[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 50, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 50CFR679.23] [Page 674-678] TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA--Table of Contents Subpart B--Management Measures Sec. 679.23 Seasons. (a) Groundfish, general. Fishing for groundfish in the GOA and BSAI is authorized from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, subject to the other provisions of this part, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. (b) Time of groundfish openings and closures. The time of all openings and closures of fishing seasons, other than the beginning and end of the calendar fishing year, is 1200 hours, A.l.t. (c) GOA and BSAI trawl groundfish. Notwithstanding other provisions of this part, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear in the GOA and BSAI is prohibited from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20. (d) GOA groundfish seasons--(1) Directed fishing for trawl rockfish. Directed fishing for rockfish with trawl gear is authorized from 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the first day of the third quarterly reporting period of a fishing year through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, subject to other provisions of this part. (2) Directed fishing for pollock. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is authorized only during the three seasons: (i) From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1; [[Page 675]] (ii) From 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., July 1; and (iii) From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31. (3) Directed fishing for pollock (applicable through July 8, 2002). Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is authorized only during the following four seasons: (i) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., February 25; (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 10 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 31; (iii) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., August 25 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 15; and (iv) D season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., October 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. (4) Directed fishing for Pacific cod (applicable through July 8, 2002)--(i) Hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for Pacific cod with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: (A) A season. From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31. (ii) Trawl gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for Pacific cod with trawl gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: (A) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. (5) Directed fishing for Pacific cod. Directed fishing for Pacific cod in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas is prohibited. (e) BSAI groundfish seasons--(1) Directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder and Greenland turbot. Directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder and Greenland turbot in the BSAI is authorized from 1200 hours, A.l.t., May 1, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, subject to the other provisions of this part. (2) Directed fishing for pollock. (i) Subject to other provisions of this part, and except as provided in paragraphs (e)(2)(ii) and (e)(2)(iii) of this section, directed fishing for pollock is authorized only during the following two seasons: (A) A season. From 0001 hours A.l.t. January 1 through 1200 hours A.l.t. April 15. (B) B season. From 1200 hours A.l.t. September 1 through 1200 hours A.l.t. November 1. (ii) Offshore component in the BSAI restrictions (applicable through December 31, 2004)--(A) Offshore A season. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing by the offshore component in the BSAI, or by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BSAI, is authorized from 1200 hours A.l.t. January 26 through 1200 A.l.t. April 15. (B) Offshore A season ``fair start'' requirement. Directed fishing for pollock by the offshore component in the BSAI, or by vessels catching pollock for processing by the offshore component in the BSAI, is prohibited through 1200 hours A.l.t., February 5, for any vessel that is used to fish in a non-CDQ fishery for groundfish in the BSAI or GOA, or for king or Tanner crab in the BSAI prior to 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 26 of the same year. (iii) B season ``fair start'' requirement. Directed fishing for pollock is prohibited from 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 8, for any vessel that is used to fish for groundfish with trawl gear in a non-CDQ fishery in the BSAI or GOA between 1200 hours, A.l.t., August 25, and 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1. (3) Directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands Subarea is authorized only during the following two seasons: (i) A season. From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 15; (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1, through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. [[Page 676]] (4) CDQ fishing seasons. (i) Halibut CDQ. Fishing for CDQ halibut with fixed gear under an approved CDQ allocation may begin on the effective date of the allocation, except that CDQ fishing may occur only during the fishing periods specified in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to Sec. 300.62 of chapter III of this title. (ii) Sablefish CDQ. Fishing for CDQ sablefish with fixed gear under an approved CDQ allocation may begin on the effective date of the allocation, except that it may occur only during the IFQ fishing season specified in paragraph (g)(1) of this section. (iii) Groundfish CDQ. Fishing for groundfish CDQ species, other than fixed gear sablefish CDQ under subpart C of this part, is authorized from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, through the end of each fishing year, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section. (iv) Groundfish CDQ (applicable through July 8, 2002). Fishing for groundfish CDQ species, other than pollock CDQ; hook-and-line, jig, or trawl Pacific cod CDQ; and fixed gear sablefish CDQ under subpart C of this part, is authorized from 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 through the end of each fishing year, except as provided under paragraph (c) of this section. (v) Pollock CDQ and Pacific cod CDQ harvested with hook-and-line, jig or trawl gear (applicable through July 8, 2002). (A) Fishing for pollock CDQ is authorized under paragraph (e)(5) of this section. (B) Fishing for Pacific cod CDQ with hook-and-line, jig or trawl gear is authorized under paragraph (e)(6) of this section. (5) Directed fishing for pollock in the Bering Sea Subarea by inshore, offshore catcher/processor, and mothership components and pollock CDQ fisheries (applicable through July 8, 2002). Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component, catcher/ processors in the offshore component, and motherships in the offshore component in the Bering Sea subarea or directed fishing for pollock CDQ in the Bering Sea subarea is authorized only during the following two seasons: (i) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. (6) Directed fishing for Pacific cod (applicable through July 8, 2002). (i) Fixed gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for Pacific cod with fixed gear in the BSAI is authorized only during the following two seasons: (ii) Hook-and-line and jig gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for CDQ and non-CDQ Pacific cod with vessels equal to or greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line and with vessels using jig gear in the BSAI is authorized only during the following two seasons: (A) A season. From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31. (iii) Trawl gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, directed fishing for CDQ and non-CDQ Pacific cod with trawl gear in the BSAI is authorized only during the following three seasons: (A) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1; (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (C) C season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. (iv) Pot gear. Subject to other provisions of this part, non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod with vessels equal to or greater than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using pot gear in the BSAI is authorized only during the following two seasons: (A) A season. From 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., June 10; and (B) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31. (7) Directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear (applicable through July 8, 2002). Subject to other provisions of this part, non-CDQ directed [[Page 677]] fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands subarea is authorized only during the following two seasons: (i) A season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., January 20 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., April 15; and (ii) B season. From 1200 hours, A.l.t., September 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., November 1. (f) IFQ halibut. The fishing period(s) for IFQ halibut are established by the IPHC and are specified in the annual management measures published in the Federal Register pursuant to Sec. 300.62 of chapter III of this title. Catches of halibut by fixed gear at times other than during the specified fishing periods must be treated as prohibited species as prescribed at Sec. 679.21(b). (g) IFQ sablefish. (1) Directed fishing for sablefish using fixed gear in any IFQ regulatory area may be conducted in any fishing year during the period specified by the Regional Administrator and announced by publication in the Federal Register. The Regional Administrator will take into account the opening date of the halibut season when determining the opening date for sablefish for the purposes of reducing bycatch and regulatory discards between the two fisheries. (2) Catches of sablefish by fixed gear during other periods may be retained up to the amounts provided for by the directed fishing standards specified at Sec. 679.20 when made by an individual aboard the vessel who has a valid IFQ card and unused IFQ in the account on which the card was issued. (3) Catches of sablefish in excess of the maximum retainable bycatch amounts and catches made without IFQ must be treated in the same manner as prohibited species as defined at Sec. 679.21(b). (h) Stand down requirements for trawl catcher vessels transiting between the BSAI and GOA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ You are If you own or operate a prohibited from catcher vessel and fish for subsequently Until* * * groundfish with trawl gear in deploying trawl the* * * gear in the* * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) BSAI while pollock or Western and 1200 hours A.l.t. on Pacific cod is open to Central GOA the third day after directed fishing in the BSAI. regulatory areas. the date of landing or transfer of all groundfish on board the vessel harvested in the BSAI, unless you are engaged in directed fishing for Pacific cod in the GOA for processing by the offshore component. (2) Western GOA regulatory BSAI............. 1200 hours A.l.t. on area while pollock or inshore the third day after Pacific cod is open to the date of landing directed fishing in the or transfer of all Western GOA regulatory area. groundfish on board the vessel harvested in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA, unless you are participating in a CDQ fishery. (3) Central GOA regulatory BSAI............. 1200 hours A.l.t. on area while pollock or inshore the second day after Pacific cod is open to the date of landing directed fishing in the or transfer of all Central GOA regulatory area. groundfish on board the vessel harvested in the Central GOA regulatory area , unless you are participating in a CDQ fishery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (i) Catcher vessel exclusive fishing seasons for pollock (applicable through July 8, 2002). Catcher vessels are prohibited from participating in directed fishing for pollock under the following conditions. Vessels less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA are exempt from this restriction when fishing east of 157 deg.00[min] W long. GOA and Bering Sea seasons are specified at Sec. 679.23(d)(3) and Sec. 679.23(e)(5). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Then you are prohibited from subsequently If you own or operate a catcher engaging in vessel and engage in directed During the directed fishing fishing for pollock in the for pollock with that catcher vessel in the ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bering Sea subarea.............. A season.......... GOA until the following C season. B season.......... GOA until the A season of the next year. GOA............................. A season.......... BSAI until the following B season. B season.......... BSAI until the following B season. C season.......... BSAI until the A season of the following year. D season.......... BSAI until the A season of the following year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [[Page 678]] [61 FR 31230, June 19, 1996, as amended at 61 FR 35579, July 5, 1996; 61 FR 39602, July 30, 1996; 62 FR 2046, Jan. 15, 1997; 63 FR 11168, Mar. 6, 1998; 63 FR 30401, June 4, 1998; 63 FR 47368, Sept. 4, 1998; 63 FR 48642, Sept. 11, 1998; 64 FR 3452, Jan. 22, 1999; 64 FR 3658, Jan. 25, 1999; 64 FR 20214, Apr. 26, 1999; 67 FR 1003, Jan. 8, 2002; 67 FR 4818, Jan. 28, 2002; 67 FR 22017, May 2, 2002] Effective Date Note: At 67 FR 1003, 1004, Jan. 8, 2002, Sec. 679.23 was amended by suspending paragraphs (d)(2), (e)(2), (e)(3), and (e)(4)(iii), effective Jan. 1, 2002, until July 8, 2002. In addition, new paragraph (e)(6)(i) was suspended until July 8, 2002. At 67 FR 34860, May 16, 2002, the effective date was extended through Dec. 31, 2002.