[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 39 (Wednesday, February 27, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10562-10590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3531]
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Part III
Department of Commerce
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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50 CFR Part 679
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska;
2008 and 2009 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Final Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 39 / Wednesday, February 27, 2008 /
Rules and Regulations
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 071106671-8010-02]
RIN 0648-XD67
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; 2008 and 2009 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2008 and 2009 final harvest specifications,
reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species
catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2008 and 2009 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
DATES: The 2008 and 2009 final harvest specifications and associated
management measures are effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), February 27, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact
Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision (ROD), and Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are available from
the Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen
Sebastian, or from the Alaska Region Web site at http://
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2007 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the
GOA, dated November 2007, are available from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council), 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from its Web site at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780, or e-mail at
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify and apportion the total
allowable catch (TAC) for each target species and for the ``other
species'' category, and the sum of which must be within the optimum
yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). The final
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 26 of this document
satisfy this requirement. For 2008, the sum of the TAC amounts is
262,826 mt. For 2009, the sum of the TAC amounts is 279,264 mt.
50 CFR 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual TACs, halibut PSC amounts, and
seasonal allowances of pollock and inshore/offshore Pacific cod. The
proposed GOA groundfish specifications and Pacific halibut PSC
allowances for 2008 and 2009 were published in the Federal Register on
December 6, 2007 (72 FR 68810). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2008. NMFS received two letters of comment on the
proposed specifications. These letters of comment are summarized in the
Response to Comments section of this action. In December 2007, NMFS
consulted with the Council regarding the 2008 and 2009 harvest
specifications. After considering public comments received, as well as
biological and economic data that were available at the Council's
December 2007 meeting, NMFS is implementing the 2008 and 2009 final
harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
In December 2007, the Council, its Advisory Panel (AP), and its
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), reviewed current biological
and harvest information about the condition of groundfish stocks in the
GOA. This information was compiled by the Council's GOA Plan Team and
was presented in the final 2007 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2007 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report
contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of
each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as
summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and the
economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these
data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each species or
species category.
The final 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
methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the
formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute ABCs and overfishing levels
(OFLs). The formulas applicable to a particular stock or stock complex
are determined by the level of reliable information available to
fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive
series of six tiers, with tier one representing the highest level of
information quality available and tier six the lowest level of
information quality available.
The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including
maintaining the sum of all TACs within the required OY range of 116,000
to 800,000 mt. The Council adopted the AP's TAC recommendations. The
Council recommended TACs for 2008 and 2009 equal to ABCs for pollock,
deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, Pacific ocean perch,
shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, big
skate, longnose skate, and other skates. The Council recommended TACs
for 2008 and 2009 that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, other rockfish, and
Atka mackerel. None of the Council's recommended TACs for 2008 and 2009
exceeds the final ABC for any species or species category. The 2008 and
2009 harvest specifications approved by the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) are unchanged from those recommended by the Council and are
consistent with the preferred harvest strategy alternative in the Final
EIS. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended ABCs, OFLs, and TACs are
consistent with the biological condition of the groundfish stocks as
described in the 2007 SAFE report and approved by the Council. NMFS
also
[[Page 10563]]
finds that the Council's recommendations for OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts
are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as
adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the total TAC within the OY range. NMFS reviewed
the Council's recommended TAC specifications and apportionments and
approves these specifications under 50 CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The
apportionment of TAC amounts among gear types, processing sectors, and
seasons is discussed below.
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2008 and 2009 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sums of the 2008 and
2009 ABCs are 536,201 mt and 556,183 mt, respectively, which are higher
than the 2007 ABC sum of 490,327 mt (72 FR 9676, March 5, 2007).
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
As in 2007, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2008 and 2009
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment
scientists believe the use of unbiased commercial fishery data
reflecting catch-per-unit-effort provides a desirable input for stock
distribution assessments. NMFS evaluates the use of commercial fishery
data annually to ensure unbiased information is included in stock
distribution models. The Council's recommendation for sablefish area
apportionments also takes into account the prohibition on the use of
trawl gear in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District of the Eastern
Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent of the combined Eastern
Regulatory Area ABCs to trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other
directed groundfish fisheries in the West Yakutat (WYK) District (Sec.
679.20(a)(4)(i)).
Since the inception of a State of Alaska (State) managed pollock
fishery in Prince William Sound (PWS), the GOA Plan Team has
recommended the guideline harvest level (GHL) for the pollock fishery
in PWS be deducted from the ABC for the western stock of pollock in the
GOA in the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK) Area. For the 2008
and 2009 pollock fisheries in PWS, the State's GHL is 1,650 mt.
The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass
distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, as well as
equally among each of the following four seasons: the A season (January
20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C
season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1
through November 1) (50 CFR 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted the Plan Team's OFL and ABC
recommendations for all groundfish species categories. The SSC, AP, and
Council recommended apportionment of the ABC for Pacific cod in the GOA
among regulatory areas based on the three most recent NMFS summer trawl
surveys.
The 2008 and 2009 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's
fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Central and Western
Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS. The SSC, AP, and Council
recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod
removals not exceed the ABC. Accordingly, the Council recommended
reducing the 2008 and 2009 Pacific cod TACs from the ABCs in the
Central and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs.
Therefore, the 2008 and 2009 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by
the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 266 mt; (2) Central GOA, 9,475
mt; and (3) Western GOA, 6,483 mt. These amounts reflect the sum of the
State's 2008 and 2009 GHLs in these areas, which are 10 percent, 25
percent, and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western GOA ABCs,
respectively. The percentages of the ABCs used to calculate the GHLs
for the State managed Pacific cod fisheries are unchanged from 2007.
NMFS also is establishing seasonal apportionments of the annual
Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, and jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear
from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September
1 through November 1 (50 CFR 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
As in 2007, NMFS establishes for 2008 and 2009 an A season directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA based
on the management area TACs minus the recent average A season
incidental catch of Pacific cod in each management area before June 10
(Sec. 679.20(d)(1)). The DFA and incidental catch before June 10 will
be managed such that total harvest in the A season will be no more than
60 percent of the annual TAC. Incidental catch taken after June 10 will
continue to accrue against the B season TAC. This action meets the
intent of the Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures by achieving
temporal dispersion of the Pacific cod removals and by reducing the
likelihood of harvest exceeding 60 percent of the annual TAC in the A
season (January 1 through June 10 for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear;
January 20 through June 10 for trawl gear). The seasonal apportionments
of the annual Pacific cod TAC are discussed in greater detail below.
The FMP specifies that the amount for the ``other species''
category be set at an amount less than or equal to 5 percent of the
combined TAC amounts for target species. The final 2008 and 2009 annual
GOA-wide ``other species'' TACs of 4,500 mt are less than 5 percent of
the combined TAC amounts for target species. The sum of the TACs for
all GOA groundfish is 262,826 mt for 2008 and 279,264 mt for 2009,
which are within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sum of the 2008
TACs is lower and the sum of the 2009 TACs is higher than the 2007 TAC
sum of 269,912 mt.
Other Rules Affecting the 2008 and 2009 Harvest Specifications
Congress granted NMFS specific statutory authority to manage
Central GOA rockfish fisheries in Section 802 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-199). The elements of the
Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish Program) are
discussed in detail in the proposed and final rules for Amendment 68 to
the FMP (71 FR 33040, June 7, 2006, and 71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006,
respectively) and final rule revision (72 FR 37678, July 11, 2007). The
Rockfish Program is authorized for five years, from January 1, 2007,
until December 31, 2011.
The Rockfish Program allocates exclusive harvesting and processing
privileges for the following primary rockfish species: Northern
rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish. Secondary
species are those species incidentally harvested during the primary
rockfish species fisheries and include Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. The Rockfish
Program also allocates a portion of the total GOA halibut mortality
limit annually specified under Sec. 679.21 to participants based on
historical halibut mortality rates in the primary rockfish species
fisheries. The 2008 amounts of
[[Page 10564]]
primary rockfish species, secondary species, and halibut mortality to
be allocated to the Rockfish Program will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in the Rockfish Program by March
1, 2008. These amounts will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov when they become available early in 2008. The
entry level allocation of rockfish, after subtraction of incidental
catch amounts, is equal to 5 percent of the Central GOA TAC for Pacific
ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish. Tables 8
and 9 list the final 2008 and 2009 allocations of rockfish in the
Central GOA, respectively, to the entry level fishery.
The Rockfish Program also establishes catch limits, commonly called
``sideboards,'' to limit the ability of participants eligible for this
program to harvest fish in fisheries other than the Central GOA
rockfish fisheries. Sideboards limit harvest in the specific rockfish
fisheries in the Western GOA and in the WYK District and the amount of
halibut bycatch that can be used in certain flatfish fisheries. Tables
19 and 20 list the final 2008 and 2009 Rockfish Program sideboard
limits for catcher/processors and catcher vessels in the Western GOA
and the WYK District. Table 21 lists the final 2008 and 2009 Rockfish
Program halibut mortality limits for catcher/processors and catcher
vessels.
The final rule to implement Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management
Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management
Area was published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2007 (72 FR
52668). Amendment 80 allocates several Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
non-pollock trawl groundfish TACs among fishing sectors, and
facilitates the formation of harvesting cooperatives in the non-
American Fisheries Act (non-AFA) trawl catcher/processor sector.
Amendment 80 establishes a limited access privilege program for the
non-AFA trawl catcher/processor sector. In order to limit the ability
of participants eligible for the Amendment 80 fisheries to expand their
harvest efforts in the GOA, Amendment 80 establishes groundfish and
halibut PSC catch limits for Amendment 80 participants in the GOA.
Tables 22 and 23 list the final 2008 and 2009 sideboard limits for
Amendment 80 participants. Table 24 lists the final 2008 and 2009
halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 participants using trawl gear.
In April 2007, the Council recommended Amendment 77 to the GOA FMP.
Amendment 77 would remove dark rockfish from the pelagic shelf rockfish
(PSR) complex in the GOA FMP in order to allow the State to assume
management of dark rockfish beginning in 2009. This action is necessary
to allow the State to implement more responsive, regionally-based
management measures than are currently possible under the FMP. If
Amendment 77 is submitted to and approved by the Secretary, the GOA-
wide overfishing level (OFL), ABC, and TAC for the PSR complex in 2009
would be reduced by approximately 250 mt from the levels listed in
Table 2.
Changes From the Proposed 2008 and 2009 Harvest Specifications in the
GOA
In October 2007, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2008 and 2009 harvest specifications (72 FR 68810, December 6, 2007)
were based largely upon information contained in the final 2006 SAFE
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2006 (see
ADDRESSES). The Council recommended that the proposed OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs established for the groundfish fisheries in 2008 (72 FR 9676,
March 5, 2007 see Table 2) be rolled over to 2008 and 2009 pending
completion and review of the 2007 SAFE report at its December 2007
meeting.
The 2007 SAFE report, which was not available when the Council made
its recommendations in October 2007, contains the best and most recent
scientific information on the condition of the groundfish stocks. This
report was considered in December 2007 by the Council when it made
recommendations for the final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications.
Based on the final 2007 SAFE report, the sum of the 2008 final TACs for
the GOA (262,826 mt) is 23,347 mt lower than the sum of the proposed
2008 TACs (286,173 mt). The largest 2008 increases occurred for
rougheye rockfish, from 993 mt to 1,286 mt (30 percent increase); for
other skates, from 1,617 mt to 2,104 mt (30 percent increase); for
flathead sole, from 9,258 mt to 11,054 mt (19 percent increase); and
for other rockfish, from 1,482 mt to 1,730 mt (17 percent increase).
The largest decreases occurred for pollock, from 81,467 mt to 60,810 mt
(34 percent decrease); for pelagic shelf rockfish, from 6,622 mt to
5,227 mt (27 percent decrease); for thornyhead rockfish, from 2,209 mt
to 1,910 mt (16 percent decrease); and for sablefish, from 14,239 mt to
12,730 mt (12 percent decrease). Other increases or decreases in 2008
and 2009 are within these ranges.
Compared to the proposed 2008 harvest specifications, the Council's
final 2008 TAC recommendations increase fishing opportunities for
species for which the Council had sufficient information to raise TAC
levels. These include rex sole, flathead sole, shallow-water flatfish,
Pacific ocean perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, other
rockfish, and other skates. Conversely, the Council reduced TAC levels
to provide greater protection for several species, including pollock,
Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, sablefish, northern rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, and big
skates. The changes in the final rule from the proposed rule are based
on the most recent scientific information and implement the harvest
strategy described in the proposed rule for the harvest specifications.
Tables 1 and 2 list the 2008 and 2009 final OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts
for GOA groundfish, respectively.
Table 1.--Final 2008 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western
(W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and
Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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Species Area/district \1\ ABC TAC OFL
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Pollock \2\........................... Shumagin (610).......... 17,602 17,602 n/a
Chirikof (620).......... 19,181 19,181 n/a
Kodiak (630)............ 13,640 13,640 n/a
WYK (640)............... 1,517 1,517 n/a
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Subtotal.......................... W/C/WYK................. 51,940 51,940 72,110
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[[Page 10565]]
SEO (650)............... 8,240 8,240 11,040
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Total......................... ........................ 60,180 60,180 83,150
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Pacific cod \3\....................... W....................... 25,932 19,449 n/a
C....................... 37,901 28,426 n/a
E....................... 2,660 2,394 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 66,493 50,269 88,660
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Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)............. W....................... 690 690 n/a
C....................... 6,721 6,721 n/a
WYK..................... 965 965 n/a
SEO..................... 527 527 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 8,903 8,903 11,343
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Rex sole.............................. W....................... 1,022 1,022 n/a
C....................... 6,731 6,731 n/a
WYK..................... 520 520 n/a
SEO..................... 859 859 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 9,132 9,132 11,933
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Flathead sole......................... W....................... 12,507 2,000 n/a
C....................... 28,174 5,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,420 3,420 n/a
SEO..................... 634 634 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 44,735 11,054 55,787
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Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).......... W....................... 26,360 4,500 n/a
C....................... 29,873 13,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,333 3,333 n/a
SEO..................... 1,423 1,423 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 60,989 22,256 74,364
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Arrowtooth flounder................... W....................... 30,817 8,000 n/a
C....................... 167,936 30,000 n/a
WYK..................... 15,245 2,500 n/a
SEO..................... 12,472 2,500 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 226,470 43,000 266,914
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Sablefish \6\......................... W....................... 1,890 1,890 n/a
C....................... 5,500 5,500 n/a
WYK..................... 1,950 1,950 n/a
SEO..................... 3,390 3,390 n/a
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Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 5,340 5,340 n/a
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Total......................... ........................ 12,730 12,730 15,040
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Pacific ocean perch \7\............... W....................... 3,686 3,686 4,376
C....................... 8,185 8,185 9,717
WYK..................... 1,100 1,100 n/a
SEO..................... 2,028 2,028 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 3,128 3,128 3,714
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 14,999 14,999 17,807
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Shortraker rockfish \8\............... W....................... 120 120 n/a
C....................... 315 315 n/a
E....................... 463 463 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 898 898 1,197
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Rougheye rockfish \9\................. W....................... 125 125 n/a
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C....................... 834 834 n/a
E....................... 327 327 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,286 1,286 1,548
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Other rockfish \10\ \11\.............. W....................... 357 357 n/a
C....................... 569 569 n/a
WYK..................... 604 604 n/a
SEO..................... 2,767 200 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,297 1,730 5,624
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Northern rockfish \11\ \12\........... W....................... 2,141 2,141 n/a
C....................... 2,408 2,408 n/a
E....................... 0 0 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,549 4,549 5,430
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\........... W....................... 1,003 1,003 n/a
C....................... 3,626 3,626 n/a
WYK..................... 251 251 n/a
SEO..................... 347 347 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 5,227 5,227 6,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish................... W....................... 267 267 n/a
C....................... 860 860 n/a
E....................... 783 783 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,910 1,910 2,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates \14\....................... W....................... 632 632 n/a
C....................... 2,065 2,065 n/a
E....................... 633 633 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 3,330 3,330 4,439
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \15\.................. W....................... 78 78 n/a
C....................... 2,041 2,041 n/a
E....................... 768 768 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 2,887 2,887 3,849
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \16\..................... GW...................... 2,104 2,104 2,806
Demersal shelf rockfish \17\.......... SEO..................... 382 382 611
Atka mackerel......................... GW...................... 4,700 1,500 6,200
Other species \18\.................... GW...................... n/a 4,500 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total \19\.................... ........................ 536,201 262,826 665,642
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide)
\2\ Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 26 percent, 49 percent, and 24 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 26 percent,
60 percent, and 14 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons,
the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2008 and 2009 seasonal
apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is
not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to an A season and 40 percent to a B season in the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the
inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Table 7 lists the 2008 and 2009 seasonal apportionments and component allocations
of the Pacific cod TAC.
\4\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4
list the 2008 and 2009 allocations of sablefish.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK District means slope rockfish
and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
[[Page 10567]]
\11\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes
northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern
Regulatory Area has been combined with the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and
S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\ Big skate means Raja binoculata.
\15\ Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
\16\ Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
\17\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\18\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ``other species,''
the TAC for ``other species'' is set at less than or equal to 5 percent of the TACs for assessed target
species.
\19\ The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
Table 2.--Final 2009 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western
(W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and
Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area/district \1\ ABC TAC OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\........................... Shumagin (610).......... 23,700 23,700 n/a
Chirikof (620).......... 25,821 25,821 n/a
Kodiak (630)............ 18,367 18,367 n/a
WYK (640)............... 2,042 2,042 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... W/C/WYK................. 69,930 69,930 95,940
-----------------------------------------------
SEO (650)............... 8,240 8,240 11,040
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 78,170 78,170 106,980
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\....................... W....................... 25,932 19,449 n/a
C....................... 37,901 28,426 n/a
E....................... 2,660 2,394 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 66,493 50,269 88,660
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \4\ (deep-water)............. W....................... 707 707 n/a
C....................... 6,927 6,927 n/a
WYK..................... 995 995 n/a
SEO..................... 543 543 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 9,172 9,172 11,583
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole.............................. W....................... 948 948 n/a
C....................... 6,241 6,241 n/a
WYK..................... 483 483 n/a
SEO..................... 796 796 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 8,468 8,468 11,065
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole......................... W....................... 13,001 2,000 n/a
C....................... 29,289 5,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,556 3,556 n/a
SEO..................... 659 659 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 46,505 11,215 57,962
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish \5\ (shallow-water).......... W....................... 26,360 4,500 n/a
C....................... 29,873 13,000 n/a
WYK..................... 3,333 3,333 n/a
SEO..................... 1,423 1,423 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 60,989 22,256 74,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder................... W....................... 31,080 K8,000 n/a
C....................... 169,371 30,000 n/a
WYK..................... 15,375 2,500 n/a
SEO..................... 12,579 2,500 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 228,405 43,000 269,237
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \6\......................... W....................... 1,727 1,727 n/a
C....................... 5,026 5,026 n/a
WYK..................... 1,782 1,782 n/a
[[Page 10568]]
SEO..................... 3,098 3,098 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 4,880 4,880 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 11,633 11,633 12,924
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\............... W....................... 3,704 3,704 4,397
C....................... 8,225 8,225 9,764
WYK..................... 1,105 1,105 n/a
SEO..................... 2,038 2,038 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Subtotal.......................... E (WYK and SEO)......... 3,143 3,143 3,732
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 15,072 15,072 17,893
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \8\............... W....................... 120 120 n/a
C....................... 315 315 n/a
E....................... 463 463 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 898 898 1,197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish \9\................. W....................... 124 124 n/a
C....................... 830 830 n/a
E....................... 325 325 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,279 1,279 1,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish \10\ \11\.............. W....................... 357 357 n/a
C....................... 569 569 n/a
WYK..................... 604 604 n/a
SEO..................... 2,767 200 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,297 1,730 5,624
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \11\ \12\........... W....................... 2,047 2,047 n/a
C....................... 2,302 2,302 n/a
E....................... 0 0 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 4,349 4,349 5,120
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\........... W....................... 986 986 n/a
C....................... 3,566 3,566 n/a
WYK..................... 247 247 n/a
SEO..................... 341 341 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 5,140 5,140 6,294
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish................... W....................... 267 267 n/a
C....................... 860 860 n/a
E....................... 783 783 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 1,910 1,910 2,540
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates \14\....................... W....................... 632 632 n/a
C....................... 2,065 2,065 n/a
E....................... 633 633 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 3,330 3,330 4,439
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates \15\.................. W....................... 78 78 n/a
C....................... 2,041 2,041 n/a
E....................... 768 768 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
Total......................... ........................ 2,887 2,887 3,849
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \16\..................... GW...................... 2,104 2,104 2,806
Demersal shelf rockfish \17\.......... SEO..................... 382 382 611
Atka mackerel......................... GW...................... 4,700 1,500 6,200
Other species \18\.................... GW...................... n/a 4,500 n/a
-----------------------------------------------
[[Page 10569]]
Total \19\.................... ........................ 556,183 279,264 690,888
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at 50 CFR 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide)
\2\ Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 26 percent, 49 percent, and 24 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 26 percent,
60 percent, and 14 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons,
the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 43 percent, 21 percent, and 35
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the 2008 and 2009 seasonal
apportionments of pollock. In the WYK District and SEO Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is
not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to an A season and 40 percent to a B season in the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the
inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Table 7 lists the 2008 and 2009 seasonal apportionments and component allocations
of the Pacific cod TAC.
\4\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2008 and to trawl gear in 2009. Tables 3 and 4
list the 2008 and 2009 allocations of sablefish.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the WYK District means slope rockfish
and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope rockfish.
\11\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern Regulatory Area only, slope rockfish also includes
northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. The 2 mt ABC for northern rockfish in the Eastern
Regulatory Area has been combined with the ABC for slope rockfish in the WYK District.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and
S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\ Big skate means Raja binoculata.
\15\ Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
\16\ Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
\17\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\18\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ``other species,''
the TAC for ``other species'' is set at less than or equal to 5 percent of the TACs for assessed target
species.
\19\ The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires 20 percent of each TAC for pollock,
Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category be set aside
in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date during the
fishing year. In 2007, NMFS reapportioned all the reserves in the final
harvest specifications. For 2008 and 2009, NMFS proposed
reapportionment of all the reserves in the proposed 2008 and 2009
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on December 6,
2007 (72 FR 68810). NMFS received no public comments on the proposed
reapportionments. For the final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications,
NMFS reapportioned as proposed all the reserves for pollock, Pacific
cod, flatfish, and ``other species.'' Specifications of TAC shown in
Tables 1 and 2 reflect reapportionment of reserve amounts for these
species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line
and Trawl Gear
Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line
and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent
of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each
TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95
percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 5 percent is
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern
Regulatory Area may only be used to support incidental catch of
sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species (Sec.
679.20(a)(1)). In recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of
the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS concurs
with the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory
Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District and the remainder
of the WYK sablefish TAC be available to vessels using hook-and-line
gear. As a result, NMFS allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in
the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. The Council
recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be established
annually to ensure that the Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) fishery is
conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on the
most recent survey information. This recommendation results in an
allocation of 267 mt to trawl gear and 1,683 mt to hook-and-line gear
in the WYK District, and 3,390 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO
District in 2008, and 244 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District in 2009.
Table 3 lists the allocations of the 2008 sablefish TACs to hook-and-
line and trawl gear. Table 4 lists the allocations of the 2009
sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
[[Page 10570]]
Table 3.--Final 2008 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and
Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC apportionment apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................................................... 1,890 1,512 378
Central......................................................... 5,500 4,400 1,100
West Yakutat \1\................................................ 1,950 1,683 267
Southeast Outside............................................... 3,390 3,390 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 12,730 10,985 1,745
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Represents an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in
the WYK District.
Table 4.--Final 2009 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line
Area/district TAC apportionment Trawl
\1\ apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................................................... 1,727 n/a 345
Central......................................................... 5,026 n/a 1,005
West Yakutat \2\................................................ 1,782 n/a 244
Southeast Outside............................................... 3,098 n/a 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11,633 0 1,595
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishery Quota
fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ Represents an allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in
the WYK District.
Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and
Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by
Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May
31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630. In the A and
B seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of
pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In
the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the
distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS
summer surveys. For 2008 and 2009, the Council recommends and NMFS
approves averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock in the
Central Regulatory Area for the A season. The average is intended to
reflect the distribution of pollock and the performance of the fishery
in the area during the A season for the 2008 and 2009 fishing years.
Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance is
underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the
Regional Administrator. The rollover amount of unharvested pollock is
limited to 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment for the statistical
area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent limit could be
further distributed to the other statistical areas, in proportion to
the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those statistical
areas (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The WYK and SEO District pollock
TACs of 1,517 mt and 8,240 mt, respectively, in 2008, and 2,042 mt and
8,240 mt, respectively, in 2009, are not allocated by season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after
subtracting amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be
caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to
directed fishing for other groundfish species. The amount of pollock
available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by
the offshore component is that amount actually taken as incidental
catch during directed fishing for groundfish species other than
pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by Sec.
679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts are
unknown and will be determined during the fishing year.
The 2008 and 2009 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal
apportionments for the A, B, C, and D seasons are summarized in Tables
5 and 6, except that amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore
and offshore components are not shown.
[[Page 10571]]
Table 5.--Final 2008 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (area Chirikof (area Kodiak (area
Season 610) 620) 630) Total \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................... 3,322 (26.35%) 6,215 (49.30%) 3,069 (24.35%) 12,606 (100%)
B................................... 3,321 (26.35%) 7,576 (60.09%) 1,709 (13.56%) 12,606 (100%)
C................................... 5,480 (43.47%) 2,695 (21.38%) 4,431 (35.15%) 12,606 (100%)
D................................... 5,479 (43.47%) 2,695 (21.38%) 4,431 (35.15%) 12,605 (100%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total.................... 17,602 19,181 13,640 50,423
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock
TACs shown in this table.
Note: As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available
from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1,
respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in
this table.
Table 6.--Final 2009 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (area Chirikof (area Kodiak (area
Season 610) 620) 630) Total \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A................................... 4,472 (26.35%) 8,367 (49.30%) 4,133 (24.35%) 16,972 (100%)
B................................... 4,472 (26.35%) 10,198 (60.09%) 2,302 (13.56%) 16,972 (100%)
C................................... 7,378 (43.47%) 3,628 (21.38%) 5,966 (35.15%) 16,972 (100%)
D................................... 7,378 (43.47%) 3,628 (21.38%) 5,966 (35.15%) 16,972 (100%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total.................... 23,700 25,821 18,367 67,888
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock
TACs shown in this table.
Note: As established by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available
from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1,
respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in
this table.
Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC and Allocations for
Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and Offshore Components
Pacific cod fishing is divided into two seasons in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. For hook-and-line, pot, and jig
gear, the A season is January 1 through June 10, and the B season is
September 1 through December 31. For trawl gear, the A season is
January 20 through June 10, and the B season is September 1 through
November 1 (Sec. 679.23(d)(3)). After subtracting incidental catch
from the A season, 60 percent of the annual TAC will be available as a
DFA during the A season for the inshore and offshore components. The
remaining 40 percent of the annual TAC will be available for harvest
during the B season. The seasonal allocations will be apportioned
between the inshore and offshore components, as provided in Sec.
679.20(a)(6)(ii). Under Sec. 679.20(a)(11)(ii), any overage or
underage of the Pacific cod allowance from the A season may be
subtracted from or added to the subsequent B season allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires allocation of the TAC
apportionments of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component.
Table 7 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the final
2008 and 2009 Pacific cod TACs.
Table 7.--Final 2008 and 2009 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific cod TAC Amounts in the Gulf of
Alaska; Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component allocation
Season Regulatory area TAC -------------------------------
Inshore (90%) Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western................. 19,449 17,504 1,945
A season (60%)........................ ........................ 11,669 10,502 1,167
B season (40%)........................ ........................ 7,780 7,002 778
Central................. 28,426 25,583 2,843
A season (60%)........................ ........................ 17,056 15,350 1,706
B season (40%)........................ ........................ 11,370 10,233 1,137
Eastern................. 2,394 2,155 239
-----------------------------------------------
[[Page 10572]]
Total............................. ........................ 50,269 45,242 5,027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)
In a commercial fisheries news release dated December 11, 2007, the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced the opening of
directed fishing for DSR in the Northern Southeast Inside (NSEI) and
the Southern Southeast Inside (SSEI) Subdistricts of the Eastern Gulf
of Alaska at 900 hours, A.l.t., January 5, 2008. During the week of
January 21, 2008, ADF&G announced future openings of directed fishing
for DSR in the Southeast Outside District (SEO) following the
International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) annual meeting held
January 15-18, 2008. DSR harvest in the halibut fishery is linked to
the halibut quota, therefore ADF&G cannot estimate potential DSR
incidental catch in that fishery until those quotas are established.
NMFS reminds all fishermen that full retention of all DSR by federally
permitted catcher vessels using hook-and-line or jig gear fishing for
groundfish and Pacific halibut in the SEO District of the GOA is
required (Sec. 679.20(j)).
Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program
Sections 679.81(a)(1) and (2) require the allocation of the primary
rockfish species TACs in the Central Regulatory Area after deducting
incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish fisheries, to
participants in the Rockfish Pilot Program. Five percent (2.5 percent
to trawl gear and 2.5 percent to fixed gear) of the final TACs for
Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish in
the Central Regulatory Area are allocated to the entry level rockfish
fishery and the remaining 95 percent to those vessels eligible to
participate in the Rockfish Program. NMFS is setting aside in 2008 and
2009 incidental catch amounts (ICAs) of 200 mt of Pacific ocean perch,
100 mt of northern rockfish, and 100 mt of pelagic shelf rockfish for
other directed fisheries in the Central Regulatory Area. These amounts
are based on the 2003 through 2007 average incidental catch in the
Central Regulatory Area by these other groundfish fisheries.
Section 679.83(a)(1)(i) requires allocations to the trawl entry
level fishery to be made first from the allocation of Pacific ocean
perch available to the rockfish entry level fishery. If the amount of
Pacific ocean perch available for allocation is less than the total
allocation allowable for trawl catcher vessels in the rockfish entry
level fishery, then northern rockfish and pelagic shelf rockfish must
be allocated to trawl catcher vessels. Allocations of Pacific ocean
perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish to longline gear
vessels must be made after the allocations to trawl gear.
Tables 8 and 9 list the final 2008 and 2009 allocations of rockfish
in the Central GOA to trawl and longline gear in the entry level
rockfish fishery, respectively.
Table 8.--Final 2008 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to Trawl and Longline Gear\1\ in the Entry Level Rockfish Fishery
[Values are rounded to nearest mt]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental Entry level Entry level
Species TAC catch TAC minus 5% TAC 2.5% TAC trawl longline
allowance ICA minus ICA minus ICA allocation allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch........................................ 8,185 200 7,985 399 200 345 54
Northern rockfish.......................................... 2,408 100 2,308 115 58 0 115
Pelagic shelf rockfish..................................... 3,626 100 3,526 176 88 0 176
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 14,219 400 13,819 691 345 345 345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes jig and hook-and-line gear.
Table 9.--Final 2009 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to Trawl and Longline Gear \1\ in the Entry Level Rockfish Fishery
[Values are rounded to nearest mt]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incidental Entry level Entry level
Species TAC catch TAC minus 5% TAC 2.5% TAC trawl longline
allowance ICA minus ICA minus ICA allocation allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch........................................ 8,225 200 8,025 401 201 342 59
Northern rockfish.......................................... 2,302 100 2,202 110 55 0 110
Pelagic shelf rockfish..................................... 3,566 100 3,466 173 87 0 173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 14,093 400 13,693 685 342 342 342
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes jig and hook-and-line gear.
[[Page 10573]]
Halibut PSC Limits
Section 679.21(d) establishes the annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear and permits the
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In December 2007, the
Council recommended that NMFS maintain the 2007 halibut PSC limits of
2,000 mt for the trawl fisheries and 300 mt for the hook-and-line
fisheries. Ten mt of the hook-and-line limit is further allocated to
the DSR fishery in the SEO District. The DSR fishery is defined at
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has been apportioned 10 mt in
recognition of its small-scale harvests. Most vessels in the DSR
fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and are
exempt from observer coverage. Therefore, observer data are not
available to verify actual bycatch amounts. NMFS assumes the halibut
bycatch in the DSR fishery is low because of the short soak times for
the gear and duration of the DSR fishery. Also, the DSR fishery occurs
in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and
halibut.
Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. NMFS, after consultation
with the Council, exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ
hook-and-line gear fishery from the non-trawl halibut limit for 2008
and 2009. The Council recommended these exemptions because (1) the pot
gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 18
mt annually from 2001 through 2007); (2) the halibut and sablefish IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program
requires retention of legal-sized halibut by vessels using hook-and-
line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is aboard and is holding
unused halibut IFQ; and (3) halibut mortality for the jig gear
fisheries is assumed to be negligible. Halibut mortality is assumed to
be negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the small amount of
groundfish harvested by jig gear (averaging 323 mt annually from 2001
through 2006 and 51 mt through December 31, 2007), the selective nature
of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released
with jig gear.
Section 679.21(d)(5) gives NMFS the authority to seasonally
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council.
The FMP and regulations require the Council and NMFS consider the
following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits:
(1) Seasonal distribution of halibut; (2) seasonal distribution of
target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution; (3)
expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes
in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species; (4)
expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis; (5) expected changes in
directed groundfish fishing seasons; (6) expected actual start of
fishing effort; and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal
halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry.
The final 2007 and 2008 groundfish harvest specifications (72 FR
9676, March 5, 2007) summarized the Council and NMFS's findings with
respect to each of these FMP considerations. The Council and NMFS's
findings for 2008 and 2009 are unchanged from 2007. The opening dates
and halibut PSC limitations for vessels using trawl gear participating
in the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area are described in
the final rule to implement the Rockfish Program (71 FR 67210, November
20, 2006).
NMFS concurs in the Council's recommendations listed in Table 10,
which shows the final 2008 and 2009 Pacific halilbut PSC limits,
allowances, and apportionments. Sections 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv)
specify that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a
PSC limit will be deducted from or added to the next respective
seasonal apportionment within the fishing year. The information to
establish the halibut PSC limits was obtained from the 2007 SAFE
report, NMFS, ADF&G, the IPHC, and public testimony.
Table 10.--Final 2008 and 2009 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Season Amount ------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Amount Season Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1........... 550 (27.5%) January 1-June 250 (86%) January 1- 10 (100%)
10. December 31.
April 1-July 1............... 400 (20%) June 10- 5 (2%) ............... ..............
September 1.
July 1-September 1........... 600 (30%) September 1- 35 (12%) ............... ..............
December 31.
September 1-October 1........ 150 (7.5%) n/a............. n/a ............... ..............
October 1-December 31........ 300 (15%) n/a............. n/a ............... ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................... 2,000 (100%) n/a............ 290 (100%) ............... 10 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR)
fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The hook-and-line sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits.
Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual
apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during the fishing year and
optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the
halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC
limits are (1) a deep-water species complex, comprised of sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole and arrowtooth flounder; and
(2) a shallow-water species complex, comprised of pollock, Pacific cod,
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and
``other species'' (Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 11 lists the final
2008 and 2009 apportionments of Pacific halibut PSC trawl limits
between the trawl gear deep-water species complex and shallow-water
species complex.
[[Page 10574]]
Table 11.--Final 2008 and 2009 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-
Water Species Complex and the Shallow-Water Species Complex
[values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water
Season species Deep-water species complex Total
complex
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1............................ 450 100............................. 550
April 1-July 1................................ 100 300............................. 400
July 1-September 1............................ 200 400............................. 600
September 1-October 1......................... 150 Any remainder................... 150
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal January 20-October 1............. 900 800............................. 1,700
October 1-December 31 \1\..................... n/a n/a............................. 300
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................. n/a n/a............................. 2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery complexes during the 5th season (October 1-
December 31).
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data
collected by observers during 2007. The calculated halibut bycatch
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gear through December 8,
2007, is 1,922 mt, 271 mt, and 18 mt, respectively, and a total halibut
mortality of 2,211 mt.
Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2007 fishing year. Trawling during the second
season closed for the deep-water species category on May 17 (72 FR
28620, May 22, 2007), and during the third season on August 10 (72 FR
45697, August 15, 2007). Trawling during the second season closed for
the shallow-water species category on June 4 (72 FR 31472, June 7,
2007), and during the third season on August 10 (72 FR 45697, August
15, 2007). To prevent exceeding the fourth season halibut PSC limit for
the shallow-water species category, directed fishing using trawl gear
was limited to three 12-hour open periods on September 1 (72 FR 49229,
August 28, 2007), September 6 (72 FR 51717, September 11, 2007), and
September 11 (72 FR 52491, September 14, 2007), and to one 48-hour
period beginning September 21 (72 FR 54603, September 26, 2007).
Trawling for all groundfish targets (with the exception of pollock by
vessels using pelagic trawl gear) closed for the fifth season on
October 8 (72 FR 57888, October 11, 2007), reopened on October 10 (72
FR 58261, October 15, 2007) until October 15 (72 FR 59038, October 18,
2007), and reopened on October 22 (72 FR 60586, October 25, 2007).
Fishing for groundfish using hook-and-line gear has remained open
throughout 2007 as the halibut PSC limit was not reached. The amount of
groundfish that trawl gear might have harvested if halibut PSC limits
had not restricted the 2007 season is unknown.
Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks and Catch
The final 2008 and 2009 ABCs for pollock (in 2009), deep-water
flatfish, shallow-water flatfish, rex sole (in 2008), arrowtooth
flounder, flathead sole, Pacific ocean perch, rougheye, shortraker, and
other rockfish, and other skates are higher than those established for
2007. However, the final 2008 and 2009 ABCs for pollock (in 2008),
Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole (in 2009), northern, pelagic shelf,
thornyhead, and demersal shelf rockfish, and big and longnose skates
are lower than those established for 2007. For the remaining target
species, the Council recommended that ABC levels remain unchanged from
2007. More information on these changes is included in the final SAFE
report (November 2007) and in the Council, SSC, and AP minutes from the
December 2007 meeting available from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
In the GOA, the total final TAC amounts are 262,826 mt for 2008,
and 279,264 mt for 2009, a decrease of about 3 percent in 2008 and an
increase of about 3 percent in 2009 from the 2007 TAC total of 269,912
mt. Table 12 compares the final TACs for 2007 to the final TACs for
2008 and 2009.
Table 12.--Comparison of Final 2007 and Final 2008 and 2009 Total Allowable Catch in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species 2007 2008 2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................................................... 68,307 60,810 78,170
Pacific cod..................................................... 52,264 50,269 50,269
Deep-water flatfish............................................. 8,707 8,903 9,172
Rex sole........................................................ 9,100 9,132 8,468
Flathead sole................................................... 9,148 11,054 11,215
Shallow-water flatfish.......................................... 19,972 22,256 22,256
Arrowtooth flounder............................................. 43,000 43,000 43,000
Sablefish....................................................... 14,310 12,730 11,633
Pacific ocean perch............................................. 14,636 14,999 15,072
Shortraker rockfish............................................. 843 898 898
Rougheye rockfish............................................... 988 1,286 1,279
Other rockfish.................................................. 1,482 1,730 1,730
Northern rockfish............................................... 4,938 4,549 4,349
Pelagic shelf rockfish.......................................... 5,542 5,227 5,140
Thornyhead rockfish............................................. 2,209 1,910 1,910
Big skates...................................................... 3,544 3,330 3,330
Longnose skates................................................. 2,895 2,887 2,887
[[Page 10575]]
Other skates.................................................... 1,617 2,104 2,104
Demersal shelf rockfish......................................... 410 382 382
Atka mackerel................................................... 1,500 1,500 1,500
``Other species''............................................... 4,500 4,500 4,500
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 269,912 262,826 279,264
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
The most recent halibut stock assessment was developed by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) staff in December 2007
for the 2008 commercial fishery; this assessment was considered by the
IPHC at its annual January 2008 meeting. Information from ongoing
passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag recoveries, as well as
inconsistencies in the traditional closed-area stock assessments for
some areas has prompted the IPHC to reexamine the stock assessment
framework and corresponding harvest policy. It had been assumed that
once the halibut reached legal commercial size there was little
movement between regulatory areas. PIT tag recoveries indicate greater
movement between regulatory areas than previously thought. In response
to this new information, IPHC staff developed a coast-wide assessment
based on a single stock. The assessment recommends a coast-wide harvest
rate of 20 percent of the exploitable biomass overall, but a lower
harvest rate of 15 percent for Areas 4B, C, D, and E. The current
exploitable halibut biomass in Alaska for 2008 was estimated to be 361
million pounds, down from 414 million pounds estimated for 2007.
Approximately half of the decrease is due to changes in the assessment
model and the other half to anticipated lower commercial and survey
catch rates in 2008. The female spawning biomass remains far above the
minimum which occurred in the 1970s.
The halibut resource is fully utilized. Recent average catches
(1994-2006) in the commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska have averaged
33,970 mt round weight. Catch in waters off Alaska is 26 percent higher
than long-term potential yield for the entire halibut stock, reflecting
the good condition of the Pacific halibut resource. In January 2008,
the IPHC staff recommended Alaska commercial catch limits totaling
30,349 mt round weight for 2008, a 4 percent decrease from 31,667 mt in
2007. Through December 31, 2007, commercial hook-and-line harvests of
halibut off Alaska totaled 29,844 mt round weight.
Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may
be found in the IPHC's 2007 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December
2007), available on the IPHC Web site at http://
www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC considered the 2007 Pacific halibut
assessment for 2008 at its January 2008 annual meeting when the IPHC
set the 2008 commercial halibut fishery quotas.
Other Factors
The proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications (72 FR 68810,
December 6, 2007) discuss potential impacts of expected fishing for
groundfish on halibut stocks, as well as methods available for, and
costs of, reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
The Council recommends and NMFS concurs that the halibut discard
mortality rates (DMRs) recommended by the IPHC for the 2008 and 2009
GOA groundfish fisheries be used to monitor the 2008 and 2009 GOA
halibut bycatch mortality limits. The IPHC recommended use of long-term
average DMRs for the 2008 and 2009 groundfish fisheries. The IPHC will
analyze observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs where
a DMR shows large variation from the mean. Most of the IPHC's assumed
DMRs were based on an average of mortality rates determined from NMFS
observer data collected between 1996 and 2005. Long-term average DMRs
were not available for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent
years were used. For the ``other species'' and skate fisheries, where
insufficient mortality data are available, the mortality rate of
halibut caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was
recommended as a default rate. The GOA DMRs for 2008 and 2009 are
unchanged from those used in 2007. The DMRs for hook-and-line targeted
fisheries range from 10 to 14 percent. The DMRs for trawl target
fisheries range from 53 to 76 percent. Each DMR for the pot target
fisheries is 16 percent. The final halibut DMRs for vessels fishing in
the GOA for 2008 and 2009 are listed in Table 13. A copy of the
document justifying these DMRs is available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES) and is discussed in the final 2007 SAFE report, dated
November 2007.
Table 13.--Final 2008 and 2009 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortality
Gear Target fishery rate (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line.................... Other species........... 14
Skates.................. 14
Pacific cod............. 14
Rockfish................ 10
Trawl............................ Arrowtooth flounder..... 69
Atka mackerel........... 60
Deep-water flatfish..... 53
[[Page 10576]]
Flathead sole........... 61
Non-pelagic pollock..... 59
Other species........... 63
Skates.................. 63
Pacific cod............. 63
Pelagic pollock......... 76
Rex sole................ 63
Rockfish................ 67
Sablefish............... 65
Shallow-water flatfish.. 71
Pot.............................. Other species.......... 16
Skates.................. 16
Pacific cod............. 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing
sideboard limitations on AFA catcher/processors and catcher vessels in
the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests
of fishermen and processors who have not directly benefitted from the
AFA from fishermen and processors who have received exclusive
harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA. Section
679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA catcher/processors from harvesting
any species of fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(iv)
prohibits listed AFA catcher/processors from processing any pollock
harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish
harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
AFA catcher vessels that are less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA, have
annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands less
than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 groundfish landings from 1995
through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits under Sec.
679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels
in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in
groundfish fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii)
establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in the GOA based on
the retained catch of non-exempt AFA catcher vessels of each sideboard
species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that species over
the same period. The final 2008 and 2009 non-exempt AFA catcher vessel
groundfish harvest sideboard limitations are listed in Tables 14 and
15, respectively. All catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in Tables 14 and 15.
Table 14.--Final 2008 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
Limitations
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non- 2008 non-
Species Apportionments Area/ component exempt AFA CV 2008 TAC exempt AFA
by season/gear catch to 1995- catcher vessel
1997 TAC sideboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season, Shumagin (610). 0.6112 3,322 2,030
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.1427 6,215 887
March 10.
Kodiak (630)... 0.2438 3,069 748
B Season, March Shumagin (610). 0.6112 3,321 2,030
10-May 31.
Chirikof (620). 0.1427 7,576 1,081
Kodiak (630)... 0.2438 1,709 417
C Season, August Shumagin (610). 0.6112 5,480 3,349
25-October 1. Chirikof (620). 0.1427 2,695 385
Kodiak (630)... 0.2438 4,431 1,080
D Season, Shumagin (610). 0.6112 5,479 3,349
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.1427 2,695 385
November 1.
Kodiak (630)... 0.2438 4,431 1,080
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.3499 1,517 531
SEO (650)...... 0.3499 8,240 2,883
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\, W inshore...... 0.1423 10,502 1,494
January 1-June W offshore..... 0.1026 1,167 120
10.
C inshore...... 0.0722 15,350 1,108
C offshore..... 0.0721 1,706 123
B Season \2\, W inshore...... 0.1423 7,002 996
September 1- W offshore..... 0.1026 778 80
December 31.
C inshore...... 0.0722 10,233 739
[[Page 10577]]
C offshore..... 0.0721 1,137 82
Annual.......... E inshore...... 0.0079 2,155 17
E offshore..... 0.0078 239 2
Flatfish deep-water.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 690 0
C.............. 0.0670 6,721 450
E.............. 0.0171 1,492 26
Rex sole..................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0010 1,022 1
C.............. 0.0402 6,731 271
E.............. 0.0153 1,379 21
Flathead sole................ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0036 2,000 7
C.............. 0.0261 5,000 131
E.............. 0.0048 4,054 19
Flatfish shallow-water....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0156 4,500 70
C.............. 0.0598 13,000 777
E.............. 0.0126 4,756 60
Arrowtooth flounder.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0021 8,000 17
C.............. 0.0309 30,000 927
E.............. 0.0020 5,000 10
Sablefish.................... Annual, trawl W.............. 0.0000 378 0
gear.
C.............. 0.0720 1,100 79
E.............. 0.0488 267 13
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0623 3,686 230
C.............. 0.0866 8,185 709
E.............. 0.0466 3,128 146
Shortraker rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 120 0
C.............. 0.0237 315 7
E.............. 0.0124 463 6
Rougheye rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 125 0
C.............. 0.0237 834 20
E.............. 0.0124 327 4
Other rockfish............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0034 357 1
C.............. 0.2065 569 117
E.............. 0.0000 804 0
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0003 2,141 1
C.............. 0.0336 2,408 81
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0001 1,003 0
C.............. 0.0000 3,626 0
E.............. 0.0067 598 4
Thornyhead rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0308 267 8
C.............. 0.0308 860 26
E.............. 0.0308 783 24
Big skates................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0090 632 6
C.............. 0.0090 2,065 19
E.............. 0.0090 633 6
Longnose skates.............. Annual.......... W.............. 0.0090 78 1
C.............. 0.0090 2,041 18
E.............. 0.0090 768 7
Other skates................. Annual.......... GW............. 0.0090 2,104 19
DSR.......................... Annual.......... SEO............ 0.0020 382 1
Atka mackerel................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0309 1,500 46
Other species................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0090 4,500 41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
[[Page 10578]]
Table 15.--Final 2009 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
Limitations
[Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non- 2009 non-
Species Apportionments by Area/component exempt AFA CV 2009 TAC exempt AFA
season/gear catch to 1995- catcher vessel
1997 TAC sideboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock........................ A Season, January Shumagin (610)... 0.6112 4,472 2,733
20-March 10. Chirikof (620)... 0.1427 1,194
8,367
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2438 4,133 1,008
B Season, March Shumagin (610)... 0.6112 4,472 2,733
10-May 31.
Chirikof (620)... 0.1427 10,198 1,455
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2438 2,302 561
C Season, August Shumagin (610)... 0.6112 7,378 4,509
25-October 1. Chirikof (620)... 0.1427 3,628 518
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2438 5,966 1,455
D Season, October Shumagin (610)... 0.6112 7,378 4,509
1-November 1. Chirikof (620)... 0.1427 3,628 518
Kodiak (630)..... 0.2438 5,966 1,455
Annual........... WYK (640)........ 0.3499 2,042 714
SEO (650)........ 0.3499 8,240 2,883
Pacific cod.................... A Season \1\, W inshore........ 0.1423 10,502 1,494
January 1-June W offshore....... 0.1026 1,167 120
10.
C inshore........ 0.0722 15,350 1,108
C offshore....... 0.0721 1,706 123
B Season \2\, W inshore........ 0.1423 7,002 996
September 1- W offshore....... 0.1026 778 80
December 31.
C inshore........ 0.0722 10,233 739
C offshore....... 0.0721 1,137 82
Annual........... E inshore........ 0.0079 2,155 17
E offshore....... 0.0078 239 2
Flatfish deep-water............ Annual........... W................ 0.0000 707 0
C................ 0.0670 6,927 464
E................ 0.0171 1,538 26
Rex sole....................... Annual........... W................ 0.0010 948 1
C................ 0.0402 6,241 251
E................ 0.0153 1,279 20
Flathead sole.................. Annual........... W................ 0.0036 2,000 7
C................ 0.0261 5,000 131
E................ 0.0048 4,215 20
Flatfish shallow-water......... Annual........... W................ 0.0156 4,500 70
C................ 0.0598 13,000 777
E................ 0.0126 4,756 60
Arrowtooth flounder............ Annual........... W................ 0.0021 8,000 17
C................ 0.0309 30,000 927
E................ 0.0020 5,000 10
Sablefish...................... Annual, trawl W................ 0.0000 345 0
gear.
C................ 0.0720 1,005 72
E................ 0.0488 244 12
Pacific ocean perch............ Annual........... W................ 0.0623 3,704 231
C................ 0.0866 8,225 712
E................ 0.0466 3,143 146
Shortraker rockfish............ Annual........... W................ 0.0000 120 0
C................ 0.0237 315 7
E................ 0.0124 463 6
Rougheye rockfish.............. Annual........... W................ 0.0000 142 0
C................ 0.0237 830 20
E................ 0.0124 325 4
Other rockfish................. Annual........... W................ 0.0034 357 1
C................ 0.2065 569 117
E................ 0.0000 804 0
Northern rockfish.............. Annual........... W................ 0.0003 2,047 1
C................ 0.0336 2,302 77
Pelagic shelf rockfish......... Annual........... W................ 0.0001 986 0
C................ 0.0000 3,566 0
E................ 0.0067 588 4
Thornyhead rockfish............ Annual........... W................ 0.0308 267 8
C................ 0.0308 860 26
E................ 0.0308 783 24
Big skates..................... Annual........... W................ 0.0090 632 6
C................ 0.0090 2,065 19
[[Page 10579]]
E................ 0.0090 633 6
Longnose skates................ Annual........... W................ 0.0090 78 1
C................ 0.0090 2,041 18
E................ 0.0090 768 7
Other skates................... Annual........... GW............... 0.0090 2,104 19
DSR............................ Annual........... SEO.............. 0.0020 382 1
Atka mackerel.................. Annual........... Gulfwide......... 0.0309 1,500 46
Other species.................. Annual........... Gulfwide......... 0.0090 4,500 41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the
GOA are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt
AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997
divided by the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995
through 1997 (Sec. 679.64(b)(4)). Table 16 lists the final 2008 and
2009 non-exempt AFA catcher vessel halibut PSC limits for vessels using
trawl gear in the GOA.
Table 16.--Final 2008 and 2009 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Vessels using Trawl
Gear in the GOA
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non-exempt 2008 and 2009
Seasonal allowance Season Target fishery AFA CV retained 2008 and 2009 non-exempt AFA
catch to total PSC limit CV PSC limit
retained catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................... January 20-April 1......... shallow-water.............. 0.340 450 153
deep-water................. 0.070 100 7
2.................................... April 1-July 1............. shallow-water.............. 0.340 100 34
deep-water................. 0.070 300 21
3.................................... July 1-September 1......... shallow-water.............. 0.340 200 68
deep-water................. 0.070 400 28
4.................................... September 1-October 1...... shallow-water.............. 0.340 150 51
deep-water................. 0.070 0 0
5.................................... October 1-December 31...... all targets................ 0.205 300 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery from
using the increased flexibility provided by the Crab Rationalization
Program to expand their level of participation in the GOA groundfish
fisheries. These sideboard limits restrict these vessels' catch to
their collective historical landings in each GOA groundfish fishery
(except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also will
apply to catch made using a License Limitation Program (LLP) license
derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP
license is used on another vessel.
Sideboard limits for non-AFA crab vessels in the GOA are based on
their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered
by the GOA FMP. Section 680.22(d) and (e) base the groundfish sideboard
limitations in the GOA on the retained catch by non-AFA crab vessels of
each sideboard species from 1996 through 2000 divided by the total
retained harvest of that species over the same period. The 2008 and
2009 final GOA non-AFA crab vessel groundfish harvest sideboard limits
are listed in Tables 17 and 18. All targeted or incidental catch of
sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Tables 17 and 18.
Vessels exempt from Pacific cod sideboards are those that landed
less than 45,359 kilograms of Bering Sea snow crab and more than 500 mt
of groundfish (in round weight equivalents) from the GOA between
January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000, and any vessel named on an LLP
that was generated in whole or in part by the fishing history of a
vessel meeting the criteria in Sec. 680.22(a)(3).
[[Page 10580]]
Table 17.--Final 2008 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1996-
2000 non-AFA 2008 non-AFA
crab vessel crab vessel
Species Season/gear Area/component catch to 1996- 2008 TAC sideboard
2000 total limit
harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season, Shumagin (610). 0.0098 3,322 33
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.0031 6,215 19
March 10.
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 3,069 1
B Season, March Shumagin (610). 0.0098 3,321 33
10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.0031 7,576 23
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 1,709 0
C Season, August Shumagin (610). 0.0098 5,480 54
25-October 1. Chirikof (620). 0.0031 2,695 8
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 4,431 1
D Season, Shumagin (610). 0.0098 5,479 54
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.0031 2,695 8
November 1.
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 4,431 1
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.0000 1,517 0
SEO (650)...... 0.0000 8,240 0
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\, W inshore...... 0.0902 10,502 947
January 1-June W offshore..... 0.2046 1,167 239
10.
C inshore...... 0.0383 15,350 588
C offshore..... 0.2074 1,706 354
B Season \2\, W inshore...... 0.0902 7,002 632
September 1- W offshore..... 0.2046 778 159
December 31.
C inshore...... 0.0383 10,233 392
C offshore..... 0.2074 1,137 236
Annual.......... E inshore...... 0.0110 2,155 24
E offshore..... 0.0000 239 0
Flatfish deep-water.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0035 690 2
C.............. 0.0000 6,721 0
E.............. 0.0000 1,492 0
Rex sole..................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 1,022 0
C.............. 0.0000 6,731 0
E.............. 0.0000 1,379 0
Flathead sole................ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0002 2,000 0
C.............. 0.0004 5,000 2
E.............. 0.0000 4,054 0
Flatfish shallow-water....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0059 4,500 27
C.............. 0.0001 13,000 1
E.............. 0.0000 4,756 0
Arrowtooth flounder.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0004 8,000 3
C.............. 0.0001 30,000 3
E.............. 0.0000 5,000 0
Sablefish.................... Annual, trawl W.............. 0.0000 378 0
gear.
C.............. 0.0000 1,100 0
E.............. 0.0000 267 0
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 3,686 0
C.............. 0.0000 8,185 0
E.............. 0.0000 3,128 0
Shortraker rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0013 120 0
C.............. 0.0012 315 0
E.............. 0.0009 463 0
Rougheye rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0067 125 1
C.............. 0.0047 834 4
E.............. 0.0008 327 0
Other rockfish............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0035 357 1
C.............. 0.0033 569 2
E.............. 0.0000 804 0
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0005 2,141 1
C.............. 0.0000 2,408 0
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0017 1,003 2
C.............. 0.0000 3,626 0
E.............. 0.0000 598 0
Thornyhead rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0047 267 1
C.............. 0.0066 860 6
E.............. 0.0045 783 4
Big skate.................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0392 632 25
C.............. 0.0159 2,065 33
E.............. 0.0000 633 0
Longnose skate............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0392 78 3
[[Page 10581]]
C.............. 0.0159 2,041 32
E.............. 0.0000 768 0
Other skates................. Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 2,014 35
Demersal shelf rockfish...... Annual.......... SEO............ 0.0000 382 0
Atka mackerel................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0000 1,500 0
Other species................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 4,500 79
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Table 18.--Final 2009 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1996-
2000 non-AFA 2009 non-AFA
crab vessel crab vessel
Species Season/gear Area/component catch to 1996- 2009 TAC sideboard
2000 total limit
harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock........................ A Season, January Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 4,472 44
20-March 10. Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 8,367 26
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 4,133 1
B Season, March Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 4,472 44
10-May 31. Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 10,198 32
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 2,302 0
C Season, August Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 7,378 72
25-October 1. Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 3,628 11
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 5,966 1
D Season, October Shumagin (610)... 0.0098 7,378 72
1-November 1. Chirikof (620)... 0.0031 3,628 11
Kodiak (630)..... 0.0002 5,966 1
Annual........... WYK (640)........ 0.0000 2,042 0
SEO (650)........ 0.0000 8,240 0
Pacific cod.................... A Season \1\, W inshore........ 0.0902 10,502 947
January 1-June W offshore....... 0.2046 1,167 239
10.
C inshore........ 0.0383 15,350 588
C offshore....... 0.2074 1,706 354
B Season \2\, W inshore........ 0.0902 7,002 632
September 1- W offshore....... 0.2046 778 159
December 31.
C inshore........ 0.0383 10,233 392
C offshore....... 0.2074 1,137 236
Annual........... E inshore........ 0.0110 2,155 24
E offshore....... 0.0000 239 0
Flatfish deep-water............ Annual........... W................ 0.0035 707 2
C................ 0.0000 6,927 0
E................ 0.0000 1,538 0
Rex sole....................... Annual........... W................ 0.0000 948 0
C................ 0.0000 6,241 0
E................ 0.0000 1,279 0
Flathead sole.................. Annual........... W................ 0.0002 2,000 0
C................ 0.0004 5,000 2
E................ 0.0000 4,215 0
Flatfish shallow-water......... Annual........... W................ 0.0059 4,500 27
C................ 0.0001 13,000 1
E................ 0.0000 4,756 0
Arrowtooth flounder............ Annual........... W................ 0.0004 8,000 3
C................ 0.0001 30,000 3
E................ 0.0000 5,000 0
Sablefish...................... Annual, trawl W................ 0.0000 345 0
gear.
C................ 0.0000 1,005 0
E................ 0.0000 244 0
Pacific ocean perch............ Annual........... W................ 0.0000 3,704 0
C................ 0.0000 8,225 0
[[Page 10582]]
E................ 0.0000 3,143 0
Shortraker rockfish............ Annual........... W................ 0.0013 120 0
C................ 0.0012 315 0
E................ 0.0009 463 0
Rougheye rockfish.............. Annual........... W................ 0.0067 124 1
C................ 0.0047 830 4
E................ 0.0008 325 0
Other rockfish................. Annual........... W................ 0.0035 357 1
C................ 0.0033 569 2
E................ 0.0000 804 0
Northern rockfish.............. Annual........... W................ 0.0005 2,047 1
C................ 0.0000 2,302 0
Pelagic shelf rockfish......... Annual........... W................ 0.0017 986 2
C................ 0.0000 3,566 0
E................ 0.0000 588 0
Thornyhead rockfish............ Annual........... W................ 0.0047 267 1
C................ 0.0066 860 6
E................ 0.0045 783 4
Big skate...................... Annual........... W................ 0.0392 632 25
C................ 0.0159 2,065 33
E................ 0.0000 633 0
Longnose skate................. Annual........... W................ 0.0392 78 3
C................ 0.0159 2,041 32
E................ 0.0000 768 0
Other skates................... Annual........... Gulfwide......... 0.0176 2,104 37
Demersal shelf rockfish........ Annual........... SEO.............. 0.0000 382 0
Atka mackerel.................. Annual........... Gulfwide......... 0.0000 1,500 0
Other species.................. Annual........... Gulfwide......... 0.0176 4,500 79
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard Limitations and Halibut Mortality
Limitations
Section 679.82(d)(7) establishes sideboards to limit the ability of
participants eligible for the Rockfish Program to harvest fish in
fisheries other than the Central GOA rockfish fisheries. The Rockfish
Program provides certain economic advantages to harvesters. Harvesters
could use this economic advantage to increase their participation in
other fisheries, adversely affecting the participants in other
fisheries. The final sideboards for 2008 and 2009 limit the total
amount of catch that could be taken by eligible harvesters and limit
the amount of halibut mortality to historic levels. The sideboard
measures are in effect only during the month of July. Traditionally,
the Central GOA rockfish fisheries opened in July. The sideboards are
designed to restrict fishing during the historical season for the
fishery, but allow eligible rockfish harvesters to participate in
fisheries before or after the historical rockfish season. The sideboard
provisions are discussed in detail in the proposed rule (71 FR 33040,
June 7, 2006) and final rule (71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006, and 72 FR
37678, July 11, 2007) for the Rockfish Program. Tables 19 and 20 list
the final 2008 and 2009 Rockfish Program harvest limits in the WYK
District and the Western GOA. Table 21 lists the final 2008 and 2009
Rockfish Program halibut mortality limits for catcher/processors and
catcher vessels.
Table 19.--Final 2008 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western Regulatory
Area by the Catcher/Processor (CP) and Catcher Vessel (CV) Sectors
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CP sector CV sector 2008 CP 2008 CV
Management area Fishery (% of TAC) (% of TAC) 2008 TAC limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District........ Pelagic shelf 72.4 1.7 251 182 4
rockfish.
Pacific ocean 76.0 2.9 1,100 836 32
perch.
Western Regulatory Area...... Pelagic shelf 63.3 0.0 1,003 635 0
rockfish.
Pacific ocean 61.1 0.0 3,686 2,252 0
perch.
Northern 78.9 0.0 2,141 1,689 0
rockfish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 10583]]
Table 20.--Final 2009 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western Regulatory
Area by the Catcher/Processor (CP) and Catcher Vessel (CV) Sectors
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CP sector CV sector 2009 CP 2009 CV
Management area Fishery (% of TAC) (% of TAC) 2009 TAC limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District........ Pelagic shelf 72.4 1.7 247 179 4
rockfish.
Pacific ocean 76.0 2.9 1,105 840 32
perch.
Western Regulatory Area...... Pelagic shelf 63.3 0.0 986 624 0
rockfish.
Pacific ocean 61.1 0.0 3,704 2,263 0
perch.
Northern 78.9 0.0 2,047 1,615 0
rockfish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 21.--Final 2008 and 2009 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sectors
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual shallow- Annual deep-
Shallow-water Deep-water Annual halibut water complex water complex
Sector complex halibut complex halibut mortality limit halibut PSC halibut PSC
PSC sideboard PSC sideboard (mt) sideboard limit sideboard limit
ratio ratio (mt) (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor........................................ 0.54 3.99 2,000 11 80
Catcher vessel........................................... 6.32 1.08 2,000 126 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Alaska Amendment 80 Vessel Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits
on all Amendment 80 vessels, other than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE, to
amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679.
Sideboard limits in the GOA are for pollock in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas and in the WYK District, for Pacific cod gulfwide, for
Pacific ocean perch and pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western
Regulatory Area and WYK District, and for northern rockfish in the
Western Regulatory Area. The harvest of Pacific ocean perch, pelagic
shelf rockfish, and northern rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA is subject to regulation under the Central GOA Rockfish
Program. Amendment 80 vessels not qualified under the Rockfish Program
are excluded from directed fishing for these rockfish species in the
Central GOA. Under regulations, the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE is prohibited
from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch,
pelagic shelf rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA. These
sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen
who do not directly benefit from Amendment 80 from expansion into their
fisheries by the Amendment 80 participants.
Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 vessels operating in
the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 1998 to
2004. Tables 22 and 23 list the final 2008 and 2009 sideboard limits
for Amendment 80 vessels, respectively. All targeted or incidental
catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 vessels will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in Tables 22 and 23.
Table 22.--Final 2008 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Vessels
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
Amendment 80 2008
Apportionments sector Amendment 80
Species and allocations Area vessels 1998- 2008 TAC (mt) vessel
by season 2004 catch to sideboard
TAC limits (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 3,322 10
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.002 6,215 12
February 25.
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 3,069 6
B Season, March Shumagin (610). 0.003 3,321 10
10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.002 7,576 15
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 1,709 3
C Season August Shumagin (610). 0.003 5,480 16
25-September 15. Chirikof (620). 0.002 2,695 5
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 4,431 9
D Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 5,479 16
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.002 2,695 5
November 1.
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 4,431 9
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.002 1,517 3
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\, W.............. 0.020 11,669 233
January 1-June C.............. 0.044 17,056 750
10.
B Season \2\, W.............. 0.020 7,780 156
September 1- C.............. 0.044 11,370 500
December 31.
[[Page 10584]]
Annual.......... WYK............ 0.034 2,394 81
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.994 3,686 3,664
WYK............ 0.961 1,100 1,057
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 1.000 2,141 2,141
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.764 1,003 766
WYK............ 0.896 251 225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Table 23.--Final 2009 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Vessels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
Amendment 80 2009
Apportionments sector Amendment 80
Species and allocations Area vessels 1998- 2009 TAC (mt) vessel
by season 2004 catch to sideboard
TAC limits (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 4,472 13
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.002 8,367 17
February 25.
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 4,133 8
B Season, March Shumagin (610). 0.003 4,472 13
10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.002 10,198 20
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 2,302 5
C Season, August Shumagin (610). 0.003 7,378 22
25-September 15. Chirikof (620). 0.002 3,628 7
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 5,966 12
D Season, Shumagin (610). 0.003 7,398 22
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.002 3,628 7
November 1.
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 5,966 12
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.002 2,042 0
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\, W.............. 0.020 11,669 233
January 1-June C.............. 0.044 17,056 750
10.
B Season \2\, W.............. 0.020 7,780 156
September 1- C.............. 0.044 11,370 500
December 31.
Annual.......... WYK............ 0.034 2,394 81
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.994 3,704 3,682
WYK............ 0.961 1,105 1,062
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 1.000 2,047 2,047
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.764 986 753
WYK............ 0.896 247 221
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
The PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 vessels in the GOA are
based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 vessels in
each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004 (Table 38 to 50 CFR
part 679). These values are slightly lower than the average historic
use to accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC Cooperative
Quotas (CQs) under the Central GOA Rockfish Program and the exemption
of the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction. Table 24 lists the
final 2008 and 2009 halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 vessels.
Table 24.--Final 2008 and 2009 Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Amendment 80 Vessels in the GOA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic
Amendment 80 2008 and 2009
use of the 2008 and 2009 Amendment 80
Seasonal allowance Season Target fishery annual halibut annual PSC vessel PSC
PSC limit limit (mt) limit (mt)
catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................. January 20-April 1... shallow-water....... 0.0048 2,000 10
deep-water.......... 0.0115 2,000 23
2.................. April 1-July 1....... shallow-water....... 0.0189 2,000 38
[[Page 10585]]
deep-water.......... 0.1072 2,000 214
3.................. July 1-September 1... shallow-water....... 0.0146 2,000 29
deep-water.......... 0.0521 2,000 104
4.................. September 1-October 1 shallow-water....... 0.0074 2,000 15
deep-water.......... 0.0014 2,000 3
5.................. October 1-December shallow-water....... 0.0227 2,000 45
31.
deep-water.......... 0.0371 2,000 74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directed Fishing Closures
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Regional Administrator
determines (1) that any allocation or apportionment of a target species
or ``other species'' category allocated or apportioned to a fishery
will be reached; or (2) with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, that
an allocation or apportionment to an inshore or offshore component
allocation will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a
DFA for that species or species group. If the Regional Administrator
establishes a DFA and that allowance is or will be reached before the
end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that
species or species group in the specified GOA regulatory area or
district (Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
The Regional Administrator has determined that the following TAC
amounts in Table 25 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2008 and 2009 fishing years.
Table 25.--2008 and 2009 Directed Fishing Closures in the GOA
[Amounts needed for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in
metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target Area/component/gear Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel..................... all................. 1,500
Thornyhead rockfish............... all................. 1,910
Shortraker rockfish............... all................. 898
Rougheye rockfish................. all................. 1,286 (2008)
1,279 (2009)
Other rockfish.................... all................. 1,730
Sablefish......................... trawl............... 1,745 (2008)
1,595 (2009)
Big skates........................ all................. 3,300
Longnose skates................... all................. 2,887
Other skates...................... all................. 2,104
Pollock........................... all/offshore........ \1\ unknown
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pollock is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore
component under Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(i).
Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the
Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species or species
groups listed in Table 25 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for those
species, areas, gear types, and components in the GOA listed in Table
25. These closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2009.
Section 679.64(b)(5) provides for management of AFA catcher vessel
groundfish harvest limits and PSC bycatch limits using directed fishing
closures and PSC closures according to procedures set out at Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iv), 679.21(d)(8), and 679.21(e)(3)(v). The Regional
Administrator has determined that, in addition to the closures listed
above, many of the non-exempt AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits
listed in Tables 14 and 15 are necessary as incidental catch to support
other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2008 and 2009 fishing
years. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional
Administrator sets the DFAs for the species and species groups in Table
26 at zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS
is prohibiting directed fishing by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in
the GOA for the species and specified areas set out in Table 26. These
closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2009.
[[Page 10586]]
Table 26.--2008 and 2009 Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures for All Gear Types in
the GOA
[Amounts needed for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Regulatory area/district Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod............................ Eastern................................ 17 (inshore)
2 (offshore).
Deep-water flatfish.................... Western................................ 0.
Rex sole............................... Western................................ 1.
Flathead sole.......................... Eastern and Western.................... 19 and 7 (2008)
20 and 70 (2009).
Arrowtooth flounder.................... Eastern and Western.................... 17 and 10.
Northern rockfish...................... Western................................ 1.
Pelagic shelf rockfish................. Entire GOA............................. 0(W), 0(C), 4(E).
Demersal shelf rockfish................ SEO District........................... 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 680.22 provides for the management of non-AFA crab vessel
groundfish harvest limits using directed fishing closures in accordance
with Sec. 680.22(e)(2) and (3). The Regional Administrator has
determined that the non-AFA crab vessel sideboards listed in Tables 17
and 18 are insufficient to support a directed fishery and set the
sideboard DFA at zero, with the exception of Pacific cod in the Western
and Central Regulatory Areas. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
680.22(e)(3), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by non-AFA crab
vessels in the GOA for all species and species groups listed in Tables
17 and 18, with the exception of Pacific cod in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas.
Section 679.82 provides for the management of Rockfish Program
sideboard limits using directed fishing closures in accordance with
Sec. 679.82(d)(7)(i) and (ii). The Regional Administrator has
determined that the catcher vessel sideboards listed in Tables 19 and
20 are insufficient to support a directed fishery and set the sideboard
DFA at zero. Therefore, NMFS is closing directed fishing for pelagic
shelf rockfish and Pacific ocean perch in the WYK District and the
Western Regulatory Area and for northern rockfish in the Western
Regulatory Area by catcher vessels participating in the Central GOA
Rockfish Program during the month of July in 2008 and 2009. These
closures will remain in effect through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2009.
Under authority of the final 2007 specifications (72 FR 9676, March
5, 2007), pollock fishing opened on January 20, 2008, for the amounts
specified in that notice. NMFS has since closed Statistical Area 610 to
directed fishing for pollock effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 22,
2008 (73 FR 4493, January 25, 2008), until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10,
2008. NMFS closed Statistical Area 630 to directed fishing for pollock
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 22, 2008 (73 FR 4494, January 25,
2008), until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 25, 2008, and 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
January 27, 2008, until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 10, 2008 (73 FR 5128,
January 29, 2008). NMFS rescinds the closure in the Chiniak Gully
Research Area of the GOA to all commercial trawl fishing and testing of
trawl gear from August 1 to September 20, 2008 (73 FR 1555, January 9,
2008). NMFS prohibited directed fishing for species that comprise the
shallow-water species fishery by Amendment 80 vessels subject to
sideboard limits in the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 23,
2008 (73 FR 4760, January 28, 2008), until 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January
29, 2008 (73 FR 6055, February 1, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard
limits apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Western Regulatory Area of
the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 4, 2008, until September
1, 2008 (73 FR 7224, February 7, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for the A season allowance of the 2008 Pacific cod sideboard
limits apportioned to non-AFA crab vessels catching Pacific cod for
processing by the inshore component in the Central Regulatory Area of
the GOA effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 9, 2008, until September
1, 2008 (73 FR 8229, February 13, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for Pacific cod by vessels catching Pacific cod for processing
by the inshore component of the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA,
effective 12 noon, Alaska local time, February 20, 2008, through
September 1, 2008 (73 FR XXXX, February XX, 2008). While these closures
are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and
(f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These closures to directed
fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in
regulations at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS may implement other closures
during the 2008 and 2009 fishing years as necessary for effective
conservation and management.
Response to Comments
NMFS received two letters of comment (five comments) in response to
the proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications. These comments are
summarized and responded to below.
Comment 1: Explain why the catch specifications as reported in the
proposed harvest specifications published in the Federal Register do
not match the actual numbers discussed and recommended by the
Groundfish Plan Teams, Scientific and Statistical Committee, or the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council in December 2007.
Response: NMFS's primary objective in the harvest specifications
process is the conservation and management of fish resources. The
harvest specifications process was developed to balance the use of the
best available scientific information from the most recent Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports with the notice and
comment procedures required by the Administrative Procedure Act that
allow public participation in the development of rules for more
informed agency decision making. Chapter 3 of the Alaska Groundfish
Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement, January
2007, provides a detailed description of the harvest specifications
process and is available on the NMFS website at http://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/analyses/specs/eis/final.pdf.
As explained in the proposed harvest specifications, the Council
recommended the proposed harvest specifications for 2008 and 2009 in
October 2007. NMFS then published the proposed harvest specifications
in the Federal Register (72 FR 68810, December 6, 2007, and 72 FR
68833,
[[Page 10587]]
December 6, 2007). The Council used the best information available to
recommend that proposed 2008 and 2009 overfishing levels (OFLs),
acceptable biological catches (ABCs), and total allowable catches
(TACs) be set equal to the 2008 amounts previously published in the
Federal Register (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007, and 72 FR 9676, March 5,
2007). The proposed harvest specifications were based largely on
information contained in the 2006 SAFE reports for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2006, because the 2007 SAFE reports were not
completed until November 2007.
In November 2007, the 2007 SAFE reports were forwarded to the
Council by the Council's Groundfish Plan Teams. The 2007 SAFE reports
are available on the NMFS Web site at http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/REFM/
stocks/assessments.htm. The 2007 SAFE reports contain the best and most
recent scientific information on the condition of the groundfish
stocks, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed
distribution of stock biomass, and revised methods used to calculate
stock biomass. In December 2007, the Council developed recommendations
for the final harvest specifications based on the new information in
the 2007 SAFE reports, public testimony, and the Scientific and
Statistical Committee's reviews of the SAFE reports and
recommendations. NMFS reviewed the Council's final harvest
specifications recommendations and public comments on the proposed
harvest specifications, and determined that the final harvest
specifications (1) were set using the most recent scientific
information according to the harvest strategy, (2) are within the
optimum yield established for the GOA, and (3) do not exceed the ABC
for any single species or species complex.
Comment 2: Cut all quotas by 50 percent this year and by 10 percent
each year thereafter.
Response: The decisions on the amount of harvest are based on the
best available science and socioeconomic considerations. NMFS finds
that the ABCs and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of
the groundfish stocks as described in the 2007 SAFE reports and
approved by the Council. See response to comment 1.
Comment 3: It is difficult to understand the process in which NMFS
addresses the impacts of the Federal groundfish fisheries on the North
Pacific ecosystem. No existing National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
document adequately assesses the effects of the total allowable catch
levels under current circumstances. Removing millions of tons of fish
from the ecosystem using various types of gear, including trawl gear,
is likely to have significant effects on the environment, and on fish
habitat in particular. Given prevailing ecological and ecosystem
conditions and the implications of fishery removals, NMFS must prepare
an EIS to evaluate the impacts of the 2008 and 2009 harvest
specifications.
Response: NMFS analyzed the impacts of the Federal groundfish
fisheries on the North Pacific ecosystem in the Alaska Groundfish
Harvest Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement, January
2007. The EIS examined alternative harvest strategies and projected TAC
levels for the federally managed groundfish fisheries in the GOA that
comply with Federal regulations, the FMPs, and the Magnuson-Stevens
Act. The preferred harvest strategy prescribes setting TACs for
groundfish species and species complexes through the Council's harvest
specifications process.
Each year, NMFS and the Council utilize the best available
scientific information to derive annual harvest specifications, which
include TACs and prohibited species catch limits for the following two
years. The Council's Groundfish Plan Teams and Scientific and
Statistical Committee use stock assessments to calculate biomass,
overfishing levels, and ABC limits for each species or species group
for specified management areas. The annual SAFE reports include an
ecosystem considerations chapter which is used by the stock assessment
scientists in the development of the assessments and the recommended
ABCs. The SAFE reports detail how ecosystem considerations are
incorporated into the assessment process.
Overfishing levels and ABCs provide the foundation for the Council
and NMFS to develop the TACs. Overfishing levels and ABC amounts
reflect fishery science, applied pursuant to the requirements of the
FMPs. The TACs recommended by the Council are either at or below the
ABCs. The sum of the TACs for each area is constrained by the optimum
yield established for that area.
The EIS evaluated the consequences of alternative harvest
strategies and projected TAC levels on ecosystem components and the
ecosystem as a whole. Chapter 2 of the Groundfish EIS points to the
implications of overall declines in pollock and Pacific cod biomass,
discusses the resulting decreases in TACs for those species, and
identifies potential increases in flatfish TACs. These changes in
abundance and TAC levels were evaluated in the EIS. The EIS assessed
the environmental consequences of each alternative on target species,
non-specified species, forage species, prohibited species, marine
mammals, seabirds, essential fish habitat, ecosystem relationships, the
economy, and environmental justice. Ecosystem impacts were evaluated
with respect to predator-prey relationships, energy flow and balance,
and diversity.
NMFS also prepared a Supplemental Information Report to evaluate
the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS for the 2008 and 2009 groundfish
harvest specifications. The Supplemental Information Report is
available on the NMFS Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/analyses/
specs/eis/default.htm. A Supplemental EIS is required if (1) the agency
makes substantial changes in the proposed action that are relevant to
environmental concerns, or (2) significant new circumstances or
information exists relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on
the proposed action or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)).
In this report, NMFS analyzed the information contained in the
Council's 2007 SAFE reports and other information available to NMFS and
the Council to determine whether a Supplemental EIS should be prepared.
As described in the report, NMFS concluded that the 2008 and 2009
harvest specifications are consistent with the preferred alternative
harvest strategy analyzed in the EIS because they were set through the
harvest specifications process pursuant to the selected harvest
strategy, are within the optimum yield established for the GOA, and do
not exceed the ABC for any single species or species complex. The
preferred harvest strategy analyzed in the EIS anticipated that new
information on changes in species abundance would be used in setting
the annual harvest specifications and was designed to adjust to such
fluctuations.
As described in the Supplemental Information Report, the
information used to set the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications is not
significant relative to the environmental impacts analyzed in the EIS
and it raises no new environmental concerns significantly different
from those previously analyzed in the EIS. The harvest specifications
process and the environmental consequences of the selected harvest
strategy are fully described in the EIS. Thus, NMFS concluded that the
new information available is not of a scale and scope that would
require a Supplemental EIS.
[[Page 10588]]
Comment 4: NEPA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act require NMFS to
undertake a new, credible analysis of habitat and bycatch impacts
before raising flatfish quotas. The Essential Fish Habitat EIS and the
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications EIS are not sufficient to
evaluate the potential impacts, including bottom habitat impacts, of an
increase in the flatfish harvests, the use of bottom trawls, and
redistribution of fishing effort.
Response: NMFS has performed an appropriate analysis of the
potential impacts, including bottom habitat impacts, of an increase in
the flatfish harvests, the use of bottom trawls, and redistribution of
fishing effort. The Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS
(Groundfish EIS, January 2007) based its conclusions on the Final EIS
for Essential Fish Habitat Identification and Conservation in Alaska
(EFH EIS, April 2005, available on the NMFS website at http://
www.fakr.noaa.gov/habitat/seis/efheis.htm) analysis and on the
extensive habitat protection measures enacted after the EFH EIS was
finalized. The EFH EIS represents the best available science and fully
discloses the uncertainties in understanding the impacts of fishing on
EFH. The EFH EIS concludes that the effects on EFH are minimal,
although some may be persistent, because the analysis found no
indication that continued fishing activities at the current rate and
intensity would alter the capacity of EFH to support healthy
populations of managed species over the long term.
Due to the uncertainties identified in the EFH EIS, the Council
recommended, and NMFS implemented, precautionary measures to protect
nearly 300,000 square nautical miles of habitat identified as EFH and
habitat areas of particular concern from the effects of fishing
activities in the Aleutian Islands and GOA (71 FR 36694, June 28,
2006).
Additionally, the Council recommended habitat protection measures
for the Bering Sea under Amendment 89. Amendment 89, if approved by the
Secretary, would close portions of the Bering Sea to non-pelagic
trawling, including flatfish fishing, to ensure fishing remained in
historically fished areas and prevent substantial redistribution of
effort from increased TAC levels. This amendment and proposed rule is
scheduled to be published in the spring and, if approved, implemented
by fall 2008. A draft Environmental Assessment was prepared for that
action. It analyzes the impacts of bottom trawl gear on habitat in the
Bering Sea and the impacts from closing these specific areas to bottom
trawl gear. The draft Environmental Assessment is available on the NMFS
website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc/current_issues/BSHC/
BSHC307.pdf.
The Groundfish EIS projects increases in flatfish TACs under the
preferred harvest strategy and under Alternative 1. Chapter 2 of the
Groundfish EIS points to the implications of overall declines in
pollock and Pacific cod biomass, discusses the resulting decreases in
TACs for those species, and identifies potential increases in flatfish
TACs. Potential changes in flatfish TACs are evaluated in the EIS where
changes in flatfish harvests may impact resource components. For
example, there are discussions in Chapter 8 on marine mammals, Chapter
10 on habitat, Chapter 11 on ecosystem relationships, and Chapter 12 on
economic and social factors. For habitat, the EIS concluded that since
flatfish are harvested with bottom gear, the impacts to habitat may
increase with an increase in flatfish TACs. However, increased TACs may
not lead to proportionate increases in fishing activity or harvests, or
benthic habitat impacts. The flatfish fisheries routinely do not
harvest the full TAC because of halibut PSC constraints and limited
marketability for some flatfish species. The halibut PSC limits and the
marketability of some flatfish species, such as arrowtooth flounder,
are not likely to change in 2008. Due to these factors, actual flatfish
harvest in 2008 is likely to be lower than the predicted TAC amounts.
Additionally, the EFH conservation measures, closures of habitat
areas of particular concern, and other area closures and gear
restrictions established in the FMPs protect areas of ecological
importance to the long-term sustainability of managed species from
fishing impacts, regardless of the TAC levels.
Thus, NMFS concluded that the preferred harvest strategy impacts
EFH for managed species, but that the available information does not
identify effects of fishing that are more than minimal. An increase in
flatfish TACs would not change this conclusion because of the existing
habitat protection measures and limits on the actual flatfish harvests
that prevent the TACs from being fully harvested. Additionally, the
general location of the fisheries, the fishing seasons, and the gear
used in the fisheries are not likely to be changed by the 2008 and 2009
TAC changes.
Comment 5: Recent increases in the amount of bycatch in the Gulf of
Alaska pollock fishery from 2005 to 2006 require substantial analysis
not only focused on bycatch, but also focused on habitat impacts.
Response: The increase in incidental catch of groundfish and Tanner
crab from 2005 to 2006 is attributed to the increased use of bottom
trawl gear to target pollock and multiple species during a single trip
(pollock, flatfish, and Pacific cod for example). Catches of groundfish
remain generally well below the TAC levels previously analyzed for
their impacts on habitat. Estimates of incidental catch of Tanner crab
by a particular gear type and target fishery vary tremendously from
year to year. The incidental catch of Tanner crab in all of the GOA
groundfish fisheries combined decreased from 0.2 percent in 2005 to
0.14 percent in 2006.
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final specifications are consistent
with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable
laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS prepared a Final EIS for the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications and made it available to the public on January 12, 2007
(72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision
(ROD) for the Final EIS. In January 2007 NMFS prepared a Supplemental
Information Report (SIR) for this action. Copies of the Final EIS, ROD,
and SIR for this action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The
Final EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of the groundfish
harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources
in the action area. The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a
Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2008 and 2009 groundfish harvest
specifications.
A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns, or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Administrator, Alaska
Region, has determined that (1) approval of the 2008 and 2009 harvest
specifications, which were set according the preferred harvest strategy
in the Final EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; and (2)
there are no significant new circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its
[[Page 10589]]
impacts. Additionally, the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications will
result in environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and
disclosed in the Final EIS. Therefore, supplemental National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation is not necessary to
implement the 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications.
The proposed harvest specifications were published in the Federal
Register on December 6, 2007 (72 FR 68810). An Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared to evaluate the impacts on
small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the groundfish
fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska on small
entities. The public comment period ended on January 16, 2007. No
comments were received regarding the IRFA or the economic impacts of
this action. A Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) was
prepared that meets the statutory requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601-612). Copies of the IRFA
and FRFA prepared for this action are available from NMFS, Alaska
Region (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the FRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the
harvest of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the
status quo harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the Council's harvest specifications process and TACs
recommended by the Council. This action is taken in accordance with the
FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The directly regulated small entities include approximately 747
small catcher vessels and fewer than 20 small catcher/processors. The
entities directly regulated by this action are those that harvest
groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA, and in parallel fisheries within
State of Alaska waters. These include entities operating catcher
vessels and catcher/processor vessels within the action area, and
entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. Catcher vessels
and catcher/processors were considered to be small entities if they had
annual gross receipts of $4 million per year or less from all economic
activities, including the revenue of their affiliated operations. Data
from 2005 were the most recent available to determine the number of
small entities.
Estimates of first wholesale gross revenues for the GOA were used
as indices of the potential impacts of the alternative harvest
strategies on small entities. An index of revenues was projected to
decline under the preferred alternative due to declines in ABCs for key
species in the GOA. The index of revenues declined by less than 4
percent between 2007 and 2008 and by less than one percent between 2007
and 2009.
The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four
other alternatives. These included Alternative 1, which would have set
TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if
the full TAC were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the GOA
OY, in which case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3
would have set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent
five-year average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to
equal the lower limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5 would have set
TACs equal to zero. Alternative 5 is the ``no action'' alternative.
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all associated with smaller levels
for important fishery TACs than Alternative 2. Estimated total first
wholesale gross revenues were used as an index of potential adverse
impacts to small entities. As a consequence of the lower TAC levels,
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 all had smaller of these first wholesale
revenue indices than Alternative 2. Thus, Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 had
greater adverse impacts on small entities. Alternative 1 appeared to
generate higher values of the gross revenue index for fishing
operations in the GOA than Alternative 2. A large part of the
Alternative 1 GOA revenue appears to be due to the assumption that the
full Alternative 1 TAC would be harvested. This increased revenue is
due to increases in flatfish TACs that were much higher for Alternative
1 than for Alternative 2. In recent years, halibut bycatch constraints
in these fisheries have kept actual flatfish catches from reaching
Alternative 1 levels. Therefore, a large part of the revenues
associated with Alternative 1 is unlikely to occur. Also, Alternative 2
TACs are constrained by the ABCs the Plan Teams and SSC are likely to
recommend to the Council on the basis of a full consideration of
biological issues. These ABCs are often less than Alternative 1's
maximum permissible ABCs. Therefore higher TACs under Alternative 1 may
not be consistent with prudent biological management of the resource.
For these reasons, Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal
rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the Final EIS (see
ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness for this rule. Plan Team review occurred in November
2007, Council consideration and recommendations in December 2007, and
NOAA Fisheries review and development in January-February 2008. For all
fisheries not currently closed because the TACs established under the
2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications (72 FR 9676, March 5, 2007)
were not reached, the likely possibility exists that they will be
closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period
because their TACs could be reached. Certain fisheries, such as those
for pollock and Pacific cod are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other
fisheries, such as those for flatfish, rockfish, and ``other species,''
are critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TACs in these fisheries would cause disruption to the industry
and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards. Determining
which fisheries may close is impossible because these fisheries are
affected by several factors that cannot be predicted in advance,
including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks, and
market price. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a cascading
effect on other fisheries by freeing-up fishing vessels, allowing them
to move from closed fisheries to open ones, increasing the fishing
capacity in those open fisheries and causing them to close at an
accelerated pace.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 8,
2008, which is the start of the Pacific halibut season as specified by
the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not begin
concurrently with the Pacific halibut season. This would result in the
needless discard of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific
halibut as both hook-and-line sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed
under the same IFQ program. Immediate effectiveness of the final 2008
and 2009 harvest specifications will allow the sablefish fishery to
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut season. Also, the immediate
effectiveness of this action is required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery resources based on the best
available scientific information, and to give the fishing industry the
earliest possible
[[Page 10590]]
opportunity to plan its fishing operations. Therefore NMFS finds good
cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
The following information is a plain language guide to assist small
entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's
primary purpose is to announce the 2008 and 2009 final harvest
specifications and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish
harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during
the 2008 and 2009 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the FMP. This action affects all fishermen who
participate in the GOA fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC,
TAC, and PSC are provided in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and
information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen
should keep themselves informed of such closures.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., 3631 et seq.;
Pub. L. 108-447.
Dated: February 19, 2008.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, For Regulatory Services, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-3531 Filed 2-26-08; 8:45 am]
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