[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60704-60713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27552]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XF837
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
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
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
[[Page 60705]]
calculate the observer fee for landings of groundfish and halibut made
in 2018. NMFS will send invoices to processors and registered buyers
subject to the fee by January 15, 2019. Fees are due to NMFS on or
before February 15, 2019.
DATES: The standard prices are valid on January 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Alicia M. Miller at
(907)586-7471. For questions about the fee billing process, contact
Carl Greene at (907)586-7003. Additional information about the Observer
Program is available on NMFS Alaska Region's website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/observer-program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Regulations at 50 CFR 679 subpart E, governing the Observer
Program, require the deployment of NMFS-certified observers (observers)
to 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 includes two observer coverage categories--the
partial coverage category and the full coverage category. All
groundfish and halibut vessels and processors subject to observer
coverage are included in one of these two categories. Defined at 50 CFR
679.51, the partial coverage category includes vessels and processors
that are not required to have an observer at all times and the full
coverage category includes vessels and processors required to have all
of their fishing and processing activity 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. Throughout this notice,
the term ``processor'' refers to shoreside processors, stationary
floating processors, and small catcher/processors in the partial
coverage category. On August 8, 2017, NMFS published a final rule to
integrate electronic monitoring (EM) into the Observer Program (82 FR
36991). Beginning in 2019, NMFS will use a portion of the fees
collected under section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to deploy EM
systems on vessels in the EM selection pool of the partial coverage
category.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee
Pursuant to section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is
authorized to assess 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 an IFQ allocation or a Federal TAC for groundfish are included
in the fee assessment. A table with additional information about which
landings are and are not subject to the observer fee is at Sec.
679.55(c) and is on page 2 of an informational bulletin titled
``Observer Fee Collection'' on the NMFS Alaska Region website at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/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 reviews each landing report and
determines whether the reported landing is subject to the observer fee
and, if so, which groundfish species in the landing are subject to the
observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing subject to the
observer fee will be included in the observer fee calculation. For any
landed 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 associated with the
landing.
Processors and registered buyers access the landing-specific,
observer fee information through NMFS Web Application (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings (https://elandings.alaska.gov/). Observer fee information is either available
immediately or within 24 hours after a landing report is submitted
electronically. A time lag occurs for some landings because NMFS must
process each landing report through the catch accounting system
computer programs to determine which groundfish in a landing accrues
against a Federal TAC and are subject to the observer fee.
Under the fee system, catcher vessel owners split the fee with the
registered buyers or owners of shoreside or stationary floating
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion
of the fee, the owners of shoreside or stationary floating processors
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from
catcher vessels, and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of small
catcher/processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
NMFS sends invoices to processors and registered buyers by January
15 of each calendar year. The total fee amount is determined by the sum
of the fees reported for each landing at that processor or registered
buyer in the prior calendar year. Processors and registered buyers must
pay the fees to NMFS using NMFS Web Application by February 15 each
year. 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 website
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and on the observer fee invoice to
be mailed to each processor and registered buyer.
Standard Prices
This notice provides the standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish
and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2018. 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 (ADF&G) 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
[[Page 60706]]
submitted to NMFS annually by each registered buyer that operates as a
shoreside processor and receives and purchases IFQ landings of
sablefish and halibut or CDQ landings of halibut under Sec.
679.5(l)(7)(i).
The standard prices in this notice were calculated using the
following procedures 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. For
NMFS to publish a standard price for a particular species-gear-port
combination, the price data used to calculate the standard price must
represent landings from at least four different vessels to at least
three different processors in a port or port group. Price data that is
confidential because fewer than four vessels or three processors
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
2018. These prices are based on the CFEC gross revenue data, which are
based on landings data from ADF&G fish tickets and information from the
COAR. The COAR contains statewide buying and production information,
and is considered the most complete 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 2014,
2015, and 2016 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the
volume (round weight equivalent) from the CFEC gross revenue files for
2014, 2015, and 2016 by species, port, and gear category, and then
dividing total ex-vessel value over the three-year period in each
category by total volume over the 3-year period in each category. This
calculation results in an average ex-vessel price per pound by species,
port, and gear category for the 3-year period. Three gear categories
were used for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1) Non-trawl gear,
including hook-and-line, pot, jig, troll, and others (Non-Trawl); (2)
non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT); and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR).
CFEC ex-vessel value and volume 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 two years old. For the 2018 standard ex-vessel prices, the
most recent ex-vessel value and volume data available is from 2016.
If a particular groundfish 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 groundfish 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
for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast
Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately when price data are
available. Port-group data is then 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). 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''
(PTR/NPT) 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 2018 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 a species or species
group and gear category combination in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, 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.
Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species for 2018 Observer Coverage Fee
[Based on volume and value from 2014, 2015, and 2016]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/Area 3 4
Species 1 2 Non-Trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Plaice Flounder (133).. Kodiak.......... -- $0.09 -- $0.09
CGOA............ -- 0.09 -- 0.09
GOA............. -- 0.09 -- 0.09
AK.............. -- 0.09 -- 0.09
ALL............. -- 0.09 -- 0.09
Arrowtooth Flounder (121)..... Kodiak.......... -- 0.07 $0.07 --
CGOA............ -- 0.07 0.07 --
GOA............. -- 0.07 0.07 --
AK.............. $0.26 0.07 0.07 --
ALL............. 0.26 0.07 0.07 --
Atka Mackerel (193)........... Kodiak.......... -- 0.24 -- 0.24
CGOA............ -- 0.24 -- 0.24
GOA............. -- 0.24 -- 0.24
AK.............. -- 0.24 -- 0.24
ALL............. -- 0.24 -- 0.24
Black Rockfish (142).......... AK.............. 0.54 0.18 -- 0.18
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... Sitka........... 0.55 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.54 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.54 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.81 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.56 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.56 -- -- --
[[Page 60707]]
ALL............. 0.56 -- -- --
Butter Sole (126)............. Kodiak.......... -- 0.16 0.15 --
CGOA............ -- 0.16 0.15 --
GOA............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
AK.............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
ALL............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
Canary Rockfish (146)......... Ketchikan....... 0.38 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.53 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.44 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.33 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.42 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.45 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.43 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.43 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.43 -- -- --
China Rockfish (149).......... Sitka........... 1.18 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.98 -- -- --
Cordova......... 0.49 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.49 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.79 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.65 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.73 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.70 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.70 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.70 -- -- --
Copper Rockfish (138)......... Sitka........... 1.10 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.88 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.74 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.45 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.41 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.43 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.59 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.59 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.59 -- -- --
Darkblotched Rockfish (159)... SEAK............ 0.60 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.60 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.60 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.60 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.60 -- -- --
Dover Sole (124).............. Kodiak.......... -- 0.09 0.09 --
CGOA............ -- 0.09 0.09 --
GOA............. -- 0.09 0.09 --
AK.............. -- 0.09 0.09 --
ALL............. -- 0.09 0.09 --
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Sitka........... 0.55 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.54 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.28 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.67 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.36 0.17 0.17 --
Seward.......... 0.61 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.38 0.17 0.17 --
GOA............. 0.40 0.17 0.17 --
AK.............. 0.40 0.17 0.17 --
ALL............. 0.40 0.17 0.17 --
English Sole (128)............ Kodiak.......... -- 0.14 0.12 --
CGOA............ -- 0.14 0.12 --
GOA............. -- 0.14 0.12 --
AK.............. -- 0.14 0.12 --
ALL............. -- 0.14 0.12 --
Flathead Sole (122)........... Kodiak.......... -- 0.16 0.15 --
CGOA............ -- 0.16 0.15 --
GOA............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
AK.............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
ALL............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
Northern Rockfish (136)....... Kodiak.......... 0.13 0.16 0.16 --
CGOA............ 0.13 0.16 0.16 --
GOA............. 0.13 0.16 0.16 --
AK.............. 0.27 0.16 0.16 --
ALL............. 0.27 0.16 0.16 --
Octopus (870)................. Homer........... 0.62 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.55 0.56 0.54 --
[[Page 60708]]
CGOA............ 0.55 0.56 0.54 --
WGOA............ 0.43 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.54 0.56 0.54 --
Dutch Harbor.... 0.30 -- -- --
BS.............. 0.28 -- -- --
BSAI............ 0.28 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.50 0.53 0.54 --
ALL............. 0.50 0.53 0.54 --
Pacific Cod (110)............. Juneau.......... 0.58 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.39 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.24 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.54 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.56 -- -- --
Cordova......... 0.33 -- -- --
Whittier........ 0.36 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.35 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.34 -- -- --
Kenai........... 0.32 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.34 0.29 0.27 --
Seward.......... 0.35 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.34 0.29 0.27 --
King Cove....... 0.26 -- -- --
WGOA............ 0.26 0.25 -- 0.24
GOA............. -- 0.27 0.21 --
Dutch Harbor.... 0.28 0.26 -- 0.26
BS.............. 0.28 0.26 -- 0.26
BSAI............ 0.29 0.26 -- 0.26
Stationary 0.28 0.26 -- 0.26
Floating
Processor.
AK.............. 0.30 0.26 0.20 --
ALL............. 0.30 0.26 0.20 --
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... Kodiak.......... -- 0.18 0.19 --
CGOA............ -- 0.18 0.19 --
GOA............. 0.28 0.18 0.19 --
AK.............. 0.35 0.18 0.18 --
ALL............. 0.35 0.18 0.18 --
Pollock (270)................. Kodiak.......... 0.10 0.12 0.11 --
Seward.......... 0.03 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.09 0.12 0.11 --
WGOA............ -- 0.13 -- 0.11
GOA............. 0.09 0.12 0.11 --
Dutch Harbor.... 0.10 0.16 -- 0.15
BS.............. 0.07 0.15 -- 0.13
BSAI............ 0.07 0.15 -- 0.13
Stationary -- 0.14 -- 0.14
Floating
Processor.
AK.............. 0.09 0.12 0.11 --
ALL............. 0.09 0.12 0.11 --
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Craig........... 1.20 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.51 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.27 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.97 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.75 -- -- --
Cordova......... 0.28 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.34 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.49 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.39 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.40 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.48 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.48 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.48 -- -- --
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Juneau.......... 0.31 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.33 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.25 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.54 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.39 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.35 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.36 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.23 0.19 -- 0.19
Seward.......... 0.38 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.35 0.19 -- 0.19
GOA............. 0.38 0.19 -- 0.19
AK.............. 0.38 0.19 -- 0.19
[[Page 60709]]
ALL............. 0.38 0.19 -- 0.19
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... Sitka........... 0.48 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.47 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.47 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.75 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.58 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.56 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.56 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.56 -- -- --
Rex Sole (125)................ Kodiak.......... -- 0.34 0.34 --
CGOA............ -- 0.34 0.34 --
GOA............. -- 0.34 0.34 --
AK.............. -- 0.34 0.33 --
ALL............. -- 0.34 0.33 --
Rock Sole (123)............... Kodiak.......... -- 0.22 0.21 --
CGOA............ -- 0.22 0.21 --
GOA............. -- 0.22 0.21 --
AK.............. -- 0.22 0.21 --
ALL............. -- 0.22 0.21 --
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... SEAK............ 0.32 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.32 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.44 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.48 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.44 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.44 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.44 -- -- --
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Juneau.......... 0.30 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.32 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.28 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.55 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.44 -- -- --
Cordova......... 0.31 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.30 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.36 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.30 0.20 0.20 --
Seward.......... 0.40 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.34 0.20 0.20 --
GOA............. 0.37 0.21 0.20 --
AK.............. 0.37 0.21 0.20 --
ALL............. 0.37 0.21 0.20 --
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... Kodiak.......... \5\ n/a 2.77 2.72 --
CGOA............ \5\ n/a 2.77 2.72 --
GOA............. \5\ n/a 2.77 2.72 --
AK.............. \5\ n/a 2.77 2.72 --
ALL............. \5\ n/a 2.77 2.72 --
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Juneau.......... 0.33 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.32 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.29 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.53 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.42 -- -- --
Whittier........ 0.41 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.46 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.39 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.33 0.21 0.20 --
Seward.......... 0.40 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.39 0.21 0.21 --
GOA............. 0.41 0.25 0.21 --
BSAI............ 0.46 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.41 0.25 0.21 --
ALL............. 0.41 0.25 0.21 --
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Juneau.......... 0.36 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.50 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.58 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.47 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.36 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.57 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.44 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.46 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.46 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.46 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.46 -- -- --
[[Page 60710]]
Skate, Alaska (703)........... CGOA............ 0.45 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.45 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.45 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.45 -- -- --
Skate, Big (702).............. EGOA............ 0.41 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.45 0.45 0.45 --
Seward.......... 0.41 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.45 0.45 0.45 --
GOA............. 0.44 0.45 0.45 --
AK.............. 0.44 0.45 0.45 --
ALL............. 0.44 0.45 0.45 --
Skate, Longnose (701)......... Petersburg...... 0.40 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.40 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.40 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.38 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.45 0.45 0.45 --
Seward.......... 0.40 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.43 0.45 0.45 --
GOA............. 0.43 0.45 0.45 --
AK.............. 0.43 0.45 0.45 --
ALL............. 0.43 0.45 0.45 --
Skate, Other (700)............ SEAK............ 0.41 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.41 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.42 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.42 -- -- 0.16
ALL............. 0.42 -- -- 0.16
Starry Flounder (129)......... Kodiak.......... -- 0.11 -- 0.11
CGOA............ -- 0.11 -- 0.11
GOA............. -- 0.11 -- 0.11
AK.............. -- 0.11 -- 0.11
ALL............. -- 0.11 -- 0.11
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Juneau.......... 1.00 -- -- --
(143).
Ketchikan....... 1.16 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.97 -- -- --
SEAK............ 1.00 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.69 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.79 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.61 0.74 -- 0.74
Seward.......... 0.76 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.71 0.74 0.74 --
WGOA............ 0.77 -- -- --
GOA............. -- 0.74 0.74 --
BS.............. 0.73 -- -- --
BSAI............ 0.70 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.79 0.74 0.74 --
ALL............. 0.79 0.74 0.74 --
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... SEAK............ 0.49 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.35 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.51 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.42 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.43 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.45 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.45 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.45 -- -- --
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... Sitka........... 1.22 -- -- --
SEAK............ 1.03 -- -- --
EGOA............ 1.03 -- -- --
GOA............. 1.03 -- -- --
AK.............. 1.03 -- -- --
ALL............. 1.03 -- -- --
Widow Rockfish (156).......... GOA............. 1.15 -- -- --
AK.............. 1.15 -- -- --
ALL............. 1.15 -- -- --
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Craig........... 1.06 -- -- --
Juneau.......... 0.97 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 1.54 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 1.14 -- -- --
Sitka........... 1.86 -- -- --
SEAK............ 1.66 -- -- --
Cordova......... 1.02 -- -- --
Whittier........ 0.94 -- -- --
[[Page 60711]]
EGOAxSE......... 0.99 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.85 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.39 0.24 -- 0.24
Seward.......... 0.56 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.61 0.24 -- 0.24
WGOA............ 0.46 -- -- --
GOA............. -- 0.24 -- 0.24
AK.............. 1.35 0.24 -- 0.24
ALL............. 1.35 0.24 -- 0.24
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... Sitka........... 0.70 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.62 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.63 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.58 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.23 -- -- --
Seward.......... 0.87 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.44 -- -- --
GOA............. 0.47 -- -- --
AK.............. 0.47 -- -- --
ALL............. 0.46 -- -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If species is not listed, use price for the species group in Table 2 if it exists in the management area. If
no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be
assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ For species codes, see Table 2a to 50 CFR part 679.
\3\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska;
BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern
Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK =
Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
\4\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type, or see Table 2 or Table 3.
\5\ n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in Table 3 with
the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings.
Table 2--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species Groups for 2018 Observer Coverage Fee
[based on volume and value from 2014, 2015, and 2016]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/Area \2\
Species Group \1\ \3\ Non-Trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Sole (FSOL).......... Kodiak.......... -- $0.16 $0.15 --
CGOA............ -- 0.16 0.15 --
GOA............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
AK.............. -- 0.16 0.15 --
GOA Deep-Water \4\ Flatfish Kodiak.......... -- 0.09 0.09 --
(DFL4).
CGOA............ -- 0.09 0.09 --
GOA............. -- 0.09 0.09 --
GOA Shallow-Water \5\ Flatfish Kodiak.......... -- 0.21 0.20 --
(SFL1).
CGOA............ -- 0.21 0.20 --
GOA............. -- 0.21 0.20 --
GOA Skate, Other (USKT)....... SEAK............ $0.41 -- -- --
EGOA............ 0.41 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... -- -- -- $0.44
Seward.......... 0.42 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.43 -- -- 0.44
GOA............. 0.43 -- -- 0.44
Other Rockfish \6\ \7\ (ROCK). Juneau.......... 0.44 -- -- --
Ketchikan....... 0.35 -- -- --
Petersburg...... 0.36 -- -- --
Sitka........... 0.58 -- -- --
SEAK............ 0.47 -- -- --
Cordova......... 0.75 -- -- --
Whittier........ 0.73 -- -- --
EGOAxSE......... 0.74 -- -- --
Homer........... 0.80 -- -- --
Kodiak.......... 0.38 0.18 0.21 --
Seward.......... 0.48 -- -- --
CGOA............ 0.53 0.18 0.21 --
WGOA............ 0.61 -- -- --
GOA............. -- 0.18 0.21 --
BS.............. 0.73 -- -- --
BSAI............ 0.67 -- -- --
AK.............. -- 0.18 0.21 --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential
[[Page 60712]]
\1\ If groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the
management area. If no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no
fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of
Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska)
\3\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type combination.
\4\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' in the GOA means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole,
rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ In the GOA:
``Other rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S.
goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes
other rockfish.
``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S.
maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean
perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
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 species and port or port group. Volume and ex-
vessel value data collected on the 2017 IFQ Buyer Report for landings
made from October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017, were used to
calculate the standard ex-vessel prices for the 2018 observer fee for
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
Table 3--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Halibut IFQ, Halibut CDQ,
Sablefish IFQ, and Sablefish Accruing Against the Fixed Gear Sablefish
CDQ Reserve for the 2018 Observer Fee
[based on 2017 IFQ Buyer Report]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Port/Area \1\ Price \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (200)..................... Juneau.............. $6.72
Ketchikan........... 6.62
Petersburg.......... 6.64
Sitka............... 6.49
SEAK................ 6.62
EGOAxSE............. 6.39
Homer............... 6.46
Kodiak.............. 6.38
Seward.............. 6.46
CGOA................ 6.42
WGOA................ 5.82
Adak................ 5.47
AI.................. 5.37
BS.................. 5.97
AK.................. 6.36
ALL................. 6.36
Sablefish (710)................... Ketchikan........... 4.91
Sitka............... 5.11
SEAK................ 5.08
EGOA................ 4.98
Homer............... 4.44
Kodiak.............. 4.77
CGOA................ 4.71
WGOA................ 4.73
Adak................ 5.00
AI.................. 4.50
BS.................. 4.12
AK.................. 4.76
ALL................. 4.76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL =
all ports including those outside Alaska; AI = Aleutian Islands
subarea; BS = Bering Sea subarea; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska;
EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; SEAK =
Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska)
\2\ If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that
price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish
landings and the headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut
landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group.
[[Page 60713]]
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 18, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27552 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P