Federal Register: December 12, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 239)
DOCID: FR Doc 02-31369
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679
Docket ID: [Docket No. 021122285-2285-01; I.D. 110602C]
NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES
ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed 2003 initial specifications for groundfish and associated management measures; apportionment of reserves; request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2003 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
DATES: Comments must be received by January 13, 2003.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
NMFS proposes 2003 initial harvest specifications, prohibited species bycatch allowances, and associated management measures for the groundfish fishery of 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 2003 fishing year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI and to provide an opportunity for public participation in the annual groundfish specification process as conducted by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council).
SUMMARY:
Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background for the 2003 Proposed Harvest Specifications
Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 that implement the FMP. The Council prepared the FMP and NMFS approved it under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable catch (TAC) for each target species and the ``other species'' category, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(i)). Regulations under Sec. 679.20(c)(1) further require NMFS to solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs, apportionments thereof, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances, and to publish proposed specifications in the Federal Register. The proposed specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 13 of this action satisfy these requirements. For 2003, the proposed sum of TACs is 1,998,540 mt.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final annual specifications for 2003 after (1) considering comments received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its next meeting beginning December 2, 2002, and (3) considering new information presented in the EA, the final 2002 SAFE reports, and in the section 7 consultation prepared for the 2003 groundfish fisheries.
With some exceptions, regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) require
that onefourth of each proposed initial TAC (ITAC) amount and
apportionment thereof, onefourth of each Community Development Quota
(CDQ) reserve established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii), and onefourth
of each proposed PSC allowance established under Sec. 679.21, become
available at 0001 hours Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, on an
interim basis and remain in effect until superseded by the final
specifications. Regulations that will be effective with the final rule
to implement the Steller sea lion protection measures provide that the
proposed first seasonal allowance for pollock, Pacific cod and Atka
mackerel becomes available at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 on an
interim basis and remains in effect until superseded by the final
specifications. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide
for an interim specification for either the hookandline and pot gear
sablefish CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed under the Individual
Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. Interim TAC specifications and
apportionments thereof for the 2003 fishing year will be published in a separate Federal Register notice.
[[Page 76363]]
Other Rules Affecting the 2003 Specifications
At its October 2002 meeting, the Council recommended the extension
of the closure of the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery through 2003 as
a precautionary component of the Steller sea lion protection measures
implemented under separate rulemaking. The Council also indicated that
they may consider apportionment of the TAC of several rockfish species
in the Aleutian Islands subarea among the Eastern, Central and Western
Aleutian districts. A final rule implementing regulatory provisions of
the American Fisheries Act (AFA) will be published in the Federal
Register and effective for 2003. In order to minimize confusion, the
proposed specifications also identify sideboard amounts for the AFA
fisheries that will be available under the final rule. Also, NMFS has
initiated rulemaking to permanently implement the Steller sea lion
protection measures for 2003 and beyond. To minimize confusion and
provide clarity to the 2003 specification process, we have included in
the proposed 2003 harvest specifications pollock, Pacific cod and Atka
mackerel seasonal allowances that are consistent with the existing protection measures.
Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications
The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available scientific information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations and is based on a successive series of six levels, or tiers, of reliable information available to fishery scientists.
The best information currently available is set forth in appendix A of the final SAFE report for the 2001 BSAI groundfish fisheries dated November 2001 (see ADDRESSES). Information on the status of stocks will be updated with the 2002 survey results and reconsidered by the Plan Team at its November 2002 meeting.
At their October 2002 meeting, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed the Plan Team's preliminary recommendations to project 2003 biomass amounts as identified in the 2001 SAFE for the proposed 2003 ABC, OFL, and TAC amounts. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's recommendations, which included a new approach for updating the ABCs and OFLs by using an estimate of 2002 catch with the November 2001 SAFE report model projections of 2003 ABCs for groundfish stocks managed at tiers 13. This procedure results in closer approximations to the final 2003 specifications and therefore provides the Council and the public with better information. The Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The Council also adopted the AP's recommendations for the 2003 proposed TACs to be set equal to the 2002 TACs, except for yellowfin sole, northern rockfish and Atka mackerel. Recognizing anticipated changes in the ABCs for these species, the AP recommended and the Council adopted a decrease in the TACs for yellowfin sole and northern rockfish and an increase in the Atka mackerel TAC. The Council adopted the AP's recommendation to use the 2002 PSC allowances for 2003. They will reconsider these amounts at the December 2002 Council meeting after new status of stocks information is incorporated by the Plan Team into a final SAFE report for the 2003 BSAI groundfish fishery. None of the Council's TAC recommendations for 2003 exceed the recommended ABC for any species category. Therefore, NMFS finds that the Council's recommendations for proposed 2003 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the best available information on the biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
Table 1 lists the proposed 2003 OFLs, ABC amounts, and TAC amounts
for groundfish in the BSAI. The proposed apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.
Table 1.Proposed 2003 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ
Reserve Allocation, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands AREA (BSAI)\1\
[All amounts are in mt]
CDQ
Species Area Overfishing ABC TAC ITAC reserve
level \2\ \3\
Pollock \4\.................... Bering Sea (BS)\2\ 2,594,000 2,088,880 1,485,000 1,283,0 148,500
Aleutian Islands 31,700 23,800 1,000 40 100
(Al) \2\. 46,400 4,310 100 900 10
Bogoslof District. 90
Pacific cod.................... BSAI.............. 292,680 252,020 200,000 170,000 15,000
Sablefish \5\.................. BS................ 3,150 2,100 1,930 821 265
AI................ 4,190 2,770 2,550 541 431
Atka mackerel.................. BSAI.............. 100,115 59,600 59,600 50,660 4,470
Western AI........ ............ 23,960 23,960 20,366 1,797
Central AI........ ............ 28,950 28,950 24,607 2,171
Eastern AI/BS..... ............ 6,690 6,690 5,687 502
Yellowfin sole................. BSAI.............. 135,630 114,370 76,000 64,600 5,700
Rock sole...................... BSAI.............. 242,585 203,870 54,000 45,900 4,050
Greenland turbot............... BSAI.............. 33,370 27,590 8,000 6,800 600
BS................ ............ 18,485 5,360 4,556 402
AI................ ............ 9,105 2,640 2,244 198
Arrowtooth flounder............ BSAI.............. 120,010 99,285 16,000 13,600 1,200
Flathead sole.................. BSAI.............. 90,850 74,440 25,000 21,250 1,875
Other flatfish \6\............. BSAI.............. 21,800 18,100 3,000 2,550 225
Alaska plaice.................. BSAI.............. 170,915 142,070 12,000 10,200 900 [[Page 76364]]
Pacific ocean perch............ BSAI.............. 17,850 15,060 14,800 12,580 1,110
BS................ ............ 2,666 2,620 2,227 197
Western AI........ ............ 5,759 5,660 4,811 425
Central AI........ ............ 3,114 3,060 2,601 230
Eastern AI........ ............ 3,521 3,460 2,941 260
Northern rockfish.............. BSAI.............. 5,580 4,700 ........... ....... ..........
BS................ ............ ........... 13 11 1
Al................ ............ ........... 4,687 3,984 352
Shortraker/rougheye............ BSAI.............. 1,369 1,028 ........... ....... ..........
BS................ ............ ........... 116 99 9
Al................ ............ ........... 912 775 68
Other rockfish \7\............. BS................ 482 361 361 307 27
Al................ 901 676 676 575 51
Squid.......................... BSAI.............. 2,620 1,970 1,970 1,675 ..........
Other species \8\.............. BSAI.............. 78,900 39,100 30,825 26,201 2,312
TOTAL...................... .................. 3,995,097 3,176,100 1,998,540 1,770,6 187,225
18
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of
pollock, and for the purpose of these specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock and the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hookandline and pot gear, 15 percent
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. The Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea and the Bogoslof District are closed to directed fishing
for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch amounts only, and are not apportioned by season, sector or put into a reserve.
\3\ Except for pollock and the hookandline or pot gear allocation of sablefish, one half of the amount of the
TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii) and 679.31).
\4\ The AFA requires that 10 percent of the annual pollock TAC be allocated as a directed fishing allowance for
the CDQ sector. NMFS then subtracts 4 percent of the remainder as an incidental catch allowance for pollock,
which is not apportioned by season or area. The remainder of the TAC is further allocated by sector as
follows: inshore, 50 percent; catcher/processor, 40 percent; and motherships, 10 percent.
\5\ Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1) do not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for the hookandline and
pot gear allocation for sablefish. The ITAC for sablefish reflected in Table 1 is for trawl gear only. Twenty
percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hookandline gear or pot gear is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii)).
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species),
flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec. 679.2, are not included in the ``other species'' category.
Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) require that 15 percent of the TAC for each target species or species group, except for the hookand line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a nonspecified reserve. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by requiring that the proposed 2003 TAC for this species be fully allocated among the CDQ program, the ICA, and inshore, catcher/processor, and mothership directed fishery allowances.
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii) require that one half of each TAC amount placed in the nonspecified reserve, with the exception of squid, be allocated to the groundfish CDQ reserve and that 20 percent of the hookandline and pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Section 206(a) of the AFA requires that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hookandline and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the CDQ reserves are not further apportioned by gear. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i) also require that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with the exception of herring, be withheld as a prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserve for the CDQ fisheries. Regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves are set forth at Sec. Sec. 679.30 and 679.31.
Under section 206(b) of the AFA, NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 4 percent of the pollock TAC after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on an examination of the incidental catch of pollock in nonpollock target fisheries from 1997 through 2001. During this 4year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 3 percent in 1998, to a high of about 6 percent in 1997, with a 4year average of 4 percent. Because these incidental percentages are contingent on the relative amounts of other groundfish TACs, NMFS will be better able to assess the ICA amount when the Council makes final ABC and TAC amount recommendations in December. Under regulations at Sec. 679.24(b)(4), the use of nonpelagic trawl gear is prohibited in the directed fishery for nonCDQ pollock in the BSAI.
The remainder of the nonspecified 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.
Pollock Allocations Under the AFA
Section 206(a) of the AFA requires that 10 percent of the BSAI
pollock TAC be allocated as a directed fishing allowance to the CDQ
program. The remainder of the BSAI pollock TAC, after the subtraction
of an allowance for the incidental catch of pollock by vessels,
including CDQ vessels, harvesting other groundfish species, is
allocated as follows; 50 percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock
for processing by the inshore component, 40 percent to catcher/ processors and catcher vessels harvesting pollock for
[[Page 76365]]
processing by catcher/processors in the offshore component, and 10
percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by
motherships in the offshore component. These amounts are listed in Table 2.
The AFA also contains several specific requirements concerning pollock and pollock allocations. First, paragraph 210(c) of the AFA requires that not less than 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to vessels for processing by offshore catcher/processors be available for harvest by offshore catcher vessels, listed in section 208(b), harvesting pollock for processing by offshore catcher/processors listed in section 208(e). Second, catcher/processors eligible to fish for pollock, as specified under paragraph 208(e)(21) of the AFA, are prohibited from harvesting in the aggregate a total of more than one half of one percent (0.5 percent) of the pollock allocated to vessels for processing by offshore catcher/processors. Table 2 lists theproposed 2003 allocations of pollock TAC as described by the AFA. Other provisions of the AFA, including inshore pollock cooperative allocations and unrestricted catcher processor and catcher vessel harvest limitations, are found in Tables 8 through 13.
Table 2 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest
within the SCA, as defined at Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(vii), is limited to
28 percent of the annual directed fishing allowance (DFA) until April
1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season
may be taken outside of the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after
April 1. If the 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the
SCA before April 1, the remainder is available to be taken inside the
SCA after April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each industry sector in proportion to each sector's
allocated percentage of the DFA as set forth in the AFA. These proposed amounts, by sector, are listed in Table 2.
Table 2.Proposed Allocations of the Pollock TAC and Directed Fishing Allowance (DFA) to the Inshore, Catcher/
Processor, Mothership, and CDQ Components \1\
[All amounts are in mt]
A/B Season \1\ C/D Season \1\
Area and sector 2002 DFA A/B DFA (40% A SCA limit C/D DFA (60%
of annual DFA) \2\ of annual DFA)
Bering Sea subarea.............................. 1,485,000 .............. .............. ..............
CDQ......................................... 148,500 59,400 41,580 89,100
ICA \3\..................................... 53,460 .............. .............. ..............
AFA Inshore................................. 641,520 256,608 179,626 384,912
AFA Catcher Processors \4\.................. 513,216 205,286 143,700 307,930 Catch by C/Ps........................... 469,593 187,837 .............. 281,756 Catch by CVs \4\........................ 43,623 17,449 .............. 26,174 Restricted C/P cap \5\.............. 2,566 1,026 .............. 1,540
AFA Motherships............................. 128,304 51,322 35,925 76,982
Excessive shares cap \6\.................... 224,532 .............. .............. ..............
Aleutian Islands: ICA \7\....................... 900
Bogoslof District: ICA \7\...................... 90
\1\ After subtraction for the CDQ reserve and the ICA, the pollock TAC is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore
component50 percent, catcher/processor component40 percent, and mothership component10 percent. Under
paragraph 206(a) of the AFA, the CDQ reserve for pollock is 10 percent. NMFS, under regulations at Sec.
679.24(b)(4), prohibits nonpelagic trawl gear to engage in directed fishing for nonCDQ pollock in the BSAI.
The A/B season, January 20June 10, is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the C/D season, June 10November 1 is allocated 60 percent of the DFA.
\2\ No more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining
12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside
the SCA after April 1. If 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the
remainder is available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ The pollock ICA for the BS subarea is 4 percent of the TAC after subtraction of the CDQ reserve.
\4\ Subsection 210(c) of the AFA requires that not less than 8.5 percent of the directed fishing allowance
allocated to listed catcher/processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\5\ The AFA requires that vessels described in section 208(e)(21) be prohibited from exceeding a harvest amount
of onehalf of one percent of the directed fishing allowance allocated to vessels for processing by AFA catcher/processors.
\6\ Paragraph 210(e)(1) of the AFA specifies that ``No particular individual, corporation, or other entity may
harvest, through a fishery cooperative or otherwise, a total of more than 17.5 percent of the pollock
available to be harvested in the directed pollock fishery.''
\7\ The Aleutian Islands subarea and the Bogoslof District are closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch amounts only, and are not apportioned by season or sector. Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TAC
Regulations implementing Steller sea lion protection measures at Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii) apportion the Atka mackerel ITAC into two equal seasonal allowances. After subtraction of the jig gear allocation, the first allowance is made available for directed fishing from January 1 to April 15 (``A'' season), and the second seasonal allowance is made available from September 1 to November 1 (``B'' season)(Table 3). Under Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional Administrator will establish a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts west of 178 degrees W long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries. Atka mackerel fishing is prohibited in critical habitat east of 178 degrees W. long. to provide maximum protection to Steller sea lions and because Atka mackerel is readily available in waters outside of critical habitat.
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be
allocated to the jig gear fleet. The amount of this allocation is
determined annually by the Council based on several criteria, [[Page 76366]]
including the anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The
Council recommended and NMFS proposes that 1 percent of the Atka
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
subarea be allocated to the jig gear fleet in 2003. Based on an ITAC of 15,170 mt, the jig gear allocation would be 152 mt.
A lottery system is used for the HLA Atka mackerel directed fisheries to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about half and to disperse the fishery over two areas (Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(iii)). Table 3.Proposed 2003 Seasonal and Spatial Apportionments, Gear Shares, and CDQ Reserve of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC \1\ \2\ Seasonal apportionment \3\ CDQ A Season \4\ B Season \5\ Subarea & component TAC reserve ITAC HLA Limit HLA Limit Total \6\ Total \6\ Western Aleutian District.......... 23,960 1,797 20,366 10,183 6,110 10,183 6,110 Central Aleutian District 28,950 2,171 24,607 12,304 7,382 12,304 7,382 Eastern AI/BS subarea \7\.......... 6,690 502 5,687 ......... ......... ......... .........
Jig (1%) \8\................... ......... ......... 57 ......... ......... ......... .........
Other gear (99%)............... ......... ......... 5,630 2,815 ......... 2,815 .........
Total...................... 59,600 4,470 50,660 25,302 ......... 25,302 ......... \1\ Amounts are in mt.
\2\ Regulations at Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a)(8) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. \4\ The A season is January 1 through April 15.
\5\ The B season is September 1 through November 1.
\6\ HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.
679.2). In 2003, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the
Western and Central AI. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands HLA, west of 178 degrees W.
long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries. \7\ Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
\8\ Regulations at Sec. 679.20 (a)(8) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern AIeutian District and the
Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated to the jig gear fleet. The proposed amount of this allocation is 1
percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC is allocated to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to vessels using hookandline or pot gear, and 47 percent to vessels using trawl gear. Under regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), the portion of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear is further allocated 50 percent to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processors. Under regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(1), a portion of the Pacific cod allocated to hookandline or pot gear is set aside as an ICA of Pacific cod in directed fisheries for groundfish using these gear types. Based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries, NMFS proposes an ICA of 500 mt. The remainder of Pacific cod is further allocated to vessels using hookandline or pot gear as the following directed fishing allowances: 80 percent to hookandline catcher processors, 0.3 percent to hookandline catcher vessels, 18.3 percent to pot gear vessels, and 1.4 percent to catcher vessels under 60 feet (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) using hookandline or pot gear.
Due to concerns about the potential impact of the Pacific cod
fishery on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat, the Pacific
cod fisheries are temporally dispersed by the apportionment of the ITAC into two seasonal allowances (Sec. Sec. 679.23(e)(6) and
679.20(a)(7)). For most nontrawl gear the first allowance, 60 percent
of the ITAC, is made available for directed fishing from January 1 to
June 10, and the second seasonal allowance, 40 percent of the ITAC, is
made available from June 10 to December 31. No seasonal harvest
constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hookandline or pot gear. For
trawl gear, the first season is January 20 to April 1 and is allocated
60 percent of the ITAC. The second season, April 1 to June 10, and the
third season, June 10 to November 1, are each allocated 20 percent of
the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessel allocation is further allocated as
70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20
percent in the third season. The trawl catcher/processor allocation is
allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second
season, and 20 percent in the third season. Table 4 lists the proposed
2003 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod ITAC.
NMFS and the Council propose that any unused portion of a seasonal
Pacific cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next seasonal allowance.
Table 4.2003 Gear Shares and Seasonal Apportionments of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
Subtotal Seasonal apportionment\1\
Share of gear percentages Share of gear
Gear sector Percent sector total for gear sector total
(mnt) sectors (mt) Date Amount (mt)
Total hookandline and pot gear allocation 51 86,700 .............. .............. .............. of Pacific cod TAC.
Incidental Catch Allowance................. ........... .............. .............. 500 .............. [[Page 76367]]
Processor and Vessel subtotal.............. ........... 86,200 .............. .............. ..............
Hookandline Catcher Processors....... ........... .............. 80 68,960 Jan 1Jun 10.................. 41,376 Jun 10Dec. 31................ 27,584
HookandLine Catcher Vessels.......... ........... .............. 0.3 259 Jan 1Jun 10.................. 155 Jun 10Dec 31................. 104
Pot Gear Vessels....................... ........... .............. 18.3 15,775 Jan 1Jun 10.................. 9,465
Sept 1Dec 31................. 6,310
Catcher Vessels <60 feet LOA using Hookand ........... .............. 1.4 1,207 line or Pot gear.
Trawl gear Total........................... 47 79,900 ..............
Trawl Catcher Vessel................... ........... .............. 50 39,950 Jan 20Apr 1.................. 27,965 Apr 1Jun 10.................. 3,995 Jun 10Nov 1.................. 7,990
Trawl Catcher Processor................ ........... .............. 50 39,950 Jan 20Apr 1.................. 19,975 Apr 1Jun 10.................. 11,985 Jun 10Nov 1.................. 7,990 Jig........................................ 2 3,400 .............. .............. Jan 1Jun 10.................. 2,040 Jun 10Dec 31................. 1,360 Total...................................... 100 170,000 .............. .............. .............. \1\ For nontrawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the TAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the TAC. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hookandline or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first season is allocated 60 percent of the TAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20 percent of the TAC. The trawl catcher vessels' allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. The trawl catcher/processors' allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. Any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance will be reapportioned to the next seasonal allowance. Allocation of the Shortraker and Rougheye Rockfish TAC
Under Sec. 679.20(a)(9), the ITAC of shortraker rockfish and rougheye rockfish specified for the Aleutian Islands subarea is allocated 30 percent to vessels using nontrawl gear and 70 percent to vessels using trawl gear. Based on a proposed 2003 ITAC of 775 mt, the trawl allocation would be 543 mt and the nontrawl allocation would be 232 mt.
Sablefish Gear Allocation
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require that
sablefish TACs for the BS and AI subareas be allocated between trawl
and hookandline or pot gear types. Gear allocations of the TACs for
the Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for
hookandline or pot gear, and for the Aleutian Islands subarea are 25
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hookandline or pot gear.
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) require that 20 percent of
the hookandline and pot gear allocation of sablefish be reserved as
sablefish CDQ. Additionally, regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A)
require that 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish (one
half of the reserve) be reserved as groundfish CDQ. Proposed 2003 gear
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts are specified in Table 5.
Table 5.Proposed 2003 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
Percent of Share of ITAC CDQ
Subarea & Gear TAC TAC (mt) (mt)\1\ Reserve Bering Sea:
Trawl\2\................................................ 50 965 821 72
Hook&line/pot gear \3\................................ 50 965 N/A 193 Total............................................... 100 1,930 821 265 Aleutian Islands:
Trawl\2\................................................ 25 637 541 48
Hook&line/pot gear \3\................................ 75 1,913 N/A 383
Total............................................... 100 2,550 541 431
\1\ Except for the sablefish hookandline and pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the
reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, one half of the reserve (7.5
percent of the specified TAC) is reserved for the CDQ program.
\3\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hookandline or pot gear, 20 percent of the
allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants. Regulations in Sec. 679.20(b)(1) do not provide for
the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hookandline or pot gear. [[Page 76368]]
Allocation of Prohibited Species Catch Limits for Halibut, Crab, Salmon, and Herring
Due to the lack of new information concerning PSC limits and apportionments, the Council at its October 2002 meeting recommended using the halibut, crab and herring 2002 PSC amounts for the proposed 2003 amounts. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December based on recommendations by the Plan Team and the SSC. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(vii) specify a scheduled reduction of chinook salmon PSC limits until the final limit is reached in 2004. For 2003, the chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery is 33,000 fish.
PSC limits for halibut are set in regulations at Sec. 679.21(e). For the BSAI trawl fisheries, the limit is 3,675 mt of mortality of Pacific halibut and for nontrawl fisheries, the limit is 900 mt mortality. PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on abundance and spawning biomass.
For 2003, the proposed PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl vessels is 97,000 animals. Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the number of mature female red king crab was estimated in 2002 to be above 8.4 million animals, and the effective spawning biomass is estimated to be 14.5 million pounds (6,577 mt), which is less than the 55 million pound (24,948 mt).
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B) establish criteria under which NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS to up to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category and must be based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. The Council recommended and NMFS proposes a red king crab bycatch limit equal to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category within the RKCSS.
Based on 2001 survey data, C. bairdi abundance is estimated to be 624 million crab. Given the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii) and the 2001 survey data, the proposed 2003 C. bairdi PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2 as a result of the C. bairdi abundance estimate exceeding 400 million animals.
Under Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for C. opilio is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio PSC limit is set at 0.1133 percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2001 survey estimate of 3.86 billion animals, the calculated limit would be 4,373,380 animals. Because this limit is less than 4.5 million animals, under Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iv)(B) the proposed 2003 C. opilio PSC limit is 4,350,000 animals.
Under Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(vi), the proposed 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. NMFS's best estimate of 2002 herring biomass is 152,574 mt. This amount was derived using 2001 survey data and an agestructured biomass projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Therefore, the proposed herring PSC limit for 2003 is 1,526 mt.
Under Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for crab and halibut is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(3) require the apportionment of each trawl PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery categories. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize the apportionment of the nontrawl halibut PSC limit among five fishery categories. The proposed fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl and nontrawl fisheries are listed in Table 6.
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize exemption of specified nontrawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, NMFS after consultation with the Council, is proposing to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hookandline gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions because these fisheries use selective gear types that take comparatively few halibut. In 2002, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was approximately 13,989 mt with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of about 7 mt. The 2002 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 172 mt of groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and are exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality is assumed because of the selective nature of this gear type and the likelihood that halibut caught with jig gear have a high survival rate when released.
As in past years, the Council recommended that the sablefish IFQ fishery be exempt from halibut bycatch restrictions because of the sablefish and halibut IFQ program (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). The IFQ program requires legalsized halibut to be retained by vessels using hookandline gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ. This action results in less halibut discard in the sablefish fishery. In 1995, about 36 mt of halibut discard mortality was estimated for the sablefish IFQ fishery. A similar estimate for 1996 through 2002 has not been calculated, but NMFS has no information indicating that it would be significantly different.
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(5) authorize NMFS, after consultation with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC allowances. At its October 2002 meeting, the Council proposed no seasonal apportionments, except for the trawl bycatch allowance for halibut bycatch specified for the rockfish trawl fishery. The intent of this proposal was to reduce halibut bycatch during the first quarter when it is the highest. NMFS anticipates that the Council will recommend additional seasonal apportionments during its December 2002 meeting.
Table 6.Proposed 2003 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and NonTrawl Fisheries
Prohibited species and Zone
Red King C. bairdi (animals)
Trawl fisheries Halibut Herring Crab C. opilio
mortality (mt) BSAI (animals) (animals)
(mt) BSAI Zone 1 \1\ COBLZ \2\ Zone 1 \1\ Zone 2 \1\
Yellowfin sole.................... 886 139 16,664 2,776,981 340,844 1,788,459
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole 779 20 59,782 969,130 365,320 596,154 \3\..............................
RKCSS \3\..................... ........... ........... 20,924 ........... ........... ........... [[Page 76369]]
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \4\... ........... 9 ........... 40,238 ........... ...........
Rockfish: July 1December 31..... 69 7 ........... 40,237 ........... 10,988
Pacific cod....................... 1,434 20 11,664 124,736 183,112 324,176
Midwater trawl pollock............ ........... 1,184 ........... ........... ........... ...........
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other \5\... 232 46 1,615 72,428 17,224 27,473
Total Trawl PSC........... 3,400 1,526 89,725 4,023,750 906,500 2,747,250 NonTrawl Fisheries
Pacific codTotal................ 775
Other nontrawlTotal............ 58
Groundfish pot & jig exempt....... (\7\)
Sablefish hook&line exempt...... (\7\)
Total NonTrawl............... 833
PSQ Reserve \6\........... 342 ........... 7,275 326,250 73,500 222,750 ==============
Grand Total........... 4,575 1,526 97,000 4,350,000 980,000 2,970,000 \1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at 50 CFR part 679, Figure 13.
\3\ The Council at its October 2002 meeting proposed that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the
RKCSS be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole, flathead sole, and other flatfish
fishery category (Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)). ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish
species, except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole and arrowtooth flounder.
\4\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\5\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\6\ With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the CDQ program as PSQ reserve.
The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear or season. \7\ Exempt.
To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), will use observed halibut bycatch rates, assumed mortality rates, and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The Regional Administrator monitors a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowances using assumed mortality rates that are based on the best information available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report.
The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the Preseason
Assumed halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs) developed by staff of
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) for the 2002 BSAI
groundfish fisheries be used for purposes of monitoring halibut bycatch
allowances established for 2003 (Table 7). Results from analysis of
halibut release condition data for 2000 showed continued stability in
halibut DMRs for many fisheries. Plots of annual DMRs against the 10
year mean indicated little change since 1990 for some fisheries,
particularly the major trawl fisheries. DMRs were more variable for the
smaller fisheries which typically take minor amounts of halibut
bycatch. For 2002, Preseason Assumed DMRs were used, which included use
of the longterm mean DMR for a 3year period before revisions are
proposed, except for the BSAI hookandline Pacific cod fishery and CDQ
fisheries, for which annual DMRs were used. The IPHC will continue to
conduct annual analyses of observer data and recommend changes to the
DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation from the mean and for
the CDQ fisheries. For 2002, the BSAI hookandline Pacific cod fishery
DMR did not change; but the CDQ fishery DMRs were adjusted. The
justification for these mortality rates is discussed in the final SAFE
report dated November 2001. The proposed mortality rates listed in
Table 7 are subject to change pending the results of an updated
analysis on halibut mortality rates in the groundfish fisheries that
IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the Council at its December 2002 meeting.
Table 7.Proposed 2003 Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
Preseason
assumed
Fishery mortality
(percent) Hookandline gear fisheries:
Rockfish................................................. 25
Pacific cod.............................................. 12
Greenland turbot......................................... 18
Sablefish................................................ 22
Other Species............................................ 12 Trawl gear fisheries:
Midwater pollock......................................... 84
Nonpelagic pollock....................................... 76
Yellowfin sole........................................... 81
Rock sole................................................ 76
Flathead sole............................................ 67
Other flatfish........................................... 71
Rockfish................................................. 69
Pacific cod.............................................. 67
Atka mackerel............................................ 75
Greenland turbot......................................... 70
Sablefish................................................ 50
Other species............................................ 67 Pot gear fisheries:
Pacific cod.............................................. 8
Other species............................................ 8 CDQ Trawl fisheries:
Atka mackerel............................................ 89
Flathead sole............................................ 83
Midwater pollock......................................... 88
Nonpelagic pollock....................................... 90 [[Page 76370]]
Rockfish................................................. 89
Yellowfin sole........................................... 77 CDQ Hookandline fisheries:
Pacific cod.............................................. 13
Greenland turbot......................................... 14 CDQ Pot fisheries:
Pacific cod.............................................. 7
Sablefish................................................ 38 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations
The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.
679.4, will set forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher vessel pollock
cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative fishing permits and
inshore pollock allocations. NMFS received applications from seven
inshore catcher vessel cooperatives. Table 8 lists the proposed pollock
allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives
based on 2002 cooperative allocations and NMFS' assumption, at this
date, that the cooperatives membership will remain unchanged in 2003.
Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not participating in
cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because the AI subarea has
been closed to directed fishing for pollock. These allocations may be
revised pending adjustments to cooperatives' membership prior to 2003.
Table 8.Proposed 2003 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
Sum of member Percentage of
vessel's inshore sector Annual coop
Cooperative name and member vessels official catch allocation allocation
histories \1\ (percent)
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association: Aldebaran, Arctic Explorer, 245,527 28.085 180,169
Arcturus, Blue Fox, Cape Kiwanda, Columbia, Dominator, Exodus, Flying Cloud, Golden Dawn, Golden Pisces, Hazel Lorraine,
Intrepid Explorer, Leslie Lee, Lisa Melinda, Majesty, Marcy J,
Margaret Lyn, Nordic Explorer, Northern Patriot, Northwest Explorer, Pacific Ram, Pacific Viking, Pegasus, Peggy Jo,
Perseverance, Predator, Raven, Royal American, Seeker,
Sovereignty, Traveler, Viking Explorer.........................
Arctic Enterprise Association: Bristol Explorer, Ocean Explorer, 36,807 4.210 27,009
Pacific Explorer...............................................
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative: Anita J, Collier Brothers, 73,656 8.425 54,049
Commodore, Excalibur II, Goldrush, Half Moon Bay, Miss Berdie,
Nordic Fury, Pacific Fury, Poseidon, Royal Atlantic, Sunset
Bay, Storm Petrel..............................................
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative: Amber Dawn, American Beauty, 18,693 2.138 13,717
Elizabeth F, Morning Star, Ocean Leader, Oceanic, Providian,
Topaz, Walter N................................................
Unalaska Cooperative: Alaska Rose, Bering Rose, Destination, 106,737 12.209 78,324
Great Pacific, Messiah, Morning Star, Ms Amy, Progress, Sea
Wolf, Vanguard, Western Dawn...................................
UniSea Fleet Cooperative: Alsea, American Eagle, Argosy, Auriga, 201,566 23.056 147,910 Aurora, Defender, GunMar, Nordic Star, Pacific Monarch,
Seadawn, Starfish, Starlite....................................
Westward Fleet Cooperative: A.J., Alaskan Command, Alyeska, 189,544 21.681 139,089 Arctic Wind, Caitlin Ann, Chelsea K, Dona Martita, Fierce
Allegiance, Hickory Wind, Ocean Hope 3, Pacific Knight, Pacific
Prince, Starward, Viking, Westward I...........................
Open access AFA vessels......................................... 1,707 0.195 1,252
Total inshore allocation........................................ 874,238 100 641,520
\1\ According to regulations that will be effective with the final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA
at 679.62(e)(1) the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the vessel's best 2 of 3 years
inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/processors for vessels that
made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.
When the final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at
Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) is published, NMFS intends to subdivide the
inshore allocation into allocations for cooperatives and vessels not
fishing in a cooperative (i.e., the open access sector). In addition,
under Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(vii), NMFS intends to establish harvest
limits inside the Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) and provide
a setaside so that catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2
m) LOA have the opportunity to operate entirely within the SCA during
the A season. Accordingly, Table 9 lists the proposed apportionment of
the Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock allocation into allocations for
vessels fishing in a cooperative and for vessels not participating in a
cooperative and establishes a cooperativesector SCA setaside for AFA
catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set
aside for sector catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m)
LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established
inseason based on actual participation levels and is not included in
Table 9. These proposed allocations may be revised pending final review and approval of 2003 cooperative agreements.
[[Page 76371]]
Table 9.Proposed 2003 Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the
Inshore Pollock Fishery.
[Amounts are expressed in MT]
A season SCA
A/B season TAC \1\ C/D season TAC Cooperative sector:
Vessels
Total....................................................... 256,107 179,275 384,161 Open access sector.............................................. 501 \2\ 351 751
Total inshore............................................... 256,608 179,626 384,912 \1\ Steller sea lion conservation area established at Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(vii). \2\ SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established on an inseason basis in accordance with Sec. 679.22(a)(11)(vii)(C)(2) which specifies that ``the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA before reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit during the A season to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA for the duration of the inshore seasonal opening.''
Unrestricted AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboards
In 2003, the formula for setting AFA catcher/processor sideboard limits for nonpollock groundfish will change from calculations made for sideboards in 2000 through 2002. The Council made a distinction between retained and total catch for the purpose of calculating sideboard limits and felt that AFA vessels should not receive sideboard credit for groundfish that was discarded and not utilized. The catcher/ processor sideboard limits for BSAI groundfish other than Atka mackerel will be based on the 1995 through 1997 retained catch of such groundfish species by the 20 listed AFA catcher/processors listed in paragraphs 208(e)(1) through (20) of the AFA and the nine ineligible catcher/processors listed in section 209 of the AFA, except for Pacific cod which will be based on 1997 retained catch only and Pacific ocean perch in the Aleutian Islands subarea which will be based on 1996 and 1997 retained catch only. The AFA catcher/processor sideboard limit for Atka mackerel is zero percent of the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutians district's annual TAC, 11.5 percent of the Central Aleutian district's annual TAC, and 20 percent of the Western Aleutian district's annual TAC.
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the Proposed Rule for Amendments 61/61/13/8 to Implement Major Provisions of the AFA (66 FR 65028, December 17, 2001). The proposed 2003 catcher/ processor sideboard limits are set out in Table 10 below.
All nonpollock groundfish that is harvested by unrestricted AFA
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will
be deducted from the proposed sideboard limits in Table 10. However,
nonpollock groundfish that is delivered to listed catcher/processors
by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the proposed 2003 sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.
Table 10.Proposed 2003 Unrestricted BSAI AFA Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are Expressed in MT]
19951997 Proposed
2003 ITAC Proposed
Target species Area available 2003 C/P
Retained Available Ratio to trawl sideboard
catch TAC C/Ps limit
Pacific cod trawl............................ BSAI.............................................. 12,424 51,450 0.241 39,950 9,628
Sablefish trawl.............................. BS................................................ 8 1,736 0.005 821 4
AI................................................ 0 1,135 0.000 541 0
Atka mackerel................................ Western AI: ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
A season \1\ n/a n/1 0.200 10,183 2,037
HLA limit \1\................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 1,222
B season n/a n/a 0.200 10,183 2,037
HLA Limit\2\.................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 1,222
Central AI: ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
A season \1\ n/a n/a 0.115 12,304 1,415
HLA limit....................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 849
B season n/a n/a 0.115 12,304 1,415
HLA limit....................................... ......... ......... ......... ......... 849
Yellowfin sole............................... BSAI.............................................. 100,192 527,000 0.190 64,600 12,274
Rock sole.................................... BSAI.............................................. 6,317 202,107 0.031 45,900 1,423
Greenland turbot............................. BS................................................ 121 16,911 0.007 4,556 32
AI................................................ 23 6,839 0.003 2,244 7
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... BSAI.............................................. 76 36,873 0.002 13,600 27
Flathead sole................................ BSAI.............................................. 1,925 87,975 0.022 21,250 468
Alaska plaice................................ BSAI.............................................. 3,243 0.035 10,200 357
Other flatfish............................... BSAI.............................................. 3,243 92,428 0.035 2,550 89
Pacific ocean perch.......................... BS................................................ 12 5,760 0.002 2,227 4 [[Page 76372]]
Western AI........................................ 54 12,440 0.004 4,811 19
Central AI........................................ 3 6,195 0.000 2,601
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228 or e-mail at mary.furuness@noaa.gov.