`[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 94680-94700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27896]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 241121-0299; RTID 0648-XE336]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; harvest specifications and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, 
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) 
limits for the groundfish fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
action is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during 
the 2025 and 2026 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA 
(FMP). The 2025 harvest specifications supersede those previously set 
in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest

[[Page 94681]]

specifications, and the 2026 harvest specifications will be superseded 
in early 2026 when the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications are 
published. 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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by December 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124 by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2024-0124 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, 
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the Final EIS, and the annual Supplementary Information 
Reports (SIR) to the Final EIS prepared for this action are available 
from https://www.regulations.gov. An updated 2025 SIR for the final 
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications will be available from the same 
source. The final 2023 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) 
report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated December 2023, is 
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
at 1007 West Third, Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, phone 907-271-
2809, or from the NMFS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation. The 2024 SAFE report for the GOA 
will be available from the same sources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The Council 
prepared and NMFS approved the FMP under the authority of the 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 that NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, 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) (Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(2)). Section 679.20(c)(1) further 
requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual 
TACs and apportionments thereof for each target species, Pacific 
halibut PSC limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. 
The proposed harvest specifications in tables 1 through 19 of this rule 
satisfy these requirements. For 2025 and 2026, the sum of the proposed 
TAC amounts is 482,000 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2025 and 2026 
harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within 
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its 
December 2024 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the 
2025 SIR to the Final EIS that assesses the need to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS (see ADDRESSES), and (4) considering information 
presented in the final 2024 SAFE report, including the 2024 Ecosystem 
Status Report (ESR) for the GOA.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2025 and 2026 GOA Harvest 
Specifications

    The Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF) is considering five proposals 
for management of fishing in State waters that if adopted could 
potentially affect the GOA groundfish harvest specifications for 2025 
and 2026. The BOF will not take action on these proposals until after 
the December 2024 Council meeting.
    Proposal 8, if adopted by the BOF, would increase the Prince 
William Sound (PWS) Pacific cod fishery guideline harvest level (GHL) 
from 25 percent to a minimum of 35 percent and a maximum of 50 percent 
of the acceptable biological catch (ABC) for the Eastern Regulatory 
Area of the GOA. The final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications would 
have to account for this increase in the GHL when specifying the 
Pacific cod TAC for the Eastern Regulatory Area to ensure that the sum 
of all State waters and Federal waters Pacific cod removals from the 
GOA do not exceed ABC recommendations. Proposal 13, if adopted, allows 
for 100 percent retention of longnose and big skate in the PWS Pacific 
cod and Pacific halibut fisheries until 25 percent of the TAC for the 
Eastern Regulatory Area is reached. The final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications would need to account for this change when specifying 
TACs for longnose and big skates for the Eastern Regulatory Area to 
ensure that the sum of all skate removals from State and Federal waters 
of the GOA do not exceed ABC recommendations. Proposals 14 and 16, if 
adopted, would limit or close the PWS pollock fishery, which would mean 
a reduced or no GHL, and the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications 
would account for this change to the GHL by changing the TAC. Proposal 
43, if adopted, would establish a directed octopus fishery in PWS, 
which means the State could set a GHL. The final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications would have to account for this GHL for octopus in PWS 
when specifying the TAC to ensure that the sum of all octopus removals 
from the State and Federal waters of the GOA do not exceed ABC 
recommendation.

Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications

    In October 2024, the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC), its Advisory Panel (AP), and the Council reviewed the most 
recent biological and harvest information about the condition of the 
GOA groundfish stocks. The Council's GOA Groundfish Plan Team (Plan 
Team) compiled and presented this information in the final 2023 SAFE 
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated December 2023 (see 
ADDRESSES). The final 2024 SAFE report, including individual stock 
assessments, will be available online (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report 
contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of 
each species' biomass and past, present, and possible future condition 
of the stocks and groundfish fisheries off Alaska. The SAFE report also 
contains an economic summary informed by the Economic SAFE report 
(available online, see ADDRESSES) and ecosystem information summarized 
from the ESR. The SAFE

[[Page 94682]]

provides information to the Council and NMFS for recommending and 
setting, respectively, annual harvest levels for each stock and 
documenting significant trends or changes in the resource, marine 
ecosystems, and fisheries over time.
    An ESR is prepared for the GOA ecosystem (as well as for the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands ecosystems). ESRs compile and summarize 
information about the status of the Alaska marine ecosystems for the 
Plan Team, SSC, AP, Council, NMFS, and the public, and they are updated 
annually. These ESRs include ecosystem report cards, ecosystem 
assessments, and ecosystem-based management indicators (i.e., climate 
indices, sea surface temperature), which together provide context for 
ecosystem-based fisheries management in Alaska. The ESRs inform stock 
assessments and are integrated into the annual harvest recommendations 
primarily through inclusion in stock assessment-specific risk tables 
that inform the specification of ABC for each target species. The ESRs 
provide context for the SSC's recommendations for overfishing levels 
(OFL) and ABC, as well as for the Council's TAC recommendations. The 
SAFE reports and the ESRs are presented at the October and December 
Council meetings before the SSC, AP, and the Council make groundfish 
harvest recommendations, and they aid NMFS in implementing these annual 
groundfish harvest specificaitions.
    In addition to the 2023 SAFE report (the most recent final SAFE 
report available), the Plan Team, SSC, and Council also reviewed 
preliminary survey data from 2024 surveys, updates on ecosystem and 
socioeconomic profiles (ESPs) for certain species, initial updates on 
climate and oceanography for Alaska ecosystems, summaries of potential 
changes to models, and stock assessment methodologies. From these data 
and analyses, the Plan Team and SSC recommend the proposed OFL and ABC 
for each species and species group. The AP and Council also review the 
data and analyses, including the 2023 SAFE report, as well as Plan Team 
and SSC recommendations for OFL and ABC to develop their TAC 
recommendations. The AP and Council recommended that the proposed 2025 
and 2026 TACs be set equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species 
groups (a species or species groups' TAC cannot exceed its ABC), with 
the exception of the species and species groups further discussed 
below. The proposed OFLs, ABCs, and TACs could be changed in the final 
harvest specifications depending on the most recent scientific 
information contained in the final 2024 SAFE report and comments on 
this proposed rule. The individual stock assessments that comprise, in 
part, the 2023 SAFE report are available online (see ADDRESSES). The 
final 2024 SAFE report will be available from the same source.
    In November 2024, the Plan Team will update the 2023 SAFE report to 
include new information collected during 2024, such as NMFS stock 
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team will 
compile this information and present the draft 2024 SAFE report at the 
December 2024 Council meeting. At that meeting, the SSC and the Council 
will review the 2024 SAFE report, and the Council will approve the 2024 
SAFE report for use in informing the Council's final recommendations to 
NMFS. The Council will consider information in the 2024 SAFE report, 
recommendations from the November 2024 Plan Team meeting and December 
2024 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public 
comments in making its recommendations to NMFS for the final 2025 and 
2026 harvest specifications. Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(2) and (3), 
NMFS will specify the final TACs based on the biological condition of 
groundfish stocks, a variety of socioeconomic considerations; ensuring 
that the sum of all the TACs is to fall within the OY range.

Potential Changes Between Proposed and Final Specifications

    In previous years, the most significant changes (relative to the 
amount of assessed tonnage of fish) to the OFLs and ABCs from the 
proposed to the final harvest specifications have been based on the 
most recent NMFS stock surveys. These surveys provide updated estimates 
of stock biomass and spatial distribution and inform changes to the 
models used for producing stock assessments. At the September 2024 Plan 
Team meeting, NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results. 
Scientists also discussed potential changes to assessment models and 
accompanying preliminary stock estimates. At the October 2024 Council 
meeting, the SSC reviewed this information. Species and species groups 
with proposed changes to assessment models include pollock, Pacific 
cod, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish. Model changes may result in 
changes to the final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs.
    In November 2024, the Plan Team will consider updated survey 
results and updated stock assessments for groundfish stocks, which will 
be included in the draft 2024 SAFE report. If the 2024 SAFE report 
indicates that the stock biomass trend is increasing for a species, 
then the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for that species 
may reflect an increase from the proposed harvest specifications. 
Conversely, if the 2024 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass 
trend is decreasing for a species, then the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications for that species may reflect a decrease from the 
proposed harvest specifications.
    The proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
available biological and scientific information, including projected 
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, 
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP 
specifies the tiers to be used to calculate OFLs and ABCs. The tier 
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex is determined by the 
level of reliable information available to the fisheries scientists. 
This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers 
to define OFLs and ABCs, with Tier 1 representing the highest level of 
information quality available and Tier 6 representing the lowest level 
of information quality available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier 
structure to calculate OFLs and ABCs for each groundfish species. The 
SSC adopted the proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the 
Plan Team for all groundfish species. The proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs 
are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. In making its recommendations, the Council adopted the 
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations for 
all groundfish species. NMFS has reviewed the recommendations of the 
SSC and Council for OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for target species and species 
groups in the GOA as well as any other relevant information. Based on 
that review, NMFS is proposing the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs set forth in 
the tables of this proposed rule as consistent with the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable law, subject to further 
review and consideration after public comment.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The combined Western and Central (W/C) Regulatory Areas and the 
West Yakutat (WYK) District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (the W/C/
WYK) pollock TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs are set to account for 
the State GHLs for the State waters pollock and Pacific cod fisheries 
so that the ABCs are not exceeded. These reductions are

[[Page 94683]]

described below. The shallow-water flatfish TAC in the Western 
Regulatory Area, arrowtooth flounder TACs in the Western Regulatory 
Area and the Southeast Outside (SEO) District, and flathead sole TAC in 
the Western Regulatory Area are set to allow for increased harvest 
opportunities for these target species while conserving the halibut PSC 
limit for use in other fisheries. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to 
accommodate incidental catch amounts (ICA) in other fisheries. The 
other rockfish TAC in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area 
is set to reduce the amount of discards of the species in that complex.
    NMFS's proposed apportionments of groundfish species are based on 
the distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas over which NMFS 
manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of 
pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish. Additional detail on 
apportionments of pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish are described 
below.
    The proposed 2025 and 2026 TAC for the pollock stock in the 
combined W/C/WYK Regulatory Area is set to account for the GHL 
established by the State for the PWS pollock fishery. The Plan Team, 
SSC, AP, and Council have recommended that the sum of all State waters 
and Federal waters pollock removals from the GOA not exceed ABC 
recommendations. State fisheries managers set the PWS GHL at 2.5 
percent of the annual W/C/WYK pollock ABC. Currently, this GHL is based 
on the GHL historical percent average from 2001 to 2010. For 2025 and 
2026, this yields a projected PWS pollock GHL of 3,942 mt, a decrease 
of 17 percent from the 2024 PWS GHL of 4,769 mt. After reductions for 
the PWS GHL, the remaining 2025 and 2026 pollock ABC for the combined 
W/C/WYK areas is then apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 
610, 620, 630, and 640) and corresponding TACs are proposed to be set 
equal to the ABCs, as described below and detailed in table 1. The 
total TACs for the four statistical areas, plus the State GHL, do not 
exceed the combined W/C/WYK ABC. The proposed W/C/WYK 2025 and 2026 
pollock ABC is 157,687 mt, and the proposed TAC is 153,745 mt.
    Apportionments of pollock to the W/C/WYK management areas are 
considered to be apportionments of the TAC. Apportionments of the TAC 
in this manner allow NMFS to balance any transfer of TAC among Areas 
610, 620, and 630 pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) and to ensure 
that the combined W/C/WYK ABC, ACL, and TAC are not exceeded.
    NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the Western (Area 610) and Central 
(Areas 620 and 630) Regulatory Areas and the WYK (Area 640) and the SEO 
(Area 650) Districts of the GOA (see table 1). NMFS also proposes 
seasonal apportionment of the annual pollock TAC in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical Areas 610, 620, 
and 630. These apportionments are divided equally among the following 
two seasons: the A season (January 20 through May 31) and the B season 
(September 1 through November 1) (Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(2) and 
679.20(a)(5)(iv)). Additional detail is provided below; table 2 lists 
these amounts.
    The proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs (see table 1) are set 
to account for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod in State waters in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS (in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area). The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that 
the sum of all State waters and Federal waters Pacific cod removals 
from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council 
recommended and NMFS proposes that the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs 
in the Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas account for State 
GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs are less 
than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Western GOA, 2,291 
mt; (2) Central GOA, 4,495 mt; and (3) Eastern GOA, 641 mt. These 
amounts reflect the State's projected 2025 and 2026 GHLs in these 
areas, which are 30 percent of the Western GOA proposed ABC, and 25 
percent of both the Eastern and Central GOA proposed ABCs.
    The Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs are allocated among 
various gear and operational sectors. NMFS also establishes seasonal 
apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas. The Pacific cod sector and seasonal 
apportionments are discussed in detail in a subsequent section and in 
table 4 of this rule.
    The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments 
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (Sec.  679.7(b)(1)) and makes 
available 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (WYK and SEO 
Districts combined) TAC to vessels using trawl gear for use as 
incidental catch in other trawl groundfish fisheries in the WYK 
District (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). Additional detail is provided below. 
Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations of the 
sablefish TAC to fixed gear and trawl gear in the GOA.
    For 2025 and 2026, the Council recommends, and NMFS proposes, the 
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in table 1. These amounts are consistent 
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 
2023 SAFE report. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are 
less than the specified OFLs. The proposed TACs are adjusted for other 
biological and socioeconomic considerations and do not exceed ABCs. The 
sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish target species is 
482,000 mt for 2025 and 2026, which is within the OY range specified by 
the FMP and implementing regulations. These proposed amounts and 
apportionments by area, season, and sector are subject to change by 
NMFS pending consideration of the 2024 SAFE report, public comment, and 
the Council's recommendations for the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications during its December 2024 meeting.

    Table 1--Proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat,
 Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
                          Regulatory Area, and Gulfwide District of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species                               Area \1\                 OFL         ABC       TAC \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\.................................  Shumagin (610)................         n/a      32,144      32,144
                                              Chirikof (620)................         n/a      75,179      75,179
                                              Kodiak (630)..................         n/a      41,821      41,821
                                              WYK (640).....................         n/a       4,601       4,601
                                              W/C/WYK (subtotal)............     182,891     157,687     153,745
                                                                             -----------------------------------

[[Page 94684]]

 
                                                 SEO (650)..................      12,998       9,749       9,749
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................     195,889     167,436     163,494
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.............................  W.............................         n/a       7,638       5,347
                                              C.............................         n/a      17,981      13,486
                                              E.............................         n/a       2,565       1,924
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Total.........................      33,970      28,184      20,757
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \4\...............................  W.............................         n/a       4,719       4,719
                                              C.............................         n/a       9,693       9,693
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,940       2,940
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       5,343       5,343
                                                 Subtotal TAC...............         n/a         n/a      22,695
                                                 Total......................      55,317      47,350         n/a
Shallow-water flatfish \5\..................  W.............................         n/a      23,782      13,250
                                              C.............................         n/a      28,311      28,311
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,831       2,831
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       1,699       1,699
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      69,354      56,623      46,091
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \6\.....................  W.............................         n/a         234         234
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,614       2,614
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,827       1,827
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,278       2,278
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       8,257       6,953       6,953
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole....................................  W.............................         n/a       3,363       3,363
                                              C.............................         n/a      13,624      13,624
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,439       1,439
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,877       2,877
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      25,900      21,303      21,303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.........................  W.............................         n/a      30,323      14,500
                                              C.............................         n/a      64,688      64,688
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       7,848       7,848
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                              SEO...........................         n/a      16,053       6,900
                                                 Total......................     142,074     118,912      93,936
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole...............................  W.............................         n/a      13,521       8,650
                                              C.............................         n/a      21,702      21,702
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       3,949       3,949
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,086       2,086
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      50,322      41,258      36,387
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\.....................  W.............................         n/a       1,726       1,726
                                              C.............................         n/a      27,768      27,768
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,038       2,038
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       6,822       6,822
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      45,835      38,354      38,354
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \8\.......................  W.............................         n/a       2,446       2,446
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,200       2,200
                                              E.............................         n/a  ..........  ..........
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       5,548       4,646       4,646
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \9\.....................  W.............................         n/a          34          34
                                              C.............................         n/a         189         189
                                              E.............................         n/a         424         424
                                                 Total......................         863         647         647
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 94685]]

 
Dusky rockfish \10\.........................  W.............................         n/a         137         137
                                              C.............................         n/a       6,979       6,979
                                              WYK...........................         n/a          81          81
                                              SEO...........................         n/a          28          28
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       8,796       7,225       7,225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish \11\.....  W.............................         n/a         198         198
                                              C.............................         n/a         317         317
                                              E.............................         n/a         526         526
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       1,566       1,041       1,041
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish \12\................  SEO...........................         376         283         283
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish \13\....................  W.............................         n/a         314         314
                                              C.............................         n/a         693         693
                                              E.............................         n/a         621         621
                                                 Total......................       2,170       1,628       1,628
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish 14 15........................  W/C/WYK combined..............         n/a       1,353       1,353
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,421         300
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       4,977       3,774       1,653
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel...............................  GW............................       6,200       4,700       3,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates \16\.............................  W.............................         n/a         745         745
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,749       1,749
                                              E.............................         n/a         341         341
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       3,780       2,835       2,835
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \17\........................  W.............................         n/a         104         104
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,894       1,894
                                              E.............................         n/a         538         538
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Total.........................       3,380       2,536       2,536
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \18\...........................  GW............................         887         665         665
Sharks......................................  GW............................       6,521       4,891       4,891
Octopuses...................................  GW............................       1,307         980         980
    Total...................................  ..............................     673,289     562,224     482,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   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=Gulfwide).
\2\ The total for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas pollock ABC is 157,687 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (3,942 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 153,745 mt (for the W/C/WYK
  Regulatory Areas) is apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640). The
  apportionments in Areas 610, 620, and 630 are further divided by season, as detailed in table 2 (proposed 2025
  and 2026 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area
  apportionments, and seasonal allowances). In the West Yakutat (Area 640) and Southeast Outside (Area 650)
  Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned, after seasonal apportionment to the jig sector, as follows: 1)
  63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season and 2) 64.16 percent to the A season and 35.84
  percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, respectively. The Pacific cod
  TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is allocated 90 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for
  processing by the inshore component and 10 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the
  offshore component. Table 4 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector
  allocations.
\4\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (55,317 mt and 47,350 mt, respectively), and the GOA sablefish
  TAC is 22,695 mt. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. For management purposes, the one mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area has been included in the other rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus
  (blackspotted).
\12\ ``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).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means Sebastolobus species.

[[Page 94686]]

 
\14\ ``Other rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish (S. polyspinis).
\15\ Other rockfish in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the Eastern
  Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish
  categories. The other rockfish species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish.
\16\ ``Big skates'' means Beringraja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skates'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses in 
reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing 
year. Section 679.20(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to reapportion all or part 
of these reserves. In 2024, NMFS reapportioned all of the reserves in 
the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS 
proposes reapportionment of each of the reserves for pollock, Pacific 
cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses back into the original TAC from 
which the reserve was derived. NMFS expects, based on recent harvest 
patterns, that such reserves will not be necessary for the management 
of these fisheries and that the entire TAC for each of these species 
will be caught or are needed to promote efficient fisheries. The TACs 
in table 1 reflect this proposed reapportionment of reserve amounts to 
the original TAC for these species and species groups, i.e., each 
proposed TAC for the above-mentioned species or species groups contains 
the full TAC recommended by the Council.

Proposed 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 is further 
allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. Pursuant 
to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified for the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned into two 
seasonal allowances of 50 percent each. As established by Sec.  
679.23(d)(2), the A and B season allowances are available from January 
20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively.
    Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in proportion 
to the distribution of pollock biomass determined by the most recent 
NMFS surveys, pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). The pollock 
chapter of the 2023 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES) contains a 
comprehensive description of the apportionment and reasons for the 
minor changes from past apportionments. Pollock is specified between 
two seasons for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA (A 
and B seasons). There are four seasonal apportionments: A, B, C, and D 
seasons as outlined in the 2023 GOA pollock assessment in the 2023 SAFE 
report. The GOA pollock stock assessment continues to use a four-season 
methodology to determine pollock distribution in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA to maintain continuity in the 
historical pollock apportionment time-series. A and B seasons from the 
assessment are aggregated into the A season for the purposes of 
specifications and C and D seasons from the assessement are aggregated 
into the B season for the purposes of specifications. This method is 
described and calculated in the 2023 GOA pollock assessment.
    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 (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount 
is limited to 20 percent of the subsequent seasonal TAC apportionment 
for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent 
limit could be further distributed to the subsequent season in the 
other statistical areas in proportion to the estimated biomass of the 
subsequent season and in an amount no more than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in those statistical areas (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2025 and 2026 pollock TACs in the 
WYK District of 4,601 mt and the SEO District of 9,749 mt are not 
allocated by season.
    Table 2 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 area apportionments and 
seasonal allowances of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and 
offshore components are not shown. Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires 
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 the 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 Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these ICAs of 
pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year 
during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component.

 Table 2--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf
                    of Alaska; Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Shumigan (Area  Chirikof (Area   Kodiak (Area
                   Season \2\                          610)            620)            630)          Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)...........................           4,483          58,629          11,460          74,572
B (September 1-November 1)......................          27,661          16,550          30,361          74,572
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 94687]]

 
    Annual Total................................          32,144          75,179          41,821         149,144
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2), the A and B season allowances are available from January 20 through
  May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore
  and offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
  included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.

Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires allocations for the 2025 and 2026 
Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
among gear and operational sectors as well as seasonal apportionments 
of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. A 
portion 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. The remainder of the annual TAC 
is apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through 
December 31, for hook-and-line and pot gear from September 1 through 
December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1 
(Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) 
requires allocations of the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs annually 
between the inshore (90 percent) and offshore (10 percent) components 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA.
    In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally 
first to vessels using jig gear and then among catcher vessels (CVs) 
using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors (CPs) using hook-and-line 
gear, CVs using trawl gear, CPs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot 
gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)). In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod 
TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear and then 
among CVs less than 50 feet (15.2 meters (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, CPs using hook-and-line gear, 
CVs using trawl gear, CPs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear 
(Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)). Allocations to the jig sector for the 
Western and Central GOA are apportioned between the A season (60 
percent) and the B season (40 percent) (Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)). 
Excluding seasonal apportionments to the jig gear sector, the remainder 
of the annual Pacific cod TACs are apportioned as follows: the seasonal 
apportionments of the annual TAC are 63.84 percent to the A season and 
36.16 percent to the B season in the Western GOA and 64.16 percent to 
the A season and 35.84 percent to the B season in the Central GOA.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the 
Pacific cod allowance from the A season may 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 is 
determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be 
reallocated to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the 
fishing year consistent with the factors set forth in regulation.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A) and (B), a portion of the 
annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central GOA will be 
allocated to vessels with a Federal fisheries permit that use jig gear 
before the TACs are apportioned among other non-jig sectors. In 
accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may increase 
to up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific cod 
TACs, depending on the annual performance of the jig sector (see table 
1 of amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig 
sector allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). Jig sector 
allocation increases are established for a minimum of 2 years.
    NMFS has evaluated the historical harvest performance of the jig 
sector in the Western and Central GOA and is proposing the 2025 and 
2026 Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical 
harvest performance through 2024. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS proposes that 
the jig sector receive 3.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 
Western GOA. The 2025 and 2026 allocation consists of a base allocation 
of 1.5 percent of the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC and a harvest 
performance increase of 2 percent based on prior harvest performance. 
If the jig sector does not reach 90 percent of its Western GOA Pacific 
cod allocation for the 2024 fishing year, which appears likely based on 
catch through October 2024, the prior harvest performance increase of 2 
percent would be maintained because allocation increases are 
established for a minimum of 2 years. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS also 
proposes that the jig sector receive 3 percent of the annual Pacific 
cod TAC in the Central GOA. The 2025 and 2026 allocation consists of a 
base allocation of 1 percent and a harvest performance increase of 2 
percent based on harvest performance through 2024 because the jig 
sector did reach 90 percent of its Central GOA Pacific cod allocation 
for the 2024 fishing year. The Pacific cod jig allocations, catch, and 
percent allocation changes are listed in table 3.

    Table 3--Summary of Western GOA and Central GOA Pacific Cod Catch by Jig Gear in 2014 Through 2023, and Corresponding Percent Allocation Changes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Percent of     >90 Percent
             Area                    Year           Initial       Initial TAC     Catch (mt)        initial      of initial        Change to percent
                                                percent of TAC    allocation                      allocation     allocation?          allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA...................            2014             2.5             573             785             137            Y   Increase 1.
                                          2015             3.5             948              55               6            N   None.
                                          2016             3.5             992              52               5            N   Decrease 1.
                                          2017             2.5             635              49               8            N   Decrease 1.
                                          2018             1.5             125             121              97            Y   Increase 1.
                                          2019             2.5             134             134             100            Y   Increase 1.

[[Page 94688]]

 
                                          2020         \1\ n/a  ..............  ..............  ..............  ............  ..........................
                                          2021             3.5             195              26              13            N   None.
                                          2022             3.5             243               2               1            N   Decrease 1.
                                          2023             2.5             131             131             101            Y   Increase 1.
                                          2024             3.5             214              17               8            N   None.
Central GOA...................            2014               2             797             262              33            N   Decrease 1.
                                          2015               1             460             355              77            N   None.
                                          2016               1             370             267              72            N   None.
                                          2017               1             331              18               6            N   None.
                                          2018               1              61               0               0            N   None.
                                          2019               1              58              30              52            N   None.
                                          2020         \1\ n/a  ..............  ..............  ..............  ............  ..........................
                                          2021               1             102              26              26            N   None.
                                          2022               1             113               3               3            N   None.
                                          2023               1             111             246             222            Y   Increase 1.
                                          2024               2             309             303              98            Y   Increase 1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ NMFS did not evaluate the 2020 performance of the jig sectors in the Western and Central GOA because NMFS prohibited directed fishing for all
  Pacific cod sectors in 2020 (84 FR 70438, December 23, 2019).

    NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2024 harvest performance of the 
jig sector in the Western and Central GOA when the 2024 fishing year is 
complete to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations 
proposed by this action in conjunction with the final 2025 and 2026 
harvest specifications. The current catch through October 2024 by the 
Central GOA jig sector indicates that the Pacific cod allocation 
percentage for this sector will increase by 1 percent in the Central 
GOA. However, based on catch through October 2024, an increase is 
unlikely for the jig sector in the Western GOA. Table 4 lists the 
seasonal apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2025 and 2026 
Pacific cod TACs.

 Table 4--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the GOA;
   Allocations to the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing
                                                   Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual          Sector                          Sector
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation     percentage of     Seasonal      percentage of     Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA:
    Jig (3.5 percent of TAC)....             187             N/A             112             N/A              75
    Hook-and-line CV............              72             0.7              36             0.7              36
    Hook-and-line CP............            1022            10.9             562             8.9             459
    Trawl CV....................            1981           31.54            1627            6.86             354
    Trawl CP....................             124             0.9              46             1.5              77
    Pot CV and Pot CP...........            1961            19.8            1022            18.2             939
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................           5,347           63.84           3,406           36.16           1,941
Central GOA:
    Jig (3 percent of TAC)......             405             N/A             243             N/A             162
    Hook-and-line < 50 CV.......           1,910            9.32           1,219            5.29             692
    Hook-and-line >= 50 CV......             877            5.61             734             1.1             144
    Hook-and-line CP............             668            4.11             537          0.9975             130
    Trawl CV \1\................           5,440           25.29           3,309           16.29           2,131
    Trawl CP....................             549               2             262            2.19             287
    Pot CV and Pot CP...........           3,637           17.83           2,332            9.98           1,305
        Total...................          13,486           64.16           8,641           35.84           4,845
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA.....................  ..............   Inshore (90 percent of Annual
                                                               TAC)
                                  Offshore (10 percent of Annual
                                               TAC)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1,924                   1,732
                                                     192
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl CVs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 514 mt, of the annual
  Central GOA Pacific cod TAC (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the Trawl
  CV B season allowance (see table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the
  Central GOA and table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).


[[Page 94689]]

Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TAC to Vessels Using Fixed Gear 
and Trawl Gear

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) requires allocations of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to fixed and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to fixed 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 fixed gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The 
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may be used only 
to support incidental catch of sablefish while directed fishing for 
other target species using trawl gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)).
    In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended, and 
NMFS proposes, specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 
percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (WYK and SEO Districts combined) 
sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area. The remainder of the WYK District sablefish TAC is 
allocated to vessels using fixed gear. This proposed action allocates 
100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using 
fixed gear. This results in proposed 2025 allocations of 414 mt to 
trawl gear and 2,526 mt to fixed gear in the WYK District and a 
proposed 2025 allocation of 5,343 mt to fixed gear in the SEO District. 
Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2025 sablefish TACs to 
fixed and trawl gear. Table 6 lists the allocations of the proposed 
2026 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
    The Council recommended that the trawl sablefish TAC be established 
for 2 years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl 
gear could commence in January (when the trawl season opens) in the 
second year of the groundfish harvest specifications. NMFS concurs with 
this recommendation. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2025 and 2026 
trawl allocations, respectively.
    The Council also recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that the sablefish individual fishing 
quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ 
fishery and is based on the most recent survey information. Since there 
is an annual assessment for sablefish and since the final harvest 
specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season 
begins (typically, in early March), the Council recommended that the 
fixed gear sablefish TAC be set annually, rather than for 2 years. NMFS 
concurs with this recommendation. Accordingly, table 5 lists the 
proposed 2025 fixed gear allocations, and the 2026 fixed gear 
allocations will be specified in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest 
specifications.
    With the exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to 
the Rockfish Program (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), directed 
fishing for sablefish with trawl gear is typically closed at the 
beginning of the fishing year (e.g., table 27 of the final 2024 and 
2025 GOA harvest specifications, 89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024). Also, 
fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 
20 (Sec.  679.23(c)). Therefore, it is not likely that the sablefish 
allocation to trawl gear would be reached before the effective date of 
the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications.

   Table 5--Proposed 2025 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Fixed and Trawl Gear
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Fixed gear
                    Area/District                            TAC              allocation        Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.............................................              4,719                 3,775                944
Central \1\.........................................              9,693                 7,754              1,939
West Yakutat \2\....................................              2,940                 2,526                414
Southeast Outside...................................              5,343                 5,343  .................
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Total...........................................             22,695                19,398              3,297
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the
  Rockfish Program cooperatives (997 mt). See table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish
  Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 942 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program
  trawl fisheries.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  District.


       Table 6--Proposed 2026 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Fixed gear         Trawl
                          Area/district                                 TAC         allocation      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           4,719             n/a             944
Central \2\.....................................................           9,693             n/a           1,939
West Yakutat \3\................................................           2,940             n/a             414
Southeast Outside...............................................           5,343             n/a  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          22,695             n/a           3,297
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that the proposed 2026 harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish IFQ
  fisheries not be specified in the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. The 2026 fixed gear allocations will
  be specified in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the
  Rockfish Program cooperatives (997 mt). See table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish
  Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 942 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program
  trawl fisheries.
\3\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  District.


[[Page 94690]]

Proposed Allocations, Apportionments, and Sideboard Limitations for the 
Rockfish Program

    These proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for the GOA 
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations 
established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily 
trawl CVs and trawl CPs, with limited participation by vessels using 
longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative 
quota to trawl participants for primary species (Pacific ocean perch, 
northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) and secondary species (Pacific 
cod, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, sablefish, shortraker 
rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish), allows a participant holding a 
License Limitation Program (LLP) license with rockfish quota share to 
form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of 
CP 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. Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, 
and handline gear.
    Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species in the Central 
GOA are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch 
needs in other directed fisheries (Sec.  679.81(a)(2)). Participants in 
the Rockfish Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of 
specific secondary species. In addition to groundfish species, the 
Rockfish Program allocates a portion of the halibut PSC limit (191 mt) 
from the third season deep-water species fishery allowance for the GOA 
trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants (Sec.  679.81(d) and 
table 28d to 50 CFR part 679). The Rockfish Program also establishes 
sideboard limits to restrict the ability of harvesters operating under 
the Rockfish Program to increase their participation in other, non-
Rockfish Program fisheries. These restrictions and halibut PSC limits 
are discussed in the Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut 
PSC Limitations section of this proposed rule.
    Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) and table 28e to 50 CFR part 679 require 
allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, 
and 50 mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level longline fishery in 2025 
and 2026. The allocations of primary species to the entry level 
longline fishery may increase incrementally each year if the catch 
exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental 
increase in the allocations would continue each year until reaching the 
maximum percentage of the TAC for that species. In 2024, the catch for 
all three primary species did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated 
rockfish species. Therefore, NMFS is not proposing any increases to the 
entry level longline fishery 2025 and 2026 allocations in the Central 
GOA. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species, after 
subtracting the ICAs, would be allocated to the CV and CP cooperatives 
(Sec.  679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 7 lists the allocations of the 
proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs for each rockfish primary species to the 
entry level longline fishery, the potential incremental increases for 
future years, and the maximum percentages of the TACs of the rockfish 
primary species allocations to the entry level longline fishery.

 Table 7--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in
                                           the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Incremental increase in
                                          Proposed 2025 and 2026     2025 if >90 percent of      Up to maximum
       Rockfish primary species                allocations             2024 allocation is       percent of each
                                                                           harvested                TAC of
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch...................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                   1
Northern rockfish.....................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                   2
Dusky rockfish........................  50 metric tons...........  20 metric tons...........                   5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 679.81 requires allocations of rockfish primary species 
among various sectors of the Rockfish Program. Table 8 lists the 
proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations of rockfish primary species in the 
Central GOA to the entry level longline fishery and rockfish CV and CP 
cooperatives in the Rockfish Program. NMFS also proposes setting aside 
ICAs for other directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 3,500 mt of 
Pacific ocean perch, 300 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky 
rockfish. These amounts are based on recent average incidental catches 
in the Central GOA by other groundfish fisheries.
    Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or CP cooperatives are 
not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program 
applications for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives are not due to 
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot 
calculate 2025 and 2026 allocations in conjunction with these proposed 
harvest specifications. After receiving the Rockfish Program 
applications, NMFS will calculate the 2025 allocations for CV and CP 
cooperatives, as set forth in Sec.  679.81(b), (c), and (e). NMFS will 
announce the 2025 allocations after March 1 and post these allocations 
on the Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish.

  Table 8--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the
                 Entry Level Longline Fishery and Rockfish Cooperatives in the Rockfish Program
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Incidental                     Allocation to   Allocation to
                                    Central GOA        catch                         the entry     the rockfish
    Rockfish primary species            TAC          allowance     TAC minus ICA  level longline   cooperatives
                                                       (ICA)                        \1\fishery          \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.............          27,768           3,500          24,268               5          24,263
Northern rockfish...............           2,200             300           1,900               5           1,895
Dusky rockfish..................           6,979             250           6,729              50           6,679
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 94691]]

 
    Total.......................          36,947           4,050          32,897              60          32,837
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (50 CFR 679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (50 CFR 679.81).

    Section 679.81(c) and table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 require 
allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and CP cooperatives in 
the Central GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, 
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. CP 
cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl gear 
allocation, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 
and thornyhead rockfish. Table 9 lists the apportionments of the 
proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the 
Central GOA to CV and CP cooperatives.

   Table 9--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher
                                    Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Catcher Vessel cooperatives   Catcher/Processor cooperatives
                                    Central GOA  ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Rockfish secondary species       annual TAC     Percentage of   Apportionment   Percentage of   Apportionment
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.....................          13,486            3.81             514             N/A             N/A
Sablefish.......................           9,693            6.78             657            3.51             340
Shortraker rockfish.............             189             n/a             n/a              40              76
Rougheye and blackspotted                    317             n/a             n/a           58.87             187
 rockfish.......................
Thornyhead rockfish.............             693            7.84              54            26.5             184
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments of 1,705 mt for trawl gear, 256 mt for hook-and-line 
gear, and 9 mt for the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO 
District. It also authorizes the establishment of apportionments for 
pot gear.
    The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut 
PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(i)(A)). The separate halibut PSC limit for the DSR 
fishery is intended to prevent that fishery from being impacted from 
the halibut PSC incurred by other GOA fisheries. NMFS estimates low 
halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR 
fishery and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs 
in the winter when there is less overlap in the distribution of DSR and 
halibut, and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. 
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the commercial GHL for the 
DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of DSR incidental catch in 
all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence); and (2) the 
allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. In 2024, the commercial 
fishery for DSR was closed due to concerns about declining DSR biomass.
    NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes to exempt pot 
gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery categories 
from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2025 and 2026. The Council 
recommended and NMFS proposes these exemptions because (1) pot gear 
fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality; (2) IFQ program 
regulations prohibit discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit 
holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ for that vessel category 
and the IFQ regulatory area in which the vessel is operating (Sec.  
679.7(f)(11)); (3) some sablefish IFQ permit holders 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 given the small amount of 
groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature of jig gear, and 
the high survival rates of halibut caught and released with jig gear.
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch 
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2024. The 
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through October 31, 2024, is 337 
mt for trawl gear and 25 mt for hook-and-line gear, for a total halibut 
mortality of 362 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using 
groundfish and IFQ halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska Region's 
catch accounting system. This accounting system contains historical and 
recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish and IFQ 
halibut fishery.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) and (ii) authorizes NMFS to seasonally 
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. 
The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS 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)

[[Page 94692]]

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 final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (89 FR 15484, March 
4, 2024) list the final seasonal apportionments based on the FMP and 
regulatory considerations with respect to halibut PSC limits. The 
Council's recommendations and NMFS's proposed seasonal apportionments 
for these proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications are unchanged 
from the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. Based on public 
comment, information presented in the 2024 SAFE report, NMFS catch 
data, State catch data, and International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC) stock assessment and mortality data, the Council may recommend 
and/or NMFS may make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery 
category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2025 and 
2026 harvest specifications pursuant to Sec.  679.21(d)(1) and (d)(4).
    Table 10 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific halibut PSC 
limits, allowances, and apportionments. The halibut PSC limits in 
tables 10, 11, and 12 reflect the halibut PSC limits set forth at Sec.  
679.21(d)(2) and (3). Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specifies that 
any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a halibut PSC 
limit will be added to or deducted from the next respective seasonal 
apportionment within the fishing year.

           Table 10--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Trawl gear                                         Hook-and-line gear \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Other than DSR                       DSR
           Season              Percent   Amount  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Season       Percent   Amount        Season       Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1..........      30.5       520  January 1-June         86       220  January 1-              9
                                                   10.                                  December 31.
April 1-July 1..............        20       341  June 10-                2         5  ...............  ........
                                                   September 1.
July 1-August 1.............        27       460  September 1-           12        31  ...............  ........
                                                   December 31.
August 1-October 1..........       7.5       128  ...............  ........  ........  ...............  ........
October 1-December 31.......        15       256  ...............  ........  ........  ...............  ........
                             --------------------                 --------------------                 ---------
    Total...................  ........     1,705  ...............  ........       256  ...............         9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal
  shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District and to hook-and-line fisheries other than the DSR fishery.
  The Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, that the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fishery, and the pot and jig
  gear groundfish fisheries, be exempt from halibut PSC limits.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery 
categories listed in Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments 
are based on each category's share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during a 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'' (sharks and octopuses) (Sec.  
679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Halibut mortality incurred while directed fishing 
for skates with trawl gear accrues towards the shallow-water species 
fishery halibut PSC limit (69 FR 26320, May 12, 2004).
    NMFS will combine available trawl halibut PSC limit apportionments 
in part of the second season deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries for use in either fishery from May 15 through June 30 (Sec.  
679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D)). This is intended to maintain groundfish harvest 
while minimizing halibut bycatch by these sectors to the extent 
practicable. This provides the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water 
species fisheries additional flexibility and the incentive to 
participate in fisheries at times of the year that may have lower 
halibut PSC rates relative to other times of the year.
    Table 11 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 seasonal apportionments 
of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deep-water and the 
shallow-water species fisheries.
    Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679 specifies the amount of the trawl 
halibut PSC limit that is assigned to the CV and CP sectors that are 
participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program. This includes 117 mt 
of halibut PSC limit to the CV sector and 74 mt of halibut PSC limit to 
the CP sector. These amounts are allocated from the trawl deep-water 
species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment. After the 
combined CV and CP halibut PSC limit allocation of 191 mt to the 
Rockfish Program, 149 mt remains for the trawl deep-water species 
fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B) limits the amount of the halibut PSC 
limit allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-
apportioned to the general GOA trawl fisheries for the last seasonal 
apportionment during the current fishing year to no more than 55 
percent of the unused annual halibut PSC limit apportioned to Rockfish 
Program participants. The remainder of the unused Rockfish Program 
halibut PSC limit is unavailable for use by any person for the 
remainder of the fishing year (Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)).

Table 11--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionment of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limits Between the Trawl Gear Shallow-
                                 Water and Deep-Water Species Fishery Categories
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Season                            Shallow-water      Deep-water \1\         Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1.....................................                385                135                520

[[Page 94693]]

 
April 1-July 1.........................................                 85                256                341
July 1-August 1........................................                120                340                460
August 1-October 1.....................................                 53                 75                128
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, January 20-October 1.....................                643                806              1,449
October 1-December 31\2\...............................                n/a                n/a                256
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Total..........................................                n/a                n/a              1,705
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third
  season (July 1 through August 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fishery categories during the
  fifth season (October 1 through December 31).

    Section 679.21(d)(2)(i)(B) requires that the halibut PSC limit 
apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear that are not part of 
the demersal shelf rockfish fishery (i.e. the other hook-and-line 
fishery) must be apportioned between CVs and CPs in accordance with 
Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) in conjunction with these harvest 
specifications. A comprehensive description and example of the 
calculations necessary to apportion the other hook-and-line fishery 
halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and CP sectors were 
included in the proposed rule to implement amendment 83 to the FMP (76 
FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and are not repeated here.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii), the halibut PSC limit for the 
other hook-and-line fishery is apportioned between the CV and CP 
sectors in proportion to the total Western and Central GOA Pacific cod 
allocations, which vary annually based on the proportion of the Pacific 
cod biomass between the Western, Central, and Eastern GOA. Pacific cod 
is apportioned among these three management areas based on the 
percentage of overall biomass per area as calculated in the 2023 
Pacific cod stock assessment. Information in the final 2023 SAFE report 
describes this distributional calculation, which allocates ABC among 
GOA regulatory areas on the basis of the three most recent stock 
surveys. For 2025 and 2026, the proposed distribution of the total GOA 
Pacific cod ABC is 27.1 percent to the Western GOA, 63.8 percent to the 
Central GOA, and 9.1 percent to the Eastern GOA. Therefore, the 
calculations made in accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) 
incorporate the most recent information on GOA Pacific cod distribution 
and allocations with respect to the proposed annual halibut PSC limits 
for the CV and CP hook-and-line sectors. The calculations for the final 
2025 and 2026 harvest specifications will use updated information on 
the distribution of Pacific cod from the Pacific cod stock assessment 
in the 2024 SAFE report. Additionally, the annual halibut PSC limits 
for both the CV and CP sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery are 
proposed to be divided into three seasonal apportionments, using 
seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent.
    For 2025 and 2026, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limits of 149 
mt and 107 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line CP sectors, 
respectively. Table 12 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 apportionments 
of halibut PSC limits between the hook-and-line CV and the hook-and-
line CP sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery.
    No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS will calculate the 
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the CV or CP 
hook-and-line sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery for the 
remainder of the year. The projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit 
is made available to the other hook-and-line sector for the remainder 
of that fishing year (Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)) if NMFS determines 
that an additional amount of halibut PSC is necessary for that sector 
to continue its directed fishing operations.

   Table 12--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of the ``Other hook-and-line fishery'' Annual Halibut PSC Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear
                                                      Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Sector annual                                     Seasonal       Sector seasonal
      ``Other than DSR'' allowance          Hook-and-line sector           amount                 Season                percentage           amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
256....................................  Catcher Vessel............                149  January 1-June 10.........                 86                128
                                                                                        June 10-September 1.......                  2                  3
                                                                                        September 1-December 31...                 12                 18
 
                                         Catcher/Processor.........                107  January 1-June 10.........                 86                 92
                                                                                        June 10-September 1.......                  2                  2
                                                                                        September 1-December 31...                 12                 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch 
rates, halibut DMR, and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a 
fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment 
is reached. Halibut

[[Page 94694]]

incidental catch rates are based on observed estimates of halibut 
incidental catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the 
proportion of incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after 
being returned to the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that 
accrues to a particular halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR 
multiplied by the estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the 
best scientific information available in conjunction with the annual 
GOA stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings are 
included as an appendix to the annual GOA groundfish SAFE report.
    In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the 
Council's recommendation. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC, 
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that 
have undergone review by the Plan Team, the SSC, and the Council. A 
summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 
2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87881, December 6, 2016), 
and the comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical 
methodology is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR 
working group's revised methodology is intended to improve estimation 
accuracy, transparency, and transferability for calculating DMRs. The 
working group will continue to consider improvements to the methodology 
used to calculate halibut mortality, including potential changes to the 
reference period (the period of data used for calculating the DMRs). 
Future DMRs may change based on additional years of observer sampling, 
which could provide more recent and accurate data and which could 
improve the accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The 
methodology will continue to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that more 
accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different 
sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors 
to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, 
the DMR for that sector.
    In October 2024, the Council recommended halibut DMRs reviewed by 
the Plan Team and SSC, which are derived from the revised methodology. 
The proposed 2025 and 2026 DMRs use an updated 2-year and 4-year 
reference period depending on data availability. NMFS is proposing the 
DMRs recommended by the Plan Team, reviewed by the SSC, and recommended 
by the Council for the proposed 2025 and 2026 DMRs. The proposed DMR 
for pelagic trawl gear CVs and CPs is maintained at 100 percent. The 
proposed DMR for Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear is 
maintained at 56 percent. The proposed DMR for non-Rockfish Program CVs 
using non-pelagic trawl gear increased to 74 percent from 69 percent. 
The proposed DMR for motherships and CPs using non-pelagic trawl gear 
decreased to 76 percent from 83 percent. The proposed DMR for CPs using 
hook-and-line gear decreased to 10 percent from 11 percent. The 
proposed DMR for CVs using hook-and-line gear increased to 19 percent 
from 10 percent. The proposed DMR for CPs and CVs using pot gear 
increased to 32 percent from 26 percent. Table 13 lists the proposed 
2025 and 2026 DMRs.

    Table 13-Proposed 2025 and 2026 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
                               [Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                Halibut discard
                  Gear                             Sector               Groundfish fishery       mortality rate
                                                                                                   (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl..........................  Catcher vessel...........  All......................                100
                                         Catcher/processor........  All......................                100
Non-pelagic trawl......................  Catcher vessel...........  Rockfish Program.........                 56
                                         Catcher vessel...........  All others...............                 74
                                         Mothership and catcher/    All......................                 76
                                          processor.
Hook-and-line..........................  Catcher/processor........  All......................                 10
                                         Catcher vessel...........  All......................                 19
Pot....................................  Catcher vessel and         All......................                 32
                                          catcher/processor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chinook Salmon PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(h)(2) establishes separate Chinook salmon PSC limits 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA in the trawl 
pollock directed fishery. These limits require that NMFS close directed 
fishing for pollock in the Western and Central GOA if the applicable 
Chinook salmon PSC limit is reached (Sec.  679.21(h)(8)). The annual 
Chinook salmon PSC limits in the trawl pollock directed fishery of 
6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA 
are set in Sec.  679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). The Central GOA Chinook 
salmon PSC limit was reached in 2024 and NMFS closed directed fishing 
for pollock in the Central GOA on September 25, 2024, for the remainder 
of the 2024 fishing year (89 FR 79454).
    Section 679.21(h)(3) and (4) establishes an initial annual PSC 
limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon for the non-pollock groundfish trawl 
fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit is apportioned 
among the three sectors that conduct directed fishing for groundfish 
species other than pollock: 3,600 Chinook salmon to trawl CPs; 1,200 
Chinook salmon to trawl CVs participating in the Rockfish Program; and 
2,700 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish 
Program (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will monitor the Chinook salmon PSC 
in the trawl non-pollock GOA groundfish fisheries and close an 
applicable sector if it reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit.
    The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl CPs and trawl 
CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program, may be increased in 
subsequent years based on the performance of these two sectors and 
their ability to minimize their use of their respective Chinook salmon 
PSC limits. If either or both of these two sectors limit its use of 
Chinook salmon PSC to a certain threshold amount in 2024 (3,120 for 
trawl CPs and 2,340 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs), that sector 
will receive an incremental increase to its 2025 Chinook salmon PSC 
limit (4,080 for trawl CPs and 3,060 for non-Rockfish Program trawl 
CVs) (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will evaluate the annual Chinook

[[Page 94695]]

salmon PSC by trawl CPs and non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs when the 
2024 fishing year is complete to determine whether to increase the 
Chinook salmon PSC limits for these two sectors. Based on preliminary 
2024 Chinook salmon PSC data, the trawl CP sector may receive an 
incremental increase of Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2025, and the non-
Rockfish Program trawl CV sector may receive an incremental increase of 
Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2025. This evaluation will be completed in 
conjunction with the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) CP and CV Groundfish Harvest and PSC 
Limits

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limits on AFA CPs 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 CPs and CPs 
designated on a listed AFA CP permit from harvesting any species of 
fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed 
AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit 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 feet (38.1 meters) length overall, 
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA 
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA CV groundfish 
sideboard limits under Sec.  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)(iv) establishes the CV groundfish sideboard limits in the 
GOA based on the aggregate retained catch by non-exempt AFA CVs of each 
sideboard species from 2009 through 2019 divided by the TAC for that 
species available to CVs from 2009 through 2019. Under the Pacific Cod 
Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program, NMFS modified the calculation of the 
sideboard ratios for non-exempt AFA CVs using the qualifying years of 
2009 through 2019 (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Previously, sideboard 
limits were based on the ratio of catch to the TAC during the years 
1995 through 1997.
    NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that 
implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed 
fishing for specific groundfish species or species groups subject to 
sideboard limits (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 56 to 50 CFR part 
679). Under the PCTC Program, NMFS also promulgated regulations to 
prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed fishing for additional 
groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (88 FR 
53704, August 8, 2023). All of these prohibitions are found in the 
revised table 56 to 50 CFR part 679. Sideboard limits not subject to 
these final rules continue to be calculated and included in the GOA 
annual harvest specifications.
    Table 14 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 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 table 14.

                 Table 14--Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Ratio of 2009-
                                                                                                       2019 non-exempt                    Proposed 2025
                                                                                                       AFA CV retained   Proposed 2025    and 2026 non-
                 Species                   Apportionments by season/gear         Area/component         catch to 2009-   and 2026 TACs    exempt AFA CV
                                                                                                           2019 TAC                      sideboard limit
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.................................  A Season: January 20-May 31....  Shumagin (610)............            0.057            4,483              256
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.064           58,629             3752
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.091           11,460             1043
                                          B Season: September 1-November   Shumagin (610)............            0.057           27,661             1577
                                           1.
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.064           16,550             1059
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.091           30,361             2763
                                          Annual.........................  WYK (640).................            0.026            4,601              120
Pacific cod.............................  A Season: \1\ January 1-June 10  W.........................            0.009            3,406               31
                                                                           C.........................            0.011            8,641               95
                                          B Season: \2\ September 1-       W.........................            0.009            1,941               17
                                           December 31.
                                                                           C.........................            0.011            4,845               53
Flatfish, shallow-wter..................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.011           28,311              311
Rex sole................................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.014           13,624              191
Arrowtooth flounder.....................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.011           64,688              712
Flathead sole...........................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.007           21,702              152
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 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.


[[Page 94696]]

Non-Exempt AFA CV Halibut PSC Limit

    The non-exempt AFA CVs and the associated LLP licenses PSC limit 
for halibut in the GOA will be an annual amount based on a static ratio 
of 0.072, which was derived from the aggregate retained groundfish 
catch by non-exempt AFA CVs in each PSC target category from 2009 
through 2019 (Sec.  679.64(b)(4)(ii)). This change was implemented with 
the PCTC Program (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Table 15 lists the 
proposed 2025 and 2026 non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC sideboard limit 
for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

   Table 15--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act
            Catcher Vessel (CV) Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Annual non-
                                          Annual trawl    exempt AFA CV
            Ratio (percent)               gear halibut     halibut PSC
                                         PSC limit (mt)     limit (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.072.................................           1,705              123
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish sideboard 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 (CR) Program to expand their level of 
participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard harvest 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 landings made using an LLP 
license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that 
LLP license is used on another vessel.
    The basis for these sideboard harvest limits is described in detail 
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the CR Program, 
including amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 
10174, March 2, 2005), amendment 34 to the Crab FMP (76 FR 35772, June 
20, 2011), amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011), 
and amendment 45 to the Crab FMP (80 FR 28539, May 19, 2015). Also, 
NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that 
implemented regulations to prohibit non-AFA crab vessels from directed 
fishing for all groundfish species or species groups subject to 
sideboard limits, except for Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot 
gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas (Sec.  
680.22(e)(1)(iii)). Accordingly, the GOA annual harvest specifications 
include only the non-AFA crab vessel groundfish sideboard limits for 
Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot gear in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas.
    Table 16 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 groundfish sideboard 
limits 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 16--Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Ratio of 1996-
                                                                                                       2000 non-AFA                    Proposed 2025 and
                                                                                                       crab vessel     Proposed 2025   2026 non-AFA crab
                Species                               Season                      Area/gear           catch to 1996-   and 2026 TACs    vessel sideboard
                                                                                                        2000 total                           limit
                                                                                                         harvest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod............................  A Season: January 1-June 10....  Western Pot CV...........           0.0997            3,406                340
                                                                          Central Pot CV...........           0.0474            8,641                410
                                         B Season: September 1-December   Western Pot CV...........           0.0997            1,941                193
                                          31.
                                                                          Central Pot CV...........           0.0474            4,845                230
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

    The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard 
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, CP rockfish sideboard 
restrictions, and CP opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions (Sec.  
679.82(c)(1)). These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of 
rockfish harvesters to expand into other fisheries.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern 
rockfish in the Western GOA and WYK District from July 1 through July 
31. Also, 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 (Sec.  679.82(d)).
    Prior to 2021, CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives 
were restricted by rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA. A 
final rule that implemented amendment 111 to the FMP (86 FR 11895, 
March 1, 2021) removed Western GOA rockfish sideboard limits for 
Rockfish Program CPs from regulation. That rule also revised and 
clarified the establishment of WYK District rockfish sideboard ratios 
in regulation, rather than specifying the WYK District rockfish 
sideboard ratios in the annual GOA harvest specifications.
    CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted 
by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These CPs are prohibited 
from directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
northern rockfish in the Western GOA and WYK District from July 1 
through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(2)). The sideboard ratio for each 
rockfish fishery in the WYK District is set forth in Sec.  
679.82(e)(4). The rockfish sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in 
the WYK District is an established percentage of the TAC for CPs in the 
directed fishery for dusky rockfish and Pacific ocean perch. These 
percentages are confidential. Holders of CP-designated LLP licenses 
that opt out of participating in a Rockfish Program cooperative will be 
able to access that portion of each rockfish sideboard limits that is 
not assigned to Rockfish Program cooperatives (Sec.  679.82(e)(7)).
    Under the Rockfish Program, the CP sector is subject to halibut PSC

[[Page 94697]]

sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries from July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(3) and (e)(5)). 
Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by fishery are set forth in Sec.  
679.82(e)(5). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector, 
as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of 
the annual halibut PSC limit. CPs 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 CP rockfish 
cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for CPs that elect to opt out of 
participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in Sec.  
679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are linked to the catch 
history of specific vessels that may choose to opt out. After March 1, 
NMFS will determine which CPs have opted-out of the Rockfish Program in 
2025 and will know the ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out 
sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any applicable opt-out 
sideboard limits for 2025. NMFS will announce the 2025 opt-out 
sideboard limits after March 1 and post these limits on the Alaska 
Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish. 
Table 17 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Rockfish Program halibut PSC 
sideboard limits for the CP sector.

                     Table 17--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Rockfish Program Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Shallow-water      Deep-water                     Annual shallow-    Annual deep-
                                                                     species fishery  species fishery    Annual trawl    water species    water species
                               Sector                                  halibut PSC      halibut PSC      gear halibut   fishery halibut  fishery halibut
                                                                     sideboard ratio  sideboard ratio   PSC limit (mt)   PSC sideboard    PSC sideboard
                                                                        (percent)        (percent)                         limit (mt)       limit (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor..................................................             0.1              2.5            1,705                2               43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 CP 
sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC 
limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit their ability to 
expand their harvest efforts in the GOA.
    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 Sec.  679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is prohibited from 
directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, dusky 
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 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 18 lists the 
proposed 2025 and 2026 groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 
Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of 
sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the 
sideboard limits in table 18.

                            Table 18--Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                          Proposed 2025
                                                                                                           Ratio of                          and 2026
                                                                                                         Amendment 80    Proposed 2025     Amendment 80
                 Species                               Season                         Area              sector vessels    and 2026 TAC        vessel
                                                                                                       1998-2004 catch        (mt)          sideboard
                                                                                                            to TAC                         limits (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.................................  A Season: January 20-May 31....  Shumagin (610)............            0.003            4,483               13
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.002           58,629              117
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.002           11,460               23
                                          B Season: September 1-November   Shumagin (610)............            0.003           27,661               83
                                           1.
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.002           16,550               33
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.002           30,361               61
                                          Annual.........................  WYK (640).................            0.002            4,601                9
Pacific cod.............................  A Season: \1\ January 1-June 10  W.........................             0.02            3,406               68
                                                                           C.........................            0.044            8,641              380
                                          B Season: \2\ September 1-       W.........................             0.02            1,941               39
                                           December 31.
                                                                           C.........................            0.044            4,845              213
                                          Annual.........................  WYK.......................            0.034            1,924               65
Pacific ocean perch.....................  Annual.........................  W.........................            0.994            1,726            1,716
                                                                           WYK.......................            0.961            2,038            1,959
Northern rockfish.......................  Annual.........................  W.........................                1            2,446            2,446
Dusky rockfish..........................  Annual.........................  W.........................            0.764              137              105
                                                                           WYK.......................            0.896               81               73
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.

[[Page 94698]]

 
\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 historical 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 historical use to 
accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota 
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece 
from this restriction (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)). Table 19 lists the proposed 
2025 and 2026 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program 
vessels. This table incorporates the maximum percentages of the halibut 
PSC sideboard limits that may be used by Amendment 80 Program vessels 
as contained in table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. Any residual amount of a 
seasonal Amendment 80 halibut PSC sideboard limit may carry forward to 
the next season limit (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)).

                        Table 19--Proposed 2025 and 2026 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Historic                         Proposed 2025 and
                                                                                                  Amendment 80 use  Annual trawl gear  2026 Amendment 80
                 Season                         Season dates              Fishery category         of the annual    halibut PSC limit      vessel PSC
                                                                                                 halibut PSC limit         (mt)         sideboard limit
                                                                                                      (ratio)                                 (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1......................................  January 20-April 1........  shallow-water.............             0.0048              1,705                  8
                                                                     deep-water................             0.0115              1,705                 20
2......................................  April 1-July 1............  shallow-water.............             0.0189              1,705                 32
                                                                     deep-water................             0.1072              1,705                183
3......................................  July 1-August 1...........  shallow-water.............             0.0146              1,705                 25
                                                                     deep-water................             0.0521              1,705                 89
4......................................  August 1-October 1........  shallow-water.............             0.0074              1,705                 13
                                                                     deep-water................             0.0014              1,705                  2
5......................................  October 1-December 31.....  shallow-water.............             0.0227              1,705                 39
                                                                     deep-water................             0.0371              1,705                 63
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Total shallow-water.......  .................  .................                117
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual                                                               Total deep-water..........  .................  .................                357
                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Grand Total, all seasons and categories                                                  474
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    NMFS is issuing this proposed rule pursuant to section 305(d) of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP and 
regulations at 50 CFR part 679 are designed to authorize NMFS to take 
this action. The NMFS Assistant Administrator has preliminarily 
determined that the proposed harvest specifications are consistent with 
the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, subject 
to further review and consideration after public comment.
    This action is authorized under Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866 because it only implements annual 
catch limits in the GOA.
    NMFS prepared an EIS for the Alaska groundfish harvest 
specifications and alternative harvest strategies (see ADDRESSES) and 
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS. A SIR is 
being prepared for the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications to 
address the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (40 CFR 1502.9(d)(1)). 
Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this action are 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the 
environmental, social, and economic consequences of alternative harvest 
strategies for developing the annual groundfish harvest specifications 
on resources in the action area. Based on the analysis in the Final 
EIS, NMFS concluded that the preferred alternative (Alternative 2) 
provides the best balance among relevant environmental, social, and 
economic considerations and allows for continued management of the 
groundfish fisheries based on the most recent, best scientific 
information.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    This Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared 
for this proposed rule, as required by Section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 603), to describe the economic impact 
that this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. The 
IRFA describes the action; the reasons why this proposed rule is 
proposed; the objectives and legal basis for this proposed rule; the 
estimated number and description of directly regulated small entities 
to which this proposed rule would apply; the recordkeeping, reporting, 
and other compliance requirements of this proposed rule; and the 
relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with 
this proposed rule. The IRFA also describes significant alternatives to 
this proposed rule that would accomplish the stated objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and any other applicable statutes and that would 
minimize any significant economic impact of this proposed rule on small 
entities. The description of the proposed action, its purpose, and the 
legal basis are explained earlier in the preamble and are not repeated 
here.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (North American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) code 11411) is classified as a small business if it is 
independently owned and operated, is not dominant in its

[[Page 94699]]

field of operation (including its affiliates), and has combined annual 
gross receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its affiliated 
operations worldwide. A shoreside processor primarily involved in 
seafood processing (NAICS code 311710) is classified as a small 
business if it is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in 
its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has combined 
annual employment, counting all individuals employed on a full-time, 
part-time, or other basis, not in excess of 750 employees for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by This Proposed 
Rule

    The entities directly regulated by the groundfish harvest 
specifications include: (a) entities operating vessels with groundfish 
Federal fisheries permits (FFPs) catching FMP groundfish in Federal 
waters (including those receiving direction allocations of groundfish); 
(b) all entities operating vessels, regardless of whether they hold 
groundfish FFPs, catching FMP groundfish in the State waters parallel 
fisheries; and (c) all entities operating vessels fishing for halibut 
inside 3 miles of the shore (whether or not they have FFPs).
    In 2023 (the most recent year of complete data), there were 682 
individual CVs and CPs with gross revenues less than or equal to $11 
million. This represents the potential suite of directly regulated 
small entities and includes an estimated 680 small CV and 3 small CP 
entities in the GOA groundfish sector. The determination of entity size 
is based on vessel revenues and affiliated group revenues. This 
determination also includes an assessment of fisheries cooperative 
affiliations, although actual vessel ownership affiliations have not 
been completely established. However, the estimate of these 682 CVs and 
CPs may be an overstatement of the number of small entities because 
there are incomplete data for vessel revenues. The CVs had average 
gross revenues that varied by gear type. Average gross revenues for 
hook-and-line CVs, pot gear CVs, and trawl gear CVs are estimated to be 
$910,000, $1,530,000, and $2,280,000, respectively. Average gross 
revenues for hook-and-line CPs and pot gear CPs are confidential. There 
are no data for trawl gear CP entity revenue.

Description of Significant Alternatives That Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities

    The action under consideration is the proposed 2025 and 2026 
harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut PSC limits 
for the groundfish fishery of the GOA. This action is necessary to 
establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2025 and 2026 
fishing years and is taken in accordance with the FMP prepared and 
recommended by the Council and approved by NMFS pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. The proposed harvest specifications are developed 
using the Council and NMFS's harvest strategy to govern the catch of 
groundfish in the GOA. This strategy was selected from among five 
alternatives, with the preferred alternative harvest strategy being one 
in which the TACs fall within the range of ABCs recommended by the SSC 
through the harvest specifications process. Under the preferred harvest 
strategy, TACs are set to a level that falls within the range of ABCs 
recommended by the SSC through the harvest specifications process; the 
sum of the TACs must achieve the OY specified in the FMP. While the 
specific numbers that the harvest strategy produces may vary from year 
to year, the use of the the preferred harvest strategy remains constant 
each year.
    The TACs associated with preferred harvest strategy are those 
recommended by the Council in October 2024. OFLs and ABCs for the 
species were based on recommendations prepared by the Council's Plan 
Team in September 2024 and reviewed by the Council's SSC in October 
2024. The Council based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, 
which were consistent with the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations. The 
TACs in these proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications are 
unchanged from the 2025 TACs in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024), with the exception of the 
TAC for Atka mackerel, which was incorrectly specified last year. The 
sum of all TACs remains within the OY for the GOA.
    The proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
biological information available, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods to calculate stock biomass. The proposed 2025 and 
2026 TACs are based on the best biological and socioeconomic 
information available. The proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as 
described in the 2023 SAFE report, which is the most recent, completed 
SAFE report.
    Under this action, the proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that 
are less than the specified OFLs. The proposed TACs are within the 
range of proposed ABCs recommended by the SSC and do not exceed the 
biological limits recommended by the SSC (the ABCs and OFLs). For most 
species and species groups in the GOA, the Council recommended, and 
NMFS proposes, TACs equal to proposed ABCs, which is intended to 
maximize harvest opportunities in the GOA.
    For some species and species groups, however, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS proposes, TACs that are less than the proposed 
ABCs, including for pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the 
Western Regulatory Area, arrowtooth flounder in the Western Regulatory 
Area and SEO District, flathead sole in the Western Regulatory Area, 
other rockfish in the SEO District, and Atka mackerel. In the GOA, 
increasing TACs for some species may not result in increased harvest 
opportunities for those species for a variety of reasons. There may be 
a lack of commercial or market interest in some species. Additionally, 
there are fixed, and therefore constraining, PSC limits associated with 
the harvest of the GOA groundfish species that can lead to an 
underharvest of flatfish TACs. For this reason, the shallow-water 
flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole TACs are set to allow 
for increased harvest opportunities for these target species while 
conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The other 
rockfish and Atka mackerel TACs are set to accommodate ICAs in other 
fisheries. Finally, the TACs for two species (pollock and Pacific cod) 
cannot be set equal to ABC, as the TAC must be set to account for the 
State's GHLs in these fisheries. The W/C/WYK Regulatory Area pollock 
TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs are therefore set to account for the 
State's GHLs for the State waters pollock and Pacific cod fisheries so 
that the ABCs are not exceeded. For all other species in the GOA, the 
Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, that proposed TACs equal 
proposed ABCs, unless other conservation or management reasons 
(described above) support proposed TAC amounts less than the proposed 
ABCs.
    Based upon the best scientific data available, and in consideration 
of the Council's objectives of this action, it appears that there are 
no significant alternatives to the proposed rule that

[[Page 94700]]

have the potential to accomplish the stated objectives of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and any other applicable statutes and that have the 
potential to minimize any significant adverse economic impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities. This action is economically beneficial 
to entities operating in the GOA, including small entities. The action 
proposes TACs for commercially valuable species in the GOA and allows 
for the continued prosecution of the fishery, thereby creating the 
opportunity for fishery revenue. After public process, during which the 
Council solicited input from stakeholders, the Council concluded, and 
NMFS concurs, that the proposed harvest specifications would best 
accomplish the stated objectives articulated in the preamble for this 
proposed rule and the requirements of applicable statutes, and would 
minimize to the extent practicable adverse economic impacts on the 
universe of directly regulated small entities.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered or threatened 
species resulting from fishing activities conducted under these harvest 
specifications are discussed in the Final EIS and its accompanying 
annual SIR (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 
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: November 22, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-27896 Filed 11-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P`