Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Cost Recovery Program, 105006-105010 [2024-31018]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices
Public Engagement Workshop via
webinar.
The webinar will convene
Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m., EST.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will take
place via webinar. You may participate
by accessing the log-on information by
visiting our website at
www.gulfcouncil.org.
Council address: Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council, 4107 W
Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, FL
33607; telephone: (813) 348–1630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Muehlstein, Public Information
Officer, Gulf of Mexico Fishery
Management Council; telephone: (813)
348–1630; Emily.Muehlstein@
gulfcouncil.org.
DATES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The meeting will begin with a brief
presentation on the purpose of the
Recreational Initiative, provide a brief
overview of results of the second
Working Group Meeting, and outline the
meeting format and expected outcomes.
Staff will ask a series of open-ended
questions and allow for open public
comment on the Recreational Initiative.
Visit the Gulf Council’s website for
meeting registration information:
https://gulfcouncil.org/recreationalinitiative/. After registering, you will
receive a confirmation email containing
information about joining the webinar.
Public feedback on the Recreational
Initiative will also be gathered online
through an online feedback tool located
at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/
1FAIpQLSfwnQ6AgzIBmgx0k18
yzcPpDm0RDUVzyybR05mxoJVRmBdQg/viewform.
The meeting will be via webinar only.
You may register for the webinar by
visiting www.gulfcouncil.org and click
on the meeting on the calendar.
The timing and order in which agenda
items are addressed may change as
required to effectively address the issue,
and the latest version along with other
meeting materials will be posted on the
website as they become available.
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Special Accommodations
The meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aid or accommodations should
be directed to Kathy Pereira, (813) 348–
1630, at least 15 days prior to the
meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
19:37 Dec 23, 2024
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BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
take final action to address the
emergency. The public also should be
aware that the meeting will be recorded.
Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy
of the recording is available upon
request.
Special Accommodations
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE534]
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a public meeting of its
Scallop Committee via webinar to
consider actions affecting New England
fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
(EEZ). Recommendations from this
group will be brought to the full Council
for formal consideration and action, if
appropriate.
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978)
465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the
meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 18, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–30625 Filed 12–23–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
SUMMARY:
Thursday, January 16, 2025; 6 p.m.–9
a.m., EST
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Dated: December 18, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
This meeting will be held on
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 1 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Webinar registration URL
information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/
meeting/register/tJwlcuyqrj8vG9PZk_
BAqawjkMxGEXiGZc44.
Council address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Agenda
The Scallop Committee will meet to
Review 2025 Scallop Work Priorities,
including a work plan for this calendar
year. The discussion will focus on the
development of a Long-Term Strategic
Plan. Other business will be discussed,
if necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained on the agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Council
action will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this notice and any
issues arising after publication of this
notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has
been notified of the Council’s intent to
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE518]
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 2024 is 3.0 percent. This
action is intended to provide holders of
halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with
the 2024 standard prices and fee
percentage to calculate the required
payment for IFQ cost recovery fees due
by January 31, 2025.
DATES: The standard prices and fee
percentages are valid on December 26,
2024
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charmaine Weeks, Fee Coordinator,
907–586–7231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices
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 section 304(d)(2)(A) of the
Magnuson-Stevens 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, March 20, 2000). 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), including
any halibut that is landed as guided
angler fish. 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 exvessel 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 from, for example, fish
processors, 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
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 2024 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 50 CFR 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 § 679.45(d)(2).
NMFS determines the fee percentage
105007
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 identifies 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, NMFS determined that
the percentage of management costs to
fishery value for the 2024 calendar year
is 5.2 percent of the standard ex-vessel
value; however, the fee percentage must
not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant to
section 304(d)(2)(B) of the MagnusonStevens Act. Therefore, the 2024 fee
percentage is set at 3.0 percent. An IFQ
permit holder is to use the fee
percentage of 3.0 percent to calculate
their fee for IFQ equivalent pound(s)
landed during the 2024 halibut and
sablefish IFQ fishing season. An IFQ
permit holder is responsible for
submitting the 2024 IFQ fee payment to
NMFS on or before January 31, 2025.
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
card information by phone or in-person
for fee payments.
Due to the regulatory cap the 2024 fee
percentage of 3.0 percent is the same as
the 2023 fee percentage of 3.0 percent
(88 FR 89667, December 28, 2023). Net
fishery management costs decreased by
12% when compared to 2023’s net
fishery management costs. However, the
total fishery value declined by 43%,
resulting in a capped fee percentage.
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TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2024 IFQ SEASON 1
Period ending
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel price
Sablefish
standard
ex-vessel price
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5.55
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
Landing location
CORDOVA
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2024 IFQ SEASON 1—
Continued
Period ending
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel price
Sablefish
standard
ex-vessel price
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.34
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.16
5.20
5.77
6.04
6.36
5.75
5.23
5.23
5.23
5.23
........................
1.02
1.01
1.55
1.62
1.23
1.65
1.65
1.65
1.65
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.02
4.71
4.84
5.60
5.46
5.33
5.06
5.06
5.06
5.06
........................
0.98
0.97
1.13
1.20
1.40
1.34
1.34
1.34
1.34
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
........................
........................
5.73
........................
........................
5.88
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
........................
........................
3.38
........................
........................
........................
4.42
4.42
4.42
4.42
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
1.22
1.22
1.22
1.22
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
........................
........................
........................
........................
5.46
5.44
5.46
5.46
5.46
5.46
........................
........................
........................
........................
1.64
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
........................
........................
........................
3.83
3.97
3.98
4.24
4.24
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
........................
Landing location
HOMER
KODIAK
PETERSBURG
SEWARD
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SITKA
BERING SEA
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 1—REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR THE 2024 IFQ SEASON 1—
Continued
Halibut
standard
ex-vessel price
Sablefish
standard
ex-vessel price
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
4.24
4.24
........................
........................
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.18
5.07
5.15
5.50
4.82
5.19
4.85
4.85
4.85
4.85
1.09
0.97
1.00
1.34
1.36
1.18
1.30
1.30
1.30
1.30
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.99
5.48
5.53
5.85
5.67
5.56
5.61
5.61
5.61
5.61
1.64
1.62
1.61
1.95
1.62
1.76
1.95
1.95
1.95
1.95
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.71
5.28
5.33
5.58
4.87
5.15
5.03
5.03
5.03
5.03
1.50
1.17
1.24
1.52
1.48
1.30
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
March 31 .......................................................................
April 30 .........................................................................
May 31 ..........................................................................
June 30 .........................................................................
July 31 ..........................................................................
August 31 .....................................................................
September 30 ...............................................................
October 31 ....................................................................
November 30 ................................................................
December 31 ................................................................
5.71
5.28
5.33
5.58
4.87
5.15
5.03
5.03
5.03
5.03
1.50
1.17
1.24
1.52
1.48
1.30
1.45
1.45
1.45
1.45
Landing location
Period ending
CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
ALL-ALASKA
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ALL
1 Note: In many instances, prices are not shown in order to comply with confidentiality guidelines when there are fewer than three registered
buyers 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: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak, Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch
Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk, Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St.
Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak, Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
3 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik, Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass,
West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof, Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old
Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia, Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
4 Landing Locations Within Port Group—Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake, Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
5 Landing Locations Within Port Group—All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 1, 2, and 3. For California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other
California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport, Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham,
Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Ranier, Fox Island, Mercer Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Haines Junction, Other Canada.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2024 / Notices
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–31018 Filed 12–20–24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE550]
Schedules for Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops and
Protected Species Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public workshops.
AGENCY:
Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops and Safe Handling, Release,
and Identification Workshops will be
held in January, February, and March of
2025. Certain fishermen and shark
dealers are required to attend a
workshop to meet regulatory
requirements and to maintain valid
permits. Specifically, the Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshop is mandatory
for all federally permitted Atlantic shark
dealers. The Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshop is mandatory
for vessel owners and operators who use
bottom longline, pelagic longline, or
gillnet gear, and who have also been
issued shark or swordfish limited access
permits. Additional free workshops will
be conducted in 2025 and will be
announced in a future notice. In
addition, NMFS has implemented
online recertification workshops for
persons who have already taken an inperson training.
DATES: The Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops will be held on January 16,
2025, February 13, 2025, and March 20,
2025. The Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshops will be held
on January 7, 2025, February 4, 2025,
and March 6, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops will be held in
Kenner, LA, Fort Pierce, FL, and
Wilmington, NC. The Safe Handling,
Release, and Identification Workshops
will be held in Marathon, FL,
Portsmouth, NH, and Houston, TX.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elsa
Gutierrez by email at elsa.gutierrez@
noaa.gov or by phone at 301–427–8503.
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SUMMARY:
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Atlantic
highly migratory species (HMS)
fisheries (tunas, swordfish, sharks, and
billfish) are managed under the 2006
Consolidated HMS Fishery Management
Plan (FMP) and its amendments,
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.) and consistent with the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (16
U.S.C. 971 et seq.). HMS implementing
regulations are at 50 CFR part 635.
Section 635.8 describes the
requirements for the Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshops and Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification
Workshops. The workshop schedules,
registration information, and a list of
frequently asked questions regarding the
Atlantic Shark Identification and Safe
Handling, Release, and Identification
workshops are available online at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantichighly-migratory-species/atlantic-sharkidentification-workshops and https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/atlantic-highlymigratory-species/safe-handling-releaseand-identification-workshops.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops
Since January 1, 2008, Atlantic shark
dealers have been prohibited from
receiving, purchasing, trading, or
bartering for Atlantic sharks unless a
valid Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshop certificate is on the premises
of each business listed under the shark
dealer permit that first receives Atlantic
sharks (71 FR 58058, October 2, 2006).
Dealers who attend and successfully
complete a workshop are issued a
certificate for each place of business that
is permitted to receive sharks. These
certificate(s) are valid for 3 years. Thus,
certificates that were initially issued in
2022 will expire in 2025.
Currently, permitted dealers may send
a proxy to an Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshop. However, if a
dealer opts to send a proxy, the dealer
must designate a proxy for each place of
business covered by the dealer’s permit
that first receives Atlantic sharks. Only
one certificate will be issued to each
proxy. A proxy must be a person who
is currently employed by a place of
business covered by the dealer’s permit;
is a primary participant in the
identification, weighing, and/or first
receipt of fish as they are offloaded from
a vessel; and who fills out dealer
reports. Atlantic shark dealers are
prohibited from renewing a Federal
shark dealer permit unless a valid
Atlantic Shark Identification Workshop
certificate for each business location
that first receives Atlantic sharks has
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
been submitted with the permit renewal
application. Additionally, a copy of a
valid dealer or proxy Atlantic Shark
Identification Workshop certificate must
be in any trucks or other conveyances
that are extensions of a dealer’s place of
business.
Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations
1. January 16, 2025, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.,
Home2 Suites Kenner Airport, 1112
Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Kenner,
LA 70062. 2. February 13, 2025, 12
p.m.–4 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites Fort
Pierce, 1985 Reynolds Drive, Fort
Pierce, FL 34945. 3. March 20, 2025, 12
p.m.–4 p.m., Wingate by Wyndham
Wilmington, 5126 Market Street Bus 17,
Wilmington, NC 28405.
Registration
To register for a scheduled Atlantic
Shark Identification Workshop, please
contact Eric Sander at ericssharkguide@
yahoo.com or at 386–852–8588. Preregistration is highly recommended, but
not required.
Registration Materials
To ensure that workshop certificates
are linked to the correct permits,
participants will need to bring the
following specific items to the
workshop:
• Atlantic shark dealer permit holders
must bring proof that the attendee is an
owner or agent of the business (such as
articles of incorporation), a copy of the
applicable permit, and proof of
identification.
• Atlantic shark dealer proxies must
bring documentation from the permitted
dealer acknowledging that the proxy is
attending the workshop on behalf of the
permitted Atlantic shark dealer for a
specific business location, a copy of the
appropriate valid permit, and proof of
identification.
Workshop Objectives
The Atlantic Shark Identification
Workshops are designed to reduce the
number of unknown and improperly
identified sharks reported in the dealer
reporting form and increase the
accuracy of species-specific dealerreported information. Reducing the
number of unknown and improperly
identified sharks will improve quota
monitoring and the data used in stock
assessments. These workshops will train
shark dealer permit holders or their
proxies to properly identify Atlantic
shark carcasses.
Safe Handling, Release, and
Identification Workshops
Since January 1, 2007, shark limited
access and swordfish limited access
E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM
26DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 105006-105010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31018]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XE518]
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 2024 is 3.0 percent. This action is intended to
provide holders of halibut and sablefish IFQ permits with the 2024
standard prices and fee percentage to calculate the required payment
for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2025.
DATES: The standard prices and fee percentages are valid on December
26, 2024
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
[[Page 105007]]
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 section
304(d)(2)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens 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, March 20,
2000). 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), including any halibut that is landed as
guided angler fish. 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 from, for example, fish
processors, 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 2024 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 50 CFR
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 identifies 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, NMFS determined
that the percentage of management costs to fishery value for the 2024
calendar year is 5.2 percent of the standard ex-vessel value; however,
the fee percentage must not exceed 3.0 percent pursuant to section
304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Therefore, the 2024 fee
percentage is set at 3.0 percent. An IFQ permit holder is to use the
fee percentage of 3.0 percent to calculate their fee for IFQ equivalent
pound(s) landed during the 2024 halibut and sablefish IFQ fishing
season. An IFQ permit holder is responsible for submitting the 2024 IFQ
fee payment to NMFS on or before January 31, 2025. 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
card information by phone or in-person for fee payments.
Due to the regulatory cap the 2024 fee percentage of 3.0 percent is
the same as the 2023 fee percentage of 3.0 percent (88 FR 89667,
December 28, 2023). Net fishery management costs decreased by 12% when
compared to 2023's net fishery management costs. However, the total
fishery value declined by 43%, resulting in a capped fee percentage.
Table 1--Registered Buyer Standard Ex-Vessel Prices by Landing Location for the 2024 IFQ Season \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut Sablefish
Landing location Period ending standard ex- standard ex-
vessel price vessel price
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CORDOVA
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... .............. ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... 5.55 ..............
[[Page 105008]]
August 31....................... 5.34 ..............
September 30.................... .............. ..............
October 31...................... .............. ..............
November 30..................... .............. ..............
December 31..................... .............. ..............
HOMER
March 31........................ 5.16 ..............
April 30........................ 5.20 1.02
May 31.......................... 5.77 1.01
June 30......................... 6.04 1.55
July 31......................... 6.36 1.62
August 31....................... 5.75 1.23
September 30.................... 5.23 1.65
October 31...................... 5.23 1.65
November 30..................... 5.23 1.65
December 31..................... 5.23 1.65
KODIAK
March 31........................ 5.02 ..............
April 30........................ 4.71 0.98
May 31.......................... 4.84 0.97
June 30......................... 5.60 1.13
July 31......................... 5.46 1.20
August 31....................... 5.33 1.40
September 30.................... 5.06 1.34
October 31...................... 5.06 1.34
November 30..................... 5.06 1.34
December 31..................... 5.06 1.34
PETERSBURG
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... 5.73 ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... .............. ..............
August 31....................... 5.88 ..............
September 30.................... .............. ..............
October 31...................... .............. ..............
November 30..................... .............. ..............
December 31..................... .............. ..............
SEWARD
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... 3.38 ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... .............. ..............
August 31....................... .............. ..............
September 30.................... 4.42 1.22
October 31...................... 4.42 1.22
November 30..................... 4.42 1.22
December 31..................... 4.42 1.22
SITKA
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... .............. ..............
June 30......................... .............. ..............
July 31......................... 5.46 1.64
August 31....................... 5.44 ..............
September 30.................... 5.46 ..............
October 31...................... 5.46 ..............
November 30..................... 5.46 ..............
December 31..................... 5.46 ..............
BERING SEA
March 31........................ .............. ..............
April 30........................ .............. ..............
May 31.......................... .............. ..............
June 30......................... 3.83 ..............
July 31......................... 3.97 ..............
August 31....................... 3.98 ..............
September 30.................... 4.24 ..............
October 31...................... 4.24 ..............
[[Page 105009]]
November 30..................... 4.24 ..............
December 31..................... 4.24 ..............
CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA
March 31........................ 5.18 1.09
April 30........................ 5.07 0.97
May 31.......................... 5.15 1.00
June 30......................... 5.50 1.34
July 31......................... 4.82 1.36
August 31....................... 5.19 1.18
September 30.................... 4.85 1.30
October 31...................... 4.85 1.30
November 30..................... 4.85 1.30
December 31..................... 4.85 1.30
SOUTHEAST ALASKA
March 31........................ 5.99 1.64
April 30........................ 5.48 1.62
May 31.......................... 5.53 1.61
June 30......................... 5.85 1.95
July 31......................... 5.67 1.62
August 31....................... 5.56 1.76
September 30.................... 5.61 1.95
October 31...................... 5.61 1.95
November 30..................... 5.61 1.95
December 31..................... 5.61 1.95
ALL-ALASKA
March 31........................ 5.71 1.50
April 30........................ 5.28 1.17
May 31.......................... 5.33 1.24
June 30......................... 5.58 1.52
July 31......................... 4.87 1.48
August 31....................... 5.15 1.30
September 30.................... 5.03 1.45
October 31...................... 5.03 1.45
November 30..................... 5.03 1.45
December 31..................... 5.03 1.45
ALL
March 31........................ 5.71 1.50
April 30........................ 5.28 1.17
May 31.......................... 5.33 1.24
June 30......................... 5.58 1.52
July 31......................... 4.87 1.48
August 31....................... 5.15 1.30
September 30.................... 5.03 1.45
October 31...................... 5.03 1.45
November 30..................... 5.03 1.45
December 31..................... 5.03 1.45
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Note: In many instances, prices are not shown in order to comply with confidentiality guidelines when there
are fewer than three registered buyers 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: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak,
Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk,
Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak,
Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
\3\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Alitak, Chignik,
Cordova, Eagle River, False Pass, West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof,
Kenai, Kenai River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia,
Resurrection Bay, Seward, Valdez, Whittier.
\4\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin
Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake,
Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port
Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
\5\ Landing Locations Within Port Group--All: For Alaska: All landing locations included in 1, 2, and 3. For
California: Eureka, Fort Bragg, Other California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport,
Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington: Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett,
Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Ranier, Fox Island, Mercer
Island, Seattle, Standwood, Other Washington. For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver,
Haines Junction, Other Canada.
[[Page 105010]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 20, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-31018 Filed 12-20-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
