96-2291. Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Foreign Fishing; Limited Access; Final 1996 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish  

  • [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]
    
    
    
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    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
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/30/1996
Published:
02/05/1996
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final 1996 specifications of groundfish and associated management measures; closures.
Document Number:
96-2291
Dates:
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.
Pages:
4311-4321 (11 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 960129019-6019-01, I.D. 111495A
PDF File:
96-2291.pdf