[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70974-70991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26952]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 041126332-4332-01; I.D. 112204A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; 2005 and 2006 Proposed Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: 2005 and 2006 proposed harvest specifications for groundfish; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications and 
prohibited species catch (PSC) 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 2005 
and 2006 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area (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: Comments must be received by January 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Lori Durall. Comments may be submitted by:
    <bullet> Mail to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
    <bullet> Hand Delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK;
    <bullet> E-mail to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1022202025515b77627f657e74767963783e6471736360757363507e7f71713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aa989a9a9febe1cdd8c5dfc4ceccc3d9c284decbc9d9dacfc9d9eac4c5cbcb84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a> and include 
in the subject line of the e-mail comments the document identifier: 
2005 Proposed Specifications (E-mail comments, with or without 
attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes);
    <bullet> FAX to 907-586-7557; or
    <bullet> Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA) prepared for this action are available 
from NMFS at the addresses above or from the Alaska Region website at 
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2003 Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the 
BSAI, dated November 2003, are available from the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council), West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 
99510-2252 (907-271-2809), or from its website at www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228, or e-mail 
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ed808c9f94c38b989f9883889e9ead83828c8cc38a829b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3aea2b1baeda5b6b1b6ada6b0b083adaca2a2eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>.



[[Page 70975]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implement the FMP and govern 
the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 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 annually the total allowable 
catch (TAC) for each target species and the ``other species'' category, 
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million 
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)). 
Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(1) further require NMFS to solicit 
public comment on proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, PSC 
allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by 
Sec.  679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod and Atka 
mackerel TAC, including pollock Community Development Quota (CDQ), and 
CDQ reserve amounts established by Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) and to 
publish proposed harvest specifications in the Federal Register. The 
proposed harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 13 of 
this action satisfy these requirements.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final annual 
specifications for 2005 and 2006 after (1) considering comments 
received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the 
Council at its next meeting beginning the week of December 6, 2004, and 
(3) considering new information presented in the EA and the final 2004 
SAFE reports prepared for the 2005 and 2006 groundfish fisheries.
    With some exceptions, regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) require 
that one-fourth of each proposed initial TAC (ITAC) amount and 
apportionment thereof, one-fourth of each CDQ reserve established under 
Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii), and one-fourth of each proposed PSC allowance 
established under Sec.  679.21 become available at 0001 hours, Alaska 
local time (A.l.t.), January 1, on an interim basis and remain in 
effect until superseded by the final harvest specifications. 
Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii)(A) and (B) require that the 
proposed first seasonal allowance of non-CDQ and CDQ pollock, Pacific 
cod, and Atka mackerel becomes available at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 
1, on an interim basis and remains in effect until superseded by the 
final harvest specifications. Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) do 
not provide for an interim harvest specification for either the hook-
and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed 
under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. Interim harvest 
specifications and apportionments thereof for the 2005 fishing year 
will be published in a separate Federal Register notice.

Other Rules Affecting the 2005 and 2006 Harvest Specifications

    Amendments 48/48 to the FMP and to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) were unanimously recommended by 
the Council in October 2003 and approved by NMFS on October 12, 2004. 
The final rule implementing Amendments 48/48 was published November 8, 
2004, (69 FR 64683). Amendments 48/48 revise the administrative process 
used to establish annual specifications for the groundfish fisheries of 
the GOA and the BSAI. The goals of Amendments 48/48 in revising the 
harvest specifications process are to (1) manage fisheries based on the 
best scientific information available, (2) provide for adequate prior 
public review and comment on Council recommendations, (3) provide for 
additional opportunity for Secretarial review, (4) minimize unnecessary 
disruption to fisheries and public confusion, and (5) promote 
administrative efficiency.
    Based on the approval of Amendments 48/48, the Council recommended 
2005 and 2006 proposed harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish. 
These proposed harvest specifications are based on the 2003 SAFE 
report. In November 2004, the 2004 SAFE report will be used to develop 
the final 2005 and 2006 groundfish acceptable biological catch amounts 
(ABC). When possible, this proposed rule will identify any proposal 
that may be anticipated to change in the final specifications. The 2006 
harvest specification will be updated in early 2006, when final harvest 
specifications for 2006 and new harvest specification for 2007 are 
implemented.
    In June 2004, the Council adopted Amendment 82 to the FMP. This 
amendment would establish a framework for management of the Aleutian 
Islands (AI) directed pollock fishery. If approved by NMFS, this 
amendment would be implemented after the commencement of the 2005 
fishing year. Section 803 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 
2004 (CAA), Pub. L. No. 108-199, requires the AI directed pollock 
fishery to be allocated to the Aleut Corporation for economic 
development of Adak, Alaska. Prior to the CAA, the AI directed pollock 
fishery was managed pursuant to the American Fisheries Act (AFA), Pub. 
L. No. 105-277, Title II of Division C. The AFA allocated the AI 
directed pollock fishery to specific harvesters and processors named in 
the AFA. The CAA supersedes that portion of the AFA. Together, the CAA 
and the AFA effectively allocate the AI directed pollock fishery to the 
Aleut Corporation after subtraction of the CDQ directed fishing 
allowance and incidental catch allowance (ICA) from the pollock TAC. 
The implementation of section 803 of the CAA requires amending AFA 
provisions in the FMP and in the regulations at 50 CFR part 679. This 
would be accomplished by Amendment 82, if it is approved.
    Until a decision is made on whether to approve Amendment 82, NMFS 
will prohibit the non-CDQ AI directed pollock fishery in the interim 
and final harvest specifications for 2005 and 2006 based on the 
statutory language of section 803 of the CAA. The AI pollock TAC 
recommended by the Council under the provisions of proposed Amendment 
82 will be included in the 2005 and 2006 proposed, interim, and final 
harvest specifications to allow the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS 
(Regional Administrator), to open the AI directed pollock fishery if 
and when the regulations for Amendment 82 are effective. As stated 
above, this prohibition is authorized by section 803 of the CAA, which 
requires that only those who are selected by the Aleut Corporation and 
approved by NMFS may participate in the non-CDQ AI directed pollock 
fishery. For additional information, see the November 16, 2004, notice 
of availability (69 FR 67107) and the December 7, 2004, proposed rule 
for Amendment 82.
    The Council recommended an upper limit for the AI pollock TAC equal 
to 19,000 mt, except that when the AI pollock ABC is less than 19,000 
mt, AI pollock TAC shall be no more than 40 percent of the Allowable 
Biological Catch (ABC). The directed pollock fishery allocation to the 
Aleut Corporation would be seasonally apportioned. The Council also 
adopted a chinook salmon bycatch limit for the AI directed pollock 
fishery. Tables 1 and 2 list the 2005 and 2006 proposed allocations and 
seasonal apportionments of the AI pollock TAC based on regulations that 
would implement Amendment 82, if it is approved.
    Other actions that may affect the 2005 and 2006 harvest 
specifications are based on recommendations from the Council's Plan 
Team. The Council may consider apportionment of the Pacific

[[Page 70976]]

cod ABC or TAC by Bering Sea subarea and AI subarea separately instead 
of by the full BSAI management area. Also, the Council may consider 
separating some rockfish species from the ``other rockfish'' species 
category.

Proposed ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

    The proposed 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 and is based on 
a successive series of six levels, or tiers, of reliable information 
available to fishery scientists. Tier one represents the highest data 
quality and tier six the lowest level of data quality available.
    The best information currently available is set forth in Appendix A 
to the final SAFE report for the 2004 BSAI groundfish fisheries dated 
November 2003 (see ADDRESSES). Information on the status of stocks will 
be updated with the 2004 survey results and reconsidered by the Plan 
Team in November 2004 for the 2004 SAFE report. The final harvest 
specifications will be based on the 2004 SAFE report.
    In October 2004, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and 
the Council reviewed the Plan Team's preliminary projections for 2004 
biomass amounts, as presented in the 2003 SAFE report, as the basis for 
the 2005 and 2006 proposed ABC, OFL, and TAC amounts. Due to time 
constraints, the Council's Advisory Panel did not provide 
recommendations for the proposed harvest specifications. The SSC 
concurred with the Plan Team's recommendations, which estimate the 2005 
and 2006 proposed ABCs and OFLs by using a projection of 2004 and 2005 
groundfish harvest with the November 2003 SAFE report model projections 
of 2004 ABCs for groundfish stocks managed at tiers 1-3. The Council 
adopted the OFL and ABC amounts recommended by the SSC (Table 1), 
except for Atka mackerel. The Council recommended using the 2004 OFL 
and ABC amounts for Atka mackerel based on survey data that became 
available October 8, 2004, instead of using the projected amounts for 
2005 and 2006. The Council recommended that the 2005 and 2006 proposed 
TACs be set equal to the 2004 TACs, except for minor decreases for 
sablefish and Pacific ocean perch and minor increases in 2005 for 
Pacific cod and rock sole based on preliminary data evaluated by the 
Plan Team. The Council also recommended an AI pollock TAC to support a 
directed pollock fishery, pending approval of Amendment 82. The Council 
recommended using the 2004 PSC allowances for the 2005 and 2006 
proposed allowances. The Council will reconsider the OFL, ABC, TAC, and 
PSC amounts in December 2004 after the Plan Team incorporates new 
status of stocks information into a final 2004 SAFE report, for the 
2005 and 2006 BSAI groundfish fishery. None of the Council's 
recommended proposed TACs for 2005 or 2006 exceed the recommended 2005 
or 2006 proposed ABC for any species category. NMFS finds the Council's 
recommended proposed 2005 and 2006 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent 
with the best available information on the biological condition of the 
groundfish stocks.
    Table 1 lists the 2005 and 2006 proposed OFL, ABC, and TAC, ITAC 
and CDQ amounts for groundfish in the BSAI. The proposed apportionment 
of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.

[[Page 70977]]



  TABLE 1--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED 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]
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                                                                                      2005                                                                  2006
             Species                     Area        -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           OFL           ABC           TAC         ITAC\2\       CDQ\3\          OFL           ABC           TAC         ITAC\2\       CDQ\3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock\4\                        BS\2\.............    2,909,800     2,363,000     1,474,450     1,327,005       147,445     2,542,900     2,087,800     1,474,000     1,326,600       147,400
                                  AI\2\.............       52,600        39,400        19,000        17,100         1,900        52,600        39,400        19,000        17,100         1,900
                                  Bogoslof..........       39,600         2,570            50            50        ......        39,600         2,570            50            50        ......
Pacific cod                       BSAI..............      352,500       225,500       215,952       183,559        16,196       344,700       220,500       215,500       183,175        16,163
Sablefish\5\                      BS................        3,432         2,418         2,418         1,028           332         3,184         2,244         2,244           954            84
                                  AI................        3,960         2,790         2,790           592           471         3,674         2,589         2,589           550            49
Atka mackerel                     BSAI..............       78,500        66,700        63,000        53,550         4,725        78,500        66,700        63,000        53,550         4,725
                                  WAI...............       ......        24,360        20,660        17,561         1,550        ......        24,360        20,660        17,561         1,550
                                  CAI...............       ......        31,100        31,100        26,435         2,333        ......        31,100        31,100        26,435         2,333
                                  EAI/BS............       ......        11,240        11,240         9,554           843        ......        11,240        11,240         9,554           843
Yellowfin sole                    BSAI..............      129,710       109,300        86,075        73,164         6,456       124,900       105,250        86,075        73,164         6,456
Rock sole                         BSAI..............      153,290       128,370        41,450        35,233         3,109       136,240       114,060        41,000        34,850         3,075
Greenland turbot                  BSAI..............       17,740        11,230         3,500         2,975           263        16,490        10,430         3,500         2,975           263
                                  BS................       ......         7,524         2,700         2,295           203        ......         6,988         2,700         2,295           203
                                  AI................       ......         3,706           800           680            60        ......         3,442           800           680            60
Arrowtooth flounder               BSAI..............      144,990        96,140        12,000        10,200           900       145,480        96,300        12,000        10,200           900
Flathead sole                     BSAI..............       69,100        56,860        19,000        16,150         1,425        64,870        53,380        19,000        16,150         1,425
Other flatfish\6\                 BSAI..............       18,100        13,500         3,000         2,550           225        18,100        13,500         3,000         2,550           225
Alaska plaice                     BSAI..............      254,970       159,040        10,000         8,500           750       255,220       159,230        10,000         8,500           750
Pacific ocean perch               BSAI..............       15,790        12,020        12,020        10,217           902        15,990        12,170        12,170        10,345           913
                                  BS................       ......         1,923         1,923         1,635           144        ......         1,947         1,947         1,655           146
                                  WAI...............       ......         4,655         4,655         3,957           349        ......         4,713         4,713         4,006           353
                                  CAI...............       ......         2,655         2,655         2,257           199        ......         2,689         2,689         2,286           202
                                  EAI...............       ......         2,787         2,787         2,369           209        ......         2,821         2,821         2,398           212
Northern                          BSAI..............        7,900         6,030         5,000         4,250           375         7,670         5,850         5,000         4,250           375
Shortraker                        BSAI..............          701           526           526           447            39           701           526           526           447            39
Rougheye                          BSAI..............          259           195           195           166            15           259           195           195           166            15
Other rockfish\7\                 BS................        1,280           960           460           391            35         1,280           960           460           391            35
                                  AI................          846           634           634           539            48           846           634           634           539            48
Squid                             BSAI..............        2,620         1,970         1,275         1,084        ......         2,620         1,970         1,275         1,084        ......
Other species\8\                  BSAI..............       81,150        46,810        27,205        23,124         2,040        81,150        46,810        27,205        23,124         2,040
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TOTAL                                                   4,338,838     3,345,963     2,000,000     1,771,874       187,651     3,936,974     3,043,068     1,998,423     1,770,714       186,881
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\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 and the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for each species is the remainder of
  the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\Except for pollock, squid and the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish, one half of the amount of the TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a CDQ
  reserve for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii) and 679.31).
\4\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea pollock TAC after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance - 10 percent and the ICA - 3 percent, is further allocated by
  sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore - 50 percent; catcher/processor - 40 percent; and motherships - 10 percent. Pending approval of Amendment 82, the annual AI pollock
  TAC, after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance - 10 percent and the ICA - 2,000 mt, would be allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\5\The ITAC for sablefish reflected in Table 1 is for trawl gear only. Regulations at Sec.   679.20(b)(1) do not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for the hook-and-line and pot gear
  allocation for sablefish. Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear and 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear is reserved for use by
  CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii)).
\6\``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder and Alaska
  plaice.
\7\``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2, are not included in the ``other species'' category.


[[Page 70978]]

Reserves and the ICA for Pollock

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i) require that 15 percent of the 
TAC for each target species or species group, except for pollock and 
the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a 
non-specified reserve. Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) require 
that one half of each TAC amount placed in the non-specified reserve 
(7.5 percent), with the exception of squid, be allocated to the 
groundfish CDQ reserve and that 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot 
gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the fixed gear sablefish 
CDQ reserve. Regulations at Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 
679.31(a)(2) also require that 10 percent of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed 
fishing allowance. The entire Bogoslof District pollock TAC is 
allocated as an ICA (see Sec.  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 reserves by gear. Regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(i) also require that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with 
the exception of herring, be withheld as a PSQ reserve for the CDQ 
fisheries. Regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ 
reserves are set forth at Sec. Sec.  679.30 and 679.31.
    Under regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a 
pollock ICA of 3 percent of the Bering Sea pollock TAC after 
subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on 
an examination of the incidental catch of pollock in target fisheries 
other than pollock from 1998 through 2003. During this 6-year period, 
the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 2 percent in 2003 
to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 6-year average of 3 percent. 
Because these incidental percentages are contingent on the relative 
amounts of other groundfish TACs, NMFS will be better able to assess 
the ICA amount when the Council makes final ABC and TAC amount 
recommendations in December. Under regulations that would be effective 
with the final rule implementing Amendment 82, NMFS recommends setting 
a 2,000 mt ICA for AI subarea pollock after a subtraction of the 10 
percent CDQ directed fishing allowance. The Aleut Corporation's 
directed pollock fishery will be closed until regulations implementing 
Amendment 82 (if approved) become effective.
    The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified 
reserve by species or species group, and any amount of the reserve may 
be reapportioned to a target species or the ``other species'' category 
during the year, providing that such reapportionments do not result in 
overfishing, see Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii).

Allocations of Pollock TAC Under the AFA

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) require that 10 percent of 
the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC be allocated as a directed fishing 
allowance to the CDQ program. The remainder of the Bering Sea subarea 
pollock TAC, after the subtraction of an allowance (3 percent) for the 
incidental catch of pollock by vessels, including CDQ vessels, catching 
other groundfish species, is allocated as follows: 50 percent to AFA 
catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the inshore 
component, 40 percent to AFA catcher/processors and catcher vessels 
harvesting pollock for processing by catcher/processors in the offshore 
component, and 10 percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for 
processing by AFA motherships. Table 2 lists these 2005 and 2006 
proposed amounts.
    The regulations also contain several specific requirements 
concerning pollock and pollock allocations under Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4). First, 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to 
the catcher/processor sector will be available for harvest by AFA 
catcher vessels with catcher/processor sector endorsements, unless the 
Regional Administrator receives a cooperative contract that provides 
for the distribution of harvest between AFA catcher/processors and AFA 
catcher vessels in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA 
catcher/processors not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not 
more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor 
sector. Table 2 lists the 2005 and 2006 proposed allocations of pollock 
TAC. Tables 8 through 13 list other provisions of the AFA, including 
inshore pollock cooperative allocations and listed catcher/processor 
and catcher vessel harvesting sideboard limits.
    Table 2 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 Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 
percent of the annual directed fishing allowance (DFA) until April 1. 
The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent of the annual DFA allocated 
to the A season may be taken outside of the SCA before April 1 or 
inside the SCA after April 1. If the 28 percent of the annual DFA is 
not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be 
available to be taken inside the SCA after 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 2 
lists by sector these 2005 and 2006 proposed amounts.

    TABLE 2--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA)\1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2005 A season\1\       2005 B                    2006 A season\1\       2006 B
                                                                    ------------------------  season\1\              ------------------------   season
            Area and sector                   2005 allocations                       SCA    ------------     2006                     SCA    -----------
                                                                      A season     harvest    B season   allocations   A season     harvest    B season
                                                                         DFA      limit\2\       DFA                      DFA      limit\2\       DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea                       1,474,450.................     ......      ......      ......    1,474,000      ......      ......      ......
 CDQ DFA                                 147,445...................     58,978      41,285      88,467      147,400      58,960      41,272      88,440
 ICA\1\                                  46,445....................     ......      ......      ......       46,431      ......      ......      ......
 AFA Inshore                             640,280...................    256,112     179,278     384,168      640,085     256,034     179,224     384,051
 AFA Catcher/Processors\3\               512,224...................    204,890     143,423     307,334      512,068     204,827     143,379     307,241
 Catch by C/Ps                           468,685...................    187,474      ......     281,211      468,542     187,417      ......     281,125
 Catch by CVs\3\                         43,539....................     17,416      ......      26,123       43,526      17,410      ......      26,115
 Unlisted C/P Limit\4\                   2,561.....................      1,024      ......       1,537        2,560       1,024      ......       1,536
 AFA Motherships                         128,056...................     51,222      35,856      76,834      128,017      51,207      35,845      76,810
Excessive Harvesting Limit\5\            224,098...................     ......      ......      ......      224,030      ......      ......      ......

[[Page 70979]]

 
Excessive Processing Limit\6\            384,168...................     ......      ......      ......      384,051      ......      ......      ......
Total Bering Sea DFA                     1,474,450.................    571,202     399,841     856,803    1,474,000     571,028     399,719     856,541
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea\1\              19,000....................     ......      ......      ......       19,000      ......      ......      ......
 CDQ DFA                                 1,900.....................        760      ......       1,140        1,900         760      ......       1,140
 ICA                                     2,000.....................      1,200      ......         800        2,000       1,200      ......         800
 Aleut Corporation                       15,100....................     13,800      ......       1,300       15,100      13,640      ......       1,460
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA\7\                 50........................     ......      ......      ......           50      ......      ......      ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock after subtraction for the CDQ DFA - 10 percent and the ICA - 3 percent, the pollock
  TAC is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore component - 50 percent, catcher/processor component - 40 percent, and mothership component - 10 percent.
  In the Bering Sea subarea, the A season, January 20 - June 10, is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the B season, June 10 - November 1 is allocated
  60 percent of the DFA. The Aleutian Islands (AI) AI directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation remains after subtraction for the CDQ
  DFA - 10 percent and the ICA - 2,000 mt. The Aleut Corporation directed pollock fishery is closed to directed fishing until the management provisions
  for the AI directed pollock fishery become effective under Amendment 82. 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 Bering Sea 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 28 percent of the annual DFA
  is not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder is available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only
  by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/
  processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
\6\Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
\7\The Bogoslof District is closed by the proposed harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only, and
  are not apportioned by season or sector.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TAC

    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea 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 proposes that 1 percent of the Atka mackerel ITAC 
in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea be 
allocated to jig gear in 2005 and 2006. Based on an ITAC of 9,554 mt, 
the jig gear allocation is 96 mt for 2005 and 2006.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportion the Atka 
mackerel ITAC into two equal seasonal allowances. After subtraction of 
the jig gear allocation, the first allowance is made available for 
directed fishing from January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 
(A season), and the second seasonal allowance is made available from 
September 1 to November 1 (B season) (Table 3).
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional Administrator will 
establish a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent 
of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. A 
lottery system is used for the HLA Atka mackerel directed fisheries to 
reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about half and to 
disperse the fishery over two districts, see Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii).

             TABLE 3--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, AND CDQ RESERVE OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC\1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                  Seasonal allowances\2\
                                                                                                 -------------------------------------------------------
      Subarea and component         2005 and 2006 TAC    CDQ reserve   CDQ reserve      ITAC              A season\3\                 B season\3\
                                                                      HLA limit\4\               -------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Total     HLA limit\4\      Total     HLA limit\4\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western AI District                20,660.............        1,550           930        17,561         8,781         5,268         8,781         5,268
Central AI District                31,100.............        2,333         1,400        26,435        13,218         7,931        13,218         7,931
EAI/BS subarea\5\                  11,240.............          843        ......         9,554        ......        ......        ......        ......
 Jig (1%)\6\                       ...................       ......        ......            96        ......        ......        ......        ......
 Other gear (99%)                  ...................       ......        ......         9,458         4,729        ......         4,729        ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                              63,000.............        4,725        ......        53,550        26,727        ......        26,727        ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\2\The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\3\The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\4\Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2005 and 2006, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.

[[Page 70980]]

 
\5\Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
\6\Regulations at Sec.   679.20 (a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated to
  jig gear. The proposed amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC 
is allocated to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to vessels using 
hook-and-line or pot gear, and 47 percent to vessels using trawl gear. 
Under regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), the portion of the 
Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear is further allocated 50 percent 
to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processors. Under 
regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(1), a portion of the Pacific 
cod TAC allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear is set aside as an ICA 
of Pacific cod in directed fisheries for groundfish using these gear 
types. Based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries, NMFS 
proposes an ICA of 500 mt. The remainder of Pacific cod is further 
allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear as the following 
DFAs: 80 percent to hook-and-line catcher/processors, 0.3 percent to 
hook-and-line catcher vessels, 3.3 percent to pot catcher processors, 
15 percent to pot catcher vessels, and 1.4 percent to catcher vessels 
under 60 feet (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot 
gear.
    Due to concerns about the potential impact of the Pacific cod 
fishery on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat, the 
apportionment of the ITAC disperses the Pacific cod fisheries into 
seasonal allowances (see Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and 
679.23(e)(5)). For most hook-and-line and pot gear, the first seasonal 
allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is made available for directed 
fishing from January 1 to June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 
40 percent of the ITAC is made available from June 10 (September 1 for 
pot gear) to December 31. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed 
on the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 
m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first 
season is January 20 to April 1 and is allocated 60 percent of the 
ITAC. The second season, April 1 to June 10, and the third season, June 
10 to November 1, are each allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. The trawl 
catcher vessel allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the 
first season, 10 percent in the second season, and 20 percent in the 
third season. The trawl catcher/processor allocation is allocated 50 
percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season, and 20 
percent in the third season. For jig gear, the first and third seasonal 
allowances are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second 
seasonal allowance is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. Table 4 lists 
the 2005 and 2006 proposed allocations and seasonal apportionments of 
the Pacific cod ITAC. In accordance with Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(ii)(D) 
and 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(B), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod 
allowance will become available at the beginning of the next seasonal 
allowance.

[[Page 70981]]



                                                 TABLE 4--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2005                 2005 Seasonal apportionment\1\                  2006                 2006 Seasonal apportionment\1\
                                                        2005 Share    Subtotal   2005 Share -------------------------------- 2006 Share    Subtotal   2006 Share -------------------------------
                Gear Sector                   Percent     of gear   percentages    of gear                                     of gear   percentages    of gear
                                                          sector      for gear     sector           Date           Amount      sector      for gear     sector           Date           Amount
                                                           total      sectors       total                                       total      sectors       total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total hook-and-line/pot gear                       51      93,615       ......      ......              ......      ......      93,419       ......      ......              ......      ......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line/pot ICA                          ......      ......       ......         500              ......      ......      ......       ......         500              ......      ......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total                    ......      93,115       ......      ......              ......      ......      92,919       ......      ......              ......      ......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line C/P                              ......      ......           80      74,492      Jan 1 - Jun 10      44,695      ......           80      74,335      Jan 1 - Jun 10      44,601
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........  ..........    Jun 10 - Dec 31      29,797   ..........  ...........  ..........    Jun 10 - Dec 31      29,734
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line CV                               ......      ......          0.3         279      Jan 1 - Jun 10         167      ......          0.3         279        Jan 1-Jun 10         167
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........  ..........    Jun 10 - Dec 31         112   ..........  ...........  ..........    Jun 10 - Dec 31         112
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot C/P                                        ......      ......          3.3       3,073      Jan 1 - Jun 10       1,844      ......          3.3       3,066      Jan 1 - Jun 10       1,840
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........  ..........    Sept 1 - Dec 31       1,229   ..........  ...........  ..........    Sept 1 - Dec 31       1,226
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot CV                                         ......      ......           15      13,967      Jan 1 - Jun 10       8,380      ......           15      13,938      Jan 1 - Jun 10       8,363
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........  ..........    Sept 1 - Dec 31       5,587   ..........  ...........  ..........    Sept 1 - Dec 31       5,575
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CV < 60 feet LOA using Hook-and-line or        ......      ......          1.4       1,304              ......      ......      ......          1.4       1,301              ......      ......
 Pot gear
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Trawl Gear                                   47      86,273       ......      ......              ......      ......      86,092       ......      ......              ......      ......
 Trawl CV                                   ..........  ..........          50      43,136      Jan 20 - Apr 1      30,195   ..........          50      43,046      Jan 20 - Apr 1      30,132
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........     ......      Apr 1 - Jun 10       4,314   ..........  ...........     ......      Apr 1 - Jun 10       4,305
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........     ......      Jun 10 - Nov 1       8,627   ..........  ...........     ......      Jun 10 - Nov 1       8,609
 Trawl CP                                   ..........  ..........          50      43,136      Jan 20 - Apr 1      21,568   ..........          50      43,046      Jan 20 - Apr 1      21,523
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........     ......      Apr 1 - Jun 10      12,941   ..........  ...........     ......      Apr 1 - Jun 10      12,914
                                            ..........  ..........  ...........     ......      Jun 10 - Nov 1       8,627   ..........  ...........     ......      Jun 10 - Nov 1       8,609
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jig                                                 2       3,671       ......      ......      Jan 1 - Apr 30       1,468       3,664       ......      ......      Jan 1 - Apr 30       1,465
                                            ..........  ..........      ......      ......     Apr 30 - Aug 31         734   ..........      ......      ......     Apr 30 - Aug 31         733
                                            ..........  ..........      ......      ......     Aug 31 - Dec 31       1,469   ..........      ......      ......     Aug 31 - Dec 31       1,466
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                             100     183,559       ......      ......              ......      ......     183,175       ......      ......              ......      ......
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\For most non-trawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the ITAC. For jig gear, the first season and third seasons are
  each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels
  less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20
  percent of the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessels' allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. The
  trawl catcher/processors' allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. Any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
  cod allowance will be reapportioned to the next seasonal allowance.


[[Page 70982]]

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require that 
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas be allocated between 
trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for 
the Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for 
hook-and-line or pot gear and for the AI subarea are 25 percent for 
trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. Regulations at 
Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) require that 20 percent of the hook-and-line 
and pot gear allocation of sablefish be apportioned to the CDQ reserve. 
Additionally, regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A) require that 
7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish (one half of the 
reserve) be apportioned to the CDQ reserve. Under regulations 
implementing Amendments 48/48, the harvest specifications for the hook-
and-line gear and pot gear sablefish IFQ fisheries will be limited to 
the 2005 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted 
concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery. Having sablefish IFQ fisheries 
concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery would reduce the potential for 
discards of halibut and sablefish in these fisheries. The sablefish IFQ 
fisheries would remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year 
until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries 
are in effect. The trawl sablefish fishery would be managed using 
harvest specifications for a 2-year period concurrent with the 
remaining target species in the BSAI. Table 5 specifies the 2005 and 
2006 proposed gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve 
amounts.

                                   TABLE 5--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Percent of    2005 Share                   2005 CDQ     2006 Share                   2006 CDQ
                   Subarea and gear                          TAC         of TAC     2005 ITAC\1\     reserve       of TAC       2006 ITAC      reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea                                              ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Trawl\2\                                                        50         1,209         1,028            91         1,122           954            84
 Hook-and-line/pot gear\3\                                       50         1,209        ......           242        ......        ......        ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TOTAL                                                          100         2,418         1,028           332         2,244           954            84
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands                                        ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 Trawl\2\                                                        25           697           592            52           647           550            49
 Hook-and-line/pot gear\3\                                       75         2,093        ......           419        ......        ......        ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TOTAL                                                          100         2,790           592           471         2,589           550            49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Except 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.
\2\For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, one half of the reserve (7.5 percent of the specified TAC) is reserved
  for the CDQ program.
\3\For 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. Regulations in Sec.   679.20(b)(1) do not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.

Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, Crab, Salmon, and Herring

    PSC limits for halibut are set in regulations at Sec.  679.21(e). 
For the BSAI trawl fisheries, the limit is 3,675 mt of Pacific halibut 
mortality, and for non-trawl fisheries, the limit is 900 mt of 
mortality. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vii) specify the 2005 and 
2006 proposed chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery to be 
29,000 fish. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent, 
or 2,175 chinook salmon, as the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and 
the remaining 26,825 chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. If it is 
approved, Amendment 82 would establish an AI chinook salmon limit of 
700 fish, applicable upon the implementation of the final rule for 
Amendment 82 in early 2005. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i) would 
allocate 7.5 percent, or 175 chinook salmon, as the proposed AI PSQ for 
the CDQ program and the remaining 525 chinook salmon to the non-CDQ 
fisheries. For non-chinook salmon, regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(viii) specify the 2005 and 2006 proposed non-chinook 
salmon PSC limit to be 42,000 fish. Regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent, or 3,150 non-chinook salmon, as 
the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and the remaining 38,850 non-
chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. PSC limits for crab and 
herring are specified annually based on abundance and spawning biomass. 
Due to the lack of new information concerning PSC limits and 
apportionments in October 2004, the Council recommended using the 
halibut, crab, and herring 2004 PSC amounts for the proposed 2005 and 
2006 amounts. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 
2004, based on recommendations by the Plan Team and the SSC.
    The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 
2003 survey data to be 29.7 million king crab and the effective 
spawning biomass is estimated to be 60.7 million pounds (27,500 mt). 
Based on the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii), the 2005 and 
2006 proposed PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 
197,000 animals as a result of the mature female abundance being above 
8.4 million king crab and of the effective spawning biomass estimate 
being greater than 55 million pounds (24,948 mt).
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B) establish 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 
bycatch limits within the RKCSS up to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch 
allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' 
fishery category and are based on the need to optimize the groundfish 
harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. The Council recommended, and 
NMFS proposed, a red king crab bycatch limit equal to 35 percent of the 
trawl bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/
``other flatfish'' fishery category within the RKCSS.
    Based on 2003 survey data, the Chionoecetes bairdi crab abundance 
is estimated to be 448.8 million animals. Given the criteria set out at 
Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), the 2005 and 2006 proposed C. bairdi crab PSC 
limit for

[[Page 70983]]

trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 
2, as a result of the C. bairdi crab abundance estimate of over 400 
million animals.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for C. opilio crab 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 
Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2003 survey estimate of 2.63 
billion animals, the calculated limit is 2,981,000 animals. Because 
this limit is less than 4.5 million, under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv)(B), 
the 2005 and 2006 proposed C. opilio crab PSC limit is 4,350,000 
million animals.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vi), the proposed PSC limit of Pacific 
herring caught while conducting any trawl operation for groundfish in 
the BSAI is 1 percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. 
NMFS's best estimate of 2004 herring biomass is 187,648 mt. This amount 
was derived using 2003 survey data and an age-structured biomass 
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G). Therefore, the proposed herring PSC limit for 2005 and 2006 is 
1,876 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit 
specified for crab and halibut is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by 
the groundfish CDQ program. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3) require 
the apportionment of each trawl PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances 
for seven specified fishery categories. Regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize the apportionment of the non-trawl halibut 
PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances for five fishery categories. 
Table 6 lists the proposed fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl and 
non-trawl fisheries.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize exemption of 
specified non-trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past 
years, NMFS, after consultation with the Council, is proposing to 
exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear 
fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions because these 
fisheries use selective gear types that take few halibut compared with 
other gear types, such as non-pelagic trawl. In 2004, total groundfish 
catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was approximately 17,648 mt, 
with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of about 9 mt. The 2004 
groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 215 mt of groundfish. Most 
vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and are 
exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a result, observer data 
are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, 
a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality is assumed because of 
the selective nature of this gear type and the likelihood that halibut 
caught with jig gear have a high survival rate when released.
    As in past years, the Council recommended that the sablefish IFQ 
fishery be exempt from halibut bycatch restrictions because of the 
sablefish and halibut IFQ program (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). The 
sablefish IFQ program requires legal-sized halibut to be retained by 
vessels using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or his 
or her hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ. NMFS 
concurs with the Council's recommendation. This provision results in 
reduced halibut discard in the sablefish fishery. In 1995, about 36 mt 
of halibut discard mortality was estimated for the sablefish IFQ 
fishery. The estimates for 1996 through 2004 have not been calculated; 
however, NMFS has no information indicating that it would be 
significantly different.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(5) authorize NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of 
PSC amounts 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 seasonal 
PSC apportionments to maximize harvest among gear types, fisheries, and 
seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the above criteria. 
NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations. These recommendations 
are listed in Table 6.

TABLE 6--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL AND NON-TRAWL FISHERIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Prohibited species and zone
                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Red King                      C. bairdi (animals)
       Trawl Fisheries        Halibut (mt)  Herring (mt)      Crab        C. opilio  ---------------------------
                                  BSAI          BSAI        (animals)     (animals)
                                                            Zone 1\1\     COBLZ\2\      Zone 1\1\     Zone 2\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole                        886           171        33,843     2,776,981       340,844     1,788,459
 January 20 - April 1                 262        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 April 1 - May 21                     195        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 May 21 - July 1                       49        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 July 1 - December 31                 380        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
Rock sole/other flat/                 779            25       121,413       969,130       365,320       596,154
 flathead sole\4\
 January 20 - April 1                 448        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 April 1 - July 1                     164        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 July 1 - December 31                 167        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
Turbot/arrowtooth/                 ......            11        ......        40,238        ......        ......
 sablefish\5\
Rockfish                           ......        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 July 1 - December 31                  69             9        ......        40,237        ......        10,988
Pacific cod                         1,434            25        26,563       124,736       183,112       324,176
Midwater trawl pollock             ......         1,456        ......        ......        ......        ......
Pollock/Atka mackerel/                232           179           406        72,428        17,224        27,473
 other\6\
Red King Crab Savings              ......        ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
 Subarea\3\
 (non-pelagic trawl)               ......        42,495        ......        ......        ......        ......
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total trawl PSC                     3,400         1,876       182,225     4,023,750       906,500     2,747,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 70984]]

 
 Non-trawl Fisheries          ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
-------------------------------------------
Pacific cod - Total                   775   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 January 1 - June 10                  320   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 June 10 - August 15                    0   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
 August 15 - December 31              455   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
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   ............  ............  ............  ............  ............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSQ reserve\7\                        342        ......        14,775       326,250        73,500       222,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSC grand total                     4,575         1,876       197,000     4,350,000       980,000     2,970,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at 50 CFR part 679, Figure 13.
\3\``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole and arrowtooth flounder.
\4\Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\5\Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\6\With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the CDQ program as PSQ reserve.
  The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear or season.
\7\In October 2004, the Council recommended that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
  limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/<gr-thn-eq>other flatfish''
  fishery category (see Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator will use observed halibut bycatch rates, 
assumed discard mortality rates (DMR), 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.
    The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the recommended 
halibut DMRs developed by staff of the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) for the 2004 BSAI groundfish fisheries be used for 
monitoring halibut bycatch allowances established for the 2005 and 2006 
groundfish fisheries (see Table 7). These DMRs were developed by the 
IPHC using the 10-year mean DMRs for the BSAI non-CDQ groundfish 
fisheries. Plots of annual DMRs against the 10-year mean indicated 
little change since 1990 for most fisheries. DMRs were more variable 
for the smaller fisheries that typically take minor amounts of halibut 
bycatch. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend 
changes to the DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation from the 
mean. The IPHC has been calculating the CDQ fisheries DMRs since 1998 
and a 10-year mean is not yet available. The justification for these 
proposed DMRs is discussed in Appendix A to the final SAFE report dated 
November 2003. The proposed DMRs listed in Table 7 are subject to 
change pending the results of an updated analysis on halibut DMRs in 
the groundfish fisheries that IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the 
Council at its December 2004 meeting.

     TABLE 7--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED ASSUMED PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD
                 MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI FISHERIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Preseason
                                                               assumed
                                           Fishery            mortality
                                                              (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line gear fisheries                                ............
                                  Greenland turbot          15
                                  Other Species             11
                                  Pacific cod               11
                                  Rockfish                  16
Trawl gear fisheries                                        ............
                                  Atka mackerel             78
                                  Flathead sole             67
                                  Greenland turbot          72
                                  Non-pelagic pollock       76
                                  Pelagic pollock           85
                                  Other flatfish            71
                                  Other species             67
                                  Pacific cod               68
                                  Rockfish                  74
                                  Rock sole                 77
                                  Sablefish                 49
                                  Yellowfin sole            78
Pot gear fisheries                                          ............
                                  Other species             8
                                  Pacific cod               8
CDQ trawl fisheries                                         ............
                                  Atka mackerel             85
                                  Flathead sole             90
                                  Non-pelagic pollock       85
                                  Pelagic pollock           89
                                  Rockfish                  90
                                  Yellowfin sole            82
CDQ hook-and-line fisheries                                 ............
                                  Greenland turbot          4
                                  Pacific cod               11
CDQ pot fisheries                                           ............
                                  Pacific cod               2
                                  Sablefish                 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 70985]]

Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations

    Regulations at Sec.  679.4(l) set forth procedures for AFA inshore 
catcher vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive 
cooperative fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. For 2004, 
NMFS received applications from seven inshore catcher vessel 
cooperatives. Applications for 2005 must be received by the Regional 
Administrator by December 1, 2004. Table 8 lists the proposed pollock 
allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives 
based on 2004 cooperative allocations and the assumption that the 
cooperatives' membership will remain unchanged in 2005 and 2006. 
Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not participating in 
cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because the AI subarea has 
been closed to directed fishing for pollock and the CAA requires the 
non-CDQ directed pollock fishery to be fully allocated to the Aleut 
Corporation. The Bering Sea subarea allocations may be revised pending 
adjustments to cooperatives' membership prior to 2005 and 2006.

               TABLE 8--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED BERING SEA SUBAREA INSHORE COOPERATIVE ALLOCATIONS
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Sum of member
                                      vessel's official     Percentage of    2005 Annual co-op   2006 Annual co-
Cooperative name and member vessels   catch histories\1\    inshore sector    allocation (mt)     op allocation
                                             (mt)             allocation                              (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association    245,922              28.130%            180,110            180,055
ALDEBARAN, ARCTIC EXPLORER,
 ARCTURUS, BLUE FOX, CAPE KIWANDA,
 COLUMBIA, DOMINATOR, EXODUS,
 FLYING CLOUD, GOLDEN DAWN, GOLDEN
 PISCES, HAZEL LORRAINE, INTREPID
 EXPLORER, LESLIE LEE, LISA
 MELINDA, MAJESTY, MARCY J,
 MARGARET LYN, MARK I, NORDIC
 EXPLORER, NORTHERN PATRIOT,
 NORTHWEST EXPLORER, PACIFIC RAM,
 PACIFIC VIKING, PEGASUS, PEGGY JO,
 PERSEVERANCE, PREDATOR, RAVEN,
 ROYAL AMERICAN, SEEKER,
 SOVEREIGNTY, TRAVELER, VIKING
 EXPLORER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arctic Enterprise Association        36,807               4.210%             26,957             26,948
BRISTOL EXPLORER, OCEAN EXPLORER,
 PACIFIC EXPLORER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative    73,656               8.425%             53,945             53,929
ANITA J, COLLIER BROTHERS,
 COMMODORE, EXCALIBUR II, GOLDRUSH,
 HALF MOON BAY, MISS BERDIE, NORDIC
 FURY, PACIFIC FURY, POSEIDON,
 ROYAL ATLANTIC, SUNSET BAY, STORM
 PETREL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative          23,850               2.728%             17,467             17,462
AJ, AMBER DAWN, AMERICAN BEAUTY,
 ELIZABETH F, MORNING STAR, OCEAN
 LEADER, OCEANIC, PROVIDIAN, TOPAZ,
 WALTER N
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unalaska Cooperative                 106,737              12.209%            78,173             78,149
ALASKA ROSE, BERING ROSE,
 DESTINATION, GREAT PACIFIC,
 MESSIAH, MORNING STAR, MS AMY,
 PROGRESS, SEA WOLF, VANGUARD,
 WESTERN DAWN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UniSea Fleet Cooperative             213,521              24.424%            156,380            156,333
ALSEA, AMERICAN EAGLE, ARGOSY,
 AURIGA, AURORA, DEFENDER, GUN-MAR,
 MAR-GUN, NORDIC STAR, PACIFIC
 MONARCH, SEADAWN, STARFISH,
 STARLITE, STARWARD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westward Fleet Cooperative           189,942              21.727%            139,111            139,069
ALASKAN COMMAND, ALYESKA, ARCTIC
 WIND, CAITLIN ANN, CHELSEA K, DONA
 MARTITA, FIERCE ALLEGIANCE,
 HICKORY WIND, OCEAN HOPE 3,
 PACIFIC KNIGHT, PACIFIC PRINCE,
 VIKING, WESTWARD I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open access AFA vessels              0                    0%                 0                  0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total inshore allocation             874,238              100%               640,280            640,085
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\According to regulations at Sec.   679.62(e)(1), the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the
  vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/
  processors for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.

    According to regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(3), NMFS must 
further divided the inshore sector allocation into allocations for 
cooperatives and for inshore open access. In addition, according to 
regulations at Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish harvest 
limits inside the SCA and provide a set-aside so that catcher vessels 
less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA have the opportunity to 
operate entirely within the SCA until April 1. Accordingly, Table 9 
lists the proposed apportionment of the Bering Sea subarea inshore 
pollock allocation into allocations for vessels fishing in a 
cooperative and for vessels fishing for the inshore open access 
allocation and

[[Page 70986]]

establishes a cooperative-sector SCA set-aside for AFA catcher vessels 
less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set-aside for catcher 
vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA that are not 
participating in a cooperative will be established inseason based on 
actual participation levels and is not included in Table 9. These 
proposed allocations may be revised pending final review and approval 
of 2005 and 2006 cooperative agreements.

    TABLE 9--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED BERING SEA SUBAREA POLLOCK ALLOCATIONS TO THE COOPERATIVE AND OPEN ACCESS SECTORS OF THE INSHORE POLLOCK FISHERY
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2005 A season    2005 A season    2005 B season    2006 A season    2006 A season    2006 B season
                                                          TAC         inside SCA\1\         TAC              TAC           inside SCA          TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inshore cooperative sector                          ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............  ...............
 Vessels > 99 ft                                               n/a          153,969              n/a              n/a          153,923              n/a
 Vessels <= 99 ft                                              n/a           25,309              n/a              n/a           25,301              n/a
Total                                                      256,112          179,278          384,168          256,034          179,224          384,051
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open access sector                                               0             0\2\                0                0             0\2\                0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total inshore                                              256,112          179,278          384,168          256,034          179,224          384,051
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) established at Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\2\The SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason basis
  in accordance with Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2) which specifies that ``the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for pollock by
  vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA, catching pollock for processing by the inshore component before reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before
  April 1 to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA until April 1.''

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

    According to regulations at Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional 
Administrator will restrict the ability of listed AFA catcher/
processors 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 rule implementing major provisions of 
the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). Table 10 lists the 2005 and 
2006 proposed catcher/processor sideboard limits.
    All groundfish other than pollock that are harvested by listed AFA 
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will 
be deducted from the proposed sideboard limits in Table 10. However, 
groundfish other than pollock that are delivered to listed catcher/
processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2005 and 
2006 proposed sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.

[[Page 70987]]



                                        TABLE 10--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
                                                                                  [Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              1995 - 1997
                                                     ------------------------------------------------------------ 2005 Proposed ITAC                      2006 Proposed ITAC
           Target species                  Area                                                Ratio of retained  available to trawl   2005 Proposed C/P  available to trawl   2006 Proposed C/P
                                                        Retained catch        Total catch       catch to total           C/Ps           sideboard limit          C/Ps           sideboard limit
                                                                                                     catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl                    BSAI                        12,424              48,177               0.258              43,136              11,129              43,046              11,106
Sablefish trawl                      BS                               8                 497               0.016               1,028                  16                 954                  15
                                     AI                               0                 145               0.000                 592                   0                 550                   0
Atka mackerel                        Western AI                  ......              ......              ......              ......              ......              ......              ......
                                      A season\1\                   n/a                 n/a               0.200               8,781               1,756               8,781               1,756
                                      HLA limit\2\               ......              ......              ......               5,269               1,054               5,269               1,054
                                      B season                      n/a                 n/a               0.200               8,781               1,756               8,781               1,756
                                      HLA limit                  ......              ......              ......               5,269               1,054               5,269               1,054
                                     Central AI                  ......              ......              ......              ......              ......              ......              ......
                                      A season\1\                   n/a                 n/a               0.115              13,218               1,520              13,218               1,520
                                      HLA limit                  ......              ......              ......               7,931                 912               7,931                 912
                                      B season                      n/a                 n/a               0.115              13,218               1,520              13,218               1,520
                                      HLA limit                  ......              ......              ......               7,931                 912               7,931                 912
Yellowfin sole                       BSAI                       100,192             435,788               0.230              73,164              16,828              73,164              16,828
Rock sole                            BSAI                         6,317             169,362               0.037              35,233               1,304              34,850               1,289
Greenland turbot                     BS                             121              17,305               0.007               2,295                  16               2,295                  16
                                     AI                              23               4,987               0.005                 680                   3                 680                   3
Arrowtooth flounder                  BSAI                            76              33,987               0.002              10,200                  20              10,200                  20
Flathead sole                        BSAI                         1,925              52,755               0.036              16,150                 581              16,150                 581
Alaska plaice                        BSAI                            14               9,438               0.001               8,500                   9               8,500                   9
Other flatfish                       BSAI                         3,058              52,298               0.058               2,550                 148               2,550                 148
Pacific ocean perch                  BS                              12               4,879               0.002               1,635                   3               1,655                   3
                                     Western AI                      54              13,598               0.004               3,957                  16               4,006                  16
                                     Central AI                       3               5,698               0.001               2,257                   2               2,286                   2
                                     Eastern AI                   6,179                 125               0.020               2,369                  47               2,398                  48
Northern rockfish                    BSAI                            91              13,040               0.007               4,250                  30               4,250                  30
Shortraker rockfish                  BSAI                            50               2,811               0.018                 447                   8                 447                   8
Rougheye rockfish                    BSAI                            50               2,811               0.018                 166                   3                 166                   3
Other rockfish                       BS                              18                 621               0.029                 391                  11                 391                  11
                                     AI                              22                 806               0.027                 539                  15                 539                  15
Squid                                BSAI                            73               3,328               0.022               1,084                  24               1,084                  24
Other species                        BSAI                           553              68,672               0.008              23,124                 185              23,124                 185
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
  no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual TAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual TAC
  specified for the Central Aleutian District.
\2\Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In 2005 and 2006, 60 percent of each seasonal
  allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.


[[Page 70988]]

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(a)(5) establish a formula for PSC 
sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are 
equivalent to the percentage of PSC amounts taken in the groundfish 
fisheries other than pollock by the AFA catcher/processors listed in 
subsection 208(e) and section 209 of the AFA from 1995 through 1997 
(see Table 10). These amounts were used to calculate the relative 
amount of PSC that was caught by pollock catcher/processors shown in 
Table 10. The 2005 and 2006 PSC limits available to trawl catcher/
processors are multiplied by the ratios to determine the PSC sideboard 
limits for listed AFA catcher/processors in the 2005 and 2006 
groundfish fisheries other than pollock.
    PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating 
in any groundfish fishery other than pollock listed in Table 11 would 
accrue against the 2005 and 2006 proposed PSC limits for the listed AFA 
catcher/processors. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(v) authorize NMFS 
to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for listed 
AFA catcher/processors once a 2005 and 2006 proposed PSC limit listed 
in Table 11 is reached.
    Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors 
while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances 
annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka 
mackerel/``other species'' fishery categories according to regulations 
at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv).

    TABLE 11--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES
                                               SIDEBOARD LIMITS\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1995 - 1997
                                   ----------------------------------------------  2005 and 2006   2005 and 2006
            PSC species                                             Ratio of PSC   Proposed PSC    Proposed C/P
                                       PSC catch      Total PSC       catch to     available to      sideboard
                                                                     total PSC     trawl vessels       limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality                   955             11,325         0.084          3,400           286
Red king crab                       3,098           473,750        0.007          182,225         1,276
C. opilio                           2,323,731       15,139,178     0.153          4,023,750       615,634
C. bairdi                           ......          ......         ......         ......          ......
 Zone 1                             385,978         2,750,000      0.140          906,500         126,910
 Zone 2                             406,860         8,100,000      0.050          2,747,250       137,363
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits

    According to regulations at Sec.  679.64(b), the Regional 
Administrator restricts the ability of AFA catcher vessels 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. Regulations at Sec.  679.64(b) establish formulas for 
setting AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the 
BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in 
the final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 
December 30, 2002). Tables 12 and 13 list the 2005 and 2006 proposed 
catcher vessel sideboard limits.
    All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch, will 
be deducted from the 2005 and 2006 proposed sideboard limits listed in 
Table 12.

                              TABLE 12--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD LIMITS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    2005                        2006
                                                                                      Ratio of                    Proposed                    Proposed
                                                Fishery by area/season/processor/     1995-1997       2005         catcher        2006         catcher
                   Species                                     gear                 AFA CV catch    Proposed       vessel       Proposed       vessel
                                                                                    to 1995-1997   initial TAC    sideboard    initial TAC    sideboard
                                                                                         TAC                       limits                      limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                                    BSAI                                      ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jig gear                                 0.0000         3,671             0         3,664             0
                                                Hook-and-line CV                         ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jan 1 - Jun 10                           0.0006           167             0           167             0
                                                Jun 10 - Dec 31                          0.0006           112             0           112             0
                                                Pot gear CV                              ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jan 1 - Jun 10                           0.0006         8,380             5         8,363             5
                                                Sept 1 - Dec 31                          0.0006         5,587             3         5,575             3
                                                CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-and-         0.0006         1,304             1         1,301             1
                                                line or pot gear
                                                Trawl gear CV                            ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jan 20 - Apr 1                           0.8609        30,195        25,995        30,132        25,941
                                                Apr 1 - Jun 10                           0.8609         4,314         3,323         4,305         3,316
                                                Jun 10 - Nov 1                           0.8609         8,627         6,645         8,609         6,632
Sablefish                                      BS trawl gear                             0.0906         1,028            93           952            86
                                               AI trawl gear                             0.0645           593            38           550            35
Atka mackerel                                  Eastern AI/BS                             ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jig gear                                 0.0031            96             0            96             0
                                                Other gear                               ......        ......        ......        ......        ......

[[Page 70989]]

 
                                                Jan 1 - Apr 15                           0.0032         4,729            15         4,729            15
                                                Sept 1 - Nov 1                           0.0032         4,729            15         4,729            15
                                               Central AI                                ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jan - Apr 15                             0.0001        13,218             1        13,218             1
                                                HLA limit                                0.0001         7,931             1         7,931             1
                                                Sept 1 - Nov 1                           0.0001        13,218             1        13,218             1
                                                HLA limit                                0.0001         7,931             1         7,931             1
                                               Western AI                                ......        ......        ......        ......        ......
                                                Jan - Apr 15                             0.0000         8,781             0         8,781             0
                                                HLA limit                                ......         5,269             0         5,269             0
                                                Sept 1 - Nov 1                           0.0000         8,781             0         8,781             0
                                                HLA limit                                ......         5,269             0         5,269             0
Yellowfin sole                                 BSAI                                      0.0647        73,164         4,734        73,164         4,734
Rock sole                                      BSAI                                      0.0341        35,233         1,201        34,850         1,188
Greenland Turbot                               BS                                        0.0645         2,295           148         2,295           148
                                               AI                                        0.0205           680            14           680            14
Arrowtooth flounder                            BSAI                                      0.0690        10,200           704        10,200           704
Alaska plaice                                  BSAI                                      0.0441         8,500           375         8,500           375
Other flatfish                                 BSAI                                      0.0441         2,550           112         2,550           112
Pacific ocean perch                            BS                                        0.1000         1,635           164         1,655           166
                                               Eastern AI                                0.0077         2,369            18         2,369            18
                                               Central AI                                0.0025         2,257             6         2,286             6
                                               Western AI                                0.0000         3,957             0         4,006             0
Northern rockfish                              BSAI                                      0.0084         4,250            36         4,250            36
Shortraker rockfish                            BSAI                                      0.0037           447             2           447             2
Rougheye rockfish                              BSAI                                      0.0037           166             1           166             1
Other rockfish                                 BS                                        0.0048           391             2           391             2
                                               AI                                        0.0095           539             5           539             5
Squid                                          BSAI                                      0.3827         1,084           415         1,084           415
Other species                                  BSAI                                      0.0541        23,124         1,251        23,124         1,251
Flathead Sole                                  BS trawl gear                             0.0505        16,150           816        16,150           816
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The AFA catcher vessel PSC limits for halibut and crab species in 
the BSAI for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established will be a 
portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained 
groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category 
from 1995 through 1997 relative to the retained catch of all vessels in 
that fishery from 1995 through 1997. Table 13 lists the 2005 and 2006 
proposed PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels.
    Halibut and crab PSC caught by AFA catcher vessels participating in 
any fishery for groundfish other than pollock listed in Table 13 will 
accrue against the 2005 and 2006 proposed PSC sideboard limits for the 
AFA catcher vessels. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) 
provide authority to close directed fishing for groundfish other than 
pollock for AFA catcher vessels once a 2005 and 2006 proposed PSC 
sideboard limit listed in Table 13 is reached. The PSC by AFA catcher 
vessels, 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 Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv).

TABLE 13--2005 AND 2006 PROPOSED AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD LIMITS
                                                 FOR THE BSAI\1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Ratio of 1995-                  2005 and 2006
                                                                     1997 AFA CV   2005 and 2006   Proposed AFA
           PSC species               Target fishery category\2\    retained catch   Proposed PSC  catcher vessel
                                                                      to total         limit       PSC sideboard
                                                                   retained catch                      limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut                            Pacific cod trawl               0.6183          1,434          887

[[Page 70990]]

 
                                   Pacific cod hook-and-line or    0.0022          775            2
                                    pot
                                   Yellowfin sole                  0.1144          886            101
                                   Rock sole/flathead sole/other   0.2841          779            221
                                    flatfish\5\
                                   Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish     0.2327          0              0
                                   Rockfish (July 1 - December     0.0245          69             2
                                    31)
                                   Pollock/Atka mackerel/other     0.0227          232            5
                                    species
                                   ..............................  ..............  .............  ..............
Red King Crab                      Pacific cod                     0.6183          26,563         16,424
Zone 1\4\                          Yellowfin sole                  0.1144          33,843         3,872
                                   Rock sole/flathead sole/other   0.2841          121,413        34,493
                                    flatfish\5\
                                   Pollock/Atka mackerel/other     0.0227          406            9
                                    species
                                   ..............................  ..............  .............  ..............
C. opilio                          Pacific cod                     0.6183          124,736        77,124
COBLZ\3\                           Yellowfin sole                  0.1144          2,776,981      317,687
                                   Rock sole/flathead sole/other   0.2841          969,130        275,330
                                    flatfish\5\
                                   Pollock/Atka mackerel/other     0.0227          72,428         1,644
                                    species
                                   Rockfish                        0.0245          40,237         986
                                   Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish     0.2327          40,238         9,363
                                   ..............................  ..............  .............  ..............
C. bairdi                          Pacific cod                     0.6183          183,112        113,218
Zone 1                             Yellowfin sole                  0.1144          340,844        38,993
                                   Rock sole/flathead sole/other   0.2841          365,320        103,787
                                    flatfish\5\
                                   Pollock/Atka mackerel/other     0.0227          17,224         391
                                    species
                                   ..............................  ..............  .............  ..............
C. bairdi                          Pacific cod                     0.6183          324,176        200,438
Zone 2                             Yellowfin sole                  0.1144          1,788,459      204,600
                                   Rock sole/flathead sole/other   0.2841          596,154        169,367
                                    flatfish\5\
                                   Pollock/Atka mackerel/other     0.0227          27,473         624
                                    species
                                   Rockfish                        0.0245          10,988         269
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.
\4\In October 2004, the Council recommended that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
  limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery
  category (see Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder.

Classification

    NMFS has determined that the proposed specifications are consistent 
with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed 
specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable laws.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    An IRFA was prepared to evaluate the impacts of the 2005 and 2006 
proposed harvest specifications on directly regulated small entities. 
This IRFA is intended to meet the statutory requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The reason for the action, a 
statement of the objective of the action and the legal basis are 
discussed in the preamble and are not repeated here.
    The 2005 and 2006 harvest specifications establish harvest limits 
for the groundfish species and species groups in the BSAI. This action 
is necessary to allow fishing in 2005 and 2006. About 807 small catcher 
vessels, 23 small catcher/processors, and 6 small private non-profit 
CDQ groups may be directed regulated by these specifications.
    The IRFA examined the impacts of the preferred alternative on small 
entities within fisheries defined by the harvest of species groups 
whose TACs might be affected by the specifications. The IRFA identified 
adverse impacts on small fishing operations harvesting for sablefish 
and Pacific ocean perch and on CDQ groups in the BSAI.
    In the BSAI, 36 small Pacific ocean perch catcher vessels and 
catcher-processors, with average gross revenues of $1.8 million, would 
have a gross revenue reduction of a maximum of \1/3\ of 1 percent; 63 
small sablefish catcher vessels and catcher-processors, with average 
gross revenues of about $700,000, would have gross revenue reductions 
of a maximum of 6 percent; and the 6 CDQ groups, with estimated average 
2004 gross revenues of about $19.5 million, would have gross revenue 
reductions of \2/10\ of a percent.
    Please refer to the IRFA for a fuller explanation of impacts on 
small entities. A copy of the IRFA is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).
    This regulation does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements on the regulated small entities. This analysis did not 
reveal any Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed action.
    This analysis examined four alternatives to the preferred 
alternative. These included alternatives that set TACs to produce 
fishing rates equal to maxF<INF>ABC</INF>, \1/2\maxF<INF>ABC</INF>, the 
recent 5 year average F, and zero. Only one of these alternatives, 
setting TACs to produce fishing rates of maxF<INF>ABC</INF>, would 
potentially have a smaller adverse

[[Page 70991]]

impact on small entities than the preferred alternative. This 
alternative is associated with larger gross revenues for the BSAI 
fisheries. Many of the vessels identified above would share in these 
gross revenues. However, the maxF<INF>ABC</INF> is a fishing rate which 
may, and often does, exceed biologically recommended ABCs. For the 
sablefish and Pacific ocean perch fisheries described above, the 
preferred alternative, which produces fishing rates less than 
maxF<INF>ABC</INF>, sets TACs equal to projected annual ABCs. In 
addition, the preferred alternative TACs for ``other rockfish'' in the 
Aleutian Islands subarea, rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish, 
also equals the ABC. The increases in TACs related to producing fishing 
rates of maxF<INF>ABC</INF> would not be consistent with biologically 
prudent fishery management because they do not fall within the 
scientifically determined ABC.

    Authority: Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 
3631 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); Pub. L. 105 277, Title II of 
Division C; Pub L. 106 31, Sec. 3027; Pub L. 106 554, Sec. 209; and 
Pub. L. 108-199, Sec. 803.

    Dated: December 3, 2004.
William T. Hogarth
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 04-26952 Filed 12-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S


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