[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24637]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 672 and 675

[Docket No. 921058-4257; I.D. 090892B]
RIN 0648-AD44

 

Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Groundfish Fishery of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS implements a regulatory amendment to establish standard 
groundfish product types and standard product recovery rates (PRRs) for 
purposes of managing the groundfish fisheries off Alaska and specify 
certain product types and PRRs that may be used to calculate round-
weight equivalents of pollock for purposes of calculating amounts of 
pollock roe that may be retained onboard a vessel during the pollock 
fishery. These actions are necessary to facilitate enforcement of 
existing regulatory measures and to implement a statutory prohibition 
against the wasteful use of pollock by stripping roe (eggs) from female 
pollock and discarding female and male pollock carcasses without 
further processing, commonly known as pollock roe stripping. The 
intended effect of this action is to promote the purposes and policies 
of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson Act).

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 4, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment/regulatory impact 
review/final regulatory flexibility analysis (EA/RIR/FRFA) may be 
obtained from the Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802 (Attn: Lori Gravel).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald J. Berg, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Fishing for groundfish by U.S. vessels in the exclusive economic 
zone of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands management area (BSAI) is managed by the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) according to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for 
Groundfish of the GOA and the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the 
BSAI. The FMPs were prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) under the Magnuson Act and are implemented by 
regulations governing the U.S. groundfish fisheries at 50 CFR parts 672 
and 675. General regulations that also pertain to U.S. fisheries appear 
at 50 CFR part 620.
    An explanation of, and reasons for, the establishment and 
specifications of standard product types and standard PRRs are 
contained in the notice of proposed rulemaking (58 FR 44643, August 24, 
1993). The notice invited comments through September 23, 1993. It also 
proposed a regulatory amendment to reduce the proportion of pollock roe 
that may be retained onboard a vessel while participating in the 
directed pollock fishery. That regulatory amendment has already been 
implemented by a final rule (59 FR 14121, March 25, 1994). Six letters 
of comments were received that addressed standard product types and 
standard PRRs. They are summarized and responded to in the Comments 
Received section, below.

Changes in the Final Rule From the Proposed Rule

    Table 2 is redesignated as Table 1 in 50 CFR 672.20(j)(1), (2) and 
(3)(i) and (3)(ii).
    The newly designated Table 1 in 50 CFR 672.20(j)(2) is revised as 
follows.
    1. Product codes and standard PRRs are established for rex sole in 
the GOA to accommodate a new target species category at 50 CFR 
672.20(a) resulting from 1994 groundfish specifications.
    2. The standard PRR for rockfish fillets/no skin (code 22) is 
changed from 0.35 to 0.33, and the standard PRR for sculpins, headed & 
gutted with roe (code 4) is changed from 0.88 to 0.87. These changes 
are insignificant and are made to reflect information contained in the 
literature for these product types.
    3. A standard PRR for pollock surimi of 0.14 was proposed. That 
rate does not reflect seasonal variations experienced in this product. 
Seasonal variations are caused by changes in the physical condition of 
pollock flesh during the spawning season. This season generally occurs 
from January through June, followed by a recuperation period. Starting 
in July, the condition of pollock flesh improves, becoming optimum 
during the late summer months. For this reason, the BSAI pollock non-
roe season was changed by regulation from June 1 to August 15, 
beginning in 1993.
    To investigate seasonal differences in pollock products, NMFS 
reviewed data from the 1993 pollock roe and non-roe seasons, which 
occurred January 20-March 8 and August 15-September 22, respectively, 
for the ``offshore component.'' NMFS also reviewed data from the 
``offshore component'' from the 1994 pollock roe season, which occurred 
January 20-February 18. These data contained estimates of total 
retained pollock catches as reported by NMFS observers and amounts of 
surimi produced from the retained pollock as reported by vessels. 
During the 1993 roe season, 20,934 metric tons (mt) of surimi were 
produced from a retained pollock catch of 134,558 mt resulting in a 
average PRR of 0.155. During the 1994 roe season, 23,267 mt of surimi 
were produced from a retained pollock catch of 144,134 mt, resulting in 
an average recovery rate of 0.161. During the non-roe season, 29,878 mt 
of surimi were produced from a retained pollock catch of 171,320 mt, 
resulting in an average recovery rate of 0.17.
    From these data, NMFS has determined that sufficient information 
exists to demonstrate seasonal differences in surimi recovery rates. 
Therefore, NMFS is establishing a standard PRR of 0.16 for the period 
January through June and a standard PRR of 0.17 for the period July 
through December.
    4. The standard PRR for pollock skinless/boneless fillets (product 
code 23) is revised from 0.22 to 0.21. This revision is based on 
results of recovery tests conducted by NMFS observers.
    5. The target species category ``flathead sole'' had been proposed 
to be referenced in Sec. 675.20(a), which was an error. It is now 
correctly referenced in Sec. 672.20(a).
    6. The target species category ``other flatfish'' had been proposed 
to be referenced in Sec. 672.20(a), which was an error. It is now 
correctly referenced in Sec. 675.20(a).
    7. The standard PRR for Atka mackerel, headed and gutted western 
cut (code 7) is changed from 0.61 to 0.64, and the standard PRR for 
Atka mackerel, headed & gutted eastern cut (code 8) is changed from 
0.64 to 0.61 to correct a transposition error in the proposed rule.
    8. The product codes 95 for discards and 99 for dockside discards 
have been removed, because they serve no useful purpose.
    Section 672.20(j)(3) is revised to limit the aggregate adjustments 
of any standard PRR during a calendar year that the Regional Director 
may make without providing opportunity for prior public comment to no 
more than 15 percent of the standard PRR specified for a preceding 
calendar year. Aggregate adjustments greater than 15 percent may be 
made after providing notice and opportunity for prior public comment.

Comments Received

    NMFS received six letters of comments on the proposed rule. Some 
comments addressed standard PRRs for specific products (e.g., surimi 
and deep-skin fillets made from pollock). Other comments focused on 
concerns about being accountable for the standard PRRs that would be 
different from actual recovery rates.
    Comment 1. A vessel that achieves an actual recovery rate for a 
product that varies from the standard PRR could be prosecuted for 
violating a directed fishing closure or Vessel Incentive Program (VIP) 
rate, or be subject to higher fees under the North Pacific Fisheries 
Research Plan (Research Plan), even though irrefutable evidence existed 
to demonstrate that the vessel's actual recovery rate was real.
    Response. NMFS concurs that a vessel could be prosecuted as stated 
in the comment. A vessel may have to adjust the amounts of products 
retained onboard to comply with the regulations that depend on round-
weight equivalents calculated from processed products. A vessel would 
not be in violation if it has amounts of products onboard that are 
consistent with standard PRRs. Although NMFS considered means by which 
a vessel could claim it was achieving a recovery rate that differed 
from a standard PRR at any particular time, NMFS does not have the 
ability to determine whether a vessel's claimed recovery rate was 
representative of its processing operations or whether it had claimed a 
particular recovery rate as a means of justifying amounts of fish 
onboard to avoid violations of directed fishing closures or VIP 
definitions, or being charged higher fees under the Research Plan.
    Comment 2. A vessel that achieves a higher recovery rate for a 
particular product receives no benefit under a program that uses 
standard PRRs, thereby discouraging the use of more efficient and 
productive equipment.
    Response. Standard PRRs are used to determine the amount of fish 
caught because their use is the best practicable method of doing so 
available at this time. Economic incentives outside the regulatory 
management scheme exist for vessels to increase their product recovery 
efficiency. As overall fleet efficiency in producing any particular 
product increases, NMFS will revise the standard PRR for that product.
    Comment 3. By establishing one standard PRR for each product form, 
the rule ignores seasonal, area, and vessel-by-vessel variation in 
actual recovery rates.
    Response. NMFS has considered variation in determining that 
standard PRRs are necessary to enforce certain management measures. 
Where NMFS has been able to determine a variation in a PRR over a wide 
area or season, as in pollock used for surimi (See response to Comment 
4, below.), a separate PRR is specified. NMFS does not have the means 
to account for vessel-by-vessel, seasonal, and area variations from a 
standard PRR that may occur at any particular time.
    Comment 4. Proposed standard PRRs for certain products are 
inaccurate. These are listed as follows:
    1. The standard PRR for pollock surimi of 0.14 is too low, given 
that data used by NMFS during the 1992 non-roe season reflected product 
recovery from small-sized pollock and that actual recovery rates 
achieved by vessels, by season, shows product recoveries that range 
from 0.12 to 0.30. Data from the 1993 fishery should be a more reliable 
source of information;
    2. The standard PRR for deep skin pollock is too low, given that 
data submitted to NMFS suggest that the standard PRR is closer to 0.16 
or even 0.18;
    3. The standard PRR for headed-and-gutted Pacific cod is too low, 
given that other sources of published information indicate that the 
standard PRR should be in the range of 0.56-0.75 or 0.58-0.64; and
    4. Other standard PRRs may be in error as well.
    Response. With respect to the standard PRR for pollock surimi, NMFS 
has reviewed 1993 production information on a seasonal basis and notes 
that the average recovery rate for the period January through June is 
0.16 (see discussion under the section on Changes In the Final Rule 
From the Proposed Rule). The average recovery rate for the period July 
through December is 0.17. The final rule establishes these two recovery 
rates to accommodate seasonal differences.
    NMFS has reviewed information with respect to PRRs for deep skin 
pollock and headed-and-gutted Pacific cod. Deep skin pollock is such a 
new product that few data exist to demonstrate the extent of annual 
variation. On the basis of information available, NMFS concludes that 
0.13 is an appropriate standard PRR. With respect to headed-and-gutted 
Pacific cod, many independent observers' tests onboard vessels have 
demonstrated PRRs averaging 0.47 and 0.57, respectively, for eastern 
and western cut products made from Pacific cod. Other changes made to 
PRRs are as noted in the section on Changes In the Final Rule From the 
Proposed Rule for the reasons given. NMFS does not have information 
that indicates any of the other proposed standard PRRs are in error; 
therefore, NMFS is establishing them as proposed.
    Comment 5. The 15 percent leeway provided to the Regional Director 
to make adjustments in standard PRRs without further rulemaking is 
inadequate.
    Response. Changes in management measures sometimes have effects 
that are not anticipated. Notice-and-comment procedures provide the 
agency and the public the opportunity to determine what such effects 
might be. There is no limit to the change in a PRR that may be made in 
any one year. The Regional Director may make changes to a PRR without 
providing opportunity for prior public comment as long as the aggregate 
change in any one year does not exceed 15 percent. Changes to a PRR 
which, when aggregated with all other changes made during that same 
calendar year, are greater than 15 percent require notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment to ensure that all data and all 
possible effects are considered.
    NMFS, having reviewed the purpose of this rule and comments 
received, has determined that it is necessary for fishery conservation 
and management. Standard PRRs, rather than recovery rates provided by 
vessel operators, are necessary to estimate the round-weight equivalent 
of retained species: (1) To assign vessels to fisheries for purposes of 
monitoring fishery specific bycatch allowances of prohibited species; 
(2) to monitor vessel compliance with fishery specific bycatch rate 
standards set forth under the VIP to reduce prohibited species bycatch 
rates; and (3) to calculate round-weight equivalents for purposes of 
assessing fees under the Research Plan. This rule is also necessary to 
promote compliance with regulations that prohibit pollock roe stripping 
as intended by the Magnuson Act.

Classification

    The Alaska Region, NMFS, prepared a final regulatory flexibility 
analysis as part of the EA/RIR/FRFA, which concludes that this rule 
will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. A copy of the EA/RIR/FRFA may be obtained from the 
Regional Director (see ADDRESSES).
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Parts 672 and 675

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: September 29, 1994.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR parts 672 and 675 
are amended as follows:

PART 672--GROUNDFISH OF THE GULF OF ALASKA

    1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 672 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 672.2, a new definition of ``Round-weight equivalent'' 
is added to read as follows:


Sec. 672.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Round-weight equivalent means the weight of fish calculated by 
dividing the weight of the primary product made from that fish by the 
standard product recovery rate for that primary product as listed in 
Sec. 672.20(j), or, if not listed, the weight of fish calculated by 
dividing the weight of a primary product by the standard product 
recovery rate as determined using the best available evidence on a 
case-by-case basis.
* * * * *


Sec. 672.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (3) Only the following product types and standard product recovery 
rates may be used to calculate round-weight equivalents for pollock for 
purposes of this subparagraph: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Standard
Product                                                          product
 code                     Product description                   recovery
                                                                  rate  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
07.....  Headed and gutted, western cut.......................      0.65
08.....  Headed and gutted, eastern cut.......................       .56
10.....  Headed and gutted, without tail......................       .50
20.....  Fillets with skin & ribs.............................       .35
21.....  Fillets with skin on, no ribs........................       .30
22.....  Fillets with ribs no skin............................       .30
23.....  Fillets, skinless, boneless..........................       .21
24.....  Deep skin fillets....................................       .13
30.....  Surimi...............................................       .16
31.....  Mince................................................       .22
32.....  Meal.................................................      .17 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (j) Standard product types and standard product recovery rates 
(PRRs)--(1) Calculating round-weight equivalents from standard PRRs. 
Round-weight equivalents for groundfish products shall be calculated 
using the product codes and standard PRRs specified in Table 1 of this 
section.
    (2) Adjustments to Table 1 of this section. The Regional Director 
may adjust standard PRRs and product types specified in Table 1 of this 
section if he determines that existing standard PRRs are inaccurate or 
if new product types are developed.
    (3) Procedure. Adjustments to any standard PRR listed in Table 1 
that are within and including 15 percent of that standard PRR may be 
made without providing notice and opportunity for prior public comment. 
Adjustments of any standard PRR during a calendar year, when aggregated 
with all other adjustments made during that year, may not exceed 15 
percent of the standard PRR listed in Table 1 of this section at the 
beginning of that calendar year and no new product type may be 
announced until NMFS has published notice of the proposed adjustment 
and/or new product type in the Federal Register and provided the public 
with at least 30 days opportunity for public comment. Any adjustment of 
a PRR that acts to further restrict the fishery shall not be effective 
until 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. If 
NMFS makes any adjustment or announcement without providing notice and 
opportunity for prior public comment, the Regional Director will 
receive public comments on the adjustment or announcement for a period 
of 15 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

     Table 1 to Sec. 672.20.--Target Species Categories, Product Codes and Descriptions, and Standard Product Recovery Rates for Groundfish Species     
                                              Referenced in 50 CFR 672.20(a)(1) and/or 50 CFR 675.20(a)(1)                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Product Code                                          
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           6       7        8       10                                  
                                               Species     1       2                    Headed   Headed   Headed  Headed            12                  
                 FMP species                     code    Whole   Whole             4      and     and      and      and     11    Salted    13          
                                                         food    bait   3 Bled  Gutted  gutted   gutted   gutted  gutted  Kirimi    and    Wings  14 Roe
                                                         fish    fish                    with   western  eastern    w/o            split                
                                                                                          roe     cut      cut     tail                                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................................      110    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.85    0.63     0.57     0.47    0.44  ......    0.45  ......    0.05
Arrowtooth flounder..........................      121    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Rockfish\1\..................................  .......    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.88  ......     0.60     0.50  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Sculpins.....................................      160    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.87  ......     0.50     0.40  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Atka mackerel................................      193    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.87    0.67     0.64     0.61  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Pollock......................................      270    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.80    0.70     0.65     0.56    0.50  ......  ......  ......    0.04
Smelts.......................................      510    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.82  ......     0.71  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Eulachon.....................................      511    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.82  ......     0.71  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Capelin......................................      516    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.89  ......     0.78  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Sharks.......................................      689    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.83  ......     0.72  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
Skates.......................................      700    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90  ......  .......     0.32  ......  ......  ......    0.32  ......
Sablefish....................................      710    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.89  ......     0.68     0.63    0.50  ......  ......  ......  ......
Octopus......................................      870    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.69  ......  .......  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 672.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep water flatfish..........................      118    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Flathead sole................................      122    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Rex sole.....................................      125    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Shallow water flatfish.......................      119    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Thornyhead rockfish..........................      143    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.88    0.55     0.60     0.50  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 675.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other flatfish...............................      120    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Rock sole....................................      123    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Yellowfin sole...............................      127    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Greenland turbot.............................      134    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.90    0.80     0.72     0.65    0.62    0.48  ......  ......    0.08
Squid........................................      875    1.00    1.00    0.98    0.69  ......  .......  .......  ......  ......  ......  ......  ......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Rockfish means all species of Sebastes and Sebastolobus.                                                                                             


   Table 1 to Sec. 672.20 (continued).--Target Species Categories, Product Codes and Descriptions, and Standard Product Recovery Rates for Groundfish   
                                              Species Referenced in 50 CFR 672.20(a)(1) and/or 675.20(a)(1)                                             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Product code                                                   
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  20                  22                                                
       FMP species          Species     15               17                    Fillets:     21     Fillets:      23        24       30                  
                             code    Pectoral    16    Cheeks    18      19      With    Fillets:    With     Fillets:  Fillets:  Surimi    31      32  
                                      girdle   Heads           Chins   Belly   skin and   Skin on   ribs no  Skinless/    Deep            Mince    Meal 
                                                                                 ribs    no ribs     skin    boneless     skin                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...............      110     0.05   ......    0.05  ......    0.01     0.45      0.35      0.25       0.25   ........    0.15    0.50    0.17
Arrowtooth flounder.......      121  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Rockfish..................  .......  ........    0.15    0.05    0.05    0.10     0.40      0.30      0.33       0.25   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Sculpins..................      160  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.17
Atka mackerel.............      193  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........    0.15  ......    0.17
Pollock...................      270  ........    0.15  ......  ......  ......     0.35      0.30      0.30       0.21      0.13   \1\0.1                
                                                                                                                                       6                
                                                                                                                                  \2\0.1                
                                                                                                                                       7    0.22    0.17
Smelts....................      510  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........     0.38   ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.22
Eulachon..................      511  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........     0.38   ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.22
Capelin...................      516  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.22
Sharks....................      689  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........     0.30      0.30       0.25   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Skates....................      700  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.17
Sablefish.................      710  ........  ......    0.05  ......  ......     0.35      0.30      0.30       0.25   ........  ......  ......    0.22
Octopus...................      870  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.17
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 672.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep water flatfish.......      118  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Flathead sole.............      122  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Rex sole..................      125  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Shallow water flatfish....      119  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Thornyhead rockfish.......      143  ........    0.20    0.05    0.05    0.05     0.40      0.30      0.35       0.25   ........  ......  ......    0.17
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 675.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other flatfish............      120  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Rock sole.................      123  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Yellowfin sole............      127  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........    0.18  ......    0.17
Greenland Turbot..........      134  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......     0.32      0.27      0.27       0.22   ........  ......  ......    0.17
Squid.....................      875  ........  ......  ......  ......  ......  ........  ........  ........  .........  ........  ......  ......    0.17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Standard pollock surimi rate during January through June.                                                                                            
\2\Standard pollock surimi rate during July through December.                                                                                           


   Table 1 to Sec. 672.20 (continued).--Target Species Categories, Product Codes and Descriptions, and Standard Product Recovery Rates for Groundfish   
                                            Species Referenced in 50 CFR 672.20(a)(1) and 50 CFR 675.20(a)(1)                                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Product code                                                                                
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------                                                    
                        Species                                         37                                                                              
      FMP species         code             34       35        36    Butterfly      96       98 At-                                                      
                                 33 Oil   Milt   Stomachs  Mantles   backbone  Decomposed     sea                                                       
                                                                     removed      fish     discards                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........      110  ......  ......  ........  .......      0.43       0.00       1.00                                                      
Arrowtooth flounder...      121  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Rockfish..............  .......  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Sculpins..............      160  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Atka mackerel.........      193  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Pollock...............      270  ......  ......  ........  .......      0.43       0.00       1.00                                                      
Smelts................      510  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Eulachon..............      511  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Capelin...............      516  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Sharks................      689  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Skates................      700  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Sablefish.............      710  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Octopus...............      870  ......  ......  ........     0.85      1.00       0.00       1.00                                                      
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 672.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep water flatfish...      118  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Flathead sole.........      122  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Rex sole..............      125  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Shallow water flatfish      119  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Thornyhead rockfish...      143  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Target Species Categories Only at 50 CFR 675.20(a)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other flatfish........      120  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Rock sole.............      123  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Yellowfin sole........      127  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Greenland turbot......      134  ......  ......  ........  .......  .........      0.00       1.00                                                      
Squid.................      875  ......  ......  ........     0.75      1.00       0.00       1.00                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 675--GROUNDFISH OF THE BERING SEA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AREA

    4. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 675 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    5. In Sec. 675.2, a new definition of ``Round-weight equivalent'' 
is added to read as follows:


Sec. 675.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Round-weight equivalent means the weight of fish calculated by 
dividing the weight of the primary product made from that fish by the 
standard product recovery rate for that primary product as listed in 
Sec. 672.20(j), or, if not listed, the weight of fish calculated by 
dividing the weight of a primary product by the standard product 
recovery rate as determined using the best available evidence on a 
case-by-case basis.
* * * * *
    6. In Sec. 675.20, paragraph (j)(4) is removed, paragraphs (j)(5)-
(j)(7) are redesignated as paragraphs (j)(4)-(j)(6), paragraph (j)(3) 
is revised, and a new paragraph (k) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 675.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *
    (3) Only the following product types and standard product recovery 
rates may be used to calculate round-weight equivalents for pollock for 
purposes of this subparagraph: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Standard
Product                                                          product
 code                     Product description                   recovery
                                                                  rate  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
07.....  Headed and gutted, western cut.......................      0.65
08.....  Headed and gutted, eastern cut.......................       .56
10.....  Headed and gutted, without tail......................       .50
20.....  Fillets with skin & ribs.............................       .35
21.....  Fillets with skin on, no ribs........................       .30
22.....  Fillets with ribs no skin............................       .30
23.....  Fillets, skinless, boneless..........................       .21
24.....  Deep skin fillets....................................       .13
30.....  Surimi...............................................       .16
31.....  Mince................................................       .22
32.....  Meal.................................................       .17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (k) Standard product types and standard product recovery rates 
(PRRs). Standard product types and standard PRRs pertaining to this 
section are governed by provisions set forth in Sec. 672.20(j).

[FR Doc. 94-24637 Filed 10-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P