Source: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/50/679.27
Timestamp: 2014-08-30 08:40:51
Document Index: 230544742

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', '§ 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679', 'art 679']

50 CFR 679.27 - Improved Retention/Improved Utilization Program. | LII / Legal Information Institute
CFR › Title 50 › Chapter VI › Part 679 › Subpart B › Section 679.27 50 CFR 679.27 - Improved Retention/Improved Utilization Program.
There are 66 Updates appearing in the Federal Register for 50 CFR 679. View below or at eCFR (GPOAccess)
§ 679.27
The owner or operator of a vessel that is required to obtain a Federal fisheries or processor permit under § 679.4 must comply with the IR/IU program set out in this section while fishing for groundfish in the GOA or BSAI, fishing for groundfish in waters of the State of Alaska that are shoreward of the GOA or BSAI, or when processing groundfish harvested in the GOA or BSAI.
IR/IU species.
The following species are defined as “IR/IU species” for the purposes of this section:
Shallow-water flatfish species complex in the GOA as defined in the annual harvest specifications for the GOA (beginning January 1, 2003).
All species listed in Table 2a to this part for purposes of the GRS program described in paragraph (j) of this section, except for groundfish in prohibited species status at the end of each reporting week.
Minimum retention requirements—
Definition of retain on board.
Notwithstanding the definition at 50 CFR 600.10, for the purpose of this section, to retain on board means to be in possession of on board a vessel.
The following table displays minimum retention requirements by vessel category and directed fishing status:
If you own or operate a ...
you must retain on board until lawful transfer ...
(i) Catcher vessel
(A) Directed fishing for an IR/IU species is open
all fish of that species brought on board the vessel.
(B) Directed fishing for an IR/IU species is prohibited
all fish of that species brought on board the vessel up to the MRA for that species.
(C) Retention of an IR/ IU species is prohibited
no fish of that species.
(ii) Catcher/processor
a primary product from all fish of that species brought on board the vessel.
a primary product from all fish of that species brought on board the vessel up to the point that the round-weight equivalent of primary products on board equals the MRA for that species.
(C) Retention of an IR/IU species is prohibited
no fish or product of that species.
(iii) Mothership
a primary product from all fish of that species brought on board the vessel
Bleeding codends and shaking longline gear.
Any action intended to discard or release an IR/IU species prior to being brought on board the vessel is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to bleeding codends and shaking or otherwise removing fish from longline gear.
At-sea discard of product.
Any product from an IR/IU species may not be discarded at sea, unless such discarding is necessary to meet other requirements of this part.
Discard of fish or product transferred from other vessels.
The retention requirements of this section apply to all IR/IU species brought on board a vessel, whether harvested by that vessel or transferred from another vessel. At-sea discard of IR/IU species or products that were transferred from another vessel is prohibited.
IR/IU species as bait.
IR/IU species may be used as bait provided that the deployed bait is physically secured to authorized fishing gear. Dumping of unsecured IR/IU species as bait (chumming) is prohibited.
Previously caught fish.
The retention and utilization requirements of this section do not apply to incidental catch of dead or decomposing fish or fish parts that were previously caught and discarded at sea.
Minimum utilization requirements.
If you own or operate a catcher/processor or mothership, the minimum utilization requirement for an IR/IU species harvested in the BSAI is determined by the directed fishing status for that species according to the following table:
then your total weight of retained or lawfully transferred products produced from your catch or receipt of that IR/IU species during a fishing trip must...
(1) directed fishing for an IR/IU species is open,
equal or exceed 15 percent of the round-weight catch or round-weight delivery of that species during the fishing trip.
(2) directed fishing for an IR/IU species is prohibited,
equal or exceed 15 percent of the round-weight catch or round-weight delivery of that species during the fishing trip or 15 percent of the MRA for that species, whichever is lower.
(3) retention of an IR/IU species is prohibited,
Groundfish retention standard.
(Effective January 20, 2008)—(1) Applicability. (i) The operator of a catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(1)(2)(i), not assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative, and using trawl gear in the BSAI must comply with the GRS set forth under paragraph (j)(4) of this section while fishing for or processing groundfish caught from the BSAI from January 1 through December 31 of each year.
An Amendment 80 cooperative and the members of an Amendment 80 cooperative must comply with the GRS set forth under paragraph (j)(4) of this section while fishing for or processing groundfish caught from the BSAI from January 1 through December 31 of each year.
No part of the GRS supersedes minimum retention or utilization requirements for IR/IU species found in this section.
Percent of groundfish retained calculation for a catcher/processor not in an Amendment 80 cooperative.
For any fishing year, the percent of groundfish retained by each catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i), not assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative, and using trawl gear in the BSAI will be calculated using the following equations:
Substituting the value for GFroundweight into the following equation:
GFR% = (GFroundweight / TotalGF) * 100
GFroundweight is the total annual round weight equivalent of all retained product weights for each IR/IU groundfish species.
PWspeciesn is the total annual product weight for each groundfish species listed in Table 2a to this part by product type as reported in the vessel's production report required at § 679.5(e)(10).
PRRspeciesn is the standard product recovery rate for each groundfish species and product combination listed in Table 3 to this part.
GFR% is the groundfish retention percentage for a vessel calculated as GFroundweight divided by the total weight of groundfish catch.
TotalGF is the total groundfish round catch weight as measured by the flow scale measurement, less any non-groundfish, PSC species or groundfish species on prohibited species status under § 679.20.
Percent of groundfish retained calculation for an Amendment 80 cooperative.
For each Amendment 80 cooperative, for any fishing year, the percent of groundfish retained by that Amendment 80 cooperative is based on the aggregate groundfish retained by all Amendment 80 vessels assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative and will be calculated using the following equations:
GFroundweight is the total annual round weight equivalent of all retained product weights retained by all Amendment 80 vessels assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative for each IR/IU groundfish species.
PWspeciesn is the total annual product weight for each groundfish species listed in Table 2a to this part by product type as reported in the vessel's production report for all Amendment 80 vessels assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative required at § 679.5(e).
GFR% is the groundfish retention percentage for an Amendment 80 cooperative calculated as GFroundweight divided by the total weight of groundfish catch.
TotalGF is the total groundfish round catch weight for all Amendment 80 vessels assigned to that Amendment 80 cooperative as measured by the flow scale measurement, less any non-groundfish, PSC species or groundfish species on prohibited species status under § 679.20.
Minimum groundfish retention standard.
An Amendment 80 cooperative or a catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i), not assigned to an Amendment 80 cooperative, and using trawl gear in the BSAI must comply with the annual minimum groundfish retention standard requirements displayed in the following table:
Groundfish Retention Standard
Annual GRS(percent)
2011 and each year after
Monitoring requirements—
Observer coverage requirements.
In addition to complying with minimum observer coverage requirements at § 679.50(c), the owner of an Amendment 80 vessel or any other catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and using trawl gear in the BSAI, must comply with observer coverage requirements as described at §§ 679.50(c)(6), and 679.7(m)(3) at all times the vessel is used to harvest groundfish in the BSAI with trawl gear.
Catch weighing.
For each haul, all catch by an Amendment 80 vessel or any other catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and using trawl gear in the BSAI must be weighed on a NMFS-approved scale and made available for sampling by an observer at a single location. The owner or operator of an Amendment 80 vessel or a catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and using trawl gear in the BSAI must ensure that the vessel is in compliance with the scale requirements described at § 679.28(b), that each haul is weighed separately, and that no sorting of catch takes place prior to weighing. All weighed catch must be recorded as required at § 679.5.
Observer sampling station.
The owner or operator of an Amendment 80 vessel or any other catcher/processor not listed in § 679.4(l)(2)(i) and using trawl gear in the BSAI must provide an observer sampling station as described at § 679.28(d) and the owner of the vessel must ensure that the vessel operator complies with the observer sampling station requirements described at § 679.28(d) at all times the vessel is used to harvest groundfish in the BSAI. In addition to the requirements at § 679.28(d)(8)(i), observers must be able to sample all catch from a single point along the conveyer belt conveying unsorted catch, and when standing where unsorted catch is collected, the observer must be able to see that no catch has been removed between the bin and the location along the conveyer belt at which the observers collect their samples.
Requirements for vessels that also harvest groundfish outside of the BSAI.
The operator of an Amendment 80 vessel, or any other vessel required to comply with paragraph (j) of this section, must offload or transfer all fish or fish product prior to harvesting fish outside the BSAI, unless the operator of the vessel is in compliance with the recordkeeping and reporting and monitoring requirements described at § 679.5 of this section at all times the vessel harvests or processes groundfish outside the BSAI.
Requirements for vessels receiving deliveries of unsorted catch.
The owner or operator of an Amendment 80 vessel, or any other vessel required to comply with this paragraph (j) at any time during a fishing year and who also receives deliveries of unsorted catch at any time during a fishing year must comply with paragraph (j)(5) of this section while processing deliveries of unsorted catch.
[62 FR 63890, Dec. 3, 1997, as amended at 62 FR 65381, Dec. 12, 1997; 68 FR 52144, Sept. 2, 2003; 69 FR 32903, June 14, 2004; 71 FR 17381, Apr. 6, 2006; 72 FR 52722, Sept. 14, 2007; 73 FR 76166, Dec. 15, 2008; 74 FR 62508, Nov. 30, 2009; 75 FR 53069, Aug. 30, 2010; 77 FR 6502, Feb. 8, 2012]
Title 50 published on 2013-10-01The following are only the Rules published in the Federal Register after the published date of Title 50.For a complete list of all Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices view the Rulemaking tab.2014-07-28; vol. 79 # 144 - Monday, July 28, 201479 FR 43679 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-17658 RIN0648-BC62 Docket No.120926497-4576-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Final rule. Effective December 1, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS publishes regulations to amend the hired master provisions of the Individual Fishing Quota Program (IFQ Program) for the fixed-gear commercial Pacific halibut and sablefish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The IFQ Program allows initial recipients of catcher vessel halibut and sablefish quota share (QS) to hire a vessel master to harvest an annual allocation of individual fishing quota (IFQ) derived from the QS. This rule prohibits an initial QS recipient from using a hired master to harvest IFQ derived from catcher vessel QS received by transfer after February 12, 2010, with a limited exception for small amounts of QS. This final rule is necessary to maintain progress toward a predominantly owner-onboard fishery. In addition, this action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the GOA, and other applicable laws.
2014-07-24; vol. 79 # 142 - Thursday, July 24, 201479 FR 42987 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reapportionment of the 2014 Gulf of Alaska Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits for the Trawl Deep-Water and Shallow-Water Fishery Categories
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-17416 RIN0648-XD36 Docket No.130925836-4174-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; reapportionment. Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 21, 2014, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is reapportioning the seasonal apportionments of the 2014 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fishery categories in the Gulf of Alaska. This action is necessary to account for the actual halibut PSC use by the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fishery categories from May 15 through June 30, 2014. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
2014-07-16; vol. 79 # 136 - Wednesday, July 16, 201479 FR 41454 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-16715 RIN0648-XD37 Docket No.130925836-4174-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 13, 2014, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the GOA.
79 FR 41455 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-16716 RIN0648-XD37 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 11, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian district (WAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.
2014-07-11; vol. 79 # 133 - Friday, July 11, 201479 FR 40016 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; “Other Flatfish” in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-16254 RIN0648-XD37 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; apportionment of reserves; request for comments. Effective July 8, 2014, through 2400 hrs, Alaska local time, December 31, 2014. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., Alaska local time, July 23, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (TAC) and TAC of “other flatfish” in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.
2014-07-03; vol. 79 # 128 - Thursday, July 3, 201479 FR 37960 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pacific Ocean Perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-15658 RIN0648-XD35 Docket No.130925836-4174-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2014, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific ocean perch in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
79 FR 37961 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-15663 RIN0648-XD35 Docket No.130925836-4174-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2014, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch of northern rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
79 FR 37962 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Dusky Rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-15665 RIN0648-XD36 Docket No.130925836-4174-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), July 1, 2014, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 total allowable catch of dusky rockfish in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.
2014-06-27; vol. 79 # 124 - Friday, June 27, 201479 FR 36436 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Trawl Limited Access Sector in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-15104 RIN0648-XD34 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; modification of closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 25, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., July 9, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is opening directed fishing for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands trawl limited access sector&apos;s yellowfin sole fishery in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC) of yellowfin sole for the BSAI trawl limited access sector in the BSAI.
2014-06-25; vol. 79 # 122 - Wednesday, June 25, 201479 FR 35958 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reapportionment of Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limit in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-14735 RIN0648-XD34 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 25, 2014, until 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2015. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is reapportioning the projected unused amounts of the halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) trawl limited access sector&apos;s Pacific cod fishery to the BSAI trawl limited access yellowfin sole fishery. This action is necessary to provide opportunity for harvest of the 2014 total allowable catch of yellowfin sole by the BSAI trawl limited access sector, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area.
2014-06-23; vol. 79 # 120 - Monday, June 23, 201479 FR 35495 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Northern Rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-14638 RIN0648-XD33 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary Rule; Modification of Closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), June 22, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. Comments must be received at the following address no later than 4:30 p.m., A.l.t., July 3, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is opening directed fishing for northern rockfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2014 total allowable catch (TAC) of northern rockfish in the BSAI.
2014-05-21; vol. 79 # 98 - Wednesday, May 21, 201479 FR 29136 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Yellowfin Sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-11743 RIN0648-XD30 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 18, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Pacific halibut bycatch allowance specified for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access yellowfin sole fishery.
2014-04-25; vol. 79 # 80 - Friday, April 25, 201479 FR 22884 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-09429 RIN0648-XD26 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
79 FR 22885 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Bering Sea Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-09430 RIN0648-XD26 Docket No.131021878-4158-02 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Temporary rule; closure. Effective 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), May 1, 2014, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Bering Sea subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI.
2014-04-15; vol. 79 # 72 - Tuesday, April 15, 201479 FR 21151 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Final 2014 and 2015 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Correction
Title 50 published on 2013-10-01The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to 50 CFR 679 after this date.2014-08-07; vol. 79 # 152 - Thursday, August 7, 201479 FR 46237 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 96 to the Gulf of Alaska Fishery Management Plan; Management of Community Quota Entities
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-18678 RIN0648-BD74 Docket No.131115973-4630-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Submit comments on or before September 8, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 96 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). If approved, Amendment 96 would amend certain provisions of the Individual Fishing Quota Program for the Fixed-Gear Commercial Fisheries for Pacific Halibut and Sablefish in Waters in and off Alaska (IFQ Program). This action would remove a regulation that prohibits a Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Community Quota Entity (CQE) from transferring and holding small blocks of halibut and sablefish quota share (QS). This action would allow CQEs to acquire additional QS and facilitate sustained participation by CQE community residents in the IFQ Program. This action would promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982, the FMP, and other applicable law.
2014-07-31; vol. 79 # 147 - Thursday, July 31, 201479 FR 44372 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Monitoring and Enforcement; At-Sea Scales Requirements
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-18029 RIN0648-BD90 Docket No.140113040-4040-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Written comments must be received on or before September 2, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS issues a proposed rule to revise the at-sea scales program for catcher/processor vessels (C/Ps) and motherships that are required to weigh catch at sea. This action would make three major changes to current regulations. First, this action would change regulations to enhance daily scale testing and require electronic reporting of daily scale test results. Second, this action would require that scales used to weigh catch have electronics capable of logging and printing the frequency and magnitude of scale calibrations, as well as the time and date of each scale fault and scale startup. Third, this action would require that the scale and the area around the scale be monitored using video. Finally, this action would revise technical regulations that are no longer applicable. This action is being proposed to reduce the possibility of scale tampering and to improve the accuracy of catch estimation by the C/P and mothership sector. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area, the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and other applicable laws.
2014-07-28; vol. 79 # 144 - Monday, July 28, 201479 FR 43679 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska: Pacific Halibut and Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota Program
2014-07-25; vol. 79 # 143 - Friday, July 25, 201479 FR 43377 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-17556 RIN0648-BD74 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of a proposed fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. Comments on Amendment 96 must be received by September 23, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS announces that the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 96 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP) for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary). Amendment 96 would revise the sablefish individual fishing quota program (IFQ Program) to allow Gulf of Alaska Community Quota Entities (CQEs) to transfer and hold small blocks of sablefish quota share (QS). Amendment 96 would allow CQEs to acquire additional QS and facilitate sustained participation by CQE community residents in the IFQ Program. This action is necessary to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the GOA FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-07-01; vol. 79 # 126 - Tuesday, July 1, 201479 FR 37486 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-14972 RIN0648-BE06 Docket No.140304195-4195-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Submit comments on or before August 15, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS proposes to implement Steller sea lion protection measures to insure that groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) off Alaska are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the western distinct population segment (WDPS) of Steller sea lions or destroy or adversely modify its designated critical habitat. These management measures would disperse fishing effort temporally and spatially to provide protection from potential competition for important Steller sea lion prey species in the BSAI. The intent of this proposed action is to protect the endangered WDPS of Steller sea lions, as required by the Endangered Species Act, and to minimize, to the extent practicable, the economic impact of fishery management measures, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
2014-06-30; vol. 79 # 125 - Monday, June 30, 201479 FR 36702 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 105; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Flatfish Harvest Specifications Flexibility
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-15185 RIN0648-BD23 Docket No.130424402-4509-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Submit comments on or before July 30, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS issues a proposed rule that would implement Amendment 105 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP). If approved, Amendment 105 would establish a process for Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups, and cooperatives established under the Amendment 80 Program (Amendment 80 cooperatives), to exchange harvest quota from one of three flatfish species (flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole) for an equal amount of another of these three flatfish species, while maintaining total catch below acceptable biological catch (ABC) limits. This action would modify the annual harvest specification process to allow the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to establish the maximum amount of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole that may be exchanged based on social, economic, or biological considerations. This action is necessary to mitigate the operational variability, environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives from achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield (OY) in the BSAI groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the BSAI FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), and other applicable law.
79 FR 35971 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management in the Gulf of Alaska Non-Pollock Trawl Fisheries; Amendment 97
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-14726 RIN0648-BD48 Docket No.130710606-4491-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Submit comments on or before July 25, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). If approved, Amendment 97 would limit Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) non-pollock trawl catcher/processor (C/P) and catcher vessel (CV) fisheries. This action would establish separate annual Chinook salmon PSC limits for trawl catcher/processors (Trawl C/P Sector), trawl catcher vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish Program CV Sector), and trawl catcher vessels not participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Non-Rockfish Program CV Sector) fishing for groundfish species other than pollock. If a sector reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS would prohibit further fishing for non-pollock groundfish by vessels in that sector. This action also would establish and clarify Chinook salmon retention and discard requirements for vessels, shoreside processors, and stationary floating processors participating in both the GOA pollock and non-pollock groundfish trawl fisheries. This action is necessary to minimize the catch of Chinook salmon to the extent practicable in the GOA non-pollock trawl fisheries. Amendment 97 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-06-18; vol. 79 # 117 - Wednesday, June 18, 201479 FR 34696 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; American Fisheries Act; Amendment 106
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-14012 RIN0648-BD35 Docket No.130530519-4476-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Submit comments on or before August 4, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS issues a proposed rule to implement Amendment 106 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP). The proposed rule would allow the owner of an American Fisheries Act (AFA) vessel to rebuild or replace the vessel without limitation on the length, weight, or horsepower of the rebuilt or replacement vessel when the vessel is operating in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). The proposed rule would also allow the owner of an AFA catcher vessel that is a member of an inshore cooperative to remove the vessel from the Bering Sea directed pollock fishery and assign the pollock catch history of the removed vessel to one or more vessels in the inshore cooperative to which the removed vessel belonged. This action is necessary to bring the regulations implementing the BSAI FMP into conformity with the AFA as amended by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. This action would also improve vessel safety and operational efficiency in the AFA fleet by allowing the rebuilding or replacement of AFA vessels with safer and more efficient vessels and by allowing the removal of inactive catcher vessels from the AFA fishery. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the AFA, the BSAI FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-06-13; vol. 79 # 114 - Friday, June 13, 201479 FR 33889 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 105
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-13855 RIN0648-BD23 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notification of availability of fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. Comments on the amendment must be received on or before August 12, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryThe North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 105 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review. If approved, Amendment 105 would establish a process for Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups and cooperatives established under the Amendment 80 Program (Amendment 80 cooperatives) to exchange harvest quota from one of three flatfish species (flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole) for an equal amount of another of these three flatfish species, while maintaining total catch below acceptable biological catch (ABC) limits for each species and below the sum of the total allowable catches (TACs) for all three species. This action would modify the annual harvest specification process to allow the Council to establish the maximum amount of flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole that may be exchanged based on social, economic, or biological considerations. This action is necessary to mitigate the operational variability, environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the CDQ groups and Amendment 80 cooperatives from achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield (OY) in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, BSAI FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-06-05; vol. 79 # 108 - Thursday, June 5, 201479 FR 32525 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Chinook Salmon Bycatch Management in the Gulf of Alaska Non-Pollock Trawl Fishery; Amendment 97
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-13066 RIN0648-BD48 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of fishery management plan amendment; request for comments. Comments on the amendment must be received on or before August 4, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryThe North Pacific Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 97 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). If approved, Amendment 97 would limit Chinook salmon prohibited species catch (PSC) in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) non-pollock trawl fisheries. This action would establish separate Chinook salmon PSC annual limits for the non-pollock trawl catcher vessel (CV) and catcher/processor (C/P) sectors and a seasonal limit for the C/P sector. The CV sector PSC limit would be further divided between vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program and vessels not participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program. If a sector reached its seasonal or annual Chinook salmon PSC limit, NMFS would prohibit further directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish by vessels in that sector for the remainder of the season or fishing year. This proposed action would also establish salmon retention and discard requirements for vessels, shoreside processors and stationary floating processors participating in the non-pollock groundfish fisheries. The combination of these retention requirements will enable accurate reporting of salmon in eLandings at the processor. Salmon accounting at a processor may assist the industry in tracking and cooperatively managing its Chinook salmon PSC. This action is necessary to minimize the catch of Chinook salmon to the extent practicable in the Western and Central GOA non-pollock trawl fisheries. Amendment 97 is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-06-03; vol. 79 # 106 - Tuesday, June 3, 201479 FR 31914 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area; Amendment 106
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-12829 RIN0648-BD35 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of amendment to fishery management plan; request for comments. Submit comments on or before August 4, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryThe North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 106 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) for review. Amendment 106 to the FMP would allow the owner of an AFA vessel to rebuild or replace that vessel and would allow the owners of AFA catcher vessels that are inactive or obsolete to remove those vessels from the AFA fishery. This action is necessary to bring the FMP into conformity with the AFA as amended by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Coast Guard Act), and to improve vessel safety and operational efficiency in the AFA fleet. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the AFA, the FMP, and other applicable laws.
2014-05-14; vol. 79 # 93 - Wednesday, May 14, 201479 FR 27557 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-11050 RIN0648-BD98 Docket No.140218151-4151-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received no later than June 13, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 100 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). This proposed action would add regulations to improve reporting of grenadiers, limit retention of grenadiers, and prevent direct fishing for grenadiers by federally permitted groundfish fishermen and is necessary to limit and monitor the incidental catch of grenadiers in the groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable law.
2014-05-05; vol. 79 # 86 - Monday, May 5, 201479 FR 25558 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-10210 RIN0648-BD98 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of availability of fishery management plan amendments; request for comments. Comments must be received no later than July 7, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryThe North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted Amendment 100 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and Amendment 91 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). If approved, these amendments would add grenadiers to the ecosystem component category in the BSAI FMP and GOA FMP. This proposed action is necessary to limit and monitor the incidental catch of grenadiers in the groundfish fisheries. This proposed action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable law.
2014-04-18; vol. 79 # 75 - Friday, April 18, 201479 FR 21882 - Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Modifications to Federal Fisheries Permits and Federal Processor Permits
typeregulations.gov FR Doc.2014-08600 RIN0648-AX78 Docket No.090313314-4317-01 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Proposed rule; request for comments. Comments must be received no later than May 19, 2014. 50 CFR Part 679 SummaryNMFS proposes to change criteria for submission, approval, surrender, revision, and receipt of a Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) or Federal Processor Permit (FPP) application form; allow the use of a valid legible copy in place of an original FFP or FPP; remove unnecessary FFP and FPP application form descriptions and contact information from regulation; clarify when an FFP or FPP is required; and make minor modifications to FPP regulations. This action is necessary to reduce industry costs of complying with fishing and processing permit regulations and NMFS&apos; administrative costs of maintaining and updating permit application regulations and forms. This action would provide efficiency, flexibility, and clarity concerning FFP and FPP requirements. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMP, and other applicable laws.