96-30046. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 60044-60048]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-30046]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    50 CFR Part 679
    
    [Docket No. 961114318-6318-01; I.D. 110496A]
    RIN 0648-XX71
    
    
    Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
    and Aleutian Islands Area; Interim 1997 Harvest Specifications
    
    AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
    
    ACTION: Interim 1997 harvest specifications for groundfish; associated 
    management measures; and closures.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 1997 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
    for each category of groundfish, pollock Community Development Quota 
    (CDQ) amounts, and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the 
    groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
    area (BSAI). NMFS is closing certain fisheries as specified in the 
    interim 1997 groundfish specifications. The intended effect is to 
    conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 
    1997, until the effective date of the Final 1997 Initial Harvest 
    Specifications for Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal 
    Register.
    
    ADDRESSES: The preliminary 1997 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
    (SAFE) Report, dated September 1996, is available from the North 
    Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
    Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, telephone 907-271-2809.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, 907-586-7228.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal 
    regulations at 50 CFR part 679 that implement the Fishery Management 
    Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
    area (FMP). The FMP was prepared by the North Pacific Fishery 
    Management Council (Council) and approved by NMFS under the Magnuson-
    Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. General regulations 
    that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR 
    part 600.
        The Council met September 16-22, 1996, to review scientific 
    information concerning groundfish stocks. The Council adopted for 
    public review the
    
    [[Page 60045]]
    
    preliminary SAFE Report for the 1997 BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 
    preliminary SAFE Report, dated September 1996, provides an update on 
    the status of stocks. Copies of the SAFE Report are available from the 
    Council (see ADDRESSES). The preliminary TAC amounts for each species 
    are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
    information. The Council recommended preliminary total TAC amounts of 
    1,943,190 metric tons (mt) and preliminary total acceptable biological 
    catch (ABC) amounts of 2,507,935 mt for the 1997 fishing year.
        Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1), NMFS is publishing in the Proposed Rules 
    section of this issue of the Federal Register for review and comment 
    proposed initial harvest specifications for groundfish and associated 
    management measures in the BSAI for the 1997 fishing year. That 
    document contains a detailed discussion of the proposed 1997 annual 
    TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and related apportionments, ABC amounts and 
    overfishing levels, prohibited species bycatch allowances, and 
    associated management measures for the BSAI groundfish fishery.
        This action provides interim harvest specifications and 
    apportionments thereof for the 1997 fishing year that will become 
    available on January 1, 1997, and remain in effect until superseded by 
    the final 1997 harvest specifications. Background information 
    concerning the 1997 groundfish harvest specification process upon which 
    this interim action is based is provided in the above mentioned 
    proposed initial specification document appearing in the Proposed Rules 
    section of this Federal Register issue.
    
    1. Establishment of Interim TACs
    
        Except for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, 
    each species' TAC initially is reduced by 15 percent to establish the 
    ITAC for each species (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The sum of the 15-percent 
    amounts is the reserve. One half of the pollock TACs placed in the 
    reserve is designated as a CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants 
    (Sec. 679.31(a)(1)). The remainder of the reserve is not designated by 
    species or species group, and any amount of the reserve may be 
    reapportioned to a target species or the ``other species'' category 
    during the year, providing that such reapportionments do not result in 
    overfishing of a target species or the ``other species'' category. The 
    ITAC amount for each species, except for the hook-and-line and pot gear 
    allocation for sablefish, is the remainder of the TAC amount after 
    subtraction of the reserve.
        Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) require that one-fourth of 
    each proposed ITAC amount and apportionment thereof (not including the 
    first seasonal allowance of pollock and except for the hook-and-line 
    and pot gear allocations of sablefish), one-fourth of each prohibited 
    species catch (PSC) allowance established under Sec. 679.21, and the 
    first seasonal allowance of pollock TAC become effective 0001 hours, 
    A.l.t., January 1 (see Sec. 679.23(a)), on an interim basis and remain 
    in effect until superseded by the final harvest specifications.
    
    2. Interim 1997 BSAI Groundfish Harvest Specifications
    
        Table 1 of this document provides interim TAC amounts and 
    apportionments thereof, interim TAC allocations of pollock to the 
    inshore and offshore components, first seasonal allowances of pollock 
    TAC and pollock CDQ, an interim sablefish apportionment to trawl gear, 
    and Pacific cod TAC apportionments to gear types. The interim harvest 
    specifications become effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 1997.
        Existing regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an 
    interim specification either for sablefish CDQ reserve or for sablefish 
    managed under the Individual Fishing Quota management plan. As a 
    result, fishing for CDQ sablefish and sablefish harvested with fixed 
    gear is prohibited until the effective date of the Final 1997 Initial 
    Groundfish Specifications.
    
     Table 1--Interim 1997 TAC Amounts \1\ for Groundfish and Apportionments
       Thereof for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area \2\  
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Species and component (if        Area and gear (if       Interim TAC 
              applicable)                  applicable)            and CDQ   
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pollock \3\ \4\ \5\                                                     
        Inshore....................  BS.....................         159,311
        Offshore...................  BS.....................         295,864
        Inshore....................  AI.....................          10,591
        Offshore...................  AI.....................          19,669
        Inshore....................  BogDist................             298
        Offshore...................  BogDist................             552
        CDQ........................  BS.....................          40,162
        CDQ........................  AI.....................           2,670
        CDQ........................  BogDist................              75
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................         529,192
    Pacific cod \6\................  BSAI-wide..............  ..............
                                     Jig....................           1,084
                                     H/L & Pot..............          27,635
                                     TRW catcher vessels....          12,734
                                     TRW C/Ps...............          12,734
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................          54,187
    Sablefish \7\ \8\..............  BS-TRW.................              84
                                     BS-H/L & Pot...........             N/A
                                     AI-TRW.................              47
                                     AI-H/L & Pot...........             N/A
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................             131
    Atka mackerel..................  Western AI.............           6,842
                                     Central AI.............           4,144
                                     Eastern AI/BS..........           3,187
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................          14,173
    Yellowfin sole.................  BSAI-wide..............          42,500
    Rock sole......................  BSAI-wide..............          14,875
    
    [[Page 60046]]
    
                                                                            
    Greenland turbot...............  BS.....................             996
                                     AI.....................             491
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................           1,487
    Arrowtooth flounder............  BSAI-wide..............           1,912
    Flathead sole..................  BSAI-wide..............           6,375
    Other flatfish \9\.............  BSAI-wide..............           7,437
    Pacific ocean perch............  BS.....................             329
                                     Western AI.............           1,285
                                     Central AI.............             642
                                     Eastern AI.............             642
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................           2,898
    Other red rockfish \10\........  BS.....................             223
    Sharpchin/Northern.............  AI.....................             926
    Shortraker/Rougheye............  AI.....................             199
    Other rockfish \11\............  BS.....................              79
                                     AI.....................             151
                                                             ---------------
          Total....................  .......................             230
    Squid..........................  BSAI-wide..............             212
    ``Other species'' \12\.........  BSAI-wide..............           4,277
                                                             ---------------
          Total interim TAC........  .......................        681,234 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Interim TAC amounts are in metric tons and have been rounded.       
    \2\ Amounts apply to the entire Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands         
      management area (BSAI), Bering Sea (BS), or Aleutian Islands (AI), as 
      indicated. With the exception of pollock, and for purposes of these   
      specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District (BogDist).      
    \3\ After subtraction of reserves, the ITAC amounts of pollock for each 
      subarea or district are divided into roe and non-roe seasonal         
      allowances. (See Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i).) For the BS subarea, the roe  
      and non-roe seasonal allowances are 45 and 55 percent of the pollock  
      ITAC amounts, respectively. The AI subarea and the Bogoslof District  
      receive 100 percent of their respective ITAC seasonal allowances      
      during the roe-season with the remainder of the respective ITAC       
      seasonal allowance during the non-roe season.                         
    \4\ Inshore and offshore component allocations are 35 and 65 percent of 
      the ITAC amounts, respectively. (See Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(i).) The first
      seasonal allowance of the inshore/offshore component allocations are  
      in effect on January 1 as an interim TAC.                             
    \5\ One-half of the pollock TAC (7.5 percent of each TAC) placed in the 
      reserve for each subarea or district will be assigned to the Community
      Development Quota (CDQ) program. (See Sec.  679.31(a)(1).) For the BS 
      subarea, the roe and non-roe seasonal allowances are 45 and 55        
      percent, respectively, of the CDQ pollock reserve. The AI subarea and 
      the Bogoslof District receive 100 percent of their respective CDQ     
      reserve allocations during the roe-season with the remainder of the   
      respective reserve becoming available during the non-roe season. The  
      first seasonal allowance of the CDQ reserve is available on January 1 
      as an interim TAC.                                                    
    \6\ After subtraction of the reserves, the ITAC amount for Pacific cod, 
      is allocated 2 percent to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to H/L   
      gear, and 47 percent to trawl (TRW) gear. The Pacific cod allocation  
      to TRW gear is split evenly between catcher vessels and catcher/      
      processor vessels (See Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i) and the proposed initial 
      specification document appearing in the Proposed Rules section of this
      Federal Register issue). Pacific cod ITAC seasonal apportionments to  
      vessels using H/L or pot gear are not reflected in the interim TAC    
      amounts. One-fourth of the ITAC gear apportionments are in effect on  
      January 1 as an interim TAC.                                          
    \7\ Sablefish TRW gear allocations are as follows: In the BS subarea--50
      percent of TAC; and in the AI subarea--25 percent of TAC (See Sec.    
      679.20(a)(4)(iii) (B) and (iv)(B)). Fifteen percent of the sablefish  
      TRW gear allocation is placed in the nonspecific reserve. One-fourth  
      of the ITAC amount for TRW gear is in effect January 1 as an interim  
      TAC amount.                                                           
    \8\ The sablefish H/L gear fishery is managed under the Individual      
      Fishing Quota (IFQ) program and subject to regulations contained in   
      subpart D of 50 CFR part 679. Annual IFQ amounts are based on the     
      final TAC amount specified for the sablefish H/L gear fishery as      
      contained in the final specifications for groundfish. Twenty percent  
      of the sablefish H/L and pot gear final TAC amount will be reserved   
      for use by CDQ participants. (See Sec.  679.31(c).) Existing          
      regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an interim   
      specification for the CDQ sablefish reserve or an interim             
      specification for sablefish managed under the IFQ program. In         
      addition, in accordance with Sec.  679.7(f)(3), retention of sablefish
      caught with fixed gear is prohibited unless the harvest is authorized 
      under a valid IFQ permit and IFQ card. In 1997, IFQ permits and IFQ   
      cards will not be valid prior to the effective date of the 1997 final 
      specifications. Thus, fishing for sablefish with fixed gear is not    
      authorized under these interim specifications. See subpart D of 50 CFR
      part 679 and Sec.  679.23(g) for guidance on the annual allocation of 
      IFQ and the sablefish fishing season.                                 
    \9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific 
      halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock 
      sole, and yellowfin sole.                                             
    \10\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin,   
      and northern.                                                         
    \11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species  
      except for Pacific ocean perch, sharpchin, northern, shortraker, and  
      rougheye.                                                             
    \12\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon,     
      smelts, capelin, and octopus.                                         
    
    3. Interim Allocation of PSC Limits for Crab, Halibut, and Herring
    
        Under Sec. 679.21(e), annual PSC limits for the trawl fisheries are 
    specified for red king crab and Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab in 
    applicable Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec. 679.2) of the BS subarea, 
    and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI. 
    Regulations under Sec. 679.21(e) authorize the apportionment of each 
    PSC limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. 
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) require that one-fourth of each 
    proposed PSC allowance be made available on an interim basis for 
    harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until superseded by the 
    final harvest specifications. The interim PSC limits are specified in 
    Table 2 and are in effect at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 1997.
    
    [[Page 60047]]
    
    
    
    Table 2--Interim 1997 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI
                          Trawl and Nontrawl Fisheries                      
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Trawl Fisheries            Zone 1 \1\   Zone 2 \1\   BSAI-wide 
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Red king crab, number of animals:                                       
        Yellowfin sole...............       12,500                          
        Rcksol/oth.flat/flathead sole                                       
         \2\.........................       27,500                          
        Rockfish.....................            0                          
        Turb/arrow/sab \3\...........            0                          
        Pacific cod..................        2,500                          
        Plck/Atka/othr \4\...........        7,500                          
                                      --------------------------------------
          Total......................       50,000                          
    C. bairdi Tanner crab, number of                                        
     animals:                                                               
        Yellowfin sole...............       62,500      382,500             
        Rcksol/oth.flat/flathead sole      106,250      127,500             
        Turb/arrow/sabl..............            0            0             
        Rockfish.....................            0        2,500             
        Pacific cod..................       62,500       65,000             
        Plck/Atka/othr...............       18,750      172,500             
                                      --------------------------------------
          Total......................      250,000      750,000             
    Pacific halibut, mortality (mt):                                        
        Yellowfin sole...............                                    205
        Rcksol/oth.flat/flathead sole                                    183
        turb/arrow/sabl..............                                      0
        Rockfish.....................                                     28
        Pacific cod..................                                    421
        Plck/Atka/othr...............                                    107
                                                   -------------------------
          Total......................                                    944
    Pacific herring, mt:                                                    
        Midwater pollock.............                                    307
        Yellowfin sole...............                                     72
        Rcksol/oth.flat/flathead sole                                      0
        Turb/arrow/sabl..............                                      0
        Rockfish.....................                                      2
        Pacific cod..................                                      6
        Plck/Atka/othr \5\...........                                     38
                                                   -------------------------
          Total......................                                    425
    Nontrawl Fisheries:                                                     
        Pacific halibut, mortality                                          
         (mt):                                                              
            Pacific cod Hook-and-line                                    200
            Other nontrawl...........                                     25
            Groundfish pot gear......                                  (\6\)
            Groundfish jig gear......                                  (\6\)
            Sablefish hook-and-line..                                  (\6\)
                                                   -------------------------
              Total..................  ...........  ...........          225
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ Refer to Sec.  679.2 for definitions of Bycatch Limitation Zones.   
    \2\ Rock sole, flathead sole, and other flatfish fishery category.      
    \3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery        
      category.                                                             
    \4\ Pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.     
    \5\ Pollock other than midwater pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other     
      species'' fishery category.                                           
    
    4. Closures to Directed Fishing
    
        In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d), if the Administrator, Alaska 
    Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) determines that the amount of a 
    target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a fishery 
    or, with respect to pollock, to an inshore or offshore component 
    allocation, will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a 
    directed fishing allowance for that species or species group. If the 
    Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing allowance, 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 (Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). 
    Similarly, under Sec. 679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator 
    determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red 
    king crab, or C. bairdi Tanner crab for a specified area has been 
    reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for 
    each species in that category in the specified area.
        The Regional Administrator has determined that the interim TAC 
    amounts of pollock in the Bogoslof District, Pacific ocean perch in the 
    Bering Sea subarea, sharpchin/northern in the Aleutian Islands, 
    shortraker/rougheye in the Aleutian Islands, other rockfish in the 
    Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas, and other red rockfish in the 
    Bering Sea subarea will be necessary as incidental catch to support 
    other anticipated groundfish fisheries prior to the time that final 
    specifications for groundfish are in effect for the 1997 fishing year 
    (Table 3). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d), NMFS is 
    prohibiting directed fishing for these target species and gear types in 
    the specified area identified in Table 3 to prevent exceeding the 
    interim amounts of groundfish TACs specified in Table 1 of this 
    document.
        An interim Zone 1 red king crab bycatch allowance of zero crab is 
    specified for the rockfish trawl fishery, which is defined at 
    Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D). Similarly, the interim BSAI halibut bycatch 
    allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
    sablefish trawl fishery category, defined at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(C), 
    is 0 mt. The Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with 
    Secs. 679.21(e)(7)(ii) and 679.21(e)(7)(iv), that the interim red king 
    crab bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery in Zone 
    1
    
    [[Page 60048]]
    
    and the interim halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Greenland 
    turbot/arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery category has been 
    caught. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish in 
    Zone 1 by vessels using trawl gear, and for Greenland turbot/arrowtooth 
    flounder/ sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI (Table 3).
        The closures listed in Table 3 will be in effect during the period 
    that the 1997 interim specifications for groundfish TAC amounts are in 
    effect beginning at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 1997, until 
    superseded by the Final 1997 Initial Harvest Specifications for 
    Groundfish. While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable 
    bycatch amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) apply at any time during a fishing 
    trip. Additional closures and restrictions may be found in existing 
    regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
    
    Table 3--Closures to Directed Fishing Under 1997 Interim TAC Amounts \1\
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Fishery (all gear)                     Closed area \2\      
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pollock in Bogoslof District..............  Statistical Area 518.       
    Pacific ocean perch.......................  Bering Sea Subarea.         
    Sharpchin/northern rockfish...............  Aleutian Islands subarea.   
    Shortraker/rougheye rockfish..............  Aleutian Islands subarea.   
    Other rockfish \3\........................  BSAI.                       
    Other red rockfish \4\....................  Bering Sea subarea.         
    Rockfish (trawl only).....................  Zone 1.                     
    Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish       BSAI.                       
     (trawl only).                                                          
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and  
      prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.                 
    \2\ Refer to Sec.  679.2 for definitions of areas.                      
    \3\ In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and Sebastolobus  
      species except for Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish'' 
      species.                                                              
    \4\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and
      northern.                                                             
    
        After consideration of public comments on the Proposed 1997 Initial 
    Specifications for Groundfish and additional scientific information 
    presented at its December 1996 meeting, the Council may recommend other 
    closures to directed fishing. NMFS may implement other closures at the 
    time the Final 1997 Initial Harvest Specifications are implemented or 
    during the 1997 fishing year, as necessary for effective management.
    
    Classification
    
        This action is authorized under 50 CFR part 679 and is exempt from 
    review under E.O. 12866.
        The AA finds for good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) that the need 
    to establish interim total allowable catch limitations and other 
    restrictions on fisheries in the BSAI, effective on January 1, 1997, 
    makes it impracticable and contrary to the public interest to provide 
    prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this rule. 
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2) require NMFS to specify interim 
    harvest specifications to be effective on January 1 and remain in 
    effect until superseded by the final specifications in order for the 
    BSAI groundfish fishing season to begin on January 1 (see Sec. 679.23). 
    Without interim specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish 
    fisheries would not be able to open on January 1 which would result in 
    unnecessary closures and disruption within the fishing industry. 
    Because the stock assessment reports and other information concerning 
    the fisheries in the BSAI became available only recently, NMFS is not 
    able to provide an opportunity for comment on the interim 
    specifications. It is anticipated that the interim specifications will 
    be in effect for only a short period of time before they are superseded 
    by the final specifications. The proposed specifications are published 
    as a proposed rule in this issue of the Federal Register and provide 
    the opportunity for public comment.
    
        Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq.
    
        Dated: November 19, 1996.
    Gary Matlock,
    Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
    Service.
    [FR Doc. 96-30046 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-22-W
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/26/1996
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim 1997 harvest specifications for groundfish; associated management measures; and closures.
Document Number:
96-30046
Dates:
0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 1997, until the effective date of the Final 1997 Initial Harvest Specifications for Groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.
Pages:
60044-60048 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 961114318-6318-01, I.D. 110496A
RINs:
0648-XX71
PDF File:
96-30046.pdf
CFR: (1)
50 CFR 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D)