[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76870-76883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27735]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 041202338-4338-01; I.D. 112204B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Management Area; 2005 Interim Harvest 
Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Temporary rule; interim specifications.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues 2005 interim total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and 
sideboard limits, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and 
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fisheries of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The 
intended effect is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in 
the BSAI.

DATES: The interim harvest specifications are effective from 0001 
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2005, until the effective 
date of the 2005 final harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish, 
which will be published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for 
this action are available from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at 
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. The final 2003 Stock Assessment and Fishery 
Evaluation (SAFE) report, dated November 2003, and the final 2004 SAFE 
report, dated November 2004, are available from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 
99510-2252, telephone (907) 271-2809, or from its Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228, or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#650804171c4b031017100b001616250b0a04044b020a13"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afc2ceddd681c9dadddac1cadcdcefc1c0cece81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implementing the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (FMP) govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP, 
and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). General regulations that 
also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 
600.
    The Council met in October 2004 to review scientific information 
concerning groundfish stocks, including the 2003 SAFE report and the EA 
(see ADDRESSES), and to recommend 2005 proposed harvest specifications. 
The Council recommended a proposed total acceptable biological catch 
(ABC) of 3,345,963 metric tons (mt) and a proposed total TAC of 
2,000,000 mt for the 2005 fishing year. The proposed TAC amounts for 
each species were based on the best available biological and 
socioeconomic information.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(1), NMFS published in the Federal Register 
the 2005 proposed harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish (December 
8, 2004, 69 FR 70974). That document contains a detailed discussion of 
the 2005 proposed TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and related 
apportionments, CDQ reserves, ABC amounts, overfishing levels, PSC 
allowances, PSQ reserve amounts, and associated management measures of 
the BSAI groundfish fishery.
    This action provides interim harvest specifications and 
apportionments thereof for the 2005 fishing year that will become 
available on January 1, 2005, and will remain in effect until 
superseded by the 2005 final harvest specifications. Background 
information concerning the 2005 harvest specification process on which 
this interim action is based is provided in the above mentioned 
proposed harvest specification document.

Establishment of Interim TACs

    Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that 15 percent of the TAC for 
each target species and species group, except for pollock and the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a non-
specified reserve. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by 
requiring that the TAC for this species be fully allocated among the 
CDQ program, incidental catch allowance (ICA), and inshore, catcher/
processor, and mothership directed fishery allowances. Section 803 of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 (CAA), Public Law (Pub. L.) 
108-199, supersedes portions of the AFA and allocates the AI directed 
pollock fishery (DPF) to the Aleut Corporation after subtraction for 
the CDQ directed fishing allowance and ICA. Amendment 82 to the FMP 
would establish the management measures for the AI DPF. The proposed 
rule to implement Amendment 82 was published in the Federal Register 
for public comment and review on December 7, 2004 (69 FR 70589). If 
Amendment 82 is approved, final regulations implementing Amendment 82 
are anticipated to be effective by March 2005.
    Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) requires that one half of each TAC amount 
placed in the non-specified reserve, with the exception of squid, be 
allocated to the groundfish CDQ reserve and that 20 percent of the 
hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the 
fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 
679.31(a)(2) require that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be allocated to 
the pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hook-and-line and 
pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the CDQ reserves are not further 
apportioned by gear. Section 679.21(e)(1)(i) also

[[Page 76871]]

requires that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with the exception of 
herring, be withheld as a PSQ reserve for the CDQ fisheries. 
Regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves are 
set forth at Sec. Sec.  679.30 and 679.31.
    Section 679.20(c)(2) requires interim harvest specifications to be 
effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, and remain in effect until 
superseded by the final harvest specifications. Section 
679.20(c)(2)(ii) provides that the interim harvest specifications will 
be established as one-fourth of each proposed ITAC amount and 
apportionment thereof (not including pollock, Pacific cod, Atka 
mackerel, and the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish), 
one-fourth of each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance established 
at Sec.  679.21, and the proposed first seasonal allowance of pollock, 
Pacific cod and Atka mackerel TAC. As stated in the proposed harvest 
specifications (69 FR 70974), no harvest of groundfish is authorized 
before the effective date of this action implementing the interim 
harvest specifications.

2005 Interim BSAI Harvest Specifications

    Table 1 provides interim TAC and CDQ amounts and apportionments. 
Section 679.20(c)(2)(ii) does not provide for an interim harvest 
specification for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocations of 
sablefish for the CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed under the 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. As a result, directed fishing 
for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocations of CDQ sablefish and IFQ 
sablefish is prohibited until the effective date of the 2005 final 
harvest specifications.
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Interim Allocation of PSC Limits for Crab, Halibut, and Herring

    Under Sec.  679.21(e), annual PSC limits are specified for red king 
crab, Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab, and C. opilio crab in applicable 
Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec.  679.2) of the Bering Sea subarea, 
and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI. 
Section 679.21(e) authorizes the apportionment of each PSC limit into 
PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. Under Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for halibut, 
crab, and salmon is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the 
groundfish CDQ program.
    Section 679.20(c)(2)(ii) provides that one-fourth of each proposed 
PSQ reserve and PSC allowance be made available on an interim basis for 
harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until superseded by the 
final harvest specifications. Table 2 lists the PSQ reserves and 
fishery specific interim PSC allowances for halibut and crab effective 
at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2005.

[[Page 76875]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR23DE04.034

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

Directed Fishing Closures

    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator, 
NMFS, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) determines that any 
allocation or apportionment of a target species or ``other species'' 
category has been or will be reached, the Regional Administrator may 
establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species 
group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing 
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of 
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species 
or species group in the specified subarea or district (Sec.  
697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, under regulations at Sec.  679.21(e), if 
the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch 
allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab or C. opilio crab 
for a specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will 
prohibit directed fishing for each species in that category in the 
specified area.
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining 
allocation amounts in Table 3 will be necessary as incidental catch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2005 fishing 
year.

[[Page 76876]]



      Table 3.--2005 Interim Directed Fishing Closures for the BSAI
                      [Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Incidental
               Area                      Species\1\            catch
                                                             allowance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Bogoslof District
                                    Pollock.............              50
Aleutian Islands subarea:
                                    Non-CDQ Pollock.....           1,200
                                    ``Other rockfish''..             135
        Bering Sea subarea
                                    Pacific ocean perch.             409
                                    ``Other rockfish''..              98
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
                                    Northern rockfish...           1,063
                                    CDQ Northern                      94
                                     rockfish.
                                    ``Other species''...           5,781
                                    CDQ ``Other                      510
                                     species''.
                                    Rougheye rockfish...              42
                                    CDQ Rougheye                       4
                                     rockfish.
                                    Shortraker rockfish.             112
                                    CDQ Shortraker                   10
                                     rockfish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Closures do not include CDQ fisheries unless stated.

    Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the 
Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for 
the above species or species groups as zero.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 
immediately prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the 
specified areas in Table 3. These closures will remain in effect from 
0001 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2005, until superseded by the 2005 final 
harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish or for the AI DPF on the 
approval of Amendment 82 and the effective date of its implementing 
regulations.
    In addition, the BSAI Zone 1 annual red king crab allowance 
specified for the trawl rockfish fishery (see Sec.  
679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D)) is 0 mt and the BSAI first seasonal halibut 
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery is 0 mt. The 
BSAI annual halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl Greenland 
turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish fishery categories is 0 mt (see 
Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv)(C)). Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.21(e)(7)(ii) and (v), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
rockfish by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1 of the BSAI and directed 
fishing for Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels 
using trawl gear in the BSAI from 0001 hrs., A.l.t., January 1, 2005, 
until superseded by the final 2005 harvest specifications for BSAI 
groundfish. NMFS is also prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish 
outside Zone 1 in the BSAI until 1200 hrs, A.l.t, July 1, 2005.
    While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts 
at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. 
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Areas are defined 
in Sec.  679.2. In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and 
Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, shortraker, 
rougheye, and northern rockfish.

Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations

    Section 679.4(1) sets forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher 
vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative 
fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. Table 4 lists the 
interim pollock allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock 
cooperatives for 2005. Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not 
participating in cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because 
the CAA requires the non-CDQ directed pollock fishery to be fully 
allocated to the Aleut Corporation.

[[Page 76877]]



                    Table 4.--2005 Interim Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Sum of member vessel's
 Cooperative name and member vessels        official catch       Percentage of inshore         2005 Interim
                                             histories\1\          sector allocation      cooperative allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association....                  245,922                   28.130                   72,044
    ALDEBARAN, ARCTIC EXPLORER,
     ARCTURUS, BLUE FOX, CAPE
     KIWANDA, COLUMBIA, DOMINATOR,
     EXODUS, FLYING CLOUD, GOLDEN
     DAWN, GOLDEN PISCES, HAZEL
     LORRAINE, INTREPID EXPLORER,
     LESLIE LEE, LISA MELINDA,
     MAJESTY, MARCY J, MARGARET LYN,
     MARK I, NORDIC EXPLORER,
     NORTHERN PATRIOT, NORTHWEST
     EXPLORER, PACIFIC RAM, PACIFIC
     VIKING, PEGASUS, PEGGY JO,
     PERSEVERANCE, PREDATOR, RAVEN,
     ROYAL AMERICAN, SEEKER,
     SOVEREIGNTY, TRAVELER, VIKING
     EXPLORER
Arctic Enterprise Association
    BRISTOL EXPLORER, OCEAN EXPLORER,                   36,807                    4.210                   10,783
     PACIFIC EXPLORER
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative....
    ANITA J, COLLIER BROTHERS,                          73,656                    8.425                   21,578
     COMMODORE, EXCALIBUR II,
     GOLDRUSH, HALF MOON BAY, MISS
     BERDIE, NORDIC FURY, PACIFIC
     FURY, POSEIDON, ROYAL ATLANTIC,
     SUNSET BAY, STORM PETREL
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative..........
    AJ, AMBER DAWN, AMERICAN BEAUTY,                    23,850                    2.728                    6,987
     ELIZABETH F, MORNING STAR, OCEAN
     LEADER, OCEANIC, PACIFIC
     CHALLENGER, PROVIDIAN, TOPAZ,
     WALTER N
Unalaska Cooperative.................
    ALASKA ROSE, BERING ROSE,                          106,737                   12.209                   31,269
     DESTINATION, GREAT PACIFIC,
     MESSIAH, MORNING STAR, MS AMY,
     PROGRESS, SEA WOLF, VANGUARD,
     WESTERN DAWN
UniSea Fleet Cooperative.............
    ALSEA, AMERICAN EAGLE, ARGOSY,                     213,521                   24.424                   62,552
     AURIGA, AURORA, DEFENDER, GUN-
     MAR, MAR-GUN, NORDIC STAR,
     PACIFIC MONARCH, SEADAWN,
     STARFISH, STARLITE, STARWARD
Westward Fleet Cooperative...........
    ALASKAN COMMAND, ALYESKA, ARCTIC                   173,744                   19.874                   50,899
     WIND, CAITLIN ANN, CHELSEA K,
     DONA MARTITA, FIERCE ALLEGIANCE,
     HICKORY WIND, OCEAN HOPE 3,
     PACIFIC KNIGHT, PACIFIC PRINCE,
     VIKING, WESTWARD I
Open access AFA vessels..............                        0                        0                        0
                                      --------------------------
    Total inshore allocation.........                  874,238                      100                  256,112
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\According to regulations at Sec.   679.62(e)(1) the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the
  vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/
  processors for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.

    In accordance with regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(3), NMFS 
must further divide the inshore allocation into separate allocations 
for cooperative and open access fishing. In addition, according to 
regulations at Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish harvest 
limits inside the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) and provide 
a set-aside so that catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 
m) LOA have the opportunity to operate entirely within the SCA until 
April 1. Accordingly, Table 5 lists the interim Bering Sea subarea 
pollock allocations to the inshore cooperative and open access sectors 
and establishes a cooperative sector SCA set-aside for AFA catcher 
vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set-aside for 
catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA that are not 
participating in a cooperative will be established inseason based on 
actual participation levels and is not included in Table 5.

  Table 5.--2005 Interim Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the
   Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the Inshore Pollock Fishery
                      [Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                A season
                                                                   SCA
                                             A season TAC        harvest
                                                                limit\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Cooperative sector
    Vessels > 99 ft...................  n/a...................   153,969
    Vessels <= 99 ft..................  n/a...................    25,309
                                       -------------------------
        Total.........................  256,112...............   179,278

[[Page 76878]]

 
    Open access sector................  0.....................     0 \2\
                                       -------------------------
        Total inshore.................  256,112...............  179,278
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) is established at Sec.
   679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\2\ SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are
  not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason
  basis in accordance with Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2) which
  specifies that ``'the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed
  fishing for pollock by vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA,
  catching pollock for processing by the inshore component before
  reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before April 1 to accommodate
  fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA
  until April 1.''

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

    The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the 
final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 
December 30, 2002). Table 6 lists the 2005 interim catcher/processor 
sideboard limits.
    All groundfish, other than pollock, that is harvested by listed AFA 
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch, 
will be deducted from the interim sideboard limits in Table 6. However, 
groundfish, other than pollock, that is delivered to listed catcher/
processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2005 
interim sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.

                                  Table 6.--2005 Interim BSAI Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  1995-1997
                                                          ---------------------------------------------------------  2005 Interim TAC
          Target species                     Area                                                Ratio of retained     available to     2005 Interim C/P
                                                             Retained catch      Total catch       catch to total       trawl C/Ps      sideboard limit
                                                                                                       catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl.................  BSAI.................             12,424             48,177              0.258             21,568              5,565
Sablefish trawl...................  BS...................                  8                497              0.016                257                  4
                                    AI...................                  0                145              0.000                148                  0
Atka mackerel.....................  Western AI...........  .................  .................  .................  .................  .................
                                      A season\1\                        n/a                n/a              0.200              8,781              1,756
                                      HLA limit \2\        .................  .................  .................              5,268              1,054
                                    Central AI...........  .................  .................  .................  .................  .................
                                      A season\1\                        n/a                n/a              0.115             13,218              1,520
                                      HLA limit \2\        .................  .................  .................              7,931                912
Yellowfin sole....................  BSAI.................            100,192            435,788              0,230             18,291              4,207
Rock sole.........................  BSAI.................              6,317            169,362              0.037              8,808                326
Greenland turbot..................  BS...................                121             17,305              0.007                574                  4
                                    AI...................                 23              4,987              0.005                170                  1
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI.................                 76             33,987              0.002              2,550                  5
Flathead sole.....................  BSAI.................              1,925             52,755              0.036              4,038                145
Alaska plaice.....................  BSAI.................                 14              9,438              0.001              2,125                  2
Other flatfish....................  BSAI.................              3,058             52,298              0.058                638                 37
Pacific ocean perch...............  BS...................                 12              4,879              0.002                409                  1
                                    Western AI...........                 54             13,598              0.004                989                  4
                                    Central AI...........                  3              5,698              0.001                564                  1
                                    Estern AI............                125              6,179              0.020                592                 12
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI.................                 91             13,040              0.007              1,063                  7
Shortraker rockfish...............  BSAI.................                 50              2,811              0.018                112                  2
Rougheye rockfish.................  BSAI.................                 50              2,811              0.018                 42                  1
Other rockfish....................  BS...................                 18                621              0.029                 98                  3
                                    AI...................                 22                806              0.027                135                  4
Squid.............................  BSAI.................                 73              3,328              0.022                271                  6
Other species.....................  BSAI.................                553             68,672              0.008              5,781                46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
  catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the available
  TAC in the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the available TAC in the Central Aleutian District.
\2\HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.   679.2). In 2005, 60 percent of each
  seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the
  Aleutian Islands HLA, west of 178 degrees W. long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries.

    Section 679.64(a)(5) establishes a formula for PSC sideboard limits 
for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are equivalent to the 
percentage of PSC amounts taken in the groundfish fisheries other than 
pollock by the AFA catcher/processors listed in subsection 208(e) and 
section 209 of the AFA from 1995 through 1997 (see Table 7). These 
amounts were used to calculate the relative amount of PSC that was 
caught by pollock catcher/processors. That relative amount of PSC was 
then used to determine the PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/
processors in the 2005 interim fisheries for groundfish other than 
pollock.
    PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating 
in any groundfish fishery other than pollock listed in Table 7 will 
accrue against the interim 2005 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA 
catcher/processors.

[[Page 76879]]

Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for 
groundfish, other than pollock, for listed AFA catcher/processors once 
a 2005 interim PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 7 is reached.
    Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors 
while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances 
annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka 
mackerel/ ``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at 
Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv).

        Table 7.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1995--1997
                                 ------------------------------------------------  2005 Interim   2005 Interim C/
           PSC species                                             Ratio of PSC    PSC available    P sideboard
                                     PSC catch       Total PSC    catch to total   to trawl C/Ps       limit
                                                                        PSC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality...............             955          11,325           0.084             850              71
Red king crab...................           3,098         473,750           0.007          45,556             319
C. opilio \2\...................       2,323,731      15,139,178           0.153       1,005,938         153,908
C. bairdi.......................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
Zone 1..........................         385,978       2,750,000           0,140         226,625          31,728
Zone 2..........................         406,860       8,100,000           0.050         686,813         34,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut mortality amounts are in mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards Limits

    Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting AFA catcher 
vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for 
these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule 
implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 
2002). Tables 8 and 9 list the 2005 interim AFA catcher vessel 
sideboard limits.
    All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the interim sideboard limits listed in Table 8.
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BILLING CODE 3510-22-C
    The AFA catcher vessel PSC limit for halibut and each crab species 
in the BSAI, for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established, will 
be a portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained 
groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category 
from 1995 through 1997, relative to the retained catch of all vessels 
in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. Table 9 lists the 2005 interim 
PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels.
    Halibut and crab PSC that are caught by AFA catcher vessels 
participating in fisheries for groundfish, other than pollock, listed 
in Table 9 will accrue against the 2005 interim PSC sideboard limits 
for AFA catcher vessels. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) provide 
authority to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock 
for AFA catcher vessels once an 2005 interim PSC sideboard limit for 
the BSAI listed in Table 9 is reached. PSC that is caught by AFA 
catcher vessels, while fishing for pollock in the BSAI, will accrue 
against either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(3)(iv).

          Table 9.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Ratio of
                                                                            1995-1997                    2005
                                                                              AFA CV                 Interim AFA
                                                                             retained       2005       catcher
               PSC species                  Target fishery category \2\      catch to   Interim PSC   vessel PSC
                                                                              total        limit      sideboard
                                                                             retained                   limit
                                                                              catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut.................................  Pacific cod trawl..............       0.6183          359          222
                                          Pacific cod hook-and-line or          0.0022          194            0
                                           pot.
                                          Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144          222           25
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841          195           55
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish....       0.2327            0            0
                                          Rockfish (July 1-December 31)..       0.0245           17            0
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/other           0.0227           58            1
                                           species.
Red King Crab...........................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183        6,641        4,106
    Zone 1 \4\..........................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144        8,461          968
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841       30,353        8,623
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/other           0.0227          102            2
                                           species.
C. opilio...............................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       31,184       19,281
    COBLZ \3\...........................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144      694,245       79,422
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841      242,283       68,833
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/other           0.0227       18,107          411
                                           species.
                                          Rockfish.......................       0.0245       10,059          246
                                          Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish....       0.2327       10,060        2,341
C. bairdi...............................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       45,778       28,305
    Zone 1..............................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144       85,211        9,748
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841       91,330       25,947
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/other           0.0227        4,306           98
                                           species.
C. bairdi...............................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       81,044       50,110
    Zone 2..............................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144      447,115       51,150
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841      149,039       42,342
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/other           0.0227        6,868          156
                                           species.

[[Page 76882]]

 
                                          Rockfish.......................       0.0245        2,747          67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut mortality amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.
\4\ In October 2004, the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the Red
  King Crab Savings Subarea be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/
  ``other flatfish'' fishery category (Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder.

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limit Directed 
Fishing Closures

    The Regional Administrator has determined that many of the interim 
AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in 
Table 10 and 11 are necessary as incidental catch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2005 fishing year. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator 
establishes the directed fishing allowances for the below species or 
species groups as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by AFA catcher/
processors for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 10 
and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels for the species 
in the specified areas set out in Table 11.

     Table 10.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limit Directed Fishing Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Incidental
                 Species                             Area                     Gear types               catch
                                                                                                     allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl.........................  BS........................  Trawl.....................               4
                                          AI........................  Trawl.....................               0
Rock sole...............................  BSAI......................  all.......................             326
Greenland turbot........................  BS........................  all.......................               4
                                          AI........................  all.......................               1
Arrowtooth flounder.....................  BSAI......................  all.......................               5
Alaska plaice...........................  BSAI......................  all.......................               2
Pacific ocean perch.....................  BS........................  all.......................               1
                                          Western AI................  all.......................               4
                                          Central AI................  all.......................               1
                                          Eastern AI................  all.......................              12
Northern rockfish.......................  BSAI......................  all.......................               7
Shortraker rockfish.....................  BSAI......................  all.......................               2
Rougheye rockfish.......................  BSAI......................  all.......................               1
Other rockfish..........................  BS........................  all.......................               3
                                          AI........................  all.......................               4
Squid...................................  BSAI......................  all.......................               6
Other species...........................  BSAI......................  all.......................             46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.


          Table 11.--2005 Interim BSAI AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limit Directed Fishing Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Incidental
                 Species                             Area                        Gear                  catch
                                                                                                     allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.............................  BSAI......................  hook-and-line.............               0
                                          BSAI......................  pot.......................               5
                                          BSAI......................  jig.......................               0
Sablefish...............................  BS........................  trawl.....................              23
                                          AI........................  trawl.....................              10
Atka mackerel...........................  Eastern AI/BS.............  jig.......................               0
                                          Eastern AI/BS.............  other.....................              15
                                          Central AI................  all.......................               1
                                          Western AI................  all.......................               0
Greenland Turbot........................  BS........................  all.......................              37
                                          AI........................  all.......................               3
Arrowtooth flounder.....................  BSAI......................  all.......................             176

[[Page 76883]]

 
Pacific ocean perch.....................  BS........................  all.......................              41
                                          Western AI................  all.......................               0
                                          Central AI................  all.......................               1
                                          Eastern AI................  all.......................               8
Northern rockfish.......................  BSAI......................  all.......................               9
Shortraker rockfish.....................  BSAI......................  all.......................               0
Rougheye rockfish.......................  BSAI......................  all.......................               0
Other rockfish..........................  BS........................  all.......................               0
                                          AI........................  all.......................               1
Squid...................................  BSAI......................  all.......................             104
Other species...........................  BSAI......................  all.......................            313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    Because this action is a final action by NMFS, analyses required 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act must be completed and considered by the 
agency before promulgation of the interim harvest specifications.
    Section 679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to specify harvest 
specifications to be effective January 1 and to remain in effect until 
superceded by the final harvest specifications. Without interim harvest 
specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would 
not be able to open, resulting in disruption within the fishing 
industry. NMFS cannot publish interim harvest specifications until 
proposed harvest specifications are completed because the interim 
harvest specifications are derived from the proposed harvest 
specifications, as required by regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2).
    The proposed harvest specifications are based on the preliminary 
recommendations of the Plan Team, which were reviewed by the Scientific 
and Statistical Committee, and Council in October 2004, in projecting 
2005 biomass amounts, as identified in the 2003 SAFE Report, for the 
2005 proposed ABC, overfishing levels, and TAC amounts. The Plan Team 
recommendations incorporate the most current data available from a 
number of sources, including current-year industry catch levels, and 
current-year trawl and hydro-acoustic surveys. These data are not 
available in time for Council review prior to the October Council 
meeting, as the surveys are conducted during the summer months, and 
industry catch levels reflect current year activity. These updated data 
sources represent the best available scientific information. These data 
provide the basis for the proposed and interim harvest specifications.
    The proposed harvest specifications, as required by Sec.  
679.20(c)(1)(i)(A), must be published as soon as practicable after 
consultation with the Council, which occurs at the Council's October 
meeting. Because the interim harvest specifications are derived from 
the proposed harvest specifications, the proposed harvest 
specifications publication requirement, along with the requirement of 
National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to use the best 
scientific information available, prevents NMFS from publishing the 
interim harvest specifications in sufficient time to have a public 
comment period and to have the interim harvest specifications effective 
on January 1.
    As stated above, disruption to the fishing industry and consequent 
impacts to fishing communities and to the public would occur if the 
interim harvest specifications were not effective January 1. 
Additionally, the public is provided an opportunity to comment on the 
proposed harvest specifications, from which the interim harvest 
specifications are derived. For these reasons, good cause exists under 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment on this action as such procedures would be impracticable and 
contrary to the public interest.
    Likewise, the Assistant Administrator finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delay in effectiveness date of the interim harvest 
specifications. Section 679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to establish interim 
harvest specifications to be effective on January 1 and to remain in 
effect until superseded by the publication of final harvest 
specifications by the Office of the Federal Register. NMFS interprets 
Sec.  679.20(c)(2) as requiring the filing of interim harvest 
specifications with the Office of the Federal Register before any 
harvest of groundfish is authorized. The interim harvest specifications 
are based on the 2005 proposed harvest specifications.
    The interim harvest specifications rely on data used to propose the 
2005 harvest specifications, and those data are not available until 
after the summer surveys are conducted (see above). Without interim 
harvest specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries 
would not be able to open on that date, resulting in disruption to the 
fishing industry. These reasons constitute good cause pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness date.
    Because these interim harvest specifications are not required to be 
issued with prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to 
5 U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. Consequently, no regulatory 
flexibility analysis has been prepared for this action.

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

    Dated: December 15, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 04-27735 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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