
35,800
........................
(425)
(31,730)
(621)
(67)
(110)
10,425
........................
........................
(6,000)
........................
8,000
(2,000)
1,748
2,500
2,775
1,431
656
883
........................
........................
2.6
........................
(85.0)
(20.3)
(4.2)
(3.3)
(3.9)
6.7
........................
........................
(42.9)
........................
16.3
(12.1)
10.8
62.5
24.1
14.7
8.7
9.7
........................
........................
204
358
275
388
22,190
13,310
18,135
26,000
5,000
125
400
150
150
275
....................
33,780
24,895
13,825
27,000
5,000
180
200
54
208
........................
(182)
(11,590)
(11,585)
4,310
(1,000)
........................
(55)
200
36.0
138.7
........................
(31.9)
(34.3)
(46.5)
31.2
(3.7)
........................
(30.6)
100.0
2,000,000
1,996,375
3,625
0.2
2020 Final
TAC
2020 Proposed TAC
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 2020 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH
(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020
Species
Area
Pollock 4 ...................................................
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BS ..................
AI ...................
Bogoslof .........
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ITAC 2
OFL
ABC
TAC
3,082,000
66,981
183,080
1,792,000
55,125
137,310
1,420,000
19,000
75
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1,278,000
17,100
75
CDQ 3
142,000
1,900
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9005
TABLE 2—FINAL 2020 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]
2020
Species
Area
OFL
Pacific cod 5 .............................................
ABC
ITAC 2
TAC
Skates ......................................................
Sculpins ...................................................
Sharks ......................................................
Octopuses ................................................
BS ..................
AI ...................
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
EAI .................
CAI .................
WAI ................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS/EAI ...........
CAI/WAI .........
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BS ..................
AI ...................
BSAI ...............
EAI/BS ...........
CAI .................
WAI ................
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
BSAI ...............
183,000
27,400
4,441
5,997
284,000
10,476
n/a
n/a
83,814
11,260
147,500
83,190
37,860
21,824
59,396
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
15,180
868
n/a
n/a
722
1,793
n/a
n/a
73,400
n/a
n/a
n/a
48,944
53,201
689
4,769
137,000
20,600
1,994
2,688
257,800
8,908
7,777
1,131
71,411
9,509
143,700
68,448
31,900
16,368
49,211
14,274
11,146
8,205
15,586
12,396
715
448
267
541
1,344
956
388
63,400
22,190
13,310
27,900
40,813
39,995
517
3,576
124,625
14,214
1,994
2,688
166,425
5,294
5,125
169
8,000
5,000
57,100
14,500
18,000
6,500
43,625
14,274
11,146
8,205
10,000
6,500
279
75
204
358
663
275
388
53,635
22,190
13,310
18,135
26,000
5,000
125
400
111,290
12,693
847
571
148,618
4,500
4,356
144
6,800
4,250
50,990
12,949
15,300
5,525
38,343
12,133
9,953
7,327
8,930
5,525
237
64
173
304
564
234
330
47,896
19,816
11,886
16,195
22,100
4,250
106
340
13,335
1,521
75
50
17,807
n/a
548
........................
856
........................
6,110
1,552
........................
........................
n/a
........................
1,193
878
1,070
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5,739
2,374
1,424
1,940
........................
........................
........................
........................
Total ..................................................
........................
4,491,785
2,967,269
2,000,000
1,789,174
194,634
Sablefish ..................................................
Yellowfin sole ...........................................
Greenland turbot ......................................
Arrowtooth flounder .................................
Kamchatka flounder .................................
Rock sole 6 ...............................................
Flathead sole 7 .........................................
Alaska plaice ...........................................
Other flatfish 8 ..........................................
Pacific ocean perch .................................
Northern rockfish .....................................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish 9 ...........
Shortraker rockfish ...................................
Other rockfish 10 .......................................
Atka mackerel ..........................................
1 These
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
CDQ 3
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 subarea (BS) 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 (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified 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 4).
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, blackspotted/rougheye
rockfish, ‘‘other rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 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), the annual AI 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 Assuming an increase in the 2020 guideline harvest level based on the actual 2019 harvest, the 2020 BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account
for the 9 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS. The 2020 AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI.
6 ‘‘Rock sole’’ includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
7 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
8 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
9 ‘‘Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district).
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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 that
NMFS reserves 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 hookand-line or pot gear allocation of
sablefish for the fixed-gear sablefish
CDQ reserve for each subarea. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS
allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl gear
allocations of sablefish in the BS and AI
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 TACs for Atka mackerel,
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch,
yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole,
and Pacific cod to the respective CDQ
reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and
679.31(a) also require that 10 percent of
the Bering Sea pollock TAC be allocated
to the pollock CDQ directed fishing
allowance (DFA). Sections
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and 679.31(a)
require that 10 percent of the Aleutian
Islands pollock TAC be allocated to the
pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof
District pollock TAC is allocated as an
ICA pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(ii)
because the Bogoslof District is closed to
directed fishing for pollock by
regulation (§ 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B)). With the
exception of the hook-and-line or 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 3.7
percent of the BS pollock TAC after
subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA.
This allowance is based on NMFS’s
examination of the pollock incidental
catch, including the incidental catch by
CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other
than pollock from 2000 through 2018.
During this 19-year period, the pollock
incidental catch ranged from a low of
2.2 percent in 2006 to a high of 4.6
percent in 2014, with a 19-year average
of 3 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 pollock TAC after subtracting the
10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is
based on NMFS’s examination of the
pollock incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from
2003 through 2018. During this 16-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
16-year average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10),
NMFS allocates ICAs of 3,000 mt of
flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole,
4,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of WAI
Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of CAI
Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of EAI
Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka
mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel,
and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka
mackerel TAC after subtracting the 10.7
percent CDQ reserve. These ICA
allowances are based on NMFS’s
examination of the incidental catch in
other target fisheries from 2003 through
2018.
The regulations do not designate the
remainder of the non-specified reserve
by species or species group. Any
amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that
contributed to the non-specified
reserves during the year, provided that
such apportionments are consistent
with § 679.20(a)(3) and 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
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
Table 3 from the non-specified reserve
to increase the ITAC for AI ‘‘other
rockfish’’ by 15 percent of the ‘‘other
rockfish’’ TAC in 2019 and 2020.
TABLE 3—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 APPORTIONMENT OF NON–SPECIFIED RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Species-area or subarea
2019 ITAC
2019 Reserve
amount
2019 Final
ITAC
2020 ITAC
2020 Reserve
amount
2020 Final
ITAC
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea ..
330
58
388
330
58
388
Total ..................................................
330
58
388
330
58
388
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the
American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that
the BS pollock TAC be apportioned as
a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for
the CDQ program and 3.7 percent for the
ICA, 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, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated
to the A season (January 20–June 10),
and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated
to the B season (June 10–November 1)
(§§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(1) and
679.23(e)(2)). The Aleutian Islands
directed pollock fishery allocation to the
Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock TAC remaining in the AI after
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16:11 Mar 12, 2019
Jkt 247001
subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA
(10 percent) and 2,400 mt for the ICA
(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)). In the AI, the
total A season apportionment of the
TAC (including the AI directed fishery
allocation, the CDQ seasonal allowance,
and the ICA) may equal up to 40 percent
of the ABC for AI pollock, and the
remainder of the TAC is allocated to the
B season (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(3)).
Tables 4 and 5 list these 2019 and 2020
amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets
harvest limits for pollock in the A
season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas
543, 542, and 541. In Area 543, the A
season pollock harvest limit is no more
than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands
pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A season
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pollock harvest limit is no more than 15
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock
ABC. In Area 541, the A season pollock
harvest limit is no more than 30 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also
includes several specific requirements
regarding BS 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
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to
the C/P sector. Tables 4 and 5 list the
2019 and 2020 allocations of pollock
TAC. Tables 20 through 25 list the AFA
C/P and CV harvesting sideboard limits.
The tables for the pollock allocations to
the BS inshore pollock cooperatives and
open access sector will be posted on the
Alaska Region website at https://alaska
fisheries.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 of
pollock within the SCA, as defined at
§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more
9007
than 28 percent of the annual pollock
DFA before 12 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 2019
and 2020 amounts by sector.
TABLE 4—FINAL 2019 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2019 A season 1
2019
Allocations
Area and sector
TAC 1
Bering Sea subarea
..............................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .....................................................................
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 ...........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................
Area harvest limit 7 ...........................................................................................
541 ............................................................................................................
542 ............................................................................................................
543 ............................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................
1,397,000
139,700
46,520
1,210,780
605,390
484,312
443,145
41,167
2,422
121,078
211,886
363,234
52,887
19,000
1,900
2,400
14,700
n/a
15,866
7,933
2,644
75
A season DFA
n/a
62,865
n/a
544,851
272,425
217,940
199,415
18,525
1,090
54,485
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,900
1,200
14,700
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
39,116
n/a
339,018
169,509
135,607
n/a
n/a
n/a
33,902
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2019 B
season 1
B season DFA
n/a
76,835
n/a
665,929
332,964
266,372
243,730
22,642
1,332
66,593
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,200
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.7 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 Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ
DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands
subarea, the A season is allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the
SCA before noon, April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
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 of no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch
only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 5—FINAL 2020 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020 A season 1
2020
Allocations
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Area and sector
Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 ..............................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA 1 .................................................................................................................
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA .....................................................................
AFA Inshore .....................................................................................................
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1,420,000
142,000
47,286
1,230,714
615,357
A season DFA
n/a
63,900
n/a
553,821
276,911
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
13MRR1
SCA harvest
limit 2
n/a
39,760
n/a
344,600
172,300
2020 B
season 1
B season DFA
n/a
78,100
n/a
676,893
338,446
9008
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 5—FINAL 2020 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ
DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020 A season 1
2020
Allocations
Area and sector
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 ...........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC .........................................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 .......................................................................
CDQ DFA .........................................................................................................
ICA ...................................................................................................................
Aleut Corporation .............................................................................................
Area harvest limit 7 541 ....................................................................................
542 ...................................................................................................................
543 ...................................................................................................................
Bogoslof District ICA 8 ......................................................................................
A season DFA
492,286
450,441
41,844
2,461
123,071
215,375
369,214
30,803
19,000
1,900
2,400
14,700
9,241
4,620
1,540
500
221,529
202,699
18,830
1,108
55,382
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
760
1,200
10,361
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
SCA harvest
limit 2
137,840
n/a
n/a
n/a
34,460
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
2020 B
season 1
B season DFA
270,757
247,743
23,014
1,354
67,689
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1,140
1,200
4,339
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.7 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 Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ
DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands
subarea, the A season is allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
2 In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the
SCA before noon, April 1.
3 Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
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 of no more than 30 percent, in
Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
8 Pursuant to § 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch
only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
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, ICAs
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector
and non-trawl gear sector, and the jig
gear allocation (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 50 CFR part 679
and in § 679.91. Pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the
EAI and the BS 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,
among other criteria, 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
to the jig gear sector in 2019 and 2020.
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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 trawl
fishing. The ICAs and jig gear
allocations are not apportioned by
season.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii)
limits Atka mackerel catch within
waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion
sites listed in Table 6 to 50 CFR part 679
and located west of 178° W longitude to
no more than 60 percent of the annual
TACs in Areas 542 and 543, and equally
divides the annual TACs 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
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Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
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 50 CFR part 679 and located in
Areas 541, 542, and 543.
Tables 6 and 7 list these 2019 and
2020 Atka mackerel seasonal and area
allowances, and the sector allocations.
One Amendment 80 cooperative has
formed for the 2019 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are
part of the sole Amendment 80
cooperative, no allocation to the
Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2019. The 2020 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, 2019.
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
13MRR1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
9009
TABLE 6—FINAL 2019 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2019 Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC ........................................................
CDQ reserve ..........................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
Non-CDQ TAC .......................................
ICA .........................................................
Jig 7 ........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ......................
Amendment 80 sector ............................
Eastern Aleutian
district/Bering Sea
Central Aleutian
District 5
23,970
2,565
1,282
n/a
1,282
n/a
21,405
800
103
2,050
1,025
n/a
1,025
n/a
18,452
9,226
n/a
9,226
n/a
Western Aleutian
District
14,390
1,540
770
462
770
462
12,850
75
19,591
2,096
1,048
629
1,048
629
17,495
20
1,278
639
383
639
383
11,498
5,749
3,449
5,749
3,449
17,475
8,737
5,242
8,737
5,242
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 50 CFR 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 Steller sea
lion critical habitat; section 679.20(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 section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
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 the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2019 at 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 2020 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]
2020 Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
TAC ........................................................
CDQ reserve ..........................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
n/a .........................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
Total ......................................................
A ............................................................
Critical Habitat .......................................
B ............................................................
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non-CDQ TAC ........................................
ICA .........................................................
Jig 7 ........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ......................
Amendment 80 sectors 7 ........................
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Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering
Sea 5
Sfmt 4700
22,190
2,374
1,187
n/a
1,187
n/a
19,816
800
95
1,892
946
n/a
946
n/a
17,029
8,514
n/a
8,514
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
Central Aleutian
District 5
Western Aleutian
District 5
13,310
1,424
712
427
712
427
11,886
75
..............................
1,181
591
354
591
354
10,630
5,315
3,189
5,315
18,135
1,940
970
582
970
582
16,195
20
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
..............................
16,175
8,087
4,852
8,087
13MRR1
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TABLE 7—FINAL 2020 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH
ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020 Allocation by area
Sector 1
Season 2 3 4
Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering
Sea 5
Critical Habitat .......................................
Central Aleutian
District 5
n/a
3,189
Western Aleutian
District 5
4,852
1 Section
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
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 50 CFR 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 Steller sea
lion critical habitat; section 679.20(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 section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
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 the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of this allocation for 2020 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
7 The 2020 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, 2019.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands 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 Bering Sea TAC and the Aleutian
Islands TAC to the CDQ program. After
CDQ allocations have been deducted
from the respective Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod TACs, the
remaining Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Pacific cod TACs are combined
for calculating further BSAI Pacific cod
sector allocations. If the non-CDQ
Pacific cod TAC is or will be reached in
either the Bering Sea or the Aleutian
Islands subareas, NMFS will prohibit
non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod
in that subarea as provided in
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii)
allocates to the non-CDQ sectors 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 or 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/Ps; 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 Amendment 80 sector;
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
2019 and 2020, the Regional
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Administrator establishes an ICA of 400
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 50 CFR part 679 and
§ 679.91. One Amendment 80
cooperative has formed for the 2019
fishing year. Because all Amendment 80
vessels are part of the sole Amendment
80 cooperative, no allocation to the
Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2019. The 2020 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, 2019.
The sector allocations of Pacific cod
are apportioned into seasonal
allowances to disperse the Pacific cod
fisheries over the fishing year (see
§§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A),
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 for any sector, except the jig
sector, will become available at the
beginning of that sector’s next seasonal
allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that
the Regional Administrator establish an
Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based
on Pacific cod abundance in Area 543.
Based on the 2018 stock assessment, the
Regional Administrator determined the
Pacific cod abundance in Area 543 to be
15.7 percent for 2019 and 2020. NMFS
will first subtract the State GHL Pacific
cod amount from the Aleutian Islands
Pacific cod ABC. Then NMFS will
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determine the harvest limit in Area 543
by multiplying the percentage of Pacific
cod estimated in Area 543 by the
remaining ABC for Aleutian Islands
Pacific cod. Based on these calculations,
the Area 543 harvest limit is 2,232 mt
for 2019 and 2020.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(viii) requires
specification of annual Pacific cod
allocations for the Aleutian Islands nonCDQ ICA, non-CDQ DFA, CV Harvest
Set-Aside, and Unrestricted Fishery, as
well as the Bering Sea Trawl CV ASeason Sector Limitation. The CV
Harvest Set-Aside is a portion of the AI
Pacific cod TAC that is available for
harvest by catcher vessels directed
fishing for AI Pacific cod and delivering
their catch for processing to an AI
shoreplant. If NMFS receives
notification of intent to process AI
Pacific cod from either the City of Adak
or the City of Atka by October 31 of the
previous year, the harvest limits in
Tables 9a or 9b will be in effect in the
following year.
Prior to October 31, 2018, NMFS
received timely and complete notice
from the City of Adak indicating an
intent to process AI Pacific cod in 2019.
Accordingly, the harvest limits in Table
9a will be in effect in 2019, subject to
the requirements outlined in
§ 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E). If less than 1,000
mt of the Aleutian Islands CV Harvest
Set-Aside is delivered at Aleutian
Islands shoreplants by February 28,
2019, then the Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside is lifted and the
Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector
Limitation is suspended. If the entire
Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside
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is fully harvested and delivered to
Aleutian Islands shoreplants before
March 15, 2019, then the Bering Sea
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation
will be suspended for the remainder of
the fishing year.
If NMFS receives notice of intent to
process AI Pacific cod from either the
City of Adak or the City of Atka prior
to October 31, 2019, for the 2020 fishing
year, Table 9b will be in effect in 2020,
subject to the requirements outlined in
§ 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E).
The CDQ and non-CDQ seasonal
allowances by gear based on the 2019
and 2020 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
(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasons set forth at
§ 679.23(e)(5).
TABLE 8—FINAL 2019 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2019 Share of
gear sector
total
2019 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
166,475
17,813
148,662
14,214
1,521
12,693
2,232
161,355
98,104
400
97,704
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
78,260
........................
321
n/a
see
n/a
n/a
see
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
see
n/a
Jan
Jun
Jan
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ....................
....................................................
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ....................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ...................
....................................................
1–Jun 10 ...................................
10–Dec 31 .................................
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
39,912
38,347
164
........................
1.5
........................
8.4
........................
2.0
........................
n/a
........................
n/a
........................
n/a
........................
2,410
........................
13,499
........................
3,214
Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................
n/a ....................................................
157
1,229
1,181
6,884
6,614
n/a
22.1
........................
........................
2.3
........................
........................
13.4
........................
........................
1.4
........................
........................
35,660
........................
........................
3,711
........................
........................
21,622
........................
........................
2,259
........................
........................
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–Nov 1 ...................................
Jan 1–Apr 30 ....................................
Apr 30–Aug 31 .................................
Aug 31–Dec 31 ................................
26,388
3,923
5,349
2,783
928
........................
16,216
5,405
........................
1,355
452
452
Gear sector
Percent
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 .........................
AFA trawl catcher/processor .............
Amendment 80 ..................................
Jig ......................................................
2019 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 will 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 400 mt for 2019 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 9—FINAL 2020 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Gear sector
Percent
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 ...............
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2020 Share of
gear sector
total
2020 Share of
sector total
124,625
13,335
111,290
14,214
1,521
12,693
2,232
123,983
75,382
400
74,982
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
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
60.8
n/a
n/a
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2020 Seasonal apportionment
Seasons
n/a
see
n/a
n/a
see
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
see
n/a
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ....................
....................................................
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) ....................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
§ 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ...................
....................................................
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
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Amount
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
9012
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 9—FINAL 2020 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
2020 Share of
gear sector
total
2020 Share of
sector total
48.7
........................
0.2
n/a
........................
n/a
60,059
........................
247
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
30,630
29,429
126
........................
1.5
........................
8.4
........................
2.0
........................
n/a
........................
n/a
........................
n/a
........................
1,850
........................
10,359
........................
2,467
Jun 10–Dec 31 .................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................
Jan 1–Jun 10 ...................................
Sept 1–Dec 31 .................................
n/a ....................................................
121
943
906
5,283
5,076
n/a
22.1
........................
........................
2.3
........................
........................
13.4
........................
........................
1.4
........................
........................
27,400
........................
........................
2,852
........................
........................
16,614
........................
........................
1,736
........................
........................
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 ................................
20,276
3,014
4,110
2,139
713
........................
12,460
4,153
........................
1,041
347
347
Gear sector
Percent
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 .........................
AFA trawl catcher/processor .............
Amendment 80 ..................................
Jig ......................................................
2020 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 will 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 400 mt for 2020 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 9a—2019 BSAI A-SEASON PACIFIC COD ALLOCATIONS AND LIMITS IF REQUIREMENTS IN § 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) ARE
MET
2019 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside
Amount (mt)
AI non-CDQ TAC .................................................................................................................................................................................
AI ICA ..................................................................................................................................................................................................
AI DFA .................................................................................................................................................................................................
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................
AI Unrestricted Fishery 2 ......................................................................................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation ...................................................................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector Limitation 3 ..........................................................................................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation ...........................................................................................................................................
12,693
2,500
10,193
5,000
5,193
26,388
21,388
5,000
1 Prior to March 15, 2019, only catcher vessels that deliver their catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed fish for
that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI CV Harvest Set–Aside, unless lifted because the requirements pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
2 Prior to March 15, 2019, vessels otherwise authorized to directed fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI Unrestricted Fishery.
3 This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2019, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
TABLE 9b—2020 BSAI A-SEASON PACIFIC COD ALLOCATIONS AND LIMITS IF REQUIREMENTS IN § 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) ARE
MET
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
2020 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside
Amount (mt)
AI non-CDQ TAC .................................................................................................................................................................................
AI ICA ..................................................................................................................................................................................................
AI DFA .................................................................................................................................................................................................
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................
AI Unrestricted Fishery 2 ......................................................................................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation ...................................................................................................................................................
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector Limitation 3 ..........................................................................................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation ...........................................................................................................................................
12,693
2,500
10,193
5,000
5,193
20,493
15,493
5,000
1 Prior to March 15, 2020, only catcher vessels that deliver their catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed fish for
that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI CV Harvest Set–Aside, unless lifted because the requirements pursuant to § 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
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9013
2 Prior to March 15, 2020, vessels otherwise authorized to directed fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non–CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI Unrestricted Fishery.
3 This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2020, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to
§ 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Section 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)
require allocation of the sablefish TAC
for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
subareas between trawl gear and hookand-line or pot gear sectors. Gear
allocations of the TAC for the BS are 50
percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear
allocations of the TAC for the AI are 25
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
apportions 20 percent of the hook-andline or pot gear allocation of sablefish to
the CDQ reserve for each subarea. Also,
§ 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 or pot gear
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries are limited to the 2019 fishing
year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut
IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and
halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and
sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries 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 2019 and 2020 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and
CDQ reserve amounts.
TABLE 10—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Subarea and gear
Percent of
TAC
Bering Sea
Trawl 1 ...................
Hook-and-line/pot
gear 2 .................
Total ......................
Aleutian Islands
Trawl 1 ...................
Hook-and-line/pot
gear 2 .................
Total ......................
2019 Share of
TAC
2019 CDQ
reserve
2019 ITAC
2020 Share of
TAC
2020 ITAC
2020 CDQ
reserve
50
745
633
56
997
847
75
50
100
745
1,489
596
1,228
149
205
n/a
997
n/a
847
n/a
75
25
502
427
38
672
571
50
75
100
1,506
2,008
1,205
1,632
301
339
n/a
672
n/a
571
n/a
50
1 Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specific reserve
(§ 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after 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 (§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). 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 Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead
Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
TACs
Section 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii)
require that NMFS allocate Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole ITACs between the Amendment 80
sector and the BSAI trawl limited access
sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for
the CDQ reserves and ICAs for the BSAI
trawl limited access sector and vessels
using non-trawl gear. The allocation of
the ITACs for Aleutian Islands Pacific
ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the
Amendment 80 sector are established in
accordance with Tables 33 and 34 to 50
CFR part 679 and § 679.91.
One Amendment 80 cooperative has
formed for the 2019 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are
part of the sole Amendment 80
cooperative, no allocation to the
Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2019. The 2020 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, 2019.
Tables 11 and 12 list the 2019 and 2020
allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
TABLE 11—FINAL 2019 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
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Pacific ocean perch
Sector
Eastern
Aleutian
District
TAC ..........................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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11,009
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Central
Aleutian
District
Western
Aleutian
District
8,385
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
10,000
Flathead sole
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
14,500
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
13MRR1
47,100
154,000
9014
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 11—FINAL 2019 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
CDQ .........................................................
ICA ...........................................................
BSAI trawl limited access ........................
Amendment 80 .........................................
Central
Aleutian
District
1,178
100
973
8,758
Western
Aleutian
District
897
60
743
6,685
1,070
10
178
8,742
Flathead sole
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
1,552
3,000
........................
9,949
5,040
6,000
........................
36,060
16,478
4,000
18,351
115,171
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 12—FINAL 2020 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 801 .......................................
Central
Aleutian
District
11,146
1,193
100
985
8,868
Western
Aleutian
District
8,205
878
60
727
6,540
10,000
1,070
10
178
8,742
Flathead sole
Rock sole
Yellowfin sole
BSAI
BSAI
BSAI
14,500
1,552
3,000
........................
9,949
57,100
6,110
6,000
........................
44,990
166,425
17,807
4,000
22,789
121,828
1 The 2020 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, 2019.
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
ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole. Section
679.31(b)(4) establishes the annual
allocations of CDQ ABC reserves among
the CDQ groups. 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 2019 and 2020 ABC
surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole.
TABLE 13—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 ABC SURPLUS, ABC RESERVES, 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]
2019
Flathead sole
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Sector
ABC ..........................................................
TAC ..........................................................
ABC surplus .............................................
ABC reserve .............................................
CDQ ABC reserve ...................................
Amendment 80 ABC reserve ...................
66,625
14,500
52,125
52,125
5,577
46,548
2019
Rock sole
2019 Yellowfin
sole
118,900
47,100
71,800
71,800
7,683
64,117
263,200
154,000
109,200
109,200
11,684
97,516
2020 1
Flathead sole
68,448
14,500
53,948
53,948
5,772
48,176
2020 1 Rock
sole
143,700
57,100
86,600
86,600
9,266
77,334
2020 1
Yellowfin sole
257,800
166,425
91,375
91,375
9,777
81,598
1 The 2020 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, 2019.
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PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab,
and Herring
Section 679.21(b), (e), (f), and (g) sets
forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to
§ 679.21(b)(1), the annual BSAI halibut
PSC limits total 3,515 mt. Section
679.21(b)(1) allocates 315 mt of the
halibut PSC limit as the PSQ reserve for
use by the groundfish CDQ program,
1,745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the
Amendment 80 sector, 745 mt of the
halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector, and 710 mt of the
halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl
sector.
Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B)
authorizes apportionment of the BSAI
non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC
allowances among six fishery categories
in Table 17, and § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A)
and (B), (e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv)
requires apportionment of the trawl PSC
limits in Tables 15 and 16 into PSC
allowances among seven fishery
categories.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP,
the Council recommends, and NMFS
agrees, that certain specified non-trawl
fisheries be exempt from the halibut
PSC limit. As in past years, after
consultation with the Council, NMFS
exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery
categories from halibut bycatch
restrictions for the following reasons: (1)
The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates
halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to
be negligible because of the small size
of the fishery and the selectivity of the
gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut
IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch
mortality because the IFQ program
requires that legal-size halibut 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 for that vessel
category and the IFQ regulatory area in
which the vessel is operating
(§ 679.7(f)(11)).
The 2018 total groundfish catch for
the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
28,662 mt, with an associated halibut
bycatch mortality of 20 mt. The 2018 jig
gear fishery harvested about 56 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. As mentioned above,
NMFS estimates a negligible amount of
halibut bycatch mortality because of the
selective nature of jig gear and the low
mortality rate of halibut caught with jig
gear and released.
Under § 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually
allocates portions of either 33,318,
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45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook
salmon PSC limits among the AFA
sectors, depending on past bycatch
performance, on whether Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements (IPAs) are formed, and on
whether NMFS determines it is a low
Chinook salmon abundance year. NMFS
will determine that it is a low Chinook
salmon abundance year when
abundance of Chinook salmon in
western Alaska is less than or equal to
250,000 Chinook salmon. The State of
Alaska provides to NMFS an estimate of
Chinook salmon abundance using the 3System Index for western Alaska based
on the Kuskokwim, Unalakleet, and
Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping.
If an AFA sector participates in an
approved IPA and has not exceeded its
performance standard under
§ 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low
Chinook salmon abundance year, NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 60,000
Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector
as specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no
IPA is approved, or if the sector has
exceeded its performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a
low abundance year, NMFS will allocate
a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon
PSC limit to that sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(C). If an AFA sector
participates in an approved IPA and has
not exceeded its performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance
year, NMFS will allocate a portion of
the 45,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to
that sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is
approved, or if the sector has exceeded
its performance standard under
§ 679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year,
NMFS will allocate a portion of the
33,318 Chinook salmon PSC limit to
that sector as specified in
§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS has determined that 2018 was
a low Chinook salmon abundance year,
based on the State’s estimate that
Chinook salmon abundance in western
Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook
salmon. Therefore, in 2019, the Chinook
salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook
salmon, allocated to each sector as
specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). The
AFA sector Chinook salmon allocations
are also seasonally apportioned with 70
percent of the allocation for the A
season pollock fishery, and 30 percent
of the allocation for the B season
pollock fishery (§§ 679.21(f)(3)(i) and
679.23(e)(2)). In 2019, the Chinook
salmon bycatch performance standard
under § 679.21(f)(6) is 33,318 Chinook
salmon, allocated to each sector as
specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS publishes the approved IPAs,
allocations, and reports at https://alaska
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fisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/
bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700
fish as the 2019 and 2020 Chinook
salmon PSC limit for the AI pollock
fishery. Section 679.21(g)(2)(ii) allocates
7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as
the AI PSQ reserve for the CDQ
Program, and allocates the remaining
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ
fisheries.
Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies
42,000 fish as the 2019 and 2020 nonChinook salmon PSC limit for vessels
using trawl gear from August 15 through
October 14 in the Catcher Vessel
Operational Area (CVOA). Section
679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent,
or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon, in the
CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ
Program, and allocates the remaining
37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the
CVOA to 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 2018 survey data, the red
king crab mature female abundance is
estimated at 13.1 million red king crabs,
and the effective spawning biomass is
estimated at 33,275 million lbs (15,093
mt). Based on the criteria set out at
§ 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2019 and 2020 PSC
limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl
gear is 97,000 animals. This limit
derives from the mature female
abundance estimate of more than 8.4
million mature red king crab and the
effective spawning biomass estimate of
more than 14.5 million lbs (6,577 mt)
but less than 55 million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)
establishes criteria under which NMFS
must specify an annual red king crab
bycatch limit for the Red King Crab
Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The
regulations limit the RKCSS 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 2018, 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 2018 survey data, Tanner
crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is
estimated at 1,238 million animals.
Pursuant to criteria set out at
§ 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2019
and 2020 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for
trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1,
and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. The
limit in Zone 1 is based on the
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abundance of C. bairdi estimated at
1,238 million animals, which is greater
than 400 million animals. The limit in
Zone 2 is based on the abundance of C.
bairdi estimated at 1,238 million
animals, which is greater than 400
million animals.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC
limit for trawl gear for snow crab (C.
opilio) is based on total abundance as
indicated by the NMFS annual bottom
trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC
limit in the C. opilio bycatch limitation
zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent of
the Bering Sea abundance index minus
150,000 crabs. Based on the 2018 survey
estimate of 10.65 billion animals, the
calculated C. opilio crab PSC limit is
11,916,450 animals, which is above the
minimum PSC limit of 4.5 million and
below the maximum PSC limit of 13
million animals.
Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC
limit of Pacific herring caught while
conducting any trawl operation for BSAI
groundfish is 1 percent of the annual
eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The
best estimate of 2019 and 2020 herring
biomass is 254,709 mt. This amount was
developed by the Alaska Department of
Fish and Game based on biomass for
spawning aggregations. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2019 and 2020 is
2,547 mt for all trawl gear as listed in
Tables 14 and 15.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that
PSQ reserves be subtracted from the
total trawl gear crab PSC limits. The
crab and halibut PSC limits apportioned
to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl
limited access sectors are listed in Table
35 to 50 CFR part 679. The resulting
2019 and 2020 allocations of PSC limit
to CDQ PSQ reserves, the Amendment
80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited
access sector are listed in Table 14.
Pursuant to §§ 679.21(b)(1)(i),
679.21(e)(3)(vi), 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
cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC
cooperative quota assigned to
Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories.
In 2019, there are no vessels in the
Amendment 80 limited access sector
and one Amendment 80 cooperative.
The 2020 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, 2019.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires that
NMFS apportion each trawl PSC limit
for crab and herring not assigned to
Amendment 80 cooperatives into PSC
bycatch allowances for seven specified
fishery categories in § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Section 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5)
authorizes NMFS, after consulting with
the Council, to establish seasonal
apportionments of halibut and crab PSC
amounts for the BSAI trawl limited
access and non-trawl 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 relative to prohibited
species distribution, (3) PSC bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relevant to
prohibited species biomass and
expected catches of target groundfish
species, (4) expected variations in
bycatch rates throughout the year, (5)
expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected start of
fishing effort, and (7) economic effects
of establishing seasonal prohibited
species apportionments on segments of
the target groundfish industry. Based on
this criteria, the Council recommended
and NMFS approves the seasonal PSC
apportionments in Tables 16 and 17 to
maximize harvest among gear types,
fisheries, and seasons while minimizing
bycatch of PSC.
TABLE 14—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 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 area 1
Total PSC
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 .......................................
3,515
2,547
97,000
11,916,450
980,000
2,970,000
Non-trawl
PSC
710
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
CDQ PSQ
reserve 2
Trawl PSC
remaining
after CDQ
PSQ
315
n/a
10,379
1,275,060
104,860
317,790
n/a
n/a
86,621
10,641,390
875,140
2,652,210
Amendment
80 sector 3
1,745
n/a
43,293
5,230,243
368,521
627,778
BSAI trawl
limited
access
fishery
745
n/a
26,489
3,420,143
411,228
1,241,500
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of zones.
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 for crab below the total PSC limit. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
2 The
TABLE 15–FINAL 2019 AND 2020 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH
ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS
Herring (mt)
BSAI
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Fishery categories
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 ........................................................................................
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111
54
7
7
13
2,313
42
n/a
Red king crab
(animals)
Zone 1
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
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TABLE 15–FINAL 2019 AND 2020 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH
ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS—Continued
Herring (mt)
BSAI
Fishery categories
Total trawl PSC ................................................................................................................................................
Red king crab
(animals)
Zone 1
2,547
97,000
1 ‘‘Other
flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
2 Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ‘‘other species’’ fishery category.
3 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses.
4 In December 2018, 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.
TABLE 16—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS
SECTOR
Prohibited species and area 1
Halibut
mortality (mt)
BSAI
Red king crab
(animals) Zone
1
C. opilio
(animals)
COBLZ
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 .................................
150
........................
23,338
........................
3,224,126
........................
346,228
........................
1,185,500
........................
........................
4
391
200
........................
........................
2,954
197
........................
5,326
137,426
53,265
........................
........................
60,000
5,000
........................
1,000
49,999
5,000
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC ...........................
745
26,489
3,420,143
411,228
1,241,500
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries
C. bairdi (animals)
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
2 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
3 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
TABLE 17–FINAL 2019 AND 2020 HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR NON–TRAWL FISHERIES
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
Catcher/
processor
Non-trawl fisheries
Seasons
Catcher vessel
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 ........................................................
648
388
162
98
n/a
n/a
n/a
13
9
2
2
n/a
n/a
n/a
661
n/a
n/a
n/a
49
Exempt
Exempt
Total for all non-trawl PSC ................................
n/a ........................................................
n/a
n/a
710
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Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock
Condition
The International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) annually assesses
the abundance and potential yield of the
Pacific halibut stock using all available
data from the commercial and sport
fisheries, other removals, and scientific
surveys. Additional information on the
Pacific halibut stock assessment may be
found in the IPHC’s 2018 Pacific halibut
stock assessment (December 2018),
available on the IPHC website at
www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the
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2018 Pacific halibut stock assessment at
its January 2019 annual meeting when
it set the 2019 commercial halibut
fishery catch limits.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the
Regional Administrator uses observed
halibut incidental catch rates, halibut
discard mortality rates (DMRs), and
estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery’s halibut bycatch
mortality allowance or seasonal
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apportionment is reached. Halibut
incidental catch rates are based on
observers’ estimates of halibut
incidental catch in the groundfish
fishery. DMRs are estimates of the
proportion of incidentally caught
halibut that do not survive after being
returned to the sea. The cumulative
halibut mortality that accrues to a
particular halibut PSC limit is the
product of a DMR multiplied by the
estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are
estimated using the best scientific
information available in conjunction
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with the annual BSAI stock assessment
process. The DMR methodology and
findings are included as an appendix to
the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE
report.
In 2016, the DMR estimation
methodology underwent revisions per
the Council’s directive. An interagency
halibut working group (IPHC, Council,
and NMFS staff) developed improved
estimation methods that have
undergone review by the Plan Team,
SSC, and the Council. A summary of the
revised methodology is included in the
BSAI proposed 2017 and 2018 harvest
specifications (81 FR 87863, December
6, 2016), and the comprehensive
discussion of the working group’s
statistical methodology is available from
the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR
working group’s revised methodology is
intended to improve estimation
accuracy, transparency, and
transferability in the methodology used
for calculating DMRs. The working
group will continue to consider
improvements to the methodology used
to calculate halibut mortality, including
potential changes to the reference
period (the period of data used for
calculating the DMRs). Future DMRs,
including the 2020 DMRs, may change
based on additional years of observer
sampling, which could provide more
recent and accurate data and which
could improve the accuracy of
estimation and progress on
methodology. The new methodology
will continue to ensure that NMFS is
using DMRs that more accurately reflect
halibut mortality, which will inform the
different sectors of their estimated
halibut mortality and allow specific
sectors to respond with methods that
could reduce mortality and, eventually,
the DMR for that sector.
At the December 2018 meeting, the
SSC, AP, and Council reviewed and
concurred in the revised DMRs. The
2019 and 2020 DMRs use an updated 2year reference period. Comparing the
2019 and 2020 final DMRs to the final
DMRs from the 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications, the DMR for motherships
and catcher/processors using nonpelagic trawl gear decreased to 78
percent from 84 percent, the DMR for
catcher vessels using non-pelagic trawl
gear decreased to 59 percent from 60
percent, the DMR for catcher vessels
using hook-and-line gear decreased to 4
percent from 17 percent, and the DMR
for pot gear increased to 19 percent from
9 percent. Table 18 lists the final 2019
and 2020 DMRs.
TABLE 18–2019 AND 2020 PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES (DMR) FOR THE BSAI
Halibut discard
mortality rate
(percent)
Gear
Sector
Pelagic trawl ................................................................................
Non-pelagic trawl ........................................................................
Non-pelagic trawl ........................................................................
Hook-and-line ..............................................................................
Hook-and-line ..............................................................................
Pot ...............................................................................................
All ...............................................................................................
Mothership and catcher/processor ............................................
Catcher vessel ...........................................................................
Catcher/processor ......................................................................
Catcher vessel ...........................................................................
All ...............................................................................................
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, regulatory area, or district (see
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant
to § 679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), 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 or species group
in that fishery category in the area
specified by regulation for the
remainder of the fishing year.
Based on historic catch patterns and
anticipated fishing activity, the Regional
Administrator has determined that the
groundfish allocation amounts in Table
19 will be necessary as incidental catch
to support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2019 and 2020 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
100
78
59
8
4
19
19 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance
with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species or species groups in
the specified areas effective at 1200
hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
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 19 are
insufficient to support directed
fisheries. Therefore, in accordance with
§ 679.21(b)(4)(i) and (e)(7), NMFS is
prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors, species, and fishery categories
in the specified areas effective at 1200
hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through
2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
TABLE 19—2019 AND 2020 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1
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[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
2019
Incidental
catch
allowance
Area
Sector
Species
Bogoslof District ..............................
Aleutian Islands subarea ................
All ...................................................
All ...................................................
Aleutian Islands subarea ................
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering
Sea.
Trawl non-CDQ ..............................
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and
BSAI trawl limited access.
Pollock ............................................
ICA pollock .....................................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ...........................
Sablefish ........................................
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
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75
2,400
388
427
800
2020
Incidental
catch
allowance
75
2,400
388
571
800
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
9019
TABLE 19—2019 AND 2020 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1—Continued
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
2019
Incidental
catch
allowance
2020
Incidental
catch
allowance
Area
Sector
Species
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering
Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District .................
All ...................................................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish ....
75
75
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and
BSAI trawl limited access.
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and
BSAI trawl limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
100
100
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
75
75
Central Aleutian District ..................
Western Aleutian District ................
Non-amendment 80, CDQ
BSAI trawl limited access.
and
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
ICA Atka mackerel .........................
60
20
60
20
Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
Bering Sea subarea ........................
Bering Sea subarea ........................
All ...................................................
ICA Pacific ocean perch ................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish ....
10
204
10
204
Trawl non-CDQ ..............................
All ...................................................
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands ....
All ...................................................
Sablefish ........................................
Pacific ocean perch .......................
‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ...........................
ICA pollock .....................................
Northern rockfish ............................
Shortraker rockfish .........................
Skates ............................................
Sculpins ..........................................
Sharks ............................................
Octopuses ......................................
ICA Pacific cod ..............................
ICA flathead sole ...........................
ICA rock sole .................................
ICA yellowfin sole ..........................
633
14,675
234
46,520
5,525
304
22,100
4,250
106
340
400
3,000
5,000
4,000
847
14,274
234
47,286
5,525
150
22,950
4,250
180
200
400
3,000
5,000
4,000
Hook-and-line and pot gear ...........
Non-amendment 80 and CDQ .......
Non-amendment 80, CDQ, and
BSAI trawl limited access.
BSAI trawl limited access ..............
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.
1 Maximum
retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
2 ‘‘Other
Closures implemented under the final
2018 and 2019 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (83 FR
8365, February 27, 2018) remain
effective under authority of these final
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
and until the date specified in those
notices. Closures are posted at the
following websites: https://alaska
fisheries.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.
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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,
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
September 14, 2007). Table 20 lists the
2019 and 2020 AFA C/P groundfish
sideboard limits. Section 679.64(a)(1)(v)
exempts AFA catcher/processors from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because
the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of
yellowfin sole assigned to the
Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than
125,000 mt.
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 20. However, groundfish
sideboard species that are delivered to
listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be
deducted from the 2019 and 2020
sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
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9020
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 20—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH
SIDEBOARD LIMITS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
1995–1997
Target
species
Sablefish
trawl.
Atka
mackerel.
Rock sole
Greenland
turbot.
Arrowtooth
flounder.
Kamchatka flounder.
Flathead
sole.
Alaska
plaice.
Other flatfish.
Pacific
ocean
perch.
Northern
rockfish.
Shortraker
rockfish.
Blackspotted/
Rougheye rockfish.
Other
rockfish.
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
Skates .....
Sculpins ..
Sharks .....
Octopuses
Area/
season
Retained catch
BS ...........
Total catch
Ratio of
retained catch
to total catch
2019 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps 1
2019 AFA C/P
sideboard limit
2020 ITAC
available to
trawl C/Ps 1
2020 AFA C/P
sideboard limit
8
497
0.0160
633
10
847
14
AI ............ ........................
Central AI
n/a
A season 2.
Central AI
n/a
B season 2.
Western
n/a
AI A
season 2.
Western
n/a
AI B
season 2.
BSAI ........
6,317
BS ...........
121
145
n/a
........................
0.1150
427
6,425
........................
739
571
11,116
1,278
n/a
0.1150
6,425
739
11,116
1,278
n/a
0.2000
8,748
1,750
6,173
1,235
n/a
0.2000
8,748
1,750
6,173
1,235
169,362
17,305
0.0370
0.0070
42,060
4,356
1,556
30
43,846
4,356
1,622
30
AI ............
BSAI ........
23
76
4,987
33,987
0.0050
0.0020
144
6,800
1
14
144
6,800
1
14
BSAI ........
76
33,987
0.0020
4,250
9
4,250
9
BSAI ........
1,925
52,755
0.0360
12,949
466
12,949
466
BSAI ........
14
9,438
0.0010
15,300
15
15,300
15
BSAI ........
3,058
52,298
0.0580
5,525
320
5,525
320
BS ...........
12
4,879
0.0020
12,474
25
12,133
24
Eastern AI
Central AI
Western
AI.
BSAI ........
125
3
54
6,179
5,698
13,598
0.0200
0.0010
0.0040
9,831
7,488
8,930
197
7
36
9,953
7,327
8,930
199
7
36
91
13,040
0.0070
5,525
39
5,525
39
BSAI ........
50
2,811
0.0180
304
5
304
5
BS/EAI ....
50
2,811
0.0180
64
1
64
1
CAI/WAI ..
BS ...........
50
18
2,811
621
0.0180
0.0290
173
234
3
7
173
234
3
7
AI ............
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
BSAI ........
22
553
553
553
553
806
68,672
68,672
68,672
68,672
0.0270
0.0080
0.0080
0.0080
0.0080
388
22,100
4,250
106
340
10
177
34
1
3
388
22,100
4,250
106
340
10
177
34
1
3
1 Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock 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 for the BSAI trawl limited access sector 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.
Notes: Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate
ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
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9021
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard
limits in the BSAI. The final rule establishes regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species
groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final
rule is effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard
limit amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation (84 FR 2723).
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40
and 41 of 50 CFR part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard
limits for halibut and crab caught by
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 21 that are
caught by listed AFA C/Ps participating
in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the 2019 and
2020 PSC sideboard limits for the listed
AFA C/Ps. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii),
(e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to
close directed fishing for groundfish
other than pollock for listed AFA C/Ps
once a 2019 or 2020 PSC sideboard limit
listed in Table 21 is reached.
Pursuant to § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and
(e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or crab PSC by
listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for
pollock will accrue against the PSC
allowances annually specified for the
pollock/Atka mackerel/‘‘other species’’
fishery categories under
§ 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 21—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 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 ...........................................................................................................................
C. bairdi Zone 2 ...........................................................................................................................
1 Refer
n/a
0.007
0.153
0.140
0.050
2019 and
2020 PSC
available to
trawl vessels
after subtraction of PSQ 2
n/a
86,621
10,641,390
875,140
2,652,210
2019 and
2020 AFA
catcher/
processor
sideboard
limit 2
286
606
1,628,133
122,520
132,611
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(b), 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)(3) and (4)
establishes a formula for setting AFA CV
groundfish and halibut and crab 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). Section
679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA CVs from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because
the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of
yellowfin sole assigned to the
Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than
125,000 mt. Tables 22 and 23 list the
2019 and 2020 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 2019
and 2020 sideboard limits listed in
Table 22.
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in
Table 23 that are caught by AFA CVs
participating in any groundfish fishery
for groundfish other than pollock will
accrue against the 2019 and 2020 PSC
sideboard limits for the AFA CVs.
Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and
(e)(7) authorizes NMFS to close directed
fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA CVs once a 2019 or
2020 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table
23 is reached. Pursuant to
§ 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), the
halibut and crab PSC by AFA CVs while
fishing for pollock in the BSAI will
accrue against the PSC allowances
annually specified for the pollock/Atka
mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery
categories under § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B)
and (e)(3)(iv).
TABLE 22—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species/gear
Fishery by area/season
Ratio of 1995–
1997 AFA CV
catch to 1995–
1997 TAC
Pacific cod/Jig gear .............
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line
CV≥60 feet LOA.
BSAI ...................................
BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ............
........................
0.0006
n/a
164
........................
0
n/a
127
........................
0
BSAI Jun 10–Dec 31 .........
BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ............
BSAI Sept 1–Dec 31 ..........
0.0006
0.0006
0.0006
157
6,884
6,614
0
4
4
122
5,340
5,131
0
3
3
Pacific cod pot gear CV ......
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TAC 1
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sideboard
limits
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2020 Initial
TAC 1
2020 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
9022
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 22—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS—
Continued
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Ratio of 1995–
1997 AFA CV
catch to 1995–
1997 TAC
2019 Initial
TAC 1
2019 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
2020 Initial
TAC 1
2020 AFA
catcher vessel
sideboard
limits
Species/gear
Fishery by area/season
Pacific cod CV ≥ 60 feet
LOA using hook-and-line
or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV ...
BSAI ...................................
0.0006
3,214
2
2,493
1
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 ...................................
BS/EAI ................................
0.8609
0.8609
0.8609
0.0906
0.0645
0.0032
26,388
3,923
5,349
633
427
10,703
22,717
3,377
4,605
57
28
34
20,493
3,046
4,154
847
571
9,908
17,642
2,622
3,576
77
37
32
0.0032
10,703
34
9,908
32
0.0001
0.0001
........................
........................
0.0341
0.0645
0.0205
0.0690
0.0690
0.0441
0.0441
0.0505
0.1000
0.0077
0.0025
........................
0.0084
0.0037
0.0037
6,425
6,425
8,748
8,748
42,060
4,356
144
6,800
4,250
15,300
5,525
12,949
12,474
9,831
7,488
8,930
5,525
304
64
1
1
........................
........................
1,434
281
3
469
293
675
244
654
1,247
76
19
........................
46
1
0
5,933
5,933
8,098
8,098
50,990
4,356
144
6,800
4,250
15,300
5,525
12,949
12,133
9,953
7,327
8,930
5,525
304
64
1
1
........................
........................
1,739
281
3
469
293
675
244
654
1,213
77
18
........................
46
1
0
CAI/WAI ..............................
BS .......................................
AI ........................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
BSAI ...................................
0.0037
0.0048
0.0095
0.0541
0.0541
0.0541
0.0541
173
234
388
22,100
4,250
106
340
1
1
4
1,196
230
6
18
173
234
388
22,100
4,250
106
340
1
1
4
1,196
230
6
18
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 ..............
Blackspotted/Rougheye
rockfish.
Other rockfish ......................
Skates .................................
Sculpins ...............................
Sharks .................................
Octopuses ...........................
1 Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod, 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).
Notes: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of
yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard
limits in the BSAI. The final rule establishes regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species
groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final
rule is effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard
limit amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation (84 FR 2723).
amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with RULES
TABLE 23—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD
LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1
PSC species and area 1
Target fishery category 2
Halibut .............................................................
Pacific cod trawl .............................................
Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot ....................
Yellowfin sole total .........................................
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska plaice/other
flatfish 4.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/Kamchatka/sablefish.
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AFA catcher
vessel PSC
sideboard limit
ratio
2019 and
2020 PSC limit
after
subtraction of
PSQ
reserves 3
2019 and
2020 AFA
catcher vessel
PSC
sideboard
limit 3
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
887
2
101
228
n/a
n/a
........................
E:\FR\FM\13MRR1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
9023
TABLE 23—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD
LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1—Continued
PSC species and area 1
Target fishery category 2
Red king crab Zone 1 .....................................
C. opilio COBLZ ..............................................
C. bairdi Zone 1 ..............................................
C. bairdi Zone 2 ..............................................
Rockfish ..........................................................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 5 ...........
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
n/a ..................................................................
AFA catcher
vessel PSC
sideboard limit
ratio
2019 and
2020 PSC limit
after
subtraction of
PSQ
reserves 3
2019 and
2020 AFA
catcher vessel
PSC
sideboard
limit 3
n/a
n/a
0.2990
0.1680
0.3300
0.1860
n/a
n/a
86,621
10,641,390
875,140
2,652,210
2
5
25,900
1,787,754
288,796
493,311
1 Refer
to § 679.2 for definitions of areas.
trawl fishery categories are defined at § 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (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), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
5 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, 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 24 and
25 are necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish
fisheries for the 2019 and 2020 fishing
years. In accordance with
§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator establishes the sideboard
limits listed in Tables 24 and 25 as
DFAs. Because many of these DFAs will
be reached before the end of the year in
2019 and 2020, 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 24, and
prohibiting directed fishing by nonexempt AFA CVs for the species in the
specified areas set out in Table 25.
TABLE 24—FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED
FISHING CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Gear types
2019
Sideboard limit
2020
Sideboard limit
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 ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
trawl ................................................
trawl ................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
all ....................................................
10
........................
1,556
30
1
14
9
15
320
466
25
197
7
36
39
5
1
3
7
10
177
34
1
3
14
........................
1,622
30
1
14
9
15
320
466
24
199
7
36
39
5
1
3
7
10
177
34
1
3
Rock sole ........................................
Greenland turbot .............................
Arrowtooth flounder ........................
Kamchatka flounder ........................
Alaska plaice ..................................
Other flatfish 2 .................................
Flathead sole ..................................
Pacific ocean perch ........................
Northern rockfish ............................
Shortraker rockfish .........................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish ....
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Other rockfish 3 ...............................
Skates .............................................
Sculpins ..........................................
Sharks .............................................
Octopuses .......................................
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
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
TABLE 25–FINAL 2019 AND 2020 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING
CLOSURES 1
[Amounts are in metric tons]
Species
Area
Gear types
Pacific cod ......................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
BSAI ...............................................
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 ....................................................
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 .........................
Blackspotted/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 ...............................................
2019
sideboard limit
2020
sideboard limit
0
9
2
0
8
2
0
56
27
104
2
0
281
3
799
293
501
150
654
1,434
1008
62
17
0
44
1
0
1
1
5
1,242
230
10
390
14
0
79
38
96
2
0
281
3
821
293
609
150
744
1,495
977
67
17
0
46
1
0
1
1
5
1,242
230
10
390
11
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
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
2 ‘‘Other
Response to Comments
NMFS received no comments during
the public comment period for the
proposed BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications. No changes were made to
the final rule in response to the
comment letters received.
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Classification
NMFS has determined that these final
harvest specifications are consistent
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 Order 12866.
NMFS prepared an EIS for 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 Final EIS. In February 2019, NMFS
prepared a Supplemental Information
Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of
the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for
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this action are available from NMFS (see
The Final EIS analyzes the
environmental, social, and economic
consequences of the groundfish harvest
specifications and alternative harvest
strategies on resources in the action
area. Based on the analysis in the Final
EIS, NMFS concluded that the preferred
Alternative (Alternative 2) provides the
best balance among relevant
environmental, social, and economic
considerations and allows for continued
management of the groundfish fisheries
based on the most recent, best scientific
information.
The SIR evaluates the need to prepare
a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2019
and 2020 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
ADDRESSES).
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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 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications, which were set according
to the preferred harvest strategy in the
EIS, does not constitute a substantial
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 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications will result in
environmental, social, and economic
impacts within the scope of those
analyzed and disclosed in the EIS.
Therefore, supplemental National
Environmental Policy Act
documentation is not necessary to
implement the 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 13, 2019 / Rules and Regulations
Section 604 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604)
requires that, when an agency
promulgates a final rule under 5 U.S.C.
553, 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). The
following constitutes the FRFA
prepared in the final action.
The required contents of a FRFA, as
described in section 604, are: (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 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; and
(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 included
at the beginning of the preamble to this
final rule and are not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on
December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815). NMFS
prepared an Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to
accompany the proposed action, and
included a summary in the proposed
rule. The comment period closed on
January 7, 2019. No comments were
received on the IRFA or on the
economic impacts of the rule more
generally. The Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business
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Administration did not file any
comments on the proposed rule.
The entities directly regulated by this
action are those that harvest groundfish
in the exclusive economic zone of the
BSAI and in parallel fisheries within
State waters. These include entities
operating catcher vessels and catcher/
processors within the action area and
entities receiving direct allocations of
groundfish.
For RFA purposes only, NMFS has
established a small business size
standard for businesses, including their
affiliates, whose primary industry is
commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2).
A business primarily engaged in
commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411)
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 $11 million for all its affiliated
operations worldwide.
Using the most recent data available
(2017), the estimated number of directly
regulated small entities include
approximately 170 catcher vessels, four
catcher/processors, and six CDQ groups.
Some of these vessels are members of
AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, Gulf
of Alaska rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI
Crab Rationalization Program
cooperatives, and, since under the RFA
the aggregate gross receipts of all
participating members of the
cooperative must meet the ‘‘under $11
million’’ threshold, the cooperatives are
considered to be large entities within
the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the
estimate of 170 catcher vessels may be
an overstatement of the number of small
entities. Average gross revenues in 2017
were $570,000 for small hook-and-line
vessels, $1.37 million for small pot
vessels, and $3.15 million for small
trawl vessels. The average gross revenue
for catcher/processors are not reported,
due to confidentiality considerations.
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 FMP. 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
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9025
Amendment 56 to the BSAI and Gulf of
Alaska groundfish fishery management
plans. 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: First, set TAC for
rockfish species in Tier 3 at F75%; set
TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at
F=0.5M; and set spatially explicit TAC
for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in
the BSAI. Second, 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
(1.4 million 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: (No Action) Set TAC
at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred
alternative chosen by the Council: Set
TACs that fall within the range of ABCs
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
TACs that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet
the objectives of this action, and
although Alternatives 1 and 3 may have
a smaller adverse economic impact on
small entities than the preferred
alternative, Alternatives 4 and 5 likely
would have a significant adverse
economic impact on small entities. The
Council rejected these alternatives as
harvest strategies in 2006, and the
Secretary of Commerce did so in 2007.
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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 Table 1 and Table 2,
the sum of ABCs in 2019 and 2020
would be 3,367,578 mt and 2,967,269
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, Division B,
section 803(c), and the FMP, which both
set a 2.0 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 based on 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, as well as National Standard
2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16
U.S.C. 1851(a)(2)), because it does not
take into account the most recent
biological information for this fishery.
NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock
surveys for different species, as well as
statistical modeling, to estimate stock
sizes and permissible harvest levels.
Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts
are a component of these estimates, but
in and of themselves may not accurately
portray stock sizes and conditions.
Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE
report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to
significantly lower harvests of all
groundfish species to reduce TAC from
the upper end of the OY range in the
BSAI to its lower end of 1.4 million mt.
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 uncertain, and, assuming
volume decreases would lead to price
increases, it is unclear whether price
increases would be sufficient to offset
the volume decreases and to leave
revenues unchanged for small entities.
Thus, this alternative would have an
adverse economic impact on small
entities, compared to the preferred
alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests
equal to zero, may address conservation
issues, but would have a significant
adverse economic impact on small
entities and would be inconsistent with
achieving OY on a continuing basis, as
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act
(16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(1)).
Impacts on marine mammals resulting
from fishing activities conducted under
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Jkt 247001
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 the date of effectiveness
for this rule because delaying this rule
is contrary to the public interest. The
Plan Team review of the 2018 SAFE
report occurred in November 2018, and
the Council considered and
recommended the final harvest
specifications in December 2018.
Accordingly, NMFS’s review of the final
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
could not begin until after the December
2018 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 2018 and 2019
harvest specifications (83 FR 8365,
February 27, 2018). If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow
these fisheries to continue fishing,
because some of the new TACs
implemented by this rule are higher
than the TACs under which they are
currently fishing.
In addition, 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
pertinent for those species that have
lower 2019 ABCs and TACs than those
established in the 2018 and 2019
harvest specifications (83 FR 8365,
February 27, 2018). If implemented
immediately, this rule would ensure
that NMFS can properly manage those
fisheries for which this rule sets lower
2019 ABCs and TACs, which are based
on the most recent biological
information on the condition of stocks,
rather than managing species under the
higher TACs set in the previous year’s
harvest specifications.
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, thus undermining
the intent of this rule. Predicting which
fisheries may close is difficult because
these fisheries are affected by several
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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, for example by
freeing up fishing vessels, which would
allow those vessels to move from closed
fisheries to open ones and lead to an
increase in the fishing capacity in those
open fisheries, thereby causing those
open fisheries 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 limits. 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 that the
sideboard limits are meant to protect.
Moreover, the new TACs 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 15, 2019, which
is the start of the 2019 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
are managed under the same IFQ
program. Immediate effectiveness of the
final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish
IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with
the Pacific halibut IFQ season.
Finally, immediate effectiveness also
would provide 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 the
date of 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 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications and prohibited
species bycatch allowances for the
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groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This
action is necessary to establish harvest
limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2019
and 2020 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 amounts are
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16:11 Mar 12, 2019
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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–
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9027
31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub.
L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–
479.
Dated: March 7, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–04539 Filed 3–12–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9000-9027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04539]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XG356
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
[[Page 9001]]
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications,
apportionments, 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 remainder of the 2019 and the start of the 2020
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 2019 harvest specifications
supersede those previously set in the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications, and the 2020 harvest specifications will be superseded
in early 2020 when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are
published. 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: Harvest specifications and closures are effective from 1200
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours,
A.l.t., December 31, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIRs) to the
EIS, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared
for this action are available from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
The 2018 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2018, 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
website 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 annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species category. The sum of all TAC for
all groundfish species in the BSAI 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)(A)). This final rule specifies the total TAC at 2.0
million mt for both 2019 and 2020. 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;
American Fisheries Act allocations; Amendment 80 allocations; Community
Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii); and acceptable biological catch (ABC) surpluses and
reserves for CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperative for flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The final harvest specifications
set forth in Tables 1 through 25 of this action satisfy these
requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires that NMFS consider public
comment on the proposed harvest specifications and, after consultation
with the Council, publish final harvest specifications in the Federal
Register. The proposed 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for the
groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register
on December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2019. NMFS received no comments on the proposed
harvest specifications. NMFS consulted with the Council on the final
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications during the December 2018 Council
meeting in Anchorage, AK. After considering public comments, as well as
biological and socioeconomic data that were available at the Council's
December meeting, in this final rule NMFS implements the final 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications as recommended by the Council.
ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC amounts 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 2018, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current
biological and harvest information about the condition of the BSAI
groundfish stocks. The Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team)
compiled and presented this information in the 2018 SAFE report for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2018 (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 of the comment period for these harvest
specifications--and of the publication of the 2018 SAFE report--in the
notice of proposed harvest specifications. From the data and analyses
in the SAFE report, the Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for each
species or species group at the November 2018 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2018, 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 all 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 2019 or 2020 TACs exceed the final 2019 or
2020 ABCs for any species or species group. NMFS finds that the
Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the
preferred harvest strategy and the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2018 SAFE report that was approved by the
Council. Therefore, this final rule provides notice that the Secretary
of Commerce approves the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council.
The 2019 harvest specifications set in this final action will
supersede the 2019 harvest specifications previously set in the final
2018 and 2019 harvest specifications (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018).
The 2020 harvest specifications herein will be superseded in early 2020
[[Page 9002]]
when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are published.
Pursuant to this final action, the 2019 harvest specifications
therefore will apply for the remainder of the current year (2019),
while the 2020 harvest specifications are projected only for the
following year (2020) and will be superseded in early 2020 by the final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications. Because this final action
(published in early 2019) will be superseded in early 2020 by the
publication of the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications, it is
projected that this final action will implement the harvest
specifications for the BSAI for approximately one year.
Other Actions Affecting the 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 117: Reclassify Squid as an Ecosystem Species
As described in the proposed harvest specifications, NMFS published
the final rule to implement Amendment 117 to the FMP (83 FR 31460, July
6, 2018). This rule reclassified squid in the FMP as an ``Ecosystem
Component'' species, which is a category of non-target species that are
not in need of conservation and management. NMFS will no longer set an
OFL, ABC, and TAC for squid. Therefore, the final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for the BSAI do not include an OFL, ABC, and TAC for
squid. Amendment 117 prohibits directed fishing for squid, while
maintaining recordkeeping and reporting requirements for squid.
Amendment 117 also establishes a squid maximum retainable amount when
directed fishing for groundfish species at 20 percent to discourage
targeting squid species.
Rulemaking To Prohibit Directed Fishing for American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Sideboard Limits
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723,
February 8, 2019) that modifies regulations for the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) Program participants subject to limits on the catch of
specific species (sideboard limits) in the BSAI. Sideboard limits are
intended to prevent AFA Program participants who benefit from receiving
exclusive harvesting privileges in a particular fishery from shifting
effort to other fisheries.
Specifically, the final rule primarily establishes regulations to
prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish
species or species groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for
AFA sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications.
Currently, NMFS calculates numerous AFA Program sideboard limits as
part of the annual BSAI groundfish harvest specifications process and
publishes these sideboard limits in the Federal Register. Concurrently,
NMFS prohibits directed fishing for the majority of the groundfish
sideboard limits because most limits are too small to support directed
fishing. Rather than continue this annual process, the final rule
revises regulations to prohibit directed fishing in regulation for most
AFA Program groundfish sideboard limits. Once the final rule is
effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in
the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard limit
amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule (contained in
Tables 20 and 22 of this action), and those groundfish species subject
to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation
(84 FR 2723).
State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels
For 2019 and 2020, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) for the State of
Alaska (State) established the guideline harvest level (GHL) for
vessels using pot gear in State waters in the Bering Sea subarea (BS)
equal to 8 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BS. Also, for 2019 and
2020, the BOF established an additional GHL for vessels using jig gear
in State waters in the BS equal to 45 mt of Pacific cod in the BS. The
Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all
State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from the BS not exceed the
ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the BS. Accordingly, the Council
recommended and NMFS approves that the 2019 and 2020 Pacific cod TACs
in the BS account for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State
waters in the BS. Also, the BOF approved a one percent annual increase
in the BS GHL for vessels using pot gear, up to 15 percent of the BS
ABC, if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested by November 15 of the
preceding year. If 90 percent of the 2019 BS GHL is not harvested by
November 15, 2019, the 2020 GHL will remain at 8 percent. If, however,
90 percent of the 2019 BS GHL is harvested by November 15, 2019, the
2020 GHL will increase by 1 percent to 9 percent of the 2020 BS ABC,
and the 2020 BS TAC will be set to account for the increased BS GHL.
For 2019 and 2020, the BOF established a GHL in State waters in the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) equal to 31 percent of the Pacific cod
ABC in the AI. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended
that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from
the AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the AI.
Accordingly, the Council recommended and NMFS approves that the 2019
and 2020 Pacific cod TACs in the AI account for the State's GHL for
Pacific cod caught in State waters in the AI.
Changes from the Proposed 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
The Council's recommendations for the proposed 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications (83 FR 62815, December 6, 2018) were based
largely on information contained in the 2017 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 2018 SAFE
report; recommendations from the Plan Team, SSC, and AP committees; and
public comments when making its recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December 2018 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 2018 SAFE report indicates biomass
changes from the 2017 SAFE report for several groundfish species. The
2018 report was made available for public review during the public
comment period for the proposed harvest specifications. At the December
2018 Council meeting, the SSC recommended the 2019 and 2020 ABCs based
on the best and most recent information contained in the 2018 SAFE
report. This recommendation resulted in an ABC sum total for all BSAI
groundfish species in excess of 2.0 million mt for both 2019 and 2020.
Based on increased fishing effort in 2018, the Council recommends
final BS pollock TACs increase by 12,800 mt in 2019 and 35,800 mt in
2020 compared to the proposed 2019 and 2020 BS pollock TACs. In terms
of percentage, the largest increases in final 2019 and 2020 TACs
relative to the proposed 2019 and 2020 TACs include BSAI shortraker
rockfish and octopuses. The increases account for anticipated higher
incidental catches of these species, based on increased incidental
catches in 2018. Other increases in the final 2019 TACs relative to the
proposed 2019 TACs include Bering Sea Pacific cod, Alaska plaice,
``other flatfish,'' Pacific ocean perch, Central Aleutian and Western
Aleutian (CAI/WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and Western Aleutian
Islands (WAI) Atka
[[Page 9003]]
mackerel. The 2019 increases account for higher interest in directed
fishing or higher anticipated incidental catch needs.
Decreases in final 2019 TACs compared to the proposed 2019 TACs
include Bogoslof pollock, Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod, BS
sablefish, AI sablefish, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, rock
sole, flathead sole, AI ``other rockfish,'' Eastern Aleutian Islands
and Bering Sea (EAI/BS) Atka mackerel, Central Aleutian Islands (CAI)
Atka mackerel, skates, and sharks. The decreases for AI Pacific cod,
EAI/BS and CAI Atka mackerel, BS sablefish, AI sablefish, and ``other
rockfish'' are to account for ABC constraints. The remaining decreases
are for anticipated lower incidental catch needs of these species
relative to 2018.
The changes to TACs 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, including the upper limit for OY of 2.0 million mt.
These changes are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2019 OFL, ABC, TAC,
initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve allocations of the BSAI groundfish
species or species groups; and Table 2 lists the Council's recommended
final 2020 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, and CDQ reserve allocations of the BSAI
groundfish species or species groups. NMFS concurs in these
recommendations. These final 2019 and 2020 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 2019 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................. BS............................ 3,914,000 2,163,000 1,397,000 1,257,300 139,700
AI............................ 64,240 52,887 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof...................... 183,080 137,310 75 75 ..............
Pacific cod \5\......................... BS............................ 216,000 181,000 166,475 148,662 17,813
AI............................ 27,400 20,600 14,214 12,693 1,521
Sablefish............................... BS............................ 3,221 1,489 1,489 1,228 205
AI............................ 4,350 2,008 2,008 1,632 339
Yellowfin sole.......................... BSAI.......................... 290,000 263,200 154,000 137,522 16,478
Greenland turbot........................ BSAI.......................... 11,362 9,658 5,294 4,500 n/a
BS............................ n/a 8,431 5,125 4,356 548
AI............................ n/a 1,227 169 144 ..............
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 82,939 70,673 8,000 6,800 856
Kamchatka flounder...................... BSAI.......................... 10,965 9,260 5,000 4,250 ..............
Rock sole \6\........................... BSAI.......................... 122,000 118,900 47,100 42,060 5,040
Flathead sole \7\....................... BSAI.......................... 80,918 66,625 14,500 12,949 1,552
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI.......................... 39,880 33,600 18,000 15,300 ..............
Other flatfish \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 21,824 16,368 6,500 5,525 ..............
Pacific ocean perch..................... BSAI.......................... 61,067 50,594 44,069 38,723 n/a
BS............................ n/a 14,675 14,675 12,474 ..............
EAI........................... n/a 11,459 11,009 9,831 1,178
CAI........................... n/a 8,435 8,385 7,488 897
WAI........................... n/a 16,025 10,000 8,930 1,070
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI.......................... 15,507 12,664 6,500 5,525 ..............
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \9\...... BSAI.......................... 676 555 279 237 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 351 75 64 ..............
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 204 204 173 ..............
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI.......................... 722 541 358 304 ..............
Other rockfish \10\..................... BSAI.......................... 1,793 1,344 663 564 ..............
BS............................ n/a 956 275 234 ..............
AI............................ n/a 388 388 330 ..............
Atka mackerel........................... BSAI.......................... 79,200 68,500 57,951 51,750 6,201
BS/EAI........................ n/a 23,970 23,970 21,405 2,565
CAI........................... n/a 14,390 14,390 12,850 1,540
WAI........................... n/a 30,140 19,591 17,495 2,096
Skates.................................. BSAI.......................... 51,152 42,714 26,000 22,100 ..............
Sculpins................................ BSAI.......................... 53,201 39,995 5,000 4,250 ..............
Sharks.................................. BSAI.......................... 689 517 125 106 ..............
Octopuses............................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 ..............
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... .............................. 5,340,955 3,367,578 2,000,000 1,791,495 195,297
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 subarea (BS) 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 (Atka mackerel, yellowfin
sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified 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 4).
[[Page 9004]]
\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, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish,
``other rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 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), the annual AI 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 set to account for the 8 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State
waters of the AI.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\9\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
*Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, 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 2019 and 2020 With Proposed 2019 and 2020 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 2020
2019 Final 2019 2019 Percentage 2020 Final 2020 2020 Percentage
Species Area \1\ TAC Proposed Difference difference TAC Proposed Difference difference
TAC from proposed from proposed TAC from proposed from proposed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................................... BS........................... 1,397,000 1,384,200 12,800 0.9 1,420,000 1,384,200 35,800 2.6
AI........................... 19,000 19,000 .............. .............. 19,000 19,000 .............. ..............
Bogoslof..................... 75 500 (425) (85.0) 75 500 (425) (85.0)
Pacific cod.................................. BS........................... 166,475 156,355 10,120 6.5 124,625 156,355 (31,730) (20.3)
AI........................... 14,214 14,835 (621) (4.2) 14,214 14,835 (621) (4.2)
Sablefish.................................... BS........................... 1,489 2,061 (572) (27.8) 1,994 2,061 (67) (3.3)
AI........................... 2,008 2,798 (790) (28.2) 2,688 2,798 (110) (3.9)
Yellowfin sole............................... BSAI......................... 154,000 156,000 (2,000) (1.3) 166,425 156,000 10,425 6.7
Greenland turbot............................. BS........................... 5,125 5,125 .............. .............. 5,125 5,125 .............. ..............
AI........................... 169 169 .............. .............. 169 169 .............. ..............
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... BSAI......................... 8,000 14,000 (6,000) (42.9) 8,000 14,000 (6,000) (42.9)
Kamchatka flounder........................... BSAI......................... 5,000 5,000 .............. .............. 5,000 5,000 .............. ..............
Rock sole.................................... BSAI......................... 47,100 49,100 (2,000) (4.1) 57,100 49,100 8,000 16.3
Flathead sole................................ BSAI......................... 14,500 16,500 (2,000) (12.1) 14,500 16,500 (2,000) (12.1)
Alaska plaice................................ BSAI......................... 18,000 16,252 1,748 10.8 18,000 16,252 1,748 10.8
Other flatfish............................... BSAI......................... 6,500 4,000 2,500 62.5 6,500 4,000 2,500 62.5
Pacific ocean perch.......................... BS........................... 14,675 11,499 3,176 27.6 14,274 11,499 2,775 24.1
EAI.......................... 11,009 9,715 1,294 13.3 11,146 9,715 1,431 14.7
CAI.......................... 8,385 7,549 836 11.1 8,205 7,549 656 8.7
WAI.......................... 10,000 9,117 883 9.7 10,000 9,117 883 9.7
Northern rockfish............................ BSAI......................... 6,500 6,500 .............. .............. 6,500 6,500 .............. ..............
Blackspotted and Rougheye rockfish........... BS/EAI....................... 75 75 .............. .............. 75 75 .............. ..............
CAI/WAI...................... 204 150 54 36.0 204 150 54 36.0
Shortraker rockfish.......................... BSAI......................... 358 150 208 138.7 358 150 208 138.7
Other rockfish............................... BS........................... 275 275 .............. .............. 275 275 .............. ..............
AI........................... 388 570 (182) (31.9) 388 ........... (182) (31.9)
Atka mackerel................................ EAI/BS....................... 23,970 33,780 (9,810) (29.0) 22,190 33,780 (11,590) (34.3)
CAI.......................... 14,390 24,895 (10,505) (42.2) 13,310 24,895 (11,585) (46.5)
WAI.......................... 19,591 13,825 5,766 41.7 18,135 13,825 4,310 31.2
Skates....................................... BSAI......................... 26,000 27,000 (1,000) (3.7) 26,000 27,000 (1,000) (3.7)
Sculpins..................................... BSAI......................... 5,000 5,000 .............. .............. 5,000 5,000 .............. ..............
Sharks....................................... BSAI......................... 125 180 (55) (30.6) 125 180 (55) (30.6)
Octopuses.................................... BSAI......................... 400 200 200 100.0 400 200 200 100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... BSAI......................... 2,000,000 1,996,375 3,625 0.2 2,000,000 1,996,375 3,625 0.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2020 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................. BS............................ 3,082,000 1,792,000 1,420,000 1,278,000 142,000
AI............................ 66,981 55,125 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof...................... 183,080 137,310 75 75 ..............
[[Page 9005]]
Pacific cod \5\......................... BS............................ 183,000 137,000 124,625 111,290 13,335
AI............................ 27,400 20,600 14,214 12,693 1,521
Sablefish............................... BS............................ 4,441 1,994 1,994 847 75
AI............................ 5,997 2,688 2,688 571 50
Yellowfin sole.......................... BSAI.......................... 284,000 257,800 166,425 148,618 17,807
Greenland turbot........................ BSAI.......................... 10,476 8,908 5,294 4,500 n/a
BS............................ n/a 7,777 5,125 4,356 548
AI............................ n/a 1,131 169 144 ..............
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 83,814 71,411 8,000 6,800 856
Kamchatka flounder...................... BSAI.......................... 11,260 9,509 5,000 4,250 ..............
Rock sole \6\........................... BSAI.......................... 147,500 143,700 57,100 50,990 6,110
Flathead sole \7\....................... BSAI.......................... 83,190 68,448 14,500 12,949 1,552
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI.......................... 37,860 31,900 18,000 15,300 ..............
Other flatfish \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 21,824 16,368 6,500 5,525 ..............
Pacific ocean perch..................... BSAI.......................... 59,396 49,211 43,625 38,343 n/a
BS............................ n/a 14,274 14,274 12,133 ..............
EAI........................... n/a 11,146 11,146 9,953 1,193
CAI........................... n/a 8,205 8,205 7,327 878
WAI........................... n/a 15,586 10,000 8,930 1,070
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI.......................... 15,180 12,396 6,500 5,525 ..............
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \9\...... BSAI.......................... 868 715 279 237 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 448 75 64 ..............
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 267 204 173 ..............
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI.......................... 722 541 358 304 ..............
Other rockfish \10\..................... BSAI.......................... 1,793 1,344 663 564 ..............
BS............................ n/a 956 275 234 ..............
AI............................ n/a 388 388 330 ..............
Atka mackerel........................... BSAI.......................... 73,400 63,400 53,635 47,896 5,739
EAI/BS........................ n/a 22,190 22,190 19,816 2,374
CAI........................... n/a 13,310 13,310 11,886 1,424
WAI........................... n/a 27,900 18,135 16,195 1,940
Skates.................................. BSAI.......................... 48,944 40,813 26,000 22,100 ..............
Sculpins................................ BSAI.......................... 53,201 39,995 5,000 4,250 ..............
Sharks.................................. BSAI.......................... 689 517 125 106 ..............
Octopuses............................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 ..............
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... .............................. 4,491,785 2,967,269 2,000,000 1,789,174 194,634
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 subarea (BS) 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 (Atka mackerel, flathead
sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified 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 4).
\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, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish,
``other rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 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), the annual AI 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\ Assuming an increase in the 2020 guideline harvest level based on the actual 2019 harvest, the 2020 BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 9
percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS. The 2020 AI Pacific cod TAC is
set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\9\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI =
Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district).
[[Page 9006]]
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 that NMFS reserves 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 or pot gear allocation of
sablefish for the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve for each subarea.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of
the trawl gear allocations of sablefish in the BS and AI 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 TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole,
and Pacific cod to the respective CDQ reserves. Sections
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require that 10 percent of the
Bering Sea pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed fishing
allowance (DFA). Sections 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and 679.31(a)
require that 10 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock TAC be
allocated to the pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii) because
the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock by
regulation (Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B)). With the exception of the hook-
and-line or 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 3.7 percent of the BS pollock TAC after subtracting the 10
percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the
pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 2000 through 2018.
During this 19-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a
low of 2.2 percent in 2006 to a high of 4.6 percent in 2014, with a 19-
year average of 3 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 pollock
TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based
on NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock
from 2003 through 2018. During this 16-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 16-year average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
3,000 mt of flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 4,000 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of WAI Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of CAI Pacific ocean
perch, 100 mt of EAI Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka mackerel,
75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka mackerel TAC
after subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA allowances
are based on NMFS's examination of the incidental catch in other target
fisheries from 2003 through 2018.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified
reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments are
consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(3) and 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 AI ``other rockfish'' by 15 percent of
the ``other rockfish'' TAC in 2019 and 2020.
Table 3--Final 2019 and 2020 Apportionment of Non-Specified Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Reserve 2019 Final 2020 Reserve 2020 Final
Species-area or subarea 2019 ITAC amount ITAC 2020 ITAC amount ITAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea................. 330 58 388 330 58 388
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 330 58 388 330 58 388
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS pollock TAC be
apportioned as a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program
and 3.7 percent for the ICA, 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, 45 percent of the DFA is
allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 55 percent of the
DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) (Sec. Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(1) and 679.23(e)(2)). The Aleutian Islands directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock TAC remaining in the AI 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)). In the AI, the total A season apportionment
of the TAC (including the AI directed fishery allocation, the CDQ
seasonal allowance, and the ICA) may equal up to 40 percent of the ABC
for AI pollock, and the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B
season (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(3)). Tables 4 and 5 list these 2019
and 2020 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets harvest limits for pollock in
the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In
Area 543, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A season pollock
harvest limit is no more than 15 percent of the Aleutian Islands
pollock ABC. In Area 541, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more
than 30 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS 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
[[Page 9007]]
0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector. Tables 4 and 5
list the 2019 and 2020 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 20 through 25
list the AFA C/P and CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the
pollock allocations to the BS inshore pollock cooperatives and open
access sector will be posted on the Alaska Region website 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 of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual
pollock DFA before 12 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 2019 and 2020 amounts
by sector.
Table 4--Final 2019 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 A season \1\ 2019 B season
2019 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,397,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 139,700 62,865 39,116 76,835
ICA \1\......................................... 46,520 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,210,780 544,851 339,018 665,929
AFA Inshore..................................... 605,390 272,425 169,509 332,964
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 484,312 217,940 135,607 266,372
Catch by C/Ps............................... 443,145 199,415 n/a 243,730
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 41,167 18,525 n/a 22,642
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,422 1,090 n/a 1,332
AFA Motherships................................. 121,078 54,485 33,902 66,593
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 211,886 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 363,234 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 52,887 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 1,900 1,900 n/a
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 14,700 14,700 n/a
Area harvest limit \7\.......................... n/a n/a n/a n/a
541......................................... 15,866 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................... 7,933 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................... 2,644 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................... 75 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.7 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 Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock
TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to
the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is
allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available
for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is
a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
\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 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 5--Final 2020 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 A season \1\ 2020 B season
2020 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,420,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 142,000 63,900 39,760 78,100
ICA \1\......................................... 47,286 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,230,714 553,821 344,600 676,893
AFA Inshore..................................... 615,357 276,911 172,300 338,446
[[Page 9008]]
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 492,286 221,529 137,840 270,757
Catch by C/Ps............................... 450,441 202,699 n/a 247,743
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 41,844 18,830 n/a 23,014
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,461 1,108 n/a 1,354
AFA Motherships................................. 123,071 55,382 34,460 67,689
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 215,375 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 369,214 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 30,803 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 10,361 n/a 4,339
Area harvest limit \7\ 541...................... 9,241 n/a n/a n/a
542............................................. 4,620 n/a n/a n/a
543............................................. 1,540 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 Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.7 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 Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock
TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to
the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is
allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available
for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is
a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
\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 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch 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, ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
non-trawl gear sector, and the jig gear allocation (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 50
CFR 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 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, among other criteria, 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 to the
jig gear sector in 2019 and 2020.
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 trawl fishing. The ICAs and
jig gear allocations are not apportioned by season.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) limits Atka mackerel
catch within waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion sites listed in
Table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located west of 178[deg] W longitude to
no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543, and
equally divides the annual TACs 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 50 CFR part 679 and located in
Areas 541, 542, and 543.
Tables 6 and 7 list these 2019 and 2020 Atka mackerel seasonal and
area allowances, and the sector allocations. One Amendment 80
cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year. Because all Amendment
80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation
to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2019. The
2020 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, 2019.
[[Page 9009]]
Table 6--Final 2019 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Eastern Aleutian
district/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea District \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 23,970 14,390 19,591
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,565 1,540 2,096
A................... 1,282 770 1,048
Critical Habitat.... n/a 462 629
B................... 1,282 770 1,048
Critical Habitat.... n/a 462 629
Non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a................. 21,405 12,850 17,495
ICA.............................. Total............... 800 75 20
Jig \7\.......................... Total............... 103
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 2,050 1,278
A................... 1,025 639
Critical Habitat.... n/a 383
B................... 1,025 639
Critical Habitat.... n/a 383
Amendment 80 sector.............. Total............... 18,452 11,498 17,475
A................... 9,226 5,749 8,737
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,449 5,242
B................... 9,226 5,749 8,737
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,449 5,242
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 50
CFR 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 Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(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 section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\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 the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of
this allocation for 2019 at 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 2020 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea \5\ District \5\ District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 22,190 13,310 18,135
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,374 1,424 1,940
A................... 1,187 712 970
Critical Habitat.... n/a 427 582
B................... 1,187 712 970
Critical Habitat.... n/a 427 582
non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a................. 19,816 11,886 16,195
ICA.............................. Total............... 800 75 20
Jig \7\.......................... Total............... 95 ................. .................
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 1,892 1,181 -
A................... 946 591 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 354 .................
B................... 946 591 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 354 .................
Amendment 80 sectors \7\......... Total............... 17,029 10,630 16,175
A................... 8,514 5,315 8,087
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,189 4,852
B................... 8,514 5,315 8,087
[[Page 9010]]
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,189 4,852
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 50
CFR 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 Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(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 section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\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 the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of
this allocation for 2020 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2020 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,
2019.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
The Council separated Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 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 Bering Sea
TAC and the Aleutian Islands TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ
allocations have been deducted from the respective Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod TACs, the remaining Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further
BSAI Pacific cod sector allocations. If the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is
or will be reached in either the Bering Sea or the Aleutian Islands
subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod
in that subarea as provided in Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocates to the non-CDQ sectors
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 or 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/Ps; 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
Amendment 80 sector; 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 2019 and 2020, the Regional Administrator establishes an
ICA of 400 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 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91. One
Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year. Because
all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative,
no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for
2019. The 2020 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, 2019.
The sector allocations of Pacific cod are apportioned into seasonal
allowances to disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year
(see Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A), 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 for any sector,
except the jig sector, will become available at the beginning of that
sector's next seasonal allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that the Regional Administrator
establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod
abundance in Area 543. Based on the 2018 stock assessment, the Regional
Administrator determined the Pacific cod abundance in Area 543 to be
15.7 percent for 2019 and 2020. NMFS will first subtract the State GHL
Pacific cod amount from the Aleutian Islands 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 Aleutian Islands Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area
543 harvest limit is 2,232 mt for 2019 and 2020.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(viii) requires specification of annual Pacific
cod allocations for the Aleutian Islands non-CDQ ICA, non-CDQ DFA, CV
Harvest Set-Aside, and Unrestricted Fishery, as well as the Bering Sea
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation. The CV Harvest Set-Aside is a
portion of the AI Pacific cod TAC that is available for harvest by
catcher vessels directed fishing for AI Pacific cod and delivering
their catch for processing to an AI shoreplant. If NMFS receives
notification of intent to process AI Pacific cod from either the City
of Adak or the City of Atka by October 31 of the previous year, the
harvest limits in Tables 9a or 9b will be in effect in the following
year.
Prior to October 31, 2018, NMFS received timely and complete notice
from the City of Adak indicating an intent to process AI Pacific cod in
2019. Accordingly, the harvest limits in Table 9a will be in effect in
2019, subject to the requirements outlined in Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E). If less than 1,000 mt of the Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside is delivered at Aleutian Islands shoreplants by
February 28, 2019, then the Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside is
lifted and the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is
suspended. If the entire Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside
[[Page 9011]]
is fully harvested and delivered to Aleutian Islands shoreplants before
March 15, 2019, then the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation
will be suspended for the remainder of the fishing year.
If NMFS receives notice of intent to process AI Pacific cod from
either the City of Adak or the City of Atka prior to October 31, 2019,
for the 2020 fishing year, Table 9b will be in effect in 2020, subject
to the requirements outlined in Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E).
The CDQ and non-CDQ seasonal allowances by gear based on the 2019
and 2020 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.
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and (a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasons set forth at
Sec. 679.23(e)(5).
Table 8--Final 2019 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Share of 2019 Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent gear sector 2019 Share of ---------------------------------
total sector total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................ n/a 166,475 n/a n/a............. n/a
BS CDQ........................ n/a 17,813 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 148,662 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI TAC........................ n/a 14,214 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI CDQ........................ n/a 1,521 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 12,693 n/a n/a............. n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit. n/a 2,232 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.... 100 161,355 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 98,104 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a 400 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii
)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 97,704 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 78,260 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 39,912
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 38,347
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 321 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 164
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 157
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 2,410 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,229
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,181
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 13,499 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 6,884
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 6,614
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2.0 n/a 3,214 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 35,660 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 26,388
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 3,923
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 5,349
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 3,711 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 2,783
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 928
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 21,622 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 16,216
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 5,405
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Jig........................... 1.4 2,259 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,355
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 452
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 452
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 will 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 400 mt for 2019
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 9--Final 2020 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Share of 2020 Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent gear sector 2020 Share of ---------------------------------
total sector total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................ n/a 124,625 n/a n/a............. n/a
BS CDQ........................ n/a 13,335 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 111,290 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI TAC........................ n/a 14,214 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI CDQ........................ n/a 1,521 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 12,693 n/a n/a............. n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit. n/a 2,232 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.... n/a 123,983 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 75,382 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a 400 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii
)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 74,982 n/a n/a............. n/a
[[Page 9012]]
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 60,059 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 30,630
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 29,429
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 247 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 126
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 121
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 1,850 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 943
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 906
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 10,359 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 5,283
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 5,076
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2.0 n/a 2,467 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 27,400 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 20,276
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 3,014
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 4,110
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 2,852 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 2,139
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 713
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 16,614 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 12,460
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 4,153
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... ..............
Jig........................... 1.4 1,736 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,041
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 347
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 347
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 will 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 400 mt for 2020
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 9a--2019 BSAI A-Season Pacific Cod Allocations and Limits if
Requirements in Sec. 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) Are Met
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside Amount (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI non-CDQ TAC.......................................... 12,693
AI ICA.................................................. 2,500
AI DFA.................................................. 10,193
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside \1\............................. 5,000
AI Unrestricted Fishery \2\............................. 5,193
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation....................... 26,388
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector 21,388
Limitation \3\.........................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation.................. 5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Prior to March 15, 2019, only catcher vessels that deliver their
catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed
fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is
specified as the AI CV Harvest Set-Aside, unless lifted because the
requirements pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
\2\ Prior to March 15, 2019, vessels otherwise authorized to directed
fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of
the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI
Unrestricted Fishery.
\3\ This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may
be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2019, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of
the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
Table 9b--2020 BSAI A-Season Pacific Cod Allocations and Limits if
Requirements in Sec. 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) Are Met
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside Amount (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI non-CDQ TAC.......................................... 12,693
AI ICA.................................................. 2,500
AI DFA.................................................. 10,193
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside \1\............................. 5,000
AI Unrestricted Fishery \2\............................. 5,193
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation....................... 20,493
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector 15,493
Limitation \3\.........................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation.................. 5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Prior to March 15, 2020, only catcher vessels that deliver their
catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed
fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is
specified as the AI CV Harvest Set-Aside, unless lifted because the
requirements pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
[[Page 9013]]
\2\ Prior to March 15, 2020, vessels otherwise authorized to directed
fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of
the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI
Unrestricted Fishery.
\3\ This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may
be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2020, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of
the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Section 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the
sablefish TAC for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas between
trawl gear and hook-and-line or pot gear sectors. Gear allocations of
the TAC for the BS are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TAC for the AI are
25 percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS apportions 20 percent of
the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ
reserve for each subarea. Also, 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 or pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries are limited to the 2019 fishing year to ensure those
fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery.
Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the potential for
discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries 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 2019 and 2020 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 10--Final 2019 and 2020 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2019 Share of 2019 CDQ 2020 Share of 2020 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC TAC 2019 ITAC reserve TAC 2020 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
Trawl \1\........................... 50 745 633 56 997 847 75
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 50 745 596 149 n/a n/a n/a
Total............................... 100 1,489 1,228 205 997 847 75
Aleutian Islands
Trawl \1\........................... 25 502 427 38 672 571 50
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 75 1,506 1,205 301 n/a n/a n/a
Total............................... 100 2,008 1,632 339 672 571 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specific reserve (Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after 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 (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). 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 Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Section 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole ITACs between the Amendment 80 sector and the
BSAI trawl limited access sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for
the CDQ reserves and ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
vessels using non-trawl gear. The allocation of the ITACs for Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector are established in accordance
with Tables 33 and 34 to 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91.
One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80
cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2019. The 2020 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, 2019. Tables 11 and 12 list
the 2019 and 2020 allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 11--Final 2019 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 sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 11,009 8,385 10,000 14,500 47,100 154,000
[[Page 9014]]
CDQ..................................................... 1,178 897 1,070 1,552 5,040 16,478
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 973 743 178 .............. .............. 18,351
Amendment 80............................................ 8,758 6,685 8,742 9,949 36,060 115,171
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 12--Final 2020 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 sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 11,146 8,205 10,000 14,500 57,100 166,425
CDQ..................................................... 1,193 878 1,070 1,552 6,110 17,807
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 985 727 178 .............. .............. 22,789
Amendment 80\1\......................................... 8,868 6,540 8,742 9,949 44,990 121,828
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2020 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, 2019.
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 ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole. Section 679.31(b)(4) establishes the annual allocations
of CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ groups. 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 2019 and 2020
ABC surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
Table 13--Final 2019 and 2020 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Flathead 2019 Rock 2019 Yellowfin 2020 \1\ 2020 \1\ Rock 2020 \1\
Sector sole sole sole Flathead sole sole Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 66,625 118,900 263,200 68,448 143,700 257,800
TAC..................................................... 14,500 47,100 154,000 14,500 57,100 166,425
ABC surplus............................................. 52,125 71,800 109,200 53,948 86,600 91,375
ABC reserve............................................. 52,125 71,800 109,200 53,948 86,600 91,375
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,577 7,683 11,684 5,772 9,266 9,777
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 46,548 64,117 97,516 48,176 77,334 81,598
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2020 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, 2019.
[[Page 9015]]
PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
Section 679.21(b), (e), (f), and (g) sets forth the BSAI PSC
limits. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1), the annual BSAI halibut PSC
limits total 3,515 mt. Section 679.21(b)(1) allocates 315 mt of the
halibut PSC limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ
program, 1,745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector,
745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl limited access
sector, and 710 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl
sector.
Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B) authorizes apportionment of
the BSAI non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC allowances among six
fishery categories in Table 17, and Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B),
(e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv) requires apportionment of the trawl PSC
limits in Tables 15 and 16 into PSC allowances among seven fishery
categories.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends, and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from
the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, after consultation with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program
requires that legal-size halibut 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 for that vessel category and the IFQ
regulatory area in which the vessel is operating (Sec. 679.7(f)(11)).
The 2018 total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the
BSAI was 28,662 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 20
mt. The 2018 jig gear fishery harvested about 56 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. As mentioned above, NMFS estimates a
negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the selective
nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with
jig gear and released.
Under Sec. 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of
either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits
among the AFA sectors, depending on past bycatch performance, on
whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements (IPAs) are
formed, and on whether NMFS determines it is a low Chinook salmon
abundance year. NMFS will determine that it is a low Chinook salmon
abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in western Alaska is
less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon. The State of Alaska
provides to NMFS an estimate of Chinook salmon abundance using the 3-
System Index for western Alaska based on the Kuskokwim, Unalakleet, and
Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping.
If an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not
exceeded its performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if it
is not a low Chinook salmon abundance year, NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no IPA is approved, or if
the sector has exceeded its performance standard under Sec.
679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low abundance year, 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)(C). If an AFA sector participates
in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its performance standard under
Sec. 679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 45,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is approved, or if
the sector has exceeded its performance standard under Sec.
679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, NMFS will allocate a portion of
the 33,318 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in
Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS has determined that 2018 was a low Chinook salmon abundance
year, based on the State's estimate that Chinook salmon abundance in
western Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook salmon. Therefore, in 2019,
the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook salmon, allocated to
each sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). The AFA sector
Chinook salmon allocations are also seasonally apportioned with 70
percent of the allocation for the A season pollock fishery, and 30
percent of the allocation for the B season pollock fishery (Sec. Sec.
679.21(f)(3)(i) and 679.23(e)(2)). In 2019, the Chinook salmon bycatch
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6) is 33,318 Chinook salmon,
allocated to each sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS publishes the approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700 fish as the 2019 and 2020
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI pollock fishery. Section
679.21(g)(2)(ii) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the AI
PSQ reserve for the CDQ Program, and allocates the remaining 647
Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2019 and 2020
non-Chinook salmon PSC limit for vessels using trawl gear from August
15 through October 14 in the Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA).
Section 679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook
salmon, in the CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ Program, and
allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA to 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 2018 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 13.1 million red king crabs, and the
effective spawning biomass is estimated at 33,275 million lbs (15,093
mt). Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2019
and 2020 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000
animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate
of more than 8.4 million mature red king crab and the effective
spawning biomass estimate of more than 14.5 million lbs (6,577 mt) but
less than 55 million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS 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 2018, 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 2018 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 1,238 million animals. Pursuant to criteria
set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2019 and 2020 C.
bairdi crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1, and
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. The limit in Zone 1 is based on the
[[Page 9016]]
abundance of C. bairdi estimated at 1,238 million animals, which is
greater than 400 million animals. The limit in Zone 2 is based on the
abundance of C. bairdi estimated at 1,238 million animals, which is
greater than 400 million animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for trawl gear
for snow crab (C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by
the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit in
the C. opilio bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent
of the Bering Sea abundance index minus 150,000 crabs. Based on the
2018 survey estimate of 10.65 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio
crab PSC limit is 11,916,450 animals, which is above the minimum PSC
limit of 4.5 million and below the maximum PSC limit of 13 million
animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2019 and 2020 herring biomass is 254,709 mt. This amount
was developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game based on
biomass for spawning aggregations. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for
2019 and 2020 is 2,547 mt for all trawl gear as listed in Tables 14 and
15.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that PSQ reserves be subtracted
from the total trawl gear crab PSC limits. The crab and halibut PSC
limits apportioned to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access
sectors are listed in Table 35 to 50 CFR part 679. The resulting 2019
and 2020 allocations of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ reserves, the Amendment 80
sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access sector are listed in Table
14. Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(i), 679.21(e)(3)(vi), 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 cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC cooperative
quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to
specific fishery categories. In 2019, there are no vessels in the
Amendment 80 limited access sector and one Amendment 80 cooperative.
The 2020 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,
2019. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires that NMFS apportion each
trawl PSC limit for crab and herring not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery
categories in Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Section 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of halibut and
crab PSC amounts for the BSAI trawl limited access and non-trawl
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 relative to
prohibited species distribution, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal
basis relevant to prohibited species biomass and expected catches of
target groundfish species, (4) expected variations in bycatch rates
throughout the year, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected start of fishing effort, and (7) economic
effects of establishing seasonal prohibited species apportionments on
segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on this criteria, the
Council recommended and NMFS approves the seasonal PSC apportionments
in Tables 16 and 17 to maximize harvest among gear types, fisheries,
and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC.
Table 14--Final 2019 and 2020 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ
Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl PSC BSAI trawl
Non-trawl CDQ PSQ remaining Amendment limited
PSC species and area \1\ Total PSC PSC reserve \2\ after CDQ 80 sector access
PSQ \3\ fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI....... 3,515 710 315 n/a 1,745 745
Herring (mt) BSAI................. 2,547 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1.... 97,000 n/a 10,379 86,621 43,293 26,489
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ......... 11,916,450 n/a 1,275,060 10,641,390 5,230,243 3,420,143
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1... 980,000 n/a 104,860 875,140 368,521 411,228
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2... 2,970,000 n/a 317,790 2,652,210 627,778 1,241,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
\2\ 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 for crab below the total PSC limit.
These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Table 15-Final 2019 and 2020 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals)
BSAI Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.......................... 111 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 54 n/a
\1\....................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ 7 n/a
Kamchatka flounder/sablefish...........
Rockfish................................ 7 n/a
Pacific cod............................. 13 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock.................. 2,313 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \2\ 42 n/a
\3\....................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 24,250
pelagic trawl gear \4\.................
-------------------------------
[[Page 9017]]
Total trawl PSC..................... 2,547 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth
flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole.
\2\ Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and
``other species'' fishery category.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins,
sharks, and octopuses.
\4\ In December 2018, 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.
Table 16--FINAL 2019 and 2020 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
fisheries mortality (mt) (animals) Zone (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................. 150 23,338 3,224,126 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
flatfish \2\...................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish......................
Rockfish April 15-December 31... 4 .............. 5,326 .............. 1,000
Pacific cod..................... 391 2,954 137,426 60,000 49,999
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 200 197 53,265 5,000 5,000
species \3\....................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited 745 26,489 3,420,143 411,228 1,241,500
access PSC.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 17-Final 2019 and 2020 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/
Non-trawl fisheries Seasons processor Catcher vessel All non-trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................... Total Pacific cod....... 648 13 661
January 1-June 10....... 388 9 n/a
June 10-August 15....... 162 2 n/a
August 15-December 31... 98 2 n/a
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total....... May 1-December 31....... n/a n/a 49
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 710
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) annually
assesses the abundance and potential yield of the Pacific halibut stock
using all available data from the commercial and sport fisheries, other
removals, and scientific surveys. Additional information on the Pacific
halibut stock assessment may be found in the IPHC's 2018 Pacific
halibut stock assessment (December 2018), available on the IPHC website
at www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the 2018 Pacific halibut stock
assessment at its January 2019 annual meeting when it set the 2019
commercial halibut fishery catch limits.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch
rates, halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of
groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality
allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut incidental
catch rates are based on observers' estimates of halibut incidental
catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the proportion
of incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after being returned
to the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that accrues to a
particular halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR multiplied by the
estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the best scientific
information available in conjunction
[[Page 9018]]
with the annual BSAI stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and
findings are included as an appendix to the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE
report.
In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the
Council's directive. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC,
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that
have undergone review by the Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A summary
of the revised methodology is included in the BSAI proposed 2017 and
2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87863, December 6, 2016), and the
comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology
is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR working group's
revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy,
transparency, and transferability in the methodology used for
calculating DMRs. The working group will continue to consider
improvements to the methodology used to calculate halibut mortality,
including potential changes to the reference period (the period of data
used for calculating the DMRs). Future DMRs, including the 2020 DMRs,
may change based on additional years of observer sampling, which could
provide more recent and accurate data and which could improve the
accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The new methodology
will continue to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that more accurately
reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different sectors of
their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors to respond
with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for
that sector.
At the December 2018 meeting, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed and
concurred in the revised DMRs. The 2019 and 2020 DMRs use an updated 2-
year reference period. Comparing the 2019 and 2020 final DMRs to the
final DMRs from the 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications, the DMR for
motherships and catcher/processors using non-pelagic trawl gear
decreased to 78 percent from 84 percent, the DMR for catcher vessels
using non-pelagic trawl gear decreased to 59 percent from 60 percent,
the DMR for catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear decreased to 4
percent from 17 percent, and the DMR for pot gear increased to 19
percent from 9 percent. Table 18 lists the final 2019 and 2020 DMRs.
Table 18-2019 and 2020 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR) for
the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut
discard
Gear Sector mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl.................. All.................... 100
Non-pelagic trawl.............. Mothership and catcher/ 78
processor.
Non-pelagic trawl.............. Catcher vessel......... 59
Hook-and-line.................. Catcher/processor...... 8
Hook-and-line.................. Catcher vessel......... 4
Pot............................ All.................... 19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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,
regulatory area, or district (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly,
pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), 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 or species group in that
fishery category in the area specified by regulation for the remainder
of the fishing year.
Based on historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing activity,
the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 19 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2019 and 2020
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 19 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species or species groups in the specified areas effective
at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2020. 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 19 are insufficient to support directed
fisheries. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b)(4)(i) and
(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors,
species, and fishery categories in the specified areas effective at
1200 hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2020.
Table 19--2019 and 2020 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 2020
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 75 75
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 2,400 2,400
``Other rockfish'' 388 388
\2\.
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... Trawl non-CDQ........ Sablefish............ 427 571
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80, ICA Atka mackerel.... 800 800
Sea. CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
[[Page 9019]]
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 75 75
Sea. rockfish.
Eastern Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
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 60 60
perch.
Western Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, CDQ ICA Atka mackerel.... 20 20
and BSAI trawl
limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Western and Central Aleutian All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 204 204
Districts. rockfish.
Bering Sea subarea................ Trawl non-CDQ........ Sablefish............ 633 847
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 14,675 14,274
``Other rockfish'' 234 234
\2\.
ICA pollock.......... 46,520 47,286
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Northern rockfish.... 5,525 5,525
Shortraker rockfish.. 304 150
Skates............... 22,100 22,950
Sculpins............. 4,250 4,250
Sharks............... 106 180
Octopuses............ 340 200
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 400 400
gear.
Non-amendment 80 and ICA flathead sole.... 3,000 3,000
CDQ.
ICA rock sole........ 5,000 5,000
Non-amendment 80, ICA yellowfin sole... 4,000 4,000
CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead
access. 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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Closures implemented under the final 2018 and 2019 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) remain
effective under authority of these final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications and until the date specified in those notices. Closures
are posted at the following websites: 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 20 lists the 2019 and 2020 AFA C/P groundfish sideboard
limits. Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC
of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
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 20. However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2019 and 2020 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
[[Page 9020]]
Table 20--Final 2019 and 2020 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
------------------------------------------------ 2019 ITAC 2019 AFA C/P 2020 ITAC 2020 AFA C/P
Target species Area/ season Ratio of available to sideboard available to sideboard
Retained catch Total catch retained catch trawl C/Ps \1\ limit trawl C/Ps \1\ limit
to total catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl............................... BS.............................. 8 497 0.0160 633 10 847 14
AI.............................. .............. 145 .............. 427 .............. 571
Atka mackerel................................. Central AI A season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.1150 6,425 739 11,116 1,278
Central AI B season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.1150 6,425 739 11,116 1,278
Western AI A season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.2000 8,748 1,750 6,173 1,235
Western AI B season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.2000 8,748 1,750 6,173 1,235
Rock sole..................................... BSAI............................ 6,317 169,362 0.0370 42,060 1,556 43,846 1,622
Greenland turbot.............................. BS.............................. 121 17,305 0.0070 4,356 30 4,356 30
AI.............................. 23 4,987 0.0050 144 1 144 1
Arrowtooth flounder........................... BSAI............................ 76 33,987 0.0020 6,800 14 6,800 14
Kamchatka flounder............................ BSAI............................ 76 33,987 0.0020 4,250 9 4,250 9
Flathead sole................................. BSAI............................ 1,925 52,755 0.0360 12,949 466 12,949 466
Alaska plaice................................. BSAI............................ 14 9,438 0.0010 15,300 15 15,300 15
Other flatfish................................ BSAI............................ 3,058 52,298 0.0580 5,525 320 5,525 320
Pacific ocean perch........................... BS.............................. 12 4,879 0.0020 12,474 25 12,133 24
Eastern AI...................... 125 6,179 0.0200 9,831 197 9,953 199
Central AI...................... 3 5,698 0.0010 7,488 7 7,327 7
Western AI...................... 54 13,598 0.0040 8,930 36 8,930 36
Northern rockfish............................. BSAI............................ 91 13,040 0.0070 5,525 39 5,525 39
Shortraker rockfish........................... BSAI............................ 50 2,811 0.0180 304 5 304 5
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish................ BS/EAI.......................... 50 2,811 0.0180 64 1 64 1
CAI/WAI......................... 50 2,811 0.0180 173 3 173 3
Other rockfish................................ BS.............................. 18 621 0.0290 234 7 234 7
AI.............................. 22 806 0.0270 388 10 388 10
Skates........................................ BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 22,100 177 22,100 177
Sculpins...................................... BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 4,250 34 4,250 34
Sharks........................................ BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 106 1 106 1
Octopuses..................................... BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 340 3 340 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock 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 for the BSAI trawl limited access sector 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.
Notes: Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80
sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
[[Page 9021]]
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard limits in the BSAI. The final rule establishes
regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits
through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final rule is effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA
Program sideboard limit amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation
(84 FR 2723).
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of 50 CFR part 679
establish a formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for halibut
and crab caught by 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 21 that are caught by listed AFA C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2019 and 2020 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to
close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA
C/Ps once a 2019 or 2020 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 21 is
reached.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or
crab PSC by listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for pollock will accrue
against the PSC allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka
mackerel/``other species'' fishery categories under Sec.
679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
Table 21--Final 2019 and 2020 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 and 2020
PSC available 2019 and 2020
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 10,641,390 1,628,133
C. bairdi Zone 1................................................ 0.140 875,140 122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2................................................ 0.050 2,652,210 132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA 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)(3) and (4) establishes a formula
for setting AFA CV groundfish and halibut and crab 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). Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA CVs from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC
of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt. Tables 22 and 23 list
the 2019 and 2020 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 2019 and 2020 sideboard limits listed in Table 22.
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 23 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2019 and 2020 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7)
authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA CVs once a 2019 or 2020 PSC sideboard limit listed in
Table 23 is reached. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and
(e)(3)(ii)(C), the halibut and crab PSC by AFA CVs while fishing for
pollock in the BSAI will accrue against the PSC allowances annually
specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery
categories under Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
Table 22--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- 2019 AFA 2020 AFA
1997 AFA CV 2019 Initial catcher vessel 2020 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........................ .............. n/a .............. n/a ..............
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV>=60 feet LOA. BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 164 0 127 0
BSAI Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 157 0 122 0
Pacific cod pot gear CV................... BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 6,884 4 5,340 3
BSAI Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 6,614 4 5,131 3
[[Page 9022]]
Pacific cod CV >= 60 feet LOA using hook- BSAI........................ 0.0006 3,214 2 2,493 1
and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV................. BSAI Jan 20-Apr 1........... 0.8609 26,388 22,717 20,493 17,642
BSAI Apr 1-Jun 10........... 0.8609 3,923 3,377 3,046 2,622
BSAI Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0.8609 5,349 4,605 4,154 3,576
Sablefish trawl gear...................... BS.......................... 0.0906 633 57 847 77
AI.......................... 0.0645 427 28 571 37
Atka mackerel............................. Eastern AI/BS Jan 1-Jun 10.. 0.0032 10,703 34 9,908 32
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10-Nov 1.. 0.0032 10,703 34 9,908 32
Central AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... 0.0001 6,425 1 5,933 1
Central AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... 0.0001 6,425 1 5,933 1
Western AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... .............. 8,748 .............. 8,098 ..............
Western AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... .............. 8,748 .............. 8,098 ..............
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 0.0341 42,060 1,434 50,990 1,739
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 0.0645 4,356 281 4,356 281
AI.......................... 0.0205 144 3 144 3
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 0.0690 6,800 469 6,800 469
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 0.0690 4,250 293 4,250 293
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 0.0441 15,300 675 15,300 675
Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 0.0441 5,525 244 5,525 244
Flathead sole............................. BS.......................... 0.0505 12,949 654 12,949 654
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 0.1000 12,474 1,247 12,133 1,213
Eastern AI.................. 0.0077 9,831 76 9,953 77
Central AI.................. 0.0025 7,488 19 7,327 18
Western AI.................. .............. 8,930 .............. 8,930 ..............
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0084 5,525 46 5,525 46
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 304 1 304 1
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish............ BS/EAI...................... 0.0037 64 0 64 0
CAI/WAI..................... 0.0037 173 1 173 1
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 0.0048 234 1 234 1
AI.......................... 0.0095 388 4 388 4
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 22,100 1,196 22,100 1,196
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 4,250 230 4,250 230
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 106 6 106 6
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 340 18 340 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod, 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).
Notes: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole
assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard limits in the
BSAI. The final rule establishes regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species groups,
rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final rule is
effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard limit amounts
for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in
regulation (84 FR 2723).
Table 23--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 and 2020
AFA catcher PSC limit 2019 and 2020
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
Alaska plaice/other
flatfish \4\.
Greenland turbot/ n/a n/a ..............
arrowtooth/Kamchatka/
sablefish.
[[Page 9023]]
Rockfish................ n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ n/a n/a 5
other species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1.................. n/a..................... 0.2990 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ....................... n/a..................... 0.1680 10,641,390 1,787,754
C. bairdi Zone 1...................... n/a..................... 0.3300 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2...................... n/a..................... 0.1860 2,652,210 493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Target trawl fishery categories are defined at Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (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), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, 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 24 and 25 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2019 and 2020 fishing years.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 24 and 25 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of the year
in 2019 and 2020, 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 24, and prohibiting directed fishing by non-
exempt AFA CVs for the species in the specified areas set out in Table
25.
Table 24--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Sideboard 2020 Sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl................... BS................... trawl................ 10 14
AI................... trawl................ .............. ..............
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,556 1,622
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 30 30
AI................... all.................. 1 1
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 14 14
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 9 9
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 15 15
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 320 320
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 466 466
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 25 24
Eastern AI........... all.................. 197 199
Central AI........... all.................. 7 7
Western AI........... all.................. 36 36
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 39 39
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 5 5
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish.... EBS/EAI.............. all.................. 1 1
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 3 3
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 7 7
AI................... all.................. 10 10
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 177 177
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 34 34
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
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 blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
[[Page 9024]]
Table 25-Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 sideboard 2020 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod....................... BSAI................. hook-and-line CV>=60 0 0
feet LOA.
BSAI................. pot CV>=60 feet LOA.. 9 8
BSAI................. hook-and-line or pot 2 2
CV<=60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. jig.................. 0 0
Sablefish......................... BS................... trawl................ 56 79
AI................... trawl................ 27 38
Atka mackerel..................... Eastern AI/BS........ all.................. 104 96
Central AI........... all.................. 2 2
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 281 281
AI................... all.................. 3 3
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 799 821
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 293 293
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 501 609
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 150 150
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 654 744
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,434 1,495
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 1008 977
Eastern AI........... all.................. 62 67
Central AI........... all.................. 17 17
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 44 46
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish.... BS/EAI............... all.................. 0 0
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 1 1
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 1 1
AI................... all.................. 5 5
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1,242 1,242
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 230 230
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 10 10
Squids............................ BSAI................. all.................. 390 390
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 14 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Response to Comments
NMFS received no comments during the public comment period for the
proposed BSAI groundfish harvest specifications. No changes were made
to the final rule in response to the comment letters received.
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 Order 12866.
NMFS prepared an EIS for 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 Final EIS.
In February 2019, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR)
for this action. Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this
action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes
the environmental, social, and economic consequences of the groundfish
harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources
in the action area. Based on the analysis in the Final EIS, NMFS
concluded that the preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) provides the
best balance among relevant environmental, social, and economic
considerations and allows for continued management of the groundfish
fisheries based on the most recent, best scientific information.
The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for
the 2019 and 2020 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 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, which were set
according to the preferred harvest strategy in the EIS, does not
constitute a substantial 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
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications will result in environmental,
social, and economic impacts within the scope of those analyzed and
disclosed in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental
Policy Act documentation is not necessary to implement the 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications.
[[Page 9025]]
Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604)
requires that, when an agency promulgates a final rule under 5 U.S.C.
553, 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). The following constitutes
the FRFA prepared in the final action.
The required contents of a FRFA, as described in section 604, are:
(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 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; and (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
included at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are
not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815).
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to
accompany the proposed action, and included a summary in the proposed
rule. The comment period closed on January 7, 2019. No comments were
received on the IRFA or on the economic impacts of the rule more
generally. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration did not file any comments on the proposed rule.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
harvest groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and in
parallel fisheries within State waters. These include entities
operating catcher vessels and catcher/processors within the action area
and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish.
For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) 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 $11 million for all its
affiliated operations worldwide.
Using the most recent data available (2017), the estimated number
of directly regulated small entities include approximately 170 catcher
vessels, four catcher/processors, and six CDQ groups. Some of these
vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, Gulf of Alaska
rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI Crab Rationalization Program
cooperatives, and, since under the RFA the aggregate gross receipts of
all participating members of the cooperative must meet the ``under $11
million'' threshold, the cooperatives are considered to be large
entities within the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the estimate of 170
catcher vessels may be an overstatement of the number of small
entities. Average gross revenues in 2017 were $570,000 for small hook-
and-line vessels, $1.37 million for small pot vessels, and $3.15
million for small trawl vessels. The average gross revenue for catcher/
processors are not reported, due to confidentiality considerations.
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 FMP. 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 BSAI and Gulf of
Alaska groundfish fishery management plans. 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: First, set TAC for rockfish species in Tier
3 at F75%; set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M; and set
spatially explicit TAC for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. Second, 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 (1.4 million 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: (No Action) Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs 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 TACs that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet the objectives of this
action, and although Alternatives 1 and 3 may have a smaller adverse
economic impact on small entities than the preferred alternative,
Alternatives 4 and 5 likely would have a significant adverse economic
impact on small entities. The Council rejected these alternatives as
harvest strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of Commerce did so in
2007.
[[Page 9026]]
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 Table
1 and Table 2, the sum of ABCs in 2019 and 2020 would be 3,367,578 mt
and 2,967,269 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, Division B, section 803(c), and the FMP, which both set a 2.0
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
based on 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, as well as National Standard 2 of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(2)), because it does not take
into account the most recent biological information for this fishery.
NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as
well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible
harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component
of these estimates, but in and of themselves may not accurately portray
stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
groundfish species to reduce TAC from the upper end of the OY range in
the BSAI to its lower end of 1.4 million mt. 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 uncertain, and, assuming
volume decreases would lead to price increases, it is unclear whether
price increases would be sufficient to offset the volume decreases and
to leave revenues unchanged for small entities. Thus, this alternative
would have an adverse economic impact on small entities, compared to
the preferred alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may address
conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse economic
impact on small entities and would be inconsistent with achieving OY on
a continuing basis, as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C.
1851(a)(1)).
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 the date
of effectiveness for this rule because delaying this rule is contrary
to the public interest. The Plan Team review of the 2018 SAFE report
occurred in November 2018, and the Council considered and recommended
the final harvest specifications in December 2018. Accordingly, NMFS's
review of the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications could not
begin until after the December 2018 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 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to continue fishing,
because some of the new TACs implemented by this rule are higher than
the TACs under which they are currently fishing.
In addition, 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 pertinent for those species that have lower 2019 ABCs and
TACs than those established in the 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications
(83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). If implemented immediately, this rule
would ensure that NMFS can properly manage those fisheries for which
this rule sets lower 2019 ABCs and TACs, which are based on the most
recent biological information on the condition of stocks, rather than
managing species under the higher TACs set in the previous year's
harvest specifications.
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, thus
undermining the intent of this rule. Predicting which fisheries may
close is difficult 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, for
example by freeing up fishing vessels, which would allow those vessels
to move from closed fisheries to open ones and lead to an increase in
the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, thereby causing those
open fisheries 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 limits. 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 that the sideboard limits are meant to protect. Moreover,
the new TACs 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 15,
2019, which is the start of the 2019 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 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications will
allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season.
Finally, immediate effectiveness also would provide 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 the date
of 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 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the
[[Page 9027]]
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish
harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during
the 2019 and 2020 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 amounts 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 7, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04539 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
