[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74695-74710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29348]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XD611
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel
Prices
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
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ACTION: Notification of standard ex-vessel prices.
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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and
halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific
Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program (Observer Program). This notice
is intended to provide information to vessel owners, processors,
registered buyers, and other participants about the standard ex-vessel
prices that will be used to calculate the observer fee liability for
landings of groundfish and halibut made in 2015. NMFS will send
invoices to processors and registered buyers subject to the fee by
January 15, 2016. Fees are due to NMFS on or before February 15, 2016.
DATES: Effective January 1, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Sally Bibb at 907-
586-7389. For questions about the fee billing process, contact Troie
Zuniga, Fee Coordinator, 907-586-7105. Additional information about the
Observer Program is available on NMFS Alaska Region's Web site at
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/observers/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Observer Program deploys NMFS-certified observers (observers)
who collect information necessary for the conservation and management
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA)
groundfish and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers use information
collected by observers to monitor quotas, manage groundfish and
prohibited species catch, and document and reduce fishery interactions
with protected resources. Scientists use observer-collected information
for stock assessments and marine ecosystem research.
The Observer Program is divided into two observer coverage
categories--partial and full. All groundfish and halibut vessels and
processors are included in one of these two categories. The partial
observer coverage category includes vessels and processors that are not
required to have an observer at all times; the full observer coverage
category includes vessels and processors required to have all of their
fishing and processing operations off Alaska observed. Vessels and
processors in the full coverage category arrange and pay for observer
services from a permitted observer provider. Observer coverage for the
partial coverage category is funded through a system of fees based on
the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee
The objective of the observer fee assessment is to levy a fee on
all landings accruing against a Federal total allowable catch (TAC) for
groundfish or a commercial halibut quota made by vessels that are
subject to Federal regulations and not included in the full coverage
category. A fee is only assessed on landings of groundfish from vessels
designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit or from vessels landing
individual fishing quota (IFQ) or community development quota (CDQ)
halibut or IFQ sablefish. Within the subset of vessels subject to the
observer fee, only landings accruing against the Federal TAC are
included in the fee assessment. A table with additional information
about which landings are and are not subject to the observer fee is in
NMFS regulations at Sec. 679.55(c) and is on page 2 of an
informational bulletin titled ``Observer Fee Collection'' on the NMFS
Alaska Region Web page at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/observers/observerfees.pdf.
Fee Determination
A fee equal to 1.25 percent of the ex-vessel value is assessed on
the landings of groundfish and halibut subject to the fee. Ex-vessel
value is determined by multiplying the standard price for groundfish by
the round weight equivalent for each species, gear, and port
combination, and the standard price for halibut by the headed and
gutted weight equivalent. NMFS will assess each landing report
submitted via eLandings and each manual landing entered into the IFQ
landing database and determine if the landing is subject to the
observer fee and, if it is, which groundfish in the landing are subject
to the observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing subject to the
observer fee will be assessed as part of the fee liability. For any
groundfish or halibut subject to the observer fee, NMFS will apply the
appropriate standard ex-vessel prices for the species, gear type, and
port, and calculate the observer fee liability associated with the
landing.
Processors and registered buyers access the landing-specific,
observer fee liability information through NMFS Web Application
(https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings
(https://elandings.alaska.gov/). For IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ
sablefish, this information is available as soon as the IFQ report is
submitted. For groundfish and sablefish that accrue against the fixed
gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the observer fee liability information is
generally available within 24 hours of receipt of the report. The time
lag on the groundfish and sablefish CDQ fee information is necessary
because NMFS must process the landings report through the catch
accounting system computer programs to determine if all of the
groundfish in the landings are subject to the observer fee. Information
about which groundfish in a landing accrues against a Federal TAC is
not immediately available from the processor's data entry into
eLandings.
The intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS
is for vessel owners to split the fee liability 50/50 with the
processor or registered buyer. While vessels and processors are
responsible for their portion of the fee, the owner of a shoreside
processor or a stationary floating processor and the registered buyer
are responsible for collecting the fee, including the vessel's portion
of the fee, and remitting the full fee liability to NMFS.
NMFS will send invoices to processors and registered buyers for
their total fee liability, which is determined by the sum of the fees
reported for each landing for that processor or registered buyer for
the prior calendar year, by January 15, 2016. Processors and registered
buyers must pay the fees to NMFS using NMFS Web Application by February
15, 2016. Processors and registered buyers have access to this system
through a User ID and password issued by NMFS. Instructions for
electronic payment will be provided on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and on the observer fee liability
invoice to be mailed to each permit holder.
Standard Prices
This notice provides the standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish
and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2015. Data sources
for ex-vessel prices are:
For groundfish other than sablefish IFQ and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the State of
Alaska's Commercial Fishery Entry Commission's (CFEC) gross revenue
data, which are based on the Commercial Operator Annual Report (COAR)
and Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish tickets; and
For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the IFQ Buyer
Report that is submitted annually to NMFS under Sec. 679.5(l)(7)(i).
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The standard prices in this notice were calculated using applicable
guidance for protecting confidentiality of data submitted to or
collected by NMFS. NMFS does not publish any price information that
would permit the identification of an individual or business. At least
four persons must make landings of a species with a particular gear
type at a particular port in order for NMFS to publish that price data
for that species-gear-port combination. Similarly, at least four
processors in a particular port must purchase a species harvested with
a particular gear type in order for NMFS to publish a price for that
species-gear-port combination. Price data that is confidential because
fewer than four persons contributed data to a particular species-gear-
port combination has been aggregated to protect confidential data.
Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 1 shows the groundfish species standard ex-vessel prices for
2015. These prices are based on the CFEC gross revenue data, which are
based on landings data from Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish
tickets and information from the COAR. The COAR contains statewide
buying and production information, and is considered the most accurate
routinely collected information to determine the ex-vessel value of
groundfish harvested from waters off Alaska.
The standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish were calculated by
adding ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross revenue files for 2011,
2012, and 2013 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the
volume (weight) the CFEC gross revenue files for 2011, 2012, and 2013
by species, port, and gear category, and then dividing total ex-vessel
value over the 3-year period in each category by total volume over the
3-year period in each category. This calculation results in a weighted
average ex-vessel price per pound by species, port, and gear category.
Three gear categories were used for the standard ex-vessel prices:
pelagic trawl gear, non-pelagic trawl gear, and other gear (hook-and-
line, pot, and jig).
CFEC ex-vessel value data are available in the fall of the year
following the year the fishing occurred. Thus, it is not possible to
base ex-vessel fee liabilities on standard prices that are less than 2
years old.
If a particular species is not listed in Table 1, the standard ex-
vessel price for a species group, if it exists in the management area,
will be used. If price data for a particular species remained
confidential once aggregated to the ALL level, data is aggregated by
species group (Flathead Sole, GOA Deep-water Flatfish; GOA Shallow-
water Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and Other Rockfish). Standard prices
for the species groups are shown in Table 2.
If a port-level price does not meet the confidentiality
requirements, the data are aggregated by port-group. Port-group data is
first aggregated by regulatory area in the GOA (Eastern GOA, Central
GOA, and Western GOA) and by subarea in the BSAI (BS subarea and AI
subarea). Port-group data for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern
GOA excluding Southeast Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately
when price data are available. If confidentiality requirements are
still not met by aggregating prices across ports at these levels, the
prices are aggregated at the level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide (AK)
and ports outside of Alaska (OTAK), and finally all ports, including
those outside of Alaska (``ALL'').
Standard prices are presented separately for non-pelagic trawl and
pelagic trawl when non-confidential data is available. NMFS also
calculated prices for a ``Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic Trawl Combined''
category that can be used when combining trawl price data for landings
of a species in a particular port or port group will not violate
confidentiality requirements. Creating this standard price category
allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2015 landings of some of the species
with pelagic trawl gear based on a combined trawl gear price for the
port or port group.
If no standard ex-vessel price is listed for the species or species
group and gear category combination, no fee will be assessed on that
landing. Volume and value data for that species will be added to the
standard ex-vessel prices in future years, if that data becomes
available and display of a standard ex-vessel price meets
confidentiality requirements.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ Standard Ex-vessel Prices
Table 3 shows the observer fee standard ex-vessel prices for
halibut and sablefish. These standard prices are calculated as a single
annual average price, by port or port group. Volume and ex-vessel value
data collected on the 2014 IFQ Buyer Report for landings made from
October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014, were used to calculate the
standard ex-vessel prices for the 2015 observer fee liability for
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 10, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29348 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C