[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-31399]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Parts 611, 672, and 676

[Docket No. 941249-4349; I.D. 112894C]

 

Foreign Fishing; Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska; Limited Access 
Management of Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska

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

ACTION: Interim 1995 initial specifications of groundfish, associated 
management measures, and closures.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 1995 initial total allowable catches for 
each category of groundfish and specifications for prohibited species 
bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska 
(GOA). NMFS is closing specified fisheries consistent with the interim 
1995 groundfish specifications. The intended effect is to conserve and 
manage the groundfish resources in the GOA.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1995, until the effective date of the final 
1995 initial specification, which will be published in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: The preliminary Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) Report, dated September 1994, is available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, P.O. Box 103136, Anchorage, AK 
99510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaja Brix, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The domestic and foreign groundfish fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone of the GOA are managed by NMFS according to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The FMP was 
prepared by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
under the authority of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act. The FMP is implemented by regulations for the foreign fishery at 
50 CFR part 611 and for the U.S. fisheries at 50 CFR parts 672, 676, 
and 677. General regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries 
appear at 50 CFR part 620.
    This action provides certain specifications for the 1995 fishing 
year on a preliminary or interim basis, including: (1) Specifications 
of total allowable catch (TAC) for each groundfish target species 
category in the GOA and apportionments thereof among domestic annual 
processing (DAP), joint venture processing (JVP), total allowable level 
of foreign fishing (TALFF), and reserves; (2) apportionments of 
reserves to DAP; (3) apportionments of the sablefish TAC to vessels 
using hook-and-line and trawl gear; (4) apportionments of pollock TAC; 
(5) apportionments of Pacific cod TAC; (6) ``other species'' TAC; (7) 
halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits; (8) seasonal allocations 
of the halibut PSC limits, (9) interim groundfish harvest 
specifications, (10) the opening date of the directed fishery for 
sablefish for hook-and-line gear, and (11) closures to directed 
fishing. A discussion of each of these measures follows.

1. Proposed Establishment of TACs and Apportionments Thereof Among 
Domestic Annual Processing (DAP), Joint Venture Processing (JVP), Total 
Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing (TALFF), and Reserves

    Under Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii), NMFS, after consultation with the 
Council, publishes in the Federal Register preliminary specifications 
of annual TACs and interim harvest limits. These preliminary 
specifications indicate apportionments of TACs among DAP, JVP, 
reserves, and TALFF for each target species and the ``other species'' 
category. The sum of the TACs for all species must fall within the 
combined optimum yield (OY) range, of 116,000-800,000 metric tons (mt), 
established for these species.
    Species TACs are apportioned initially among DAP, JVP, TALFF, and 
reserves under Secs. 611.92(c)(1) and 672.20(a)(2). DAP amounts are 
intended for harvest by U.S. fishermen for delivery and sale to U.S. 
processors. JVP amounts are intended for joint ventures in which U.S. 
fishermen deliver their catches to foreign processors at sea. TALFF 
amounts are intended for harvest by foreign fishermen. Existing 
harvesting and processing capacity of the U.S. industry is capable of 
utilizing the entire 1995 TAC specification for GOA groundfish. 
Therefore, the Council recommended that DAP equal TAC for each species 
category, resulting in no proposed amounts of TALFF or JVP for the 1995 
fishing year.
    The reserves for the GOA are 20 percent of the TACs for pollock, 
Pacific cod, flatfish target species categories, and ``other species.'' 
Given that the GOA groundfish TACs have been utilized fully by DAP 
since 1987, NMFS has reapportioned all the reserves to DAP.
    The Council met from September 28 to October 5, 1994, to review 
scientific information concerning groundfish stocks. The preliminary 
SAFE Report, dated September 1994, prepared and presented to the 
Council by the GOA Plan Team (Plan Team), summarizes the best available 
scientific information.
    The September 1994 SAFE Report contains revised stock assessments 
for all species except sablefish and demersal shelf rockfish (DSR). New 
assessments for these two species are discussed in the final SAFE 
Report issued in November. New stock assessment models were used in the 
assessments for Pacific cod, arrowtooth flounder, and thornyhead 
rockfish. Additional information, based on 1993 trawl surveys, was 
presented for pollock, slope rockfish, Pacific ocean perch (POP), 
pelagic shelf rockfish, and the flatfish groups. Details of the 
assessments can be found in the September 1994 SAFE Report.
    The total ABC amount recommended by the SSC and accepted by the 
Council was a range from 481,090 - 533,690 mt. The range accounted for 
the recommended ABC range in the Pacific cod stock. The total TAC 
amount recommended by the Advisory Panel (AP) was 326,515 mt. The AP 
recommended a 1995 TAC equal to the 1995 ABCs, as recommended by the 
SSC, for pollock, rex sole, sablefish, shortraker/rougheye, other 
rockfish, northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, DSR, and 
thornyhead rockfish. The AP recommendation for a 1995 TAC for Pacific 
cod was equal to the upper end of the range (103,000 mt) recommended by 
the SSC.
    The Council considered information in the SAFE Report, 
recommendations from its SSC and its AP, as well as public testimony. 
The Council then accepted the ABCs as recommended by the SSC and, with 
the exception of ``other rockfish,'' the TACs as recommended by the AP.
    The Council chose a TAC range for ``other rockfish'' that ranged 
from the 1994 TAC amount of 2,235 mt to the 1995 ABC amount of 6,930 
mt. This range was recommended to recognize the need for conservative 
management of this group. However, NMFS must manage the fisheries based 
on a single TAC amount, rather than on a range of numbers. NMFS has 
chosen to propose a TAC of 6,930 mt, which is the number proposed by 
the AP and is the ABC that was recommended from the 1994 stock 
assessment. Even though this number will be used to establish the 1995 
interim TAC until the final specifications are implemented, no 
practical difference exists in choosing any number within the Council's 
recommended TAC range. The hook-and-line fisheries typically do not 
harvest other rockfish and the trawl fisheries for rockfish do not open 
until July 1, by which time the final specifications will be published.
    NMFS also revises the Council's recommendation for the 1995 
flathead sole TAC. The Council approved the AP recommendation of 
adopting the 1994 TAC amounts for flathead sole for the 1995 TAC 
amounts. In the GOA Eastern Regulatory Area, the 1994 TAC amount (3,000 
mt) is higher than the Council's recommended 1995 ABC (2,740 mt). To 
maintain consistency with the accepted policy of setting TACs lower 
than or equal to ABC amounts, NMFS is proposing to establish a 1995 TAC 
of 2,740 mt for the Eastern Regulatory Area. This number is equal to 
the 1995 ABC recommended by the Plan Team and the SSC and approved by 
the Council. Adjustment of the flathead sole TAC in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area changes the total 1995 flathead sole TAC to 9,740 mt. 
This also results in a revised ``other species'' TAC amount of 15,535 
mt and a revised 1995 total GOA TAC of 326,242 mt.
    The 1995 ABCs, TACs and interim TACs, as well as the ABC and TAC 
apportionments, are shown in Table 1.

 Table 1.--Preliminary 1995 ABCs, Proposed TACs, Preliminary TACs and DAPs of Groundfish for the Western/Central
 (W/C), Western (W), Central (C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas in the West Yakutat (WYak), Southeast (SEO), 
  and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska.\1\ Amounts Specified as Joint Venture Processing (JVP) and 
    Total Allowable Level of Foreign Fishing (TALFF) Are Proposed To Be Zero and Are Not Shown in This Table.   
                     Reserves Are Proposed To Be Apportioned to DAP. Amounts in Metric Tons.                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               \1/4\ TAC=Interim
                  Species                         Area               ABC            TAC=DAP           TAC       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:\2\                                                                                                     
                                            W (61)                       30,380        30,380              7,595
                                            C (62)                       15,310        15,310             3,,827
                                            C (63)                       16,310        16,310              4,078
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal............................  W/C                          62,000        62,000             15,500
                                                             ===================================================
                                            E                             3,360         3,360                840
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               65,360        65,360             16,340
                                                             ===================================================
Pacific cod:\3\                                                                                                 
    Inshore...............................  W                 .................        26,910              6,727
    Offshore..............................  W                 .................        2,990,                748
    Inshore...............................  C                 .................        61,200             15,300
    Offshore..............................  C                 .................         6,800              1,700
    Inshore...............................  E                 .................         4,590              1,147
    Offshore..............................  E                 .................           510                128
                                            W                     16,630-29,900        29,900              7,475
                                            C                     31,250-68,000        68,000             17,000
                                            E                       2,520-5,100         5,100              1,275
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                       50,400-103,000       103,000             25,750
                                                             ===================================================
Flatfish, Deep-water:\4\                                                                                        
                                            W                               670           460                115
                                            C                             8,150         7,500              1,875
                                            E                             5,770         3,120                780
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               14,590        11,080              2,770
                                                             ===================================================
Rex sole:                                                                                                       
                                            W                             1,350         1,350                338
                                            C                             7,050         7,050              1,763
                                            E                             2,810         2,810                703
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               11,210        11,210              2,804
Flathead sole:                                                                                                  
                                            W                             8,880         2,000                500
                                            C                            17,170         5,000              1,250
                                            E                             2,740         2,740                685
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               28,790         9,740              2,435
                                                             ===================================================
Flatfish, Shallow-water:\5\                                                                                     
                                            W                            26,280         4,500              1,125
                                            C                            23,140        12,950              3,238
                                            E                             2,850         1,180                295
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               52,270        18,630              4,658
                                                             ===================================================
Arrowtooth flounder:                                                                                            
                                            W                            28,400         5,000              1,250
                                            C                           141,290        25,000              6,250
                                            E                            28,440         5,000              1,250
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                              198,130        35,000              8,750
                                                             ===================================================
Sablefish:\6\                                                                                                   
                                            W                             2,290         2,290                573
                                            C                            11,220        11,220              2,805
                                            W. Yak                        4,850         4,850              1,213
                                            SEO                           7,140         7,140              1,785
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                               25,500        25,500              6,376
                                                             ===================================================
Pacific ocean perch:\7\                                                                                         
                                            W                             1,780         1,195                299
                                            C                             3,190         2,152                538
                                            E                             3,860         2,630                657
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                                8,830         5,977              1,494
                                                             ===================================================
Shortraker/rougheye:\8\                                                                                         
                                            W                               170           170                 43
                                            C                             1,210         1,210                303
                                            E                               530           530                133
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                                1,910         1,910                479
                                                             ===================================================
Rockfish, other:\9\\10\\11\                                                                                     
                                            W                               170           170                 43
                                            C                             1,150         1,150                288
                                            E                             5,610         5,610              1,403
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                                6,930         6,930              1,734
                                                             ===================================================
Rockfish, northern:\12\                                                                                         
                                            W                               640           640                160
                                            C                             4,610         4,610              1,153
                                            E                                20            20                  5
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                                5,270         5,270              1,318
                                                             ===================================================
Rockfish, pelagic shelf:\13\                                                                                    
                                            W                               910           910                228
                                            C                             3,200         3,200                800
                                            E                             1,080         1,080                270
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        Total.............................                                5,190         5,190              1,298
                                                             ===================================================
Demersal shelf rockfish\11\...............  SEO                             960           960                240
Thornyhead rockfish.......................  GW                            1,450         1,450                363
Atka mackerel\14\.........................  GW                            4,300         3,500                875
Other species\15\.........................                               NA\16\        15,535              3,884
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
        GOA Total\17\.....................                      481,090-533,690       326,242             81,568
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\See Sec. 672.2 for definitions of regulatory area, regulatory district, and statistical area.                
\2\Pollock is apportioned to three statistical areas in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Area (Table 3), 
  each of which is further divided into equal quarterly allowances. The first quarterly allowances are in effect
  on an interim basis. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into quarterly allowances, and one-
  fourth of the TAC is available on an interim basis.                                                           
\3\Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent to the inshore, and 10 percent to the offshore component. One-fourth of  
  the inshore and offshore allocations will be available on an interim basis. Component allowances are shown in 
  Table 4.                                                                                                      
\4\``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole and Greenland turbot. Rex sole is a separate target species         
  beginning with the 1994 fishing year.                                                                         
\5\``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or 
  arrowtooth flounder.                                                                                          
\6\Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears (Table 2).                                           
\7\``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.                                                               
\8\``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).          
\9\``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope  
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means 
  slope rockfish.                                                                                               
\10\``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),  
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegateu (harlequin), S.  
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis   
  (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail, S. miniatus (vermilion), S. babcocki         
  (redbanded), and S. reedi (yellowmouth).                                                                      
\11\``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S.
  maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).   
\12\``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.                                                            
\13\``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanops (black), S. mystinus (blue), S. ciliatus (dusky), S.  
  entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).                                                              
\14\Atka mackerel is a separate target species beginning in 1994.                                               
\15\``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon, smelts, capelin, squid, and octopus. The TAC 
  for ``other species'' equals 5 percent of the TACs of target species.                                         
\16\NA=not applicable.                                                                                          
\17\The total ABC reflects the sum of the ABCs for target species.                                              

2. Preliminary Apportionment of Reserves to DAP

    Regulations implementing the FMP require 20 percent of each TAC for 
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish species, and the ``other species'' 
category be set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later 
date (Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(ii)). Consistent with Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iii), 
NMFS is preliminarily apportioning the 1995 reserves for each of the 
four species categories to DAP, anticipating that domestic harvesters 
and processors have established markets for these species and should be 
provided the opportunity to realize revenues from the harvest of the 
full DAP amounts so specified. Specifications of DAP shown in Table 1 
reflect apportioned reserves.

3. Preliminary Apportionment of the Sablefish TACs to Users of Hook-
and-Line and Trawl Gear

    Under Sec. 672.24(c), sablefish TACs for each of the regulatory 
areas and districts are assigned to hook-and-line and trawl gear. In 
the Central and Western Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of the TAC is 
allocated to hook-and-line gear and 20 percent is allocated to trawl 
gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is assigned 
to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is assigned to trawl gear. The 
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used 
as bycatch to support directed fisheries for other target species. 
Sablefish caught in the GOA with gear other than hook-and-line or trawl 
must be treated as prohibited species and may not be retained. Table 2 
shows the assignments of the preliminary 1995 sablefish TACs between 
hook-and-line and trawl gears.

 Table 2.--Preliminary 1995 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Assignments Thereof to Hook- 
                               and-Line and Trawl Gear. Values Are in Metric Tons.                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Hook-and-     Trawl  
                                Area/District                                     TAC      line share    share  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western......................................................................      2,290        1,832        458
Central......................................................................     11,220        8,976      2,244
Eastern West Yakutat.........................................................      4,850        4,607        243
Southeast Outside............................................................      7,140        6,783        357
                                                                              ----------------------------------
      Total..................................................................     25,500       22,198      3,302
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Preliminary Apportionments of Pollock TAC

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by area and season. These 
amounts are further apportioned between inshore and offshore 
components. Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(iv) require that the TAC 
for pollock in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Areas (W/C) be 
apportioned among statistical areas Shumagin (61), Chirikof (62), and 
Kodiak (63) in proportion to known distribution of the pollock biomass. 
This measure was intended to provide spatial distribution of the 
pollock harvest as a sea lion protection measure. Each statistical area 
apportionment is further divided equally into the four calendar 
quarters. Within any fishing year, any unharvested amount of any 
quarterly allowance of pollock TAC is added in equal proportions to the 
quarterly allowances of following quarters, resulting in a sum for each 
quarter not to exceed 150 percent of the initial quarterly allowance. 
Similarly, harvests in excess of a quarterly allowance of TAC are 
deducted in equal proportions from the remaining quarterly allowances 
of that fishing year. The Eastern Regulatory Area proposed TAC of 3,360 
mt is not allocated among smaller areas, or quarterly.
    Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(A) require that the DAP 
apportionment for pollock in all regulatory areas and all quarterly 
allowances thereof be divided into inshore and offshore components. The 
inshore component is apportioned 100 percent of the pollock DAP in each 
regulatory area after subtraction of amounts that are determined by the 
Director, Alaska Region, NMFS, (Regional Director) to be necessary to 
support the bycatch needs of the offshore component in directed 
fisheries for other groundfish species. At this time, these bycatch 
amounts are unknown, and will be determined during the fishing year. 
The preliminary distribution of pollock within the combined W/C GOA is 
shown in Table 3, except that inshore and offshore component 
apportionments of pollock are not shown.

 Table 3.--Preliminary Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska
 (W/C GOA); Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Quarterly Allowances. ABC for the W/C GOA Is Proposed
To Be 62,000 Metric Tons (MT). Biomass Distribution Is Based on 1993 Survey Data. TACs Are Equal to ABC. Inshore
       and Offshore Allocations of Pollock Are Not Shown. ABCs and TACs Are Rounded to the Nearest 10 MT.       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Biomass    1995 ABC   Quarterly
                               Statistical area                                  percent     = TAC     allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (61).................................................................         49     30,380       7,595
Chirikof (62).................................................................       24.7     15,310       3,827
Kodiak (63)...................................................................       26.3     16,310       4,078
                                                                               ---------------------------------
      Total...................................................................      100.0     62,000      15,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Preliminary Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Regulations at Sec. 672.20(a)(2)(v)(B) require that the DAP 
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas be divided into 
inshore and offshore components. The inshore component is equal to 90 
percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory area. Inshore and 
offshore component allocations of the proposed 103,000 mt TAC for each 
regulatory area are shown in Table 4.

Table 4.--Preliminary 1995 Allocation (Metric Tons) of Pacific Cod in the Gulf of Alaska; Allocations to Inshore
                                             and Offshore Components                                            
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   TAC          
                                                                            Regulatory -------------------------
                           Component Allocation                                area                    Offshore 
                                                                                        Inshore(90%)     (10%)  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...................................................................      29,900       26,910        2,990
Central...................................................................      68,000       61,200        6,800
Eastern...................................................................       5,100        4,590          510
                                                                           -------------------------------------
      Total...............................................................     103,000       92,700       10,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. ``Other Species'' TAC

    The FMP specifies that amounts for the ``other species'' category 
are calculated as 5 percent of the combined TACs for target species. 
The GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is calculated as 15,535 mt, which is 
5 percent of the sum of combined TACs for the target species.

7. Preliminary Halibut PSC Mortality Limits

    Under Sec. 672.20(f), annual Pacific halibut PSC mortality limits 
are established for trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be established 
for pot gear.
    At its September 1994 meeting, the Council recommended that, for 
1995, NMFS re-establish 1994 PSC limits of 2,000 mt and 750 mt for the 
trawl and hook-and-line gear fisheries, respectively, with 10 mt of the 
hook-and-line limit allocated to the DSR fishery in the Southeast 
Outside District and the remainder to other hook-and-line gear 
fisheries. These interim specifications exempt pot gear from halibut 
limits for 1994, as proposed by the Council.
    In 1994, NMFS approved a rule that authorizes separate 
apportionments of the trawl halibut bycatch mortality limit between 
trawl fisheries for deep-water and shallow-water species (59 FR 38132, 
July 27, 1994). These apportionments are divided seasonally to avoid 
seasonally high halibut bycatch rates.
    Consistent with the goals and objectives of the FMP to reduce 
halibut bycatches while providing an opportunity to harvest the 
groundfish OY, NMFS preliminarily concurs in the Council's 1995 
recommendations and assigns 2,000 mt and 750 mt of halibut PSC 
mortality limits to trawl and hook-and-line gear, respectively, as 
interim limits. While these limits would reduce the harvest quota for 
commercial halibut fishermen, NMFS has determined that they would not 
result in unfair allocation to any particular user group. NMFS 
recognizes that some halibut bycatch will occur in the groundfish 
fishery, but expansion of the Vessel Incentive Program, required 
modifications to gear, implementation of the IFQ program, and changes 
in the season start date for some fisheries are intended to reduce 
adverse impacts on halibut fishermen while promoting the opportunity to 
achieve the OY from the groundfish fishery.

8. Preliminary Seasonal Allocations of the Halibut PSC Limits

    Under Sec. 672.20(f)(2)(iii), NMFS preliminarily allocates seasonal 
halibut PSC limits based on recommendations from the Council. The 
Council recommended the same seasonal allocation of PSC limits for the 
1995 fishing year as those in effect during the 1994 fishing year. The 
publication of the final 1994 initial groundfish and PSC specifications 
(59 FR 7647, February 16, 1994) summarizes Council findings with 
respect to each of the FMP considerations set forth above. At this 
time, the Council's findings are unchanged from those set forth for 
1994.
    Pacific halibut PSC limits, and apportionments thereof, are 
presented in Table 5. Regulations specify that any overages or 
shortfalls in PSC limits will be accounted for within the 1995 season.
    The Council did not recommend changes in the seasonal 
apportionments for the hook-and-line gear fisheries from those 
specified in 1994; however, NMFS notes that the opening date of the 
sablefish fishery is scheduled to change from May 18, in 1994, to March 
1, in 1995, under the IFQ program. This change and the Council's 
proposed exemption of the sablefish fishery from the 1995 PSC limit may 
prompt the Council to alter its recommendation for seasonal 
apportionments at its December 1994 meeting.
    The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated 
to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than 
DSR.

Table 5.--Preliminary 1995 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments. Values Are in Metric Tons
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Trawl gear                                           Hook-and-line gear                          
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Other than DSR                            DSR               
         Dates               Amount     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Dates             Amount             Dates            Amount  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1-Mar 31...........       600 (30%)  Jan 1-May 17..........    200 (27%)  Jan 1-Dec 31..........   10 (100%)
Apr 1-Jun 30...........       400 (20%)  May 18-Aug 31.........    500 (68%)                                    
Jul 1-Sep 30...........       600 (30%)  Sep 1-Dec 31..........      40 (5%)                                    
Oct 1-Dec 31...........       400 (20%)                                                                         
                        ----------------                        -------------                        -----------
      Total............    2,000 (100%)  ......................   740 (100%)  ......................   10 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulations at Sec. 672.20(f)(1) authorize apportionments of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit allowance as bycatch allowances to a deep-water 
species complex, comprising sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, 
and arrowtooth flounder, and a shallow-water species complex, 
comprising pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, 
Atka mackerel, and other species. The apportionment for these two 
complexes is presented in Table 6.

   Table 6.--Preliminary 1995 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Deep-Water Species  
                    Complex and the Shallow-Water Species Complex. Values Are in Metric Tons                    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Shallow-                        
                                    Season                                        water     Deep-water    Total 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 20-Mar 31................................................................         500          100       600
Apr 1-Jun 30.................................................................         100          300       400
Jul 1-Sep 30.................................................................         200          400       600
Oct 1-Dec 31.................................................................       (\1\)        (\1\)     (\1\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\No apportionment between shallow and deep for the 4th quarter.                                               

9. Interim Groundfish Harvest Specifications

    Current regulations at Sec. 672.20(c)(1)(ii)(A) require that one-
fourth of the proposed TAC (not including the reserves and the first 
quarterly allowance of pollock), one-fourth of the inshore and offshore 
allocations of Pacific cod in each regulatory area, and one-fourth of 
the halibut PSC amounts, take effect on January 1 on an interim basis 
and remain in effect until superseded by the final 1995 initial 
specifications published in the Federal Register or until harvested. 
Seasonal apportionments of TACs or PSC limits under provisions of other 
regulations may supersede this interim specification. Table 1 shows 
amounts of proposed specifications of target species and the ``other 
species'' categories in effect on an interim basis beginning January 1, 
1995.

10. Opening Date of the Directed Fishery for Sablefish for Hook-and-
Line Gear

    Under new regulations implementing the IFQ program (50 CFR part 
676) in 1995, the opening date of the sablefish fishery is March 1.

11. Closures to Directed Fishing

    Under Sec. 672.20(c)(2)(ii), if the Regional Director determines 
that the amount of a target species or ``other species'' category 
apportioned to a fishery, or with respect to Pacific cod, to an 
allocation to the inshore or offshore component, is likely to be 
reached, the Regional Director may establish a directed fishing 
allowance for that species or species group. In establishing a directed 
fishing allowance, the Regional Director shall consider the amount of 
that species group or allocation of Pacific cod to the inshore or 
offshore component that will be taken as incidental catch in directed 
fishing for other species in the same regulatory area or district. If 
the Regional Director 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 regulatory area or district.
    The Regional Director has determined that interim amounts of 
groundfish specified by this preliminary specification (Table 1) for 
species or species groups identified in Table 7 will be necessary as 
incidental catch to support anticipated groundfish fisheries prior to 
the time that final specifications of groundfish are in effect for the 
1995 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for 
those target species, gears, and components listed in Table 7 to 
prevent exceeding the interim amounts of groundfish TACs specified. 
These closures will be in effect during the period that the appropriate 
interim specifications of groundfish TACs are in effect. During these 
closures, applicable directed fishing standards may be found at 
Sec. 672.20(g). Additional closures and restrictions may be found in 
existing regulations at 50 CFR part 672.

    Table 7.--Closures to Directed Fishing for Interim Total Allowable Catches Implemented by this Notice\1\.   
   Offshore = The Offshore Component; TRW = Trawl; ALL = All Gears; WG = Western Regulatory Area; CG = Central  
                   Regulatory Area; EG = Eastern Regulatory Area; GOA = Entire Gulf of Alaska.                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Fishery                                 Component          Gear        Closed areas  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................................................  ................  ALL..........  GOA             
Northern rockfish............................................  ................  ALL..........  EG              
Deep-water flatfish..........................................  ................  ALL..........  WG              
Pacific cod..................................................  Offshore........  ALL..........  WG, CG, EG      
Pacific ocean perch..........................................  ................  ALL..........  WG, CG          
Rex sole.....................................................  ................  ALL..........  WG              
Sablefish....................................................  ................  TRW..........  WG, CG          
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish.................................  ................  ALL..........  WG, CG, EG      
Thornyhead rockfish..........................................  ................  ALL..........  GOA             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR  
 part 672.                                                                                                      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After consideration of public comments and additional scientific 
information presented at its December 1994 meeting, the Council may 
recommend other closures to directed fishing. Additionally, NMFS may 
implement other closures at the time the final 1995 initial 
specifications of groundfish TACs are implemented, or during the 1995 
fishing year as necessary for effective management.

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 611.92 and 672.20; and is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866.

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

    Dated: December 15, 1994.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 94-31399 Filed 12-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P