Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery, 35841 [2023-11638]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 35841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11638]



[[Page 35841]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XD050]


Fishing Capacity Reduction Program for the Southeast Alaska Purse 
Seine Salmon Fishery

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

ACTION: Notice of fee rate adjustment change.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice to inform the public that there will 
be a decrease of the fee rate required to repay the reduction loan 
financing the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishing Capacity 
reduction program. Effective June 1, 2023, NMFS is decreasing the Loan 
B fee rate to one percent of landed value to ensure timely repayment of 
the loan. The fee rate for Loan A will remain unchanged at one percent 
of landed value.

DATES: The Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishing Capacity loan 
program fee rate increase will begin with landings on June 1, 2023. The 
first due date for fee payments with the increased rate will be July 
15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send questions about this notice to Michael A. Sturtevant, 
Program Manager, Financial Services Division, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael A. Sturtevant, (301) 427-8782.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery is a commercial 
fishery in Alaska State waters and adjacent Federal waters. It 
encompasses the commercial taking of salmon with purse seine gear and 
participation is limited to fishermen designated by the Alaska 
Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC).
    The Fishing Capacity Reduction Program was established under the 
Consolidations Act of 2005 (Section 209 of Title II of Division B of 
Public Law 108-447). This Federal law was subsequently amended by 
Section 121 of Public Law 109-479 (the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization 
Act of 2006) codified at 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. The authority for the 
Southeast Revitalization Association (SRA) to conduct this program 
under Alaska law is AS 16.40.250.
    Based on these Federal and state measures, the NMFS established 
regulations in the Federal Register, 76 FR 61986 (October 6, 2011), to 
administer and implement the program.
    The purpose of the program and this plan is to permanently reduce 
the number of limited entry fishing permits issued by the CFEC for the 
Fishery thereby promoting economic efficiency and improving the 
conservation and management of the Fishery.
    Congress authorized a $23.5 million dollar loan to finance a 
fishing capacity reduction program in the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine 
Salmon Fishery. NMFS published proposed program regulations on (76 FR 
29707, May 23, 2011) and final program regulations on (76 FR 61986, 
October 6, 2011) to implement the reduction program.
    In 2012, NMFS conducted a referendum to determine the remaining 
fishermen's willingness to repay a $13.1 million fishing capacity 
reduction loan to remove 64 permits. After a majority of permit holders 
approved the loan, NMFS disbursed payments to the successful bidders 
and began collecting fees to repay the loan. Since only $13.1 million 
was expended from the total loan amount, $10.4 million in funds 
remained available.
    In 2018, the SRA informed NMFS that they wished to access the 
remaining loan amounts to undertake a second buyback. To implement this 
next buyback, the SRA, on behalf of the reduction fishery, was required 
to draft and submit a reduction plan to NMFS. On June 21, 2018, the SRA 
submitted a reduction plan to access $10.1 million of the remaining 
$10.4 million in funds to remove 36 permits. NMFS approved the proposed 
second fishing capacity reduction plan in November 2018.
    NMFS published a notice of eligible voters on (83 FR 62302, 
December 3, 2018) informing the public of the permanent permit holders 
eligible to vote in the referendum and informing the eligible voters of 
the referendum voting period.

Purpose

    The purpose of this notice is to announce the current fee rates for 
the reduction fishery in accordance with the framework rule at 50 CFR 
600.1013(b). Section 600.1013(b) directs NMFS to recalculate the fee to 
a rate that will be reasonably necessary to ensure reduction loan 
repayment within the specified 40-year term.
    For the 2022 fishing season, the fee rate for Loan A was one 
percent and Loan B was 2.5 percent of the landed value and any 
subsequent bonus payment. Loan A is currently well ahead of the 
scheduled amortization and will remain so keeping the rate at one 
percent of gross value of salmon sold. Loan B is also ahead of the 
scheduled amortization. Beginning June 1, 2023, the Loan B fee rate 
will be decreased from 2.5 percent to one percent of gross value of 
salmon sold and is projected to be remain ahead at the end of the 2023 
season.
    Fish buyers may continue to use Pay.gov to disburse collected fee 
deposits at: https://www.pay.gov/paygov/. Please visit the NOAA 
Fisheries website for additional information at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/funding-and-financial-services/southeast-alaska-purse-seine-salmon-fishery-buyback-program.

Notice

    The new fee rate for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon 
Fishery will begin on June 1, 2023.
    From and after this date, all subsector members paying fees on the 
Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery shall begin paying program 
fees at the revised rate.
    Fee collection and submission shall follow previously established 
methods in Sec.  600.1013 of the framework rule and in the final fee 
rule published in the Federal Register on (76 FR 61985, October 6, 
2011).
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; Pub. L. 108-447.

    Dated: May 24, 2023.
Brian T. Pawlak,
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer, Director Office 
of Management and Budget, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-11638 Filed 5-26-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P