Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 82447 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: December 15, 2020. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27971 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA593] 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone off Alaska; North Pacific 

Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel 

Prices 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notification of standard exvessel prices. 

SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard exvessel prices for groundfish and halibut 

for the calculation of the observer fee 

under the North Pacific Observer 

Program (Observer Program). This 

notice is intended to provide 

information to vessel owners, 

processors, registered buyers, and other 

Observer Program participants about the 

standard ex-vessel prices that will be 

used to calculate the observer fee for 

landings of groundfish and halibut 

made in 2021. NMFS will send invoices 

to processors and registered buyers 

subject to the fee by January 15, 2022. 

Fees are due to NMFS on or before 

February 15, 2022. 

DATES: The standard prices are valid on 

January 1, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

general questions about the observer fee 

and standard ex-vessel prices, contact 

Abby Jahn at (907)586–7445. For 

questions about the fee billing process, 

contact Charmaine Weeks at (907)586– 

7231. Additional information about the 

Observer Program is available on NMFS 

Alaska Region’s website at https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/ 

fisheries-observers/north-pacificobserver-program. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Regulations at 50 CFR part 679, 

subpart E, governing the Observer 

Program, require the deployment of 

NMFS-certified observers (observers) 

and electronic monitoring (EM) systems 

to collect information necessary for the 

conservation and management of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) 

and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) groundfish 

and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers 

use information collected by observers 

to monitor quotas, manage groundfish 

and prohibited species catch, and 

document and reduce fishery 

interactions with protected resources. 

Scientists use observer-collected 

information for stock assessments and 

marine ecosystem research. 

The Observer Program includes two 

observer coverage categories: the partial 

coverage category and the full coverage 

category. All groundfish and halibut 

vessels and processors subject to 

observer coverage are included in one of 

these two categories. Defined at 50 CFR 

679.51, the partial coverage category 

includes vessels and processors that are 

not required to have an observer or EM 

at all times, and the full coverage 

category includes vessels and processors 

required to have all of their fishing and 

processing activity observed. Vessels 

and processors in the full coverage 

category arrange and pay for observer 

services from a permitted observer 

provider. Observer coverage and EM for 

the partial coverage category is funded 

through a system of fees based on the 

ex-vessel value of groundfish and 

halibut. Throughout this notice, the 

term ‘‘processor’’ refers to shoreside 

processors, stationary floating 

processors, and catcher/processors in 

the partial coverage category. 

Landings Subject to Observer Coverage 

Fee 

Pursuant to section 313 of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 

authorized to assess a fee on all landings 

accruing against a Federal total 

allowable catch (TAC) for groundfish or 

a commercial halibut quota made by 

vessels that are subject to Federal 

regulations and not included in the full 

coverage category. A fee is only assessed 

on landings of groundfish from vessels 

designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit 

or from vessels landing individual 

fishing quota (IFQ) or community 

development quota (CDQ) halibut or 

IFQ sablefish. Within the subset of 

vessels subject to the observer fee, only 

landings accruing against an IFQ 

allocation or a Federal TAC for 

groundfish are included in the fee 

assessment. A table with additional 

information about which landings are 

subject to the observer fee is at 

§ 679.55(c) and on page 2 of an 

informational bulletin titled ‘‘Observer 

Fee Collection’’ that can be downloaded 

from the NMFS Alaska Region website 

at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 

resource/document/observer-feecollection-north-pacific-groundfish-andhalibut-fisheries-observer. 

Fee Determination 

A fee equal to 1.65 percent of the exvessel value will be assessed on the 

landings of groundfish and halibut 

subject to the fee beginning on January 

1, 2021. The fee is increased from 1.25 

percent to 1.65 percent to support 

observer and electronic monitoring 

deployment at rates more likely to meet 

the Council’s and NMFS’ monitoring 

objectives (85 FR 41424, July 10, 2020). 

Ex-vessel value is determined by 

multiplying the standard price for 

groundfish by the round weight 

equivalent for each species, gear, and 

port combination, and the standard 

price for halibut by the headed and 

gutted weight equivalent. Standard 

prices are determined by aggregating 

prices by species, gear, and area 

grouping to arrive at an average price 

per pound for each grouping. NMFS 

reviews each vessel landing report and 

determines whether the reported 

landing is subject to the observer fee 

and, if so, which groundfish species in 

the landing are subject to the observer 

fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing 

subject to the observer fee will be 

included in the observer fee calculation. 

For any landed groundfish or halibut 

subject to the observer fee, NMFS will 

apply the appropriate standard ex-vessel 

prices for the species, gear type, and 

port, and calculate the observer fee 

associated with the landing. 

Processors and registered buyers can 

access the landing-specific, observer fee 

information through NMFS Web 

Application (https://

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/ 

login) or eLandings (https://

elandings.alaska.gov/). Observer fee 

information is either available 

immediately or within 24 hours after a 

landing report is submitted 

electronically. A time lag occurs for 

some landings because NMFS must 

process each landing report through the 

catch accounting system to determine 

which groundfish in a landing accrues 

against a Federal TAC and are subject to 

the observer fee. 

Under the fee system, catcher vessel 

owners split the fee with the registered 

buyers or owners of shoreside or 

stationary floating processors. While the 

owners of catcher vessels and 

processors in the partial coverage 

category are each responsible for paying 

their portion of the fee, the owners of 

shoreside or stationary floating 

processors and registered buyers are 

responsible for collecting the fees from 

catcher vessels, and remitting the full 

fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/ 


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82448 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 

processors in the partial coverage 

category are responsible for remitting 

the full fee to NMFS. 

NMFS sends invoices to processors 

and registered buyers by January 15 of 

each calendar year. The total fee amount 

is determined by the sum of the fees 

reported for each landing at that 

processor or registered buyer in the 

prior calendar year. Processors and 

registered buyers must pay the fees to 

NMFS using NMFS Web Application by 

February 15 each year. Processors and 

registered buyers have access to this 

system through a User ID and password 

issued by NMFS. Instructions for 

electronic payment will be provided on 

the NMFS Alaska Region website at 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/

commercial-fishing/observer-feecollection-and-payment-north-pacificgroundfish-and-halibut and on the 

observer fee invoice to be mailed to each 

processor and registered buyer. 

Standard Prices 

This notice provides the standard exvessel prices for groundfish and halibut 

species subject to the observer fee in 

2021. Data sources for ex-vessel prices 

are: 

• For groundfish other than sablefish 

IFQ and sablefish accruing against the 

fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the 

State of Alaska’s Commercial Fishery 

Entry Commission’s (CFEC) gross 

revenue data, which are based on the 

Commercial Operator Annual Report 

(COAR) and Alaska Department of Fish 

and Game (ADF&G) fish tickets; and 

• For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, 

sablefish IFQ, and sablefish accruing 

against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ 

reserve, the IFQ Buyer Report that is 

submitted to NMFS annually by each 

registered buyer that operates as a 

shoreside processor and receives and 

purchases IFQ landings of sablefish and 

halibut or CDQ landings of halibut 

under § 679.5(l)(7)(i). 

The standard prices in this notice 

were calculated using the following 

procedures for protecting confidentiality 

of data submitted to or collected by 

NMFS. NMFS does not publish any 

price information that would permit the 

identification of an individual or 

business. For NMFS to publish a 

standard price for a particular speciesgear-port combination, the price data 

used to calculate the standard price 

must represent landings from at least 

four different vessels to at least three 

different processors in a port or port 

group. Price data that are confidential 

because fewer than four vessels or three 

processors contributed data to a 

particular species-gear-port combination 

have been aggregated. 

Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices 

Table 1 shows the groundfish species 

standard ex-vessel prices that will be 

used to calculate the fee for 2021. These 

prices are based on the CFEC gross 

revenue data, which are based on 

landings data from ADF&G fish tickets 

and information from the COAR. The 

COAR contains statewide buying and 

production information, and is 

considered the most complete routinely 

collected information to determine the 

ex-vessel value of groundfish harvested 

from waters off Alaska. 

The standard ex-vessel prices for 

groundfish were calculated by adding 

ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross 

revenue files for 2017, 2018, and 2019 

by species, port, and gear category, and 

adding the volume (round weight 

equivalent) from the CFEC gross 

revenue files for 2017, 2018, and 2019 

by species, port, and gear category, and 

then dividing total ex-vessel value over 

the three-year period in each category 

by total volume over the three-year 

period in each category. This 

calculation results in an average exvessel price per pound by species, port, 

and gear category for the three-year 

period. Three gear categories were used 

for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1) 

Non-trawl gear, including hook-andline, pot, jig, troll, and others (NonTrawl); (2) non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT); 

and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR). 

CFEC ex-vessel value and volume 

data are available in the fall of the year 

following the year the fishing occurred. 

Thus, it is not possible to base ex-vessel 

fee liabilities on standard prices that are 

less than two years old. For the 2021 

groundfish standard ex-vessel prices, 

the most recent ex-vessel value and 

volume data available are from 2020. 

If a particular groundfish species is 

not listed in Table 1, the standard exvessel price for a species group (if it 

exists in the management area) will be 

used. If price data for a particular 

species remained confidential once 

aggregated to the outside of Alaska 

(ALL) level, data are aggregated by 

species group (Flathead Sole; GOA 

Deep-water Flatfish; GOA Shallowwater Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and 

Other Rockfish). Standard prices for the 

groundfish species groups are shown in 

Table 2. 

If a port-level price does not meet the 

confidentiality requirements, the data 

are aggregated by port group. Port-group 

data for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and 

the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast 

Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented 

separately when price data are available. 

Port-group data are aggregated by 

regulatory area in the GOA (Eastern 

GOA, Central GOA, and Western GOA) 

and by subarea in the BSAI (BS subarea 

and AI subarea). If confidentiality 

requirements are still not met by 

aggregating prices across ports at these 

levels, the prices are aggregated at the 

level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide 

(AK) and ports outside of Alaska 

(OTAK), and finally all ports, including 

those outside of Alaska (ALL). 

Standard prices are presented 

separately for non-pelagic trawl and 

pelagic trawl when non-confidential 

data are available. NMFS also calculated 

prices for a ‘‘Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic 

Trawl Combined’’ (PTR/NPT) category 

that can be used when combining trawl 

price data for landings of a species in a 

particular port or port group will not 

violate confidentiality requirements. 

Creating this standard price category 

allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2021 

landings of some of the species with 

pelagic trawl gear based on a combined 

trawl gear price for the port or port 

group. 

If no standard ex-vessel price is listed 

for a species or species group and gear 

category combination in Table 1, Table 

2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on 

that landing. Volume and value data for 

that species will be added to the 

standard ex-vessel prices in future 

years, if the data become available and 

display of a standard ex-vessel price 

meets confidentiality requirements. 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

Alaska Plaice Flounder (133) ........... Kodiak .............................................. — $0.11 — $0.11 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.11 — 0.11 

GOA ................................................. — 0.11 — 0.11 

AK ..................................................... — 0.11 — 0.11 

ALL ................................................... — 0.11 — 0.11 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 82449 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

Arrowtooth Flounder (121) ................ Kodiak .............................................. — 0.08 $0.08 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.08 0.08 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.08 0.08 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.08 0.08 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.08 0.08 — 

Atka Mackerel (193) .......................... Kodiak .............................................. — 0.17 0.16 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.17 0.16 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.17 0.16 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.17 0.13 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.17 0.13 — 

Black Rockfish (142) ......................... AK ..................................................... $0.52 0.15 — 0.15 

Bocaccio Rockfish (137) ................... SEAK ................................................ 0.46 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.42 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.42 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.42 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.42 — — — 

Butter Sole (126) ............................... Kodiak .............................................. — 0.15 — 0.15 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.15 — 0.15 

GOA ................................................. — 0.15 — 0.15 

AK ..................................................... — 0.15 — 0.15 

ALL ................................................... — 0.15 — 0.15 

Canary Rockfish (146) ...................... Craig ................................................. 0.26 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.38 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.45 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.55 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.52 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.40 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.44 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.55 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.54 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.51 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.51 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.51 — — — 

China Rockfish (149) ........................ Sitka ................................................. 0.55 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.52 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.31 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.30 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.55 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.41 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.54 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.46 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.46 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.46 — — — 

Copper Rockfish (138) ...................... Sitka ................................................. 0.49 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.46 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.43 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.43 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.47 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.43 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.45 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.44 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.44 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.44 — — — 

Dover Sole (124) ............................... Kodiak .............................................. — 0.09 — 0.09 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.09 — 0.09 

GOA ................................................. — 0.09 — 0.09 

AK ..................................................... — 0.09 — 0.09 

ALL ................................................... — 0.09 — 0.09 

Dusky Rockfish (172) ........................ Juneau .............................................. 0.62 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.54 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.55 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.30 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.50 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.42 0.17 0.18 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.57 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.44 0.17 0.18 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.45 0.17 0.18 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.45 0.17 0.18 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.45 0.17 0.18 — 

English Sole (128) ............................ Kodiak .............................................. — 0.14 — 0.14 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.14 — 0.14 


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82450 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

GOA ................................................. — 0.14 0.14 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.14 0.14 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.14 0.14 — 

Flathead Sole (122) .......................... Kodiak .............................................. — 0.15 0.15 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.15 0.15 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.15 0.15 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.15 0.15 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.15 0.15 — 

Northern Rockfish (136) .................... Kodiak .............................................. 0.22 0.16 0.16 — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.23 0.16 0.16 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.23 0.16 0.16 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.82 0.16 0.16 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.82 0.16 0.16 — 

Octopus (870) ................................... Homer ............................................... 0.86 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.50 0.58 — 0.58 

CGOA ............................................... 0.54 0.58 — 0.58 

GOA ................................................. 0.55 0.58 — 0.58 

Dutch Harbor .................................... 0.38 — — — 

BS ..................................................... 0.65 — — — 

BSAI ................................................. 0.55 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.55 0.57 — 0.57 

ALL ................................................... 0.55 0.57 — 0.57 

Pacific Cod (110) .............................. Craig ................................................. 0.19 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.60 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.26 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.31 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.48 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.56 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.58 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.52 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.49 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.44 0.40 0.41 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.48 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.45 0.40 0.41 — 

WGOA .............................................. 0.37 — — — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.36 0.36 — 

Dillingham ......................................... 0.48 — — — 

Dutch Harbor .................................... 0.37 0.35 — 0.35 

BS ..................................................... 0.38 0.35 0.12 — 

BSAI ................................................. 0.38 0.36 0.13 — 

Stationary Floating Processor .......... 0.39 0.35 — 0.35 

AK ..................................................... 0.39 0.36 0.35 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.39 0.36 0.35 — 

Pacific Ocean Perch (141) ................ Kodiak .............................................. — 0.19 0.20 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.18 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.18 0.19 0.20 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.64 0.19 0.20 — 

BS ..................................................... — — 0.05 0.05 

BSAI ................................................. — — 0.05 0.05 

AK ..................................................... 0.64 0.19 0.18 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.63 0.19 0.18 — 

Pollock (270) ..................................... Kodiak .............................................. 0.05 0.11 0.11 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.06 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.05 0.11 0.11 — 

WGOA .............................................. — — 0.12 0.12 

GOA ................................................. 0.05 0.11 0.11 — 

Dutch Harbor .................................... — 0.14 — 0.14 

BS ..................................................... — 0.14 0.13 — 

BSAI ................................................. — 0.14 0.13 — 

Stationary Floating Processor .......... — 0.08 — 0.11 

AK ..................................................... 0.05 0.11 0.11 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.05 0.11 0.11 — 

Quillback Rockfish (147) ................... Craig ................................................. 0.70 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.42 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.77 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.24 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.79 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.66 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.38 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.39 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.47 — — — 


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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 82451 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

Seward ............................................. 0.46 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.46 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.56 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.56 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.56 — — — 

Redbanded Rockfish (153) ............... Juneau .............................................. 0.32 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.29 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.23 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.48 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.37 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.29 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.36 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.23 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.36 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.31 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.35 0.16 — 0.16 

AK ..................................................... 0.35 0.16 — 0.16 

ALL ................................................... 0.36 0.16 — 0.16 

Redstripe Rockfish (158) .................. SEAK ................................................ 0.49 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.47 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.53 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.42 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.45 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.45 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.45 — — — 

Rex Sole (125) .................................. Kodiak .............................................. — 0.35 0.35 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.35 0.35 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.36 0.50 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.36 0.47 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.36 0.47 — 

Rock Sole (123) ................................ Kodiak .............................................. — 0.18 0.18 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.18 0.18 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.18 0.18 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.18 0.18 — 

ALL ................................................... — 0.18 0.18 — 

Rosethorn Rockfish (150) ................. Sitka ................................................. 0.44 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.45 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.45 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.41 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.41 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.44 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.44 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.44 — — — 

Rougheye Rockfish (151) ................. Craig ................................................. 0.30 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.32 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.32 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.35 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.49 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.43 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.31 — — — 

Whittier ............................................. 0.47 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.28 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.40 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.30 0.22 0.22 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.43 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.35 0.22 0.22 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.38 0.23 0.22 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.38 0.23 0.22 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.38 0.23 0.22 — 

Sablefish (blackcod) (710) ................ Kodiak .............................................. 5 n/a 2.12 — 2.12 

CGOA ............................................... 5 n/a 2.12 — 2.12 

GOA ................................................. 5 n/a 2.05 — 2.03 

AK ..................................................... 5 n/a 2.05 0.51 — 

ALL ................................................... 5 n/a 2.05 0.51 — 

Shortraker Rockfish (152) ................. Juneau .............................................. 0.34 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.31 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.30 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.46 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.39 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.47 — — — 

Whittier ............................................. 0.48 — — — 


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82452 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.50 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.36 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.28 0.19 0.18 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.41 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.38 0.19 0.18 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.39 0.38 0.18 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.39 0.38 0.18 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.39 0.38 0.18 — 

Silvergray Rockfish (157) .................. Craig ................................................. 0.24 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.40 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.53 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.51 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.44 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.45 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.34 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.39 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.41 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.41 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.43 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.43 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.43 — — — 

Skate, Alaska (703) .......................... GOA ................................................. 0.39 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.39 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.39 — — — 

Skate, Big (702) ................................ EGOA ............................................... 0.40 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.40 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.45 0.46 0.45 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.38 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.43 0.46 0.45 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.43 0.46 0.44 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.43 0.46 0.44 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.43 0.46 0.44 — 

Skate, Longnose (701) ..................... SEAK ................................................ 0.40 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.27 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.37 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.45 0.46 0.46 — 

Seward ............................................. 0.38 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.42 0.46 0.46 — 

GOA ................................................. 0.40 0.46 0.42 — 

AK ..................................................... 0.40 0.46 0.42 — 

ALL ................................................... 0.40 0.46 0.42 — 

Skate, Other (700) ............................ SEAK ................................................ 0.33 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.33 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.35 — — 0.30 

AK ..................................................... 0.35 0.05 — 0.05 

ALL ................................................... 0.35 0.05 — 0.05 

Starry Flounder (129) ........................ Kodiak .............................................. — 0.08 — 0.08 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.08 — 0.08 

GOA ................................................. — 0.08 — 0.08 

AK ..................................................... — 0.08 — 0.08 

ALL ................................................... — 0.08 — 0.08 

Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) (143) .. Juneau .............................................. 0.98 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 1.10 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.99 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.99 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 1.00 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.57 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.71 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.65 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.55 0.63 — 0.63 

Seward ............................................. 0.72 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.65 0.63 — 0.63 

WGOA .............................................. 0.80 — — — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.65 — 0.65 

Adak ................................................. 0.50 — — — 

AI ...................................................... 0.52 — — — 

BS ..................................................... 0.68 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.78 0.65 — 0.65 

Bellingham ........................................ 0.87 — — — 

OTAK ................................................ 0.87 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.78 0.65 — 0.65 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 82453 

TABLE 1—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE—Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species (species code) 1 2 Port/area 3 4 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

Tiger Rockfish (148) ......................... Juneau .............................................. 0.41 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.53 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.48 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.34 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.38 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.41 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.43 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.42 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.44 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.44 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.44 — — — 

Vermilion Rockfish (184) ................... Sitka ................................................. 0.54 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.59 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.59 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.59 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.59 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.59 — — — 

Widow Rockfish (156) ....................... GOA ................................................. 0.76 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.76 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.76 — — — 

Yelloweye Rockfish (145) ................. Craig ................................................. 1.73 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 1.31 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 1.89 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 1.12 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 2.12 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 1.86 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.99 — — — 

Whittier ............................................. 0.97 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.99 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.88 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.33 0.25 — 0.25 

Seward ............................................. 0.70 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.69 0.25 — 0.25 

WGOA .............................................. 0.47 — — — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.25 — 0.25 

BSAI ................................................. 0.14 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 1.61 0.25 — 0.25 

Bellingham ........................................ 1.21 — — — 

OTAK ................................................ 1.21 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 1.60 0.25 — 0.25 

Yellowtail Rockfish (155) .................. Sitka ................................................. 0.66 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.63 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.63 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.48 — — — 

Seward ............................................. 0.81 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.65 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.64 — — — 

AK ..................................................... 0.64 — — — 

ALL ................................................... 0.64 — — — 

— = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential. 

1 If species is not listed, use price for the species group in Table 2 if it exists in the management area. If no price is available for the species 

or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices 

in future years. 2 For species codes, see Table 2a to 50 CFR part 679. 3 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = 

Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska). 4 If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for groundfish 

landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination, use port group and gear type, or see Table 2 or Table 3. 5 n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in Table 3 with the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings. 

TABLE 2—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES GROUPS FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species group 1 Port/area 2 3 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

Flathead Sole (FSOL) ....................... Kodiak .............................................. — $0.15 $0.15 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.15 0.15 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.15 0.15 — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.15 0.15 — 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
82454 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 

TABLE 2—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR GROUNDFISH SPECIES GROUPS FOR 2021 OBSERVER COVERAGE FEE— 

Continued 

[Based on volume and value from 2017, 2018, and 2019] 

Species group 1 Port/area 2 3 Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT 

GOA Deep Water Flatfish 4 (DFL4) .. Kodiak .............................................. — 0.09 — $0.09 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.09 — 0.09 

GOA ................................................. — 0.09 — 0.09 

GOA Shallow Water Flatfish 5 (SFL1) Kodiak .............................................. — 0.18 0.16 — 

CGOA ............................................... — 0.18 0.16 — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.18 0.16 — 

GOA Skate, Other (USKT) ............... SEAK ................................................ $0.33 — — — 

EGOA ............................................... 0.33 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.42 — — — 

GOA ................................................. 0.35 — — 0.30 

Other Rockfish 6 7 (ROCK) ................ Craig ................................................. 0.28 — — — 

Juneau .............................................. 0.56 — — — 

Ketchikan .......................................... 0.31 — — — 

Petersburg ........................................ 0.39 — — — 

Sitka ................................................. 0.51 — — — 

SEAK ................................................ 0.48 — — — 

Cordova ............................................ 0.83 — — — 

Whittier ............................................. 0.75 — — — 

EGOAxSE ........................................ 0.77 — — — 

Homer ............................................... 0.79 — — — 

Kodiak .............................................. 0.32 0.19 — 0.19 

Seward ............................................. 0.62 — — — 

CGOA ............................................... 0.62 0.19 — 0.19 

WGOA .............................................. 0.62 — — — 

GOA ................................................. — 0.20 — 0.20 

Adak ................................................. 0.51 — — — 

AI ...................................................... 0.53 — — — 

BS ..................................................... 0.65 — — — 

AK ..................................................... — 0.23 — 0.23 

— = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential. 

1 If groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the management area. If no price is available for 

the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard exvessel prices in future years. 2 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf 

of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska). 3 If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for groundfish 

landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination, use port group and gear type combination. 4 ‘‘Deep-water flatfish’’ in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole. 5 ‘‘Shallow-water flatfish’’ in the GOA means all flatfish not including ‘‘deep-water flatfish’’, flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder. 6 In the GOA: 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri 

(darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. 

zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion), S. 

reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, 

S. polyspinis. 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish. 

‘‘Demersal shelf rockfish’’ means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S. 

helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye). 7 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, 

blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. 

Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ 

Standard Ex-vessel Prices 

Table 3 shows the observer fee 

standard ex-vessel prices for halibut and 

sablefish. These standard prices are 

calculated as a single annual average 

price, by species and port or port group. 

Volume and ex-vessel value data 

collected on the 2020 IFQ Buyer Report 

for landings made from October 1, 2019, 

through September 30, 2020, were used 

to calculate the standard ex-vessel 

prices for the 2021 observer fee for 

halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, 

and sablefish landings that accrue 

against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ 

reserve. 

TABLE 3—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR HALIBUT IFQ, HALIBUT CDQ, SABLEFISH IFQ, AND SABLEFISH ACCRUING

AGAINST THE FIXED GEAR SABLEFISH CDQ RESERVE FOR THE 2021 OBSERVER FEE

[Based on 2020 IFQ buyer reports] 

Species Port/area 1 Price 2

Halibut (200) ............................................................................... Craig ........................................................................................... $4.26 

Ketchikan ................................................................................... 4.54 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 244 / Friday, December 18, 2020 / Notices 82455 

TABLE 3—STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES FOR HALIBUT IFQ, HALIBUT CDQ, SABLEFISH IFQ, AND SABLEFISH ACCRUING

AGAINST THE FIXED GEAR SABLEFISH CDQ RESERVE FOR THE 2021 OBSERVER FEE—Continued 

[Based on 2020 IFQ buyer reports] 

Species Port/area 1 Price 2

Petersburg .................................................................................. 4.27 

Sitka ........................................................................................... 4.36 

SEAK .......................................................................................... 4.33 

Cordova ...................................................................................... 3.69 

EGOAxSE .................................................................................. 4.10 

Homer ........................................................................................ 4.62 

Kodiak ........................................................................................ 4.21 

Seward ....................................................................................... 4.54 

CGOA ......................................................................................... 4.44 

GOA ........................................................................................... 4.33 

BS .............................................................................................. 3.82 

BSAI ........................................................................................... 3.82 

AK .............................................................................................. 4.21 

ALL ............................................................................................. 4.21 

Sablefish (710) ............................................................................ Sitka ........................................................................................... 2.34 

SEAK .......................................................................................... 2.32 

Cordova ...................................................................................... 1.81 

EGOAxSE .................................................................................. 1.96 

Homer ........................................................................................ 2.07 

Kodiak ........................................................................................ 1.78 

Seward ....................................................................................... 2.36 

CGOA ......................................................................................... 2.14 

GOA ........................................................................................... 2.18 

AK .............................................................................................. 2.12 

ALL ............................................................................................. 2.12 

1 Regulatory areas are defined at § 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; AI = Aleutian Islands subarea; BS = 

Bering Sea subarea; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; 

WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska). 2 If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish landings and the 

headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: December 14, 2020. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries,National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27824 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA708] 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s (Pacific Council) 

Southern Oregon/Northern California 

Coast (SONCC) Coho Workgroup 

(Workgroup) will host an online 

meeting that is open to the public. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

Tuesday, January 5, 2021, from 9 a.m. 

until 5 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, or 

until business for the day has been 

completed. 

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held 

online. Specific meeting information, 

including directions on how to join the 

meeting and system requirements will 

be provided in the meeting 

announcement on the Pacific Council’s 

website (see www.pcouncil.org). You 

may send an email to Mr. Kris 

Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov) or contact him at (503) 820– 

2412 for technical assistance 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 7700 NE 

Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, 

OR 97220–1384. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Robin Ehlke, Pacific Council; telephone: 

(503) 820–2426. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of the meeting will be to 

discuss Pacific Council guidance from 

their November 2020 meeting and 

continue to develop associated 

modeling and analysis needed to 

prepare for a progress report on a risk 

analysis and potential harvest control 

rule alternatives for Pacific Council 

consideration at their April 2021 

meeting. The Workgroup may also 

discuss and prepare for future 

Workgroup meetings and future 

meetings with the Pacific Council and 

its advisory bodies. 

Although nonemergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may be 

discussed, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal action during this 

meeting. Action will be restricted to 

those issues specifically listed in this 

document and any issues arising after 

publication of this document that 

require emergency action under section 

305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act, 

provided the public has been notified of 

the intent to take final action to address 

the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

Requests for auxiliary aids should be 

directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt at 

(503) 820–2412 at least 10 business days 

prior to the meeting date. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. 

Dated: December 15, 2020. 

Rey Israel Marquez, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27974 Filed 12–17–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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