[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 236 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 76578-76581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31032]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 991207325-0063-02; I.D. 112700C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; A Cost 
Recovery Program for the Individual Fishing Quota Program

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

ACTION: Notification of standard prices and fee percentage for North 
Pacific halibut and sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) cost 
recovery program.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service publishes IFQ standard 
prices and notification of adjustment of the IFQ fee percentage for the 
IFQ Cost Recovery Program in the halibut and sablefish fisheries of the 
North Pacific. This action is intended to provide holders of halibut 
and sablefish IFQs with information to calculate the payments required 
for IFQ cost recovery fees due by January 31, 2001.

DATES: The IFQ cost recovery fees for calendar year 2000 are due on or 
before January 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristie Balovich, Fee Coordinator, 
907-586-7344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS, Alaska Region, administers the halibut and sablefish IFQ 
programs in the North Pacific. The IFQ Programs are limited access 
systems authorized by section 303(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and the Northern 
Pacific Halibut Act of 1982. Fishing under the IFQ Programs began in 
March 1995. Regulations implementing the IFQ Program are set forth at 
50 CFR part 679.
    In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, section 304(d)(2)(A), was 
amended (Pub.L. 104-297) to require the Secretary of Commerce to 
``collect a fee to recover the actual costs directly related to the 
management and enforcement of any . . . individual fishing quota 
program.'' Section 304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act specifies 
an upper limit on these fees, when the fees must be collected, and 
where the fees must be deposited. Section 303(d)(4) of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act allows NMFS to

[[Page 76579]]

reserve up to 25 percent of the fees collected for use in an IFQ loan 
program to aid in financing the purchase of IFQ or of quota share (QS) 
by entry-level and small-vessel fishermen.
    NMFS published, on December 27, 1999 (64 FR 72302), a proposed rule 
to implement the IFQ Cost Recovery Program and published the final rule 
on March 20, 2000 (65 FR 14919). The final regulations implementing the 
IFQ Cost Recovery Program are set forth at 50 CFR 679.45.
    Under the regulations, an IFQ permit holder incurs a cost recovery 
fee liability for every pound of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish that is 
landed on his or her IFQ permit(s). The IFQ permit holder is 
responsible for self-collecting the fee liability for all IFQ halibut 
and IFQ sablefish landings on his or her permit(s). The IFQ permit 
holder is also responsible for submitting a fee liability payment to 
NMFS on or before the due date of January 31 following the year in 
which the IFQ landings were made. The dollar amount of the fee due is 
determined by multiplying the annual IFQ fee percentage (3 percent or 
less) by the ex-vessel value of each IFQ landing made on a permit and 
summing the totals of each permit (if more than one).

Fee Percentage

    Three percent of the ex-vessel value of IFQ halibut and IFQ 
sablefish harvested is the maximum fee amount allowed by section 
304(d)(2)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Regulations at Sec.  
679.45(d) allow the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Administrator) to reduce the fee percentage if actual management and 
enforcement costs could be recovered through a lesser percentage. In 
this event, the Regional Administrator will publish a notification of 
any adjustment of the IFQ fee percentage in the Federal Register 
pursuant to Sec.  679.45(d)(4).
    For 2000, the Regional Administrator has determined that a fee of 
1.8 percent (0.018) is necessary to recover the actual management and 
enforcement costs. Therefore, the Regional Administrator is adjusting 
the cost recovery fee applicable to years 2000 IFQ landings from 3 
percent (0.03) to 1.8 percent (0.018).

Standard Prices

    The fee liability is based on the sum of all payments of monetary 
worth made to fishermen for the sale of the fish. This includes any 
retro-payments (e.g., bonuses, delayed partial payments, post-season 
payments) made to the IFQ permit holder for previously landed IFQ 
halibut or sablefish).
    For purposes of calculating IFQ cost recovery fees, NMFS 
distinguishes between two types of ex-vessel value, ``actual ex-vessel 
value'' and ``standard ex-vessel value.'' ``Actual ex-vessel value'' is 
the amount of money an IFQ permit holder received as payment for his or 
her IFQ fish sold. ``Standard ex-vessel value'' is the default value on 
which to base fee liability calculations. However, IFQ permit holders 
have the option of using ``actual ex-vessel value'' if they can 
satisfactorily document those values.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.45(c)(2)(i) require the Regional 
Administrator to publish IFQ standard prices during the last quarter of 
each calendar year. These standard prices are used, along with 
estimates of IFQ halibut and sablefish landings, to calculate standard 
values. The standard prices are described in U.S. dollars, per IFQ 
equivalent pound, for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings made 
during the year. IFQ equivalent pound(s) means the weight amount, 
recorded in pounds, for an IFQ landing and calculated as round weight 
for sablefish and as headed and gutted (``net'') weight for halibut. 
NMFS calculates the standard prices to reflect, as closely as possible, 
by month and port or port-group, the variations in the actual ex-vessel 
values of IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish landings. The standard prices 
for IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are listed in the following table. 
Data from ports are combined as necessary to protect confidentiality of 
data submissions.

               REGISTERED BUYER STANDARD EX-VESSEL PRICES BY LANDING LOCATION FOR 2000 IFQ SEASON
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                                                                                                      Sablefish
                                                                                   Halibut standard  standard ex-
               Landing location                           Period ending            ex-vessel price      vessel
                                                                                                        price
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CORDOVA.......................................  March 31........................                  *            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.50            *
                                                May 31..........................              $2.52        $2.63
                                                June 30.........................              $2.24            *
                                                July 31.........................              $2.47            *
                                                August 31.......................              $2.50            *
                                                September 30....................                  *            *
                                                October 31......................                  *            *
                                                November 30.....................                  *            *
DUTCH HARBOR..................................  March 31........................                  *            *
                                                April 30........................                  *            *
                                                May 31..........................              $2.32        $2.79
                                                June 30.........................              $2.18        $2.87
                                                July 31.........................              $2.25            *
                                                August 31.......................              $2.26        $2.11
                                                September 30....................              $2.27            *
                                                October 31......................              $2.27            *
                                                November 30.....................              $2.27            *
HOMER.........................................  March 31........................              $2.86            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.61        $2.45
                                                May 31..........................              $2.62        $2.31
                                                June 30.........................              $2.53            *
                                                July 31.........................              $2.65        $2.08
                                                August 31.......................              $2.59            *
                                                September 30....................              $2.61        $2.20
                                                October 31......................              $2.61        $2.20
                                                November 30.....................              $2.61        $2.20

[[Page 76580]]

 
KODIAK........................................  March 31........................              $2.86            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.48        $2.06
                                                May 31..........................              $2.51        $2.17
                                                June 30.........................              $2.33            *
                                                July 31.........................              $2.36            *
                                                August 31.......................              $2.46            *
                                                September 30....................              $2.49        $2.40
                                                October 31......................              $2.49        $2.40
                                                November 30.....................              $2.49        $2.40
PETERSBURG....................................  March 31........................              $2.80            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.52            *
                                                May 31..........................              $2.58            *
                                                June 30.........................              $2.41        $2.23
                                                July 31.........................              $2.51            *
                                                August 31.......................              $2.56            *
                                                September 30....................              $2.60            *
                                                October 31......................              $2.60            *
                                                November 30.....................              $2.60            *
SEWARD........................................  March 31........................              $2.95        $2.40
                                                April 30........................              $2.49        $2.49
                                                May 31..........................              $2.51        $2.36
                                                June 30.........................              $2.41        $2.22
                                                July 31.........................              $2.48        $2.26
                                                August 31.......................              $2.55            *
                                                September 30....................              $2.52            *
                                                October 31......................              $2.52            *
                                                November 30.....................              $2.52            *
SITKA.........................................  March 31........................                  *            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.50            *
                                                May 31..........................              $2.55            *
                                                June 30.........................              $2.55            *
                                                July 31.........................              $2.58            *
                                                August 31.......................                  *            *
                                                September 30....................                  *            *
                                                October 31......................                  *            *
                                                November 30.....................                  *            *
\1\BERING SEA.................................  March 31........................                  *            *
                                                April 30........................              $2.39        $2.35
                                                May 31..........................              $2.21        $2.26
                                                June 30.........................              $2.16        $2.26
                                                July 31.........................              $2.20        $2.01
                                                August 31.......................              $2.22        $2.03
                                                September 30....................              $2.22        $2.10
                                                October 31......................              $2.22        $2.10
                                                November 30.....................              $2.22        $2.10
\2\CENTRAL GULF...............................  March 31........................              $2.89        $2.50
                                                April 30........................              $2.53        $2.48
                                                May 31..........................              $2.51        $2.35
                                                June 30.........................              $2.41        $2.26
                                                July 31.........................              $2.51        $2.09
                                                August 31.......................              $2.49        $2.25
                                                September 30....................              $2.52        $2.39
                                                October 31......................              $2.52        $2.39
                                                November 30.....................              $2.52        $2.39
\3\SOUTHEAST..................................  March 31........................              $2.83        $3.09
                                                April 30........................              $2.56        $2.62
                                                May 31..........................              $2.60        $2.43
                                                June 30.........................              $2.51        $2.23
                                                July 31.........................              $2.50        $2.21
                                                August 31.......................              $2.61        $2.34
                                                September 30....................              $2.63        $2.40
                                                October 31......................              $2.63        $2.40
                                                November 30.....................              $2.63        $2.40

[[Page 76581]]

 
\4\ALL-ALASKA.................................  March 31........................              $2.86        $2.76
                                                April 30........................              $2.54        $2.56
                                                May 31..........................              $2.50        $2.37
                                                June 30.........................              $2.38        $2.25
                                                July 31.........................              $2.38        $2.11
                                                August 31.......................              $2.41        $2.25
                                                September 30....................              $2.48        $2.35
                                                October 31......................              $2.48        $2.35
                                                November 30.....................              $2.48        $2.35
\5\ALL........................................  March 31........................              $2.86        $2.76
                                                April 30........................              $2.54        $2.56
                                                May 31..........................              $2.50        $2.37
                                                June 30.........................              $2.38        $2.25
                                                July 31.........................              $2.38        $2.11
                                                August 31.......................              $2.41        $2.25
                                                September 30....................              $2.48        $2.35
                                                October 31......................              $2.48        $2.35
                                                November 30.....................              $2.48        $2.35
                                                ................................  .................  ...........
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\1\Landing locations Within Port Group - Bering Sea: Adak, Akutan, Akutan Bay, Atka, Bristol Bay, Chefornak,
  Dillingham, Captains Bay, Dutch Harbor, Egegik, Ikatan Bay, Hooper Bay, King Cove, King Salmon, Kipnuk,
  Mekoryuk, Naknek, Nome, Quinhagak, Savoonga, St. George, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, Togiak, Toksook Bay, Tununak,
  Beaver Inlet, Ugadaga Bay, Unalaska.
\2\Landing Locations Within Port Group - Central Gulf of Alaska: Anchor Point, Anchorage, Chignik, Cordova,
  Eagle River, False Pass, West Anchor Cove, Girdwood, Chinitna Bay, Halibut Cove, Homer, Kasilof, Kenai, Kenai
  River, Alitak, Kodiak, Port Bailey, Nikiski, Ninilchik, Old Harbor, Palmer, Sand Point, Seldovia, Resurrection
  Bay, Seward, Valdez.
\3\Landing Locations Within Port Group - Southeast Alaska: Angoon, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Edna Bay, Elfin
  Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hollis, Hoonah, Hyder, Auke Bay, Douglas, Tee Harbor, Juneau, Kake,
  Ketchikan, Klawock, Metlakatla, Pelican, Petersburg, Portage Bay, Port Alexander, Port Graham, Port
  Protection, Point Baker, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Thorne Bay, Wrangell, Yakutat.
\4\Landing Locations Within Port Group - All Alaska: All landing locations included in 1, 2, and 3.
\5\Landing Locations Within Port Group - All Alaska: All landing locations included in 1, 2, and 3. Other
  California. For Oregon: Astoria, Aurora, Lincoln City, Newport, Warrenton, Other Oregon. For Washington:
  Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, Nagai Island, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Ilwaco, La Conner, Port
  Angeles, Port Orchard, Port Townsend, Ranier, Fox Island, Mercer Island, Seattle, Stanwood, Other Washington.
  For Canada: Port Hardy, Port Edward, Prince Rupert, Vancouver, Haines Junction, Other Canada.
\*\Data not available or not presented to protect confidentiality of data submissions.

    This action is required by Sec.  679.45 and is exempt from review 
under Executive Order 12866.

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

    Dated: November 30, 2000.
Clarence Pautzke,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-31032 Filed 12-06-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-22-S