Federal Register, Volume 75 Issue 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11778-11798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5484]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0910131363-0087-02]
RIN 0648-XS44

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

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

ACTION: Final rule; closures.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2010 and 2011 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 2010
and 2011 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 12,
2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Electronic 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) for this action may be obtained
from http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The 2009 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the
BSAI dated November 2009, including discard mortality rates (DMR) for
halibut, is available from the North Pacific Fishery Management
Council's Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.

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

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 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;
the sum must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to
2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). NMFS also
must specify apportionments of TACs, 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; Amendment 80 allocations, and Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final
harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 16 of this action
satisfy these requirements. The sum of TACs is 1,677,154 mt for 2010
and is 1,996,558 mt for 2011.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires NMFS to consider public
comment on the proposed annual TACs (and apportionments thereof) and
PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in the
Federal Register. The proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications and
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in
the Federal Register on December 2, 2009 (74 FR 63100). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 4, 2010. NMFS received two letters
with four 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 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications during the December 2009
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 2010 and
2011 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. The FMP
specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts 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.
In December 2009, 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 2009
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2009. 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 ADDRESSES). From these data
and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an OFL and ABC for each species
or species category.
In December 2009, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's
recommendations, and the Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts
recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The final TAC recommendations were
based on the ABCs as adjusted for other biological

[[Page 11779]]

and socioeconomic considerations, including maintaining the sum of the
TACs within the required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. The
Council adopted the AP's 2010 and 2011 TAC recommendations. None of the
Council's recommended TACs for 2010 or 2011 exceeds the final 2010 or
2011 ABCs for any species category. The final 2010 and 2011 harvest
specifications approved by the Secretary are unchanged from those
recommended by the Council and are consistent with the preferred
harvest strategy alternative in the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds
that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2009
SAFE report that was approved by the Council.

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 approves the amendment then
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.

Changes From the Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications in the
BSAI

In October 2009, the Council made its recommendations for the
proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (74 FR 63100, December 2,
2009) based largely on information contained in the 2008 SAFE report
for the BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 2009 SAFE report, which was not
available when the Council made its recommendations in October 2009,
contains the best and most recent scientific information on the
condition of the groundfish stocks. In December 2009, the Council
considered the 2009 SAFE report in making its recommendations for the
final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications. Based on the 2009 SAFE
report, the sum of the 2010 and 2011 recommended final TACs for the
BSAI (1,677,154 mt for 2010, and 1,996,558 mt for 2011) are higher than
the sums of the proposed 2010 and 2011 TACs (1,585,000 mt each year).
Compared to the proposed 2010 TACs, the Council's final TAC
recommendations increase for species when the best and most recent
scientific analysis supports a larger TAC. These changes increase
fishing opportunities for fishermen and add economic benefits to the
nation. Increased TACs are specified for BSAI sablefish, BSAI Atka
mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, arrowtooth flounder, flathead
sole, Alaska plaice, BSAI Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and
``other species.'' The Council reduced TAC levels to provide greater
protection for several species including Bering Sea subarea pollock,
Pacific cod, Greenland turbot, and rougheye rockfish.
The largest TAC reduction was for Pacific cod. The 2010 BSAI
Pacific cod ABC was reduced 25,000 mt, and the corresponding TAC was
reduced 24,250. While the Plan Team's selected model incorporating the
latest catch and survey data results in a lower ABC and TAC than the
proposed rule, the SSC noted that both the 2006 and 2008 year class
appear to be strong, which should create an increasing population and
biomass in the near future. For 2011, the model produces an ABC 15,000
mt higher than the proposed ABC.
The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's model choice for Bering Sea
pollock, which when incorporated with updated survey and catch data
results in an ABC and TAC 2,000 mt lower than the proposed harvest
specifications for 2010. While the SSC notes that there are legitimate
concerns over the Bering Sea pollock stock, the 2006 and 2008 year
classes appear to be strong and there are several precautionary aspects
incorporated into the current stock assessment. The SSC also notes that
while the current model produces a 295,000 mt higher Bering Sea pollock
ABC and TAC for 2011, these numbers are provisional and will be greatly
affected by next year's data collection and analysis.
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.
These changes are compared in the following table:

Comparison of Final 2010 and 2011 with Proposed 2010 and 2011 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 2011
Species Area \1\ 2010 final TAC 2010 proposed difference 2011 final TAC 2011 proposed difference
TAC from proposed TAC from proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock............................ BS................. 813,000 815,000 -2,000 1,110,000 815,000 295,000
AI................. 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0
Bogoslof........... 50 10 40 50 10 40
Pacific cod........................ BSAI............... 168,780 193,030 -24,250 207,580 193,030 14,550
Sablefish.......................... BS................. 2,790 2,520 270 2,500 2,520 -20
AI................. 2,070 2,040 30 1,860 2,040 -180
Atka mackerel...................... EAI/BS............. 23,800 22,900 900 20,900 22,900 -2,000
CAI................ 29,600 28,500 1,100 26,000 28,500 -2,500
WAI................ 20,600 19,700 900 18,100 19,700 -1,600
Yellowfin sole..................... BSAI............... 219,000 180,000 39,000 213,000 180,000 33,000

[[Page 11780]]

Rock sole.......................... BSAI............... 90,000 75,000 15,000 90,000 75,000 15,000
Greenland turbot................... BS................. 4,220 4,920 -700 3,700 4,920 -1,220
AI................. 1,900 2,210 -310 1,670 2,210 -540
Arrowtooth flounder................ BSAI............... 75,000 60,000 15,000 75,000 60,000 15,000
Flathead sole...................... BSAI............... 60,000 50,000 10,000 60,000 50,000 10,000
Other flatfish..................... BSAI............... 17,300 17,400 -100 17,300 17,400 -100
Alaska plaice...................... BSAI............... 50,000 30,000 20,000 50,000 30,000 20,000
Pacific ocean perch................ BS................. 3,830 3,780 50 3,790 3,780 10
EAI................ 4,220 4,160 60 4,180 4,160 20
CAI................ 4,270 4,210 60 4,230 4,210 20
WAI................ 6,540 6,450 90 6,480 6,450 30
Northern rockfish.................. BSAI............... 7,240 6,000 1,240 7,290 6,000 1,290
Shortraker rockfish................ BSAI............... 387 387 0 387 387 0
Rougheye rockfish.................. BSAI............... 547 552 -5 531 552 -21
Other rockfish..................... BS................. 485 485 0 485 485 0
AI................. 555 555 0 555 555 0
Squid.............................. BSAI............... 1,970 1,970 0 1,970 1,970 0
Other species...................... BSAI............... 50,000 34,221 15,779 50,000 34,221 15,779
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.......................... BSAI............... 1,677,154 1,585,000 92,154 1,996,558 1,585,000 411,558
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2010 and 2011 TAC recommendations for the BSAI are within
the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any
single species or complex. Table 1 lists the final 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications,
NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-
specified reserve to increase the ITAC of several target species.

Table 1--Final 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]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 2011
Species Area -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \3\................................ BS \2\..................... 918,000 813,000 813,000 731,700 81,300 1,220,000 1,110,000 1,110,000 999,000 111,000
AI \2\..................... 40,000 33,100 19,000 17,100 1,900 39,100 32,200 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof................... 22,000 156 50 50 0 22,000 156 50 50 0
Pacific cod \4\............................ BSAI....................... 205,000 174,000 168,780 150,721 18,059 251,000 214,000 207,580 185,369 22,211
Sablefish \5\.............................. BS......................... 3,310 2,790 2,790 2,302 384 2,970 2,500 2,500 1,063 94
AI......................... 2,450 2,070 2,070 1,682 349 2,200 1,860 1,860 395 35
Atka mackerel.............................. BSAI....................... 88,200 74,000 74,000 66,082 7,918 76,200 65,000 65,000 58,045 6,955
EAI/BS..................... n/a 23,800 23,800 21,253 2,547 n/a 20,900 20,900 18,664 2,236
CAI........................ n/a 29,600 29,600 26,433 3,167 n/a 26,000 26,000 23,218 2,782
WAI........................ n/a 20,600 20,600 18,396 2,204 n/a 18,100 18,100 16,163 1,937
Yellowfin sole............................. BSAI....................... 234,000 219,000 219,000 195,567 23,433 227,000 213,000 213,000 190,209 22,791
Rock sole.................................. BSAI....................... 243,000 240,000 90,000 80,370 9,630 245,000 242,000 90,000 80,370 9,630
Greenland turbot........................... BSAI....................... 7,460 6,120 6,120 5,202 n/a 6,860 5,370 5,370 4,565 n/a
BS......................... n/a 4,220 4,220 3,587 452 n/a 3,700 3,700 3,145 396
AI......................... n/a 1,900 1,900 1,615 0 n/a 1,670 1,670 1,420 0
Arrowtooth flounder........................ BSAI....................... 191,000 156,000 75,000 63,750 8,025 191,000 157,000 75,000 63,750 8,025
Flathead sole.............................. BSAI....................... 83,100 69,200 60,000 53,580 6,420 81,800 68,100 60,000 53,580 6,420
Other flatfish \6\......................... BSAI....................... 23,000 17,300 17,300 14,705 0 23,000 17,300 17,300 14,705 0
Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI....................... 278,000 224,000 50,000 42,500 0 314,000 248,000 50,000 42,500 0
Pacific ocean perch........................ BSAI....................... 22,400 18,860 18,860 16,677 n/a 22,200 18,680 18,680 16,518 n/a
BS......................... n/a 3,830 3,830 3,256 0 n/a 3,790 3,790 3,222 0
EAI........................ n/a 4,220 4,220 3,768 452 n/a 4,180 4,180 3,733 447
CAI........................ n/a 4,270 4,270 3,813 457 n/a 4,230 4,230 3,777 453
WAI........................ n/a 6,540 6,540 5,840 700 n/a 6,480 6,480 5,787 693
Northern rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 8,640 7,240 7,240 6,154 0 8,700 7,290 7,290 6,197 0
Shortraker rockfish........................ BSAI....................... 516 387 387 329 0 516 387 387 329 0

[[Page 11781]]

Rougheye rockfish.......................... BSAI....................... 669 547 547 465 0 650 531 531 451 0
Other rockfish \7\......................... BSAI....................... 1,380 1,040 1,040 884 0 1,380 1,040 1,040 884 0
BS......................... n/a 485 485 412 0 n/a 485 485 412 0
AI......................... n/a 555 555 472 0 n/a 555 555 472 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....................... 88,200 61,100 50,000 42,500 0 88,200 61,100 50,000 42,500 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................. ........................... 2,462,945 2,121,880 1,677,154 1,493,994 159,478 2,826,396 2,467,484 1,996,558 1,779,254 191,050
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch
allowance (4.0 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 3 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, dark, 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.

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 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 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 allocations by gear. Sections
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) and (e)(4)(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 393 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 Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 4 percent of the BS 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 2009.
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 an 11-
year average of 3.3 percent. Pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of
1,600 mt of the AI subarea TAC 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 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 allocates ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 10,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of
yellowfin sole, 50 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific (WAI) ocean
perch, 50 mt of Central Aleutian District (CAI) Pacific ocean perch,
100 mt of Eastern Aleutian District (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 50 mt of
WAI Atka mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 75 mt of EAI and BS
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 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 or to the ``other species'' category
during the year, providing that such apportionments do not result in
overfishing (see Sec. 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

[[Page 11782]]

allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 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 15
percent of the TAC in 2010 and 2011.

Table 2--Final 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 reserve 2010 final 2011 reserve 2011 final
Species-area or subarea 2010 ITAC amount ITAC 2011 ITAC amount ITAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish-BSAI................................ 329 58 387 329 58 387
Rougheye rockfish-BSAI.................................. 465 82 547 451 80 531
Northern rockfish-BSAI.................................. 6,154 1,086 7,240 6,196 1,094 7,290
Other rockfish-Bering Sea subarea....................... 412 73 485 412 73 485
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 7,360 1,299 8,659 7,388 1,305 8,693
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 BS subarea, after subtraction of the 10 percent for
the CDQ program and the 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 BS
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 DFA is allocated to
the A season and the remainder of the directed pollock fishery is
allocated to the B season. Table 3 lists these 2010 and 2011 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, 8.5 percent of
the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector will be available
for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with catcher/processor (CP)
sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a
cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of harvest
among AFA CPs and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second,
AFA CPs 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 2010 and 2011 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 11
through 16 list the AFA CP and CV harvesting sideboard limits. The
tables for the pollock allocations to the BS subarea inshore pollock
cooperatives and open access sector will be posted on the Alaska Region
Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.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 Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28
percent of the annual DFA until 12 noon, April 1. The remaining 12
percent of the 40 percent annual DFA allocated to the A season may be
taken outside the SCA before 12 noon, April 1 or inside the SCA after
12 noon, April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken
inside the SCA before 12 noon, April 1, the remainder will be available
to be taken inside the SCA after 12 noon, 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 these 2010
and 2011 amounts by sector.

Table 3--Final 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 A season \1\ 2010 B 2011 A season \1\ 2011 B
------------------------ season \1\ ------------------------ season \1\
Area and sector 2010 SCA ------------ 2011 SCA -----------
allocations A season harvest B season Allocations A season harvest B season
DFA limit \2\ DFA DFA limit \2\ DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea.................................... 813,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,110,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA........................................... 81,300 32,520 22,764 48,780 111,000 44,400 31,080 66,600
ICA \1\........................................... 29,268 n/a n/a n/a 39,960 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore....................................... 351,216 140,486 98,340 210,730 479,520 191,808 134,266 287,712
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\.................... 280,973 112,389 78,672 168,584 383,616 153,446 107,412 230,170
Catch by C/Ps................................. 257,090 102,836 n/a 154,254 351,009 140,403 n/a 210,605
Catch by CVs \3\.............................. 23,883 9,553 n/a 14,330 32,607 13,043 n/a 19,564
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.................... 1,405 562 n/a 843 1,918 767 n/a 1,151
AFA Motherships................................... 70,243 28,097 19,668 42,146 95,904 38,362 26,853 57,542
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................... 122,926 n/a n/a n/a 167,832 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................... 210,730 n/a n/a n/a 287,712 n/a n/a n/a
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea DFA.......................... 702,432 280,973 196,681 421,459 959,040 383,616 268,531 575,424
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11783]]

Bogoslof District ICA \7\............................. 50 n/a n/a n/a 50 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock, 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 (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS 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 BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1. The remaining 12
percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1 or inside the SCA after 12:00 noon,
April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken
inside the SCA after 12:00 noon, 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.

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 4). 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.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the EAI and
the BS 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 EAI and BS to the jig gear
in 2010 and 2011. Based on the 2010 TAC of 23,800 mt after subtractions
of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would be 106 mt for
2010. Based on the 2011 TAC of 20,900 mt after subtractions of the CDQ
reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would be 93 mt for 2011.
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 Sec. 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 WAI and CAI 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 Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)(B)(1)). There is no
allocation of Atka mackerel to the BSAI trawl limited access sector in
the WAI. Therefore, no vessels in the BSAI trawl limited access sector
will be assigned to the WAI 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 for the EAI and BS subarea for any one
of the three trawl sectors allocated Atka mackerel TAC.
Table 4 lists these 2010 and 2011 amounts. The 2011 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, 2010.

Table 4--Final 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 \1\ Season 2 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................ 23,800 29,600 20,600 20,900 26,000 18,100
CDQ reserve........................ Total.............. 2,547 3,167 2,204 2,236 2,782 1,937

[[Page 11784]]

HLA \5\............ n/a 1,900 1,323 n/a 1,669 1,162
ICA................................ Total.............. 75 75 50 75 75 50
Jig \6\............................ Total.............. 106 0 0 93 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access.......... Total.............. 1,264 1,581 0 1,480 1,851 0
A.................. 632 791 0 740 926 0
HLA \5\............ n/a 474 0 n/a 555 0
B.................. 632 791 0 740 926 0
HLA \5\............ n/a 474 0 n/a 555 0
Amendment 80 sectors............... Total.............. 19,808 24,776 18,346 17,016 21,292 16,113
A.................. 9,904 12,388 9,173 8,508 10,646 8,057
HLA \5\............ n/a 7,433 5,504 n/a 6,387 4,834
B.................. 9,904 12,388 9,173 8,508 10,646 8,057
HLA \5\............ n/a 7,433 5,504 n/a 6,387 4,834
Amendment 80 limited access........ Total.............. 10,526 14,913 11,310 n/a n/a n/a
A.................. 5,263 7,457 5,655 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \5\............ n/a 4,474 3,393 n/a n/a n/a
B.................. 5,263 7,457 5,655 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \5\............ n/a 4,474 3,393 n/a n/a n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives.......... Total.............. 9,282 9,863 7,036 n/a n/a n/a
A.................. 4,641 4,932 3,518 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \5\............ n/a 2,959 2,111 n/a n/a n/a
B.................. 4,641 4,932 3,518 n/a n/a n/a
HLA \5\............ n/a 2,959 2,111 n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ
reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs. 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.
\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
the Central and Western Aleutian Districts, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA.
\6\ 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 CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA), 0.2
percent to hook-and-line CVs 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 CVs 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
CVs. 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
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 Sec. 679.91. The 2011 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, 2010.
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 2010 and
2011 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 5a and 5b 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).

[[Page 11785]]

Table 5a--Final 2010 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 share 2010 seasonal apportionment
of gear 2010 share of -----------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector sector total
total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................ 100 168,780 n/a n/a.................... n/a
CDQ.................................. 10.7 18,059 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 91,638 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA\1\............. n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 91,138 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 73,000 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 37,230
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 35,770
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 ft 0.2 n/a 300 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 153
LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 147
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 2,248 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 1,147
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 1,102
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA...... 8.4 n/a 12,591 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 6,422
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 6,170
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook- 2 n/a 2,998 n/a.................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 33,309 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 24,649
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 3,664
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 4,996
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 3,467 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 2,600
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 867
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 20,197 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 15,147
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 5,049
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80 limited access.......... n/a n/a 3,319 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 2,489
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 830
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80 cooperatives............ n/a n/a 16,878 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 12,658
Apr 1-Jun 10........... 4,219
Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Jig.................................. 1.4 2,110 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30........... 1,266
Apr 30-Aug 31.......... 422
Aug 31-Dec 31.......... 422
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2010
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.

Table 5b--Final 2011 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod Tac
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 share 2011 seasonal apportionment \2\
of gear 2011 share of -----------------------------------
Gear sector Percent sector sector total
total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................ 100 207,580 n/a n/a.................... n/a
CDQ.................................. 10.7 22,211 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......... 60.8 112,704 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \1\............ n/a 500 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......... n/a 112,204 n/a n/a.................... n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor...... 48.7 n/a 89,874 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 45,836
Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 44,038
Hook-and-line catcher vessel = 60 ft LOA. Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 181
Pot catcher/processor................ 1.5 n/a 2,768 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 1,412
Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 1,356
Pot catcher vessel = 60 ft 8.4 n/a 15,502 Jan 1-Jun 10........... 7,906
LOA. Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 7,596
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook- 2 n/a 3,691 n/a.................... n/a
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel................. 22.1 40,967 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 30,315
......... .......... .............. Apr 1-Jun 10........... 4,506
......... .......... .............. Jun 10-Nov 1........... 6,145
AFA trawl catcher/processor.......... 2.3 4,263 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 3,198
......... .......... .............. Apr 1-Jun 10........... 1,066
......... .......... .............. Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80......................... 13.4 24,839 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1........... 18,630
......... .......... .............. Apr 1-Jun 10........... 6,210
......... .......... .............. Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Amendment 80 limited access \2\...... n/a n/a see footnote 2 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 75%
......... .......... .............. Apr 1-Jun 10........... 25%
......... .......... .............. Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0

[[Page 11786]]

Amendment 80 cooperatives \2\........ n/a n/a see footnote 2 Jan 20-Apr 1........... 75%
......... .......... .............. Apr 1-Jun 10........... 25%
......... .......... .............. Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0
Jig.................................. 1.4 2,595 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30........... 1,557
......... .......... .............. Apr 30-Aug 31.......... 519
......... .......... .............. Aug 31-Dec 31.......... 519
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 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.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require the allocation of
sablefish TACs for the BS and AI subareas between trawl and hook-and-
line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the BS subarea are
50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear.
Gear allocations of the TACs 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 from the nonspecified
reserves, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), 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 reduce 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 2010 and 2011 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.

Table 6--Final 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 Share of 2010 CDQ 2011 Share of 2011 CDQ
Subarea and gear Percent of TAC TAC 2010 ITAC reserve TAC 2011 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
Trawl \1\........................... 50 1,395 1,186 105 1,250 1,063 94
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 50 1,395 1,116 279 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 2,790 2,302 384 1,250 1,063 94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands
Trawl \1\........................... 25 518 440 39 465 395 35
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 75 1,552 1,242 310 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... 100 2,070 1,682 349 465 395 35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 one year.

Allocation of the AI Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock
Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs

Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require the allocation between
the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector for AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TACs, 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 AI Pacific ocean perch, and
BSAI 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 limited access sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2010. Tables 7a and 7b lists the 2010 and 2011 allocations of the AI
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin
sole TACs.

[[Page 11787]]

Table 7a--Final 2010 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC....................................... 4,220 4,270 6,540 60,000 90,000 219,000
CDQ....................................... 452 457 700 6,420 9,630 23,433
ICA....................................... 100 50 50 5,000 10,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access................. 367 376 116 0 0 42,369
Amendment 80.............................. 3,302 3,387 5,674 48,580 70,370 151,198
Amendment 80 limited access............... 1,751 1,796 3,009 5,708 17,507 60,465
Amendment 80 cooperatives................. 1,551 1,591 2,666 42,872 52,863 90,733
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 7b--Final 2011 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACS
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC....................................... 4,180 4,230 6,480 60,000 90,000 213,000
CDQ....................................... 447 453 693 6,420 9,630 22,791
ICA....................................... 100 50 50 5,000 10,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access................. 363 373 115 0 0 39,154
Amendment 80.............................. 3,269 3,355 5,622 48,580 70,370 147,983
Amendment 80 limited access \1\........... n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives \1\............. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.

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 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 BS 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. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit
specified for crab is allocated from as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the
2009 survey data at 36.1 million red king crabs (http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/AFSC-TM/NOAA-TM-AFSC-201.pdf, Table 3.),
and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 70.4 million lb
(http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region4/shellfsh/crabs/news_rel/2009/nr090930a.pdf). Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i),
the 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
of more than 8.4 million king crab and the effective spawning biomass
estimate of more than 55 million lb (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 limit based on the need to
optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. In
December 2009, the Council recommended, and NMFS approves, that the red
king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC
limit within the RKCSS (Table 8b).
Based on 2009 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 346 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 830,000 animals in Zone 1 and
2,520,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits are

[[Page 11788]]

derived from the C. bairdi crab abundance estimate being in excess of
the 270 million animals for the Zone 1 allocation and 290 million
animals for the Zone 2 allocation, but less than 400 million animals
for both Zone allocations. These limits are 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 BS abundance index if left unadjusted. However, if the
abundance is less than 4.5 million animals, the minimum PSC limit will
be 4,350,000 animals pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii)(A) and (B).
Based on the 2009 survey estimate of 3.06 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 BS herring biomass. The best estimate of
2010 and 2011 herring biomass is 197,400 mt. This amount was derived
using 2009 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2010 and 2011 is 1,974 mt for all trawl gear as
presented in Tables 8a and b.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted from
the total trawl PSC limits. The amounts of 2010 PSC limits assigned to
the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are specified in
Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocation of PSC to CDQ PSQ, the
Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries are
listed in Table 8a. 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 (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
2011 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,
2010. 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.
Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes 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.
Pursuant to section 3.6 of the BSAI FMP, the Council recommends and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt 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 because of the small size of the fishery and the selectivity
of the gear, 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 16,160 mt,
with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of about 1.3 mt. The 2009
jig gear fishery harvested about 44 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--Final 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the EDQ 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\ 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 1,974 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 830,000 741,190 88,810 351,176 331,608 348,285

[[Page 11789]]

C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2................. n/a n/a 2,520,000 2,250,360 269,640 599,271 565,966 1,053,394
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 8b--Final 2010 and 2011 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king
Herring crab
Fishery categories (mt) BSAI (animals)
Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................ 169 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \1\.... 29 n/a
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\............... 14 n/a
Rockfish...................................... 10 n/a
Pacific cod................................... 29 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock........................ 1,508 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \2\....... 214 n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic n/a 49,250
trawl gear \3\...............................
Total trawl PSC............................... 1,974 197,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 December 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)).

Table 8c--Final 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........................ 167 47,397 1,176,494 293,234 1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 0 0 0 0 0
\2\..................................
Turbot/arrow tooth/sablefish \3\...... 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish April 15-December 31......... 5 0 2,000 0 848
Pacific cod........................... 453 6,000 50,000 50,816 42,424
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species... 250 400 20,000 4,235 4,242
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited access 875 53,797 1,248,494 348,285 1,053,394
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
----------------------
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.

[[Page 11790]]

\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.

Table 8d--Final 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........................................... 1,754 70,237 1,461,309 257,715 440,277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.

Table 8e--Final 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Limited Access Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king C. bairdi (animals)
Halibut crab C. opilio -------------------------
Amendment 80 limited access fisheries mortality (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................. 440 9,690 633,544 51,561 128,794
Jan 20--Jul 1.............................. 293 9,500 617,709 46,515 102,242
Jul 1--Dec 31.............................. 147 190 15,835 5,046 26,552
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole \2\......... 139 18,947 53,203 41,799 30,099
Jan 20--Apr 1.............................. 108 18,685 51,204 37,500 27,000
Apr 1--Jul 1............................... 16 130 1,000 2,150 1,550
July 1--Dec 31............................. 15 132 999 2,149 1,549
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\................ 6 45 100 100 100
Rockfish....................................... 45 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Pacific cod.................................... 1 1 1 1 1
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\........ 40 0 0 0 0
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Amendment 80 trawl limited access PSC 671 28,683 686,848 93,461 158,994
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
\4\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category. ``Other
species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus.

Halibut DMRs

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, DMRs,
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
2010 and 2011 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2010
and 2011 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a-e). The IPHC
developed these DMRs for the 2010 and 2011 BSAI fisheries using the 10-
year mean 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. The document justifying these DMRs is
available in Appendix 2 in the final 2009 SAFE report dated November
2009 (see ADDRESSES). Table 9 lists the 2010 and 2011 DMRs.

Table 9--Final 2010 and 2011 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut
discard
Gear Fishery mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line.......... Greenland turbot....... 11
Other species.......... 10
Pacific cod............ 10
Rockfish............... 9
Non-CDQ trawl.................. Arrowtooth flounder.... 76
Atka mackerel.......... 76
Flathead sole.......... 74
Greenland turbot....... 67
Non-pelagic pollock.... 73
Pelagic pollock........ 89
Other flatfish......... 72

[[Page 11791]]

Other species.......... 71
Pacific cod............ 71
Rockfish............... 81
Rock sole.............. 82
Sablefish.............. 75
Yellowfin sole......... 81
Non-CDQ Pot.................... Other species.......... 8
Pacific cod............ 8
CDQ trawl...................... Atka mackerel.......... 85
Greenland turbot....... 88
Flathead sole.......... 84
Non-pelagic pollock.... 85
Pacific cod............ 90
Pelagic pollock........ 90
Rockfish............... 84
Rock sole.............. 87
Yellowfin sole......... 85
CDQ hook-and-line.............. Greenland turbot....... 4
Pacific cod............ 10
CDQ pot........................ Pacific cod............ 8
Sablefish.............. 32
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

In accordance with Sec. 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 Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)).
Similarly, pursuant to Sec. 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.
Based upon historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing
activity, 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 2010 and 2011
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 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 Sec.
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., March 11, 2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access and the Amendment 80 limited
access sectors, bycatch allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi
crab, and C. opilio crab listed in Table 10 are insufficient to support
directed fisheries. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 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., March
11, 2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.

Table 10--2010 and 2011 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 2011
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 50 50
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 1,600 1,600
``Other rockfish''... 472 472
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
perch.
Central Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 50 50
perch.
Western Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 50 50
Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 50 50
perch.
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 3,256 3,222
``Other rockfish''... 485 485
ICA pollock.......... 29,268 39,960
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Northern rockfish.... 7,240 7,290

[[Page 11792]]

Shortraker rockfish.. 387 387
Rougheye rockfish.... 547 531
``Other species''.... 42,500 42,500
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 500 500
gear.
Non-amendment 80..... ICA flathead sole.... 5,000 5,000
ICA rock sole........ 10,000 10,000
Non-amendment 80 and ICA yellowfin sole... 2,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited
access.
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 Rockfish--red king 0 n/a
access. crab zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Pacific cod--halibut 1 n/a
mortality, red king
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.

Closures implemented under the 2009 and 2010 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009) remain
effective under authority of these final 2010 and 2011 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2010,
and http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2010/status.htm. While these
closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at Sec.
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 (Pub. L. 108-199). The basis for the BSAI fishing prohibitions
and the CV BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limits of the Rockfish Program
are discussed in detail in the final rule to Amendment 68 to the
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (71 FR
67210, November 20, 2006). Pursuant to Sec. 679.82(d)(6)(i), the CV
BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limit is 0.0 mt. Therefore, in accordance
with Sec. 679.82(d)(7)(ii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
BSAI Pacific cod in July for CVs 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. 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 2010 and 2011
catcher/processor sideboard limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species 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
CVs will not be deducted from the 2010 and 2011 sideboard limits for
the listed AFA catcher/processors.

[[Page 11793]]

Table 11--Final 2010 and 2011 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
--------------------------------------- 2010 ITAC 2011 ITAC
Ratio of available 2010 AFA C/ available 2011 AFA C/
Target species Area Retained retained to trawl C/ P side- to trawl C/ P side-
catch Total catch catch to Ps \1\ board limit Ps \1\ board limit
total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... 8 497 0.016 1,186 19 1,063 17
AI..................... 0 145 0 440 0 395 0
Atka mackerel....................... Central AI
A season \2\........... n/a n/a 0.115 13,217 1,520 11,609 1,335
HLA limit \3\....... n/a n/a n/a 7,930 912 6,965 801
B season \2\........... n/a n/a 0.115 13,217 1,520 11,609 1,335
HLA limit \3\....... n/a n/a n/a 7,930 912 6,965 801
Western AI
A season \2\........... n/a n/a 0.2 9,198 1,840 8,082 1,616
HLA limit \3\....... n/a n/a n/a 5,519 1,104 4,849 970
B season \2\........... n/a n/a 0.2 9,198 1,840 8,082 1,616
HLA limit\3\........ n/a n/a n/a 5,519 1,104 4,849 970
Yellowfin sole \4\.................. BSAI................... 100,192 435,788 0.23 195,567 n/a 190,209 n/a
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 80,370 2,974 80,370 2,974
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... 121 17,305 0.007 3,587 25 3,145 22
AI..................... 23 4,987 0.005 1,615 8 1,420 7
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 63,750 128 63,750 128
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 53,580 1,929 53,580 1,929
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... 14 9,438 0.001 42,500 43 42,500 43
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 14,705 853 14,705 853
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... 12 4,879 0.002 3,256 7 3,222 6
Eastern AI............. 125 6,179 0.02 3,768 75 3,733 75
Central AI............. 3 5,698 0.001 3,813 4 3,777 4
Western AI............. 54 13,598 0.004 5,840 23 5,787 23
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... 91 13,040 0.007 7,240 51 7,290 51
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 387 7 387 7
Rougheye rockfish................... BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 547 10 531 10
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... 18 621 0.029 485 14 485 14
AI..................... 22 806 0.027 472 13 472 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 42,500 340
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole 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
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 (195,567 mt in 2010 and 190,209 mt in 2011) 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 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 2010 or 2011 PSC sideboard limit
listed in Table 12 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 under regulations at Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(iv).

Table 12--Final 2010 and 2011 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and 2011
PSC available
Ratio of PSC to trawl 2010 and 2011
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after C/P sideboard
PSC subtraction of limit \2\
PSQ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI.......................................... n/a n/a 286

[[Page 11794]]

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...................................................... 0.14 741,190 103,767
Zone 2...................................................... 0.05 2,250,360 112,518
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA CV Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CV 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 CV 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 2010 and 2011 AFA CV sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted
from the 2010 and 2011 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.

Table 13--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- 2010 AFA 2011 AFA
1997 AFA CV 2010 initial catcher vessel 2011 initial catcher vessel
Species Fishery by area/gear/season catch to 1995- TAC \1\ sideboard TAC \1\ sideboard
1997 TAC limits limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod............................... BSAI
Jig gear.................... 0 2,110 0 2,595 0
Hook-and-line CV............ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10............. 0.0006 153 0 188 0
Jun 10-Dec 31............ 0.0006 147 0 181 0
Pot gear CV................. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Jan 1-Jun 10............. 0.0006 6,422 4 7,906 5
Sept 1-Dec 31............ 0.0006 6,170 4 7,596 5
CV < 60 feet LOA using hook- 0.0006 2,998 2 3,691 2
and-line or pot gear.
Trawl gear CV
Jan 20-Apr 1............. 0.8609 24,649 21,220 30,315 26,098
Apr 1-Jun 10............. 0.8609 3,664 3,154 4,506 3,879
Jun 10-Nov 1............. 0.8609 4,996 4,301 6,145 5,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish................................. BS trawl gear............... 0.0906 1,186 107 1,063 96
AI trawl gear............... 0.0645 440 28 395 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel............................. Eastern AI/BS
Jan 1-Apr 15............. 0.0032 10,627 34 9,332 30
Sept 1-Nov 1............. 0.0032 10,627 34 9,332 30
Central AI
Jan-Apr 15............... 0.0001 13,217 1 11,609 1
HLA limit.............. 0.0001 7,930 1 6,965 1
Sept 1-Nov 1............. 0.0001 13,217 1 11,609 1
HLA limit.............. 0.0001 7,930 1 6,965 1
Western AI
Jan-Apr 15............... 0 9,198 0 8,082 0
HLA limit.............. n/a 5,519 0 4,849 0
Sept 1-Nov 1............. 0 9,198 0 8,082 0
HLA limit.............. n/a 5,519 0 4,849 0
Yellowfin sole \2\........................ BSAI........................ 0.0647 195,567 n/a 190,209 n/a
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 0.0341 80,370 2,741 80,370 2,741
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 0.0645 3,587 231 3,145 203
AI.......................... 0.0205 1,615 33 1,420 29
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 0.069 63,750 4,399 63,750 4,399
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 0.0441 42,500 1,874 42,500 1,874

[[Page 11795]]

Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 0.0441 14,705 648 14,705 648
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 0.1 3,256 326 3,222 322
Eastern AI.................. 0.0077 3,768 29 3,733 29
Central AI.................. 0.0025 3,813 10 3,777 9
Western AI.................. 0 5,840 0 5,787 0
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0084 7,240 61 7,290 61
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 387 1 387 1
Rougheye rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 465 2 451 2
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 0.0048 485 2 485 2
AI.......................... 0.0095 472 4 472 4
Squid..................................... BSAI........................ 0.3827 1,675 641 1,675 641
Other species............................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 42,500 2,299 42,500 2,299
Flathead sole............................. BS trawl gear............... 0.0505 53,580 2,706 53,580 2,706
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, 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 (195,567 mt in 2010 and 190,209 mt in 2011) is greater than 125,000 mt.

Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 14 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2010 and 2011 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21 (e)(3)(v) authorize
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for
AFA CVs once a 2010 or 2011 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 14 is
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA CVs 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 14--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 and 2011 2010 and 2011
AFA catcher PSC limit AFA catcher
PSC species Target fishery category \2\ vessel PSC after vessel PSC
sideboard subtraction of sideboard
limit ratio PSQ reserves limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut............................ Pacific cod trawl.......... n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and-line n/a n/a 2
or pot.
Yellowfin sole total....... n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/ n/a n/a 228
other flatfish total \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 \4\........... 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........................ 0.33 741,190 244,593
C. bairdi Zone 2 \4\............... n/a........................ 0.186 2,250,360 418,567
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\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.

AFA CP and CV Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures

Based upon historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator
has determined that many of the AFA CP and CV sideboard limits listed
in Tables 15 and 16 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2010 fishing year. In
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 15 and 16 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of the year,
the Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS prohibit directed fishing by listed AFA
catcher/processors for the species in the specified areas set out in
Table 15 and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA CVs for the species in
the specified areas set out in Table 16.

[[Page 11796]]

Table 15--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 sideboard 2011 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl................... BS................... trawl................ 19 17
AI................... trawl................ 0 0
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 2,974 2,974
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 25 22
AI................... all.................. 8 7
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 128 128
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,929 1,929
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 7 6
Eastern AI........... all.................. 75 75
Central AI........... all.................. 4 4
Western AI........... all.................. 23 23
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 51 51
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 7 7
Rougheye rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 10 10
Other rockfish.................... BS................... all.................. 14 14
AI................... all.................. 13 13
Squid............................. BSAI................. all.................. 37 37
``Other species''................. BSAI................. all.................. 340 340
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.

Table 16--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010 sideboard 2011 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod....................... BSAI................. hook-and-line........ 300 369
BSAI................. pot.................. 10 12
BSAI................. jig.................. 0 0
Sablefish......................... BS................... trawl................ 107 96
AI................... trawl................ 28 25
Atka mackerel..................... Eastern AI/BS........ all.................. 68 60
Central AI........... all.................. 2 2
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 231 203
AI................... all.................. 33 29
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 4,399 4,399
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 2,706 2,706
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 2,741 2,741
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 326 322
Eastern AI........... all.................. 29 29
Central AI........... all.................. 10 9
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 61 61
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Rougheye rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 2 2
Other rockfish.................... BS................... all.................. 2 2
AI................... all.................. 4 4
Squid............................. BSAI................. all.................. 641 641
``Other species''................. BSAI................. all.................. 2,299 2,299
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.

Response to Comments

NMFS received two letters of comment, from an environmental
organization and an individual, which included four distinct comments,
in response to the proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications. These
comments are summarized and responded to below.
Comment 1: The commenter raises general concerns about NMFS'
management of fisheries, asserting that fishery policies have not
benefited American citizens. The commenter also asserts that NMFS does
not enforce fisheries regulations and should not be allowed to manage
commercial fisheries.
Response: This comment is not specifically related to the proposed
rule. The comment recommends broad changes to fisheries management and
provides opinions of the Federal Government's general management of
marine resources that are outside of the scope of this action. The
comment did not raise new relevant issues or concerns that have not
been explained in the preamble to the proposed rule or addressed in the
SAFE reports and other

[[Page 11797]]

analyses prepared to support the BSAI groundfish harvest
specifications.
Comment 2: The comment asserts that the groundfish quotas are too
high.
Response: The harvest specifications process is intended to foster
conservation and management of marine resources. This process
incorporates the best available scientific information from the most
recent stock assessment and fisheries evaluation reports prepared by
multi-disciplinary teams of scientists. Such reports contain the most
recent scientific information on the condition of various groundfish
stocks, as well as the condition of other ecosystem components and
economic data about Alaska groundfish fisheries. This suite of
information allows the Council to make scientifically-based
recommendations for annual catch limits that do not exceed, on a
species by species basis, the OFLs and ABCs established for each BSAI
target species managed under the FMP.
Comment 3: Overfishing is having a detrimental effect on the health
of oceans and coastal communities.
Response: This comment does not specially address the proposed 2010
and 2011 harvest specifications for the BSAI. None of the species
encompassed by these harvest specifications are overfished or subject
to overfishing.
Comment 4: The decline of pollock stocks is having a detrimental
impact on marine mammals.
Response: The most recent pollock stock surveys indicate that BSAI
pollock stocks in this management area are not overfished and are
unlikely to be overfished in the near future. The BS stock is expected
to increase as recent cohorts mature and enter the fishery.
Furthermore, the EIS (see ADDRESSES) prepared for the Alaska groundfish
fisheries newest specifications process identified a preferred harvest
strategy for groundfish and concluded that the preferred harvest
strategy, under existing regulations, would have no lasting adverse
impacts on marine mammals and other marine life. Additionally, pursuant
to the Endangered Species Act, NMFS consults to ensure that federal
actions, including this one, do not jeopardize the continued existence
of any endangered or threatened marine mammal species.

Classification

NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and 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 (see ADDRESSES) and made
it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS. In January
2010, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for this
action. Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and
alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The SIR
evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2010
and 2011 groundfish harvest specifications.
A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns, or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Administrator, Alaska
Region, has determined that (1) approval of the 2010 and 2011 harvest
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest
strategy in the Final EIS, do not constitute a change in the action;
and (2) there are no significant new circumstances or information
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its
impacts. Additionally, the 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications will
result in environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and
disclosed in the Final EIS. Therefore, supplemental National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation is not necessary to
implement the 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications.
The proposed harvest specifications were published in the Federal
Register on December 2, 2009 (74 FR 63100). An Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared to evaluate the impacts on
small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the groundfish
fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska on small
entities. The public comment period ended on January 4, 2010. No
comments were received regarding the IRFA or the economic impacts of
this action. A FRFA was prepared pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act of 1980, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601-612). Copies of the IRFA and FRFA
prepared for this action are available from NMFS, Alaska Region (see
ADDRESSES).
Each year, NMFS promulgates a rule establishing the harvest
specifications pursuant to the adopted harvest strategy. While the
harvest specification numbers may change from year to year, the harvest
strategy for establishing those numbers does not change. Therefore, the
impacts discussed in the FRFA are essentially the same. NMFS considers
the annual rulemakings establishing the harvest specification numbers
to be a series of closely related rules stemming from the harvest
strategy and representing one rule for purposes of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(c)). A summary of the FRFA follows.
The action analyzed in the FRFA is the adoption of 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. Significant issues raised by public comment
are addressed in the preamble and not repeated here.
The directly regulated small entities include approximately 810
small CVs, fewer than 20 small CPs, and six CDQ groups. The entities
directly regulated by this action are those that harvest groundfish in
the EEZ of the BSAI and in parallel fisheries within State waters.
These include entities operating CV and CP vessels within the action
area, and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. CVs and
CPs 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 2006 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

[[Page 11798]]

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 to equal the lower
limit of the BSAI optimum yield range. Alternative 5--the ``no action''
alternative--would have set TACs equal to zero.
Alternative 2 was chosen instead of alternatives 3, 4, and 5, which
produced smaller first wholesale revenue indices for both non-CDQ and
CDQ sectors than Alternative 2. Moreover, higher Alternative 1 TACs are
associated with maximum permissible ABCs, which may be higher than
Alternative 2 TACs, 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.
Harvests are controlled by the enforcement of total allowable catch
(TAC) limits, and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, apportionments
of those limits among seasons and areas, and allocations of the limits
among fishing fleets. TAC seasonal apportionments and allocations are
specified by regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
There are no significant alternatives to the proposed rule that
accomplish the stated objectives, are consistent with applicable
statutes, and that would minimize the economic impact of the proposed
rule on small entities.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under these harvest specifications are discussed in the Final
EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness for this rule. Plan Team review occurred in November
2009, and Council consideration and recommendations occurred in
December 2009. Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January
2010. For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs
established under the 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications (74 FR
7359, February 17, 2009) were not reached, the possibility exists that
they would be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed
effectiveness period, if implemented, because their TACs could be
reached. Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock, Pacific cod, and
Atka mackerel are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries,
such as those for flatfish, rockfish, and ``other species,'' are
critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TACs in these fisheries would cause confusion to the industry and
potential economic harm through unnecessary discards. Determining which
fisheries may close is impossible because these fisheries are affected
by several factors that cannot be predicted in advance, including
fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery stocks, and market price.
Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other
fisheries by freeing-up fishing vessels, allowing them to move from
closed fisheries to open ones, increasing the fishing capacity in those
open fisheries and causing them to close at an accelerated pace.
In fisheries subject to declining sideboards, a failure to
implement the updated sideboards before initial season's end could
preclude the intended economic protection to the non-sideboarded
sectors. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboards, economic
benefit could be precluded to the sideboarded sectors.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 6,
2010, which is the start of the 2010 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut season. This would result
in confusion for the industry and economic harm from unnecessary
discard of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific halibut as both
hook-and-line sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed under the same
IFQ program. Immediate effectiveness of the final 2010 and 2011 harvest
specifications will allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Also, the immediate
effectiveness of this action is required to provide consistent
management and conservation of fishery resources based on the best
available scientific information, and to give the fishing industry the
earliest possible opportunity to plan its fishing operations.
The preceding consequences of delaying the rule would undermine the
rule's intent. Therefore NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day
delay in effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Small Entity Compliance Guide

The following information is a plain language guide to assist small
entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's
primary purpose is to announce the final 2010 and 2011 harvest
specifications and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish
harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during
the 2010 and 2011 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the FMP. This action affects all fishermen who
participate in the BSAI fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC,
TAC, and PSC are provided in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will
announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and
information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen
should keep themselves informed of such closures.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.

Dated: March 9, 2010.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5484 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P