Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72593 

million. The IRFA estimates the number 

of harvesting vessels that are considered 

small entities, but these estimates may 

overstate the number of small entities 

because (1) some vessels may also be 

active as tender vessels in the salmon 

fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska 

and the West Coast, or generate revenue 

from other non-fishing sources; and (2) 

all affiliations are not taken into 

account, especially if the vessel has 

affiliations not tracked in available data 

(i.e., ownership of multiple vessel or 

affiliation with processors) and may be 

misclassified as a small entity. Because 

the 353 CVs and seven C/Ps meet this 

size standard, they are considered to be 

small entities for the purposes of this 

analysis. 

The estimated directly regulated small 

entities include approximately 353 

catcher vessels, four catcher/processors, 

and six CDQ groups. Some of these 

vessels are members of AFA inshore 

pollock cooperatives, GOA rockfish 

cooperatives, or crab rationalization 

cooperatives, which, 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, are considered 

to be large entities within the meaning 

of the RFA. Thus, the estimate of 353 

catcher vessels 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 are four catcher/processor small 

entities with gross receipts less than 

$20.5. 

The preferred alternative (Alternative 

2) was compared to four other 

alternatives. Alternative 1 would have 

set TACs to generate fishing rates equal 

to the maximum permissible ABC (if the 

full TAC were harvested), unless the 

sum of TACs exceeded the BSAI OY, in 

which case TACs would have been 

limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would 

have set TACs to produce fishing rates 

equal to the most recent 5-year average 

fishing rates. Alternative 4 would have 

set TACs equal to the lower limit of the 

BSAI OY range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no 

action’’ alternative, would have set 

TACs equal to zero. 

The TACs associated with the 

preferred harvest strategy are those 

adopted by the Council in October 2014, 

as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for 

the species were based on 

recommendations prepared by the 

Council’s BSAI Plan Team in September 

2014, and reviewed and modified by the 

Council’s SSC in October 2014. The 

Council based its TAC 

recommendations on those of its AP, 

which were consistent with the SSC’s 

OFL and ABC recommendations. 

Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that 

would allow fishermen to harvest stocks 

at the level of ABCs, unless total 

harvests were constrained by the upper 

bound of the BSAI OY of two million 

mt. As shown in Table 1 of the 

preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2015 and 

2016 would be about 2,472,832 mt, 

which falls above the upper bound of 

the OY range. The sum of TACs is equal 

to the sum of ABCs. In this instance, 

Alternative 1 is consistent with the 

preferred alternative (Alternative 2), 

meets the objectives of that action, and 

has small entity impacts that are 

equivalent to the preferred alternative. 

Alternative 3 selects harvest rates 

based on the most recent 5 years of 

harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 

through 3) or for the most recent 5 years 

of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 

through 6). This alternative is 

inconsistent with the objectives of this 

action (the Council’s preferred harvest 

strategy), because it does not take 

account of the most recent biological 

information for this fishery. NMFS 

annually conducts at-sea stock surveys 

for different species, as well as 

statistical modeling, to estimate stock 

sizes and permissible harvest levels. 

Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts 

are a component of these estimates, but 

in and of themselves may not accurately 

portray stock sizes and conditions. 

Harvest rates are listed for each species 

category for each year in the SAFE 

report (see ADDRESSES). 

Alternative 4 would lead to 

significantly lower harvests of all 

species and reduce TACs from the 

upper end of the OY range in the BSAI, 

to its lower end of 1.4 million mt. 

Overall, this would reduce 2015 TACs 

by about 30 percent, which would lead 

to significant reductions in harvests of 

species by small entities. While 

reductions of this size would be 

associated with offsetting price 

increases, the size of these increases is 

very uncertain. While production 

declines in the BSAI would 

undoubtedly be associated with 

significant price increases in the BSAI, 

these increases would still be 

constrained by production of 

substitutes, and are very unlikely to 

offset revenue declines from smaller 

production. Thus, this alternative action 

would have a detrimental impact on 

small entities. 

Alternative 5, which sets all harvests 

equal to zero, would have a significant 

adverse impact on small entities and 

would be contrary to obligations to 

achieve OY on a continuing basis, as 

mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act. 

The proposed harvest specifications 

extend the current 2015 OFLs, ABCs, 

and TACs to 2015 and 2016. As noted 

in the preamble to this rule and the 

IRFA, the Council may modify these 

OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 

2014, when it reviews the November 

2014 SAFE report from its groundfish 

Plan Team, and the December Council 

meeting reports of its SSC and AP. 

Because 2015 TACs in the proposed 

2015 and 2016 harvest specifications are 

unchanged from the 2015 harvest 

specification TACs, NMFS does not 

expect adverse impacts on small 

entities. Also, NMFS does not expect 

any changes made by the Council in 

December 2014 to be large enough to 

have an impact on small entities. 

This action does not modify 

recordkeeping or reporting 

requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or 

conflict with any Federal rules. 

Adverse impacts on marine mammals 

resulting from fishing activities 

conducted under these harvest 

specifications are discussed in the Final 

EIS (see ADDRESSES), and in the 2014 

SIR (http://

www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/analyses/

groundfish/041014bsaigoaspecssir.pdf). 

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: December 2, 2014. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28633 Filed 12–5–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 679 

[Docket No. 140918791–4989–01] 

RIN 0648–XD516 

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic 

Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 

Proposed 2015 and 2016 Harvest 

Specifications for Groundfish 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 


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ACTION: Proposed rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2015 and 

2016 harvest specifications, 

apportionments, and Pacific halibut 

prohibited species catch limits for the 

groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska 

(GOA). This action is necessary to 

establish harvest limits for groundfish 

during the 2015 and 2016 fishing years 

and to accomplish the goals and 

objectives of the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 

Alaska. This action will conserve and 

manage the groundfish resources in the 

GOA in accordance with the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act. 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

January 7, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on this document, identified by Docket 

Number NOAA–NMFS–2014–0118, by 

any one of the following methods: 

• Electronic Submissions: Submit all 

electronic public comments via the 

Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 

www.regulations.gov/

#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014- 

0118, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, 

complete the required fields, and enter 

or attach your comments. 

• Mail: Submit written comments to 

Glenn Merrill, Assistant Regional 

Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries 

Division, Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: 

Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. 

Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: Comments sent by any 

other method, to any other address or 

individual, or received after the end of 

the comment period, may not be 

considered by NMFS. All comments 

received are a part of the public record 

and will generally be posted for public 

viewing on www.regulations.gov 

without change. All personal identifying 

information (e.g., name, address), 

confidential business information, or 

otherwise sensitive information 

submitted voluntarily by the sender will 

be publicly accessible. NMFS will 

accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ 

A’’ in the required fields if you wish to 

remain anonymous). Attachments to 

electronic comments will be accepted in 

Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF 

file formats only. 

Electronic copies of the Alaska 

Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (Final 

EIS), Record of Decision (ROD) for the 

EIS, Supplementary Information Report 

(SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial 

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 

prepared for this action may be obtained 

from http://www.regulations.gov or from 

the Alaska Region Web site at http://

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2013 

Stock Assessment and Fishery 

Evaluation (SAFE) report for the 

groundfish resources of the GOA, dated 

November 2013, is available from the 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council (Council) at 605 West 4th 

Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 

99501, phone 907–271–2809, or from 

the Council’s Web site at http://

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The 

draft 2014 SAFE report for the GOA will 

be available from the same source. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Obren Davis, 907–586–7228. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

manages the GOA groundfish fisheries 

in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 

the GOA under the Fishery Management 

Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 

Alaska (FMP). The Council prepared the 

FMP under the authority of the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 

1801, et seq. Regulations governing U.S. 

fisheries and implementing the FMP 

appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 

680. 

The FMP and its implementing 

regulations require NMFS, after 

consultation with the Council, to 

specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 

for each target species, the sum of which 

must be within the optimum yield (OY) 

range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons 

(mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further 

requires NMFS to publish and solicit 

public comment on proposed annual 

TACs, Pacific halibut prohibited species 

catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal 

allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. 

The proposed harvest specifications in 

Tables 1 through 25 of this document 

satisfy these requirements. For 2015 and 

2016, the sum of the proposed TAC 

amounts is 511,599 mt. 

Under § 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will 

publish the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications after (1) considering 

comments received within the comment 

period (see DATES), (2) consulting with 

the Council at its December 2014 

meeting, (3) considering information 

presented in the 2014 SIR that assesses 

the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS 

(see ADDRESSES) and, (4) the final 2014 

SAFE report prepared for the 2015 and 

2016 groundfish fisheries. 

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 

2015 and 2016 Harvest Specifications 

Amendment 97: Chinook Salmon 

Prohibited Species Catch Limits in the 

Non-Pollock Trawl Groundfish Fisheries 

In June 2013, the Council took final 

action to implement measures to control 

Chinook salmon PSC in all non-pollock 

trawl groundfish fisheries in the 

Western and Central GOA. This 

proposed action, Amendment 97 to the 

FMP, would set an initial annual PSC 

limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon 

apportioned among the sectors of trawl 

catcher/processors, trawl catcher vessels 

participating in the Central GOA 

Rockfish Program, and trawl catcher 

vessels not participating in the Central 

GOA Rockfish Program fishing for 

groundfish species other than pollock. 

The pollock directed fishery is not 

included in the Council’s recommended 

action, as that fishery is already subject 

to Chinook salmon PSC limits 

(§ 679.21(h)). If a sector reached its 

Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS 

would prohibit further fishing for nonpollock groundfish by vessels in that 

sector. NMFS published a notice of 

availability for Amendment 97 on June 

5, 2014 (79 FR 32525). The public 

comment period for the notice of 

availability on Amendment 97 ended on 

August 4, 2014. On September 3, 2014, 

the Secretary approved Amendment 97. 

The proposed rule that would 

implement Amendment 97 published 

on June 25, 2014 (79 FR 35971), with 

public comments accepted through July 

25, 2014. The proposed rule contains a 

description of the affected management 

areas and groundfish fisheries, the nonpollock trawl groundfish fisheries and 

associated sectors, the history and goals 

of Amendment 97, and the provisions of 

the proposed action. Those provisions 

include proposed Chinook salmon PSC 

limits by sector, seasonal allocations, 

and other aspects associated with the 

implementation of Chinook salmon PSC 

limits for the non-pollock trawl 

groundfish fisheries in the Western and 

Central GOA. One provision that could 

affect the 2016 Chinook salmon PSC 

limits is the ‘‘incentive buffer.’’ This 

mechanism provides for an increased 

annual Chinook salmon PSC limit if 

sectors catch less than their limit of 

Chinook salmon in the previous year. If 

NMFS publishes a final rule by 

December 1, 2014, these Chinook 

salmon PSC limits could be in effect 

January 1, 2015. 

Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch 

(ABC) and TAC Specifications 

In October 2014, the Council, its 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 

(SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) 

reviewed the most recent biological and 

harvest information about the condition 

of groundfish stocks in the GOA. This 

information was compiled by the GOA 

Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) and 

presented in the final 2013 SAFE report 

for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated 

November 2013 (see ADDRESSES). The 


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SAFE report contains a review of the 

latest scientific analyses and estimates 

of each species’ biomass and other 

biological parameters, as well as 

summaries of the available information 

on the GOA ecosystem and the 

economic condition of the groundfish 

fisheries off Alaska. From these data and 

analyses, the Plan Team estimates and 

the SSC sets an overfishing level (OFL) 

and ABC for each species or species 

group. The amounts proposed for the 

2015 and 2016 OFLs and ABCs are 

based on the 2013 SAFE report. The AP 

and Council recommended that the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs be set 

equal to proposed ABCs for all species 

and species groups, with the exception 

of the species categories further 

discussed below. The proposed ABCs 

and TACs could be changed in the final 

harvest specifications depending on the 

most recent scientific information 

contained in the final 2014 SAFE report. 

The draft stock assessments that will 

comprise, in part, the 2014 SAFE report 

are available at http://

www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/stocks/plan_

team/draft_assessments.htm. 

In November 2014, the Plan Team 

will update the 2013 SAFE report to 

include new information collected 

during 2014, such as NMFS stock 

surveys, revised stock assessments, and 

catch data. The Plan Team compiles this 

information and will produce the draft 

2014 SAFE report for presentation at the 

December 2014 Council meeting. At that 

meeting, the Council will consider 

information in the draft 2014 SAFE 

report, recommendations from the 

November 2014 Plan Team meeting and 

December 2014 SSC and AP meetings, 

public testimony, and relevant written 

public comments in making its 

recommendations for the final 2015 and 

2016 harvest specifications. Pursuant to 

Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the 

Council could recommend adjusting the 

TACs if ‘‘warranted on the basis of 

bycatch considerations, management 

uncertainty, or socioeconomic 

considerations, or if required in order to 

cause the sum of the TACs to fall within 

the OY range.’’ 

In previous years, the OFLs and ABCs 

that have had the most significant 

changes (relative to the amount of 

assessed tonnage of fish) from the 

proposed to the final harvest 

specifications have been for OFLs and 

ABCs that are based on the most recent 

NMFS stock surveys. These surveys 

provide updated estimates of stock 

biomass and spatial distribution, and 

changes to the models used for 

producing stock assessments. NMFS 

scientists presented updated and new 

survey results, changes to assessment 

models, and accompanying stock 

estimates at the September 2014 Plan 

Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed 

this information at the October 2014 

Council meeting. The species with 

possible model changes are demersal 

shelf rockfish, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean 

perch, and rock sole. In November 2014, 

the Plan Team will consider updated 

stock assessments for groundfish, which 

will then be included in the draft 2014 

SAFE report. 

If the draft 2014 SAFE report 

indicates that the stock biomass trend is 

increasing for a species, then the final 

2015 and 2016 harvest specifications for 

that species may reflect an increase from 

the proposed harvest specifications. 

Conversely, if the draft 2014 SAFE 

report indicates that the stock biomass 

trend is decreasing for a species, then 

the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications may reflect a decrease 

from the proposed harvest 

specifications. 

The proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, 

ABCs, and TACs are based on the best 

available biological and socioeconomic 

information, including projected 

biomass trends, information on assumed 

distribution of stock biomass, and 

revised methods used to calculate stock 

biomass. The FMP specifies the 

formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute 

OFLs and ABCs. The formulas 

applicable to a particular stock or stock 

complex are determined by the level of 

reliable information available to the 

fisheries scientists. This information is 

categorized into a successive series of 

six tiers to define OFL and ABC 

amounts, with Tier one representing the 

highest level of information quality 

available and Tier six representing the 

lowest level of information quality 

available. The Plan Team used the FMP 

tier structure to calculate OFLs and 

ABCs for each groundfish species. The 

SSC adopted the proposed 2015 and 

2016 OFLs and ABCs recommended by 

the Plan Team for all groundfish 

species. The Council adopted the SSC’s 

OFL and ABC recommendations and the 

AP’s TAC recommendations. These 

amounts are unchanged from the final 

2015 harvest specifications published in 

the Federal Register on March 6, 2014 

(79 FR 12890). 

The Council also adopted the SSC’s 

recommendation to revise the 

terminology used when apportioning 

pollock in the Western, Central, and 

West Yakutat Regulatory Areas. The 

SSC recommended describing 

apportionments of pollock to the 

Western, Central, and West Yakutat 

Regulatory Areas as ‘‘apportionments of 

annual catch limit (ACLs)’’ rather than 

‘‘ABCs’’. The SSC annually recommends 

a combined pollock ABC for the 

Western, Central, and West Yakutat 

Regulatory Areas based on factors such 

as scientific uncertainty in the estimate 

of the area-wide OFL, data uncertainty, 

and recruitment variability. Section 

3.2.3.3.2 of Fishery Management Plan 

for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska 

specifies that the ACL is equal to the 

ABC. Historically, the SSC has 

recommended apportioning the 

combined Western, Central, and West 

Yakutat ABC between these three 

individual Regulatory Areas. However, 

the subarea ABCs have not been based 

on scientific uncertainty in the OFL, 

data uncertainty, or other conservation 

or biological concerns, but rather on 

seasonal and spatial apportionment 

procedures established under the Steller 

sea lion protection measures for pollock 

TAC in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas. The SSC noted that 

describing subarea apportionments as 

‘‘apportionments of the ACL’’ more 

accurately reflects that such 

apportionments address management, 

rather than biological or conservation, 

concerns. In addition, apportionments 

of the ACL in this manner allow NMFS 

to balance any transfer of TAC from one 

area to another pursuant to regulations 

at § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) to ensure that the 

area-wide ACL and ABC are not 

exceeded. The SSC noted that this 

terminology change is acceptable for 

pollock in the Western, Central, and 

West Yakutat Regulatory Areas only. 

There is one aggregate pollock OFL in 

these areas, and Steller sea lion 

protection measures provide a spatial 

and seasonal apportionment procedure 

for the pollock TAC in the Western and 

Central Regulatory Areas. This change is 

not applicable for pollock in the 

Southeast Outside GOA Regulatory 

Area, which is managed as a separate 

stock. 

Specification and Apportionment of 

TAC Amounts 

The Council recommended proposed 

2015 and 2016 TACs that are equal to 

proposed ABCs for all species and 

species groups, with the exceptions of 

Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the 

Western GOA, arrowtooth flounder, 

flathead sole in the Western and Central 

GOA, ‘‘other rockfish’’ in Southeast 

Outside, and Atka mackerel. The 

shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth 

flounder, and flathead sole TACs are set 

to allow for harvest opportunities while 

conserving the halibut PSC limit for use 

in other fisheries. The ‘‘other rockfish’’ 

TAC is set to reduce the potential 

amount of discards in the Southeast 

Outside (SEO) District. The Atka 

mackerel TAC is set to accommodate 


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incidental catch amounts of this species 

in other directed fisheries. 

The 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod TACs 

are set to accommodate the State’s 

guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for 

Pacific cod in State waters in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 

as well as in Prince William Sound 

(PWS). The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and 

Council recommended that the sum of 

all State and Federal water Pacific cod 

removals from the GOA not exceed ABC 

recommendations. Accordingly, the 

Council reduced the proposed 2015 and 

2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Eastern, 

Central, and Western Regulatory Areas 

to account for State GHLs. Therefore, 

the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod 

TACs are less than the proposed ABCs 

by the following amounts: (1) Eastern 

GOA, 631 mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,615 

mt; and (3) Western GOA, 9,335 mt. 

These amounts reflect the sum of the 

State’s 2015 and 2016 GHLs in these 

areas, which are 25 percent of the 

Eastern and Central and 30 percent of 

the Western GOA proposed ABCs. 

The ABC for the pollock stock in the 

combined Western, Central, and West 

Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) 

has been adjusted to reflect the GHL 

established by the State for the PWS 

pollock fishery since its inception in 

1995. Based on genetic studies, fisheries 

scientists believe that the pollock in 

PWS is not a separate stock from the 

combined W/C/WYK population. Thus, 

the Plan Team calculates the initial ABC 

for the entire stock at the level that 

accounts for the scientific uncertainty in 

the estimate of the stock’s OFL. Since 

1996, the Plan Team has further reduced 

the ABC from the level that accounts for 

scientific uncertainty in the estimate of 

the OFL to account for the annual State 

waters GHL catch in PWS. Thus, the 

initial, total ABC is reduced by the 

annual GHL amount prior to 

apportioning the remaining ABC by 

management area and season. 

Accordingly, the Council recommended 

adopting a W/C/WYK pollock ABC that 

has been reduced to account for the 

State’s PWS GHL. For 2015 and 2016, 

the proposed PWS pollock GHL is 4,646 

mt, as recommended by State fisheries 

managers. The proposed 2015 and 2016 

ABC is 181,184 mt, and the proposed 

TAC is 181,184 mt. 

NMFS proposed apportionment for 

groundfish species are based on the 

distribution of biomass among the 

regulatory areas under which NMFS 

manages the species. Additional 

regulations govern the apportionment of 

Pacific cod, pollock, and sablefish. 

Additional detail on these 

apportionments are described below, 

and briefly summarized here. 

NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the 

Western, Central, West Yakutat 

Regulatory Areas, and the Southeast 

Outside District of the GOA (see Table 

1). NMFS also proposes seasonal 

apportionment of the annual pollock 

TAC in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas of the GOA among 

Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and 

divided equally among each of the 

following four seasons: The A season 

(January 20 through March 10), the B 

season (March 10 through May 31), the 

C season (August 25 through October 1), 

and the D season (October 1 through 

November 1) (§ 679.23(d)(2)(i) through 

(iv), and § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and (B)). 

Additional detail is provided below; 

Table 2 lists these amounts. 

NMFS proposes Pacific cod TACs in 

the Western, Central, and Eastern GOA 

(see Table 1). NMFS also proposes 

seasonal apportionment of the Pacific 

cod TACs in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the 

annual TAC is apportioned to the A 

season for hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear 

from January 1 through June 10, and for 

trawl gear from January 20 through June 

10. Forty percent of the annual TAC is 

apportioned to the B season for jig gear 

from June 10 through December 31, for 

hook-and-line or pot gear from 

September 1 through December 31, and 

for trawl gear from September 1 through 

November 1 (§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 

679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central 

GOA Pacific cod gear and sector 

apportionments are discussed in detail 

below; Table 3 lists these amounts. 

The Council’s recommendation for 

sablefish area apportionments takes into 

account the prohibition on the use of 

trawl gear in the SEO District of the 

Eastern Regulatory Area and makes 

available 5 percent of the combined 

Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl 

gear for use as incidental catch in other 

directed groundfish fisheries in the 

WYK District (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). 

Additional detail is provided below; 

Tables 4 and 5 list these amounts. 

The sum of the proposed TACs for all 

GOA groundfish is 511,599 mt for 2015 

and 2016, which is within the OY range 

specified by the FMP. The sums of the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs are 

higher than the final 2014 TACs 

currently specified for the GOA 

groundfish fisheries (79 FR 12890, 

March 6, 2014). The proposed 2015 and 

2016 TACs for pollock, Pacific ocean 

perch, and rougheye rockfish are higher 

than the final 2014 TACs for these 

species. The proposed 2015 and 2016 

TACs for Pacific cod, sablefish, shallowwater flatfish, deep-water flatfish, rex 

sole, flathead sole, northern rockfish, 

and dusky rockfish are lower than the 

final 2014 TACs for these species. The 

proposed 2015 and 2016 TACs for the 

remaining species are equal to the final 

2014 TACs. 

For 2015 and 2016, the Council 

recommends and NMFS proposes the 

OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table 

1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest 

amounts that are less than the specified 

overfishing levels. Table 1 lists the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 OFLs, ABCs, 

TACs, and area apportionments of 

groundfish in the GOA. These amounts 

are consistent with the biological 

condition of groundfish stocks as 

described in the 2013 SAFE report, and 

adjusted for other biological and 

socioeconomic considerations, 

including maintaining the total TAC 

within the required OY range. These 

proposed amounts and apportionments 

by area, season, and sector are subject to 

change pending consideration of the 

draft 2014 SAFE report and the 

Council’s recommendations for the final 

2015 and 2016 harvest specifications 

during its December 2014 meeting. 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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Table 1. Proposed 2015 and 2016 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the 

Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central, Eastern Regulatory Areas, and in the 

West Yakutat, Southeast Outside, and Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska (Values 

are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) 

Species Area1 OFL ABC TAC2 

-- --- -~·-· ----,-·~·----~-... ~ -~~----~ 

Pollock2 Shumagin (610) n/a 40,254 40,254 

Chirikof (620) n/a 91,272 91,272 --

(630) n/a 44,367 44,367 

WYK (640) n/a I 5,291 5,291 

I W/C/WYK (subtotal) 248,384 1 181 '184 181,184 

I SEO (650) 16,833 12,625 12,625 I· --··-··--··~··-~-···~···~-· ..... r-·--····-·····--· . -~ ... 

Total 265,217 193,809 193,809 

Pacific cod3 w n/a 31,117 21,782 ~- .. --·-~------------~ .. --

c n/a 50,460 37,845 

E n/a 2,523 1,892 

1 Total 101,800 84,100 61,519 --~-~·-·--~----·-----~-·~~-~-··-··-

Sablefish4 w n/a 1,338 1,338 

c n/a 4,230 4,230 ~-

WYK 1,551 1,551 

SEO n/a I 2,435 2,435 I 

E (WYK and SEO) n/a I 3,986 3,986 (subtotal) I 

Total 11,300 9,554 9,554 

Shallow-water flatfish5 w n/a 18,728 13,250 .... ·--~--~ - -~--·~· -·-

c n/a 16,372 16,372 

WYK n/a 1,875 1,875 

SEO n/a 530 530 

Total 46,207 37,505 32,027 

Deep-water flatfish6 IW n/a I 300 300 

c n/a 3,680 3,680 ·-- ----

WYK n/a 5,462 5,462 

SEO n/a 3,861 3,861 ~·- ---··- ... - .. 1-· ···-····· 

Total 15,955 13,303 13,303 

Rex sole w n/a 1,245 1,245 ·---

c n/a ! 6,106 6,106 

WYK n/a 796 796 

SEO n/a 1,008 1,008 ~--.-~--~---~~-·- --~-··· ···-~- -- . ···~-- ---·--·-~ -· 

Total 11,963 9,155 9,155 

Arrowtooth flounder w n/a 30,217 14,500 ~-

c n/a 112,178 75,000 

WYK n/a 36,126 6,900 

~--sE:o n/a 11,035 6,900 

Total 222,160 189,556 103,300 

Flathead sole w n/a 12,661 8,650 
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c n/a 24,670 15,400 

n/a 3,506 3,506 

SEO n/a 170 170 

Total 50,376 41,007 27,726 

Pacific ocean ,7 w n/a 2,456 2,456 

c n/a 13,158 13,158 

WYK n/a 1,976 1,976 -- f------

W/C/WYK 16,555 17,590 -

SEO 2,046 2,174 2,174 

Total 22,849 19,764 19,764 ---------- -~---- --~--

Northern ,s w n/a 1,229 1,229 

c n/a 3,781 3,781 

iE n/a - -

Total 5,978 5,010 5,010 

Shortraker rockfish9 w n/a 92 92 

c n/a 397 397 --

E n/a 834 834 

I Total 1,764 1,323 1,323 I 

Dusky rockfish 10 lw n/a 295 295 

c n/a 3,318 3,318 

WYK n/a 1,277 1,277 

SEO n/a 191 191 eta, 6,213 5,081 5,081 

r---Rou9here--and~5facl<spottea-----~ ~ ----~ 

rockfish 1 n/a 83 83 

ic n/a 877 877 ---------------------------.. - -------

E n/a 302 302 

Total 1,518 1,262 1,262 

Demersal shelf rockfish 12 SEO 438 274 274 

Thornyhead rockfish 13 w n/a 235 235 

c n/a 875 875 

E n/a 731 731 

1 Total 2,454 1,841 1,841 

Other rockfish 14' 

15 W/C combined n/a 1,031 1,031 

WYK n/a 580 580 

SEO n/a 2,470 200 ----

Total 5,347 4,081 1,811 

Atka mackerel GW 6,200 4,700 2,000 

Big skates 16 w n/a 589 589 

c n/a 1,532 1,532 ---"~-·-··---

E n/a 1,641 1,641 

1- -----~-

Total 5,016 3,762 3,762 

Long nose skates 17 w n/a 107 107 
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72599 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves 

Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to 

set aside 20 percent of each TAC for 

pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sculpins, 

sharks, squids, and octopuses in 

reserves for possible apportionment at a 

later date during the fishing year. In 

2014, NMFS apportioned all of the 

reserves in the final harvest 

specifications. For 2015 and 2016, 

NMFS proposes reapportionment of all 

the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, 

flatfish, sculpins, sharks, squids, and 

octopuses in anticipation of the 


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lc n/a 1,935 1,935 

E n/a 834 834 

Total 3,835 2,876 2,876 

Other skates 18 jGw 2,652 1,989 1,989 

Sculpins 

I 

____ GW 7,448 5,569 5,569 , _____ ,_,_ -

Sharks GW 7,986 5,989 5,989 -- --

Squid I GW 1,530 1,148 1,148 -- , __ , ___ -- ------·-

Octopuses GW 2,009 1,507 1,507 

Total 808,215 644,165 511,599 

1 Regulatory areas and dtstncts are defined at§ 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of 

Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK =West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; 

GW=Gulf-wide ). 2 The combined pollock ABC for the Western, Central, and West Yakutat areas is apportioned in the 

Western/Central Regulatory Areas among four statistical areas. These apportionments are considered 

subarea ACLs, rather than ABCs, for specification and reapportionment purposes. Table 2 lists the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of 

the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances. 3 Section 679.20(a)(l2)(i) requires the allocation of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. The annual Pacific cod TAC is 

apportioned among various sectors 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. In the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA, Pacific 

cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the 

offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments. 4 Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2015 and trawl gear in 2016. Tables 4 and 5list 

the proposed 2015 and 2016 allocations of sable fish TACs. 5 "Shallow-water flatfish" means flatfish not including "deep-water flatfish," flathead sole, rex sole, or 

arrowtooth flounder. 6 "Deep-water flatfish" means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deep-sea sole. 7 "Pacific ocean perch" means Sebastes alutus. 8 "Northern rockfish" means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of 

ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species 

group. 

9 "Shortraker rockfish" means Sebastes borealis. 10 "Dusky rockfish" means Sebastes variabilis. 11 "Rougheye rockfish" means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted). 12 "Demersal shelf rockfish" means Sebastes pinniger (canary), 3_. nebulosus (china), 3_. caurinus (copper), 

3_. maliger ( quillback), 3_. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), 3_. nigrocinctus (tiger), and 3_. ruberrimus 

(yelloweye ). 13 "Thornyhead rockfish" means "Sebastes species" 14 "Other rockfish (slope rockfish)" means Sebastes aurora (aurora), 3_. melanostomus (blackgill), 3_. 

paucispinis (bocaccio ), 3_. goodei ( chilipepper), 3_. crameri ( darkblotch), 3_. elongatus (greenstriped), 3_. 

variegatus (harlequin), 3_. wilsoni (pygmy), 3_. babcocki (redbanded), 3_. proriger (redstripe), 3_. zacentrns 

(sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), 3_. brevispinis (silvergray), 3_. diploproa (splitnose), 3_. saxicola 

(stripetail), 3_. miniatus (vermilion), 3_. reedi (yellowmouth), 3_. entomelas (widow), and 3_. flavidus 

(yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, 3_. polyspinous. 

15 "Other rockfish" in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means 

other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. 16 "Big skate" means Raja binoculata. 17 "Longnose skate" means Raja rhina. 18 "Other skates" means Bathyraja spp. 
72600 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

projected annual catch of these species. 

The TACs in Table 1 reflect the 

apportionment of reserve amounts for 

these species and species groups. Each 

proposed TAC for the above mentioned 

species categories contains the full TAC 

recommended by the Council, since 

none of the relevant species and species 

groups’ TACs contributed to a reserve 

that could be used for future 

reapportionments. 

Proposed Apportionments of Pollock 

TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory 

Areas, and Allocations for Processing 

by Inshore and Offshore Components 

In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by 

season and area, and is further allocated 

for processing by inshore and offshore 

components. Pursuant to 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock 

TAC specified for the Western and 

Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 

apportioned into four equal seasonal 

allowances of 25 percent. As established 

by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, 

B, C, and D season allowances are 

available from January 20 through 

March 10, March 10 through May 31, 

August 25 through October 1, and 

October 1 through November 1, 

respectively. 

Pollock TACs in the Western and 

Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are 

apportioned among Statistical Areas 

610, 620, and 630, pursuant to 

§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B 

seasons, the apportionments have 

historically been based on the 

proportional distribution of pollock 

biomass based on the four most recent 

NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D 

seasons, the apportionments are in 

proportion to the distribution of pollock 

biomass based on the four most recent 

NMFS summer surveys. However, for 

2015 and 2016, the Council 

recommends, and NMFS proposes, 

averaging the winter and summer 

distribution of pollock in the Central 

Regulatory Area for the A season instead 

of using the distribution based on only 

the winter surveys. This combination of 

summer and winter distribution has 

been used for area apportionments since 

2002. The average is intended to reflect 

the best available information about 

migration patterns, distribution of 

pollock, and the performance of the 

fishery in the area during the A season. 

For the A season, the apportionment is 

based on the proposed adjusted estimate 

of the relative distribution of pollock 

biomass of approximately 12 percent, 66 

percent, and 22 percent in Statistical 

Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. 

For the B season, the apportionment is 

based on the relative distribution of 

pollock biomass of approximately 12 

percent, 79 percent, and 9 percent in 

Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, 

respectively. For the C and D seasons, 

the apportionment is based on the 

relative distribution of pollock biomass 

of approximately 34 percent, 32 percent, 

and 35 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 

620, and 630, respectively. 

Within any fishing year, the amount 

by which a seasonal allowance is 

underharvested or overharvested may be 

added to, or subtracted from, 

subsequent seasonal allowances in a 

manner to be determined by the 

Regional Administrator 

(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover 

amount is limited to 20 percent of the 

unharvested seasonal apportionment for 

the statistical area. Any unharvested 

pollock above the 20-percent limit could 

be further distributed to the other 

statistical areas, in proportion to the 

estimated biomass in the subsequent 

season in those statistical areas 

(§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 

2015 and 2016 pollock TACs in the 

WYK District of 5,291 mt and SEO 

District of 12,625 mt are not allocated by 

season. 

Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the 

allocation of 100 percent of the pollock 

apportionments in all regulatory areas 

and all seasonal allowances to vessels 

catching pollock for processing by the 

inshore component after subtraction of 

pollock amounts projected by the 

Regional Administrator to be caught by, 

or delivered to, the offshore component 

incidental to directed fishing for other 

groundfish species. Thus, the amount of 

pollock available for harvest by vessels 

harvesting pollock for processing by the 

offshore component is that amount that 

will be taken as incidental catch during 

directed fishing for groundfish species 

other than pollock, up to the maximum 

retainable amounts allowed under 

§ 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these 

incidental catch amounts of pollock are 

unknown and will be determined as 

fishing activity occurs during the fishing 

year by the offshore component. 

Table 2 lists the proposed 2015 and 

2016 seasonal biomass distribution of 

pollock in the Western and Central 

Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, 

and seasonal allowances. The amounts 

of pollock for processing by the inshore 

and offshore components are not shown. 

TABLE 2—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 DISTRIBUTION OF POLLOCK IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN REGULATORY AREAS

OF THE GULF OF ALASKA; SEASONAL BIOMASS DISTRIBUTION, AREA APPORTIONMENTS; AND SEASONAL ALLOWANCES

OF ANNUAL TAC 1

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Season 2 Shumagin 

(Area 610) Chirikof 

(Area 620) Kodiak 

(Area 630) Total 

A (Jan 20–Mar 10) ................................... 5,357 (16.06%) 28,932 (61.50%) 9,687 (22.45%) 43,973 

B (Mar 10–May 31) .................................. 5,356 (16.06%) 34,555 (67.25%) 4,059 (9.80%) 43,973 

C (Aug 25–Oct 1) ..................................... 14,771 (36.47%) 13,892 (28.44%) 15,311 (32.10%) 43,973 

D (Oct 1–Nov 1) ....................................... 14,771 (36.47%) 13,892 (28.44%) 15,311 (32.10%) 43,973 

Annual Total 3 ................................... 40,254 .................... 91,272 .................... 44,367 .................... 175,893 

1Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding. 

2As established by § 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, 

March 10 through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table. 3The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs 

shown in this table. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72601 

Proposed Annual and Seasonal 

Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC 

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS 

proposes allocations for the 2015 and 

2016 Pacific cod TACs in the Western 

and Central Regulatory Areas of the 

GOA among gear and operational 

sectors. Pursuant § 679.20(a)(6)(ii) 

NMFS proposes the allocation of the 

Pacific cod TAC between the inshore 

and offshore components in the Eastern 

Regulatory Area of the GOA. In the 

Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is 

apportioned seasonally first to vessels 

using jig gear, and then among catcher 

vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet in length 

overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs 

equal to or greater than 50 feet in length 

overall using hook-and-line gear, 

catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hookand-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, 

C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using 

pot gear. In the Western GOA, the 

Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 

seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, 

and then among CVs using hook-andline gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, 

CVs using trawl gear, and vessels using 

pot gear. The overall seasonal 

apportionments in the Western and 

Central GOA are 60 percent of the 

annual TAC to the A season and 40 

percent of the annual TAC to the B 

season. 

Under § 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage 

or underage of the Pacific cod allowance 

from the A season will be subtracted 

from, or added to, the subsequent B 

season allowance. In addition, any 

portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, 

or jig sector allocations that is 

determined by NMFS as likely to go 

unharvested by a sector may be 

reapportioned to other sectors for 

harvest during the remainder of the 

fishery year. 

In accordance with the FMP, the 

annual jig sector allocations may 

increase up to 6 percent of the annual 

Western and Central GOA Pacific cod 

TACs depending on the annual 

performance of the jig sector. If such 

allocation increases are not harvested by 

the jig sector, then the annual jig sector 

allocations may subsequently be 

reduced (See Table 1 of Amendment 83 

to the FMP for a detailed discussion of 

the jig sector allocation process (76 FR 

74670, December 1, 2011)). NMFS 

proposes that the jig sector receive 2.5 

percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC 

in the Western GOA. This includes a 

base allocation of 1.5 percent and an 

additional 1.0 percent because this 

sector harvested greater than 90 percent 

of its initial 2012 allocation in the 

Western GOA. NMFS also proposes that 

the jig sector would receive 2.0 percent 

of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 

Central GOA. This includes a base 

allocation of 1.0 percent and an 

additional 1.0 percent because this 

sector harvested greater than 90 percent 

of its initial 2012 allocation in the 

Central GOA. In 2013, neither the 

Western nor Central GOA jig sectors 

harvested 90 percent of their respective 

2013 Pacific cod allocations. However, 

allocation increases to the jig sector are 

established for a minimum of 2 years. 

NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2013 

and 2014 harvest performance of each 

jig sector when the 2014 fishing year is 

complete to determine whether to 

change the jig sector allocations 

proposed by this action in conjunction 

with the final 2015 and 2016 harvest 

specifications. Based on the current 

catch (through October 2014) by the 

Western GOA jig sector, the 2015 Pacific 

cod allocation to this sector may 

increase by an additional 1 percent of 

the annual Western GOA Pacific cod 

TAC in 2015. Conversely, the current 

catch by the Central GOA jig sector 

indicates that this sector’s 2015 Pacific 

cod allocation may decrease by 1 

percent of the annual Central GOA 

Pacific cod TAC. The jig sector 

allocations are further apportioned 

between the A (60 percent) and B (40 

percent) seasons. 

Table 3 lists the seasonal 

apportionments and allocations of the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 Pacific cod 

TACs. 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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72602 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish 

TACs Amounts to Vessels Using Hookand-Line and Trawl Gear 

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) 

require allocations of sablefish TACs for 

each of the regulatory areas and districts 

to hook-and-line and trawl gear. In the 

Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 

80 percent of each TAC is allocated to 

hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of 

each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In 

the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent 

of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line 

gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl 

gear. The trawl gear allocation in the 

Eastern GOA may only be used to 

support incidental catch of sablefish in 

directed fisheries for other target species 

(§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)). 

In recognition of the prohibition 

against trawl gear in the SEO District of 

the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council 

recommended and NMFS proposes the 

allocation of 5 percent of the combined 

Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC 


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Table 3. Proposed 2015 and 2016 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific 

Cod Total Allowable Catch Amounts in the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and 

Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore 

Components (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) 

A Season B Season 

Regulatory area Annual 

and sector allocation (mt) Sector Sector 

percentage Seasonal percentage Seasonal 

of annual allowances (mt) of annual allowances (mt) 

non-jig TAG non-jig TAG 

Western GOA 

Jig (2.5% of TAG) 545 N/A 327 N/A 218 

Hook-and-line CV 297 0.70 149 0.70 149 

Hook-and-line C/P 4,205 10.90 2,315 8.90 1,890 

Trawl CV 8,155 27.70 5,883 10.70 2,272 

Trawl C/P 510 0.90 191 1.50 319 

Pot CV and Pot 8,070 19.80 4,205 18.20 3,865 C/P 

Total 21,782 60.00 13,069 40.00 8,713 

Central GOA 

Jig (2.0% of TAG) 757 N/A 454 N/A 303 

Hook-and-line < 5,416 9.32 3,455 5.29 1,961 50CV 

Hook-and-line ;::;: 2,487 5.61 2,080 1.10 407 50CV 

Hook-and-line C/P 1,893 4.11 1,523 1.00 370 

Trawl CV 15,423 21.13 7,839 20.45 7,584 

Trawl C/P 1,557 2.00 743 2.19 814 

Pot CV and Pot 10,312 17.83 6,613 9.97 3,700 C/P 

Total 37,845 60.00 22,707 40.00 15,138 

Eastern GOA Inshore (90% of Annual TAG) Offshore (10% of Annual TAG) 

1,892 1,703 189 
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72603 

to trawl gear in the WYK District, 

making the remainder of the WYK 

sablefish TAC available to vessels using 

hook-and-line gear. NMFS proposes to 

allocate 100 percent of the sablefish 

TAC in the SEO District to vessels using 

hook-and-line gear. This action results 

in a proposed 2015 allocation of 199 mt 

to trawl gear and 1,352 mt to hook-andline gear in the WYK District, and 2,435 

mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO 

District. Table 4 lists the allocations of 

the proposed 2015 sablefish TACs to 

hook-and-line and trawl gear. Table 5 

lists the allocations of the proposed 

2016 sablefish TACs to trawl gear. 

The Council recommended that the 

hook-and-line sablefish TAC be 

established annually to ensure that the 

sablefish Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) 

fishery is conducted concurrent with 

the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on 

recent survey information. The Council 

also recommended that only the trawl 

sablefish TAC be established for 2 years 

so that retention of incidental catch of 

sablefish by trawl gear could commence 

in January in the second year of the 

groundfish harvest specifications. Since 

there is an annual assessment for 

sablefish and the final harvest 

specifications are expected to be 

published before the IFQ season begins 

(typically, in early March), the Council 

recommended that the sablefish TAC be 

set on an annual basis, rather than for 

2 years, so that the best available 

scientific information could be 

considered in establishing the ABCs and 

TACs. With the exception of the trawl 

allocations that are provided to the 

Rockfish Program cooperatives (see 

Table 28c to part 679), directed fishing 

for sablefish with trawl gear is closed 

during the fishing year. Also, fishing for 

groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited 

prior to January 20. Therefore, it is not 

likely that the sablefish allocation to 

trawl gear would be reached before the 

effective date of the final 2015 and 2016 

harvest specifications. 

TABLE 4—PROPOSED 2015 SABLEFISH TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC) IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATIONS TO

HOOK-AND-LINE AND TRAWL GEAR

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Area/district TAC Hook-and-line 

allocation 

Trawl 

allocation 

Western ........................................................................................................................................ 1,338 1,070 268 

Central ......................................................................................................................................... 4,230 3,384 846 

West Yakutat 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1,551 1,352 199 

Southeast Outside ....................................................................................................................... 2,435 2,435 0 

Total ...................................................................................................................................... 9,554 8,241 1,313 

1The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District. 

TABLE 5—PROPOSED 2016 SABLEFISH TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH (TAC) IN THE GULF OF ALASKA AND ALLOCATION TO

TRAWL GEAR 1

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Area/district TAC Hook-and-line 

allocation 

Trawl 

allocation 

Western ........................................................................................................................................ 1,338 n/a 268 

Central ......................................................................................................................................... 4,230 n/a 846 

West Yakutat 2 ............................................................................................................................. 1,551 n/a 199 

Southeast Outside ....................................................................................................................... 2,435 n/a 0 

Total ...................................................................................................................................... 9,554 n/a 1,313 

1The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to 1 

year. 2The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat district. 

Proposed Apportionments to the 

Rockfish Program 

These proposed 2015 and 2016 

harvest specifications for the GOA 

include the fishery cooperative 

allocations and sideboard limitations 

established by the Rockfish Program. 

Program participants are primarily trawl 

catcher vessels and trawl catcher/

processors, with limited participation 

by vessels using longline gear. The 

Rockfish Program assigns quota share 

and cooperative quota to participants for 

primary and secondary species, allows a 

participant holding a license limitation 

program (LLP) license with rockfish 

quota share to form a rockfish 

cooperative with other persons, and 

allows holders of C/P LLP licenses to 

opt-out of the fishery. The Rockfish 

Program also has an entry level fishery 

for rockfish primary species for vessels 

using longline gear. 

Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish 

primary species (Pacific ocean perch, 

northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) 

in the Central GOA are allocated to 

participants after deducting for 

incidental catch needs in other directed 

groundfish fisheries. Participants in the 

Rockfish Program also receive a portion 

of the Central GOA TAC of specific 

secondary species (Pacific cod, 

rougheye rockfish, sablefish, shortraker 

rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish). 

Additionally, the Rockfish Program 

establishes sideboard limits to restrict 

the ability of harvesters operating under 

the Rockfish Program to increase their 

participation in other, non-Rockfish 

Program fisheries. Besides groundfish 

species, the Rockfish Program allocates 

a portion of the halibut PSC limit from 

the third season deep-water species 

fishery allowance for the GOA trawl 

fisheries to Rockfish Program 

participants. (Rockfish Program 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
72604 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

sideboards and halibut PSC limits are 

discussed below.) 

Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) requires 

allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean 

perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 30 

mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level 

longline fishery in 2015 and 2016. The 

allocation for the entry level longline 

fishery would increase incrementally 

each year if the catch exceeds 90 

percent of the allocation of a species. 

The incremental increase in the 

allocation would continue each year 

until it is the maximum percent of the 

TAC for that species. In 2014, the catch 

did not exceed 90 percent of any 

allocated rockfish species. Therefore, 

NMFS is not proposing an increase to 

the entry level longline fishery 2015 and 

2016 allocations in the Central GOA. 

The remainder of the TACs for the 

rockfish primary species would be 

allocated to the CV and C/P 

cooperatives. Table 6 lists the 

allocations of the proposed 2015 and 

2016 TACs for each rockfish primary 

species to the entry level longline 

fishery, the incremental increase for 

future years, and the maximum percent 

of the TAC for the entry level longline 

fishery. 

TABLE 6—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE

FISHERY IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA

Rockfish primary species 

Allocations of 

the proposed 2015 

and 2016 TAC 

Incremental increase 

per year if catch 

exceeds 90 percent of 

the allocation of: 

Up to maximum 

percent of each 

TAC of: 

Pacific ocean perch ......................................................................................... 5 metric tons ............. 5 metric tons .............. 1 

Northern rockfish ............................................................................................. 5 metric tons .............. 5 metric tons ............. 2 

Dusky rockfish ................................................................................................. 30 metric tons ........... 20 metric tons ........... 5 

Section 679.81(a)(2)(iii) requires 

allocations of rockfish primary species 

among various components of the 

Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 allocations of 

rockfish in the Central GOA to the entry 

level longline fishery and other 

participants in the Rockfish Program, 

which include CV and C/P cooperatives. 

NMFS also proposes setting aside 

incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for 

other directed fisheries in the Central 

GOA of 2,000 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 

200 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt 

of dusky rockfish. These amounts are 

based on recent average incidental 

catches in the Central GOA by other 

groundfish fisheries. 

Allocations between vessels belonging 

to CV or C/P cooperatives are not 

included in these proposed harvest 

specifications. Rockfish Program 

applications for CV cooperatives and C/ 

P cooperatives are not due to NMFS 

until March 1 of each calendar year; 

therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2015 

and 2016 allocations in conjunction 

with these proposed harvest 

specifications. NMFS will post these 

allocations on the Alaska Region Web 

site at (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) 

when they become available after 

March 1. 

TABLE 7—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ALLOCATIONS OF ROCKFISH PRIMARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GULF OF ALASKA

TO THE ENTRY LEVEL LONGLINE FISHERY AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROCKFISH PROGRAM

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Rockfish primary species TAC 

Incidental 

catch 

allowance 

(ICA) 

TAC minus 

ICA 

Allocation to 

the entry 

level 

longline 1

fishery 

Allocation to 

other 

participants 

in Rockfish 

Program 2

Pacific ocean perch ................................................................................. 13,158 2,000 11,158 5 11,153 

Northern rockfish ...................................................................................... 3,781 200 3,581 5 3,576 

Dusky rockfish .......................................................................................... 3,318 250 3,068 30 3,038 

Total .................................................................................................. 20,257 2,450 17,807 40 17,767 

1 Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear. 

2Other participants in the Rockfish Program include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives. 

Section 679.81(c) requires allocations 

of rockfish secondary species to CV and 

C/P cooperatives in the GOA. CV 

cooperatives receive allocations of 

Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear 

allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. 

C/P cooperatives receive allocations of 

sablefish from the trawl allocation, 

rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 

and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists 

the apportionments of the proposed 

2015 and 2016 TACs of rockfish 

secondary species in the Central GOA to 

CV and C/P cooperatives. 


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TABLE 8—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 APPORTIONMENTS OF ROCKFISH SECONDARY SPECIES IN THE CENTRAL GOA TO

CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR COOPERATIVES

[Values are in metric tons] 

Rockfish secondary species Central GOA 

annual TAC 

Catcher vessel 

cooperatives 

Catcher/processor 

cooperatives 

Percentage of 

TAC 

Apportionment 

(mt) 

Percentage of 

TAC 

Apportionment 

(mt) 

Pacific cod ........................................................ 37,845 3.81 1,442 N/A N/A 

Sablefish .......................................................... 4,230 6.78 287 3.51 148 

Shortraker rockfish ........................................... 397 N/A N/A 40.00 159 

Rougheye rockfish ........................................... 877 N/A N/A 58.87 516 

Thornyhead rockfish ........................................ 875 7.84 69 26.50 232 

Proposed Halibut PSC Limits 

Section 679.21(d) establishes annual 

halibut PSC limit apportionments to 

trawl and hook-and-line gear, and 

authorizes the establishment of 

apportionments for pot gear. 

Amendment 95 to the FMP (79 FR 9625, 

February 20, 2014) implemented 

measures establishing GOA halibut PSC 

limits in Federal regulations and 

reducing the halibut PSC limits in the 

GOA trawl and hook-and-line 

groundfish fisheries. These reductions 

are incorporated into the halibut PSC 

limits that are proposed by this action. 

For most gear and operational types, the 

halibut PSC limit reductions are phasedin over 3 years, beginning in 2014 and 

ending in 2016. 

In 2014, the trawl halibut PSC limit 

was reduced by 7 percent from the 2013 

limit. Under Amendment 95 and 

regulations at § 679.21(d)(3)(i), the 

initial trawl halibut PSC limit is 

proposed to be reduced another 5 

percent in 2015, and an additional 3 

percent in 2016. This results in a total 

reduction of 15 percent in 2016 as 

compared to the 2013 halibut PSC limit. 

The reduced PSC limit will remain in 

effect each year thereafter. In addition, 

under Amendment 95 and regulations at 

§ 679.21(d)(2)(iv), the initial hook-andline PSC for the other hook and-line 

catcher vessel sector was reduced 7 

percent in 2014, and this action 

proposes another 5-percent reduction in 

2015 and an additional 3-percent 

reduction in 2016. The PSC limit for the 

hook-and-line catcher/processor sector 

was reduced by 7 percent in 2014 and 

thereafter. 

In October 2014, the Council 

recommended proposed halibut PSC 

limits that reflect the reductions 

implemented under Amendment 95 of 

1,759 mt for trawl gear, 261 mt for hookand-line gear, and 9 mt for the demersal 

shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO 

District for the 2015 groundfish 

fisheries. The Council also 

recommended 1,706 mt for trawl gear, 

256 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt 

for the DSR fishery for the 2016 

groundfish fisheries. 

The DSR fishery in the SEO District 

is defined at § 679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This 

fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the 

halibut PSC limit in recognition of its 

small-scale harvests of groundfish. 

NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in 

the DSR fishery because (1) the duration 

of the DSR fisheries and the gear soak 

times are short, (2) the DSR fishery 

occurs in the winter when less overlap 

occurs in the distribution of DSR and 

halibut, and (3) the directed commercial 

DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. The 

Alaska Department of Fish and Game 

sets the commercial GHL for the DSR 

fishery after deducting (1) estimates of 

DSR incidental catch in all fisheries 

(including halibut and subsistence) and 

(2) the allocation to the DSR sport fish 

fishery. Of the 274 mt TAC for DSR in 

2014, 224 mt were available for the DSR 

commercial directed fishery, of which 

56 mt were harvested. 

The FMP authorizes the Council to 

exempt specific gear from the halibut 

PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation 

with the Council, proposes to exempt 

pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ 

hook-and-line gear fishery categories 

from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 

2015 and 2016. The Council 

recommended, and NMFS is proposing, 

these exemptions because (1) pot gear 

fisheries have low annual halibut 

bycatch mortality, (2) IFQ program 

regulations prohibit discard of halibut if 

any halibut IFQ permit holder on board 

a CV holds unused halibut IFQ 

(§ 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ 

fishermen typically hold halibut IFQ 

permits and are therefore required to 

retain the halibut they catch while 

fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS 

estimates negligible halibut mortality for 

the jig gear fisheries. NMFS estimates 

halibut mortality is negligible in the jig 

gear fisheries given the small amount of 

groundfish harvested by jig gear, the 

selective nature of jig gear, and the high 

survival rates of halibut caught and 

released with jig gear. 

The best available information on 

estimated halibut bycatch consists of 

data collected by fisheries observers 

during 2014. The calculated halibut 

bycatch mortality through October 25, 

2014, is 1,303 mt for trawl gear and 142 

mt for hook-and-line gear for a total 

halibut mortality of 1,445 mt. This 

halibut mortality was calculated using 

groundfish and halibut catch data from 

the NMFS Alaska Region’s catch 

accounting system. This account system 

contains historical and recent catch 

information compiled from each Alaska 

groundfish fishery. 

Section 679.21(d)(4) authorizes NMFS 

to seasonally apportion the halibut PSC 

limits after consultation with the 

Council. The FMP and regulations 

require that the Council and NMFS 

consider the following information in 

seasonally apportioning halibut PSC 

limits: (1) Seasonal distribution of 

halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of 

target groundfish species relative to 

halibut distribution, (3) expected 

halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal 

basis relative to changes in halibut 

biomass and expected catch of target 

groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch 

rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected 

changes in directed groundfish fishing 

seasons, (6) expected actual start of 

fishing effort, and (7) economic effects 

of establishing seasonal halibut 

allocations on segments of the target 

groundfish industry. Based on public 

comment and the information presented 

in the final 2014 SAFE report, the 

Council may recommend or NMFS may 

make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, 

or fishery category apportionments of 

halibut PSC limits for the final 2015 and 

2016 harvest specifications. 

The final 2014 and 2015 harvest 

specifications (79 FR 12890, March 6, 

2014) summarized the Council’s and 

NMFS’ findings with respect to halibut 

PSC for each of these FMP 

considerations. The Council’s and 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
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NMFS’ findings for 2015 are unchanged 

from 2014. Table 9 lists the proposed 

2015 Pacific halibut PSC limits, 

allowances, and apportionments. Table 

10 lists the proposed 2016 Pacific 

halibut PSC limits, allowances, and 

apportionments. The halibut PSC limits 

in these tables reflect the halibut PSC 

reductions implemented in accordance 

with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, 

February 20, 2014) and § 679.21(d)(3)(i). 

Sections 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) 

specify that any underages or overages 

of a seasonal apportionment of a PSC 

limit will be deducted from or added to 

the next respective seasonal 

apportionment within the fishing year. 

TABLE 9—PROPOSED 2015 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS

[Values are in metric tons] 

Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear 1

Season Percent Amount 

Other than DSR DSR 

Season Percent Amount Season Amount 

January 20–April 1 ........... 27.5 484 January 1–June 10 .......... 86 225 January 1–December 31 9 

April 1–July 1 ................... 20 352 June 10–September 1 ..... 2 5 

July 1–September 1 ......... 30 528 September 1–December 

31.

12 31 

September 1–October 1 .. 7.5 132 

October 1–December 31 15 263 

Total .......................... ................ 1,759 .......................................... ................ 261 .......................................... 9 

1The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. 

The hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries. 

TABLE 10—PROPOSED 2016 PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMITS, ALLOWANCES, AND APPORTIONMENTS

[Values are in metric tons] 

Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear 1

Season Percent Amount 

Other than DSR DSR 

Season Percent Amount Season Amount 

January 20–April 1 .......... 27 .5 469 January 1–June 10 ......... 86 220 January 1–December 31 9 

April 1–July 1 .................. 20 341 June 10–September 1 .... 2 5 

July 1–September 1 ........ 30 512 September 1–December 

31.

12 31 

September 1–October 1 .. 7 .5 128 

October 1–December 31 15 256 

Total ......................... .................. 1,706 ......................................... ................ 256 ......................................... 9 

1The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. 

The hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries. 

Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes 

further apportionment of the trawl 

halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances 

to trawl fishery categories. The annual 

apportionments are based on each 

category’s proportional share of the 

anticipated halibut bycatch mortality 

during a fishing year and optimization 

of the total amount of groundfish 

harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The 

fishery categories for the trawl halibut 

PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species 

fishery, composed of sablefish, rockfish, 

deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and 

arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallowwater species fishery, composed of 

pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water 

flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, 

skates and ‘‘other species’’ (sculpins, 

sharks, squids, and octopuses) 

(§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). 

Tables 11 and 12 list, respectively, the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal 

apportionments of trawl halibut PSC 

limits between the trawl gear deepwater and the shallow-water species 

fisheries. These limits proportionately 

incorporate the halibut PSC limit 

reductions implemented in accordance 

with Amendment 95 (79 FR 9625, 

February 20, 2014) and § 679.21(d)(3). 

TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN

THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES

[Values are in metric tons] 

Season Shallow-water Deep-water 1 Total 

January 20–April 1 ....................................................................................................................... 396 88 484 

April 1–July 1 ............................................................................................................................... 88 264 352 

July 1–September 1 ..................................................................................................................... 176 352 528 

September 1–October 1 .............................................................................................................. 132 (3) 132 


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TABLE 11—PROPOSED 2015 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN

THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES—Continued 

[Values are in metric tons] 

Season Shallow-water Deep-water 1 Total 

Subtotal, January 20–October 1 .......................................................................................... 792 704 1,496 

October 1–December 31 2 .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 264 

Total ............................................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 1,760 

1Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deepwater species fishery halibut PSC apportionment. 2There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31). 

TABLE 12—PROPOSED 2016 SEASONAL APPORTIONMENTS OF THE PACIFIC HALIBUT PSC LIMIT APPORTIONED BETWEEN

THE TRAWL GEAR SHALLOW-WATER AND DEEP-WATER SPECIES FISHERIES

[Values are in metric tons] 

Season Shallow-water Deep-water 1 Total 

January 20–April 1 ....................................................................................................................... 384 85 469 

April 1–July 1 ............................................................................................................................... 85 256 341 

July 1–September 1 ..................................................................................................................... 171 341 512 

September 1–October 1 .............................................................................................................. 128 (3) 128 

Subtotal, January 20–October 1 .......................................................................................... 768 682 1,450 

October 1–December 31 2 .................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 256 

Total ............................................................................................................................... .......................... .......................... 1,706 

1Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deepwater species fishery halibut PSC apportionment. 2There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31). 3Any remainder. 

Section 679.21(d)(2) requires that the 

‘‘other hook-and-line fishery’’ halibut 

PSC apportionment to vessels using 

hook-and-line gear must be divided 

between CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must 

calculate the halibut PSC limit 

apportionments for the entire GOA to 

hook-and-line CVs and C/Ps in 

accordance with § 679.21(d)(2)(iii) in 

conjunction with these harvest 

specifications. A comprehensive 

description and example of the 

calculations necessary to apportion the 

‘‘other hook-and-line fishery’’ halibut 

PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV 

and C/P sectors were included in the 

proposed rule to implement 

Amendment 83 (76 FR 44700, July 26, 

2011) and is not repeated here. 

For 2015, NMFS proposes annual 

halibut PSC limit allocations of 146 mt 

and 115 mt to the hook-and-line CV and 

hook-and-line C/P sectors, respectively. 

In addition, NMFS proposes 2016 

annual halibut PSC limit allocations of 

141 mt and 115 mt to the hook-and-line 

CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors, 

respectively. The 2015 and 2016 annual 

halibut PSC limits are divided into three 

seasonal apportionments, using seasonal 

percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, 

and 12 percent. Tables 13 and 14 list the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 annual halibut 

PSC limits and seasonal apportionments 

between the hook-and-line sectors in the 

GOA. 

No later than November 1 of each 

year, NMFS calculates the projected 

unused amount of halibut PSC limit by 

either of the hook-and-line sectors for 

the remainder of the year. The projected 

unused amount of halibut PSC limit is 

made available to the other hook-andline sector for the remainder of that 

fishing year if NMFS determines that an 

additional amount of halibut PSC limit 

is necessary for that sector to continue 

its directed fishing operations 

(§ 679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)). 

TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE

BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS

[Values are in metric tons] 

‘‘Other than 

DSR’’ 

allowance 

Hook-and-line sector 

Sector 

annual 

amount 

Season Seasonal 

percentage 

Sector 

seasonal 

amount 

261 ....................... Catcher Vessel ................... 146 January 1–June 10 ................................................

June 10–September 1 ............................................

September 1–December 31 ...................................

86 

2 

12 

126 

3 

18 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
72608 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

TABLE 13—PROPOSED 2015 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE

BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS—Continued 

[Values are in metric tons] 

‘‘Other than 

DSR’’ 

allowance 

Hook-and-line sector 

Sector 

annual 

amount 

Season Seasonal 

percentage 

Sector 

seasonal 

amount 

Catcher/Processor .............. 115 January 1–June 10 ................................................

June 10–September 1 ............................................

September 1–December 31 ...................................

86 

2 

12 

99 

2 

14 

TABLE 14—PROPOSED 2016 APPORTIONMENTS OF THE ‘‘OTHER HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES’’ HALIBUT PSC ALLOWANCE

BETWEEN THE HOOK-AND-LINE GEAR CATCHER VESSEL AND CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTORS

[Values are in metric tons] 

‘‘Other than 

DSR’’ 

allowance 

Hook-andline sector 

Sector annual 

amount 

Season Seasonal 

percentage 

Sector 

seasonal 

amount 

256 ....................... Catcher Vessel ................... 141 January 1–June 10 ................................................

June 10–September 1 ............................................

September 1–December 31 ...................................

86 

2 

12 

121 

3 

17 

Catcher/Processor .............. 115 January 1–June 10 ................................................

June 10–September 1 ............................................

September 1–December 31 ...................................

86 

2 

12 

99 

2 

14 

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates 

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality 

allowances and apportionments, the 

Regional Administrator uses observed 

halibut incidental catch rates, discard 

mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of 

groundfish catch to project when a 

fishery’s halibut bycatch mortality 

allowance or seasonal apportionment is 

reached. The DMRs are based on the 

best information available, including 

information contained in the annual 

SAFE report. 

NMFS proposes the Council’s 

recommendation that the halibut DMRs 

developed and recommended by the 

International Pacific Halibut 

Commission (IPHC) for the 2013 

through 2015 GOA groundfish fisheries 

be used to monitor the proposed 2015 

and 2016 halibut bycatch mortality 

allowances (see Tables 9 through 14). 

The IPHC developed the DMRs for the 

2013 through 2015 GOA groundfish 

fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs 

for those fisheries. Long-term average 

DMRs were not available for some 

fisheries, so rates from the most recent 

years were used. For the skate, sculpin, 

shark, squid, and octopus fisheries, 

where not enough mortality data are 

available, the mortality rate of halibut 

caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that 

gear type was recommended as a default 

rate. The IPHC will analyze observer 

data annually and recommend changes 

to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows 

large variation from the mean. A 

discussion of the DMRs and how the 

IPHC establishes them is available from 

the Council (see ADDRESSES). Table 15 

lists the proposed 2015 and 2016 DMRs. 

TABLE 15—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 HALIBUT DISCARD MORTALITY RATES FOR VESSELS FISHING IN THE GULF OF

ALASKA

[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead] 

Gear Target fishery 

Mortality 

rate 

(%) 

Hook-and-line ............................................................... Other fisheries 1 ........................................................................................

Skates .......................................................................................................

Pacific cod ................................................................................................

Rockfish ....................................................................................................

11 

11 

11 

9 

Trawl ............................................................................. Arrowtooth flounder ..................................................................................

Deep-water flatfish ...................................................................................

Flathead sole ............................................................................................

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

Other fisheries ..........................................................................................

Pacific cod ................................................................................................

73 

43 

65 

60 

62 

62 

Pelagic pollock .........................................................................................

Rex sole ...................................................................................................

Rockfish ....................................................................................................

Sablefish ...................................................................................................

Shallow-water flatfish ...............................................................................

71 

69 

66 

71 

67 

Pot ................................................................................ Other fisheries ..........................................................................................

Pacific cod ................................................................................................

17 

17 

1Other fisheries includes hook-and-line sablefish and all gear types for Atka mackerel, skates, sculpins, sharks, squids, and octopuses. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
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Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species 

Catch Limits 

Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR 

42629, July 20, 2012) established 

separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in 

the Western and Central GOA in the 

directed pollock fishery. These limits 

require NMFS to close the pollock 

directed fishery in the Western and 

Central regulatory areas of the GOA if 

the applicable limit is reached 

(§ 679.21(h)(6)). The annual Chinook 

salmon PSC limits in the pollock 

directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the 

Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the 

Central GOA are set in regulation at 

§ 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). In addition, all 

salmon (regardless of species), taken in 

the pollock directed fisheries in the 

Western and Central GOA must be 

retained until an observer at the 

processing facility that takes delivery of 

the catch is provided an opportunity to 

count the number of salmon and to 

collect any scientific data or biological 

samples from the salmon 

(§ 679.21(h)(4)). 

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/ 

Processor and Catcher Vessel 

Groundfish Sideboard Limits 

Section 679.64 establishes groundfish 

harvesting and processing sideboard 

limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the 

GOA. These sideboard limits are 

necessary to protect the interests of 

fishermen and processors who do not 

directly benefit from the AFA from 

those fishermen and processors who 

receive exclusive harvesting and 

processing privileges under the AFA. 

Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed 

AFA C/Ps from harvesting any species 

of fish in the GOA. Additionally, 

§ 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA C/ 

Ps from processing any pollock 

harvested in a directed pollock fishery 

in the GOA and any groundfish 

harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the 

GOA. 

AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft 

(38.1 meters) length overall, have 

annual landings of pollock in the Bering 

Sea and Aleutian Islands of less than 

5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 

landings of GOA groundfish from 1995 

through 1997 are exempt from GOA 

sideboard limits under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii). 

Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA 

CVs operating in the GOA are based on 

their traditional harvest levels of TAC in 

groundfish fisheries covered by the 

FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii) 

establishes the groundfish sideboard 

limitations in the GOA based on the 

retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs 

of each sideboard species from 1995 

through 1997 divided by the TAC for 

that species over the same period. 

Table 16 lists the proposed 2015 and 

2016 groundfish sideboard limits for 

non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will 

deduct all targeted or incidental catch of 

sideboard species made by non-exempt 

AFA CVs from the sideboard limits 

listed in Table 16. 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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Table 16. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher 

Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits (Values are rounded to the nearest 

metric ton.) 

Ratio of 1995- Proposed Proposed 2015 

1997 non- and 2016 nonSpecies Apportionments by Area/component exempt AFA CV 2015 and exemptAFA season/gear 2016 catch to 1995- TACs3 CV sideboard 

1997 TAC limit 

Pollock A Season Shumagin (610) 0.6047 5,357 3,239 

January 20 - March Chirikof (620) 0.1167 28,932 3,376 

10 Kodiak (630) 0.2028 9,687 1,965 

Shumagin (610) 0.6047 5,356 3,239 

B Season Chirikof (620) 0.1167 34,556 4,033 March 10- May 31 

Kodiak (630) 0.2028 4,059 823 

C Season Shumagin (610) 0.6047 14,771 8,932 

August 25 - October Chirikof (620) 0.1167 13,892 1,621 

1 Kodiak (630) 0.2028 15,310 3,105 

D Season Shumagin (610) 0.6047 14,771 8,932 

October 1 - Chirikof (620) 0.1167 13,892 1,621 

November 1 Kodiak (630) 0.2028 15,309 3,105 

Annual WYK (640) 0.3495 5,291 1,849 

SEO (650) 0.3495 12,625 4,412 

Pacific cod A Season1 w 0.1331 13,069 1,740 

January 1 - June 1 0 c 0.0692 22,707 1,571 

B Season2 w 0.1331 8,713 1 '160 

September 1 -

December c 0.0692 15,138 1,048 31 

Annual E inshore 0.0079 1,703 13 

E offshore 0.0078 189 1 

Sablefish Annual, trawl gear w 0.0000 268 0 

c 0.0642 8 54 

E 0.04 1 9 

Flatfish, Annual w 0.0156 13,250 207 

shallow-water c 0.0587 16,372 961 

E 0.0126 2,405 30 

Flatfish, Annual w 0.0000 300 0 

deep-water c 0.0647 3,680 238 

E 0.0128 9,323 119 

Rex sole Annual w 0.0007 1,245 1 

c 0.0384 6,106 234 

E 0.0029 1,804 5 

Arrowtooth Annual w 0.0021 14,500 30 

flounder c 0.0280 75,000 2,100 

E 0.0002 13,800 3 
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72611 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel 

Halibut PSC Limits 

The halibut PSC sideboard limits for 

non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are 

based on the aggregate retained 

groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA 

CVs in each PSC target category from 

1995 through 1997 divided by the 

retained catch of all vessels in that 

fishery from 1995 through 1997 

(§ 679.64(b)(4)). Tables 17 and 18 list the 

proposed 2015 and 2016, respectively, 

non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits 

for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALSEP08DE14.026</GPH>

Flathead sole Annual w 0.0036 

c 0.0213 

E 0.0009 

Pacific ocean Annual w 0.0023 

perch c 0.0748 

E 0.0466 

Northern Annual w 0.0003 

rockfish c 0.0277 

Shortraker Annual w 0.0000 

rockfish c 0.0218 

E G.0110l 

Dusky Annual w o.ooo1 1 

Rockfish c 0.0000 

E 0.0067 

Rougheye Annual w 0.0000 

rockfish c 0.0237 

E 0.0124 

Demersal Annual SEQ 0.0020 shelf rockfish 

Thornyhead Annual w 0.0280 

rockfish c 0.0280 

E 0.0280 

Other Annual w 0.0034 

Rockfish c 0.1699 

E 0.0000 

Atka mackerel Annual Gulfwide 0.0309 

Big skates Annual w 0.0063 

c 

E 0.0063 

Long nose Annual w 0.0063 

skates c 0.0063 

E 0.0063 

Other skates Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 

Squids Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 

Sharks Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 

Octopuses Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 

Sculpins Annual Gulfwide 0.0063 

The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open tmtil January 20. 2 The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1. 

8,650 

15,400 

3,676 

2,456 

13,158 

4,150 

1,229 

3,781 

92 

397 

8341 

295 1 

3,318 

1,468 

83 

877 

302 

274 

235 

875 

731 

n/a 

1,031 

780 

2,000 

589 

1,532 

1,641 

107 

1,935 

834 

1,989 

5,569 

5,989 

1,148 

1,455 

3 The Western and Central GOA area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs. 

31 

328 

3 

6 

984 

193 

0 

105 

0 

9 

9 

0 

0 

10 

0 

21 

4 

1 

7 

25 

20 

n/a 

175 

0 

62 

4 

10 

10 

1 

12 

5 

13 

35 

38 

7 

9 
72612 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

The proposed 2015 and 2016 seasonal 

apportionments of trawl halibut PSC 

limits between the deep-water and 

shallow-water species fisheries 

categories proportionately incorporate 

reductions made to the annual trawl 

halibut PSC limits and associated 

seasonal apportionments (see Tables 9 

and 10). 

TABLE 17—PROPOSED 2015 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES

CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA 

[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton] 

Season Season dates Target fishery 

Ratio of 1995– 

1997 non-exempt 

AFA CV retained 

catch to total 

retained catch 

Proposed 

2015 PSC 

limit 

Proposed 2015 

non-exempt 

AFA CV PSC 

limit 

1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

396 

88 

135 

6 

2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

88 

264 

30 

18 

3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

176 

352 

60 

25 

4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

132 

0 

45 

0 

5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... all targets ............................ 0.205 264 54 

TABLE 18—PROPOSED 2016 NON-EXEMPT AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT CATCHER VESSEL HALIBUT PROHIBITED SPECIES

CATCH (PSC) LIMITS FOR VESSELS USING TRAWL GEAR IN THE GOA 

[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton] 

Season Season dates Target fishery 

Ratio of 1995– 

1997 non-exempt 

AFA CV retained 

catch to total 

retained catch 

Proposed 

2016 PSC 

limit 

Proposed 

2016 nonexempt AFA 

CV PSC limit 

1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

384 

85 

131 

6 

2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

85 

256 

29 

18 

3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

171 

341 

58 

24 

4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.340 

0.070 

128 

0 

44 

0 

5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... all targets ............................ 0.205 256 52 

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish 

Sideboard Limits 

Section 680.22 establishes groundfish 

catch limits for vessels with a history of 

participation in the Bering Sea snow 

crab fishery to prevent these vessels 

from using the increased flexibility 

provided by the Crab Rationalization 

Program to expand their level of 

participation in the GOA groundfish 

fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these 

vessels’ catch to their collective 

historical landings in each GOA 

groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear 

sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also 

apply to landings made using an LLP 

license derived from the history of a 

restricted vessel, even if that LLP 

license is used on another vessel. 

The basis for these sideboard limits is 

described in detail in the final rules 

implementing the major provisions of 

the Crab Rationalization Program, 

including Amendments 18 and 19 to the 

Fishery Management Plan for Bering 

Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner 

Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 

2, 2005), Amendment 34 to the Crab 

FMP (76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011), and 

Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 

74670, December 1, 2011). 

Table 19 lists the proposed 2015 and 

2016 groundfish sideboard limitations 

for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted 

or incidental catch of sideboard species 

made by non-AFA crab vessels or 

associated LLP licenses will be 

deducted from these sideboard limits. 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72613 


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Table 19. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel 

Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) 

Ratio of 1996- Proposed 2000 non-AFA 

Area/component/ crab vessel Proposed 2015 and 

Species Season/gear 2015 and 2016 non-AFA 

gear catch to 1996- 2016 TACs crab vessel 2000 total sideboard limit harvest 

Pollock A Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 5,357 52 

January 20 - March Chirikof (620) 0.0031 28,932 90 10 

Kodiak (630) 0.0002 9,687 2 

B Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 5,356 52 

March 10- May 31 Chirikof (620) 0.0031 34,556 107 

Kodiak (630) 0.0002 4,059 1 

C Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 14,771 145 

August 25 - October Chirikof (620) 0.0031 13,892 43 1 

Kodiak (630) 0.0002 15,310 3 

D Season Shumagin (610) 0.0098 14,771 145 

October 1 - Chirikof (620) 0.0031 13,892 43 November 1 

Kodiak (630) 0.0002 15,309 3 

Annual WYK (640) 0.0000 5,291 0 

SEO (650) 0.0000 12,625 0 

Pacific cod A Season1 w Jig cv 0.0000 13,069 0 

W Hook-and-line 0.0004 13,069 5 cv 

January 1 - June 10 W Hook-and-line 0.0018 13,069 24 C/P 

W Pot CV 0.0997 13,069 1,303 

W Pot C/P 0.0078 13,069 102 

WTrawl CV 0.0007 13,069 9 

CJig CV 0.0000 22,707 0 

C Hook-and-line 0.0001 22,707 2 cv 

C Hook-and-line 0.0012 22,707 27 C/P 

C Pot CV 0.0474 22,707 1,076 

C Pot C/P 0.0136 22,707 309 

C Trawl CV 0.0012 22,707 27 

B Season2 w Jig cv 0.0000 8,713 0 

W Hook-and-line 0.0004 8,713 3 cv 

W Hook-and-line 0.0018 8,713 16 C/P 

September 1 - W Pot CV 0.0997 8,713 869 December 31 

W Pot C/P 0.0078 8,713 68 
72614 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 


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WTrawl CV 0.0007 8,713 6 

c Jig cv 0.0000 15,138 0 

C Hook-and-line 0.0001 15,138 2 cv 

C Hook-and-line 0.0012 15,138 18 C/P 

C Pot CV 0.0474 15,138 718 

C Pot C/P 0.0136 15,138 206 

C Trawl CV 0.0012 15,138 18 

Annual E inshore 0.0110 1,703 19 

E offshore 0.0000 189 0 

Sablefish Annual, trawl gear w 0.0000 268 0 

c 0.0000 846 0 

E 0.0000 199 0 

Flatfish, Annual w 0.0059 13,250 78 

shallow- c 0.0001 16,372 2 water 

E 0.0000 2,405 0 

Flatfish, Annual w 0.0035 300 1 

deep-water c 0.0000 3,680 0 

E 0.0000 9,323 0 

Rex sole Annual w 0.0000 1,245 0 

c 0.0000 6,106 0 

E 0.0000 1,804 0 

Arrowtooth Annual w 0.0004 14,500 6 

flounder c 0.0001 75,000 8 

E 0.0000 13,800 0 

Flathead Annual w 0.0002 8,650 2 

sole c 0.0004 15,400 6 

E 0.0000 3,676 0 

Pacific Annual w 0.0000 2,456 0 

ocean c 0.0000 13,158 0 

perch E 0.0000 4,150 0 

Northern Annual w 0.0005 1,229 1 

rockfish c 0.0000 3,781 0 

Shortraker Annual w 0.0013 92 0 

rockfish c 0.0012 397 0 

E 0.0009 834 1 

Dusky Annual w 0.0017 295 1 

rockfish c 0.0000 3,318 0 

E 0.0000 1,468 0 

Rougheye Annual w 0.0067 83 1 

rockfish c 0.0047 877 4 
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72615 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

Rockfish Program Groundfish 

Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations 

The Rockfish Program establishes 

three classes of sideboard provisions: 

CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/ 

P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/ 

P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions. 

These sideboards are intended to limit 

the ability of rockfish harvesters to 

expand into other fisheries. 

CVs participating in the Rockfish 

Program may not participate in directed 

fishing for dusky rockfish, northern 

rockfish, and Pacific ocean perch in the 

Western GOA and West Yakutat 

Districts from July 1 through July 31. 

Also, CVs may not participate in 

directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, 

deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the 

GOA from July 1 through July 31 

(§ 679.82(d)). 

Catcher/processors participating in 

Rockfish Program cooperatives are 

restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC 

sideboard limits. These C/Ps are 

prohibited from directed fishing for 

northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, 

and dusky rockfish in the Western GOA 

and West Yakutat District from July 1 

through July 31. Holders of C/Pdesignated LLP licenses that opt-out of 

participating in a rockfish cooperative 

will receive the portion of each 

sideboard limit that is not assigned to 

rockfish cooperatives. Table 20 lists the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 Rockfish 

Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits 

in the Western GOA and West Yakutat 

District. Due to confidentiality 

requirements associated with fisheries 

data, the sideboard limits for the West 

Yakutat District are not displayed. 

TABLE 20—PROPOSED 2015 AND 2016 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HARVEST LIMITS FOR THE WESTERN GOA AND WEST

YAKUTAT DISTRICT BY FISHERY FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR (C/P) SECTOR

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Area Fishery C/P sector 

(% of TAC) 

Proposed 2015 

and 2016 TACs 

Proposed 2015 

and 2016 C/P 

limit 

Western GOA .............................................. Dusky rockfish .............................................

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

Northern rockfish .........................................

72.3 

50.6 

74.3 

295 

2,456 

1,229 

213 

1,243 

913 

West Yakutat District ................................... Dusky rockfish .............................................

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

(1) 

(1) 

1,277 

1,976 

N/A 

N/A 

1 Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data, as established by NMFS and the State of Alaska. 


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72616 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

Under the Rockfish Program, the C/P 

sector is subject to halibut PSC 

sideboard limits for the trawl deepwater and shallow-water species 

fisheries from July 1 through July 31. No 

halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to 

the CV sector as vessels participating in 

a rockfish cooperative receive a portion 

of the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps 

that opt-out of the Rockfish Program 

would be able to access that portion of 

the deep-water and shallow-water 

halibut PSC sideboard limit not 

assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. 

The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that 

elect to opt-out of participating in a 

rockfish cooperative are described in 

§ 679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits 

are linked to the catch history of 

specific vessels that may choose to optout. After March 1, NMFS will 

determine which C/Ps have opted-out of 

the Rockfish Program in 2015, and will 

know the ratios and amounts used to 

calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. 

NMFS will then calculate any 

applicable opt-out sideboard limits and 

post these limits on the Alaska Region 

Web site at http://

alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/

sustainablefisheries/goarat/

default.htm). Tables 21 and 22 list the 

2015 and 2016, proposed Rockfish 

Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P 

sector, respectively. These proposed 

2015 and 2016 halibut PSC limits 

proportionately incorporate reductions 

made to the annual trawl halibut PSC 

limits and associated seasonal 

apportionments (see Tables 9 and 10). 

TABLE 21—PROPOSED 2015 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTOR

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Sector 

Shallow-water 

species fishery 

halibut PSC 

sideboard ratio 

(percent) 

Deep-water 

species fishery 

halibut PSC 

sideboard ratio 

(percent) 

Annual halibut 

mortality limit 

(mt) 

Annual shallowwater species 

fishery halibut 

PSC sideboard limit 

(mt) 

Annual deepwater species 

fishery halibut 

PSC sideboard limit 

(mt) 

Catcher/processor ........................ 0.10 2.50 1,759 2 44 

TABLE 22—PROPOSED 2016 ROCKFISH PROGRAM HALIBUT MORTALITY LIMITS FOR THE CATCHER/PROCESSOR SECTOR

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Sector 

Shallow-water 

species fishery 

halibut PSC 

sideboard ratio 

(percent) 

Deep-water 

species fishery 

halibut PSC 

sideboard ratio 

(percent) 

Annual halibut 

mortality limit 

(mt) 

Annual shallowwater species 

fishery halibut 

PSC sideboard limit 

(mt) 

Annual deepwater species 

fishery halibut 

PSC sideboard limit 

(mt) 

Catcher/processor ........................ 0.10 2.50 1,706 2 43 

Amendment 80 Program Groundfish 

Sideboard and PSC Limits 

Amendment 80 to the Fishery 

Management Plan for Groundfish of the 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

Management Area (Amendment 80 

Program) established a limited access 

privilege program for the non-AFA trawl 

C/P sector. The Amendment 80 Program 

established groundfish and halibut PSC 

limits for Amendment 80 Program 

participants to limit the ability of 

participants eligible for the Amendment 

80 Program to expand their harvest 

efforts in the GOA. 

Section 679.92 establishes groundfish 

harvesting sideboard limits on all 

Amendment 80 Program vessels, other 

than the F/V Golden Fleece, to amounts 

no greater than the limits shown in 

Table 37 to part 679. Under regulations 

at § 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is 

prohibited from directed fishing for 

pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean 

perch, dusky rockfish, and northern 

rockfish in the GOA. 

Groundfish sideboard limits for 

Amendment 80 Program vessels 

operating in the GOA are based on their 

average aggregate harvests from 1998 

through 2004. Table 23 lists the 

proposed 2015 and 2016 sideboard 

limits for Amendment 80 Program 

vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted 

or incidental catch of sideboard species 

made by Amendment 80 Program 

vessels from the sideboard limits in 

Table 23. 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72617 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–C 

The halibut PSC sideboard limits for 

Amendment 80 Program vessels in the 

GOA are based on the historic use of 

halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program 

vessels in each PSC target category from 

1998 through 2004. These values are 

slightly lower than the average historic 

use to accommodate two factors: 

Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative 

quota under the Rockfish Program and 

the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece 

from this restriction (§ 679.92(b)(2)). 

Tables 24 and 25 list the proposed 2015 

and 2016 halibut PSC sideboard limits 

for Amendment 80 Program vessels, 

respectively. These tables incorporate 

the maximum percentages of the halibut 

PSC sideboard limits that may be used 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALSEP08DE14.030</GPH>

Table 23. Proposed 2015 and 2016 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 

Program Vessels (Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton.) 

Ratio of Proposed 

Species Season Area Amendment 80 2015 and 

sector vessels 1998 2016 TAC 

- 2004 catch to T AC (mt) 

Pollock A Season Shumagin 0.003 5,357 (610) 

January 20- Chirikof 0.002 28,932 February 25 (620) 

Kodiak 0.002 9,687 (630) 

B Season Shumagin 0.003 5,356 (610) 

March 10- May 31 Chirikof 0.002 34,556 (620) 

Kodiak 0.002 4,059 (630) 

C Season Shumagin 0.003 14,771 (610) 

August 25- Chirikof 0.002 13,892 September 15 (620) 

Kodiak 0.002 15,310 (630) 

D Season Shumagin 0.003 14,771 (610) 

October 1 - Chirikof 0.002 13,892 November 1 (620) 

Kodiak 0.002 15,309 (630) 

Annual WYK (640) 0.002 5,291 

A Season1 w 0.020 13,069 

January 1 - June 10 c 0.044 22,707 

Pacific B Season2 w 0.020 8,713 

cod 

September 1 - c 0.044 15,138 December 31 

Annual WYK 0.034 1,892 

Pacific Annual w 0.994 2,456 

ocean 

perch WYK 0.961 1,976 

Northern Annual w 1.000 1,229 rockfish 

Dusky Annual w 0.764 295 

rockfish WYK 0.896 1,277 

l The Pac1fic cod A season for trawl gear does not open untll January 20. 2 The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1. 

Proposed 2015 

and 2016 

Amendment 80 

vessel sideboard 

limits (mt) 

16 

58 

19 

16 

69 

8 

44 

28 

31 

44 

28 

31 

11 

261 

999 

174 

666 

64 

2,441 

1,899 

1,229 

225 

1,144 
72618 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

by Amendment 80 Program vessels, as 

contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part 

679. These proposed 2015 and 2016 PSC 

sideboard limits proportionately 

incorporate the reductions made to the 

annual trawl halibut PSC limits and 

associated seasonal apportionments (see 

Tables 9 and 10). 

TABLE 24—PROPOSED 2015 HALIBUT PSC SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN THE GOA 

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Season Season dates Fishery category 

Historic 

Amendment 80 

use of the 

annual halibut 

PSC limit 

(ratio) 

Proposed 2016 

annual PSC 

limit 

(mt) 

Proposed 2016 

Amendment 80 

vessel PSC 

sideboard limit 

(mt) 

1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0048 

0.0115 

1,759 

1,759 

8 

20 

2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0189 

0.1072 

1,759 

1,759 

33 

189 

3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0146 

0.0521 

1,759 

1,759 

26 

92 

4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0074 

0.0014 

1,759 

1,759 

13 

2 

5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0227 

0.0371 

1,759 

1,759 

40 

65 

TABLE 25—PROPOSED 2016 HALIBUT PSC SIDEBOARD LIMITS FOR AMENDMENT 80 PROGRAM VESSELS IN THE GOA 

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton] 

Season Season dates Fishery category 

Historic 

Amendment 80 

use of the 

annual halibut 

PSC limit 

(ratio) 

Proposed 2016 

annual PSC 

limit 

(mt) 

Proposed 2016 

Amendment 80 

vessel PSC 

sideboard limit 

(mt) 

1 ................... January 20–April 1 ......................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0048 

0.0115 

1,706 

1,706 

8 

20 

2 ................... April 1–July 1 ................................. shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0189 

0.1072 

1,706 

1,706 

32 

183 

3 ................... July 1–September 1 ....................... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0146 

0.0521 

1,706 

1,706 

25 

89 

4 ................... September 1–October 1 ................ shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0074 

0.0014 

1,706 

1,706 

13 

2 

5 ................... October 1–December 31 ............... shallow-water ......................

deep-water ..........................

0.0227 

0.0371 

1,706 

1,706 

39 

63 

Classification 

NMFS has determined that the 

proposed harvest specifications are 

consistent with the FMP and 

preliminarily determined that the 

proposed harvest specifications are 

consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Act and other applicable laws. 

This action is authorized under 50 

CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review 

under Executive Orders 12866 and 

13563. 

NMFS prepared an EIS for this action 

and made it available to the public on 

January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 

February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the 

Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final 

EIS. A Supplemental Information Report 

(SIR) that assesses the need to prepare 

a Supplemental EIS is being prepared 

for the final action. Copies of the Final 

EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are 

available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). 

The Final EIS analyzes the 

environmental consequences of the 

proposed groundfish harvest 

specifications and alternative harvest 

strategies on resources in the action 

area. The Final EIS found no significant 

environmental consequences from the 

proposed action or its alternatives. 

NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory 

Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as required 

by section 603 of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA), analyzing the 

methodology for establishing the 

relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the 

impacts on small entities of alternative 

harvest strategies for the groundfish 

fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set 

forth in the methodology, TACs are set 

to a level that fall within the range of 

ABCs recommended by the SSC; the 

sum of the TACs must achieve the OY 

specified in the FMP. While the specific 

numbers that the methodology produces 

may vary from year to year, the 

methodology itself remains constant. 

A description of the proposed action, 

why it is being considered, and the legal 

basis for this proposed action are 

contained in the preamble above. A 

copy of the analysis is available from 

NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of 

the IRFA follows. 

The action under consideration is a 

harvest strategy to govern the catch of 

groundfish in the GOA. The preferred 

alternative is the existing harvest 

strategy in which TACs fall within the 

range of ABCs recommended by the 

SSC. This action is taken in accordance 

with the FMP prepared by the Council 

pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 

The entities directly regulated by this 

action are those that harvest groundfish 

in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel 

fisheries within State of Alaska waters. 

These include entities operating CVs 

and C/Ps within the action area and 

entities receiving direct allocations of 

groundfish. On June 12, 2014, the Small 

Business Administration issued an 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 72619 

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. The new size standards 

were used to prepare the IRFA for this 

action. Fishing vessels are considered 

small entities if their total annual gross 

receipts, from all their activities 

combined, are less than $25.0 million. 

The IRFA estimates the number of 

harvesting vessels that are considered 

small entities, but these estimates may 

overstate the number of small entities 

because (1) some vessels may also be 

active as tender vessels in the salmon 

fishery, fish in areas other than Alaska 

and the West Coast, or generate revenue 

from other non-fishing sources; and (2) 

all affiliations are not taken into 

account, especially if the vessel has 

affiliations not tracked in available data 

(i.e., ownership of multiple vessels or 

affiliation with processors) and may be 

misclassified as a small entity. 

The IRFA shows that, in 2013, there 

were 1,153 individual catcher vessels 

with gross revenues less than or equal 

to $20.5 million. This estimate accounts 

for corporate affiliations among vessels, 

and for cooperative affiliations among 

fishing entities, since some of the 

fishing vessels operating in the GOA are 

members of AFA inshore pollock 

cooperatives, GOA rockfish 

cooperatives, or BSAI crab 

rationalization cooperatives. Therefore, 

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. 

Vessels that participate in these 

cooperatives are considered to be large 

entities within the meaning of the RFA. 

After accounting for membership in 

these cooperatives, there are an 

estimated 1,153 small catcher vessel 

entities remaining in the GOA 

groundfish sector. This latter group of 

vessels had average gross revenues that 

varied by gear type. Average gross 

revenues for hook-and-line catcher 

vessels, pot gear vessels, and trawl gear 

vessels are estimated to be $380,000, 

$960,000, and $2.8 million, 

respectively. Revenue data for the three 

catcher/processors considered to be 

small entities are confidential. 

The preferred alternative (Alternative 

2) was compared to four other 

alternatives. Alternative 1 would have 

set TACs to generate fishing rates equal 

to the maximum permissible ABC (if the 

full TAC were harvested), unless the 

sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in 

which case harvests would be limited to 

the OY. Alternative 3 would have set 

TACs to produce fishing rates equal to 

the most recent 5-year average fishing 

rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs 

to equal the lower limit of the GOA OY 

range. Alternative 5, the ‘‘no action 

alternative,’’ would have set TACs equal 

to zero. 

The TACs associated with the 

preferred harvest strategy are those 

adopted by the Council in October 2014, 

as per Alternative 2. OFLs and ABCs for 

the species were based on 

recommendations prepared by the 

Council’s GOA Plan Team in September 

2014, and reviewed by the Council’s 

SSC in October 2014. The Council based 

its TAC recommendations on those of 

its AP, which were consistent with the 

SSC’s OFL and ABC recommendations. 

Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that 

would allow fishermen to harvest stocks 

at the level of ABCs, unless total 

harvests were constrained by the upper 

bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As 

shown in Table 1 of the preamble, the 

sum of ABCs in 2015 and 2016 would 

be 644,165 mt, which falls below the 

upper bound of the OY range. The sum 

of TACs is 511,599 mt, which is less 

than the sum of ABCs. In this instance, 

Alternative 1 is consistent with the 

preferred alternative (Alternative 2), 

meets the objectives of that action, and 

has small entity impacts that are 

equivalent to the preferred alternative. 

In some instances, the selection of 

Alternative 1 would not reflect the 

practical implications that increased 

TACs (where the sum of TACs equals 

the sum of ABCs) for some species 

probably would not be fully harvested. 

This could be due to a lack of 

commercial or market interest in such 

species. Additionally, an underharvest 

of some TACs could result due to 

constraints such as the fixed, and 

therefore constraining, PSC limits 

associated with the harvest of the GOA 

groundfish species. 

Alternative 3 selects harvest rates 

based on the most recent 5 years of 

harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 

through 3) or for the most recent 5 years 

of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 

through 6). This alternative is 

inconsistent with the objectives of this 

action, the Council’s preferred harvest 

strategy, because it does not take 

account of the most recent biological 

information for this fishery. NMFS 

annually conducts at-sea stock surveys 

for different species, as well as 

statistical modeling, to estimate stock 

sizes and permissible harvest levels. 

Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts 

are a component of these estimates, but 

in and of themselves may not accurately 

portray stock sizes and conditions. 

Harvest rates are listed for each species 

category for each year in the SAFE 

report (see ADDRESSES). 

Alternative 4 would lead to 

significantly lower harvests of all 

species and reduce the TACs from the 

upper end of the OY range in the GOA, 

to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, 

this would reduce 2015 TACs by about 

73 percent and would lead to significant 

reductions in harvests of species 

harvested by small entities. While 

reductions of this size would be 

associated with offsetting price 

increases, the size of these increases is 

very uncertain. There are close 

substitutes for GOA groundfish species 

available in significant quantities from 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 

management area. While production 

declines in the GOA would 

undoubtedly be associated with 

significant price increases in the GOA, 

these increases would still be 

constrained by production of 

substitutes, and are very unlikely to 

offset revenue declines from smaller 

production. Thus, this alternative would 

have a detrimental impact on small 

entities. 

Alternative 5, which sets all harvests 

equal to zero, would have a significant 

adverse economic impact on small 

entities and would be contrary to 

obligations to achieve OY on a 

continuing basis, as mandated by the 

Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under 

Alternative 5, all 1,153 individual 

catcher vessels impacted by this rule 

would have gross revenues of $0. 

Additionally, the three small catcher/

processor impacted by this rule also 

would have gross revenues of $0. 

The proposed harvest specifications 

(Alternative 2) extend the current 2015 

OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2015 and 

2016. As noted in the IRFA, the Council 

may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and 

TACs in December 2014, when it 

reviews the November 2014 SAFE 

report from its Groundfish Plan Team, 

and the December 2014 Council meeting 

reports of its SSC and AP. Because 2015 

TACs in the proposed 2015 and 2016 

harvest specifications are unchanged 

from the 2015 TACs, NMFS does not 

expect adverse impacts on small 

entities. Also, NMFS does not expect 

any changes made by the Council in 

December 2014 to have significant 

adverse impacts on small entities. 

This action does not modify 

recordkeeping or reporting 

requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or 

conflict with any Federal rules. 

Adverse impacts on marine mammals 

or endangered species resulting from 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
72620 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 235 / Monday, December 8, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

fishing activities conducted under this 

rule are discussed in the EIS and its 

accompanying annual SIRs (see 

ADDRESSES). 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 

3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105–277; Pub. L. 106– 

31; Pub. L. 106–554; Pub. L. 108–199; Pub. 

L. 108–447; Pub. L. 109–241; Pub. L. 109– 

479. 

Dated: November 25, 2014. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–28627 Filed 12–5–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS