[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31399]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: December 22, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Parts 611, 672, and 676
[Docket No. 941249-4349; I.D. 112894C]
Foreign Fishing; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Limited Access
Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Interim 1995 initial specifications of groundfish, associated
management measures, and closures.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 1995 initial total allowable catches for
each category of groundfish and specifications for prohibited species
bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska
(GOA). NMFS is closing specified fisheries consistent with the interim
1995 groundfish specifications. The intended effect is to conserve and
manage the groundfish resources in the GOA.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1995, until the effective date of the final
1995 initial specification, which will be published in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: The preliminary Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation
(SAFE) Report, dated September 1994, is available from the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, P.O. Box 103136, Anchorage, AK
99510.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaja Brix, 907-586-7228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The domestic and foreign groundfish fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone of the GOA are managed by NMFS according to the Fishery
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The FMP was
prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council)
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management
Act. The FMP is implemented by regulations for the foreign fishery at
50 CFR part 611 and for the U.S. fisheries at 50 CFR parts 672, 676,
and 677. General regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries
appear at 50 CFR part 620.
This action provides certain specifications for the 1995 fishing
year on a preliminary or interim basis, including: (1) Specifications
of total allowable catch (TAC) for each groundfish target species
category in the GOA and apportionments thereof among domestic annual
processing (DAP), joint venture processing (JVP), total allowable level
of foreign fishing (TALFF), and reserves; (2) apportionments of
reserves to DAP; (3) apportionments of the sablefish TAC to vessels
using hook-and-line and trawl gear; (4) apportionments of pollock TAC;
(5) apportionments of Pacific cod TAC; (6) ``other species'' TAC; (7)
halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits; (8) seasonal allocations
of the halibut PSC limits, (9) interim groundfish harvest
specifications, (10) the opening date of the directed fishery for
sablefish for hook-and-line gear, and (11) closures to directed
fishing. A discussion of each of these measures follows.
1. Proposed Establishment of TACs and Apportionments Thereof Among
Domestic Annual Processing (DAP), Joint Venture Processing (JVP), Total
Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing (TALFF), and Reserves
Under Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii), NMFS, after consultation with the
Council, publishes in the Federal Register preliminary specifications
of annual TACs and interim harvest limits. These preliminary
specifications indicate apportionments of TACs among DAP, JVP,
reserves, and TALFF for each target species and the ``other species''
category. The sum of the TACs for all species must fall within the
combined optimum yield (OY) range, of 116,000-800,000 metric tons (mt),
established for these species.
Species TACs are apportioned initially among DAP, JVP, TALFF, and
reserves under Secs. 611.92(c)(1) and 672.20(a)(2). DAP amounts are
intended for harvest by U.S. fishermen for delivery and sale to U.S.
processors. JVP amounts are intended for joint ventures in which U.S.
fishermen deliver their catches to foreign processors at sea. TALFF
amounts are intended for harvest by foreign fishermen. Existing
harvesting and processing capacity of the U.S. industry is capable of
utilizing the entire 1995 TAC specification for GOA groundfish.
Therefore, the Council recommended that DAP equal TAC for each species
category, resulting in no proposed amounts of TALFF or JVP for the 1995
fishing year.
The reserves for the GOA are 20 percent of the TACs for pollock,
Pacific cod, flatfish target species categories, and ``other species.''
Given that the GOA groundfish TACs have been utilized fully by DAP
since 1987, NMFS has reapportioned all the reserves to DAP.
The Council met from September 28 to October 5, 1994, to review
scientific information concerning groundfish stocks. The preliminary
SAFE Report, dated September 1994, prepared and presented to the
Council by the GOA Plan Team (Plan Team), summarizes the best available
scientific information.
The September 1994 SAFE Report contains revised stock assessments
for all species except sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish (DSR). New
assessments for these two species are discussed in the final SAFE
Report issued in November. New stock assessment models were used in the
assessments for Pacific cod, arrowtooth flounder, and thornyhead
rockfish. Additional information, based on 1993 trawl surveys, was
presented for pollock, slope rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (POP),
pelagic shelf rockfish, and the flatfish groups. Details of the
assessments can be found in the September 1994 SAFE Report.
The total ABC amount recommended by the SSC and accepted by the
Council was a range from 481,090 - 533,690 mt. The range accounted for
the recommended ABC range in the Pacific cod stock. The total TAC
amount recommended by the Advisory Panel (AP) was 326,515 mt. The AP
recommended a 1995 TAC equal to the 1995 ABCs, as recommended by the
SSC, for pollock, rex sole, sablefish, shortraker/rougheye, other
rockfish, northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, DSR, and
thornyhead rockfish. The AP recommendation for a 1995 TAC for Pacific
cod was equal to the upper end of the range (103,000 mt) recommended by
the SSC.
The Council considered information in the SAFE Report,
recommendations from its SSC and its AP, as well as public testimony.
The Council then accepted the ABCs as recommended by the SSC and, with
the exception of ``other rockfish,'' the TACs as recommended by the AP.
The Council chose a TAC range for ``other rockfish'' that ranged
from the 1994 TAC amount of 2,235 mt to the 1995 ABC amount of 6,930
mt. This range was recommended to recognize the need for conservative
management of this group. However, NMFS must manage the fisheries based
on a single TAC amount, rather than on a range of numbers. NMFS has
chosen to propose a TAC of 6,930 mt, which is the number proposed by
the AP and is the ABC that was recommended from the 1994 stock
assessment. Even though this number will be used to establish the 1995
interim TAC until the final specifications are implemented, no
practical difference exists in choosing any number within the Council's
recommended TAC range. The hook-and-line fisheries typically do not
harvest other rockfish and the trawl fisheries for rockfish do not open
until July 1, by which time the final specifications will be published.
NMFS also revises the Council's recommendation for the 1995
flathead sole TAC. The Council approved the AP recommendation of
adopting the 1994 TAC amounts for flathead sole for the 1995 TAC
amounts. In the GOA Eastern Regulatory Area, the 1994 TAC amount (3,000
mt) is higher than the Council's recommended 1995 ABC (2,740 mt). To
maintain consistency with the accepted policy of setting TACs lower
than or equal to ABC amounts, NMFS is proposing to establish a 1995 TAC
of 2,740 mt for the Eastern Regulatory Area. This number is equal to
the 1995 ABC recommended by the Plan Team and the SSC and approved by
the Council. Adjustment of the flathead sole TAC in the Eastern
Regulatory Area changes the total 1995 flathead sole TAC to 9,740 mt.
This also results in a revised ``other species'' TAC amount of 15,535
mt and a revised 1995 total GOA TAC of 326,242 mt.
The 1995 ABCs, TACs and interim TACs, as well as the ABC and TAC
apportionments, are shown in Table 1.
Table 1.--Preliminary 1995 ABCs, Proposed TACs, Preliminary TACs and DAPs of Groundfish for the Western/Central
(W/C), Western (W), Central (C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas in the West Yakutat (WYak), Southeast (SEO),
and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska.\1\ Amounts Specified as Joint Venture Processing (JVP) and
Total Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing (TALFF) Are Proposed To Be Zero and Are Not Shown in This Table.
Reserves Are Proposed To Be Apportioned to DAP. Amounts in Metric Tons.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1/4\ TAC=Interim
Species Area ABC TAC=DAP TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:\2\
W (61) 30,380 30,380 7,595
C (62) 15,310 15,310 3,,827
C (63) 16,310 16,310 4,078
---------------------------------------------------
Subtotal............................ W/C 62,000 62,000 15,500
===================================================
E 3,360 3,360 840
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 65,360 65,360 16,340
===================================================
Pacific cod:\3\
Inshore............................... W ................. 26,910 6,727
Offshore.............................. W ................. 2,990, 748
Inshore............................... C ................. 61,200 15,300
Offshore.............................. C ................. 6,800 1,700
Inshore............................... E ................. 4,590 1,147
Offshore.............................. E ................. 510 128
W 16,630-29,900 29,900 7,475
C 31,250-68,000 68,000 17,000
E 2,520-5,100 5,100 1,275
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 50,400-103,000 103,000 25,750
===================================================
Flatfish, Deep-water:\4\
W 670 460 115
C 8,150 7,500 1,875
E 5,770 3,120 780
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 14,590 11,080 2,770
===================================================
Rex sole:
W 1,350 1,350 338
C 7,050 7,050 1,763
E 2,810 2,810 703
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 11,210 11,210 2,804
Flathead sole:
W 8,880 2,000 500
C 17,170 5,000 1,250
E 2,740 2,740 685
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 28,790 9,740 2,435
===================================================
Flatfish, Shallow-water:\5\
W 26,280 4,500 1,125
C 23,140 12,950 3,238
E 2,850 1,180 295
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 52,270 18,630 4,658
===================================================
Arrowtooth flounder:
W 28,400 5,000 1,250
C 141,290 25,000 6,250
E 28,440 5,000 1,250
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 198,130 35,000 8,750
===================================================
Sablefish:\6\
W 2,290 2,290 573
C 11,220 11,220 2,805
W. Yak 4,850 4,850 1,213
SEO 7,140 7,140 1,785
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 25,500 25,500 6,376
===================================================
Pacific ocean perch:\7\
W 1,780 1,195 299
C 3,190 2,152 538
E 3,860 2,630 657
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 8,830 5,977 1,494
===================================================
Shortraker/rougheye:\8\
W 170 170 43
C 1,210 1,210 303
E 530 530 133
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 1,910 1,910 479
===================================================
Rockfish, other:\9\\10\\11\
W 170 170 43
C 1,150 1,150 288
E 5,610 5,610 1,403
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 6,930 6,930 1,734
===================================================
Rockfish, northern:\12\
W 640 640 160
C 4,610 4,610 1,153
E 20 20 5
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 5,270 5,270 1,318
===================================================
Rockfish, pelagic shelf:\13\
W 910 910 228
C 3,200 3,200 800
E 1,080 1,080 270
---------------------------------------------------
Total............................. 5,190 5,190 1,298
===================================================
Demersal shelf rockfish\11\............... SEO 960 960 240
Thornyhead rockfish....................... GW 1,450 1,450 363
Atka mackerel\14\......................... GW 4,300 3,500 875
Other species\15\......................... NA\16\ 15,535 3,884
---------------------------------------------------
GOA Total\17\..................... 481,090-533,690 326,242 81,568
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\See Sec. 672.2 for definitions of regulatory area, regulatory district, and statistical area.
\2\Pollock is apportioned to three statistical areas in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Area (Table 3),
each of which is further divided into equal quarterly allowances. The first quarterly allowances are in effect
on an interim basis. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into quarterly allowances, and one-
fourth of the TAC is available on an interim basis.
\3\Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent to the inshore, and 10 percent to the offshore component. One-fourth of
the inshore and offshore allocations will be available on an interim basis. Component allowances are shown in
Table 4.
\4\``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole and Greenland turbot. Rex sole is a separate target species
beginning with the 1994 fishing year.
\5\``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\6\Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears (Table 2).
\7\``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).
\9\``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means
slope rockfish.
\10\``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegateu (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis
(silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail, S. miniatus (vermilion), S. babcocki
(redbanded), and S. reedi (yellowmouth).
\11\``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).
\12\``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
\13\``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanops (black), S. mystinus (blue), S. ciliatus (dusky), S.
entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
\14\Atka mackerel is a separate target species beginning in 1994.
\15\``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon, smelts, capelin, squid, and octopus. The TAC
for ``other species'' equals 5 percent of the TACs of target species.
\16\NA=not applicable.
\17\The total ABC reflects the sum of the ABCs for target species.
2. Preliminary Apportionment of Reserves to DAP
Regulations implementing the FMP require 20 percent of each TAC for
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish species, and the ``other species''
category be set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later
date (Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(ii)). Consistent with Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iii),
NMFS is preliminarily apportioning the 1995 reserves for each of the
four species categories to DAP, anticipating that domestic harvesters
and processors have established markets for these species and should be
provided the opportunity to realize revenues from the harvest of the
full DAP amounts so specified. Specifications of DAP shown in Table 1
reflect apportioned reserves.
3. Preliminary Apportionment of the Sablefish TACs to Users of Hook-
and-Line and Trawl Gear
Under Sec. 672.24(c), sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory
areas and districts are assigned to hook-and-line and trawl gear. In
the Central and Western Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of the TAC is
allocated to hook-and-line gear and 20 percent is allocated to trawl
gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is assigned
to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is assigned to trawl gear. The
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used
as bycatch to support directed fisheries for other target species.
Sablefish caught in the GOA with gear other than hook-and-line or trawl
must be treated as prohibited species and may not be retained. Table 2
shows the assignments of the preliminary 1995 sablefish TACs between
hook-and-line and trawl gears.
Table 2.--Preliminary 1995 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Assignments Thereof to Hook-
and-Line and Trawl Gear. Values Are in Metric Tons.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and- Trawl
Area/District TAC line share share
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...................................................................... 2,290 1,832 458
Central...................................................................... 11,220 8,976 2,244
Eastern West Yakutat......................................................... 4,850 4,607 243
Southeast Outside............................................................ 7,140 6,783 357
----------------------------------
Total.................................................................. 25,500 22,198 3,302
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Preliminary Apportionments of Pollock TAC
In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by area and season. These
amounts are further apportioned between inshore and offshore
components. Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iv) require that the TAC
for pollock in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Areas (W/C) be
apportioned among statistical areas Shumagin (61), Chirikof (62), and
Kodiak (63) in proportion to known distribution of the pollock biomass.
This measure was intended to provide spatial distribution of the
pollock harvest as a sea lion protection measure. Each statistical area
apportionment is further divided equally into the four calendar
quarters. Within any fishing year, any unharvested amount of any
quarterly allowance of pollock TAC is added in equal proportions to the
quarterly allowances of following quarters, resulting in a sum for each
quarter not to exceed 150 percent of the initial quarterly allowance.
Similarly, harvests in excess of a quarterly allowance of TAC are
deducted in equal proportions from the remaining quarterly allowances
of that fishing year. The Eastern Regulatory Area proposed TAC of 3,360
mt is not allocated among smaller areas, or quarterly.
Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(A) require that the DAP
apportionment for pollock in all regulatory areas and all quarterly
allowances thereof be divided into inshore and offshore components. The
inshore component is apportioned 100 percent of the pollock DAP in each
regulatory area after subtraction of amounts that are determined by the
Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Director) to be necessary to
support the bycatch needs of the offshore component in directed
fisheries for other groundfish species. At this time, these bycatch
amounts are unknown, and will be determined during the fishing year.
The preliminary distribution of pollock within the combined W/C GOA is
shown in Table 3, except that inshore and offshore component
apportionments of pollock are not shown.
Table 3.--Preliminary Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska
(W/C GOA); Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Quarterly Allowances. ABC for the W/C GOA Is Proposed
To Be 62,000 Metric Tons (MT). Biomass Distribution Is Based on 1993 Survey Data. TACs Are Equal to ABC. Inshore
and Offshore Allocations of Pollock Are Not Shown. ABCs and TACs Are Rounded to the Nearest 10 MT.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biomass 1995 ABC Quarterly
Statistical area percent = TAC allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (61)................................................................. 49 30,380 7,595
Chirikof (62)................................................................. 24.7 15,310 3,827
Kodiak (63)................................................................... 26.3 16,310 4,078
---------------------------------
Total................................................................... 100.0 62,000 15,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Preliminary Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC
Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(B) require that the DAP
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas be divided into
inshore and offshore components. The inshore component is equal to 90
percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory area. Inshore and
offshore component allocations of the proposed 103,000 mt TAC for each
regulatory area are shown in Table 4.
Table 4.--Preliminary 1995 Allocation (Metric Tons) of Pacific Cod in the Gulf of Alaska; Allocations to Inshore
and Offshore Components
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC
Regulatory -------------------------
Component Allocation area Offshore
Inshore(90%) (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western................................................................... 29,900 26,910 2,990
Central................................................................... 68,000 61,200 6,800
Eastern................................................................... 5,100 4,590 510
-------------------------------------
Total............................................................... 103,000 92,700 10,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. ``Other Species'' TAC
The FMP specifies that amounts for the ``other species'' category
are calculated as 5 percent of the combined TACs for target species.
The GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is calculated as 15,535 mt, which is
5 percent of the sum of combined TACs for the target species.
7. Preliminary Halibut PSC Mortality Limits
Under Sec. 672.20(f), annual Pacific halibut PSC mortality limits
are established for trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be established
for pot gear.
At its September 1994 meeting, the Council recommended that, for
1995, NMFS re-establish 1994 PSC limits of 2,000 mt and 750 mt for the
trawl and hook-and-line gear fisheries, respectively, with 10 mt of the
hook-and-line limit allocated to the DSR fishery in the Southeast
Outside District and the remainder to other hook-and-line gear
fisheries. These interim specifications exempt pot gear from halibut
limits for 1994, as proposed by the Council.
In 1994, NMFS approved a rule that authorizes separate
apportionments of the trawl halibut bycatch mortality limit between
trawl fisheries for deep-water and shallow-water species (59 FR 38132,
July 27, 1994). These apportionments are divided seasonally to avoid
seasonally high halibut bycatch rates.
Consistent with the goals and objectives of the FMP to reduce
halibut bycatches while providing an opportunity to harvest the
groundfish OY, NMFS preliminarily concurs in the Council's 1995
recommendations and assigns 2,000 mt and 750 mt of halibut PSC
mortality limits to trawl and hook-and-line gear, respectively, as
interim limits. While these limits would reduce the harvest quota for
commercial halibut fishermen, NMFS has determined that they would not
result in unfair allocation to any particular user group. NMFS
recognizes that some halibut bycatch will occur in the groundfish
fishery, but expansion of the Vessel Incentive Program, required
modifications to gear, implementation of the IFQ program, and changes
in the season start date for some fisheries are intended to reduce
adverse impacts on halibut fishermen while promoting the opportunity to
achieve the OY from the groundfish fishery.
8. Preliminary Seasonal Allocations of the Halibut PSC Limits
Under Sec. 672.20(f)(2)(iii), NMFS preliminarily allocates seasonal
halibut PSC limits based on recommendations from the Council. The
Council recommended the same seasonal allocation of PSC limits for the
1995 fishing year as those in effect during the 1994 fishing year. The
publication of the final 1994 initial groundfish and PSC specifications
(59 FR 7647, February 16, 1994) summarizes Council findings with
respect to each of the FMP considerations set forth above. At this
time, the Council's findings are unchanged from those set forth for
1994.
Pacific halibut PSC limits, and apportionments thereof, are
presented in Table 5. Regulations specify that any overages or
shortfalls in PSC limits will be accounted for within the 1995 season.
The Council did not recommend changes in the seasonal
apportionments for the hook-and-line gear fisheries from those
specified in 1994; however, NMFS notes that the opening date of the
sablefish fishery is scheduled to change from May 18, in 1994, to March
1, in 1995, under the IFQ program. This change and the Council's
proposed exemption of the sablefish fishery from the 1995 PSC limit may
prompt the Council to alter its recommendation for seasonal
apportionments at its December 1994 meeting.
The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated
to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than
DSR.
Table 5.--Preliminary 1995 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments. Values Are in Metric Tons
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl gear Hook-and-line gear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other than DSR DSR
Dates Amount ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dates Amount Dates Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1-Mar 31........... 600 (30%) Jan 1-May 17.......... 200 (27%) Jan 1-Dec 31.......... 10 (100%)
Apr 1-Jun 30........... 400 (20%) May 18-Aug 31......... 500 (68%)
Jul 1-Sep 30........... 600 (30%) Sep 1-Dec 31.......... 40 (5%)
Oct 1-Dec 31........... 400 (20%)
---------------- ------------- -----------
Total............ 2,000 (100%) ...................... 740 (100%) ...................... 10 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulations at Sec. 672.20(f)(1) authorize apportionments of the
trawl halibut PSC limit allowance as bycatch allowances to a deep-water
species complex, comprising sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish,
and arrowtooth flounder, and a shallow-water species complex,
comprising pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole,
Atka mackerel, and other species. The apportionment for these two
complexes is presented in Table 6.
Table 6.--Preliminary 1995 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Deep-Water Species
Complex and the Shallow-Water Species Complex. Values Are in Metric Tons
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-
Season water Deep-water Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 20-Mar 31................................................................ 500 100 600
Apr 1-Jun 30................................................................. 100 300 400
Jul 1-Sep 30................................................................. 200 400 600
Oct 1-Dec 31................................................................. (\1\) (\1\) (\1\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\No apportionment between shallow and deep for the 4th quarter.
9. Interim Groundfish Harvest Specifications
Current regulations at Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii)(A) require that one-
fourth of the proposed TAC (not including the reserves and the first
quarterly allowance of pollock), one-fourth of the inshore and offshore
allocations of Pacific cod in each regulatory area, and one-fourth of
the halibut PSC amounts, take effect on January 1 on an interim basis
and remain in effect until superseded by the final 1995 initial
specifications published in the Federal Register or until harvested.
Seasonal apportionments of TACs or PSC limits under provisions of other
regulations may supersede this interim specification. Table 1 shows
amounts of proposed specifications of target species and the ``other
species'' categories in effect on an interim basis beginning January 1,
1995.
10. Opening Date of the Directed Fishery for Sablefish for Hook-and-
Line Gear
Under new regulations implementing the IFQ program (50 CFR part
676) in 1995, the opening date of the sablefish fishery is March 1.
11. Closures to Directed Fishing
Under Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii), if the Regional Director determines
that the amount of a target species or ``other species'' category
apportioned to a fishery, or with respect to Pacific cod, to an
allocation to the inshore or offshore component, is likely to be
reached, the Regional Director may establish a directed fishing
allowance for that species or species group. In establishing a directed
fishing allowance, the Regional Director shall consider the amount of
that species group or allocation of Pacific cod to the inshore or
offshore component that will be taken as incidental catch in directed
fishing for other species in the same regulatory area or district. If
the Regional Director 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 regulatory area or district.
The Regional Director has determined that interim amounts of
groundfish specified by this preliminary specification (Table 1) for
species or species groups identified in Table 7 will be necessary as
incidental catch to support anticipated groundfish fisheries prior to
the time that final specifications of groundfish are in effect for the
1995 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for
those target species, gears, and components listed in Table 7 to
prevent exceeding the interim amounts of groundfish TACs specified.
These closures will be in effect during the period that the appropriate
interim specifications of groundfish TACs are in effect. During these
closures, applicable directed fishing standards may be found at
Sec. 672.20(g). Additional closures and restrictions may be found in
existing regulations at 50 CFR part 672.
Table 7.--Closures to Directed Fishing for Interim Total Allowable Catches Implemented by this Notice\1\.
Offshore = The Offshore Component; TRW = Trawl; ALL = All Gears; WG = Western Regulatory Area; CG = Central
Regulatory Area; EG = Eastern Regulatory Area; GOA = Entire Gulf of Alaska.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishery Component Gear Closed areas
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Atka mackerel................................................ ................ ALL.......... GOA
Northern rockfish............................................ ................ ALL.......... EG
Deep-water flatfish.......................................... ................ ALL.......... WG
Pacific cod.................................................. Offshore........ ALL.......... WG, CG, EG
Pacific ocean perch.......................................... ................ ALL.......... WG, CG
Rex sole..................................................... ................ ALL.......... WG
Sablefish.................................................... ................ TRW.......... WG, CG
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish................................. ................ ALL.......... WG, CG, EG
Thornyhead rockfish.......................................... ................ ALL.......... GOA
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These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR
part 672.
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After consideration of public comments and additional scientific
information presented at its December 1994 meeting, the Council may
recommend other closures to directed fishing. Additionally, NMFS may
implement other closures at the time the final 1995 initial
specifications of groundfish TACs are implemented, or during the 1995
fishing year as necessary for effective management.
Classification
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 611.92 and 672.20; and is
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 15, 1994.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31399 Filed 12-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
