Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel Prices, 71240-71248 [2021-27103]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
parties the opportunity to comment on
the proposed changes to the exempted
fishing permit previously issued to the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before December 30, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments by the following method:
• Email: nmfs.gar.efp@noaa.gov.
Include in the subject line
‘‘Modification to Center Study Fleet
EFP.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spencer Talmage, Fishery Policy
Analyst, 978–281–9232.
On May 6,
2021, NMFS issued an exempted fishing
permit (EFP) to the Northeast Fisheries
Science Center (Center) in support of
the 2021 Study Fleet Program. The
Study Fleet Program was established in
2002 to more fully characterize
commercial fishing operations and
provide sampling opportunities to
augment NMFS’s data collection
programs. As part of the program, the
Center contracts commercial fishing
vessels to collect biological data and
fish specimens for the Center to use in
research relevant to stock assessments
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
and fish biology. The Center’s Study
Fleet Program trains participating
captains and crew to conduct at-sea
sampling consistent with Center
sampling protocols for survey and
observer programs. During EFP trips,
crew sort, weigh, measure, and collect
biological data from fish prior to
discarding.
The EFP currently exempts 20
commerical fishing vessels from
minimum fish sizes and possession
limits for species of interest, as shown
in Table 1.
TABLE 1—REGULATORY EXEMPTIONS ORIGINALLY ISSUED FOR THE 2021 STUDY FLEET EFP
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Exempted regulations in 50 CFR part 648 ..................
On November 4, 2021, the NESFC
requested a modification to the EFP
which would add an exemption to
§ 648.86(l), which prohibits the
possession of ocean pout, windowpane
flounder, and Atlantic wolffish. The
modification would allow six of the
participating vessels to retain and land
Atlantic wolffish when directed by the
Center. Ocean pout and windowpane
flounder are not target species for this
EFP, but their possession is prohibited
by the same regulation which prohibits
the possession of Atlantic wolffish. As
a result, an exemption from the
regulation which prohibits possession of
Atlantic wolffish would also act as an
exemption from the possession
prohibition for ocean pout and
windowpane flounder. To prevent
vessels from harvesting ocean pout or
windowpane flounder, the terms and
conditions of the EFP would prohibit
participating vessels from retaining and
landing ocean pout and windowpane
flounder.
Participating vessels would not be
allowed to collect more than 10 fish
total, or an amount over 70 lb (31.75 kg)
total, whichever is reached first. In
order to ensure that landed fish do not
exceed the collection needs of the Study
Fleet Program, the Center would issue a
formal biological sampling request prior
to landing. The captain or crew would
deliver landed fish to Center staff or
local NMFS Port Agents upon landing.
The Center requested this
modification in order to support new
research focusing on the osteology and
ontogeny of wolffish species, which
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Minimum fish sizes: § 648.83 Northeast multispecies minimum fish sizes for haddock,
yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, and American plaice.
Possession restrictions: § 648.86(a) Haddock, § 648.86(d) Small-mesh multispecies,
§ 648.86(g) Yellowtail flounder, § 648.86(o) Possession limits implemented by the Regional Administrator.
requires biological samples of Atlantic
wolffish. The study would contribute
fundamental data on the morphology of
fish in the wolffish family, which would
provide a necessary baseline for
phylogenetic analysis and future
morphological research.
This modification would not alter any
other aspect of the EFP, including the
remaining exemptions, remaining
conditions and requirements, and study
period. They do not change the impact
of the EFP from what was previously
issued.
The applicant may request further
minor modifications and extensions to
the EFP throughout the year. EFP
modifications and extensions may be
granted without further notice if they
are deemed essential to facilitate
completion of the proposed research
and have minimal impacts that do not
change the scope or impact of the
initially approved EFP request. Any
fishing activity conducted outside the
scope of the exempted fishing activity
would be prohibited.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: December 9, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–27102 Filed 12–14–21; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XB544]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic
Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific
Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel
Prices
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard exvessel prices.
AGENCY:
NMFS publishes standard exvessel prices for groundfish and halibut
for the calculation of the observer fee
under the North Pacific Observer
Program (Observer Program). This
notice is intended to provide
information to vessel owners,
processors, registered buyers, and other
Observer Program participants about the
standard ex-vessel prices that will be
used to calculate the observer fee for
landings of groundfish and halibut
made in 2022. NMFS will send invoices
to processors and registered buyers
subject to the fee by January 15, 2023.
Fees are due to NMFS on or before
February 15, 2023.
DATES: The standard prices are valid on
January 1, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general questions about the observer fee
and standard ex-vessel prices, contact
Abby Jahn at (907) 586–7445. For
questions about the fee billing process,
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
contact Charmaine Weeks at (907) 586–
7231. Additional information about the
Observer Program is available on NMFS
Alaska Region’s website at https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/
fisheries-observers/north-pacificobserver-program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Background
Regulations at 50 CFR part 679,
subpart E, governing the Observer
Program, require the deployment of
NMFS-certified observers (observers)
and electronic monitoring (EM) systems
to collect information necessary for the
conservation and management of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI)
and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish
and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers
use information collected by observers
and EM systems to monitor quotas,
manage groundfish and prohibited
species catch, and document and reduce
fishery interactions with protected
resources. Scientists use observercollected information for stock
assessments and marine ecosystem
research.
The Observer Program includes two
observer coverage categories: The partial
coverage category and the full coverage
category. All groundfish and halibut
vessels and processors subject to
observer coverage are included in one of
these two categories. Defined at 50 CFR
679.51, the partial coverage category
includes vessels and processors that are
not required to have an observer at all
times, and the full coverage category
includes vessels and processors
required to have all of their fishing and
processing activity observed. Vessels
and processors in the full coverage
category arrange and pay for observer
services from a permitted observer
provider. Observer coverage and EM for
the partial coverage category is funded
through a system of fees based on the
ex-vessel value of groundfish and
halibut. Throughout this notice, the
term ‘‘processor’’ refers to shoreside
processors, stationary floating
processors, and catcher/processors in
the partial coverage category.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage
Fee
Pursuant to section 313 of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is
authorized to assess a fee on all landings
accruing against a Federal total
allowable catch (TAC) for groundfish or
commercial halibut quota landings
made by vessels that are subject to
Federal regulations and not included in
the full coverage category. A fee is
assessed only on landings of groundfish
from vessels designated on a Federal
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Fisheries Permit or from vessels landing
individual fishing quota (IFQ) or
community development quota (CDQ)
halibut or IFQ sablefish. Within the
subset of vessels subject to the observer
fee, only landings accruing against an
IFQ allocation or a Federal TAC for
groundfish are included in the fee
assessment. A table with additional
information about which landings are
subject to the observer fee is at
§ 679.55(c) and on page 2 of an
informational bulletin titled ‘‘Observer
Fee Collection’’ that can be downloaded
from the NMFS Alaska Region website
at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
resource/document/observer-feecollection-north-pacific-groundfish-andhalibut-fisheries-observer.
Fee Determination
A fee equal to 1.65 percent of the exvessel value is assessed on the landings
of groundfish and halibut subject to the
fee. Ex-vessel value is determined by
multiplying the standard price for
groundfish by the round weight
equivalent for each species, gear, and
port combination, and the standard
price for halibut by the headed and
gutted weight equivalent. Standard
prices are determined by aggregating
prices by species, gear, and area
grouping to arrive at an average price
per pound for each grouping. NMFS
reviews each vessel landing report and
determines whether the reported
landing is subject to the observer fee
and, if so, which groundfish species in
the landing are subject to the observer
fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing
subject to the observer fee will be
included in the observer fee calculation.
For any landed groundfish or halibut
subject to the observer fee, NMFS will
apply the appropriate standard ex-vessel
prices for the species, gear type, and
port, and calculate the observer fee
associated with the landing.
Processors and registered buyers can
access the landing-specific, observer fee
information through NMFS Web
Application (https://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/
login) or eLandings (https://
elandings.alaska.gov/). Observer fee
information is either available
immediately or within 24 hours after a
landing report is submitted
electronically. A time lag occurs for
some landings because NMFS must
process each landing report through the
catch accounting system to determine
which groundfish in a landing accrues
against a Federal TAC and are subject to
the observer fee.
Under the fee system, catcher vessel
owners split the fee with the registered
buyers or owners of shoreside or
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71241
stationary floating processors. While the
owners of catcher vessels and
processors in the partial coverage
category are each responsible for paying
their portion of the fee, the owners of
shoreside or stationary floating
processors and registered buyers are
responsible for collecting the fees from
catcher vessels, and remitting the full
fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/
processors in the partial coverage
category are responsible for remitting
the full fee to NMFS.
NMFS sends invoices to processors
and registered buyers by January 15 of
each calendar year. The total fee amount
is determined by the sum of the fees
reported for each landing at that
processor or registered buyer in the
prior calendar year. Processors and
registered buyers must pay the fees to
NMFS using eFISH. Payments are due
by February 15 of each year. Processors
and registered buyers have access to this
system through a User ID and password
issued by NMFS. Instructions for
electronic payment are provided on the
NMFS Alaska Region website at https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/
commercial-fishing/observer-feecollection-and-payment-north-pacificgroundfish-and-halibut and on the
observer fee invoice to be mailed to each
processor and registered buyer.
Standard Prices
This notice provides the standard exvessel prices for groundfish and halibut
species subject to the observer fee in
2022. Data sources for ex-vessel prices
are:
• For groundfish other than sablefish
IFQ and sablefish accruing against the
fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the
State of Alaska’s Commercial Fishery
Entry Commission’s (CFEC) gross
revenue data, which are based on the
Commercial Operator Annual Report
(COAR) and Alaska Department of Fish
and Game (ADF&G) fish tickets; and
• For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ,
sablefish IFQ, and sablefish accruing
against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ
reserve, the IFQ Buyer Report that is
submitted to NMFS annually by each
registered buyer that operates as a
shoreside processor and receives and
purchases IFQ landings of sablefish and
halibut or CDQ landings of halibut
under § 679.5(l)(7)(i).
The standard prices in this notice
were calculated using the following
procedures for protecting confidentiality
of data submitted to or collected by
NMFS. NMFS does not publish any
price information that would permit the
identification of an individual or
business. For NMFS to publish a
standard price for a particular species-
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
gear-port combination, the price data
used to calculate the standard price
must represent landings from at least
four different vessels to at least three
different processors in a port or port
group. Price data that are confidential
because fewer than four vessels or three
processors contributed data to a
particular species-gear-port combination
have been aggregated.
Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 1 shows the groundfish species
standard ex-vessel prices that will be
used to calculate the fee for 2022. These
prices are based on the CFEC gross
revenue data, which are based on
landings data from ADF&G fish tickets
and information from the COAR. The
COAR contains statewide buying and
production information, and is
considered the most complete routinely
collected information to determine the
ex-vessel value of groundfish harvested
from waters off Alaska.
The standard ex-vessel prices for
groundfish were calculated by adding
ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross
revenue files for 2018, 2019, and 2020
by species, port, and gear category, and
adding the volume (round weight
equivalent) from the CFEC gross
revenue files for 2018, 2019, and 2020
by species, port, and gear category, and
then dividing total ex-vessel value over
the three-year period in each category
by total volume over the three-year
period in each category. This
calculation results in an average ex-
vessel price per pound by species, port,
and gear category for the three-year
period. Three gear categories were used
for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1)
Non-trawl gear, including hook-andline, pot, jig, troll, and others (NonTrawl); (2) non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT);
and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR).
CFEC ex-vessel value and volume
data are available in the fall of the year
following the year the fishing occurred.
Thus, it is not possible to base ex-vessel
fee liabilities on standard prices that are
less than two years old. For the 2022
groundfish standard ex-vessel prices,
the most recent ex-vessel value and
volume data available are from 2020.
If a particular groundfish species is
not listed in Table 1, the standard exvessel price for a species group (if it
exists in the management area) will be
used. If price data for a particular
species remained confidential once
aggregated to the outside of Alaska
(ALL) level, data are aggregated by
species group (Flathead Sole; GOA
Deep-water Flatfish; GOA Shallowwater Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and
Other Rockfish). Standard prices for the
groundfish species groups are shown in
Table 2.
If a port-level price does not meet the
confidentiality requirements, the data
are aggregated by port group. Port-group
data for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and
the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast
Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented
separately when price data are available.
Port-group data are aggregated by
regulatory area in the GOA (Eastern
GOA, Central GOA, and Western GOA)
and by subarea in the BSAI (BS subarea
and AI subarea). If confidentiality
requirements are still not met by
aggregating prices across ports at these
levels, the prices are aggregated at the
level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide
(AK) and ports outside of Alaska
(OTAK), and finally all ports, including
those outside of Alaska (ALL).
Standard prices are presented
separately for non-pelagic trawl and
pelagic trawl when non-confidential
data are available. NMFS also calculated
prices for a ‘‘Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic
Trawl Combined’’ (PTR/NPT) category
that can be used when combining trawl
price data for landings of a species in a
particular port or port group will not
violate confidentiality requirements.
Creating this standard price category
allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2022
landings of some of the species with
pelagic trawl gear based on a combined
trawl gear price for the port or port
group.
If no standard ex-vessel price is listed
for a species or species group and gear
category combination in Table 1, Table
2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on
that landing. Volume and value data for
that species will be added to the
standard ex-vessel prices in future
years, if the data become available and
display of a standard ex-vessel price
meets confidentiality requirements.
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species
(species code) 1
Port/area 3 4
Alaska Plaice Flounder (133) ....................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
AK .............................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOA ........................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Craig .........................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
Arrowtooth Flounder (121) .........................................
Atka Mackerel (193) ..................................................
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Black Rockfish (142) ..................................................
Bocaccio Rockfish (137) ............................................
Butter Sole (126) .......................................................
Canary Rockfish (146) ...............................................
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0.46
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0.39
0.39
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---------------0.35
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NPT
$0.13
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.12
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.07
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.15
------------------0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
----------
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PTR
---------------$0.06
0.06
0.08
0.08
0.08
0.11
0.11
0.11
0.09
0.09
----------------------------------------------
PTR/NPT
$0.13
0.13
0.12
0.12
0.12
------------------------------0.15
------------------0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
----------
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TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species
(species code) 1
Port/area 3 4
China Rockfish (149) .................................................
Copper Rockfish (138) ...............................................
Darkblotched Rockfish (159) .....................................
Dover Sole (124) .......................................................
Dusky Rockfish (172) ................................................
English Sole (128) .....................................................
Flathead Sole (122) ...................................................
Northern Rockfish (136) ............................................
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Octopus (870) ............................................................
Pacific Cod (110) .......................................................
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Non-trawl
SEAK ........................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
Dutch Harbor ............................................
BS .............................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Craig .........................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
Whittier ......................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
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PTR
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.07
0.07
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0.08
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0.13
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---0.55
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.15
---0.15
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---------------0.14
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TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species
(species code) 1
Port/area 3 4
Pacific Ocean Perch (141) ........................................
Pollock (270) ..............................................................
Quillback Rockfish (147) ............................................
Redbanded Rockfish (153) ........................................
Redstripe Rockfish (158) ...........................................
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Rex Sole (125) ...........................................................
Rock Sole (123) .........................................................
Rosethorn Rockfish (150) ..........................................
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Non-trawl
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
WGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
Dillingham .................................................
Dutch Harbor ............................................
BS .............................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
Stationary Floating Processor ..................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
EGOA ........................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
BS .............................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
WGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
Dutch Harbor ............................................
BS .............................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
Stationary Floating Processor ..................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Craig .........................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOA ........................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
SEAK ........................................................
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0.42
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0.43
0.43
1.17
---0.12
0.12
0.81
------0.81
0.79
0.04
0.05
0.05
---0.04
------------0.04
0.04
0.58
0.42
0.64
0.23
0.62
0.54
0.41
0.40
0.41
0.72
0.52
0.50
0.51
0.51
0.51
0.31
0.35
0.23
0.44
0.35
0.27
0.28
0.29
0.20
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0.28
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.49
0.50
0.57
0.50
0.50
0.50
------------------------------0.43
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
NPT
PTR
---0.43
---0.43
0.39
0.41
---0.41
0.40
0.39
---0.39
0.39
---0.17
---0.17
0.17
------0.17
0.17
0.14
---0.14
---0.14
------0.10
---0.14
0.14
---------------------------------------------------------------------0.14
---0.14
0.15
0.15
0.15
------------------0.33
0.33
0.34
0.34
0.34
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
0.18
----
15DEN1
PTR/NPT
---0.41
---0.41
---0.36
---0.05
0.08
0.08
---0.33
0.33
---0.17
---0.17
0.17
0.05
0.10
0.17
0.17
0.13
---0.13
0.12
0.13
0.16
0.15
0.15
---0.13
0.13
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.26
0.26
0.45
0.42
0.42
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
0.17
----
------------0.39
---------------0.39
---------------------0.05
0.10
---------------0.12
---0.16
0.15
---0.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------0.14
---0.14
0.15
0.15
0.15
----------------------------------------------------
71245
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species
(species code) 1
Port/area 3 4
Rougheye Rockfish (151) ..........................................
Sablefish (blackcod) (710) .........................................
Shortraker Rockfish (152) ..........................................
Silvergray Rockfish (157) ..........................................
Skate, Big (702) .........................................................
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Skate, Longnose (701) ..............................................
Skate, Other (700) .....................................................
Starry Flounder (129) ................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Dec 14, 2021
Jkt 256001
Non-trawl
EGOA ........................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
Whittier ......................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
Bellingham ................................................
OTAK ........................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
Whittier ......................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Craig .........................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
EGOA ........................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
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0.35
0.43
0.43
0.43
0.33
0.34
0.28
0.46
0.40
0.27
0.45
0.27
0.37
0.28
0.39
0.33
0.35
0.26
0.35
0.36
0.36
0.35
5 n/a
5 n/a
5 n/a
5 n/a
5 n/a
0.33
0.34
0.28
0.42
0.38
0.45
0.47
0.47
0.37
0.21
0.37
0.33
0.37
0.37
0.37
0.34
0.41
0.26
0.47
0.42
0.40
0.31
0.34
0.23
0.42
0.38
0.40
0.40
0.40
0.40
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0.45
0.45
0.44
0.44
0.44
0.40
0.18
0.31
0.45
0.43
0.43
0.38
0.38
0.38
0.42
0.42
0.42
-------
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
NPT
PTR
---------------------------------------------0.25
---0.25
0.25
---0.25
------0.25
1.31
1.31
1.27
1.27
1.27
---------------------------0.18
---0.18
0.28
0.28
0.28
------------------------0.13
---0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
---0.45
---0.45
0.45
0.45
0.45
---------0.45
---0.45
0.45
0.45
0.45
---0.09
0.09
0.07
0.07
15DEN1
PTR/NPT
---------------------------------------------0.19
---0.19
0.19
---0.19
------0.19
---------0.51
0.51
---------------------------0.20
---0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
---------------------------------------------0.45
---0.45
0.43
0.43
0.43
---------0.45
---0.45
0.39
0.39
0.39
----------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------1.31
1.31
1.26
---------------------------------------------------------------------------0.13
---0.13
0.13
0.13
0.13
------------------------------------------------0.39
0.09
0.09
0.08
0.08
71246
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species
(species code) 1
Port/area 3 4
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) (143) ...........................
Tiger Rockfish (148) ..................................................
Vermilion Rockfish (184) ...........................................
Widow Rockfish (156) ................................................
Yelloweye Rockfish (145) ..........................................
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Yellowtail Rockfish (155) ...........................................
Non-trawl
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
Whittier ......................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
BS .............................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOA ........................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Craig .........................................................
Juneau ......................................................
Ketchikan ..................................................
Petersburg ................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
Cordova ....................................................
Whittier ......................................................
EGOAxSE .................................................
Homer .......................................................
Kodiak .......................................................
Seward ......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
WGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
BSAI ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
Sitka ..........................................................
SEAK ........................................................
EGOA ........................................................
Homer .......................................................
CGOA .......................................................
GOA ..........................................................
AK .............................................................
ALL ............................................................
---------0.94
1.07
0.99
0.96
0.97
0.59
0.44
0.67
0.66
0.68
0.71
0.70
0.82
0.72
0.70
0.81
0.81
0.51
0.48
0.49
0.32
0.32
0.41
0.46
0.42
0.43
0.43
0.43
0.61
0.61
0.61
0.61
0.61
0.71
0.71
0.71
1.86
0.94
1.70
1.12
1.90
1.68
0.81
0.82
0.82
0.72
0.34
0.60
0.59
0.46
---0.21
1.42
1.42
0.57
0.57
0.57
0.50
0.66
0.61
0.61
0.61
NPT
PTR
0.07
0.07
0.07
---------------------------0.43
---0.43
0.45
------0.45
0.45
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.25
---0.25
---0.25
---0.25
0.25
-------------------------
PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.08
0.08
0.08
---------------------------0.43
---0.43
0.44
------0.44
0.44
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0.25
---0.25
---0.25
---0.25
0.25
-------------------------
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
1 If species is not listed, use price for the species group in Table 2 if it exists in the management area. If no price is available for the species or species group in
Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
2 For species codes, see Table 2a to 50 CFR part 679.
3 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK
= Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
4 If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is
listed for the port and gear type combination, use port group and gear type combination, or see Table 2 or Table 3.
5 n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in Table 3 with the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Dec 14, 2021
Jkt 256001
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E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
71247
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 2—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES GROUPS FOR 2022 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
Species group 1
Port/area 2 3
Flathead Sole 5 (FSOL) ........................................
GOA Deep Water Flatfish 6 (DFL4) ......................
GOA Shallow Water Flatfish 7 (SFL1) ..................
Other Rockfish 8 9 (ROCK) ...................................
BSAI
AK
Non-Trawl
BSAI Skate and GOA
Skate, Other 4 (USKT).
AK .................................
Kodiak ...........................
CGOA ............................
GOA ..............................
AK .................................
Kodiak ...........................
CGOA ............................
GOA ..............................
Kodiak ...........................
CGOA ............................
GOA ..............................
Craig ..............................
Juneau ..........................
Ketchikan ......................
Petersburg .....................
Sitka ..............................
SEAK .............................
Cordova .........................
Whittier ..........................
EGOAxSE .....................
Homer ...........................
Kodiak ...........................
Seward ..........................
CGOA ............................
WGOA ...........................
GOA ..............................
BS .................................
0.68 ...............................
---- .................................
NPT
PTR
PTR/NPT
GOA
$0.41
----
$0.39
---------------------------------$0.33
0.46
0.37
0.39
0.46
0.43
0.70
0.69
0.66
0.68
0.31
0.56
0.55
0.57
---0.71
---0.21
0.08
0.14
0.14
0.14
0.14
0.07
0.07
0.08
0.16
0.16
0.16
------------------------------0.18
---0.18
---0.18
----------
---$0.14
0.14
0.14
0.14
---------0.15
0.15
0.15
---------------------------------------------------0.21
0.08
------------0.07
0.07
0.08
---------------------------------------0.18
---0.18
---0.18
----
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
1 If groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the management area. If no price is available for the
species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel
prices in future years.
2 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast
Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
3 If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for groundfish
landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination, use port group and gear type combination.
4 ‘‘BSAI Skate and GOA Skate, Other’’ means all skates in the BSAI and all skates with the exception of Raja binoculata (Big) and R. rhina
(Longnose) in the GOA.
5 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and H. robustus (Bering flounder).
6 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
7 ‘‘Shallow-water flatfish’’ in the GOA means flatfish not including ‘‘deep-water flatfish’’, flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
8 In the GOA:
‘‘Other rockfish means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri
(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S.
zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion), S.
reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, ‘‘other rockfish’’ also includes northern rockfish
(S. polyspinous).
‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the Eastern Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the ‘‘other rockfish’’ and demersal shelf rockfish categories. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the SEO District only
includes other rockfish.
‘‘Demersal shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S.
helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, dark rockfish, northern rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ
Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 3 shows the observer fee
standard ex-vessel prices for halibut and
sablefish. These standard prices are
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Dec 14, 2021
Jkt 256001
calculated as a single annual average
price, by species and port or port group.
Volume and ex-vessel value data
collected on the 2021 IFQ Buyer Report
for landings made from October 15,
2020, through September 30, 2021, were
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
used to calculate the standard ex-vessel
prices for the 2022 observer fee for
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ,
and sablefish landings that accrue
against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ
reserve.
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
71248
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 238 / Wednesday, December 15, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 3—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR HALIBUT IFQ, HALIBUT CDQ, SABLEFISH IFQ, AND SABLEFISH ACCRUING
AGAINST THE FIXED GEAR SABLEFISH CDQ RESERVE FOR THE 2022 OBSERVER FEE
[Based on 2021 IFQ Buyer Reports]
Species
Port/area 1
Halibut (200) ...............................................................................
Craig ...........................................................................................
Ketchikan ....................................................................................
Petersburg ..................................................................................
Sitka ............................................................................................
SEAK ..........................................................................................
EGOAxSE ...................................................................................
Homer .........................................................................................
Kodiak .........................................................................................
Seward .......................................................................................
CGOA .........................................................................................
GOA ............................................................................................
BS ...............................................................................................
BSAI ...........................................................................................
AK ...............................................................................................
ALL .............................................................................................
Craig ...........................................................................................
Sitka ............................................................................................
SEAK ..........................................................................................
EGOAxSE ...................................................................................
Homer .........................................................................................
Kodiak .........................................................................................
Seward .......................................................................................
CGOA .........................................................................................
GOA ............................................................................................
BS ...............................................................................................
BSAI ...........................................................................................
AK ...............................................................................................
ALL .............................................................................................
Sablefish (710) ...........................................................................
Price 2
$6.03
5.94
6.15
5.81
5.97
6.15
6.65
5.44
6.76
6.36
6.17
5.39
5.39
6.04
6.05
1.90
2.12
2.07
1.79
2.23
1.66
1.79
1.74
1.85
1.60
1.60
1.82
1.82
1 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; CGOA =
Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
2 If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish landings and the
headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
[FR Doc. 2021–27103 Filed 12–14–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Technical Information Service
Request for Nominations for Members
To Serve on the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) Advisory
Board
National Technical Information
Service, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
NTIS invites nomination of
individuals for appointment to the
National Technical Information Service
Advisory Board (Board or Committee).
NTIS will consider nominations
received in response to this notice for
appointment to the Committee, in
addition to nominations already
received.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:04 Dec 14, 2021
Jkt 256001
NTIS will accept nominations on
a rolling basis. Members to fill the
existing vacancies will be selected from
nominations submitted by 5:00 p.m. on
March 25th, 2022. Any nominations
received after that date will be kept on
file and may be used to fill vacancies on
the Board should they occur.
ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations
to Designated Federal Officer (DFO),
NTIS at FACA@ntis.gov, Subject: NTIS
Advisory Board Membership.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Shaw at eshaw@ntis.gov or
Steven Holland at sholland@ntis.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Dated: December 9, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Committee Information
The Secretary of Commerce, pursuant
to Section 212(c) of the National
Technical Information Act of 1988 (15
U.S.C. 3704b(c)), established the
Advisory Board, in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App.
Objectives and Duties
1. The NTIS Advisory Board shall
review and make recommendations to
improve NTIS programs, operations,
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and general policies in support of
NTIS’s mission to advance Federal data
priorities, promote economic growth,
and enable operational excellence by
providing innovative data services to
Federal agencies through joint venture
partnerships with the private sector.
2. The Board shall report to the
Secretary of Commerce and to the Under
Secretary of Commerce for Standards
and Technology through the Director of
NTIS.
3. The Board shall act in the public
interest to:
a. Provide advice on the optimal data
services business and operating model
to best implement NTIS’s joint venture
authority.
b. Provide advice on the means,
including infrastructure and process
improvements, to make Federal data
easier to find, access, use, analyze, and
combine.
c. Assess progress in evolving NTIS
programs toward a focus on Federal data
priorities.
d. Assess the use of merit-based
criteria and processes to plan, conduct,
and oversee programs and projects,
including the selection of joint venture
partners.
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71240-71248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27103]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XB544]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard ex-vessel prices.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and
halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific
Observer Program (Observer Program). This notice is intended to provide
information to vessel owners, processors, registered buyers, and other
Observer Program participants about the standard ex-vessel prices that
will be used to calculate the observer fee for landings of groundfish
and halibut made in 2022. NMFS will send invoices to processors and
registered buyers subject to the fee by January 15, 2023. Fees are due
to NMFS on or before February 15, 2023.
DATES: The standard prices are valid on January 1, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Abby Jahn at (907)
586-7445. For questions about the fee billing process,
[[Page 71241]]
contact Charmaine Weeks at (907) 586-7231. Additional information about
the Observer Program is available on NMFS Alaska Region's website at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/fisheries-observers/north-pacific-observer-program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Regulations at 50 CFR part 679, subpart E, governing the Observer
Program, require the deployment of NMFS-certified observers (observers)
and electronic monitoring (EM) systems to collect information necessary
for the conservation and management of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish and halibut
fisheries. Fishery managers use information collected by observers and
EM systems to monitor quotas, manage groundfish and prohibited species
catch, and document and reduce fishery interactions with protected
resources. Scientists use observer-collected information for stock
assessments and marine ecosystem research.
The Observer Program includes two observer coverage categories: The
partial coverage category and the full coverage category. All
groundfish and halibut vessels and processors subject to observer
coverage are included in one of these two categories. Defined at 50 CFR
679.51, the partial coverage category includes vessels and processors
that are not required to have an observer at all times, and the full
coverage category includes vessels and processors required to have all
of their fishing and processing activity observed. Vessels and
processors in the full coverage category arrange and pay for observer
services from a permitted observer provider. Observer coverage and EM
for the partial coverage category is funded through a system of fees
based on the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut. Throughout this
notice, the term ``processor'' refers to shoreside processors,
stationary floating processors, and catcher/processors in the partial
coverage category.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee
Pursuant to section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is
authorized to assess a fee on all landings accruing against a Federal
total allowable catch (TAC) for groundfish or commercial halibut quota
landings made by vessels that are subject to Federal regulations and
not included in the full coverage category. A fee is assessed only on
landings of groundfish from vessels designated on a Federal Fisheries
Permit or from vessels landing individual fishing quota (IFQ) or
community development quota (CDQ) halibut or IFQ sablefish. Within the
subset of vessels subject to the observer fee, only landings accruing
against an IFQ allocation or a Federal TAC for groundfish are included
in the fee assessment. A table with additional information about which
landings are subject to the observer fee is at Sec. 679.55(c) and on
page 2 of an informational bulletin titled ``Observer Fee Collection''
that can be downloaded from the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/observer-fee-collection-north-pacific-groundfish-and-halibut-fisheries-observer.
Fee Determination
A fee equal to 1.65 percent of the ex-vessel value is assessed on
the landings of groundfish and halibut subject to the fee. Ex-vessel
value is determined by multiplying the standard price for groundfish by
the round weight equivalent for each species, gear, and port
combination, and the standard price for halibut by the headed and
gutted weight equivalent. Standard prices are determined by aggregating
prices by species, gear, and area grouping to arrive at an average
price per pound for each grouping. NMFS reviews each vessel landing
report and determines whether the reported landing is subject to the
observer fee and, if so, which groundfish species in the landing are
subject to the observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing
subject to the observer fee will be included in the observer fee
calculation. For any landed groundfish or halibut subject to the
observer fee, NMFS will apply the appropriate standard ex-vessel prices
for the species, gear type, and port, and calculate the observer fee
associated with the landing.
Processors and registered buyers can access the landing-specific,
observer fee information through NMFS Web Application (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings (https://elandings.alaska.gov/). Observer fee information is either available
immediately or within 24 hours after a landing report is submitted
electronically. A time lag occurs for some landings because NMFS must
process each landing report through the catch accounting system to
determine which groundfish in a landing accrues against a Federal TAC
and are subject to the observer fee.
Under the fee system, catcher vessel owners split the fee with the
registered buyers or owners of shoreside or stationary floating
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion
of the fee, the owners of shoreside or stationary floating processors
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from
catcher vessels, and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/
processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
NMFS sends invoices to processors and registered buyers by January
15 of each calendar year. The total fee amount is determined by the sum
of the fees reported for each landing at that processor or registered
buyer in the prior calendar year. Processors and registered buyers must
pay the fees to NMFS using eFISH. Payments are due by February 15 of
each year. Processors and registered buyers have access to this system
through a User ID and password issued by NMFS. Instructions for
electronic payment are provided on the NMFS Alaska Region website at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/observer-fee-collection-and-payment-north-pacific-groundfish-and-halibut and on the
observer fee invoice to be mailed to each processor and registered
buyer.
Standard Prices
This notice provides the standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish
and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2022. Data sources
for ex-vessel prices are:
For groundfish other than sablefish IFQ and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the State of
Alaska's Commercial Fishery Entry Commission's (CFEC) gross revenue
data, which are based on the Commercial Operator Annual Report (COAR)
and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fish tickets; and
For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the IFQ Buyer
Report that is submitted to NMFS annually by each registered buyer that
operates as a shoreside processor and receives and purchases IFQ
landings of sablefish and halibut or CDQ landings of halibut under
Sec. 679.5(l)(7)(i).
The standard prices in this notice were calculated using the
following procedures for protecting confidentiality of data submitted
to or collected by NMFS. NMFS does not publish any price information
that would permit the identification of an individual or business. For
NMFS to publish a standard price for a particular species-
[[Page 71242]]
gear-port combination, the price data used to calculate the standard
price must represent landings from at least four different vessels to
at least three different processors in a port or port group. Price data
that are confidential because fewer than four vessels or three
processors contributed data to a particular species-gear-port
combination have been aggregated.
Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 1 shows the groundfish species standard ex-vessel prices that
will be used to calculate the fee for 2022. These prices are based on
the CFEC gross revenue data, which are based on landings data from
ADF&G fish tickets and information from the COAR. The COAR contains
statewide buying and production information, and is considered the most
complete routinely collected information to determine the ex-vessel
value of groundfish harvested from waters off Alaska.
The standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish were calculated by
adding ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross revenue files for 2018,
2019, and 2020 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the
volume (round weight equivalent) from the CFEC gross revenue files for
2018, 2019, and 2020 by species, port, and gear category, and then
dividing total ex-vessel value over the three-year period in each
category by total volume over the three-year period in each category.
This calculation results in an average ex-vessel price per pound by
species, port, and gear category for the three-year period. Three gear
categories were used for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1) Non-trawl
gear, including hook-and-line, pot, jig, troll, and others (Non-Trawl);
(2) non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT); and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR).
CFEC ex-vessel value and volume data are available in the fall of
the year following the year the fishing occurred. Thus, it is not
possible to base ex-vessel fee liabilities on standard prices that are
less than two years old. For the 2022 groundfish standard ex-vessel
prices, the most recent ex-vessel value and volume data available are
from 2020.
If a particular groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, the
standard ex-vessel price for a species group (if it exists in the
management area) will be used. If price data for a particular species
remained confidential once aggregated to the outside of Alaska (ALL)
level, data are aggregated by species group (Flathead Sole; GOA Deep-
water Flatfish; GOA Shallow-water Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and Other
Rockfish). Standard prices for the groundfish species groups are shown
in Table 2.
If a port-level price does not meet the confidentiality
requirements, the data are aggregated by port group. Port-group data
for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast
Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately when price data are
available. Port-group data are aggregated by regulatory area in the GOA
(Eastern GOA, Central GOA, and Western GOA) and by subarea in the BSAI
(BS subarea and AI subarea). If confidentiality requirements are still
not met by aggregating prices across ports at these levels, the prices
are aggregated at the level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide (AK) and
ports outside of Alaska (OTAK), and finally all ports, including those
outside of Alaska (ALL).
Standard prices are presented separately for non-pelagic trawl and
pelagic trawl when non-confidential data are available. NMFS also
calculated prices for a ``Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic Trawl Combined''
(PTR/NPT) category that can be used when combining trawl price data for
landings of a species in a particular port or port group will not
violate confidentiality requirements. Creating this standard price
category allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2022 landings of some of the
species with pelagic trawl gear based on a combined trawl gear price
for the port or port group.
If no standard ex-vessel price is listed for a species or species
group and gear category combination in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no
fee will be assessed on that landing. Volume and value data for that
species will be added to the standard ex-vessel prices in future years,
if the data become available and display of a standard ex-vessel price
meets confidentiality requirements.
Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species for 2022 Observer Coverage Fee
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/area 3 4
Species (species code) \1\ Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Plaice Flounder (133).. Kodiak.......... ---- $0.13 ---- $0.13
CGOA............ ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
GOA............. ---- 0.12 ---- 0.12
AK.............. ---- 0.12 ---- 0.12
ALL............. ---- 0.12 ---- 0.12
Arrowtooth Flounder (121)..... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.07 $0.06 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.07 0.06 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.07 0.08 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.07 0.08 ----
ALL............. ---- 0.07 0.08 ----
Atka Mackerel (193)........... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.17 0.11 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.17 0.11 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.17 0.11 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.17 0.09 ----
ALL............. ---- 0.17 0.09 ----
Black Rockfish (142).......... AK.............. $0.62 0.15 ---- 0.15
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... Sitka........... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.46 ---- ---- ----
EGOA............ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.39 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.39 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Butter Sole (126)............. Kodiak.......... ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
CGOA............ ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
GOA............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
AK.............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
ALL............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Canary Rockfish (146)......... Craig........... 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.49 ---- ---- ----
[[Page 71243]]
SEAK............ 0.49 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.44 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.58 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.56 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.49 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.49 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.49 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... Juneau.......... 0.53 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.48 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.63 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.43 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.47 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.47 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.47 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... Sitka........... 0.45 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.47 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.56 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.55 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.52 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.59 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.54 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.52 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.52 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.52 ---- ---- ----
Darkblotched Rockfish (159)... ALL............. 0.50 ---- ---- ----
Dover Sole (124).............. Kodiak.......... ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
CGOA............ ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
GOA............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
AK.............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
ALL............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Juneau.......... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.51 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.50 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.53 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.46 0.17 0.15 ----
Seward.......... 0.64 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.48 0.17 0.15 ----
GOA............. 0.48 0.17 0.15 ----
AK.............. 0.48 0.17 0.15 ----
ALL............. 0.48 0.17 0.15 ----
English Sole (128)............ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
CGOA............ ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
GOA............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
AK.............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
ALL............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Flathead Sole (122)........... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
ALL............. ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
Northern Rockfish (136)....... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
AK.............. 0.93 0.16 0.15 ----
ALL............. 0.93 0.16 0.15 ----
Octopus (870)................. Homer........... 0.80 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.53 0.55 ---- 0.55
CGOA............ 0.56 0.55 ---- 0.55
GOA............. 0.58 0.55 ---- 0.55
Dutch Harbor.... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
BS.............. 0.63 ---- ---- ----
BSAI............ 0.50 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.52 0.55 ---- 0.55
ALL............. 0.52 0.55 ---- 0.55
Pacific Cod (110)............. Craig........... 0.26 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.69 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.53 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.52 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.65 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.60 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.52 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.55 ---- ---- ----
[[Page 71244]]
Homer........... 0.56 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.51 0.43 0.41 ----
Seward.......... 0.55 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.52 0.43 0.41 ----
WGOA............ 0.43 0.39 ---- 0.39
GOA............. ---- 0.41 0.36 ----
Dillingham...... 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Dutch Harbor.... 0.42 0.41 0.05 ----
BS.............. 0.42 0.40 0.08 ----
BSAI............ 0.41 0.39 0.08 ----
Stationary 0.42 ---- ---- 0.39
Floating
Processor.
AK.............. 0.43 0.39 0.33 ----
ALL............. 0.43 0.39 0.33 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... EGOA............ 1.17 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... ---- 0.17 0.17 ----
Seward.......... 0.12 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.12 0.17 0.17 ----
GOA............. 0.81 0.17 0.17 ----
BS.............. ---- ---- 0.05 0.05
BSAI............ ---- ---- 0.10 0.10
AK.............. 0.81 0.17 0.17 ----
ALL............. 0.79 0.17 0.17 ----
Pollock (270)................. Kodiak.......... 0.04 0.14 0.13 ----
Seward.......... 0.05 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.05 0.14 0.13 ----
WGOA............ ---- ---- 0.12 0.12
GOA............. 0.04 0.14 0.13 ----
Dutch Harbor.... ---- ---- 0.16 0.16
BS.............. ---- ---- 0.15 0.15
BSAI............ ---- 0.10 0.15 ----
Stationary ---- ---- ---- 0.11
Floating
Processor.
AK.............. 0.04 0.14 0.13 ----
ALL............. 0.04 0.14 0.13 ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Craig........... 0.58 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.64 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.23 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.62 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.54 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.72 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.52 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.50 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.51 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.51 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.51 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Juneau.......... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.23 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.44 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.28 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.20 0.14 ---- 0.14
Seward.......... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.28 0.14 ---- 0.14
GOA............. 0.33 0.15 ---- 0.15
AK.............. 0.33 0.15 ---- 0.15
ALL............. 0.34 0.15 ---- 0.15
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... SEAK............ 0.49 ---- ---- ----
EGOA............ 0.50 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.57 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.50 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.50 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.50 ---- ---- ----
Rex Sole (125)................ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.33 0.26 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.33 0.26 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.34 0.45 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.34 0.42 ----
ALL............. ---- 0.34 0.42 ----
Rock Sole (123)............... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.18 0.17 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.18 0.17 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.18 0.17 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.18 0.17 ----
ALL............. ---- 0.18 0.17 ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... SEAK............ 0.43 ---- ---- ----
[[Page 71245]]
EGOA............ 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.35 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.35 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Juneau.......... 0.33 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.28 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.45 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.28 0.25 0.19 ----
Seward.......... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.33 0.25 0.19 ----
GOA............. 0.35 0.25 0.19 ----
BSAI............ 0.26 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.35 0.25 0.19 ----
Bellingham...... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
OTAK............ 0.36 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.35 0.25 0.19 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... Kodiak.......... \5\ n/a 1.31 ---- 1.31
CGOA............ \5\ n/a 1.31 ---- 1.31
GOA............. \5\ n/a 1.27 ---- 1.26
AK.............. \5\ n/a 1.27 0.51 ----
ALL............. \5\ n/a 1.27 0.51 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Juneau.......... 0.33 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.28 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.42 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.45 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.47 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.47 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.21 0.18 0.20 ----
Seward.......... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.33 0.18 0.20 ----
GOA............. 0.37 0.28 0.20 ----
AK.............. 0.37 0.28 0.20 ----
ALL............. 0.37 0.28 0.20 ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Craig........... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.26 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.47 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.23 0.13 ---- 0.13
Seward.......... 0.42 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.38 0.13 ---- 0.13
GOA............. 0.40 0.13 ---- 0.13
AK.............. 0.40 0.13 ---- 0.13
ALL............. 0.40 0.13 ---- 0.13
Skate, Big (702).............. EGOA............ 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.45 0.45 0.45 ----
Seward.......... 0.45 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.45 0.45 0.45 ----
GOA............. 0.44 0.45 0.43 ----
AK.............. 0.44 0.45 0.43 ----
ALL............. 0.44 0.45 0.43 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... SEAK............ 0.40 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.18 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.45 0.45 0.45 ----
Seward.......... 0.43 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.43 0.45 0.45 ----
GOA............. 0.38 0.45 0.39 ----
AK.............. 0.38 0.45 0.39 ----
ALL............. 0.38 0.45 0.39 ----
Skate, Other (700)............ GOA............. 0.42 ---- ---- 0.39
AK.............. 0.42 0.09 ---- 0.09
ALL............. 0.42 0.09 ---- 0.09
Starry Flounder (129)......... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.07 ---- 0.08
CGOA............ ---- 0.07 ---- 0.08
[[Page 71246]]
GOA............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.08
AK.............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.08
ALL............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.08
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Juneau.......... 0.94 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Ketchikan....... 1.07 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.99 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.96 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.97 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.59 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.44 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.67 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.66 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.68 0.43 ---- 0.43
Seward.......... 0.71 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.70 0.43 ---- 0.43
GOA............. 0.82 0.45 ---- 0.44
BS.............. 0.72 ---- ---- ----
BSAI............ 0.70 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.81 0.45 ---- 0.44
ALL............. 0.81 0.45 ---- 0.44
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... Juneau.......... 0.51 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.48 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.49 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.32 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Seward.......... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.42 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... SEAK............ 0.61 ---- ---- ----
EGOA............ 0.61 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
Widow Rockfish (156).......... GOA............. 0.71 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.71 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.71 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Craig........... 1.86 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.94 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 1.70 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 1.12 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 1.90 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 1.68 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.81 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.82 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.82 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.72 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.34 0.25 ---- 0.25
Seward.......... 0.60 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.59 0.25 ---- 0.25
WGOA............ 0.46 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. ---- 0.25 ---- 0.25
BSAI............ 0.21 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 1.42 0.25 ---- 0.25
ALL............. 1.42 0.25 ---- 0.25
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... Sitka........... 0.57 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.57 ---- ---- ----
EGOA............ 0.57 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.50 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.66 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
AK.............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
ALL............. 0.61 ---- ---- ----
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If species is not listed, use price for the species group in Table 2 if it exists in the management area. If
no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be
assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ For species codes, see Table 2a to 50 CFR part 679.
\3\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska;
BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern
Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK =
Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
\4\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type combination, or see Table 2 or Table 3.
\5\ n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in Table 3 with
the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings.
[[Page 71247]]
Table 2--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species Groups for 2022 Observer Coverage Fee
[Based on volume and value from 2018, 2019, and 2020]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/area \2\
Species group \1\ \3\ Non-Trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Skate and GOA $0.41 ---- $0.39
GOA Skate,
Other \4\
(USKT).
AK.............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole \5\ (FSOL)...... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.14 $0.14 ----
CGOA............ ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
AK.............. ---- 0.14 0.14 ----
GOA Deep Water Flatfish \6\ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
(DFL4).
CGOA............ ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
GOA............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
GOA Shallow Water Flatfish \7\ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
(SFL1).
CGOA............ ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
GOA............. ---- 0.16 0.15 ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Craig........... $0.33 ---- ---- ----
Juneau.......... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
Ketchikan....... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Petersburg...... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Sitka........... 0.46 ---- ---- ----
SEAK............ 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Cordova......... 0.70 ---- ---- ----
Whittier........ 0.69 ---- ---- ----
EGOAxSE......... 0.66 ---- ---- ----
Homer........... 0.68 ---- ---- ----
Kodiak.......... 0.31 0.18 ---- 0.18
Seward.......... 0.56 ---- ---- ----
CGOA............ 0.55 0.18 ---- 0.18
WGOA............ 0.57 ---- ---- ----
GOA............. ---- 0.18 ---- 0.18
BS.............. 0.71 ---- ---- ----
BSAI 0.68............ ---- ---- ----
AK ----............ 0.21 ---- 0.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the
management area. If no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no
fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska;
BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern
Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK =
Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
\3\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type combination.
\4\ ``BSAI Skate and GOA Skate, Other'' means all skates in the BSAI and all skates with the exception of Raja
binoculata (Big) and R. rhina (Longnose) in the GOA.
\5\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and H. robustus (Bering flounder).
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' in the GOA means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish'', flathead sole,
rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
\8\ In the GOA:
``Other rockfish means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S.
goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish (S. polyspinous).
``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the Eastern
Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the ``other rockfish'' and demersal shelf rockfish
categories. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish.
``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S.
maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean
perch, dark rockfish, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 3 shows the observer fee standard ex-vessel prices for
halibut and sablefish. These standard prices are calculated as a single
annual average price, by species and port or port group. Volume and ex-
vessel value data collected on the 2021 IFQ Buyer Report for landings
made from October 15, 2020, through September 30, 2021, were used to
calculate the standard ex-vessel prices for the 2022 observer fee for
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
[[Page 71248]]
Table 3--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Halibut IFQ, Halibut CDQ,
Sablefish IFQ, and Sablefish Accruing Against the Fixed Gear Sablefish
CDQ Reserve for the 2022 Observer Fee
[Based on 2021 IFQ Buyer Reports]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Port/area \1\ Price \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (200)..................... Craig............... $6.03
Ketchikan........... 5.94
Petersburg.......... 6.15
Sitka............... 5.81
SEAK................ 5.97
EGOAxSE............. 6.15
Homer............... 6.65
Kodiak.............. 5.44
Seward.............. 6.76
CGOA................ 6.36
GOA................. 6.17
BS.................. 5.39
BSAI................ 5.39
AK.................. 6.04
ALL................. 6.05
Sablefish (710)................... Craig............... 1.90
Sitka............... 2.12
SEAK................ 2.07
EGOAxSE............. 1.79
Homer............... 2.23
Kodiak.............. 1.66
Seward.............. 1.79
CGOA................ 1.74
GOA................. 1.85
BS.................. 1.60
BSAI................ 1.60
AK.................. 1.82
ALL................. 1.82
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL =
all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea;
CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except
Southeast Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of
Alaska).
\2\ If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that
price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish
landings and the headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut
landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group.
(Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)
Dated: December 9, 2021.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27103 Filed 12-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
