2024-18053. Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments

Requirement	Catcher vessel sector	Catcher/processor sector

* * * * * * *
(viii) Is there a season during which designated vessels may catch CQ?	Yes, any vessel designated to catch CQ for a rockfish cooperative is limited to catching CQ during the season beginning on 1200 hours, A.l.t., on April 1 through 1200 hours, A.l.t., on November 15.

* * * * * * *
(xxii) When does catch count against my CQ permit?	Any vessel fishing checked-in (and therefore fishing under the authority of a CQ permit must count any catch of rockfish primary species, rockfish secondary species, or rockfish halibut PSC against that rockfish cooperative's CQ from April 1 until November 15, or until the effective date of a rockfish cooperative termination of fishing declaration that has been approved by NMFS).

* * * * * * *

7. In § 679.82, remove and reserve paragraph (a)(3) and revise paragraphs (a)(4)(i) and (a)(5) to read as follows:

§ 679.82

Rockfish Program use caps and sideboard limits.

(a) * * *

(4) * * *

(i) A catcher vessel may not harvest an amount of Pacific ocean perch CQ greater than 8.0 percent of the Pacific ocean perch CQ issued to the catcher vessel sector during a calendar year.

(5) Use cap for rockfish processors. (i) A rockfish processor may not receive or process an amount of rockfish primary species harvested with CQ assigned to the catcher vessel sector greater than 40.0 percent of the aggregate rockfish primary species CQ assigned to the catcher vessel sector during a calendar year.

(ii) A rockfish processor may not receive or process an amount of Pacific cod harvested with CQ assigned to the catcher vessel sector greater than 40.0 percent of Pacific cod CQ issued to the catcher vessel sector during a calendar year.

(iii) A rockfish processor may not receive or process an amount of sablefish harvested with CQ assigned to the catcher vessel sector greater than 40.0 percent of sablefish CQ issued to the catcher vessel sector during a calendar year.

§ 679.84

[Amended]

8. Amend § 679.84 by removing in paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) the word “May” and add, in its place, the word “April”.

9. Revise table 37 to § 679 to read as follows.

Table 37 to Part 679—GOA Amendment 80 Sideboard Limit for Groundfish for the Amendment 80 Sector
In the following management areas in the GOA and in adjacent waters open by the State of Alaska for which it adopts a Federal fishing season . . .	The sideboard limit for . . .	Is . . .
Area 610	Pollock	0.3% of the TAC.
Area 620	Pollock	0.2% of the TAC.
Area 630	Pollock	0.2% of the TAC.
Area 640	Pollock	0.2% of the TAC.
West Yakutat District	Pacific cod	3.4% of the TAC.
	Pacific ocean perch	96.1% of the TAC.
	Dusky rockfish	89.6% of the TAC.
Central GOA	Pacific cod	4.4% of the TAC.
	Pacific ocean perch	Subject to regulations in subpart G to this part.
	Dusky rockfish	Subject to regulations in subpart G to this part.
	Northern rockfish	Subject to regulations in subpart G to this part.
Western GOA	Pacific cod	2.0% of the TAC.
	Pacific ocean perch	99.4% of the TAC.
	Dusky rockfish	76.4% of the TAC.
	Northern rockfish	100% of the TAC.

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Document Information

Effective Date:: 9/16/2024
Published:: 08/16/2024
Department:: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:: Rule
Action:: Final rule.
Document Number:: 2024-18053
Dates:: Effective September 16, 2024.
Pages:: 66633-66638 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:: Docket No. 240808-0216
RINs:: 0648-BM69: Amendment 113 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program Adjustments
RIN Links:: https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0648-BM69/amendment-113-to-the-fishery-management-plan-for-the-groundfish-of-the-gulf-of-alaska-central-gulf-o
Topics:: Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
PDF File:: 2024-18053.pdf
Supporting Documents:: » 0648-BM69_Analysis_Final; » 0648-BM69_Amendment 113 FMP text_508; » 0648-BM69_FR_FONSI _508; » 0648-BM69_PR_FONSI; » 0648-BM69_Amendment 113 FMP text_508; » 0648-BM69_PR_FMP Text; » 0648-BM69_PR_Analysis; » 0648-BM69_PR_FONSI
CFR: (1): 50 CFR 679