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 Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737-2141-02]
RIN 0648-XA711
 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
 ACTION: Final rule; closures.
 SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2012 and 2013 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
 DATES: Effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 14, 2012, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013.
 ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision (ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are available from 
                            *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.*
                             The final 2011 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2011, is available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web site at 
                            *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​npfmc.*
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, 907-481-1780, or Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 
                        *et seq.*
                         Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680. The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch (TAC) for each target species, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs, halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts, and seasonal allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. Upon consideration of public comment received under § 679.20(c)(1), NMFS must publish notice of final harvest specifications for up to two fishing years as annual target TAC, per § 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 31 of this document reflect the outcome of this process, as required at § 679.20(c). The proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for groundfish of the GOA and Pacific halibut PSC allowances were published in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         on December 22, 2011 (76 FR 79620). Comments were invited and accepted through January 23, 2012. NMFS received one response, containing two general categories of comments, on the proposed harvest specifications. A summary of the comments and NMFS' responses is found in the Response to Comment section of this rule. In December 2011, NMFS consulted with the Council regarding the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. After considering public testimony, as well as biological and economic data that were available at the Council's December 2011 meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council. For 2012, the sum of the TAC amounts is 438,159 mt. For 2013, the sum of the TAC amounts is 447,752 mt. Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications In December 2011, the Council, its Advisory Panel (AP), and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), reviewed current biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish stocks in the GOA. This information was compiled by the Council's GOA Plan Team and was presented in the draft 2011 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2011 (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an overfishing level (OFL) and ABC for each species or species group. The 2011 SAFE report was made available for public review during the public comment period for the proposed harvest specifications. In previous years, the largest changes from the proposed to the final harvest specifications have been based on recent NMFS stock surveys, which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial distribution, and changes to the models used for making stock assessments. In October 2011, the Council also reviewed the proposed TACs recommended for several flatfish and other rockfish species, adjusting them downward from ABCs. At the November 2011 Plan Team meeting, NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results, changes to assessment models, and accompanying stock estimates for all groundfish species and species groups that are included in the final 2011 SAFE report. The SSC reviewed this information at the December 2011 Council meeting. Changes from the proposed to the final harvest specifications in 2012 and 2013 for newly assessed groundfish stocks are discussed below. The final 2012 and 2013 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute ABCs and OFLs. The formulas applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the level of reliable information available to fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with tier 1 representing the highest level of information quality available and tier 6 representing the lowest level of information quality available. The SSC adopted the final 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species, with the exception of the ABCs for “other rockfish” in the Central and Western GOA. The Plan Team's 
                        ( print page 15195)
                        recommendation was that in 2012 and 2013 the 44 mt ABC for “other rockfish” in the Western GOA be combined with the 606 mt ABC for “other rockfish” in the Central GOA for a combined Central and Western GOA ABC of 650 mt. This recommendation was intended to spatially apportion “other rockfish” so that target fisheries are not restricted based on limited and relatively uncertain estimates of recent survey spatial distributions of “other rockfish.” The SSC however, decided to retain the area apportionments of ABC for “other rockfish” between the Central and Western GOA. The apportionment of 44 mt to the Western GOA ABC was based on the continued low abundance of harlequin rockfish in the 2011 NMFS bottom trawl survey. The SSC noted that “other rockfish” are on bycatch status all year, are taken as incidental catch in other directed fisheries, and are discarded at a high rate. Therefore, the SSC determined that regulatory discards would not decrease by combining the Western and Central regulatory area ABCs and did not recommend a change to the previously approved method for apportioning the ABC. The Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including maintaining the sum of all TACs within the required OY range of 116,000 to 800,000 mt. The Council recommended TACs for 2012 and 2013 that are equal to ABCs for pollock, sablefish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, “other rockfish” in the Central and Western GOA, big skates, longnose skate, other skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins. The Council recommended TACs for 2012 and 2013 that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, “other rockfish” in the Eastern GOA, and Atka mackerel. The Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State of Alaska's (State's) guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for Pacific cod so that the ABC is not exceeded. The shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole TACs are set to allow for increased harvest opportunities for these targets while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other, more fully utilized, fisheries. The “other rockfish” TAC in the Eastern GOA is set to reduce the amount of discards in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts in other fisheries. The final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) are unchanged from those recommended by the Council and are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy alternative in the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of the groundfish stocks as described in the final 2011 SAFE report. NMFS also finds that the Council's recommendations for OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the OY range. NMFS reviewed the Council's recommended TAC specifications and apportionments, and approves these harvest specifications under 50 CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The apportionment of TAC amounts among gear types and sectors, processing sectors, and seasons is discussed below. Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2012 and 2013 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sums of the 2012 and 2013 ABCs are 606,048 mt and 612,506 mt, respectively, which are higher in 2012 and 2013 than the 2011 ABC sum of 590,121 mt (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011). Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect the GHL established by the State for the Prince William Sound (PWS) pollock fishery. Based upon genetic studies, fisheries scientists believe that the pollock in PWS is not a separate stock from the combined W/C/WYK population. Accordingly, the Council recommended decreasing the W/C/WYK pollock ABC to account for the State's PWS GHL. For 2012 and 2013, the PWS GHL for pollock is 2,770 mt, an increase from 1,650 mt in 2011. The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, as well as equally among each of the following four seasons: the A season (January 20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1) (§ 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) through (B)). Tables 3 and 4 list the final 2012 and 2013 distribution of pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA, and area and seasonal allowances of annual TAC. The AP, SSC, and Council recommended apportionment of the ABC for Pacific cod in the GOA among regulatory areas based on the three most recent NMFS summer trawl surveys. The 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS. The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council reduced the 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs in the Eastern, Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. Therefore, the 2012 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 657 mt; (2) Central GOA, 14,235 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 7,008 mt. The 2013 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 684 mt; (2) Central GOA, 14,788 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 7,280 mt. These amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2012 and 2013 GHLs in these areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western GOA ABCs, respectively. NMFS establishes seasonal apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1 (§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74670), effective January 1, 2012. Amendment 83 allocates the Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs among various gear and operational sectors, and eliminates inshore and offshore allocations in these two regulatory areas. Sector allocations limit the amount of Western and Central GOA Pacific cod that each sector is authorized to harvest. Amendment 83 
                        ( print page 15196)
                        did not change the existing annual Pacific cod TAC allocation between the inshore and offshore processing components in the Eastern GOA. The Pacific cod sector apportionments are discussed in detail in a subsequent section of this preamble. For sablefish, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2012 and 2013 include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment scientists believe the use of unbiased commercial fishery data reflecting catch-per-unit-effort provides rational input for stock distribution assessments. NMFS evaluates annually the use of commercial fishery data to ensure unbiased information is included in stock distribution models. The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments also takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area ABCs to trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other groundfish fisheries in the WYK District (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). Tables 7 and 8 list the final 2012 and 2013 allocations of sablefish TAC to hook-and-line and trawl gear in the GOA. At the October 2011 Council meeting the SCC, AP, and Council recommended— and NMFS—proposed the move of widow and yellowtail rockfish from the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) species group to the “other rockfish” species group in the GOA. The preamble to the proposed 2012 and 2013 groundfish harvest specifications for the GOA (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011) discusses the rationale for the action. These final 2012 and 2013 groundfish harvest specifications for the GOA make this recommendation effective. Final 2012 and 2013 amounts for the PSR and “other rockfish” species groups are listed in Tables 1 and 2. NMFS intends to prepare an FMP and regulatory amendment to remove the description of the PSR species group and fishery, add a description of the dusky rockfish fishery, and revise the description of the “other rockfish” fishery in the FMP and in associated regulations. The management measures associated with PSR would remain the same for dusky rockfish. All references to PSR in this rule refer to dusky rockfish. Central GOA Rockfish Program The Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program expired December 31, 2011. For that reason, NMFS did not include 2012 allocations to the Rockfish Pilot Program in the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications for groundfish (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011). A final rule to implement Amendment 88 to the GOA FMP, the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program), was published on December 27, 2011 (76 FR 81248), and is effective December 27, 2011, through December 31, 2021. The Rockfish Program allocates exclusive harvest privileges to a select group of License Limitation Program (LLP) license holders who used trawl gear to target Pacific ocean perch, pelagic shelf rockfish, and northern rockfish during specific qualifying years. This final rule includes allocations and apportionments of Rockfish Program species, as discussed in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011). Other Actions Affecting Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) in the GOA Amendment 93 to Limit Bycatch of Chinook Salmon in the Western and Central GOA Pollock Fisheries NMFS has submitted Amendment 93 to the FMP for review by the Secretary. NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 93 on December 14, 2011 (76 FR 77757), with comments on the proposed rule invited through January 30, 2012. If approved, Amendment 93 would establish an annual PSC limit of 25,000 Chinook salmon for the pollock fisheries in the Central and Western GOA, increase observer coverage requirements for vessels under 60 feet length overall until superseded by pending changes to the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program, and require full retention of all salmon taken in the Central and Western GOA pollock fisheries until they can be counted and sampled. The annual 25,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit would be apportioned between the Western GOA (6,684 fish) and the Central GOA (18,316 fish). If Amendment 93 is approved and implemented in 2012 prior to the start of the pollock C season on August 25, 2012, NMFS would establish a Chinook salmon PSC limit in the C and D pollock seasons of 5,598 fish in the Western GOA and 8,929 fish in the Central GOA in 2012. If the annual Chinook salmon PSC limits are reached in either reporting area, directed fishing for pollock in the applicable reporting area would be closed for the remainder of the fishing year. Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits Revisions At its October 2011 meeting, the Council decided to pursue possible revisions to the GOA halibut PSC limits through an FMP amendment and an associated regulatory amendment. The alternatives being analyzed include no change, and reductions of 5, 10, or 15 percent of the current halibut PSC limits apportioned between trawl gear and hook-and-line gear. Apportionment of trawl PSC limits between the deep-water and shallow-water complexes, limits for non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) CVs (CVs) using trawl gear, Rockfish Program halibut PSC limits for the catcher/processor (C/P) and CV sectors, and halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels could be affected. The Council intends to schedule initial review and final action for the proposed amendment during 2012 for implementation, pending approval by the Secretary, in 2013. Changes From the Proposed 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications in the GOA In October 2011, the Council's recommendations for the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011) were based largely upon information contained in the final 2010 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2010 (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). The Council proposed that the final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs established for the 2012 groundfish fisheries (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011) be used for the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, pending completion and review of the 2011 SAFE report at its December 2011 meeting. As described previously, the SSC adopted the final 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team, with the exception of the combined ABC for “other rockfish” in the Central and Western GOA. The Council adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations for 2012 and 2013. The final 2012 ABCs are higher than the 2012 ABCs published in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011) for Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, “other rockfish,” pelagic shelf rockfish, big skate, octopuses, and sculpins. The final 2012 ABCs are lower than the proposed 2012 ABCs for pollock, shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, flathead sole, rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, longnose skate, “other skates,” and sharks. The final 2013 ABCs are higher than the proposed 2013 ABCs for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, 
                        ( print page 15197)
                        Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, “other rockfish,” pelagic shelf rockfish, big skate, octopuses, and sculpins. The final 2013 ABCs are lower than the proposed 2013 ABCs for shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, flathead sole, rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, longnose skate, “other skates,” and sharks. For the remaining target species, Atka mackerel and squids, the Council recommended, and the Secretary approved, final 2012 and 2013 ABCs that are the same as the proposed 2012 and 2013 ABCs. Additional information explaining the changes between the proposed and final ABCs is included in the final 2011 SAFE report, which was not available when the Council made its proposed ABC and TAC recommendations in October 2011. At that time, the most recent stock assessment information was contained in the final 2010 SAFE report. The final 2011 SAFE report contains the best and most recent scientific information on the condition of the groundfish stocks, as previously discussed in this preamble, and is available for review (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). The Council considered the final 2011 SAFE report in December 2011 when it made recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. The Council's final 2012 and 2013 TAC recommendations increase fishing opportunities for species for which the Council had sufficient information to raise TACs. Conversely, the Council reduced TACs to limit directed fishing for some species. In the GOA, the total final 2012 TAC amount is 438,159 mt, a decrease of 25 percent from the total proposed 2012 TAC amount of 584,440 mt. The total final 2013 TAC amount is 447,752 mt, a decrease of 23 percent from the total proposed 2013 TAC amount of 584,440 mt. Based on changes to the assessment method used by the stock assessment scientists, the greatest TAC increases are for Pacific cod and northern rockfish. Based on changes in the estimates of overall biomass, the greatest TAC increases were for sablefish, shortraker rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, big skates, and octopuses. Based upon Council recommended changes in setting the TACs at amounts below ABCs the greatest decreases in TACs were for shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, and “other rockfish.” The Council believed, and NMFS concurs, that setting TACs for these species equal to ABCs would not reflect anticipated harvest levels accurately, as the Council and NMFS expect halibut PSC limits to constrain these fisheries in both 2012 and 2013. However, the final TACs for these species are increased significantly from the final 2011 amounts to provide for greater harvest opportunities. Based upon changes in the estimates of biomass by stock assessment scientists, the greatest decreases in TACs are for deep-water flatfish, thornyhead rockfish, and longnose skates. For all other species and species groups, changes from the proposed to the final TACs are within plus or minus five percent of the proposed TACs. These TAC changes corresponded to associated changes in the ABCs and TACs, as recommended by the SSC, AP, and Council. Detailed information providing the basis for the changes described above is contained in the final 2011 SAFE report. The final TACs are based on the best scientific information available. These TACs are specified in compliance with the harvest strategy described in both the proposed and final rules for the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. The changes in TACs between the proposed and this final rule are compared in the following table. Comparison of Proposed and Final 2012 and 2013 GOA Total Allowable Catch Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentage]
Species
2012 and 
                                 2013  
                                 proposed TAC
2012 
                                 Final TAC
Difference
                                 between 2012  
                                 proposed and  
                                 final
Percentage
                                 difference
2013
                                 Final TAC
Difference
                                 between 2013  
                                 proposed and  
                                 final
Percentage
                                 difference
Principle
                                 reason for 
                                 differencePollock
121,649
116,444
−5,205
−4
125,334
3,685
+3
Biomass.1Pacific cod
58,650
65,700
7,050
+12
68,250
9,600
+16
Model.2Sablefish
10,345
12,960
2,615
+25
12,794
2,449
+24
Biomass.Shallow-water flatfish
56,242
37,029
−19,213
−34
36,550
−19,692
−35
TAC adjustment.3Deep-water flatfish
6,486
5,126
−1,360
−21
5,126
−1,360
−21
Biomass.Rex sole
9,396
9,612
216
+2
9,432
36
0
Biomass.Arrowtooth flounder
211,027
103,300
−107,727
−51
103,300
−107,727
−51
TAC adjustment.Flathead sole
50,591
30,319
−20,272
−40
30,408
−20,183
−40
TAC adjustment.Pacific ocean perch
16,187
16,918
731
+5
16,500
313
+2
Biomass.Northern rockfish
4,614
5,507
893
+19
5,153
539
+12
Model.Shortraker rockfish
914
1,081
167
+18
1,081
167
+18
Biomass.Other rockfish
3,842
1,080
−2,762
−72
1,080
−2,762
−72
TAC adjustment.Pelagic shelf rockfish
4,347
5,118
771
+18
4,762
415
+10
Biomass.Rougheye rockfish
1,312
1,223
−89
−7
1,240
−72
−5
Biomass.Demersal shelf rockfish
300
293
−7
−2
293
−7
−2
Biomass.Thornyhead rockfish
1,770
1,665
−105
−6
1,665
−105
−6
Biomass.Atka mackerel
4,700
2,000
−2,700
−57
2,000
−2,700
−57
TAC adjustment.Big skate
3,328
3,767
439
+13
3,767
439
+13
Biomass.Longnose skates
2,852
2,625
−227
−8
2,625
−227
−8
Biomass.Other skates
2,093
2,030
−63
−3
2,030
−63
−3
Biomass.Squids
1,148
1,148
0
0
1,148
0
0
n/a.Sharks
6,197
6,028
−169
−3
6,028
−169
−3
Biomass.Octopuses
954
1,455
501
+53
1,455
501
+53
Biomass.Sculpins
5,496
5,731
235
+4
5,731
235
+4
Biomass.Total
584,440
438,159
−146,281
−25
447,752
−136,688
−231
                             Biomass—Change in estimate of biomass.2
                             Model—Change in assessment methodology.3
                             TAC adjustment—Change in TAC to less than the ABC amount.
 The final 2012 and 2013 TAC recommendations for the GOA are within the OY range established for the GOA and do not exceed the ABC for any species or species group. Tables 1 and 2 list final the OFL, ABC, and TAC 
                        ( print page 15198)
                        amounts for GOA groundfish for 2012 and 2013, respectively. Table 1—Final 2012 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central, Eastern Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat, Southeast Outside, and Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Area 1
OFL
ABC
TACPollock 2
Shumagin (610)
n/a
30,270
30,270Chirikof (620)
n/a
45,808
45,808Kodiak (630)
n/a
26,348
26,348WYK (640)
n/a
3,244
3,244W/C/WYK (subtotal)
143,716
105,670
105,670SEO (650)
14,366
10,774
10,774Total
158,082
116,444
116,444Pacific cod 3
W
n/a
28,032
21,024C
n/a
56,940
42,705E
n/a
2,628
1,971Total
104,000
87,600
65,700Sablefish 4
W
n/a
1,780
1,780C
n/a
5,760
5,760WYK
n/a
2,247
2,247SEO
n/a
3,173
3,173E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)
n/a
5,420
5,420Total
15,330
12,960
12,960Shallow-water flatfish 6
W
n/a
21,994
13,250C
n/a
22,910
18,000WYK
n/a
4,307
4,307SEO
n/a
1,472
1,472Total
61,681
50,683
37,029Deep-water flatfish 5
W
n/a
176
176C
n/a
2,308
2,308WYK
n/a
1,581
1,581SEO
n/a
1,061
1,061Total
6,834
5,126
5,126Rex sole
W
n/a
1,307
1,307C
n/a
6,412
6,412WYK
n/a
836
836SEO
n/a
1,057
1,057Total
12,561
9,612
9,612Arrowtooth flounder
W
n/a
27,495
14,500C
n/a
143,162
75,000WYK
n/a
21,159
6,900SEO
n/a
21,066
6,900Total
250,100
212,882
103,300Flathead sole
W
n/a
15,300
8,650C
n/a
25,838
15,400WYK
n/a
4,558
4,558SEO
n/a
1,711
1,711Total
59,380
47,407
30,319Pacific ocean perch 7
W
2,423
2,102
2,102C
12,980
11,263
11,263WYK
n/a
1,692
1,692SEO
n/a
1,861
1,861E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)
4,095
n/a
n/aTotal
19,498
16,918
16,918( print page 15199)Northern rockfish 8 9
W
n/a
2,156
2,156C
n/a
3,351
3,351E
n/a
0
0Total
6,574
5,507
5,507Shortraker rockfish 11
W
n/a
104
104C
n/a
452
452E
n/a
525
525Total
1,441
1,081
1,081Other rockfish 9 12
W
n/a
44
44C
n/a
606
606WYK
n/a
230
230SEO
n/a
3,165
200Total
5,305
4,045
1,080Pelagic shelf rockfish 13
W
n/a
409
409C
n/a
3,849
3,849WYK
n/a
542
542SEO
n/a
318
318Total
6,257
5,118
5,118Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish 10
W
n/a
80
80C
n/a
850
850E
n/a
293
293Total
1,472
1,223
1,223Demersal shelf rockfish 14
SEO
467
293
293Thornyhead rockfish
W
n/a
150
150C
n/a
766
766E
n/a
749
749Total
2,220
1,665
1,665Atka mackerel
GW
6,200
4,700
2,000Big skate 15
W
n/a
469
469C
n/a
1,793
1,793E
n/a
1,505
1,505Total
5,023
3,767
3,767Longnose skate 16
W
n/a
70
70C
n/a
1,879
1,879E
n/a
676
676Total
3,500
2,625
2,625Other skates 17
GW
2,706
2,030
2,030Squids
GW
1,530
1,148
1,148Sharks
GW
8,037
6,028
6,028Octopus
GW
1,941
1,455
1,455Sculpins
GW
7,641
5,731
5,731Total

747,780
606,048
438,1591
                             Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. (W = Western Gulf of Alaska; C = Central Gulf of Alaska; E = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK = West Yakutat District; SEO = Southeast Outside District; GW = Gulf-wide).2
                             Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 23 percent, 55 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 23 percent, 67 percent, and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 37 percent, 28 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Table 3 lists the final 2012 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
                            ( print page 15200)3
                             The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod in the Eastern Regulatory Area is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Table 5 lists the final 2012 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.4
                             Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gear in 2012. Table 7 lists the final 2012 allocations of sablefish TACs.5
                             “Deep-water flatfish” means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.6
                             “Shallow-water flatfish” means flatfish not including “deep-water flatfish,” flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.7
                             “Pacific ocean perch” means 
                            *Sebastes alutus.*8
                             “Northern rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes polyspinous.*
                             For management purposes the 2 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.9
                             “Slope 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*
                             (silvergrey), 
                            *S. diploproa*
                             (splitnose), 
                            *S. saxicola*
                             (stripetail), 
                            *S. miniatus*
                             (vermilion), 
                            *S. reedi*
                             (yellowmouth), 
                            *S. entomelas*
                             (widow), and 
                            *S. flavidus*
                             (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, 
                            *S. polyspinous*.10
                             “Rougheye rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes aleutianus*
                             (rougheye) and 
                            *Sebastes melanostictus*
                             (blackspotted).11
                             “Shortraker rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes borealis.*12
                             “Other rockfish” in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The “other rockfish” species group in the SEO District means slope rockfish.13
                             “Pelagic shelf rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes variabilis*
                             (dusky).14
                             “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).15
                             “Big skate” means 
                            *Raja binoculata.*16
                             “Longnose skate” means 
                            *Raja rhina.*17
                             “Other skates” means 
                            *Bathyraja*
                             spp.
 Table 2—Final 2013 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central, Eastern Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat, Southeast Outside, and Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Area1
OFL
ABC
TACPollock 2
Shumagin (610)
n/a
32,816
32,816Chirikof (620)
n/a
49,662
49,662Kodiak (630)
n/a
28,565
28,565WYK (640)
n/a
3,517
3,517W/C/WYK (subtotal)
155,402
114,560
114,560SEO (650)
14,366
10,774
10,774Total
169,768
125,334
125,334Pacific cod 3
W
n/a
29,120
21,840C
n/a
59,150
44,363E
n/a
2,730
2,047Total
108,000
91,000
68,250Sablefish 4
W
n/a
1,757
1,757C
n/a
5,686
5,686WYK
n/a
2,219
2,219SEO
n/a
3,132
3,132E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)
n/a
5,351
5,351Total
15,129
12,794
12,794Shallow-water flatfish 6
W
n/a
20,171
13,250C
n/a
21,012
18,000WYK
n/a
3,950
3,950SEO
n/a
1,350
1,350Total
56,781
46,483
36,550Deep-water flatfish 5
W
n/a
176
176C
n/a
2,308
2,308WYK
n/a
1,581
1,581SEO
n/a
1,061
1,061Total
6,834
5,126
5,126Rex sole
W
n/a
1,283
1,283C
n/a
6,291
6,291WYK
n/a
821
821SEO
n/a
1,037
1,037Total
12,326
9,432
9,432Arrowtooth flounder
W
n/a
27,386
14,500C
n/a
142,591
75,000WYK
n/a
21,074
6,900( print page 15201)SEO
n/a
20,982
6,900Total
249,066
212,033
103,300Flathead sole
W
n/a
15,518
8,650C
n/a
26,205
15,400WYK
n/a
4,623
4,623SEO
n/a
1,735
1,735Total
60,219
48,081
30,408Pacific ocean perch 7
W
2,364
2,050
2,050C
12,662
10,985
10,985WYK
n/a
1,650
1,650SEO
n/a
1,815
1,815E (WYK and SEO) (subtotal)
3,995
n/a
n/aTotal
19,021
16,500
16,500Northern rockfish 8 9
W
n/a
2,017
2,017C
n/a
3,136
3,136E
n/a
0
0Total
6,152
5,153
5,153Shortraker rockfish 11
W
n/a
104
104C
n/a
452
452E
n/a
525
525Total
1,441
1,081
1,081Other rockfish 9 12
W
n/a
44
44C
n/a
606
606WYK
n/a
230
230SEO
n/a
3,165
200Total
5,305
4,045
1,080Pelagic shelf rockfish) 13
W
n/a
381
381C
n/a
3,581
3,581WYK
n/a
504
504SEO
n/a
296
296Total
5,822
4,762
4,762Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish 10
W
n/a
82
82C
n/a
861
861E
n/a
297
297Total
1,492
1,240
1,240Demersal shelf rockfish 14
SEO
467
293
293Thornyhead rockfish
W
n/a
150
150C
n/a
766
766E
n/a
749
749Total
2,220
1,665
1,665Atka mackerel
GW
6,200
4,700
2,000Big skate 15
W
n/a
469
469C
n/a
1,793
1,793E
n/a
1,505
1,505Total
5,023
3,767
3,767Longnose skate 16
W
n/a
70
70C
n/a
1,879
1,879( print page 15202)E
n/a
676
676Total
3,500
2,625
2,625Other skates 17
GW
2,706
2,030
2,030Squids
GW
1,530
1,148
1,148Sharks
GW
8,037
6,028
6,028Octopus
GW
1,941
1,455
1,455Sculpins
GW
7,641
5,731
5,731Total

756,621
612,506
447,7521
                             Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. (W = Western Gulf of Alaska; C = Central Gulf of Alaska; E = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK = West Yakutat District; SEO = Southeast Outside District; GW = Gulf-wide).2
                             Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 23 percent, 55 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 23 percent, 67 percent, and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 37 percent, 28 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Table 4 lists the final 2013 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.3
                             The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod in the Eastern Regulatory Area is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Table 6 lists the final 2013 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.4
                             Sablefish is only allocated to trawl gear for 2013. Table 8 lists the final 2013 allocation of sablefish TACs to trawl gear.5
                             “Deep-water flatfish” means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deep sea sole.6
                             “Shallow-water flatfish” means flatfish not including “deep-water flatfish,” flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.7
                             “Pacific ocean perch” means 
                            *Sebastes alutus.*8
                             “Northern rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes polyspinous.*
                             For management purposes the 2 mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.9
                             “Slope 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*
                             (silvergrey), 
                            *S. diploproa*
                             (splitnose), 
                            *S. saxicola*
                             (stripetail), 
                            *S. miniatus*
                             (vermilion), 
                            *S. reedi*
                             (yellowmouth), 
                            *S. entomelas*
                             (widow), and 
                            *S. flavidus*
                             (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, 
                            *S. polyspinous*.10
                             “Rougheye rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes aleutianus*
                             (rougheye) and 
                            *Sebastes melanostictus*
                             (blackspotted).11
                             “Shortraker rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes borealis.*12
                             “Other rockfish” in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The “other rockfish” species group in the SEO District means slope rockfish.13
                             “Pelagic shelf rockfish” means 
                            *Sebastes variabilis*
                             (dusky).14
                             “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).15
                             “Big skate” means 
                            *Raja binoculata.*16
                             “Longnose skate” means 
                            *Raja rhina.*17
                             “Other skates” means 
                            *Bathyraja*
                             spp.
 Apportionment of Reserves Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing year. For 2012 and 2013, NMFS proposed reapportionment of all the reserves in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications published in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         on December 22, 2011 (76 FR 79620). NMFS did not receive any public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, NMFS reapportioned, as proposed, all the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins. The TAC amounts shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect reapportionment of reserve amounts for these species and species groups. Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS summer surveys. However, for 
                        ( print page 15203)
                        2012 and 2013, the Council recommends, and NMFS approves, averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory Area for the A season and not the distribution based on the winter surveys. The average is intended to reflect the migration patterns and distribution of pollock, and the performance of the fishery, in that area during the A season for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years. During the A season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of approximately 23 percent, 55 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 23 percent, 67 percent, and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 37 percent, 28 percent, and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Regional Administrator (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those statistical areas (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The pollock TACs in the WYK and SEO District of 3,244 mt and 10,774 mt, respectively, in 2012, and 3,517 mt and 10,774 mt, respectively, in 2013, are not allocated by season. Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after subtraction of amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by § 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component. Tables 3 and 4 list the final 2012 and 2013 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown. Table 3—Final 2012 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.01]
Season1
Shumagin (Area 610)
Chirikof (Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630)
Total 2A (Jan 20-Mar 10)
5,797
(22.64%)
14,023
(54.76%)
5,787
(22.60%)
25,607B (Mar 10-May 31)
5,797
(22.64%)
17,221
(67.25%)
2,589
(10.11%)
25,607C (Aug 25-Oct 1)
9,338
(36.47%)
7,282
(28.44%)
8,986
(35.10%)
25,606D (Oct 1-Nov 1)
9,338
(36.47%)
7,282
(28.44%)
8,986
(35.10%)
25,606Annual Total
32,070

45,808

26,348

102,4261
                             As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.2
                             The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
 Table 4—Final 2013 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the GOA; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.01]
Season1
Shumagin (Area 610)
Chirikof (Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630)
Total 2A (Jan 20-Mar 10)
6,285
(22.64%)
15,202
(54.76%)
6,274
(22.60%)
27,761B (Mar 10-May 31)
6,285
(22.64%)
18,668
(67.25%)
2,806
(10.11%)
27,760C (Aug 25-Oct 1)
10,123
(36.47%)
7,896
(28.44%)
9,743
(35.10%)
27,761D (Oct 1-Nov 1)
10,123
(36.47%)
7,896
(28.44%)
9,743
(35.10%)
27,761Annual Total
32,816

49,662

28,565

111,0431
                             As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.2
                             The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.
 Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74670), effective January 1, 2012. Amendment 83 allocates the Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs among gear and operational sectors, based on each sector's catch history. Amendment 83 also limits access to the Federal Pacific cod TAC fisheries prosecuted in State waters, known as parallel fisheries, adjacent to the Western and Central GOA. Based on the restructuring of the GOA Pacific cod fisheries under Amendment 83, NMFS makes final 
                        ( print page 15204)
                        allocations of the annual Pacific cod TAC seasonally between the inshore and offshore components in the Eastern GOA, among vessels using jig gear, CVs less than 50 feet (15.2 m) in length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 50 feet (15.2 m) in length overall using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Central GOA, and among vessels using jig gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Western GOA. NMFS may also apply any overage or underage of Pacific cod harvest by each sector from the A season to the B season. Under § 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the Pacific cod allowance from the A season will be subtracted from, or added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that are determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be reapportioned to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the fishery year. NMFS calculated the final 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TAC allocations as follows. First, the jig sector receives 1.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Western GOA and 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Central GOA, as required by § 679.20(c)(7). The jig sector annual allocation is further apportioned between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) seasons as required by § 679.20(a)(12)(i). Should the jig sector harvest 90 percent or more of its allocation in an area during a fishing year, then this allocation would increase by 1 percent in the subsequent fishing year, up to 6 percent of the annual TAC. NMFS allocates the remainder of the annual Pacific cod TAC based on gear type, operation type, and vessel length overall in the Western and Central GOA seasonally as required by § 679.20(a)(12)(A) and (B). Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the final 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs. Table 5—Final 2012 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the GOA; Allocations for the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages to the nearest 0.01. Seasonal allowances may not total precisely to annual allocation amount]
Regulatory area and sector
Annual
                                 allocation 
                                 (mt)
A Season
B SeasonSector
                                 percentage of 
                                 annual non-jig TAC
Seasonal
                                 allowances 
                                 (mt)
Sector
                                 percentage of 
                                 annual non-jig TAC
Seasonal
                                 allowances 
                                 (mt)Western GOAJig (1.5% of TAC)
315
N/A
189
N/A
126Hook-and-line CV
290
0.70
145
0.70
145Hook-and-line C/P
4,100
10.90
2,257
8.90
1,843Trawl CV
7,952
27.70
5,736
10.70
2,216Trawl C/P
497
0.90
186
1.50
311All Pot CV and Pot C/P
7,869
19.80
4,100
18.20
3,769Total
21,024
60.00
12,614
40.00
8,410Central GOAJig (1.0% of TAC)
427
N/A
256
N/A
171Hook-and-line <50 CV
6,174
9.32
3,938
5.29
2,235Hook-and-line ≥50 CV
2,835
5.61
2,372
1.10
464Hook-and-line C/P
2,158
4.11
1,736
1.00
422Trawl CV
17,581
21.14
8,936
20.45
8,645Trawl C/P
1,775
2.00
847
2.19
928All Pot CV and Pot C/P
11,755
17.83
7,538
9.97
4,217Total
42,705
60.00
25,623
40.00
17,082Eastern GOA

Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)1,971

1,774

197
 
 
 Table 6—Final 2013 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the GOA; Allocations for the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages to the nearest 0.01. Seasonal allowances may not total precisely to annual allocation amount]
Regulatory area and sector
Annual
                                 allocation 
                                 (mt)
A Season
B SeasonSector
                                 percentage of 
                                 annual non-jig TAC
Seasonal
                                 allowances 
                                 (mt)
Sector
                                 percentage of 
                                 annual non-jig TAC
Seasonal
                                 allowances 
                                 (mt)Western GOAJig (1.5% of TAC)
328
N/A
197
N/A
131Hook-and-line CV
301
0.70
151
0.70
151Hook-and-line C/P
4,259
10.90
2,345
8.90
1,915Trawl CV
8,261
27.70
5,959
10.70
2,302Trawl C/P
516
0.90
194
1.50
323All Pot CV and Pot C/P
8,175
19.80
4,259
18.20
3,915Total
21,840
60.00
13,104
40.00
8,736Central GOAJig (1.0% of TAC)
444
N/A
266
N/A
177Hook-and-line <50 CV
6,413
9.32
4,091
5.29
2,322Hook-and-line ≥50 CV
2,946
5.61
2,464
1.10
482Hook-and-line C/P
2,242
4.11
1,804
1.00
438Trawl CV
18,263
21.14
9,282
20.45
8,981Trawl C/P
1,844
2.00
880
2.19
964All Pot CV and Pot C/P
12,212
17.83
7,831
9.97
4,381Total
44,363
60.00
26,618
40.00
17,745Eastern GOA

Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)2,047

1,842

205
 Allocations of the Sablefish TACs Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used to support incidental catch of sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). In recognition of the prohibition against trawling in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District and making the remainder of the WYK sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation, and, as a result, allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This recommendation results in a 2012 allocation of 271 mt to trawl gear and 1,976 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK District, a 2012 allocation of 3,173 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District, and a 2013 allocation of 268 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District. Table 7 lists the allocations of the 2012 sablefish TACs to hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 8 lists the allocations of the 2013 sablefish TACs to trawl gear. The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be established annually to ensure that this Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on recent sablefish survey information. The Council also recommended that only a trawl sablefish TAC be established for two years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest specifications. However, since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and the final harvest specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season begins (typically, early March), the Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be set on an annual basis, rather than for two years, so that the best scientific information available could be considered in establishing the sablefish ABCs and TACs. Also, because sablefish is closed for directed fishing for trawl gear during the entire fishing year (except for vessels with Rockfish Program cooperative allocations) and fishing for groundfish is prohibited prior to January 20, it is not likely that the trawl allocation of sablefish established by the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications would be reached before the effective date of the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications.
                        ( print page 15206) Table 7—Final 2012 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the GOA and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district
TAC
Hook-and-line
                                 allocation
Trawl allocationWestern
1,780
1,424
356Central
5,760
4,608
1,152West Yakutat 1
2,247
1,976
271Southeast Outside
3,173
3,173
0Total
12,960
11,181
1,7791
                             The trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.
 Table 8—Final 2013 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the GOA and Allocation to Trawl Gear 1
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area/district
TAC
Hook-and-line
                                 allocation
Trawl allocationWestern
1,757
n/a
351Central
5,686
n/a
1,137West Yakutat 2
2,219
n/a
268Southeast Outside
3,132
n/a
0Total
12,794
n/a
1,7561
                             The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to one year.2
                             The trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.
 Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) The recommended 2012 and 2013 DSR TAC is 293 mt. Management of DSR is delegated to the State. In 2006, the Alaska Board of Fish allocated future SEO District DSR TACs between the commercial fishery (84 percent) and the sport fishery (16 percent) after deductions were made for anticipated subsistence harvests (8 mt). This results in 2012 and 2013 allocations of 239 mt to the commercial fishery and 46 mt to the sport fishery. The State deducts estimates of incidental catch of DSR in the commercial halibut fishery and test fishery mortality from the DSR commercial fishery allocation. In 2011, this resulted in 89 mt being available for the directed commercial DSR fishery apportioned between four outer coast areas. Only one of these areas, the South Southeast Outside area, was open to directed commercial fishery with a GHL of 25 mt and a harvest of 22 mt. DSR harvest in the halibut fishery is linked to the annual halibut catch limits; therefore the State cannot estimate potential DSR incidental catch in that fishery until those quotas are established. Federally-permitted CVs using hook-and-line or jig gear fishing for groundfish and Pacific halibut in the SEO District of the GOA are required to retain all DSR (§ 679.20(j)). The State will announce the opening of directed fishing for DSR in 2012 in January following the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) January 2012 annual meeting. Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Program Amendment 88 to the GOA FMP establishes the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program). NMFS published a final rule to implement Amendment 88 on December 27, 2011 (76 FR 81248). These final 2012 and 2013 groundfish harvest specifications for the GOA includes the various fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations established by the Central GOA Rockfish Program. Under the Rockfish Program, the primary rockfish species (Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish) are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish fisheries. Potential participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV cooperatives, C/P cooperatives, and vessels in the entry level longline category. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative quota to participants for primary and secondary species, allows a participant holding an LLP license with rockfish quota share to form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of C/P LLP licenses to opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an entry level fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using longline gear. Additionally, the Rockfish Program continues to establish sideboard limits to limit the ability of harvesters operating under the Rockfish Program from increasing their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program fisheries. Additionally, the Rockfish Program allocates a portion of the halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants (§ 679.81(d)). This includes 117 mt to the CV sector and 74 mt to the C/P sector. It also would permanently retire 27 mt (values are rounded to the nearest metric ton) of the halibut PSC limit from being allocated to any fishery. NMFS initially allocates 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30 mt of PSR to the entry level longline fishery in 2012 and 2013. The remainder of the TACs for the primary rockfish species are allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. The allocation for the entry level longline fishery would increase incrementally each year if the sector harvests 90 percent or more of the allocation of a species. The incremental increase would continue each year until it reaches the cap set for the maximum percent of the entry level allocation for 
                        ( print page 15207)
                        that species in accordance with Table 28e to part 679. Table 9 lists the initial 2012 and 2013 allocations for each rockfish primary species to the entry level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future years, and the cap for the entry level longline fishery. Table 9—Initial 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Rockfish to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in the Central Gulf of Alaska
Rockfish primary species
2012 and 2013 allocations
Incremental increase per
                                 season if ≥90% of allocation is 
                                 harvested
Up to maximum 
                                 % of TACPacific ocean perch
5 metric tons
5 metric tons
1Northern rockfish
5 metric tons
5 metric tons
2Pelagic shelf rockfish
30 metric tons
20 metric tons
5
 The Rockfish Program allocates primary rockfish species among various components of the Rockfish Program. Tables 10 and 11 list the final 2012 and 2013 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA to longline gear in the entry level rockfish fishery and other participants in the Rockfish Program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS is also setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) of 900 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 125 mt of northern rockfish, and 125 mt of pelagic shelf rockfish for other directed fisheries in the Central GOA. These amounts are based on recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other groundfish fisheries. Allocations between vessels belonging to CV or C/P cooperatives are not included in these final harvest specifications. Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives, C/P cooperatives, and C/Ps electing to opt-out of the program are not due to NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year. Therefore, NMFS cannot calculate the 2012 and 2013 allocations in conjunction with these final harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on the Alaska Region Web site at (
                        *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​sustainablefisheries/​goarat/​default.htm)*
                         when they become available in March. Table 10—Final 2012 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the Rockfish Program
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
TAC
Incidental catch allowance
TAC minus ICA
Allocation to the entry level longline 1
                                 fishery
Allocation to other participants in the Rockfish Program 2Pacific ocean perch
11,263
900
10,363
5
10,358Northern rockfish
3,351
125
3,226
5
3,221Pelagic shelf rockfish
3,849
125
3,724
30
3,694Total
18,463
1,000
17,463
40
17,4231
                             Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.2
                             Other participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.
 Table 11—Final 2013 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the Rockfish Program
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
TAC
Incidental catch allowance
TAC minus ICA
Allocation to the entry level longline 1
                                 fishery
Allocation to other participants in the Rockfish Program 2Pacific ocean perch
10,985
900
10,235
5
10,230Northern rockfish
3,136
125
3,011
5
3,006Pelagic shelf rockfish
3,581
125
3,456
30
3,426Total
17,702
1,000
16,702
40
16,6621
                             Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.2
                             Other participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.
 Under Amendment 88, NMFS also allocates secondary species to cooperatives in the Rockfish Program (§ 679.81(c)). These species include sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, thornyhead rockfish, Pacific cod for the CV cooperatives, and rougheye and shortraker rockfish for the C/P cooperatives. Tables 12 and 13 list the final 2012 and 2013 apportionments of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA to CV and C/P cooperatives.
                        ( print page 15208) Table 12—Final 2012 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Annual central GOA TAC
Catcher vessel cooperatives
Catcher/Processor cooperativesPercentage of TAC
Apportionment (mt)
Percentage of TAC
Apportionment (mt)Pacific cod
42,705
3.81
1,627
N/A
N/ASablefish
5,760
6.78
391
3.51
202Shortraker rockfish
452
N/A
N/A
40.00
181Rougheye rockfish
850
N/A
N/A
58.87
500Thornyhead rockfish
766
7.84
60
26.50
203
 Table 13—Final 2013 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Annual central GOA TAC
Catcher vessel cooperatives
Catcher/processor cooperativesPercentage of TAC
Apportionment (mt)
Percentage of TAC
Apportionment (mt)Pacific cod
44,363
3.81
1,690
N/A
N/ASablefish
5,686
6.78
386
3.51
200Shortraker rockfish
452
N/A
N/A
40.00
181Rougheye rockfish
861
N/A
N/A
58.87
507Thornyhead rockfish
766
7.84
60
26.50
203
 Halibut PSC Limits Section 679.21(d) establishes the annual halibut PSC limit apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear and authorizes the establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In December 2011, the Council recommended that NMFS maintain the 2012 halibut PSC limits of 2,000 mt for the trawl fisheries and 300 mt for the hook-and-line fisheries for the 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries. Ten mt of the hook-and-line limit is further allocated to the DSR fishery in the SEO District. The DSR fishery is defined at § 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has been apportioned 10 mt in recognition of its small-scale harvests. Most vessels in the DSR fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall and are exempt from observer coverage. Therefore, observer data are not available to verify actual bycatch amounts. NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak times are short; (2) the DSR fishery occurs in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and halibut; and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. Of the 300 mt TAC for DSR in 2011, 89 mt was available for the commercial fishery, of which 22 mt were harvested. The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery from the non-trawl halibut limit for 2012 and 2013. The Council recommended, and NMFS approves, these exemptions because (1) the pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 22 mt annually from 2002 through 2011); (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a catcher vessel holds unused halibut IFQ (§ 679.7(f)(11)); (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen typically hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ; and (4) NMFS estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates that halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear (averaging 297 mt annually from 2003 through 2011), the selective nature of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught (and subsequently released) with jig gear. Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and regulations require the Council and NMFS to consider the following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry. The Council obtained the information it considered when setting the halibut PSC limits from the 2011 SAFE report, NMFS catch data, State of Alaska catch data, IPHC stock assessment and mortality data, and public testimony. NMFS concurs in the Council's recommendations listed in Table 14, which shows the final 2012 and 2013 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and apportionments. Sections 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment within the fishing year.
                        ( print page 15209) Table 14—Final 2012 and 2013 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
Trawl gear
Hook-and-line gear 1Season
Percent
Amount
Other than DSR
DSRSeason
Percent
Amount
Season
AmountJanuary 20-April 1
27.5
550
January 1-June 10
86
250
January 1-December 31
10April 1-July 1
20
400
June 10-September 1
2
5July 1-September 1
30
600
September 1-December 31
12
35September 1-October 1
7.5
150October 1-December 31
15
300Total

2,000


290

101
                             The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The hook-and-line sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.
 Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during the fishing year and optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery, composed of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species fishery, composed of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and “other species” (§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 15 lists the final 2012 and 2013 apportionments of Pacific halibut PSC trawl limits between the trawl gear deep-water and the shallow-water species fisheries. Table 15—Final 2012 and 2013 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-Water Species Fishery and the Shallow-Water Species Fishery
[Values are in metric tons]
Season
Shallow-water
Deep-water 1
TotalJanuary 20-April 1
450
100
550April 1-July 1
100
300
400July 1-September 1
200
400
600September 1-October 1
150
Any remainder
150Subtotal January 20-October 1
900
800
1,700October 1-December 31 2


300Total


2,0001
                             Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA Rockfish Program will receive a portion of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment. This amount is not currently known, but will be posted later on the Alaska Region web site (
                            *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov)*
                             when it becomes available in March.2
                             There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31).
 Under Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP, which established Pacific cod sector splits, the “other than DSR” halibut PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear must be apportioned between CVs and C/Ps (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011). NMFS must calculate the halibut PSC limit apportionments for the entire GOA to hook-and-line CVs and C/Ps in accordance with (§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B)(
                        *1*) and (
                        *2*) in conjunction with these harvest specifications. A comprehensive description and example of the calculations necessary to apportion the “other than DSR” hook-and-line halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors were included in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 83 (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and is not repeated here. For 2012 and 2013, NMFS is apportioning halibut PSC limits of 173 mt and 117 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors, respectively. In addition, these annual limits are divided into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. Table 16 lists the 2012 and 2013 annual and seasonal halibut PSC apportionments between the hook-and-line sectors in the GOA. No later than November 1, NMFS will determine whether either of the hook-and-line sectors will have an unused amount of halibut PSC. If so, projected unused amount of halibut PSC will be made available to the other hook-and-line sector for the remainder of that fishing year if NMFS determines that an additional amount of halibut PSC is necessary for that sector to continue its directed fishing operations (§ 679.9(d)(4)(iii)(B)(
                        *3*)).
                        ( print page 15210) Table 16—Apportionments of the “Other Hook-and-Line Fisheries” Annual Halibut PSC Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
[Values are in metric tons]
“Other than DSR”
                                 allowance
Hook-and-line sector
Percent of
                                 annual amount
Sector
                                 annual amount
Season
Seasonal
                                 percentage
Sector
                                 seasonal 
                                 amount290
Catcher Vessel
59.7
173
January 1-June 10
86
149June 10-September 1
2
3September 1-December 31
12
21Catcher/Processor
40.3
117
January 1-June 10
86
101June 10-September 1
2
2September 1-December 31
12
14
 The Rockfish Program requires NMFS to allocate a fixed amount of the deep-water species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment to participants in the Rockfish Program. This amount is based on 87.5 percent of the 2000 through 2006 average halibut mortality usage of 219 mt. Of this amount, 117.3 mt of the halibut PSC is allocated to the CV sector and 74.1 mt is allocated to the C/P sector. The remaining 12.5 percent, or 38 mt, would no longer be annually apportioned for use by fisheries using trawl gear in the GOA. Regulations implementing the Rockfish Program (76 FR 81248, December 27, 2011) limit the amount of the halibut PSC limit allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-apportioned to the general GOA trawl fisheries (§ 679.21(d)(5)(iii)(B)). Halibut PSC limit reallocations to the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries from the Rockfish Program are limited to no more than 55 percent of the unused annual halibut PSC apportioned to Rockfish Program participants. The remainder of the unused Rockfish Program halibut PSC limit is unavailable for use by vessels directed fishing with trawl gear for the remainder of the fishing year. Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch was data collected by fisheries observers during 2011. The calculated halibut bycatch mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gear in 2011 is 1,847 mt, 240 mt, and 45 mt, respectively, for a total halibut mortality of 2,132 mt. Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear fisheries during the 2011 fishing year. Table 17 lists the closure dates for fisheries that resulted from the attainment of seasonal or annual halibut PSC limits. Table 17—2011 Fishery Closures Due to Attainment of Pacific Halibut PSC Limits
Fishery category
Opening date
Closure date
**Federal Register**
                                 citationTrawl Deep-water, season 2
January 20, 2011
April 22, 2011
76 FR 23511, April 27, 2011.Trawl Shallow-water,1
                                 season 4
September 1, 2011
September 3, 2011
76 FR 55276, September 7, 2011.Trawl Shallow-water,1
                                 season 4
September 14, 2011
September 16, 2011
76 FR 57679, September 16, 2011.Trawl Shallow-water,1
                                 season 4
September 20, 2011
Remained open through December 31, 2011Hook-and-line gear, all targets 2
January 1, 2011
Remained open through December 31, 20111
                             With the exception of vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program and vessels fishing for pollock using pelagic trawl gear.2
                             With the exception of the sablefish fishery which was open March 12, 2011, through November 18, 2011.
 Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition The IPHC annually assesses the abundance and potential yield of the Pacific halibut using all available data from the commercial and sport fisheries, other removals, and scientific surveys. Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the IPHC's 2011 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 2011), available on the IPHC Web site at 
                        *www.iphc.int.*
                         The IPHC considered the 2011 Pacific halibut assessment for 2012 at its January 2012 annual meeting when it set the 2012 commercial halibut fishery catch limits. The halibut resource is fully utilized. Recent catches in the commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska over the last 18 years (1994 through 2011) have averaged 31,535 mt round weight per year. In January 2012, the IPHC recommended Alaska commercial catch limits totaling 15,430 mt round weight for 2012, a 21.5 percent decrease from 19,662 mt in 2011. Through December 31, 2011, commercial hook-and-line harvests of halibut off Alaska totaled 19,140 mt round weight. The IPHC staff recommendations for commercial catch limits continue to be based on applying the Slow Up—Full Down policy of a 33 percent increase from the previous year's catch limits when stock yields are projected to increase, but uses a 100 percent decrease in recommended catch when stock yields are projected to decrease, as was done for the 2011 fishery. The largest decreases in the 2012 catch limit recommendations for Alaska are for Area 3A, from 8,685 mt round weight in 2011 to 7,208 mt round weight in 2012; for Area 3B, from 4,542 mt in 2011 to 3,066 mt in 2012; for Area 4A, from 1,458 mt in 2011 to 948 mt in 2012; for Area 4B, from 1,318 mt in 2011 to 1,130 mt in 2012; and for combined Areas CDE, from 2,250 mt in 2011 to 1,491 mt in 2012. The only increase in catch limit recommendations in Alaska is for Area 2C, from 1,409 mt round weight in 2011 to 1,587 mt round weight in 2012. For more information, see the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011), which discusses the potential impacts of expected fishing for 
                        ( print page 15211)
                        groundfish on halibut stocks, as well as methods available for reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries. Halibut Discard Mortality Rates To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch rates, discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best information available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report. NMFS is implementing the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the IPHC for the 2010 through 2012 GOA groundfish fisheries be used for monitoring the final 2012 and 2013 halibut bycatch mortality allowances (see Tables 14 through 16). The IPHC developed the DMRs for the 2010 through 2012 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the squid, shark, sculpin, octopus, and skate fisheries, where insufficient mortality data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default rate. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the mean. A discussion of the DMRs and their justification is presented in Appendix 2 to the 2009 SAFE report (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). Table 18 lists the final 2012 and 2013 DMRs. These DMRs are unchanged from the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 79620, December 22, 2011). In 2012, the IPHC will update its DMR recommendations for the 2013 through 2015 groundfish fisheries. Table 18—Final 2012 and 2013 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
Gear
Target fishery
Mortality rate (%)Hook-and-line
Other fisheries 1
12Skates
12Pacific cod
12Rockfish
9Trawl
Arrowtooth flounder
72Deep-water flatfish
48Flathead sole
65Non-pelagic pollock
59Other fisheries
62Pacific cod
62Pelagic pollock
76Rex sole
64Rockfish
67Sablefish
65Shallow-water flatfish
71Pot
Other fisheries
17Pacific cod
171
                             Other fisheries includes all gear types for sculpin, shark, skate, squids, octopuses, and hook-and-line sablefish.
 American Fisheries Act C/P and CV Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing sideboard limitations on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species of groundfish in the GOA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from processing any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA. AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall, have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 groundfish landings from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that species over the same period. As provided by Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011), NMFS has recalculated and establishes sideboards limitations for Pacific cod for the non-exempt AFA CVs in the Western and Central GOA that would supersede the inshore and offshore processing sideboards established under the AFA. The sideboard limits for other species would continue to be calculated as they have in the past, including the Eastern GOA Pacific cod sideboard limits. Tables 19 and 20 list the final 2012 and 2013 groundfish sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from the sideboard limits listed in Tables 19 and 20.
                        ( print page 15212) Table 19—Final 2012 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by season/gear
Area/component
Ratio of 1995-1997 non-exempt AFA CV catch to 1995-1997 TAC
Final 2012 TACs
Final 2012 non-exempt AFA CV sideboard limitPollock
A Season January 20—March 10
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
5,797
3,505Chirikof (620)
0.1167
14,023
1,636Kodiak (630)
0.2028
5,787
1,174B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
5,797
3,505Chirikof (620)
0.1167
17,221
2,010Kodiak (630)
0.2028
2,589
525C Season August 25-October 1
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
9,338
5,647Chirikof (620)
0.1167
7,282
850Kodiak (630)
0.2028
8,986
1,822D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
9,338
5,647Chirikof (620)
0.1167
7,282
850Kodiak (630)
0.2028
8,986
1,822Annual
WYK (640)
0.3495
3,244
1,134SEO (650)
0.3495
10,774
3,766Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W
0.1331
12,614
1,679C
0.0692
25,623
1,773B Season 2
                                 September 1-December 31
W
0.1331
8,410
1,119C
0.0692
17,082
1,182Annual
E inshore
0.0079
1,774
14E offshore
0.0078
197
2Sablefish
Annual, trawl gear
W
0.0000
356
0C
0.0642
1,152
74E
0.0433
271
12Flatfish, Shallow-water
Annual
W
0.0156
13,250
207C
0.0587
18,000
1,057E
0.0126
5,779
73Flatfish, deep-water
Annual
W
0.0000
176
0C
0.0647
2,308
149E
0.0128
2,642
34Rex sole
Annual
W
0.0007
1,307
1C
0.0384
6,412
246E
0.0029
1,893
5Arrowtooth flounder
Annual
W
0.0021
14,500
30C
0.0280
75,000
2,100E
0.0002
13,800
3Flathead sole
Annual
W
0.0036
8,650
31C
0.0213
15,400
328E
0.0009
6,269
6Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.0023
2,102
5C
0.0748
11,263
842E
0.0466
3,553
166Northern rockfish
Annual
W
0.0003
2,156
1C
0.0277
3,351
93Shortraker rockfish
Annual
W
0.0000
104
0C
0.0218
452
10E
0.0110
525
6Other rockfish
Annual
W
0.0034
44
0C
0.1699
606
103E
0.0000
430
0Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.0001
409
0C
0.0000
3,849
0E
0.0067
860
6Rougheye rockfish
Annual
W
0.0000
80
0C
0.0237
850
20E
0.0124
293
4Demersal shelf rockfish
Annual
SEO
0.0020
293
1Thornyhead rockfish
Annual
W
0.0280
150
4C
0.0280
766
21E
0.0280
749
21Atka mackerel
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0309
2,000
62Big skates
Annual
W
0.0063
469
3( print page 15213)C
0.0063
1,793
11E
0.0063
1,505
9Longnose skates
Annual
W
0.0063
70
0C
0.0063
1,879
12E
0.0063
676
4Other skates
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
2,030
13Squids
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
1,148
7Sharks
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
6,028
38Octopuses
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
1,455
9Sculpins
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
5,731
361
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 Table 20—Final 2013 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments by season/gear
Area/component
Ratio of 1995-1997 non-exempt AFA CV catch to 1995-1997 TAC
Final 2013 TACs
Final 2013 non-exempt AFA CV sideboard limitPollock
A Season January 20-March 10
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
6,285
3,801Chirikof (620)
0.1167
15,202
1,774Kodiak (630)
0.2028
6,274
1,272B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
6,285
3,801Chirikof (620)
0.1167
18,668
2,179Kodiak (630)
0.2028
2,807
569C Season August 25-October 1
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
10,123
6,121Chirikof (620)
0.1167
7,896
821Kodiak (630)
0.2028
9,742
1,976D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.6047
10,123
6,121Chirikof (620)
0.1167
7,896
921Kodiak (630)
0.2028
9,742
1,976Annual
WYK (640)
0.3495
3,517
1,229SEO (650)
0.3495
10,774
3,766Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W
0.1331
13,104
1,744C
0.0692
26,618
1,842B Season 2
                                 September 1-December 31
W
0.1331
8,736
1,163C
0.0692
17,745
1,228Annual
E inshore
0.0079
1,842
15E offshore
0.0078
205
2Sablefish
Annual, trawl gear
W
0.0000
351
0C
0.0642
1,137
73E
0.0433
268
12Flatfish, Shallow-water
Annual
W
0.0156
13,250
207C
0.0587
18,000
1,057E
0.0126
5,300
67Flatfish, deep-water
Annual
W
0.0000
176
0C
0.0647
2,308
149E
0.0128
2,642
34Rex sole
Annual
W
0.0007
1,283
1C
0.0384
6,291
242E
0.0029
1,858
5Arrowtooth flounder
Annual
W
0.0021
14,500
30C
0.0280
75,000
2,100E
0.0002
13,800
3Flathead sole
Annual
W
0.0036
8,650
31C
0.0213
14,500
309( print page 15214)E
0.0009
6,358
6Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.0023
2,050
5C
0.0748
10,985
822E
0.0466
3,465
161Northern rockfish
Annual
W
0.0003
2,017
1C
0.0277
3,136
87Shortraker rockfish
Annual
W
0.0000
104
0C
0.0218
452
10E
0.0110
525
6Other rockfish
Annual
W
0.0034
44
0C
0.1699
606
103E
0.0000
430
0Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.0001
381
0C
0.0000
3,581
0E
0.0067
800
5Rougheye rockfish
Annual
W
0.0000
82
0C
0.0237
861
20E
0.0124
297
4Demersal shelf rockfish
Annual
SEO
0.0020
293
1Thornyhead rockfish
Annual
W
0.0280
150
4C
0.0280
766
21E
0.0280
749
21Atka mackerel
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0309
2,000
13Big skates
Annual
W
0.0063
469
3C
0.0063
1,793
11E
0.0063
1,505
9Longnose skates
Annual
W
0.0063
70
0C
0.0063
1,879
12E
0.0063
676
4Other skates
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
2,030
13Squids
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
1,148
7Sharks
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
6,028
38Octopuses
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
1,455
9Sculpins
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0063
5,731
361
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997 (§ 679.64(b)(4)). Table 21 lists the final 2012 and 2013 non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. These halibut PSC limits are unchanged from the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. Table 21—Final 2012 and 2013 Non-Exempt AFA CV Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Season
Season dates
Target fishery
Ratio of 1995-1997 non-exempt AFA CV retained catch to total retained catch
2012 and 2013 PSC limit
2012 and 2013 non-exempt AFA CV PSC limit1
January 20-April 1
shallow-water
0.340
450
153deep-water
0.070
100
72
April 1-July 1
shallow-water
0.340
100
34deep-water
0.070
300
213
July 1-September 1
shallow-water
0.340
200
68deep-water
0.070
400
284
September 1-October 1
shallow-water
0.340
150
51deep-water
0.070
0
0( print page 15215)5
October 1-December 31
all targets
0.205
300
62
 Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also apply to catch made using a LLP license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on another vessel. Vessels exempt from Pacific cod sideboards are those that landed less than 45,359 kilograms of Bering Sea snow crab and more than 500 mt of groundfish (in round weight equivalents) from the GOA between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000, and any vessel named on an LLP license that was based in whole or in part on the fishing history of a vessel meeting the criteria in § 680.22(a)(3). Sideboard limits for non-AFA crab vessels in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Sections 680.22(d) and (e) establish the formulas used to calculate groundfish sideboard limitations in the GOA. These limitations are calculated by dividing the non-AFA crab vessels' retained catch for each sideboard species from 1996 through 2000 divided by the total retained harvest of that species over the same period. NMFS issued a final rule on June 20, 2011 (76 FR 35772), to implement Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. Amendment 34 amended the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program to exempt additional recipients of crab quota share from GOA pollock and Pacific cod sideboards. Such sideboards apply to some vessels and LLP licenses that are used to participate in these two fisheries. The sideboard ratios for pollock are unchanged. The sideboard ratios for Pacific cod in the Western GOA have been superseded by the Pacific cod sector splits implemented by Amendment 83, which includes dividing the Pacific cod sideboards among applicable industry sectors. Under Amendment 83 (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011), the non-AFA crab vessel sideboards for the inshore and offshore components in the Western and Central GOA were combined. These combined sideboards must then be divided per the sector allocations established under Amendment 83. Thus, NMFS is specifying sideboard limitations in the Pacific cod fisheries for the non-AFA crab vessels in the Western and Central GOA that supersede the original inshore offshore and offshore processing sideboards established under the Crab Rationalization Program. Tables 22 and 23 list the final 2012 and 2013 groundfish sideboard limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits. Table 22—Final 2012 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Area/component/gear
Ratio of 1996-2000 non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996-2000 total
                                 harvest
Final 2012 TACs
Final 2012 non-AFA crab vessel sideboard limitPollock
A Season January 20-March 10
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
5,797
57Chirikof (620)
0.0031
14,023
43Kodiak (630)
0.0002
5,787
1B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
5,797
57Chirikof (620)
0.0031
17,221
53Kodiak (630)
0.0002
2,589
1C Season August 25-October 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
9,338
92Chirikof (620)
0.0031
7,282
23Kodiak (630)
0.0002
8,986
2D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
9,338
92Chirikof (620)
0.0031
7,282
23Kodiak (630)
0.0002
8,986
2Annual
WYK (640)
0.0000
3,244
0SEO (650)
0.0000
10,774
0( print page 15216)Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W Jig
0.0000
12,614
0W Hook-and-line CV
0.0004
12,614
5W Hook-and-line C/P
0.0018
12,614W Pot CV
0.0997
12,614
1,258W Pot C/P
0.0078
12,614
98W Trawl CV
0.0007
12,614
9C Jig
0.0000
25,623
0C Hook-and-line CV
0.0001
25,623
3C Hook-and-line C/P
0.0012
25,623
31C Pot CV
0.0474
25,623
1,215C Pot C/P
0.0136
25,623
348C Trawl CV
0.0012
25,623
31B Season 2
                                 Jig Gear: June 10-December 31. All other gears: September 1-December 31
W Jig
0.0000
8,410
0W Hook-and-line CV
0.0004
8,410
3W Hook-and-line C/P
0.0001
8,410
15W Pot CV
0.0997
8,410
838W Pot C/P
0.0078
8,410
66W Trawl CV
0.0007
8,410
6C Jig
0.0000
17,082
0C Hook-and-line CV
0.0001
17,082
2C Hook-and-line C/P
0.0012
17,082
20C Pot CV
0.0474
17,082
810C Pot C/P
0.0136
17,082
232C Trawl CV
0.0012
17,082
20Annual
E inshore
0.0110
1,774
20E offshore
0.0000
197
0Sablefish
Annual, trawl gear
W
0.0000
356
0C
0.0000
1,152
0E
0.0000
271
0Flatfish, shallow-water
Annual
W
0.0059
13,250
78C
0.0001
18,000
2E
0.0000
5,779
0Flatfish, deep-water
Annual
W
0.0035
176
1C
0.0000
2,308
0E
0.0000
2,642
0Rex sole
Annual
W
0.0000
1,307
0C
0.0000
6,412
0E
0.0000
1,893
0Arrowtooth flounder
Annual
W
0.0004
14,500
6C
0.0001
75,000
8E
0.0000
13,800
0Flathead sole
Annual
W
0.0002
8,650
2C
0.0004
14,500
6E
0.0000
6,269
0Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.0000
2,102
0C
0.0000
11,263
0E
0.0000
3,553
0Northern rockfish
Annual
W
0.0005
2,156
1C
0.0000
3,351
0Shortraker rockfish
Annual
W
0.0013
104
0C
0.0012
452
1E
0.0009
525
0Other rockfish
Annual
W
0.0035
44
0C
0.0033
606
2E
0.0000
430
0Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.0017
409
1C
0.0000
3,849
0E
0.0000
860
0Rougheye rockfish
Annual
W
0.0067
80
1C
0.0047
850
4E
0.0008
293
0( print page 15217)Demersal shelf rockfish
Annual
SEO
0.0000
293
0Thornyhead rockfish
Annual
W
0.0047
150
1C
0.0066
766
5E
0.0045
749
3Atka mackerel
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0000
2,000
0Big skate
Annual
W
0.0392
469
18C
0.0159
1,793
29E
0.0000
1,505
0Longnose skate
Annual
W
0.0392
70
3C
0.0159
1,879
30E
0.0000
676
0Other skates
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
2,030
36Squids
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
1,148
20Sharks
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
6,028
106Octopuses
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
1,455
26Sculpins
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
5,731
1011
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 Table 23—Final 2013 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Species
Season/gear
Area/component/gear
Ratio of 1996-2000 non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996-2000 total
                                 harvest
Final 2013 TACs
Final 2013 non-AFA crab vessel sideboard limitPollock
A Season January 20-March 10
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
6,285
62Chirikof (620)
0.0031
15,202
47Kodiak (630)
0.0002
6,274
1B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
6,285
62Chirikof (620)
0.0031
18,668
58Kodiak (630)
0.0002
2,806
1C Season August 25-October 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
10,123
99Chirikof (620)
0.0031
7,896
24Kodiak (630)
0.0002
9,743
2D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.0098
10,123
99Chirikof (620)
0.0031
7,896
24Kodiak (630)
0.0002
9,743
2Annual
WYK (640)
0.0000
3,517
0SEO (650)
0.0000
10,774
0Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W Jig
0.0000
13,104
0W Hook-and-line CV
0.0004
13,104
5W Hook-and-line C/P
0.0018
13,104
24W Pot CV
0.0997
13,104
1,306W Pot C/P
0.0078
13,104
102W Trawl CV
0.0007
13,104
9C Jig
0.0000
26,618
0C Hook-and-line CV
0.0001
26,618
3C Hook-and-line C/P
0.0012
26,618
32C Pot CV
0.0474
26,618
1262C Pot C/P
0.0136
26,618
362C Trawl CV
0.0012
26,618
32B Season2
                                 Jig Gear: June 10-December 31. All other gears: September 1-December 31
W Jig
0.0000
8,736
0W Hook-and-line CV
0.0004
8,736
3( print page 15218)W Hook-and-line C/P
0.0018
8,736
16W Pot CV
0.0997
8,736
871W Pot C/P
0.0078
8,736
68W Trawl CV
0.0012
8,736
6C Jig
0.0000
17,745
0C Hook-and-line CV
0.0001
17,745
2C Hook-and-line C/P
0.0012
17,745
21C Pot CV
0.0474
17,745
841C Pot C/P
0.0136
17,745
241C Trawl CV
0.0012
17,745
21Annual
E inshore
0.0110
1,842
20E offshore
0.0000
205
0Sablefish
Annual, trawl gear
W
0.0000
351
0C
0.0000
1,137
0E
0.0000
268
0Flatfish, shallow-water
Annual
W
0.0059
13,250
78C
0.0001
18,000
2E
0.0000
5,330
0Flatfish, deep-water
Annual
W
0.0035
176
1C
0.0000
2,308
0E
0.0000
2,642
0Rex sole
Annual
W
0.0000
1,283
0C
0.0000
6,291
0E
0.0000
1,858
0Arrowtooth flounder
Annual
W
0.0004
14,500
6C
0.0001
75,000
8E
0.0000
13,800
0Flathead sole
Annual
W
0.0002
8,650
2C
0.0004
14,500
6E
0.0000
6,358
0Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.0000
2,050
0C
0.0000
10,985
0E
0.0000
3,465
0Northern rockfish
Annual
W
0.0005
2,017
1C
0.0000
3,136
0Shortraker rockfish
Annual
W
0.0013
104
0C
0.0012
452
1E
0.0009
525
0Other rockfish
Annual
W
0.0035
44
0C
0.0033
606
2E
0.0000
430
0Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.0017
381
1C
0.0000
3,581
0E
0.0000
800
0Rougheye rockfish
Annual
W
0.0067
82
1C
0.0047
861
4E
0.0008
297
0Demersal shelf rockfish
Annual
SEO
0.0000
293
0Thornyhead rockfish
Annual
W
0.0047
150
1C
0.0066
766
5E
0.0045
749
3Atka mackerel
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0000
2,000
0Big skate
Annual
W
0.0392
469
18C
0.0159
1,793
29E
0.0000
1,505
0Longnose skate
Annual
W
0.0392
70
3C
0.0159
1,879
30E
0.0000
676
0Other skates
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
2,030
36Squids
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
1,148
20Sharks
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
6,028
106Octopuses
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
1,455
26Sculpins
Annual
Gulfwide
0.0176
5,731
1011
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
                            ( print page 15219)2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations Amendment 88 to the FMP implements the Central GOA Rockfish Program, as previously described in the preamble. The Rockfish Program amendment establishes three classes of sideboard provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions. These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other fisheries. A full description of the Rockfish Program sideboard provisions is contained in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 (76 FR 52148, August 19, 2011). CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat district and Western GOA from July 1 through July 31. Furthermore, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from July 1 through July 31 (§ 679.82(d)). Amendment 88 also establishes rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limitations for C/Ps participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives. These C/Ps are prohibited from directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat district and Western GOA from July 1 through July 31. Holders of C/P-designated LLP licenses that opt-out of participating in a Rockfish Program cooperative will be able to access that portion of each sideboard limit that is not assigned to rockfish cooperatives. Tables 24 and 25 list the final 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program C/P sideboard limits in the West Yakutat district and the Western GOA. Due to confidentiality requirements associated with fisheries data, the sideboard limits for the West Yakutat district are not displayed. Table 24—Final 2012 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western GOA by the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area
Fishery
C/P sector (% of TAC)
Final 2012 TACs
Final 2012 C/P limitWest Yakutat District
Pelagic shelf rockfish
Confidential 1
542
Confidential 1Pacific ocean perch
Confidential 1
1,692
Confidential 1Western GOA
Pelagic shelf rockfish
72.3
409
296Pacific ocean perch
50.6
2,102
1,064Northern rockfish
74.3
2,156
1,6021
                             Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and the State of Alaska.
 Table 25—Final 2013 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western GOA by the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Area
Fishery
C/P sector (% of TAC)
Final 2013 TACs
Final 2013 C/P limitWest Yakutat District
Pelagic shelf rockfish
Confidential 1
504
Confidential 1Pacific ocean perch
Confidential 1
1,650
Confidential 1Western GOA
Pelagic shelf rockfish
72.3
381
275Pacific ocean perch
50.6
2,050
1,037Northern rockfish
74.3
2,017
1,4991
                             Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and the State of Alaska.
 The C/P sector is subject to halibut PSC sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries during the period July 1 through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector. C/Ps that opt-out of the Rockfish Program would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in the final rule implementing Amendment 88 (76 FR 81248, December 27, 2011). These ratios and amounts are not known at this time because vessels applications for C/Ps electing to opt-out are due to NMFS on March 1 of each calendar year, thereby preventing NMFS from calculating final 2012 and 2013 allocations. NMFS will post these allocations on the Alaska Region Web site at 
                        *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​sustainablefisheries/​goarat/​default.htm*
                         when they become available in March. Table 26 lists the final 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P sector.
                        ( print page 15220) Table 26—Final 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
Sector
Shallow-water complex
                                 halibut PSC sideboard ratio 
                                 (percent)
Deep-water complex
                                 halibut PSC sideboard ratio 
                                 (percent)
Annual halibut mortality limit 
                                 (mt)
Annual
                                 shallow- 
                                 water complex halibut PSC 
                                 sideboard limit  
                                 (mt)
Annual deep-water complex halibut PSC sideboard limit 
                                 (mt)Catcher/processor
0.10
2.50
2,000
2
50
 Amendment 80 Program Groundfish and PSC Sideboard Limits Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/P sector. To limit the ability of participants eligible for the Amendment 80 Program to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA, the Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC catch limits for Amendment 80 Program participants. Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits on all Amendment 80 program vessels, other than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE, to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to 50 CFR part 679. Under regulations at § 679.92(d), the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE is prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, pelagic shelf rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA. Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 1998 through 2004. Tables 27 and 28 list the final 2012 and 2013 sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. These limits are based on the final 2012 and 2013 TACs established by this action, and thus may differ proportionately from the sideboard limits in the proposed harvest specifications. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the sideboard limits in Tables 27 and 28. Table 27—Final 2012 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments and
                                 allocations by season
Area
Ratio of Amendment 80 sector
                                 vessels 1998-2004 catch to TAC
2012 TAC 
                                 (mt)
2012
                                 Amendment 
                                 80 vessel 
                                 sideboards  
                                 (mt)Pollock
A Season January 20-February 25
Shumagin (610)
0.003
5,797
17Chirikof (620)
0.002
14,023
28Kodiak (630)
0.002
5,787
12B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.003
5,797
17Chirikof (620)
0.002
17,221
34Kodiak (630)
0.002
2,589
5C Season August 25-September 15
Shumagin (610)
0.003
9,338
28Chirikof (620)
0.002
7,282
15Kodiak (630)
0.002
8,986
18D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.003
9,338
28Chirikof (620)
0.002
7,282
15October 1-November 1
Kodiak (630)
0.002
8,986
18Annual
WYK (640)
0.002
3,244
6Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W
0.020
12,614
252C
0.044
25,623
1,127B Season 2
                                 September 1-December 31
W
0.020
8,410
168C
0.044
17,082
752Annual
WYK
0.034
1,971
67Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.994
2,102
2,089WYK
0.961
1,692
1,626Northern rockfish
Annual
W
1.000
2,156
2,156Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.764
409
312WYK
0.896
542
4861
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 
 
 Table 28—Final 2013 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Species
Apportionments and
                                 allocations by season
Area
Ratio of Amendment 80 sector 
                                 vessels 
                                 1998-2004 catch to TAC
2013 TAC 
                                 (mt)
2013
                                 Amendment 80 
                                 vessel sideboards  
                                 (mt)Pollock
A Season January 20-February 25
Shumagin (610)
0.003
6,285
19Chirikof (620)
0.002
15,202
30Kodiak (630)
0.002
6,274
13B Season March 10-May 31
Shumagin (610)
0.003
6,285
19Chirikof (620)
0.002
18,668
37Kodiak (630)
0.002
2,806
6C Season August 25-September 15
Shumagin (610)
0.003
10,123
30Chirikof (620)
0.002
7,896
16Kodiak (630)
0.002
9,743
19D Season October 1-November 1
Shumagin (610)
0.003
10,123
30Chirikof (620)
0.002
7,896
16Kodiak (630)
0.002
9,743
19Annual
WYK (640)
0.002
3,517
7Pacific cod
A Season 1
                                 January 1-June 10
W
0.020
13,104
262C
0.044
26,618
1,171B Season 2
                                 September 1-December 31
W
0.020
8,736
175C
0.044
17,745
781Annual
WYK
0.034
2,047
70Pacific ocean perch
Annual
W
0.994
2,050
2,038WYK
0.961
1,650
1,586Northern rockfish
Annual
W
1.000
2,017
2,017Pelagic shelf rockfish
Annual
W
0.764
381
291WYK
0.896
504
4521
                             The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.2
                             The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
 The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels in the GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota under the Central GOA Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction (§ 679.92(b)(2)). Table 29 lists the final 2012 and 2013 halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels, as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. These halibut PSC limits are unchanged from those listed in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. Table 29—Final 2012 and 2013 Halibut PSC Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
Season
Season dates
Target fishery
Historic Amendment 80 use of the annual halibut PSC limit catch 
                                 (ratio)
2012 and 2013 annual PSC limit 
                                 (mt)
2012 and 2013
                                 Amendment 80 
                                 vessel PSC limit1
January 20-April 1
shallow-water
0.0048
2,000
10deep-water
0.0115
2,000
232
April 1-July 1
shallow-water
0.0189
2,000
38deep-water
0.1072
2,000
2143
July 1-September 1
shallow-water
0.0146
2,000
29deep-water
0.0521
2,000
1044
September 1-October 1
shallow-water
0.0074
2,000
15deep-water
0.0014
2,000
35
October 1-December 31
shallow-water
0.0227
2,000
45deep-water
0.0371
2,000
74
 
 
 Directed Fishing Closures Pursuant to § 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Regional Administrator determines (1) that any allocation or apportionment of a target species or species group allocated or apportioned to a fishery will be reached; or (2) with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, that an allocation or apportionment to an inshore or offshore component or sector allocation will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a directed fishing allowance (DFA) for that species or species group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group in the specified GOA regulatory area or district (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). The Regional Administrator has determined that the TACs for the species listed in Table 30 are necessary to account for the incidental catch of these species in other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years. Table 30—2012 and 2013 Directed Fishing Closures in the GOA
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Target
Area/component/gear
Incidental catch amountPollock
all/offshore
not applicable1Sablefish 2
all/trawl
1,779 (2012)1,756 (2013)Shortraker rockfish 2
all
1,081Other rockfish
all
1,080Rougheye rockfish
all
1,223 (2012)1,240 (2013)Thornyhead rockfish
all
1,665Atka mackerel
all
2,000Big skate
all
3,767Longnose skate
all
2,625Other skates
all
2,030Squids
all
1,148Sharks
all
6,028Octopuses
all
1,4551
                             Pollock is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore component under § 679.20(a)(6)(i).2
                             Closures not applicable to participants in cooperatives conducted under the Central GOA Rockfish Program.
 Consequently, in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species or species groups listed in Table 30 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for those species, areas, gear types, and components in the GOA listed in Table 30. These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013. Section 679.64(b)(5) provides for management of AFA CV groundfish harvest limits and PSC bycatch limits using directed fishing closures and PSC closures according to procedures set out at §§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), 679.21(d)(8), and 679.21(e)(3)(v). The Regional Administrator has determined that, in addition to the closures listed above, many of the non-exempt AFA CV sideboard limits listed in Tables 19 and 20 are necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2012 and 2013 fishing years. In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator sets the DFAs for the species and species groups in Table 31 at zero. Therefore, in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA for the species and specified areas listed in Table 31. These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013. Table 31—2012 and 2013 Non-Exempt AFA CV Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures for All Gear Types in the GOA
[Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
Species
Regulatory area/district
Incidental catch amountPacific cod
Eastern
14 (inshore) and 2 (offshore) in 201215 (inshore) and 2 (offshore) in 2013Shallow-water flatfish
Eastern
73 in 201267 in 2013Deep-water flatfish
Western
0Rex sole
Eastern and Western
1 and 5Arrowtooth flounder
Eastern and Western
3 and 30Flathead sole
Eastern and Western
6 and 31Pacific ocean perch
Western
5Northern rockfish
Western
1Pelagic shelf rockfish
Entire GOA
6 in 20125 in 2013Demersal shelf rockfish
SEO District
1( print page 15223)Sculpins
Entire GOA
36
 Section 680.22 provides for the management of non-AFA crab vessel sideboards using directed fishing closures in accordance with § 680.22(e)(2) and (3). The Regional Administrator has determined that the non-AFA crab vessel sideboards listed in Tables 22 and 23 are insufficient to support a directed fishery and has set the sideboard DFA at zero, with the exception of Pacific cod pot CV sector apportionments in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by non-AFA crab vessels in the GOA for all species and species groups listed in Tables 22 and 23, with the exception of the Pacific cod pot CV sector apportionments in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Section 679.82 provides for the management of Rockfish Program sideboard limits using directed fishing closures in accordance with § 679.82(d) and (e). The Regional Administrator has determined that the CV sideboards listed in Tables 24 and 25 are insufficient to support a directed fishery and has set the sideboard DFA at zero. Therefore, NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch and pelagic shelf rockfish in the WYK district and the Western Regulatory Area, and for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area by CVs participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program during the month of July in 2012 and 2013. These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013. Closures implemented under the 2011 and 2012 Gulf of Alaska harvest specifications for groundfish (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011) remain effective under authority of these final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: 
                        *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​index/​infobulletins/​infobulletins.asp?​Yr=​2011,*
                         and 
                        *http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/​2011/​status.htm.*
                         While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS may implement other closures during the 2012 and 2013 fishing years as necessary for effective conservation and management. Response to Comments This action was published as a proposed rule on December 22, 2011 (76 FR 79620), and public comments about it were solicited until January 23, 2012. NMFS received one comment submission containing two general categories of comments. This comment was received from a company involved in the halibut sport fishery in Alaska. These comments are summarized and responded to below. *Comment 1:*
                         Maintaining the current Pacific halibut PSC limits for trawl and hook-and-line gear is unacceptable. The halibut exploitable biomass had decreased significantly in recent years, which has adversely affected various user groups, including the commercial halibut IFQ fisheries, guided and unguided sport sectors, and subsistence users. The Council's ongoing effort to consider halibut PSC reductions for the commercial groundfish fisheries in the GOA is commendable. However, the Council has not yet taken final action on that issue, and even if it does in 2012, halibut PSC limit reductions in the GOA may not occur until 2013. Therefore, NMFS and the Council must consider interim PSC reductions, prior to the selection and implementation of any future GOA halibut PSC limit reductions. *Response:*
                         The action to revise GOA halibut PSC limits is under development and consideration by the Council. Initially, this potential revision was under consideration for implementation through the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. In October 2011, the Council initiated a new action to remove GOA halibut PSC limits from the annual harvest specifications process through an amendment to the GOA FMP. In addition, the action would establish the means to set GOA halibut PSC limits in federal regulations. The Council reviewed a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) at its February 2012 meeting and is scheduled to take final action on halibut PSC revisions later in 2012. As the effort to review and potentially revise these limits is under active review and consideration by the Council, NMFS does not believe it to be either necessary or appropriate to reduce either the trawl or hook-and-line gear halibut PSC limits as part of the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. The GOA groundfish fisheries currently are subject to binding halibut PSC limits set by the Council for purposes of halibut conservation. Commercial groundfish fisheries are required to stop fishing when their halibut PSC limits are taken. Directed fisheries for some groundfish species may be closed due to the attainment of halibut PSC limits before the target species' TACs have been fully harvested. Participants in these fisheries incur significant costs to stay within their halibut catch limits. The pending action to revise halibut PSC limits is assessing the economic effects of changes to the current trawl and hook-and-line halibut PSC limits on various components of the GOA groundfish fisheries. *Comment 2:*
                         The draft EA and RIR prepared for the pending halibut PSC revision under consideration by the Council are inadequate. The range of alternatives considered for the potential revisions should include higher PSC limit reductions than five, ten, or 15 percent. The EA should be augmented with additional studies pertaining to halibut bycatch effects on other halibut fishery sectors, additional information about the economic impacts of the alternatives, and a more detailed explanation of halibut bycatch estimation and any potential bias associated with estimating halibut bycatch. The RIR should be augmented to fully account for the costs and benefits to each resource user sector, rather than focusing on the commercial sector. Finally, the analysis does not sufficiently address National Standards 1, 8, and 9 of the Magnuson-Steven Act. *Response:*
                         NMFS notes the commenter's observations and concerns about the GOA halibut PSC revision EA and RIR. We also encourage the commenter to continue to follow the GOA halibut PSC revision action through the Council and rulemaking processes, and provide additional comments about the action and its 
                        ( print page 15224)
                        associated analytical documents to the Council and NMFS, as appropriate. Classification NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws. This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 and 13563. NMFS prepared an EIS for this action (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ) and made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS. In January 2012, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are available from NMFS (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). The EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS found no significant environmental consequences of this action and its alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2012 and 2013 groundfish harvest specifications. A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental concerns, or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Regional Administrator has determined that (1) approval of the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest strategy in the EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; and (2) there are no significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its impacts. Additionally, the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications will result in environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental Protection Act documentation is not necessary to implement the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications. Pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 
                        *et seq.,*
                         a FRFA was prepared for this action. The FRFA incorporates the IRFA, and includes a summary of the significant issues raised by public comments in response to the IRFA, and NMFS' responses to those comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support the action. A copy of the FRFA prepared for this final rule is available from NMFS (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). A description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are contained at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are not repeated here. NMFS published the proposed rule on December 22, 2011. NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to accompany this action, and included a summary in the proposed rule. The comment period closed on January 23, 2012. No comments were received on the IRFA. No changes were made from the proposed rule to the final rule based on comments received about the IRFA. The entities directly regulated by this action are those that receive allocations of groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA, and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters, during the annual harvest specifications process. These directly regulated entities include the groundfish CVs and groundfish C/Ps active in these areas. Direct allocations of groundfish are also made to Central GOA Rockfish Program cooperatives. These entities are, therefore, also considered to be directly regulated. In 2009, there were 660 individual CVs with revenues less than or equal to $4 million. Some of these vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, or of GOA rockfish cooperatives. Vessels that participate in these cooperatives are considered to be large entities within the meaning of the RFA. After accounting for membership in these cooperatives, there are an estimated 627 small CVs remaining in the GOA. In 2009, nine C/Ps grossed less than $4 million. Some of these vessels were affiliated through ownership by the same business firm. NMFS estimates that these vessels were owned by eight separate firms. Vessels in this group were also affiliated through membership in two cooperatives (the Amendment 80 Alaska Seafood Cooperative and the Freezer Longline Conservation Cooperative). After taking account of firm and cooperative affiliations, NMFS estimates that these nine vessels represent four small entities. The number of Rockfish Program cooperatives can change from year to year. In 2010, there were eight separate cooperatives (NMFS 2011). The Rockfish Program cooperatives are directly regulated, since they receive allocations of TAC through the harvest specifications process. The cooperatives are large entities, since they are affiliated with firms with a combined total gross revenue of over $4 million. This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting requirements. NMFS considered alternative harvest strategies when choosing the preferred harvest strategy in December 2006. These included the following: *Alternative 1:*
                         Set TACs to produce fishing mortality rates, F, that are equal to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TACs is constrained by the OY established in the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting TACs to produce harvest levels equal to the maximum permissible ABCs, as constrained by OY. The term “maxFABC” refers to the maximum permissible value of FABC under Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs. Historically, the TAC has been set at or below the ABC, therefore, this alternative represents a likely upper limit for setting the TAC within the OY and ABC limits.
                    *Alternative 3:*
                         For species in Tiers 1, 2, and 3, set TAC to produce F equal to the most recent 5-year average actual F. For species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC equal to the most recent 5-year average actual catch. For stocks with a high level of scientific information, TACs would be set to produce harvest levels equal to the most recent five year average actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks with insufficient scientific information, TACs would be set equal to the most recent five year average actual catch. This alternative recognizes that for some stocks, catches may fall well below ABCs, and recent average F may provide a better indicator of actual F than FABC does.
                    *Alternative 4:*
                         (1) Set TACs for rockfish species in Tier 3 at F75%. Set TACs for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M. Set spatially explicit TACs for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the GOA. (2) Taking the rockfish TACs as calculated above, reduce all other TACs by a proportion that does not vary across species, so that the sum of all TACs, including rockfish TACs, is equal to the lower bound of the area OY (116,000 mt in the GOA). This alternative sets conservative and spatially explicit TACs for rockfish species that are long-lived and late to mature and sets conservative TACs for the other groundfish species.
                    *Alternative 5:*
                         (No Action) Set TACs at zero. These alternatives do not both meet the objectives of this action although they have a smaller adverse economic impact on small entities than the preferred alternative. The Council rejected these alternatives as harvest 
                        ( print page 15225)
                        strategies in 2006, and the Secretary did so in 2007. Alternative 1 selected harvest rates that will allow fishermen to harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests are constrained by the upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 metric tons. The sums of ABCs in 2012 and 2013 are 606,048 mt and 612,506 mt, respectively. The sums of the TACs in 2012 and 2013 are 438,159 mt and 447,752 mt, respectively. Thus, although the sum of ABCs in each year is less than 800,000 metric tons, the sums of the TACs in each year are less than the sums of the ABCs. In most cases, the Council has set TACs equal to ABCs. The divergence between aggregate TACs and aggregate ABCs reflects a variety of special species- and fishery-specific circumstances: Pacific cod TACs are set equal to 75 percent of the Pacific cod ABCs in each year to account for the guideline harvest levels set by the State of Alaska for Pacific cod in its fisheries that are equal to 25 percent of the Council's ABCs. Thus, this difference does not actually reflect a Pacific cod harvest below the Pacific cod ABC. Shallow-water flatfish and flathead sole TACs are set below ABCs in the Western and Central GOA regulatory areas. Arrowtooth flounder TACs are set below ABC in all GOA regulatory areas. Catches of these flatfish species rarely, if ever, approach the proposed ABCs or TACs. Important trawl fisheries in the GOA take halibut PSC, and are constrained by limits on the allowable halibut PSC mortality. These limits routinely force the closure of trawl fisheries before they have harvested the available groundfish ABC. Thus, actual harvests of groundfish in the GOA routinely fall short of some ABCs and TACs. Markets can also constrain harvests below the TACs, as has been the case with arrowtooth flounder, in the past. These TACs are set to allow for increased harvest opportunities for these targets while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other, more fully utilized, fisheries. The other rockfish TAC is set below the ABC in the Southeast Outside district based on several factors. In addition to conservation concerns for the rockfish species in this group, there is a regulatory prohibition against using trawl gear east of 140° W. longitude. Because most species of other rockfish are caught exclusively with trawl gear, the catch of such species with other gear types, such as hook-and-line, is low. The commercial catch of other rockfish in the Eastern regulatory area (which includes the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts) in the last decade has ranged from approximately 70 mt to 248 mt per year. The GOA-wide Atka mackerel TAC is set below the ABC. The estimates of survey biomass continue to be unreliable in the GOA. Therefore, the Council recommended and NMFS agrees that the Atka mackerel TAC in the GOA be set at an amount to support incidental catch in other directed fisheries. Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent five years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the most recent five years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6). This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action, because it does not take account of the most recent biological information for this fishery. Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all species to reduce TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the GOA to its lower end of 116,000 metric tons. Overall this would reduce 2012 TACs by about 81 percent. This would lead to significant reductions in harvests of species harvested by small entities. While production declines in the GOA would undoubtedly be associated with price increases in the GOA, these increases would still be constrained by the availability of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue declines from smaller production. Thus, this action would have a detrimental economic impact on small entities. Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may also address conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse economic impact on small entities. In the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, yellowtail and widow rockfish have been moved from the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) species group to the other rockfish species group. This has been done to leave dusky rockfish alone in the PSR category. Dusky rockfish dominate the PSR category and support a valuable fishery in the Western and Central GOA. Dusky rockfish have been assessed with an age-structured model and are a Tier 3a species, unlike yellowtail and widow rockfish, which are Tier 5 species. This separation allows managers to treat dusky rockfish like other rockfish species in Tier 3a with age-structured models and to have an OFL and ABC specific to this species. A discussion paper reviewing this action found that this management reorganization would have no adverse economic impact on commercial fishermen in the GOA. The discussion paper indicated that the PSR fishery rarely harvested the TAC. Therefore, a reduction in TACs associated with the shift in species would be inconsequential. The paper also concluded that it would not have an adverse impact on participants in the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program (GOA FMP Amendment 88). The action has the effect of increasing the OFL and ABC for other rockfish. Thus, this action is not expected to have an adverse impact on small entities. Impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS (see 
                        **ADDRESSES**
                        ). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness for this rule, because delaying this rule is contrary to the public interest. The Plan Team review occurred in November 2011, and Council consideration and recommendations occurred in December 2011. Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January 2012. For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs established under the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011) were not reached, it is possible that they would be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period, because their TACs could be reached within that time period. If implemented immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to continue to fish because the new TACs implemented by this rule are higher than the ones under which they are currently fishing. Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for sablefish, flatfish, rockfish, Atka mackerel, skates, squids, sharks, octopuses, and sculpins are critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the TAC allocations in many of these fisheries. If this rule allowed for a 30-day delay in effectiveness and if a TAC is reached, NMFS would close directed fishing or prohibit retention for the applicable species. Any delay in allocating the final TACs in these fisheries would cause confusion to the industry and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards. Waiving the 30-day delay allows NMFS to prevent economic loss to fishermen that could otherwise occur should the 2012 TACs be reached. Determining which fisheries may close is impossible because these fisheries are affected by several factors that cannot be predicted in advance, 
                        ( print page 15226)
                        including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks, and market price. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other fisheries by freeing-up fishing vessels, allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open ones, increasing the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, and causing them to close at an accelerated pace. In fisheries subject to declining sideboards, a failure to implement the updated sideboards before initial season's end could deny the intended economic protection to the non-sideboarded sectors. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboards, economic benefit could be denied to the sideboarded sectors. If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 17, 2012, which is the start of the 2012 Pacific halibut season as specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. This would result in confusion for the industry and economic harm from unnecessary discard of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both hook-and-line sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ program. Immediate effectiveness of the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications will allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, the immediate effectiveness of this action is required to provide consistent management and conservation of fishery resources based on the best available scientific information. This is particularly true for those species that have lower 2012 ABCs and TACs than those established in the 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011). Immediate effectiveness also would give the fishing industry the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct its fishing operations with respect to new information about TACs. Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). Small Entity Compliance Guide The following information is a plain language guide to assist small entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary purpose is to announce the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during the 2012 and 2013 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP. This action affects all fishermen who participate in the GOA fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will announce closures of directed fishing in the 
                        **Federal Register**
                         and information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep themselves informed of such closures. Authority:
                        16 U.S.C. 773 
                            *et seq.;*16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 1801 
                            *et seq.;*16 U.S.C. 3631 
                            *et seq.;*Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-241; Pub. L. 109-479. Dated: March 7, 2012. Alan D. Risenhoover, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.


[FR Doc. 2012-6057 Filed 3-13-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P