[Federal Register: March 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 42)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9676-9707]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr07-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No.070213032-7032-01; I.D. 112206B]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; 2007 and 2008 Final Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications,
reserves and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species
catch (PSC) limits, and associated management measures for the
groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 2007 and 2008 fishing years and to
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in
[[Page 9677]]
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA).
DATES: The 2007 and 2008 final harvest specifications and associated
management measures are effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), March 5, 2007, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),
Record of Decision (ROD), and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) prepared for this action are available from the Alaska Region,
NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian, or from
the Alaska Region website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the
final 2006 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for
the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2006, are available
from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), West 4th
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510 2252 (907 271 2809), or from its
website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780, or e-mail at
tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the
exclusive economic zone of the GOA under the FMP. The Council prepared
the FMP under the authority of the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.
Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP appear at
50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify and apportion the total
allowable catch (TAC) for each target species and for the ``other
species'' category, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield
(OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). The final
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 22 of this document
satisfy this requirement. For 2007, the sum of the TAC amounts is
269,912 mt. For 2008, the sum of the TAC amounts is 286,173 mt.
Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish and solicit
public comment on proposed annual TACs, halibut PSC amounts, and
seasonal allowances of pollock and inshore/offshore Pacific cod. The
proposed GOA groundfish specifications and Pacific halibut PSC
allowances for 2007 and 2008 were published in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2006 (71 FR 75437). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 16, 2007. NMFS received 2 letters of comment on the
proposed specifications. These letters of comment are summarized in the
Response to Comments section of this action. In December 2006, NMFS
consulted with the Council regarding the 2007 and 2008 harvest
specifications. After considering public comments received, as well as
biological and economic data that were available at the Council's
December 2006 meeting, NMFS is implementing the 2007 and 2008 final
harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
In December 2006, the Council, its Advisory Panel (AP), and its
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), reviewed current biological
and harvest information about the condition of groundfish stocks in the
GOA. This information was compiled by the Council's GOA Plan Team and
was presented in the final 2006 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish
fisheries, dated November 2006 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report
contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of
each species= biomass and other biological parameters, as well as
summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and the
economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these
data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each species or
species category.
The final ABC levels are based on the best available biological and
socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends,
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised
methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the
formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute ABCs and overfishing levels
(OFLs). The formulas applicable to a particular stock or stock complex
are determined by the level of reliable information available to
fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into a successive
series of six tiers with tier one representing the highest level of
information and tier six the lowest level of information.
The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including
maintaining the total TAC within the required OY range of 116,000 to
800,000 mt. The Council adopted the AP's TAC recommendations. The
Council recommended TACs for 2007 and 2008 equal to ABCs for pollock,
deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, Pacific ocean perch,
shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish, pelagic
shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, big
skate, longnose skate, and other skates. The Council recommended TACs
less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead sole, shallow-water
flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, other rockfish, and Atka mackerel. None
of the Council's recommended TACs for 2007 and 2008 exceeds the final
ABC for any species or species category. The 2007 and 2008 harvest
specifications approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) are
unchanged from those recommended by the Council and are consistent with
the preferred harvest strategy alternative in the EIS. The 2007 and
2008 TACs are less than the maximum permissible ABCs recommended by the
Council's plan teams and SSC NMFS finds that the recommended ABCs and
TACs are consistent with the biological condition of the groundfish
stocks as described in the 2006 SAFE report and approved by the
Council. The apportionment of TAC amounts among gear types, processing
sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
NMFS finds that the Council's recommendations for OFL, ABC, and TAC
amounts are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the OY
range. NMFS reviewed the Council's recommended TAC specifications and
apportionments and approves these specifications under Sec.
679.20(c)(3)(ii).
Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2007 and 2008 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The sum of 2007 ABCs is
490,327 mt, which is lower than the 2006 ABC total of 500,625 mt (71 FR
10870, March 3, 2006), while the sum of 2008 ABCs of 511,838 mt is
higher than the 2006 total.
Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts
As in 2006, the SSC and Council recommended the method of
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2007 and 2008
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment
scientists believe the use of unbiased commercial fishery data
reflecting catch-per-unit effort provides a desirable input for stock
distribution assessments. The use of commercial fishery data is
evaluated annually to ensure unbiased information is included in stock
distribution models. The Council's recommendation for sablefish area
apportionments also takes into account
[[Page 9678]]
the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the Southeast Outside (SEO)
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available 5 percent
of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area ABCs to trawl gear for use as
incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the West
Yakutat (WYK) District (Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i)).
Since the inception of a State of Alaska (State) managed pollock
fishery in Prince William Sound (PWS), the GOA Plan Team has
recommended the guideline harvest level (GHL) for the pollock fishery
in PWS be deducted from the ABC for the western stock of pollock in the
GOA in the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK) Area. For the 2007
and 2008 pollock fisheries in PWS the State's GHL is 1,650 mt.
The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass
distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, as well as
equally among each of the following four seasons: the A season (January
20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C
season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1
through November 1) (Sec. Sec. 693.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
The SSC, AP, and Council adopted the Plan Team's OFL and ABC
recommendations for all groundfish species categories.
The SSC, AP, and Council recommended apportionment of the ABC for
Pacific cod in the GOA among regulatory areas based on the three most
recent NMFS summer trawl surveys.
The 2007 and 2008 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's
fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Central and Western
Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS. The SSC, AP, and Council
recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod
removals not exceed the ABC. Accordingly, the Council recommended
reduction of the 2007 and 2008 Pacific cod TACs from the ABCs in the
Central and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs.
Therefore, the 2007 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the
following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 413 mt; (2) Central GOA, 9,468 mt;
and (3) Western GOA, 6,714 mt. Similarly, the 2008 Pacific cod TACs are
less than the ABCs as follows: (1) Eastern GOA, 428 mt; (2) Central
GOA, 9,817 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 6,961 mt. These amounts reflect the
sum of the State's 2007 and 2008 GHLs in these areas, which are 10
percent, 25 percent, and 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and
Western GOA ABCs, respectively. The percentages of ABC used to
calculate the GHLs for the State managed Pacific cod fisheries are
unchanged from 2006.
NMFS also is establishing seasonal apportionments of the annual
Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, and jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear
from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September
1 through November 1 (Sec. Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(11)).
As in 2006, NMFS establishes for 2007 and 2008 an A season directed
fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA based
on the management area TACs minus the recent average A season
incidental catch of Pacific cod in each management area before June 10
(Sec. 679.20(d)(1)). The DFA and incidental catch before June 10 will
be managed such that total harvest in the A season will be no more than
60 percent of the annual TAC. Incidental catch taken after June 10 will
continue to accrue against the B season TAC. This action meets the
intent of the Steller Sea Lion Protection Measures by achieving
temporal dispersion of the Pacific cod removals and by reducing the
likelihood of harvest exceeding 60 percent of the annual TAC in the A
season (January 1 through June 10). The seasonal apportionments of the
annual Pacific cod TAC are discussed in greater detail below.
The FMP specifies that the amount for the ``other species''
category be set at an amount less than or equal to 5 percent of the
combined TAC amounts for target species. The final 2007 and 2008 annual
GOA-wide TACs of 4,500 mt are less than 5 percent of the combined TAC
amounts for target species. The sums of the TACs for all GOA groundfish
is 269,912 mt for 2007 and 286,173 mt for 2008, which are within the OY
range specified by the FMP. The sums of the 2007 and 2008 TACs are
lower than the 2006 TAC sum of 291,950 mt.
Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program
Congress granted NMFS specific statutory authority to manage
Central GOA rockfish fisheries in Section 802 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-199). The Council adopted a
proposed Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish
Program) to meet the requirements of Section 802 on June 6, 2005. The
elements of the Rockfish Program are discussed in detail in the
proposed rule to Amendment 68 to the FMP (71 FR 33040, June 7, 2006)
and in the final rule to implement the Rockfish Program (71 FR 67210,
November 20, 2006). The final rule became effective December 20, 2006.
The Rockfish Program is authorized for five years, from January 1,
2007, until December 31, 2011. A brief overview of major provisions of
the Rockfish Program which have implications for the 2007 and 2008
harvest specifications follows.
The Rockfish Program allocates exclusive harvesting and processing
privileges for primary rockfish species and for associated species
harvested incidentally to those rockfish in the Central GOA, an area
from 147[deg] W. longitude to 159[deg] W. longitude. The primary
rockfish species are northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and
pelagic shelf rockfish. Secondary species are those species
incidentally harvested during the harvest of the primary rockfish
species fisheries and include Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish,
shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. The Rockfish
Program also allocates a portion of the total GOA halibut mortality
limit annually specified under Sec. 679.21 to participants based on
historic halibut mortality rates in the primary rockfish species
fisheries. The amounts of primary rockfish species, secondary species,
and halibut mortality to be allocated to the Rockfish Program will not
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
Program. These amounts will be posted on the Alaska Region website at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov when they become available early in 2007.
The Rockfish Program also establishes catch limits, commonly called
``sideboards,'' to limit the ability of participants eligible for the
Rockfish Program to harvest fish in fisheries other than the Central
GOA rockfish fisheries. Sideboards limit the total amount of catch in
other groundfish fisheries that can be taken by eligible harvesters to
historic levels, including harvests made in the State's parallel
groundfish fisheries. Parallel fisheries are authorized by the State in
its waters concurrent with the Federal fishery. Parallel fisheries
catch is deducted from the Federal TACs. Sideboards limit catch in
specific rockfish fisheries and the amount of halibut bycatch that can
be used in certain flatfish fisheries. Tables 18 and 19 list the 2007
and 2008 final groundfish sideboard limitations.
[[Page 9679]]
Table 20 lists the 2007 and 2008 final halibut mortality limitations.
Changes From the Proposed 2007 and 2008 Harvest Specifications in the
GOA
In October 2006, the Council's recommendations for the proposed
2007 and 2008 harvest specifications (71 FR 75437, December 15, 2006)
were based largely upon information contained in the final 2005 SAFE
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2005. The
Council recommended that OFLs and ABCs for stocks in tiers 1 through 3
be based on biomass projections as set forth in the 2005 SAFE report
and estimates of groundfish harvests through the 2006 and 2007 fishing
years. For stocks in tiers 4 through 6, for which biomass projections
could not be made, the Council recommended the same OFL and ABC levels
for 2006 until the final 2006 SAFE report could be completed.
The 2006 SAFE report, dated November 2006, which was not available
when the Council made its recommendations in October 2006, contains the
best and most recent scientific information on the condition of the
groundfish stocks. This report was considered in December 2006 by the
Council when it made recommendations for the final 2007 and 2008
harvest specifications. Based on the final 2006 SAFE report, the sum of
the 2007 final TACs for the GOA (269,912 mt) is 5,544 mt greater than
the sum of the proposed TACs (264,367 mt). The largest 2007 increases
occurred for Pacific cod, from 44,705 mt to 52,264 mt (17 percent
increase); rex sole, from 8,700 mt to 9,100 mt (5 percent increase);
sablefish, from 13,700 mt to 14,310 mt (4 percent increase); and for
pelagic shelf rockfish, from 5,461 mt to 5,542 mt (1 percent increase).
The largest decreases occurred for pollock, from 70,507 mt to 68,307 mt
(3 percent decrease); and for northern rockfish, from 5,900 mt to 4,938
mt (16 percent decrease). Other increases or decreases in 2007 and 2008
are within these ranges.
Compared to the proposed 2007 and 2008 harvest specifications, the
Council's final 2007 and 2008 TAC recommendations increase fishing
opportunities for species for which the Council had sufficient
information to raise TAC levels. These include, Pacific cod, rex sole,
sablefish, and pelagic shelf rockfish. Conversely, the Council reduced
TAC levels to provide greater protection for several species including
pollock, deep water flatfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern
rockfish. The changes recommended by the Council for the 2007 and 2008
fishing years were based on the best scientific information available,
consistent with National Standard 2 of the MSA, and within a reasonable
range of variation from the proposed TAC recommendations so that the
affected public was fairly apprized and could have made meaningful
comments based on the proposed specifications. Tables 1 and 2 list the
2007 and 2008 final OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts of the GOA groundfish.
Table 1 - Final 2007 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western
(W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and
Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
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Species Area\1\ ABC TAC OFL
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Pollock\2\ .................. .................. ................. .................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (610) 25,012 25,012 n/a
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Chirikof (620) 20,890 20,980 n/a
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Kodiak (630) 14,850 14,850 n/a
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WYK (640) 1,398 1,398 n/a
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Subtotal W/C/WYK 62,150 62,150 87,220
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SEO (650) 6,157 6,157 8,209
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Total .................. 68,307 68,307 95,429
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Pacific cod\3\ W 26,855 20,141 n/a
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C 37,873 28,405 n/a
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E 4,131 3,718 n/a
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Total .................. 68,859 52,264 97,600
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Flatfish\4\ (deep-water) W 420 420 n/a
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C 4,163 4,163 n/a
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WYK 2,677 2,677 n/a
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SEO 1,447 1,447 n/a
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Total .................. 8,707 8,707 10,431
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Rex sole W 1,147 1,147 n/a
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C 5,446 5,446 n/a
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[[Page 9680]]
WYK 1,037 1,037 n/a
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SEO 1,470 1,470 n/a
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Total .................. 9,100 9,100 11,900
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Flathead sole W 10,908 2,000 n/a
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C 26,054 5,000 n/a
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WYK 2,091 2,091 n/a
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SEO 57 57 n/a
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Total .................. 39,110 9,148 48,658
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Flatfish\5\(shallow-water) W 24,720 4,500 n/a
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C 24,258 13,000 n/a
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WYK 628 628 n/a
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SEO 1,844 1,844 n/a
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Total .................. 51,450 19,972 62,418
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Arrowtooth flounder W 20,852 8,000 n/a
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C 139,582 30,000 n/a
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WYK 16,507 2,500 n/a
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SEO 7,067 2,500 n/a
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Total .................. 184,008 43,000 214,828
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Sablefish\6\ W 2,470 2,470 n/a
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C 6,190 6,190 n/a
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WYK 2,280 2,280 n/a
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SEO 3,370 3,370 n/a
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Subtotal E(WYK and SEO) 5,650 5,650 n/a
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Total .................. 14,310 14,310 16,906
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Pacific ocean perch\7\ W 4,244 4,244 4,976
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C 7,612 7,612 8,922
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WYK 1,140 1,140 n/a
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SEO 1,640 1,640 n/a
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Subtotal E(WYK and SEO) 2,780 2,780 3,260
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Total .................. 14,636 14,635 17,158
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Shortraker rockfish\8\ W 153 153 n/a
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C 353 353 n/a
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E 337 337 n/a
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Total .................. 843 843 1,124
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[[Page 9681]]
Rougheye rockfish\9\ W 136 136 n/a
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C 611 611 n/a
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E 241 241 n/a
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Total .................. 988 988 1,148
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Other rockfish\10,11\ W 577 577 n/a
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C 386 386 n/a
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WYK 319 319 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 2,872 200 n/a
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Total .................. 4,154 1,482 5,394
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Northern rockfish\11,12\ W 1,439 1,439 n/a
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C 3,499 3,499 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 0 0 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 4,938 4,938 5,890
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Pelagic shelf rockfish\13\ W 1,466 1,466 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 3,325 3,325 n/a
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WYK 307 307 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 444 444 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 5,542 5,542 6,458
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Thornyhead rockfish W 513 513 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 989 989 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 707 707 n/a
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Total .................. 2,209 2,209 2,945
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Big skates\14\ W 695 695 n/a
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C 2,250 2,250 n/a
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E 599 599 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.................. 3,544 3,544 4,726
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Longnose skates\15\ W 65 65 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 1,969 1,969 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 861 861 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.................. 2,895 2,895 3,860
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Other skates\16\ GW 1,617 1,617 2,156
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Demersal shelf rockfish\17\ SEO 410 410 650
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel GW 4,700 1,500 6,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species\18\ GW n/a 4,500 n/a
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[[Page 9682]]
TOTAL\19\ .................. 490,327 269,912 615,879
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\1\. Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2.
\2\. Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 30 percent, 48 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 30 percent,
59 percent, and 11 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons,
the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 53 percent, 15 percent, and 32
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal apportionments.
In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided
into seasonal allowances.
\3\. The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to an A season and 40% to a B season in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
10% for processing by the offshore component. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2007 and 2008 proposed seasonal
apportionments and component allocations of TAC.
\4\. ''Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\. ''Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ''deep-water flatfish,'' flatheador arrowtooth
flounder.
\6\. Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2007 and to trawl gear in 2008. Tables 3 and 4
list these amounts.
\7\. ''Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\. ''Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\. ''Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus.
\10\. ''Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means
slope rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ''other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope
rockfish.
\11\. ''Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern
rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\12\. ''Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
\13\. ''Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow),
and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\. Big skate means Raja binoculata.
\15\. Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
\16\. Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
\17\. ''Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\18\. ''Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ''other
species.'' The FMP specifies that the amount for the ''other species'' category be set at an amount less than
or equal to 5% of the combined TAC amounts for target species.
\19\. The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
Table 2 - Final 2008 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/WYK), Western
(W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and
Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska (values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Area\1\ ABC TAC OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock\2\ .................. .................. ................. .................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (610) 30,308 30,308 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chirikof (620) 25,313 25,313 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kodiak (630) 17,995 17,995 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK (640) 1,694 1,694 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal W/C/WYK 75,310 75,310 105,490
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO (650) 6,157 6,157 8,209
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 81,467 81,467 113,699
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod\3\ W 27,846 20,885 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 39,270 29,453 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 4,284 3,856 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 71,400 54,194 86,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish\4\ (deep-water) W 430 430 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 4,296 4,296 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 9683]]
WYK 2,763 2,763 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 1,494 1,494 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 8,983 8,983 11,412
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole W 1,122 1,122 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 5,327 5,327 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 1,014 1,014 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 1,437 1,437 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 8,900 8,900 11,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole W 11,464 2,000 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 27,382 5,000 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 2,198 2,198 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 60 60 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 41,104 9,258 51,146
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish\5\(shallow-water) W 24,720 4,500 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 24,258 13,000 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 628 628 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 1,844 1,844 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 51,450 19,972 62,418
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder W 21,164 8,000 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 141,673 30,000 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 16,754 2,500 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 7,172 2,500 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 186,763 43,000 218,020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish\6\ W 2,458 2,458 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 6,159 6,159 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 2,269 2,269 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 3,353 3,353 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal E(WYK and SEO) 5,622 5,622 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 14,239 14,239 15,803
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch\7\ W 4,291 4,291 5,030
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 7,694 7,694 9,019
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 1,153 1,153 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 1,659 1,659 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal E(WYK and SEO) 2,812 2,812 3,296
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 9684]]
Total .................. 14,797 14,797 17,345
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish\8\ W 153 153 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 353 353 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 337 337 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 843 843 1,124
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish\9\ W 137 137 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 614 614 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 242 242 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 993 993 1,197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish\10,11\ W 577 577 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 386 386 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 319 319 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 2,872 200 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 4,154 1,482 5,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish\11,12\ W 1,383 1,383 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 3,365 3,365 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 0 0 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 4,748 4,748 5,660
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish\13\ W 1,752 1,752 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 3,973 3,973 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WYK 366 366 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEO 531 531 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 6,622 6,622 8,186
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish W 513 513 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 989 989 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 707 707 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 2,209 2,209 2,945
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates\14\ W 695 695 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 2,250 2,250 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 599 599 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................. 3,544 3,544 4,726
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates\15\ W 65 65 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C 1,969 1,969 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E 861 861 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 9685]]
Total .................. 2,895 2,895 3,860
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates\16\ GW 1,617 1,617 2,156
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish\17\ SEO 410 410 650
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel GW 4,700 1,500 6,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species\18\ GW n/a 4,500 n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL\19\ .................. 511,838 286,173 629,541
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\. Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2.
\2\. Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A
season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of
approximately 30 percent, 48 percent, and 22 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 30 percent,
59 percent, and 11 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons,
the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 53 percent, 15 percent, and 32
percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal apportionments.
In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided
into seasonal allowances.
\3\. The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to an A season and 40% to a B season in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
10% for processing by the offshore component. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2007 and 2008 proposed seasonal
apportionments and component allocations of TAC.
\4\. ''Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\. ''Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ''deep-water flatfish,'' flatheador arrowtooth
flounder.
\6\. Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2007 and to trawl gear in 2008. Tables 3 and 4
list these amounts.
\7\. ''Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\. ''Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\9\. ''Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus.
\10\. ''Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means
slope rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ''other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope
rockfish.
\11\. ''Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
(shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
(vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern
rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\12\. ''Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
\13\. ''Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow),
and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\. Big skate means Raja binoculata.
\15\. Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
\16\. Other skates means Bathyraja spp.
\17\. ''Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\18\. ''Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ''other
species.'' The FMP specifies that the amount for the ''other species'' category be set at an amount less than
or equal to 5% of the combined TAC amounts for target species.
\19\. The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
Apportionment of Reserves
Section 679.20(b)(2) requires 20 percent of each TAC for pollock,
Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category be set aside
in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date. In 2006, NMFS
reapportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest specifications.
For 2007 and 2008, NMFS proposed reapportionment of all the reserves in
the proposed 2007 and 2008 harvest specifications published in the
Federal Register on December 15, 2006 (71 FR 75437). NMFS received no
public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For the final 2007
and 2008 harvest specifications, NMFS apportioned as proposed all of
the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and ``other species.''
Specifications of TAC shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect apportionment of
reserve amounts for these species and species groups.
Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line
and Trawl Gear
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line
and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent
of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each
TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95
percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 5 percent is
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern
Regulatory Area may only be used to support incidental catch of
sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species (Sec.
679.20(a)(1)). In recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of
the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS concurs
with the allocation of 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory
Area sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District and the remainder
to vessels using hook-and-line gear. As a result, NMFS allocates 100
percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-
and-line gear. The Council recommended that hook-and-line sablefish TAC
be established annually to ensure that the Individual Fishery Quota
(IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and
is based on the most
[[Page 9686]]
recent survey information. This recommendation results in an allocation
of 283 mt to trawl gear and 1,997 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK
District and 3,370 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District in
2007, and 281 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District in 2008. Table 3
lists the allocations of the 2007 sablefish TACs between hook-and-line
and trawl gear. Table 4 lists the allocations of the 2008 sablefish
TACs to trawl gear.
Table 3 - Final 2007 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska
and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC allocation allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western 2,470 1,976 494
Central 6,190 4,952 1,238
West Yakutat 2,280 1,997 283
Southeast Outside 3,370 3,370 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 14,310 12,295 2,015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 4 - Final 2008 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska
and Allocation to Trawl Gear
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Trawl
Area/district TAC allocation allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western 2,458 n/a 492
Central 6,159 n/a 1,232
West Yakutat 2,269 n/a 281
Southeast Outside 3,353 n/a 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 14,239 n/a 2,005
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line
gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to 1 year.
Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and
Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by
Sec. 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season
allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to May
31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively.
Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630. In the A and
B seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of
pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In
the C and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the
distribution of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS
summer surveys. For 2007 and 2008, the Council recommends averaging the
winter and summer distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory
Area for the A season. The average is intended to reflect the
distribution of pollock and the performance of the fishery in the area
during the A season for the 2007 and 2008 fishing years. Within any
fishing year, the underage or overage of a seasonal allowance may be
added to, or subtracted from, subsequent seasonal allowances in a
manner to be determined by the Regional Administrator. The rollover
amount of unharvested pollock is limited to 20 percent of the seasonal
apportionment for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above
the 20 percent limit could be further distributed to the other
statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass in the
subsequent season in those statistical areas (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs of 1,398 mt
and 6,157 mt in 2007 and 1,694 mt and 6,157 mt in 2008, respectively,
are not allocated by season.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after
subtracting amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be
caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to
directed fishing for other groundfish species. The amount of pollock
available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by
the offshore component is that amount actually taken as incidental
catch during directed fishing for groundfish species other than
pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by Sec.
679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts are
unknown and will be determined during the fishing year.
The 2007 and 2008 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the
Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal
apportionments for the A, B, C, and D seasons are summarized in Tables
5 and 6, except that amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore
and offshore components are not shown.
[[Page 9687]]
Table 5 - Final 2007 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (Area Chirikof (Area
Season 610) 620) Kodiak (Area 630) Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 4,511 (29.70%) 7,357 (48.44%) 3,320 (21.86%) 15,188 (100%)
B 4,511 (29.70%) 8,924 (58.76%) 1,753 (11.54%) 15,188 (100%)
C 7,995 (52.64%) 2,304 (15.17%) 4,889 (32.19%) 15,188 (100%)
D 7,995 (52.64%) 2,304 (15.17%) 4,889 (32.19%) 15,188 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total 25,012 20,890 14,850 60,752
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6 - Final 2008 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (Area Chirikof (Area
Season 610) 620) Kodiak (Area 630) Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 5,466 (29.70%) 8,915 (48.44%) 4,023 (21.86%) 18,404 (100%)
B 5,466 (29.70%) 10,814 (58.76%) 2,124 (11.54%) 18,404 (100%)
C 9,688 (52.64%) 2,792 (15.17%) 5,924 (32.19%) 18,404 (100%)
D 9,688 (52.64%) 2,792 (15.17%) 5,924 (32.19%) 18,404 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Total 30,308 25,313 17,995 73,616
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC and Allocations for
Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and Offshore Components
Pacific cod fishing is divided into two seasons in the Western and
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. For hook-and-line, pot, and jig
gear, the A season is January 1 through June 10, and the B season is
September 1 through December 31. For trawl gear, the A season is
January 20 through June 10, and the B season is September 1 through
November 1 (Sec. 679.23(d)(3)). After subtracting incidental catch
from the A season, 60 percent of the annual TAC will be available as a
DFA during the A season for the inshore and offshore components. The
remaining 40 percent of the annual TAC will be available for harvest
during the B season. The seasonal allocations will be apportioned
between the inshore and offshore components, as provided in Sec.
679.20(a)(6)(ii). Under Sec. 679.20(a)(11)(ii), any overage or
underage of the Pacific cod allowance from the A season may be
subtracted from or added to the subsequent B season allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires allocation of the TAC
apportionments of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component.
Tables 7 and 8 list the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the
2007 and 2008 Pacific cod TACs.
Table 7 - Final 2007 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska;
Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component allocation
Season Regulatory area TAC ---------------------------------------
Inshore (90%) Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western 20,141 18,127 2,014
A season (60%) ................. 12,085 10,876 1,208
B season (40%) ................. 8,056 7,251 806
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central 28,405 25,565 2,840
A season (60%) ................. 17,043 15,339 1,704
B season (40%) ................. 11,362 10,226 1,136
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern 3,718 3,346 372
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 52,264 47,038 5,226
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 9688]]
Table 8 - Final 2008 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska;
Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component allocation
Season Regulatory area TAC ---------------------------------------
Inshore (90%) Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western 20,885 18,796 2,089
A season (60%) .................. 12,531 11,278 1,253
B season (40%) .................. 8,354 7,519 835
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central 29,453 26,508 2,945
A season (60%) .................. 17,672 15,905 1,767
B season (40%) .................. 11,781 10,603 1,178
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern 3,856 3,470 386
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 54,194 48,775 5,419
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR)
In a commercial fisheries news release dated December 18, 2006, the
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) announced the closure of
directed fishing for DSR in the SEO District in 2007. The ADF&G
estimates that the incidental catch mortality in the commercial halibut
fishery will require the entire commercial TAC; therefore, a directed
fishery in the SEO District cannot be prosecuted (5 AAC 28.160). NMFS
reminds all fishermen that full retention of all DSR by federally
permitted catcher vessels using hook-and-line or jig gear fishing for
groundfish and Pacific halibut in the SEO District of the GOA is
required (Sec. 679.20(j)).
Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program
Section 679.81(a)(2) requires the allocation of the primary
rockfish species after deducting incidental catch needs in other
directed groundfish fisheries in the Central Regulatory Area. Five
percent (2.5 percent to trawl gear and 2.5 percent to fixed gear) of
the final TACs for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic
shelf rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area are allocated to the
entry level rockfish fishery and the remaining 95 percent to those
vessels eligible to participate in the Rockfish Program as described in
the proposed and final rules for the Rockfish Program (71 FR 33040,
June 7, 2006, and 71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006, respectively). NMFS
is setting aside in 2007 and 2008 incidental catch amounts of 330 mt of
Pacific ocean perch, 120 mt of northern rockfish, and 100 mt of pelagic
shelf rockfish for other directed fisheries in the Central Regulatory
Area. These amounts are based on the 2003 through 2006 average
incidental catch in the Central Regulatory Area by these other
groundfish fisheries.
Halibut PSC Limits
Section 679.21(d) establishes the annual halibut PSC limit
apportionments to trawl, hook-and-line and pot gear. In December 2006,
the Council recommended that NMFS maintain the 2006 halibut PSC limits
of 2,000 mt for the trawl fisheries and 300 mt for the hook-and-line
fisheries. Ten mt of the hook-and-line limit is further allocated to
the DSR fishery in the SEO District. The DSR fishery is defined at
Sec. 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has been apportioned 10 mt in
recognition of its small scale harvests. Most vessels in the DSR
fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) and are
exempt from observer coverage. Therefore, observer data are not
available to verify actual bycatch amounts. NMFS assumes the halibut
bycatch in the DSR fishery is low because of the short soak times for
the gear and duration of the DSR fishery. Also, the DSR fishery occurs
in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and
halibut.
Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. NMFS, after consultation
with the Council, exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ
hook-and-line gear fishery from the non-trawl halibut limit for 2007
and 2008. The Council recommended these exemptions because (1) the pot
gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 18
mt annually from 2001 through 2006 and 21 mt in 2006 alone); (2) the
halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality
because the IFQ program requires retention of legal-sized halibut by
vessels using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is
aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ; and (3) halibut mortality for
the jig gear fisheries is assumed to be negligible. Halibut mortality
is assumed to be negligible in the jig gear fisheries given the small
amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear (averaging 323 mt annually
from 2001 through 2006 and 128 mt in 2006 alone), the selective nature
of jig gear, and the likelihood that halibut caught with jig gear have
high survival rates when released.
Section 679.21(d)(5) provides NMFS authority to seasonally
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council.
The FMP and regulations require the Council and NMFS consider the
following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits:
(1) seasonal distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of
target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution, (3)
expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes
in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species, (4)
expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in
directed groundfish fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of
fishing effort, and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal
halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry.
The final 2006 and 2007 groundfish harvest specifications (71 FR
10870, March 3, 2006) summarized the Council and NMFS' findings with
respect to each of these FMP considerations. The Council and NMFS'
findings for 2007 and 2008 are unchanged from 2006. The opening dates
and halibut PSC limitations for vessels using trawl gear participating
in the Rockfish Program in the Central Regulatory Area are described in
the final rule to implement the Rockfish Program (71 FR 67210, November
20, 2006).
[[Page 9689]]
NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations described here and
listed in Table 9. Section 679.21, paragraphs (d)(5)(iii) and (iv)
specify that any underages or overages in a seasonal apportionment of a
PSC limit will be deducted from or added to the next respective
seasonal apportionment within the 2007 and 2008 fishing years. The
information to establish the halibut PSC limits was obtained from the
2006 SAFE report, NMFS, ADF&G, the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC), and public testimony.
Table 9 - Final 2007 and 2008 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
(values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Dates Amount -----------------------------------------------------------------
Dates Amount Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1 550 January 1-June 10 250 January 1- 10 (100%)
(27.5%) (86%) December 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1-July 1 400 June 10-September 1 5 (2%) ................. ...........
(20%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 1-September 1 600 (30%) September 1- 35 ................. ...........
December 31 (12%)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 1-October 1 150 (7.5%) n/a n/a ................. ...........
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 1-December 31 300 (15%) n/a n/a ................. ...........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 2,000 n/a 290 ................. 10 (100%)
(100%) (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR)
fishery andfisheries other than DSR. The hook-and-line sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits.
Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual
apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during the fishing year and
optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the
halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC
limits are (1) a deep-water species complex, comprised of sablefish,
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole and arrowtooth flounder; and
(2) a shallow-water species complex, comprised of pollock, Pacific cod,
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and
``other species'' (Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10 lists the final
2006 and 2007 apportionments for these two fishery complexes.
Table 10 - Final 2006 and 2007 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC
Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-Water Species Complex and the
Shallow-Water Species Complex
(values are in metric tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-
Season water Deep-water Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1 450 100 550
April 1-July1 100 300 400
July 1-September1 200 400 600
September 1-October1 150 Any 150
remainder
------------------------------------------
Subtotal January 20-October1 900 800 1,700
------------------------------------------
October 1-December 31\1\ n/a n/a 300
------------------------------------------
Total n/a n/a 2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl fishery
categories during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31).
Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data
collected by observers during 2006. The calculated halibut bycatch
mortality by trawl, hook and line, and pot gear through December 31,
2006, is 2,002 mt, 290 mt, and 21 mt, respectively, for a total halibut
mortality of 2,313 mt.
Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear
fisheries during the 2006 fishing year. Trawling during the second
season closed for the deep-water species category April 27 (71 FR
25781, May 2, 2006) and during the fourth season September 5 (71 FR
52754, September 7, 2006). Trawling during the first season closed for
the shallow-water species category from February 23 to February 27 (71
FR 9977, February 28, 2006, and 71 FR 10625, March 2, 2006) and during
the second season on June 10 (71 FR 34021, June 13, 2006). To prevent
exceeding the fourth season halibut PSC limit for the shallow-water
species category, directed fishing using trawl gear was limited to four
12-hour open periods on September 1 (71 FR 51784,
[[Page 9690]]
August 31, 2006), September 6 (71 FR 53339, September 11, 2006),
September 20 (71 FR 55134, September 21, 2006), and September 25 (71 FR
56898, September 28, 2006). Trawling for all groundfish targets (with
the exception of pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear) was
closed for the fifth season on October 8 (71 FR 60078, October 12,
2006). Fishing for groundfish using hook-and-line gear remained open in
2006 as the halibut PSC limit was not reached. The amount of groundfish
that trawl gear might have harvested if halibut PSC limits had not
restricted the 2006 season is unknown.
Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks and Catch
The final 2007 and 2008 ABCs for Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish,
flathead sole, arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic
shelf rockfish are higher than those established for 2006. However, the
final 2007 and 2008 ABCs for pollock, sablefish, rex sole, and northern
rockfish are lower than those established for 2006. For the remaining
target species, the Council recommended that ABC levels remain
unchanged from 2006. More information on these changes is included in
the final SAFE report (November 2006) and in the Council, SSC, and AP
minutes from the December 2006 meeting available from the Council (see
ADDRESSES).
In the GOA, the total final TAC amounts are 269,912 mt for 2007,
and 286,173 mt for 2008, a decrease of about 8 percent in 2007 and 2
percent in 2008 from the 2006 TAC total of 291,950 mt. Table 11
compares the final TACs for 2006 to the final TACs for 2007 and 2008.
Table 11 - Comparison of Final 2006 and Final 2007 and 2008 Total
Allowable Catch in the Gulf of Alaska
(values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species 2006 2007 2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock 86,807 68,307 81,467
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod 52,264 52,264 54,194
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish 14,840 14,310 14,239
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole 9,200 9,100 8,900
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Other species'' 13,856 4,500 4,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish 8,665 8,707 8,983
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole 9,077 9,148 9,258
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder 38,000 43,000 43,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch 14,261 14,636 14,797
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish 5,091 4,938 4,748
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish 5,436 5,542 6,622
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
The most recent halibut stock assessment was conducted by the IPHC
in December 2006 for the 2007 commercial fishery. The 2006 assessment
contains substantial changes from the previous year. Information
accruing from ongoing passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag
recoveries, as well as inconsistencies in the traditional closed-area
stock assessments for some areas has prompted the IPHC to examine stock
assessment frameworks. It had been assumed that once the halibut
reached legal commercial size there was little movement between
regulatory areas. PIT tag recoveries indicate greater movement between
regulatory areas than previously thought. The IPHC then developed a
coast wide assessment based on a single stock. The assessment adopted a
coast wide harvest rate of 20 percent of the exploitable biomass
overall but higher for some areas with net immigration. The IPHC staff
have recommended a harvest rate of 25 percent in Area 2C, 20 percent in
Areas 3A, 3B, and 4A, and 15 percent in Areas 4 B, C, D, and E. The
current exploitable halibut biomass in Alaska for 2007 was estimated to
be 169,000 mt, down from 189,543 mt in 2006. The female spawning
biomass remains far above the minimum which occurred in the 1970s.
The exploitable biomass of the Pacific halibut stock peaked at
326,520 mt in 1988. According to the IPHC, the long-term average
reproductive biomass for the Pacific halibut resource was estimated at
118,000 mt. Long-term average yield was estimated at 26,980 mt, round
weight. The species is fully utilized. Recent average catches (1994-
2004) in the commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska have averaged
34,241 mt, round weight. Catch in waters off Alaska is 27 percent
higher than long-term potential yield for the entire halibut stock,
reflecting the good condition of the Pacific halibut resource. In
December 2006, the IPHC recommended Alaska commercial catch limits
totaling 33,560 mt, round weight, in 2007, a slight increase from
33,421 mt in 2006. Through December 31, 2006, commercial hook-and-line
harvests of halibut off Alaska totaled 31,581 mt, round weight.
Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may
be found in the IPHC's 2006 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December
2006), available on the IPHC website at http://www.iphc.washington.edu.
The IPHC will consider the 2006 Pacific halibut assessment for 2007 at
its January 2007 annual meeting when it sets the 2007 commercial
halibut fishery quotas.
Other Factors
The proposed 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications (71 FR 75437,
December 15, 2006) discuss potential impacts of expected fishing for
groundfish on halibut stocks, as well as methods available for, and
costs of, reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries.
[[Page 9691]]
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
The Council recommends and NMFS concurs that the halibut discard
mortality rates (DMRs) recommended by the staff of the IPHC for the
2007 and 2008 GOA groundfish fisheries be used to monitor the 2007 and
2008 GOA halibut bycatch mortality limits. The IPHC recommended use of
long-term average DMRs for the 2007 and 2008 groundfish fisheries. The
IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend changes to the
DMRs where a DMR shows large variation from the mean. Most of the
IPHC's assumed DMRs were based on an average of mortality rates
determined from NMFS observer data collected between 1996 and 2005.
Long-term average DMRs were not available for some fisheries, so rates
from the most recent years were used. For the ``other species'' and
skate fisheries, where insufficient mortality data are available, the
mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific cod fishery for that
gear type was recommended as a default rate. The GOA DMRs for 2007 and
2008 are revised from those used in 2006. The DMRs for hook-and-line
targeted fisheries range from 10 to 14 percent. The DMRs for trawl
target fisheries range from 53 to 76 percent. The DMRs for pot target
fisheries are 16 percent. The final DMRs for 2007 and 2008 are listed
in Table 12. A copy of the document justifying these DMRs is available
from the Council (see ADDRESSES) and is discussed in Appendix A of the
final 2006 SAFE report, dated November 2006.
Table 12 - Final 2007 and 2008 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
(values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mortality Rate
Gear Target (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line Other species 14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skates 14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod 14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rockfish 10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl Arrowtooth flounder 69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel 60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish 53
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole 61
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-pelagic pollock 59
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species 63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skates 63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod 63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic pollock 76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole 63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rockfish 67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish 65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water 71
flatfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot Other species 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skates 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod 16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher Vessel Groundfish
Harvest and PSC Sideboard Limitations
Section 679.64 established groundfish harvesting and processing
sideboard limitations on AFA catcher/processors and catcher vessels in
the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests
of fishermen and processors who have not directly benefitted from the
AFA from fishermen and processors who have received exclusive
harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA. Listed AFA catcher/
processors are prohibited from harvesting any species of fish in the
GOA (Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(ii)). The listed AFA catcher/processors are also
prohibited from processing any pollock in the GOA and any groundfish
harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA (Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(iv)).
AFA catcher vessels less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA whose annual Bering
Sea and Aleutian Islands pollock landings totaled less than 5,100 mt
and that made 40 or more GOA groundfish landings from 1995 through 1997
are exempt from sideboard limits (Sec. 679.64(b)(2)(ii)).
Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA are
based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish
fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes
the groundfish sideboard limitations in the GOA based on the retained
catch of non-exempt AFA catcher vessels of each sideboard species from
1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that species over the same
period. These amounts are listed in Table 13 for 2007 and in Table 14
for 2008. All catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA catcher
vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the sideboard limits in Tables 13 and 14.
Table 13 - Final 2007 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
Limitations
(values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-1997
Apportionments and non-exempt AFA CV 2007 non-exempt
Species allocations by area/ catch to 1995-1997 2007 TAC AFA catcher
season/processor/gear TAC vessel sideboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock A Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
January 20 - February .................. .............. .................
25
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 4,511 2,757
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 7,357 1,050
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 3,320 809
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
March 10 - May 31 .................. .............. .................
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 4,511 2,757
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 8,924 1,273
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 1,753 427
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
[[Page 9692]]
August 25 - September .................. .............. .................
15
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 7,995 4,887
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 2,304 329
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 4,889 1,192
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
October 1 - November .................. .............. .................
1
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 7,995 4,887
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 2,304 329
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 4,889 1,192
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual .................. .............. .................
WYK (640) 0.3499 1,398 489
SEO (650) 0.3499 6,157 2,154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod A Season\1\ .................. .............. .................
January 1 - June 10 .................. .............. .................
W inshore 0.1423 10,876 1,548
W offshore 0.1026 1,208 124
C inshore 0.0722 15,339 1,107
C offshore 0.0721 1,704 123
B Season\2\ .................. .............. .................
September 1 - .................. .............. .................
December 31
W inshore 0.1423 7,251 1,032
W offshore 0.1026 806 83
C inshore 0.0722 10,226 738
C offshore 0.0721 1,136 82
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual .................. .............. .................
E inshore 0.0079 3,346 26
E offshore 0.0078 372 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish W 0 420 0
deep-water C 0.0670 4,163 279
E 0.0171 4,124 71
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole W 0.0010 1,147 1
C 0.0402 5,466 219
E 0.0153 2,507 38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole W 0.0036 2,000 7
C 0.0261 5,000 131
E 0.0048 2,148 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water W 0.0156 4,500 70
C 0.0598 13,000 777
E 0.0126 2,472 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder W 0.0021 8,000 17
C 0.0309 30,000 927
E 0.0020 5,000 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish W trawl gear 0 494 0
C trawl gear 0.0720 1,238 89
E trawl gear 0.0488 283 14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch W 0.0623 4,244 264
C 0.0866 7,612 659
E 0.0466 2,780 130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish W 0 153 0
C 0.0237 353 8
E 0.0124 337 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish W 0 136 0
C 0.0237 611 14
E 0.0124 241 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish W 0.0034 557 2
[[Page 9693]]
C 0.2065 386 80
E 0 519 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish W 0.0003 1,439 0
C 0.0336 3,499 128
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish W 0.0001 1,466 0
C 0 3,325 0
E 0.0067 751 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish W 0.0308 513 16
C 0.0308 989 30
E 0.0308 707 22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates W 0.0090 695 6
C 0.0090 2,250 20
E 0.0090 599 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates W 0.0090 65 1
C 0.0090 1,969 18
E 0.0090 861 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates GW 0.0090 1,617 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DSR SEO 0,0020 410 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel Gulfwide 0.0309 1,500 46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species Gulfwide 0.0090 4,500 41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
Table 14 - Final 2008 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
Limitations
(values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-1997
Apportionments and non-exempt AFA CV 2008 non-exempt
Species allocations by area/ catch to 1995-1997 2008 TAC AFA CV sideboard
season/processor/gear TAC limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock A Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
January 20 - February .................. .............. .................
25
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 5,466 3,341
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 8,915 1,272
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 4,023 981
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
B Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
March 10 - May 31 .................. .............. .................
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 5,466 3,341
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 10,814 1,543
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 2,124 518
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
August 25 - September .................. .............. .................
15
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 9,688 5,921
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 2,304 329
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 5,924 1,444
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
D Season (W/C areas .................. .............. .................
only)
October 1 - November .................. .............. .................
1
Shumagin (610) 0.6112 9,688 5,921
Chirikof (620) 0.1427 2,304 329
Kodiak (630) 0.2438 5,924 1,444
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual .................. .............. .................
WYK (640) 0.3499 1,694 593
[[Page 9694]]
SEO (650) 0.3499 6,157 2,154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod A Season\1\ .................. .............. .................
January 1 - June 10 .................. .............. .................
W inshore 0.1423 11,278 1,605
W offshore 0.1026 1,253 129
C inshore 0.0722 15,905 1,148
C offshore 0.0721 1,767 127
B Season\2\ .................. .............. .................
September 1 - .................. .............. .................
December 31
W inshore 0.1423 7,519 1,070
W offshore 0.1026 835 86
C inshore 0.0722 10,603 766
C offshore 0.0721 1,178 85
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual .................. .............. .................
E inshore 0.0079 3,470 27
E offshore 0.0078 386 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish W 0 430 0
deep-water C 0.0670 4,296 288
E 0.0171 4,257 73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole W 0.0010 1,122 1
C 0.0402 5,327 214
E 0.0153 2,451 38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole W 0.0036 2,000 7
C 0.0261 5,000 131
E 0.0048 2,258 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water W 0.0156 4,500 70
C 0.0598 13,000 777
E 0.0126 2,472 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder W 0.0021 8,000 17
C 0.0309 30,000 927
E 0.0020 5,000 10
-------------------