Federal Register: RULES Fishery conservation and management: [50 CFR Part 679]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 679

Docket ID: [Docket No. 031126295-3295-01; I.D. 111703B]

NOTICE: RULES

ACTION: Fishery conservation and management:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Interim final rule.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area; Interim 2004 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

EFFECTIVE DATES: The interim harvest specifications are effective from 0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2004, until the effective date of the final 2004 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 2004 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and sideboard amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The intended effect is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI.

SUMMARY: Alaska; fisheries of Exclusive Economic Zone—; Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Background

Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the MagnusonStevens Fishery [[Page 68266]]
Conservation and Management Act (MagnusonStevens Act). General regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.

The Council met in October 2003 to review scientific information concerning groundfish stocks including the 2002 SAFE report and the EA (see ADDRESSES) and recommended proposed 2004 specifications. The Council recommended a proposed total acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 3,127,003 metric tons (mt) and a proposed total TAC of 1,998,443 mt for the 2004 fishing year. The proposed TAC amounts for each species were based on the best available biological and socioeconomic information.

Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1), NMFS published in the Federal Register proposed harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI for the 2004 fishing year (68 FR 67642, December 3, 2003). That document contains a detailed discussion of the proposed 2004 TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and related apportionments, CDQ reserves, ABC amounts, overfishing levels, PSC allowances, PSQ reserve amounts, and associated management measures of the BSAI groundfish fishery.

This action provides interim harvest specifications and apportionments thereof for the 2004 fishing year that will become available on January 1, 2004, and remain in effect until superseded by the final 2004 harvest specifications. Background information concerning the 2004 groundfish harvest specification process on which this interim action is based is provided in the above mentioned proposed specification document.

Establishment of Interim TACs

Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i) require that 15 percent of the TAC for each target species or species group, except for pollock and the hookandline and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a nonspecified reserve. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by requiring that the TAC for this species be fully allocated among the CDQ program, incidental catch allowance (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. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) require that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hook andline 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 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.

Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2) require interim specifications to be effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, and remain in effect until superseded by the final groundfish harvest specifications. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) provide that the interim specifications will be established as onefourth of each proposed ITAC amount and apportionment thereof (not including pollock, Pacific cod, Atka mackerel, and the hookandline and pot gear allocation of sablefish), onefourth of each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance established at Sec. 679.21, and the proposed first seasonal allowance of pollock, Pacific cod and Atka mackerel TAC. As stated in the proposed specifications (68 FR 67642, December 3, 2003), no harvest of groundfish is authorized before the effective date of this action implementing the interim specifications.

Interim 2004 BSAI Groundfish Harvest Specifications

Table 1 provides interim TAC and CDQ amounts and apportionments thereof. Amendment 77 to the FMP, approved by the Secretary of Commerce on October 20, 2003, provides for apportioning the BSAI Pacific cod TAC among hookandline and pot gear sectors. A final rule implementing Amendment 77 was published on December 1, 2003 (68 FR 67086), and will be effective by January 1, 2004. Amendment 77 will allocate the 18.3 percent pot gear allocation as: 15 percent to pot catcher vessels and 3.3 percent to pot catcher processors. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an interim specification for the hookandline and pot gear allocations of sablefish for the CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. As a result, directed fishing for the hookandline and pot gear allocations of CDQ sablefish and IFQ sablefish is prohibited until the effective date of the final 2004 groundfish specifications. Table 1.Interim 2004 TAC Amounts for Groundfish and Apportionments Thereof for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area\1\ Species and component (if applicable) Area and/or gear (if applicable) Interim TAC Interim CDQ Pollock: \2\

AFA Inshore............................ BS................................. 259,119 ..............

AFA Inshore............................ SCA Limit \3\...................... 41,769 ..............

AFA Catcher/Processors \4\............. BS................................. 207,295 .............. Catch by C/Ps...................... BS................................. 189,675 .............. Catch by CVs \4\................... BS................................. 17,620 .............. Unlisted C/P Limit \4\............. BS................................. 1,036 ..............

AFA Catcher/Processors \4\............. SCA Limit \3\...................... 145,106 ..............

AFA Mothership......................... BS................................. 51,824 ..............

AFA Mothership......................... SCA Limit \3\...................... 36,277 ..............

CDQ.................................... BS................................. .............. 59,670

CDQ.................................... SCA Limit \3\...................... .............. 41,769

ICA.................................... BS................................. 46,990 ..............

ICA.................................... AI................................. 1,000 ..............

ICA.................................... Bogoslof District.................. 50 ..............

Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\......... BS................................. 90,692 ..............

Excessive Processing Limit \5\......... BS................................. 155,471 .............. Total Pollock...................... ................................... 566,278 59,670 =============================== [[Page 68267]]
Pacific Cod \6\............................ Jig................................ 1,411 .............. Hookandline...................... 42,937 .............. Catcher/Processors................. .............. .............. Hookandline Catcher Vessels...... 161 .............. Pot Catcher/Processors............. 1,771 .............. Pot Catcher Vessels................ 8,051 .............. Catcher Vessels <60 Hookandline, 1,252 .............. Pot.
ICA................................ 500 .............. Trawl Catcher Vessels.............. 29,014 .............. Trawl Catcher/Processors........... 20,724 ..............

CDQ.................................... ................................... .............. 15,563 Total Pacific Cod.................. ................................... 105,821 15,563 =============================== Sablefish \7\ \8\.......................... BS Trawl........................... 283 14 BS Hookandline and Pot........... N/A N/A AI Trawl........................... 151 11 AI Hookandline and Pot........... N/A N/A Total Sablefish.................... ................................... 434 25 =============================== Atka mackerel \9\.......................... Western AI......................... 8,496 1,499 Western HLA Limit.................. 5,097 .............. Central AI......................... 12,201 2,153 Central HLA Limit.................. 7,321 .............. Eastern AI/BS...................... .............. 781 Jig Gear........................... 89 .............. Other Gear......................... 8,763 .............. Total Atka Mackerel................ ................................... 29,549 4,433 =============================== Yellowfin Sole............................. BSAI............................... 17,797 1,570 Rock Sole.................................. BSAI............................... 9,350 825 Greenland Turbot........................... BS................................. 570 50 AI................................. 281 25 Total Greenland Turbot............. ................................... 850 75 =============================== Arrowtooth Flounder........................ BSAI............................... 2,550 225 Flathead Sole.............................. BSAI............................... 4,250 375 Other flatfish \10\........................ BSAI............................... 638 56 Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI............................... 2,125 188 Pacific Ocean Perch........................ BS................................. 300 27 Western AI......................... 1,227 108 Central AI......................... 701 62 Eastern AI......................... 734 65 Total Pacific Ocean Perch.......... ................................... 2,962 262 =============================== Northern Rockfish.......................... BS................................. 26 2 AI................................. 1,249 110 Total Northern Rockfish............ ................................... 1275 112 =============================== Shortraker/Rougheye \11\................... BS................................. 29 3 AI................................. 177 16 AI Trawl........................... 53 .............. AI Nontrawl....................... 124 .............. Total Shortraker/Rougheye.......... ................................... 206 19 =============================== Other Rockfish \12\........................ BS................................. 204 18 AI................................. 135 12 Total Other Rockfish............... ................................... 339 30 Squid...................................... BSAI............................... 419 .............. ``Other Species'' \13\..................... BSAI............................... 6,866 606 =============================== [[Page 68268]]
Total interim TAC.................. ................................... 751,709 84,034 \1\ Amounts are in mt. These amounts apply to the entire Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for purposes of these specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ After subtraction for the CDQ reserve and ICA, the pollock ITAC is allocated as a directed fishing allowance (DFA). Ten percent of the pollock TAC is allocated to the pollock CDQ reserve (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)). NMFS is allocating 3.5 percent of the pollock as an ICA (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1)). The first seasonal apportionment of pollock for all sectors is 40 percent of the annual DFA. \3\ The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) limits harvest to 28 percent of each sector's annual 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 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. \4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/ processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed catcher/processors. The AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited from exceeding a harvest amount of 0.5 percent of the DFA allocated to the AFA catcher/processor sector. Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii). \5\ Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) require that NMFS establish an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) require that NMFS establish an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs. \6\ After subtraction of the reserves, the ITAC amount for Pacific cod is allocated: 2 percent to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to hookandline or pot gear, and 47 percent to trawl gear. The Pacific cod allocation to trawl gear is split evenly between catcher vessels and catcher/processors (see Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)). The Pacific cod allocation to hookandline or pot gear is further allocated as an ICA and as the following directed fishing allowances: 80 percent to hookandline catcher/processors, 0.3 percent to hookandline catcher vessels, 3.3 percent to pot catcher/processors, 15 percent to pot catcher vessels, 1.4 percent to catcher vessels under 60 feet LOA using hookandline or pot gear (see Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(c)). The first seasonal allowances of the ITAC gear apportionments are in effect on January 1 as an interim TAC. The first seasonal allocations are 60 percent of the annual TAC, except for vessels using jig gear (40 percent), trawl catcher/processors (50 percent) and trawl catcher vessels (70 percent). \7\ Sablefish gear allocations are as follows: In the BS subarea, trawl gear is allocated 50 percent, and hook andline and pot gear are allocated 50 percent of the TAC. In the AI subarea, trawl gear is allocated 25 percent, and hookandline and pot gear are allocated 75 percent of the TAC (see Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)). Onefourth of the ITAC amount for trawl gear is in effect January 1 as an interim TAC amount. \8\ The sablefish hookandline gear fishery is managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program and subject to regulations contained in subpart D of 50 CFR part 679. Twenty percent of the sablefish hookand line and pot gear final TAC amount will be reserved for use by CDQ participants. (see Sec. 679.31(c).) Existing regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an interim specification for the CDQ nontrawl sablefish reserve or for an interim specification for sablefish managed under the IFQ program. In addition, in accordance with Sec. 679.7(f)(3)(ii), retention of sablefish caught with fixed gear is prohibited unless the harvest is authorized under a valid IFQ permit and IFQ card. In 2004, IFQ permits and IFQ cards will not be valid before the effective date of the 2004 final specifications. Thus, fishing for sablefish with fixed gear is not authorized under these interim specifications. See subpart D of 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.23(g) for guidance on the annual allocation of IFQ and the sablefish fishing season. \9\ Regulations at Sec. 679.20 (a)(8) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian subarea and the BS subarea ITAC be allocated to the jig gear fleet. The amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season. The harvest limitation area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec. 679.2). In 2004, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central AI. \10\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, arrowtooth flounder, yellowfin sole and Alaska plaice. \11\ 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.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\13\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec. 679.2, are not included in the ``other species'' category.
Interim Allocation of PSC Limits for Crab, Halibut, and Herring

Under Sec. 679.21(e), annual PSC limits are specified for red king crab, Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab, and C. opilio crab in applicable Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec. 679.2) of the Bering Sea subarea, and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e) authorize the apportionment of each PSC limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. Under Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for halibut, crab, and salmon is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program.

Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) provide that onefourth of each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance be made available on an interim basis for harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until superseded by the final harvest specifications. The PSQ reserves and fishery specific interim PSC allowances for halibut and crab are specified in Table 2 and are in effect at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2004.
Table 2.Interim 2004 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and NonTrawl Fisheries Prohibited species and zone
Red King C. bairdi (animals) Halibut Herring Crab C. opilio mortality (mt) BSAI (animals (animals) (mt) BSAI Zone 1\1\ COBLZ \2\ Zone 1\1\ Zone 2\1\ Trawl fisheries:

Yellowfin sole.......................... 222 35 4,166 694,245 85,211 447,115

Rock sole/other flatfish/flat. sole \4\. 195 5 14,946 242,283 91,330 149,039

Red King Crab Savings Subarea \3\....... ......... ......... 5,231 ........... ......... ......... [[Page 68269]]

Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \5\......... ......... 2 ......... 10,060 ......... .........

RockfishJuly 1December 31............ 17 2 ......... 10,059 ......... 2,747

Pacific cod............................. 359 5 3,270 31,184 45,778 81,044

Midwater trawl pollock.................. ......... 296 ......... ........... ......... .........

Pollock/Atka mackerel/other \6\......... 58 37 50 18,107 4,306 6,868
Total Trawl PSC..................... 850 382 22,432 1,005,938 226,625 686,813 =================================================================== Nontrawl fisheries:

Pacific codTotal...................... 194 ......... ......... ........... ......... .........

Other nontrawlTotal.................. 14 ......... ......... ........... ......... .........

Groundfish pot & jig.................... exempt ......... ......... ........... ......... .........

Sablefish hookandline................. exempt ......... ......... ........... ......... ......... Total nontrawl PSC................. 207
=================================================================== PSQ Reserve \7\..................... 86 ......... 1,818 81,562 18,375 55,687 =================================================================== Grand total......................... 1,144 382 24,250 1,087,500 245,000 742,500 \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\ In October 2003, the Council proposed limiting red king crab for trawl fisheries within the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS) 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)).
\4\ ``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. \5\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category. \6\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category. \7\ 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. Directed Fishing Closures

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator, NMFS, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) determines that any allocation or apportionment of a target species or ``other species'' category has been or will be reached, the Regional Administrator may establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea or district (Sec. 697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, under regulations at Sec. 679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab or C. opilio crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that category in the specified area.

The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining allocation amounts in Table 3 will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing year.
Table 3.Interim Directed Fishing Closures
Incidental Area Species catch amount, in mt Bogoslof District.............. Pollock................ 50 Aleutian Islands subarea....... Pollock................ 1,000 Northern Rockfish...... 1,249 Shortraker/rougheye 53 rockfish trawl.
Shortraker/rougheye 124 rockfish non trawl.
``Other rockfish''..... 135 Bering Sea subarea............. Pacific ocean perch.... 300 ``Other rockfish''..... 204 Northern rockfish...... 26 Shortraker/rougheye 29 rockfish.
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands ``Other Species''...... 6,866 [[Page 68270]]

Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for the above species or species groups as zero.

Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is immediately prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the specified areas. These closures will remain in effect from 0001 hrs, A.l.t., January 1, 2004, until superseded by the final 2004 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish.

In addition, the BSAI Zone 1 annual red king crab allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery (Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D)) is 0 mt and the BSAI first seasonal halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery is 0 mt. The BSAI annual halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ sablefish fishery categories is 0 mt (Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv)(c)). Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(ii) and (v), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish by vessels using trawl gear in Zone 1 of the BSAI and directed fishing for Greenland turbot/ arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI from 0001 hrs., A.l.t., January 1, 2004, until superseded by the final 2004 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish. NMFS is also prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish outside Zone 1 in the BSAI until 1200 hrs, A.l.t, July 4, 2004.

While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Areas are defined in Sec. 679.2. In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, shortraker, rougheye, and northern rockfish.

Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations

Regulations at Sec. 679.4 set forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. Table 4 lists the interim pollock allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives for 2004. Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not participating in cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because the Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea has been closed to directed fishing for pollock.
Table 4.Interim 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations Sum of member vessel's Percentage of Interim Cooperative name and member vessels official inshore sector cooperative catach allocation allocation histories\1\ Akutan Catcher Vessel AssociationAldebaran, Arctic Explorer, 245,527 28.085 72,773 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 AssociationBristol Explorer, Ocean Explorer, 36,807 4.210 10,909 Pacific Explorer............................................... Northern Victor Fleet CooperativeAnita J., Collier Brothers, 73,656 8.425 21,831 Commodore, Excalibur II, Goldrush, Half Moon Bay, Miss Berdie, Nordic Fury, Pacific Fury, Poseidon, Royal Atlantic, Sunset Bay, Storm Petrel.............................................. Peter Pan Fleet CooperativeAmber Dawn, American Beauty, 18,693 2.138 5,541 Elizabeth F, Morning Star, Ocean Leader, Oceanic, Providian, Topaz, Walter N................................................ Unalaska CooperativeAlaska Rose, Bering Rose, Destination, 106,737 12.209 31,636 Great Pacific, Messiah, Morning Star, MS Amy, Progress, Sea Wolf, Vanguard, Western Dawn................................... UniSea Fleet CooperativeAlsea, American Eagle, Argosy, Auriga, 202,479 23.161 60,015 Aurora, Defender, GunMar, MarGun, Nordic Star, Pacific
Monarch, Seadawn, Starfish, Starlite........................... Westward Fleet CooperativeA.J., Alaskan Command, Alyeska, 189,942 21.727 56,298 Arctic Wind, Caitlin Ann, Chelsea K, Dona Martita, Fierce
Allegiance, Hickory Wind, Ocean Hope 3, Pacific Challenger, Pacific Knight, Pacific Prince, Starward, Viking, Westward I... Open access AFA vessels......................................... 395 0.045 117 Total inshore allocation........................................ 874,238 100 259,119 \1\ According to regulations 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.

According to regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(a)(3), NMFS must subdivide the inshore allocation into allocations for cooperatives and vessels not fishing in a cooperative. In addition, according to regulations at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish harvest limits inside the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) and provides 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 5 lists the interim apportionment of the Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock allocation into allocations for vessels fishing for an inshore cooperative and for vessels fishing for the inshore open access sector and establishes a cooperative sector SCA setaside for AFA catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA setaside for 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 5.
Table 5.Interim 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations, in Mt, to the Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the Inshore Pollock Fishery A season A season inside TAC SCA\1\ Cooperative sector:
Vessels 99 ft....................... n/a 163,459 Vessels <= 99 ft................................ n/a 17,842

[[Page 68271]]

Total......................................... 259,002 181,301 ===================== Open access sector................................ 117 \2\ 82

Total inshore................................. 259,119 181,383 \1\ The Steller Sea Lion Conservation area (SCA) is established at Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(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)(7)(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.''

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboards

In 2003, the formula for setting AFA catcher/processor sideboard limits for nonpollock groundfish changed from calculations made for sideboard limits in 2000 through 2002. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). The interim 2004 catcher/processor sideboard limits are set out in Table 6.

All nonpollock groundfish that is harvested by listed AFA catcher/ processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from the interim sideboard limits in Table 6. However, non pollock groundfish that is delivered to listed catcher/processors by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the interim 2004 sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.
Table 6.Interim 2004 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboards, in Mt 19951997 Interim 2004 TAC Interim Target species Area available 2004 C/P Retained Available Ratio to trawl sideboard catch TAC C/Ps limit Pacific cod trawl................. BSAI................. 12,424 51,450 0.241 20,724 4,994 Sablefish trawl................... BS................... 8 1,736 0.005 283 1 AI................... 0 1,135 0.000 151 0 Atka mackerel..................... Western AI........... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... A season \1\....... n/a n/a 0.200 8,496 1,699 HLA limit \2\..... ......... ......... ......... 5,097 0 Central AI........... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... A season \1\....... n/a n/a 0.115 12,201 1,403 HLA limit \2\..... ......... ......... ......... 7,321 0 Yellowfin sole.................... BSAI................. 100,192 527,000 0.190 17,797 3,381 Rock sole......................... BSAI................. 6,317 202,107 0.031 9,350 290 Greenland turbot.................. BS................... 121 16,911 0.007 850 6 AI................... 23 6,839 0.003 570 2 Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. 76 36,873 0.002 2,550 5 Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. 1,925 87,975 0.022 4,250 94 Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. 3,243 ......... 0.035 2,125 74 Other flatfish.................... BSAI................. 3,243 92,428 0.035 638 22 Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... 12 5,760 0.002 300 1 Western AI........... 54 12,440 0.004 1,227 5 Central AI........... 3 6,195 0.000 701 0 Eastern AI........... 125 6,265 0.020 734 15 Northern rockfish................. BS................... 8 ......... 0.008 26 0 AI................... 83 13,254 0.006 1,249 7 Shortraker/rougheye............... BS................... 8 ......... 0.008 29 0 Trawl AI................... 42 2,827 0.015 53 1 Other rockfish.................... BS................... 18 1,026 0.018 204 4 AI................... 22 1,924 0.011 135 1 Squid............................. BSAI................. 73 3,670 0.020 419 8 Other species..................... BSAI................. 553 65,925 0.008 6,866 55 \1\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the available TAC in the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the available TAC in the Central Aleutian District. \2\ HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.

679.2). In 2004, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. 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.

Regulations at Sec. 679.64(a)(5) establish a formula for PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are equivalent to the percentage of PSC amounts taken in the nonpollock groundfish fisheries by the AFA catcher/processors listed in subsection 208(e) and section 209 of the AFA from 1995 through 1997. PSC amounts taken by listed catcher/processors in BSAI nonpollock groundfish fisheries from 1995 through 1997 are shown in Table 7. These data were used to calculate the PSC catch ratios for pollock catcher/processors shown in Table 7. The 2004 interim PSC limits available to trawl catcher/processors are multiplied by the ratios to determine the PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors in the 2004 interim nonpollock groundfish fisheries.

PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating in any
[[Page 68272]]
nonpollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 7 will accrue against the interim 2004 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA catcher/ processors. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(v), authorize NMFS to close directed fishing for nonpollock groundfish for listed AFA catcher/processors once an interim 2004 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 7 is reached.

Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery categories under regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Table 7.Interim 2004 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohbitied Species Sideboard Limits\1\ 19951997 Interim 2004 PSC Interim PSC species Ratio of available 2004 C/P PSC catch Total PSC PSC catch/ to trawl C/ sideboard Total PSC Ps limit Halibut mortality.............................. 955 11,325 0.084 851 71 Red king crab.................................. 3,098 473,750 0.007 22,432 157 C. opilio...................................... 2,323,731 15,139,178 0.153 1,005,938 153,908 C. bairdi:

Zone 1..................................... 385,978 2,750,000 0.140 226,625 31,728

Zone 2..................................... 406,860 8,100,000 0.050 686,813 34,341 \1\ Halibut amounts are in mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards Limits

Regulations at Sec. 679.64(b) establish a formula for setting AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). The interim 2004 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits are shown in Tables 8 and 9.

All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by nonexempt AFA catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from the interim sideboard limits listed in Table 8. Table 8.Interim 2004 BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Fishery by area/season/processor/ Species gear Pacific cod................................ BSAI.............................. Jig gear........................ Hookandline CV................ Jan 1Jun 10...................... Pot gear........................ Jan 1Jun 10...................... CV <60 feet LOA using hookand line or pot gear. Trawl gear, catcher vessel, Jan Sablefish.................................. BS trawl gear..................... AI trawl gear..................... Atka mackerel.............................. Eastern AI/BS..................... Jig gear........................ Other gear...................... Jan 1Apr 15...................... Central AI........................ Jan 1Apr 15...................... HLA limit....................... Western AI, Jan 1Apr 15.......... HLA limit......................... Yellowfin sole............................. BSAI.............................. Rock sole.................................. BSAI.............................. Greenland Turbot........................... BS................................ AI................................ Arrowtooth flounder........................ BSAI.............................. Alaska plaice.............................. BSAI.............................. Other flatfish............................. BSAI.............................. POP........................................ BS................................ Eastern AI........................ Central AI........................ Western AI........................ Northern rockfish.......................... BS................................ AI................................ Shortraker/Rougheye Trawl.................. BS................................ AI................................ Other rockfish............................. BS................................ AI................................ Squid...................................... BSAI.............................. Other species.............................. BSAI.............................. Flathead Sole.............................. BS trawl gear..................... Sideboards Limits, in Mt Ratio of Interim 19951997 2004 AFA CV Interim catcher catch to 2004 TAC vessel 19951997 sideboard TAC limit ......... ......... ......... 0.0000 1,411 0 ......... ......... 0 0.0006 161 0 ......... ......... 0 0.0006 9,822 6 0.0006 1,252 1 0.8609 29,014 24,978 20Apr 1.
0.0906 283 26 0.0645 151 10 ......... ......... 0 0.0031 89 0 ......... ......... 0 0.0032 4,381 14 ......... ......... 0 0.0001 12,201 1 0.0001 7,321 1 0 8,496 0 0.0000 5,097 0 0.0647 17,797 1,151 0.0341 9,350 319 0.0645 570 37 0.0205 281 6 0.0690 2,550 176 0.0441 2,125 94 0.0441 638 28 0.1000 300 30 0.0077 734 6 0.0025 701 2 0.0000 1,227 0 0.0280 26 1 0.0089 1,249 11 0.0048 29 0 0.0035 53 0 [[Page 68273]]
0.0048 204 1 0.0095 135 1 0.3827 419 160 0.0541 6,866 371 0.0505 4,250 215

The AFA catcher vessel PSC limit for halibut and each crab species in the BSAI for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established will be a portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997, relative to the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. For the BSAI, the interim PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels are listed in Table 9.

Halibut and crab PSC that is caught by AFA catcher vessels participating in any nonpollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 9 will accrue against the interim 2004 PSC sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) provide authority to close directed fishing for nonpollock groundfish for AFA catcher vessels once an interim 2004 PSC sideboard limit for the BSAI listed in Table 9 is reached. PSC that is caught by AFA catcher vessels while fishing for pollock in the BSAI will accrue against either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/ ``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec. 679.21(e).
Table 9.Interim 2004 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits for the BSAI.\1\ Ratio of 19951997 Interim AFA CV 2004 AFA retained Interim catcher PSC species Target fishery category \2\ catch to 2004 PSC vessel PSC total Limit sideboard retained limit catch Halibut................................. Pacific cod trawl.............. 0.6183 359 222 Pacific cod hookandline or 0.0022 194 0 pot.
Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 222 25 Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 195 55 flatfish \5\.
Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.... 0.2327 0 0 Rockfish (July 4December 31).. 0.0245 17 0 Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp. 0.0227 58 1 Red King Crab........................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 3,270 2,022 Zone 1 \4\.............................. Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 4,166 477 Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 14,946 4,246 flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp. 0.0227 50 1 C. opilio............................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 31,184 19,281 COBLZ \3\............................... Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 694,245 79,422 Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 242,283 68,833 flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp. 0.0227 18,107 411 Rockfish....................... 0.0245 10,059 246 Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.... 0.2327 10,060 2,341 C. bairdi............. Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 45,778 28,305 Zone 1.................................. Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 85,211 9,748 Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 91,330 25,947 flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp. 0.0227 4,306 98 C. bairdi............................... Pacific cod.................... 0.6183 81,044 50,110 Zone 2.................................. Yellowfin sole................. 0.1144 447,115 51,150 Rock sole/flat. sole/other 0.2841 149,039 42,342 flatfish \5\.
Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp. 0.0227 6,868 156 Rockfish....................... 0.0245 2,747 67 \1\ Halibut amounts are in mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals. \2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv). \3\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679. \4\ In October 2003, the Council recommended that the red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the Red King Crab Savings Subarea be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/ ``other flatfish'' fishery category (Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)). \5\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder. [[Page 68274]]
AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures

The Regional Administrator has determined that many of the interim AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in Table 10 and 11 are necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing year. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator establishes the limits listed in Table 10 and 11 as directed fishing allowances. The Regional Administrator finds that many of these directed fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by AFA catcher/processors for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 10 and directed fishing by non exempt AFA catcher vessels for the species in the specified areas set out in Table 11.
Table 10.Interim American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures.\1\ Incidental Species Area Gear types catch amount Sablefish trawl.......................... BS......................... Trawl...................... 1 AI......................... Trawl...................... 0 Rock sole................................ BSAI....................... all........................ 290 Greenland turbot......................... BS......................... all........................ 6 AI......................... all........................ 2 Arrowtooth flounder...................... BSAI....................... all........................ 5 Pacific ocean perch...................... BS......................... all........................ 1 Western AI................. all........................ 5 Central AI................. all........................ 0 Eastern AI................. all........................ 15 Northern rockfish........................ BS......................... all........................ 0 AI......................... all........................ 7 Shortraker/Rougheye rockfish............. BS......................... all........................ 0 AI......................... all........................ 1 Other rockfish........................... BS......................... all........................ 4 AI......................... all........................ 1 Squid.................................... BSAI....................... all........................ 8 Other species............................ BSAI....................... all........................ 55 \1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. Specified amounts are in mt. Table 11.Interim American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures.\1\ Incidental Species Area Gear catch amount Pacific cod.............................. BSAI....................... hookandline.............. 0 BSAI....................... pot........................ 6 BSAI....................... jig........................ 0 Sablefish................................ BS......................... trawl...................... 26 AI......................... trawl...................... 10 Atka mackerel............................ Eastern AI/BS.............. jig........................ 0 Eastern AI/BS.............. other...................... 14 Central AI................. all........................ 1 Western AI................. all........................ 0 Greenland Turbot......................... BS......................... all........................ 37 AI......................... all........................ 6 Arrowtooth flounder...................... BSAI....................... all........................ 176 Pacific ocean perch...................... BS......................... all........................ 30 Western AI................. all........................ 6 Central AI................. all........................ 2 Eastern AI................. all........................ 0 Northern rockfish........................ BS......................... all........................ 1 AI......................... all........................ 11 Shortraker/rougheye rockfish............. BS......................... all........................ 0 AI......................... trawl...................... 0 Other rockfish........................... BS......................... all........................ 1 AI......................... all........................ 1 Squid.................................... BSAI....................... all........................ 160 Other species............................ BSAI....................... all........................ 371 \1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. Specified amounts are in mt. [[Page 68275]]

Classification

This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Because this action is a final action by NMFS, analyses required under the MagnusonStevens Act must be completed and considered by the agency before promulgation of the interim harvest specifications.

Regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(c)(2) require NMFS to specify harvest specifications to be effective January 1 and to remain in effect until superceded by the final specifications. Without interim specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not be able to open, resulting in disruption within the fishing industry. NMFS cannot publish interim specifications until proposed specifications are completed, because the interim specifications are derived from the proposed specifications, as required by regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(c)(2).

The proposed specifications are based on the preliminary recommendations of the Plan Team, which were reviewed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee, Advisory Panel, and Council in October, 2003 in projecting 2003 biomass amounts, as identified in the 2002 SAFE Report, for the proposed 2004 ABC, overfishing levels, and TAC amounts. The Plan Team recommendations incorporate the most current data available from a number of sources, including currentyear industry catch levels, and currentyear trawl and hydroacoustic surveys. These data are not available in time for Council review prior to the October Council meeting, as the surveys are conducted during the summer months, and industry c

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228, or mary.furuness@noaa.gov.