Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/12/16/05-24168/fisheries-of-the-exclusive-economic-zone-off-alaska-bering-sea-and-aleutian-islands-2006-and-2007
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 03:57:03
Document Index: 135475317

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 679', 'art 600', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', 'art 679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679', '§\u2009679']

Federal Register :: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 2006 and 2007 Proposed Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 12/16/2005
Comments must be received by January 17, 2006.
74723-74739 (17 pages)
Docket No. 051205324-5324-01
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-24168 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-24168
Start Printed Page 74724
Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for submitting comments;
E-mail to 2006AKgroundfish.tacspecs@noaa.gov and include in the subject line the document identifier: 2006 Proposed Specifications (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes); or
Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA) prepared for this action are available from NMFS at the addresses above or from the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2004 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2004, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, 907-271-2809, or from its Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/​npfmc.
Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The Council prepared the FMP and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable catch (TAC) for each target species and the “other species” category, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see § 679.20(a)(1)(i)). Regulations at § 679.20(c)(1) further require NMFS to publish proposed harvest specifications in the Federal Register and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, PSC allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by § 679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod and Atka mackerel TAC, including pollock Community Development Quota (CDQ), and CDQ reserve amounts established by § 679.20(b)(1)(iii). The proposed harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 13 of this action satisfy these requirements.
Under § 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final harvest specifications for 2006 and 2007 after (1) considering comments received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its December 2005 meeting, and (3) considering new information presented in the EA and the final 2005 SAFE reports prepared for the 2006 and 2007 groundfish fisheries.
When possible, this proposed rule identifies proposals that are under consideration by the Council that, if approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), could change the final harvest specifications. The 2006 harvest specifications will be updated in early 2006, when final harvest specifications for 2006 and new harvest specifications for 2007 are implemented.
The Council is reviewing Amendment 85, which may revise the BSAI Pacific cod sector allocation and apportion the Pacific cod acceptable biological catch (ABC) or TAC by Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea separately instead of by the entire BSAI management area. The Council is also reviewing Amendment 84, which may modify current regulations for managing incidental catch of chinook and chum salmon. The Council may consider separating some rockfish species from the “other rockfish” species category so individual overfishing levels (OFLs), ABCs, and TACs may be established for some rockfish species. The Council may pursue a change to the start date for the BSAI pollock “A” season fishery. An earlier start date would allow the fleet more flexibility to harvest pollock when roe content is optimal.
The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of ABCs and OFLs involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations and is based on a successive series of six levels, or tiers, of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier one represents the highest level of data quality available and tier six the lowest level of data quality available.
Appendix A to the final SAFE report for the 2005 BSAI groundfish fisheries dated November 2004 (see ADDRESSES) sets forth the best information currently available. Information on the status of stocks will be updated with the 2005 survey results and reconsidered by the Plan Team in November 2005 for the 2005 SAFE report. The 2006 and 2007 final harvest specifications will be based on the 2005 SAFE report.
In October 2005, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory Panel, and the Council reviewed the Plan Team's preliminary projections as the basis for the 2006 and 2007 proposed ABC, OFL, and TAC amounts. The SSC concurred in the Plan Team's recommendations which, for stocks in tiers 1-3, used 2005 estimated fishing mortality rates in stock projection models to estimate OFLs and ABCs for 2006. The estimated 2006 TACs were derived based on ABC constraints and past Council actions. The estimated 2006 TACs were treated as the projected 2006 fishing mortality rates to derive estimates of OFLs and ABCs for 2007. For stocks in tiers 4-6, for which there are no population projection models, the OFL and ABC amounts from 2005 were used for 2006 and 2007. The Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The Council recommended that the 2006 proposed TACs be set equal to the 2006 TACs the Council adopted and the Secretary approved in 2005 for the 2006 final specifications Start Printed Page 74725(70 FR 8979, February 24, 2005). The Council recommended that the 2007 proposed TACs be set equal to the proposed ABCs, except for decreases for Aleutian Islands and Bogoslof pollock, arrowtooth flounder, Alaska plaice, and other species. The Council recommended using the 2005 and 2006 PSC allowances for the 2006 and 2007 proposed allowances. The Council will reconsider the OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts in December 2005 after the Plan Team incorporates new status of groundfish stocks information into a final 2005 SAFE report for the 2006 and 2007 BSAI groundfish fishery. None of the Council's recommended proposed TACs for 2006 or 2007 exceeds the recommended 2006 or 2007 proposed ABC for any species category. NMFS finds the Council's recommended proposed 2006 and 2007 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the best available information on the biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
Table 1 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed OFL, ABC, and TAC, initial TAC (ITAC) and CDQ amounts for groundfish in the BSAI. The proposed apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below. Start Printed Page 74726
Table 1.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI 1
Pollock 4 BS 2 1,966,100 1,636,800 1,487,756 1,338,980 148,776 1,487,100 1,223,200 1,223,200 1,100,880 122,320
Bogoslof 39,600 2,570 10 10 n/a 39,600 2,570 11 11 n/a
Pacific cod BSAI 250,700 195,000 195,000 165,750 14,625 222,000 172,200 172,200 146,370 12,915
Sablefish 5 BS 3,085 2,556 2,310 982 318 2,880 2,400 2,400 1,020 44490
AI 3,315 2,744 2,480 527 419 3,120 2,600 2,600 553 49
Atka mackerel BSAI 126,700 107,000 63,000 53,550 4,725 106,900 90,800 90,800 77,180 6,810
WAI n/a 40,230 20,000 17,000 1,500 n/a 28,825 28,825 24,501 2,162
CAI n/a 45,580 35,500 30,175 2,663 n/a 51,165 51,165 43,490 3,837
EAI/BS n/a 21,190 7,500 6,375 563 n/a 10,810 10,810 9,189 811
Yellowfin sole BSAI 139,500 117,700 90,000 76,500 6,750 130,000 109,600 109,600 93,160 8,220
Rock sole BSAI 145,100 121,700 42,000 35,700 3,150 138,400 116,100 116,100 98,685 8,708
Greenland turbot BSAI 18,100 11,400 3,500 2,975 263 16,900 10,500 10,500 8,925 788
BS n/a 7,590 2,500 2,125 188 n/a 7,500 7,500 6,375 563
AI n/a 3,410 1,000 850 75 n/a 3,000 3,000 2,550 225
Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 128,500 104,200 12,000 10,200 900 125,800 102,100 39,100 33,235 2,933
Flathead sole BSAI 65,900 54,900 20,000 17,000 1,500 60,800 50,600 50,600 43,010 3,795
Other flatfish 6 BSAI 28,500 21,400 3,000 2,550 225 28,500 21,400 21,400 18,190 1,605
Alaska plaice BSAI 231,000 183,400 10,000 8,500 750 224,400 178,100 65,000 55,250 4,875
Pacific ocean perch BSAI 17,600 14,900 12,600 10,710 945 17,900 15,100 15,100 12,835 1,133
BS n/a 3,000 1,400 1,190 105 n/a 1,678 1,678 1,426 126
WAI n/a 5,450 5,085 4,322 381 n/a 6,096 6,096 5,182 457
CAI n/a 3,252 3,035 2,580 228 n/a 3,637 3,637 3,091 273
EAI n/a 3,298 3,080 2,618 231 n/a 3,689 3,689 3,136 277
Northern rockfish BSAI 9,800 8,200 5,000 4,250 375 9,700 8,200 8,200 6,970 615
Shortraker rockfish BSAI 794 596 596 507 45 794 596 596 507 45
Rougheye rockfish BSAI 298 223 223 190 17 298 223 223 190 17
Other rockfish 7 BS 1,122 810 460 391 35 1,122 810 810 689 61
AI 748 590 590 502 44 748 590 590 502 44
Squid BSAI 2,620 1,970 1,275 1,084 n/a 2,620 1,970 1,970 1,675 n/a
Other species 8 BSAI 87,920 57,870 29,200 24,820 2,190 87,920 57,870 50,000 42,500 3,750
Total 3,306,102 2,675,629 2,000,000 1,772,778 187,953 2,746,602 2,196,929 2,000,000 1,759,437 180,673
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea pollock TAC after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance—10 percent and the ICA—3.5 percent, is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore—50 percent; catcher/processor—40 percent; and motherships—10 percent. Under § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtraction for the CDQ directed fishing allowance—10 percent and the ICA—1,800 mt, is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
Start Printed Page 74727
Regulations at § 679.20(b)(1)(i) require placement of 15 percent of the TAC for each target species or species group, except for pollock and the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, in a non-specified reserve. Regulations at § 679.20(b)(1)(iii) further require the allocation of one half of each TAC amount that is placed in the non-specified reserve (7.5 percent), with the exception of squid, to the groundfish CDQ reserve, and the allocation of 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Regulations at §§ 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require the allocation of 10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance. The entire Bogoslof District pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA (see § 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ reserves by gear. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(i) also require withholding of 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with the exception of herring, as a PSQ reserve for the CDQ fisheries. Sections 679.30 and 679.31 set forth the regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves.
Under regulations at § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 3.5 percent of the Bering Sea pollock TAC after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of the incidental catch of pollock in target fisheries other than pollock from 1999 through 2004. During this 6-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 2 percent in 2003 to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 6-year average of 3.5 percent. Because these incidental percentages are contingent on the relative amounts of other groundfish TACs, NMFS will be better able to assess the ICA amount when the Council makes final ABC and TAC amount recommendations in December. Under regulations at § 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS recommends setting a 1,800 mt ICA for AI subarea pollock after a subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ directed fishing allowance.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified reserve by species or species group, and any amount of the reserve may be reapportioned to a target species or the “other species” category during the year, providing that such reapportionments do not result in overfishing (see § 679.20(b)(1)(ii)).
Regulations at § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) require that the pollock TAC apportioned to the Bering Sea subarea, after subtraction of the 10 percent for the CDQ program and the 3.5 percent for the ICA, will be allocated as a directed fishing allowance (DFA) as follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor sector, and 10 percent to the mothership sector. In the Bering Sea subarea, the A season (January 20-June 10) is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the B season (June 10-November 1) is allocated 60 percent of the DFA. The AI directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation equals the AI subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first the 10 percent for the CDQ DFA (1,900 mt) and second the ICA (1,800 mt). In the AI subarea, 40 percent of the ABC is allocated to the A season and the remainder of the directed pollock fishery is allocated to the B season. Table 2 lists these 2006 and 2007 proposed amounts.
The regulations also include several specific requirements regarding pollock and pollock allocations under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4). First, 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector will be available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels with catcher/processor sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of harvest among AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA catcher/processors not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector. Table 2 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 8 through 13 list other provisions of the AFA, including inshore pollock cooperative allocations and listed catcher/processor and catcher vessel harvesting sideboard limits.
Table 2 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest within the SCA, as defined at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 percent of the DFA until April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If the 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the DFA. Table 2 lists by sector these 2006 and 2007 proposed amounts.
Table 2.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA)1
2007 B season
Bering Sea subarea 1,487,756 n/a n/a n/a 1,223,200 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA 148,776 59,510 41,657 89,265 122,320 48,928 34,250 73,392
ICA1 46,864 n/a n/a n/a 38,531 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore 646,058 258,423 180,896 387,635 531,175 212,470 148,729 318,705
AFA Catcher/Processors 3 516,846 206,739 144,717 310,108 424,940 169,976 118,983 254,964
Catch by C/Ps 472,914 189,166 n/a 283,749 388,820 155,528 n/a 233,292
Catch by CVs 3 43,932 17,573 n/a 26,359 36,120 14,448 n/a 21,672
Unlisted C/P Limit 4 2,584 1,034 n/a 1,551 2,125 850 n/a 1,275
AFA Motherships 129,212 51,685 36,179 77,527 106,235 42,494 29,746 63,741
Excessive Harvesting Limit 5 226,120 n/a n/a n/a 185,911 n/a n/a n/a
Start Printed Page 74728
Excessive Processing Limit 6 387,635 n/a n/a n/a 318,705 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA 1,487,756 576,357 403,450 864,535 1,223,200 473,868 331,707 710,802
ICA 1,800 1,000 n/a 800 1,800 1,000 n/a 800
Aleut Corporation 15,300 10,000 n/a 5,300 15,300 10,000 n/a 5,300
Bogoslof District ICA 7 10 n/a n/a n/a 11 n/a n/a n/a
1 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock after subtraction for the CDQ DFA—10 percent and the ICA—3.5 percent, the pollock TAC is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore component—50 percent, catcher/processor component—40 percent, and mothership component—10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, the A season, January 20-June 10, is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the B season, June 10-November 1 is allocated 60 percent of the DFA. The Aleutian Islands (AI) AI directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation remains after subtraction for the CDQ DFA—10 percent and the ICA—1,800 mt. In the AI subarea, the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
3 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
4 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
5 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
6 Under § 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
7 The Bogoslof District is closed by the proposed harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only, and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Under § 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated to jig gear. The amount of this allocation is determined annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that 1 percent of the Atka mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea be allocated to jig gear in 2006 and 2007. Based on the 2006 ITAC of 6,375 mt, the jig gear allocation is 64 mt for 2006. Based on the 2007 ITAC of 9,189 mt, the jig gear allocation is 92 mt for 2007.
Regulations at § 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportion the Atka mackerel ITAC into two equal seasonal allowances. After subtraction of the jig gear allocation, the first allowance is made available for directed fishing from January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance is made available from September 1 to November 1 (B season) (Table 3).
Under § 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional Administrator establishes a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. A lottery system is used for the HLA Atka mackerel directed fisheries to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about half and to disperse the fishery over two districts (see § 679.20(a)(8)(iii)).
Table 3.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, and CDQ Reserve of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC 1
Western AI District 20,000 1,500 900 17,000 8,500 5,100 8,500 5,100
Central AI District 35,500 2,663 1,598 30,175 15,088 9,053 15,088 9,053
EAI/BS subarea 5 7,500 563 n/a 6,375 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jig (1%) 6 n/a n/a n/a 64 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Other gear (99%) n/a n/a n/a 6,311 3,156 n/a 3,156 n/a
Total 63,000 4,725 n/a 53,550 26,743 n/a 26,743 n/a
Start Printed Page 74729
Seasonal allowances 2
Western AI District 28,825 2,162 1,297 24,501 12,251 7,350 12,251 7,350
Central AI District 51,165 3,837 2,302 43,490 21,745 13,047 21,745 13,047
EAI/BS subarea 5 10,810 811 n/a 9,189 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jig (1%) 6 n/a n/a n/a 92 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Other gear (99%) n/a n/a n/a 9,097 4,549 n/a 4,548 n/a
Total 90,800 6,810 n/a 77,180 38,544 n/a 38,544 n/a
6 Regulations at § 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated to jig gear. The proposed amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Under § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC is allocated to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, and 47 percent to vessels using trawl gear. Under regulations at § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), the portion of the Pacific cod ITAC allocated to trawl gear is further allocated 50 percent to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processors. Under regulations at § 679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(1), a portion of the Pacific cod ITAC allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear is set aside as an ICA of Pacific cod in directed fisheries for groundfish using these gear types. Based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries, the Regional Administrator proposes an ICA of 500 mt. The remainder of Pacific cod is further allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear as the following DFAs: 80 percent to hook-and-line catcher/processors, 0.3 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels, 3.3 percent to pot catcher processors, 15 percent to pot catcher vessels, and 1.4 percent to catcher vessels under 60 feet (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
Due to concerns about the potential impact of the Pacific cod fishery on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat, the apportionment of the ITAC disperses the Pacific cod fisheries into seasonal allowances (see §§ 679.20(a)(7)(iii)(A) and 679.23(e)(5)). For pot and most hook-and-line gear, the first seasonal allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is made available for directed fishing from January 1 to June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 40 percent of the ITAC is made available from June 10 (September 1 for pot gear) to December 31. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first season is January 20 to April 1 and is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC. The second season, April 1 to June 10, and the third season, June 10 to November 1, are each allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessel allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season, and 20 percent in the third season. The trawl catcher/processor allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season, and 20 percent in the third season. For jig gear, the first and third seasonal allowances are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second seasonal allowance is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. Table 4 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod ITAC. In accordance with § 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(D) and (a)(7)(iii)(B), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next seasonal allowance. Start Printed Page 74730
Table 4.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod ITAC
2006 Seasonal apportionment 1
2007 Subtotal percentages for gear sectors
2007 Seasonal apportionment 1
Total hook-and-line/pot gear 51 84,533 n/a n/a n/a n/a 87,822 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hook-and-line/pot subtotal n/a 84,033 n/a n/a n/a n/a 87,322 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Hook-and-line C/P n/a n/a 80 67,226 Jan 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Dec 31 40,336 26,890 n/a 80 69,858 Jan 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Dec 31 41,915 27,943
Hook-and-line CV n/a n/a 0.3 252 Jan 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Dec 31 151 101 n/a 0.3 262 Jan 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Dec 31 157 105
Pot C/P n/a n/a 3.3 2,773 Jan 1-Jun 10 Sept 1-Dec 31 1,664 1,109 n/a 3.3 2,882 Jan 1-Jun 10 Sept 1-Dec 31 1,729 1,153
Pot CV n/a n/a 15 12,605 Jan 1-Jun 10 Sept 1-Dec 31 7,563 5,042 n/a 15 13,098 Jan 1-Jun 10 Sept 1-Dec 31 7,859 5,239
CV < 60 feet LOA using Hook-and-line or Pot gear n/a n/a 1.4 1,176 n/a n/a n/a 1.4 1,223 n/a n/a
Total Trawl Gear 47 77,903 n/a n/a n/a n/a 80,934 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Trawl CV 50 38,951 Jan 20-Apr 1 Apr 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Nov 1 27,266 3,895 7,790 50 40,467 Jan 20-Apr 1 Apr 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Nov 1 28,327 4,047 8,093
Trawl CP 50 38,951 Jan 20-Apr 1 Apr 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Nov 1 19,476 11,685 7,790 50 40,467 Jan 20-Apr 1 Apr 1-Jun 10 Jun 10-Nov 1 20,234 12,140 8,093
Jig 2 3,315 n/a n/a Jan 1-Apr 30 Apr 30-Aug 31 Aug 31-Dec 31 1,326 663 1,326 3,444 n/a n/a Jan 1-Apr 30 Apr 30-Aug 31 Aug 31-Dec 31 1,378 689 1,378
Total 100 165,750 n/a n/a n/a n/a 172,200 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Start Printed Page 74731
Regulations at § 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require the allocation of sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear and for the AI subarea are 25 percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. Regulations at § 679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) require apportionment of 20 percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. Additionally, regulations at § 679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A) require apportionment of 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish (one half of the reserve) to the CDQ reserve. Under regulations at § 679.20(c)(1)(iv), the harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear sablefish IFQ fisheries will be limited to the 2006 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery. Having sablefish IFQ fisheries concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery would reduce the potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ fisheries would remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in effect. The trawl sablefish fishery would be managed using harvest specifications for a 2-year period concurrent with the remaining target species in the BSAI. Table 5 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 5.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
Trawl 2 50 1,115 982 87 1,200 1,020 90
Hook-and-line/pot gear 3 50 1,115 n/a 231 n/a n/a n/a
Total 100 2,310 982 318 1,200 1,020 90
Trawl 2 25 620 527 47 650 553 49
Hook-and-line/pot gear 3 75 1,860 n/a 372 n/a n/a n/a
Total 100 2,480 527 419 650 553 49
3 For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants. Regulations in § 679.20(b)(1) do not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the halibut PSC limits. The BSAI halibut mortality limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl fisheries. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specify 29,000 fish as the 2006 and 2007 proposed chinook salmon PSC limit for the Bering Sea subarea pollock fishery. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent, or 2,175 chinook salmon, as the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and allocate the remaining 26,825 chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(ix) specify 700 fish as the 2006 and 2007 proposed chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent, or 53 chinook salmon, as the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and allocate the remaining 647 chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specify 42,000 fish as the 2006 and 2007 proposed non-chinook salmon PSC limit. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent, or 3,150 non-chinook salmon, as the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and allocate the remaining 38,850 non-chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on abundance and spawning biomass. Due to the lack of new information in October 2005 regarding PSC limits and apportionments in October 2005, the Council recommended using the halibut, crab, and herring 2005 and 2006 PSC amounts for the proposed 2006 and 2007 amounts. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 2005, based on recommendations by the Plan Team and the SSC.
The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 2004 survey data as 35.4 million king crab and the effective spawning biomass is estimated as 61.9 million pounds (28,077 mt). Based on the criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the 2006 and 2007 proposed PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 197,000 animals as a result of the mature female abundance being above 8.4 million king crab and of the effective spawning biomass estimate being greater than 55 million pounds (24,948 mt).
Regulations at § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B) establish criteria under which NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the bycatch limit within the RKCSS to up to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/“other flatfish” fishery category and is based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. The Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, a red king crab bycatch limit equal to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/“other flatfish” fishery category within the RKCSS.
Based on 2004 survey data, Tanner crab Chionoecetes bairdi abundance is estimated as 437.41 million animals. Given the criteria set out at § 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the 2006 and 2007 proposed C. bairdi crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2 as a Start Printed Page 74732result of the C. bairdi crab abundance estimate of over 400 million animals.
Under § 679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for snow crab C. opilio is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2004 survey estimate of 4.421 billion animals, the calculated limit is 5,008,993 animals. Under § 679.21(e)(1)(iv)(B), the 2006 and 2007 proposed C. opilio crab PSC limit is 5,008,993 million animals minus 150,000 animals, which results in a limit of 4,858,993 animals.
Under § 679.21(e)(1)(vi), the proposed PSC limit of Pacific herring caught while conducting any trawl operation for groundfish in the BSAI is 1 percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best estimate of 2005 and 2006 herring biomass is 201,180 mt. This amount was derived using 2004 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the proposed herring PSC limit for 2006 and 2007 is 2,012 mt.
Under § 679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for crab and halibut is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(3) require the apportionment of each trawl PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery categories. Regulations at § 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize the apportionment of the non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances for five fishery categories. Table 6 lists the proposed fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl and non-trawl fisheries.
Regulations at § 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize exemption of specified non-trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions because: (1) The pot gear fisheries experience low halibut bycatch mortality, (2) halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet cannot be estimated because these vessels do not carry observers, and (3) the sablefish and halibut Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679) requires legal-sized halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ. In 2005, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was approximately 16,971 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of about 4 mt. The 2005 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 123 mt of groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and are exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality is assumed because of the selective nature of this gear type and the likelihood that halibut caught with jig gear have a high survival rate when released.
Regulations at § 679.21(e)(5) authorize NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts in order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered are: (1) Seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected variations in bycatch rates throughout the year, (5) expected start of fishing effort, and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments on industry sectors. The Council recommended seasonal PSC apportionments to maximize harvest among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC based on the above criteria. NMFS proposes the Council's recommendations listed in Table 6.
Yellowfin sole 886 183 33,843 3,101,915 340,844 1,788,459
January 20-April 1 262
April 1-May 21 195
May 21-July 1 49
July 1-December 31 380
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole2,6 779 27 121,413 1,082,528 365,320 596,154
January 20-April 1 448
April 1-July 1 164
July 1-December 31 167
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish 3 12 44,946
July 1-December 31 69 10 44,945 10,988
Pacific cod 1,434 27 26,563 139,331 183,112 324,176
Midwater trawl pollock 1,562
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 4 232 192 406 80,903 17,224 27,473
Red King Crab Savings Subarea 6
(non-pelagic trawl) 42,495
Total trawl PSC 3,400 2,012 182,225 4,494,569 906,500 2,747,250
Start Printed Page 74733
PSQ reserve 5 342 14,775 364,424 73,500 222,750
PSC grand total 4,575 2,012 197,000 4,858,993 980,000 2,970,000
2 “Other flatfish” for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
5 With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the CDQ program as PSQ reserve. The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear, or season.
6 In October 2005, the Council recommended that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/”other flatfish” fishery category (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Regional Administrator will use observed halibut bycatch rates, assumed discard mortality rates (DMR), 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.
The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the recommended halibut DMRs developed by staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) for the 2005 and 2006 BSAI groundfish fisheries be used for monitoring halibut bycatch allowances established for the 2006 and 2007 groundfish fisheries (see Table 7). The IPHC developed these DMRs using the 10-year mean DMRs for the BSAI non-CDQ groundfish fisheries. Plots of annual DMRs against the 10-year mean indicated little change since 1990 for most fisheries. DMRs were more variable for the smaller fisheries that typically take minor amounts of halibut bycatch. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation from the mean. The IPHC has been calculating the CDQ fisheries DMRs since 1998, and a 10-year mean is not yet available. The justification for the proposed DMRs is discussed in Appendix A to the final SAFE report dated November 2004. The proposed DMRs listed in Table 7 are subject to change pending the results of an updated analysis on halibut DMRs in the groundfish fisheries that IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the Council at its December 2005 meeting.
Table 7.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Assumed Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
Mortality rates (percent)
Atka mackerel 85
Yellowfin sole 84
Sablefish 33
Regulations at § 679.4(l) set forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. For 2006, NMFS received applications from seven inshore catcher vessel cooperatives. Table 8 lists the proposed pollock allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives based on applications for membership in the cooperatives received by NMFS for 2006. This membership is assumed to remain unchanged for 2007. For 2006 and 2007, the sum of the member vessel's official catch histories increased as revised catch history became available. Allocations for cooperatives and open access vessels are not made for the AI subarea because the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004 requires the non-CDQ directed pollock fishery to be fully allocated to the Aleut Corporation. The Bering Sea subarea allocations may be revised pending adjustments to the pollock TACs. Start Printed Page 74734
Table 8.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
Sum of member vessel's official catch histories 1 (mt)
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association 31.145 201,215 165,434
Arctic Enterprise Association 1.146 7,402 6,086
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative 8.412 54,350 44,684
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative 2.876 18,582 15,279
Unalaska Cooperative 12.191 78,758 64,753
UniSea Fleet Cooperative 25.324 163,609 134,516
Westward Fleet Cooperative 18.906 122,142 100,423
Total inshore allocation 875,572 100 646,058 531,175
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(3) further divides the inshore sector allocation into separate allocations for cooperative and open access fishing. In addition, according to § 679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish harvest limits inside the SCA and provide a set-aside so that catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA have the opportunity to operate entirely within the SCA until April 1. Accordingly, Table 9 lists the proposed Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock allocation to the cooperative and open access sectors and establishes a cooperative-sector SCA set-aside for AFA catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set-aside for catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established inseason based on actual participation levels and is not included in Table 9. These proposed allocations may be revised pending final review and approval of 2006 and 2007 pollock TACs.
Table 9.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the Inshore Pollock Fishery
Inshore cooperative sector
Vessels >99 ft n/a 155,400 n/a n/a 127,767 n/a
Vessels ≤99 ft n/a 25,496 n/a n/a 20,962 n/a
Total 258,423 180,896 387,635 212,470 148,729 318,705
Total inshore sector 258,423 180,896 387,635 212,470 148,729 318,705
1 The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) established at § 679.22(a)(7)(vii).
2 The SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason basis in accordance with § 679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2) which specifies that the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for pollock by vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA, catching pollock for processing by the inshore component before reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before April 1 to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA until April 1.”
According to § 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator will restrict the ability of listed AFA catcher/processors to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed pollock fishery. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). Table 10 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed catcher/processor sideboard limits.
All groundfish other than pollock that are harvested by listed AFA catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from the proposed sideboard limits in Table 10. However, groundfish other than pollock that are delivered to listed catcher/processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2006 and 2007 proposed sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors. Start Printed Page 74735
Table 10.—2006 and 2007 Proposed Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
2006 Proposed ITAC available to trawl C/Ps
2006 Proposed C/P sideboard limit
2007 Proposed ITAC available to trawl C/Ps
2007 Proposed C/P sideboard limit
Pacific cod trawl BSAI 12,424 48,177 0.258 38,951 10,049 40,467 10,440
Sablefish trawl BS 8 497 0.016 982 16 1,020 16
AI 0 145 0.000 527 0 553 0
A season 1 n/a n/a 0.200 8,500 1,700 12,251 2,450
HLA limit 2 n/a n/a n/a 5,100 1,020 7,351 1,470
B season n/a n/a 0.200 8,500 1,700 12,251 2,450
HLA limit n/a n/a n/a 5,100 1,020 7,351 1,470
A season 1 n/a n/a 0.115 15,088 1,735 21,745 2,501
HLA limit n/a n/a n/a 9,053 1,041 13,047 1,500
B season n/a n/a 0.115 15,088 1,735 21,745 2,501
Yellowfin sole BSAI 100,192 435,788 0.230 76,500 17,595 93,160 21,427
Rock sole BSAI 6,317 169,362 0.037 35,700 1,321 98,685 3,651
Greenland turbot BS 121 17,305 0.007 2,125 15 6,375 45
AI 23 4,987 0.005 850 4 2,550 13
Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 76 33,987 0.002 10,200 20 33,235 66
Flathead sole BSAI 1,925 52,755 0.036 17,000 612 43,010 1,548
Alaska plaice BSAI 14 9,438 0.001 8,500 9 55,250 55
Other flatfish BSAI 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,550 148 18,190 1,055
Pacific ocean perch BS 12 4,879 0.002 1,190 2 1,426 3
Western AI 54 13,598 0.004 4,322 17 5,182 21
Central AI 3 5,698 0.001 2,580 3 3,091 3
Eastern AI 125 6,179 0.020 2,618 52 3,136 63
Northern rockfish BSAI 91 13,040 0.007 4,250 30 6,970 49
Shortraker rockfish BSAI 50 2,811 0.018 507 9 507 9
Rougheye rockfish BSAI 50 2,811 0.018 190 3 190 3
Other rockfish BS 18 621 0.029 391 11 689 20
Squid BSAI 73 3,328 0.022 1,084 24 1,675 37
Other species BSAI 553 68,672 0.008 24,820 199 42,500 340
1 The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual TAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual TAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Section 679.64(a)(5) establishes a formula for PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are equivalent to the percentage of PSC amounts taken in the groundfish fisheries other than pollock by the AFA catcher/processors listed in subsection 208(e) and section 209 of the AFA from 1995 through 1997 (see Table 10). These amounts were used to calculate the relative amount of PSC that was caught by pollock catcher/processors shown in Table 10. That relative amount of PSC was then used to determine the PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors in the 2006 and 2007 groundfish fisheries other than pollock.
Halibut and crab PSC, listed in Table 11, that are caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue against the 2006 and 2007 proposed PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA catcher/processors once a 2006 or 2007 proposed PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 11 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/&ldquo;other species&rdquo; fishery categories according to regulations at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv). Start Printed Page 74736
Table 11.—2006 and 2007 Proposed BSAI American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits 1
2006 and 2007 Proposed PSC available to trawl vessels
2006 and 2007 Proposed C/P sideboard limit
C. opilio 2,323,731 15,139,178 0.153 4,494,569 687,669
Under § 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator restricts the ability of AFA catcher vessels to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed pollock fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes formulas for setting AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). Tables 12 and 13 list the 2006 and 2007 proposed catcher vessel sideboard limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch, will be deducted from the 2006 and 2007 proposed sideboard limits listed in Table 12.
Table 12.—2006 and 2007 Proposed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
2006 Proposed initial TAC
2006 Proposed catcher vessel sideboard limits
2007 Proposed initial TAC
2007 Proposed catcher vessel sideboard limits
Jig gear 0.0000 3,315 0 3,444 0
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0006 151 0 157 0
Jun 10-Dec 31 0.0006 101 0 105 0
Pot gear CV
Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0006 7,563 5 7,859 5
Sept 1-Dec 31 0.0006 5,042 3 5,239 3
CV < 60 feet LOA using hook- and-line or pot gear 0.0006 1,176 1 1,223 1
Trawl gear CV
Jan 20-Apr 1 0.8609 27,266 23,473 28,327 24,387
Apr 1-Jun 10 0.8609 3,895 3,353 4,047 3,484
Jun 10-Nov 1 0.8609 7,790 6,706 8,093 6,967
Sablefish BS trawl gear 0.0906 982 89 1,020 92
AI trawl gear 0.0645 527 34 553 36
Jig gear 0.0031 64 0 92 0
Jan 1-Apr 15 0.0032 3,155 10 4,548 15
Sept 1-Nov 1 0.0032 3,155 10 4,548 15
Jan-Apr 15 0.0001 15,088 2 21,745 2
HLA limit 0.0001 9,053 1 13,047 1
Sept 1-Nov 1 0.0001 15,088 2 21,745 2
Jan-Apr 15 0.0000 8,500 0 12,251 0
HLA limit n/a 5,100 0 7,351 0
Sept 1-Nov 1 0.0000 8,500 0 12,251 0
Yellowfin sole BSAI 0.0647 76,500 4,950 93,160 6,027
Rock sole BSAI 0.0341 35,700 1,217 98,685 3,365
Greenland Turbot BS 0.0645 2,125 137 6,375 411
AI 0.0205 850 17 2,550 52
Arrowtooth flounder BSAI 0.0690 10,200 704 33,235 2,293
Start Printed Page 74737
Alaska plaice BSAI 0.0441 8,500 375 55,250 2,437
Other flatfish BSAI 0.0441 2,550 112 18,190 802
Pacific ocean perch BS 0.1000 1,190 119 1,426 143
Eastern AI 0.0077 2,618 20 3,136 24
Central AI 0.0025 2,580 6 3,091 8
Western AI 0.0000 4,322 0 5,182 0
Northern rockfish BSAI 0.0084 4,250 36 6,970 59
Shortraker rockfish BSAI 0.0037 507 2 507 2
Rougheye rockfish BSAI 0.0037 190 1 190 1
Other rockfish BS 0.0048 391 2 689 3
Squid BSAI 0.3827 1,084 415 1,675 641
Other species BSAI 0.0541 24,820 1,343 42,500 2,299
Flathead Sole BS trawl gear 0.0505 17,000 859 43,010 2,172
The AFA catcher vessel PSC limits for halibut and crab species in the BSAI for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established will be a portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997, relative to the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. Table 13 lists the 2006 and 2007 proposed PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels.
Halibut and crab PSC, listed in Table 13, that are caught by AFA catcher vessels participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue against the 2006 and 2007 proposed PSC sideboard limits for the AFA catcher vessels. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) authorize NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for AFA catcher vessels once a 2006 and 2007 proposed PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 13 is reached. The PSC caught by AFA catcher vessels, while fishing for pollock in the BSAI, will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/“other species”' fishery categories under regulations at § 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 13.—2006 and 2007 Proposed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits 1
Ratio of 1995-1997 AFA catcher vessel retained catch to total retained catch
2006 and 2007 Proposed PSC limit
2006 and 2007 Proposed AFA catcher vessel PSC sideboard limit
May 21-July 5 0.1144 49 6
July 5-December 31 0.1144 380 43
April 1-July 5 0.2841 164 47
July 5-December 31 0.2841 167 47
Zone 1 4 Yellowfin sole 0.1144 33,843 3,872
C. opilio Pacific cod 0.6183 139,331 86,148
COBLZ 3 Yellowfin sole 0.1144 3,101,915 354,859
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 5 0.2841 1,082,528 307,546
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 0.0227 80,903 1,836
Rockfish 0.0245 44,945 1,101
Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish 0.2327 44,946 10,459
3 Refer to 679.2 for definitions of areas.
4 In October 2005, the Council recommended that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/“other flatfish” fishery category (see § 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
5 “Other flatfish” for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
An IRFA was prepared to evaluate the impacts of the 2006 and 2007 proposed harvest specifications on directly regulated small entities. This IRFA is intended to meet the statutory requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). The reason for the action, a statement of the objective of the action and the legal basis are discussed in the preamble and are not repeated here.
The 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications establish harvest limits for the groundfish species and species groups in the BSAI. This action is necessary to allow fishing in 2006 and 2007. Entities directly impacted are those fishing for groundfish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), or in parallel fisheries in State waters (in which harvests are counted against the Federal TAC). An estimated 693 small catcher vessels, 18 small catcher/processors, and 6 small private non-profit CDQ groups may be directly regulated by these harvest specifications in the BSAI. The catcher vessel estimate in particular is subject to various uncertainties; it may provide an underestimate since it does not count vessels that fish only within State parallel fisheries; this may be offset by upward biases introduced by the use of preliminary price estimates (which don't fully account for post-season price adjustments) and by a failure to account for affiliations, other than AFA cooperative affiliations, among entities. For these reasons, the catcher vessel estimate must be considered an approximation.
The IRFA examined the impacts of the preferred alternative on small entities within fisheries reliant on species groups whose TACs might be notably adjusted by the harvest specifications. The IRFA identified the potential for adverse impacts on small fishing operations harvesting pollock and Pacific cod, and on CDQ groups, in the BSAI.
In the BSAI, small Pacific cod fishing operations would experience an estimated 2.3 percent reduction in their gross revenues from all sources in 2006, and an estimated reduction of 6.3 percent in revenues from all sources between 2005 and 2007. The pollock fishery will be the other major fishery to experience large reductions in gross revenues. These are estimated to rise by less than 1 percent in 2006, but to decline by about 11.6 percent from 2005 to 2007. Aside from the CDQ groups, this fishery is dominated by large entities. Targeted pollock fishing by non-CDQ operations is limited to AFA affiliated entities, and one Native Corporation. Operations affiliated with AFA cooperatives are considered to be large entities. The Native Corporation is considered to be a holding company, and, on the basis of estimated gross revenues, is believed to be large. Incidental catch appears to be concentrated among catcher/processors fishing for flatfish and Pacific cod. A large proportion of these vessels are considered large. However, some small catcher/processor operations taking pollock incidentally in their fishing operations may be adversely affected in 2007. Adverse impacts for catcher/processor vessels in 2007 may be mitigated by increases in TACs for several of their target flatfish species. CDQ groups are considered to be small entities by virtue of their status as non-profit organizations. CDQ group revenues are expected to be almost unchanged in 2006, but to drop by about 15 percent in 2007, due to projected declines in TACs for their key species, pollock.
This analysis examined four alternatives to the preferred alternative. These included alternatives that set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to maxFABC, 1/2 maxFABC, the recent 5 year average F, and zero. Only one of these alternatives, setting TACs to produce fishing rates of maxFABC, would potentially have a smaller adverse impact on small entities than the preferred alternative. This alternative is associated with larger gross revenues for the BSAI fisheries in 2006, but with similar gross revenues in 2007. Many of the vessels identified above would share in these gross revenues. However, the maxFABC is a fishing rate that may, and often does, exceed ABCs recommended by stock assessment scientists on the basis of circumstances unique to each species. The increases in TACs related to producing fishing rates of maxFABC would not be consistent with biologically prudent fishery Start Printed Page 74739management because they do not fall within the scientifically determined ABC. Moreover, in 2006, the sum of the TACs contemplated under Alternative 1 would also exceed the statutorily mandated two million mt optimum yield for the BSAI (it would exceed this by only a small amount in 2007).
[FR Doc. 05-24168 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]