[Federal Register: February 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 38)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10160-10184]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe08-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 071106673-8011-02]
RIN 0648-XD69
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2008 and 2009 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2008
and 2009 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The intended effect of this
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act.
DATES: The final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications and associated
apportionment of reserves are effective at 1200 hrs, Alaska local time
(A.l.t.), February 26, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision (ROD),
Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and Final Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are available on
the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. Printed copies
can be obtained from the Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,
AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Copies of the 2007 Stock Assessment
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) dated
November 2007, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone
907-271-2809, or from its Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228, or e-mail
mary.furuness@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP,
and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). General regulations
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch
(TAC) for each target species and for the ``other species'' category,
and the sum must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see 50 CFR ( 679.20(a)(1)(i)). NMFs
also must specify apportionments of TACs, Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve amounts, prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances, and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserve amounts. The final harvest
specifications listed in Tables 1 through 16 of this action satisfy
these requirements. The sum of TACs for 2008 is 1,838,345 mt and for
2009 is 1,814,204 mt.
Section 679.20(c)(3) further requires NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof and the
proposed PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in
the Federal Register. The proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications
and PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were
published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2007 (72 FR 68833).
Comments were invited and accepted through January 7, 2008. NMFS
received two letters with several comments on the proposed harvest
specifications. These comments are summarized and responded to in the
Response to Comments section of this rule. NMFS consulted with the
Council on the final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications during the
December 2007 Council meeting in Anchorage, AK. After considering
public comments, as well as biological and economic data that were
available at the Council's December meeting, NMFS is implementing the
final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications as recommended by the
Council.
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest Specifications
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
technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the
development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves
sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations and is based on
a successive series of six levels, or tiers, of the reliability of the
information available to fishery scientists. Tier 1 represents the
highest level of data quality available and tier 6 the lowest.
In December 2007, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC),
Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed current biological
information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The
Council's Plan Team compiled and presented this information in the 2007
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2007. The
SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as
well as summaries of the available information on the BSAI ecosystem
and the economic condition of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. The SAFE
report is available for public review (see
[[Page 10161]]
ADDRESSES). From these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an
OFL and ABC for each species or species category.
In December 2007, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. Except for BSAI Pacific cod and the ``other species''
category, the SSC, AP, and Council endorsed the Plan Team's ABC
recommendations. For 2008 and 2009, the SSC recommended higher Pacific
cod OFLs and ABCs than the OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team.
For BSAI Pacific cod, the SSC recommended using the 2007 ABC and OFL
for 2008 and 2009 based on the upward trend of the spawning biomass.
For ``other species,'' the SSC recommended using tier 5 management for
skate species resulting in higher ABCs than the Plan Team's recommended
tier 3 management. For tier 3 the SSC was concerned with the fit of the
stock assessment model to survey biomass trends and growth. The SSC
provided 2008 and 2009 ABC and OFL amounts by summing up individual
species' ABCs in the ``other species'' category since the current FMP
specifies management at the group level. The AP endorsed the ABCs
recommended by the SSC, and the Council adopted them.
The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that total removals
of Pacific cod from the BSAI not exceed ABC recommendations. In 2007,
the Board of Fisheries for the State of Alaska (State) established a
guideline harvest level (GHL) west of 170 degrees west longitude in the
AI subarea equal to 3 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BSAI.
Accordingly, the Council recommended that the 2008 and 2009 Pacific cod
TACs be adjusted downward from the ABCs by amounts equal to the 2008
and 2009 GHLs.
The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including
maintaining the sum of the TACs within the required OY range of 1.4
million to 2.0 million mt. Except for BSAI yellowfin sole, arrowtooth
flounder, and ``other species,'' the Council adopted the AP's 2008 and
2009 TAC recommendations. The Council increased the yellowfin sole TAC
as a result of a decrease in pollock TAC. The Council increased the
arrowtooth flounder TAC to provide for incidental catch in other
fisheries, and the Council decreased the ``other species'' TAC to
provide enough TAC for incidental catch, but not for a directed
fishery. None of the Council's recommended TACs for 2008 or 2009
exceeds the final 2008 or 2009 ABCs for any species category. The 2008
and 2009 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 2008 and 2009 TACs are equal to or less than the ABCs recommended
by the Council's Plan Teams and SSC. NMFS finds that the recommended
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of
groundfish stocks as described in the 2007 SAFE report that was
approved by the Council.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2008 and 2009 Harvest
Specifications
The Council is considering a proposal that would allocate the
Pacific cod TAC by Bering Sea subarea and AI subarea instead of a
combined BSAI TAC. Another proposal would separate some species from
the ``other rockfish'' or ``other species'' categories so that
individual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs may be established for these species.
These actions, if submitted to and approved by the Secretary, could
change the final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications.
Changes From the Proposed 2008 and 2009 Harvest Specifications in the
BSAI
In October 2007, the Council made its recommendations for the
proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications (72 FR 68833, December 6,
2007) based largely on information contained in the 2006 SAFE report
for the BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 2007 SAFE report, which was not
available when the Council made its recommendations in October 2007,
contains the best and most recent scientific information on the
condition of the groundfish stocks. In December 2007, the Council
considered the 2007 SAFE report in making its recommendations for the
final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications. Based on the 2007 SAFE
report, the sum of the 2008 and 2009 recommended final TACs for the
BSAI (1,838,345 mt for 2008 and 1,814,204 mt for 2009) is lower than
the sum of the proposed 2008 and 2009 TACs (2,000,000 mt for each
year). Compared to the proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications,
the Council's final TAC recommendations increase fishing opportunities
for fishermen and economic benefits to the nation for species for which
the Council had sufficient information to raise TAC levels. These
species include BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod,
yellowfin sole, other flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, Greenland turbot,
and northern rockfish. The Council also reduced TAC levels to provide
greater protection for several species including Bering Sea subarea
pollock, sablefish, Alaska plaice, and other species. The changes in
the final rule from the proposed rule are based on the most recent
scientific information and implement the harvest strategy described in
the proposed rule for the harvest specifications and are compared in
the following table:
Comparison of Final 2008 and 2009 With Proposed 2008 and 2009 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2008 2008 final 2009 2009 final
Species Area\1\ 2008 final proposed minus 2009 final proposed minus
TAC TAC proposed TAC TAC proposed
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Pollock...................................... BS......................... 1,000,000 1,318,000 -318,000 1,000,000 1,318,000 -318,000
AI......................... 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0
Bogoslof................... 10 10 0 10 10 0
Pacific cod.................................. BSAI....................... 170,720 127,070 43,650 170,720 127,070 43,650
Sablefish.................................... BS......................... 2,860 2,970 -110 2,610 2,970 -360
AI......................... 2,440 2,800 -360 2,230 2,800 -570
Atka mackerel................................ EAI/BS..................... 19,500 17,600 1,900 15,300 17,600 -2,300
CAI........................ 24,300 22,000 2,300 19,000 22,000 -3,000
WAI........................ 16,900 15,300 1,600 13,200 15,300 -2,100
Yellowfin sole............................... BSAI....................... 225,000 150,000 75,000 205,000 150,000 55,000
Rock sole.................................... BSAI....................... 75,000 75,000 0 75,000 75,000 0
Greenland turbot............................. BS......................... 1,750 1,720 30 1,750 1,720 30
[[Page 10162]]
AI......................... 790 770 20 790 770 20
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... BSAI....................... 75,000 30,000 45,000 75,000 30,000 45,000
Flathead sole................................ BSAI....................... 50,000 45,000 5,000 50,000 45,000 5,000
Other flatfish............................... BSAI....................... 21,600 21,400 200 21,600 21,400 200
Alaska plaice................................ BSAI....................... 50,000 60,000 -10,000 50,000 60,000 -10,000
Pacific ocean perch.......................... BS......................... 4,200 4,080 120 4,100 4,080 20
EAI........................ 4,900 4,900 0 4,810 4,900 -90
CAI........................ 4,990 5,000 -10 4,900 5,000 -100
WAI........................ 7,610 7,620 -10 7,490 7,620 -130
Northern rockfish............................ BSAI....................... 8,180 8,150 30 8,130 8,150 -20
Shortraker rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 424 424 0 424 424 0
Rougheye rockfish............................ BSAI....................... 202 202 0 202 202 0
Other rockfish............................... BS......................... 414 414 0 414 414 0
AI......................... 585 585 0 554 585 -31
Squid........................................ BSAI....................... 1,970 1,970 0 1,970 1,970 0
Other species................................ BSAI....................... 50,000 58,015 -8,015 60,000 58,015 1,985
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TOTAL.................................... BSAI....................... 1,838,345 2,000,000 -161,655 1,814,204 2,000,000 -185,796
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\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
The final 2008 and 2009 TAC recommendations for the BSAI are within
the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed ABCs for any
single species or complex. Table 1 lists the final 2008 and 2009 OFL,
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI
groundfish. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and
seasons is discussed below.
As mentioned in the proposed 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications,
NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-
specified reserve to increase the initial ITAC of several target
species.
The final harvest specifications for 2008 and 2009 also include
specifications consistent with two new FMP amendments. The final rule
implementing Amendment 80 to the BSAI FMP was published in the Federal
Register on September 14, 2007 (72 FR 52668). Amendment 80 allocates
total allowable catch of specified groundfish species and halibut and
crab PSC limits among several BSAI non-pollock trawl groundfish
fisheries fishing sectors, and it facilitates the formation of
harvesting cooperatives in the non-American Fisheries Act trawl
catcher/processor sector. The Amendment 80 species are Atka mackerel,
flathead sole, Pacific cod, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch.
The final rule implementing Amendment 85 to the FMP was published
in the Federal Register on September 4, 2007 (72 FR 50788). Amendment
85 revises the current allocations of BSAI Pacific cod TAC among
various harvest sectors and seasonal apportionments. Also, Amendment 85
divides the halibut PSC allowance annually specified for the hook-and-
line Pacific cod fishery between the hook-and-line catcher/processor
and catcher vessel sectors.
Table 1.--2008 and 2009 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2008 2009
Species Area -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
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Pollock \3\................................ BS \2\..................... 1,440,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 900,000 100,000 1,320,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 900,000 100,000
AI \2\..................... 34,000 28,200 19,000 17,100 1,900 26,100 22,700 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof................... 58,400 7,970 10 10 0 58,400 7,970 10 10 0
Pacific cod \4\............................ BSAI....................... 207,000 176,000 170,720 152,453 18,267 207,000 176,000 170,720 152,453 18,267
Sablefish \5\.............................. BS......................... 3,380 2,860 2,860 2,360 393 2,910 2,610 2,610 1,109 98
AI......................... 2,890 2,440 2,440 1,853 412 2,510 2,230 2,230 474 42
Atka mackerel.............................. BSAI....................... 71,400 60,700 60,700 54,205 6,495 50,600 47,500 47,500 42,418 5,083
EAI/BS..................... n/a 19,500 19,500 17,414 2,087 n/a 15,300 15,300 13,663 1,637
CAI........................ n/a 24,300 24,300 21,700 2,600 n/a 19,000 19,000 16,967 2,033
WAI........................ n/a 16,900 16,900 15,092 1,808 n/a 13,200 13,200 11,788 1,412
Yellowfin sole............................. BSAI....................... 265,000 248,000 225,000 200,925 24,075 296,000 276,000 205,000 183,065 21,935
Rock sole.................................. BSAI....................... 304,000 301,000 75,000 66,975 8,025 379,000 375,000 75,000 66,975 8,025
Greenland turbot........................... BSAI....................... 15,600 2,540 2,540 2,159 n/a 16,000 2,540 2,540 2,159 n/a
BS......................... n/a 1,750 1,750 1,488 187 n/a 1,750 1,750 1,488 187
AI......................... n/a 790 790 672 0 n/a 790 790 672 0
Arrowtooth flounder........................ BSAI....................... 297,000 244,000 75,000 63,750 8,025 300,000 246,000 75,000 63,750 8,025
Flathead sole.............................. BSAI....................... 86,000 71,700 50,000 44,650 5,350 83,700 69,700 50,000 44,650 5,350
Other flatfish \6\......................... BSAI....................... 28,800 21,600 21,600 18,360 0 28,800 21,600 21,600 18,360 0
[[Page 10163]]
Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI....................... 248,000 194,000 50,000 42,500 0 277,000 217,000 50,000 42,500 0
Pacific ocean perch........................ BSAI....................... 25,700 21,700 21,700 19,198 n/a 25,400 21,300 21,300 18,845 n/a
BS......................... n/a 4,200 4,200 3,570 0 n/a 4,100 4,100 3,485 0
EAI........................ n/a 4,900 4,900 4,376 524 n/a 4,810 4,810 4,295 515
CAI........................ n/a 4,990 4,990 4,456 534 n/a 4,900 4,900 4,376 524
WAI........................ n/a 7,610 7,610 6,796 814 n/a 7,490 7,490 6,689 801
Northern rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 9,740 8,180 8,180 6,953 0 9,680 8,130 8,130 6,911 0
Shortraker rockfish........................ BSAI....................... 564 424 424 360 0 564 424 424 360 0
Rougheye rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 269 202 202 172 0 269 202 202 172 0
Other rockfish \7\......................... BSAI....................... 1,330 999 999 849 0 1,290 968 968 823 0
BS......................... n/a 414 414 352 0 n/a 414 414 352 0
AI......................... n/a 585 585 497 0 n/a 554 554 471 0
Squid...................................... BSAI....................... 2,620 1,970 1,970 1,675 0 2,620 1,970 1,970 1,675 0
Other species \8\.......................... BSAI....................... 104,000 78,100 50,000 42,500 0 104,000 78,100 60,000 51,000 0
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Total.................................. ........................... 3,205,693 2,472,585 1,838,345 1,639,009 174,989 3,191,843 2,557,944 1,814,204 1,597,810 170,751
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\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these
species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental
catch allowance (3.5 percent), is further allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore-50 percent; catcher/processor-40 percent; and motherships-10 percent. Under
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the
incidental catch allowance (1,600 mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\4\ The Pacific cod TAC is reduced by three percent from the ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\5\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and
(D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,''
squid, and ``other species'' are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, and Alaska
plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec. 679.2, are not included in the ``other species'' category.
Non-specified Reserves, CDQ Reserves, and the Incidental Catch
Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, Sablefish, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole,
Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch
Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires the placement of 15 percent of the
TAC for each target species or ``other species'' category, except for
pollock, the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, and
the Amendment 80 species, in a non-specified reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20 percent of the hook-and-line and
pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the fixed gear
sablefish CDQ reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires allocation
of 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7
percent of the Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs
to the respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires
allocation of 10.7 percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian
Islands Pacific Ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole,
and Pacific cod to the CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A),
(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i), (b)(1)(i)(A), and 679.31(a) also require the
allocation of 10 percent of the BSAI pollock TACs to the pollock CDQ
directed fishing allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA (see 679.20(a)(5)(ii) and (b)(1)(ii)(A)(2)).
With the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ
reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ allocations
by gear. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires withholding 7.5 percent of
the Chinook salmon PSC limit, 10.7 percent of the crab and non-Chinook
salmon PSC limits, and 343 metric tons (mt) of halibut PSC as PSQ
reserves for the CDQ fisheries. Sections 679.30 and 679.31 set forth
regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves,
respectively.
Pursuant to 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of
3.5 percent of the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after subtraction of
the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on NMFS'
examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the incidental
catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 1999
through 2007. During this 9-year period, the pollock incidental catch
ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006 to a high of 5 percent in
1999, with a 9-year average of 3 percent. Pursuant to
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS recommends a pollock ICA of
1,600 mt for the AI subarea after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ
DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2007. During this
5-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5
percent in 2006 to a high of 10 percent in 2003, with a 5-year average
of 6 percent.
Pursuant to 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 4,500 mt
of flathead sole, 5,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10
mt each of Western and Central Aleutian District
[[Page 10164]]
Pacific Ocean perch and Atka mackerel, 100 mt of Eastern Aleutian
District Pacific Ocean perch, and 1,400 mt of Eastern Aleutian District
and Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel TAC after subtraction of the 10.7
percent CDQ reserve. These allowances are based on NMFS' examination of
the incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003 through 2007.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species or to the ``other species'' category
during the year, provided that such apportionments do not result in
overfishing (see 679.20(b)(1)(ii)). The Regional Administrator has
determined that the ITACs specified for the species listed in Table 2
need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S.
fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-specified
reserve to increase the ITAC for northern rockfish, shortraker
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, and Bering Sea other rockfish by 7.5
percent of the TAC in 2008 and 2009.
Table 2.--2008 and 2009 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009
Species--area or subarea 2008 ITAC reserve 2008 final 2009 ITAC reserve 2009 final
amount ITAC amount ITAC
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Shortraker rockfish--BSAI......... 360 32 392 360 32 392
Rougheye rockfish--BSAI........... 172 15 187 172 15 187
Northern rockfish--BSAI........... 6,953 614 7,567 6,911 610 7,521
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea 352 31 383 352 31 383
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Total......................... 7,837 692 8,529 7,795 688 8,483
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Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the pollock TAC
apportioned to the Bering Sea subarea, after subtraction of the 10
percent for the CDQ program and the 3.5 percent for the ICA, be
allocated as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40
percent to the catcher/processor sector, and 10 percent to the
mothership sector. In the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is
allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 60 percent of the
DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). The AI directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock remaining in the AI subarea after subtracting 1,900 mt for the
CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 1,600 mt for the ICA. In the AI subarea, 40
percent of the ABC is allocated to the A season and the remainder of
the directed pollock fishery is allocated to the B season. Table 3
lists these 2008 and 2009 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding Bering Sea pollock allocations. First, 8.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector will
be available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels with catcher/processor
sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a
cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of harvest
among AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels in a manner agreed
to by all members. Second, AFA catcher/processors not listed in the AFA
are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock
allocated to the catcher/processor sector. Table 3 lists the 2008 and
2009 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 10 through 15 list the AFA
catcher/processor and catcher vessel harvesting sideboard limits. The
tables for the pollock allocations to the Bering Sea subarea inshore
pollock cooperatives and open access sector will be posted on the
Alaska Region Web site at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov.
Table 3 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28
percent of the annual DFA until April 1. The remaining 12 percent of
the 40 percent annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken
outside the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less
than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April
1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after
April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to
each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the
DFA. Table 3 lists by sector these 2008 and 2009 amounts.
[[Page 10165]]
Table 3.--2008 and 2009 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 A season \1\ 2008 B 2009 A season \1\ 2009 B
-------------------------- season \1\ -------------------------- season \1\
Area and sector 2008 ------------- 2009 ------------
Allocations A season SCA harvest B season Allocations A season SCA harvest B season
DFA limit \2\ DFA DFA limit \2\ DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea........................ 1,000,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,000,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................... 100,000 40,000 28,000 60,000 100,000 40,000 28,000 60,000
ICA \1\............................... 31,500 n/a n/a n/a 31,500 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore........................... 434,250 173,700 121,590 260,550 434,250 173,700 121,590 260,550
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\............ 347,400 138,960 97,272 208,440 347,400 138,960 97,272 208,440
Catch by C/Ps..................... 317,871 127,148 n/a 190,723 317,871 127,148 n/a 190,723
Catch by CVs \3\.................. 29,529 11,812 n/a 17,717 29,529 11,812 n/a 17,717
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\........ 1,737 695 n/a 1,042 1,737 695 n/a 1,042
AFA Motherships....................... 86,850 34,740 24,318 52,110 86,850 34,740 24,318 52,110
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\........ 151,988 n/a n/a n/a 151,988 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\........ 260,550 n/a n/a n/a 260,550 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA...................... 868,500 347,400 243,180 521,099 868,501 347,399 243,180 521,100
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.............. 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA................................... 1,600 800 n/a 800 1,600 800 n/a 800
Aleut Corporation..................... 15,500 15,500 n/a 0 15,500 15,500 n/a 0
Bogoslof District ICA \7\................. 10 n/a n/a n/a 10 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtraction for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (3.5 percent), is
allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the
Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season
(June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed
fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea,
the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of
the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the
annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
pollock DFAs.
\7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are
not apportioned by season or sector.
[[Page 10166]]
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after
subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the
BSAI trawl limited access sector and non-trawl gear, to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC
for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access
sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and 679.91.
Pursuant to 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be
allocated to jig gear. The amount of this allocation is determined
annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council
recommended, and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea
to the jig gear in 2008 and 2009. Based on the 2008 TAC of 16,900 mt
after subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation
would be 80 mt for 2008. Based on the 2009 TAC of 15,300 mt after
subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would
be 61 mt for 2009.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel ITAC into
two equal seasonal allowances. The first seasonal allowance is made
available for directed fishing from January 1 (January 20 for trawl
gear) to April 15 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance is made
available from September 1 to November 1 (B season). The jig gear
allocation is not apportioned by season.
Pursuant to 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional Administrator will
establish a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent
of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
NMFS will establish HLA limits for the CDQ reserve and each of the
three non-CDQ trawl sectors: The BSAI trawl limited access sector; the
Amendment 80 limited access fishery; and an aggregate HLA limit
applicable to all Amendment 80 cooperatives. NMFS will assign vessels
in each of the three non-CDQ sectors that apply to fish for Atka
mackerel in the HLA to an HLA fishery based on a random lottery of the
vessels that apply (see 679.20(a)(8)(iii)). There is no allocation of
Atka mackerel to the BSAI trawl limited access sector in the Western
Aleutian District. Therefore, no vessels in the BSAI trawl limited
access sector will be assigned to the Western Aleutian District HLA
fishery.
Each trawl sector will have a separate lottery. A maximum of two
HLA fisheries will be established in Area 542 for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be
established for vessels assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives: A first
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery
in Area 543. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be established for
vessels assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery: A first
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery
in Area 543. NMFS will initially open fishing in the HLA for the first
HLA fishery in all three trawl sectors at the same time. The initial
opening of fishing in the HLA will be based on the first directed
fishing closure of Atka mackerel in Area 541/BS for any one of the
three trawl sectors allocated Atka mackerel TAC.
Table 4 lists these 2008 and 2009 amounts. The 2009 allocations for
Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2008.
Table 4.--2008 and 2009 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI
ATKA Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 Allocation by area 2009 Allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2,3 Eastern Aleutian Central Western Eastern Aleutian Central Western
District/Bering Aleutian Aleutian District/Bering Aleutian Aleutian
Sea District District Sea District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC................................... n/a................... 19,500 24,300 16,900 15,300 19,000 13,200
CDQ reserve........................... Total................. 2,087 2,600 1,808 1,637 2,033 1,412
HLA \4\............... n/a 1,560 1,085 n/a 1,220 847
ICA................................... Total................. 1,400 10 10 1,400 10 10
Jig \5\............................... Total................. 80 0 0 61 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access............. Total................. 319 434 0 488 678 0
A..................... 159 217 0 244 339 0
HLA \4\............... n/a 130 0 n/a 203 0
B..................... 159 217 0 244 339 0
HLA \4\............... n/a 130 0 n/a 203 0
Amendment 80 sectors.................. Total................. 15,615 21,256 15,082 12,202 16,957 11,778
A..................... 7,807 10,628 7,541 6,101 8,479 5,889
HLA \4\............... 4,684 6,377 4,525 3,660 5,087 3,533
B..................... 7,807 10,628 7,541 6,101 8,479 5,889
HLA \4\............... 4,684 6,377 4,525 3,660 5,087 3,533
Amendment 80 limited access........... Total................. 8,232 12,809 9,298 n/a n/a n/a
A..................... 4,116 6,405 4,649 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \4\............... n/a 3,843 2,789 n/a n/a n/a
B..................... 4,116 6,405 4,649 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \4\............... n/a 3,843 2,789 n/a n/a n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives............. Total................. 7,383 8,447 5,784 n/a n/a n/a
A..................... 3,812 4,224 2,892 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \4\............... n/a 2,534 1,735 n/a n/a n/a
B..................... 3,692 4,224 2,892 n/a n/a n/a
[[Page 10167]]
HLA \4\............... n/a 2,534 1,735 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Regulations at Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery. The A season
is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15, and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec. 679.2). In
2008 and 2009, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after
subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod ITAC
Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocates the Pacific cod TAC in
the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve, as
follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear, 2.0 percent to hook-
and-line and pot catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length
overall (LOA), 0.2 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 48.7 percent to hook-and-line
catcher/processors, 8.4 percent to pot catcher vessels greater than or
equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot catcher/processors, 2.3
percent to American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors, 13.4
percent to non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and 22.1 percent to trawl
catcher vessels. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be
deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the
hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2008 and 2009, the Regional
Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated
incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. The allocation of
the ITAC for Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is established in
Table 33 to part 679 and 679.91. The 2009 allocations for Pacific cod
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2008.
Sections 679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5) apportion seasonal
allowances of the Pacific cod ITAC to disperse the Pacific cod
fisheries over the fishing year. In accordance with 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B)
and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance will
become available at the beginning of the next seasonal allowance.
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.23(e)(5) establish the CDQ
seasonal allowances based on gear type. For hook-and-line catcher/
processors and hook-and-line catcher vessels greater than or equal to
60 ft (18.3 m) LOA harvesting CDQ Pacific cod, the first seasonal
allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is available for directed fishing
from January 1 to June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 40
percent of the ITAC is available from June 10 to December 31. No
seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on the CDQ Pacific cod fishery
for pot gear or hook-and-line catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3
m) LOA. For vessels harvesting CDQ Pacific cod with trawl gear, the
first seasonal allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is available January
20 to April 1. The second seasonal, April 1 to June 10, and the third
seasonal allowance, June 10 to November 1, are each allocated 20
percent of the ITAC. The CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel
allocation is further allocated as 70 percent of the first seasonal
allowance, 10 percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 20 percent
in the third seasonal allowance. The CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher/
processor allocation is 50 percent in the first seasonal allowance, 30
percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 20 percent in the third
seasonal allowance. For jig gear, the first and third seasonal
allowances are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second
seasonal allowance is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC.
Sections 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and 679.23(e)(5) apportion the non-CDQ
seasonal allowances by gear type as follows. For hook-and-line and pot
catcher/processors and hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, the first seasonal allowance of 51
percent of the ITAC is available for directed fishing from January 1 to
June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 49 percent of the ITAC is
available from June 10 (September 1 for pot gear) to December 31. No
seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on the Pacific cod fishery for
catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or
pot gear. For trawl gear, the first seasonal allowance is January 20 to
April 1, the second seasonal allowance is April 1 to June 10, and the
third seasonal allowance is June 10 to November 1. The trawl catcher
vessel allocation is further allocated as 74 percent in the first
seasonal allowance, 11 percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 15
percent in the third seasonal allowance. The trawl catcher/processor
allocation is allocated 75 percent in the first seasonal allowance, 25
percent in the second seasonal allowance, and zero percent in the third
seasonal allowance. For jig gear, the first seasonal allowance is
allocated 60 percent of the ITAC, and the second and third seasonal
allowances are each allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. Table 5 lists the
2008 and 2009 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific
cod TAC.
[[Page 10168]]
Table 5.--2008 and 2009 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 and 2009 2008 and 2009 2008 and 2009 seasonal apportionment \2\
Gear sector Percent share of gear share of sector ---------------------------------------------------
sector total total Dates Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC...................................... 100 170,720 n/a n/a............................... n/a
CDQ............................................ 10.7 18,267 n/a see Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B)..... n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear................... 60.8 92,691 n/a n/a............................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA\1\....................... n/a n/a 500 n/a............................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot subtotal..................... n/a 92,191 n/a n/a............................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor................ 48.7 n/a 73,844 Jan 1-Jun 10...................... 37,660
Jun 10-Dec 31..................... 36,184
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA...... 0.2 n/a 303 Jan 1-Jun 10...................... 155
Jun 10-Dec 31..................... 149
Pot catcher/processor.......................... 1.5 n/a 2,274 Jan 1-Jun 10...................... 1,160
Sept 1-Dec 31..................... 1,114
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA................ 8.4 n/a 12,737 Jan 1-Jun 10...................... 6,496
Sept 1-Dec 31..................... 6,241
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-and-line 2.0 3,033 3,033 n/a............................... n/a
or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel........................... 22.1 33,692 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1...................... 24,932
Apr 1-Jun 10...................... 3,706
Jun 10-Nov 1...................... 5,054
AFA trawl catcher/processor.................... 2.3 3,506 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1...................... 2,630
Apr 1- Jun 10..................... 877
Jun 10-Nov 1...................... 0
Amendment 80................................... 13.4 20,429 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1...................... 15,322
Apr 1-Jun 10...................... 5,107
Jun 10-Nov 1...................... 0
Amendment 80 limited access \2\................ n/a n/a 3,294 Jan 20-Apr 1...................... 2,471
Apr 1-Jun 10...................... 824
Jun 10-Nov 1...................... 0
Amendment 80 cooperatives \2\.................. n/a n/a 17,135 Jan 20-Apr 1...................... 12,851
Apr 1-Jun 10...................... 4,284
Jun 10-Nov 1...................... 0
Jig............................................ 1.4 2,134 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30...................... 1,281
Apr 30-Aug 31..................... 427
Aug 31-Dec 31..................... 427
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2008 and 2009 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2009 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2008.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require the allocation of
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl and
hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the Bering
Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-
line or pot gear and for the AI subarea are 25 percent for trawl gear
and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. Section
679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) requires apportionment of 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. The
Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established
biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and
pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries will be
limited to the 2008 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduces the potential for discards
of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries will remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year
until the final specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in
effect. Table 6 lists the 2008 and 2009 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 6.--2008 and 2009 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2008 share 2008 CDQ 2009 share 2009 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC 2008 ITAC reserve of TAC 2009 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl \1\......................................... 50 1,430 1,216 107 1,305 1,109 98
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\........................ 50 1,430 1,144 286 n/a n/a n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL......................................... 100 2,860 2,360 393 1,305 1,109 98
=================================================================================================
Aleutian Islands:
[[Page 10169]]
Trawl \1\......................................... 25 610 519 46 558 474 42
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\........................ 75 1,830 1,464 366 n/a n/a n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL......................................... 100 2,440 1,983 412 558 474 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to 1 year.
Allocation of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, Flathead Sole,
Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require the allocation of the
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole TACs in the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for
the CDQ reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
vessels using non-trawl gear, to the Amendment 80 sector. The
allocation of the ITAC for Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch,
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector
is established in Tables 33 and 34 to part 679 and 679.91. The 2009
allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2008. Table 7
lists the 2008 and 2009 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 7.--2008 and 2009 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Aleutian Central Aleutian Western Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
Sector District District District -------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 2009 2008 and 2009 2008 and 2009 2008 2009
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC....................................... 4,900 4,810 4,990 4,900 7,610 7,490 50,000 75,000 225,000 205,000
CDQ....................................... 524 515 534 524 814 801 5,350 8,025 24,075 21,935
ICA....................................... 100 100 10 10 10 10 4,500 5,000 2,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access................. 214 420 222 437 136 134 0 0 44,512 37,368
Amendment 80.............................. 4,062 3,776 4,224 3,929 6,650 6,545 40,150 61,975 154,413 143,697
Amendment 80 limited access\1\............ 2,154 0 2,240 0 3,526 0 4,392 14,972 61,431 0
Amendment 80 cooperatives\1\.............. 1,908 0 1,984 0 3,124 0 35,758 47,003 92,982 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2009 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2008.
Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring
Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2008 and 2009 BSAI halibut mortality
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl
fisheries. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i) allocates 276 mt of the trawl
halibut mortality limit and 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent,
or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve
for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Section 679.21(e)(1)(vii)
specifies 29,000 fish as the 2008 and 2009 Chinook salmon PSC limit for
the Bering Sea subarea pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 2,175 Chinook
salmon, as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program and allocates the
remaining 26,825 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section
679.21(e)(1)(ix) specifies 700 fish as the 2008 and 2009 Chinook salmon
PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon,
as the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates the remaining
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii)
specifies 42,000 fish as the 2008 and 2009 non-Chinook salmon PSC
limit. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or
4,494 non-Chinook salmon, as the PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates
the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. The red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated from the 2007 survey data at 33.4 million red
king crabs, and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 73
million pounds (33,113 mt). Based on the criteria set out at
(679.21(e)(1)(ii), the 2008 and 2009 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone
1 for trawl gear is 197,000 animals. This limit derives from the mature
female abundance of more than 8.4 million king crab and the effective
spawning biomass estimate of more than 55 million pounds (24,948 mt).
[[Page 10170]]
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The bycatch limit cannot exceed 25
percent of the red king crab PSC allowance based on the need to
optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. In
December 2007, the Council recommended and NMFS approves that the red
king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC
allowance within the RKCSS (Table 8b).
Based on 2007 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 787 million animals. Given the criteria set
out at 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the 2008 and 2009 C. bairdi crab PSC limit
for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 2,970,000 animals in
Zone 2. These limits derive from the C. bairdi crab abundance estimate
of more than 400 million animals.
Pursuant to 679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for snow crab (C.
opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133
percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2007 survey
estimate of 3.33 billion animals, the calculated limit is 4,350,000
animals.
Pursuant to 679.21(e)(1)(vi), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2008 and 2009 herring biomass is 172,644 mt. This amount
was derived using 2007 survey data and an age-structured biomass
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 2008 and 2009 is 1,727 mt for all
trawl gear as presented in Tables 8a and 8b.
Section 679.21(e)(3) requires, after subtraction of PSQ reserves,
that crab and halibut trawl PSC be apportioned between the BSAI trawl
limited access and Amendment 80 sectors as presented in Table 8a. The
amount of 2008 PSC assigned to the Amendment 80 sector is specified in
Table 35 to part 679. Pursuant to 679.21(e)(1)(iv) and 679.91(d)
through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC assigned to the Amendment 80
sector is then sub-allocated to Amendment 80 cooperatives as PSC
cooperative quota (CQ) and to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery
as presented in Tables 8d and 8e. PSC CQ assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives is not allocated to specific fishery categories. The 2009
PSC allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2008. Section
679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires the apportionment of each trawl PSC limit
not assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances
for seven specified fishery categories.
Sections 679.21(e)(4)(i)(B) and (C) authorize the apportionment of
the non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six
fishery categories. Table 8c lists the fishery bycatch allowances for
the trawl and non-trawl fisheries.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years after
consultation with the Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery categories from halibut
bycatch restrictions because (1) the pot gear fisheries have low
halibut bycatch mortality, (2) halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet
is assumed to be negligible, and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program
requires legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-
line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard
and is holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In
2007, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 19,496 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality
of about 5 mt. The 2007 jig gear fishery harvested about 89 mt of
groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft
(18.3 m) LOA and thus are exempt from observer coverage requirements.
As a result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the
jig gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of halibut bycatch
mortality is assumed because of the selective nature of jig gear and
the low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and released.
Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consultation with the
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered
are (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal
distribution of target groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a
seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected
variations in bycatch rates throughout the year, (5) expected start of
fishing effort, and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments
on industry sectors. The Council recommended and NMFS approves the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 8c and 8e to maximize harvest
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.
Table 8a.--2008 and 2009 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl Amendment 80 sector
PSC Trawl PSC -------------------------- BSAI trawl
PSC species Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ limited
trawl PSC after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve \1\ 2008 2009 access
PSQ \1\ PSQ \1\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI..................... 900 832 3,675 3,400 343 2,525 2,475 875
Herring (mt) BSAI............................... n/a n/a 1,726 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\.............. n/a n/a 197,000 175,921 21,079 109,915 104,427 53,797
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\................... n/a n/a 4,350,000 3,884,550 465,450 2,386,668 2,267,412 1,248,494
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\............. n/a n/a 980,000 875,140 104,860 460,674 437,658 411,228
[[Page 10171]]
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 \2\............. n/a n/a 2,970,000 2,652,210 317,790 784,789 745,536 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i) allocates 276 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(i)(a) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the
non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each
crab PSC limit.
\2\ Refer to 50 CFR Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
Table 8b.--2008 and 2009 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals) Zone
BSAI 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole...................... 148 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other 26 n/a
flatfish \1\.......................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\..... 12 n/a
Rockfish............................ 9 n/a
Pacific cod......................... 26 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock.............. 1,318 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 187 n/a
\3\................................
Red king crab savings subarea Non- n/a 49,250
pelagic trawl gear \4\.............
Total trawl PSC..................... 1,726 197,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland
turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\2\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery
category.
\3\ Non-pelagic pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery
category.
\4\ In October 2007 the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see (
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Table 8c.--2008 and 2009 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector and Non-Trawl Fisheries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
Halibut mortality (mt) (animals) (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole............................................. 162 47,397 1,176,494 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\................. 0 0 0 0 0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\............................ 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish................................................... 3 0 2,000 60,000 1,000
Pacific cod................................................ 585 6,000 50,000 60,000 50,000
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species........................ 125 400 20,000 5,000 5,000
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC........................ 875 53,797 1,248,494 411,228 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl fisheries Catcher processor Catcher vessel
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod--Total................................. 760.............. 15...............
January 1-June 10.............................. 314.............. 10...............
June 10-August 15.............................. 0................ 3................
August 15-December 31.......................... 446.............. 2................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other non-trawl--Total............................. 58
May 1-December 31.............................. 58
Groundfish pot and jig............................. exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line............................ exempt
Total non-trawl PSC................................ 833
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
[[Page 10172]]
Table 8d.--2008 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year C. bairdi (animals)
Halibut mortality Red king crab C. opilio ------------------------------------
(mt) BSAI (animals) Zone 1 (animals) COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 1,837 78,631 1,632,432 340,520 580,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
Table 8e.--2008 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Limited Access Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amendment 80 limited access Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
fisheries mortality (mt) (animals) Zone (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................. 363 6,100 660,000 63,154 155,318
Jan 20-Jul 1................ 214 5,900 650,000 58,500 125,318
Jul 1-Dec 31................ 149 200 10,000 4,654 30,000
Rock sole/other flat/flathead 224 25,000 93,395 56,677 48,266
sole \2\.......................
Jan 20-Apr 1................ 180 24,632 90,235 50,000 42,160
Apr 1-Jul 1................. 20 184 1,660 3,500 3,053
July 1-Dec 31............... 24 184 1,500 3,177 3,053
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\. n/a n/a 7,542 n/a n/a
Rockfish........................ 50 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Pacific cod..................... 1 184 840 323 893
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 50 0 0 0 0
species........................
Total Amendment 80 trawl limited 688 31,284 754,235 120,154 204,477
access PSC.....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, discard
mortality rates (DMR), and estimates of groundfish catch to project
when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best information
available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS approves the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the Council for the
2008 and 2009 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2008
and 2009 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a-e). The IPHC
developed these DMRs for the 2008 and 2009 BSAI non-CDQ fisheries using
the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC developed the DMRs
for the 2008 and 2009 BSAI CDQ fisheries using the 1998 to 2006 DMRs
for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and
recommend changes to the DMR when a fishery DMR shows large variation
from the mean. A copy of the document explaining these DMRs is
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES) and the DMRs are discussed
in the final 2007 SAFE report dated November 2007. Table 9 lists the
2008 and 2009 DMRs.
Table 9.--2008 and 2009 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for the
BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut discard
Gear Fishery mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line........ Greenland turbot..... 13
Other species........ 11
Pacific cod.......... 11
Rockfish............. 17
Non-CDQ trawl................ Arrowtooth flounder.. 75
Atka mackerel........ 76
Flathead sole........ 70
Greenland turbot..... 70
Non-pelagic pollock.. 74
Pelagic pollock...... 88
Other flatfish....... 74
Other species........ 70
Pacific cod.......... 70
Rockfish............. 76
Rock sole............ 80
Sablefish............ 75
[[Page 10173]]
Yellowfin sole....... 80
Non-CDQ Pot.................. Other species........ 7
Pacific cod.......... 7
CDQ trawl.................... Atka mackerel........ 85
Flathead sole........ 87
Non-pelagic pollock.. 86
Pelagic pollock...... 90
Rockfish............. 82
Rock sole............ 86
Yellowfin sole....... 86
CDQ hook-and-line............ Greenland turbot..... 4
Pacific cod.......... 10
CDQ pot...................... Pacific cod.......... 7
Sablefish............ 34
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator may
establish a DFA for a species or species group if the Regional
Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment of a
target species or ``other species'' category has been or will be
reached. If the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA, and that
allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year,
NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group
in the specified subarea or district (see 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
Similarly, pursuant to 679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator
determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red
king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a specified area has
been reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing
for each species in that category in the specified area.
The Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 10 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2008 and 2009
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with 679.20(d)(1)(i), the
Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and species
groups in Table 10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., February 26, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009.
Also, the bycatch allowances of halibut in Table 10 are zero mt and the
bycatch allowances of red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab
in Table 10 are 0 animals. Therefore, in accordance with 679.21(e)(7),
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors and fishery
categories in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 26, 2008, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2009.
Table 10.--2008 and 2009 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................... All................... Pollock............... 10 10
Aleutian Islands subarea............ All................... ICA pollock........... 1,600 1,600
``Other rockfish''.... 497 497
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel...... 1,400 1,400
Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
perch.
Central Aleutian District/Bering Sea Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel..... 10 10
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Western Aleutian District/Bering Sea Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel..... 10 10
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Bering Sea subarea.................. All................... Pacific ocean perch... 3,570 3,485
``Other rockfish''.... 383 383
ICA pollock........... 31,500 31,500
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands..... All................... Northern rockfish..... 7,567 7,520
Shortraker rockfish... 392 392
Rougheye rockfish..... 187 187
``Other species''..... 42,500 51,000
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod....... 500 500
gear.
Non-amendment 80...... ICA flathead sole..... 4,500 4,500
ICA rock sole......... 5,000 5,000
ICA yellowfin sole.... 2,000 2,000
[[Page 10174]]
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead 0 0
access. sole/other flatfish--
halibut mortality, red
king crab zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/ 0 0
sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab zone 1, C. opilio
COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone
1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king 0 0
crab zone 1.
Amendment 80 limited Turbot/arrowtooth/ 0 n/a
access. sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab zone 1, C. bairdi
Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king 0 n/a
crab zone 1, C. opilio
COBLZ, C. bairdi Zone
1 and 2.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ 0 n/a
other species--red
king crab zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
Under authority of the final 2008 and 2009 harvest specifications
(72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007), NMFS prohibited directed fishing for Atka
mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea of
the BSAI for vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access
fishery effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 20, 2008, through 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., September 1, 2008 (73 FR 4494, January 25, 2008). NMFS opened
the first directed fisheries in the HLA in Area 542 and Area 543
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., January 22, 2008. The first HLA fishery in
Area 542 remained open through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 5, 2008. The
first HLA fishery in Area 543 remained open through 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 5, 2008. The second directed fisheries in the HLA in Area 542
and Area 543 opened effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 7, 2008. The
second HLA fishery in Area 542 remained open through 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
February 21, 2008. The second HLA fishery in Area 543 remained open
through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 21, 2008. NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and
longer using pot gear in the BSAI, effective 12 hrs, A.l.t., January
18, 2008, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2008 (73 FR 3879,
January 23, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed fishing for Pacific cod by
catcher/processor vessels using pot gear in the BSAI, effective 12
noon, A.l.t., January 20, 2008, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1,
2008 (73 FR 3879, January 23, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed fishing
for Pacific cod for vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited
access fishery in the BSAI, effective 12 noon, A.l.t., January 20,
2008, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September 1, 2008 (73 FR 4760, January
28, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed fishing for Atka mackerel for
vessels participating in the Amendment 80 limited access fishery in the
Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea of the BSAI, effective
12 noon, A.l.t., February 5, 2008, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., September
1, 2008 (73 FR 7480, February 8, 2008). NMFS prohibited directed
fishing for Pacific cod by catcher processors using hook-and-line gear
in the BSAI, effective 12 noon, A.l.t., February 8, 2008, through June
10, 2008, (73 FR 8228, February 13, 2008). NMFS announced Atka mackerel
fishery dates for the HLA fishery in the Central Aleutian District for
the vessel participating in the Amendment 80 cooperative, opens
effective 1200 hrs, A.l.t., February 13, 2008, through 1200 hrs,
A.l.t., February 27, 2008 (73 FR 9034, February 19, 2008). NMFS
prohibited directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less
than 60 feet (< 18.3 meters (m)) LOA using jig or hook-and-line gear in
the Bogoslof Pacific cod exemption area of the BSAI, effective 12 noon,
A.l.t., February 12, 2008, through 1200 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2008
(73 FR 8821, February 15, 2008). NMFS announced the season opening of
the sablefish fixed gear fisheries managed under the IFQ Program at
1200 hrs, A.l.t., March 8, 2008, and will close 1200 hrs, A.l.t.,
November 15, 2008, which will publish in the Federal Register February
21, 2008.
These closures remain effective under authority of these final 2008
and 2009 harvest specifications. These closures supersede the closures
announced under authority of the 2007 and 2008 final harvest
specifications (72 FR 9451, March 2, 2007) and revision (72 FR 71802,
December 19, 2007). While these closures are in effect, the maximum
retainable amounts at 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a
fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in addition to
closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish Program)
On June 6, 2005, the Council adopted the Rockfish Program to meet
the requirements of Section 802 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act
of 2004 (Public Law 108-199). The basis for the BSAI fishing
prohibitions and the catcher vessel BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limits
of the Rockfish Program are discussed in detail in the final rule to
Amendment 68 to the FMP for groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (71 FR
67210, November 20, 2006). Pursuant to 679.82(d)(6)(i), the catcher
vessel BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limit is 0.0 mt. Therefore, in
accordance with 679.82(d)(7)(ii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for BSAI Pacific cod in July for catcher vessels under the Rockfish
Program sideboard limitations.
[[Page 10175]]
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is responsible
for restricting the ability of listed AFA catcher/processors to engage
in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to
protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed
pollock fishery. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA
(67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Table 11 lists the 2008 and 2009 catcher/processor
sideboard limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by listed AFA
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will
be deducted from the sideboard limits in Table 11. However, groundfish
sideboard species that are delivered to listed catcher/processors by
catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2008 and 2009 sideboard
limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors.
Table 11.--2008 and 2009 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
------------------------------------
Ratio of 2008 ITAC 2008 AFA C/ 2009 ITAC 2009 AFA C/
Target species Area retained available P side- available P side-
Retained Total catch to to trawl C/ board to trawl C/ board
catch catch total Ps \1\ limit Ps \1\ limit
catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl...................... BS........................... 8 497 0.016 1,216 19 1,109 18
AI........................... 0 145 0.000 519 0 474 0
Atka mackerel........................ Central AI
A season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.115 10,850 1,248 8,483 976
HLA limit \3\............... n/a n/a n/a 6,510 749 5,090 585
B season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.115 10,850 1,248 8,484 976
HLA limit \3\............... n/a n/a n/a 6,510 749 5,090 585
Western AI
A season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.200 7,546 1,509 5,894 1,179
HLA limit \3\............... n/a n/a n/a 4,528 906 3,536 707
B season \2\................ n/a n/a 0.200 7,546 1,509 5,894 1,179
HLA limit \3\............... n/a n/a n/a 4,528 906 3,536 707
Yellowfin sole \4\................... BSAI......................... 100,192 435,788 0.230 200,925 n/a 183,065 n/a
Rock sole............................ BSAI......................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 66,975 2,478 66,975 2,478
Greenland turbot..................... BS........................... 121 17,305 0.007 1,488 10 1,488 10
AI........................... 23 4,987 0.005 672 3 672 3
Arrowtooth flounder.................. BSAI......................... 76 33,987 0.002 63,750 128 63,750 128
Flathead sole........................ BSAI......................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 44,650 1,607 44,650 1,607
Alaska plaice........................ BSAI......................... 14 9,438 0.001 42,500 43 42,500 43
Other flatfish....................... BSAI......................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 18,360 1,065 18,360 1,065
Pacific ocean perch.................. BS........................... 12 4,879 0.002 3,570 7 3,485 7
Eastern AI................... 125 6,179 0.020 4,376 88 4,295 86
Central AI................... 3 5,698 0.001 4,456 4 4,376 4
Western AI................... 54 13,598 0.004 6,796 27 6,689 27
Northern rockfish.................... BSAI......................... 91 13,040 0.007 7,567 53 7,521 53
Shortraker rockfish.................. BSAI......................... 50 2,811 0.018 392 7 392 7
Rougheye rockfish.................... BSAI......................... 50 2,811 0.018 187 3 187 3
Other rockfish....................... BS........................... 18 621 0.029 383 11 383 11
AI........................... 22 806 0.027 497 13 471 13
Squid................................ BSAI......................... 73 3,328 0.022 1,675 37 1,675 37
Other species........................ BSAI......................... 553 68,672 0.008 42,500 340 51,000 408
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC after
the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2 \ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
\3 \ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec. 679.2). In
2008 and 2009, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\4 \ Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2008 and 2009 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin
sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector (200,925 mt in 2008 and 180,065 mt in 2009) is greater than 125,000 mt.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/
processors. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14,
2007).
PSC species listed in Table 12 that are caught by listed AFA
catcher/processors participating in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the 2008 and 2009 PSC sideboard limits for
the listed AFA catcher/processors. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for
listed AFA catcher/processors once a 2008 or 2009 PSC sideboard limit
listed in Table 12 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while
fishing
[[Page 10176]]
for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually
specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at
679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 12.--2008 and 2009 BSAI American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard
Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 and 2009 PSC
Ratio of PSC catch to available to trawl 2008 and 2009 C/P
PSC species and area \2\ total PSC vessels after sideboard limit \1\
subtraction of PSQ \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI............... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab zone 1................. 0.007 175,921 1,231
C. opilio (COBLZ).................... 0.153 3,884,550 594,336
C. bairdi
Zone 1........................... 0.140 875,140 122,520
Zone 2........................... 0.050 2,652,210 132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is responsible
for restricting the ability of AFA catcher vessels to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed
pollock fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting
AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI.
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the
final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692,
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
Tables 13 and 14 list the 2008 and 2009 AFA catcher vessel sideboard
limits.
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the 2008 and 2009 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.
Table 13.--2008 and 2009 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
1995-1997 2008 AFA 2009 AFA
Fishery by area/ AFA CV 2008 catcher 2009 catcher
Species gear/season catch to initial vessel initial TAC vessel
1995-1997 TAC\1\ sideboard \1\ sideboard
TAC limits limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.................. BSAI
Jig gear........ 0.0000 2,134 0 2,134 0
Hook-and-line CV n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10.. 0.0006 155 0 155 0
Jun 10-Dec 31. 0.0006 149 0 149 0
Pot gear CV..... n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10.. 0.0006 6,496 4 6,496 4
Sept 1-Dec 31. 0.0006 6,241 4 6,241 4
CV < 60 feet LOA 0.0006 3,033 2 3,033 2
using hook-and-
line or pot
gear.
Trawl gear CV
Jan 20-Apr 1.. 0.8609 24,932 21,464 24,932 21,464
Apr 1-Jun 10.. 0.8609 3,706 3,190 3,706 3,190
Jun 10-Nov 1.. 0.8609 5,054 4,351 5,054 4,351
Sablefish.................... BS trawl gear... 0.0906 1,216 110 1,109 100
AI trawl gear... 0.0645 519 33 474 31
Atka mackerel................ Eastern AI/BS
Jan 1-Apr 15.. 0.0032 8,706 28 6,831 22
Sept 1-Nov 1.. 0.0032 8,707 28 6,832 22
Central AI
Jan-Apr 15.... 0.0001 10,850 1 8,483 1
HLA limit..... 0.0001 6,510 1 5,090 1
Sept 1-Nov 1.. 0.0001 10,850 1 8,484 1
HLA limit..... 0.0001 6,510 1 5,090 1
Western AI
Jan-Apr 15.... 0.0000 7,546 0 5,894 0
HLA limit..... n/a 4,528 0 3,536 0
Sept 1-Nov 1.. 0.0000 7,546 0 5,894 0
HLA limit..... n/a 4,528 0 3,536 0
Yellowfin sole \2\........... BSAI............ 0.0647 200,925 n/a 183,065 n/a
Rock sole.................... BSAI............ 0.0341 66,975 2,284 66,975 2,284
Greenland turbot............. BS.............. 0.0645 1,488 96 1,488 96
AI.............. 0.0205 672 14 672 14
[[Page 10177]]
Arrowtooth flou