[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79620-79645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32848]
[[Page 79620]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111207737-1735-01]
RIN 0648-XA711
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Proposed 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2012
and 2013 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. 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: Comments must be received by January 23, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region,
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments on this document,
identified by NOAA-NMFS-2011-0228, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first click the ``submit a comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2011-
0228 in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on
from the resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on
that line.
Mail comments to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
Fax comments to: (907) 586-7557.
Hand deliver comments to the Federal Building at: 709 West
9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Supplementary
Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained
from http://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web site at
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2010 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the
GOA, dated November 2010, is available from the North Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907) 271-2809, or from the Council's Web
site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The draft 2011 SAFE
report for the GOA is available from the same source.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, (907) 481-1780, or Obren
Davis, (907) 586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801,
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
These proposed harvest specifications are based in large part on
the 2010 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). On December 8, 2011, the Council
considered the draft 2011 SAFE report as it developed its
recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 overfishing levels (OFLs),
acceptable biological catch (ABC) amounts, and total allowable catch
(TAC) limits. In addition to the proposed harvest specifications, this
proposed rule identifies anticipated changes to the proposed harvest
specifications that may result from the Council's review of the draft
2011 SAFE report.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the TACs for each target
species, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range
of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further
requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual
TACs, halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts, and seasonal
allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. The proposed harvest
specifications in Tables 1 through 21 of this document satisfy these
requirements. For 2012 and 2013, the sum of the proposed TAC amounts is
584,440 mt. Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2012
and 2013 harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received
within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council
at its December 2011 meeting, and (3) considering information presented
in the Final EIS (see ADDRESSES) and the final 2011 SAFE report
prepared for the 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries.
Other Actions Affecting the 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications
Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP
NMFS prepared a final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP,
which was published on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74670). Amendment 83
allocates the Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central regulatory
areas of the GOA among various gear and operational sectors, and
eliminates inshore and offshore allocations in these two regulatory
areas. These allocations apply to both annual and seasonal limits of
Pacific cod for the applicable sectors. These apportionments are
discussed in detail in a subsequent section of this proposed rule.
Amendment 83 is intended to reduce competition among sectors and to
support stability in the Pacific cod fishery. The final rule
implementing Amendment 83 limits access to the Federal Pacific cod TAC
fisheries prosecuted in State of Alaska (State) waters adjacent to the
Western and Central regulatory areas in the GOA, otherwise known as
parallel fisheries. Amendment 83 does not change the existing annual
Pacific cod TAC allocation between the inshore and offshore processing
components in the
[[Page 79621]]
Eastern regulatory area of the GOA. A full description of Amendment 83
is contained in the proposed rule for that action (76 FR 44700, July
26, 2011).
In the Central GOA, NMFS must allocate the Pacific cod TAC among
vessels using jig gear, catcher vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet (15.24
meters) length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or
greater than 50 feet (15.24 meters) length overall using hook-and-line
gear, catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hook-and-line gear, CVs using
trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. In the
Western GOA, NMFS must allocate the Pacific cod TAC among vessels using
jig gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear,
CVs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. Table 3 lists the
proposed amounts of these seasonal allowances. For the Pacific cod
sector splits and associated management measures to become effective in
the GOA at the beginning of the 2012 fishing year, NMFS intends to
publish a final rule in late December 2011 to revise the final 2012
harvest specifications for Pacific cod (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011).
If the implementation of Amendment 83 was delayed, NMFS would have
managed the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA with existing fisheries
management measures. The Pacific cod TACs would have been apportioned
among the inshore and offshore components in the Western and Central
GOA management areas, rather than among the various fishing sectors
described previously. The Pacific cod fishery would have been subject
to existing fisheries management measures until the approval and
implementation of the Pacific cod sector splits embodied in Amendment
83.
Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits Revisions
At its October 2011 meeting, the Council decided to pursue possible
revisions to the GOA halibut PSC limits through an FMP amendment and an
associated regulatory amendment. The alternatives being analyzed
include no change from the current halibut PSC limits, and reductions
of 5, 10, or 15 percent from the current halibut PSC limits apportioned
between trawl gear and hook-and-line gear. Apportionment of trawl PSC
limits between the deep-water and shallow-water fisheries, limits for
non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) CVs using trawl gear, Rockfish
Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P and CV sectors, and halibut PSC
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels could be affected. The Council
intends to schedule initial review and final action for the proposed
amendment during the first half of 2012 for implementation in the
latter half of 2012 or at the beginning of 2012, pending approval by
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary).
Pelagic Shelf Rockfish Species Group Revisions
At the October 2011 meeting, the Council recommended removing widow
and yellowtail rockfish from the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) species
group and including these two species in the ``other rockfish'' species
group. The remaining species in the PSR species group, dusky rockfish,
would be managed as a separate, individual species. Extensive GOA trawl
survey data and other information now exist that indicate dusky
rockfish does not generally share the same geographic distribution and
habitat with the other two PSR species, yellowtail and widow rockfish.
There has been no directed fishing for the ``other rockfish''
species group in many years, and present catches are all taken as
incidental catch in other directed fisheries. In these proposed harvest
specifications, the PSR species group would consist of a single
species, dusky rockfish.
NMFS intends to propose FMP and regulatory amendments to dissolve
the PSR species group and substitute a description of the dusky
rockfish target fishery, revise the description of the ``other
rockfish'' fishery in the FMP, and substitute dusky rockfish for PSR
throughout the regulations at 50 CFR part 679. The management measures
associated with PSR and dusky rockfish would be identical.
Based on the 2010 SAFE report this action would reduce the proposed
2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs for PSR by 121 mt and 91 mt, respectively.
NMFS proposes to add these amounts to the 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs
for ``other rockfish.'' These amounts are listed in Table 1.
Rockfish Program Renewal
The existing Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program will expire
December 31, 2011. For that reason, NMFS did not include 2012
allocations to the Rockfish Pilot Program in the final 2011 and 2012
harvest specifications for groundfish (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011).
NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 to the GOA FMP
on August 19, 2011 (76 FR 52148). If approved by the Secretary,
Amendment 88 would establish the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish
Program), which would be effective from January 1, 2012, through
December 31, 2021. This proposed program would allocate exclusive
harvest privileges to License Limitation Program (LLP) license holders
who used trawl gear to target Pacific ocean perch, PSR, and northern
rockfish during specific qualifying years. These are the three primary
rockfish species in the Rockfish Program.
The incidentally harvested groundfish taken in the primary rockfish
fisheries are allocated under the proposed Rockfish Program as
secondary species. The secondary species are Pacific cod, rougheye
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, and sablefish.
Also, the proposed Rockfish Program would allocate a portion of the
halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water species fishery
allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants.
The proposed Rockfish Program would allocate a fixed amount of the
trawl PSC allowance to the Rockfish Program: 117 mt to the CV sector
and 74 mt to the C/P sector. It also would permanently retire 27 mt of
the halibut PSC limit from being re-allocated to any fishery.
The proposed Rockfish Program would continue to assign quota share
and cooperative quota to participants for primary and secondary
species, allow a participant holding an LLP license with rockfish quota
share to form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allow
holders of C/P LLP licenses to opt-out of participating in a rockfish
cooperative on an annual basis. An entry level fishery for rockfish
primary species also would continue for vessels using longline gear.
Additionally, the proposed Rockfish Program continues to establish
sideboard limits to limit the ability of harvesters operating under the
Rockfish Program from increasing their participation in other, non-
Rockfish Program fisheries. This proposed rule includes those elements
of the proposed Rockfish Program which could be included in the final
2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for the GOA.
If Amendment 88 is not implemented or the implementation of the
Rockfish Program is delayed, the Central GOA rockfish fisheries would
be managed under applicable LLP groundfish regulations. These
regulations govern the general groundfish fisheries in the GOA, and
include permitting, recordkeeping, and other management requirements.
Rockfish cooperatives would not be permitted to form, and NMFS would
resume the management of the primary rockfish species allocated under
the Rockfish Program, rather than having cooperatives be responsible
for managing their cooperative quota. NMFS does not consider it likely
that
[[Page 79622]]
the implementation of Amendment 88 will be delayed. If implementation
were delayed into early 2012, the primary species managed under the
Rockfish Program could still be allocated and caught in 2012, as these
rockfish fisheries typically commence in the summer months.
Other Actions Affecting Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) in the GOA
NMFS has submitted Amendment 93 to the FMP for review by the
Secretary. NMFS has published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 93
(76 FR 77757, December 14, 2011). If approved, Amendment 93 would
establish an annual PSC limit of 25,000 Chinook salmon for the pollock
fisheries in the Central and Western GOA, increase observer coverage
requirements for vessels under 60 feet length overall until superseded
by pending changes to the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program,
and require full retention of all salmon taken in the Central and
Western GOA pollock fisheries until they can be counted and sampled.
The annual 25,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit would be apportioned between
the Western GOA (6,684 salmon) and the Central GOA (18,316 salmon).
If Amendment 93 is approved and implemented in 2012 prior to the
start of pollock C season on August 25, 2012, NMFS could establish a
Chinook salmon PSC limit in the C and D pollock seasons of 5,598 fish
in the Western GOA and 8,929 fish in the Central GOA. If the annual
Chinook salmon PSC limits are reached in either reporting area,
directed fishing for pollock in the applicable reporting area would be
closed for the remainder of the fishing year. However, if the
implementing rulemaking is not completed prior to the start of the
pollock C season, then NMFS would delay the establishment of Chinook
salmon PSC limits until 2013. Until the approval and implementation of
Amendment 93 occurs, there are no applicable Chinook salmon PSC limits
in effect in the GOA.
Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications
In October 2011, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed most recent
biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish
stocks in the GOA. This information was compiled by the Plan Team and
presented in the final 2010 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2010 (see ADDRESSES). The amounts proposed
for the 2012 and 2013 ABCs are based on the 2010 SAFE report, with the
exception of the PSR and ``other rockfish'' species group, as discussed
previously in the preamble. The AP and Council recommended that the
proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs be set equal to ABCs for all species and
species groups. The proposed ABCs and TACs could be changed in the
final harvest specifications depending on the most recent scientific
information contained in the final 2011 SAFE report. 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 OFL and ABC for each
species or species group.
In November 2011, the Plan Team updated the 2010 SAFE report to
include new information collected during 2011, such as NMFS stock
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team
compiled this information and produced the draft 2011 SAFE report for
presentation at the December 2011 Council meeting. The Council will
consider information in the draft 2011 SAFE report, recommendations
from the November 2011 Plan Team meeting and December 2011 SSC and AP
meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public comments in
making its recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications. Pursuant to section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the Council
could recommend adjusting the TACs if ``warranted on the basis of
bycatch considerations, management uncertainty, or socioeconomic
considerations, or if required in order to cause the sum of the TACs to
fall within the OY range.''
In previous years the largest changes from the proposed to the
final harvest specifications have been based on the most recent NMFS
stock surveys, which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and
spatial distribution, and changes to the models used for making stock
assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results,
changes to assessment models, and accompanying stock estimates at the
September Plan Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed this information at
the October 2011 Council meeting. In November 2011, the Plan Team
considered updated stock assessments for groundfish, which were
included in the draft 2011 SAFE report.
If the draft 2011 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the
proposed harvest specifications. The draft 2011 SAFE reports indicate
that the biomass trend for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, shortraker
rockfish, big skates, and sculpins may be increasing. Conversely, if
the draft 2011 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass trend is
decreasing for a species, then the final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications may reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest
specifications. The draft 2011 SAFE reports indicate that the biomass
trend for shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, flathead sole,
northern rockfish, rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish (dusky rockfish), thornyhead rockfish, longnose skates,
and other skates may be decreasing. The biomass trends for species not
listed above are relatively level and stable or cannot be determined.
The proposed ABCs and TACs are based on the best available
biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass
trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and
revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the
formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute ABCs and OFLs. The formulas
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the
level of reliable information available to the fisheries scientists.
This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers
to define OFL and ABC amounts, with tier one representing the highest
level of information quality available and tier six representing the
lowest level of information quality available.
The SSC adopted the proposed 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs
recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The Council
adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC
recommendations. These amounts are unchanged from the final 2012
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on March 1,
2011 (76 FR 11111), with the exception of certain species categories
that are discussed in the following section.
Comparison of Final 2011 TAC Amounts With Proposed 2012 and 2013 ABC
and TAC Amounts
The proposed 2012 and 2013 ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish,
flathead sole, and ``other rockfish'' are higher than the final harvest
specifications established for 2011. In contrast, the proposed 2012 and
2013 ABCs for Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder,
Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic
[[Page 79623]]
shelf rockfish are lower than those established for 2011. These
differences reflect the stock projections and trends made for these
species during the final GOA harvest specifications process in November
2010. For the remaining target species, the Council recommended and
NMFS proposes ABC levels that are unchanged from 2011. More information
on these changes is included in the final 2010 SAFE report (see
ADDRESSES). The most recent stock assessment information will be
included in the 2011 SAFE report, which will be available for Council
approval at its December 2011 meeting.
In the GOA, the total proposed 2012 and 2013 TAC amounts are
584,440 mt, an increase of 84 percent from the 2011 TAC total of
318,288 mt. As discussed below, the TAC increases proposed for 2012 and
2013 are due almost entirely to increases for flatfish species, ``other
rockfish'', and Atka mackerel. The following table compares the final
2011 TACs to the proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs.
Comparison of Final 2011 and Proposed 2012 and 2013 Total Allowable
Catch (TAC) Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2012 and
Species Final 2011 TACs 2013 TACS
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Pollock......................... 96,215 121,649
Pacific cod..................... 65,100 58,650
Sablefish....................... 11,290 10,345
Shallow water flatfish.......... 20,062 56,242
Deep-water flatfish............. 6,305 6,486
Rex sole........................ 9,565 9,396
Arrowtooth flounder............. 43,000 211,027
Flathead sole................... 10,587 50,591
Pacific ocean perch............. 16,997 16,187
Northern rockfish............... 4,854 4,614
Shortraker rockfish............. 914 914
Other rockfish.................. 1,195 3,842
Pelagic shelf rockfish.......... 4,754 4,347
Rougheye rockfish............... 1,312 1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish......... 300 300
Thornyhead rockfish............. 1,770 1,770
Atka mackerel................... 2,000 4,700
Big skates...................... 3,328 3,328
Longnose skates................. 2,852 2,852
Other skates.................... 2,093 2,093
Squids.......................... 1,148 1,148
Sharks.......................... 6,197 6,197
Octopuses....................... 954 954
Sculpins........................ 5,496 5,496
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Total....................... 318,288 584,440
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Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
The Council recommended proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs that are equal
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exception
of Pacific cod. The Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State's
Guideline Harvest Levels (GHL) for Pacific cod so that the ABCs are not
exceeded. The Council's rationale for increases for flatfish species,
``other rockfish'', and Atka mackerel TACs was that the sum of the
proposed TACs is well below the OY limit of 800,000 mt. In addition,
the Council noted that NMFS prohibits retention of a species when its
TAC is reached, even when ABC levels are significantly above TAC
levels. Public testimony indicated that the 2011 harvest of some
species, such as arrowtooth flounder in the Central regulatory area of
the GOA, were expected to close for directed fishing given the
relatively small 2011 TAC compared to the ABC. Therefore, an increase
in these TACs could help prevent regulatory discards. Testifiers also
noted that several of the current 2012 flatfish ABCs are significantly
higher than their respective TACs, which means that the TACs for these
flatfish species could be increased under the OY and the buffer
available between TACs and ABCs.
NMFS does not anticipate any difficulty managing the increased TACs
for flatfish, ``other rockfish,'' and Atka mackerel within bounds and
constraints of existing fisheries management measures applicable to
these GOA fisheries. NMFS believes that harvest of most GOA flatfish
species will continue to be constrained by halibut PSC limits and that
2012 harvests of these species will approximate 2011 harvests. In
addition, per its standard management practices, NMFS will continue to
assess whether the TAC established for each of these species will
support a directed fishery. If so, NMFS will then calculate a directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for a given species that is below the TAC. The
difference between TAC and the DFA is the amount that is available for
incidental catch of a particular species in other groundfish fisheries.
At its October 2011 meeting, the Council expressed an interest in
reducing the final 2012 and 2013 TACs for flatfish, ``other rockfish,''
and Atka mackerel to amounts consistent with the November 2011 SAFE
report and anticipated future harvests. This issue may be addressed at
the Council's December 2011 meeting.
The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect
the GHL established by the State for the Prince William Sound (PWS)
pollock fishery since its inception in 1995. Genetic studies revealed
that the pollock in PWS was not a separate stock from the combined W/C/
WYK population. Accordingly, the Council recommended decreasing the W/
C/WYK pollock ABC
[[Page 79624]]
to account for the State's PWS GHL. For 2012, the PWS GHL for pollock
is 2,7700 mt, per the recommendation of State of Alaska fisheries
managers.
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, and divided
equally among each of the following four seasons: The A season (January
20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C
season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1
through November 1) (50 CFR 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and (B)). These amounts are listed in Table 2.
The AP, SSC, 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 proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific
cod TACs are affected by the State waters fishery for Pacific cod in
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS. The Plan
Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and
Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC
recommendations. Accordingly, the Council recommended reducing the
proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs from the proposed ABCs for the
Eastern, Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State
GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs are less
than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 587
mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,121 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 6,842 mt. These
amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2012 and 2013 GHLs in these
areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western GOA
proposed ABCs. These are the same percentage amounts used to apportion
the Pacific cod ABCs to State waters GHLs that were used in 2011.
NMFS also is proposing seasonal apportionments of the annual
Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear from
September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1
through November 1 (Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments also
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available five
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl gear for
use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the
WYK District (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)). These amounts are listed in
Tables 4 and 5.
The sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 584,440 mt
for 2012 and 2013, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP.
The sums of the proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are higher than the final
2012 TACs currently specified for the GOA groundfish fisheries (76 FR
11111, March 1, 2011). The proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are higher for
shallow water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, other
rockfish, and Atka mackerel. The proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are lower
for rex sole and pelagic shelf rockfish, as a result of NMFS
incorrectly specifying the TAC for rex sole in the SEO District and the
assignment of widow and yellowtail rockfish from the pelagic shelf
rockfish species group to the ``other rockfish'' species group.
In the final 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1,
2011), NMFS incorrectly specified the 2012 ABC and TAC for rex sole in
the Southeast Outside (SEO) District as 889 mt. Based on the 2010 SAFE
report and the Council's recommendation for the 2012 rex sole TACs,
this action proposes to correct this amount to 869 mt. For 2012 and
2013, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes the ABCs and TACs
listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are
less than the specified overfishing levels. The sum of the proposed
2012 and 2013 ABCs for all assessed groundfish is 603,990 mt, which is
higher than the final 2011 ABC total of 590,121 mt (76 FR 11111, March
1, 2011).
Table 1 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area
apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. These amounts are consistent
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the
2010 SAFE report, and adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required
OY range. These proposed amounts are subject to change pending the
completion of the draft 2011 SAFE report and the Council's
recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications
during its December 2011 meeting.
Table 1--Proposed 2012 and 2013 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 \1\ OFL ABC TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\........................... Shumagin (610).......... n/a 34,932 34,932
Chirikof (620).......... n/a 48,293 48,293
Kodiak (630)............ n/a 26,155 26,155
WYK (640)............... n/a 3,024 3,024
W/C/WYK (subtotal)...... 151,030 112,404 112,404
SEO (650)............... 12,326 9,245 9,245
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 163,356 121,649 121,649
Pacific cod \3\....................... W....................... n/a 27,370 20,528
C....................... n/a 48,484 36,362
E....................... n/a 2,346 1,760
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 92,300 78,200 58,650
Sablefish \4\......................... W....................... n/a 1,484 1,484
C....................... n/a 4,343 4,343
WYK..................... n/a 1,818 1,818
[[Page 79625]]
SEO..................... n/a 2,700 2,700
E (WYK and SEO) n/a 4,518 4,518
(subtotal).
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 12,232 10,345 10,345
Shallow-water flatfish \6\............ W....................... n/a 23,681 23,681
C....................... n/a 29,999 29,999
WYK..................... n/a 1,228 1,228
SEO..................... n/a 1,334 1,334
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 67,768 56,242 56,242
Deep-water flatfish \5\............... W....................... n/a 541 541
C....................... n/a 3,004 3,004
WYK..................... n/a 2,144 2,144
SEO..................... n/a 797 797
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 8,046 6,486 6,486
Rex sole.............................. W....................... n/a 1,490 1,490
C....................... n/a 6,184 6,184
WYK..................... n/a 853 853
SEO..................... n/a 869 869
-----------------------------------------------
Total................... 12,279 9,396 9,396
Arrowtooth flounder................... W....................... n/a 33,975 33,975
C....................... n/a 143,119 143,119
WYK..................... n/a 22,327 22,327
SEO..................... n/a 11,606 11,606
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 248,576 211,027 211,027
Flathead sole......................... W....................... n/a 17,960 17,960
C....................... n/a 28,938 28,938
WYK..................... n/a 2,125 2,125
SEO..................... n/a 1,568 1,568
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 63,202 50,591 50,591
Pacific ocean perch \7\............... W....................... 3,068 2,665 2,665
C....................... 11,379 9,884 9,884
WYK..................... n/a 1,845 1,845
SEO..................... n/a 1,793 1,793
E (WYK and SEO) 4,188 3,638 3,638
(subtotal).
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 18,635 16,187 16,187
Northern rockfish 8,9................. W....................... n/a 2,446 2,446
C....................... n/a 2,168 2,168
E....................... n/a 0 0
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 5,498 4,614 4,614
Shortraker rockfish \11\.............. W....................... n/a 134 134
C....................... n/a 325 325
E....................... n/a 455 455
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 1,219 914 914
Other rockfish \9,12\................. W....................... n/a 224 224
C....................... n/a 566 566
WYK..................... n/a 283 283
SEO..................... n/a 2,769 2,769
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 5,002 3,842 3,842
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\........... W....................... n/a 558 558
C....................... n/a 2,791 2,791
WYK..................... n/a 372 372
SEO..................... n/a 626 626
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 5,266 4,347 4,347
Rougheye rockfish \10\................ W....................... n/a 81 81
C....................... n/a 868 868
E....................... n/a 363 363
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 1,579 1,312 1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish \14\.......... SEO..................... 479 300 300
[[Page 79626]]
Thornyhead rockfish................... W....................... n/a 425 425
C....................... n/a 637 637
E....................... n/a 708 708
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 2,360 1,770 1,770
Atka mackerel......................... GW...................... 6,200 4,700 4,700
Big skates \15\....................... W....................... n/a 598 598
C....................... n/a 2,049 2,049
E....................... n/a 681 681
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 4,438 3,328 3,328
Longnose skates \16\.................. W....................... n/a 81 81
C....................... n/a 2,009 2,009
E....................... n/a 762 762
-----------------------------------------------
Total................ 3,803 2,852 2,852
Other skates \17\..................... GW...................... 2,791 2,093 2,093
Squids................................ GW...................... 1,530 1,148 1,148
Sharks................................ GW...................... 8,263 6,197 6,197
Octopus............................... GW...................... 1,272 954 954
Sculpins.............................. GW...................... 7,328 5,496 5,496
-----------------------------------------------
Total............................. ........................ 743,422 603,990 584,440
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 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. Table 2 lists
the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the
Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod seasonal
apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2012 and trawl gear in 2013. Tables 4 and 5 list
the proposed 2012 and 2013 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\6\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to
the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
\9\ ``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), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\10\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\11\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District means slope
rockfish.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means, Sebastes variabilis (dusky).
\14\ ``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).
\15\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\16\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\17\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.
Proposed Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids,
sculpins, and octopuses in reserves for possible apportionment at a
later date during the fishing year. In 2011, NMFS apportioned all of
the reserves in the final harvest specifications. For 2012 and 2013,
NMFS proposes reapportionment of all the reserves for pollock, Pacific
cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses. Table 1
reflects the apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and
species groups. Each proposed TAC for the above mentioned species
categories contains the full TAC recommended by the Council, since no
reserve was created from the relevant species categories.
Proposed Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory
Areas, and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore
Components
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated between inshore and offshore processing 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
[[Page 79627]]
by Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through
November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). 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 2012 and 2013,
the Council recommends, and NMFS proposes, 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 2012 and 2013 fishing years. During the A season, the apportionment
is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of
pollock biomass of approximately 23 percent, 56 percent, and 21 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 23 percent, 67 percent, and 10 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 41 percent, 27 percent, and 32 percent in
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from,
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the
Regional Administrator (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount
is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for
the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent
limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those
statistical areas (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed pollock
TACs in the WYK District of 3,024 mt and SEO District of 9,245 mt for
2012 and 2013 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
subtraction of amounts that are projected by the Regional Administrator
to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to
directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of
pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for
processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken
as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species
other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed under
Sec. 679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts
of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year
as NMFS monitors the fishing activities in the offshore component.
Table 2 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal biomass
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas,
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown.
Table 2--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass
Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season \2\ Shumagin (Area 610)
Chirikof (Area 620)
Kodiak (Area 630) Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10)............................................ 6,186 (22.62%) 15,374 (56.22%) 5,783 (21.15%) 27,345
B (Mar 10-May 31)............................................ 6,185 (22.62%) 18,394 (67.26%) 2,765 (10.11%) 27,345
C (Aug 25-Oct 1)............................................. 11,280 (41.25%) 7,262 (26.55%) 8,803 (32.19%) 27,345
D (Oct 1-Nov 1).............................................. 11,280 (41.25%) 7,262 (26.55%) 8,803 (32.19%) 27,345
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total \3\......................................... 34,932 ........... 48,293 ........... 26,155 ........... 109,380
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ 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.
\3\ 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.
Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod
As previously discussed in the preamble, NMFS intends to publish a
final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP, with effectiveness
anticipated in January 2012. Amendment 83 allocates the Pacific cod
TACs in the Western and Central regulatory areas of the GOA among gear
and operational sectors. This rule also limits access to the Federal
Pacific cod TAC fisheries prosecuted in State waters, known as parallel
fisheries, adjacent to the Western and Central GOA. Per these sector
allocations, NMFS proposes allocations of the annual Pacific cod TAC
between the inshore and offshore components in the Eastern GOA;
seasonally between vessels using jig gear, CVs less than 50 feet in
length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than
50 in length overall using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line
gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using
pot gear in the Central GOA; and seasonally between vessels using jig
gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs
using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Western GOA. The
overall seasonal apportionments in the Western and Central GOA are 60
percent of the annual TAC to the A season and 40 percent of the annual
TAC to the B season. Absent implementation of Amendment 83 in 2011,
NMFS would continue to apportion Pacific cod in the Western and Central
management areas to the inshore and offshore components pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii), rather than to specific sectors.
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the
Pacific cod allowance
[[Page 79628]]
from the A season will be subtracted from, or added to, the subsequent
B season allowance. In addition, per the measures that will be
implemented by Amendment 83 to the FMP, any portion of the hook-and-
line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that are determined by NMFS
as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be reapportioned to other
sectors for harvest during the remainder of the fishery year.
NMFS proposes to calculate the 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TAC
allocations in the following manner, according to the anticipated
management changes that will be implemented by Amendment 83. First, the
jig sector would receive 1.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in
the Western GOA and 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the
Central GOA. The jig sector annual allocation would further be
apportioned between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) seasons.
Should the jig sector harvest 90 percent or more of its allocation in
an area during the fishing year, then this allocation would increase by
one percent in the subsequent fishing year, up to six percent of the
annual TAC. NMFS proposes to allocate the remainder of the annual
Pacific cod TAC based on gear type, operation type, and vessel length
overall in the Western and Central GOA. Table 3 lists the seasonal
apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific
cod TACs.
Table 3--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts to Gear
Types, Operational Types, and Vessel Length Overall in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska and Allocations
for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Season B Season
Annual ---------------------------------------------------------------
Regulatory area and sector allocation Sector % of Seasonal Sector % of Seasonal
(mt) annual non-jig allowances annual non-jig allowances
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA
Jig (1.5% of TAC)............... 308 N/A 185 N/A 123
Hook-and-line CV................ 283 0.70 142 0.70 142
Hook-and-line C/P............... 4,004 10.90 2,204 8.90 1,800
Trawl CV........................ 7,764 27.70 5,601 10.70 2,164
Trawl C/P....................... 485 0.90 182 1.50 303
All Pot CV and Pot C/P.......... 7,684 19.80 4,004 18.20 3,680
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... 20,528 60.00 12,317 40.00 8,211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA
Jig (1.0% of TAC)............... 364 N/A 218 N/A 146
Hook-and-line < 50 CV........... 5,257 9.32 3,354 5.29 1,903
Hook-and-line >= 50 CV.......... 2,414 5.61 2,019 1.10 395
Hook-and-line C/P............... 1,838 4.11 1,478 1.00 359
Trawl CV........................ 14,970 21.13 7,609 20.45 7,361
Trawl C/P....................... 1,511 2.00 721 2.19 790
All Pot CV and Pot C/P.......... 10,010 17.83 6,419 9.97 3,591
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... 36,363 60.00 21,818 40.00 14,545
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA..................... 1,760 Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
1,584
176
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 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 five percent
is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern
GOA may only be used to support incidental catch of sablefish in
directed fisheries for other target species (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)). In
recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of the Eastern
Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes the
allocation of five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area
sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District making the remainder of
the WYK sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. As
a result, NMFS proposes to allocate 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in
the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This
recommendation results in a proposed 2012 allocation of 226 mt to trawl
gear and 4,292 mt to hook-and-line gear in the Eastern GOA. Table 4
lists the allocations of the proposed 2011 sablefish TACs to hook-and-
line and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2013
sablefish TACs to trawl 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. The Council also
recommended that only the trawl sablefish TAC be established for two
years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear
could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest
specifications. However, since there is an annual NMFS survey and
assessment for sablefish and the final harvest specifications are
expected to be published before the IFQ season begins (typically, in
early March), the Council recommended that the sablefish TAC be
[[Page 79629]]
set on an annual basis so that the best and most recent scientific
information could be considered in recommending the ABCs and TACs.
Since sablefish is closed for directed fishing for trawl gear during
the entire fishing year, except those vessels that were provided the
Rockfish Program cooperative allocations, and given that fishing for
groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 20, it is not
likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached
before the effective date of the final harvest specifications.
Table 4--Proposed 2012 Sablefish TAC Amounts 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
Area/District TAC allocation Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.............................. 1,484 1,187 297
Central.............................. 4,343 3,474 869
West Yakutat \1\..................... 1,818 1,457 361
Southeast Outside.................... 2,700 2,700 0
Total............................ 10,345 8,818 1,527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area
(West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
district.
Table 5--Proposed 2013 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line
Area/District TAC allocation Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.............................. 1,484 n/a 297
Central.............................. 4,343 n/a 869
West Yakutat \2\..................... 1,818 n/a 361
Southeast Outside.................... 2,700 n/a 0
Total............................ 10,345 n/a 1,527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing
Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area
(West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
district.
Proposed Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Program
Amendment 88 to the FMP would reauthorize the Central GOA Rockfish
Program (Rockfish Program). As discussed previously in the preamble,
NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 on August 19,
2011 (76 FR 52148), with anticipated effectiveness in 2012. If approved
by the Secretary, NMFS would allocate the primary rockfish species
(Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish),
after deducting for incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish
fisheries, to participants in the Rockfish Program. Potential
participants in the proposed Rockfish Program include vessels in CV
cooperatives, C/P cooperatives, and vessels in the entry-level longline
category. Additionally, C/Ps may elect to opt out of the Rockfish
Program. Absent implementation of Amendment 88, NMFS would manage the
rockfish fisheries in the Central GOA management area under regulations
in effect for the other GOA groundfish fisheries managed under the LLP,
including permitting requirements at Sec. 679.4(k) and general
limitations at Sec. 679.20.
NMFS proposes to allocate 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of
northern rockfish, and 30 mt of PSR to the entry level longline fishery
in 2012 and 2013. Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and
handline gear. The remainder of the TACs for the primary rockfish
species would be allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. The
allocation for the entry level longline fishery would increase
incrementally each year if the sector harvests 90 percent or more of
the allocation of a species. The incremental increase in the allocation
would continue each year until it reaches the cap for the maximum
percent of the TAC for that species. Table 6 lists the proposed 2012
and 2013 allocations for each rockfish primary species to the entry
level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future years, and
the cap for the entry level longline fishery.
Table 6--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Rockfish to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in the Central Gulf
of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incremental increase per
Proposed 2012 and 2013 season if >= 90 percent Up to maximum
Rockfish primary species allocations of allocation is percent of TAC
harvested
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.................... 5 metric tons............ 5 metric tons............ 1
Northern rockfish...................... 5 metric tons............ 5 metric tons............ 2
Pelagic shelf rockfish................. 30 metric tons........... 20 metric tons........... 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NMFS proposes allocations of primary rockfish species among various
components of the proposed Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the proposed
2012 and 2013 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA to longline
gear in the
[[Page 79630]]
entry level rockfish fishery and other participants in the proposed
program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS also proposes
setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other directed
fisheries in the Central GOA of 700 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 125 mt
of northern rockfish, and 125 mt of PSR. These amounts are based on
recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other
groundfish fisheries. Allocations between vessels belonging to CV or C/
P cooperatives are not included in these proposed harvest
specifications. Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives, C/P
cooperatives, and C/Ps electing to opt out of the program are not due
to NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year, thereby preventing NMFS
from calculating 2012 and 2013 allocations in conjunction with these
proposed harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on
the Alaska Region Web site at (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when they become available
after March 1.
Table 7--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry-Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the
Rockfish Program
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial
allocation to Other rockfish
Species TAC Incidental catch TAC minus ICA the entry level program
allowance longline \1\ participants \2\
fishery allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch........................................... 9,884 700 9,184 5 9,179
Northern rockfish............................................. 2,168 125 2,043 5 2,038
Pelagic shelf rockfish........................................ 2,791 125 2,666 30 2,636
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 14,843 700 13,893 40 13,853
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
\2\ Other Rockfish Program participants include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.
Amendment 88, if approved, would also allocate secondary species to
the Rockfish Program in the Central GOA. These species include
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, thornyhead rockfish, Pacific
cod for the CV cooperatives, and rougheye and shortraker rockfish for
the C/P cooperatives. Table 8 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013
apportionments of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA to CV
and C/P cooperatives.
Table 8--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to CV and C/P Cooperatives
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CV cooperatives C/P cooperatives
Central GOA -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Species annual TAC Percentage of Apportionment Percentage of Apportionment
TAC (mt) TAC (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod................................................... 32,362 3.81 1,385 N/A N/A
Sablefish (trawl)............................................. 869 6.78 59 3.51 31
Shortraker rockfish........................................... 325 N/A N/A 40.00 130
Rougheye rockfish............................................. 868 N/A N/A 58.87 511
Thornyhead rockfish........................................... 637 7.84 50 26.50 169
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits
Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and permits the
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In October 2011, the
Council recommended that NMFS maintain the 2011 halibut PSC limits of
2,000 mt for trawl gear and 300 mt for hook-and-line gear for the 2012
and 2013 groundfish fisheries. As discussed previously in this
preamble, the Council may take action to modify the GOA halibut PSC
limits in 2012, which may lead to adjustments or reductions to the
halibut PSC limits proposed in this action either in the latter half of
2012 or at the beginning of 2013.
Ten mt of the 300 mt hook-and-line limit is further allocated to
the demersal shelf rockfish (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
and are exempt from observer coverage. Therefore, observer data are not
available to verify actual bycatch amounts. NMFS estimates low halibut
bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR
fisheries and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs
in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and
halibut, and, (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR
TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the GHL for the DSR
fishery after estimates of incidental catch in all fisheries (including
halibut and subsistence) and allocation to the sport fish fishery have
been deducted. Of the 295 mt TAC for DSR in 2010, 89 mt were available
for the directed commercial fishery, of which 22 mt were harvested.
The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the
halibut PSC limit. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2012 and
2013. The Council recommended and NMFS is proposing these exemptions
because (1) pot gear
[[Page 79631]]
fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 19 mt
annually from 2001 through 2010), (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit
discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds
unused halibut IFQ (Sec. 679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen
typically hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain
the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS
estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS
estimates halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries
given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear (averaging
293 mt annually from 2001 through 2010), the selective nature of jig
gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released with
jig gear.
Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the
halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and
regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following
information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal
distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish
species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch
needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and
expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates
on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7)
economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on
segments of the target groundfish industry.
The final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March
1, 2011) summarized the Council's and NMFS' findings with respect to
halibut PSC for each of these FMP considerations. The Council's and
NMFS' findings for 2012 and 2013 are unchanged from 2011. Table 9 lists
the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and
apportionments. Section 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.
Table 9--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
[Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Season Percent Amount ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Percent Amount Season Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1................... 27.5 550 January 1-June 10....... 86 250 January 1-December 31.. 10
April 1-July 1....................... 20 400 June 10-September 1..... 2 5 ....................... .........
July 1-September 1................... 30 600 September 1-December 31. 12 35 ....................... .........
September 1-October 1................ 7.5 150 ........................ ........... ........... ....................... .........
October 1-December 31................ 15 300 ........................ ........... ........... ....................... .........
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ ............ 2,000 ........................ ........... 290 ....................... 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.
Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual
apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during a fishing year and
optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the
halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC
limits are (1) a deep-water species category, composed of sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and
(2) a shallow-water species category, composed of pollock, Pacific cod,
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, sharks,
squids, sculpins, and octopuses (Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10
lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal apportionments of Pacific
halibut PSC trawl limits between the deep-water and the shallow-water
species categories. Based on public comment and information presented
in the final 2011 SAFE report, the Council may recommend or NMFS may
make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category
apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications.
Table 10--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between
the Trawl Gear Shallow-Water Species and Deep-Water Species Categories
([Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season Shallow-water Deep-water \1\ Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
[[Page 79632]]
October 1-December 31 \2\................ ................ ................................. 300
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................ ................ ................................. 2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program will receive a portion
of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deep-water category halibut PSC apportionment. This amount is
not currently known but will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov when
it becomes available.
\2\ There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl fishery categories during the fifth
season (October 1 through December 31).
According to the provisions of Amendment 83 to the FMP, the pending
action that establishes Pacific cod sector splits, the ``other than
DSR'' halibut PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear
must be apportioned between CVs and C/Ps. To calculate the halibut PSC
apportionments to the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors annually, NMFS
must first scale the total hook-and-line CV and C/P percentage sector
allocations in proportion to the relative size of the Pacific cod TAC
area apportionments on an annual basis. This is because the Pacific cod
TAC allocations to each regulatory area may change depending on the
stock status in each area, as determined by the biennial surveys. NMFS
proposes to apportion the GOA hook-and-line halibut PSC limit for the
``other than DSR'' category to the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors in
proportion to the scaled hook-and-line sector allocations. These sum to
10.4 percent to the hook-and-line C/P sector and 14.1 percent to the
hook-and-line CV sector in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas in
the GOA, as explained in the final rule associated with Amendment 83
(76 FR 74760, December 1, 2011).
Ten mt of the overall 300 mt hook-and-line PSC limit is allocated
to the DSR fishery, leaving 290 mt to be allocated between the hook-
and-line CVs and C/Ps. To calculate the annual hook-and-line
allocations of the PSC limit, NMFS would multiply the scaled annual
allocations of TAC by the 290 mt ``non-demersal shelf rockfish'' hook-
and-line PSC limit. For 2012 and 2013 NMFS proposes that hook-and-line
CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors receive annual halibut PSC limits of
167 mt and 123 mt, respectively. In addition, these annual limits are
divided between three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal
percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. These annual
limits and seasonal apportionments are shown in Table 11.
No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS would calculate the
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the hook-and-
line sectors for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount
of halibut PSC limit would be made available to the other hook-and-line
sector for the remainder of that fishing year.
Table 11--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Hook-and-Line (HAL) Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits and Seasonal Apportionments by Sectors for the Gulf
of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1 percent]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relative percent
Operational type Sum of percent between C/P and Annual PSC limit 1st Season PSC 2nd Season PSC 3rd Season PSC
CV limit limit limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAL C/P..................................... 10.4 42.4 123 106 2 15
HAL CV...................................... 14.1 57.6 167 144 3 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rockfish Program, if approved, would require NMFS to allocate a
fixed amount of the halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment to the
deep-water species category to participants in the Rockfish Program.
This amount is based on 87.5 percent of the 2000 through 2006 average
halibut mortality usage of 218.8 mt. Of this amount, 134.1 mt of the
halibut PSC is proposed to be allocated to the CV sector and 84.7 mt is
proposed to be allocated to the C/P sector. Additionally, 27.4 mt (16.8
mt from the CV sector and 10.6 mt from the C/P sector) would be
permanently removed from the annual apportionment for fisheries using
trawl gear in the GOA. This would result in 117.3 mt of halibut PSC
limit being available for use in the Rockfish Program by the CV sector
and 74.1 mt available for use by the C/P sector.
NMFS anticipates that additional halibut PSC limits for the
Rockfish Program will be implemented by Amendment 88. The proposed
regulations associated with the reauthorized Rockfish Program (76 FR
52148, August 19, 2011) would limit the amount of the halibut PSC limit
allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-apportioned
to the general GOA trawl fisheries. This would restrict halibut PSC
limit reallocation to the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries from the
Rockfish Program to no more than 55 percent of the unused annual
halibut PSC apportioned to Rockfish Program participants. The remainder
of the unused Rockfish Program halibut PSC limit would be unavailable
for use by vessels directed fishing with trawl gear for the remainder
of the fishing year. The pending final rule associated with the
implementation of Amendment 88 does not change the halibut PSC limits
described in the proposed rule for Amendment 88.
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data
collected by observers during 2011. The calculated halibut bycatch
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gears through October 1,
2011, is 1,319 mt, 185 mt, and 50 mt, respectively, for a
[[Page 79633]]
total halibut mortality of 1,554 mt. This halibut mortality was
calculated using groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska
Region's catch accounting system. This system contains historical and
recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery.
Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2011 fishing year. Table 12 displays the closure
dates for fisheries that resulted from the attainment of seasonal or
annual halibut PSC limits. NMFS does not know the amount of groundfish
that trawl gear might have harvested if halibut PSC limits had not
restricted some 2011 GOA groundfish fisheries.
Table 12--2011 Fishery Closures Due to Attainment of Pacific Halibut PSC Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federal Register
Fishery category Opening date Closure date Citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl Deep-water, season 2........... January 20, 2011....... April 22, 2011......... 76 FR 23511, April 27,
2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4..... September 1, 2011...... September 3, 2011...... 76 FR 55276, September
7, 2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4..... September 14, 2011..... September 16, 2011..... 76 FR 57679, September
16, 2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4..... September 20, 2011..... Remained open through .......................
end of season 4,
October 1, 2011.
Hook-and-line gear, all targets.\2\.. January 1, 2011........ Remains open. .......................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ With the exception of vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program and vessels fishing for
pollock using pelagic trawl gear.
\2\ With the exception of the IFQ sablefish fishery, which is open March 12, 2011, through November 18, 2011.
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 2010
for the 2011 commercial fishery; this assessment was considered by the
IPHC at its annual meeting in January 2011. Since 2006, the IPHC stock
assessment has been fitted to a coastwide data set (including the
United States and Canada) to estimate total biomass. Coastwide total
halibut biomass at the beginning of 2011 was estimated to be 317
million pounds (143,790 mt), down from 334 million pounds (151,500 mt)
in 2010. The coastwide total halibut biomass was apportioned among
regulatory areas in accordance with survey estimates of relative
abundance and other considerations.
The halibut resource is fully utilized. Recent catches in the
commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska over the last 17 years (1994-
2010) have averaged 32,336 mt round weight per year. In January 2011,
the IPHC recommended Alaska commercial catch limits totaling 19,662 mt
for 2011, a 25 percent decrease from 24,372 mt in 2010. Through
December 31, 2010, commercial hook-and-line harvests of halibut off
Alaska totaled 24,118 mt round weight.
The IPHC and its staff have expressed concerns that the IPHC's Slow
Up-Fast Down (SUFD) harvest policy adjustments, which applied a policy
of a 33 percent increase from the previous year's catch limit and a 50
percent decrease in recommended catch, have not achieved target harvest
rate goals due to continued stock declines, decreases in halibut growth
rate, and a recent history of high exploitation rates in some areas.
The IPHC adopted the staff's recommendation that the SUFD policy be
modified to a ``Slow Up-Full Down (SUFullD)'' policy to achieve the
necessary reductions in harvest rate and promote increases in total
halibut biomass. The SUFullD policy incorporates the existing policy of
a 33 percent increase from the previous year's catch limits when stock
yields are expected to increase but uses a 100 percent decrease in
recommended catch when stock yields are projected to decrease.
The largest decreases in the 2011 catch limit recommendations in
Alaska are for Area 2C, down from 2,661 mt round weight in 2010 to
1,409 mt round weight in 2011 (the decline is primarily the result of
the application of the SUFullD harvest policy adjustment), and, for
Areas 3A and 3B combined, down from 18,077 mt round weight in 2010 to
13,233 mt round weight in 2011 (the decline is primarily due to a
decline in estimated total halibut biomass).
Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may
be found in the IPHC's 2010 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December
2010), available on the IPHC Web site at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC will consider the 2011 Pacific
halibut assessment at its January 2012 annual meeting when it will set
the 2012 commercial halibut fishery catch limits.
Other Considerations Associated With Halibut PSC
The IPHC will adjust the allowable commercial catch of halibut to
account for the overall halibut PSC limit established for groundfish
fisheries. The 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries are expected to use
the entire proposed annual halibut PSC limit, whether that amount is
2,300 mt as proposed under the status quo, or some lesser amount that
may be selected and implemented under the Council's pending halibut PSC
action. The allowable directed commercial catch is determined by first
accounting for recreational and subsistence catch, waste, and bycatch
mortality, and then provides the remainder to the directed fishery.
Groundfish fishing is not expected to affect adversely the halibut
stocks. Methods available for reducing halibut bycatch include (1)
consistent monitoring through publication of vessel specific bycatch
rates on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, (2) modifications to gear, (3) changes in
groundfish fishing seasons, (4) individual transferable quota programs,
and (5) time/area closures.
With respect to fishing gear modifications, various regulations
have been implemented to address halibut bycatch concerns that are
associated with different gear types. The definitions of the various
gear types defined at Sec. 679.2 under ``Authorized fishing gear''
delineate a variety of different requirements and restrictions by gear
type. Many of these requirements are intended to decrease or minimize
halibut bycatch by pot, trawl, and hook-and-line gear.
For example, groundfish pots must be constructed with biodegradable
panels and tunnel openings to reduce halibut bycatch, thereby reducing
halibut mortality in the groundfish pot fisheries. Further, the
definition of ``pelagic trawl gear'' includes specific construction
parameters and performance characteristics that distinguish it from
nonpelagic trawl gear, which is designed for use in proximity to the
[[Page 79634]]
seafloor. Because halibut bycatch by pelagic trawl gear is minimal,
directed fishing for pollock with pelagic trawl gear may continue even
when the halibut PSC limit for the shallow-water species fishery is
reached (see Sec. 679.21(d)(7)(i)). Finally, all hook-and-line vessel
operators are required to employ careful release measures when handling
halibut bycatch (Sec. 679.7(a)(13)). These measures are intended to
reduce handling mortality, thereby lowering overall halibut bycatch
mortality in the groundfish fisheries, and to increase the amount of
groundfish harvested under the available halibut mortality bycatch
limits.
The FMP requires that the Council review recent halibut bycatch
data and recommend proposed halibut PSC limits in conjunction with
developing proposed groundfish harvest levels. NMFS and the Council
will review the methods available for reducing halibut bycatch listed
here to determine their effectiveness and will initiate changes, as
necessary, in response to this review or to public testimony and
comment.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, discard
mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best information
available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the IPHC for the 2011 GOA groundfish
fisheries be used for monitoring the proposed 2012 and 2013 halibut
bycatch mortality allowances (see Tables 9-11). The IPHC developed the
DMRs for the 2011 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs
for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for some
fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the
squid, shark, sculpin, octopus, 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 IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend
changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the
mean. A discussion of the DMRs and their justification is presented in
Appendix 2 to the 2010 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). Table 13 lists the
proposed 2012 and 2013 DMRs.
Table 13--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gear Target fishery Mortality rate (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line................... Other fisheries 12
\1\.
---------------------------------------
Skates............ 12
---------------------------------------
Pacific cod....... 12
---------------------------------------
Rockfish.......... 9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl........................... Arrowtooth 72
flounder.
---------------------------------------
Deep-water 48
flatfish.
---------------------------------------
Flathead sole..... 65
---------------------------------------
Non-pelagic 59
pollock.
---------------------------------------
Other fisheries... 62
---------------------------------------
Pacific cod....... 62
---------------------------------------
Pelagic pollock... 76
---------------------------------------
Rex sole.......... 64
---------------------------------------
Rockfish.......... 67
---------------------------------------
Sablefish......... 65
---------------------------------------
Shallow-water 71
flatfish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot............................. Other fisheries... 17
---------------------------------------
Pacific cod....... 17
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Other fisheries includes all gear types for Atka mackerel, sculpins,
sharks, skates, squids, octopuses, and hook-and-line sablefish.
American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel
Groundfish Sideboard Limits
Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing
sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits
are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who
do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and
processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges
under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from
harvesting any species
[[Page 79635]]
of fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits
listed AFA C/Ps from processing any pollock harvested in a directed
pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical
Area 630 of the GOA.
AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall,
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits
under Sec. 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs
operating in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of
TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in
the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each
sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that
species over the same period.
As provided by Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26,
2011), NMFS proposes to recalculate and establish sideboards
limitations for Pacific cod for the non-exempt AFA CVs in the Western
and Central GOA that would supersede the inshore offshore and offshore
processing sideboards established under the AFA. The sideboard limits
for other species would continue to be calculated as they have in the
past, including the Eastern GOA sideboard limit. Table 14 lists the
proposed 2012 and 2013 groundfish sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA
CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard
species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from the sideboard limits listed in
Table 14. Absent implementation of Amendment 83, these sideboards would
calculated and managed per the status quo, i.e., with specific inshore
and offshore sideboards, including those established for 2012 by the
final GOA 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1,
2011).
Table 14--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest
Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- Proposed 2012
1997 non- and 2013 non-
Species Apportionments Area/component exempt AFA CV Proposed 2012 exempt AFA CV
by season/gear catch to 1995- and 2013 TACs sideboard
1997 TAC limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season-- Shumagin (610). 0.6047 6,186 3,741
January 20-
March 10.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chirikof (620). 0.1167 15,374 1,794
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.2028 5,783 1,173
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season--March Shumagin (610). 0.6047 6,185 3,740
10-May 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chirikof (620). 0.1167 18,392 2,147
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.2028 2,765 561
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Season--August Shumagin (610). 0.6047 11,280 6,821
25-October 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chirikof (620). 0.1167 7,262 847
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.2028 8,803 1,785
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D Season-- Shumagin (610). 0.6047 11,280 6,821
October 1-
November 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chirikof (620). 0.1167 7,262 847
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.2028 8,803 1,785
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.3495 3,024 1,057
----------------------------------------------------------------
SEO (650)...... 0.3495 9,245 3,231
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\-- W.............. 0.1331 12,317 1,639
January 1-June
10.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0692 21,818 1,510
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season \2\-- W.............. 0.1331 8,211 1,093
September 1-
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0692 14,545 1,007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......... E inshore...... 0.0079 1,583 13
----------------------------------------------------------------
E offshore..... 0.0078 176 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79636]]
Sablefish.................... Annual, trawl W.............. 0.0000 297 0
gear.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0642 869 56
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0433 226 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, Shallow-water...... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0156 23,681 369
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0587 29,999 1,761
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0126 2,562 32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, deep-water......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 541 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0647 3,004 194
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0128 2,941 38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole..................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0007 1,490 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0384 6,184 237
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0029 1,722 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0021 33,975 71
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0280 143,119 4,007
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0002 33,933 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0036 17,968 65
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0213 28,938 616
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0009 3,693 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific Ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0023 2,665 6
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0748 9,884 739
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0466 3,638 170
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0003 2,446 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0277 2,168 60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 134 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0218 325 7
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0110 455 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0034 224 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.1699 566 96
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 3,052 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0001 558 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 2,791 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0067 998 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 81 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0237 868 21
----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79637]]
E.............. 0.0124 363 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish...... Annual.......... SEO............ 0.0020 300 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0280 425 12
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0280 637 18
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0280 708 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0309 4,700 145
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0063 598 4
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0063 2,049 13
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0063 681 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates.............. Annual.......... W.............. 0.0063 81 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0063 2,009 13
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0063 762 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates................. Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0063 2,093 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squids....................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0063 1,148 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharks....................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0063 6,197 39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octopuses.................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0063 954 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sculpins..................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0063 5,496 35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits
The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA
are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA
CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997
(Sec. 679.64(b)(4)). Table 15 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 non-
exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using trawl gear in the
GOA.
Table 15--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Vessels Using Trawl
Gear in the GOA
[PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-1997 non-
exempt AFA CV retained Proposed 2012 and 2013 Proposed 2012 and 2013
Season Season dates Target fishery catch to total retained PSC limit non-exempt AFA CV PSC
catch limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79638]]
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 62
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by
the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation
in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these
vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in all GOA
groundfish fisheries (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery).
Sideboard limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license
derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that license
is used on another vessel.
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
license that was based in whole or in part on the fishing history of a
vessel meeting the criteria in Sec. 680.22(a)(3).
Sideboard limits for non-AFA crab vessels operating in the GOA are
based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish
fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 680.22(d) and (e) base the
groundfish sideboard limits 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.
NMFS issued a final rule on June 20, 2011 (76 FR 35772), to
implement Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. Amendment 34 amended the Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program to exempt
additional recipients of crab quota share from GOA pollock and Pacific
cod sideboards. Such sideboards apply to some vessels and LLP licenses
that are used to participate in these two fisheries. The sideboard
ratios for pollock are unchanged. The sideboard ratios for Pacific cod
in the Western GOA were changed under Amendment 34. However, those
changes have been superseded by the Pacific cod sector splits
implemented by the pending final rule for Amendment 83, which includes
dividing the Pacific cod sideboards among applicable industry sectors.
Under the pending final rule for Amendment 83, the non-AFA crab
vessel sideboards for the inshore and offshore components in the
Western and Central GOA were combined. These combined sideboards must
then be allocated per the sector allocations established under
Amendment 83. Thus, NMFS proposes to specify sideboards limitations in
the Pacific cod fisheries for the non-AFA crab vessels in the Western
and Central GOA that supersede the original inshore offshore and
offshore processing sideboards established under the Crab
Rationalization Program. Table 16 lists these proposed 2012 and 2013
groundfish sideboard limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted
or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels
or associated LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard
limits. Absent implementation of Amendment 83, these sideboards would
be calculated and managed per the status quo, i.e., with the specific
inshore and offshore sideboards established for 2012 by the final GOA
2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011),
rather than sector-specific sideboards.
Table 16--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1996- Proposed 2012
2000 non-AFA and 2013 non-
Area/component/ crab vessel Proposed 2012 AFA crab
Species Season/gear gear catch to 1996- and 2013 TACs vessel
2000 total sideboard
harvest limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season........ Shumagin (610). 0.0098 6,186 61
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-March Chirikof (620). 0.0031 15,374 48
10.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 5,783 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season........ Shumagin (610). 0.0098 6,185 61
----------------------------------------------------------------
March 10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.0031 18,393 57
----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79639]]
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 2,765 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Season........ Shumagin (610). 0.0098 11,280 111
----------------------------------------------------------------
August 25- Chirikof (620). 0.0031 7,262 23
October 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 8,803 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D Season........ Shumagin (610). 0.0098 11,280 111
----------------------------------------------------------------
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.0031 7,262 23
November 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.0002 8,803 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.0000 3,024 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
SEO (650)...... 0.0000 9,245 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.................. A Season\1\..... W Jig CV....... 0.0000 12,317 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Hook-and-line 0.0003 12,317 4
CV.
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 1-June W Hook-and-line 0.0015 12,317 18
10. C/P.
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Pot CV....... 0.0816 12,317 1,005
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Pot C/P...... 0.0064 12,317 79
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Trawl CV..... 0.0060 12,317 74
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Jig CV....... 0.0000 21,818 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Hook-and-line 0.0001 21,818 2
CV.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Hook-and-line 0.0000 21,818 0
C/P.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Pot CV....... 0.0354 21,818 772
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Pot C/P...... 0.0092 21,818 201
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Trawl CV..... 0.0010 21,818 22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season \2\.... W Jig CV....... 0.0000 8,211 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Hook-and-line 0.0003 8,211 2
CV.
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Hook-and-line 0.0015 8,211 12
C/P.
----------------------------------------------------------------
September 1- W Pot CV....... 0.0816 8,211 670
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Pot C/P...... 0.0064 8,211 53
----------------------------------------------------------------
W Trawl CV..... 0.0060 8,211 49
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Jig CV....... 0.0000 14,546 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Hook-and-line 0.0001 14,546 1
CV.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Hook-and-line 0.0000 14,546 0
C/P.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Pot CV....... 0.0354 14,546 515
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Pot C/P...... 0.0092 14,546 134
----------------------------------------------------------------
C Trawl CV..... 0.0010 14,546 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79640]]
Annual.......... E inshore...... 0.0110 1,584 17
----------------------------------------------------------------
E offshore..... 0.0000 176 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................... Annual, trawl W.............. 0.0000 297 0
gear.
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 869 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 226 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, shallow-water...... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0059 23,681 140
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0001 29,999 3
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 2,562 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, deep-water......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0035 541 2
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 3,004 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 2,941 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole..................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 1,490 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 6,184 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 1,722 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0004 33,975 14
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0001 143,119 14
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 33,933 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0002 17,960 4
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0004 28,938 12
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 3,693 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0000 2,665 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 9,884 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 3,638 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 0.0005 2,446 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 2,168 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0013 134 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0012 325 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0009 455 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Rockfish............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0035 224 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0033 566 2
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 3,052 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0017 558 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0000 2,791 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 79641]]
................ E.............. 0.0000 998 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye..................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0067 81 1
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0047 868 4
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0008 363 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish...... Annual.......... SEO............ 0.0000 300 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead Rockfish.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0047 425 2
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0066 637 4
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0045 708 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................ Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0000 4,700 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate.................... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0392 598 23
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0159 2,049 33
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 681 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skate............... Annual.......... W.............. 0.0392 81 3
----------------------------------------------------------------
C.............. 0.0159 2,009 32
----------------------------------------------------------------
E.............. 0.0000 762 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates................. Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 2,093 37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharks....................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 6,197 109
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squids....................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 1,148 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octopuses.................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 954 17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sculpins..................... Annual.......... Gulfwide....... 0.0176 5,496 97
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 and Halibut PSC Limitations
Amendment 88 to the FMP would reauthorize the Rockfish Program, as
previously described in the preamble. If approved, this amendment would
establish three classes of sideboard provisions: CV groundfish
sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/P
opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions. These sideboards are intended to
limit the ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other
fisheries. A full description of the Rockfish Program sideboard
provisions is contained in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 88
(76 FR 52148, August 19, 2011), including the proposed regulations that
would establish the following limitations. Absent implementation of
Amendment 88, these sideboards would not need to be calculated, as
there would not be an applicable Rockfish Program fisheries or
participants to which sideboards would apply. As described earlier in
the preamble, the Central GOA rockfish fisheries would revert to being
managed under the general limitations proscribed for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, rather than with fisheries cooperatives and specific
allocations.
CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in
directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and
pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat Districts
from July 1 through July 31. Furthermore, CVs may not participate in
directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex
sole in the GOA from July 1 through July 31.
Amendment 88 also establishes rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard
limitations for C/Ps participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives.
These C/Ps are prohibited from directed fishing for northern rockfish,
Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western GOA and
West Yakutat District. The sideboard limits are in effect only during
the month of July, and are designed to restrict eligible C/Ps to
historic catch levels of these three species. Holders of C/P-designated
LLP licenses that opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative
will receive the portion of each sideboard limit that is not assigned
to rockfish cooperatives.
[[Page 79642]]
Table 17 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program C/P
sideboard limits in the West Yakutat District and the Western GOA. Due
to confidentiality requirements associated with fisheries data, the
sideboard limits for the West Yakutat District are not displayed.
Table 17--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits for the West Yakutat District and Western GOA
by Fishery and Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
Proposed 2012 and
Area Fishery C/P sector (% of TAC) 2012 and 2013 C/P
2013 TACs limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District............... Pelagic shelf rockfish. Confid.\1\............. 372 N/A
Pacific ocean perch.... Confid.\1\............. 1,845 N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA......................... Pelagic shelf rockfish. 72.3................... 558 403
Pacific ocean perch.... 50.6................... 2,665 1,348
Northern rockfish...... 74.3................... 2,446 1,817
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and
the State of Alaska.
The C/P sector is subject to halibut PSC sideboard limits for the
trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries during July 1
through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV
sector. C/Ps that opt-out of the Rockfish Program would receive the
portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit
not assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. Table 18 lists the Rockfish
Program halibut PSC limits proposed for the C/P sector in 2012 and
2013.
Table 18--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
[Values are rounded to the 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 (percent) ratio (percent) (mt) (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor.................................................. 0.10 2.50 2,000 2 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt-out of
participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in the proposed
rule to implement Amendment 88 (76 FR 52148, August 19, 2011). These
ratios and amounts are not known at this time because vessels
applications for C/Ps electing to opt-out are due to NMFS on March 1 of
each calendar year, thereby preventing NMFS from calculating proposed
2012 and 2013 allocations. NMFS will post these allocations on the
Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm when they become available.
Amendment 80 Vessel Program Groundfish Sideboard and PSC Limits
Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program)
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/
P sector. To limit the ability of participants eligible for the
Amendment 80 program to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA, the
Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC limits for
Amendment 80 Program participants.
Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE,
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679.
Under regulations at Sec. 679.92(d), 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.
Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from
1998 to 2004. Table 19 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 sideboard
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. All targeted or incidental
catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in Table 19.
[[Page 79643]]
Table 19--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed 2012
Ratio of and 2013
Amendment 80 Proposed 2012 Amendment 80
Species Season Area sector vessels and 2013 TAC vessel
1998-2004 (mt) sideboards
catch to TAC (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... A Season--...... Shumagin (610). 0.003 6,186 19
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 20- Chirikof (620). 0.002 15,374 31
February 25.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 5,783 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season--...... Shumagin (610). 0.003 6,185 19
----------------------------------------------------------------
March 10-May 31. Chirikof (620). 0.002 18,394 37
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 2,765 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Season--...... Shumagin (610). 0.003 11,280 34
----------------------------------------------------------------
August 25- Chirikof (620). 0.002 7,262 15
September 15.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 8,803 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D Season--...... Shumagin (610). 0.003 11,280 34
----------------------------------------------------------------
October 1- Chirikof (620). 0.002 7,262 15
November 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630)... 0.002 8,803 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......... WYK (640)...... 0.002 3,024 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.................. A Season \1\--.. W.............. 0.020 12,317 246
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 1-June C.............. 0.044 21,818 960
10.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season \2\--.. W.............. 0.020 8,211 164
----------------------------------------------------------------
September 1- C.............. 0.044 14,545 640
December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......... WYK............ 0.034 1,760 60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.......... Annual.......... W.............. 0.994 2,665 2,649
----------------------------------------------------------------
WYK............ 0.961 1,845 1,773
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............ Annual.......... W.............. 1.000 2,446 2,446
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish....... Annual.......... W.............. 0.764 558 426
----------------------------------------------------------------
WYK............ 0.896 372 333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 Program vessels in the
GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80
Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004.
These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to
accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota
under the Central GOA Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V
GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction. Table 20 lists the proposed 2012
and 2013 halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels, as
proscribed at Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679.
[[Page 79644]]
Table 20--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
[Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Proposed 2012
Amendment 80 Proposed 2012 and 2013
use of the and 2013 Amendment 80
Season Season dates Fishery category annual halibut annual PSC vessel PSC
PSC limit limit (mt) sideboard
(ratio) limit (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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- shallow-water..... 0.0074 2,000 15
October 1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification
NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed
harvest specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and
other applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS prepared an EIS for this action (see ADDRESSES) 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 EIS. Copies
of the EIS and ROD for this action are available from NMFS. The EIS
analyzes the environmental consequences of the proposed groundfish
harvest specifications and its alternatives on resources in the action
area. The EIS found no significant environmental consequences from the
proposed action or its alternatives.
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, analyzing
the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated
the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the
groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set forth in the
methodology, TACs are set to a level that fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY
specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the methodology
may produce vary from year to year, the methodology itself remains
constant.
A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered,
and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the
preamble above. A copy of the analysis is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the
catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the
existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the SSC. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP
prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The directly regulated small entities include approximately 627 CVs
and approximately 10 C/Ps in the GOA. The entities directly regulated
by this action are those that harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA,
and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters. These include
entities operating CVs and C/Ps within the action area, and entities
receiving direct allocations of groundfish. Catcher vessels and C/Ps
are considered to be small entities if they have annual gross receipts
of $4 million per year or less from all economic activities, including
the revenue of their affiliated operations (see Table 37 to the
Economic Status of the Groundfish off Alaska, 2010, in the 2010 SAFE
report, dated November 2010, available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES)). Because the 627 CVs and 10 C/Ps meet this size standard,
they are considered to be small entities for the purposes of this
analysis.
The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four
other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate
fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC
were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which
case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent five-year
average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the
lower limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ``no action
alternative,'' would have set TACs equal to zero.
The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those
adopted by the Council in October 2011, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and
ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the
Council's GOA Plan Team in August and September 2011, and reviewed and
modified by the Council's SSC in October 2011. The Council based its
TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations.
Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to
harvest stocks
[[Page 79645]]
at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were constrained by the
upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in Table 1 of the
preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2012 and 2013 would be about 603,990 mt,
which falls below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum of TACs is
equal to the sum of ABCs. In this instance, Alternative 1 is consistent
with the preferred alternative (Alternative 2), meets the objectives of
that action, and has small entity impacts that are equivalent to the
preferred alternative. In some instances, the selection of Alternative
1 would not reflect the practical implications that increased TACs
(where the sum of TACs equals the sum of ABCs) for some species
probably would not be fully harvested. This could be due to a lack of
commercial or market interest in such species. Additionally, an
underharvest of some TACs could result due to constraints such as the
fixed, and therefore constraining, prohibited species catch limits
associated with the harvest of the GOA groundfish species.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent five
years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the
most recent five years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6).
This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action,
the Council's preferred harvest strategy, because it does not take
account of the most recent biological information for this fishery.
Harvest rates are listed for each species category for each year in the
SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
species. It would reduce TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the
GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, this would reduce 2012
TACs by about 81 percent. This would lead to significant reductions in
harvests of species harvested by small entities. While reductions of
this size would be associated with offsetting price increases, the size
of these increases is very uncertain. There are close substitutes for
GOA groundfish species available in significant quantities from the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. While production
declines in the GOA would undoubtedly be associated with significant
price increases in the GOA, these increases would still be constrained
by production of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue
declines from smaller production. Thus, this alternative would have a
detrimental impact on small entities.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may also
address conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse
economic impact on small entities. Tables 2 and 3 of the IRFA (see
ADDRESSES) provide information on numbers of individual vessels with
gross revenues less than $4 million, and with the average gross
revenues for these vessels. These tables indicate that median annual
aggregate revenues for these vessels in the years from 2005 to 2009
were $386 million; annual aggregate revenues for this group of vessels
ranged from $308 to $451 million. These estimates do not take account
of affiliations among vessels, and thus overstate the revenues flowing
to small entities
The proposed harvest specifications extend the current 2012 OFLs,
ABCs, and most TACs, to 2012 and 2013. As noted in the IRFA, the
Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2011, when it
reviews the November meeting reports from its groundfish plan teams,
and the December Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because
most TACs in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications are
unchanged from the 2011 TACs, NMFS does not expect adverse impacts on
small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any changes made by the
Council in December to have significant adverse impacts on small
entities.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal
rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered species resulting
from fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the
EIS and its accompanying annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.;
Public Law 108-447.
Dated: December 16, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32848 Filed 12-21-11; 8:45 am]
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