2024-27896. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; Proposed 2025 and 2026 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

Table 1—Proposed 2025 and 2026 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, and Gulfwide District of the Gulf of Alaska

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Species	Area 1	OFL	ABC	TAC 2
Pollock 2	Shumagin (610)	n/a	32,144	32,144
	Chirikof (620)	n/a	75,179	75,179
	Kodiak (630)	n/a	41,821	41,821
	WYK (640)	n/a	4,601	4,601
	W/C/WYK (subtotal)	182,891	157,687	153,745
( print page 94684)
	SEO (650)	12,998	9,749	9,749
	Total	195,889	167,436	163,494
Pacific cod 3	W	n/a	7,638	5,347
	C	n/a	17,981	13,486
	E	n/a	2,565	1,924
	Total	33,970	28,184	20,757
Sablefish 4	W	n/a	4,719	4,719
	C	n/a	9,693	9,693
	WYK	n/a	2,940	2,940
	SEO	n/a	5,343	5,343
	Subtotal TAC	n/a	n/a	22,695
	Total	55,317	47,350	n/a
Shallow-water flatfish 5	W	n/a	23,782	13,250
	C	n/a	28,311	28,311
	WYK	n/a	2,831	2,831
	SEO	n/a	1,699	1,699
	Total	69,354	56,623	46,091
Deep-water flatfish 6	W	n/a	234	234
	C	n/a	2,614	2,614
	WYK	n/a	1,827	1,827
	SEO	n/a	2,278	2,278
	Total	8,257	6,953	6,953
Rex sole	W	n/a	3,363	3,363
	C	n/a	13,624	13,624
	WYK	n/a	1,439	1,439
	SEO	n/a	2,877	2,877
	Total	25,900	21,303	21,303
Arrowtooth flounder	W	n/a	30,323	14,500
	C	n/a	64,688	64,688
	WYK	n/a	7,848	7,848
	SEO	n/a	16,053	6,900
	Total	142,074	118,912	93,936
Flathead sole	W	n/a	13,521	8,650
	C	n/a	21,702	21,702
	WYK	n/a	3,949	3,949
	SEO	n/a	2,086	2,086
	Total	50,322	41,258	36,387
Pacific ocean perch 7	W	n/a	1,726	1,726
	C	n/a	27,768	27,768
	WYK	n/a	2,038	2,038
	SEO	n/a	6,822	6,822
	Total	45,835	38,354	38,354
Northern rockfish 8	W	n/a	2,446	2,446
	C	n/a	2,200	2,200
	E	n/a
	Total	5,548	4,646	4,646
Shortraker rockfish 9	W	n/a	34	34
	C	n/a	189	189
	E	n/a	424	424
	Total	863	647	647
( print page 94685)
Dusky rockfish 10	W	n/a	137	137
	C	n/a	6,979	6,979
	WYK	n/a	81	81
	SEO	n/a	28	28
	Total	8,796	7,225	7,225
Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish 11	W	n/a	198	198
	C	n/a	317	317
	E	n/a	526	526
	Total	1,566	1,041	1,041
Demersal shelf rockfish 12	SEO	376	283	283
Thornyhead rockfish 13	W	n/a	314	314
	C	n/a	693	693
	E	n/a	621	621
	Total	2,170	1,628	1,628
Other rockfish 14 15	W/C/WYK combined	n/a	1,353	1,353
	SEO	n/a	2,421	300
	Total	4,977	3,774	1,653
Atka mackerel	GW	6,200	4,700	3,000
Big skates 16	W	n/a	745	745
	C	n/a	1,749	1,749
	E	n/a	341	341
	Total	3,780	2,835	2,835
Longnose skates 17	W	n/a	104	104
	C	n/a	1,894	1,894
	E	n/a	538	538
	Total	3,380	2,536	2,536
Other skates 18	GW	887	665	665
Sharks	GW	6,521	4,891	4,891
Octopuses	GW	1,307	980	980
Total		673,289	562,224	482,000
1  Regulatory areas and districts are defined at § 679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulfwide).
2  The total for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas pollock ABC is 157,687 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (3,942 mt) of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 153,745 mt (for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas) is apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640). The apportionments in Areas 610, 620, and 630 are further divided by season, as detailed in table 2 (proposed 2025 and 2026 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal allowances). In the West Yakutat (Area 640) and Southeast Outside (Area 650) Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
3  The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned, after seasonal apportionment to the jig sector, as follows: 1) 63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season and 2) 64.16 percent to the A season and 35.84 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, respectively. The Pacific cod TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is allocated 90 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. Table 4 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector allocations.
4  The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (55,317 mt and 47,350 mt, respectively), and the GOA sablefish TAC is 22,695 mt. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations of sablefish TACs.
5  “Shallow-water flatfish” means flatfish not including “deep-water flatfish,” flathead sole, rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
6  “Deep-water flatfish” means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
7  “Pacific ocean perch” means Sebastes alutus.
8  “Northern rockfish” means Sebastes polyspinis. For management purposes, the one mt apportionment of ABC to the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area has been included in the other rockfish species group.
9  “Shortraker rockfish” means Sebastes borealis.
10  “Dusky rockfish” means Sebastes variabilis.
11  “Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish” means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
12  “Demersal shelf rockfish” means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
13  “Thornyhead rockfish” means Sebastolobus species. ( print page 94686)
14  “Other rockfish” means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish ( S. polyspinis).
15  Other rockfish in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the Eastern Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish categories. The other rockfish species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish.
16  “Big skates” means Beringraja binoculata.
17  “Longnose skates” means Raja rhina.
18  “Other skates” means Bathyraja.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses in reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing year. Section 679.20(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to reapportion all or part of these reserves. In 2024, NMFS reapportioned all of the reserves in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS proposes reapportionment of each of the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses back into the original TAC from which the reserve was derived. NMFS expects, based on recent harvest patterns, that such reserves will not be necessary for the management of these fisheries and that the entire TAC for each of these species will be caught or are needed to promote efficient fisheries. The TACs in table 1 reflect this proposed reapportionment of reserve amounts to the original TAC for these species and species groups, i.e., each proposed TAC for the above-mentioned species or species groups contains the full TAC recommended by the Council.

Proposed Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components

In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and is further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned into two seasonal allowances of 50 percent each. As established by § 679.23(d)(2), the A and B season allowances are available from January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively.

Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass determined by the most recent NMFS surveys, pursuant to § 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). The pollock chapter of the 2023 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES ) contains a comprehensive description of the apportionment and reasons for the minor changes from past apportionments. Pollock is specified between two seasons for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA (A and B seasons). There are four seasonal apportionments: A, B, C, and D seasons as outlined in the 2023 GOA pollock assessment in the 2023 SAFE report. The GOA pollock stock assessment continues to use a four-season methodology to determine pollock distribution in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA to maintain continuity in the historical pollock apportionment time-series. A and B seasons from the assessment are aggregated into the A season for the purposes of specifications and C and D seasons from the assessement are aggregated into the B season for the purposes of specifications. This method is described and calculated in the 2023 GOA pollock assessment.

Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Regional Administrator (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount is limited to 20 percent of the subsequent seasonal TAC apportionment for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent limit could be further distributed to the subsequent season in the other statistical areas in proportion to the estimated biomass of the subsequent season and in an amount no more than 20 percent of the seasonal TAC apportionment in those statistical areas (§ 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2025 and 2026 pollock TACs in the WYK District of 4,601 mt and the SEO District of 9,749 mt are not allocated by season.

Table 2 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 area apportionments and seasonal allowances of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown. Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires allocation of 100 percent of the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after subtraction of amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the offshore component is the amount that will be taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by §  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these ICAs of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component.

Table 2—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC ¹

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Season 2	Shumigan (Area 610)	Chirikof (Area 620)	Kodiak (Area 630)	Total 3
A (January 20-May 31)	4,483	58,629	11,460	74,572
B (September 1-November 1)	27,661	16,550	30,361	74,572
( print page 94687)
Annual Total	32,144	75,179	41,821	149,144
1  Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
2  As established by § 679.23(d)(2), the A and B season allowances are available from January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown in this table.
3  The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.

Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

Section 679.20(a)(12)(i) requires allocations for the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors as well as seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. A portion of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear from January 1 through June 10 and for trawl gear from January 20 through June 10. The remainder of the annual TAC is apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through December 31, for hook-and-line and pot gear from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1 (§§ 679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires allocations of the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs annually between the inshore (90 percent) and offshore (10 percent) components in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA.

In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear and then among catcher vessels (CVs) using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors (CPs) using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, CPs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear (§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)). In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear and then among CVs less than 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) in length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 50 feet (15.2 m) in length overall using hook-and-line gear, CPs using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, CPs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear (§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)). Allocations to the jig sector for the Western and Central GOA are apportioned between the A season (60 percent) and the B season (40 percent) (§ 679.20(a)(12)(i)). Excluding seasonal apportionments to the jig gear sector, the remainder of the annual Pacific cod TACs are apportioned as follows: the seasonal apportionments of the annual TAC are 63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season in the Western GOA and 64.16 percent to the A season and 35.84 percent to the B season in the Central GOA.

Under § 679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the Pacific cod allowance from the A season may be subtracted from, or added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that is determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be reallocated to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the fishing year consistent with the factors set forth in regulation.

Pursuant to § 679.20(a)(12)(i)(A) and (B), a portion of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central GOA will be allocated to vessels with a Federal fisheries permit that use jig gear before the TACs are apportioned among other non-jig sectors. In accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may increase to up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs, depending on the annual performance of the jig sector (see table 1 of amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig sector allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). Jig sector allocation increases are established for a minimum of 2 years.

NMFS has evaluated the historical harvest performance of the jig sector in the Western and Central GOA and is proposing the 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical harvest performance through 2024. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS proposes that the jig sector receive 3.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Western GOA. The 2025 and 2026 allocation consists of a base allocation of 1.5 percent of the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC and a harvest performance increase of 2 percent based on prior harvest performance. If the jig sector does not reach 90 percent of its Western GOA Pacific cod allocation for the 2024 fishing year, which appears likely based on catch through October 2024, the prior harvest performance increase of 2 percent would be maintained because allocation increases are established for a minimum of 2 years. For 2025 and 2026, NMFS also proposes that the jig sector receive 3 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the Central GOA. The 2025 and 2026 allocation consists of a base allocation of 1 percent and a harvest performance increase of 2 percent based on harvest performance through 2024 because the jig sector did reach 90 percent of its Central GOA Pacific cod allocation for the 2024 fishing year. The Pacific cod jig allocations, catch, and percent allocation changes are listed in table 3.

Table 3—Summary of Western GOA and Central GOA Pacific Cod Catch by Jig Gear in 2014 Through 2023, and Corresponding Percent Allocation Changes

Area	Year	Initial percent of TAC	Initial TAC allocation	Catch (mt)	Percent of initial allocation	>90 Percent of initial allocation?	Change to percent allocation
Western GOA	2014	2.5	573	785	137	Y	Increase 1.
	2015	3.5	948	55	6	N	None.
	2016	3.5	992	52	5	N	Decrease 1.
	2017	2.5	635	49	8	N	Decrease 1.
	2018	1.5	125	121	97	Y	Increase 1.
	2019	2.5	134	134	100	Y	Increase 1.
( print page 94688)
	2020	1  n/a
	2021	3.5	195	26	13	N	None.
	2022	3.5	243	2	1	N	Decrease 1.
	2023	2.5	131	131	101	Y	Increase 1.
	2024	3.5	214	17	8	N	None.
Central GOA	2014	2	797	262	33	N	Decrease 1.
	2015	1	460	355	77	N	None.
	2016	1	370	267	72	N	None.
	2017	1	331	18	6	N	None.
	2018	1	61	0	0	N	None.
	2019	1	58	30	52	N	None.
	2020	1  n/a
	2021	1	102	26	26	N	None.
	2022	1	113	3	3	N	None.
	2023	1	111	246	222	Y	Increase 1.
	2024	2	309	303	98	Y	Increase 1.
1  NMFS did not evaluate the 2020 performance of the jig sectors in the Western and Central GOA because NMFS prohibited directed fishing for all Pacific cod sectors in 2020 (84 FR 70438, December 23, 2019).

NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2024 harvest performance of the jig sector in the Western and Central GOA when the 2024 fishing year is complete to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations proposed by this action in conjunction with the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. The current catch through October 2024 by the Central GOA jig sector indicates that the Pacific cod allocation percentage for this sector will increase by 1 percent in the Central GOA. However, based on catch through October 2024, an increase is unlikely for the jig sector in the Western GOA. Table 4 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific cod TACs.

Table 4—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the GOA; Allocations to the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore Processing Components

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Regulatory area and sector	Annual allocation (mt)	A Season		B Season
		Sector percentage of annual non-jig TAC	Seasonal allowances (mt)	Sector percentage of annual non-jig TAC	Seasonal allowances (mt)
Western GOA:
Jig (3.5 percent of TAC)	187	N/A	112	N/A	75
Hook-and-line CV	72	0.7	36	0.7	36
Hook-and-line CP	1022	10.9	562	8.9	459
Trawl CV	1981	31.54	1627	6.86	354
Trawl CP	124	0.9	46	1.5	77
Pot CV and Pot CP	1961	19.8	1022	18.2	939
Total	5,347	63.84	3,406	36.16	1,941
Central GOA:
Jig (3 percent of TAC)	405	N/A	243	N/A	162
Hook-and-line < 50 CV	1,910	9.32	1,219	5.29	692
Hook-and-line ≥ 50 CV	877	5.61	734	1.1	144
Hook-and-line CP	668	4.11	537	0.9975	130
Trawl CV 1	5,440	25.29	3,309	16.29	2,131
Trawl CP	549	2	262	2.19	287
Pot CV and Pot CP	3,637	17.83	2,332	9.98	1,305
Total	13,486	64.16	8,641	35.84	4,845
Eastern GOA		Inshore (90 percent of Annual TAC)		Offshore (10 percent of Annual TAC)
	1,924	1,732		192
1 Trawl CVs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 514 mt, of the annual Central GOA Pacific cod TAC (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the Trawl CV B season allowance (see table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).

( print page 94689)

Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TAC to Vessels Using Fixed Gear and Trawl Gear

Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) requires allocations of sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to fixed and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each TAC is allocated to fixed gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is allocated to fixed gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may be used only to support incidental catch of sablefish while directed fishing for other target species using trawl gear (§ 679.20(a)(4)(i)).

In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (WYK and SEO Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area. The remainder of the WYK District sablefish TAC is allocated to vessels using fixed gear. This proposed action allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using fixed gear. This results in proposed 2025 allocations of 414 mt to trawl gear and 2,526 mt to fixed gear in the WYK District and a proposed 2025 allocation of 5,343 mt to fixed gear in the SEO District. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2025 sablefish TACs to fixed and trawl gear. Table 6 lists the allocations of the proposed 2026 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.

The Council recommended that the trawl sablefish TAC be established for 2 years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear could commence in January (when the trawl season opens) in the second year of the groundfish harvest specifications. NMFS concurs with this recommendation. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2025 and 2026 trawl allocations, respectively.

The Council also recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be established annually to ensure that the sablefish individual fishing quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on the most recent survey information. Since there is an annual assessment for sablefish and since the final harvest specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season begins (typically, in early March), the Council recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be set annually, rather than for 2 years. NMFS concurs with this recommendation. Accordingly, table 5 lists the proposed 2025 fixed gear allocations, and the 2026 fixed gear allocations will be specified in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.

With the exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to the Rockfish Program (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), directed fishing for sablefish with trawl gear is typically closed at the beginning of the fishing year ( e.g., table 27 of the final 2024 and 2025 GOA harvest specifications, 89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024). Also, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 20 (§ 679.23(c)). Therefore, it is not likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached before the effective date of the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications.

Table 5—Proposed 2025 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Fixed and Trawl Gear

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Area/District	TAC	Fixed gear allocation	Trawl allocation
Western	4,719	3,775	944
Central 1	9,693	7,754	1,939
West Yakutat 2	2,940	2,526	414
Southeast Outside	5,343	5,343
Total	22,695	19,398	3,297
1  The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish Program cooperatives (997 mt). See table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 942 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
2  The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

Table 6—Proposed 2026 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear ¹

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Area/district	TAC	Fixed gear allocation	Trawl allocation
Western	4,719	n/a	944
Central 2	9,693	n/a	1,939
West Yakutat 3	2,940	n/a	414
Southeast Outside	5,343	n/a
Total	22,695	n/a	3,297
1  The Council recommended that the proposed 2026 harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fisheries not be specified in the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. The 2026 fixed gear allocations will be specified in the final 2026 and 2027 harvest specifications.
2  The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish Program cooperatives (997 mt). See table 9: Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 942 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
3  The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

( print page 94690)

Proposed Allocations, Apportionments, and Sideboard Limitations for the Rockfish Program

These proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications for the GOA include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily trawl CVs and trawl CPs, with limited participation by vessels using longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative quota to trawl participants for primary species (Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) and secondary species (Pacific cod, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, sablefish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish), allows a participant holding a License Limitation Program (LLP) license with rockfish quota share to form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of CP LLP licenses to opt out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an entry level fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using longline gear. Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.

Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species in the Central GOA are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch needs in other directed fisheries (§ 679.81(a)(2)). Participants in the Rockfish Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of specific secondary species. In addition to groundfish species, the Rockfish Program allocates a portion of the halibut PSC limit (191 mt) from the third season deep-water species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants (§ 679.81(d) and table 28d to 50 CFR part 679). The Rockfish Program also establishes sideboard limits to restrict the ability of harvesters operating under the Rockfish Program to increase their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program fisheries. These restrictions and halibut PSC limits are discussed in the Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations section of this proposed rule.

Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) and table 28e to 50 CFR part 679 require allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, and 50 mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level longline fishery in 2025 and 2026. The allocations of primary species to the entry level longline fishery may increase incrementally each year if the catch exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental increase in the allocations would continue each year until reaching the maximum percentage of the TAC for that species. In 2024, the catch for all three primary species did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated rockfish species. Therefore, NMFS is not proposing any increases to the entry level longline fishery 2025 and 2026 allocations in the Central GOA. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species, after subtracting the ICAs, would be allocated to the CV and CP cooperatives (§ 679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 7 lists the allocations of the proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs for each rockfish primary species to the entry level longline fishery, the potential incremental increases for future years, and the maximum percentages of the TACs of the rockfish primary species allocations to the entry level longline fishery.

Table 7—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in the Central Gulf of Alaska

Rockfish primary species	Proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations	Incremental increase in 2025 if >90 percent of 2024 allocation is harvested	Up to maximum percent of each TAC of
Pacific ocean perch	5 metric tons	5 metric tons	1
Northern rockfish	5 metric tons	5 metric tons	2
Dusky rockfish	50 metric tons	20 metric tons	5

Section 679.81 requires allocations of rockfish primary species among various sectors of the Rockfish Program. Table 8 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 allocations of rockfish primary species in the Central GOA to the entry level longline fishery and rockfish CV and CP cooperatives in the Rockfish Program. NMFS also proposes setting aside ICAs for other directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 3,500 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 300 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky rockfish. These amounts are based on recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other groundfish fisheries.

Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or CP cooperatives are not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives are not due to NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot calculate 2025 and 2026 allocations in conjunction with these proposed harvest specifications. After receiving the Rockfish Program applications, NMFS will calculate the 2025 allocations for CV and CP cooperatives, as set forth in § 679.81(b), (c), and (e). NMFS will announce the 2025 allocations after March 1 and post these allocations on the Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​alaska/​sustainable-fisheries/​alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish.

Table 8—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level Longline Fishery and Rockfish Cooperatives in the Rockfish Program

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Rockfish primary species	Central GOA TAC	Incidental catch allowance (ICA)	TAC minus ICA	Allocation to the entry level longline 1 fishery	Allocation to the rockfish cooperatives 2
Pacific ocean perch	27,768	3,500	24,268	5	24,263
Northern rockfish	2,200	300	1,900	5	1,895
Dusky rockfish	6,979	250	6,729	50	6,679
( print page 94691)
Total	36,947	4,050	32,897	60	32,837
1  Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (50 CFR 679.2).
2  Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (50 CFR 679.81).

Section 679.81(c) and table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 require allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and CP cooperatives in the Central GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. CP cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish. Table 9 lists the apportionments of the proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA to CV and CP cooperatives.

Table 9—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives

[Values are in metric tons]

Rockfish secondary species	Central GOA annual TAC	Catcher Vessel cooperatives		Catcher/Processor cooperatives
		Percentage of TAC	Apportionment (mt)	Percentage of TAC	Apportionment (mt)
Pacific cod	13,486	3.81	514	N/A	N/A
Sablefish	9,693	6.78	657	3.51	340
Shortraker rockfish	189	n/a	n/a	40	76
Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish	317	n/a	n/a	58.87	187
Thornyhead rockfish	693	7.84	54	26.5	184

Halibut PSC Limits

Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit apportionments of 1,705 mt for trawl gear, 256 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District. It also authorizes the establishment of apportionments for pot gear.

The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at § 679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish (§ 679.21(d)(2)(i)(A)). The separate halibut PSC limit for the DSR fishery is intended to prevent that fishery from being impacted from the halibut PSC incurred by other GOA fisheries. NMFS estimates low halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR fishery and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs in the winter when there is less overlap in the distribution of DSR and halibut, and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the commercial GHL for the DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of DSR incidental catch in all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence); and (2) the allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. In 2024, the commercial fishery for DSR was closed due to concerns about declining DSR biomass.

NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2025 and 2026. The Council recommended and NMFS proposes these exemptions because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality; (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the vessel is operating (§ 679.7(f)(11)); (3) some sablefish IFQ permit holders hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ; and (4) NMFS estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released with jig gear.

The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2024. The calculated halibut bycatch mortality through October 31, 2024, is 337 mt for trawl gear and 25 mt for hook-and-line gear, for a total halibut mortality of 362 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using groundfish and IFQ halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska Region's catch accounting system. This accounting system contains historical and recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish and IFQ halibut fishery.

Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) and (ii) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) seasonal distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (5) ( print page 94692) expected changes in directed groundfish fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry.

The final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (89 FR 15484, March 4, 2024) list the final seasonal apportionments based on the FMP and regulatory considerations with respect to halibut PSC limits. The Council's recommendations and NMFS's proposed seasonal apportionments for these proposed 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications are unchanged from the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. Based on public comment, information presented in the 2024 SAFE report, NMFS catch data, State catch data, and International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) stock assessment and mortality data, the Council may recommend and/or NMFS may make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications pursuant to § 679.21(d)(1) and (d)(4).

Table 10 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and apportionments. The halibut PSC limits in tables 10, 11, and 12 reflect the halibut PSC limits set forth at § 679.21(d)(2) and (3). Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specifies that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a halibut PSC limit will be added to or deducted from the next respective seasonal apportionment within the fishing year.

Table 10—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments

[Values are in metric tons]

Trawl gear			Hook-and-line gear 1
Season	Percent	Amount	Other than DSR			DSR
			Season	Percent	Amount	Season	Amount
January 20-April 1	30.5	520	January 1-June 10	86	220	January 1-December 31	9
April 1-July 1	20	341	June 10-September 1	2	5
July 1-August 1	27	460	September 1-December 31	12	31
August 1-October 1	7.5	128
October 1-December 31	15	256
Total		1,705			256		9
1  The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District and to hook-and-line fisheries other than the DSR fishery. The Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, that the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fishery, and the pot and jig gear groundfish fisheries, be exempt from halibut PSC limits.

Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery categories listed in § 679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments are based on each category's share of the anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery composed of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species fishery composed of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and “other species” (sharks and octopuses) (§ 679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Halibut mortality incurred while directed fishing for skates with trawl gear accrues towards the shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC limit (69 FR 26320, May 12, 2004).

NMFS will combine available trawl halibut PSC limit apportionments in part of the second season deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries for use in either fishery from May 15 through June 30 (§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D)). This is intended to maintain groundfish harvest while minimizing halibut bycatch by these sectors to the extent practicable. This provides the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries additional flexibility and the incentive to participate in fisheries at times of the year that may have lower halibut PSC rates relative to other times of the year.

Table 11 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deep-water and the shallow-water species fisheries.

Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679 specifies the amount of the trawl halibut PSC limit that is assigned to the CV and CP sectors that are participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program. This includes 117 mt of halibut PSC limit to the CV sector and 74 mt of halibut PSC limit to the CP sector. These amounts are allocated from the trawl deep-water species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment. After the combined CV and CP halibut PSC limit allocation of 191 mt to the Rockfish Program, 149 mt remains for the trawl deep-water species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment.

Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B) limits the amount of the halibut PSC limit allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-apportioned to the general GOA trawl fisheries for the last seasonal apportionment during the current fishing year to no more than 55 percent of the unused annual halibut PSC limit apportioned to Rockfish Program participants. The remainder of the unused Rockfish Program halibut PSC limit is unavailable for use by any person for the remainder of the fishing year (§ 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)).

Table 11—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionment of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limits Between the Trawl Gear Shallow-Water and Deep-Water Species Fishery Categories

[Values are in metric tons]

Season	Shallow-water	Deep-water 1	Total
January 20-April 1	385	135	520
( print page 94693)
April 1-July 1	85	256	341
July 1-August 1	120	340	460
August 1-October 1	53	75	128
Subtotal, January 20-October 1	643	806	1,449
October 1-December 312	n/a	n/a	256
Total	n/a	n/a	1,705
1  Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July 1 through August 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
2  There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fishery categories during the fifth season (October 1 through December 31).

Section 679.21(d)(2)(i)(B) requires that the halibut PSC limit apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear that are not part of the demersal shelf rockfish fishery ( i.e. the other hook-and-line fishery) must be apportioned between CVs and CPs in accordance with § 679.21(d)(2)(iii) in conjunction with these harvest specifications. A comprehensive description and example of the calculations necessary to apportion the other hook-and-line fishery halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-line CV and CP sectors were included in the proposed rule to implement amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and are not repeated here.

Pursuant to § 679.21(d)(2)(iii), the halibut PSC limit for the other hook-and-line fishery is apportioned between the CV and CP sectors in proportion to the total Western and Central GOA Pacific cod allocations, which vary annually based on the proportion of the Pacific cod biomass between the Western, Central, and Eastern GOA. Pacific cod is apportioned among these three management areas based on the percentage of overall biomass per area as calculated in the 2023 Pacific cod stock assessment. Information in the final 2023 SAFE report describes this distributional calculation, which allocates ABC among GOA regulatory areas on the basis of the three most recent stock surveys. For 2025 and 2026, the proposed distribution of the total GOA Pacific cod ABC is 27.1 percent to the Western GOA, 63.8 percent to the Central GOA, and 9.1 percent to the Eastern GOA. Therefore, the calculations made in accordance with § 679.21(d)(2)(iii) incorporate the most recent information on GOA Pacific cod distribution and allocations with respect to the proposed annual halibut PSC limits for the CV and CP hook-and-line sectors. The calculations for the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications will use updated information on the distribution of Pacific cod from the Pacific cod stock assessment in the 2024 SAFE report. Additionally, the annual halibut PSC limits for both the CV and CP sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery are proposed to be divided into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent.

For 2025 and 2026, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limits of 149 mt and 107 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line CP sectors, respectively. Table 12 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 apportionments of halibut PSC limits between the hook-and-line CV and the hook-and-line CP sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery.

No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS will calculate the projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the CV or CP hook-and-line sectors of the other hook-and-line fishery for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other hook-and-line sector for the remainder of that fishing year (§ 679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)) if NMFS determines that an additional amount of halibut PSC is necessary for that sector to continue its directed fishing operations.

Table 12—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Apportionments of the “Other hook-and-line fishery” Annual Halibut PSC Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors

[Values are in metric tons]

“Other than DSR” allowance	Hook-and-line sector	Sector annual amount	Season	Seasonal percentage	Sector seasonal amount
256	Catcher Vessel	149	January 1-June 10	86	128
			June 10-September 1	2	3
			September 1-December 31	12	18
	Catcher/Processor	107	January 1-June 10	86	92
			June 10-September 1	2	2
			September 1-December 31	12	13

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch rates, halibut DMR, and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut ( print page 94694) incidental catch rates are based on observed estimates of halibut incidental catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the proportion of incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after being returned to the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that accrues to a particular halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR multiplied by the estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the best scientific information available in conjunction with the annual GOA stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings are included as an appendix to the annual GOA groundfish SAFE report.

In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the Council's recommendation. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC, Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that have undergone review by the Plan Team, the SSC, and the Council. A summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87881, December 6, 2016), and the comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES ). The DMR working group's revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy, transparency, and transferability for calculating DMRs. The working group will continue to consider improvements to the methodology used to calculate halibut mortality, including potential changes to the reference period (the period of data used for calculating the DMRs). Future DMRs may change based on additional years of observer sampling, which could provide more recent and accurate data and which could improve the accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The methodology will continue to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that more accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for that sector.

In October 2024, the Council recommended halibut DMRs reviewed by the Plan Team and SSC, which are derived from the revised methodology. The proposed 2025 and 2026 DMRs use an updated 2-year and 4-year reference period depending on data availability. NMFS is proposing the DMRs recommended by the Plan Team, reviewed by the SSC, and recommended by the Council for the proposed 2025 and 2026 DMRs. The proposed DMR for pelagic trawl gear CVs and CPs is maintained at 100 percent. The proposed DMR for Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear is maintained at 56 percent. The proposed DMR for non-Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear increased to 74 percent from 69 percent. The proposed DMR for motherships and CPs using non-pelagic trawl gear decreased to 76 percent from 83 percent. The proposed DMR for CPs using hook-and-line gear decreased to 10 percent from 11 percent. The proposed DMR for CVs using hook-and-line gear increased to 19 percent from 10 percent. The proposed DMR for CPs and CVs using pot gear increased to 32 percent from 26 percent. Table 13 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 DMRs.

Table 13-Proposed 2025 and 2026 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska

[Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]

Gear	Sector	Groundfish fishery	Halibut discard mortality rate (percent)
Pelagic trawl	Catcher vessel	All	100
	Catcher/processor	All	100
Non-pelagic trawl	Catcher vessel	Rockfish Program	56
	Catcher vessel	All others	74
	Mothership and catcher/processor	All	76
Hook-and-line	Catcher/processor	All	10
	Catcher vessel	All	19
Pot	Catcher vessel and catcher/processor	All	32

Chinook Salmon PSC Limits

Section 679.21(h)(2) establishes separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA in the trawl pollock directed fishery. These limits require that NMFS close directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central GOA if the applicable Chinook salmon PSC limit is reached (§ 679.21(h)(8)). The annual Chinook salmon PSC limits in the trawl pollock directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set in § 679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii). The Central GOA Chinook salmon PSC limit was reached in 2024 and NMFS closed directed fishing for pollock in the Central GOA on September 25, 2024, for the remainder of the 2024 fishing year (89 FR 79454).

Section 679.21(h)(3) and (4) establishes an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon for the non-pollock groundfish trawl fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit is apportioned among the three sectors that conduct directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock: 3,600 Chinook salmon to trawl CPs; 1,200 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs participating in the Rockfish Program; and 2,700 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program (§ 679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will monitor the Chinook salmon PSC in the trawl non-pollock GOA groundfish fisheries and close an applicable sector if it reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit.

The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl CPs and trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program, may be increased in subsequent years based on the performance of these two sectors and their ability to minimize their use of their respective Chinook salmon PSC limits. If either or both of these two sectors limit its use of Chinook salmon PSC to a certain threshold amount in 2024 (3,120 for trawl CPs and 2,340 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs), that sector will receive an incremental increase to its 2025 Chinook salmon PSC limit (4,080 for trawl CPs and 3,060 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs) (§ 679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will evaluate the annual Chinook ( print page 94695) salmon PSC by trawl CPs and non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs when the 2024 fishing year is complete to determine whether to increase the Chinook salmon PSC limits for these two sectors. Based on preliminary 2024 Chinook salmon PSC data, the trawl CP sector may receive an incremental increase of Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2025, and the non-Rockfish Program trawl CV sector may receive an incremental increase of Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2025. This evaluation will be completed in conjunction with the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) CP and CV Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits

Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing sideboard limits on AFA CPs and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from harvesting any species of fish in the GOA. Additionally, § 679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from processing any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.

AFA CVs that are less than 125 feet (38.1 meters) length overall, have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA CV groundfish sideboard limits under § 679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iv) establishes the CV groundfish sideboard limits in the GOA based on the aggregate retained catch by non-exempt AFA CVs of each sideboard species from 2009 through 2019 divided by the TAC for that species available to CVs from 2009 through 2019. Under the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program, NMFS modified the calculation of the sideboard ratios for non-exempt AFA CVs using the qualifying years of 2009 through 2019 (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Previously, sideboard limits were based on the ratio of catch to the TAC during the years 1995 through 1997.

NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed fishing for specific groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (§ 679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 56 to 50 CFR part 679). Under the PCTC Program, NMFS also promulgated regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed fishing for additional groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). All of these prohibitions are found in the revised table 56 to 50 CFR part 679. Sideboard limits not subject to these final rules continue to be calculated and included in the GOA annual harvest specifications.

Table 14 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 groundfish sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from the sideboard limits listed in table 14.

Table 14—Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Sideboard Limits

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Species	Apportionments by season/gear	Area/component	Ratio of 2009-2019 non-exempt AFA CV retained catch to 2009-2019 TAC	Proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs	Proposed 2025 and 2026 non-exempt AFA CV sideboard limit
Pollock	A Season: January 20-May 31	Shumagin (610)	0.057	4,483	256
		Chirikof (620)	0.064	58,629	3752
		Kodiak (630)	0.091	11,460	1043
	B Season: September 1-November 1	Shumagin (610)	0.057	27,661	1577
		Chirikof (620)	0.064	16,550	1059
		Kodiak (630)	0.091	30,361	2763
	Annual	WYK (640)	0.026	4,601	120
Pacific cod	A Season: 1 January 1-June 10	W	0.009	3,406	31
		C	0.011	8,641	95
	B Season: 2 September 1-December 31	W	0.009	1,941	17
		C	0.011	4,845	53
Flatfish, shallow-wter	Annual	C	0.011	28,311	311
Rex sole	Annual	C	0.014	13,624	191
Arrowtooth flounder	Annual	C	0.011	64,688	712
Flathead sole	Annual	C	0.007	21,702	152
1  The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
2  The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

( print page 94696)

Non-Exempt AFA CV Halibut PSC Limit

The non-exempt AFA CVs and the associated LLP licenses PSC limit for halibut in the GOA will be an annual amount based on a static ratio of 0.072, which was derived from the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA CVs in each PSC target category from 2009 through 2019 (§ 679.64(b)(4)(ii)). This change was implemented with the PCTC Program (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Table 15 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC sideboard limit for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

Table 15—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits

Ratio (percent)	Annual trawl gear halibut PSC limit (mt)	Annual non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limit (mt)
0.072	1,705	123

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

Section 680.22 establishes groundfish sideboard limits for vessels with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program to expand their level of participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard harvest limits restrict these vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on another vessel.

The basis for these sideboard harvest limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the CR Program, including amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005), amendment 34 to the Crab FMP (76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011), amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011), and amendment 45 to the Crab FMP (80 FR 28539, May 19, 2015). Also, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-AFA crab vessels from directed fishing for all groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits, except for Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas (§ 680.22(e)(1)(iii)). Accordingly, the GOA annual harvest specifications include only the non-AFA crab vessel groundfish sideboard limits for Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas.

Table 16 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 groundfish sideboard limits for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits.

Table 16—Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Species	Season	Area/gear	Ratio of 1996-2000 non-AFA crab vessel catch to 1996-2000 total harvest	Proposed 2025 and 2026 TACs	Proposed 2025 and 2026 non-AFA crab vessel sideboard limit
Pacific cod	A Season: January 1-June 10	Western Pot CV	0.0997	3,406	340
		Central Pot CV	0.0474	8,641	410
	B Season: September 1-December 31	Western Pot CV	0.0997	1,941	193
		Central Pot CV	0.0474	4,845	230

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, CP rockfish sideboard restrictions, and CP opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions (§ 679.82(c)(1)). These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other fisheries.

CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern rockfish in the Western GOA and WYK District from July 1 through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from July 1 through July 31 (§ 679.82(d)).

Prior to 2021, CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives were restricted by rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA. A final rule that implemented amendment 111 to the FMP (86 FR 11895, March 1, 2021) removed Western GOA rockfish sideboard limits for Rockfish Program CPs from regulation. That rule also revised and clarified the establishment of WYK District rockfish sideboard ratios in regulation, rather than specifying the WYK District rockfish sideboard ratios in the annual GOA harvest specifications.

CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These CPs are prohibited from directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern rockfish in the Western GOA and WYK District from July 1 through July 31 (§ 679.82(e)(2)). The sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in the WYK District is set forth in § 679.82(e)(4). The rockfish sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in the WYK District is an established percentage of the TAC for CPs in the directed fishery for dusky rockfish and Pacific ocean perch. These percentages are confidential. Holders of CP-designated LLP licenses that opt out of participating in a Rockfish Program cooperative will be able to access that portion of each rockfish sideboard limits that is not assigned to Rockfish Program cooperatives (§ 679.82(e)(7)).

Under the Rockfish Program, the CP sector is subject to halibut PSC ( print page 94697) sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries from July 1 through July 31 (§ 679.82(e)(3) and (e)(5)). Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by fishery are set forth in § 679.82(e)(5). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector, as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of the annual halibut PSC limit. CPs that opt out of the Rockfish Program would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to CP rockfish cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for CPs that elect to opt out of participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in § 679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are linked to the catch history of specific vessels that may choose to opt out. After March 1, NMFS will determine which CPs have opted-out of the Rockfish Program in 2025 and will know the ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any applicable opt-out sideboard limits for 2025. NMFS will announce the 2025 opt-out sideboard limits after March 1 and post these limits on the Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​alaska/​sustainable-fisheries/​alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish. Table 17 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 Rockfish Program halibut PSC sideboard limits for the CP sector.

Table 17—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Rockfish Program Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Sector	Shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent)	Deep-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard ratio (percent)	Annual trawl gear halibut PSC limit (mt)	Annual shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt)	Annual deep- water species fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit (mt)
Catcher/processor	0.1	2.5	1,705	2	43

Amendment 80 Program Groundfish and PSC Sideboard Limits

Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl CP sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit their ability to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA.

Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece, to amounts no greater than the limits shown in table 37 to 50 CFR part 679. Under § 679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.

Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 1998 through 2004 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 18 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the sideboard limits in table 18.

Table 18—Proposed 2025 and 2026 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Species	Season	Area	Ratio of Amendment 80 sector vessels 1998-2004 catch to TAC	Proposed 2025 and 2026 TAC (mt)	Proposed 2025 and 2026 Amendment 80 vessel sideboard limits (mt)
Pollock	A Season: January 20-May 31	Shumagin (610)	0.003	4,483	13
		Chirikof (620)	0.002	58,629	117
		Kodiak (630)	0.002	11,460	23
	B Season: September 1-November 1	Shumagin (610)	0.003	27,661	83
		Chirikof (620)	0.002	16,550	33
		Kodiak (630)	0.002	30,361	61
	Annual	WYK (640)	0.002	4,601	9
Pacific cod	A Season: 1 January 1-June 10	W	0.02	3,406	68
		C	0.044	8,641	380
	B Season: 2 September 1-December 31	W	0.02	1,941	39
		C	0.044	4,845	213
	Annual	WYK	0.034	1,924	65
Pacific ocean perch	Annual	W	0.994	1,726	1,716
		WYK	0.961	2,038	1,959
Northern rockfish	Annual	W	1	2,446	2,446
Dusky rockfish	Annual	W	0.764	137	105
		WYK	0.896	81	73
1  The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20. ( print page 94698)
2  The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels in the GOA are based on the historical use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. These values are slightly lower than the average historical use to accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece from this restriction (§ 679.92(b)(2)). Table 19 lists the proposed 2025 and 2026 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. This table incorporates the maximum percentages of the halibut PSC sideboard limits that may be used by Amendment 80 Program vessels as contained in table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. Any residual amount of a seasonal Amendment 80 halibut PSC sideboard limit may carry forward to the next season limit (§ 679.92(b)(2)).

Table 19—Proposed 2025 and 2026 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA

[Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]

Season	Season dates	Fishery category	Historic Amendment 80 use of the annual halibut PSC limit (ratio)	Annual trawl gear halibut PSC limit (mt)	Proposed 2025 and 2026 Amendment 80 vessel PSC sideboard limit (mt)
1	January 20-April 1	shallow-water	0.0048	1,705	8
		deep-water	0.0115	1,705	20
2	April 1-July 1	shallow-water	0.0189	1,705	32
		deep-water	0.1072	1,705	183
3	July 1-August 1	shallow-water	0.0146	1,705	25
		deep-water	0.0521	1,705	89
4	August 1-October 1	shallow-water	0.0074	1,705	13
		deep-water	0.0014	1,705	2
5	October 1-December 31	shallow-water	0.0227	1,705	39
		deep-water	0.0371	1,705	63
		Total shallow-water			117
Annual		Total deep-water			357
		Grand Total, all seasons and categories			474