[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10669-10690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4106]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 111213751-2102-02]
RIN 0648-XA758
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 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 BSAI (FMP). The
intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February
23, 2012, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision
(ROD), Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), prepared for this action are
available from http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2011 Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish
resources of the BSAI, dated November 2011 and SAFE reports for
previous years, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK
99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web site at
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear
at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species; the sum TAC for all groundfish species
must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to 2.0
million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). This final rule
specifies the TAC at 2.0 million mt for both 2012 and 2013. NMFS also
must specify apportionments of TACs, prohibited species catch (PSC)
allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by
Sec. 679.21; seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka
mackerel TAC; Amendment 80 allocations; and Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final
harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 16 of this action
satisfy these requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs (and apportionments thereof) and
PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in the
Federal Register. The proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications and
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in
the Federal Register on December 27, 2011 (76 FR 80782). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 26, 2012. NMFS received 1 letter
with 1 comment on the proposed harvest specifications. This comment is
summarized and responded to in the ``Response to Comments'' section of
this rule. NMFS consulted with the Council on the final 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications during the December 2011 Council meeting in
Anchorage, AK. After considering public comments, as well as biological
and economic data that were available at the Council's December
meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest Specifications
The final ABC levels for Alaska groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass,
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In
general, the development of ABCs and overfishing
[[Page 10670]]
levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish
populations. The FMP specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and
ABC amounts based on the level of reliable information available to
fishery scientists. Tier 1 represents the highest level of information
quality available while Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In December 2011, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC),
Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed current biological
information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The
Council's Plan Team compiled and presented this information in the 2011
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2011. 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 BSAI ecosystem
and the economic condition of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS
notified the public and asked for review of the SAFE report in the
notice of proposed harvest specifications; the report is still
available (see ADDRESSES). From these data and analyses, the Plan Team
estimated an OFL and ABC for each species or species category.
In December 2011, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's
recommendations, and the Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts
recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The final TAC recommendations were
based on the ABCs as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the sum of the TACs within the
required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by
annual catch limit rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16,
2009), none of the Council's recommended TACs for 2012 or 2013 exceeds
the final 2012 or 2013 ABCs for any species category. The final 2012
and 2013 harvest specifications approved by the Secretary of Commerce
are unchanged from those recommended by the Council and are consistent
with the preferred harvest strategy alternative in the EIS (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and
TACs are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks
as described in the 2011 SAFE report that was approved by the Council.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2012 and 2013 Harvest
Specifications
The Council is currently considering implementing management
measures in the event that Pacific cod is split from a BSAI-wide
fishery into separate OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for the Bering Sea subarea
and the Aleutian Island subarea. This split depends on NMFS developing
an age-structured model for the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod stock
assessment that will be reviewed by the Plan Team and SSC in 2012 or
2013. This split could impact the OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for Pacific cod
on Table 1 for 2013.
Changes From the Proposed 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI
In October 2011, the Council proposed its recommendations for the
2012 and 2013 harvest specifications (76 FR 80782, December 27, 2011),
based largely on information contained in the 2010 SAFE report for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries. Through the proposed harvest specifications,
NMFS notified the public that these harvest specifications could
change, as the Council would consider information contained in the 2011
SAFE report, recommendations from the SSC, Plan Team, and AP
committees, and public testimony when making its recommendations for
final harvest specification levels at the December Council meeting.
NMFS further notified the public that, as required by the FMP and its
implementing regulations, the sum of the TACs must be within the OY
range of 1.4 million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2011 SAFE reports indicates biomass
changes for several groundfish species from the 2010 SAFE reports. At
the December 2011 Council meeting, the SSC recommended the ABCs for
many species in 2012 and 2013 based on the best and most recent
information contained in the 2011 SAFE reports. This recommendation
resulted in an ABC sum total for all BSAI groundfish species that
exceeds 2 million mt for both 2012 and 2013. Based on the SSC ABC
recommendations and the 2011 SAFE reports, the AP recommended raising
the TACs for more economically valuable species that have increasing
biomasses, such as Pacific cod and Greenland turbot. Conversely, the
SSC reduced the OFL and ABC of Bering Sea pollock from the proposed OFL
and ABC, and these reductions led to the largest decrease in TAC in
terms of tonnage. In terms of percentage change from the proposed TACs,
octopuses and sharks had the largest increases in TAC. This is due to
model changes for the calculation of octopuses OFL and ABC, and
recommendations by the AP and the Council of TACs that are more
realistic of incidental harvest of these species in other fisheries.
The Bogoslof pollock TAC also had a large percentage increase, because
the SSC discontinued the target biomass of 2 million mt and adopted a
traditional OFL and ABC estimate under the Tier 5 approach of the FMP.
The Council recommended a TAC to account for incidental catch in other
fisheries. However, under Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B), directed fishing
for pollock in the Bogoslof area is prohibited, so changes in TAC will
have little effect upon fisheries. The changes to TAC between the
proposed and final harvest specifications are based on the most recent
scientific and economic information and are consistent with the FMP and
regulatory obligations and harvest strategy as described in the
proposed harvest specifications. These changes are compared in the
following table.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2012 and 2013 OFL,
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI
groundfish. NMFS concurs in these recommendations. The final 2012 and
2013 TAC recommendations for the BSAI are within the OY range
established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any single
species or complex. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries
and seasons is discussed below.
Comparison of Final 2012 and 2013 With Proposed 2012 and 2013 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2012 2013
Species Area \1\ 2012 final TAC 2012 proposed difference 2013 final TAC 2013 proposed difference
TAC from proposed TAC from proposed
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Pollock............................ BS................. 1,200,000 1,253,658 -53,658 1,201,900 1,253,658 -51,758
AI................. 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0
[[Page 10671]]
Bogoslof........... 500 150 350 500 150 350
Pacific cod........................ BSAI............... 261,000 229,608 31,392 262,900 229,608 33,292
Sablefish.......................... BS................. 2,230 2,610 -380 2,200 2,610 -410
AI................. 2,050 1,740 310 2,020 1,740 280
Atka mackerel...................... EAI/BS............. 38,500 36,800 1,700 31,700 36,800 -5,100
CAI................ 10,763 10,293 470 8,883 10,293 -1,410
WAI................ 1,500 1,500 0 1,500 1,500 0
Yellowfin sole..................... BSAI............... 202,000 197,660 4,340 203,900 197,660 6,240
Rock sole.......................... BSAI............... 87,000 85,000 2,000 87,000 85,000 2,000
Greenland turbot................... BS................. 6,230 3,500 2,730 6,010 3,500 2,510
AI................. 2,430 1,450 980 2,020 1,450 570
Arrowtooth flounder................ BSAI............... 25,000 25,900 -900 25,000 25,900 -900
Kamchatka flounder................. BSAI............... 17,700 17,700 0 17,700 17,700 0
Flathead sole...................... BSAI............... 34,134 41,548 -7,414 34,134 41,548 -7,414
Other flatfish..................... BSAI............... 3,200 3,000 200 3,200 3,000 200
Alaska plaice...................... BSAI............... 24,000 16,000 8,000 24,000 16,000 8,000
Pacific ocean perch................ BS................. 5,710 5,710 0 6,540 5,710 830
EAI................ 5,620 5,660 -40 6,440 5,660 780
CAI................ 4,990 4,960 30 5,710 4,960 750
WAI................ 8,380 8,370 10 9,610 8,370 1,240
Northern rockfish.................. BSAI............... 4,700 4,000 700 4,700 4,000 700
Shortraker rockfish................ BSAI............... 393 393 0 393 393 0
Rougheye rockfish.................. BS/EAI............. 231 240 -9 241 240 1
CAI/WAI............ 244 225 19 258 225 33
Other rockfish..................... BS................. 500 500 0 500 500 0
AI................. 570 500 70 570 500 70
Squids............................. BSAI............... 425 425 0 425 425 0
Skates............................. BSAI............... 24,700 16,500 8,200 24,746 16,500 8,246
Sharks............................. BSAI............... 200 50 150 200 50 150
Octopuses.......................... BSAI............... 900 150 750 900 150 750
Sculpins........................... BSAI............... 5,200 5,200 0 5,200 5,200 0
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Total.......................... BSAI............... 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 2,000,000 2,000,000 0
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\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
Table 1--Final 2012 and 2013 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI
\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2012 2013
Species Area -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
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Pollock \4\................................ BS......................... 2,474,000 1,220,000 1,200,000 1,080,000 120,000 2,840,000 1,360,000 1,201,900 1,081,710 120,190
AI......................... 39,600 32,500 19,000 17,100 1,900 42,900 35,200 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof................... 22,000 16,500 500 500 0 22,000 16,500 500 500 0
Pacific cod \5\............................ BSAI....................... 369,000 314,000 261,000 233,073 27,927 374,000 319,000 262,900 234,770 28,130
Sablefish.................................. BS......................... 2,640 2,230 2,230 1,840 307 2,610 2,200 2,200 935 83
AI......................... 2,430 2,050 2,050 1,666 346 2,400 2,020 2,020 429 38
Atka mackerel.............................. BSAI....................... 96,500 81,400 50,763 45,331 5,432 78,300 67,100 42,083 37,580 4,503
EAI/BS..................... n/a 38,500 38,500 34,381 4,120 n/a 31,700 31,700 28,308 3,392
CAI........................ n/a 22,900 10,763 9,611 1,152 n/a 18,900 8,883 7,933 950
WAI........................ n/a 20,000 1,500 1,340 161 n/a 16,500 1,500 1,340 161
Yellowfin sole............................. BSAI....................... 222,000 203,000 202,000 180,386 21,614 226,000 207,000 203,900 182,083 21,817
Rock sole.................................. BSAI....................... 231,000 208,000 87,000 77,691 9,309 217,000 196,000 87,000 77,691 9,309
Greenland turbot........................... BSAI....................... 11,700 9,660 8,660 7,361 n/a 9,700 8,030 8,030 6,826 n/a
BS......................... n/a 7,230 6,230 5,296 667 n/a 6,010 6,010 5,109 643
AI......................... n/a 2,430 2,430 2,066 0 n/a 2,020 2,020 1,717 0
Arrowtooth flounder........................ BSAI....................... 181,000 150,000 25,000 21,250 2,675 186,000 152,000 25,000 21,250 2,675
Kamchatka flounder......................... BSAI....................... 24,800 18,600 17,700 15,045 0 24,800 18,600 17,700 15,045 0
Flathead sole.............................. BSAI....................... 84,500 70,400 34,134 30,482 3,652 83,100 69,200 34,134 30,482 3,652
Other flatfish \6\......................... BSAI....................... 17,100 12,700 3,200 2,720 0 17,100 12,700 3,200 2,720 0
Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI....................... 64,600 53,400 24,000 20,400 0 65,000 54,000 24,000 20,400 0
Pacific ocean perch........................ BSAI....................... 35,000 24,700 24,700 21,812 n/a 33,700 28,300 28,300 24,991 n/a
[[Page 10672]]
BS......................... n/a 5,710 5,710 4,854 0 n/a 6,540 6,540 5,559 0
EAI........................ n/a 5,620 5,620 5,019 601 n/a 6,440 6,440 5,751 689
CAI........................ n/a 4,990 4,990 4,456 534 n/a 5,710 5,710 5,099 611
WAI........................ n/a 8,380 8,380 7,483 897 n/a 9,610 9,610 8,582 1,028
Northern rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 10,500 8,610 4,700 3,995 0 10,400 8,490 4,700 3,995 0
Shortraker rockfish........................ BSAI....................... 524 393 393 334 0 524 393 393 334 0
Rougheye rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 576 475 475 404 0 605 499 499 424 0
EBS/EAI.................... n/a 231 231 196 0 n/a 241 241 205 0
CAI/WAI.................... n/a 244 244 207 0 n/a 258 258 219 0
Other rockfish \7\......................... BSAI....................... 1,700 1,280 1,070 910 0 1,700 1,280 1,070 910 0
BS......................... n/a 710 500 425 0 n/a 710 500 425 0
AI......................... n/a 570 570 485 0 n/a 570 570 485 0
Squids..................................... BSAI....................... 2,620 1,970 425 361 0 2,620 1,970 425 361 0
Skates..................................... BSAI....................... 39,100 32,600 24,700 20,995 0 38,300 32,000 24,746 21,034 0
Sharks..................................... BSAI....................... 1,360 1,020 200 170 0 1,360 1,020 200 170 0
Octopuses.................................. BSAI....................... 3,450 2,590 900 765 0 3,450 2,590 900 765 0
Sculpins................................... BSAI....................... 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0
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Total.................................. ........................... 3,996,000 2,511,778 2,000,000 1,789,010 195,860 4,341,869 2,639,792 2,000,000 1,786,924 195,269
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\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these
species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and
(D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,''
squid, sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch
allowance (4.0 percent), is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the
incidental catch allowance (1,600 mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\5\ The Pacific cod TAC is reduced by 3 percent from the ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, Kamchatka
flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, dark, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI = Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian Islands district, CAI = Central Aleutian
Islands district, WAI = Western Aleutian Islands district).
Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for
Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and
Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires NMFS to reserve 15 percent of the
TAC for each target species, except for pollock, the hook-and-line and
pot gear allocation of sablefish, and the Amendment 80 species, in a
non-specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20
percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be
set aside for the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires NMFS to allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl
gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of the Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ
reserves. Under section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C), NMFS must allocate 10.7
percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require
that 10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs be allocated to the pollock
CDQ directed fishing allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof District
pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA (see Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With
the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve,
the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 3 percent of the BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting the 10
percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of
the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 1999 through 2011.
During this 13-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a
low of 2.4 percent in 2006 to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 13-
year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of
1,600 mt of the AI subarea TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ
DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2011. During this
9-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5
percent in 2006 to a high of 10 percent in 2003, with a 9-year average
of 7 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 10,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of
yellowfin sole, 10 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific (WAI) ocean
perch, 75 mt of Central Aleutian District (CAI) Pacific ocean perch,
100 mt of Eastern Aleutian District (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 40 mt of
WAI Atka mackerel, 100 mt of CAI Atka mackerel,
[[Page 10673]]
and 1,000 mt of EAI and BS subarea Atka mackerel TAC after subtracting
the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA allowances are based on NMFS'
examination of the incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003
through 2011.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species category during the year, providing
that such apportionments do not result in overfishing (see Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined that the
ITACs specified for the species listed in Table 2 need to be
supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. fishing
vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-specified
reserve to increase the ITAC for northern rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, Bering Sea ``other rockfish,'' skates,
sharks, octopuses, and sculpins by 15 percent of the TAC in 2012 and
2013.
Table 2--Final 2012 and 2013 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2012 reserve 2012 final 2013 reserve 2013 final
Species-area or subarea 2012 ITAC amount ITAC 2013 ITAC amount ITAC
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Shortraker rockfish--BSAI............................... 334 59 393 334 59 393
Rougheye rockfish--EBS/EAI.............................. 196 35 231 205 36 241
Rougheye rockfish--CAI/WAI.............................. 207 37 244 219 39 258
Northern rockfish--BSAI................................. 3,995 705 4,700 3,995 705 4,700
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea...................... 425 75 500 425 75 500
Skates--BSAI............................................ 20,995 3,705 24,700 21,034 3,712 24,746
Sharks--BSAI............................................ 170 30 200 170 30 200
Octopuses--BSAI......................................... 765 135 900 765 135 900
Sculpins--BSAI.......................................... 4,420 780 5,200 4,420 780 5,200
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 31,508 5,560 37,068 31,567 5,571 37,138
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Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS subarea pollock TAC
be apportioned, after subtracting the 10 percent for the CDQ program
and the 3 percent for the ICA, as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the
inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (C/P) sector, and
10 percent to the mothership sector. In the BS subarea, 40 percent of
the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 60
percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1)
(Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI directed pollock fishery allocation
to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock remaining in the AI
subarea after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and
1,600 mt for the ICA (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI
subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season and the
remainder of the directed pollock fishery is allocated to the B season.
Table 3 lists these 2012 and 2013 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS subarea pollock allocations. First, it
requires that 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector be
available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P sector
endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative
contract that allows the distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps and AFA
CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not listed
in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
pollock allocated to the C/P sector. Table 3 lists the 2012 and 2013
allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 11 through 16 list the AFA C/P and
CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the pollock allocations
to the BS subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open access sector
will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Table 3 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28
percent of the annual DFA until 12 noon, April 1 as provided in Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent annual
DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside the SCA before 12
noon, April 1 or inside the SCA after 12 noon, April 1. If less than 28
percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before 12 noon, April
1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after 12
noon, April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated
percentage of the DFA. Table 3 lists these 2012 and 2013 amounts by
sector.
Table 3--Final 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 A season \1\ 2012 B 2013 A season \1\ 2013 B
------------------------ season \1\ ------------------------ season \1\
Area and sector 2012 SCA ------------ 2013 SCA -----------
Allocations A season harvest B season Allocations A season harvest B season
DFA limit \2\ DFA DFA limit \2\ DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea.................................... 1,200,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,201,900 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................................... 120,000 48,000 33,600 72,000 120,190 48,076 33,653 72,114
ICA \1\............................................... 32,400 n/a n/a n/a 32,451 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore........................................... 523,800 209,520 146,664 314,280 524,629 209,852 146,896 314,778
[[Page 10674]]
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\............................ 419,040 167,616 117,331 251,424 419,703 167,881 117,517 251,822
Catch by C/Ps......................................... 383,422 153,369 n/a 230,053 384,029 153,611 n/a 230,417
Catch by CVs \3\...................................... 35,618 14,247 n/a 21,371 35,675 14,270 n/a 21,405
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\................................ 2,095 838 n/a 1,257 2,099 839 n/a 1,259
AFA Motherships....................................... 104,760 41,904 29,333 62,856 104,926 41,970 29,379 62,956
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\........................ 183,330 n/a n/a n/a 183,620 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\........................ 314,280 n/a n/a n/a 314,778 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA.................................. 1,047,600 419,040 293,328 628,560 1,049,259 419,703 293,792 629,555
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.......................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA................................................... 1,600 800 n/a 800 1,600 800 n/a 800
Aleut Corporation..................................... 15,500 15,500 n/a 0 15,500 15,500 n/a 0
Bogoslof District ICA \7\............................. 150 n/a n/a n/a 150 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3 percent), is allocated as a
DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 40
percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1).
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10
percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the
annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual
DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are
not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and non-trawl gear sector (Table 4). The process
for allocating the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI
trawl limited access sectors is listed in Table 33 to part 679 and
Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the
EAI and the BS subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated to the jig
gear sector. This allocation is determined annually by the Council
based on several criteria, including the anticipated harvest capacity
of the jig gear fleet. The Council recommended, and NMFS approves, a
0.5 percent allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in the EAI and BS
subarea to the jig gear sector in 2012 and 2013. This percentage is
applied to the Atka mackerel TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve and
the ICA.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(3) limits the annual Atka mackerel TAC
for Area 542 (the CAI) to no more than 47 percent of the Area 542 ABC.
Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543
(the WAI), and the amount set here accounts for discards in other
fisheries.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel ITAC into
two equal seasonal allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first
seasonal allowance for directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20
through June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance from June
10 through November 1 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies
Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel fishing. The jig gear
allocation is not apportioned by season.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the Amendment 80 cooperatives
and CDQ groups to limit harvest to 10 percent of their Central Aleutian
District Atka mackerel allocation equally divided between the A and B
seasons, within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as
described on Table 12 to part 679. Vessels not fishing under the
authority of an Amendment 80 cooperative quota or CDQ allocation are
prohibited from conducting directed fishing for Atka mackerel inside
Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central Aleutian District.
Table 4 lists these 2012 and 2013 Atka mackerel season and area
allowances, as well as the sector allocations. The 2013 allocations for
Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2012.
[[Page 10675]]
Table 4--Final 2012 and 2013 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the
BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 allocation by area 2013 allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Eastern
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Aleutian Central \5\ Western Aleutian Central \5\ Western
District/ Aleutian Aleutian District/ Aleutian Aleutian
Bering Sea District District Bering Sea District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a.................. 38,500 10,763 1,500 31,700 8,883 1,500
CDQ reserve...................... Total................ 4,120 1,152 161 3,392 950 161
A.................... 2,060 576 80 1,696 475 80
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 58 n/a n/a 48 n/a
B.................... 2,060 576 80 1,696 475 80
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 58 n/a n/a 48 n/a
ICA.............................. Total................ 1,000 100 40 1,000 100 40
Jig \6\.......................... Total................ 167 0 0 137 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total................ 3,321 951 0 2,717 783 0
A.................... 1,661 476 0 1,359 392 0
B.................... 1,661 476 0 1,359 392 0
Amendment 80 sectors............. Total................ 29,892 8,560 1,300 24,454 7,049 1,300
A.................... 14,946 4,280 650 12,227 3,525 650
B.................... 14,946 4,280 650 12,227 3,525 650
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.... Total................ 17,432 5,020 759 n/a n/a n/a
A.................... 8,716 2,510 380 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 251 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B.................... 8,716 2,510 380 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 251 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative....... Total................ 12,461 3,540 541 n/a n/a n/a
A.................... 6,231 1,770 271 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 177 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B.................... 6,231 1,770 271 n/a n/a n/a
Critical Habitat \5\. n/a 177 n/a n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtractng the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80 and
BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Regulations at Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B season
from June 10 to November 1.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the TAC in area 542 shall be no more than 47% of ABC, and Atka mackerel harvests for Amendment 80 cooperatives
and CDQ groups within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as described Table 12 to part 679, in Area 542 are limited to no more than
10 percent of the Amendment 80 cooperative Atka mackerel allocation or 10 percent of the CDQ Atka mackerel allocation.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after
subtracting the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod ITAC
Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) requires NMFS to allocate the
Pacific cod TAC in the BSAI, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ
reserve, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear; 2.0 percent
to hook-and-line and pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall
(LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot C/Ps;
2.3 percent to AFA trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA trawl C/Ps; and
22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot
sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2012 and 2013, the
Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. The
ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The 2013
allocations for Pacific cod between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until November 1,
2012, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for
participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application.
Amendment 80 applications for 2013 have not yet been submitted to NMFS,
thereby preventing NMFS from calculating 2013 allocations. NMFS will
post 2013 Amendment 80 allocations when they become available in
December 2012.
[[Page 10676]]
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next
seasonal allowance.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the 2012 and
2013 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 5a and 5b, and are based on
the sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal
allowances of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. 679.23(e)(5).
Section 679.7(a)(19) prohibits retaining Pacific cod in Area 543,
and Sec. 679.7(a)(23) prohibits directed fishing for Pacific cod with
hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear in the Aleutian Islands subarea
November 1 through December 31.
Table 5a--Final 2012 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share of Seasonal apportionment
gear Share of -----------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector sector total
total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................ 100 261,000 n/a n/a.................... n/a
CDQ.................................. 10.7 27,927 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 141,708 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA\1\............. n/a 500 n/a See 679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B) n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 141,208 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 113,106 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 57,684
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 55,422
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >=60 ft 0.2 n/a 465 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 237
LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 228
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 3,484 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 1,777
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 1,707
Pot catcher vessel >=60 ft LOA....... 8.4 n/a 19,509 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 9,950
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 9,559
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook- 2 n/a 4,645 n/a.................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 51,509 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 38,117
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 5,666
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 7,726
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 5,361 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 4,021
Apr 1- Jun 10.......... 1,340
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 31,232 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 23,424
Apr 1- Jun 10.......... 7,808
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative........ n/a n/a 5,816 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 4,362
Apr 1- Jun 10.......... 1,454
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........... n/a n/a 25,416 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 19,062
Apr 1- Jun 10.......... 6,354
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Jig.................................. 1.4 3,263 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30........... 1,958
Apr 30-Aug 31.......... 653
Aug 31-Dec 31.......... 653
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 5b--Final 2013 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share of Seasonal apportionment \2\
gear Share of -----------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector sector total
total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................ 100 262,900 n/a n/a.................... n/a
CDQ.................................. 10.7 28,130 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 142,740 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA\1\............. n/a 500 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 142,240 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 113,932 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 58,105
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 55,827
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >=60 ft 0.2 n/a 468 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 239
LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 229
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 3,509 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 1,790
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 1,720
Pot catcher vessel >=60 ft LOA....... 8.4 n/a 19,652 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 10,022
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 9,629
Catcher vessel <60 ft LOA using hook- 2 n/a 4,679 n/a.................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
[[Page 10677]]
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 51,884 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 38,394
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 5,707
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 7,783
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 5,400 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 4,050
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 1,350
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 31,459 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 23,594
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 7,865
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80 limited access\2\....... n/a n/a See footnote 2 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 75%
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 25%
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80 cooperatives\2\......... n/a n/a See footnote 2 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 75%
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 25%
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Jig.................................. 1.4 3,287 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30........... 1,972
Apr 30-Aug 31.......... 657
Aug 31-Dec 31.......... 657
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on
anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2013 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known November 1, 2012, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for
participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require that sablefish TACs for
the BS and AI subareas be allocated between trawl and hook-and-line or
pot gear sectors. Of the TAC for the BS subarea, 50 percent is
allocated to vessels using trawl gear, and 50 percent to hook-and-line
or pot gear vessels. TACs for the AI subarea are divided 25 percent to
the trawl gear vessels, and 75 percent to hook-and-line or pot gear
sector. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires NMFS to allot 20 percent
of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ
reserve. Additionally, Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish from the nonspecified
reserves, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the
CDQ reserve. The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be
established biennially, because the harvest specifications for the
hook-and-line gear and pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota
(IFQ) fisheries will be limited to the 2012 fishing year to ensure
those fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ
fishery. Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the
potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The
sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain closed at the beginning of each
fishing year until the final specifications for the sablefish IFQ
fisheries are in effect. Table 6 lists the 2012 and 2013 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 6--Final 2012 and 2013 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2012 Share 2012 CDQ 2013 Share 2013 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC 2012 ITAC reserve of TAC 2013 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
Trawl \1\................................................ 50 1,115 948 84 1,100 935 83
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 50 1,115 892 223 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 2,230 1,840 307 1,100 935 83
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands
Trawl \1\................................................ 25 513 436 38 505 429 38
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 75 1,537 1,230 307 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 2,050 1,666 346 505 429 38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
after the subtracting these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
[[Page 10678]]
Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TACs between the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access
sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve and an ICA
for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-trawl
gear. The allocation of the ITAC for AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in accordance with Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and
Sec. 679.91. The 2013 allocations for Amendment 80 species between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and limited access sector will not be known
until November 1, 2012, the date by which the applicants eligible to
apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their
application. Amendment 80 applications for 2013 have not yet been
submitted to NMFS, thereby preventing NMFS from calculating 2013
allocations. NMFS will publish 2013 Amendment 80 allocations when they
become available in December 2012. Table 7a and 7b lists the 2012 and
2013 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 7a--Final 2012 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................................... 5,620 4,990 8,380 34,134 87,000 202,000
CDQ............................................... 601 534 897 3,652 9,309 21,614
ICA............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 10,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access......................... 492 438 149 0 0 36,297
Amendment 80...................................... 4,427 3,943 7,324 25,482 67,691 142,089
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative..................... 2,347 2,091 3,883 4,976 19,000 60,313
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........................ 2,080 1,852 3,440 20,506 48,691 81,776
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 7b--Final 2013 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................................... 6,440 5,710 9,610 34,134 87,000 203,900
CDQ............................................... 689 611 1,028 3,652 9,309 21,817
ICA............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 10,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access......................... 565 502 171 0 0 36,975
Amendment 80\1\................................... 5,086 4,522 8,400 25,482 67,691 143,107
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2013 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
November 1, 2012, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2012 and 2013 BSAI halibut mortality
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl
fisheries. Under sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A), NMFS
allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent,
or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve
for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes NMFS to apportion the non-trawl
halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery
categories. Table 8c lists the fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl
and non-trawl fisheries.
Pursuant to section 3.6 of the BSAI FMP, the Council recommends,
and NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt
from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, after consulting with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program
requires legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-
line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard
and is holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In
2011, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 29,508 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality
of about 6 mt.
The 2011 jig gear fishery harvested about 505 mt of groundfish.
Most
[[Page 10679]]
vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and thus
are exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a result, observer
data are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery.
However, as mentioned above, NMFS estimates the jig gear sector will
have a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the
selective nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut
caught with jig gear and released.
Section 679.21(f)(2) requires NMFS to annually allocate portions of
either 47,591 or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC among the AFA sectors,
depending upon past catch performance and upon whether or not Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements are formed. If an AFA sector
participates in an approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreement, then NMFS will allocate a portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to
that sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook
salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement is approved, or if the sector
has exceeded its performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that
sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2012, the Chinook
salmon PSC limit is 60,000 and the AFA sector Chinook salmon
allocations are seasonally allocated with 70 percent of the allocation
for the A season pollock fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation for
the B season pollock fishery as stated in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A).
The basis for these PSC limits is described in detail in the final rule
implementing management measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR 53026, August
30, 2010). NMFS publishes the approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive
plan agreements, 2012 allocations and reports at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2012 and 2013
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Pursuant
to section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i), NMFS allocates 7.5 percent, or 53
Chinook salmon, to the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program, and
allocates the remaining 647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2012 and
2013 non-Chinook salmon PSC limit. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii)
requires NMFS to allocate 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon, as
the PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates the remaining 37,506 non-
Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit
specified for crab is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2011 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 27.6 million red king crabs, and the
effective spawning biomass is estimated at 43.1 million lb. Based on
the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2012 and 2013 PSC
limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000 animals. This
limit derives from the mature female abundance of more than 8.4 million
king crab and the effective spawning biomass estimate of less than 55
million lb (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations require NMFS to set
the RKCSS red king crab bycatch limit to up to 25 percent of the red
king crab PSC limit, based on the need to optimize the groundfish
harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. In December 2011, the
Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25
percent of the red king crab PSC limit within the RKCSS (Table 8b).
NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation.
Based on 2011 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 670 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set
out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), NMFS calculates 2012 and 2013 C. bairdi
crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits are derived from the C.
bairdi crab abundance estimate being in excess of the 400 million
animals for both the Zone 1 and Zone 2 allocations.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for snow crab
(C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133
percent of the BS abundance index minus 150,000 crabs. Based on the
2011 survey estimate of 6.337 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio
crab PSC limit is 7,029,520 animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best estimate of
2012 and 2013 herring biomass is 209,419 mt. This amount was derived
using 2011 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2012 and 2013 is 2,094 mt for all trawl gear, as
presented in Tables 8a and b.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted from
the total trawl PSC limits. The amounts of 2011 PSC limits assigned to
the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are specified in
Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocation of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ,
the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries
are listed in Table 8a. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and Sec.
679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits assigned to
the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to Amendment 80
cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota, as listed in Table 8e. PSC
cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not
allocated to specific fishery categories. In 2012, there are no vessels
in the Amendment 80 limited access sector. NMFS will not know the 2013
PSC allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector until November 1, 2012, the date by which the
applicants eligible to apply to participate in the Amendment 80 program
must file their application. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires NMFS
to apportion each trawl PSC limit not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery
categories.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting with the
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered
are (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species; (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species; (3) PSC bycatch needs on a
seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass; (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout the year; (5) expected start of
fishing effort; and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments
on industry sectors. The Council recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 8c and 8d to maximize harvest
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.
[[Page 10680]]
Table 8a--Final 2012 and 2013 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, The CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl
PSC Trawl PSC BSAI trawl
PSC species Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ Amendment 80 limited
trawl PSC after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve \1\ sector \2\ access
PSQ \1\ PSQ \1\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI........................... 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,325 875
Herring (mt) BSAI..................................... n/a n/a 2,094 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 \1\.................... n/a n/a 97,000 86,621 10,379 43,293 26,489
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\......................... n/a n/a 7,029,520 6,277,361 752,159 3,085,323 2,017,544
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\................... n/a n/a 980,000 875,140 104,860 368,521 411,228
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2....................... n/a n/a 2,970,000 2,652,210 317,790 627,778 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt,
of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of
each crab PSC limit.
\2\ The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits by 150 mt for halibut mortality and 20 percent for crab. These reductions are
not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.
Note: Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 8b--Final 2012 and 2013 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals) Zone
BSAI 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole........................ 179 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 31 n/a
\1\..................................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\....... 15 n/a
Rockfish.............................. 11 n/a
Pacific cod........................... 31 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock................ 1,600 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3 227 n/a
4....................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 24,250
pelagic trawl gear \5\...............
---------------------------------
Total trawl PSC................... 2,094 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
\2\ ``Arrowtooth flounder'' for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka
flounder.
\3\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
species'' fishery category.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks,
skates, and octopuses.
\5\ In December 2011 the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 8c--Final 2012 and 2013 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Halibut Red king crab C. bairdi (animals)
mortality (mt) (animals) Zone C. opilio ---------------------------------
BSAI 1 (animals) COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..................................................... 167 23,338 1,901,193 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\......................... 0 0 0 0 0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\.................................... 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish April 15-December 31...................................... 5 0 3,232 0 1,000
Pacific cod........................................................ 453 2,954 80,799 60,000 50,000
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\............................ 250 197 32,320 5,000 5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC............................ 875 26,489 2,017,544 411,228 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot,
rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
[[Page 10681]]
Table 8d--Final 2012 and 2013 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for
Non-Trawl Fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl fisheries Catcher/processor Catcher vessel
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod--Total............ 760 15
January 1-June 10............. 455 10
June 10-August 15............. 190 3
August 15-December 31......... 115 2
-----------------------------------------
Other non-trawl--Total.... 58
May 1-December 31............. 58
Groundfish pot and jig........ Exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line....... Exempt
-----------------------------------------
Total non-trawl PSC....... 833
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to
rounding.
Table 8e--Final 2012 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative Halibut Red king crab C. bairdi (animals)
mortality (mt) (animals) Zone C. opilio ---------------------------------
BSAI 1 (animals) COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Seafood Cooperative......................................... 1,609 29,484 1,991,961 259,427 433,149
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative...................................... 716 13,809 1,093,362 109,094 194,629
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch 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 approves the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the Council for the
2012 and 2013 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2012
and 2013 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a-8e). The IPHC
developed these DMRs for the 2010 and 2011 BSAI fisheries using the 10-
year mean DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer data
annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows
large variation from the mean. The document justifying these DMRs is
available in Appendix 2 in the final 2009 SAFE report dated November
2009 (see ADDRESSES). Table 9 lists the 2012 and 2013 DMRs.
Table 9--Final 2012 and 2013 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut discard
Gear Fishery mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line......... Greenland turbot..... 11
Other species \1\.... 10
Pacific cod.......... 10
Rockfish............. 9
Non-CDQ trawl................. Arrowtooth flounder 76
\2\.
Atka mackerel........ 76
Flathead sole........ 74
Greenland turbot..... 67
Non-pelagic pollock.. 73
Pelagic pollock...... 89
Other flatfish \3\... 72
Other species \1\.... 71
Pacific cod.......... 71
Rockfish............. 81
Rock sole............ 82
Sablefish............ 75
Yellowfin sole....... 81
Non-CDQ Pot................... Other species \1\.... 8
Pacific cod.......... 8
CDQ trawl..................... Atka mackerel........ 85
Greenland turbot..... 88
Flathead sole........ 84
Non-pelagic pollock.. 85
Pacific cod.......... 90
Pelagic pollock...... 90
[[Page 10682]]
Rockfish............. 84
Rock sole............ 87
Yellowfin sole....... 85
CDQ hook-and-line............. Greenland turbot..... 4
Pacific cod.......... 10
CDQ pot....................... Pacific cod.......... 8
Sablefish............ 32
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopuses.
\2\ Arrowtooth flounder includes Kamchatka flounder.
\3\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut
(a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole,
yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea or
district (see Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery
category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab,
or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional
Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that
category in the specified area.
Based upon historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing
activity, the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 10 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2012 and 2013
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and
species groups in Table 10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., February 23, 2012, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2013.
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, bycatch allowances of
halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab listed in
Table 10 are insufficient to support directed fisheries. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing for these sectors and fishery categories in the specified areas
effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 23, 2012, through 2400 hrs,
A.l.t., December 31, 2013.
Table 10--2012 and 2013 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 2013
incidental incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................... All.................... Pollock................ 500 500
Aleutian Islands subarea............ All.................... ICA pollock............ 1,600 1,600
``Other rockfish'' \2\. 570 570
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel...... 1,000 1,000
BSAI trawl limited
access.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Sea All.................... Rougheye rockfish...... 231 241
Eastern Aleutian District........... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Pacific ocean perch 100 100
BSAI trawl limited
access.
Central Aleutian District........... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel...... 100 100
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean perch 75 75
Western Aleutian District........... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel...... 40 40
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean perch 10 10
Central and Western Aleutian All.................... Rougheye rockfish...... 244 258
Districts.
Bering Sea subarea.................. All.................... Pacific ocean perch.... 4,854 5,559
``Other rockfish'' \2\. 500 500
ICA pollock............ 32,400 32,451
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands..... All.................... Northern rockfish...... 4,700 4,700
Shortraker rockfish.... 393 393
Squids................. 361 361
Skates................. 24,700 24,746
Sharks................. 200 200
Octopuses.............. 900 900
Sculpins............... 5,200 5,200
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod........ 500 500
gear.
Non-amendment 80....... ICA flathead sole...... 5,000 5,000
[[Page 10683]]
ICA rock sole.......... 10,000 10,000
Non-amendment 80 and ICA yellowfin sole..... 2,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited
access.
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead sole/ 0 0
access. other flatfish--
halibut mortality, red
king crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/ 0 0
sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C. opilio
COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone
1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king crab 0 0
Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, dark rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and rougheye rockfish.
Closures implemented under the 2011 and 2012 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011) remain
effective under authority of these final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2012
and http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2012/status.htm. While these
closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at Sec.
679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These
closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA C/Ps to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed
pollock fishery. These restrictions are set out as ``sideboard'' limits
on catch. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14,
2007). Table 11 lists the 2012 and 2013 C/P sideboard limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA C/Ps,
whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Table 11. However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2012 and 2013 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA C/Ps. The
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final
rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
PSC species listed in Table 12 that are caught by listed AFA C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2012 and 2013 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2012 or 2013
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 12 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for
pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 11--Final 2012 and 2013 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
--------------------------------------- 2012 ITAC 2013 ITAC
Ratio of available 2012 AFA C/ available 2013 AFA C/
Target species Area/season Retained retained to trawl C/ P side- to trawl C/ P side-
catch Total catch catch to Ps \1\ board limit Ps \1\ board limit
total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... 8 497 0.016 948 15 935 15
AI..................... 0 145 0 436 0 429 0
Atka mackerel....................... Central AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 4,806 553 3,966 456
Central AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 4,806 553 3,966 456
Western AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
Western AI B season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 77,691 2,875 77,691 2,875
[[Page 10684]]
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... 121 17,305 0.007 5,296 37 5,109 36
AI..................... 23 4,987 0.005 2,066 10 1,717 9
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 21,250 43 21,250 43
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 15,045 30 15,045 30
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 30,482 1,097 30,482 1,097
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... 14 9,438 0.001 20,400 20 20,400 20
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,720 158 2,720 158
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... 12 4,879 0.002 4,854 10 5,559 11
Eastern AI............. 125 6,179 0.02 5,019 100 5,751 115
Central AI............. 3 5,698 0.001 4,456 4 5,099 5
Western AI............. 54 13,598 0.004 7,483 30 8,582 34
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... 91 13,040 0.007 4,700 33 4,700 33
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 393 7 393 7
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 231 4 241 4
CAI/WAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 244 4 258 5
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... 18 621 0.029 500 15 500 15
AI..................... 22 806 0.027 570 15 570 15
Squids.............................. BSAI................... 73 3,328 0.022 361 8 361 8
Skates.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 24,700 198 24,746 198
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 200 2 200 2
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 900 7 900 7
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 5,200 42 5,200 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC
after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Table 12--Final 2012 and 2013 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 and 2013
PSC available 2012 and 2013
Ratio of PSC to trawl catcher/
PSC species and area\1\ catch to total vessels after processor
PSC subtraction of sideboard limit
PSQ \2\ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI....................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab zone 1......................................... 0.007 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)............................................ 0.153 6,277,361 960,436
C. bairdi Zone 1............................................. 0.14 875,140 122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2............................................. 0.05 2,652,210 132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed
pollock fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting
AFA CV groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for
these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rules
implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30,
2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Tables 13 and
14 list the 2012 and 2013 AFA CV sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted
from the 2012 and 2013 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.
[[Page 10685]]
Table 13--Final 2012 and 2013 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- 2012 AFA 2013 AFA
1997 AFA CV 2012 initial catcher vessel 2013 initial catcher vessel
Species/gear Fishery by area/season catch to 1995- TAC \1\ sideboard TAC \1\ sideboard
1997 TAC limits limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod/Jig gear................... BSAI...................... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV........... BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10......... 0.0006 237 0 239 0
BSAI Jun 10-Dec 31........ 0.0006 228 0 229 0
Pacific cod pot gear CV................ BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10......... 0.0006 9,950 6 10,022 6
BSAI Sept 1--Dec 31....... 0.0006 9,959 6 9,629 6
Pacific cod CV < 60 feet LOA using hook- BSAI...................... 0.0006 4,645 3 4,679 3
and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV.............. BSAI Jan 20-Apr 1......... 0.8609 38,117 32,815 38,394 33,053
BSAI Apr 1-Jun 10......... 0.8609 5,666 4,878 5,707 4,913
BSAI Jun 10-Nov 1......... 0.8609 7,726 6,651 7,783 6,700
Sablefish trawl gear................... BS........................ 0.0906 948 86 935 85
AI........................ 0.0645 436 28 429 28
Atka mackerel.......................... Eastern AI/BS Jan 1-Jun 10 0.0032 17,190 55 14,154 45
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10-Nov 1 0.0032 17,190 55 14,154 45
Central AI Jan 1-Jun 10... 0.0001 4,806 0 3,966 0
Central AI Jun 10-Nov 1... 0.0001 4,806 0 3,966 0
Western AI Jan 1-Jun 10... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Western AI Jun 10-Nov 1... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Rock sole.............................. BSAI...................... 0.0341 77,691 2,649 77,691 2,649
Greenland turbot....................... BS........................ 0.0645 5,296 342 5,109 330
AI........................ 0.0205 2,066 42 1,717 35
Arrowtooth flounder.................... BSAI...................... 0.069 21,250 1,466 21,250 1,466
Kamchatka flounder..................... BSAI...................... 0.069 15,045 1,038 15,045 1,038
Alaska plaice.......................... BSAI...................... 0.0441 20,400 900 20,400 900
Other flatfish......................... BSAI...................... 0.0441 2,720 120 2,720 120
Flathead sole.......................... BS........................ 0.0505 30,482 1,539 30,482 1,539
Pacific ocean perch.................... BS........................ 0.1 4,854 485 5,559 556
Eastern AI................ 0.0077 5,019 39 5,751 44
Central AI................ 0.0025 4,456 11 5,099 13
Western AI................ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Northern rockfish...................... BSAI...................... 0.0084 4,700 39 4,700 39
Shortraker rockfish.................... BSAI...................... 0.0037 393 1 393 1
Rougheye rockfish...................... EBS/EAI................... 0.0037 231 1 241 1
CAI/WAI................... 0.0037 244 1 258 1
Other rockfish......................... BS........................ 0.0048 500 2 500 2
AI........................ 0.0095 570 5 570 5
Squids................................. BSAI...................... 0.3827 361 138 361 138
Skates................................. BSAI...................... 0.0541 24,700 1,336 24,746 1,339
Sharks................................. BSAI...................... 0.0541 200 11 200 11
Octopuses.............................. BSAI...................... 0.0541 900 49 900 49
Sculpins............................... BSAI...................... 0.0541 5,200 281 5,200 281
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that
species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 14 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2012 and 2013 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorize
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for
AFA CVs once a 2012 or 2013 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 14 is
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA CVs while fishing for pollock in
the BSAI will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified
for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
[[Page 10686]]
Table 14--Final 2012 and 2013 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA catcher 2012 and 2013 PSC 2012 and 2013 AFA
Target fishery vessel PSC limit after catcher vessel
PSC species category \2\ sideboard limit subtraction of PSC sideboard
ratio PSQ reserves limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut........................ Pacific cod trawl..... n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and- n/a n/a 2
line or pot.
Yellowfin sole total.. n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead n/a n/a 228
sole/other flatfish
\3\.
Greenland turbot/ n/a n/a 0
arrowtooth/sablefish
\4\.
Rockfish.............. n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ n/a n/a 5
other species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1 4 6....... n/a................... 0.299 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ 4 6............ n/a................... 0.168 6,277,361 1,054,597
C. bairdi Zone 1 4 6........... n/a................... 0.33 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2 \6\........... n/a................... 0.186 2,652,210 493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\4\ Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopuses.
\6\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based upon historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator
has determined that many of the AFA C/P and CV sideboard limits listed
in Tables 15 and 16 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2012 fishing year. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 15 and 16 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of the year,
the Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by listed
AFA C/Ps for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 15 and
directed fishing by non-exempt AFA CVs for the species in the specified
areas set out in Table 16.
Table 15--Final 2012 and 2013 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 sideboard 2013 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl................. BS................. trawl.............. 15 15
AI................. trawl.............. 0 0
Rock sole....................... BSAI............... all................ 2,875 2,875
Greenland turbot................ BS................. all................ 37 36
AI................. all................ 10 9
Arrowtooth flounder............. BSAI............... all................ 43 43
Kamchatka flounder.............. BSAI............... all................ 30 30
Alaska plaice................... BSAI............... all................ 20 20
Other flatfish \2\.............. BSAI............... all................ 158 158
Flathead sole................... BSAI............... all................ 1,097 1,097
Pacific ocean perch............. BS................. all................ 10 11
Eastern AI......... all................ 100 115
Central AI......... all................ 4 5
Western AI......... all................ 30 34
Northern rockfish............... BSAI............... all................ 33 33
Shortraker rockfish............. BSAI............... all................ 7 7
Rougheye rockfish............... EBS/EAI............ all................ 4 4
CAI/WAI............ all................ 4 5
Other rockfish \3\.............. BS................. all................ 15 15
AI................. all................ 15 15
Squids.......................... BSAI............... all................ 8 8
Skates.......................... BSAI............... all................ 198 198
Sharks.......................... BSAI............... all................ 2 2
Octopuses....................... BSAI............... all................ 7 7
Sculpins........................ BSAI............... all................ 42 42
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
[[Page 10687]]
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern,
dark, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
Table 16--Final 2012 and 2013 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012 sideboard 2013 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................... BSAI............... hook-and-line...... 0 0
BSAI............... pot................ 12 12
BSAI............... CV< 60 feet LOA.... 3 3
BSAI............... jig................ 0 0
Sablefish....................... BS................. trawl.............. 86 85
AI................. trawl.............. 28 28
Atka mackerel................... Eastern AI/BS...... all................ 110 90
Central AI......... all................ 0 0
Western AI......... all................ 0 0
Greenland turbot................ BS................. all................ 342 330
AI................. all................ 42 35
Arrowtooth flounder............. BSAI............... all................ 1,466 1,466
Kamchatka flounder.............. BSAI............... all................ 1,038 1,038
Alaska plaice................... BSAI............... all................ 900 900
Other flatfish \2\.............. BSAI............... all................ 120 120
Flathead sole................... BSAI............... all................ 1,539 1,539
Rock sole....................... BSAI............... all................ 2,649 2,649
Pacific ocean perch............. BS................. all................ 485 556
Eastern AI......... all................ 39 44
Central AI......... all................ 11 13
Western AI......... all................ 0 0
Northern rockfish............... BSAI............... all................ 39 39
Shortraker rockfish............. BSAI............... all................ 1 1
Rougheye rockfish............... BS/EAI............. all................ 1 1
CAI/WAI............ all................ 1 1
Other rockfish \3\.............. BS................. all................ 2 2
AI................. all................ 5 5
Squids.......................... BSAI............... all................ 138 138
Skates.......................... BSAI............... all................ 1336 1339
Sharks.......................... BSAI............... all................ 11 11
Octopuses....................... BSAI............... all................ 49 49
Sculpins........................ BSAI............... all................ 281 281
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern,
dark, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
Response to Comments
NMFS received one comment from the Western Alaska Community
Development Association, which represents the six CDQ groups.
Comment: This comment states that the CDQ portion of a Kamchatka
flounder fishery would be too small to support a viable fishery, and
that it could also constrain other CDQ fisheries. Therefore, the CDQ
groups request that NMFS does not allocate Kamchatka flounder to the
CDQ groups for 2012 or 2013.
Response: In the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications NMFS
requested comments about whether Kamchatka flounder was a directed
fishery under section 305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the MSA. If it were, NMFS
would allocate 10.7 percent of the Kamchatka flounder TAC to the CDQ
program. NMFS specifically requested comments from the CDQ groups about
the economic value of Kamchatka flounder and whether the CDQ groups
intended to conduct directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder in the
future. Based on the comment received, NMFS has determined that
Kamchatka flounder is not a directed fishery of the BSAI under section
305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II). Therefore, NMFS will not allocate Kamchatka
flounder to the CDQ Program in the final 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications. However, NMFS will consider allocating Kamchatka
flounder to the CDQ program if information is presented in future
harvest specifications that the status of Kamchatka flounder as a
directed fishery of the BSAI has changed.
Classification
NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Orders 12866 and 13563.
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. In
January 2012, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for
this action. Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the environmental
consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and alternative
harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS found no
significant environmental consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR
[[Page 10688]]
evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2012
and 2013 groundfish harvest specifications.
A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns; or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Regional Administrator has
determined that (1) approval of the 2012 and 2013 harvest
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest
strategy in the EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; and (2)
there are no significant new circumstances or information relevant to
environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its impacts.
Additionally, the 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed
in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental Protection
Act documentation is not necessary to implement the 2012 and 2013
harvest specifications.
Pursuant to section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C.
601, et seq., a FRFA was prepared for this action. The FRFA
incorporates the IRFA, and includes a summary of the significant issues
raised by public comments in response to the IRFA, and NMFS' responses
to those comments, and a summary of the analyses completed to support
the action.
A copy of the FRFA prepared for this final rule is available from
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A description of this action, its purpose, and
its legal basis are contained at the beginning of the preamble to this
final rule and are not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on December 27, 2011 (76 FR
80782). The rule was accompanied by an Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA), which was summarized in the proposed rule. The comment
period closed on January 26, 2012. No comments were received on the
IRFA.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
receive allocations of groundfish in the EEZ of the BSAI, and in
parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters, during the annual
harvest specifications process. These directly regulated entities
include the groundfish CVs and C/Ps active in these areas. Direct
allocations of groundfish are also made to certain organizations,
including the CDQ groups, American Fisheries Act (AFA) C/P and inshore
CV sectors, Aleut Corporation, and Amendment 80 cooperatives. These
entities are, therefore, also considered directly regulated.
In 2009, there were 191 individual catcher vessels with total gross
revenues less than or equal to $4 million. Many of these vessels are
members in AFA inshore pollock cooperatives. Vessels that participate
in these cooperatives are considered to be large entities within the
meaning of the RFA. After accounting for membership in these
cooperatives, there are an estimated 103 small CVs remaining in the
BSAI.
In 2009, 18 C/Ps grossed less than $4 million. Some of these
vessels were affiliated through ownership by the same business firm.
NMFS estimates that these vessels were owned by 11 separate firms. By
2011, the vessels in this group were also affiliated through membership
in two cooperatives (the Amendment 80 ``Best Use'' cooperative, or the
Freezer Longline Conservation Cooperative). Applying the 2011 firm and
cooperative affiliations to these vessels, NMFS estimates that these 18
vessels currently represent two small entities.
Through the CDQ program, the Council and NMFS allocate a portion of
the BSAI groundfish TACs, and prohibited species halibut and crab PSC
limits, to 65 eligible Western Alaska communities. These communities
work through six non-profit CDQ groups, and are required to use the
proceeds from the CDQ allocations to start or support activities that
will result in ongoing, regionally based, commercial fishery or related
businesses. The CDQ groups receive allocations through the harvest
specifications process, and are directly regulated by this action, but
the 65 communities are not directly regulated. Because they are
nonprofit entities, the CDQ groups are considered small entities for
RFA purposes.
The AFA and Amendment 80 fisheries cooperatives are directly
regulated because they receive allocations of TAC through the harvest
specifications process. However, the Freezer Longline Conservation
Cooperative (FLCC), a voluntary private cooperative which became fully
effective in 2010, is not considered to be directly regulated. The FLCC
runs a catch share program among its members, but it does not, itself,
receive an allocation under the harvest specifications. NMFS allocates
TAC to the freezer longline sector, and the cooperative members
voluntarily allocate this TAC among themselves via the FLCC. The AFA
and Amendment 80 cooperatives are large entities, since they are
affiliated with firms with joint revenues over $4 million.
The Aleut Corporation is an Alaska Native Corporation that receives
an allocation of pollock in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleut Corporation
is a holding company and evaluated according to the SBA criteria at 13
CFR 121.201, using a $6 million gross annual receipts threshold for
``Offices of Other Holding Companies.'' Aleut Corporation revenues are
believed to exceed this threshold, and the Aleut Corporation is
considered to be a large entity. This determination follows the
analysis in the RFA certification for BSAI FMP Amendment 82. (NMFS-AKR
2005: 413).
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were those considered as alternative
harvest strategies when the Council selected its preferred harvest
strategy in December 2006. These included the following:
Alternative 1: Set TACs to produce fishing mortality
rates, F, that are equal to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TACs is
constrained by the OY established in the FMPs. This is equivalent to
setting TACs to produce harvest levels equal to the maximum permissible
ABCs, as constrained by OY. The term ``maxFABC'' refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under Amendment 56 to the groundfish FMPs.
Historically, the TAC has been set at or below the ABC, therefore, this
alternative represents a likely upper limit for setting the TAC within
the OY and ABC limits.
Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1, 2, and 3, set TAC
to produce F equal to the most recent 5-year average actual F. For
species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC equal to the most recent 5-year
average actual catch. For stocks with a high level of scientific
information, TACs would be set to produce harvest levels equal to the
most recent five year average actual fishing mortality rates. For
stocks with insufficient scientific information, TACs would be set
equal to the most recent five year average actual catch. This
alternative recognizes that for some stocks, catches may fall well
below ABCs, and recent average F may provide a better indicator of
actual F than FABC does.
Alternative 4: (1) Set TACs for rockfish species in Tier 3
at F75%. Set TACs for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M. Set
spatially explicit TACs for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. (2) Taking the rockfish TACs as calculated above, reduce all
other TACs by a proportion that does not vary across species, so that
the sum of all
[[Page 10689]]
TACs, including rockfish TACs, is equal to the lower bound of the area
OY (1,400,000 mt in the BSAI). This alternative sets conservative and
spatially explicit TACs for rockfish species that are long-lived and
late to mature and sets conservative TACs for the other groundfish
species.
Alternative 5: Set TACs at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs recommended through the
Council harvest specifications process and TACs recommended by the
Council. Under this scenario, F is set equal to a constant fraction of
maxFABC. The recommended fractions of maxFABC may vary among species or
stocks, based on other considerations unique to each. This is the
method for determining TACs that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not both meet the objectives of this
action although they have a smaller adverse economic impact on small
entities than the preferred alternative. The Council rejected these
alternatives as harvest strategies in 2006, and the Secretary did so in
2007. Alternative 1 would lead to TACs whose sum exceeds the fishery
OY, which is set out in statute and the FMP. As shown in Table 1, the
sum of ABCs in 2012 and 2013 would be 2,511,778 and 2,639,792 million
mt. Both of these are substantially in excess of the fishery OY for the
BSAI. This would be inconsistent with the objectives of this action, in
that it would violate the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, Pub.
L. No. 108-199, Sec. 803(c), and the FMP for the BSAI groundfish
fishery, which both set a 2,000,000 mt maximum harvest for BSAI
groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent five
years' worth of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for
the most recent five years' worth of harvests (for species in Tiers 4
through 6). This alternative is also inconsistent with the objectives
of this action, because it does not take account of the most recent
biological information for this fishery.
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
species to reduce TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the BSAI,
to its lower end. This would lead to significant reductions in harvests
of species by small entities. While reductions of this size could be
associated with offsetting price increases, the size of these increases
is very uncertain, and there can be no confidence that they would be
sufficient to offset the volume decreases and leave revenues unchanged.
Thus, this action would have an adverse economic impact on small
entities, compared to the preferred alternative.
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.
Impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness for this rule, because delaying this rule is contrary to
the public interest. Plan Team review occurred in November 2011, and
Council consideration and recommendations occurred in December 2011.
Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January 2012. If this
rule's effectiveness is delayed, fisheries that might otherwise remain
open under these rules may prematurely close based on the lower 2011
and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11139, March 1, 2011). If
implemented immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to
continue fishing without worrying about a potential closure, because
the new TACs are higher than the ones under which they are currently
fishing. Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod
are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, octopuses, sculpins, sharks, skates, and squids,
are critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TACs in these fisheries would cause confusion to the industry and
potential economic harm through unnecessary discards. Determining which
fisheries may close is impossible because these fisheries are affected
by several factors that cannot be predicted in advance, including
fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks, and market price.
Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other
fisheries by freeing up fishing vessels, allowing them to move from
closed fisheries to open ones, increasing the fishing capacity in those
open fisheries and causing them to close at an accelerated pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to declining sideboards,
delaying this rule's effectiveness could allow some vessels
inadvertently reach or exceed their new sideboard levels. Because
sideboards are intended to protect traditional fisheries in other
sectors, allowing one sector to exceed its new sideboards by delaying
this rule's effectiveness would effectively reduce the available catch
for non-sideboarded sectors. Thus, the delay is contrary to the public
interest in protecting traditional fisheries.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 17,
2012, which is the start of the 2012 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result in confusion for sablefish
harvesters and economic harm from unnecessary discard of sablefish that
are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both hook-and-line sablefish
and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ program. Immediate
effectiveness of the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications will
allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season. Also, the immediate effectiveness of this action is
required to provide consistent management and conservation of fishery
resources based on the best available scientific information. This is
particularly true of those species which have lower 2012 ABCs and TACs
than those established in the 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76
FR 11139, March 1, 2011). Immediate effectiveness also would give the
fishing industry the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct
its fishing operations with respect to new information about TAC
limits. Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).
Small Entity Compliance Guide
This final rule is a plain language guide to assist small entities
in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary
purpose is to announce the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries
of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2012 and 2013
fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP.
This action affects all fishermen who participate in the BSAI
fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC are provided
in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will announce closures of directed
fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins released by
the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep themselves informed
of such closures.
[[Page 10690]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.
Dated: February 15, 2012.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-4106 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P