[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4311-4321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2291]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Parts 611, 675, and 676
[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 111495A]
Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands;
Foreign Fishing; Limited Access; Final 1996 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final 1996 specifications of groundfish and associated
management measures; closures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 1996 harvest specifications of total
allowable catches (TACs), initial apportionments of TACs for each
category of groundfish, and associated management measures in the
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is
necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management
measures for groundfish during the 1996 fishing year. NMFS also is
closing specified fisheries consistent with the final 1996 groundfish
specifications and fishery bycatch allowances of prohibited species.
These measures are intended to conserve and manage the groundfish
resources in the BSAI.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The final 1996 harvest specifications are effective at
noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 30, 1996, through 2400
A.l.t., December 31, 1996, or until changed by subsequent notification
in the Federal Register. The closures to directed fishing are effective
noon, A.l.t., January 30, 1996, through 2400 A.l.t., December 31, 1996.
ADDRESSES: The final Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the
1996 Total Allowable Catch Specifications may be obtained from the
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668,
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or by calling 907-586-7229.
The final Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report is
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, West 4th
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252 (907-271-2809).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, NMFS, 907-586-7228.
[[Page 4312]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal
regulations at 50 CFR part 675 that implement the Fishery Management
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island
area (FMP). Other applicable regulations are found at 50 CFR 611.93
(foreign fishing) and 50 CFR part 676 (Limited Access Management of
Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska). The FMP was prepared by the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved by NMFS
under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
The FMP and implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the apportionments
of prohibited species catch (PSC) limits among fisheries and seasons
(Sec. 675.21(b)), the TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), initial domestic annual
harvest (DAH), and initial total allowable level of foreign fishing
(TALFF) for each target species and the ``other species'' category
(Sec. 675.20(a)(2)). The sum of the TACs must be within the optimum
yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt)
(Sec. 675.20(a)(2)). Specifications set forth in Tables 1-9 of this
action satisfy these requirements. For 1996, the sum of TACs is
2,000,000 mt.
The proposed BSAI groundfish specifications and specifications for
prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the
BSAI were published in the Federal Register on December 6, 1995 (60 FR
62373). Comments were invited through January 4, 1996. No written
comments were received within the comment period. Public consultation
with the Council occurred during the December 6-10, 1995, Council
meeting in Anchorage, AK. Biological and economic data that were
available at the Council's December meeting were considered by NMFS
when it approved the final 1996 specifications as recommended by the
Council.
Interim Specifications
Regulations under Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(i) authorize one-fourth of each
proposed ITAC and apportionment thereof, one-fourth of each PSC
allowance, and the first proposed seasonal allowance of pollock to be
in effect on January 1 on an interim basis and to remain in effect
until superseded by final initial specifications. NMFS published the
interim 1996 specifications in the Federal Register on December 6, 1995
(60 FR 62339). The final 1996 initial groundfish harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances contained in this action
supersede the interim 1996 specifications. TAC Specifications and
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)
The specified TAC for each species is based on the best available
biological and socioeconomic information. The Council, its Advisory
Panel (AP), and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed
current biological information about the condition of groundfish stocks
in the BSAI at their September and December 1995 meetings. This
information was compiled by the Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team and
is presented in the final 1996 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish
fisheries, dated November 1995. The Plan Team annually produces such a
document as the first step in the process of specifying TACs. The SAFE
report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters.
From these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each
species category.
A summary of the preliminary ABCs for each species for 1996 and
other biological data from the September 1995 draft SAFE report were
provided in the discussion supporting the proposed 1996 specifications
(60 FR 62373, December 6, 1995). The Plan Team's recommended ABCs were
reviewed by the SSC, AP, and Council at their September 1995 meetings.
Based on the SSC's comments concerning technical methods and new
biological data not available in September, the Plan Team revised its
ABC recommendations in the final SAFE report, dated November 1995. The
revised ABC recommendations were again reviewed by the SSC, AP, and
Council at their December 1995 meetings. While the SSC endorsed most of
the Plan Team's recommendations for 1996 ABCs set forth in the final
SAFE report, the SSC recommended revisions to ABC amounts calculated
for pollock, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, and sablefish. The Council
adopted the SSC's recommendations for the 1996 ABCs. The final ABCs are
listed in Table 1.
The Council developed its TAC recommendations based on the final
ABCs as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the total TAC in the required OY range of 1.4-2.0
million mt. None of the Council's recommended TACs for 1996 exceeds the
final 1996 ABC for each species category. Therefore, NMFS finds that
the recommended TACs are consistent with the biological condition of
groundfish stocks. The final TACs and overfishing levels for groundfish
in the BSAI area for 1996 are given in Table 1 of this action.
Apportionment of TAC
Except for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish,
each species' TAC initially is reduced by 15 percent to establish the
ITAC for each species, as required by Sec. 675.20(a)(3) and
Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(i). The sum of the 15-percent amounts is the reserve.
One half of the pollock TACs placed in reserve is designated as a
community development quota (CDQ) reserve for use by CDQ participants.
The remainder of the reserve is not designated by species or species
group, and any amount of the reserve may be reapportioned to a target
species or the ``other species'' category during the year, providing
that such reapportionments do not result in overfishing.
The ITAC for each target species and the ``other species'' category
at the beginning of the year is apportioned between the DAH and TALFF,
if any. Each DAH amount is further apportioned between two categories
of U.S. fishing vessels. The domestic annual processing (DAP) category
includes U.S. vessels that process their catch on board or deliver it
to U.S. fish processors. The joint venture processors (JVP) category
includes U.S. fishing vessels working in joint ventures with foreign
processing vessels authorized to receive catches in the U.S. exclusive
economic zone.
In consultation with the Council, the initial amounts of DAP and
JVP are determined by the Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional
Director). Consistent with the final 1991-95 initial specifications,
the Council recommended that 1996 DAP specifications be set equal to
ITAC and that zero amounts of groundfish be allocated to JVP and TALFF.
In making this recommendation, the Council considered the capacity of
DAP harvesting and processing operations and anticipated that 1996 DAP
operations will harvest the full TAC specified for each BSAI groundfish
species category. The ABCs, TACs, ITACs, specified overfishing levels
(OFLs), and initial apportionments of groundfish in the BSAI for 1996
are set out in Table 1.
[[Page 4313]]
Table 1.--Final 1996 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and
Overfishing Levels of Groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 1,2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over-fishing
Species ABC TAC ITAC DAP 3, 4 level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:
Bering Sea (BS)............................. 1,190,000 1,190,000 1,011,500 1,460,000
Aleutian Islands (AI)....................... 35,600 35,600 30,260 47,000
Bogoslof District........................... 121,000 1,000 850 121,000
Pacific cod..................................... 305,000 270,000 229,500 420,000
Sablefish total: .............. .............. .............. 3,300
BS.......................................... 1,200 1,100 468 ..............
AI.......................................... 1,300 1,200 255 ..............
Atka mackerel total: 116,000 106,157 90,233 164,000
Western AI.................................. 55,700 45,857 38,978 ..............
Central AI.................................. 33,600 33,600 28,560 ..............
Eastern AI/BS............................... 26,700 26,700 22,695
Yellowfin sole.................................. 278,000 200,000 170,000 342,000
Rock sole....................................... 361,000 70,000 59,500 420,000
Greenland turbot total: 10,300 7,000 5,950 25,100
BS.......................................... 6,900 4,667 3,967 ..............
AI.......................................... 3,400 2,333 1,983 ..............
Arrowtooth flounder............................. 129,000 9,000 7,650 162,000
Flathead sole................................... 116,000 30,000 25,500 140,000
Other flatfish \5\.............................. 102,000 35,000 29,750 120,000
Pacific ocean perch:
BS.......................................... 1,800 1,800 1,530 2,860
AI total.................................... 12,100 12,100 10,285 25,200
Western AI.............................. 6,050 6,050 5,143 ..............
Central AI.............................. 3,025 3,025 2,571 ..............
Eastern AI.............................. 3,025 3,025 2,571 ..............
Other red rockfish: \6\
BS.......................................... 1,400 1,260 1,071 1,400
Sharpchin/Northern:
AI.......................................... 5,810 5,229 4,445 5,810
Shortraker/Rougheye:
AI.......................................... 1,250 1,125 956 1,250
Other rockfish: \7\
BS.......................................... 497 447 380 497
AI.......................................... 952 857 728 952
Squid........................................... 3,000 1,000 850 3,000
Other species: \8\............................ 27,600 20,125 17,106 137,000
---------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................................... 2,820,809 2,000,000 1,698,767 ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Amounts are in metric tons. These amounts apply to the entire Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) area
unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these specifications, the BS
includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Zero amounts of groundfish are specified for Joint Venture Processing and Total Allowable Level of Foreign
Fishing.
\3\ Except for the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 0.15 of each TAC is put
into a reserve. The ITAC for each species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
One half of the amount of the pollock TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a
CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants (See Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(ii)).
\4\ Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear is reserved for use by CDQ
participants (See Sec. 676.24(b)). Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(3) do not provide for the establishment of
an ITAC for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation for sablefish. The ITAC for sablefish reflected in Table
1 is for trawl gear only.
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), flathead
sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and northern.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, sharpchin,
northern, shortraker, and rougheye.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon, smelts, capelin, and octopus.
The SSC's revisions to the ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for
pollock, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, and sablefish are discussed
below.
Eastern Bering Sea pollock. The SSC believed that the Plan Team's
projected 1996 biomass and ABC for eastern Bering Sea pollock (7.36
million mt and 1.29 million mt, respectively) were overestimated. The
Plan Team's recommended biomass level was based on a prediction of a
strong 1992 year class. However, the SSC expressed concerns about the
assumed strength of the 1992 year class that include: (1) The
possibility that the rate of exploitation on the year class is
underestimated, (2) recent fishery independent indicators of abundance
have not corroborated the earlier observations of year class strength,
(3) the 1992 year class has experienced an undocumented rate of
exploitation in the Russian fishery operating along the U.S./Russia
provisional boundary northwest of the Pribilof Islands, and (4) the
1992 year class did not show strongly in the 1995 bottom trawl survey.
The SSC recommended that the predicted strength of the 1992 year class
should be demonstrated by observing its contribution to the 1996
fishery.
The Plan Team also reviewed an alternative estimate of stock
abundance and ABC based on lower recruitment and exploitation rate
assumption. The resulting 1996 stock abundance and ABC were 6.0 million
mt and 1.09 million mt, respectively. The SSC
[[Page 4314]]
recommended adopting a midpoint estimate of ABC at 1,190,000 mt to
account for alternative interpretations of 1996 recruitment. The
associated midpoint biomass is 6,672,000 mt.
Aleutian Islands pollock. The SSC revised the 1996 Aleutian Islands
pollock biomass to 142,505 mt from the Plan Team's 87,200 mt. This
increase was based on the SSC's recommendation that biomass estimated
for the eastern Aleutian Islands (Unalaska-Umnak area) be included in
the Aleutian Islands biomass estimate, as done in previous years. In
the past, the Plan Team included biomass from the Unalaska-Umnak
islands area in the Aleutian Islands area estimate because this area
was surveyed as part of the Aleutian Islands survey and was never
included in the eastern Bering Sea trawl survey. The Plan team excluded
the eastern extension of the Aleutian Islands area from its 1996
biomass estimate because these fish likely are not a discrete stock
given that pollock are continuously distributed from the eastern Bering
Sea. Furthermore, a portion of the pollock harvested in the eastern
Aleutian Islands (area 541) likely are Aleutian Basin fish because a
substantial portion of the commercial catch is from deep-water areas
adjacent to the Bogoslof area during the first half of the year.
Nonetheless, because the Plan team did not include the eastern Aleutian
biomass in either the Aleutian Basin or eastern Bering Sea areas for
the purpose of assessing ABC, the SSC determined that no compelling
reason exists for excluding an allowable catch from this area.
Therefore, the SSC recommended that the Council revert to historical
practice and include the Unalaska-Umnak area in the estimate of
Aleutian Islands ABC. Given the SSC's revised biomass of 142,505 mt,
the SSC recommended an ABC of 35,600 mt using an exploitation rate of
25 percent and an overfishing level (OFL) of 47,000 mt.
Bogoslof pollock. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's estimate
for Bogoslof area pollock biomass (1.1 million mt) based on the 1995
hydroacoustic survey. This level of biomass is twice that estimated for
1995. This increase is believed to be the result of a large increase in
the 1989 year class, as well as an increase in the abundance of older
pollock in the Bogoslof area. These older fish could have migrated from
the eastern Bering Sea or Aleutian Island shelf areas; however, little
is understood of the relationship of the Bogoslof pollock population to
the adjacent eastern BSAI population. In view of this uncertainty, the
SSC recommended a more conservative exploitation rate for the Bogoslof
area than that recommended by the Plan Team. The SSC recommended an ABC
of 121,000 mt based on an F40%/2 exploitation rate (0.11) applied
to the current biomass (1.1 million mt). This level of ABC is reduced
from the Plan Team's recommendation of 286,000 mt based on an F35%
!exploitation rate (.26). The SSC considered its ABC calculation to be
consistent with the overfishing definition so that OFL=ABC=121,000.
The Council recommended that pollock be closed to directed fishing
in the Bogoslof District and that a TAC of 1,000 mt be established to
provide for bycatch in other groundfish fisheries. This recommendation
was intended to accommodate uncertainty about whether or not Bogoslof
pollock are a distinct self-sustaining population or surplus fish from
the shelf populations. The Council's TAC recommendation also addresses
concerns about the potential impacts of undocumented fishing effort in
the Russian zone on young pollock that are primarily considered to be
of U.S. origin. The Council's TAC recommendation is adopted in these
final specifications (Table 1).
Greenland turbot. The SSC endorsed the Plan Team's ABC for
Greenland turbot (17,000 mt). However, the SSC recommended that this
ABC amount be phased in over a 3-year period to allow the possibility
of conducting joint industry/NMFS assessment surveys of the Bering Sea
slope and Aleutian Islands. Results of these surveys would allow for a
refinement of the stock abundance estimates prior to fully increasing
the ABC to 17,000 mt. Given a 3-year phasing in period, the SSC
recommended a 1996 ABC of 10,300 mt based on the estimated biomass of
67,000 mt and an exploitation rate of 0.154. The SSC concurred with the
Plan Team's recommendation that the ABC be split so that two-thirds of
the TAC is apportioned to the eastern Bering Sea and one-third is
apportioned to the Aleutian Islands. The intent of this apportionment
is to spread fishing effort over a larger area and to avoid localized
depletion. Using the SSC's recommended ABC, this apportionment scheme
results in eastern BSAI ABCs of 6,900 mt and 3,400 mt, respectively.
The Council concurred with the SSC's recommendation for ABC and adopted
a 7,000-mt TAC, as recommended by the AP.
Pacific cod. The SSC applied a harvest strategy of F40%
!yielding an ABC of 305,000 mt, compared to the Plan Team's ABC of
357,000 using F35%. The SSC recommended a more conservative
exploitation strategy because of recruitment variability and the
unknown impact of increased use of larger-sized trawl mesh on gear
selectivity.
Sablefish. The SSC recommended that the sablefish ABCs be set at
the level recommended in the 1996 SAFE report (1,200 mt for the Bering
Sea and 1,300 mt for the Aleutian Islands). The recommended ABCs are
slightly higher than the levels recommended by the Plan Team (1,100 mt
for the Bering Sea and 1,200 mt for the Aleutian Islands), yet they
represent a substantial reduction from 1995 levels. This reduction
reflects biomass declines due to continuing low recruitment. The
slightly higher ABCs recommended by the SSC are based on a F35%
!exploitation rate, rather than the F40%!used by the Plan Team.
Seasonal Allowances of Pollock TACs
Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(ii), the pollock TAC for each subarea or
district of the BSAI is divided, after subtraction of reserves
(Sec. 675.20(a)(3)), into two seasonal allowances. The first allowance
is available for directed fishing from January 1 to April 15 (roe
season) and the second allowance is available from August 15 through
the end of the fishing year (non-roe season).
The Council recommended that the seasonal allowances for the Bering
Sea pollock roe and non-roe seasons be specified at 45 percent and 55
percent of the ITAC amounts, respectively (Table 2). These percentages
are unchanged since 1993. As in past years, the pollock TAC amounts
specified for the Aleutian Islands subarea and the Bogoslof District
are not seasonally apportioned.
When specifying seasonal allowances of the pollock TAC, the Council
and NMFS considered the factors specified in section 14.4.10 of the FMP
and listed in the proposed specifications (60 FR 62373, December 6,
1995). A discussion of these factors relative to the roe and non-roe
seasonal allowances was presented in the final 1993 specifications for
BSAI groundfish (58 FR 8703, February 17, 1993). Consideration under
these factors remains unchanged from 1993 given that the relative
seasonal allowances for 1993-96 are the same.
Apportionment of the Pollock TAC to the Inshore and Offshore Components
Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iii) require that the proposed
pollock ITAC amounts specified for the BSAI be allocated 35 percent to
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component and 65
percent to vessels catching pollock for processing by the
[[Page 4315]]
offshore component. Definitions of these components are found at
Sec. 675.2. The 1996 ITAC specifications are consistent with these
requirements (Table 2).
Table 2.--Seasonal Allowances of the Inshore and Offshore Component Allocations of Pollock TAC Amounts 1, 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subarea TAC ITAC \3\ Roe season \4\ Non-roe season \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
Inshore........................... .............. 354,025 159,311 194,714.
Offshore.......................... .............. 657,475 295,864 361,611.
1,190,000 1,011,500 455,175 556,325.
Aleutian Islands:
Inshore........................... .............. 10,591 10,591 Remainder.
Offshore.......................... .............. 19,669 19,669 Remainder.
35,600 30,260 30,260 Remainder.
Bogoslof:
Inshore........................... .............. 298 298 Remainder.
Offshore.......................... .............. 552 552 Remainder.
1,000 850 850 Remainder.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ TAC = total allowable catch.
\2\ Based on an offshore component allocation of 0.65 (ITAC) and an inshore component allocation of 0.35 (ITAC).
\3\ ITAC = initial TAC = 0.85 of TAC.
\4\ January 1 through April 15--based on a 45/55 split (roe = 45 percent).
\5\ August 15 through December 31--based on a 45/55 split (non-roe = 55 percent).
Apportionment of the Pollock TAC to the Western Alaska Community
Development Quota
Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(ii) require one-half of the
pollock TAC placed in the reserve for each subarea or district, or 7.5
percent of each TAC, be assigned to a CDQ reserve for each subarea or
district. The 1996 CDQ reserve amounts for each subarea are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock
BSAI Subarea CDQ (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea.................................................... 89,250
Aleutian Islands.............................................. 2,670
Bogoslof...................................................... 75
---------
Total................................................... 91,995
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under regulations governing the CDQ program at Sec. 675.27, NMFS
may allocate the 1996 pollock CDQ reserves to eligible Western Alaska
communities or groups of communities that have an approved community
development plan (CDP). NMFS has approved six CDP's and associated
percentages of the CDQ reserve for each CDP recipient for 1996-98 (60
FR 66516, December 22, 1995). Table 3 lists the approved CDP
recipients, and each recipient's allocation of the 1996 pollock CDQ
reserve for each subarea.
Table 3.--Approved Shares (Percentages) and Resulting Allocations and Seasonal Allowances (Metric Tons) of the
1996 Pollock CDQ Reserve Specified for the Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) Subareas, and the Bogoslof
District (BD) Among Approved CDP Recipients
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roe-season
CDP recipient Percent Area Allocation allowance \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Pribilof Island Community 16 BS 14,280 6,426
Development Assn.
........... AI 427 ..............
........... BD 12 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... ....................... 14,719 ..............
================
Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp..... 20 BS 17,850 8,033
........... AI 534 ..............
........... BD 15 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... ....................... 18,399 ..............
================
Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Assn....... 4 BS 3,570 1,607
........... AI 107 ..............
........... BD 3 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... 3,680 ..............
================
Coastal Villages Fishing Coop............. 25 BS 22,312 10,040
........... AI 668 ..............
........... BD 19 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... ....................... 22,999 ..............
================
Norton Sound Fisheries Development Corp... 22 BS 19,635 8,836
........... AI 587 ..............
[[Page 4316]]
........... BD 16 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... ....................... 20,238 ..............
================
Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Corp.... 13 BS 11,603 5,221
........... AI 347 ..............
........... BD 10 ..............
----------------
Total............................... ........... ....................... 11,960 ..............
----------------
Total............................... 100 ....................... 91,995 40,163
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No more than 45 percent of a CDP recipient's 1996 pollock allocation may be harvested during the pollock roe
season, January 1 through April 15.
Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC is
allocated to vessels using jig gear, 44 percent to vessels using hook-
and-line or pot gear, and 54 percent to vessels using trawl gear. At
its December 1995 meeting, the Council recommended a seasonal
apportionment of the portion of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear. The seasonal apportionments
are authorized under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(v) to provide for the harvest of
Pacific cod when flesh quality and market conditions are optimum and
Pacific halibut bycatch rates are low. The Council's recommendations
for seasonal apportionments are based on: (1) Seasonal distribution of
Pacific cod relative to prohibited species distributions, (2) expected
variations in prohibited species bycatch rates experienced in the
Pacific cod fisheries throughout the year, and (3) economic effects of
seasonal apportionment of Pacific cod on the hook-and-line and pot gear
fisheries. The seasonal allocation of the Pacific cod ITAC is specified
in Table 4.
Table 4.--1996 Gear Shares of the BSAI Pacific Cod Initial TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal apportionment
Gear Percent TAC Share ITAC ----------------------------------------------------
(mt) Date Percent Amount (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jig.............................. 2 4,590 Jan. 1-Dec. 31........... 100 4,590
Hook-and-line/pot gear........... 44 100,980 Jan. 1-Apr. 30........... 79 80,000
May 1-Aug. 31............ 18 18,000
Sep. 1-Dec. 31........... 3 2,980
Trawl gear....................... 54 123,930 Jan 1-Dec 31............. 100 123,930
Total...................... 100 229,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish Gear Allocation and CDQ Allocations for Sablefish
Regulations at Sec. 675.24(c)(1) require that sablefish TACs for
BSAI subareas be divided between trawl and hook-and-line/pot gear
types. Gear allocations of TACs are established in the following
proportions: Bering Sea subarea: Trawl gear--50 percent; hook-and-line/
pot gear--50 percent; and Aleutian Islands subarea: Trawl gear--25
percent; hook-and-line/pot gear--75 percent. In addition, regulations
under Sec. 676.24(b) require NMFS to withhold 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear sablefish allocation as sablefish CDQ reserve.
Gear allocations of sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts are specified
in Table 5.
Table 5.--1996 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of Share of Initial TAC
Subarea Gear TAC (mt) TAC (mt) (mt) \1\ CDQ reserve
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea.......................... Trawl................. 50 550 468 N/A
Hook-and-line/pot gear 50 550 N/A 110
\2\.
---------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ...................... ........... 1,100 468
Aleutian Islands.................... Trawl................. 25 300 255 N/A
Hook-and-line/pot gear 75 900 N/A 180
\2\.
---------------------------------------------------
Total......................... ...................... ........... 1,200 255 290
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 0.15 of TAC is apportioned to reserve. The
ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
[[Page 4317]]
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the
allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants. Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(3) do not provide for
the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.
Under regulations governing the sablefish CDQ program at
Sec. 676.24, NMFS may allocate the 1996 sablefish CDQ reserve to
eligible Western Alaska communities or groups of communities that have
an approved CDP. NMFS has approved seven CDP's and associated
percentages of the sablefish CDQ reserve for each CDP recipient for
1995-97 (59 FR 61877, December 2, 1994). Table 6 lists the approved CDP
recipients, and each recipient's allocation of the 1996 sablefish CDQ
reserve for each subarea.
Table 6.--Approved Shares (Percentages) and Resulting Allocations (MT)
of the 1996 Sablefish CDQ Reserve Specified for the Bering Sea (BS) and
Aleutian Islands (AI) Subareas Among Approved CDP Recipients
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation
Sablefish CDP recipient Area Percent (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka Fishermen's Association.... BS 0 0
AI 0 0
Bristol Bay Economic Development BS 0 0
Corp.
AI 25 45
Coastal Villages Fishing BS 0 0
Cooperative.
AI 25 45
Norton Sound Economic BS 25 28
Development Corporation.
AI 30 54
Pribilof Island Fishermen....... BS 0 0
AI 0 0
Yukon Delta Fisheries BS 75 82
Development Association.
AI 10 18
Aleutian Pribilof Islands BS 0 0
Community Development
Association.
AI 10 18
-------------------------
Total..................... BS 100 110
AI 100 180
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allocation of Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Crab, Halibut,
and Herring
PSC limits of red king crab and C. bairdi Tanner crab in Bycatch
Limitation Zones (50 CFR 675.2) of the Bering Sea subarea, and for
Pacific halibut throughout the BSAI specified under Sec. 675.21(a). The
PSC limits are:
--Zone 1 trawl fisheries, 200,000 red king crabs;
--Zone 1 trawl fisheries, 1 million C. bairdi Tanner crabs;
--Zone 2 trawl fisheries, 3 million C. bairdi Tanner crabs;
--BSAI trawl fisheries, 3,775 mt mortality of Pacific halibut;
--BSAI nontrawl fisheries, 900 mt mortality of Pacific halibut; and
--BSAI trawl fisheries, 1,697 mt Pacific herring.
The PSC limit of Pacific herring caught while conducting any trawl
operation for groundfish in the BSAI is 1 percent of the annual eastern
Bering Sea herring biomass. The best estimate of 1996 herring biomass
is 169,700 mt. This amount was derived using 1995 survey data and an
age-structured biomass projection model developed by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 1996
is 1,697 mt.
Regulations under Sec. 675.21(b) authorize the apportionment of
each PSC limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories.
Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii) specify seven trawl fishery
categories (midwater pollock, Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish, rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish, yellowfin sole,
rockfish, Pacific cod, and bottom pollock/Atka mackerel/``other
species''). Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(2) authorize the
apportionment of the non-trawl halibut PSC limit among five fishery
categories (Pacific cod hook-and-line, sablefish hook-and-line,
groundfish pot gear, groundfish jig gear, and other non-trawl fishery
categories). The fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl and nontrawl
fisheries are listed in Table 7.
The fishery bycatch allowances listed in Table 7 reflect the
recommendations made to the Council by its AP. These recommendations
generally reflect those established for 1995 except for the halibut
bycatch allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth
flounder/sablefish fishery category. A halibut bycatch allowance equal
to zero is specified for this fishery category in 1996. This means that
directed fishing for these species by vessels using trawl gear is
prohibited. The reasons for this action were discussed in the December
6, 1995, publication of the proposed 1996 specifications (60 FR 62373).
The remainder of the prohibited species bycatch allowances were based
on 1995 bycatch amounts, anticipated 1996 harvest of groundfish by
trawl gear and fixed gear, and assumed halibut mortality rates in the
different groundfish fisheries.
Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(2) authorize exemption of specified
non-trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in 1995, the Council
recommended that the pot gear, jig gear, and sablefish hook-and-line
gear fishery categories be exempt from the halibut bycatch
restrictions.
The Council recommended that the pot and jig gear fisheries be
exempt from halibut-bycatch restrictions because these fisheries use
selective gear types that experience low halibut bycatch mortality. In
1995, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was
approximately 21,000 mt with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of
less than 15 mt. The 1995 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about
700 mt of groundfish. The jig gear fleet is comprised of vessels less
than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall that are exempt from observer
coverage requirements. As a result, no observer data are available on
halibut bycatch in the BSAI
[[Page 4318]]
jig gear fishery. Nonetheless, the selective nature of this gear type
and the relatively small amount of groundfish harvested with jig gear
likely results in a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality.
As in 1995, the Council recommended that the sablefish Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery be exempt from halibut bycatch restrictions
because of the sablefish and halibut IFQ program (50 CFR part 676). The
IFQ program requires legal-sized halibut to be retained by vessels
using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is aboard. The
best available information on the 1995 sablefish IFQ fishery indicates
that less than 40 mt of halibut discard mortality was associated with
this fishery.
Table 7.--Final 1996 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl fisheries Zone 1 Zone 2 BSAI-wide
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab, number of animals:
Yellowfin sole.............................................. 50,000
Rcksol/flatsol/othflat \1\.................................. 110,000
Turb/arrow/sab \2\.......................................... 0
Rockfish.................................................... 0
Pacific cod................................................. 10,000
Plck/Atka/othr \3\.......................................... 30,000
-----------------
Total..................................................... 200,000
=================
C. Bairdi tanner crab, number of animals:
Yellowfin sole.............................................. 250,000 1,530,000
Rcksol/flatsol/othflat...................................... 425,000 510,000
Turb/arrow/sab.............................................. 0 0
Rockfish.................................................... 0 10,000
Pacific cod................................................. 250,000 260,000
Plck/Atka/othr.............................................. 75,000 690,000
---------------------------------
Total..................................................... 1,000,000 3,000,000
=================================
Pacific halibut, mortality (MT):
Yellowfin sole.............................................. .............. .............. 820
Rcksol/flatsol/othflat...................................... .............. .............. 730
Turb/arrow/sab.............................................. .............. .............. 0
Rockfish.................................................... .............. .............. 110
Pacific cod................................................. .............. .............. 1,685
Plck/Atka/othr.............................................. .............. .............. 430
---------------
Total..................................................... .............. .............. 3,775
===============
Pacific herring (MT):
Midwater pollock\4\......................................... .............. .............. 1,227
Yellowfin sole.............................................. .............. .............. 287
Rcksol/flatsol/othflat...................................... .............. .............. 0
Turb/arrow/sab.............................................. .............. .............. 0
Rockfish.................................................... .............. .............. 7
Pacific cod................................................. .............. .............. 22
Plck/Atka/othr\4\........................................... .............. .............. 154
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... .............. .............. 1,697
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Trawl Fisheries
Pacific halibut, mortality (MT):
Pacific cod hook-and-line................................... .............. .............. 800
Sablefish hook-and-line..................................... .............. .............. (5)
Groundfish pot gear......................................... .............. .............. (5)
Groundfish jig gear......................................... .............. .............. (5)
Other non-trawl............................................. .............. .............. 100
-----------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... .............. .............. 900
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Rock sole, flathead sole, and other flatfish fishery category.
\2\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\3\ Pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\4\ Pollock other than midwater pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\5\ Exempt.
Seasonal Apportionments of PSC limits
Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(3) authorize NMFS, after consultation
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of prohibited
species bycatch allowances. At its December 1995 meeting, the Council
recommended that certain crab bycatch allowances apportioned to the
yellowfin sole fishery, the trawl fishery halibut bycatch allowances,
and the halibut bycatch allowance apportioned to the Pacific cod hook-
and-line gear fishery be seasonally apportioned as shown in
[[Page 4319]]
Table 8. The recommended seasonal apportionments reflect
recommendations made to the Council by its AP.
The Council recommended a seasonal apportionment of the Zone 1 red
king crab and Zone 1 C. bairdi bycatch allowances apportioned to the
yellowfin sole fishery. This recommendation was intended to balance
concerns about undesirable high bycatch rates of red king crab in Zone
1 with the recognition that Zone 1 provides desirable fishing grounds
for the yellowfin sole fleet during the time of the year when trawl
closure areas and ice cover in more northern waters restrict fishing
opportunities. Furthermore, halibut and C. bairdi bycatch rates
experienced in Zone 1 tend to be lower than those encountered on other
fishing grounds in the Bering Sea.
The Council recommended seasonal apportionments of the halibut
bycatch allowances specified for the trawl flatfish and rockfish
fisheries to provide additional fishing opportunities in the BSAI early
in the year and to reduce the incentive for trawl vessel operators to
move from the BSAI to the Gulf of Alaska after the rock sole roe
fishery is closed, typically by the end of February.
The seasonal apportionment of the halibut bycatch allowance
specified for the Pacific cod trawl fishery is intended to provide the
opportunity for a late fall fishery in the event that sufficient
amounts of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear
remain.
The recommended seasonal apportionment of the halibut bycatch
allowance for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery
category is based on the seasonal allowances of the Bering Sea pollock
ITAC recommended for the roe and non-roe seasons, and the assumption
that most of the pollock taken during the roe season will be taken with
pelagic trawl gear with reduced halibut bycatch rates.
The Council recommended three seasonal apportionments of the
halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line
fishery. The intent of this recommendation was to provide amounts of
halibut necessary to support the harvest of the seasonal apportionments
of Pacific cod TAC listed in Table 4, as well as limit a hook-and-line
fishery for Pacific cod during summer months when halibut bycatch rates
are high. As authorized under Sec. 675.21(b)(3)(iii), the Council
further recommended that any unused portion of the first seasonal
halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line
fishery be reapportioned to the third seasonal allowance to avoid
opportunity for additional fishing for Pacific cod during summer
months. Any overage of a halibut bycatch allowance would be deducted
from the remaining seasonal bycatch allowances specified for 1996 in
amounts proportional to those remaining seasonal bycatch allowances.
Table 8.--Final Seasonal Apportionments of the 1996 Prohibited Species
Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seasonal
Trawl fisheries bycatch
allowance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific halibut, mortality (mt):
Yellowfin sole:
Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................ 160
Apr. 01-May 10............................................. 150
May 11-Aug. 14............................................. 100
Aug. 15-Dec. 31............................................ 410
----------
Total.................................................. 820
==========
Rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'':
Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................ 453
Apr. 01-Jun. 30............................................ 139
Jul. 01-Dec. 31............................................ 138
----------
Total.................................................. 730
==========
Rockfish:
Jan.20-Mar. 31............................................. 30
Apr.01-Jun. 30............................................. 50
Jul.01-Dec. 31............................................. 30
----------
Total.................................................. 110
==========
Pacific cod:
Jan. 20-Oct. 24............................................ 1,585
Oct. 25-Dec. 31............................................ 100
----------
Total.................................................. 1,685
==========
Pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'':
Jan. 20-Apr. 15............................................ 330
Apr. 16-Dec. 31............................................ 100
----------
Total.................................................. 430
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone 1 Red king crab, Number of animals:
Yellowfin sole:
Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................ 5,000
Apr. 01-May 10............................................. 15,000
May 11-Aug. 14............................................. 10,000
Aug. 15-Dec. 31............................................ 20,000
----------
Total.................................................. 50,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone 1 C. Bairdi crab, number of animals:
Yellowfin sole:
Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................ 50,000
Apr. 01-Dec 31............................................. 200,000
----------
Total.................................................. 250,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Trawl Gear:
Pacific halibut mortality (mt):
Pacific cod hook-and-line:\1\..............................
Jan. 01-Apr. 30............................................ 475
May 01-Aug. 31............................................. 40
Sep. 01-Dec. 31............................................ 285
----------
Total.................................................. 800
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Any unused portion of the first seasonal halibut bycatch allowance
specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery will be
reapportioned to the third seasonal allowance. Any overage of a
seasonal halibut bycatch allowance would be deducted from the
remaining seasonal bycatch allowances specified for 1996 in amounts
proportional to those remaining seasonal bycatch allowances.
For purposes of monitoring the fishery halibut bycatch mortality
allowances and apportionments, the Regional Director will use observed
halibut bycatch rates and estimates of groundfish catch to project when
a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal
apportionment is reached. The Regional Director monitors the fishery's
halibut bycatch mortality allowances using assumed mortality rates that
are based on the best information available, including information
contained in the final annual SAFE report.
The Council recommended that the assumed halibut mortality rates
developed by staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission
(IPHC) for the 1996 BSAI groundfish fisheries be adopted for purposes
of monitoring halibut bycatch allowances established for the 1996
groundfish fisheries. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation.
The IPHC's assumed halibut mortality rates generally are based on an
average of mortality rates determined from NMFS observer data collected
during 1993 and 1994. Assumed Pacific halibut mortality rates for BSAI
fisheries during 1996 are specified in Table 9.
[[Page 4320]]
Table 9.--Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
during 1996
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assumed
Fishery mortality
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line gear fisheries:
Rockfish................................................... 24
Pacific cod................................................ 11.5
Greenland turbot........................................... 22
Sablefish.................................................. 17
Trawl gear fisheries:
Midwater pollock........................................... 88
Non-pelagic pollock........................................ 78
Yellowfin sole............................................. 73
Rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish................... 73
Rockfish................................................... 75
Pacific cod................................................ 63
Atka mackerel.............................................. 63
Arrowtooth flounder........................................ 49
Greenland turbot........................................... 49
Sablefish.................................................. 49
Other species.............................................. 82
Pot gear fisheries:
Pacific cod................................................ 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundfish PSC Limits
No PSC limits for groundfish species are specified in this action.
Section 675.20(a)(6) authorizes NMFS to specify PSC limits for
groundfish species or species groups for which the TAC will be
completely harvested by domestic fisheries. These PSC limits apply only
to JVP or TALFF fisheries. At this time, no groundfish are allocated to
either JVP or TALFF and specifications of groundfish PSC limits are
unnecessary.
Closures to Directed Fishing
Under Sec. 675.20(a)(8), if the Regional Director determines that
the amount of a target species or ``other species'' category
apportioned to a fishery or, with respect to pollock, to an inshore or
offshore component allocation, is likely to be reached, the Regional
Director may establish a directed fishing allowance for the species or
species group. If the Regional Director established a directed fishing
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species
or species group in the specified subarea or district. Similarly, under
Secs. 675.21(c) and 675.21(d), if the Regional Director determines that
a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, or C.
bairdi tanner crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional
Director will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that
category in the specified area.
The Regional Director has determined that the TAC amounts of
pollock in the Bogoslof District, Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea
subarea and in the Eastern and Central Aleutian Islands districts,
shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea, other
rockfish in the BSAI subareas, and other red rockfish in the Bering Sea
will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing
for these target species in the specified area identified in Table 10
to prevent exceeding the groundfish TACs specified in Table 1 of this
document.
A Zone 1 red king crab bycatch allowance of zero crab is specified
for the rockfish trawl fishery, which is defined at
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(D). Similarly, the BSAI halibut bycatch
allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish trawl fishery category, defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(C),
is 0 mt. The Regional Director has determined, in accordance with
Secs. 675.21(c)(1)(i) and 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the red king crab
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery in Zone 1
and the halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/
arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery category has been caught.
Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish in Zone 1
by vessels using trawl gear, and for Greenland turbot, arrowtooth
flounder, and sablefish in the BSAI by vessels using trawl gear (Table
10).
The closures listed in Table 10 supersede the closures announced in
the 1996 interim specifications (60 FR 62339, December 6, 1996). In
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), these closures will remain in
effect until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996. While these
closure are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at
Sec. 675.20(h) apply at any time during a fishing trip. Additional
closures and restrictions may be found in existing regulations at 50
CFR part 675.
Under the 1996 interim specification, NMFS closed directed fishing
for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian Islands District. The
final 1996 specifications contained in this action supersede the
interim 1996 specifications. Therefore, directed fishing for Pacific
ocean perch is authorized in the Western Aleutian Islands District
under the final 1996 specifications.
Table 10.--Closures to Directed Fishing Under 1996 TACs \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishery (all gear) Closed area \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock in Bogoslof District.............. Statistical Area 518.
Pacific ocean perch....................... Bering Sea.
Eastern AI.\3\
Central AI.
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish.............. AI.
Other rockfish \4\........................ BSAI.
Other red rockfish \5\.................... Bering Sea.
Rockfish (trawl only)..................... Zone 1.
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish BSAI.
(trawl only).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 675.
\2\ Refer to Sec. 675.2 for definitions of areas.
\3\ ``AI'' means Aleutian Islands area.
\4\ In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and Sebastolobus
species except for Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish''
species.
\5\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and
northern.
Classification
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 611.93(b), 675.20, and 676;
and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
This action adopts final 1996 harvest specifications for the BSAI,
revises associated management measures, and closes specified fisheries.
Generally, this action does not significantly revise management
measures in a manner that would require time to plan or prepare for
those revisions. In some cases, such as closures, action must be taken
immediately to conserve fishery resources. Without these closures,
specified prohibited species bycatch allowances will be exceeded,
established TAC amounts will be overharvested, and retention of some
groundfish species will become prohibited, which would disadvantage
fishermen who could no longer retain bycatch amounts of these species.
The immediate effectiveness of this action is required to provide
consistent management and conservation of fishery resources.
Accordingly, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA),
finds good cause exists to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness
period under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) with respect to such provisions. In
some cases, the interim specifications in effect would be insufficient
to allow directed fisheries to operate during a 30-day delayed
effectiveness period, which would result in unnecessary closures and
disruption within the fishing industry; in many of these cases, the
final specifications will allow the fisheries to continue, thus
relieving a restriction. Provisions of a rule relieving a restriction
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) are
[[Page 4321]]
not subject to a delay in the effective date.
Pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NMFS and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that the groundfish
fisheries operating under the 1996 BSAI TAC specifications are unlikely
to jeopardize the continued existence or recovery of species listed as
endangered or threatened or to adversely modify critical habitat of
these species.
NMFS prepared an EA on the 1996 TAC specifications. The AA
concluded that no significant impact on the environment will result
from their implementation. A copy of the EA is available (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 30, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-2291 Filed 1-30-96; 4:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W
