Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11139 

reached, the possibility exists that they 

would be closed prior to the expiration 

of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period, 

if implemented, because their TACs 

could be reached. Certain fisheries, such 

as those for pollock and Pacific cod are 

intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other 

fisheries, such as those for flatfish, 

rockfish, skates, squids, sharks, and 

octopuses are critical as directed 

fisheries and as incidental catch in other 

fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have 

demonstrated the capacity to catch the 

TAC allocations in these fisheries. If a 

TAC is reached, NMFS would close 

directed fishing or prohibit retention for 

the applicable species, pending 

completion of the 30-day delayed 

effectiveness period. Any delay in 

allocating the final TACs in these 

fisheries would cause confusion to the 

industry and potential economic harm 

through unnecessary discards. Waiving 

the 30-day delay allows NMFS to 

prevent economic loss to fishermen that 

could occur should 2011 TACs be 

reached prior to the close of the 30 day 

delay. Determining which fisheries may 

close is impossible because these 

fisheries are affected by several factors 

that cannot be predicted in advance, 

including fishing effort, weather, 

movement of fishery stocks, and market 

price. Furthermore, the closure of one 

fishery has a cascading effect on other 

fisheries by freeing-up fishing vessels, 

allowing them to move from closed 

fisheries to open ones, increasing the 

fishing capacity in those open fisheries 

and causing them to close at an 

accelerated pace. 

In fisheries subject to declining 

sideboards, a failure to implement the 

updated sideboards before initial 

season’s end could preclude the 

intended economic protection to the 

non-sideboarded sectors. Conversely, in 

fisheries with increasing sideboards, 

economic benefit could be precluded to 

the sideboarded sectors. 

If the final harvest specifications are 

not effective by March 12, 2011, which 

is the start of the 2011 Pacific halibut 

season as specified by the IPHC, the 

hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not 

begin concurrently with the Pacific 

halibut IFQ season. This would result in 

confusion for the industry and 

economic harm from unnecessary 

discard of sablefish that are caught 

along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut 

are managed under the same IFQ 

program. Immediate effectiveness of the 

final 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications will allow the sablefish 

IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with 

the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, the 

immediate effectiveness of this action is 

required to provide consistent 

management and conservation of fishery 

resources based on the best available 

scientific information. This is 

particularly true of those species which 

have lower 2011 ABCs and TACs than 

those established in the 2010 and 2011 

harvest specifications (75 FR 11749, 

March 12, 2010). Immediate 

effectiveness also would give the fishing 

industry the earliest possible 

opportunity to plan and conduct its 

fishing operations with respect to new 

information about TAC limits. 

Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 

under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 

Small Entity Compliance Guide 

The following information is a plain 

language guide to assist small entities in 

complying with this final rule as 

required by the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 

1996. This final rule’s primary purpose 

is to announce the final 2011 and 2012 

harvest specifications and prohibited 

species bycatch allowances for the 

groundfish fisheries of the GOA. This 

action is necessary to establish harvest 

limits and associated management 

measures for groundfish during the 2011 

and 2012 fishing years and to 

accomplish the goals and objectives of 

the FMP. This action affects all 

fishermen who participate in the GOA 

fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, 

ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in 

tables to assist the reader. NMFS will 

announce closures of directed fishing in 

the Federal Register and information 

bulletins released by the Alaska Region. 

Affected fishermen should keep 

themselves informed of such closures. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

1540(f), 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; 

Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106–31; Pub. L. 

106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. L. 108–447; 

Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109–479. 

Dated: February 22, 2011. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4402 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 101126521–0640–02] 

RIN 0648–XZ90 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands; Final 2011 and 2012 

Harvest Specifications for Groundfish 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule; closures. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2011 

and 2012 harvest specifications and 

prohibited species catch allowances for 

the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands management area 

(BSAI). This action is necessary to 

establish harvest limits for groundfish 

during the 2011 and 2012 fishing years, 

and to accomplish the goals and 

objectives of the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP). 

The intended effect of this action is to 

conserve and manage the groundfish 

resources in the BSAI in accordance 

with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), March 1, 2011, 

through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest 

Specifications Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS), Record of Decision 

(ROD), Supplementary Information 

Report (SIR) to the EIS, the Final 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), 

and Supplemental FRFA prepared for 

this action are available from http:// 

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2010 

Stock Assessment and Fishery 

Evaluation (SAFE) report for the 

groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated 

November 2010, is available from the 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (Council) at 605 West 4th 

Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 

99510–2252, phone 907–271–2809, or 

from the Council’s Web site at http:// 

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Whitney, 907–586–7269. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal 

regulations at 50 CFR part 679 

implement the FMP and govern the 

groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 

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11140 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (Council) prepared the FMP, 

and NMFS approved it under the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act. General 

regulations governing U.S. fisheries also 

appear at 50 CFR part 600. 

The FMP and its implementing 

regulations require NMFS, after 

consultation with the Council, to 

specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 

for each target species; the sum must be 

within the optimum yield (OY) range of 

1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons 

(mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)). NMFS also 

must specify apportionments of TACs, 

prohibited species catch (PSC) 

allowances, and prohibited species 

quota (PSQ) reserves established by 

§ 679.21; seasonal allowances of 

pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel 

TAC; Amendment 80 allocations; and 

Community Development Quota (CDQ) 

reserve amounts established by 

§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final harvest 

specifications set forth in Tables 1 

through 16 of this action satisfy these 

requirements. The sum of TACs is 

2,000,000 mt for 2011 and is 2,000,000 

mt for 2012. 

Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires 

NMFS to consider public comment on 

the proposed annual TACs (and 

apportionments thereof) and PSC 

allowances, and to publish final harvest 

specifications in the Federal Register. 

The proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications and PSC allowances for 

the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were 

published in the Federal Register on 

December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76372). 

Comments were invited and accepted 

through January 7, 2011. NMFS received 

9 letters with 4 comments on the 

proposed harvest specifications. These 

comments are summarized and 

responded to in the ‘‘Response to 

Comments’’ section of this rule. NMFS 

consulted with the Council on the final 

2011 and 2012 harvest specifications 

during the December 2010 Council 

meeting in Anchorage, AK. After 

considering public comments, as well as 

biological and economic data that were 

available at the Council’s December 

meeting, NMFS is implementing the 

final 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications as recommended by the 

Council. 

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and 

TAC Harvest Specifications 

The final ABC levels are based on the 

best available biological and 

socioeconomic information, including 

projected biomass trends, information 

on assumed distribution of stock 

biomass, and revised technical methods 

used to calculate stock biomass. In 

general, the development of ABCs and 

overfishing levels (OFLs) involves 

sophisticated statistical analyses of fish 

populations. The FMP specifies a series 

of six tiers to define OFL and ABC 

amounts based on the level of reliable 

information available to fishery 

scientists. Tier one represents the 

highest level of information quality 

available while tier six represents the 

lowest. 

In December 2010, the Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory 

Panel (AP), and Council reviewed 

current biological information about the 

condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. 

The Council’s Plan Team compiled and 

presented this information in the 2010 

SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish 

fisheries, dated November 2010. The 

SAFE report contains a review of the 

latest scientific analyses and estimates 

of each species’ biomass and other 

biological parameters, as well as 

summaries of the available information 

on the BSAI ecosystem and the 

economic condition of groundfish 

fisheries off Alaska. The SAFE report 

was made available for public review 

upon notification of the proposed 

harvest specifications. The 2010 SAFE 

report continues to be available for 

public review (see ADDRESSES). From 

these data and analyses, the Plan Team 

estimated an OFL and ABC for each 

species or species category. 

In December 2010, the SSC, AP, and 

Council reviewed the Plan Team’s 

recommendations. The SSC concurred 

with the Plan Team’s recommendations, 

and the Council adopted the OFL and 

ABC amounts recommended by the SSC 

(Table 1). The final TAC 

recommendations were based on the 

ABCs as adjusted for other biological 

and socioeconomic considerations, 

including maintaining the sum of the 

TACs within the required OY range of 

1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. The 

Council adopted the AP’s 2011 and 

2012 TAC recommendations. As 

required by annual catch limit rules (FR 

74 3178, January 16, 2009), none of the 

Council’s recommended TACs for 2011 

or 2012 exceeds the final 2011 or 2012 

ABCs for any species category. The final 

2010 and 2011 harvest specifications 

approved by the Secretary are 

unchanged from those recommended by 

the Council and are consistent with the 

preferred harvest strategy alternative in 

the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds 

that the Council’s recommended OFLs, 

ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the 

biological condition of groundfish 

stocks as described in the 2010 SAFE 

report that was approved by the 

Council. 

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 

2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications 

NMFS intends to develop a single 

database that stock assessment authors 

can access through a single source such 

as the Alaska Fisheries Information 

Network. The development of this 

database will require the cooperation of 

several agencies, including NMFS, the 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 

and the International Pacific Halibut 

Commission (IPHC). At its October 2010 

meeting, the Council’s groundfish Plan 

Teams recommended the formation of a 

total catch accounting working group to 

assist NMFS in developing a 

methodology to estimate total catch of 

groundfish. While much of the 

information is currently available and 

will be incorporated into the final 2010 

SAFE reports, the development of an 

adequate methodology is ongoing and 

not fully ready for use in the final SAFE 

reports. NMFS intends to have the 

information available for the assessment 

cycle in the fall of 2011. 

The Council is currently considering 

an action to modify the non-Chinook 

salmon management measures to 

minimize non-Chinook salmon bycatch. 

This potential action could impose cap 

threshold limits, sector specific 

allocations, and area specific closures 

for BSAI groundfish closures. This 

action is not expected to be in place by 

the 2012 fishing year. 

The Council has approved a new 

program to replace the Gulf of Alaska 

Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish 

Program), which is scheduled to expire 

on December 31, 2011. NMFS is 

currently developing regulations to 

implement this program. The new 

rockfish program could alter BSAI 

groundfish sideboards for vessels 

participating in the Rockfish Program. 

This new program is expected to be in 

place for the 2012 fishing year. 

In 2010, NMFS Alaska Region 

completed a Section 7 formal 

consultation on the effects of the 

authorization of the Alaska groundfish 

fisheries on Endangered Species Act 

listed species under NMFS jurisdiction. 

The consultation resulted in a biological 

opinion that determined that the effects 

of the Alaska groundfish fisheries were 

likely to jeopardize the continued 

existence of, and adversely modify 

designated critical habitat for, the 

western distinct population segment of 

Steller sea lions. The biological opinion 

included a reasonable and prudent 

alternative (RPA) that requires changes 

to the BSAI Atka mackerel and Aleutian 

Islands subarea Pacific cod fisheries to 

prevent the likelihood of jeopardy of 

extinction or adverse modification of 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11141 

critical habitat for Steller sea lions. 

Separate rulemaking for implementation 

of the RPA became effective January 1, 

2011 (FR 75 77535, December 13, 2010; 

and 75 FR 81921, December 29, 2010). 

Changes to the Atka mackerel and 

Pacific cod harvest specifications that 

are required by the rule implementing 

the RPA are described in the section for 

each of these target species. The 

proposed harvest specifications notified 

the public of possible changes to the 

harvest specification limits. 

At the October 2010 meeting, the 

Council and the Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC) 

recommended separating Kamchatka 

flounder from the arrowtooth flounder 

complex starting in the year 2011. As a 

result, arrowtooth flounder and 

Kamchatka flounder have separate 

OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for 2011 and 

2012. In the proposed 2011 and 2012 

harvest specifications NMFS requested 

public comment on the proposal to 

allocate 10.7 percent of the Kamchatka 

flounder TAC to the CDQ Program. Six 

comments were received, and NMFS 

has determined to not allocate 

Kamchatka flounder to the six CDQ 

groups in 2011. See the Response to 

Comments section below. 

Changes From the Proposed 2010 and 

2011 Harvest Specifications in the BSAI 

In October 2010, the Council made its 

recommendations for the proposed 2011 

and 2012 harvest specifications (75 FR 

76372, December 8, 2010), based largely 

on information contained in the 2009 

SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish 

fisheries. Through the proposed harvest 

specifications, NMFS notified the public 

that these harvest specifications were 

subject to change and that the Council 

would consider information contained 

in the 2010 SAFE report, 

recommendations from the SSC, Plan 

Team, and AP committees, and public 

testimony when making its 

recommendations for final harvest 

specification levels at the December 

Council meeting. NMFS further notified 

the public that, as required by the BSAI 

Groundfish FMP and its implementing 

regulations, the sum of the TACs must 

be within the optimum yield range of 

1.4 and 2.0 million metric tons. 

Information contained in the 2010 

SAFE reports indicates an increase in 

biomass for several groundfish species. 

At the December Council meeting, the 

SSC recommended increasing the ABCs 

for many species in 2011 and 2012 

based on the best and most recent 

information contained in the 2010 SAFE 

reports. This increase resulted in an 

ABC sum total that exceeds 2 million 

metric tons for both 2011 and 2012. 

Based on the SSC ABC 

recommendations and the 2010 SAFE 

reports, the AP recommended raising 

the TACs for more economically 

valuable species that have increasing 

biomasses such as pollock, Pacific cod, 

Pacific ocean perch, and Atka mackerel 

in the Eastern Aleutian Islands and 

Bering Sea subarea. Because these 

increases caused the sum of the TACs to 

exceed the 2 million metric ton limit, 

section 3.2.3.4 of the BSAI FMP 

required that the TACs be adjusted. The 

AP recommended a downward 

adjustment of TACs for several species 

that are not part of the directed fishery 

and that are easily avoided, such as 

octopuses, sculpins, sharks, skates, 

squid, and Alaska plaice. After receiving 

testimony from the Amendment 80 

cooperatives, the AP recommended a 

reduction in Amendment 80 flatfish 

species TACs and arrowtooth flounder 

TAC to levels that the Amendment 80 

fleet believed they could harvest given 

their PSC constraints. The Council 

accepted the SSC and AP 

recommendations. 

The changes to TAC between the 

proposed and final harvest 

specifications are based on the most 

recent scientific and economic 

information and are consistent with the 

FMP and regulatory obligations and 

harvest strategy as described in the 

proposed harvest specifications. These 

changes are compared in the following 

table. 

Table 1 lists the Council’s 

recommended final 2011 and 2012 OFL, 

ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC) and CDQ 

reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish. 

NMFS concurs with these 

recommendations. The final 2011 and 

2012 TAC recommendations for the 

BSAI are within the OY range 

established for the BSAI and do not 

exceed the ABC for any single species 

or complex. The apportionment of TAC 

amounts among fisheries and seasons is 

discussed below. 

COMPARISON OF FINAL 2011 AND 2012 WITH PROPOSED 2011 AND 2012 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE BSAI 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 1 2011 final 

TAC 

2011 

proposed 

TAC 

2011 

difference 

from 

proposed 

2012 final 

TAC 

2012 

proposed 

TAC 

2012 

difference 

from 

proposed 

Pollock ............................... BS ........................ 1,252,000 1,107,000 145,000 1,253,658 1,105,000 148,658 

AI .......................... 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0 

Bogoslof ............... 150 75 75 150 75 75 

Pacific cod ......................... BSAI ..................... 227,950 207,580 20,370 229,608 207,580 22,028 

Sablefish ............................ BS ........................ 2,850 2,500 350 2,610 2,500 110 

AI .......................... 1,900 1,860 40 1,740 1,860 ¥120 

Atka mackerel .................... EAI/BS ................. 40,300 20,900 19,400 36,800 20,900 15,900 

CAI ....................... 11,280 26,000 ¥14,720 10,293 26,000 ¥15,707 

WAI ...................... 1,500 18,100 ¥16,600 1,500 18,100 ¥16,600 

Yellowfin sole .................... BSAI ..................... 196,000 213,000 ¥17,000 197,660 213,000 ¥15,340 

Rock sole ........................... BSAI ..................... 85,000 90,000 ¥5,000 85,000 90,000 ¥5,000 

Greenland turbot ............... BS ........................ 3,500 3,700 ¥200 3,500 3,700 ¥200 

AI .......................... 1,550 1,670 ¥120 1,450 1,670 ¥220 

Arrowtooth flounder ........... BSAI ..................... 25,900 60,000 ¥34,100 25,900 60,000 ¥34,100 

Kamchatka flounder .......... BSAI ..................... 17,700 17,700 0 17,700 17,700 0 

Flathead sole ..................... BSAI ..................... 41,548 60,000 ¥18,452 41,548 60,000 ¥18,452 

Other flatfish ...................... BSAI ..................... 3,000 17,300 ¥14,300 3,000 17,300 ¥14,300 

Alaska plaice ..................... BSAI ..................... 16,000 40,000 ¥24,000 16,000 40,000 ¥24,000 

Pacific ocean perch ........... BS ........................ 5,710 3,790 1,920 5,710 3,790 1,920 

EAI ....................... 5,660 4,180 1,480 5,660 4,180 1,480 

CAI ....................... 4,960 4,230 730 4,960 4,230 730 

WAI ...................... 8,370 6,480 1,890 8,370 6,480 1,890 

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11142 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

COMPARISON OF FINAL 2011 AND 2012 WITH PROPOSED 2011 AND 2012 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE BSAI— 

Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 1 2011 final 

TAC 

2011 

proposed 

TAC 

2011 

difference 

from 

proposed 

2012 final 

TAC 

2012 

proposed 

TAC 

2012 

difference 

from 

proposed 

Northern rockfish ............... BSAI ..................... 4,000 7,290 ¥3,290 4,000 7,290 ¥3,290 

Shortraker rockfish ............ BSAI ..................... 393 387 6 393 387 6 

Rougheye rockfish 2 ........... BS/EAI ................. 234 42 192 240 42 198 

CAI/WAI ............... 220 489 ¥269 225 489 ¥264 

Other rockfish .................... BS ........................ 500 485 15 500 485 15 

AI .......................... 500 555 ¥55 500 555 ¥55 

Squid ................................. BSAI ..................... 425 1,970 ¥1,545 425 1,970 ¥1,545 

Skates ................................ BSAI ..................... 16,500 30,000 ¥13,500 16,500 30,000 ¥13,500 

Sharks ............................... BSAI ..................... 50 449 ¥399 50 449 ¥399 

Octopuses ......................... BSAI ..................... 150 233 ¥83 150 233 ¥83 

Sculpins ............................. BSAI ..................... 5,200 30,035 ¥24,835 5,200 30,035 ¥24,835 

Total ........................... BSAI ..................... 2,000,000 1,997,000 3,000 2,000,000 1,995,000 5,000 

1Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District 

(EAI), Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI). 2The proposed rule split rougheye rockfish TACs by the Aleutian Islands, and the Bering Sea. The final rule splits rougheye rockfish by the 

Bering Sea and Eastern Aleutians District, and the Central Aleutian District and Western Aleutian District. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11143 

TABLE 1—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 OVERFISHING

LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE

BIOLOGICAL

CATCH (ABC), TOTAL

ALLOWABLE

CATCH (TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), 

AND CDQ RESERVE

ALLOCATION OF

GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 

2011 2012 

OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3 OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3

Pollock 3 ................................ BS2 ............................. 2,450,000 1,270,000 1,252,000 1,126,800 125,200 3,170,000 1,600,000 1,253,658 1,128,292 125,366 

AI 2 ............................... 44,500 36,700 19,000 17,100 1,900 50,400 41,600 19,000 17,100 1,900 Bogoslof ...................... 22,000 156 150 150 0 22,000 156 150 150 0 

Pacific cod 4, 5 ........................ BSAI ............................ 272,000 235,000 227,950 203,559 24,391 329,000 281,000 229,608 205,040 24,568 Sablefish 5 ............................. BS ................................ 3,360 2,850 2,850 2,351 392 3,080 2,610 2,610 1,109 98 

AI ................................. 2,250 1,900 1,900 1,544 321 2,060 1,740 1,740 370 33 

Atka mackerel 5 ..................... BSAI ............................ 101,000 85,300 53,080 47,400 5,680 92,200 77,900 48,593 43,394 5,199 

EAI/BS ......................... n/a 40,300 40,300 35,988 4,312 n/a 36,800 36,800 32,862 3,938 CAI .............................. n/a 24,000 11,280 10,073 1,207 n/a 21,900 10,293 9,192 1,101 WAI .............................. n/a 21,000 1,500 1,340 161 n/a 19,200 1,500 1,340 161 

Yellowfin sole 5 ...................... BSAI ............................ 262,000 239,000 196,000 175,028 20,972 266,000 242,000 197,660 176,510 21,150 Rock sole 5, 6 .......................... BSAI ............................ 248,000 224,000 85,000 75,905 9,095 243,000 219,000 85,000 75,905 9,095 Greenland turbot 5 ................. BSAI ............................ 7,220 6,140 5,050 4,293 n/a 6,760 5,750 4,950 4,208 n/a 

BS ................................ n/a 4,590 3,500 2,975 375 n/a 4,300 3,500 2,975 375 AI ................................. n/a 1,550 1,550 1,318 0 n/a 1,450 1,450 1,233 0 

Arrowtooth flounder 5 ............ BSAI ............................ 186,000 153,000 25,900 22,015 2,771 191,000 157,000 25,900 22,015 2,771 Kamchatka flounder .............. BSAI ............................ 23,600 17,700 17,700 15,045 0 23,600 17,700 17,700 15,045 0 Flathead sole 5, 7 .................... BSAI ............................ 83,300 69,300 41,548 37,102 4,446 82,100 68,300 41,548 37,102 4,446 Other flatfish 8 ....................... BSAI ............................ 19,500 14,500 3,000 2,550 0 19,500 14,500 3,000 2,550 0 Alaska plaice ......................... BSAI ............................ 79,100 65,100 16,000 13,600 0 83,800 69,100 16,000 13,600 0 Pacific ocean perch 5 ............ BSAI ............................ 36,300 24,700 24,700 21,812 n/a 34,300 24,700 24,700 21,812 n/a 

BS ................................ n/a 5,710 5,710 4,854 0 n/a 5,710 5,710 4,854 0 EAI ............................... n/a 5,660 5,660 5,054 606 n/a 5,660 5,660 5,054 606 CAI .............................. n/a 4,960 4,960 4,429 531 n/a 4,960 4,960 4,429 531 WAI .............................. n/a 8,370 8,370 7,474 896 n/a 8,370 8,370 7,474 896 

Northern rockfish ................... BSAI ............................ 10,600 8,670 4,000 3,400 0 10,400 8,330 4,000 3,400 0 Shortraker rockfish ................ BSAI ............................ 524 393 393 334 0 524 393 393 334 0 Rougheye rockfish 9 .............. BSAI ............................ 549 454 454 386 0 563 465 465 395 0 

EBS/EAI ...................... n/a 234 234 199 0 n/a 240 240 204 0 CAI/WAI ....................... n/a 220 220 187 0 n/a 225 225 191 0 

Other rockfish 10 .................... BSAI ............................ 1,700 1,280 1,000 850 0 1,700 1,280 1,000 850 0 

BS ................................ n/a 710 500 425 0 n/a 710 500 425 0 AI ................................. n/a 570 500 425 0 n/a 570 500 425 0 

Squids ................................... BSAI ............................ 2,620 1,970 425 361 0 2,620 1,970 425 361 0 Skates ................................... BSAI ............................ 37,800 31,500 16,500 14,025 0 37,200 31,000 16,500 14,025 0 Sharks ................................... BSAI ............................ 1,360 1,020 50 43 0 1,360 1,020 50 43 0 Octopuses ............................. BSAI ............................ 528 396 150 128 0 528 396 150 128 0 Sculpins ................................. BSAI ............................ 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0 

Total ............................... ...................................... 3,954,111 2,534,729 2,000,000 1,790,200 199,467 4,731,995 2,911,610 2,000,000 1,788,157 198,926 

1 These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the 

Bogoslof District. 2 Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder 

of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. 3 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3.0 percent), is 

further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: Inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. 4 The Pacific cod TAC is reduced by three percent from the ABC to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea. 5 For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see 

§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish’’, Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other rockfish’’, octopuses, sculpins, sharks, skates, and squid are not allocated to the CDQ program. 6 ‘‘Rock sole’’ includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole). 7 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder). 8 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 9 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted). 

10 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish. 

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Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental 

Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, 

Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock 

Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian 

Islands Pacific Ocean Perch 

Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires the 

placement of 15 percent of the TAC for 

each target species, except for pollock, 

the hook-and-line and pot gear 

allocation of sablefish, and the 

Amendment 80 species, in a nonspecified reserve. Section 

679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20 

percent of the hook-and-line and pot 

gear allocation of sablefish be allocated 

to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. 

Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires 

allocation of 7.5 percent of the trawl 

gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 

percent of the Bering Sea Greenland 

turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to 

the respective CDQ reserves. Section 

679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires allocation of 

10.7 percent of the TACs for Atka 

mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean 

perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead 

sole, and Pacific cod to the CDQ 

reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 

679.31(a) also require the allocation of 

10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs to 

the pollock CDQ directed fishing 

allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof 

District pollock TAC is allocated as an 

ICA (see § 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the 

exception of the hook-and-line and pot 

gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the 

regulations do not further apportion the 

CDQ allocations by gear. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), 

NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 3 

percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC 

after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ 

reserve. This allowance is based on 

NMFS’ examination of the pollock 

incidental catch, including the 

incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in 

target fisheries other than pollock from 

1999 through 2010. During this 12-year 

period, the pollock incidental catch 

ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006 

to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 

12-year average of 3 percent. Pursuant to 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS 

establishes a pollock ICA of 1,600 mt of 

the AI subarea TAC after subtraction of 

the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This 

allowance is based on NMFS’ 

examination of the pollock incidental 

catch, including the incidental catch by 

CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other 

than pollock from 2003 through 2010. 

During this 8-year period, the incidental 

catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 

percent in 2006 to a high of 10 percent 

in 2003, with an 8-year average of 7 

percent. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10), 

NMFS allocates ICAs of 5,000 mt of 

flathead sole, 5,000 mt of rock sole, 

2,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of 

Western Aleutian District Pacific (WAI) 

ocean perch, 75 mt of Central Aleutian 

District (CAI) Pacific ocean perch, 100 

mt of Eastern Aleutian District (EAI) 

Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka 

mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, 

and 75 mt of EAI and BS subarea Atka 

mackerel TAC after subtraction of the 

10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These 

allowances are based on NMFS’ 

examination of the incidental catch in 

other target fisheries from 2003 through 

2010. 

The regulations do not designate the 

remainder of the non-specified reserve 

by species or species group. Any 

amount of the reserve may be 

apportioned to a target species category 

during the year, providing that such 

apportionments do not result in 

overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The 

Regional Administrator has determined 

that the ITACs specified for the species 

listed in Table 2 need to be 

supplemented from the non-specified 

reserve because U.S. fishing vessels 

have demonstrated the capacity to catch 

the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is 

apportioning the amounts shown in 

Table 2 from the non-specified reserve 

to increase the ITAC for northern 

rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye 

rockfish, and Bering Sea ‘‘other rockfish’’ 

by 15 percent of the TAC in 2011 and 

2012. 

TABLE 2—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species-area or subarea 2011 ITAC 

2011 

reserve 

amount 

2011 final 

ITAC 2012 ITAC 

2012 

reserve 

amount 

2012 

final ITAC 

Shortraker rockfish–BSAI ................................................. 334 59 393 334 59 393 

Rougheye rockfish–EBS/EAI ........................................... 199 35 234 204 36 240 

Rougheye rockfish–CAI/WAI ........................................... 187 33 220 191 34 225 

Northern rockfish–BSAI ................................................... 3,400 600 4,000 3,400 600 4,000 

Other rockfish—Bering Sea subarea ............................... 425 75 500 425 75 500 

Total .......................................................................... 4,545 802 5,347 4,554 804 5,358 

Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the 

American Fisheries Act (AFA) 

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that 

the pollock TAC apportioned to the BS 

subarea, after subtraction of the 10 

percent for the CDQ program and the 3 

percent for the ICA, be allocated as a 

DFA as follows: 50 percent to the 

inshore sector, 40 percent to the 

catcher/processor (C/P) sector, and 10 

percent to the mothership sector. In the 

BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is 

allocated to the A season (January 20– 

June 10), and 60 percent of the DFA is 

allocated to the B season (June 10– 

November 1) (§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The 

AI directed pollock fishery allocation to 

the Aleut Corporation is the amount of 

pollock remaining in the AI subarea 

after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ 

DFA (10 percent) and 1,600 mt for the 

ICA (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the 

AI subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is 

allocated to the A season and the 

remainder of the directed pollock 

fishery is allocated to the B season. 

Table 3 lists these 2011 and 2012 

amounts. 

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also 

includes several specific requirements 

regarding BS subarea pollock 

allocations. First, 8.5 percent of the 

pollock allocated to the C/P sector will 

be available for harvest by AFA catcher 

vessels (CVs) with C/P sector 

endorsements, unless the Regional 

Administrator receives a cooperative 

contract that provides for the 

distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps 

and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by 

all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not 

listed in the AFA are limited to 

harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of 

the pollock allocated to the C/P sector. 

Table 3 lists the 2011 and 2012 

allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 11 

through 16 list the AFA C/P and CV 

harvesting sideboard limits. The tables 

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for the pollock allocations to the BS 

subarea inshore pollock cooperatives 

and open access sector will be posted on 

the Alaska Region Web site at http:// 

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. 

Table 3 also lists seasonal 

apportionments of pollock and harvest 

limits within the Steller Sea Lion 

Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest 

within the SCA, as defined at 

§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 

percent of the annual DFA until 12 

noon, April 1 as provided in 

§ 679.22(a)(5)(i)(C). The remaining 12 

percent of the 40 percent annual DFA 

allocated to the A season may be taken 

outside the SCA before 12 noon, April 

1 or inside the SCA after 12 noon, April 

1. If less than 28 percent of the annual 

DFA is taken inside the SCA before 12 

noon, April 1, the remainder will be 

available to be taken inside the SCA 

after 12 noon, April 1. The A season 

pollock SCA harvest limit will be 

apportioned to each sector in proportion 

to each sector’s allocated percentage of 

the DFA. Table 3 lists these 2011 and 

2012 amounts by sector. 

TABLE 3—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE

CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA)1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2011 

Allocations 

2011 A season 1 2011 

B season 1

2012 

Allocations 

2012 A season 1 2012 

B season 1

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season 

DFA 

A season 

DFA 

SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season 

DFA 

Bering Sea subarea .......................... 1,252,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,253,658 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ................................... 125,200 50,080 35,056 75,120 125,366 50,146 35,102 75,219 

ICA1 ........................................... 33,804 n/a n/a n/a 33,849 n/a n/a n/a 

AFA Inshore ............................... 546,498 218,599 153,019 327,899 547,222 218,889 153,222 328,333 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ......... 437,198 174,879 122,416 262,319 437,777 175,111 122,578 262,666 

Catch by C/Ps ..................... 400,037 160,015 n/a 240,022 400,566 160,227 n/a 240,340 

Catch by CVs 3 ................... 37,162 14,865 n/a 22,297 37,211 14,884 n/a 22,327 

Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ...... 2,186 874 n/a 1,312 2,189 876 n/a 1,313 

AFA Motherships ....................... 109,300 43,720 30,604 65,580 109,444 43,778 30,644 65,667 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ...... 191,274 n/a n/a n/a 191,528 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ..... 327,899 n/a n/a n/a 328,333 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea DFA ....................... 1,092,996 437,198 306,039 655,798 1,094,443 437,777 306,444 656,666 

Aleutian Islands subarea 1 ................ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 

ICA ............................................. 1,600 800 n/a 800 1,600 800 n/a 800 

Aleut Corporation ....................... 15,500 15,500 n/a 0 15,500 15,500 n/a 0 

Bogoslof District ICA7 ....................... 150 n/a n/a n/a 150 n/a n/a n/a 

1Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtraction for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: 

inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to 

the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the 

annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation 

for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock 

fishery. 2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA 

allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the 

SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1. 3Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed C/Ps. 4Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted C/Ps are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the C/Ps sector’s allocation of pollock. 5Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 6Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs. 7The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are not apportioned by 

season or sector. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs 

Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka 

mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80 

and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, 

after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig 

gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI 

trawl limited access sector and nontrawl gear (Table 4). The process for 

allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel 

to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl 

limited access sectors is listed in Table 

33 to part 679 and § 679.91. Pursuant to 

§ 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the 

EAI and the BS subarea Atka mackerel 

ITAC may be allocated to jig gear. The 

amount of this allocation is determined 

annually by the Council based on 

several criteria, including the 

anticipated harvest capacity of the jig 

gear fleet. The Council recommended, 

and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent 

allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in 

the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear 

in 2011 and 2012. This percentage is 

applied after subtraction of the CDQ 

reserve and the ICA. 

The RPA implemented on January 1, 

2011, (FR 75 77535, December 13, 2010, 

and 75 FR 81921, December 29, 2010), 

requires that NMFS make several 

changes from the proposed to the final 

harvest specifications for BSAI Atka 

mackerel. The platoon management of 

Atka mackerel harvest inside the harvest 

limit area is no longer needed because 

the RPA prohibits all retention of Atka 

mackerel in Area 543 and requires that 

nearly all directed fishing for Atka 

mackerel in waters 0 nm to 20 nm 

around Steller sea lion sites in Area 542. 

The harvest limit area limits that were 

in the proposed harvest specification 

therefore have been removed from the 

final harvest specifications in Areas 542 

and 543. The TACs in these two areas, 

which were set to ABC, decreased from 

the proposed amounts. In area 543, the 

final amount is set to account for 

discards in other fisheries since the RPA 

at § 679.7(a)(19) prohibits retention in 

Area 543. Also the final Area 542 TAC 

decreased from the proposed TAC since 

the RPA at § 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(3) limits 

the annual TAC for this area to no more 

than 47 percent of the Area 542 ABC. 

Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions 

the Atka mackerel ITAC into two equal 

seasonal allowances. The RPA changed 

the end of the A season and start of the 

B season dates at § 679.23(e)(3). The first 

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seasonal allowance is made available for 

directed fishing with trawl gear from 

January 20 to June 10 (A season), and 

the second seasonal allowance is made 

available from June to November 1 (B 

season). Also, § 679.23(e)(4)(iii) the RPA 

applies Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ 

Atka mackerel fishing. The jig gear 

allocation is not apportioned by season. 

Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(ii)(2) 

requires the Amendment 80 

cooperatives and CDQ groups to limit 

harvest to 10 percent of their Central 

Aleutian District Atka mackerel 

allocation equally divided between the 

A and B seasons within waters 10 nm 

to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, 

as described on Table 12 to part 679. 

Vessels not fishing under the authority 

of an Amendment 80 cooperative quota 

or CDQ allocation are prohibited from 

conducting directed fishing for Atka 

mackerel inside Steller sea lion critical 

habitat in the Central Aleutian District. 

Table 4 lists these 2011 and 2012 Atka 

mackerel season and area allowances, as 

well as the sector allocations. The 2012 

allocations for Atka mackerel between 

Amendment 80 cooperatives and the 

Amendment 80 limited access sector 

will not be known until eligible 

participants apply for participation in 

the program by November 1, 2011. 

TABLE 4—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL

CATCH ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 2, 3, 4

2011 allocation by area 2012 allocation by area 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/Bering Sea 

Central 

Aleutian 

District 5

Western 

Aleutian 

District 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/Bering Sea 

Central 

Aleutian 

District 5

Western 

Aleutian 

District 

TAC ........................................... n/a ............................ 40,300 11,280 1,500 36,800 10,293 1,500 

CDQ reserve ............................. Total ......................... 4,312 1,207 161 3,938 1,101 161 

A ............................... 2,156 603 80 1,969 551 80 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 60 n/a n/a 55 n/a 

B ............................... 2,156 603 80 1,969 551 80 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 60 n/a n/a 55 n/a 

ICA ............................................. Total ......................... 75 75 40 75 75 40 

Jig 6 ............................................ Total ......................... 180 0 0 164 0 0 

BSAI trawl limited access .......... Total ......................... 2,859 800 0 3,262 912 0 

A ............................... 1,429 400 0 1,631 456 0 

B ............................... 1,429 400 0 1,631 456 0 

Amendment 80 sectors ............. Total ......................... 32,875 9,198 1,300 29,361 8,205 1,300 

A ............................... 16,437 4,599 650 14,681 4,102 650 

B ............................... 16,437 4,599 650 14,681 4,102 650 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative Total ......................... 19,181 5,389 755 n/a n/a n/a 

A ............................... 9,591 2,695 377 n/a n/a n/a 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 269 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

B ............................... 9,591 2,695 377 n/a n/a n/a 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 269 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ..... Total ......................... 13,694 3,809 545 n/a n/a n/a 

A ............................... 6,847 1,904 272 n/a n/a n/a 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 190 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

B ............................... 6,847 1,904 272 n/a n/a n/a 

Critical habitat 5 ........ n/a 190 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see 

§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). 2Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 

4Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B 

season from June 10 to November 1. 5Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the TAC in area 542 shall be no more than 47% of ABC, and Atka mackerel harvests for Amendment 80 

cooperatives and CDQ groups within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as described Table 12 to part 679, in Area 542 are 

limited to no more than 10 percent of the Amendment 80 cooperative Atka mackerel allocation or 10 percent of the CDQ Atka mackerel allocation. 6Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear 

after subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Allocation of the Pacific Cod ITAC 

Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) 

allocates the Pacific cod TAC in the 

BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent 

for the CDQ reserve, as follows: 1.4 

percent to vessels using jig gear; 2.0 

percent to hook-and-line and pot CVs 

less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall 

(LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs 

greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) 

LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line 

C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater than 

or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 

percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3 percent to AFA 

trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA 

trawl C/Ps; and 22.1 percent to trawl 

CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and 

pot sectors will be deducted from the 

aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC 

allocated to the hook-and-line and pot 

sectors. For 2011 and 2012, the Regional 

Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 

mt based on anticipated incidental catch 

by these sectors in other fisheries. The 

allocation of the ITAC for Pacific cod to 

the Amendment 80 sector is established 

in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. 

The 2012 allocations for Pacific cod 

between Amendment 80 cooperatives 

and the Amendment 80 limited access 

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sector will not be known until 

November 1, 2011, the date by which 

the applicants eligible to apply for 

participation in the Amendment 80 

program must file their application. 

Amendment 80 applications for 2012 

have not yet been submitted to NMFS, 

thereby preventing NMFS from 

calculating 2012 allocations. NMFS will 

post 2012 Amendment 80 allocations 

when they become available in 

December 2011. 

The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned 

into seasonal allowances to disperse the 

Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing 

year (see §§ 679.20(a)(7) and 

679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused 

portion of a seasonal Pacific cod 

allowance will become available at the 

beginning of the next seasonal 

allowance. 

The CDQ and non-CDQ season 

allowances by gear based on the 2011 

and 2012 Pacific cod TACs are listed in 

Tables 5a and 5b based on the sector 

allocation percentages of Pacific cod set 

forth at §§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 

679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal 

allowances of Pacific cod set forth at 

§ 679.23(e)(5). 

The RPA implemented on January 1, 

2011 (75 FR 77535, December 13, 2010), 

includes two prohibitions for Pacific 

cod. Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits 

retention of Pacific cod in Area 543 and 

§ 679.7(a)(23) prohibits directed fishing 

for Pacific cod with hook-and-line, pot, 

or jig gear in the Aleutian Islands 

subarea November 1 through December 

31. 

TABLE 5a—FINAL 2011 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent Share of gear 

sector total 

Share of 

sector total 

Seasonal apportionment 

Dates Amount 

Total TAC .......................................... 100 227,950 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

CDQ .................................................. 10.7 24,391 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) .................... n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ............. 60.8 123,764 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA1 .................... n/a 500 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) ................... n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ............... n/a 123,264 n/a n/a .................................................... n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor ...... 48.7 n/a 98,733 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................................... 50,354 

Jun 10–Dec 31 ................................. 48,379 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft 

LOA.

0.2 n/a 405 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................................... 207 

Jun 10–Dec 31 ................................. 199 

Pot catcher/processor ....................... 1.5 n/a 3,041 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................................... 1,551 

Sept 1–Dec 31 ................................. 1,490 

Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ........ 8.4 n/a 17,030 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................................... 8,685 

Sept 1–Dec 31 ................................. 8,345 

Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using 

hook-and-line or pot gear.

2 n/a 4,055 n/a .................................................... n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ......................... 22.1 44,987 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................... 33,290 

Apr 1–Jun 10 .................................... 4,949 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................... 6,748 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ............. 2.3 4,682 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................... 3,511 

Apr 1–Jun 10 .................................... 1,170 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................... 0 

Amendment 80 .................................. 13.4 27,277 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................... 20,458 

Apr 1–Jun 10 .................................... 6,819 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................... 0 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ........ n/a n/a 5,079 Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................... 3,809 

Apr 1–Jun 10 .................................... 1,270 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................... 0 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ............ n/a n/a 22,198 Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................... 16,649 

Apr 1–Jun 10 .................................... 5,550 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................... 0 

Jig ...................................................... 1.4 2,850 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 .................................... 1,710 

Apr 30–Aug 31 ................................. 570 

Aug 31–Dec 31 ................................ 570 

1The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line 

and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 5b—FINAL 2012 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent Share of gear 

sector total 

Share of 

sector total 

Seasonal apportionment 2 3

Dates Amount 

Total TAC .............................................................. 100 229,608 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

CDQ ...................................................................... 10.7 24,568 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ................................. 60.8 124,664 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA1 ........................................ n/a 500 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ................................... n/a 124,164 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor .......................... 48.7 n/a 99,454 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 50,722 

Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 48,732 

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TABLE 5b—FINAL 2012 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent Share of gear 

sector total 

Share of 

sector total 

Seasonal apportionment 2 3

Dates Amount 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ........... 0.2 n/a 408 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 208 

Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 200 

Pot catcher/processor ........................................... 1.5 n/a 3,063 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,562 

Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 1,501 

Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ............................ 8.4 n/a 17,154 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 8,749 

Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 8,406 

Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

2 n/a 4,084 n/a ................................. n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ............................................. 22.1 45,314 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 33,532 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 4,985 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 6,797 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ................................ 2.3 4,716 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 3,537 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,179 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Amendment 80 ..................................................... 13.4 27,475 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 20,607 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 6,869 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Amendment 80 limited access 2 ........................... n/a n/a see footnote 2 Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 75% 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 25% 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Amendment 80 cooperatives 2 .............................. n/a n/a see footnote 2 Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 75% 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 25% 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Jig ......................................................................... 1.4 2,871 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 ................ 1,722 

Apr 30–Aug 31 ............. 574 

Aug 31–Dec 31 ............ 574 

1The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line 

and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries. 2The 2012 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not 

be known November 1, 2011, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Sablefish Gear Allocation 

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) 

require the allocation of sablefish TACs 

for the BS and AI subareas between 

trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear. 

Gear allocations of the TACs for the BS 

subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 

50 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. 

Gear allocations of the TACs for the AI 

subarea are 25 percent for trawl gear and 

75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. 

Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires 

apportionment of 20 percent of the 

hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of 

sablefish to the CDQ reserve. 

Additionally, § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) 

requires apportionment of 7.5 percent of 

the trawl gear allocation of sablefish 

from the nonspecified reserves, 

established under § 679.20(b)(1)(i), to 

the CDQ reserve. The Council 

recommended that only trawl sablefish 

TAC be established biennially. This is 

because the harvest specifications for 

the hook-and-line gear and pot gear 

sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 

fisheries will be limited to the 2011 

fishing year to ensure those fisheries are 

conducted concurrently with the halibut 

IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and 

halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the 

potential for discards of halibut and 

sablefish in those fisheries. The 

sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain 

closed at the beginning of each fishing 

year until the final specifications for the 

sablefish IFQ fisheries are in effect. 

Table 6 lists the 2011 and 2012 gear 

allocations of the sablefish TAC and 

CDQ reserve amounts. 

TABLE 6—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Subarea and gear Percent of 

TAC 

2011 Share 

of TAC 2011 ITAC 2011 CDQ reserve 

2012 Share 

of TAC 2012 ITAC 2012 CDQ reserve 

Bering Sea: 

Trawl 1 ............................................... 50 1,425 1,211 107 1,305 1,109 98 

Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ................... 50 1,425 1,140 285 n/a n/a n/a 

Total ........................................... 100 2,850 2,351 392 1,305 1,109 98 

Aleutian Islands: 

Trawl 1 ............................................... 25 475 404 36 435 370 33 

Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ................... 75 1,425 1,140 285 n/a n/a n/a 

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TABLE 6—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Subarea and gear Percent of 

TAC 

2011 Share 

of TAC 2011 ITAC 2011 CDQ reserve 

2012 Share 

of TAC 2012 ITAC 2012 CDQ reserve 

Total ........................................... 100 1,900 1,544 321 435 370 33 

1Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of 

the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. 2For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use 

by CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year. 

Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean 

Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock 

Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs 

Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) 

require the allocation between the 

Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl 

limited access sector for AI Pacific 

ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, 

rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs, after 

subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ 

reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl 

limited access sector and vessels using 

non-trawl gear. The allocation of the 

ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and 

BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and 

yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 

sector is established in accordance with 

Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and 

§ 679.91. The 2012 allocations for 

Amendment 80 species between 

Amendment 80 cooperatives and 

limited access sector will not be known 

until November 1, 2011, the date by 

which the applicants eligible to apply 

for participation in the Amendment 80 

program must file their application. 

Amendment 80 applications for 2012 

have not yet been submitted to NMFS, 

thereby preventing NMFS from 

calculating 2012 allocations. NMFS will 

post 2012 Amendment 80 allocations 

when they become available in 

December, 2011. Table 7a and 7b lists 

the 2011 and 2012 allocations of the AI 

Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead 

sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs. 

TABLE 7a—FINAL 2011 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND

AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK

SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 

Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole 

Eastern Aleutian District Central Aleutian 

District 

Western Aleutian District BSAI BSAI BSAI 

TAC .............................................. 5,660 4,960 8,370 41,548 85,000 196,000 

CDQ ............................................. 606 531 896 4,446 9,095 20,972 

ICA ............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 5,000 2,000 

BSAI trawl limited access ............ 495 435 149 0 0 34,153 

Amendment 80 ............................. 4,459 3,919 7,315 32,102 70,905 138,875 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ... 2,364 2,078 3,879 6,269 19,902 58,948 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ....... 2,095 1,841 3,436 25,833 51,003 79,926 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 7b—FINAL 2012 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND

AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK

SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 

Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole 

Eastern Aleutian District Central Aleutian 

District 

Western Aleutian District BSAI BSAI BSAI 

TAC .............................................. 5,660 4,960 8,370 41,548 85,000 197,660 

CDQ ............................................. 606 531 896 4,446 9,095 21,150 

ICA ............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 5,000 2,000 

BSAI trawl limited access ............ 495 435 149 0 0 34,746 

Amendment 80 1 .......................... 4,459 3,919 7,315 32,102 70,905 139,764 

1The 2012 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not 

be known until November 1, 2011, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file 

their application. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, 

Salmon, Crab, and Herring 

Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI 

PSC limits. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) 

and (e)(2), the 2011 and 2012 BSAI 

halibut mortality limits are 3,675 mt for 

trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the nontrawl fisheries. Sections 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) 

allocate 326 mt of the trawl halibut 

mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67 

mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality 

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11150 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the 

groundfish CDQ program. 

Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes the 

apportionment of the non-trawl halibut 

PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances 

among six fishery categories. Table 8c 

lists the fishery bycatch allowances for 

the trawl and non-trawl fisheries. 

Pursuant to section 3.6 of the BSAI 

FMP, the Council recommends, and 

NMFS agrees, that certain specified nontrawl fisheries be exempt from the 

halibut PSC limit. As in past years after 

consultation with the Council, NMFS 

exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the 

sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery 

categories from halibut bycatch 

restrictions for the following reasons: (1) 

The pot gear fisheries have low halibut 

bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates 

halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to 

be negligible because of the small size 

of the fishery and the selectivity of the 

gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut 

IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch 

mortality because the IFQ program 

requires legal-size halibut to be retained 

by vessels using hook-and-line gear if a 

halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired 

master is aboard and is holding unused 

halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 

679). In 2010, total groundfish catch for 

the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 

approximately 23,028 mt, with an 

associated halibut bycatch mortality of 

about 4 mt. 

The 2010 jig gear fishery harvested 

about 344 mt of groundfish. Most 

vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 

60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and thus are exempt 

from observer coverage requirements. 

As a result, observer data are not 

available on halibut bycatch in the jig 

gear fishery. However, as mentioned 

above, NMFS estimates a negligible 

amount of halibut bycatch mortality 

because of the selective nature of jig 

gear and the low mortality rate of 

halibut caught with jig gear and 

released. 

In January 2011, NMFS implemented 

Amendment 91 to the FMP, 

§ 679.21(f)(2), to annually allocate 

portions of either 47,591 or 60,000 

Chinook salmon PSC among the AFA 

sectors depending upon past catch 

performance and upon whether or not 

Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreements are formed. If an AFA sector 

participates in an approved Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreement, then NMFS will allocate a 

portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that 

sector as specified in 

§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreement is approved, or if the sector 

has exceeded its performance standard 

under § 679.21(f)(6), NMFS will allocate 

a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon 

PSC limit to that sector as specified in 

§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2011, the 

Chinook salmon PSC limit is 60,000 and 

the AFA sector Chinook salmon 

allocations are seasonally allocated with 

70 percent of the allocation for the A 

season pollock fishery, and 30 percent 

of the allocation for the B season 

pollock fishery as stated in 

§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for these 

PSC limits is described in detail in the 

final rule implementing management 

measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR 

53026, August 30, 2010). NMFS 

publishes the approved Chinook salmon 

bycatch incentive plan agreements, 2011 

allocations and reports at: http:// 

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/ 

sustainablefisheries/bycatch/ 

default.htm. 

Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 

fish as the 2011 and 2012 Chinook 

salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea 

pollock fishery. Section 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 

percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the 

AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program 

and allocates the remaining 647 

Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ 

fisheries. 

Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 

42,000 fish as the 2011 and 2012 nonChinook salmon PSC limit. Section 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 

percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon, 

as the PSQ for the CDQ program and 

allocates the remaining 37,506 nonChinook salmon to the non-CDQ 

fisheries. 

PSC limits for crab and herring are 

specified annually based on abundance 

and spawning biomass. Pursuant to 

§ 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent from 

each trawl gear PSC limit specified for 

crab is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use 

by the groundfish CDQ program. 

Based on the 2010 survey data, the 

red king crab mature female abundance 

is estimated at 31.5 million red king 

crabs, and the effective spawning 

biomass is estimated at 67.4 million lb. 

Based on the criteria set out at 

§ 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2011 and 2012 PSC 

limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl 

gear is 197,000 animals. This limit 

derives from the mature female 

abundance of more than 8.4 million 

king crab and the effective spawning 

biomass estimate of more than 55 

million lb (24,948 mt). 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) 

establishes criteria under which NMFS 

must specify an annual red king crab 

bycatch limit for the Red King Crab 

Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The 

regulations limit the RKCSS to up to 25 

percent of the red king crab PSC limit 

based on the need to optimize the 

groundfish harvest relative to red king 

crab bycatch. In December 2010, the 

Council recommended that the red king 

crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent 

of the red king crab PSC limit within the 

RKCSS (Table 8b). NMFS concurs in the 

Council’s recommendation. 

Based on 2010 survey data, Tanner 

crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is 

estimated at 379 million animals. 

Pursuant to criteria set out at 

§ 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2011 

and 2012 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for 

trawl gear is 830,000 animals in Zone 1 

and 2,520,000 animals in Zone 2. These 

limits are derived from the C. bairdi 

crab abundance estimate being in excess 

of the 270 million animals for the Zone 

1 allocation and 290 million animals for 

the Zone 2 allocation, but less than 400 

million animals for both Zone 

allocations. 

Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC 

limit for snow crab (C. opilio) is based 

on total abundance as indicated by the 

NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The 

C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 

percent of the BS abundance index 

minus 150,000 crab if left unadjusted. 

However, if the abundance is less than 

4.5 million animals, the minimum PSC 

limit will be 4,350,000 animals pursuant 

to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii)(A) and (B). Based 

on the 2010 survey estimate of 7.467 

billion animals, the calculated limit is 

8,310,480 animals. 

Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC 

limit of Pacific herring caught while 

conducting any trawl operation for BSAI 

groundfish is 1 percent of the annual 

eastern BS herring biomass. The best 

estimate of 2011 and 2012 herring 

biomass is 227,269 mt. This amount was 

derived using 2010 survey data and an 

age-structured biomass projection model 

developed by the Alaska Department of 

Fish and Game. Therefore, the herring 

PSC limit for 2011 and 2012 is 2,273 mt 

for all trawl gear as presented in Tables 

8a and b. 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(A) requires PSQ 

reserves to be subtracted from the total 

trawl PSC limits. The amounts of 2011 

PSC limits assigned to the Amendment 

80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors 

are specified in Table 35 to part 679. 

The resulting allocation of PSC limit to 

CDQ PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector, 

and the BSAI trawl limited access 

fisheries are listed in Table 8a. Pursuant 

to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and § 679.91(d) 

through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC 

limits assigned to the Amendment 80 

sector are then further allocated to 

Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC 

cooperative quota (CQ) as listed in Table 

8d. PSC CQ assigned to Amendment 80 

cooperatives is not allocated to specific 

fishery categories. In 2011, there are no 

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vessels in the Amendment 80 limited 

access sector. NMFS will not know the 

2012 PSC allocations between 

Amendment 80 cooperatives and the 

Amendment 80 limited access sector 

until November 1, 2011, the date by 

which the applicants eligible to apply 

for participation in the Amendment 80 

program must file their application. 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires the 

apportionment of each trawl PSC limit 

not assigned to Amendment 80 

cooperatives into PSC bycatch 

allowances for seven specified fishery 

categories. 

Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes 

NMFS, after consultation with the 

Council, to establish seasonal 

apportionments of PSC amounts for the 

BSAI trawl limited access and 

Amendment 80 limited access sectors in 

order to maximize the ability of the fleet 

to harvest the available groundfish TAC 

and to minimize bycatch. The factors to 

be considered are (1) Seasonal 

distribution of prohibited species; (2) 

seasonal distribution of target 

groundfish species; (3) PSC bycatch 

needs on a seasonal basis relevant to 

prohibited species biomass; (4) expected 

variations in bycatch rates throughout 

the year; (5) expected start of fishing 

effort; and (6) economic effects of 

seasonal PSC apportionments on 

industry sectors. The Council 

recommended and NMFS approves the 

seasonal PSC apportionments in Table 

8c to maximize harvest among gear 

types, fisheries, and seasons while 

minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the 

above criteria. 

TABLE 8a—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 APPORTIONMENT OF PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH ALLOWANCES TO NON-TRAWL GEAR, 

THE CDQ PROGRAM, AMENDMENT 80, AND THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS SECTORS

PSC species Total nontrawl PSC 

Non-trawl 

PSC remaining 

after CDQ 

PSQ 1

Total trawl 

PSC 

Trawl PSC 

remaining 

after CDQ 

PSQ 1

CDQ PSQ 

reserve 1

Amendment 80 sector 

BSAI trawl 

limited ac2011 2012 cess fishery 

Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI ............................... 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,375 2,325 875 

Herring (mt) BSAI .............................................. n/a n/a 2,273 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 2 ..................... n/a n/a 197,000 175,921 21,079 93,432 87,925 53,797 

C. opilio (animals) COBLZ 2 .............................. n/a n/a 8,310,480 7,421,259 889,221 3,875,381 3,647,549 2,385,193 

C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 2 ...................... n/a n/a 830,000 741,190 88,810 331,608 312,115 348,285 

C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 2 ...................... n/a n/a 2,520,000 2,250,360 269,640 565,966 532,660 1,053,394 

1Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and § 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut 

mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit. 2 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of zones. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 8b—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH

ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS

Fishery categories Herring (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) Zone 

1 

Yellowfin sole ....................................................................................................................................................... 195 n/a 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 1 ................................................................................................................ 33 n/a 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 2 ............................................................................................................................... 16 n/a 

Rockfish ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 n/a 

Pacific cod ........................................................................................................................................................... 33 n/a 

Midwater trawl pollock ......................................................................................................................................... 1,737 n/a 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3, 4 .............................................................................................................. 247 n/a 

Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 5 .................................................................................... n/a 49,250 

Total trawl PSC ............................................................................................................................................ 2,273 197,000 

1 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, 

Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 2 ‘‘Arrowtooth flounder’’ for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 3Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ‘‘other species’’ fishery category. 4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates. 5 In December 2010, the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited 

to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)). 

TABLE 8c—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS

SECTOR AND NON-TRAWL FISHERIES

BSAI trawl limited access fisheries 

Prohibited species and area 1

Halibut mortality (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) 

Zone 1 

C. opilio 

(animals) 

COBLZ 

C. bairdi (animals) 

Zone 1 Zone 2 

Yellowfin sole ................................................... 167 47,397 2,247,640 293,234 1,005,879 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 ............. 0 0 0 0 0 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 3 ........................... 0 0 0 0 0 

Rockfish April 15–December 31 ...................... 5 0 3,821 0 849 

Pacific cod ........................................................ 453 6,000 95,523 50,816 42,424 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 4 ............. 250 400 38,209 4,235 4,242 

Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC .............. 875 53,797 2,385,193 348,285 1,053,394 

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Non-trawl fisheries Catcher/ 

processor 

Catcher 

vessel 

Pacific cod—Total ......................................... 760 15 

January 1–June 10 ....................................... 455 10 

June 10–August 15 ...................................... 190 3 

August 15–December 31 .............................. 115 2 

Other non-trawl—Total ................................. 58 

May 1—December 31 .................................. 58 

Groundfish pot and jig .................................. Exempt 

Sablefish hook-and-line ................................ Exempt 

Total non-trawl PSC ..................................... 833 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

2 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock 

sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 3Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 

4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates. 

TABLE 8d–FINAL 2011 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES

Cooperative 

Prohibited species and zones 1

Halibut mortality 

(mt) BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) 

Zone 1 

C. opilio (animals) COBLZ 

C. bairdi (animals) 

Zone 1 Zone 2 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................................. 1,643 63,631 2,502,043 233,442 390,500 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ............................. 732 29,801 1,373,339 98,167 175,465 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of zones. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR) 

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality 

allowances and apportionments, the 

Regional Administrator uses observed 

halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, and 

estimates of groundfish catch to project 

when a fishery’s halibut bycatch 

mortality allowance or seasonal 

apportionment is reached. The DMRs 

are based on the best information 

available, including information 

contained in the annual SAFE report. 

NMFS approves the halibut DMRs 

developed and recommended by the 

IPHC and the Council for the 2011 and 

2012 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use 

in monitoring the 2011 and 2012 halibut 

bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a–d). 

The IPHC developed these DMRs for the 

2010 and 2012 BSAI fisheries using the 

10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. 

The IPHC will analyze observer data 

annually and recommend changes to the 

DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large 

variation from the mean. The document 

justifying these DMRs is available in 

Appendix 2 in the final 2010 SAFE 

report dated November 2010 (see 

ADDRESSES). Table 9 lists the 2011 and 

2012 DMRs. 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI 

Gear Fishery 1

Halibut 

discard 

mortality 

rate 

(percent) 

Non-CDQ hook-and-line ............................................................... Greenland turbot ........................................................................... 11 

Other species ............................................................................... 10 

Pacific cod .................................................................................... 10 

Rockfish ........................................................................................ 9 

Non-CDQ trawl ............................................................................. Arrowtooth flounder ...................................................................... 76 

Atka mackerel ............................................................................... 76 

Flathead sole ................................................................................ 74 

Greenland turbot ........................................................................... 67 

Non-pelagic pollock ...................................................................... 73 

Pelagic pollock .............................................................................. 89 

Other flatfish ................................................................................. 72 

Other species ............................................................................... 71 

Pacific cod .................................................................................... 71 

Rockfish ........................................................................................ 81 

Rock sole ...................................................................................... 82 

Sablefish ....................................................................................... 75 

Yellowfin sole ................................................................................ 81 

Non-CDQ Pot ............................................................................... Other species 2 ............................................................................. 8 

Pacific cod .................................................................................... 8 

CDQ trawl ..................................................................................... Atka mackerel ............................................................................... 85 

Greenland turbot ........................................................................... 88 

Flathead sole ................................................................................ 84 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11153 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI—Continued 

Gear Fishery 1

Halibut 

discard 

mortality 

rate 

(percent) 

Non-pelagic pollock ...................................................................... 85 

Pacific cod .................................................................................... 90 

Pelagic pollock .............................................................................. 90 

Rockfish ........................................................................................ 84 

Rock sole ...................................................................................... 87 

Yellowfin sole ................................................................................ 85 

CDQ hook-and-line ....................................................................... Greenland turbot ........................................................................... 4 

Pacific cod .................................................................................... 10 

CDQ pot ........................................................................................ Pacific cod .................................................................................... 8 

Sablefish ....................................................................................... 32 

1Arrowtooth flounder includes Kamchatka flounder. 

2 ‘‘Other species’’ includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates. 

Directed Fishing Closures 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Regional Administrator may 

establish a DFA for a species or species 

group if the Regional Administrator 

determines that any allocation or 

apportionment of a target species has 

been or will be reached. If the Regional 

Administrator establishes a DFA, 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 (see 

§ 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant 

to § 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. 

Based upon historic catch patterns 

and anticipated fishing activity, the 

Regional Administrator has determined 

that the groundfish allocation amounts 

in Table 10 will be necessary as 

incidental catch to support other 

anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 

2011 and 2012 fishing years. 

Consequently, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 

Administrator establishes the DFA for 

the species and species groups in Table 

10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance 

with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for these 

sectors and species in the specified 

areas effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 

1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., 

December 31, 2012. Also, for the BSAI 

trawl limited access sector, bycatch 

allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. 

bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in 

Table 10 are insufficient to support 

directed fisheries. Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for these 

sectors and fishery categories in the 

specified areas effective at 1200 hrs, 

A.l.t., March 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, 

A.l.t., December 31, 2012. 

TABLE 10—2011 AND 2012 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1

[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals] 

Area Sector Species 2011 Incidental 

catch allowance 

2012 Incidental 

catch allowance 

Bogoslof District ........................... All ................................................ Pollock ......................................... 150 150 

Aleutian Islands subarea ............. All ................................................ ICA pollock .................................. 1,600 1,600 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ ........................... 425 425 

Eastern Aleutian District/Bering 

Sea.

Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel ...................... 75 75 

Eastern Aleutian District/Bering 

Sea.

All ................................................ Rougheye rockfish ...................... 234 240 

Eastern Aleutian District .............. Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Pacific ocean perch ............. 100 100 

Central Aleutian District ............... Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel ...................... 75 75 

ICA Pacific ocean perch ............. 75 75 

Western Aleutian District ............. Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel ...................... 40 40 

ICA Pacific ocean perch ............. 10 10 

Central and Western Aleutian 

Districts.

All ................................................ Rougheye rockfish ...................... 220 225 

Bering Sea subarea ..................... All ................................................ Pacific ocean perch ..................... 4,854 4,854 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ ........................... 500 500 

ICA pollock .................................. 45,072 45,132 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands All ................................................ Northern rockfish ......................... 4,000 4,000 

Shortraker rockfish ...................... 393 393 

Squids ......................................... 361 361 

Skates ......................................... 14,025 14,025 

Sharks ......................................... 43 43 

Octopuses ................................... 128 128 

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11154 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 10—2011 AND 2012 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1—Continued 

[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals] 

Area Sector Species 2011 Incidental 

catch allowance 

2012 Incidental 

catch allowance 

Sculpins ....................................... 4,420 4,420 

Hook-and-line and pot gear ........ ICA Pacific cod ............................ 500 500 

Non-amendment 80 .................... ICA flathead sole ......................... 5,000 5,000 

ICA rock sole ............................... 10,000 ......................................... 10,000 

Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA yellowfin sole ........................ 2,000 2,000 

BSAI trawl limited access ........... Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish—halibut mortality, red king 

crab zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, 

C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2.

0 0 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish—halibut mortality, red king crab 

zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, C. 

bairdi Zone 1 and 2.

0 0 

Rockfish—red king crab zone 1 .. 0 0 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

Closures implemented under the 2010 

and 2011 BSAI harvest specifications for 

groundfish (75 FR 11778, March 12, 

2010) remain effective under authority 

of these final 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications, and are posted at the 

following Web sites: http://alaska

fisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/

infobulletins.asp?Yr=2011 and http:// 

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2011/ 

status.htm. While these closures are in 

effect, the maximum retainable amounts 

at § 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. 

Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish 

Program 

On June 6, 2005, the Council adopted 

the Rockfish Program to meet the 

requirements of Section 802 of the 

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 

2004 (Pub. L. 108–199). The basis for 

the BSAI fishing prohibitions and the 

CV BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limits of 

the Rockfish Program are discussed in 

detail in the final rule for Amendment 

68 to the Fishery Management Plan for 

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (71 FR 

67210, November 20, 2006). Pursuant to 

§ 679.82(d)(6)(i), the CV BSAI Pacific 

cod sideboard limit is 0.0 mt. Therefore, 

in accordance with § 679.82(d)(7)(ii), 

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 

BSAI Pacific cod in July for CVs under 

the Rockfish Program sideboard 

limitations. 

The Rockfish Program will expire in 

December 2011. In June 2010, the 

Council proposed a new program to 

supersede the existing Rockfish Program 

by 2012. NMFS is developing 

rulemaking to implement the Council’s 

revised program. The revised program, 

if approved by the Secretary, may affect 

the harvest specifications for 2012. 

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor 

Sideboard Limits 

Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional 

Administrator is responsible for 

restricting the ability of listed AFA 

C/Ps to engage in directed fishing for 

groundfish species other than pollock to 

protect participants in other groundfish 

fisheries from adverse effects resulting 

from the AFA and from fishery 

cooperatives in the directed pollock 

fishery. The basis for these sideboard 

limits is described in detail in the final 

rules implementing the major 

provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 

December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 

(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). 

Table 11 lists the 2011 and 2012 C/P 

sideboard limits. 

All harvest of groundfish sideboard 

species by listed AFA C/Ps, whether as 

targeted catch or incidental catch, will 

be deducted from the sideboard limits 

in Table 11. However, groundfish 

sideboard species that are delivered to 

listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be 

deducted from the 2011 and 2012 

sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps. 

TABLE 11—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH

SIDEBOARD LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Target species Area 

1995–1997 

2011 ITAC 

available to 

trawl 

C/Ps 1

2011 AFA 

C/P 

side-board 

limit 

2012 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 1

2012 AFA 

C/P 

side-board 

limit 

Retained 

catch Total catch 

Ratio of 

retained 

catch to 

total catch 

Sablefish trawl ....................... BS .......................................... 8 497 0.016 1,211 19 1,109 18 

AI ........................................... 0 145 0 404 0 370 0 

Atka mackerel ........................ Central AI A season 2 ............ n/a n/a 0.115 5,037 579 4,596 529 

B season 2 ...................... n/a n/a 0.115 5,037 579 4,596 529 

Western AI A season 2 .......... n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134 

B season 2 ...................... n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134 

Rock sole ............................... BSAI ...................................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 75,905 2,808 75,905 2,808

Greenland turbot ................... BS .......................................... 121 17,305 0.007 2,975 21 2,975 21 

AI ........................................... 23 4,987 0.005 1,318 7 1,233 6 

Arrowtooth flounder ............... BSAI ...................................... 76 33,987 0.002 22,015 44 22,015 44 

Kamchatka flounder .............. BSAI ...................................... 76 33,987 0.002 15,045 30 15,045 30 

Flathead sole ......................... BSAI ...................................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 37,102 1,336 37,102 1,336 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11155 

TABLE 11—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH

SIDEBOARD LIMITS—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Target species Area 

1995–1997 

2011 ITAC 

available to 

trawl 

C/Ps 1

2011 AFA 

C/P sideboard limit 

2012 ITAC 

available to 

trawl C/Ps 1

2012 AFA 

C/P sideboard limit Retained 

catch Total catch 

Ratio of 

retained 

catch to 

total catch 

Alaska plaice ......................... BSAI ...................................... 14 9,438 0.001 13,600 14 13,600 14 

Other flatfish .......................... BSAI ...................................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,550 148 2,550 148 

Pacific ocean perch ............... BS .......................................... 12 4,879 0.002 4,854 10 4,854 10 

Eastern AI ............................. 125 6,179 0.02 5,054 101 5,054 101 

Central AI .............................. 3 5,698 0.001 4,429 4 4,429 4 

Western AI ............................ 54 13,598 0.004 7,474 30 7,474 30 

Northern rockfish ................... BSAI ...................................... 91 13,040 0.007 4,000 28 4,000 28 

Shortraker rockfish ................ BSAI ...................................... 50 2,811 0.018 393 7 393 7 

Rougheye rockfish ................. EBS/EAI ................................ 50 2,811 0.018 234 4 240 4 

CAI/WAI ................................. 50 2,811 0.018 220 4 225 4 

Other rockfish ........................ BS .......................................... 18 621 0.029 500 15 500 15 

AI ........................................... 22 806 0.027 425 11 425 11 

Squid ..................................... BSAI ...................................... 73 3,328 0.022 361 8 361 8 

Skates .................................... BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 14,025 112 14,025 112 

Sharks ................................... BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 43 0 43 0 

Octopuses ............................. BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 128 1 128 1 

Sculpins ................................. BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 4,420 35 4,420 35 

1Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C). 2The 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 annual ITAC specified for the Western 

Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District. 

Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 

and 41 of part 679 establish a formula 

for calculating PSC sideboard limits for 

listed AFA C/Ps. The basis for these 

sideboard limits is described in detail in 

the final rules implementing the major 

provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 

December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 

(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). 

PSC species listed in Table 12 that are 

caught by listed AFA C/Ps participating 

in any groundfish fishery other than 

pollock will accrue against the 2011 and 

2012 PSC sideboard limits for the listed 

AFA C/Ps. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) 

authorizes NMFS to close directed 

fishing for groundfish other than 

pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2011 

or 2012 PSC sideboard limit listed in 

Table 12 is reached. 

Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed 

AFA C/Ps 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 

§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

TABLE 12—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 BSAI AFA LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS

PSC species and area 1

Ratio of PSC 

catch to total 

PSC 

2011 and 

2012 PSC 

available to 

trawl vessels 

after subtraction of PSQ 2

2011 and 

2012 catcher/ 

processor 

sideboard 

limit 2

Halibut mortality BSAI .................................................................................................................. n/a n/a 286 

Red king crab zone 1 .................................................................................................................. 0.007 175,921 1,231 

C. opilio (COBLZ) ........................................................................................................................ 0.153 7,421,259 1,135,453 

C. bairdi: 

Zone 1 .................................................................................................................................. 0.14 741,190 103,767 

Zone 2 .................................................................................................................................. 0.05 2,250,360 112,518 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

2 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. 

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits 

Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional 

Administrator is responsible for 

restricting the ability of AFA CVs to 

engage in directed fishing for groundfish 

species other than pollock to protect 

participants in other groundfish 

fisheries from adverse effects resulting 

from the AFA and from fishery 

cooperatives in the directed pollock 

fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a 

formula for setting AFA CV groundfish 

and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. 

The basis for these sideboard limits is 

described in detail in the final rules 

implementing the major provisions of 

the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 

2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, 

September 14, 2007). Tables 13 and 14 

list the 2011 and 2012 AFA CV 

sideboard limits. 

All catch of groundfish sideboard 

species made by non-exempt AFA CVs, 

whether as targeted catch or incidental 

catch, will be deducted from the 2011 

and 2012 sideboard limits listed in 

Table 13. 

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11156 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 13—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Fishery by area/gear/season 

Ratio of 

1995–1997 

AFA CV 

catch to 

1995–1997 

TAC 

2011 initial 

TAC 1

2011 AFA 

catcher 

vessel 

sideboard 

limits 

2012 initial 

TAC 1

2012 AFA 

catcher 

vessel 

sideboard 

limits 

Pacific cod ...................................................... BSAI .............................................................

Jig gear .................................................

0 n/a 0 n/a 0 

Hook-and-line CV ..................................

Jan 1–Jun 10 .................................

0.0006 207 0 208 0 

Jun 10–Dec 31 .............................. 0.0006 199 0 200 0 

Pot gear CV ..........................................

Jan 1–Jun 10 .................................

0.0006 8,685 5 8,749 5 

Sept 1–Dec 31 ............................... 0.0006 8,345 5 8,406 5 

CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

0.0006 4,055 2 4,084 2 

Trawl gear CV .......................................

Jan 20–Apr 1 .................................

0.8609 33,290 28,659 33,532 28,868 

Apr 1–Jun 10 ................................. 0.8609 4,949 4,261 4,985 4,292 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ................................ 0.8609 6,748 5,809 6,797 5,852 

Sablefish ......................................................... BS trawl gear ............................................... 0.0906 1,211 110 1,109 100 

AI trawl gear ................................................. 0.0645 404 26 370 24 

Atka mackerel ................................................ Eastern AI/BS ...............................................

Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................................

0.0032 17,994 58 16,431 53 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ........................................ 0.0032 17,994 58 16,431 53 

Central AI .....................................................

Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................................

0.0001 5,037 1 4,596 0 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ........................................ 0.0001 5,037 1 4,596 0 

Western AI ...................................................

Jan 1–Jun 10 ........................................

0 n/a 0 n/a 0 

Jun 10–Nov 1 ........................................ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 

Rock sole ....................................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.0341 75,905 2,588 75,905 2,588 

Greenland turbot ............................................ BS ................................................................. 0.0645 2,975 192 2,975 192 

AI .................................................................. 0.0205 1,318 27 1,233 25 

Arrowtooth flounder ........................................ BSAI ............................................................. 0.069 22,015 1,519 22,015 1,519 

Kamchatka flounder ....................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.069 15,045 1,038 15,045 1,038 

Alaska plaice .................................................. BSAI ............................................................. 0.0441 13,600 600 13,600 600 

Other flatfish ................................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.0441 2,550 112 2,550 112 

Flathead sole .................................................. BS trawl gear ............................................... 0.0505 37,102 1,874 37,102 1,874 

Pacific ocean perch ........................................ BS ................................................................. 0.1 4,854 485 4,854 485 

Eastern AI .................................................... 0.0077 5,054 39 5,054 39 

Central AI ..................................................... 0.0025 4,429 11 4,429 11 

Western AI ................................................... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 

Northern rockfish ............................................ BSAI ............................................................. 0.0084 4,000 34 4,000 34 

Shortraker rockfish ......................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.0037 393 1 393 1 

Rougheye rockfish ......................................... EBS/EAI ....................................................... 0.0037 234 1 240 1 

CAI/WAI ........................................................ 0.0037 220 1 225 1 

Other rockfish ................................................. BS ................................................................. 0.0048 500 2 500 2 

AI .................................................................. 0.0095 425 4 425 4 

Squids ............................................................ BSAI ............................................................. 0.3827 361 138 361 138 

Skates ............................................................ BSAI ............................................................. 0.0541 14,025 759 14,025 759 

Sharks ............................................................ BSAI ............................................................. 0.0541 43 2 43 2 

Octopuses ...................................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.0541 128 7 128 7 

Sculpins .......................................................... BSAI ............................................................. 0.0541 4,420 239 4,420 239 

1Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the 

subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C). 

Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in 

Table 14 that are caught by AFA CVs 

participating in any groundfish fishery 

for groundfish other than pollock will 

accrue against the 2011 and 2012 PSC 

sideboard limits for the AFA CVs. 

Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21(e)(3)(v) 

authorize NMFS to close directed 

fishing for groundfish other than 

pollock for AFA CVs once a 2011 or 

2012 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 

14 is reached. The PSC that is caught by 

AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in 

the BSAI 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 

§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

TABLE 14—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD

LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1

PSC species Target fishery category 2

AFA catcher 

vessel PSC 

sideboard limit 

ratio 

2011 and 

2012 PSC limit 

after subtraction of PSQ 

reserves 

2011 and 

2012 AFA 

catcher vessel 

PSC 

sideboard limit 

Halibut ............................................................. Pacific cod trawl ............................................. n/a n/a 887 

Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot .................... n/a n/a 2 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11157 

TABLE 14—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD

LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1—Continued 

PSC species Target fishery category 2

AFA catcher 

vessel PSC 

sideboard limit 

ratio 

2011 and 

2012 PSC limit 

after subtraction of PSQ 

reserves 

2011 and 

2012 AFA 

catcher vessel 

PSC 

sideboard limit 

Yellowfin sole total ......................................... n/a n/a 101 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 3 ........... n/a n/a 228 

Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 4 ......... n/a n/a 0 

Rockfish .......................................................... n/a n/a 2 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 5 ........... n/a n/a 5 

Red king crab Zone 1 4, 6 ................................ n/a .................................................................. 0.299 175,921 52,600 

C. opilio COBLZ 4, 6 ......................................... n/a .................................................................. 0.168 7,421,259 1,246,771 

C. bairdi Zone 1 4, 6 ......................................... n/a .................................................................. 0.33 741,190 244,593 

C. bairdi Zone 2 6 ........................................... n/a .................................................................. 0.186 2,250,360 418,567 

1 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. 

2Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

3 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock 

sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 4Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 

5 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates. 6 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher 

Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing 

Closures 

Based upon historical catch patterns, 

the Regional Administrator has 

determined that many of the AFA C/P 

and CV sideboard limits listed in Tables 

15 and 16 are necessary as incidental 

catch to support other anticipated 

groundfish fisheries for the 2011 fishing 

year. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional 

Administrator establishes the sideboard 

limits listed in Tables 15 and 16 as 

DFAs. Because many of these DFAs will 

be reached before the end of the year, 

the Regional Administrator has 

determined, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing by listed 

AFA C/Ps for the species in the 

specified areas set out in Table 15 and 

directed fishing by non-exempt AFA 

CVs for the species in the specified 

areas set out in Table 16. 

TABLE 15—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED

FISHING CLOSURES 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area Gear types 

2011 

sideboard 

limit 

2012 

sideboard 

limit 

Sablefish trawl ..................................................................... BS ........................................ trawl ............................ 19 18 

AI .......................................... trawl ............................ 0 0 

Rock sole ............................................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 2,808 2,808 

Greenland turbot .................................................................. BS ........................................ all ................................ 21 21 

AI .......................................... all ................................ 7 6 

Arrowtooth flounder ............................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 44 44 

Kamchatka flounder ............................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 30 30 

Alaska plaice ....................................................................... BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 14 14 

Other flatfish ........................................................................ BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 148 148 

Flathead sole ....................................................................... BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 1,336 1,336 

Pacific ocean perch ............................................................. BS ........................................ all ................................ 10 10 

Eastern AI ............................ all ................................ 101 101 

Central AI ............................. all ................................ 4 4 

Western AI ........................... all ................................ 30 30 

Northern rockfish ................................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 28 28 

Shortraker rockfish .............................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 7 7 

Rougheye rockfish ............................................................... EBS/EAI ............................... all ................................ 4 4 

CAI/WAI ............................... all ................................ 4 4 

Other rockfish ...................................................................... BS ........................................ all ................................ 15 15 

AI .......................................... all ................................ 11 11 

Squids .................................................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 8 8 

Skates .................................................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 112 112 

Sharks .................................................................................. BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 0 0 

Octopuses ............................................................................ BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 1 1 

Sculpins ............................................................................... BSAI ..................................... all ................................ 35 35 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

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TABLE 16—FINAL 2011 AND 2012 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING

CLOSURES 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area Gear types 

2011 

sideboard 

limit 

2012 

sideboard 

limit 

Pacific cod .......................................................... BSAI ......................................... hook-and-line ............................ 0 0 

BSAI ......................................... pot ............................................ 10 10 

BSAI ......................................... CV < 60 feet LOA .................... 2 2 

BSAI ......................................... jig .............................................. 0 0 

Sablefish ............................................................. BS ............................................. trawl .......................................... 110 100 

AI .............................................. trawl .......................................... 26 24 

Atka mackerel .................................................... Eastern AI/BS ........................... all .............................................. 116 106 

Central AI ................................. all .............................................. 2 0 

Western AI ............................... all .............................................. 0 0 

Greenland turbot ................................................ BS ............................................. all .............................................. 192 192 

AI .............................................. all .............................................. 27 25 

Arrowtooth flounder ............................................ BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 1,519 1,519 

Kamchatka flounder ........................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 1,038 1,038 

Alaska plaice ...................................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 600 600 

Other flatfish ....................................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 112 112 

Flathead sole ...................................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 1,874 1,874 

Rock sole ........................................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 2,588 2,588 

Pacific ocean perch ............................................ BS ............................................. all .............................................. 485 485 

Eastern AI ................................ all .............................................. 39 39 

Central AI ................................. all .............................................. 11 11 

Western AI ............................... all .............................................. 0 0 

Northern rockfish ................................................ BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 34 34 

Shortraker rockfish ............................................. BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 1 1 

Rougheye rockfish ............................................. BS/EAI ...................................... all .............................................. 1 1 

CAI/WAI .................................... all .............................................. 1 1 

Other rockfish ..................................................... BS ............................................. all .............................................. 2 2 

AI .............................................. all .............................................. 4 4 

Squids ................................................................ BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 138 138 

Skates ................................................................ BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 759 759 

Sharks ................................................................ BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 2 2 

Octopuses .......................................................... BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 7 7 

Sculpins .............................................................. BSAI ......................................... all .............................................. 239 239 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

Response to Comments 

NMFS received 9 letters of comment, 

from 6 CDQ groups and three non-CDQ 

industry participants, which included 4 

distinct comments, in response to the 

proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications. These comments are 

summarized and responded to below. 

Comment 1: The comment asserts that 

the pollock ABCs and TACs are too 

high, based on anecdotal observations. 

Response: The harvest specifications 

process is intended to foster 

conservation and management of marine 

resources. This process incorporates the 

best available scientific information 

from the most recent stock assessment 

and fisheries evaluation reports 

prepared by multi-disciplinary teams of 

scientists. Such reports contain the most 

recent scientific information on the 

condition of various groundfish stocks, 

as well as the condition of other 

ecosystem components and economic 

data about Alaska groundfish fisheries. 

This body of information allows the 

Council to make scientifically-based 

recommendations for annual catch 

limits that do not exceed, on a species 

by species basis, the OFLs and ABCs 

established for each BSAI target species 

managed under the FMP. NMFS 

believes that the 2011 and 2012 are the 

correct pollock ABCs and TACs, based 

upon this process. 

Comment 2: NMFS should account for 

the bycatch of groundfish in fisheries 

such as the State managed salmon 

fisheries. 

Response: NMFS is actively engaged 

in a process to improve the catch 

accounting system to more accurately 

account for the bycatch of groundfish in 

other fisheries, including State managed 

fisheries. NMFS agrees with this 

comment. However, this is beyond the 

scope of this action. 

Comment 3: The 10,000 mt ICA for 

rock sole is largely based upon high 

levels of yellowfin sole harvest by the 

BSAI trawl limited access sector. For 

2011 and 2012, the BSAI trawl limited 

access harvest is likely to be smaller, 

and a 5,000 mt for rock sole is more 

appropriate. 

Response: NMFS agrees with this 

comment, and NMFS adjusted the ICA 

of rock sole to 5,000 metric tons. 

Comment 4: Six CDQ groups 

commented that the new Kamchatka 

flounder fishery is too small to be a 

meaningful CDQ fishery and could 

inhibit the prosecution of other CDQ 

fisheries. Thus, Kamchatka flounder 

should not be a CDQ fishery at this time. 

Response: In the proposed 2011 and 

2012 harvest specifications NMFS 

requested comments about whether 

Kamchatka flounder was a directed 

fishery of the BSAI under section 

305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the MSA. If it were, 

NMFS would allocate 10.7 percent of 

the Kamchatka flounder TAC to the 

CDQ Program. NMFS specifically 

requested comments from the CDQ 

groups about the economic value of 

Kamchatka flounder and whether the 

CDQ groups intend to conduct directed 

fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the 

future. Based on the comments received, 

NMFS has determined that Kamchatka 

flounder is not a directed fishery of the 

BSAI under section 305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II). 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11159 

Therefore, NMFS will not allocate 

Kamchatka flounder to the CDQ 

Program in the final 2011 and 2012 

harvest specifications. However, NMFS 

will consider allocating Kamchatka 

flounder to the CDQ Program in the 

future if information is presented in 

future harvest specifications that the 

status of Kamchatka flounder as a 

directed fishery of the BSAI has 

changed. 

Classification 

NMFS has determined that these final 

harvest specifications are consistent 

with the FMP and with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws. 

This action is authorized under 50 

CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Orders 12866 and 

13563. 

NMFS prepared an EIS for this action 

(see ADDRESSES) and made it available to 

the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 

1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS 

issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for 

the EIS. In January 2011, NMFS 

prepared a Supplemental Information 

Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of 

the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are 

available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). 

The EIS analyzes the environmental 

consequences of the groundfish harvest 

specifications and alternative harvest 

strategies on resources in the action 

area. The EIS found no significant 

environmental consequences of this 

action and its alternatives. The SIR 

evaluates the need to prepare a 

Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2011 

and 2012 groundfish harvest 

specifications. 

A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the 

agency makes substantial changes in the 

proposed action that are relevant to 

environmental concerns, or (2) 

significant new circumstances or 

information exist relevant to 

environmental concerns and bearing on 

the proposed action or its impacts (40 

CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the 

information contained in the SIR and 

SAFE reports, the Regional 

Administrator has determined that (1) 

approval of the 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications, which were set according 

to the preferred harvest strategy in the 

EIS, do not constitute a change in the 

action; and (2) there are no significant 

new circumstances or information 

relevant to environmental concerns and 

bearing on the action or its impacts. 

Additionally, the 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications will result in 

environmental impacts within the scope 

of those analyzed and disclosed in the 

EIS. Therefore, supplemental National 

Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) 

documentation is not necessary to 

implement the 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications. 

NMFS also prepared an Initial 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 

as required by section 603 of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act, analyzing the 

methodology for establishing the 

relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the 

impacts on small entities of alternative 

harvest strategies for the groundfish 

fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. 

Accordingly, NMFS used the IRFA 

prepared for the EIS in association with 

this action. NMFS published a notice of 

the availability of the IRFA and its 

summary in the Classification section of 

the proposed 2006 and 2007 harvest 

specifications for the groundfish 

fisheries in the BSAI in the Federal 

Register on December 15, 2006 (71 FR 

75437). No comments were received 

regarding the IRFA or the economic 

effects of the TAC-setting methodology. 

NMFS also prepared a final regulatory 

flexibility analysis (FRFA), as required 

by section 604 of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. Copies of the FRFA 

prepared for this action are available 

from NMFS, Alaska Region (see 

ADDRESSES). The FRFA analyzed the 

methodology for establishing the 

relevant TACs. As set forth in the 

methodology, TACs are set to a level 

that fall within the range of ABCs 

recommended by the SSC; the sum of 

the TACs must achieve optimum yield 

specified in the FMP. While the specific 

numbers that the methodology may 

produce vary from year to year, the 

methodology itself remains constant. 

Accordingly, NMFS is using the FRFA 

prepared for the EIS in association with 

this action. Pursuant to sections 3.2.2 

and 3.2.3 of the FMP, the established 

methodology produces ABCs and TACs 

within specified ranges and the 

numbers in this final rule’s preferred 

alternatives are within those ranges. 

In addition, NMFS considers the 

annual rulemakings establishing the 

harvest specification numbers to be a 

series of closely-related rules stemming 

from the harvest strategy and 

representing one rule for purposes of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 

605(c)). The need for, and objectives of, 

this final rule are described in the 

preamble. A summary of the 2007 FRFA 

follows. This action is taken in 

accordance with the FMP prepared by 

the Council pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Act. 

There are 244 directly regulated small 

entities including approximately 223 

small CVs, 15 small C/Ps, and six CDQ 

groups. The entities directly regulated 

by this action harvest groundfish in the 

EEZ of the BSAI, and in parallel 

fisheries within State of Alaska waters. 

These include entities operating CVs 

and C/Ps within the action area, and 

entities receiving direct allocations of 

groundfish. CVs and C/Ps were 

considered to be small entities if their 

annual gross receipts of $4 million per 

year or less from all economic activities, 

including the revenue of their affiliated 

operations (see Table 37 to the 

Economic Status of the Groundfish 

Fisheries off Alaska, 2005, in the 2006 

SAFE report, dated February 2007, 

available from the Council (see 

ADDRESSES)). 

Estimates of gross product value for 

the BSAI non-CDQ and CDQ groundfish 

were used as an index of revenue and 

potential impacts of the alternative 

harvest strategies on small entities. 

Revenues were projected to decline 

from 2006 levels in 2007 and 2008 

under the preferred alternative due to 

declines in ABCs for key species, but by 

relatively small amounts. 

The preferred alternative (Alternative 

2) was compared to four other 

alternatives. These included Alternative 

1, which would have set TACs to 

generate fishing rates equal to the 

maximum permissible ABC (if the full 

TAC were harvested), unless the sum of 

TACs exceeded the BSAI OY, in which 

case harvests would be limited to the 

OY. Alternative 3 would have set TACs 

to produce fishing rates equal to the 

most recent 5-year average fishing rate. 

Alternative 4 would have set TACs to 

equal the lower limit of the BSAI OY 

range. Alternative 5—the ‘‘no action’’ 

alternative—would have set TACs equal 

to zero. 

Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all 

associated with smaller levels for 

important fishery TACs than Alternative 

2. Estimated total gross product values 

were used as an index of potential 

adverse impacts to small entities. As a 

consequence of the lower TAC levels, 

Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 all had smaller 

first wholesale revenue indices than 

Alternative 2. Thus, Alternatives 3, 4, 

and 5 had greater adverse impacts on 

small entities. Alternative 1 appeared to 

generate higher values of the gross 

revenue index for fishing operations in 

the BSAI than Alternative 2. A large part 

of the Alternative 1 BSAI revenue 

appears to be due to the assumption that 

the full Alternative 1 TAC would be 

harvested. Much of the larger revenue 

was due to increases in flatfish TACs 

that were much greater for Alternative 1 

than for Alternative 2. In recent years, 

halibut bycatch constraints in these 

fisheries have kept actual flatfish 

catches from reaching Alternative 1 

levels. Therefore, a large part of the 

revenues associated with Alternative 1 

are unlikely to occur. Also, Alternative 

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11160 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

2 TACs are constrained by the ABCs the 

Plan Teams and SSC are likely to 

recommend to the Council on the basis 

of a full consideration of biological 

issues. These ABCs are often less than 

Alternative 1’s maximum permissible 

ABCs; therefore higher TACs under 

Alternative 1 may not be consistent with 

prudent biological management of the 

resource. For these reasons, Alternative 

2 is the preferred alternative. 

In addition to the IRFA prepared in 

association with the groundfish harvest 

specifications EIS, NMFS prepared a 

supplemental IRFA (SIRFA) in 

conjunction with the proposed harvest 

specifications (see ADDRESSES). The 

SIRFA evaluated the specification of 

separate OFLs and TACs for octopuses, 

sculpins, sharks, and skates in the BSAI, 

consistent with the previously selected 

harvest strategy, the tier system used to 

set OFL (per the FMP), Amendments 95 

and 96 to the FMP, the MagnusonStevens Act, and other applicable law 

(see ADDRESSES). Amendments 95 and 

96 to the FMP were published on 

October 6, 2010 (75 FR 61639), and split 

the ‘‘other species’’ complex into its 

component species of octopuses, 

sculpins, sharks, and skates. 

This supplemental Final Regulatory 

Flexibility Analysis (SFRFA) 

incorporates the SIRFA, a summary of 

the significant issues raised by the 

public comments in response to the 

IRFA, NMFS’ responses to those 

comments, and provides a summary of 

the analyses completed to support the 

action. The SFRFA augments the FRFA 

prepared in connection with the 2007 

Alaska Groundfish Harvest 

Specification EIS. NMFS published the 

proposed harvest specifications on 

December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76372) with 

comments invited through January 7, 

2011. A SIRFA was prepared and 

summarized in the ‘‘Classification’’ 

section of the proposed rule. The 

description of this action, its purpose, 

and its legal basis are described in the 

preamble to the proposed rule and are 

not repeated here. No public comments 

were specifically received on the SIRFA. 

No changes were made from the 

proposed rule to the final rule. 

The 2010 Economic Status of 

Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska report, 

prepared in conjunction with the 2010 

SAFE report (see ADDRESSES), identifies 

209 small groundfish entities operating 

in the BSAI, with average revenues from 

all sources of about $1.37 million. Most 

of these (191) are C/Vs. A majority of the 

C/Vs (107) used trawl gear and had 

average revenues of about $1.49 million. 

There were 38 hook-and-line C/Vs, with 

average revenues of about $600,000, and 

51 pot C/Vs with average revenues of 

$1.37 million. There were five C/Vs that 

used multiple gear types and are 

counted in at least two of the preceding 

figures. There were 18 C/Ps, mostly 

hook-and-line vessels, with average 

gross revenues of about $2.53 million. 

The 2010 SAFE report may overstate the 

number of small entities because it 

considers individual vessel gross 

revenues, but does not capture 

affiliations among vessels. All of these 

small entities would be directly 

regulated by the proposed action. As 

described below, however, certain small 

entities may be more likely than others 

to be adversely affected by the proposed 

action as a result of potential impacts 

associated with the incidental catch of 

octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates 

in other target fisheries. 

This action does not modify 

recordkeeping or reporting 

requirements. 

NMFS considered several alternatives 

to the action to specify separate OFLs 

and TACS for BSAI octopuses, sculpins, 

sharks, and skates species complexes. 

However, each of these alternatives has 

been eliminated from further 

consideration because it either does not 

minimize significant economic impacts 

on a substantial number of small entities 

or does not accomplish the stated 

objectives of, or is in conflict with the 

requirements of, applicable statutes. 

This action is intended to fulfill the 

agency’s mandate to establish catch 

limits that are based on the best 

available scientific information, and to 

achieve optimum yield while 

preventing overfishing. This action 

adopts the alternative that is both 

consistent with the agency’s obligations 

under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 

the FMP and minimizes the likelihood 

that the specification of TACs and OFLs 

for the octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and 

skates species complexes will adversely 

affect small entities. 

NMFS considered dividing the TACs 

for each of the species complexes among 

different regulatory areas in the BSAI. 

Any such further division of the TACs 

would not change the total TACs for 

each species complex in the BSAI as a 

whole. However, the incidental catch of 

fishing vessels that operate within each 

of the regulatory areas would be 

counted against a reduced TAC and 

OFL, which would increase the 

likelihood that the TAC or OFL would 

be reached and that one or more area 

closures may be triggered. 

NMFS considered exempting small 

entities from compliance with the TACs 

for each of the species complexes 

evaluated in the SIRFA. However, the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS 

to implement conservation and 

management measures that prevent 

overfishing. Authorizing unlimited 

incidental catch of these species 

complexes by small entities would 

present an unacceptable risk of 

overfishing, and would not be 

consistent with the agency’s obligations 

under Magnuson-Stevens Act, nor with 

the requirements of the Council’s FMP. 

In order to minimize the economic 

impacts of this action, NMFS 

considered allocating relatively large 

portions of the TACs for each of the 

species complexes to potentially 

affected small entities. However, any 

such allocation, which would be 

motivated solely by economic 

considerations under the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act, would not be consistent 

with National Standard 5, which states 

that ‘‘no [conservation and management 

measure] shall have economic allocation 

as its sole purpose.’’ 16 U.S.C. 

1851(a)(5). 

Finally, NMFS considered 

establishing a single group TAC for all 

four of the species complexes in the 

BSAI, which would substantially reduce 

the likelihood that incidental catch 

would reach or exceed the TAC or OFL 

and result in area closures of target 

fisheries. However, the establishment of 

a stock complex comprised of species 

with such disparate life histories would 

not be consistent with the statutory 

requirement to establish catch limits 

that prevent overfishing for stocks in the 

fishery, nor with the Council’s intent in 

enacting Amendments 95 and 96. 

Adverse impacts on marine mammals 

resulting from fishing activities 

conducted under this rule are discussed 

in the EIS (see ADDRESSES). 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the 

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 

NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in effectiveness for this 

rule. Plan Team review occurred in 

November 2010, and Council 

consideration and recommendations 

occurred in December 2010. 

Accordingly, NMFS review could not 

begin until January 2011. For all 

fisheries not currently closed because 

the TACs established under the final 

2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (75 

FR 11778, March 12, 2010) were not 

reached, the possibility exists that they 

would be closed prior to the expiration 

of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period, 

if implemented, because their TACs 

could be reached. Certain fisheries, such 

as those for pollock and Pacific cod are 

intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other 

fisheries, such as those for flatfish, 

rockfish, octopuses, sculpins, sharks, 

skates, and squids, are critical as 

directed fisheries and as incidental 

catch in other fisheries. U.S. fishing 

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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 11161 

vessels have demonstrated the capacity 

to catch the TAC allocations in these 

fisheries. Any delay in allocating the 

final TACs in these fisheries would 

cause confusion to the industry and 

potential economic harm through 

unnecessary discards. Determining 

which fisheries may close is impossible 

because these fisheries are affected by 

several factors that cannot be predicted 

in advance, including fishing effort, 

weather, movement of fishery stocks, 

and market price. Furthermore, the 

closure of one fishery has a cascading 

effect on other fisheries by freeing up 

fishing vessels, allowing them to move 

from closed fisheries to open ones, 

increasing the fishing capacity in those 

open fisheries and causing them to close 

at an accelerated pace. 

In fisheries subject to declining 

sideboards, a failure to implement the 

updated sideboards before initial 

season’s end could preclude the 

intended economic protection to the 

non-sideboarded sectors. Conversely, in 

fisheries with increasing sideboards, 

economic benefit could be precluded to 

the sideboarded sectors. 

If the final harvest specifications are 

not effective by March 12, 2011, which 

is the start of the 2011 Pacific halibut 

season as specified by the IPHC, the 

hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not 

begin concurrently with the Pacific 

halibut IFQ season. Delayed 

effectiveness of this action would result 

in confusion for sablefish harvesters and 

economic harm from unnecessary 

discard of sablefish that are caught 

along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut 

are managed under the same IFQ 

program. Immediate effectiveness of the 

final 2011 and 2012 harvest 

specifications will allow the sablefish 

IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with 

the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, the 

immediate effectiveness of this action is 

required to provide consistent 

management and conservation of fishery 

resources based on the best available 

scientific information. This is 

particularly true of those species which 

have lower 2011 ABCs and TACs than 

those established in the 2010 and 2011 

harvest specifications (75 FR 11778, 

March 12, 2010). Immediate 

effectiveness also would give the fishing 

industry the earliest possible 

opportunity to plan and conduct its 

fishing operations with respect to new 

information about TAC limits. 

Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 

under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 

Small Entity Compliance Guide 

This final rule is a plain language 

guide to assist small entities in 

complying with this final rule as 

required by the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 

1996. This final rule’s primary purpose 

is to announce the final 2011 and 2012 

harvest specifications and prohibited 

species bycatch allowances for the 

groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This 

action is necessary to establish harvest 

limits and associated management 

measures for groundfish during the 2011 

and 2012 fishing years and to 

accomplish the goals and objectives of 

the FMP. This action affects all 

fishermen who participate in the BSAI 

fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, 

ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in 

tables to assist the reader. NMFS will 

announce closures of directed fishing in 

the Federal Register and information 

bulletins released by the Alaska Region. 

Affected fishermen should keep 

themselves informed of such closures. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106– 

31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. 

L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109– 

479. 

Dated: February 23, 2011. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4538 Filed 2–28–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket Nos. 0910131362–0087–02 and 

0910131363–0087–02] 

RIN 0648–XA256 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Sablefish Managed 

Under the Individual Fishing Quota 

Program 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Temporary rule; opening. 

SUMMARY: NMFS is opening directed 

fishing for sablefish with fixed gear 

managed under the Individual Fishing 

Quota (IFQ) Program and the 

Community Development Quota (CDQ) 

Program. The season will open 1200 hrs, 

Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 12, 

2011, and will close 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 

November 18, 2011. This period is the 

same as the 2011 commercial halibut 

fishery opening dates adopted by the 

International Pacific Halibut 

Commission. The IFQ and CDQ halibut 

season is specified by a separate 

publication in the Federal Register of 

annual management measures. 

DATES: Effective March 1, 2011, until 

1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning 

in 1995, fishing for Pacific halibut and 

sablefish with fixed gear in the IFQ 

regulatory areas defined in 50 CFR 679.2 

has been managed under the IFQ 

Program. The IFQ Program is a 

regulatory regime designed to promote 

the conservation and management of 

these fisheries and to further the 

objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act and the Northern Pacific Halibut 

Act. Persons holding quota share receive 

an annual allocation of IFQ. Persons 

receiving an annual allocation of IFQ 

are authorized to harvest IFQ species 

within specified limitations. Further 

information on the implementation of 

the IFQ Program, and the rationale 

supporting it, are contained in the 

preamble to the final rule implementing 

the IFQ Program published in the 

Federal Register, November 9, 1993 (58 

FR 59375) and subsequent amendments. 

This announcement is consistent with 

§ 679.23(g)(1), which requires that the 

directed fishing season for sablefish 

managed under the IFQ Program be 

specified by the Administrator, Alaska 

Region, and announced by publication 

in the Federal Register. This method of 

season announcement was selected to 

facilitate coordination between the 

sablefish season, chosen by the 

Administrator, Alaska Region, and the 

halibut season, adopted by the 

International Pacific Halibut 

Commission (IPHC). The directed 

fishing season for sablefish with fixed 

gear managed under the IFQ Program 

will open 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 12, 

2011, and will close 1200 hrs, A.l.t., 

November 18, 2011. This period runs 

concurrently with the IFQ season for 

Pacific halibut announced by the IPHC. 

The IFQ halibut season will be specified 

by a separate publication in the Federal 

Register of annual management 

measures pursuant to 50 CFR 300.62. 

Classification 

This action responds to the best 

available information recently obtained 

from the fishery. The Assistant 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with RULES