Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11919 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest. This requirement is 

impracticable and contrary to the public 

interest as it would prevent NMFS from 

responding to the most recent fisheries 

data in a timely fashion and would 

delay the directed fishing closure of 

Pacific cod for vessels using jig gear in 

the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA. 

NMFS was unable to publish a notice 

providing time for public comment 

because the most recent, relevant data 

only became available as of February 27, 

2015. 

The AA also finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in the effective 

date of this action under 5 U.S.C. 

553(d)(3). This finding is based upon 

the reasons provided above for waiver of 

prior notice and opportunity for public 

comment. 

This action is required by § 679.20 

and is exempt from review under 

Executive Order 12866. 

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

Dated: March 2, 2015. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–05063 Filed 3–2–15; 04:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 141021887–5172–02] 

RIN 0648–XD587 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and 

Aleutian Islands; 2015 and 2016 

Harvest Specifications for Groundfish 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule; closures. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2015 

and 2016 harvest specifications and 

prohibited species catch allowances for 

the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea 

and Aleutian Islands management area 

(BSAI). This action is necessary to 

establish harvest limits for groundfish 

during the 2015 and 2016 fishing years, 

and to accomplish the goals and 

objectives of the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (FMP). 

The intended effect of this action is to 

conserve and manage the groundfish 

resources in the BSAI in accordance 

with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act). 

DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska 

local time (A.l.t.), March 5, 2015, 

through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 

2016. 

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the 

Alaska Groundfish Harvest 

Specifications Final Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS), Record of 

Decision (ROD), Supplementary 

Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and 

the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 

(FRFA) prepared for this action are 

available from http://alaska

fisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2014 Stock 

Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 

(SAFE) report for the groundfish 

resources of the BSAI, dated November 

2014, as well as the SAFE reports for 

previous years, are available from the 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (Council) at 605 West 4th 

Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK, 

99510–2252, (phone) 907–271–2809, or 

from the Council’s Web site at http://

www.npfmc.org/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steve Whitney, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal 

regulations at 50 CFR part 679 

implement the FMP and govern the 

groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 

Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS 

approved it under the MagnusonStevens Act. General regulations 

governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 

50 CFR part 600. 

The FMP and its implementing 

regulations require NMFS, after 

consultation with the Council, to 

specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 

for each target species category. The 

sum TAC for all groundfish species 

must be within the optimum yield (OY) 

range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million 

metric tons (mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)). 

This final rule specifies the TAC at 2.0 

million mt for both 2015 and 2016. 

NMFS also must specify 

apportionments of TAC, prohibited 

species catch (PSC) allowances, and 

prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves 

established by § 679.21; seasonal 

allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and 

Atka mackerel TAC; Amendment 80 

allocations; and Community 

Development Quota (CDQ) reserve 

amounts established by 

§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final harvest 

specifications set forth in Tables 1 

through 22 of this action satisfy these 

requirements. 

Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires 

NMFS to consider public comment on 

the proposed annual TACs (and 

apportionments thereof) and PSC 

allowances, and to publish final harvest 

specifications in the Federal Register. 

The proposed 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications and PSC allowances for 

the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were 

published in the Federal Register on 

December 8, 2014 (79 FR 72571). 

Comments were invited and accepted 

through January 7, 2015. NMFS received 

five letters with 13 comments on the 

proposed harvest specifications. These 

comments are summarized and 

responded to in the ‘‘Response to 

Comments’’ section of this rule. NMFS 

consulted with the Council on the final 

2015 and 2016 harvest specifications 

during the December 2014 Council 

meeting in Anchorage, AK. After 

considering public comments, as well as 

biological and economic data that were 

available at the Council’s December 

meeting, NMFS is implementing the 

final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications as recommended by the 

Council. 

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and 

TAC Harvest Specifications 

The final ABC levels for Alaska 

groundfish are based on the best 

available biological and socioeconomic 

information, including projected 

biomass trends, information on assumed 

distribution of stock biomass, and 

revised technical methods used to 

calculate stock biomass. In general, the 

development of ABCs and overfishing 

levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated 

statistical analyses of fish populations. 

The FMP specifies a series of six tiers 

to define OFL and ABC amounts based 

on the level of reliable information 

available to fishery scientists. Tier 1 

represents the highest level of 

information quality available while Tier 

6 represents the lowest. 

In December 2014, the Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory 

Panel (AP), and Council reviewed 

current biological and harvest 

information about the condition of the 

BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council’s 

Plan Team compiled and presented this 

information in the final 2014 SAFE 

report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, 

dated November 2014 (see ADDRESSES). 

The SAFE report contains a review of 

the latest scientific analyses and 

estimates of each species’ biomass and 

other biological parameters, as well as 

summaries of the available information 

on the BSAI ecosystem and the 

economic condition of groundfish 

fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the 

public and asked for review of the SAFE 

report in the notice of proposed harvest 

specifications. From these data and 

analyses, the Plan Team recommended 

an OFL and ABC for each species or 

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11920 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

species category at the November 2014 

Plan Team meeting. 

In December 2014, the SSC, AP, and 

Council reviewed the Plan Team’s 

recommendations. The final TAC 

recommendations were based on the 

ABCs as adjusted for other biological 

and socioeconomic considerations, 

including maintaining the sum of the 

TACs within the required OY range of 

1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As 

required by annual catch limit rules for 

all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 

2009), none of the Council’s 

recommended TACs for 2015 or 2016 

exceeds the final 2015 or 2016 ABCs for 

any species category. The Secretary of 

Commerce approves the final 2015 and 

2016 harvest specifications as 

recommended by the Council. NMFS 

finds that the Council’s recommended 

OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent 

with the preferred harvest strategy and 

the biological condition of groundfish 

stocks as described in the 2014 SAFE 

report that was approved by the 

Council. 

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 

2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications 

A final rule implementing Steller sea 

lion protection measures in the BSAI 

became effective on December 26, 2014 

(79 FR 70286, November 25, 2014). 

These regulations insure that the 

western distinct population segment of 

Steller sea lions’ continued existence is 

not jeopardized or its critical habitat is 

not destroyed or adversely modified. 

These regulations alter areas open for 

directed fishing in the Aleutian Islands 

subarea of the BSAI. They also alter the 

harvest limitation in these harvest 

specifications for pollock, Atka 

mackerel, and Pacific cod primarily in 

the Aleutian Islands subarea of the 

BSAI. The proposed harvest 

specifications notified the public of 

possible changes to the harvest 

specification limits. Changes to the 

pollock, Atka mackerel, and Pacific cod 

harvest specifications that are required 

by the rule implementing the protection 

measures are described in the section 

for each of these target species. 

For 2015, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) 

for the State of Alaska (State) 

established a Pacific cod guideline 

harvest level (GHL) in State waters 

between 164 and 167 degrees west 

longitude in the Bering Sea (BS) 

subarea. The Pacific cod GHL in this 

area is equal to 3 percent of the sum of 

the Pacific cod ABCs for the Aleutian 

Islands (AI) and the BS. To account for 

the State GHL fishery in 2015 and 2016, 

the Council reduced the final BS 

subarea TAC by 3 percent of the 

combined BS and AI subarea ABCs. The 

combined BS subarea TAC and GHL 

(248,178 mt) are less than the final BS 

subarea ABC. 

For 2015, the BOF for the State 

established a Pacific cod GHL in State 

waters in the AI subarea. The Pacific 

cod GHL in this area is equal to 3 

percent of the sum of the Pacific cod 

ABCs for the AI and the BS. To account 

for the State GHL fishery in 2015 and 

2016, the Council reduced the final AI 

subarea TAC by 3 percent of the 

combined BS and AI subarea ABCs. The 

combined AI TAC and GHL (17,600 mt) 

equal the final AI subarea ABC. 

Changes From the Proposed 2015 and 

2016 Harvest Specifications for the 

BSAI 

In October 2014, the Council 

proposed its recommendations for the 

2015 and 2016 harvest specifications 

(which were proposed by NMFS, 79 FR 

72571, December 8, 2014), based largely 

on information contained in the 2013 

SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish 

fisheries. Through the proposed harvest 

specifications, NMFS notified the public 

that these harvest specifications could 

change, as the Council would consider 

information contained in the final 2014 

SAFE report, recommendations from the 

Plan Team, SSC, and AP committees, 

and public testimony when making its 

recommendations for final harvest 

specifications at the December Council 

meeting. NMFS further notified the 

public that, as required by the FMP and 

its implementing regulations, the sum of 

the TACs must be within the OY range 

of 1.4 million and 2.0 million mt. 

Information contained in the 2014 

SAFE reports indicates biomass changes 

for several groundfish species from the 

2013 SAFE reports. At the December 

2014 Council meeting, the SSC 

recommended the 2015 and 2016 ABCs 

for many species based on the best and 

most recent information contained in 

the 2014 SAFE reports. This 

recommendation resulted in an ABC 

sum total for all BSAI groundfish 

species in excess of 2 million mt for 

both 2015 and 2016. Based on the SSC 

ABC recommendations and the 2014 

SAFE reports, the Council recommends 

increasing Bering Sea pollock by 52,000 

mt. In terms of percentage, the largest 

increases in TACs were for Central 

Aleutian district (CAI) Atka mackerel 

and Western Aleutian district (WAI) 

Atka mackerel, octopuses, and Aleutian 

Island Pacific cod. The Atka mackerel 

fisheries are valuable and likely to be 

harvested to the full TAC available. The 

Council increased these TACs due to 

changes in Steller sea lion conservation 

measures. The octopuses increase was 

due to anticipated higher catches in 

2015 and 2016, and the increase in 

Aleutian Islands Pacific cod was due to 

larger biomass estimates. Conversely, 

the largest decrease in TAC in terms of 

tonnage is 38,000 mt for yellowfin sole 

and 15,750 for rock sole. In terms of 

percentage change from the proposed 

TACs, Aleutian Island Greenland turbot 

and shortraker rockfish had the largest 

decreases in TAC. The Council 

decreased TACs for these species 

because they were not fully harvested in 

2014. The changes to TAC between the 

proposed and final harvest 

specifications are based on the most 

recent scientific and economic 

information and are consistent with the 

FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest 

strategy as described in the proposed 

harvest specifications. These changes 

are compared in Table 1A. Table 1 lists 

the Council’s recommended final 2015 

OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), 

and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI 

groundfish; and Table 2 lists the 

Council’s recommended final 2016 OFL, 

ABC, TAC, initial TAC, and CDQ 

reserve amounts of the BSAI groundfish. 

NMFS concurs in these 

recommendations. The final 2015 and 

2016 TAC recommendations for the 

BSAI are within the OY range 

established for the BSAI and do not 

exceed the ABC for any species or 

species group. The apportionment of 

TAC amounts among fisheries and 

seasons is discussed below. 

TABLE 1—FINAL 2015 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 

2015 

OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3

Pollock 4 .............................. BS ....................................... 3,330,000 1,637,000 1,310,000 1,179,000 131,000 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11921 

TABLE 1—FINAL 2015 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 

2015 

OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3

AI ........................................ 36,005 29,659 19,000 17,100 1,900 

Bogoslof ............................. 21,200 15,900 100 100 0 

Pacific cod 5 ........................ BS ....................................... 346,000 255,000 240,000 214,320 25,680 

AI ........................................ 23,400 17,600 9,422 8,414 1,008 

Sablefish ............................. BS ....................................... 1,575 1,333 1,333 567 183 

AI ........................................ 2,128 1,802 1,802 383 304 

Yellowfin sole ...................... BSAI ................................... 266,400 248,800 149,000 133,057 15,943 

Greenland turbot ................. BSAI ................................... 3,903 3,172 2,648 2,251 n/a 

BS ....................................... n/a 2,448 2,448 2,081 262 

AI ........................................ n/a 724 200 170 0 

Arrowtooth flounder ............. BSAI ................................... 93,856 80,547 22,000 18,700 2,354 

Kamchatka flounder ............ BSAI ................................... 10,500 9,000 6,500 5,525 0 

Rock sole ............................ BSAI ................................... 187,600 181,700 69,250 61,840 7,410 

Flathead sole 6 .................... BSAI ................................... 79,419 66,130 24,250 21,655 2,595 

Alaska plaice ....................... BSAI ................................... 54,000 44,900 18,500 15,725 0 

Other flatfish 7 ..................... BSAI ................................... 17,700 13,250 3,620 3,077 0 

Pacific ocean perch ............ BSAI ................................... 42,558 34,988 32,021 28,250 n/a 

BS ....................................... n/a 8,771 8,021 6,818 0 

EAI ...................................... n/a 8,312 8,000 7,144 856 

CAI ..................................... n/a 7,723 7,000 6,251 749 

WAI ..................................... n/a 10,182 9,000 8,037 963 

Northern rockfish ................. BSAI ................................... 15,337 12,488 3,250 2,763 0 

Rougheye rockfish 8 ............ BSAI ................................... 560 453 349 297 0 

BS/EAI ................................ n/a 149 149 127 0 

CAI/WAI .............................. n/a 304 200 170 0 

Shortraker rockfish .............. BSAI ................................... 690 518 250 213 0 

Other rockfish 9 ................... BSAI ................................... 1,667 1,250 880 748 0 

BS ....................................... n/a 695 325 276 0 

AI ........................................ n/a 555 555 472 0 

Atka mackerel ..................... BSAI ................................... 125,297 106,000 54,500 48,669 5,832 

BS/EAI ................................ n/a 38,492 27,000 24,111 2,889 

CAI ..................................... n/a 33,108 17,000 15,181 1,819 

WAI ..................................... n/a 34,400 10,500 9,377 1,124 

Skates ................................. BSAI ................................... 49,575 41,658 25,700 21,845 0 

Sculpins ............................... BSAI ................................... 52,365 39,725 4,700 3,995 0 

Sharks ................................. BSAI ................................... 1,363 1,022 125 106 0 

Squids ................................. BSAI ................................... 2,624 1,970 400 340 0 

Octopuses ........................... BSAI ................................... 3,452 2,589 400 340 0 

Total ............................. 4,769,174 ........................... 2,848,454 2,000,000 1,789,278 197,038 

1These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of 

these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District. 2Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each 

TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and 

Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5). 3For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean 

perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish 

TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands 

Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other 

rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program. 4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) 

and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore—50 

percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400 

mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. 5The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline harvest 

level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for 

the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea. 6 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder). 7 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, 

arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice. 8 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted). 9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BS=Bering Sea subarea, AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western Aleutian district.) 

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11922 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 1A—COMPARISON OF FINAL 2015 AND 2016 WITH PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH IN THE

BSAI 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 1 2015 Final 

TAC 

2015 

Proposed TAC 

2015 

Difference 

from proposed 

2016 Final 

TAC 

2016 

Proposed TAC 

2016 

Difference 

from proposed 

Pollock ......................... BS ................... 1,310,000 1,258,000 52,000 1,310,000 1,258,000 52,000 

AI .................... 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0 

Bogoslof ......... 100 75 25 100 75 25 

Pacific cod ................... BS ................... 240,000 251,712 ¥11,712 240,000 251,712 ¥11,712 

AI .................... 9,422 6,487 2,935 9,422 6,487 2,935 

Sablefish ...................... BS ................... 1,333 1,210 123 1,211 1,210 1 

AI .................... 1,802 1,636 166 1,637 1,636 1 

Yellowfin sole .............. BSAI ............... 149,000 187,000 ¥38,000 149,000 187,000 ¥38,000 

Greenland turbot ......... BS ................... 2,448 2,478 ¥30 2,448 2,478 ¥30 

AI .................... 200 695 ¥495 200 695 ¥495 

Arrowtooth flounder ..... BSAI ............... 22,000 25,000 ¥3,000 22,000 25,000 ¥3,000 

Kamchatka flounder .... BSAI ............... 6,500 7,300 ¥800 6,500 7,300 ¥800 

Rock sole .................... BSAI ............... 69,250 85,000 ¥15,750 69,250 85,000 ¥15,750 

Flathead sole ............... BSAI ............... 24,250 25,129 ¥879 24,250 25,129 ¥879 

Alaska plaice ............... BSAI ............... 18,500 25,000 ¥6,500 18,500 25,000 ¥6,500 

Other flatfish ................ BSAI ............... 3,620 3,000 620 3,620 3,000 620 

Pacific ocean perch ..... BS ................... 8,021 7,340 681 8,021 7,340 681 

EAI .................. 8,000 8,833 ¥833 7,970 8,833 ¥863 

CAI ................. 7,000 6,299 701 7,000 6,299 701 

WAI ................. 9,000 9,169 ¥169 9,000 9,169 ¥169 

Northern rockfish ......... BSAI ............... 3,250 3,000 250 3,250 3,000 250 

Rougheye rockfish ...... BS/EAI ............ 149 201 ¥52 149 201 ¥52 

CAI/WAI .......... 200 277 ¥77 200 277 ¥77 

Shortraker rockfish ...... BSAI ............... 250 370 ¥120 250 370 ¥120 

Other rockfish .............. BS ................... 325 400 ¥75 325 400 ¥75 

AI .................... 555 473 82 555 473 82 

Atka mackerel ............. EAI/BS ............ 27,000 21,769 5,231 27,317 21,769 5,548 

CAI ................. 17,000 9,722 7,278 17,000 9,722 7,278 

WAI ................. 10,500 1,000 9,500 10,500 1,000 9,500 

Skates ......................... BSAI ............... 25,700 26,000 ¥300 25,700 26,000 ¥300 

Sculpins ....................... BSAI ............... 4,700 5,750 ¥1,050 4,700 5,750 ¥1,050 

Sharks ......................... BSAI ............... 125 125 0 125 125 0 

Squid ........................... BSAI ............... 400 325 75 400 325 75 

Octopuses ................... BSAI ............... 400 225 175 400 225 175 

Total ..................... BSAI ............... 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 

1Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District 

(EAI), Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI). 

TABLE 2—FINAL 2016 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 

2016 

OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3

Pollock 4 .............................. BS ....................................... 3,490,000 1,554,000 1,310,000 1,179,000 131,000 

AI ........................................ 38,699 31,900 19,000 17,100 1,900 

Bogoslof ............................. 21,200 15,900 100 100 0 

Pacific cod 5 ........................ BS ....................................... 389,000 255,000 240,000 214,320 25,680 

AI ........................................ 23,400 17,600 9,422 8,414 1,008 

Sablefish ............................. BS ....................................... 1,431 1,211 1,211 515 45 

AI ........................................ 1,934 1,637 1,637 348 31 

Yellowfin sole ...................... BSAI ................................... 262,900 245,500 149,000 133,057 15,943 

BSAI ................................... 6,453 5,248 2,648 2,251 n/a 

Greenland turbot ................. BS ....................................... n/a 4,050 2,448 2,081 262 

AI ........................................ n/a 1,198 200 170 0 

Arrowtooth flounder ............. BSAI ................................... 91,663 78,661 22,000 18,700 2,354 

Kamchatka flounder ............ BSAI ................................... 11,000 9,500 6,500 5,525 0 

Rock sole ............................ BSAI ................................... 170,100 164,800 69,250 61,840 7,410 

Flathead sole 6 .................... BSAI ................................... 76,504 63,711 24,250 21,655 2,595 

Alaska plaice ....................... BSAI ................................... 51,600 42,900 18,500 15,725 0 

Other flatfish 7 ..................... BSAI ................................... 17,700 13,250 3,620 3,077 0 

BSAI ................................... 40,809 33,550 31,991 28,223 n/a 

BS ....................................... n/a 8,411 8,021 6,818 0 

Pacific ocean perch ............ EAI ...................................... n/a 7,970 7,970 7,117 853 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11923 

TABLE 2—FINAL 2016 OVERFISHING LEVEL (OFL), ACCEPTABLE BIOLOGICAL CATCH (ABC), TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

(TAC), INITIAL TAC (ITAC), AND CDQ RESERVE ALLOCATION OF GROUNDFISH IN THE BSAI 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area 

2016 

OFL ABC TAC ITAC 2 CDQ 3

CAI ..................................... n/a 7,406 7,000 6,251 749 

WAI ..................................... n/a 9,763 9,000 8,037 963 

Northern rockfish ................. BSAI ................................... 15,100 12,295 3,250 2,763 0 

BSAI ................................... 688 555 349 297 0 

Rougheye rockfish 8 ............ EBS/EAI ............................. n/a 178 149 127 0 

CAI/WAI .............................. n/a 377 200 170 0 

Shortraker rockfish .............. BSAI ................................... 690 518 250 213 0 

BSAI ................................... 1,667 1,250 880 748 0 

Other rockfish 9 ................... BS ....................................... n/a 695 325 276 0 

AI ........................................ n/a 555 555 472 0 

BSAI ................................... 115,908 98,137 54,817 48,952 5,865 

Atka mackerel ..................... EAI/BS ................................ n/a 35,637 27,317 24,394 2,923 

CAI ..................................... n/a 30,652 17,000 15,181 1,819 

WAI ..................................... n/a 31,848 10,500 9,377 1,124 

Skates ................................. BSAI ................................... 47,035 39,468 25,700 21,845 0 

Sculpins ............................... BSAI ................................... 52,365 39,725 4,700 3,995 0 

Sharks ................................. BSAI ................................... 1,363 1,022 125 106 0 

Squids ................................. BSAI ................................... 2,624 1,970 400 340 0 

Octopuses ........................... BSAI ................................... 3,452 2,589 400 340 0 

Total ............................. ............................................. 4,935,285 2,731,897 2,000,000 1,789,447 196,658 

1These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of 

these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District. 2Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each 

TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and 

Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5). 3For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean 

perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see §§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish 

TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands 

Greenland turbot, ‘‘other flatfish,’’ Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other 

rockfish,’’ skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program. 4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) 

and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: Inshore—50 

percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400 

mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. 5The BS Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for the State of Alaska’s (State) guideline harvest 

level in State waters of the Bering Sea subarea. The AI Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the combined BSAI ABC to account for 

the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea. 6 ‘‘Flathead sole’’ includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder). 7 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, 

arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka flounder, and Alaska plaice. 8 ‘‘Rougheye rockfish’’ includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted). 9 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, and rougheye rockfish. 

Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2 (BS=Bering Sea subarea, AI=Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI=Eastern Aleutian district, CAI=Central Aleutian district, WAI=Western Aleutian district.) 

Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental 

Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, 

Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock 

Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian 

Islands Pacific Ocean Perch 

Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS 

to reserve 15 percent of the TAC for 

each target species, except for pollock, 

hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of 

sablefish, and Amendment 80 species, 

in a non-specified reserve. Section 

679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS 

allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line 

and pot gear allocation of sablefish for 

the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve. 

Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that 

NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl 

gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 

percent of the Bering Sea Greenland 

turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to 

the respective CDQ reserves. Section 

679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS 

allocate 10.7 percent of the TAC for 

Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific 

ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, 

flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the 

CDQ reserves. Sections 

679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also 

require that 10 percent of the BSAI 

pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock 

CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). 

The entire Bogoslof District pollock 

TAC is allocated as an ICA (see 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of 

the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish 

CDQ reserve, the regulations do not 

further apportion the CDQ allocations 

by gear. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), 

NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 4.0 

percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC 

after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ 

reserve. This allowance is based on 

NMFS’ examination of the pollock 

incidental catch, including the 

incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in 

target fisheries other than pollock from 

2000 through 2014. During this 15-year 

period, the pollock incidental catch 

ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006 

to a high of 4.8 percent in 2014, with a 

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11924 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

15-year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant 

to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), 

NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of 

2,400 mt of the AI subarea TAC after 

subtracting the 10-percent CDQ DFA. 

This allowance is based on NMFS’ 

examination of the pollock incidental 

catch, including the incidental catch by 

CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other 

than pollock from 2003 through 2014. 

During this 12-year period, the 

incidental catch of pollock ranged from 

a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of 

17 percent in 2014, with an 11-year 

average of 8 percent. 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8) and (10), 

NMFS allocates ICAs of 5,000 mt of 

flathead sole, 8,000 mt of rock sole, 

5,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt of WAI 

Pacific ocean perch, 75 mt of CAI 

Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of EAI 

Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of WAI Atka 

mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, 

and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea 

Atka mackerel TAC after subtracting the 

10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA 

allowances are based on NMFS’ 

examination of the incidental catch in 

other target fisheries from 2003 through 

2014. 

The regulations do not designate the 

remainder of the non-specified reserve 

by species or species group. Any 

amount of the reserve may be 

apportioned to a target species category 

that contributed to the non-specified 

reserves during the year, provided that 

such apportionments do not result in 

overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The 

Regional Administrator has determined 

that the ITACs specified for the species 

listed in Table 1 need to be 

supplemented from the non-specified 

reserve because U.S. fishing vessels 

have demonstrated the capacity to catch 

the full TAC allocations. Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is 

apportioning the amounts shown in 

Table 3 from the non-specified reserve 

to increase the ITAC for shortraker 

rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ‘‘other 

rockfish,’’ sharks, and octopuses by 15 

percent of the TAC in 2015 and 2016. 

TABLE 3—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 APPORTIONMENT OF RESERVES TO ITAC CATEGORIES

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species-area or subarea 2015 ITAC 2015 reserve 

amount 

2015 final 

ITAC 2016 ITAC 2016 reserve amount 

2016 final 

ITAC 

Shortraker rockfish-BSAI ......................... 213 37 250 213 37 250 

Rougheye rockfish-BS/EAI ...................... 127 22 149 127 22 149 

Rougheye rockfish-CAI/WAI .................... 170 30 200 170 30 200 

Other rockfish-Bering Sea subarea ......... 276 49 325 276 49 325 

Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea .. 472 83 555 472 83 555 

Sharks ...................................................... 106 19 125 106 19 125 

Octopuses ................................................ 340 60 400 340 60 400 

Total .................................................. 1,704 300 2,004 1,704 300 2,004 

Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the 

American Fisheries Act (AFA) 

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that 

the BS subarea pollock TAC be 

apportioned, after subtracting 10 

percent for the CDQ program and 4.0 

percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows: 

50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 

percent to the catcher/processor (C/P) 

sector, and 10 percent to the mothership 

sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of 

the DFA is allocated to the A season 

(January 20–June 10), and 60 percent of 

the DFA is allocated to the B season 

(June 10–November 1) 

(§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI-directed 

pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut 

Corporation is the amount of pollock 

remaining in the AI subarea after 

subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA 

(10 percent) and 2,400 mt for the ICA 

(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI 

subarea, the total A season 

apportionment of the TAC is less than 

or equal to 40 percent of the ABC and 

the remainder of the TAC is allocated to 

the B season. Tables 4 and 5 list these 

2015 and 2016 amounts. 

The Steller sea lion protection 

measure final rule (79 FR 70286, 

November 25, 2014), sets harvest limits 

for pollock in the A season (January 20 

to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541, 

see § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6). In Area 543, 

the A season pollock harvest limit is no 

more than 5 percent of the Aleutian 

Islands pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A 

season pollock harvest limit is no more 

than 15 percent of the Aleutian Islands 

ABC. In Area 541, the A season pollock 

harvest limit is no more than 30 percent 

of the Aleutian Islands ABC. 

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also 

includes several specific requirements 

regarding BS subarea pollock 

allocations. First, it requires that 8.5 

percent of the pollock allocated to the 

C/P sector be available for harvest by 

AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P 

sector endorsements, unless the 

Regional Administrator receives a 

cooperative contract that allows the 

distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps 

and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by 

all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not 

listed in the AFA are limited to 

harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of 

the pollock allocated to the C/P sector. 

Tables 4 and 5 list the 2015 and 2016 

allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 21 

through 26 list the AFA C/P and CV 

harvesting sideboard limits. The tables 

for the pollock allocations to the BS 

subarea inshore pollock cooperatives 

and open access sector will be posted on 

the Alaska Region Web site at http://

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. 

Tables 4 and 5 also list seasonal 

apportionments of pollock and harvest 

limits within the Steller Sea Lion 

Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest 

within the SCA, as defined at 

§ 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more 

than 28 percent of the annual DFA 

before 12:00 noon, April 1, as provided 

in § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season 

pollock SCA harvest limit will be 

apportioned to each sector in proportion 

to each sector’s allocated percentage of 

the DFA. Tables 4 and 5 list these 2015 

and 2016 amounts by sector. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11925 

TABLE 4—FINAL 2015 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2015 

Allocations 

2015 

A season 1

2015 

B season 1

A season DFA SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season DFA 

Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .............................................................................. 1,310,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 131,000 52,400 36,680 78,600 

ICA1 ................................................................................................................. 47,160 n/a n/a n/a 

AFA Inshore ..................................................................................................... 565,920 226,368 158,458 339,552 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ............................................................................... 452,736 181,094 126,766 271,642 

Catch by C/Ps .......................................................................................... 414,253 165,701 n/a 248,552 

Catch by CVs 3 ......................................................................................... 38,483 15,393 n/a 23,090 

Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ................................................................................... 2,264 905 n/a 1,358 

AFA Motherships ............................................................................................. 113,184 45,274 31,692 67,910 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................ 198,072 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ........................................................................... 339,552 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea DFA ..................................................................................... 1,131,840 452,736 316,915 679,104 

Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ......................................................................... 29,659 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ....................................................................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 

ICA ................................................................................................................... 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200 

Aleut Corporation ............................................................................................. 14,700 9,904 n/a 4,796 

Area harvest limit: 

541 ............................................................................................................ 8,898 n/a n/a n/a 

542 ............................................................................................................ 4,449 n/a n/a n/a 

543 ............................................................................................................ 1,483 n/a n/a n/a 

Bogoslof District ICA7 ...................................................................................... 100 n/a n/a n/a 

1Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated 

as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS 

subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20–June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 

10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A 

season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery. 2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. 

3Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest 

only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors. 4Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/

processors sector’s allocation of pollock. 5Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 6Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 7Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in 

Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. 8The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and 

are not apportioned by season or sector. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 5—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2016 

Allocations 

2016 

A season 1

2016 

B season 1

A season DFA SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season DFA 

Bering Sea subarea TAC 1 .............................................................................. 1,310,000 n/a n/a n/a 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 131,000 52,400 36,680 78,600 

ICA1 ................................................................................................................. 47,160 n/a n/a n/a 

AFA Inshore ..................................................................................................... 565,920 226,368 158,458 339,552 

AFA Catcher/Processors 3 ............................................................................... 452,736 181,094 126,766 271,642 

Catch by C/Ps .......................................................................................... 414,253 165,701 n/a 248,552 

Catch by CVs 3 ......................................................................................... 38,483 15,393 n/a 23,090 

Unlisted C/P Limit 4 ................................................................................... 2,264 905 n/a 1,358 

AFA Motherships ............................................................................................. 113,184 45,274 31,692 67,910 

Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 ............................................................................ 198,072 n/a n/a n/a 

Excessive Processing Limit 6 ........................................................................... 339,552 n/a n/a n/a 

Total Bering Sea DFA ..................................................................................... 1,131,840 452,736 316,915 679,104 

Aleutian Islands subarea ABC ......................................................................... 31,900 n/a n/a n/a 

Aleutian Islands subarea TAC 1 ....................................................................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 

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11926 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 5—FINAL 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF POLLOCK TACS TO THE DIRECTED POLLOCK FISHERIES AND TO THE CDQ 

DIRECTED FISHING ALLOWANCES (DFA) 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Area and sector 2016 

Allocations 

2016 

A season 1

2016 

B season 1

A season DFA SCA harvest 

limit 2 B season DFA 

CDQ DFA ......................................................................................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 

ICA ................................................................................................................... 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200 

Aleut Corporation ............................................................................................. 14,700 10,800 n/a 3,900 

Area harvest limit: 7

541 ............................................................................................................ 9,570 n/a n/a n/a 

542 ............................................................................................................ 4,785 n/a n/a n/a 

543 ............................................................................................................ 1,595 n/a n/a n/a 

Bogoslof District ICA8 ...................................................................................... 100 n/a n/a n/a 

1Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4.0 percent), is allocated 

as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector—50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)—40 percent, and mothership sector—10 percent. In the BS 

subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 

10–November 1). Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A 

season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the pollock directed fishery. 2 In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector’s annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. 

4Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/

processors sector’s allocation of pollock. 5Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 6Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ 

pollock DFAs. 7Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in Area 541 no more than 30 percent, in 

Area 542 no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 no more than 5 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. 8The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and 

are not apportioned by season or sector. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs 

Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka 

mackerel TACs to the Amendment 80 

and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, 

after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig 

gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI 

trawl limited access sector and nontrawl gear sector (Tables 6 and 7). The 

percentage of the ITAC for Atka 

mackerel allocated to the Amendment 

80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors 

is listed in Table 33 to part 679 and in 

§ 679.91. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(8)(i), 

up to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS 

subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be 

allocated to vessels using jig gear. The 

percent of this allocation is 

recommended annually by the Council 

based on several criteria, including the 

anticipated harvest capacity of the jig 

gear fleet. The Council recommended, 

and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent 

allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in 

the EAI and BS subarea to the jig gear 

sector in 2015 and 2016. This 

percentage is applied to the Atka 

mackerel TAC after subtracting the CDQ 

reserve and the ICA. 

Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions 

the Atka mackerel TAC into two equal 

seasonal allowances. Section 

679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal 

allowance for directed fishing with 

trawl gear from January 20 through June 

10 (A season), and the second seasonal 

allowance from June 10 through 

December 31 (B season). Section 

679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel 

seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing. 

The ICA and jig gear allocations are not 

apportioned by season. 

Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and 

(ii) limits Atka mackerel catch within 

waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion 

sites listed in Table 6 to this part and 

located west of 178° W longitude to no 

more than 60 percent of the annual 

TACs in Areas 542 and 543; and equally 

divides the annual TAC between the A 

and B seasons as defined at 

§ 679.23(e)(3). Section 

679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the annual 

TAC in Area 543 will be no more than 

65 percent of the ABC in Area 543. 

Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that 

any unharvested Atka mackerel A 

season allowance that is added to the B 

season be prohibited from being 

harvested within waters 0 nm to 20 nm 

of Steller sea lion sites listed in Table 

6 to this part and located in Areas 541, 

542, and 543. 

Tables 6 and 7 list these 2015 and 

2016 Atka mackerel seasons, area 

allowances, and the sector allocations. 

The 2016 allocations for Atka mackerel 

between Amendment 80 cooperatives 

and the Amendment 80 limited access 

sector will not be known until eligible 

participants apply for participation in 

the program by November 1, 2015. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11927 

TABLE 6—FINAL 2015 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2015 allocation by area 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/ 

Bering Sea 

Central 

Aleutian 

District 5

Western 

Aleutian 

District 

TAC ......................................................................................... n/a .......................................... 27,000 17,000 10,500 

CDQ reserve ........................................................................... Total ....................................... 2,889 1,819 1,124 

A ............................................. 1,445 910 562 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 546 337 

B ............................................. 1,445 910 562 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 546 337 

ICA ........................................................................................... Total ....................................... 1,000 75 40 

Jig 6 .......................................................................................... Total ....................................... 116 0 0 

BSAI trawl limited access ........................................................ Total ....................................... 2,300 1,511 0 

A ............................................. 1,150 755 0 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 453 0 

B ............................................. 1,150 755 0 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 453 0 

Amendment 80 sectors ........................................................... Total ....................................... 20,696 13,595 9,337 

A ............................................. 10,348 6,798 4,668 

B ............................................. 10,348 6,798 4,668 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative .............................................. Total 6 ..................................... 11,616 8,116 5,742 

A ............................................. 5,808 4,058 2,871 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 2,435 1,723 

B ............................................. 5,808 4,058 2,871 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 2,435 1,723 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................................................... Total 6 ..................................... 9,080 5,479 3,594 

A ............................................. 4,540 2,740 1,797 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 1,644 1,078 

B ............................................. 4,540 2,740 1,797 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 1,644 1,078 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see 

§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). 2 Regulations at §§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 

4Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B 

season from June 10 to December 31. 5Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of critical habitat; (a)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the 

TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC. 6Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear 

after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2016 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2016 allocation by area 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/ 

Bering Sea 5

Central 

Aleutian 

District 5

Western 

Aleutian 

District 5

TAC ......................................................................................... n/a .......................................... 27,317 17,000 10,500 

CDQ reserve ........................................................................... Total ....................................... 2,923 1,819 1,124 

A ............................................. 1,461 910 562 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 546 337 

B ............................................. 1,461 910 562 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 546 337 

ICA ........................................................................................... Total ....................................... 1,000 75 40 

Jig 6 .......................................................................................... Total ....................................... 117 0 0 

BSAI trawl limited access ........................................................ Total ....................................... 2,328 1,511 0 

A ............................................. 1,164 755 0 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 453 0 

B ............................................. 1,164 755 0 

Critical Habitat ....................... n/a 453 0 

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11928 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 7—FINAL 2016 SEASONAL AND SPATIAL ALLOWANCES, GEAR SHARES, CDQ RESERVE, INCIDENTAL CATCH

ALLOWANCE, AND AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATION OF THE BSAI ATKA MACKEREL TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 1 Season 234

2016 allocation by area 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District/ 

Bering Sea 5

Central 

Aleutian 

District 5

Western 

Aleutian 

District 5

Amendment 80 sectors ........................................................... Total ....................................... 20,949 13,595 9,337 

A ............................................. 10,475 6,798 4,668 

B ............................................. 10,475 6,798 4,668 

1Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see 

§§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). 2 Regulations at §§ 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. 

3The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. 

4Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B 

season from June 10 to December 31. 5Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to be caught inside of critical habitat; (a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at § 679.23(e)(3); and (a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires the 

TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC. 6Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear 

after subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. 7The 2016 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known 

until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015. NMFS will post 2016 Amendment 80 allocations when they 

become available in December 2015. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC 

The Council separated BS and AI 

subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for 

Pacific cod. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) 

allocates 10.7 percent of the BS TAC 

and AI TAC to the CDQ program. After 

CDQ allocations have been deducted 

from the respective BS and AI Pacific 

cod TACs, the remaining BS and AI 

Pacific cod TACs are combined for 

calculating further BSAI Pacific cod 

sector allocations. However, if the nonCDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be 

reached in either the BS or AI subareas, 

NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed 

fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea as 

provided in § 679.20(d)(1)(iii). 

Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) 

allocate the Pacific cod TAC in the 

combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting 

10.7 percent for the CDQ program, as 

follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig 

gear; 2.0 percent to hook-and-line and 

pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length 

overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-andline CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft 

(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-andline C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater 

than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 

percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3 percent to AFA 

trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA 

trawl C/Ps; and 22.1 percent to trawl 

CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and 

pot sectors will be deducted from the 

aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC 

allocated to the hook-and-line and pot 

sectors. For 2015 and 2016, the Regional 

Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 

mt based on anticipated incidental catch 

by these sectors in other fisheries. 

The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to 

the Amendment 80 sector is established 

in Table 33 to part 679 and § 679.91. 

The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 

species between Amendment 80 

cooperatives and the Amendment 80 

limited access sector will not be known 

until eligible participants apply for 

participation in the program by 

November 1, 2015. 

The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned 

into seasonal allowances to disperse the 

Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing 

year (see §§ 679.20(a)(7) and 

679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with 

§ 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused 

portion of a seasonal Pacific cod 

allowance will become available at the 

beginning of the next seasonal 

allowance. 

Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires the 

Regional Administrator to establish an 

Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based 

on Pacific cod abundance in Area 543. 

Based on the 2014 stock assessment, the 

Regional Administrator determined the 

Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit to be 

26.3 percent of the AI Pacific cod TAC 

for 2015 and 2016. NMFS will first 

subtract the State GHL Pacific cod 

amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC. 

Then NMFS will determine the harvest 

limit in Area 543 by multiplying the 

percentage of Pacific cod estimated in 

Area 543 by the remaining ABC for AI 

Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, 

the Area 543 harvest limit is 2,478 mt. 

The CDQ and non-CDQ season 

allowances by gear based on the 2015 

and 2016 Pacific cod TACs are listed in 

Tables 8 and 9, and are based on the 

sector allocation percentages of Pacific 

cod set forth at §§ 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 

679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and the seasonal 

allowances of Pacific cod set forth at 

§ 679.23(e)(5). 

TABLE 8—FINAL 2015 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2015 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2015 Share of 

sector total 

2015 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

BS TAC ................................................................. n/a 240,000 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

BS CDQ ................................................................ n/a 25,680 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a 

BS non-CDQ TAC ................................................ n/a 214,320 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11929 

TABLE 8—FINAL 2015 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2015 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2015 Share of 

sector total 

2015 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

AI TAC .................................................................. n/a 9,422 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

AI CDQ ................................................................. n/a 1,008 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a 

AI non-CDQ TAC .................................................. n/a 8,414 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Western Aleutian Island Limit ............................... n/a 2,478 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 .................................. 100 222,734 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ................................. 60.8 135,422 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA2 ........................................ n/a 500 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ................................... n/a 134,922 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor .......................... 48.7 n/a 108,071 Jan 1-Jun 10 ................ 55,116 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 52,955 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ........... 0.2 n/a 444 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 226 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 217 

Pot catcher/processor ........................................... 1.5 n/a 3,329 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,698 

........................ ........................ ........................ Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 1,631 

Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ............................ 8.4 n/a 18,641 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 9,507 

........................ ........................ ........................ Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 9,134 

Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

2 n/a 4,438 n/a ................................. n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ............................................. 22.1 49,224 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 36,426 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 5,415 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 7,384 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ................................ 2.3 5,123 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 3,842 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,281 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Amendment 80 ..................................................... 13.4 29,846 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 22,385 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 7,462 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ............................ n/a n/a 4,711 Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 3,533 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,178 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 0 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ................................ n/a n/a 25,135 Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 18,851 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 6,284 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 0 

Jig ......................................................................... 1.4 3,118 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 ................ 1,871 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 30–Aug 31 ............. 624 

........................ ........................ ........................ Aug 31–Dec 31 ............ 624 

1The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains. 2The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line 

and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2015 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2016 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2016 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2016 Share of 

sector total 

2016 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

BS TAC ................................................................. n/a 240,000 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

BS CDQ ................................................................ n/a 25,680 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a 

BS non-CDQ TAC ................................................ n/a 214,320 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

AI TAC .................................................................. n/a 9,422 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

AI CDQ ................................................................. n/a 1,008 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) n/a 

AI non-CDQ TAC .................................................. n/a 8,414 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Western Aleutian Island Limit ............................... n/a 2,478 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC 1 .................................. n/a 222,734 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Total hook-and-line/pot gear ................................. 60.8 135,422 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot ICA2 ........................................ n/a 500 n/a see § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) n/a 

Hook-and-line/pot sub-total ................................... n/a 134,922 n/a n/a ................................. n/a 

Hook-and-line catcher/processor .......................... 48.7 n/a 108,071 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 55,116 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 52,955 

Hook-and-line catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ........... 0.2 n/a 444 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 226 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 217 

Pot catcher/processor ........................................... 1.5 n/a 3,329 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,698 

........................ ........................ ........................ Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 1,631 

Pot catcher vessel ≥ 60 ft LOA ............................ 8.4 n/a 18,641 Jan 1–Jun 10 ................ 9,507 

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11930 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 9—FINAL 2016 GEAR SHARES AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES OF THE BSAI PACIFIC COD TAC—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Gear sector Percent 

2016 Share of 

gear sector 

total 

2016 Share of 

sector total 

2016 Seasonal apportionment 

Seasons Amount 

........................ ........................ ........................ Sept 1–Dec 31 ............. 9,134 

Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

2 n/a 4,438 n/a ................................. n/a 

Trawl catcher vessel ............................................. 22.1 49,224 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 36,426 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 5,415 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 7,384 

AFA trawl catcher/processor ................................ 2.3 5,123 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 3,842 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 1,281 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Nov 1 ............... 0 

Amendment 80 ..................................................... 13.4 29,846 n/a Jan 20–Apr 1 ................ 22,385 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 1–Jun 10 ................ 7,462 

........................ ........................ ........................ Jun 10–Dec 31 ............. 0 

Jig ......................................................................... 1.4 3,118 n/a Jan 1–Apr 30 ................ 1,871 

........................ ........................ ........................ Apr 30–Aug 31 ............. 624 

........................ ........................ ........................ Aug 31–Dec 31 ............ 624 

1The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached, then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea may be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains. 2The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line 

and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2016 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Sablefish Gear Allocation 

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) 

require allocation of the sablefish TAC 

for the BS and AI subareas between 

trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear 

sectors. Gear allocations of the TAC for 

the BS subarea are 50 percent for trawl 

gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or 

pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs 

for the AI subarea are 25 percent for 

trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-andline or pot gear. Section 

679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to 

apportion 20 percent of the hook-andline and pot gear allocation of sablefish 

to the CDQ reserve. Additionally, 

§ 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires that 7.5 

percent of the trawl gear allocation of 

sablefish from the non-specified 

reserves, established under 

§ 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ 

reserve. The Council recommended that 

only trawl sablefish TAC be established 

biennially. The harvest specifications 

for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear 

sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 

fisheries will be limited to the 2015 

fishing year to ensure those fisheries are 

conducted concurrently with the halibut 

IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and 

halibut IFQ fisheries will reduce the 

potential for discards of halibut and 

sablefish in those fisheries. The 

sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain 

closed at the beginning of each fishing 

year until the final harvest 

specifications for the sablefish IFQ 

fisheries are in effect. Table 10 lists the 

2015 and 2016 gear allocations of the 

sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve 

amounts. 

TABLE 10—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 GEAR SHARES AND CDQ RESERVE OF BSAI SABLEFISH TACS 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Subarea and gear Percent 

of TAC 

2015 

Share of 

TAC 

2015 

ITAC 

2015 

CDQ 

Reserve 

2016 

Share of 

TAC 

2016 

ITAC 

2016 

CDQ 

Reserve 

Bering Sea: 

Trawl 1 ........................................................................... 50 667 567 50 606 515 45 

Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ............................................... 50 667 533 133 n/a n/a 

Total ....................................................................... 100 1,333 1,100 183 606 515 45 

Aleutian Islands: 

Trawl 1 ........................................................................... 25 451 383 34 410 349 31 

Hook-and-line/pot gear 2 ............................................... 75 1,351 1,081 270 n/a n/a n/a 

Total ....................................................................... 100 1,802 1,464 304 410 349 31 

1Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of 

the TAC after the subtracting these reserves. 2For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use 

by CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11931 

Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean 

Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock 

Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs 

Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) 

require that NMFS allocate AI Pacific 

ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, 

rock sole, and yellowfin sole TAC 

between the Amendment 80 sector and 

BSAI trawl limited access sector, after 

subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ 

reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl 

limited access sector and vessels using 

non-trawl gear. The allocation of the 

ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and 

BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and 

yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 

sector is established in accordance with 

Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and 

§ 679.91. 

The 2016 allocations for Amendment 

80 species between Amendment 80 

cooperatives and the Amendment 80 

limited access sector will not be known 

until eligible participants apply for 

participation in the program by 

November 1, 2015. Tables 11 and 12 list 

the 2015 and 2016 allocations of the AI 

Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead 

sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs. 

TABLE 11—FINAL 2015 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND

AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK

SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 

Pacific ocean perch Flathead 

sole 

Rock sole Yellowfin 

sole 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District 

Central 

Aleutian 

District 

Western 

Aleutian 

District BSAI BSAI BSAI 

TAC .................................................................................. 8,000 7,000 9,000 24,250 69,250 149,000 

CDQ ................................................................................. 856 749 963 2,595 7,410 15,943 

ICA ................................................................................... 100 75 10 5,000 8,000 5,000 

BSAI trawl limited access ................................................ 704 618 161 0 0 16,165 

Amendment 80 ................................................................. 6,340 5,558 7,866 16,655 53,840 111,892 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ....................................... 3,362 2,947 4,171 1,708 13,318 44,455 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ........................................... 2,978 2,611 3,695 14,947 40,522 67,437 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 12—FINAL 2016 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) RESERVES, INCIDENTAL CATCH AMOUNTS (ICAS), AND

AMENDMENT 80 ALLOCATIONS OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS PACIFIC OCEAN PERCH, AND BSAI FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK

SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE TACS 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 

Pacific ocean perch Flathead 

sole 

Rock sole Yellowfin 

sole 

Eastern 

Aleutian 

District 

Central 

Aleutian 

District 

Western 

Aleutian 

District BSAI BSAI BSAI 

TAC .................................................................................. 7,970 7,000 9,000 24,250 69,250 149,000 

CDQ ................................................................................. 853 749 963 2,595 7,410 15,943 

ICA ................................................................................... 100 75 10 5,000 8,000 5,000 

BSAI trawl limited access ................................................ 702 618 161 0 0 16,165 

Amendment 80 1 .............................................................. 6,315 5,558 7,866 16,655 53,840 111,892 

1The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not 

be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015. NMFS will publish 2016 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in December 2015. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus 

for flathead sole, rock sole, and 

yellowfin sole as the difference between 

the annual ABC and TAC for each 

species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) 

establishes ABC reserves for flathead 

sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The 

ABC surpluses and the ABC reserves are 

necessary to mitigate the operational 

variability, environmental conditions, 

and economic factors that may constrain 

the CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 

cooperatives from achieving, on a 

continuing basis, the optimum yield in 

the BSAI groundfish fisheries. NMFS, 

after consultation with the Council, may 

set the ABC reserve at or below the ABC 

surplus for each species thus 

maintaining the TAC below ABC limits. 

An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the 

ABC reserves will be allocated as CDQ 

reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and 

yellowfin sole. The Amendment 80 ABC 

reserves shall be the ABC reserves 

minus the CDQ ABC reserves. Section 

679.91(i)(2) establishes each 

Amendment 80 cooperative ABC reserve 

to be the ratio of each cooperatives’ 

quota share (QS) units and the total 

Amendment 80 QS units, multiplied by 

the Amendment 80 ABC reserve for 

each respective species. Table 13 lists 

the 2015 and 2016 ABC surplus and 

ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, 

rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 

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11932 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 13—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 ABC SURPLUS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT QUOTA (CDQ) ABC RESERVES, AND

AMENDMENT 80 ABC RESERVES IN THE BSAI FOR FLATHEAD SOLE, ROCK SOLE, AND YELLOWFIN SOLE

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Sector 2015 Flathead sole 

2015 Rock 

sole 

2015 Yellowfin sole 2016 Flathead sole 2016 Rock 

sole 

2016 Yellowfin sole 

ABC .................................................................................. 66,130 181,700 248,800 63,711 164,800 245,500 

TAC .................................................................................. 24,250 69,250 149,000 24,250 69,250 149,000 

ABC surplus ..................................................................... 41,880 112,450 99,800 39,461 95,550 96,500 

ABC reserve ..................................................................... 41,880 112,450 99,800 39,461 95,550 96,500 

CDQ ABC reserve ........................................................... 4,481 12,032 10,679 4,222 10,224 10,326 

Amendment 80 ABC reserve ........................................... 37,399 100,418 89,121 35,239 85,326 86,175 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative for 2015 1 ...................... 3,836 24,840 35,408 n/a n/a n/a 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative for 2015 1 .......................... 33,563 75,578 53,713 n/a n/a n/a 

1The 2016 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not 

be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2015. 

PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, 

and Herring 

Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI 

PSC limits. Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) 

and (e)(2), the 2015 and 2016 BSAI 

halibut mortality limits are 3,675 mt for 

trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the nontrawl fisheries. Sections 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and 

679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326 mt of the 

trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 

percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl 

halibut mortality limit as the PSQ 

reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ 

program. 

Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes 

apportioning the non-trawl halibut PSC 

limit into PSC bycatch allowances 

among six fishery categories. Tables 15 

and 16 list the fishery bycatch 

allowances for the trawl fisheries, and 

Table 17 lists the fishery bycatch 

allowances for the non-trawl fisheries. 

Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, 

the Council recommends, and NMFS 

agrees, that certain specified non-trawl 

fisheries be exempt from the halibut 

PSC limit. As in past years, after 

consulting with the Council, NMFS 

exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the 

sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery 

categories from halibut bycatch 

restrictions for the following reasons: (1) 

The pot gear fisheries have low halibut 

bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates 

halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to 

be negligible because of the small size 

of the fishery and the selectivity of the 

gear; and (3) the IFQ program requires 

legal-size halibut to be retained by 

vessels using hook-and-line gear if a 

halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired 

master is aboard and is holding unused 

halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 

679). In 2014, total groundfish catch for 

the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 

approximately 43,225 mt, with an 

associated halibut bycatch mortality of 

about 4 mt. 

The 2014 jig gear fishery harvested 

about 3 mt of groundfish. Most vessels 

in the jig gear fleet are exempt from 

observer coverage requirements. As a 

result, observer data are not available on 

halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery. 

However, as mentioned above, NMFS 

estimates the jig gear sector will have a 

negligible amount of halibut bycatch 

mortality because of the selective nature 

of jig gear and the low mortality rate of 

halibut caught with jig gear and 

released. 

Section 679.21(f)(2) annually allocates 

portions of either 47,591 or 60,000 

Chinook salmon PSC limits among the 

AFA sectors, depending on past catch 

performance and on whether Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreements are formed. If an AFA sector 

participates in an approved Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreement, then NMFS will allocate a 

portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that 

sector as specified in 

§ 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreement is approved, or if the sector 

has exceeded its performance standard 

under § 679.21(f)(6), then NMFS will 

allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook 

salmon PSC limit to that sector, as 

specified in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 

2015, the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 

60,000 and the AFA sector Chinook 

salmon allocations are seasonally 

allocated with 70 percent of the 

allocation for the A season pollock 

fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation 

for the B season pollock fishery as stated 

in § 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for 

these PSC limits is described in detail 

in the final rule implementing 

management measures for Amendment 

91 (75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010). 

NMFS publishes the approved Chinook 

salmon bycatch incentive plan 

agreements, 2014 allocations, and 

reports at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.

gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/

default.htm. 

Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 

fish as the 2015 and 2016 Chinook 

salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea 

pollock fishery. Section 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 

percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, to the AI 

subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and 

allocates the remaining 647 Chinook 

salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. 

Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 

42,000 fish as the 2015 and 2016 nonChinook salmon PSC limit in the 

Catcher Vessel Operational Area 

(CVOA). Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) 

allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 nonChinook salmon in the CVOA as the 

PSQ for the CDQ program, and allocates 

the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook 

salmon in the CVOA as the PSC limit for 

the non-CDQ fisheries. 

PSC limits for crab and herring are 

specified annually based on abundance 

and spawning biomass. Section 

679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7 

percent from each trawl gear PSC limit 

specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for 

use by the groundfish CDQ program. 

Based on the 2014 survey data, the 

red king crab mature female abundance 

is estimated to be at 38.6 million red 

king crabs, which is above the threshold 

of 8.4 million red king crabs, and the 

effective spawning biomass is estimated 

at 51.3 million lb (23,362 mt). Based on 

the criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(i), 

the 2015 and 2016 PSC limit of red king 

crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000 

animals. This limit derives from the 

mature female abundance of more than 

8.4 million king crab and the effective 

spawning biomass estimate of less than 

55 million lb (24,948 mt). 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) 

establishes criteria under which NMFS 

must specify an annual red king crab 

bycatch limit for the Red King Crab 

Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The 

regulations limit the RKCSS red king 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11933 

crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the 

red king crab PSC limit, based on the 

need to optimize the groundfish harvest 

relative to red king crab bycatch. In 

December 2014, the Council 

recommended and NMFS concurs that 

the red king crab bycatch limit be equal 

to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC 

limit within the RKCSS (Table 15). 

Based on 2014 survey data, Tanner 

crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is 

estimated at 758 million animals. 

Pursuant to criteria set out at 

§ 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2015 

and 2016 C. bairdi crab PSC limit for 

trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 

and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These 

limits derive from the C. bairdi crab 

abundance estimate being in excess of 

the 400 million animals for both the 

Zone 1 and Zone 2 allocations. 

Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC 

limit for snow crab (C. opilio) is based 

on total abundance as indicated by the 

NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The 

C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 

percent of the BS abundance index 

minus 150,000 crab. Based on the 2014 

survey estimate of 9.852 billion animals, 

the calculated C. opilio crab PSC limit 

is 11,011,976 animals. 

Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC 

limit of Pacific herring caught while 

conducting any trawl operation for BSAI 

groundfish is 1 percent of the annual 

eastern BS herring biomass. The best 

estimate of 2015 and 2016 herring 

biomass is 274,236 mt. This amount was 

developed by the Alaska Department of 

Fish and Game based on spawning 

location estimates. Therefore, the 

herring PSC limit for 2015 and 2016 is 

2,742 mt for all trawl gear as listed in 

Tables 14 and 15. 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires 

PSQ reserves to be subtracted from the 

total trawl PSC limits. The 2014 PSC 

limits assigned to the Amendment 80 

and BSAI trawl limited access sectors 

are specified in Table 35 to part 679. 

The resulting allocations of PSC limit to 

CDQ PSQ, the Amendment 80 sector, 

and the BSAI trawl limited access 

fisheries are listed in Table 10. Pursuant 

to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and § 679.91(d) 

through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC 

limits assigned to the Amendment 80 

sector are then further allocated to 

Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC 

cooperative quota as listed in Table 18. 

PSC cooperative quota assigned to 

Amendment 80 cooperatives is not 

allocated to specific fishery categories. 

In 2015, there are no vessels in the 

Amendment 80 limited access sector. 

The 2016 PSC allocations between 

Amendment 80 cooperatives and the 

Amendment 80 limited access sector 

will not be known until eligible 

participants apply for participation in 

the program by November 1, 2015. 

Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires 

NMFS to apportion each trawl PSC limit 

not assigned to Amendment 80 

cooperatives into PSC bycatch 

allowances for seven specified fishery 

categories. 

Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes 

NMFS, after consulting with the 

Council, to establish seasonal 

apportionments of PSC amounts for the 

BSAI trawl limited access and 

Amendment 80 limited access sectors in 

order to maximize the ability of the fleet 

to harvest the available groundfish TAC 

and to minimize bycatch. The factors to 

be considered are (1) seasonal 

distribution of prohibited species; (2) 

seasonal distribution of target 

groundfish species; (3) PSC bycatch 

needs on a seasonal basis relevant to 

prohibited species biomass; (4) expected 

variations in bycatch rates throughout 

the year; (5) expected start of fishing 

effort; and (6) economic effects of 

seasonal PSC apportionments on 

industry sectors. The Council 

recommended and NMFS approves the 

seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 

15 and 16 to maximize harvest among 

gear types, fisheries, and seasons while 

minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the 

above criteria. 

TABLE 14—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 APPORTIONMENT OF PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH ALLOWANCES TO NON-TRAWL GEAR, 

THE CDQ PROGRAM, AMENDMENT 80, AND THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED ACCESS SECTORS

PSC Species and area 1 Total nontrawl PSC 

Non-trawl 

PSC 

remaining 

after CDQ 

PSQ 2

Total trawl 

PSC 

Trawl PSC 

remaining 

after CDQ 

PSQ 2

CDQ PSQ 

Reserve 2

Amendment 

80 sector 3

BSAI Trawl 

limited 

access fishery 

Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI ...................... 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,325 875 

Herring (mt) BSAI .................................... n/a n/a 2,742 n/a n/a n/a n/a 

Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 .............. n/a n/a 97,000 86,621 10,379 43,293 26,489 

C. opilio (animals) COBLZ ....................... n/a n/a 11,011,976 9,833,695 1,178,281 4,833,261 3,160,549 

C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 ............... n/a n/a 980,000 875,140 104,860 368,521 411,228 

C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 ............... n/a n/a 2,970,000 2,652,210 317,790 627,778 1,241,500 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of zones. 

2Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and § 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the 

non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of 

each crab PSC limit. 3The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 15—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH

ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS

Fishery categories Herring (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) 

Zone 1 

Yellowfin sole ........................................................................................................................................................... 187 n/a 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 1 .................................................................................................................... 30 n/a 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 2 ................................................................................................................................... 20 n/a 

Rockfish ................................................................................................................................................................... 14 n/a 

Pacific cod ............................................................................................................................................................... 42 n/a 

Midwater trawl pollock ............................................................................................................................................. 2,242 n/a 

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TABLE 15—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 HERRING AND RED KING CRAB SAVINGS SUBAREA PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH

ALLOWANCES FOR ALL TRAWL SECTORS—Continued 

Fishery categories Herring (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) 

Zone 1 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3 4 .................................................................................................................. 207 n/a 

Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic trawl gear 5 ........................................................................................ n/a 24,250 

Total trawl PSC ................................................................................................................................................ 2,742 97,000 

1 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, 

Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. 2 ‘‘Arrowtooth flounder’’ for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 

3Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ‘‘other species’’ fishery category. 

4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. 

5 In December 2014 the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited 

to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)). 

Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 16—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR THE BSAI TRAWL LIMITED

ACCESS SECTOR

BSAI Trawl limited access fisheries 

Prohibited species and area 1

Halibut mortality (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) Zone 

1 

C. opilio (animals) COBLZ 

C. bairdi (animals) 

Zone 1 Zone 2 

Yellowfin sole ....................................................................... 167 23,338 2,979,410 346,228 1,185,500 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 2 ................................. 0 0 0 0 0 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 3 ............................................... 0 0 0 0 0 

Rockfish April 15–December 31 .......................................... 5 0 4,922 0 1,000 

Pacific cod ............................................................................ 453 2,954 126,994 60,000 50,000 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 4 ................................. 250 197 49,223 5,000 5,000 

Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC ........................... 875 26,489 3,160,549 411,228 1,241,500 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

2 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock 

sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 3Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 

4 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 17—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCES FOR NON-TRAWL FISHERIES

Non-trawl fisheries Catcher/ 

Processor 

Catcher 

vessel 

Pacific cod—Total: ..................................................................................................................................................... 760 15. 

January 1–June 10 ............................................................................................................................................. 455 10. 

June 10–August 15 ............................................................................................................................................. 190 3. 

August 15–December 31 .................................................................................................................................... 115 2. 

Other non-trawl—Total: .............................................................................................................................................. ........................ 58. 

May 1–December 31 .......................................................................................................................................... ........................ 58. 

Groundfish pot and jig ................................................................................................................................................ ........................ Exempt. 

Sablefish hook-and-line .............................................................................................................................................. ........................ Exempt. 

Total non-trawl PSC .................................................................................................................................... ........................ 833. 

Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

TABLE 18—FINAL 2015 PROHIBITED SPECIES BYCATCH ALLOWANCE FOR THE BSAI AMENDMENT 80 COOPERATIVES

Cooperative 

Prohibited species and zones 1

Halibut mortality (mt) 

BSAI 

Red king crab 

(animals) Zone 

1 

C. opilio (animals) COBLZ 

C. bairdi (animals) 

Zone 1 Zone 2 

Alaska Seafood Cooperative ............................................... 1,693 30,834 3,311,730 271,542 465,879 

Alaska Groundfish Cooperative ........................................... 632 12,459 1,521,531 96,980 161,899 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of zones. 

Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11935 

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR) 

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality 

allowances and apportionments, the 

Regional Administrator uses observed 

halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, and 

estimates of groundfish catch to project 

when a fishery’s halibut bycatch 

mortality allowance or seasonal 

apportionment is reached. The DMRs 

are based on the best information 

available, including information 

contained in the annual SAFE report. 

NMFS approves the halibut DMRs 

developed and recommended by the 

International Pacific Halibut 

Commission (IPHC) and the Council for 

the 2015 and 2016 BSAI groundfish 

fisheries for use in monitoring the 2015 

and 2016 halibut bycatch allowances 

(see Tables 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18). The 

IPHC developed these DMRs for the 

2015 and 2016 BSAI fisheries using the 

10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. 

The IPHC will analyze observer data 

annually and recommend changes to the 

DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large 

variation from the mean. A discussion 

of the DMRs is available from the 

Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 19 

lists the 2015 and 2016 DMRs. 

TABLE 19—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 PACIFIC HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR THE BSAI 

Gear Fishery 

Halibut discard 

mortality rate 

(percent) 

Non-CDQ hook-and-line ............................................................. Greenland turbot ........................................................................ 13 

Other species 1 ........................................................................... 9 

Pacific cod .................................................................................. 9 

Rockfish ...................................................................................... 4 

Non-CDQ trawl ........................................................................... Alaska plaice .............................................................................. 71 

Arrowtooth flounder 2 .................................................................. 76 

Atka mackerel ............................................................................. 77 

Flathead sole .............................................................................. 73 

Greenland turbot ........................................................................ 64 

Non-pelagic pollock .................................................................... 77 

Pelagic pollock ............................................................................ 88 

Other flatfish 3 ............................................................................. 71 

Other species 1 ........................................................................... 71 

Pacific cod .................................................................................. 71 

Rockfish ...................................................................................... 79 

Rock sole .................................................................................... 85 

Sablefish ..................................................................................... 75 

Yellowfin sole ............................................................................. 83 

Non-CDQ Pot ............................................................................. Other species 1 ........................................................................... 8 

Pacific cod .................................................................................. 8 

CDQ trawl ................................................................................... Atka mackerel ............................................................................. 86 

Greenland turbot ........................................................................ 89 

Flathead sole .............................................................................. 79 

Non-pelagic pollock .................................................................... 83 

Pacific cod .................................................................................. 90 

Pelagic pollock ............................................................................ 90 

Rockfish ...................................................................................... 80 

Rock sole .................................................................................... 88 

Yellowfin sole ............................................................................. 86 

CDQ hook-and-line ..................................................................... Greenland turbot ........................................................................ 4 

Pacific cod .................................................................................. 10 

CDQ pot ...................................................................................... Pacific cod .................................................................................. 8 

Sablefish ..................................................................................... 34 

1 ‘‘Other species’’ includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. 

2Arrowtooth flounder includes Kamchatka flounder. 

3 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, 

yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 

Directed Fishing Closures 

In accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(i), 

the Regional Administrator may 

establish a DFA for a species or species 

group if the Regional Administrator 

determines that any allocation or 

apportionment of a target species has 

been or will be reached. If the Regional 

Administrator establishes a DFA, and 

that allowance is or will be reached 

before the end of the fishing year, NMFS 

will prohibit directed fishing for that 

species or species group in the specified 

subarea or district (see 

§ 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant 

to § 679.21(e), if the Regional 

Administrator determines that a fishery 

category’s bycatch allowance of halibut, 

red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio 

crab for a specified area has been 

reached, the Regional Administrator 

will prohibit directed fishing for each 

species in that category in the specified 

area. 

Based on historic catch patterns and 

anticipated fishing activity, the Regional 

Administrator has determined that the 

groundfish allocation amounts in Table 

20 will be necessary as incidental catch 

to support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries for the 2015 and 2016 fishing 

years. Consequently, in accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 

Administrator establishes the DFA for 

the species and species groups in Table 

20 as zero. Therefore, in accordance 

with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for these 

sectors and species in the specified 

areas effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 

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11936 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

5, 2015, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., 

December 31, 2016. Also, for the BSAI 

trawl limited access sector, bycatch 

allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. 

bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in 

Table 20 are insufficient to support 

directed fisheries. Therefore, in 

accordance with § 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is 

prohibiting directed fishing for these 

sectors and fishery categories in the 

specified areas effective at 1200 hrs, 

A.l.t., March 5, 2015, through 2400 hrs, 

A.l.t., December 31, 2016. 

TABLE 20—2015 AND 2016 DIRECTED FISHING CLOSURES 1

[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals] 

Area Sector Species 

2015 Incidental catch 

allowance 

2016 Incidental catch 

allowance 

Bogoslof District .............................. All ................................................... Pollock ............................................ 100 100 

Aleutian Islands subarea ................ All ................................................... ICA pollock ..................................... 2,400 2,400 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ........................... 555 555 

Eastern Aleutian District/Bering 

Sea.

Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel ......................... 1,000 1,000 

Eastern Aleutian District/Bering 

Sea.

All ................................................... Rougheye rockfish ......................... 177 201 

Eastern Aleutian District ................. Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Pacific ocean perch ................ 100 100 

Central Aleutian District .................. Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel ......................... 75 75 

ICA Pacific ocean perch ................ 75 75 

Western Aleutian District ................ Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA Atka mackerel .........................

ICA Pacific ocean perch ................

40 

10 

40 

10 

Central and Western Aleutian Districts.All ................................................... Rougheye rockfish ......................... 239 277 

Bering Sea subarea ........................ All ................................................... Pacific ocean perch ....................... 6,818 6,818 

‘‘Other rockfish’’ 2 ........................... 325 325 

ICA pollock ..................................... 47,160 47,160 

Northern rockfish ............................ 2,763 2,763 

Shortraker rockfish ......................... 250 250 

Skates ............................................ 21,845 21,845 

All ................................................... Sculpins .......................................... 3,995 3,995 

Sharks ............................................ 125 125 

Squids ............................................ 340 340 

Octopuses ...................................... 400 400 

Hook-and-line and pot gear ........... ICA Pacific cod .............................. 500 500 

Non-amendment 80 ....................... ICA flathead sole ........................... 5,000 5,000 

ICA rock sole ................................. 8,000 8,000 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands .... Non-amendment 80 and BSAI 

trawl limited access.

ICA yellowfin sole .......................... 5,000 5,000 

BSAI trawl limited access .............. Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish—halibut mortality, red king 

crab Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, 

C. bairdi Zone 1 and 2.

0 0 

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish—halibut mortality, red king crab 

Zone 1, C. opilio COBLZ, C. 

bairdi Zone 1 and 2.

0 0 

Rockfish—red king crab Zone 1 .... 0 0 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

2 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, and rougheye rockfish. 

Closures implemented under the final 

2014 and 2015 BSAI harvest 

specifications for groundfish (79 FR 

12108, March 4, 2014) remain effective 

under authority of these final 2015 and 

2016 harvest specifications, and are 

posted at the following Web sites: 

http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/

info_bulletins/ and http://alaska

fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries_reports/

reports/. While these closures are in 

effect, the maximum retainable amounts 

at § 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time 

during a fishing trip. These closures to 

directed fishing are in addition to 

closures and prohibitions found in 

regulations at 50 CFR part 679. 

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor 

Sideboard Limits 

Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional 

Administrator is responsible for 

restricting the ability of listed AFA C/ 

Ps to engage in directed fishing for 

groundfish species other than pollock to 

protect participants in other groundfish 

fisheries from adverse effects resulting 

from the AFA and from fishery 

cooperatives in the pollock directed 

fishery. These restrictions are set out as 

‘‘sideboard’’ limits on catch. The basis 

for these sideboard limits is described in 

detail in the final rules implementing 

the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 

79692, December 30, 2002) and 

Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, 

September 14, 2007). Table 21 lists the 

2015 and 2016 C/P sideboard limits. 

All harvest of groundfish sideboard 

species by listed AFA C/Ps, whether as 

targeted catch or incidental catch, will 

be deducted from the sideboard limits 

in Table 21. However, groundfish 

sideboard species that are delivered to 

listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11937 

deducted from the 2015 and 2016 

sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps. 

TABLE 21—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 LISTED BSAI AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER/PROCESSOR GROUNDFISH

SIDEBOARD LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

1995–1997 

Target species Area/Season Retained 

catch Total catch 

Ratio of retained catch 

to total 

catch 

2015 ITAC 

Available to 

trawl C/Ps1

2015 AFA 

C/P Sideboard limit 

2016 ITAC 

Available to 

trawl C/Ps1

2016 AFA 

C/P Sideboard limit 

Sablefish trawl ....................... BS ......................................... 8 497 0.016 567 9 515 8 

AI ........................................... 0 145 0 383 0 348 0 

Atka mackerel ........................ Central AI A season 2 ............ n/a n/a 0.115 7,591 873 7,591 873 

Central AI B season 2 ............ n/a n/a 0.115 7,591 873 7,591 873 

Western AI A season 2 .......... n/a n/a 0.2 4,689 938 4,689 938 

Western AI B season 2 .......... n/a n/a 0.2 4,689 938 4,689 938 

Rock sole ............................... BSAI ...................................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 61,840 2,288 61,840 2,288

Greenland turbot ................... BS ......................................... 121 17,305 0.007 2,081 15 2,081 15 

AI ........................................... 23 4,987 0.005 170 1 170 1 

Arrowtooth flounder ............... BSAI ...................................... 76 33,987 0.002 18,700 37 18,700 37 

Kamchatka flounder .............. BSAI ...................................... 76 33,987 0.002 5,525 11 5,525 11 

Flathead sole ......................... BSAI ...................................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 21,655 780 21,655 780 

Alaska plaice ......................... BSAI ...................................... 14 9,438 0.001 15,725 16 15,725 16 

Other flatfish .......................... BSAI ...................................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 3,077 178 3,077 178 

Pacific ocean perch ............... BS ......................................... 12 4,879 0.002 6,818 14 6,818 14 

Eastern AI ............................. 125 6,179 0.02 7,144 143 7,117 142 

Central AI .............................. 3 5,698 0.001 6,251 6 6,251 6 

Western AI ............................ 54 13,598 0.004 8,037 32 8,037 32 

Northern rockfish ................... BSAI ...................................... 91 13,040 0.007 2,763 19 2,763 19 

Shortraker rockfish ................ BSAI ...................................... 50 2,811 0.018 250 5 250 5 

Rougheye rockfish ................. EBS/EAI ................................ 50 2,811 0.018 149 3 149 3 

CAI/WAI ................................ 50 2,811 0.018 200 4 200 4 

Other rockfish ........................ BS ......................................... 18 621 0.029 325 9 325 9 

AI ........................................... 22 806 0.027 555 15 555 15 

Skates .................................... BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 21,845 175 21,845 175 

Sculpins ................................. BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 3,995 32 3,995 32 

Sharks ................................... BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 125 1 125 1 

Squids .................................... BSAI ...................................... 73 3,328 0.022 340 7 340 7 

Octopuses ............................. BSAI ...................................... 553 68,672 0.008 400 3 400 3 

1Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC after the 

subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C). 2The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Western 

Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District. 

Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 

and 41 of part 679 establish a formula 

for calculating PSC sideboard limits for 

listed AFA C/Ps. The basis for these 

sideboard limits is described in detail in 

the final rules implementing the major 

provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 

December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 

(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). 

PSC species listed in Table 22 that are 

caught by listed AFA C/Ps participating 

in any groundfish fishery other than 

pollock will accrue against the 2015 and 

2016 PSC sideboard limits for the listed 

AFA C/Ps. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) 

authorizes NMFS to close directed 

fishing for groundfish other than 

pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2015 

or 2016 PSC sideboard limit listed in 

Table 22 is reached. 

Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed 

AFA C/Ps while fishing for pollock will 

accrue against the bycatch allowances 

annually specified for either the 

midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka 

mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery 

categories under regulations at 

§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

TABLE 22—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 BSAI AFA LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR PROHIBITED SPECIES SIDEBOARD LIMITS

PSC Species and area 1

Ratio of PSC 

catch to total 

PSC 

2015 and 

2016 PSC 

available to 

trawl vessels 

after subtraction of PSQ 2

2015 and 

2016 catcher/

processor 

sideboard 

limit 2

Halibut mortality BSAI .................................................................................................................. n/a n/a 286 

Red king crab zone 1 .................................................................................................................. 0.007 86,621 606 

C. opilio (COBLZ) ........................................................................................................................ 0.153 9,833,695 1,504,555 

C. bairdi Zone 1 ........................................................................................................................... 0.14 875,140 122,520 

C. bairdi Zone 2 ........................................................................................................................... 0.05 2,652,210 132,611 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

2 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. 

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AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits 

Pursuant to § 679.64(a), the Regional 

Administrator is responsible for 

restricting the ability of AFA CVs to 

engage in directed fishing for groundfish 

species other than pollock to protect 

participants in other groundfish 

fisheries from adverse effects resulting 

from the AFA and from fishery 

cooperatives in the pollock directed 

fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a 

formula for setting AFA CV groundfish 

and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. 

The basis for these sideboard limits is 

described in detail in the final rules 

implementing the major provisions of 

the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 

2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, 

September 14, 2007). Tables 23 and 24 

list the 2015 and 2016 AFA CV 

sideboard limits. 

All catch of groundfish sideboard 

species made by non-exempt AFA CVs, 

whether as targeted catch or incidental 

catch, will be deducted from the 2015 

and 2016 sideboard limits listed in 

Table 23. 

TABLE 23—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL BSAI GROUNDFISH SIDEBOARD LIMITS

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species/Gear Fishery by area/season 

Ratio of 1995– 

1997 AFA CV 

catch to 1995– 

1997 TAC 

2015 Initial 

TAC 1

2015 AFA 

Catcher vessel 

sideboard 

limits 

2016 Initial 

TAC 1

2016 AFA 

catcher vessel 

sideboard 

limits 

Pacific cod/Jig gear ............. BSAI ................................... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 

Pacific cod/Hook-and-line 

CV ≥60 feet LOA.

BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ............ 0.0006 226 0 226 0 

BSAI Jun 10–Dec 31 ......... 0.0006 217 0 217 0 

Pacific cod pot gear CV ...... BSAI Jan 1–Jun 10 ............ 0.0006 9,507 6 9,507 6 

BSAI Sept 1–Dec 31 .......... 0.0006 9,134 5 9,134 5 

Pacific cod CV ≤60 feet 

LOA using hook-and-line 

or pot gear.

BSAI ................................... 0.0006 4,438 3 4,438 3 

Pacific cod trawl gear CV ... BSAI Jan 20–Apr 1 ............ 0.8609 36,426 31,359 36,426 31,359 

BSAI Apr 1–Jun 10 ............ 0.8609 5,415 4,662 5,415 4,662 

BSAI Jun 10–Nov 1 ........... 0.8609 7,384 6,357 7,384 6,357 

Sablefish trawl gear ............ BS ....................................... 0.0906 567 51 515 47 

AI ........................................ 0.0645 383 25 348 22 

Atka mackerel ..................... Eastern AI/BS Jan 1–Jun 

10.

0.0032 12,056 39 12,197 39 

Eastern AI/BS Jun 10–Nov 

1.

0.0032 12,056 39 12,197 39 

Central AI Jan 1–Jun 10 .... 0.0001 7,590 1 7,591 1 

Central AI Jun 10–Nov 1 .... 0.0001 7,590 1 7,591 1 

Western AI Jan 1–Jun 10 .. 0 4689 0 4689 0 

Western AI Jun 10–Nov 1 .. 0 4689 0 4689 0 

Rock sole ............................ BSAI ................................... 0.0341 61,840 2,109 61,840 2,109 

Greenland turbot ................. BS ....................................... 0.0645 2,081 134 2,081 134 

AI ........................................ 0.0205 170 3 170 3 

Arrowtooth flounder ............. BSAI ................................... 0.069 18,700 1,290 18,700 1,290 

Kamchatka flounder ............ BSAI ................................... 0.069 5,525 381 5,525 381 

Alaska plaice ....................... BSAI ................................... 0.0441 15,725 693 15,725 693 

Other flatfish ........................ BSAI ................................... 0.0441 3,077 136 3,077 136 

Flathead sole ...................... BS ....................................... 0.0505 21,655 1,094 21,655 1,094 

Pacific ocean perch ............ BS ....................................... 0.1 6,818 682 6,818 682 

Eastern AI .......................... 0.0077 7,144 55 7,117 55 

Central AI ........................... 0.0025 6,251 16 6,251 16 

Western AI ......................... 0 8,037 0 8,037 0 

Northern rockfish ................. BSAI ................................... 0.0084 2,763 23 2,763 23 

Shortraker rockfish .............. BSAI ................................... 0.0037 250 1 250 1 

Rougheye rockfish .............. EBS/EAI ............................. 0.0037 149 1 149 1 

CAI/WAI .............................. 0.0037 200 1 200 1 

Other rockfish ...................... BS ....................................... 0.0048 325 2 325 2 

AI ........................................ 0.0095 555 5 555 5 

Skates ................................. BSAI ................................... 0.0541 21,845 1,182 21,845 1,182 

Sculpins ............................... BSAI ................................... 0.0541 3,995 216 3,995 216 

Sharks ................................. BSAI ................................... 0.0541 125 7 125 7 

Squids ................................. BSAI ................................... 0.3827 340 130 340 130 

Octopuses ........................... BSAI ................................... 0.0541 400 22 400 22 

1Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of 

that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C). 

Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in 

Table 24 that are caught by AFA CVs 

participating in any groundfish fishery 

for groundfish other than pollock will 

accrue against the 2015 and 2016 PSC 

sideboard limits for the AFA CVs. 

Sections 679.21(d)(7) and 679.21(e)(3)(v) 

authorize NMFS to close directed 

fishing for groundfish other than 

pollock for AFA CVs once a 2015 or 

2016 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 

24 is reached. The PSC that is caught by 

AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in 

the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch 

allowances annually specified for either 

the midwater pollock or the pollock/

Atka mackerel/‘‘other species’’ fishery 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11939 

categories under regulations at 

§ 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

TABLE 24—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH SIDEBOARD

LIMITS FOR THE BSAI 1

PSC Species and area 1 Target fishery category 2

AFA Catcher 

vessel PSC 

sideboard limit 

ratio 

2015 and 

2016 PSC limit 

after 

subtraction of 

PSQ 

reserves 3

2015 and 

2016 AFA 

catcher vessel 

PSC 

sideboard 

limit 3

Halibut ..................................... Pacific cod trawl ..................................................................... n/a n/a 887 

Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot ............................................ n/a n/a 2 

Yellowfin sole total ................................................................. n/a n/a 101 

Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 4 ................................... n/a n/a 228 

Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 5 ................................. n/a n/a 0 

Rockfish .................................................................................. n/a n/a 2 

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 6 ................................... n/a n/a 5 

Red king crab Zone 1 ............. n/a ........................................................................................... 0.299 86,621 25,900 

C. opilio COBLZ ...................... n/a ........................................................................................... 0.168 9,833,695 1,652,061 

C. bairdi Zone 1 ...................... n/a ........................................................................................... 0.33 875,140 288,796 

C. bairdi Zone 2 ...................... n/a ........................................................................................... 0.186 2,652,210 493,311 

1 Refer to § 679.2 for definitions of areas. 

2Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv). 

3 Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. 

4 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock 

sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 5Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder. 

6 ‘‘Other species’’ for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. 

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher 

Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing 

Closures 

Based on historical catch patterns, the 

Regional Administrator has determined 

that many of the AFA C/P and CV 

sideboard limits listed in Tables 25 and 

26 are necessary as incidental catch to 

support other anticipated groundfish 

fisheries for the 2015 and 2016 fishing 

years. In accordance with 

§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional 

Administrator establishes the sideboard 

limits listed in Tables 25 and 26 as 

DFAs. Because many of these DFAs will 

be reached before the end of 2015, the 

Regional Administrator has determined, 

in accordance with § 679.20(d)(1)(iii), 

that NMFS is prohibiting directed 

fishing by listed AFA C/Ps for the 

species in the specified areas set out in 

Table 25, and directed fishing by nonexempt AFA CVs for the species in the 

specified areas set out in Table 26. 

TABLE 25—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED

FISHING CLOSURES 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area Gear types 2015 

Sideboard limit 

2016 

Sideboard limit 

Sablefish trawl ................................................. BS ................................................................... trawl 9 8 

AI .................................................................... trawl 0 0 

Rock sole ........................................................ BSAI ............................................................... all 2,288 2,288 

Greenland turbot ............................................. BS ................................................................... all 15 15 

AI .................................................................... all 1 1 

Arrowtooth flounder ......................................... BSAI ............................................................... all 37 37 

Kamchatka flounder ........................................ BSAI ............................................................... all 11 11 

Alaska plaice ................................................... BSAI ............................................................... all 16 16 

Other flatfish 2 ................................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 178 178

Flathead sole .................................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 780 780 

Pacific ocean perch ........................................ BS ................................................................... all 14 14 

Eastern AI ...................................................... all 143 142 

Central AI ....................................................... all 6 6 

Western AI ..................................................... all 32 32 

Northern rockfish ............................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 19 19 

Shortraker rockfish .......................................... BSAI ............................................................... all 5 5 

Rougheye rockfish .......................................... EBS/EAI ......................................................... all 3 3 

CAI/WAI .......................................................... all 4 4 

Other rockfish 3 ............................................... BS ................................................................... all 9 9 

AI .................................................................... all 15 15 

Skates ............................................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 175 175 

Sculpins ........................................................... BSAI ............................................................... all 32 32 

Sharks ............................................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 1 1 

Squids ............................................................. BSAI ............................................................... all 7 7 

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TABLE 25—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT LISTED CATCHER/PROCESSOR SIDEBOARD DIRECTED

FISHING CLOSURES 1—Continued 

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area Gear types 2015 

Sideboard limit 

2016 

Sideboard limit 

Octopuses ....................................................... BSAI ............................................................... all 3 3 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

2 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, 

Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 3 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, and rougheye rockfish. 

TABLE 26—FINAL 2015 AND 2016 AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL SIDEBOARD DIRECTED FISHING

CLOSURES 1

[Amounts are in metric tons] 

Species Area Gear types 2015 

Sideboard limit 

2016 

Sideboard limit 

Pacific cod ...................................... BSAI ............................................... hook-and-line CV ≥60 feet LOA .... 0 0 

BSAI ............................................... pot CV ≥60 feet LOA ..................... 11 11 

BSAI ............................................... hook-and-line or pot CV ≤60 feet 

LOA.

3 3 

BSAI ............................................... jig .................................................... 0 0 

Sablefish ......................................... BS .................................................. trawl ................................................ 51 47 

AI .................................................... trawl ................................................ 25 22 

Atka mackerel ................................. Eastern AI/BS ................................ all .................................................... 78 78 

Central AI ....................................... all .................................................... 2 2 

Western AI ..................................... all .................................................... 0 0 

Greenland turbot ............................. BS .................................................. all .................................................... 134 134 

AI .................................................... all .................................................... 3 3 

Arrowtooth flounder ........................ BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 1,290 1,290 

Kamchatka flounder ........................ BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 381 381 

Alaska plaice .................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 693 693 

Other flatfish 2 ................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 136 136 

Flathead sole .................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 1,094 1,094 

Rock sole ........................................ BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 2,109 2,109 

Pacific ocean perch ........................ BS .................................................. all .................................................... 682 682 

Eastern AI ...................................... all .................................................... 55 55 

Central AI ....................................... all .................................................... 16 16 

Western AI ..................................... all .................................................... 0 0 

Northern rockfish ............................ BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 23 23 

Shortraker rockfish ......................... BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 1 1 

Rougheye rockfish .......................... BS/EAI ............................................ all .................................................... 1 1 

CAI/WAI ......................................... all .................................................... 1 1 

Other rockfish 3 ............................... BS .................................................. all .................................................... 2 2 

AI .................................................... all .................................................... 5 5 

Skates ............................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 1,182 1,182 

Sculpins .......................................... BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 216 216 

Sharks ............................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 7 7 

Squids ............................................. BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 130 130 

Octopuses ....................................... BSAI ............................................... all .................................................... 22 22 

1 Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. 

2 ‘‘Other flatfish’’ includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, 

Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder. 3 ‘‘Other rockfish’’ includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker 

rockfish, and rougheye rockfish. 

Response to Comments 

NMFS received five letters with 13 

comments. 

Comment 1: The Pacific halibut 

population is in steep decline yet NMFS 

is proposing to authorize the removal of 

millions of pounds of halibut bycatch in 

the Bering Sea groundfish fishery. 

Response: The final 2015 and 2016 

harvest specifications for the BSAI 

publishes regulatory halibut PSC limits 

that are imposed on the federal 

groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 

halibut PSC limits for the BSAI 

groundfish fisheries are described in the 

FMP for Groundfish of the BSAI 

management area and the regulations at 

50 CFR 679.21(e) implement the BSAI 

PSC limits. The Council and NMFS 

establish halibut PSC limits to constrain 

the amount of bycatch taken in the 

groundfish fisheries. The halibut PSC 

limits are not allowances for halibut 

bycatch in the groundfish fishery; 

rather, halibut PSC limits impose 

maximum limits on the amount of 

halibut bycatch mortality that may be 

taken by the groundfish fisheries. When 

a halibut PSC limit is reached, further 

groundfish fishing with specific types of 

gear and modes of operation is 

prohibited in that area. The Council and 

NMFS have initiated a separate action to 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11941 

reduce halibut PSC limits in the BSAI 

to minimize halibut bycatch in the 

groundfish fishery to the extent 

practicable. See response to Comment 2. 

Comment 2: The Magnuson-Stevens 

Act requires that NMFS, to the extent 

practicable: (A) Minimize bycatch; and 

(B), minimize the mortality of bycatch 

which cannot be avoided. Before 

finalizing the 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications for the BSAI, NMFS must 

minimize bycatch of halibut in the 

groundfish fisheries consistent with its 

statutory obligations. 

Response: The Council and NMFS are 

committed to minimizing halibut 

bycatch in the BSAI to the extent 

practicable. Section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP 

states that annual BSAI-wide Pacific 

halibut bycatch mortality limits for 

trawl and non-trawl gear fisheries will 

be established in regulations and may be 

amended by regulatory amendment. 

Pursuant to § 679.21(e)(1)(iv), (e)(3), and 

(e)(2), the 2015 and 2016 BSAI halibut 

PSC limits are 3,525 mt for trawl 

fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl 

fisheries. The Council has initiated 

action to consider revising regulations 

to reduce halibut PSC limits in the BSAI 

groundfish fisheries consistent with 

Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations to 

minimize bycatch to the extent 

practicable and to achieve, on a 

continuing basis, optimum yield from 

the groundfish fisheries. Pursuant to 

section 3.6.2.1.4 of the FMP, the 

Secretary, after consultation with the 

Council, will consider the following 

information when evaluating measures 

to minimize halibut bycatch in the BSAI 

fisheries: 

1. Estimated change in halibut 

biomass and stock condition; 

2. potential impacts on halibut stocks 

and fisheries; 

3. potential impacts on groundfish 

fisheries; 

4. estimated bycatch mortality during 

prior years; 

5. expected halibut bycatch mortality; 

6. methods available to reduce halibut 

bycatch mortality; 

7. the cost of reducing halibut bycatch 

mortality; and 

8. other biological and socioeconomic 

factors that affect the appropriateness of 

a specific bycatch mortality limit in 

terms of FMP objectives. 

The Council is scheduled to consider 

final action to reduce halibut PSC limits 

later in 2015. 

Comment 3: In the BSAI, millions of 

pounds of Pacific halibut are killed and 

are not utilized. 

Response: Consistent with National 

Standards 1 and 9, the Council and 

NMFS use halibut PSC mortality limits 

to minimize halibut bycatch in the 

groundfish fisheries to the extent 

practicable, while achieving, on a 

continuing basis, the optimum yield 

from the fisheries. The Council has 

designated Pacific halibut as 

‘‘prohibited species’’ in the groundfish 

fisheries, which fishermen are required 

by regulation to discard. 

NMFS acknowledges that recent 

declines in the exploitable biomass of 

halibut and recent decreases in the 

Pacific halibut catch limits set by the 

IPHC for the directed BSAI halibut 

fisheries have raised concerns about the 

levels of halibut PSC by the commercial 

groundfish trawl and hook-and-line 

sectors. The Council has initiated action 

to consider revising halibut PSC limits 

in the BSAI groundfish fisheries 

consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act obligations to minimize bycatch to 

the extent practicable while achieving, 

on a continuing basis, optimum yield 

from the groundfish fisheries. The 

Council will review a draft 

Environmental Assessment and 

Regulatory Impact Review at its 

February 2015 meeting and is scheduled 

to take final action on halibut PSC limit 

reductions later in 2015. 

Comment 4: The catch limits of 

Pacific halibut in the North Pacific 

Ocean and the BSAI have been reduced 

in recent years by the IPHC due to low 

stock abundance. The IPHC 2015 

preliminary directed halibut fishery 

catch limits are much less than the 

anticipated 2015 halibut PSC in the 

BSAI. Bycatch mortality will almost 

entirely preclude all directed fisheries 

in some areas. 

Response: During the 2015 annual 

IPHC meeting, the IPHC adopted catch 

limits in area 4A that are increased from 

the 2014 catch limits in that area. The 

IPHC adopted catch limits in areas 4B, 

4C, 4D, and 4E that are unchanged from 

2014. Consistent with National 

Standards 1 and 9 of the MagnusonStevens Act, NMFS established halibut 

PSC limits in regulation to minimize 

halibut bycatch to the extent practicable 

while also permitting optimum yield 

from the groundfish fisheries. As 

described in response to Comments 2 

and 3, the Council has initiated action 

to consider revising regulations to 

reduce halibut PSC limits in the BSAI 

groundfish fisheries consistent with 

Magnuson-Stevens Act obligations to 

minimize bycatch to the extent 

practicable and to achieve, on a 

continuing basis, optimum yield from 

the groundfish fisheries. 

Comment 5: Under the MagnusonStevens Act, NMFS must conserve and 

manage the Pacific halibut stock and 

prevent the overfishing of Pacific 

halibut. This must be addressed in the 

FMP and in the final groundfish harvest 

specifications. 

Response: NMFS and the Council 

manage Pacific halibut under the 

Halibut Act. Under the MagnusonStevens Act, NMFS and the Council 

manage the groundfish fisheries to 

minimize halibut bycatch to the extent 

practicable using the PSC limits 

established in Federal regulations. 

Pacific halibut are classified as a 

prohibited species in the FMP and not 

as a ‘‘stock in the fishery.’’ Therefore, 

Section 303(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act does not apply to Pacific halibut. 

Comment 6: NMFS has not provided 

NEPA documents to address the 

environmental impacts of halibut 

bycatch on the marine environment or 

the environmental impact of reduced 

Pacific halibut stocks. NEPA compels 

Federal agencies to evaluate 

prospectively the environmental 

impacts of proposed actions that they 

carry out, fund, or authorize. NMFS has 

relied on an EIS it prepared in 2007. 

Since that time, the halibut stock has 

lost 50 percent of its spawning biomass 

and the commercial harvest of halibut 

has declined more than 60 percent. 

NMFS did not contemplate such 

circumstances in the 2007 EIS. 

Response: NMFS agrees that there 

have been changes in halibut abundance 

and the halibut fisheries, as well as 

advancements in scientific 

understanding since the Harvest 

Specifications EIS. NMFS has provided 

NEPA documents to address the impacts 

of halibut bycatch on the marine 

environment. As explained in this 

preamble, section 679.21(e) sets forth 

the BSAI halibut PSC limits. NMFS set 

this halibut PSC limit under a separate 

action with a supporting Environmental 

Assessments that analyzed the impacts 

of halibut bycatch on halibut stocks and 

the human environment. The Council 

has initiated action to consider revising 

regulations to reduce halibut PSC limits 

in the BSAI for groundfish fisheries. The 

Council will review a draft 

Environmental Assessment and 

Regulatory Impact Review at its 

February 2015 meeting and is scheduled 

to take final action on halibut PSC 

reductions later in 2015. This EA will 

analyze the impacts of the halibut 

bycatch in the BSAI groundfish fishery 

on Pacific halibut stocks. 

NMFS prepared a supplementary 

information report to evaluate the need 

to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for 

the 2015/2016 groundfish harvest 

specifications. An SEIS should be 

prepared if— 

1. the agency makes substantial 

changes in the proposed action that are 

relevant to environmental concerns, or 

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11942 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

2. significant new circumstances or 

information exist relevant to 

environmental concerns and bearing on 

the proposed action or its impacts (40 

CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). 

The 2007 Harvest Specifications EIS 

concluded that halibut mortality in the 

groundfish fisheries is taken into 

account when the IPHC sets commercial 

halibut quotas to prevent adverse 

impacts on the halibut stock. The 2015 

supplementary information report 

further explains that the IPHC 

comprehensively assesses the impacts of 

fishing mortality on stock abundance on 

an annual basis in its stock assessment 

process. Each year, the IPHC assesses 

the status of the halibut stocks and sets 

the constant exploitation yield (CEY), 

which is the amount of halibut harvest 

that is determined to be sustainable in 

a year. The total CEY is calculated by 

multiplying a target harvest rate by the 

total exploitable biomass and represents 

the sum of all halibut removals. After 

deducting non-directed fishery removals 

(e.g., halibut PSC in the groundfish 

fisheries, wastage in halibut fisheries, 

recreational harvest, and subsistence 

use), the remainder is allocated to the 

directed commercial hook-and-line 

fishery. The CEY therefore takes into 

account the change in halibut 

abundance. Therefore, the impacts of 

halibut PSC in the BSAI groundfish 

fisheries are unlikely to have effects on 

the halibut resource in a manner not 

previously considered in the 2007 

Harvest Specifications EIS. 

After reviewing the information in the 

supplementary information report (see 

ADDRESSES) and presented in the SAFE 

reports (see ADDRESSES; SAFE reports, 

and the information they contain that is 

used in the harvest specifications, is 

explained above in this preamble under 

the heading ‘‘Acceptable Biological 

Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest 

Specifications’’), NMFS determined that 

(1) the 2015/2016 harvest specifications, 

which were set according to the 

preferred harvest strategy described in 

the 2007 EIS, do not constitute a change 

in the action; and (2) the information 

presented does not indicate that there 

are significant new circumstances or 

information relevant to environmental 

concerns and bearing on the proposed 

action or its impacts. Additionally, the 

2015/2016 harvest specifications will 

result in environmental impacts within 

the scope of those analyzed and 

disclosed in the EIS. Therefore, 

supplemental NEPA documentation is 

not necessary to implement the 2015/

2016 harvest specifications. 

Comment 7: The BSAI halibut PSC 

limit has remained almost the same 

since the late 1980s. 

Response: With the implementation of 

Amendment 57 (65 FR 31105, May 16, 

2000) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, 

September 14, 2007), the Pacific halibut 

PSC limit was reduced by 250 mt from 

the halibut PSC limits set in regulations. 

However, NMFS agrees that the Pacific 

halibut PSC limits have largely been 

unchanged in recent decades. The 

halibut PSC limits are for bycatch in 

groundfish fisheries, which have largely 

remained stable in recent decades. As 

described in response to Comment 2, 

the halibut PSC limits are established in 

regulation and may be changed through 

regulatory amendment. The Council has 

initiated action to consider revising 

halibut PSC limits in the BSAI, 

consistent with the National Standard 9 

obligations to minimize bycatch to the 

extent practicable. 

Comment 8: The 2015 groundfish 

harvest specifications do not address 

cultural, fisheries, ecological, and 

subsistence impacts of discarded halibut 

PSC. 

Response: These harvest 

specifications specify halibut PSC limits 

among fisheries and by season. 

However, as described in response to 

Comment 2, the halibut PSC limits are 

established in regulation and may be 

changed through regulatory amendment. 

The Council has initiated action to 

consider revising halibut PSC limits in 

the BSAI, consistent with the National 

Standard 9 obligations to minimize 

bycatch to the extent practicable. NMFS 

expects the Council will address 

cultural, fisheries, ecological, and 

subsistence impacts through that action. 

Comment 9: NMFS and fishery 

participants must work more diligently 

to reduce bycatch, prevent waste of fish, 

and protect fish stocks. 

Response: As noted in response to 

Comment 2, NMFS and the Council are 

committed to minimizing halibut 

bycatch in the BSAI to the extent 

practicable. Current halibut PSC limits 

are established in regulation and may be 

changed by a regulatory amendment. 

The Council has initiated action to 

consider revising halibut PSC limits in 

the BSAI, consistent with the National 

Standard 9 obligation to minimize 

bycatch to the extent practicable. 

Comment 10: NMFS has allowed 

almost every groundfish species in the 

BSAI to be overfished. 

Response: NMFS disagrees. In the 

most recent fishing year, no species or 

species complex of groundfish in the 

BSAI reached an OFL, and no species or 

species complex of groundfish is in 

overfishing status; see SAFE reports. 

Comment 11: Temporary closures 

should be put in place to prevent sea 

lions from being shot by commercial 

fishermen. A one million dollar fine 

should be imposed for every sea lion 

shot by commercial fishermen. 

Response: Fishery closures and fines 

to protect sea lions are outside the scope 

of this action. NOAA has a Penalty 

Policy and Summary Settlement 

Schedules for the assessment of civil 

administrative penalties and permit 

sanctions under the statutes and 

regulations enforced by NOAA, 

including violations of the Marine 

Mammal Protection Act and the 

Endangered Species Act. See http://

www.gc.noaa.gov/enforce-office3.html. 

Comment 12: The BOF must produce 

downward quota adjustments for 

fisheries. 

Response: The State and the BOF has 

jurisdiction to manage fisheries within 

Alaska state waters. In recommending 

harvest limits for the Federal 

commercial groundfish fisheries, the 

Council considers state GHL harvest 

limits when distribution and range of 

federally fished groundfish stocks 

extend between Federal and state 

waters. The Council recommends 

federal TACs for such stocks so that the 

sum of state and Federal harvest limits 

does not exceed ABC limits for such 

stocks. However, management measures 

implemented by the BOF in state waters 

are not within the jurisdiction of the 

Council. 

Comment 13: The ICAs for several 

species should be reduced to prevent 

overfishing. Specifically, the Bering Sea 

pollock ICA should be reduced to 

23,288 mt, the flathead sole ICA to 1,000 

mt, the Pacific ocean perch ICA to ten 

mt, and the yellowfin sole ICA to one 

mt. 

Response: NMFS disagrees. The 

Regional Administrator establishes 

incidental catch allowances to account 

for projected incidental catch of species 

and species complexes by vessels 

engaged in directed fishing in other 

groundfish fisheries. Sufficient ICAs are 

needed to prevent exceeding TACs, 

ABCs, and OFLs of groundfish species 

and species complexes. Reducing the 

ICAs would leave these stocks more 

vulnerable to overfishing. 

Classification 

NMFS has determined that these final 

harvest specifications are consistent 

with the FMP and with the MagnusonStevens Act and other applicable laws. 

This action is authorized under 50 

CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Orders 12866 and 

13563. 

NMFS prepared an EIS that covers 

this action (see ADDRESSES) and made it 

available to the public on January 12, 

2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 

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2007, NMFS issued the Record of 

Decision (ROD) for the EIS. In January 

2015, NMFS prepared a Supplemental 

Information Report (SIR) for this action. 

Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this 

action are available from NMFS (see 

ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the 

environmental consequences of the 

groundfish harvest specifications and 

alternative harvest strategies on 

resources in the action area. The EIS 

found no significant environmental 

consequences of this action and its 

alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need 

to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for 

the 2015 and 2016 groundfish harvest 

specifications. 

An SEIS should be prepared if (1) the 

agency makes substantial changes in the 

proposed action that are relevant to 

environmental concerns; or (2) 

significant new circumstances or 

information exist relevant to 

environmental concerns and bearing on 

the proposed action or its impacts (40 

CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the 

information contained in the SIR and 

SAFE reports, the Regional 

Administrator has determined that (1) 

approval of the 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications, which were set according 

to the preferred harvest strategy in the 

EIS, do not constitute a change in the 

action; and (2) there are no significant 

new circumstances or information 

relevant to environmental concerns and 

bearing on the action or its impacts. 

Additionally, the 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications will result in 

environmental impacts within the scope 

of those analyzed and disclosed in the 

EIS. Therefore, supplemental NEPA 

documentation is not necessary to 

implement the 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications. 

Pursuant to section 604 of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 

U.S.C. 601, et seq., a FRFA was 

prepared for this action. The FRFA 

incorporates the Initial Regulatory 

Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and 

includes a summary of the significant 

issues raised by public comments in 

response to the IRFA, as well as NMFS’ 

responses to those comments. A 

summary of the analyses completed to 

support the action is also included in 

the FRFA. 

A copy of the FRFA prepared for this 

final rule is available from NMFS (see 

ADDRESSES). A description of this 

action, its purpose, and its legal basis 

are contained at the beginning of the 

preamble to this final rule and are not 

repeated here. 

NMFS published the proposed rule on 

December 8, 2014 (79 FR 72571). The 

rule was accompanied by an IRFA, 

which was summarized in the proposed 

rule. The comment period closed on 

January 7, 2015. No comments were 

received on the IRFA. 

The entities directly regulated by this 

action are those that receive allocations 

of groundfish in the exclusive economic 

zone of the BSAI, and in parallel 

fisheries within State of Alaska waters, 

during the annual harvest specifications 

process. These directly regulated 

entities include the groundfish CVs and 

C/Ps active in these areas. Direct 

allocations of groundfish are also made 

to certain organizations, including the 

CDQ groups, AFA C/P and inshore CV 

sectors, Aleut Corporation, and 

Amendment 80 cooperatives. These 

entities are, therefore, also considered 

directly regulated. 

On June 12, 2014, the Small Business 

Administration issued an interim final 

rule revising the small business size 

standards for several industries effective 

July 14, 2014 (79 FR 33647, June 12, 

2014). The rule increased the size 

standard for Finfish Fishing from $19.0 

million to $20.5 million, Shellfish 

Fishing from $5.0 million to $5.5 

million, and Other Marine Fishing from 

$7.0 million to $7.5 million. Fishing 

vessels are considered small entities if 

their total annual gross receipts, from all 

their activities combined, are less than 

$25.0 million. In 2013, there were 353 

individual C/Vs with total gross 

revenues less than or equal to $20.5 

million. Some of these vessels are 

members of AFA inshore pollock 

cooperatives, GOA rockfish 

cooperatives, or crab rationalization 

cooperatives, and, since under the RFA 

it is the aggregate gross receipts of all 

participating members of the 

cooperative that must meet the ‘‘under 

$20.5 million’’ threshold, they are 

considered to be large entities within 

the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the 

estimate of 353 C/Vs may be an 

overstatement of the number of small 

entities. Average gross revenues were 

$320,000 for small hook-and-line 

vessels, $1.25 million for small pot 

vessels, and $3.56 million for small 

trawl vessels. Revenue data for catcher/ 

processors is confidential; however, in 

2013, NMFS estimates that there were 

four catcher/processor small entities 

with gross receipts less than $20.5. 

Through the CDQ program, the 

Council and NMFS allocate a portion of 

the BSAI groundfish TACs, and halibut 

and crab PSC limits to 65 eligible 

Western Alaska communities. These 

communities work through six nonprofit CDQ groups, and are required to 

use the proceeds from the CDQ 

allocations to start or support activities 

that will result in ongoing, regionally 

based, commercial fishery or related 

businesses. The CDQ groups receive 

allocations through the harvest 

specifications process, and are directly 

regulated by this action, but the 65 

communities are not directly regulated. 

Because they are nonprofit entities that 

are independently owned and operated, 

and are not dominant in their field, the 

CDQ groups are considered small 

entities for RFA purposes. 

The AFA and Amendment 80 

fisheries cooperatives are directly 

regulated because they receive 

allocations of TAC through the harvest 

specifications process. However, the 

Freezer Longliner Conservation 

Cooperative (FLCC), a voluntary private 

cooperative that became fully effective 

in 2010, is not considered to be directly 

regulated. The FLCC manages a catch 

share program among its members, but 

it does not receive an allocation under 

the harvest specifications. NMFS 

allocates TAC to the freezer longline 

sector, and the cooperative members 

voluntarily allocate this TAC among 

themselves via the FLCC. The AFA and 

Amendment 80 cooperatives are large 

entities, since they are affiliated with 

firms with joint revenues of more than 

$25 million. 

The Aleut Corporation is an Alaska 

Native Corporation that receives an 

allocation of pollock in the Aleutian 

Islands. The Aleut Corporation is a 

holding company and evaluated 

according to the Small Business 

Administration criteria for Office or 

Other Holding Companies, at 13 CFR 

121.201, which uses a threshold of $7.5 

million gross annual receipts threshold 

for small entities. The Aleut Corporation 

revenues exceed this threshold, and the 

Aleut Corporation is considered to be a 

large entity. This determination follows 

the analysis in the RFA certification for 

BSAI FMP. 

This action does not modify 

recordkeeping or reporting 

requirements. 

The significant alternatives were 

those considered as alternative harvest 

strategies when the Council selected its 

preferred harvest strategy (Alternative 2) 

in December 2006. These included the 

following: 

• Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce 

fishing mortality rates, F, that are equal 

to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC 

is constrained by the OY established in 

the FMPs. This is equivalent to setting 

TAC to produce harvest levels equal to 

the maximum permissible ABC, as 

constrained by OY. The term 

‘‘maxFABC’’ refers to the maximum 

permissible value of FABC under 

Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs. 

Historically, the TAC has been set at or 

below the ABC; therefore, this 

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11944 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

alternative represents a likely upper 

limit for setting the TAC within the OY 

and ABC limits. 

• Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1, 

2, and 3, set TAC to produce F equal to 

the most recent 5-year average actual F. 

For species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC 

equal to the most recent 5-year average 

actual catch. For stocks with a high 

level of scientific information, TAC 

would be set to produce harvest levels 

equal to the most recent 5-year average 

actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks 

with insufficient scientific information, 

TAC would be set equal to the most 

recent 5-year average actual catch. This 

alternative recognizes that for some 

stocks, catches may fall well below 

ABC, and recent average F may provide 

a better indicator of actual F than FABC 

does. 

• Alternative 4: (1) Set TAC for 

rockfish species in Tier 3 at F75%. Set 

TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F 

= 0.5M. Set spatially explicit TAC for 

shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the 

BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TAC as 

calculated above, reduce all other TAC 

by a proportion that does not vary 

across species, so that the sum of all 

TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal 

to the lower bound of the area OY 

(1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This 

alternative sets conservative and 

spatially explicit TAC for rockfish 

species that are long-lived and late to 

mature, and sets conservative TAC for 

the other groundfish species. 

• Alternative 5: Set TAC at zero. 

Alternative 2 is the preferred 

alternative chosen by the Council: Set 

TAC that fall within the range of ABC 

recommended through the Council 

harvest specifications process and TACs 

recommended by the Council. Under 

this scenario, F is set equal to a constant 

fraction of maxFABC. The 

recommended fractions of maxFABC 

may vary among species or stocks, based 

on other considerations unique to each. 

This is the method for determining TAC 

that has been used in the past. 

Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet 

the objectives of this action, although 

they have a smaller adverse economic 

impact on small entities than the 

preferred alternative. The Council 

rejected these alternatives as harvest 

strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of 

Commerce did so in 2007. Alternative 1 

would lead to TAC limits whose sum 

exceeds the fishery OY, which is set out 

in statute and the FMP. As shown in 

Table 1 and Table 2, the sum of ABCs 

in 2015 and 2016 would be 2,848,454 

and 2,731,897 million mt, respectively. 

Both of these are substantially in excess 

of the fishery OY for the BSAI. This 

result would be inconsistent with the 

objectives of this action, in that it would 

violate the Consolidated Appropriations 

Act of 2004, Pub. L. 108–199, Sec. 

803(c), and the FMP for the BSAI 

groundfish fishery, which both set a 2 

million mt maximum harvest for BSAI 

groundfish. 

Alternative 3 selects harvest rates 

based on the most recent 5 years’ worth 

of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 

through 3) or for the most recent 5 years’ 

worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 

through 6). This alternative is also 

inconsistent with the objectives of this 

action, because it does not take into 

account the most recent biological 

information for this fishery. 

Alternative 4 would lead to 

significantly lower harvests of all 

species to reduce TAC from the upper 

end of the OY range in the BSAI, to its 

lower end. This result would lead to 

significant reductions in harvests of 

species by small entities. While 

reductions of this size could be 

associated with offsetting price 

increases, the size of these increases is 

very uncertain, and NMFS has no 

confidence that they would be sufficient 

to offset the volume decreases and leave 

revenues unchanged. Thus, this action 

would have an adverse economic 

impact on small entities, compared to 

the preferred alternative. 

Alternative 5, which sets all harvests 

equal to zero, may also address 

conservation issues, but would have a 

significant adverse economic impact on 

small entities. 

Impacts on marine mammals resulting 

from fishing activities conducted under 

this rule are discussed in the EIS (see 

ADDRESSES). 

In December 2014, the Council 

adopted separate Pacific cod harvest 

specifications for the Aleutian Islands 

and the Bering Sea in the 2015 and 2016 

fishing years. While separate OFLs, 

ABCs, and TACs, have been created for 

the Aleutian Islands and for the Bering 

Sea, the actual sector allocations (except 

CDQ allocations) remain BSAI-wide 

allocations. Sector allocations are 

calculated as a percent of the summed 

Aleutian Island and Bering Sea TACs, 

after adjustments are made to account 

for CDQ allocations. Because sector 

allocations (except CDQ allocations) 

continue to be defined BSAI-wide, 

sectors remain free to redeploy between 

the two areas. However, if the non-CDQ 

portion of the TAC in either sub-area is 

reached, NMFS will close directed 

fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea. 

Thus if the resources in one of the areas 

is fully utilized, one sector will not be 

able to increase its harvest, unless at the 

expense of another sector’s harvest. 

It is possible that in some years an 

Aleutian Island-specific Pacific cod 

TAC, in combination with a deduction 

from the ABC for a GHL fishery, and a 

deduction for an ICA, may leave the 

Aleutian Islands TAC too small to 

permit a directed fishery. The ultimate 

impact of the Pacific cod split will 

depend on policy decisions made by the 

Council and the Secretary of Commerce. 

In the 10 years since the first year of the 

baseline period for this analysis (2004), 

the BSAI Pacific cod TAC was only set 

equal to the ABC in 2 years. There may 

be flexibility for the Council to offset 

anticipated Aleutian Island production 

limits by setting the Aleutian Islands 

TAC less than the ABC, and the Bering 

Sea TAC equal to the ABC. The 2 

million metric ton groundfish optimum 

yield is the sum of the BSAI TACs, so 

a decrease in the Aleutian Islands TAC, 

coupled with an equal increase in the 

Bering sea TAC, would leave the 

aggregate BSAI Pacific cod TAC 

unchanged, and would not require 

reductions in TACs for other species so 

as to comply with the 2 million metric 

ton optimum yield limit. 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the 

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, 

NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 

30-day delay in effectiveness for this 

rule, because delaying this rule is 

contrary to the public interest. Plan 

Team review occurred in November 

2014, and Council consideration and 

recommendations occurred in December 

2014. Accordingly, NMFS’ review could 

not begin until after the December 2014 

Council meeting, and after the public 

had time to comment on the proposed 

action. If this rule’s effectiveness is 

delayed, fisheries that might otherwise 

remain open under these rules may 

prematurely close based on the lower 

TACs established in the final 2014 and 

2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 

12108, March 4, 2014). If implemented 

immediately, this rule would allow 

these fisheries to continue fishing 

without worrying about a potential 

closure because the new TAC limits are 

higher than the ones under which they 

are currently fishing. Certain fisheries, 

such as those for pollock and Pacific 

cod are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. 

Other fisheries, such as those for 

flatfish, rockfish, skates, sculpins, 

sharks, and octopuses, are critical as 

directed fisheries and as incidental 

catch in other fisheries. U.S. fishing 

vessels have demonstrated the capacity 

to catch the TAC allocations in these 

fisheries. Any delay in allocating the 

final TAC limits in these fisheries 

would cause confusion in the industry 

and potential economic harm through 

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 43 / Thursday, March 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 11945 

unnecessary discards. Determining 

which fisheries may close is impossible 

because these fisheries are affected by 

several factors that cannot be predicted 

in advance, including fishing effort, 

weather, movement of fishery stocks, 

and market price. Furthermore, the 

closure of one fishery has a cascading 

effect on other fisheries by freeing up 

fishing vessels, allowing them to move 

from closed fisheries to open ones, 

increasing the fishing capacity in those 

open fisheries and causing them to close 

at an accelerated pace. 

Additionally, in fisheries subject to 

declining sideboards, delaying this 

rule’s effectiveness could allow some 

vessels to inadvertently reach or exceed 

their new sideboard levels. Because 

sideboards are intended to protect 

traditional fisheries in other sectors, 

allowing one sector to exceed its new 

sideboards by delaying this rule’s 

effectiveness would effectively reduce 

the available catch for sectors without 

sideboard limits. Moreover, the new 

TAC and sideboard limits protect the 

fisheries from being overfished. Thus, 

the delay is contrary to the public 

interest in protecting traditional 

fisheries and fish stocks. 

If the final harvest specifications are 

not effective by March 14, 2015, which 

is the start of the 2015 Pacific halibut 

season as specified by the IPHC, the 

hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not 

begin concurrently with the Pacific 

halibut IFQ season. Delayed 

effectiveness of this action would result 

in confusion for sablefish harvesters and 

economic harm from unnecessary 

discard of sablefish that are caught 

along with Pacific halibut, as both hookand-line sablefish and Pacific halibut 

are managed under the same IFQ 

program. Immediate effectiveness of the 

final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications will allow the sablefish 

IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with 

the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, 

immediate effectiveness of this action is 

required to provide consistent 

management and conservation of fishery 

resources based on the best available 

scientific information. This is 

particularly true of those species that 

have lower 2015 ABC and TAC limits 

than those established in the 2014 and 

2015 harvest specifications (79 FR 

12108, March 4, 2014). Immediate 

effectiveness also would give the fishing 

industry the earliest possible 

opportunity to plan and conduct its 

fishing operations with respect to new 

information about TAC limits. 

Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to 

waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness 

under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). 

Small Entity Compliance Guide 

This final rule is a plain language 

guide to assist small entities in 

complying with this final rule as 

required by the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 

1996. This final rule’s primary purpose 

is to announce the final 2015 and 2016 

harvest specifications and prohibited 

species bycatch allowances for the 

groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This 

action is necessary to establish harvest 

limits and associated management 

measures for groundfish during the 2015 

and 2016 fishing years and to 

accomplish the goals and objectives of 

the FMP. This action directly affects all 

fishermen who participate in the BSAI 

fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, 

ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided in 

tables to assist the reader. NMFS will 

announce closures of directed fishing in 

the Federal Register and information 

bulletins released by the Alaska Region. 

Affected fishermen should keep 

themselves informed of such closures. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

1540(f); 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: February 27, 2015. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–05041 Filed 3–4–15; 08:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

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