FR Doc E9-28831

[Federal Register: December 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 230)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 63100-63115]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de09-12]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0910131363-91412-01]
RIN 0648-XS44

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications and
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fisheries of the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2010
and 2011 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. 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: Comments must be received by January 4, 2010.

[[Page 63101]]

ADDRESSES: Send comment to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS,
Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-
XS44, by any one of the following methods:
Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802.
Fax: (907) 586-7557.
Hand delivery to the Federal Building: 709 West 9th
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
All comments received are a part of the public record. No comments
will be posted to http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until
after the comment period has closed. Comments will generally be posted
without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example,
name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be
publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF
file formats only.
Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) and the Initial
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be
obtained from http://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web
site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2008 Stock
Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish
resources of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, dated November 2008,
are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252,
phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's Web site at http://
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP) and govern the groundfish
fisheries in the BSAI. The 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 annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species and the ``other species'' category,
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). Section
679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to publish proposed harvest
specifications in the Federal Register and solicit public comments on
proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, prohibited species
catch (PSC) allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves
established by Sec. 679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific
cod, and Atka mackerel TAC, American Fisheries Act allocations,
Amendment 80 allocations, and Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve
amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The proposed harvest
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 12 of this action satisfy
these requirements.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final harvest
specifications for 2010 and 2011 after (1) considering comments
received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the
Council at its December 2009 meeting, and (3) considering new
information presented in the final 2009 SAFE reports prepared for the
2010 and 2011 groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2010 and 2011 Harvest
Specifications

The Council is developing an amendment to the FMP to comply with
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements associated with annual catch limits
and accountability measures. That amendment may result in revisions to
how total annual groundfish mortality is estimated and accounted for in
the annual SAFE reports, which in turn may affect the OFL, ABC, and TAC
for certain groundfish species. NMFS will attempt to identify
additional sources of mortality to groundfish stocks not currently
reported or considered by the groundfish stock assessments in
recommending OFL, ABC, and TAC for certain groundfish species. These
additional sources of mortality may include recreational fishing,
subsistence fishing, catch of groundfish during the NMFS trawl and
hook-and-line surveys, catch taken under experimental fishing permits
issued by NMFS, discarded catch of groundfish in the commercial halibut
fisheries, use of groundfish as bait in the crab fisheries, or other
sources of mortality not yet identified.
At its October 2009 meeting the Council approved Amendment 95 to
the FMP. This amendment would separate skates from the ``other
species'' category so that individual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs may be
established for skates. If the Secretary of Commerce approves the
amendment, the change would be in effect for the 2011 fishing year.
At its April 2009 meeting the Council adopted Amendment 91 to the
FMP. This amendment would establish new measures to minimize Chinook
salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fisheries, including new
Chinook salmon PSC limits that when reached would prohibit directed
fishing for pollock. If approved, Amendment 91 could be effective by
2011.

Proposed ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available biological
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 OFLs
involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The
FMP specifies a series of six tiers based on the level of reliable
information available to fishery scientists. Tier one represents the
highest level of information quality available while tier six
represents the lowest level of information quality available.
Appendix A to the final 2008 SAFE report dated November 2008 (see
ADDRESSES) sets forth the best information currently available.
Information on the status of stocks, including the 2009 survey results,
will be updated and considered by the Council's Groundfish Plan Team
(Plan Team) in November 2009 for the 2009 SAFE report. The final 2010
and 2011 harvest specifications will be based on the 2009 SAFE report.
In October 2009, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC),
Advisory Panel, and the Council reviewed the Plan Team's recommended
proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL and ABC amounts. The SSC concurred with the
Plan Team's recommendations. The recommendations are based on rollovers
of the current 2010 amounts, except for Bering Sea pollock. The Bering
Sea pollock OFL and ABC amounts are based on 2009 amounts that are
lower than the 2010 amounts. This recommendation uses the best

[[Page 63102]]

information available from the 2008 stock assessments.
The Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts recommended by the SSC
(Table 1). The Council recommended that all the proposed 2010 and 2011
TAC amounts be set equal to the 2010 TAC amounts except for Bering Sea
pollock that was set equal to the 2009 TAC amount. The Plan Team
recommended and the SSC, AP, and Council approved the use of the lower
amount used in 2009 as a notice to the public that the 2010 Bering Sea
pollock spawning biomass is not expected to be as high as projected in
2008.
As in previous years, the Plan Team, Advisory Panel, SSC, and
Council recommended that total removals of Pacific cod from the BSAI
not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council recommended
that the proposed 2010 and 2011 Pacific cod TACs be adjusted downward
from the ABCs by amounts equal to 3 percent of the ABC. This adjustment
is necessary to account for the guideline harvest level established for
Pacific cod by the State of Alaska (State) for a State-managed fishery
that occurs in State waters in the AI subarea.
Finally, the Council recommended using the 2010 PSC allowances for
the proposed 2010 and 2011 PSC allowances. The Council will reconsider
the OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts in December 2009 after the Plan Team
incorporates new status of groundfish stocks information into a final
2009 SAFE report for the 2010 and 2011 BSAI groundfish fisheries. None
of the Council's recommended proposed TACs for 2010 or 2011 exceeds the
recommended 2010 or 2011 proposed ABCs for any species category. NMFS
finds the Council's recommended proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL, ABC, and
TAC amounts consistent with the best available information on the
biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
The proposed amounts are subject to change pending the completion
of the 2009 SAFE report and the Council's recommendations for final
2010 and 2011 harvest specifications during its December 2009 meeting.
Table 1 lists the proposed 2010 and 2011 OFL, ABC, TAC, initial TAC
(ITAC), and CDQ amounts for groundfish for the BSAI. The proposed
apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed
below.

Table 1--Proposed 2010 and 2011 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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Proposed 2010 and 2011
Species Area ----------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3,4,5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...................... BS.............. 977,000 815,000 815,000 733,500 81,500
AI.............. 36,800 30,400 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof........ 58,400 7,970 10 10 ...........
Pacific cod \4\.............. BSAI............ 235,000 199,000 193,030 172,376 20,654
Sablefish \5\................ BS.............. 2,980 2,520 2,520 1,109 98
AI.............. 2,410 2,040 2,040 474 41
Atka mackerel................ BSAI............ 84,400 71,100 71,100 63,492 7,608
EAI/BS.......... ........... 22,900 22,900 20,450 2,450
CAI............. ........... 28,500 28,500 25,451 3,050
WAI............. ........... 19,700 19,700 17,592 2,108
Yellowfin sole............... BSAI............ 210,000 198,000 180,000 160,740 19,260
Rock sole.................... BSAI............ 314,000 310,000 75,000 66,975 8,025
Greenland tubot.............. BSAI............ 14,400 7,130 7,130 6,061 n/a
BS.............. ........... 4,920 4,920 4,182 526
AI.............. ........... 2,210 2,210 1,879 ...........
Arrowtooth flounder.......... BSAI............ 196,000 161,000 60,000 51,000 6,420
Flathead sole................ BSAI............ 81,800 69,800 50,000 44,650 5,350
Other flatfish \6\........... BSAI............ 23,100 17,400 17,400 14,790 ...........
Alaska plaice................ BSAI............ 354,000 275,000 30,000 25,500 ...........
Pacific ocean perch.......... BSAI............ 22,100 18,600 18,600 16,447 n/a
BS.............. ........... 3,780 3,780 3,213 ...........
EAI............. ........... 4,160 4,160 3,715 445
CAI............. ........... 4,210 4,210 3,760 450
WAI............. ........... 6,450 6,450 5,760 690
Northern rockfish............ BSAI............ 8,580 7,190 6,000 5,100 ...........
Shortraker rockfish.......... BSAI............ 516 387 387 329 ...........
Rougheye rockfish............ BSAI............ 640 552 552 469 ...........
Other rockfish \7\........... BSAI............ 1,380 1,040 1,040 884 ...........
BS.............. ........... 485 485 412 ...........
AI.............. ........... 555 555 472 ...........
Squid........................ BSAI............ 2,620 1,970 1,970 1,675 ...........
Other species \8\............ BSAI............ 80,700 63,680 34,221 29,088 ...........
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Total.................... ................ 2,706,826 2,259,779 1,585,000 1,411,768 152,968
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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 (4 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.

[[Page 63103]]

\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, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock
sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 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. Pending approval of amendment 95 from the Secretary,
skates will be broken out from the ``other species'' category in the 2011 fishing year. The OFL, ABC, and TAC
for ``other species'' will be 42,507, 31,680, and 31,680 mt, respectively. The OFL, ABC, and TAC for skates
will be 38,200, 32,000, and 30,000 mt, respectively.

Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, Atka
Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch

Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires 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 that 7.5
percent of the trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of
Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder be allocated to the
respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that 10.7
percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod be
allocated to the CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(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 Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of the hook-and-line and pot gear
sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not further apportion the CDQ
reserves 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 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.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS proposes a pollock
ICA of 4 percent of the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after
subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on
NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock
from 1999 through 2009. During this 11-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 an 11-year average of 3.2 percent. Pursuant to
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS proposes 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's examination of the pollock
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2009. During this
7-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 7-year average
of 7 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS proposes ICAs of
5,500 mt of flathead sole, 10,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of
yellowfin sole, 50 mt each of Western and Central Aleutian District
Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern Aleutian District Pacific ocean
perch, 50 mt for Western Aleutian District Atka mackerel, 75 mt for
Central Aleutian District Atka mackerel, and 75 mt of Eastern Aleutian
District and Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel after subtraction of the
10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These allowances are based on NMFS's
examination of the incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003
through 2009.
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 that contributed to the non-specified
reserve and the ``other species'' category during the year, provided
that such apportionments do not result in overfishing (see Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)).

Allocations 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 10 percent
for the CDQ program and 4 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 to June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10 to November 1) Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B). The AI
directed pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the
amount of pollock remaining in the AI subarea after subtracting 1,900
mt for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 1,600 mt for the ICA Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii). In the AI subarea, 40 percent of the ABC
is allocated to the A season and the remainder of the directed pollock
fishery is allocated to the B season. Table 2 lists these proposed 2010
and 2011 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding Bering Sea subarea 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 2 lists
the proposed 2010 and 2011 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 9 through
12 list the AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel harvesting
sideboard limits. In past years, the proposed harvest specifications
included text and tables describing pollock allocations to the Bering
Sea subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open access sector. These
allocations are based on the submission of AFA inshore cooperative
applications due to NMFS on December 1 of each calendar year. Because
AFA inshore cooperative applications for 2010 have not been submitted
to NMFS, thereby

[[Page 63104]]

preventing NMFS from calculating 2010 allocations, NMFS has not
included inshore cooperative text and tables in these proposed harvest
specifications. NMFS will post 2010 AFA inshore cooperative allocations
on the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
when they become available in December 2009.
Table 2 also lists proposed seasonal apportionments of pollock and
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 percent of the DFA until April 1
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C) . The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent
annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside the SCA
before 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 2
lists by sector these proposed 2010 and 2011 amounts.

Table 2--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ
Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and 2011 A season 2010 and 2011
2010 and 2011 -------------------------------- B season \1\
Area and sector allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC.......................... 815,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 81,500 32,600 22,820 48,900
ICA \1\......................................... 29,340 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore..................................... 352,080 140,832 98,582 211,248
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 281,664 112,666 78,866 168,998
Catch by C/Ps............................... 257,723 103,089 n/a 154,634
Catch by C/Vs \3\........................... 23,941 9,577 n/a 14,365
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.................. 1,408 563 n/a 845
AFA Motherships................................. 70,416 28,166 19,716 42,250
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 123,228 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 211,248 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea DFA (non-CDQ).................. 704,160 281,664 197,165 422,496
---------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\.................... 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA............................................. 1,600 800 n/a 800
Aleut Corporation............................... 15,500 10,600 n/a 4,900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District ICA\7\........................ 10 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtraction for the
CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector 50 percent,
catcher/processor sector 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 to June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the
B season (June 10 to 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 DFA (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
the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside
the SCA before April 1, the remainder is 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 (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) 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 pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\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 pollock DFAs not including CDQ.
\7\ The Regional Administrator proposes closing the Bogoslof pollock fishery for directed fishing under the
final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications for the BSAI. The amounts specified are for incidental catch only
and are not apportioned by season or sector.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtraction
of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl
limited access sector and non-trawl gear (Table 3). 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 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants apply for
participation in the program.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern
Aleutian District and 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 proposes a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea
to jig gear in 2010 and 2011. Based on the proposed 2010 and 2011 TAC
of 20,250 mt after subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig
gear

[[Page 63105]]

allocation would be 102 mt for 2010 and 2011.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(iv) 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 Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii), 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 fishery categories: 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 fishery categories 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 Sec. 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 for the first HLA fishery
in all three fishery categories at the same time. The initial opening
of fishing in the HLA will be based on the first directed fishing
closure of Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering
Sea subarea allocation for any one of the three non-CDQ fishery
categories allocated Atka mackerel TAC.

Table 3--Proposed 2010 and 2011 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 allocation by area 2011 allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Eastern
Sector \2\ Season 1 3 4 Aleutian Central Western Aleutian Central Western
District/ Aleutian Aleutian District/ Aleutian Aleutian
Bering Sea District District Bering Sea District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC........................................ n/a.......................... 22,900 28,500 19,700 22,900 28,500 19,700
CDQ reserve................................ Total........................ 2,450 3,050 2,108 2,450 3,050 2,108
HLA \5\...................... n/a 1,830 1,265 n/a 1,830 1,265
ICA........................................ Total........................ 75 75 50 75 75 50
Jig \6\.................................... Total........................ 102 0 0 102 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access.................. Total........................ 1,216 1,523 0 1,622 2,030 0
A............................ 608 761 0 811 1,015 0
HLA.......................... n/a 457 0 n/a 609 0
B............................ 608 761 0 811 1,015 0
HLA.......................... n/a 457 0 n/a 609 0
Amendment 80 limited access................ Total........................ 10,129 14,358 10,814 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 5,065 7,179 5,407 n/a n/a n/a
HLA.......................... n/a 4,308 3,244 n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 5,065 7,179 5,407 n/a n/a n/a
HLA.......................... n/a 4,308 3,244 n/a n/a n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives.................. Total........................ 8,927 9,495 6,728 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 4,464 4,747 3,364 n/a n/a n/a
HLA.......................... n/a 2,848 2,018 n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 4,464 4,747 3,364 n/a n/a n/a
HLA.......................... n/a 2,848 2,018 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulations at Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\2\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and the jig gear allocation, 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).
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15, and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\5\ 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
2010 and 2011, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and 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.

[[Page 63106]]

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

Sections 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) require that the Pacific cod TAC
in the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ program, be
allocated 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 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 2010 and 2011 the Regional Administrator
proposes an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated incidental catch in
these fisheries. The allocation of the ITAC for Pacific cod to the
Amendment 80 sector is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.
679.91.
The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next
seasonal allowance.
The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the proposed
2010 and 2011 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Table 4 based on the
sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal allowances
of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. 679.23(e)(5).

Table 4--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and 2010 and 2011 seasonal
2011 share 2010 and apportionment
Gear sector Percent of gear 2011 share ------------------------------------
sector of sector
total total Season Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC........................... 100 193,030 n/a n/a................... n/a
CDQ................................. 10.7 20,654 n/a See Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear........ 60.8 104,804 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 sub-total......... n/a 104,304 n/a n/a................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors.... 48.7 n/a 83,547 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 42,609
Jun 10-Dec 31......... 40,938
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >= 60 0.2 n/a 343 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 175
ft LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31......... 168
Pot catcher/processors.............. 1.5 n/a 2,573 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 1,312
Sept 1-Dec 31......... 1,261
Pot catcher vessels= 60 8.4 n/a 14,410 Jan 1-Jun 10.......... 7,349
ft LOA. Sept-1-Dec 31......... 7,061
Catcher vessels < 60 ft LOA using 2 n/a 3,431 n/a................... n/a
hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels............... 22.1 38,095 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 28,190
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 4,190
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 5,714
AFA trawl catcher processors........ 2.3 3,965 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 2,973
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 991
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Amendment 80........................ 13.4 23,098 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 17,324
Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 5,775
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Amendment 80 limited access for 2010 n/a 3,795 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 2,847
only \2\. Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 949
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Amendment 80 cooperative for 2010 n/a 19,303 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.......... 14,477
only \2\. Apr 1-Jun 10.......... 4,826
Jun 10-Nov 1.......... 0
Jig................................. 1.4 2,413 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.......... 1,448
Apr 30-Aug 31......... 483
Aug 31-Dec 31......... 483
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 proposes an ICA of 500 mt for 2010
and 2011 based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2011 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, 2010.

[[Page 63107]]

Sablefish Gear Allocation

Section 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) requires the allocation of
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl gear
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)(ii)(B) requires apportionment of 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve.
Additionally, Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires apportionment of 7.5
percent of the trawl 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 2010 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries would reduce the potential for
discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries would remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year
until the final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries
are in effect. Table 5 lists the proposed 2010 and 2011 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.

Table 5--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2010 Share 2010 ITAC 2010 CDQ 2011 Share 2011 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC \1\ reserve of TAC 2011 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl.................................................... 50 1,260 1,071 95 1,260 1,071 95
Hook-and-line gear \2\................................... 50 1,260 n/a 252 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 2,520 1,071 347 2,520 1,071 95
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl.................................................... 25 510 434 38 510 434 38
Hook-and-line gear \2\................................... 75 1,530 n/a 306 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 2,040 434 344 2,040 434 38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
after the 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. Section 679.20(b)(1) does not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.

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 between
the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors for 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. 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 Sec. 679.91. The 2011 allocations for Amendment 80 species between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector
will not be known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants
apply for participation in the program. Table 6 lists the proposed 2010
and 2011 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TACs.

Table 6--Proposed 2010 and 2011 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and 2011 allocations
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead Rock sole Yellowfin
Sector --------------------------------------- sole ------------- sole
Eastern Central Western ------------- ------------
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI
District District District BSAI BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC............................... 4,160 4,210 6,450 50,000 75,000 180,000
CDQ............................... 445 450 690 5,350 8,025 19,260
ICA............................... 100 50 50 5,000 10,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access......... 361 371 114 0 0 28,438
Amendment 80...................... 3,253 3,339 5,596 39,650 56,975 130,302
Amendment 80 limited access for 1,725 1,770 2,967 4,658 14,174 52,109
2010 only\1\.....................
Amendment 80 cooperatives for 2010 1,528 1,568 2,629 34,992 42,801 78,193
only \1\.........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2011 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, 2010.

[[Page 63108]]

Allocation of PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring

Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2010 and 2011 BSAI halibut mortality
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl
fisheries. Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 326
mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of
the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the prohibited species quota
(PSQ) reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Section
679.21(e)(1)(vi) specifies 29,000 fish as the 2010 and 2011 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)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2010 and 2011 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)(vii)
specifies 42,000 fish as the 2010 and 2011 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. The
regulations and allocations of Chinook salmon are subject to change in
2011 pending approval of amendment 91 to the FMP.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Due to the lack of new information as
of October 2009 regarding PSC limits and apportionments, the Council
recommended and NMFS proposes using the crab and herring 2010 and 2011
PSC limits and apportionments for the proposed 2010 and 2011 limits and
apportionments. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December
2009. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent of each PSC
limit specified for crab is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the
2008 survey data at 35 million red king crabs, and the effective
spawning biomass is estimated at 75 million lb (34,020 mt). Based on
the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the proposed 2010 and
2011 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 197,000
animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate
of more than 8.4 million king crab and the effective spawning biomass
estimate of more than 55 million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS to
up to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance based on the need
to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the red king crab
bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance
within the RKCSS (Table 7b).
Based on 2008 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 435 million animals. Given the criteria set
out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2010 and 2011 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 being in excess of the 400 million animal
threshold specified in Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii).
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for snow crab
(C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133
percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2008 survey
estimate of 2.6 billion animals, the calculated limit is 4,350,000
animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2010 and 2011 herring biomass is 169,675 mt. This amount
was derived using 2008 survey data and an age-structured biomass
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Therefore, the herring PSC limit proposed for 2010 and 2011 is 1,697 mt
for all trawl gear as presented in Tables 7a and 7b.
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 7a. The
amount of the 2010 PSC limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector is
specified in Table 35 to part 679. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv)
and Sec. 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 and to the Amendment 80 limited
access fishery as presented in Tables 7d and e. PSC cooperative quota
assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to specific
fishery categories. The 2011 PSC allocations between Amendment 80
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until November 1, 2010, when eligible participants apply to
participate in the program. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires
apportionment of each trawl PSC limit not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery
categories.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes the apportionment of the non-
trawl halibut PSC limits into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery
categories. Table 7c 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 proposes to exempt 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 2009, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the
BSAI was approximately 15,000 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch
mortality of about 1 mt. The 2009 jig gear fishery harvested about 33
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.

[[Page 63109]]

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 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. NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation of the
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 7c and 7e to maximize harvest
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of
PSC based on the above criteria.

Table 7a--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) 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 and area Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ limited
trawl PSC after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve \1\ 2010 2011 access
PSQ \1\ PSQ \1\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI..................... 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,425 2,375 875
Herring (mt) BSAI............................... n/a n/a 1,697 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 \1\.............. n/a n/a 197,000 175,921 21,079 98,920 93,432 53,797
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\................... n/a n/a 4,350,000 3,884,550 465,450 2,148,156 2,028,512 1,248,494
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\............. n/a n/a 980,000 875,140 104,860 414,641 391,538 411,228
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2................. n/a n/a 2,970,000 2,652,210 317,790 706,284 667,031 1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 7.5 percent, or 67 mt,
of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of
each crab PSC limit.
\2\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.

Table 7b--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Herring and Red King Crab Savings
Subarea Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals) Zone
BSAI 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole........................ 146 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 25 n/a
\1\..................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ 12 n/a
sablefish............................
Rockfish.............................. 9 n/a
Pacific cod........................... 25 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock................ 1,296 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 184 n/a
\2\..................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 49,250
pelagic trawl gear \3\...............
---------------------------------
Total trawl PSC................... 1,697 197,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
species'' fishery category.
\3\ In October 2009 the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).

[[Page 63110]]

Table 7c--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
and Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Halibut mortality crab C. opilio -------------------------
(mt) BSAI (animals) (animals)
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 0 0 0 0 0
flatfish\2\..........................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\....... 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish, April 15.................... 3 0 2,000 0 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 875 53,797 1,248,494 411,228 1,241,500
PSC..............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-trawl fisheries Catcher Catcher
processor vessel
----------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod-Total.................. 760 15 ............
January 1-June 10.................. 314 10 ............
June 10-August 15.................. 0 3 ............
August 15-December 31.............. 446 2 ............
---------------------- 58 ...........
Groundfish pot and jig............. Exempt ............
Sablefish hook-and-line............ Exempt ............
---------------------- ............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.

Table 7d--Proposed 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
Year Halibut crab C. opilio ---------------------------
mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010...................................... 1754 70,237 1,461,309 304,290 518,898
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.

Table 7e--Proposed 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Limited Access Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zone \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
Amendment 80 trawl limited access fisheries Halibut crab C. opilio -------------------------
mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................. 353 5,594 601,032 58,002 142,335
Jan 20-Jul 1............................... 208 5,410 591,926 53,727 114,843
Jul 1-Dec 31............................... 146 184 9,106 4,274 27,492
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole \2\......... 218 22,921 85,051 52,053 44,231
Jan 20-Apr 1............................... 174 22,585 82,173 45,921 38,635
Apr 1-Jul 1................................ 20 168 1,511 3,214 2,798
Jul 1-Dec 31............................... 24 168 1,366 2,918 2,798
Turbot/arrowtooth/............................. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
sablefish \3\..................................
Rockfish....................................... 49 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Pacific cod.................................... 1 168 765 297 819
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\........ 49 0 0 0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Amendment 80 trawl limited access PSC 671 28,683 686,848 110,351 187,385
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.

[[Page 63111]]

\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.
\4\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' 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 included in the annual SAFE report.
NMFS proposes the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs
developed and recommended by the International Pacific Halibut
Commission (IPHC) for the 2009 BSAI groundfish fisheries be used for
monitoring the proposed 2010 and 2011 halibut bycatch allowances (see
Tables 7a-e). The IPHC developed the DMRs for the 2009 BSAI non-CDQ
groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries.
The IPHC developed the DMRs for the 2009 BSAI CDQ groundfish fisheries
using the 1998 to 2006 DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze
observer data annually and recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery
DMR shows large variation from the mean. A copy of the document
justifying these DMRs is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES) and
the DMRs are discussed in the Economic Status Report of the final 2008
SAFE report dated November 2008. Table 8 lists the proposed 2010 and
2011 DMRs.
The proposed DMRs listed in Table 8 are subject to change pending
the results of an updated analysis on halibut DMRs in the groundfish
fisheries that IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the Council at its
December 2009 meeting.

Table 8--Proposed 2010 and 2011 Assumed 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
Yellowfin sole...... 80
Non-CDQ pot....................... Other species....... 7
Pacific cod......... 7
CDQ trawl......................... Atka mackerel....... 85
Flathead sole....... 84
Non-pelagic pollock. 85
Pelagic pollock..... 90
Rockfish............ 82
Rock sole........... 88
Yellowfin sole...... 84
CDQ hook-and-line................. Greenland turbot.... 4
Pacific cod......... 10
CDQ pot........................... Pacific cod......... 7
Sablefish........... 34
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (Pub. L. 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 for
Amendment 68 to the FMP for Groundfish of the GOA (71 FR 67210,
November 20, 2006). Pursuant to Sec. 679.82(d)(6)(i), the catcher
vessel BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limit is 0.0 mt and in the final 2010
and 2011 harvest specifications this would effectively close directed
fishing for BSAI Pacific cod in July for catcher vessels under the
Rockfish Program sideboard limitations.

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 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. Table 9 lists the proposed 2010

[[Page 63112]]

and 2011 catcher/processor sideboard limits. The basis for these
proposed 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).
All harvests of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA catcher/
processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be
deducted from the proposed sideboard limits in Table 9. However,
groundfish sideboard species that are delivered to listed AFA catcher/
processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the proposed
2010 and 2011 sideboard limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors.

Table 9--Proposed 2010 and 2011 BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Listed American Fisheries Act Catcher/
Processors (C/Ps)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997 2010 and
---------------------------------------- 2011 ITAC 2010 and
Ratio of available 2011 AFA C/
Target species Area Retained retained to all P sideboard
catch Total catch catch of trawl C/Ps limit
total catch \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl.............. BS............. 8 497 0.016 1,071 17
AI............. 0 145 0 474 0
Atka mackerel................ Central AI
A season \2\... n/a n/a 0.115 12,688 1,459
HLA limit...... n/a n/a n/a 7,613 875
B season \2\... n/a n/a 0.115 12,688 1,459
HLA limit \3\.. n/a n/a n/a 7,613 875
Western AI
A season \2\... n/a n/a 0.2 8,771 1,754
HLA limit...... n/a n/a n/a 5,263 1,053
B season \2\... n/a n/a 0.2 8,771 1,754
HLA limit \3\.. n/a n/a n/a 5,263 1,053
Yellowfin sole \4\........... BSAI........... 100,192 435,788 0.23 160,740 36,970
Rock sole.................... BSAI........... 6,317 169,362 0.037 66,975 2,478
Greenland turbot............. BS............. 121 17,305 0.007 4,182 29
AI............. 23 4,987 0.005 1879 9
Arrowtooth flounder.......... BSAI........... 76 33,987 0.002 51,000 102
Flathead sole................ BSAI........... 1,925 52,755 0.036 44,650 1,607
Alaska plaice................ BSAI........... 14 9,438 0.001 25,500 26
Other flatfish............... BSAI........... 3,058 52,298 0.058 14,790 858
Pacific ocean perch.......... BS............. 12 4,879 0.002 3,213 6
Eastern AI..... 125 6,179 0.02 3,715 74
Central AI..... 3 5,698 0.001 3,760 4
Western AI..... 54 13,598 0.004 5,760 23
Northern rockfish............ BSAI........... 91 13,040 0.007 5,100 36
Shortraker rockfish.......... BSAI........... 50 2,811 0.018 329 6
Rougheye rockfish............ BSAI........... 50 2,811 0.018 469 8
Other rockfish............... BS............. 18 621 0.029 412 12
AI............. 22 806 0.027 472 13
Squid........................ BSAI........... 73 3,328 0.022 1,675 37
Other species................ BSAI........... 553 68,672 0.008 29,088 233
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are
multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\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 2010 and 2011, 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
2010 and 2011 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited
access sector (158,740 mt) is greater than 125,000 mt.

Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 to part 679 establish a
formula for 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 10 that are caught by listed AFA
catcher/processors participating in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the proposed 2010 and 2011 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 proposed 2010 or 2011
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 10 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while
fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually
specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
''other species'' fishery categories according to regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).

[[Page 63113]]

Table 10--Proposed 2010 and 2011 BSAI Prohibited Species Sideboard
Limits for American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
2010 and
2011 PSC Proposed
Ratio of available 2010 and
PSC species and area PSC catch to trawl 2011 C/P
to total vessels sideboard
PSC after limit\1\
subtraction
of PSQ\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality................ n/a n/a 286
Red king crab Zone 1 \2\......... 0.007 175,921 1,231
C. opilio (COBLZ) \2\............ 0.153 3,884,550 594,336
C. bairdi........................ n/a n/a n/a
Zone 1 \2\....................... 0.14 875,140 122,520
Zone 2 \2\....................... 0.05 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 Sec. 679.64(b), 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 formulas 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 11 and 12 list the proposed 2010 and 2011 AFA catcher vessel
sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or as incidental catch, will
be deducted from the proposed 2010 and 2011 sideboard limits listed in
Table 11.

Table 11--Proposed 2010 and 2011 BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels
(CVs)
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and
Ratio of 2011 AFA
1995-1997 2010-2011 catcher
Species Fishery by area/gear/season AFA CV catch initial TAC vessel
to 1995-1997 \1\ sideboard
TAC limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod............................... BSAI
Jig gear.................... 0 2,413 0
Hook-and-line CV
Jan 1-Jun 10................ 0.0006 175 0
Jun 10-Dec 31............... 0.0006 168 0
Pot gear CV
Jan 1-Jun 10................ 0.0006 7,349 4
Sept 1-Dec 31............... 0.0006 7,061 4
CV< 60 ft LOA using hook-and- 0.0006 3,431 2
line or pot gear.
Trawl gear CV
Jan 20-Apr 1................ 0.8609 28,190 24,269
Apr 1-Jun 10................ 0.8609 4,190 3,608
Jun 10-Nov 1................ 0.8609 5,714 4,919
Sablefish................................. BS trawl gear............... 0.0906 1,071 97
AI trawl gear............... 0.0645 474 31
Atka mackerel............................. Eastern AI/BS
Jan 1-Apr 15................ 0.0032 10,187 33
Sept 1-Nov 1................ 0.0032 10,187 33
Central AI
Jan-Apr 15.................. 0.0001 12,688 1
HLA limit................... 0.0001 7,613 1
Sept 1-Nov 1................ 0.0001 12,688 1
HLA limit................... 0.0001 7,613 1
Western AI
Jan-Apr 15.................. 0 8,771 0
HLA limit................... n/a 5,263 0
Sept 1-Nov 1................ 0 8,771 0
HLA limit................... n/a 5,263 0
Yellowfin sole \2\........................ BSAI........................ 0.0647 160,740 n/a
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 0.0341 66,975 2,284
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 0.0645 4,182 270

[[Page 63114]]

AI.......................... 0.0205 1,879 39
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 0.069 51,000 3,519
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 0.0441 25,500 1,125
Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 0.0441 14,790 652
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 0.1 3,213 321
Eastern AI.................. 0.0077 3,715 29
Central AI.................. 0.0025 3,760 9
Western AI.................. 0 5,760 0
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0084 5,100 43
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 329 1
Rougheye rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 469 2
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 0.0048 412 2
AI.......................... 0.0095 472 4
Squid..................................... BSAI........................ 0.3827 1,675 641
Other species............................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 29,880 1,617
Flathead sole............................. BS trawl gear............... 0.0505 44,650 2,255
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole are
multiplied by the remainder of the TAC of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2010 and
2011 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector
(158,740 mt) is greater than 125,000 mt.

Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 12 that are caught by
AFA catcher vessels participating in any groundfish fishery other than
pollock will accrue against the proposed 2010 and 2011 PSC sideboard
limits for the AFA catcher vessels. Section 679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v)
authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA catcher vessels once a proposed 2010 and 2011 PSC
sideboard limit listed in Table 12 is reached. The PSC caught by AFA
catcher vessels while fishing for pollock in the BSAI will accrue
against the bycatch allowances annually specified for either the
midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery
categories under regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).

Table 12--Proposed 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard (PSC)
Limits for the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed
2010 and Proposed
AFA catcher 2011 PSC 2010 and
vessel PSC limit after 2011 AFA
PSC species Target fishery category \1\ sideboard subtraction catcher
limit ratio of PSQ vessel PSC
reserves sideboard
\2\ limit \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut................................... Pacific cod trawl........... n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and-line or n/a n/a 2
pot.
Yellowfin sole total........ n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/ n/a n/a 228
other flatfish \3\.
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish. n/a n/a 0
Rockfish.................... n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other n/a n/a 5
species.
Red king crab Zone 1...................... n/a......................... 0.299 175,921 52,600
C. opilio COBLZ \4\....................... n/a......................... 0.168 3,884,550 652,604
C. bairdi Zone 1 \4\...................... n/a......................... 0.33 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2 \4\...................... n/a......................... 0.186 2,652,210 493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\3\ ``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.
\4\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.

[[Page 63115]]

Classification

NMFS has determined that the proposed specifications are consistent
with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed
specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS prepared a Final EIS for this action and made it available to
the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS
issued the Record of Decision for the Final EIS. Copies of the Final
EIS and Record of Decision for this action are available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the environmental consequences of
the proposed groundfish harvest specifications and its alternatives on
resources in the action area. The Final EIS found no significant
environmental consequences from the proposed action or its
alternatives.
NMFS also prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
The IRFA evaluates the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest
strategies for the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic zone
off of Alaska. While the specification numbers may change from year to
year, the harvest strategy for establishing those numbers remains the
same. NMFS therefore is using the same IRFA prepared in connection with
the Final EIS. NMFS published notice of the availability of the IRFA
and its summary in the classification section of the proposed harvest
specifications for the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI in the Federal
Register on December 15, 2006 (71 FR 75460). The comment period on the
BSAI proposed harvest specifications and IRFA ended on January 16,
2007. NMFS did not receive any comments on the IRFA or the economic
impacts of the rule generally.
A description of the action, why it is being considered, and the
legal basis for this action are contained in the preamble above. This
IRFA meets the statutory requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
of 1980, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601-612). A copy of this analysis is
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the
catch of groundfish in the BSAI. The preferred alternative is the
status quo harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs
recommended by the Council's harvest specification process and TACs
recommended by the Council. This action is taken in accordance with the
FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
The directly regulated small entities include approximately 810
small catcher vessels, fewer than 20 small catcher/processors, and six
CDQ groups. The entities directly regulated by this action are those
that harvest groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and
in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters. These include
entities operating catcher vessels and catcher/processor vessels within
the action area, and entities receiving direct allocations of
groundfish. Catcher vessels and catcher/processors were considered to
be small entities if their annual gross receipts from all economic
activities, including the revenue of their affiliated operations,
totaled $4 million per year or less. Data from 2005 were the most
recent available to determine the number of small entities.
Estimates of first wholesale gross revenues for the BSAI non-CDQ
and CDQ sectors were used as indices of the potential impacts of the
alternative harvest strategies on small entities. Revenues were
projected to decline from 2006 levels in 2007 and 2008 under the
preferred alternative due to declines in ABCs for economically key
groundfish species.
The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four
other alternatives. These included Alternative 1, which would have set
TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if
the full TAC were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the BSAI
optimum yield, in which case TACs would have been limited to the
optimum yield. Alternative 3 would have set TACs to produce fishing
rates equal to the most recent five-year average fishing rates.
Alternative 4 would have set TACs equal to the lower limit of the BSAI
optimum yield range. Alternative 5 would have set TACs equal to zero.
Alternative 5 is the ``no action'' alternative.
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 produced smaller first wholesale revenue
indices for both non-CDQ and CDQ sectors than Alternative 2.
Alternative 1 revenues were the same as Alternative 2 revenues in the
BSAI for both sectors. Moreover, higher Alternative 1 TACs are
associated with maximum permissible ABCs, while Alternative 2 TACs are
associated with the ABCs that have been recommended to the Council by
the Plan Team and the SSC, and more fully consider other potential
biological issues. For these reasons, Alternative 2 is the preferred
alternative.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any federal
rules.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under these harvest specifications are discussed in the Final
EIS (see ADDRESSES).

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., 3631 et seq.;
Public Law 108-447.

Dated: November 25, 2009.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-28831 Filed 12-1-09; 8:45 am]

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