[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11139-11161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4538]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 101126521-0640-02]
RIN 0648-XZ90
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2011 and 2012 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule; closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2011 and 2012 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 2011
and 2012 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 1,
2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
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, the Final
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA), and Supplemental FRFA prepared
for this action are available from http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The
final 2010 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for
the groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2010, is available
from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or
from the Council's Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
[[Page 11140]]
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; 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 2,000,000 mt for 2011 and is 2,000,000 mt for 2012.
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 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications and
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in
the Federal Register on December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76372). Comments were
invited and accepted through January 7, 2011. NMFS received 9 letters
with 4 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 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications during the December 2010 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 2011 and 2012 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 2010, 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 2010
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2010. 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 was made available for public review upon notification of the
proposed harvest specifications. The 2010 SAFE report continues to be
available for public review (see ADDRESSES). From these data and
analyses, the Plan Team estimated an OFL and ABC for each species or
species category.
In December 2010, 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 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 2011 and 2012 TAC recommendations. As required by annual catch
limit rules (FR 74 3178, January 16, 2009), none of the Council's
recommended TACs for 2011 or 2012 exceeds the final 2011 or 2012 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 2010
SAFE report that was approved by the Council.
Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2011 and 2012 Harvest
Specifications
NMFS intends to develop a single database that stock assessment
authors can access through a single source such as the Alaska Fisheries
Information Network. The development of this database will require the
cooperation of several agencies, including NMFS, the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission
(IPHC). At its October 2010 meeting, the Council's groundfish Plan
Teams recommended the formation of a total catch accounting working
group to assist NMFS in developing a methodology to estimate total
catch of groundfish. While much of the information is currently
available and will be incorporated into the final 2010 SAFE reports,
the development of an adequate methodology is ongoing and not fully
ready for use in the final SAFE reports. NMFS intends to have the
information available for the assessment cycle in the fall of 2011.
The Council is currently considering an action to modify the non-
Chinook salmon management measures to minimize non-Chinook salmon
bycatch. This potential action could impose cap threshold limits,
sector specific allocations, and area specific closures for BSAI
groundfish closures. This action is not expected to be in place by the
2012 fishing year.
The Council has approved a new program to replace the Gulf of
Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish Program), which is scheduled to
expire on December 31, 2011. NMFS is currently developing regulations
to implement this program. The new rockfish program could alter BSAI
groundfish sideboards for vessels participating in the Rockfish
Program. This new program is expected to be in place for the 2012
fishing year.
In 2010, NMFS Alaska Region completed a Section 7 formal
consultation on the effects of the authorization of the Alaska
groundfish fisheries on Endangered Species Act listed species under
NMFS jurisdiction. The consultation resulted in a biological opinion
that determined that the effects of the Alaska groundfish fisheries
were likely to jeopardize the continued existence of, and adversely
modify designated critical habitat for, the western distinct population
segment of Steller sea lions. The biological opinion included a
reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) that requires changes to the
BSAI Atka mackerel and Aleutian Islands subarea Pacific cod fisheries
to prevent the likelihood of jeopardy of extinction or adverse
modification of
[[Page 11141]]
critical habitat for Steller sea lions. Separate rulemaking for
implementation of the RPA became effective January 1, 2011 (FR 75
77535, December 13, 2010; and 75 FR 81921, December 29, 2010). Changes
to the Atka mackerel and Pacific cod harvest specifications that are
required by the rule implementing the RPA are described in the section
for each of these target species. The proposed harvest specifications
notified the public of possible changes to the harvest specification
limits.
At the October 2010 meeting, the Council and the Scientific and
Statistical Committee (SSC) recommended separating Kamchatka flounder
from the arrowtooth flounder complex starting in the year 2011. As a
result, arrowtooth flounder and Kamchatka flounder have separate OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs for 2011 and 2012. In the proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications NMFS requested public comment on the proposal to
allocate 10.7 percent of the Kamchatka flounder TAC to the CDQ Program.
Six comments were received, and NMFS has determined to not allocate
Kamchatka flounder to the six CDQ groups in 2011. See the Response to
Comments section below.
Changes From the Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications in the
BSAI
In October 2010, the Council made its recommendations for the
proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (75 FR 76372, December 8,
2010), based largely on information contained in the 2009 SAFE report
for the BSAI groundfish fisheries. Through the proposed harvest
specifications, NMFS notified the public that these harvest
specifications were subject to change and that the Council would
consider information contained in the 2010 SAFE report, recommendations
from the SSC, Plan Team, and AP committees, and public testimony when
making its recommendations for final harvest specification levels at
the December Council meeting. NMFS further notified the public that, as
required by the BSAI Groundfish FMP and its implementing regulations,
the sum of the TACs must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 and
2.0 million metric tons.
Information contained in the 2010 SAFE reports indicates an
increase in biomass for several groundfish species. At the December
Council meeting, the SSC recommended increasing the ABCs for many
species in 2011 and 2012 based on the best and most recent information
contained in the 2010 SAFE reports. This increase resulted in an ABC
sum total that exceeds 2 million metric tons for both 2011 and 2012.
Based on the SSC ABC recommendations and the 2010 SAFE reports, the AP
recommended raising the TACs for more economically valuable species
that have increasing biomasses such as pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific
ocean perch, and Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian Islands and
Bering Sea subarea. Because these increases caused the sum of the TACs
to exceed the 2 million metric ton limit, section 3.2.3.4 of the BSAI
FMP required that the TACs be adjusted. The AP recommended a downward
adjustment of TACs for several species that are not part of the
directed fishery and that are easily avoided, such as octopuses,
sculpins, sharks, skates, squid, and Alaska plaice. After receiving
testimony from the Amendment 80 cooperatives, the AP recommended a
reduction in Amendment 80 flatfish species TACs and arrowtooth flounder
TAC to levels that the Amendment 80 fleet believed they could harvest
given their PSC constraints. The Council accepted the SSC and AP
recommendations.
The changes to TAC between the proposed and final harvest
specifications are based on the most recent scientific and economic
information and are consistent with the FMP and regulatory obligations
and harvest strategy as described in the proposed harvest
specifications. These changes are compared in the following table.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2011 and 2012 OFL,
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC) and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI
groundfish. NMFS concurs with these recommendations. The final 2011 and
2012 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. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries
and seasons is discussed below.
Comparison of Final 2011 and 2012 With Proposed 2011 and 2012 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2011 2012
2011 final 2011 difference 2012 final 2012 difference
Species Area \1\ TAC proposed TAC from TAC proposed TAC from
proposed proposed
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Pollock................................. BS........................ 1,252,000 1,107,000 145,000 1,253,658 1,105,000 148,658
AI........................ 19,000 19,000 0 19,000 19,000 0
Bogoslof.................. 150 75 75 150 75 75
Pacific cod............................. BSAI...................... 227,950 207,580 20,370 229,608 207,580 22,028
Sablefish............................... BS........................ 2,850 2,500 350 2,610 2,500 110
AI........................ 1,900 1,860 40 1,740 1,860 -120
Atka mackerel........................... EAI/BS.................... 40,300 20,900 19,400 36,800 20,900 15,900
CAI....................... 11,280 26,000 -14,720 10,293 26,000 -15,707
WAI....................... 1,500 18,100 -16,600 1,500 18,100 -16,600
Yellowfin sole.......................... BSAI...................... 196,000 213,000 -17,000 197,660 213,000 -15,340
Rock sole............................... BSAI...................... 85,000 90,000 -5,000 85,000 90,000 -5,000
Greenland turbot........................ BS........................ 3,500 3,700 -200 3,500 3,700 -200
AI........................ 1,550 1,670 -120 1,450 1,670 -220
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI...................... 25,900 60,000 -34,100 25,900 60,000 -34,100
Kamchatka flounder...................... BSAI...................... 17,700 17,700 0 17,700 17,700 0
Flathead sole........................... BSAI...................... 41,548 60,000 -18,452 41,548 60,000 -18,452
Other flatfish.......................... BSAI...................... 3,000 17,300 -14,300 3,000 17,300 -14,300
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI...................... 16,000 40,000 -24,000 16,000 40,000 -24,000
Pacific ocean perch..................... BS........................ 5,710 3,790 1,920 5,710 3,790 1,920
EAI....................... 5,660 4,180 1,480 5,660 4,180 1,480
CAI....................... 4,960 4,230 730 4,960 4,230 730
WAI....................... 8,370 6,480 1,890 8,370 6,480 1,890
[[Page 11142]]
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI...................... 4,000 7,290 -3,290 4,000 7,290 -3,290
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI...................... 393 387 6 393 387 6
Rougheye rockfish \2\................... BS/EAI.................... 234 42 192 240 42 198
CAI/WAI................... 220 489 -269 225 489 -264
Other rockfish.......................... BS........................ 500 485 15 500 485 15
AI........................ 500 555 -55 500 555 -55
Squid................................... BSAI...................... 425 1,970 -1,545 425 1,970 -1,545
Skates.................................. BSAI...................... 16,500 30,000 -13,500 16,500 30,000 -13,500
Sharks.................................. BSAI...................... 50 449 -399 50 449 -399
Octopuses............................... BSAI...................... 150 233 -83 150 233 -83
Sculpins................................ BSAI...................... 5,200 30,035 -24,835 5,200 30,035 -24,835
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Total............................... BSAI...................... 2,000,000 1,997,000 3,000 2,000,000 1,995,000 5,000
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\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).
\2\ The proposed rule split rougheye rockfish TACs by the Aleutian Islands, and the Bering Sea. The final rule splits rougheye rockfish by the Bering
Sea and Eastern Aleutians District, and the Central Aleutian District and Western Aleutian District.
[[Page 11143]]
Table 1--Final 2011 and 2012 Overfishing Level (Ofl), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI
\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2011 2012
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\ OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
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Pollock \3\..................... BS \2\............ 2,450,000 1,270,000 1,252,000 1,126,800 125,200 3,170,000 1,600,000 1,253,658 1,128,292 125,366
AI \2\............ 44,500 36,700 19,000 17,100 1,900 50,400 41,600 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof.......... 22,000 156 150 150 0 22,000 156 150 150 0
Pacific cod 4, 5................ BSAI.............. 272,000 235,000 227,950 203,559 24,391 329,000 281,000 229,608 205,040 24,568
Sablefish \5\................... BS................ 3,360 2,850 2,850 2,351 392 3,080 2,610 2,610 1,109 98
AI................ 2,250 1,900 1,900 1,544 321 2,060 1,740 1,740 370 33
Atka mackerel \5\............... BSAI.............. 101,000 85,300 53,080 47,400 5,680 92,200 77,900 48,593 43,394 5,199
EAI/BS............ n/a 40,300 40,300 35,988 4,312 n/a 36,800 36,800 32,862 3,938
CAI............... n/a 24,000 11,280 10,073 1,207 n/a 21,900 10,293 9,192 1,101
WAI............... n/a 21,000 1,500 1,340 161 n/a 19,200 1,500 1,340 161
Yellowfin sole \5\.............. BSAI.............. 262,000 239,000 196,000 175,028 20,972 266,000 242,000 197,660 176,510 21,150
Rock sole 5, 6.................. BSAI.............. 248,000 224,000 85,000 75,905 9,095 243,000 219,000 85,000 75,905 9,095
Greenland turbot \5\............ BSAI.............. 7,220 6,140 5,050 4,293 n/a 6,760 5,750 4,950 4,208 n/a
BS................ n/a 4,590 3,500 2,975 375 n/a 4,300 3,500 2,975 375
AI................ n/a 1,550 1,550 1,318 0 n/a 1,450 1,450 1,233 0
Arrowtooth flounder \5\......... BSAI.............. 186,000 153,000 25,900 22,015 2,771 191,000 157,000 25,900 22,015 2,771
Kamchatka flounder.............. BSAI.............. 23,600 17,700 17,700 15,045 0 23,600 17,700 17,700 15,045 0
Flathead sole 5, 7.............. BSAI.............. 83,300 69,300 41,548 37,102 4,446 82,100 68,300 41,548 37,102 4,446
Other flatfish \8\.............. BSAI.............. 19,500 14,500 3,000 2,550 0 19,500 14,500 3,000 2,550 0
Alaska plaice................... BSAI.............. 79,100 65,100 16,000 13,600 0 83,800 69,100 16,000 13,600 0
Pacific ocean perch \5\......... BSAI.............. 36,300 24,700 24,700 21,812 n/a 34,300 24,700 24,700 21,812 n/a
BS................ n/a 5,710 5,710 4,854 0 n/a 5,710 5,710 4,854 0
EAI............... n/a 5,660 5,660 5,054 606 n/a 5,660 5,660 5,054 606
CAI............... n/a 4,960 4,960 4,429 531 n/a 4,960 4,960 4,429 531
WAI............... n/a 8,370 8,370 7,474 896 n/a 8,370 8,370 7,474 896
Northern rockfish............... BSAI.............. 10,600 8,670 4,000 3,400 0 10,400 8,330 4,000 3,400 0
Shortraker rockfish............. BSAI.............. 524 393 393 334 0 524 393 393 334 0
Rougheye rockfish \9\........... BSAI.............. 549 454 454 386 0 563 465 465 395 0
EBS/EAI........... n/a 234 234 199 0 n/a 240 240 204 0
CAI/WAI........... n/a 220 220 187 0 n/a 225 225 191 0
Other rockfish \10\............. BSAI.............. 1,700 1,280 1,000 850 0 1,700 1,280 1,000 850 0
BS................ n/a 710 500 425 0 n/a 710 500 425 0
AI................ n/a 570 500 425 0 n/a 570 500 425 0
Squids.......................... BSAI.............. 2,620 1,970 425 361 0 2,620 1,970 425 361 0
Skates.......................... BSAI.............. 37,800 31,500 16,500 14,025 0 37,200 31,000 16,500 14,025 0
Sharks.......................... BSAI.............. 1,360 1,020 50 43 0 1,360 1,020 50 43 0
Octopuses....................... BSAI.............. 528 396 150 128 0 528 396 150 128 0
Sculpins........................ BSAI.............. 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0 58,300 43,700 5,200 4,420 0
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Total....................... .................. 3,954,111 2,534,729 2,000,000 1,790,200 199,467 4,731,995 2,911,610 2,000,000 1,788,157 198,926
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\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS)
subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these
species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental
catch allowance (3.0 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 three percent from the ABC to account for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\5\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use
by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and
(D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish'', Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish'',
octopuses, sculpins, sharks, skates, and squid are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
\9\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
[[Page 11144]]
Groundfish 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, except for pollock, the hook-and-line and
pot gear allocation of sablefish, and the Amendment 80 species, in a
non-specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20
percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be
allocated to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires allocation of 7.5 percent of the trawl
gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 percent of the Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ
reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires allocation of 10.7
percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod to the
CDQ reserves. Sections 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) 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.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 3 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 2010.
During this 12-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a
low of 2.4 percent in 2006 to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 12-
year average of 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 2010. During this 8-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 an 8-year average of 7 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 5,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific (WAI) ocean perch, 75
mt of Central Aleutian District (CAI) Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of
Eastern Aleutian District (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 40 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 2010.
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 category during the year, providing
that such apportionments do not result in overfishing (see Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined that the
ITACs specified for the species listed in Table 2 need to be
supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. fishing
vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with 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 2011 and 2012.
Table 2--Final 2011 and 2012 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2012
Species-area or subarea 2011 ITAC reserve 2011 final 2012 ITAC reserve 2012 final
amount ITAC amount ITAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish-BSAI.......... 334 59 393 334 59 393
Rougheye rockfish-EBS/EAI......... 199 35 234 204 36 240
Rougheye rockfish-CAI/WAI......... 187 33 220 191 34 225
Northern rockfish-BSAI............ 3,400 600 4,000 3,400 600 4,000
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea 425 75 500 425 75 500
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total......................... 4,545 802 5,347 4,554 804 5,358
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 3 percent for the ICA, be allocated as a DFA as
follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/
processor (C/P) 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) (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). The AI directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock remaining in the AI subarea after subtracting 1,900 mt for the
CDQ DFA (10 percent) and 1,600 mt for the ICA (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(ii)). In the AI subarea, 40 percent of the 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 2011 and 2012
amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS subarea pollock allocations. First, 8.5
percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector will be available
for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P sector endorsements,
unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative contract that
provides for the distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps and AFA CVs in
a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not listed in the
AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock
allocated to the C/P sector. Table 3 lists the 2011 and 2012
allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 11 through 16 list the AFA C/P and
CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables
[[Page 11145]]
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://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 as provided in Sec.
679.22(a)(5)(i)(C). The remaining 12 percent of the 40 percent annual
DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside the SCA before 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 2011 and 2012 amounts by
sector.
Table 3--Final 2011 and 2012 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA)\1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 A season \1\ 2011 B 2012 A season \1\ 2012 B
2011 ---------------------------- season \1\ 2012 ---------------------------- season \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest -------------- Allocations SCA harvest -------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea...................... 1,252,000 n/a n/a n/a 1,253,658 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................. 125,200 50,080 35,056 75,120 125,366 50,146 35,102 75,219
ICA \1\............................. 33,804 n/a n/a n/a 33,849 n/a n/a n/a
AFA Inshore......................... 546,498 218,599 153,019 327,899 547,222 218,889 153,222 328,333
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\.......... 437,198 174,879 122,416 262,319 437,777 175,111 122,578 262,666
Catch by C/Ps................... 400,037 160,015 n/a 240,022 400,566 160,227 n/a 240,340
Catch by CVs \3\................ 37,162 14,865 n/a 22,297 37,211 14,884 n/a 22,327
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...... 2,186 874 n/a 1,312 2,189 876 n/a 1,313
AFA Motherships..................... 109,300 43,720 30,604 65,580 109,444 43,778 30,644 65,667
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\...... 191,274 n/a n/a n/a 191,528 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\...... 327,899 n/a n/a n/a 328,333 n/a n/a n/a
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea DFA.................... 1,092,996 437,198 306,039 655,798 1,094,443 437,777 306,444 656,666
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\............ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA............................. 1,900 760 n/a 1,140 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA................................. 1,600 800 n/a 800 1,600 800 n/a 800
Aleut Corporation................... 15,500 15,500 n/a 0 15,500 15,500 n/a 0
Bogoslof District ICA \7\............... 150 n/a n/a n/a 150 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 (3 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 April 1. The remaining 12 percent of the
annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual
DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available for harvest only by
eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed C/Ps.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted C/Ps are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the C/Ps 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.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs
Section 679.20(a)(8) 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 process for
allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI
trawl limited access sectors is listed 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 subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated to jig gear.
The amount of this allocation is determined annually by the Council
based on several criteria, including the anticipated harvest capacity
of the jig gear fleet. The Council recommended, and NMFS approves, a
0.5 percent allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in the EAI and BS
subarea to the jig gear in 2011 and 2012. This percentage is applied
after subtraction of the CDQ reserve and the ICA.
The RPA implemented on January 1, 2011, (FR 75 77535, December 13,
2010, and 75 FR 81921, December 29, 2010), requires that NMFS make
several changes from the proposed to the final harvest specifications
for BSAI Atka mackerel. The platoon management of Atka mackerel harvest
inside the harvest limit area is no longer needed because the RPA
prohibits all retention of Atka mackerel in Area 543 and requires that
nearly all directed fishing for Atka mackerel in waters 0 nm to 20 nm
around Steller sea lion sites in Area 542. The harvest limit area
limits that were in the proposed harvest specification therefore have
been removed from the final harvest specifications in Areas 542 and
543. The TACs in these two areas, which were set to ABC, decreased from
the proposed amounts. In area 543, the final amount is set to account
for discards in other fisheries since the RPA at Sec. 679.7(a)(19)
prohibits retention in Area 543. Also the final Area 542 TAC decreased
from the proposed TAC since the RPA at Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(3)
limits the annual TAC for this area to no more than 47 percent of the
Area 542 ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel ITAC into
two equal seasonal allowances. The RPA changed the end of the A season
and start of the B season dates at Sec. 679.23(e)(3). The first
[[Page 11146]]
seasonal allowance is made available for directed fishing with trawl
gear from January 20 to June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal
allowance is made available from June to November 1 (B season). Also,
Sec. 679.23(e)(4)(iii) the RPA applies Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ
Atka mackerel fishing. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by
season.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(ii)(2) requires the Amendment 80
cooperatives and CDQ groups to limit harvest to 10 percent of their
Central Aleutian District Atka mackerel allocation equally divided
between the A and B seasons within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock
and Tag Island, as described on Table 12 to part 679. Vessels not
fishing under the authority of an Amendment 80 cooperative quota or CDQ
allocation are prohibited from conducting directed fishing for Atka
mackerel inside Steller sea lion critical habitat in the Central
Aleutian District.
Table 4 lists these 2011 and 2012 Atka mackerel season and area
allowances, as well as the sector allocations. The 2012 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, 2011.
Table 4--Final 2011 and 2012 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 allocation by area 2012 allocation by area
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Central Eastern Central
Sector \1\ Season 2, 3, 4 Aleutian Aleutian Western Aleutian Aleutian Western
District/ District Aleutian District/ District Aleutian
Bering Sea \5\ District Bering Sea \5\ District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC........................................ n/a.......................... 40,300 11,280 1,500 36,800 10,293 1,500
CDQ reserve................................ Total........................ 4,312 1,207 161 3,938 1,101 161
A............................ 2,156 603 80 1,969 551 80
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 60 n/a n/a 55 n/a
B............................ 2,156 603 80 1,969 551 80
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 60 n/a n/a 55 n/a
ICA........................................ Total........................ 75 75 40 75 75 40
Jig \6\.................................... Total........................ 180 0 0 164 0 0
BSAI trawl limited access.................. Total........................ 2,859 800 0 3,262 912 0
A............................ 1,429 400 0 1,631 456 0
B............................ 1,429 400 0 1,631 456 0
Amendment 80 sectors....................... Total........................ 32,875 9,198 1,300 29,361 8,205 1,300
A............................ 16,437 4,599 650 14,681 4,102 650
B............................ 16,437 4,599 650 14,681 4,102 650
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.............. Total........................ 19,181 5,389 755 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 9,591 2,695 377 n/a n/a n/a
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 269 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 9,591 2,695 377 n/a n/a n/a
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 269 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Alaska Seafood Cooperative................. Total........................ 13,694 3,809 545 n/a n/a n/a
A............................ 6,847 1,904 272 n/a n/a n/a
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 190 n/a n/a n/a n/a
B............................ 6,847 1,904 272 n/a n/a n/a
Critical habitat \5\......... n/a 190 n/a n/a n/a n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs to the Amendment 80
and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is
established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 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\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from January 20 to June 10 and the B season
from June 10 to November 1.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C) requires the TAC in area 542 shall be no more than 47% of ABC, and Atka mackerel harvests for Amendment 80 cooperatives
and CDQ groups within waters 10 nm to 20 nm of Gramp Rock and Tag Island, as described Table 12 to part 679, in Area 542 are limited to no more than
10 percent of the Amendment 80 cooperative Atka mackerel allocation or 10 percent of the CDQ Atka mackerel allocation.
\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.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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 C/P; 8.4 percent to pot CVs greater
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3
percent to AFA trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to non-AFA trawl C/Ps; 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 2011 and 2012, 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 2012
allocations for Pacific cod between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access
[[Page 11147]]
sector will not be known until November 1, 2011, the date by which the
applicants eligible to apply for participation in the Amendment 80
program must file their application. Amendment 80 applications for 2012
have not yet been submitted to NMFS, thereby preventing NMFS from
calculating 2012 allocations. NMFS will post 2012 Amendment 80
allocations when they become available in December 2011.
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 2011 and
2012 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).
The RPA implemented on January 1, 2011 (75 FR 77535, December 13,
2010), includes two prohibitions for Pacific cod. Section 679.7(a)(19)
prohibits retention of Pacific cod in Area 543 and Sec. 679.7(a)(23)
prohibits directed fishing for Pacific cod with hook-and-line, pot, or
jig gear in the Aleutian Islands subarea November 1 through December
31.
Table 5a--Final 2011 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent Share of gear Share of ---------------------------------
sector total sector total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC..................... 100 227,950 n/a n/a............. n/a
CDQ........................... 10.7 24,391 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 123,764 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 123,264 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 98,733 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 50,354
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 48,379
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 405 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 207
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 199
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 3,041 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,551
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,490
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 17,030 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 8,685
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 8,345
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2 n/a 4,055 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 44,987 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 33,290
Apr 1-Jun 10.... 4,949
Jun 10-Nov 1.... 6,748
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 4,682 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 3,511
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 1,170
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 27,277 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 20,458
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 6,819
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative. n/a n/a 5,079 Jan 20-Apr 1.... 3,809
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 1,270
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Alaska Seafood Cooperative.... n/a n/a 22,198 Jan 20-Apr 1.... 16,649
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 5,550
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Jig........................... 1.4 2,850 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,710
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 570
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 570
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 based on
anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 5b--Final 2012 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal apportionment \2\ \3\
Gear sector Percent Share of gear Share of ---------------------------------
sector total sector total Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC..................... 100 229,608 n/a n/a............. n/a
CDQ........................... 10.7 24,568 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 124,664 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 124,164 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 99,454 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 50,722
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 48,732
[[Page 11148]]
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 408 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 208
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 200
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 3,063 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,562
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,501
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 17,154 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 8,749
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 8,406
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2 n/a 4,084 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 45,314 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 33,532
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 4,985
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 6,797
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 4,716 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 3,537
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 1,179
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 27,475 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 20,607
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 6,869
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
Amendment 80 limited access n/a n/a see footnote 2 Jan 20-Apr 1.... 75%
\2\.
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 25%
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 0
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 2,871 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,722
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 574
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 574
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 based on
anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2012 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
access sector will not be known November 1, 2011, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for
participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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. This is because the harvest specifications for the hook-
and-line gear and pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries will be limited to the 2011 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 2011 and 2012 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.
Table 6--Final 2011 and 2012 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2011 Share 2011 CDQ 2012 Share 2012 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC of TAC 2011 ITAC reserve of TAC 2012 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Trawl \1\................................................ 50 1,425 1,211 107 1,305 1,109 98
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 50 1,425 1,140 285 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................ 100 2,850 2,351 392 1,305 1,109 98
Aleutian Islands:
Trawl \1\................................................ 25 475 404 36 435 370 33
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\............................... 75 1,425 1,140 285 n/a n/a n/a
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 11149]]
Total................................................ 100 1,900 1,544 321 435 370 33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 accordance with Tables 33 and 34 to part 679
and Sec. 679.91. The 2012 allocations for Amendment 80 species between
Amendment 80 cooperatives and limited access sector will not be known
until November 1, 2011, the date by which the applicants eligible to
apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their
application. Amendment 80 applications for 2012 have not yet been
submitted to NMFS, thereby preventing NMFS from calculating 2012
allocations. NMFS will post 2012 Amendment 80 allocations when they
become available in December, 2011. Table 7a and 7b lists the 2011 and
2012 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole,
rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.
Table 7a--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............................................... 5,660 4,960 8,370 41,548 85,000 196,000
CDQ............................................... 606 531 896 4,446 9,095 20,972
ICA............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 5,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access......................... 495 435 149 0 0 34,153
Amendment 80...................................... 4,459 3,919 7,315 32,102 70,905 138,875
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative..................... 2,364 2,078 3,879 6,269 19,902 58,948
Alaska Seafood Cooperative........................ 2,095 1,841 3,436 25,833 51,003 79,926
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 7b--Final 2012 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............................................... 5,660 4,960 8,370 41,548 85,000 197,660
CDQ............................................... 606 531 896 4,446 9,095 21,150
ICA............................................... 100 75 10 5,000 5,000 2,000
BSAI trawl limited access......................... 495 435 149 0 0 34,746
Amendment 80 \1\.................................. 4,459 3,919 7,315 32,102 70,905 139,764
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2012 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
November 1, 2011, the date by which the applicants eligible to apply for participation in the Amendment 80 program must file their application.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
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 2011 and 2012 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
[[Page 11150]]
limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
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
for the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet 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
2010, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 23,028 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality
of about 4 mt.
The 2010 jig gear fishery harvested about 344 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, as mentioned above, NMFS estimates a negligible
amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the selective nature of
jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and
released.
In January 2011, NMFS implemented Amendment 91 to the FMP, Sec.
679.21(f)(2), to annually allocate portions of either 47,591 or 60,000
Chinook salmon PSC among the AFA sectors depending upon past catch
performance and upon whether or not Chinook salmon bycatch incentive
plan agreements are formed. If an AFA sector participates in an
approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreement, then NMFS
will allocate a portion of the 60,000 PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no Chinook salmon bycatch
incentive plan agreement is approved, or if the sector has exceeded its
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2011, the Chinook salmon
PSC limit is 60,000 and the AFA sector Chinook salmon allocations are
seasonally allocated with 70 percent of the allocation for the A season
pollock fishery, and 30 percent of the allocation for the B season
pollock fishery as stated in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). The basis for
these PSC limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing
management measures for Amendment 91 (75 FR 53026, August 30, 2010).
NMFS publishes the approved Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan
agreements, 2011 allocations and reports at: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 2011 and 2012
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 2011 and
2012 non-Chinook salmon PSC limit. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii)
allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook salmon, as the PSQ for the
CDQ program and allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon to
the non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Pursuant to Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit
specified for crab is allocated as a PSQ reserve for use by the
groundfish CDQ program.
Based on the 2010 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 31.5 million red king crabs, and the
effective spawning biomass is estimated at 67.4 million lb. Based on
the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2011 and 2012 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 2010, the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch
limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit within the
RKCSS (Table 8b). NMFS concurs in the Council's recommendation.
Based on 2010 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 379 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set
out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2011 and 2012 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 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.
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 minus 150,000 crab 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 2010 survey estimate of
7.467 billion animals, the calculated limit is 8,310,480 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
2011 and 2012 herring biomass is 227,269 mt. This amount was derived
using 2010 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the
herring PSC limit for 2011 and 2012 is 2,273 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 2011 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 limit 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 limits assigned to
the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to Amendment 80
cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota (CQ) as listed in Table 8d. PSC
CQ assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to specific
fishery categories. In 2011, there are no
[[Page 11151]]
vessels in the Amendment 80 limited access sector. NMFS will not know
the 2012 PSC allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector until November 1, 2011, the date by
which the applicants eligible to apply for participation in the
Amendment 80 program must file their application. 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)(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 Table 8c to maximize harvest among gear
types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC based on
the above criteria.
Table 8a--Final 2011 and 2012 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-trawl Amendment 80 sector
PSC Trawl PSC -------------------------- BSAI trawl
PSC species Total non- remaining Total trawl remaining CDQ PSQ limited
trawl PSC after CDQ PSC after CDQ reserve \1\ 2011 2012 access
PSQ \1\ PSQ \1\ fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI..................... 900 832 3,675 3,349 393 2,375 2,325 875
Herring (mt) BSAI............................... n/a n/a 2,273 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\.............. n/a n/a 197,000 175,921 21,079 93,432 87,925 53,797
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\................... n/a n/a 8,310,480 7,421,259 889,221 3,875,381 3,647,549 2,385,193
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\............. n/a n/a 830,000 741,190 88,810 331,608 312,115 348,285
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2 \2\............. n/a n/a 2,520,000 2,250,360 269,640 565,966 532,660 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.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Table 8b--Final 2011 and 2012 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals) Zone
BSAI 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole........................ 195 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 33 n/a
\1\..................................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\....... 16 n/a
Rockfish.............................. 12 n/a
Pacific cod........................... 33 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock................ 1,737 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 3, 247 n/a
4....................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 49,250
pelagic trawl gear \5\...............
---------------------------------
Total trawl PSC................... 2,273 197,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), arrowtooth flounder,
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.
\2\ ``Arrowtooth flounder'' for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka
flounder.
\3\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
species'' fishery category.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins,
sharks, and skates.
\5\ In December 2010, 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 2011 and 2012 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector and Non-Trawl Fisheries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access fisheries Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
Halibut mortality (animals) Zone (animals) ---------------------------------
(mt) BSAI 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................................ 167 47,397 2,247,640 293,234 1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\.................... 0 0 0 0 0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\............................... 0 0 0 0 0
Rockfish April 15-December 31................................. 5 0 3,821 0 849
Pacific cod................................................... 453 6,000 95,523 50,816 42,424
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\....................... 250 400 38,209 4,235 4,242
Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC........................... 875 53,797 2,385,193 348,285 1,053,394
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 11152]]
Non-trawl fisheries Catcher/ Catcher
processor vessel
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod--Total...................................... 760 15
January 1-June 10....................................... 455 10
June 10-August 15....................................... 190 3
August 15-December 31................................... 115 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, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Arrowtooth flounder for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates.
Table 8d-Final 2011 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and zones \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative Red king crab C. bairdi (animals)
Halibut mortality (animals) Zone C. opilio ---------------------------------
(mt) BSAI 1 (animals) COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Seafood Cooperative....................................... 1,643 63,631 2,502,043 233,442 390,500
Alaska Groundfish Cooperative.................................... 732 29,801 1,373,339 98,167 175,465
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
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
IPHC and the Council for the 2011 and 2012 BSAI groundfish fisheries
for use in monitoring the 2011 and 2012 halibut bycatch allowances (see
Tables 8a-d). The IPHC developed these DMRs for the 2010 and 2012 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 2010 SAFE
report dated November 2010 (see ADDRESSES). Table 9 lists the 2011 and
2012 DMRs.
Table 9--Final 2011 and 2012 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut
discard
Gear Fishery \1\ 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
Other species......... 71
Pacific cod........... 71
Rockfish.............. 81
Rock sole............. 82
Sablefish............. 75
Yellowfin sole........ 81
Non-CDQ Pot........................ Other species \2\..... 8
Pacific cod........... 8
CDQ trawl.......................... Atka mackerel......... 85
Greenland turbot...... 88
Flathead sole......... 84
[[Page 11153]]
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Arrowtooth flounder includes Kamchatka flounder.
\2\ ``Other species'' includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates.
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 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 2011 and 2012
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 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2012.
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, 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 1, 2011, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2012.
Table 10--2011 and 2012 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Incidental 2012 Incidental
Area Sector Species catch allowance catch allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District............. All.................. Pollock.............. 150 150
Aleutian Islands subarea...... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 1,600 1,600
``Other rockfish''... 425 425
Eastern Aleutian District/ Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
Bering Sea. BSAI trawl limited
access.
Eastern Aleutian District/ All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 234 240
Bering Sea.
Eastern Aleutian District..... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
BSAI trawl limited perch.
access.
Central Aleutian District..... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 75 75
perch.
Western Aleutian District..... Non-amendment 80 and ICA Atka mackerel.... 40 40
BSAI trawl limited
access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Central and Western Aleutian All.................. Rougheye rockfish.... 220 225
Districts.
Bering Sea subarea............ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 4,854 4,854
``Other rockfish''... 500 500
ICA pollock.......... 45,072 45,132
Bering Sea and Aleutian All.................. Northern rockfish.... 4,000 4,000
Islands.
Shortraker rockfish.. 393 393
Squids............... 361 361
Skates............... 14,025 14,025
Sharks............... 43 43
Octopuses............ 128 128
[[Page 11154]]
Sculpins............. 4,420 4,420
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
Closures implemented under the 2010 and 2011 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (75 FR 11778, March 12, 2010) remain
effective under authority of these final 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2011
and http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2011/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 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 for 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.
The Rockfish Program will expire in December 2011. In June 2010,
the Council proposed a new program to supersede the existing Rockfish
Program by 2012. NMFS is developing rulemaking to implement the
Council's revised program. The revised program, if approved by the
Secretary, may affect the harvest specifications for 2012.
Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA C/Ps 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 2011 and 2012 C/P sideboard
limits.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA C/Ps,
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 AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2011 and 2012 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Table 11--Final 2011 and 2012 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
--------------------------------------- 2011 ITAC 2012 ITAC
Ratio of available 2011 AFA C/ available 2012 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 1,211 19 1,109 18
AI..................... 0 145 0 404 0 370 0
Atka mackerel....................... Central AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.115 5,037 579 4,596 529
B season \2\........ n/a n/a 0.115 5,037 579 4,596 529
Western AI A season \2\ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
B season \2\........ n/a n/a 0.2 670 134 670 134
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... 6,317 169,362 0.037 75,905 2,808 75,905 2,808
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... 121 17,305 0.007 2,975 21 2,975 21
AI..................... 23 4,987 0.005 1,318 7 1,233 6
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 22,015 44 22,015 44
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... 76 33,987 0.002 15,045 30 15,045 30
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... 1,925 52,755 0.036 37,102 1,336 37,102 1,336
[[Page 11155]]
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... 14 9,438 0.001 13,600 14 13,600 14
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... 3,058 52,298 0.058 2,550 148 2,550 148
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... 12 4,879 0.002 4,854 10 4,854 10
Eastern AI............. 125 6,179 0.02 5,054 101 5,054 101
Central AI............. 3 5,698 0.001 4,429 4 4,429 4
Western AI............. 54 13,598 0.004 7,474 30 7,474 30
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... 91 13,040 0.007 4,000 28 4,000 28
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... 50 2,811 0.018 393 7 393 7
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 234 4 240 4
CAI/WAI................ 50 2,811 0.018 220 4 225 4
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... 18 621 0.029 500 15 500 15
AI..................... 22 806 0.027 425 11 425 11
Squid............................... BSAI................... 73 3,328 0.022 361 8 361 8
Skates.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 14,025 112 14,025 112
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 43 0 43 0
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 128 1 128 1
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... 553 68,672 0.008 4,420 35 4,420 35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA C/Ps. 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 C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2011 and 2012 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for
groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA C/Ps once a 2011 or 2012
PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 12 is reached.
Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA C/Ps 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 2011 and 2012 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 and 2012
PSC available 2011 and 2012
Ratio of PSC to trawl catcher/
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after processor
PSC subtraction of sideboard
PSQ \2\ limit \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI.......................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab zone 1............................................ 0.007 175,921 1,231
C. opilio (COBLZ)............................................... 0.153 7,421,259 1,135,453
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 Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits
Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs 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 2011 and 2012 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 2011 and 2012 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.
[[Page 11156]]
Table 13--Final 2011 and 2012 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of
1995-1997 2011 AFA 2012 AFA
AFA CV 2011 catcher 2012 catcher
Species Fishery by area/gear/season catch to initial TAC vessel initial TAC vessel
1995-1997 \1\ sideboard \1\ sideboard
TAC limits limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.................................... BSAI.................................. 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Jig gear..............................
Hook-and-line CV................... 0.0006 207 0 208 0
Jan 1-Jun 10..........................
Jun 10-Dec 31.................... 0.0006 199 0 200 0
Pot gear CV........................ 0.0006 8,685 5 8,749 5
Jan 1-Jun 10..........................
Sept 1-Dec 31.................... 0.0006 8,345 5 8,406 5
CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-and- 0.0006 4,055 2 4,084 2
line or pot gear.
Trawl gear CV...................... 0.8609 33,290 28,659 33,532 28,868
Jan 20-Apr 1..........................
Apr 1-Jun 10..................... 0.8609 4,949 4,261 4,985 4,292
Jun 10-Nov 1..................... 0.8609 6,748 5,809 6,797 5,852
Sablefish...................................... BS trawl gear......................... 0.0906 1,211 110 1,109 100
AI trawl gear......................... 0.0645 404 26 370 24
Atka mackerel.................................. Eastern AI/BS......................... 0.0032 17,994 58 16,431 53
Jan 1-Jun 10..........................
Jun 10-Nov 1....................... 0.0032 17,994 58 16,431 53
Central AI............................ 0.0001 5,037 1 4,596 0
Jan 1-Jun 10..........................
Jun 10-Nov 1....................... 0.0001 5,037 1 4,596 0
Western AI............................ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Jan 1-Jun 10..........................
Jun 10-Nov 1....................... 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Rock sole...................................... BSAI.................................. 0.0341 75,905 2,588 75,905 2,588
Greenland turbot............................... BS.................................... 0.0645 2,975 192 2,975 192
AI.................................... 0.0205 1,318 27 1,233 25
Arrowtooth flounder............................ BSAI.................................. 0.069 22,015 1,519 22,015 1,519
Kamchatka flounder............................. BSAI.................................. 0.069 15,045 1,038 15,045 1,038
Alaska plaice.................................. BSAI.................................. 0.0441 13,600 600 13,600 600
Other flatfish................................. BSAI.................................. 0.0441 2,550 112 2,550 112
Flathead sole.................................. BS trawl gear......................... 0.0505 37,102 1,874 37,102 1,874
Pacific ocean perch............................ BS.................................... 0.1 4,854 485 4,854 485
Eastern AI............................ 0.0077 5,054 39 5,054 39
Central AI............................ 0.0025 4,429 11 4,429 11
Western AI............................ 0 n/a 0 n/a 0
Northern rockfish.............................. BSAI.................................. 0.0084 4,000 34 4,000 34
Shortraker rockfish............................ BSAI.................................. 0.0037 393 1 393 1
Rougheye rockfish.............................. EBS/EAI............................... 0.0037 234 1 240 1
CAI/WAI............................... 0.0037 220 1 225 1
Other rockfish................................. BS.................................... 0.0048 500 2 500 2
AI.................................... 0.0095 425 4 425 4
Squids......................................... BSAI.................................. 0.3827 361 138 361 138
Skates......................................... BSAI.................................. 0.0541 14,025 759 14,025 759
Sharks......................................... BSAI.................................. 0.0541 43 2 43 2
Octopuses...................................... BSAI.................................. 0.0541 128 7 128 7
Sculpins....................................... BSAI.................................. 0.0541 4,420 239 4,420 239
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock 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).
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 2011 and 2012 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 2011 or 2012 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 2011 and 2012 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 and 2012 2011 and 2012
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.
[[Page 11157]]
Yellowfin sole total....... n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/ n/a n/a 228
other flatfish \3\.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/ n/a n/a 0
sablefish \4\.
Rockfish................... n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other n/a n/a 5
species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1 4, 6.......... n/a........................ 0.299 175,921 52,600
C. opilio COBLZ 4, 6............... n/a........................ 0.168 7,421,259 1,246,771
C. bairdi Zone 1 4, 6.............. n/a........................ 0.33 741,190 244,593
C. bairdi Zone 2 \6\............... 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, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth
flounder.
\4\ Arrowtooth for PSC monitoring includes Kamchatka flounder.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates.
\6\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures
Based upon historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator
has determined that many of the AFA C/P and CV sideboard limits listed
in Tables 15 and 16 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2011 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 is prohibiting directed fishing by listed
AFA C/Ps 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.
Table 15--Final 2011 and 2012 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2012
Species Area Gear types sideboard sideboard
limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................... BS..................... trawl.................. 19 18
AI..................... trawl.................. 0 0
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... all.................... 2,808 2,808
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... all.................... 21 21
AI..................... all.................... 7 6
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... all.................... 44 44
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... all.................... 30 30
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... all.................... 14 14
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... all.................... 148 148
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... all.................... 1,336 1,336
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... all.................... 10 10
Eastern AI............. all.................... 101 101
Central AI............. all.................... 4 4
Western AI............. all.................... 30 30
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... all.................... 28 28
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... all.................... 7 7
Rougheye rockfish................... EBS/EAI................ all.................... 4 4
CAI/WAI................ all.................... 4 4
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... all.................... 15 15
AI..................... all.................... 11 11
Squids.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 8 8
Skates.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 112 112
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 0 0
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... all.................... 1 1
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... all.................... 35 35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
[[Page 11158]]
Table 16--Final 2011 and 2012 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 2012
Species Area Gear types sideboard sideboard
limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod......................... BSAI................... hook-and-line.......... 0 0
BSAI................... pot.................... 10 10
BSAI................... CV < 60 feet LOA....... 2 2
BSAI................... jig.................... 0 0
Sablefish........................... BS..................... trawl.................. 110 100
AI..................... trawl.................. 26 24
Atka mackerel....................... Eastern AI/BS.......... all.................... 116 106
Central AI............. all.................... 2 0
Western AI............. all.................... 0 0
Greenland turbot.................... BS..................... all.................... 192 192
AI..................... all.................... 27 25
Arrowtooth flounder................. BSAI................... all.................... 1,519 1,519
Kamchatka flounder.................. BSAI................... all.................... 1,038 1,038
Alaska plaice....................... BSAI................... all.................... 600 600
Other flatfish...................... BSAI................... all.................... 112 112
Flathead sole....................... BSAI................... all.................... 1,874 1,874
Rock sole........................... BSAI................... all.................... 2,588 2,588
Pacific ocean perch................. BS..................... all.................... 485 485
Eastern AI............. all.................... 39 39
Central AI............. all.................... 11 11
Western AI............. all.................... 0 0
Northern rockfish................... BSAI................... all.................... 34 34
Shortraker rockfish................. BSAI................... all.................... 1 1
Rougheye rockfish................... BS/EAI................. all.................... 1 1
CAI/WAI................ all.................... 1 1
Other rockfish...................... BS..................... all.................... 2 2
AI..................... all.................... 4 4
Squids.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 138 138
Skates.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 759 759
Sharks.............................. BSAI................... all.................... 2 2
Octopuses........................... BSAI................... all.................... 7 7
Sculpins............................ BSAI................... all.................... 239 239
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
Response to Comments
NMFS received 9 letters of comment, from 6 CDQ groups and three
non-CDQ industry participants, which included 4 distinct comments, in
response to the proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications. These
comments are summarized and responded to below.
Comment 1: The comment asserts that the pollock ABCs and TACs are
too high, based on anecdotal observations.
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 body 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. NMFS believes that the 2011 and
2012 are the correct pollock ABCs and TACs, based upon this process.
Comment 2: NMFS should account for the bycatch of groundfish in
fisheries such as the State managed salmon fisheries.
Response: NMFS is actively engaged in a process to improve the
catch accounting system to more accurately account for the bycatch of
groundfish in other fisheries, including State managed fisheries. NMFS
agrees with this comment. However, this is beyond the scope of this
action.
Comment 3: The 10,000 mt ICA for rock sole is largely based upon
high levels of yellowfin sole harvest by the BSAI trawl limited access
sector. For 2011 and 2012, the BSAI trawl limited access harvest is
likely to be smaller, and a 5,000 mt for rock sole is more appropriate.
Response: NMFS agrees with this comment, and NMFS adjusted the ICA
of rock sole to 5,000 metric tons.
Comment 4: Six CDQ groups commented that the new Kamchatka flounder
fishery is too small to be a meaningful CDQ fishery and could inhibit
the prosecution of other CDQ fisheries. Thus, Kamchatka flounder should
not be a CDQ fishery at this time.
Response: In the proposed 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications NMFS
requested comments about whether Kamchatka flounder was a directed
fishery of the BSAI under section 305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the MSA. If
it were, NMFS would allocate 10.7 percent of the Kamchatka flounder TAC
to the CDQ Program. NMFS specifically requested comments from the CDQ
groups about the economic value of Kamchatka flounder and whether the
CDQ groups intend to conduct directed fishing for Kamchatka flounder in
the future. Based on the comments received, NMFS has determined that
Kamchatka flounder is not a directed fishery of the BSAI under section
305(i)(1)(B)(ii)(II).
[[Page 11159]]
Therefore, NMFS will not allocate Kamchatka flounder to the CDQ Program
in the final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications. However, NMFS will
consider allocating Kamchatka flounder to the CDQ Program in the future
if information is presented in future harvest specifications that the
status of Kamchatka flounder as a directed fishery of the BSAI has
changed.
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 Orders 12866 and 13563.
NMFS prepared an 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 Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS. In
January 2011, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for
this action. Copies of the EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The EIS analyzes the environmental
consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and alternative
harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The EIS found no
significant environmental consequences of this action and its
alternatives. The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS
(SEIS) for the 2011 and 2012 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 Regional Administrator has
determined that (1) approval of the 2011 and 2012 harvest
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest
strategy in the 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 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications will result in
environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed
in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental Protection
Act (NEPA) documentation is not necessary to implement the 2011 and
2012 harvest specifications.
NMFS also prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) as required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act,
analyzing the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA
evaluated the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest
strategies for the groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska.
Accordingly, NMFS used the IRFA prepared for the EIS in association
with this action. NMFS published a notice of the availability of the
IRFA and its summary in the Classification section of the proposed 2006
and 2007 harvest specifications for the groundfish fisheries in the
BSAI in the Federal Register on December 15, 2006 (71 FR 75437). No
comments were received regarding the IRFA or the economic effects of
the TAC-setting methodology.
NMFS also prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA),
as required by section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Copies of
the FRFA prepared for this action are available from NMFS, Alaska
Region (see ADDRESSES). The FRFA analyzed the methodology for
establishing the relevant TACs. As set forth in the methodology, TACs
are set to a level that fall within the range of ABCs recommended by
the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve optimum yield specified in
the FMP. While the specific numbers that the methodology may produce
vary from year to year, the methodology itself remains constant.
Accordingly, NMFS is using the FRFA prepared for the EIS in association
with this action. Pursuant to sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 of the FMP, the
established methodology produces ABCs and TACs within specified ranges
and the numbers in this final rule's preferred alternatives are within
those ranges.
In addition, 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)). The need
for, and objectives of, this final rule are described in the preamble.
A summary of the 2007 FRFA follows. This action is taken in accordance
with the FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens
Act.
There are 244 directly regulated small entities including
approximately 223 small CVs, 15 small C/Ps, and six CDQ groups. The
entities directly regulated by this action harvest groundfish in the
EEZ of the BSAI, and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska
waters. These include entities operating CVs and C/Ps within the action
area, and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. CVs and
C/Ps were considered to be small entities if their annual gross
receipts of $4 million per year or less from all economic activities,
including the revenue of their affiliated operations (see Table 37 to
the Economic Status of the Groundfish Fisheries off Alaska, 2005, in
the 2006 SAFE report, dated February 2007, available from the Council
(see ADDRESSES)).
Estimates of gross product value for the BSAI non-CDQ and CDQ
groundfish were used as an index of revenue and 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 key species, but by
relatively small amounts.
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
OY, in which case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3
would have set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent
5-year average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal
the lower limit of the BSAI OY range. Alternative 5--the ``no action''
alternative--would have set TACs equal to zero.
Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all associated with smaller levels
for important fishery TACs than Alternative 2. Estimated total gross
product values were used as an index of potential adverse impacts to
small entities. As a consequence of the lower TAC levels, Alternatives
3, 4, and 5 all had smaller first wholesale revenue indices than
Alternative 2. Thus, Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 had greater adverse
impacts on small entities. Alternative 1 appeared to generate higher
values of the gross revenue index for fishing operations in the BSAI
than Alternative 2. A large part of the Alternative 1 BSAI revenue
appears to be due to the assumption that the full Alternative 1 TAC
would be harvested. Much of the larger revenue was due to increases in
flatfish TACs that were much greater for Alternative 1 than for
Alternative 2. In recent years, halibut bycatch constraints in these
fisheries have kept actual flatfish catches from reaching Alternative 1
levels. Therefore, a large part of the revenues associated with
Alternative 1 are unlikely to occur. Also, Alternative
[[Page 11160]]
2 TACs are constrained by the ABCs the Plan Teams and SSC are likely to
recommend to the Council on the basis of a full consideration of
biological issues. These ABCs are often less than Alternative 1's
maximum permissible ABCs; therefore higher TACs under Alternative 1 may
not be consistent with prudent biological management of the resource.
For these reasons, Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative.
In addition to the IRFA prepared in association with the groundfish
harvest specifications EIS, NMFS prepared a supplemental IRFA (SIRFA)
in conjunction with the proposed harvest specifications (see
ADDRESSES). The SIRFA evaluated the specification of separate OFLs and
TACs for octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates in the BSAI,
consistent with the previously selected harvest strategy, the tier
system used to set OFL (per the FMP), Amendments 95 and 96 to the FMP,
the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable law (see ADDRESSES).
Amendments 95 and 96 to the FMP were published on October 6, 2010 (75
FR 61639), and split the ``other species'' complex into its component
species of octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates.
This supplemental Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (SFRFA)
incorporates the SIRFA, a summary of the significant issues raised by
the public comments in response to the IRFA, NMFS' responses to those
comments, and provides a summary of the analyses completed to support
the action. The SFRFA augments the FRFA prepared in connection with the
2007 Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specification EIS. NMFS published the
proposed harvest specifications on December 8, 2010 (75 FR 76372) with
comments invited through January 7, 2011. A SIRFA was prepared and
summarized in the ``Classification'' section of the proposed rule. The
description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are
described in the preamble to the proposed rule and are not repeated
here. No public comments were specifically received on the SIRFA. No
changes were made from the proposed rule to the final rule.
The 2010 Economic Status of Groundfish Fisheries Off Alaska report,
prepared in conjunction with the 2010 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES),
identifies 209 small groundfish entities operating in the BSAI, with
average revenues from all sources of about $1.37 million. Most of these
(191) are C/Vs. A majority of the C/Vs (107) used trawl gear and had
average revenues of about $1.49 million. There were 38 hook-and-line C/
Vs, with average revenues of about $600,000, and 51 pot C/Vs with
average revenues of $1.37 million. There were five C/Vs that used
multiple gear types and are counted in at least two of the preceding
figures. There were 18 C/Ps, mostly hook-and-line vessels, with average
gross revenues of about $2.53 million. The 2010 SAFE report may
overstate the number of small entities because it considers individual
vessel gross revenues, but does not capture affiliations among vessels.
All of these small entities would be directly regulated by the proposed
action. As described below, however, certain small entities may be more
likely than others to be adversely affected by the proposed action as a
result of potential impacts associated with the incidental catch of
octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates in other target fisheries.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
NMFS considered several alternatives to the action to specify
separate OFLs and TACS for BSAI octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates
species complexes. However, each of these alternatives has been
eliminated from further consideration because it either does not
minimize significant economic impacts on a substantial number of small
entities or does not accomplish the stated objectives of, or is in
conflict with the requirements of, applicable statutes.
This action is intended to fulfill the agency's mandate to
establish catch limits that are based on the best available scientific
information, and to achieve optimum yield while preventing overfishing.
This action adopts the alternative that is both consistent with the
agency's obligations under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and the FMP and
minimizes the likelihood that the specification of TACs and OFLs for
the octopuses, sculpins, sharks, and skates species complexes will
adversely affect small entities.
NMFS considered dividing the TACs for each of the species complexes
among different regulatory areas in the BSAI. Any such further division
of the TACs would not change the total TACs for each species complex in
the BSAI as a whole. However, the incidental catch of fishing vessels
that operate within each of the regulatory areas would be counted
against a reduced TAC and OFL, which would increase the likelihood that
the TAC or OFL would be reached and that one or more area closures may
be triggered.
NMFS considered exempting small entities from compliance with the
TACs for each of the species complexes evaluated in the SIRFA. However,
the Magnuson-Stevens Act requires NMFS to implement conservation and
management measures that prevent overfishing. Authorizing unlimited
incidental catch of these species complexes by small entities would
present an unacceptable risk of overfishing, and would not be
consistent with the agency's obligations under Magnuson-Stevens Act,
nor with the requirements of the Council's FMP.
In order to minimize the economic impacts of this action, NMFS
considered allocating relatively large portions of the TACs for each of
the species complexes to potentially affected small entities. However,
any such allocation, which would be motivated solely by economic
considerations under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, would not be
consistent with National Standard 5, which states that ``no
[conservation and management measure] shall have economic allocation as
its sole purpose.'' 16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(5).
Finally, NMFS considered establishing a single group TAC for all
four of the species complexes in the BSAI, which would substantially
reduce the likelihood that incidental catch would reach or exceed the
TAC or OFL and result in area closures of target fisheries. However,
the establishment of a stock complex comprised of species with such
disparate life histories would not be consistent with the statutory
requirement to establish catch limits that prevent overfishing for
stocks in the fishery, nor with the Council's intent in enacting
Amendments 95 and 96.
Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the 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
2010, and Council consideration and recommendations occurred in
December 2010. Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January
2011. For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs
established under the final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (75 FR
11778, March 12, 2010) 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 and Pacific cod
are intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, octopuses, sculpins, sharks, skates, and squids,
are critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing
[[Page 11161]]
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 12,
2011, which is the start of the 2011 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result in confusion for sablefish
harvesters 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 2011 and 2012 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. This is
particularly true of those species which have lower 2011 ABCs and TACs
than those established in the 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (75
FR 11778, March 12, 2010). Immediate effectiveness also would give the
fishing industry the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct
its fishing operations with respect to new information about TAC
limits. 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
This final rule 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 2011 and 2012 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 2011 and 2012
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: February 23, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-4538 Filed 2-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P