Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program, 74071-74074 [2021-28292]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 29, 2021 / Notices Notification to Interested Parties This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 516A(c) and (e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act. Dated: December 21, 2021. Ryan Majerus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2021–28269 Filed 12–28–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XB545] Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of standard prices and fee percentage. AGENCY: NMFS publishes the individual fishing quota (IFQ) standard prices and fee percentage for cost recovery for the IFQ Program for the halibut and sablefish fisheries of the North Pacific (IFQ Program). The fee percentage for 2021 is 2.3 percent. This action is intended to provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2021 standard prices and fee percentage to calculate the required payment for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2022. DATES: The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on December 29, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charmaine Weeks, Fee Coordinator, 907–586–7231. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: Background NMFS Alaska Region administers the IFQ Program in the North Pacific. The IFQ Program is a limited access system authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut Act). Fishing under the IFQ Program began in March 1995. Regulations implementing the IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679. In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was amended to, among other purposes, require the Secretary of Commerce to VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:20 Dec 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 ‘‘collect a fee to recover the actual costs directly related to the management and enforcement of any . . . individual quota program.’’ This requirement was further amended in 2006 to include collection of the actual costs of data collection and to replace the reference to ‘‘individual quota program’’ with a more general reference to ‘‘limited access privilege program’’ at § 304(d)(2)(A) of the Act. Section 304(d)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act also specifies an upper limit on these fees, when the fees must be collected, and where the fees must be deposited. On March 20, 2000, NMFS published regulations at § 679.45 to implement cost recovery for the IFQ Program (65 FR 14919). Under the regulations, an IFQ permit holder must pay a cost recovery fee for every pound of IFQ halibut and sablefish that is landed on their IFQ permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is responsible for self-collecting the fee for all IFQ halibut and sablefish landings on their permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is also responsible for submitting IFQ fee payments(s) to NMFS on or before January 31 of the year following the year in which the IFQ landings were made. The total dollar amount of the fee is determined by multiplying the NMFS published fee percentage by the ex-vessel value of all IFQ landings made on the permit(s) during the IFQ fishing year. As required by § 679.45(d)(1) and (d)(3)(i), NMFS publishes this notice of the fee percentage for the IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries in the Federal Register during or prior to the last quarter of each year. Standard Prices The fee is based on the sum of all payments made to fishermen for the sale of the fish during the year. This includes any retro-payments (e.g., bonuses, delayed partial payments, post-season payments) made to the IFQ permit holder for previously landed IFQ halibut or sablefish. For purposes of calculating IFQ cost recovery fees, NMFS distinguishes between two types of ex-vessel value: Actual and standard. Actual ex-vessel value is the amount of all compensation, monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ permit holder received as payment for his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard exvessel value is the default value used to calculate the fee. IFQ permit holders have the option of using actual ex-vessel value if they can satisfactorily document it; otherwise, the standard ex-vessel value is used. Section 679.45(b)(3)(iii) requires the Regional Administrator to publish IFQ standard prices during the last quarter PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 74071 of each calendar year. These standard prices are used, along with estimates of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings, to calculate standard ex-vessel values. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per IFQ equivalent pound for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made during the year. According to § 679.2, IFQ equivalent pound(s) means the weight amount, recorded in pounds, and calculated as round weight for sablefish and headed and gutted weight for halibut, for an IFQ landing. The weight of halibut in pounds landed as guided angler fish is converted to IFQ equivalent pound(s) as specified in § 300.65(c)(5)(ii)(E). NMFS calculates the standard prices to closely reflect the variations in the actual exvessel values of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings by month and port or port-group. The standard prices for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed in the tables that follow the next section. Data from ports are combined as necessary to protect confidentiality. Fee Percentage NMFS calculates the fee percentage each year according to the factors and methods described at § 679.45(d)(2). NMFS determines the fee percentage that applies to landings made in the previous year by dividing the total costs directly related to the management, data collection, and enforcement of the IFQ Program (management costs) during the previous year by the total standard exvessel value of halibut and sablefish IFQ landings made during the previous year (fishery value). NMFS captures the actual management costs associated with certain management, data collection, and enforcement functions through an established accounting system that allows staff to track labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. NMFS calculates the fishery value as described under the section Standard Prices. Using the fee percentage formula described above, the percentage of management costs to fishery value for the 2021 calendar year is 2.3 percent of the standard ex-vessel value. An IFQ permit holder is to use the fee percentage of 2.3 percent to calculate their fee for IFQ equivalent pound(s) landed during the 2021 halibut and sablefish IFQ fishing season. An IFQ permit holder is responsible for submitting the 2021 IFQ fee payment to NMFS on or before January 31, 2022. Payment must be made in accordance with the payment methods set forth in § 679.45(a)(4)(iv). Payment can be made using credit card, debit card, or electronic check via the pay.gov program. NMFS does not accept credit E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM 29DEN1 74072 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 29, 2021 / Notices card information by phone or in-person for fee payments. The 2021 fee percentage of 2.3 percent is less than the 2020 fee percentage of 3.0 percent (85 FR 82442, December 18, 2020). Between 2020 and 2021 there was a net decrease in management costs and a net increase in fishery value. Management costs decreased by approximately 10 percent while fishery value increased by approximately 66 percent. The net increase in value was due to higher ex-vessel prices and landings for both halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries. TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2021 IFQ SEASON 1 Landing location Period ending Halibut standard EX vessel price Sablefish standard EX vessel price HOMER March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.73 5.99 6.07 6.73 7.70 6.97 7.20 7.20 7.20 7.20 1.95 1.89 1.82 1.84 1.70 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 KETCHIKAN March 31. April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31. August 31. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.84 6.18 6.10 6.78 6.78 6.78 6.78 KODIAK March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.28 5.49 5.68 6.03 6.28 6.32 6.48 6.48 6.48 6.48 March 31. April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.66 5.77 6.40 6.63 6.59 6.84 6.84 6.84 6.84 1.55 1.60 1.76 1.92 1.78 1.88 1.88 1.88 1.88 PETERSBURG khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SEWARD March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30. July 31 .................. August 31. September 30. October 31. November 30. December 31. ........................ 6.03 6.09 March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ 5.59 5.77 5.62 6.07 6.74 6.50 6.65 6.65 1.76 1.58 1.68 7.32 SITKA VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:20 Dec 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM 29DEN1 2.02 2.08 2.24 2.33 2.01 2.26 2.26 74073 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 29, 2021 / Notices TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2021 IFQ SEASON 1— Continued Landing location Period ending Halibut standard EX vessel price Sablefish standard EX vessel price November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 6.65 6.65 2.26 2.26 March 31. April 30. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.02 5.35 5.56 5.79 5.96 5.96 5.96 5.96 1.77 1.70 1.57 2.00 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.85 March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.64 5.89 5.95 6.38 7.25 6.85 7.20 7.20 7.20 7.20 1.68 1.54 1.63 1.75 1.79 2.07 1.92 1.92 1.92 1.92 March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.65 5.79 5.80 6.12 6.69 6.60 6.73 6.73 6.73 6.73 2.01 1.88 2.07 2.08 1.99 1.98 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.64 5.83 5.82 6.17 6.59 6.48 6.86 6.86 6.86 6.86 1.95 1.68 1.78 1.84 1.78 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 March 31 ............... April 30 .................. May 31 .................. June 30 ................. July 31 .................. August 31 .............. September 30 ....... October 31 ............ November 30 ........ December 31 ........ 5.64 5.83 5.82 6.17 6.59 6.51 6.86 6.86 6.86 6.86 1.95 1.68 1.78 1.84 1.78 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 2.03 PORT GROUP BERING SEA 2 PORT GROUP CENTRAL GOA 3 PORT GROUP SE ALASKA 4 ALL–ALASKA 5 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES ALL 5 1. Note: In many instances, prices are not shown in order to comply with confidentiality guidelines when there are fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month. Additionally, landings at different harbors in the same general location (e.g., ‘‘Juneau, Douglas, and Auke Bay’’) have been combined to report landings to the main port (e.g., ‘‘Juneau’’). 2. Landing Locations Within Port Group—Bering Sea: Akutan, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, King Cove, King Salmon, Naknek, Nome, Savoonga, St. Lawrence Island, St. Paul, Togiak. 3. Landing Locations Within Port Group—Central Gulf of Alaska: Alitak, Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Sand Point, Seward, Valdez, Whittier. 4. Landing Locations Within Port Group—Southeast Alaska: Craig, Elfin Cove, Haines, Hoonah, Juneau, Kake, Ketchikan, Pelican, Petersburg, Port Alexander, Sitka, Wrangell, Yakutat. 5. Landing Locations Within Port Group—All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For Washington: Bellingham, Seattle. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:20 Dec 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM 29DEN1 74074 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 29, 2021 / Notices Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 23, 2021. Peter Cooper, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2021–28292 Filed 12–28–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Special Accommodations These meetings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aid should be directed to Shelley Spedden, (302) 526–5251, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: December 22, 2021. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [RTID: 0648–XB682] Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting [FR Doc. 2021–28233 Filed 12–28–21; 8:45 am] National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will conduct two informational meetings regarding Atlantic mackerel rebuilding. DATES: The meetings will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 and Wednesday, January 12, 2022 both starting at 7 p.m. and concluding by 9 p.m. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for agenda details. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place over webinar using the Webex platform. Details on how to connect to the webinar by computer and/or telephone will be available at: www.mafmc.org. Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 800 N State Street, Suite 201, Dover, DE 19901; telephone: (302) 674–2331; website: www.mafmc.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher M. Moore, Ph.D., Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, telephone: (302) 526–5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Due to the continued poor condition of the Atlantic mackerel stock as determined by a 2021 management track stock assessment (https://www.mafmc.org/s/c_2021Atlantic-Mackerel-MT-assessmentreport.pdf), the MAFMC is revising the rebuilding plan for Atlantic mackerel. Additional commercial and recreational management measures are being considered. These meetings will review the stock assessment, expected quotas for upcoming years, and potential management measures. Public comment is invited, and will be used to inform the development of management measures. Final action by the MAFMC is expected in June 2022, and additional meetings and hearings are planned Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review AGENCY: SUMMARY: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES before final action (and will be noticed separately). VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:59 Dec 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 28, 2022. ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of this notice’s publication to OIRA, at https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Please find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the website’s search function. Comments can be entered electronically by clicking on the ‘‘comment’’ button next to the information collection on the ‘‘OIRA Information Collections Under Review’’ page, or the ‘‘View ICR—Agency Submission’’ page. A copy of the supporting statement for the collection of information discussed herein may be obtained by visiting https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. In addition to the submission of comments to https://Reginfo.gov as indicated above, a copy of all comments submitted to OIRA may also be SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 submitted to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (the ‘‘Commission’’ or ‘‘CFTC’’) by clicking on the ‘‘Submit Comment’’ box next to the descriptive entry for OMB Control No. 3038–0043, at https:// comments.cftc.gov/FederalRegister/ PublicInfo.aspx. Or by either of the following methods: • Mail: Christopher Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20581. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Same as Mail above. All comments must be submitted in English, or if not, accompanied by an English translation. Comments submitted to the Commission should include only information that you wish to make available publicly. If you wish the Commission to consider information that you believe is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, a petition for confidential treatment of the exempt information may be submitted according to the procedures established in § 145.9 of the Commission’s regulations.1 The Commission reserves the right, but shall have no obligation, to review, prescreen, filter, redact, refuse or remove any or all of your submission from https://www.cftc.gov that it may deem to be inappropriate for publication, such as obscene language. All submissions that have been redacted or removed that contain comments on the merits of the ICR will be retained in the public comment file and will be considered as required under the Administrative Procedure Act and other applicable laws, and may be accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Chiang, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Legal Division, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (202) 418–5578; email: mchiang@cftc.gov, and refer to OMB Control No. 3038–0043. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Rules Relating to Review of National Futures Association Decisions in Disciplinary, Membership Denial, Registration, and Member Responsibility Actions (OMB Control Number 3038–0043). This is a request for extension of a currently approved information collection. Abstract: 17 CFR part 171 rules require a registered futures association to provide fair and orderly procedures for membership and disciplinary 1 17 E:\FR\FM\29DEN1.SGM CFR 145.9. 29DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74071-74074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28292]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XB545]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; North 
Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery 
Program

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

ACTION: Notice of standard prices and fee percentage.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes the individual fishing quota (IFQ) standard 
prices and fee percentage for cost recovery for the IFQ Program for the 
halibut and sablefish fisheries of the North Pacific (IFQ Program). The 
fee percentage for 2021 is 2.3 percent. This action is intended to 
provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2021 
standard prices and fee percentage to calculate the required payment 
for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2022.

DATES: The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on December 
29, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charmaine Weeks, Fee Coordinator, 907-
586-7231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NMFS Alaska Region administers the IFQ Program in the North 
Pacific. The IFQ Program is a limited access system authorized by the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act) and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (Halibut 
Act). Fishing under the IFQ Program began in March 1995. Regulations 
implementing the IFQ Program are set forth at 50 CFR part 679.
    In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act was amended to, among other 
purposes, require the Secretary of Commerce to ``collect a fee to 
recover the actual costs directly related to the management and 
enforcement of any . . . individual quota program.'' This requirement 
was further amended in 2006 to include collection of the actual costs 
of data collection and to replace the reference to ``individual quota 
program'' with a more general reference to ``limited access privilege 
program'' at Sec.  304(d)(2)(A) of the Act. Section 304(d)(2) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act also specifies an upper limit on these fees, when 
the fees must be collected, and where the fees must be deposited.
    On March 20, 2000, NMFS published regulations at Sec.  679.45 to 
implement cost recovery for the IFQ Program (65 FR 14919). Under the 
regulations, an IFQ permit holder must pay a cost recovery fee for 
every pound of IFQ halibut and sablefish that is landed on their IFQ 
permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is responsible for self-collecting the 
fee for all IFQ halibut and sablefish landings on their permit(s). The 
IFQ permit holder is also responsible for submitting IFQ fee 
payments(s) to NMFS on or before January 31 of the year following the 
year in which the IFQ landings were made. The total dollar amount of 
the fee is determined by multiplying the NMFS published fee percentage 
by the ex-vessel value of all IFQ landings made on the permit(s) during 
the IFQ fishing year. As required by Sec.  679.45(d)(1) and (d)(3)(i), 
NMFS publishes this notice of the fee percentage for the IFQ halibut 
and sablefish fisheries in the Federal Register during or prior to the 
last quarter of each year.

Standard Prices

    The fee is based on the sum of all payments made to fishermen for 
the sale of the fish during the year. This includes any retro-payments 
(e.g., bonuses, delayed partial payments, post-season payments) made to 
the IFQ permit holder for previously landed IFQ halibut or sablefish.
    For purposes of calculating IFQ cost recovery fees, NMFS 
distinguishes between two types of ex-vessel value: Actual and 
standard. Actual ex-vessel value is the amount of all compensation, 
monetary or non-monetary, that an IFQ permit holder received as payment 
for his or her IFQ fish sold. Standard ex-vessel value is the default 
value used to calculate the fee. IFQ permit holders have the option of 
using actual ex-vessel value if they can satisfactorily document it; 
otherwise, the standard ex-vessel value is used.
    Section 679.45(b)(3)(iii) requires the Regional Administrator to 
publish IFQ standard prices during the last quarter of each calendar 
year. These standard prices are used, along with estimates of IFQ 
halibut and IFQ sablefish landings, to calculate standard ex-vessel 
values. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars per IFQ 
equivalent pound for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made during 
the year. According to Sec.  679.2, IFQ equivalent pound(s) means the 
weight amount, recorded in pounds, and calculated as round weight for 
sablefish and headed and gutted weight for halibut, for an IFQ landing. 
The weight of halibut in pounds landed as guided angler fish is 
converted to IFQ equivalent pound(s) as specified in Sec.  
300.65(c)(5)(ii)(E). NMFS calculates the standard prices to closely 
reflect the variations in the actual ex-vessel values of IFQ halibut 
and IFQ sablefish landings by month and port or port-group. The 
standard prices for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed in the 
tables that follow the next section. Data from ports are combined as 
necessary to protect confidentiality.

Fee Percentage

    NMFS calculates the fee percentage each year according to the 
factors and methods described at Sec.  679.45(d)(2). NMFS determines 
the fee percentage that applies to landings made in the previous year 
by dividing the total costs directly related to the management, data 
collection, and enforcement of the IFQ Program (management costs) 
during the previous year by the total standard ex-vessel value of 
halibut and sablefish IFQ landings made during the previous year 
(fishery value). NMFS captures the actual management costs associated 
with certain management, data collection, and enforcement functions 
through an established accounting system that allows staff to track 
labor, travel, contracts, rent, and procurement. NMFS calculates the 
fishery value as described under the section Standard Prices.
    Using the fee percentage formula described above, the percentage of 
management costs to fishery value for the 2021 calendar year is 2.3 
percent of the standard ex-vessel value. An IFQ permit holder is to use 
the fee percentage of 2.3 percent to calculate their fee for IFQ 
equivalent pound(s) landed during the 2021 halibut and sablefish IFQ 
fishing season. An IFQ permit holder is responsible for submitting the 
2021 IFQ fee payment to NMFS on or before January 31, 2022. Payment 
must be made in accordance with the payment methods set forth in Sec.  
679.45(a)(4)(iv). Payment can be made using credit card, debit card, or 
electronic check via the pay.gov program. NMFS does not accept credit

[[Page 74072]]

card information by phone or in-person for fee payments.
    The 2021 fee percentage of 2.3 percent is less than the 2020 fee 
percentage of 3.0 percent (85 FR 82442, December 18, 2020). Between 
2020 and 2021 there was a net decrease in management costs and a net 
increase in fishery value. Management costs decreased by approximately 
10 percent while fishery value increased by approximately 66 percent. 
The net increase in value was due to higher ex-vessel prices and 
landings for both halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries.

       Table 1--Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for the 2021 IFQ Season \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Halibut        Sablefish
             Landing location                           Period ending               standard EX     standard EX
                                                                                   vessel price    vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMER
                                            March 31............................            5.73
                                            April 30............................            5.99            1.95
                                            May 31..............................            6.07            1.89
                                            June 30.............................            6.73            1.82
                                            July 31.............................            7.70            1.84
                                            August 31...........................            6.97            1.70
                                            September 30........................            7.20            2.19
                                            October 31..........................            7.20            2.19
                                            November 30.........................            7.20            2.19
                                            December 31.........................            7.20            2.19
KETCHIKAN
                                            March 31............................
                                            April 30............................            5.84
                                            May 31..............................            6.18
                                            June 30.............................            6.10
                                            July 31.............................
                                            August 31...........................
                                            September 30........................            6.78
                                            October 31..........................            6.78
                                            November 30.........................            6.78
                                            December 31.........................            6.78
KODIAK
                                            March 31............................            5.28
                                            April 30............................            5.49            1.55
                                            May 31..............................            5.68            1.60
                                            June 30.............................            6.03            1.76
                                            July 31.............................            6.28            1.92
                                            August 31...........................            6.32            1.78
                                            September 30........................            6.48            1.88
                                            October 31..........................            6.48            1.88
                                            November 30.........................            6.48            1.88
                                            December 31.........................            6.48            1.88
PETERSBURG
                                            March 31............................
                                            April 30............................            5.66
                                            May 31..............................            5.77
                                            June 30.............................            6.40
                                            July 31.............................            6.63
                                            August 31...........................            6.59
                                            September 30........................            6.84
                                            October 31..........................            6.84
                                            November 30.........................            6.84
                                            December 31.........................            6.84
SEWARD
                                            March 31............................  ..............            1.76
                                            April 30............................            6.03            1.58
                                            May 31..............................            6.09            1.68
                                            June 30.............................
                                            July 31.............................            7.32
                                            August 31...........................
                                            September 30........................
                                            October 31..........................
                                            November 30.........................
                                            December 31.........................
SITKA
                                            March 31............................            5.59            2.02
                                            April 30............................            5.77            2.08
                                            May 31..............................            5.62            2.24
                                            June 30.............................            6.07            2.33
                                            July 31.............................            6.74
                                            August 31...........................            6.50            2.01
                                            September 30........................            6.65            2.26
                                            October 31..........................            6.65            2.26

[[Page 74073]]

 
                                            November 30.........................            6.65            2.26
                                            December 31.........................            6.65            2.26
PORT GROUP BERING SEA \2\
                                            March 31............................
                                            April 30............................
                                            May 31..............................            5.02            1.77
                                            June 30.............................            5.35            1.70
                                            July 31.............................            5.56            1.57
                                            August 31...........................            5.79            2.00
                                            September 30........................            5.96            1.85
                                            October 31..........................            5.96            1.85
                                            November 30.........................            5.96            1.85
                                            December 31.........................            5.96            1.85
PORT GROUP CENTRAL GOA \3\
                                            March 31............................            5.64            1.68
                                            April 30............................            5.89            1.54
                                            May 31..............................            5.95            1.63
                                            June 30.............................            6.38            1.75
                                            July 31.............................            7.25            1.79
                                            August 31...........................            6.85            2.07
                                            September 30........................            7.20            1.92
                                            October 31..........................            7.20            1.92
                                            November 30.........................            7.20            1.92
                                            December 31.........................            7.20            1.92
PORT GROUP SE ALASKA \4\
                                            March 31............................            5.65            2.01
                                            April 30............................            5.79            1.88
                                            May 31..............................            5.80            2.07
                                            June 30.............................            6.12            2.08
                                            July 31.............................            6.69            1.99
                                            August 31...........................            6.60            1.98
                                            September 30........................            6.73            2.19
                                            October 31..........................            6.73            2.19
                                            November 30.........................            6.73            2.19
                                            December 31.........................            6.73            2.19
ALL-ALASKA \5\
                                            March 31............................            5.64            1.95
                                            April 30............................            5.83            1.68
                                            May 31..............................            5.82            1.78
                                            June 30.............................            6.17            1.84
                                            July 31.............................            6.59            1.78
                                            August 31...........................            6.48            2.03
                                            September 30........................            6.86            2.03
                                            October 31..........................            6.86            2.03
                                            November 30.........................            6.86            2.03
                                            December 31.........................            6.86            2.03
ALL \5\
                                            March 31............................            5.64            1.95
                                            April 30............................            5.83            1.68
                                            May 31..............................            5.82            1.78
                                            June 30.............................            6.17            1.84
                                            July 31.............................            6.59            1.78
                                            August 31...........................            6.51            2.03
                                            September 30........................            6.86            2.03
                                            October 31..........................            6.86            2.03
                                            November 30.........................            6.86            2.03
                                            December 31.........................            6.86            2.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Note: In many instances, prices are not shown in order to comply with confidentiality guidelines when there
  are fewer than three processors operating in a location during a month. Additionally, landings at different
  harbors in the same general location (e.g., ``Juneau, Douglas, and Auke Bay'') have been combined to report
  landings to the main port (e.g., ``Juneau'').
2. Landing Locations Within Port Group--Bering Sea: Akutan, Dillingham, Dutch Harbor/Unalaska, King Cove, King
  Salmon, Naknek, Nome, Savoonga, St. Lawrence Island, St. Paul, Togiak.
3. Landing Locations Within Port Group--Central Gulf of Alaska: Alitak, Cordova, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Sand
  Point, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
4. Landing Locations Within Port Group--Southeast Alaska: Craig, Elfin Cove, Haines, Hoonah, Juneau, Kake,
  Ketchikan, Pelican, Petersburg, Port Alexander, Sitka, Wrangell, Yakutat.
5. Landing Locations Within Port Group--All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 2, 3, and 4. For
  Washington: Bellingham, Seattle.


[[Page 74074]]

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 23, 2021.
Peter Cooper,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-28292 Filed 12-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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