[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76870-76883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27735]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 041202338-4338-01; I.D. 112204B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area; 2005 Interim Harvest
Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Commerce.
ACTION: Temporary rule; interim specifications.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues 2005 interim total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ)
reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and
sideboard limits, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fisheries of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The
intended effect is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in
the BSAI.
DATES: The interim harvest specifications are effective from 0001
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2005, until the effective
date of the 2005 final harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish,
which will be published in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for
this action are available from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. The final 2003 Stock Assessment and Fishery
Evaluation (SAFE) report, dated November 2003, and the final 2004 SAFE
report, dated November 2004, are available from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99510-2252, telephone (907) 271-2809, or from its Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implementing the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Management Area (FMP) govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP,
and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). General regulations that
also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part
600.
The Council met in October 2004 to review scientific information
concerning groundfish stocks, including the 2003 SAFE report and the EA
(see ADDRESSES), and to recommend 2005 proposed harvest specifications.
The Council recommended a proposed total acceptable biological catch
(ABC) of 3,345,963 metric tons (mt) and a proposed total TAC of
2,000,000 mt for the 2005 fishing year. The proposed TAC amounts for
each species were based on the best available biological and
socioeconomic information.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1), NMFS published in the Federal Register
the 2005 proposed harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish (December
8, 2004, 69 FR 70974). That document contains a detailed discussion of
the 2005 proposed TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and related
apportionments, CDQ reserves, ABC amounts, overfishing levels, PSC
allowances, PSQ reserve amounts, and associated management measures of
the BSAI groundfish fishery.
This action provides interim harvest specifications and
apportionments thereof for the 2005 fishing year that will become
available on January 1, 2005, and will remain in effect until
superseded by the 2005 final harvest specifications. Background
information concerning the 2005 harvest specification process on which
this interim action is based is provided in the above mentioned
proposed harvest specification document.
Establishment of Interim TACs
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that 15 percent of the TAC for
each target species and species group, except for pollock and the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a non-
specified reserve. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by
requiring that the TAC for this species be fully allocated among the
CDQ program, incidental catch allowance (ICA), and inshore, catcher/
processor, and mothership directed fishery allowances. Section 803 of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 (CAA), Public Law (Pub. L.)
108-199, supersedes portions of the AFA and allocates the AI directed
pollock fishery (DPF) to the Aleut Corporation after subtraction for
the CDQ directed fishing allowance and ICA. Amendment 82 to the FMP
would establish the management measures for the AI DPF. The proposed
rule to implement Amendment 82 was published in the Federal Register
for public comment and review on December 7, 2004 (69 FR 70589). If
Amendment 82 is approved, final regulations implementing Amendment 82
are anticipated to be effective by March 2005.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) requires that one half of each TAC amount
placed in the non-specified reserve, with the exception of squid, be
allocated to the groundfish CDQ reserve and that 20 percent of the
hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the
fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and
679.31(a)(2) require that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be allocated to
the pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hook-and-line and
pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the CDQ reserves are not further
apportioned by gear. Section 679.21(e)(1)(i) also
[[Page 76871]]
requires that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with the exception of
herring, be withheld as a PSQ reserve for the CDQ fisheries.
Regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves are
set forth at Sec. Sec. 679.30 and 679.31.
Section 679.20(c)(2) requires interim harvest specifications to be
effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, and remain in effect until
superseded by the final harvest specifications. Section
679.20(c)(2)(ii) provides that the interim harvest specifications will
be established as one-fourth of each proposed ITAC amount and
apportionment thereof (not including pollock, Pacific cod, Atka
mackerel, and the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish),
one-fourth of each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance established
at Sec. 679.21, and the proposed first seasonal allowance of pollock,
Pacific cod and Atka mackerel TAC. As stated in the proposed harvest
specifications (69 FR 70974), no harvest of groundfish is authorized
before the effective date of this action implementing the interim
harvest specifications.
2005 Interim BSAI Harvest Specifications
Table 1 provides interim TAC and CDQ amounts and apportionments.
Section 679.20(c)(2)(ii) does not provide for an interim harvest
specification for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocations of
sablefish for the CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed under the
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. As a result, directed fishing
for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocations of CDQ sablefish and IFQ
sablefish is prohibited until the effective date of the 2005 final
harvest specifications.
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Interim Allocation of PSC Limits for Crab, Halibut, and Herring
Under Sec. 679.21(e), annual PSC limits are specified for red king
crab, Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab, and C. opilio crab in applicable
Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec. 679.2) of the Bering Sea subarea,
and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI.
Section 679.21(e) authorizes the apportionment of each PSC limit into
PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. Under Sec.
679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for halibut,
crab, and salmon is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.20(c)(2)(ii) provides that one-fourth of each proposed
PSQ reserve and PSC allowance be made available on an interim basis for
harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until superseded by the
final harvest specifications. Table 2 lists the PSQ reserves and
fishery specific interim PSC allowances for halibut and crab effective
at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2005.
[[Page 76875]]
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Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator,
NMFS, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) determines that any
allocation or apportionment of a target species or ``other species''
category has been or will be reached, the Regional Administrator may
establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species
group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species
or species group in the specified subarea or district (Sec.
697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, under regulations at Sec. 679.21(e), if
the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch
allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab or C. opilio crab
for a specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will
prohibit directed fishing for each species in that category in the
specified area.
The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining
allocation amounts in Table 3 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2005 fishing
year.
[[Page 76876]]
Table 3.--2005 Interim Directed Fishing Closures for the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental
Area Species\1\ catch
allowance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District
Pollock............. 50
Aleutian Islands subarea:
Non-CDQ Pollock..... 1,200
``Other rockfish''.. 135
Bering Sea subarea
Pacific ocean perch. 409
``Other rockfish''.. 98
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
Northern rockfish... 1,063
CDQ Northern 94
rockfish.
``Other species''... 5,781
CDQ ``Other 510
species''.
Rougheye rockfish... 42
CDQ Rougheye 4
rockfish.
Shortraker rockfish. 112
CDQ Shortraker 10
rockfish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Closures do not include CDQ fisheries unless stated.
Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the
Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for
the above species or species groups as zero.
Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is
immediately prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the
specified areas in Table 3. These closures will remain in effect from
0001 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2005, until superseded by the 2005 final
harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish or for the AI DPF on the
approval of Amendment 82 and the effective date of its implementing
regulations.
In addition, the BSAI Zone 1 annual red king crab allowance
specified for the trawl rockfish fishery (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D)) is 0 mt and the BSAI first seasonal halibut
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery is 0 mt. The
BSAI annual halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl Greenland
turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish fishery categories is 0 mt (see
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(C)). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.21(e)(7)(ii) and (v), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
rockfish by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1 of the BSAI and directed
fishing for Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels
using trawl gear in the BSAI from 0001 hrs., A.l.t., January 1, 2005,
until superseded by the final 2005 harvest specifications for BSAI
groundfish. NMFS is also prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish
outside Zone 1 in the BSAI until 1200 hrs, A.l.t, July 1, 2005.
While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts
at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip.
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Areas are defined
in Sec. 679.2. In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and
Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, shortraker,
rougheye, and northern rockfish.
Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations
Section 679.4(1) sets forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher
vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative
fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. Table 4 lists the
interim pollock allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock
cooperatives for 2005. Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not
participating in cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because
the CAA requires the non-CDQ directed pollock fishery to be fully
allocated to the Aleut Corporation.
[[Page 76877]]
Table 4.--2005 Interim Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sum of member vessel's
Cooperative name and member vessels official catch Percentage of inshore 2005 Interim
histories\1\ sector allocation cooperative allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association.... 245,922 28.130 72,044
ALDEBARAN, ARCTIC EXPLORER,
ARCTURUS, BLUE FOX, CAPE
KIWANDA, COLUMBIA, DOMINATOR,
EXODUS, FLYING CLOUD, GOLDEN
DAWN, GOLDEN PISCES, HAZEL
LORRAINE, INTREPID EXPLORER,
LESLIE LEE, LISA MELINDA,
MAJESTY, MARCY J, MARGARET LYN,
MARK I, NORDIC EXPLORER,
NORTHERN PATRIOT, NORTHWEST
EXPLORER, PACIFIC RAM, PACIFIC
VIKING, PEGASUS, PEGGY JO,
PERSEVERANCE, PREDATOR, RAVEN,
ROYAL AMERICAN, SEEKER,
SOVEREIGNTY, TRAVELER, VIKING
EXPLORER
Arctic Enterprise Association
BRISTOL EXPLORER, OCEAN EXPLORER, 36,807 4.210 10,783
PACIFIC EXPLORER
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative....
ANITA J, COLLIER BROTHERS, 73,656 8.425 21,578
COMMODORE, EXCALIBUR II,
GOLDRUSH, HALF MOON BAY, MISS
BERDIE, NORDIC FURY, PACIFIC
FURY, POSEIDON, ROYAL ATLANTIC,
SUNSET BAY, STORM PETREL
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative..........
AJ, AMBER DAWN, AMERICAN BEAUTY, 23,850 2.728 6,987
ELIZABETH F, MORNING STAR, OCEAN
LEADER, OCEANIC, PACIFIC
CHALLENGER, PROVIDIAN, TOPAZ,
WALTER N
Unalaska Cooperative.................
ALASKA ROSE, BERING ROSE, 106,737 12.209 31,269
DESTINATION, GREAT PACIFIC,
MESSIAH, MORNING STAR, MS AMY,
PROGRESS, SEA WOLF, VANGUARD,
WESTERN DAWN
UniSea Fleet Cooperative.............
ALSEA, AMERICAN EAGLE, ARGOSY, 213,521 24.424 62,552
AURIGA, AURORA, DEFENDER, GUN-
MAR, MAR-GUN, NORDIC STAR,
PACIFIC MONARCH, SEADAWN,
STARFISH, STARLITE, STARWARD
Westward Fleet Cooperative...........
ALASKAN COMMAND, ALYESKA, ARCTIC 173,744 19.874 50,899
WIND, CAITLIN ANN, CHELSEA K,
DONA MARTITA, FIERCE ALLEGIANCE,
HICKORY WIND, OCEAN HOPE 3,
PACIFIC KNIGHT, PACIFIC PRINCE,
VIKING, WESTWARD I
Open access AFA vessels.............. 0 0 0
--------------------------
Total inshore allocation......... 874,238 100 256,112
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\1\According to regulations at Sec. 679.62(e)(1) the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the
vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/
processors for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.
In accordance with regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(3), NMFS
must further divide the inshore allocation into separate allocations
for cooperative and open access fishing. In addition, according to
regulations at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish harvest
limits inside the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) and provide
a set-aside so that catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2
m) LOA have the opportunity to operate entirely within the SCA until
April 1. Accordingly, Table 5 lists the interim Bering Sea subarea
pollock allocations to the inshore cooperative and open access sectors
and establishes a cooperative sector SCA set-aside for AFA catcher
vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set-aside for
catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA that are not
participating in a cooperative will be established inseason based on
actual participation levels and is not included in Table 5.
Table 5.--2005 Interim Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the
Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the Inshore Pollock Fishery
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A season
SCA
A season TAC harvest
limit\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative sector
Vessels > 99 ft................... n/a................... 153,969
Vessels <= 99 ft.................. n/a................... 25,309
-------------------------
Total......................... 256,112............... 179,278
[[Page 76878]]
Open access sector................ 0..................... 0 \2\
-------------------------
Total inshore................. 256,112............... 179,278
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) is established at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\2\ SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are
not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason
basis in accordance with Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2) which
specifies that ``'the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed
fishing for pollock by vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA,
catching pollock for processing by the inshore component before
reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before April 1 to accommodate
fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA
until April 1.''
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the
final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002). Table 6 lists the 2005 interim catcher/processor
sideboard limits.
All groundfish, other than pollock, that is harvested by listed AFA
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch,
will be deducted from the interim sideboard limits in Table 6. However,
groundfish, other than pollock, that is delivered to listed catcher/
processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2005
interim sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.
Table 6.--2005 Interim BSAI Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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1995-1997
--------------------------------------------------------- 2005 Interim TAC
Target species Area Ratio of retained available to 2005 Interim C/P
Retained catch Total catch catch to total trawl C/Ps sideboard limit
catch
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Pacific cod trawl................. BSAI................. 12,424 48,177 0.258 21,568 5,565
Sablefish trawl................... BS................... 8 497 0.016 257 4
AI................... 0 145 0.000 148 0
Atka mackerel..................... Western AI........... ................. ................. ................. ................. .................
A season\1\ n/a n/a 0.200 8,781 1,756
HLA limit \2\ ................. ................. ................. 5,268 1,054
Central AI........... ................. ................. ................. ................. .................
A season\1\ n/a n/a 0.115 13,218 1,520
HLA limit \2\ ................. ................. ................. 7,931 912
Yellowfin sole.................... BSAI................. 100,192 435,788 0,230 18,291 4,207
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. 6,317 169,362 0.037 8,808 326
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... 121 17,305 0.007 574 4
AI................... 23 4,987 0.005 170 1
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. 76 33,987 0.002 2,550 5
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. 1,925 52,755 0.036 4,038 145
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. 14 9,438 0.001 2,125 2
Other flatfish.................... BSAI................. 3,058 52,298 0.058 638 37
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... 12 4,879 0.002 409 1
Western AI........... 54 13,598 0.004 989 4
Central AI........... 3 5,698 0.001 564 1
Estern AI............ 125 6,179 0.020 592 12
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. 91 13,040 0.007 1,063 7
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. 50 2,811 0.018 112 2
Rougheye rockfish................. BSAI................. 50 2,811 0.018 42 1
Other rockfish.................... BS................... 18 621 0.029 98 3
AI................... 22 806 0.027 135 4
Squid............................. BSAI................. 73 3,328 0.022 271 6
Other species..................... BSAI................. 553 68,672 0.008 5,781 46
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\1\The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the available
TAC in the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the available TAC in the Central Aleutian District.
\2\HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec. 679.2). In 2005, 60 percent of each
seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the
Aleutian Islands HLA, west of 178 degrees W. long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries.
Section 679.64(a)(5) establishes a formula for PSC sideboard limits
for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are equivalent to the
percentage of PSC amounts taken in the groundfish fisheries other than
pollock by the AFA catcher/processors listed in subsection 208(e) and
section 209 of the AFA from 1995 through 1997 (see Table 7). These
amounts were used to calculate the relative amount of PSC that was
caught by pollock catcher/processors. That relative amount of PSC was
then used to determine the PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/
processors in the 2005 interim fisheries for groundfish other than
pollock.
PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating
in any groundfish fishery other than pollock listed in Table 7 will
accrue against the interim 2005 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA
catcher/processors.
[[Page 76879]]
Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish, other than pollock, for listed AFA catcher/processors once
a 2005 interim PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 7 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors
while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances
annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka
mackerel/ ``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at
Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 7.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995--1997
------------------------------------------------ 2005 Interim 2005 Interim C/
PSC species Ratio of PSC PSC available P sideboard
PSC catch Total PSC catch to total to trawl C/Ps limit
PSC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality............... 955 11,325 0.084 850 71
Red king crab................... 3,098 473,750 0.007 45,556 319
C. opilio \2\................... 2,323,731 15,139,178 0.153 1,005,938 153,908
C. bairdi....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
Zone 1.......................... 385,978 2,750,000 0,140 226,625 31,728
Zone 2.......................... 406,860 8,100,000 0.050 686,813 34,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut mortality amounts are in mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards Limits
Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting AFA catcher
vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for
these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule
implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002). Tables 8 and 9 list the 2005 interim AFA catcher vessel
sideboard limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the interim sideboard limits listed in Table 8.
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The AFA catcher vessel PSC limit for halibut and each crab species
in the BSAI, for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established, will
be a portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained
groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category
from 1995 through 1997, relative to the retained catch of all vessels
in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. Table 9 lists the 2005 interim
PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels.
Halibut and crab PSC that are caught by AFA catcher vessels
participating in fisheries for groundfish, other than pollock, listed
in Table 9 will accrue against the 2005 interim PSC sideboard limits
for AFA catcher vessels. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) provide
authority to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock
for AFA catcher vessels once an 2005 interim PSC sideboard limit for
the BSAI listed in Table 9 is reached. PSC that is caught by AFA
catcher vessels, while fishing for pollock in the BSAI, will accrue
against either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 9.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
1995-1997 2005
AFA CV Interim AFA
retained 2005 catcher
PSC species Target fishery category \2\ catch to Interim PSC vessel PSC
total limit sideboard
retained limit
catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut................................. Pacific cod trawl.............. 0.6183 359 222
Pacific cod hook-and-line or 0.0022 194 0
pot.
Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 222 25
Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 195 55
flatfish \5\.
Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.... 0.2327 0 0
Rockfish (July 1-December 31).. 0.0245 17 0
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 0.0227 58 1
species.
Red King Crab........................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 6,641 4,106
Zone 1 \4\.......................... Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 8,461 968
Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 30,353 8,623
flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 0.0227 102 2
species.
C. opilio............................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 31,184 19,281
COBLZ \3\........................... Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 694,245 79,422
Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 242,283 68,833
flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 0.0227 18,107 411
species.
Rockfish....................... 0.0245 10,059 246
Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.... 0.2327 10,060 2,341
C. bairdi............................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 45,778 28,305
Zone 1.............................. Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 85,211 9,748
Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 91,330 25,947
flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 0.0227 4,306 98
species.
C. bairdi............................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 81,044 50,110
Zone 2.............................. Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 447,115 51,150
Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 149,039 42,342
flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 0.0227 6,868 156
species.
[[Page 76882]]
Rockfish....................... 0.0245 2,747 67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut mortality amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.
\4\ In October 2004, the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/
``other flatfish'' fishery category (Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder.
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limit Directed
Fishing Closures
The Regional Administrator has determined that many of the interim
AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in
Table 10 and 11 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2005 fishing year. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator
establishes the directed fishing allowances for the below species or
species groups as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by AFA catcher/
processors for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 10
and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels for the species
in the specified areas set out in Table 11.
Table 10.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limit Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental
Species Area Gear types catch
allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl......................... BS........................ Trawl..................... 4
AI........................ Trawl..................... 0
Rock sole............................... BSAI...................... all....................... 326
Greenland turbot........................ BS........................ all....................... 4
AI........................ all....................... 1
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI...................... all....................... 5
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI...................... all....................... 2
Pacific ocean perch..................... BS........................ all....................... 1
Western AI................ all....................... 4
Central AI................ all....................... 1
Eastern AI................ all....................... 12
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI...................... all....................... 7
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI...................... all....................... 2
Rougheye rockfish....................... BSAI...................... all....................... 1
Other rockfish.......................... BS........................ all....................... 3
AI........................ all....................... 4
Squid................................... BSAI...................... all....................... 6
Other species........................... BSAI...................... all....................... 46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
Table 11.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limit Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental
Species Area Gear catch
allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod............................. BSAI...................... hook-and-line............. 0
BSAI...................... pot....................... 5
BSAI...................... jig....................... 0
Sablefish............................... BS........................ trawl..................... 23
AI........................ trawl..................... 10
Atka mackerel........................... Eastern AI/BS............. jig....................... 0
Eastern AI/BS............. other..................... 15
Central AI................ all....................... 1
Western AI................ all....................... 0
Greenland Turbot........................ BS........................ all....................... 37
AI........................ all....................... 3
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI...................... all....................... 176
[[Page 76883]]
Pacific ocean perch..................... BS........................ all....................... 41
Western AI................ all....................... 0
Central AI................ all....................... 1
Eastern AI................ all....................... 8
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI...................... all....................... 9
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI...................... all....................... 0
Rougheye rockfish....................... BSAI...................... all....................... 0
Other rockfish.......................... BS........................ all....................... 0
AI........................ all....................... 1
Squid................................... BSAI...................... all....................... 104
Other species........................... BSAI...................... all....................... 313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
Classification
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Because this action is a final action by NMFS, analyses required
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act must be completed and considered by the
agency before promulgation of the interim harvest specifications.
Section 679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to specify harvest
specifications to be effective January 1 and to remain in effect until
superceded by the final harvest specifications. Without interim harvest
specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would
not be able to open, resulting in disruption within the fishing
industry. NMFS cannot publish interim harvest specifications until
proposed harvest specifications are completed because the interim
harvest specifications are derived from the proposed harvest
specifications, as required by regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2).
The proposed harvest specifications are based on the preliminary
recommendations of the Plan Team, which were reviewed by the Scientific
and Statistical Committee, and Council in October 2004, in projecting
2005 biomass amounts, as identified in the 2003 SAFE Report, for the
2005 proposed ABC, overfishing levels, and TAC amounts. The Plan Team
recommendations incorporate the most current data available from a
number of sources, including current-year industry catch levels, and
current-year trawl and hydro-acoustic surveys. These data are not
available in time for Council review prior to the October Council
meeting, as the surveys are conducted during the summer months, and
industry catch levels reflect current year activity. These updated data
sources represent the best available scientific information. These data
provide the basis for the proposed and interim harvest specifications.
The proposed harvest specifications, as required by Sec.
679.20(c)(1)(i)(A), must be published as soon as practicable after
consultation with the Council, which occurs at the Council's October
meeting. Because the interim harvest specifications are derived from
the proposed harvest specifications, the proposed harvest
specifications publication requirement, along with the requirement of
National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to use the best
scientific information available, prevents NMFS from publishing the
interim harvest specifications in sufficient time to have a public
comment period and to have the interim harvest specifications effective
on January 1.
As stated above, disruption to the fishing industry and consequent
impacts to fishing communities and to the public would occur if the
interim harvest specifications were not effective January 1.
Additionally, the public is provided an opportunity to comment on the
proposed harvest specifications, from which the interim harvest
specifications are derived. For these reasons, good cause exists under
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and opportunity for public
comment on this action as such procedures would be impracticable and
contrary to the public interest.
Likewise, the Assistant Administrator finds good cause to waive the
30-day delay in effectiveness date of the interim harvest
specifications. Section 679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to establish interim
harvest specifications to be effective on January 1 and to remain in
effect until superseded by the publication of final harvest
specifications by the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS interprets
Sec. 679.20(c)(2) as requiring the filing of interim harvest
specifications with the Office of the Federal Register before any
harvest of groundfish is authorized. The interim harvest specifications
are based on the 2005 proposed harvest specifications.
The interim harvest specifications rely on data used to propose the
2005 harvest specifications, and those data are not available until
after the summer surveys are conducted (see above). Without interim
harvest specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries
would not be able to open on that date, resulting in disruption to the
fishing industry. These reasons constitute good cause pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness date.
Because these interim harvest specifications are not required to be
issued with prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. Consequently, no regulatory
flexibility analysis has been prepared for this action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et
seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); Pub. L. 105-277, Title II of Division C;
Pub L. 106-31, Sec. 3027; Pub L. 106-554, Sec. 209; and Pub. L. 108-
199, Sec. 803.
Dated: December 15, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27735 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P