[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4311-4321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2291]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 611, 675, and 676

[Docket No. 960129019-6019-01; I.D. 111495A]


Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands; 
Foreign Fishing; Limited Access; Final 1996 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final 1996 specifications of groundfish and associated 
management measures; closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 1996 harvest specifications of total 
allowable catches (TACs), initial apportionments of TACs for each 
category of groundfish, and associated management measures in the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management 
measures for groundfish during the 1996 fishing year. NMFS also is 
closing specified fisheries consistent with the final 1996 groundfish 
specifications and fishery bycatch allowances of prohibited species. 
These measures are intended to conserve and manage the groundfish 
resources in the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The final 1996 harvest specifications are effective at 
noon, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 30, 1996, through 2400 
A.l.t., December 31, 1996, or until changed by subsequent notification 
in the Federal Register. The closures to directed fishing are effective 
noon, A.l.t., January 30, 1996, through 2400 A.l.t., December 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The final Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for the 
1996 Total Allowable Catch Specifications may be obtained from the 
Fisheries Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, 
Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel, or by calling 907-586-7229. 
The final Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report is 
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, West 4th 
Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-2252 (907-271-2809).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan J. Salveson, NMFS, 907-586-7228. 


[[Page 4312]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal 
regulations at 50 CFR part 675 that implement the Fishery Management 
Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island 
area (FMP). Other applicable regulations are found at 50 CFR 611.93 
(foreign fishing) and 50 CFR part 676 (Limited Access Management of 
Federal Fisheries In and Off of Alaska). The FMP was prepared by the 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and approved by NMFS 
under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
    The FMP and implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the apportionments 
of prohibited species catch (PSC) limits among fisheries and seasons 
(Sec. 675.21(b)), the TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), initial domestic annual 
harvest (DAH), and initial total allowable level of foreign fishing 
(TALFF) for each target species and the ``other species'' category 
(Sec. 675.20(a)(2)). The sum of the TACs must be within the optimum 
yield (OY) range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) 
(Sec. 675.20(a)(2)). Specifications set forth in Tables 1-9 of this 
action satisfy these requirements. For 1996, the sum of TACs is 
2,000,000 mt.
    The proposed BSAI groundfish specifications and specifications for 
prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the 
BSAI were published in the Federal Register on December 6, 1995 (60 FR 
62373). Comments were invited through January 4, 1996. No written 
comments were received within the comment period. Public consultation 
with the Council occurred during the December 6-10, 1995, Council 
meeting in Anchorage, AK. Biological and economic data that were 
available at the Council's December meeting were considered by NMFS 
when it approved the final 1996 specifications as recommended by the 
Council.

Interim Specifications

    Regulations under Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(i) authorize one-fourth of each 
proposed ITAC and apportionment thereof, one-fourth of each PSC 
allowance, and the first proposed seasonal allowance of pollock to be 
in effect on January 1 on an interim basis and to remain in effect 
until superseded by final initial specifications. NMFS published the 
interim 1996 specifications in the Federal Register on December 6, 1995 
(60 FR 62339). The final 1996 initial groundfish harvest specifications 
and prohibited species bycatch allowances contained in this action 
supersede the interim 1996 specifications. TAC Specifications and 
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC)
    The specified TAC for each species is based on the best available 
biological and socioeconomic information. The Council, its Advisory 
Panel (AP), and its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) reviewed 
current biological information about the condition of groundfish stocks 
in the BSAI at their September and December 1995 meetings. This 
information was compiled by the Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team and 
is presented in the final 1996 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries, dated November 1995. The Plan Team annually produces such a 
document as the first step in the process of specifying TACs. The SAFE 
report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and 
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters. 
From these data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each 
species category.
    A summary of the preliminary ABCs for each species for 1996 and 
other biological data from the September 1995 draft SAFE report were 
provided in the discussion supporting the proposed 1996 specifications 
(60 FR 62373, December 6, 1995). The Plan Team's recommended ABCs were 
reviewed by the SSC, AP, and Council at their September 1995 meetings. 
Based on the SSC's comments concerning technical methods and new 
biological data not available in September, the Plan Team revised its 
ABC recommendations in the final SAFE report, dated November 1995. The 
revised ABC recommendations were again reviewed by the SSC, AP, and 
Council at their December 1995 meetings. While the SSC endorsed most of 
the Plan Team's recommendations for 1996 ABCs set forth in the final 
SAFE report, the SSC recommended revisions to ABC amounts calculated 
for pollock, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, and sablefish. The Council 
adopted the SSC's recommendations for the 1996 ABCs. The final ABCs are 
listed in Table 1.
    The Council developed its TAC recommendations based on the final 
ABCs as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, 
including maintaining the total TAC in the required OY range of 1.4-2.0 
million mt. None of the Council's recommended TACs for 1996 exceeds the 
final 1996 ABC for each species category. Therefore, NMFS finds that 
the recommended TACs are consistent with the biological condition of 
groundfish stocks. The final TACs and overfishing levels for groundfish 
in the BSAI area for 1996 are given in Table 1 of this action.

Apportionment of TAC

    Except for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, 
each species' TAC initially is reduced by 15 percent to establish the 
ITAC for each species, as required by Sec. 675.20(a)(3) and 
Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(i). The sum of the 15-percent amounts is the reserve. 
One half of the pollock TACs placed in reserve is designated as a 
community development quota (CDQ) reserve for use by CDQ participants. 
The remainder of the reserve is not designated by species or species 
group, and any amount of the reserve may be reapportioned to a target 
species or the ``other species'' category during the year, providing 
that such reapportionments do not result in overfishing.
    The ITAC for each target species and the ``other species'' category 
at the beginning of the year is apportioned between the DAH and TALFF, 
if any. Each DAH amount is further apportioned between two categories 
of U.S. fishing vessels. The domestic annual processing (DAP) category 
includes U.S. vessels that process their catch on board or deliver it 
to U.S. fish processors. The joint venture processors (JVP) category 
includes U.S. fishing vessels working in joint ventures with foreign 
processing vessels authorized to receive catches in the U.S. exclusive 
economic zone.
    In consultation with the Council, the initial amounts of DAP and 
JVP are determined by the Director, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional 
Director). Consistent with the final 1991-95 initial specifications, 
the Council recommended that 1996 DAP specifications be set equal to 
ITAC and that zero amounts of groundfish be allocated to JVP and TALFF. 
In making this recommendation, the Council considered the capacity of 
DAP harvesting and processing operations and anticipated that 1996 DAP 
operations will harvest the full TAC specified for each BSAI groundfish 
species category. The ABCs, TACs, ITACs, specified overfishing levels 
(OFLs), and initial apportionments of groundfish in the BSAI for 1996 
are set out in Table 1.

[[Page 4313]]


  Table 1.--Final 1996 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and  
                Overfishing Levels of Groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area 1,2                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Over-fishing 
                     Species                            ABC             TAC        ITAC DAP 3, 4       level    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock:                                                                                                        
    Bering Sea (BS).............................       1,190,000       1,190,000       1,011,500       1,460,000
    Aleutian Islands (AI).......................          35,600          35,600          30,260          47,000
    Bogoslof District...........................         121,000           1,000             850         121,000
Pacific cod.....................................         305,000         270,000         229,500         420,000
Sablefish total:                                  ..............  ..............  ..............           3,300
    BS..........................................           1,200           1,100             468  ..............
    AI..........................................           1,300           1,200             255  ..............
Atka mackerel total:                                     116,000         106,157          90,233         164,000
    Western AI..................................          55,700          45,857          38,978  ..............
    Central AI..................................          33,600          33,600          28,560  ..............
    Eastern AI/BS...............................          26,700          26,700          22,695                
Yellowfin sole..................................         278,000         200,000         170,000         342,000
Rock sole.......................................         361,000          70,000          59,500         420,000
Greenland turbot total:                                   10,300           7,000           5,950          25,100
    BS..........................................           6,900           4,667           3,967  ..............
    AI..........................................           3,400           2,333           1,983  ..............
Arrowtooth flounder.............................         129,000           9,000           7,650         162,000
Flathead sole...................................         116,000          30,000          25,500         140,000
Other flatfish \5\..............................         102,000          35,000          29,750         120,000
Pacific ocean perch:                                                                                            
    BS..........................................           1,800           1,800           1,530           2,860
    AI total....................................          12,100          12,100          10,285          25,200
        Western AI..............................           6,050           6,050           5,143  ..............
        Central AI..............................           3,025           3,025           2,571  ..............
        Eastern AI..............................           3,025           3,025           2,571  ..............
Other red rockfish: \6\                                                                                         
    BS..........................................           1,400           1,260           1,071           1,400
Sharpchin/Northern:                                                                                             
    AI..........................................           5,810           5,229           4,445           5,810
Shortraker/Rougheye:                                                                                            
    AI..........................................           1,250           1,125             956           1,250
Other rockfish: \7\                                                                                             
    BS..........................................             497             447             380             497
    AI..........................................             952             857             728             952
Squid...........................................           3,000           1,000             850           3,000
  Other species: \8\............................          27,600          20,125          17,106         137,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Totals....................................       2,820,809       2,000,000       1,698,767  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Amounts are in metric tons. These amounts apply to the entire Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) area
  unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these specifications, the BS
  includes the Bogoslof District.                                                                               
\2\ Zero amounts of groundfish are specified for Joint Venture Processing and Total Allowable Level of Foreign  
  Fishing.                                                                                                      
\3\ Except for the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 0.15 of each TAC is put
  into a reserve. The ITAC for each species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
  One half of the amount of the pollock TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a  
  CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants (See Sec.  675.20(a)(3)(ii)).                                         
\4\ Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear is reserved for use by CDQ  
  participants (See Sec.  676.24(b)). Regulations at Sec.  675.20(a)(3) do not provide for the establishment of 
  an ITAC for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation for sablefish. The ITAC for sablefish reflected in Table
  1 is for trawl gear only.                                                                                     
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), flathead
  sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.                                   
\6\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and northern.                              
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, sharpchin,
  northern, shortraker, and rougheye.                                                                           
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon, smelts, capelin, and octopus.                

    The SSC's revisions to the ABCs recommended by the Plan Team for 
pollock, Greenland turbot, Pacific cod, and sablefish are discussed 
below.
    Eastern Bering Sea pollock. The SSC believed that the Plan Team's 
projected 1996 biomass and ABC for eastern Bering Sea pollock (7.36 
million mt and 1.29 million mt, respectively) were overestimated. The 
Plan Team's recommended biomass level was based on a prediction of a 
strong 1992 year class. However, the SSC expressed concerns about the 
assumed strength of the 1992 year class that include: (1) The 
possibility that the rate of exploitation on the year class is 
underestimated, (2) recent fishery independent indicators of abundance 
have not corroborated the earlier observations of year class strength, 
(3) the 1992 year class has experienced an undocumented rate of 
exploitation in the Russian fishery operating along the U.S./Russia 
provisional boundary northwest of the Pribilof Islands, and (4) the 
1992 year class did not show strongly in the 1995 bottom trawl survey. 
The SSC recommended that the predicted strength of the 1992 year class 
should be demonstrated by observing its contribution to the 1996 
fishery.
    The Plan Team also reviewed an alternative estimate of stock 
abundance and ABC based on lower recruitment and exploitation rate 
assumption. The resulting 1996 stock abundance and ABC were 6.0 million 
mt and 1.09 million mt, respectively. The SSC 

[[Page 4314]]
recommended adopting a midpoint estimate of ABC at 1,190,000 mt to 
account for alternative interpretations of 1996 recruitment. The 
associated midpoint biomass is 6,672,000 mt.
    Aleutian Islands pollock. The SSC revised the 1996 Aleutian Islands 
pollock biomass to 142,505 mt from the Plan Team's 87,200 mt. This 
increase was based on the SSC's recommendation that biomass estimated 
for the eastern Aleutian Islands (Unalaska-Umnak area) be included in 
the Aleutian Islands biomass estimate, as done in previous years. In 
the past, the Plan Team included biomass from the Unalaska-Umnak 
islands area in the Aleutian Islands area estimate because this area 
was surveyed as part of the Aleutian Islands survey and was never 
included in the eastern Bering Sea trawl survey. The Plan team excluded 
the eastern extension of the Aleutian Islands area from its 1996 
biomass estimate because these fish likely are not a discrete stock 
given that pollock are continuously distributed from the eastern Bering 
Sea. Furthermore, a portion of the pollock harvested in the eastern 
Aleutian Islands (area 541) likely are Aleutian Basin fish because a 
substantial portion of the commercial catch is from deep-water areas 
adjacent to the Bogoslof area during the first half of the year. 
Nonetheless, because the Plan team did not include the eastern Aleutian 
biomass in either the Aleutian Basin or eastern Bering Sea areas for 
the purpose of assessing ABC, the SSC determined that no compelling 
reason exists for excluding an allowable catch from this area. 
Therefore, the SSC recommended that the Council revert to historical 
practice and include the Unalaska-Umnak area in the estimate of 
Aleutian Islands ABC. Given the SSC's revised biomass of 142,505 mt, 
the SSC recommended an ABC of 35,600 mt using an exploitation rate of 
25 percent and an overfishing level (OFL) of 47,000 mt.
    Bogoslof pollock. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's estimate 
for Bogoslof area pollock biomass (1.1 million mt) based on the 1995 
hydroacoustic survey. This level of biomass is twice that estimated for 
1995. This increase is believed to be the result of a large increase in 
the 1989 year class, as well as an increase in the abundance of older 
pollock in the Bogoslof area. These older fish could have migrated from 
the eastern Bering Sea or Aleutian Island shelf areas; however, little 
is understood of the relationship of the Bogoslof pollock population to 
the adjacent eastern BSAI population. In view of this uncertainty, the 
SSC recommended a more conservative exploitation rate for the Bogoslof 
area than that recommended by the Plan Team. The SSC recommended an ABC 
of 121,000 mt based on an F40%/2 exploitation rate (0.11) applied 
to the current biomass (1.1 million mt). This level of ABC is reduced 
from the Plan Team's recommendation of 286,000 mt based on an F35%
!exploitation rate (.26). The SSC considered its ABC calculation to be 
consistent with the overfishing definition so that OFL=ABC=121,000.
    The Council recommended that pollock be closed to directed fishing 
in the Bogoslof District and that a TAC of 1,000 mt be established to 
provide for bycatch in other groundfish fisheries. This recommendation 
was intended to accommodate uncertainty about whether or not Bogoslof 
pollock are a distinct self-sustaining population or surplus fish from 
the shelf populations. The Council's TAC recommendation also addresses 
concerns about the potential impacts of undocumented fishing effort in 
the Russian zone on young pollock that are primarily considered to be 
of U.S. origin. The Council's TAC recommendation is adopted in these 
final specifications (Table 1).
    Greenland turbot. The SSC endorsed the Plan Team's ABC for 
Greenland turbot (17,000 mt). However, the SSC recommended that this 
ABC amount be phased in over a 3-year period to allow the possibility 
of conducting joint industry/NMFS assessment surveys of the Bering Sea 
slope and Aleutian Islands. Results of these surveys would allow for a 
refinement of the stock abundance estimates prior to fully increasing 
the ABC to 17,000 mt. Given a 3-year phasing in period, the SSC 
recommended a 1996 ABC of 10,300 mt based on the estimated biomass of 
67,000 mt and an exploitation rate of 0.154. The SSC concurred with the 
Plan Team's recommendation that the ABC be split so that two-thirds of 
the TAC is apportioned to the eastern Bering Sea and one-third is 
apportioned to the Aleutian Islands. The intent of this apportionment 
is to spread fishing effort over a larger area and to avoid localized 
depletion. Using the SSC's recommended ABC, this apportionment scheme 
results in eastern BSAI ABCs of 6,900 mt and 3,400 mt, respectively. 
The Council concurred with the SSC's recommendation for ABC and adopted 
a 7,000-mt TAC, as recommended by the AP.
    Pacific cod. The SSC applied a harvest strategy of F40%
!yielding an ABC of 305,000 mt, compared to the Plan Team's ABC of 
357,000 using F35%. The SSC recommended a more conservative 
exploitation strategy because of recruitment variability and the 
unknown impact of increased use of larger-sized trawl mesh on gear 
selectivity.
    Sablefish. The SSC recommended that the sablefish ABCs be set at 
the level recommended in the 1996 SAFE report (1,200 mt for the Bering 
Sea and 1,300 mt for the Aleutian Islands). The recommended ABCs are 
slightly higher than the levels recommended by the Plan Team (1,100 mt 
for the Bering Sea and 1,200 mt for the Aleutian Islands), yet they 
represent a substantial reduction from 1995 levels. This reduction 
reflects biomass declines due to continuing low recruitment. The 
slightly higher ABCs recommended by the SSC are based on a F35%
!exploitation rate, rather than the F40%!used by the Plan Team.

Seasonal Allowances of Pollock TACs

    Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(ii), the pollock TAC for each subarea or 
district of the BSAI is divided, after subtraction of reserves 
(Sec. 675.20(a)(3)), into two seasonal allowances. The first allowance 
is available for directed fishing from January 1 to April 15 (roe 
season) and the second allowance is available from August 15 through 
the end of the fishing year (non-roe season).
    The Council recommended that the seasonal allowances for the Bering 
Sea pollock roe and non-roe seasons be specified at 45 percent and 55 
percent of the ITAC amounts, respectively (Table 2). These percentages 
are unchanged since 1993. As in past years, the pollock TAC amounts 
specified for the Aleutian Islands subarea and the Bogoslof District 
are not seasonally apportioned.
    When specifying seasonal allowances of the pollock TAC, the Council 
and NMFS considered the factors specified in section 14.4.10 of the FMP 
and listed in the proposed specifications (60 FR 62373, December 6, 
1995). A discussion of these factors relative to the roe and non-roe 
seasonal allowances was presented in the final 1993 specifications for 
BSAI groundfish (58 FR 8703, February 17, 1993). Consideration under 
these factors remains unchanged from 1993 given that the relative 
seasonal allowances for 1993-96 are the same.

Apportionment of the Pollock TAC to the Inshore and Offshore Components

    Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iii) require that the proposed 
pollock ITAC amounts specified for the BSAI be allocated 35 percent to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component and 65 
percent to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 

[[Page 4315]]
offshore component. Definitions of these components are found at 
Sec. 675.2. The 1996 ITAC specifications are consistent with these 
requirements (Table 2).

   Table 2.--Seasonal Allowances of the Inshore and Offshore Component Allocations of Pollock TAC Amounts 1, 2  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Subarea                       TAC          ITAC \3\     Roe season \4\     Non-roe season \5\   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:                                                                                                     
    Inshore...........................  ..............         354,025         159,311  194,714.                
    Offshore..........................  ..............         657,475         295,864  361,611.                
                                             1,190,000       1,011,500         455,175  556,325.                
Aleutian Islands:                                                                                               
    Inshore...........................  ..............          10,591          10,591  Remainder.              
    Offshore..........................  ..............          19,669          19,669  Remainder.              
                                                35,600          30,260          30,260  Remainder.              
Bogoslof:                                                                                                       
    Inshore...........................  ..............             298             298  Remainder.              
    Offshore..........................  ..............             552             552  Remainder.              
                                                 1,000             850             850  Remainder.              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ TAC = total allowable catch.                                                                                
\2\ Based on an offshore component allocation of 0.65 (ITAC) and an inshore component allocation of 0.35 (ITAC).
\3\ ITAC = initial TAC = 0.85 of TAC.                                                                           
\4\ January 1 through April 15--based on a 45/55 split (roe = 45 percent).                                      
\5\ August 15 through December 31--based on a 45/55 split (non-roe = 55 percent).                               

Apportionment of the Pollock TAC to the Western Alaska Community 
Development Quota

    Regulations at Sec. 675.20(a)(3)(ii) require one-half of the 
pollock TAC placed in the reserve for each subarea or district, or 7.5 
percent of each TAC, be assigned to a CDQ reserve for each subarea or 
district. The 1996 CDQ reserve amounts for each subarea are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Pollock
                         BSAI Subarea                           CDQ (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea....................................................    89,250
Aleutian Islands..............................................     2,670
Bogoslof......................................................        75
                                                               ---------
      Total...................................................    91,995
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under regulations governing the CDQ program at Sec. 675.27, NMFS 
may allocate the 1996 pollock CDQ reserves to eligible Western Alaska 
communities or groups of communities that have an approved community 
development plan (CDP). NMFS has approved six CDP's and associated 
percentages of the CDQ reserve for each CDP recipient for 1996-98 (60 
FR 66516, December 22, 1995). Table 3 lists the approved CDP 
recipients, and each recipient's allocation of the 1996 pollock CDQ 
reserve for each subarea.

 Table 3.--Approved Shares (Percentages) and Resulting Allocations and Seasonal Allowances (Metric Tons) of the 
 1996 Pollock CDQ Reserve Specified for the Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) Subareas, and the Bogoslof
                                   District (BD) Among Approved CDP Recipients                                  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Roe-season  
               CDP recipient                  Percent              Area             Allocation     allowance \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Pribilof Island Community                   16  BS                               14,280           6,426
 Development Assn.                                                                                              
                                            ...........  AI                                  427  ..............
                                            ...........  BD                                   12  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........  .......................          14,719  ..............
                                                                                 ================               
Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp.....           20  BS                               17,850           8,033
                                            ...........  AI                                  534  ..............
                                            ...........  BD                                   15  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........  .......................          18,399  ..............
                                                                                 ================               
Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Assn.......            4  BS                                3,570           1,607
                                            ...........  AI                                  107  ..............
                                            ...........  BD                                    3  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........                                    3,680  ..............
                                                                                 ================               
Coastal Villages Fishing Coop.............           25  BS                               22,312          10,040
                                            ...........  AI                                  668  ..............
                                            ...........  BD                                   19  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........  .......................          22,999  ..............
                                                                                 ================               
Norton Sound Fisheries Development Corp...           22  BS                               19,635           8,836
                                            ...........  AI                                  587  ..............

[[Page 4316]]
                                                                                                                
                                            ...........  BD                                   16  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........  .......................          20,238  ..............
                                                                                 ================               
Yukon Delta Fisheries Development Corp....           13  BS                               11,603           5,221
                                            ...........  AI                                  347  ..............
                                            ...........  BD                                   10  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................  ...........  .......................          11,960  ..............
                                                                                 ----------------               
      Total...............................          100  .......................          91,995         40,163 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No more than 45 percent of a CDP recipient's 1996 pollock allocation may be harvested during the pollock roe
  season, January 1 through April 15.                                                                           



Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

    Under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(iv), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC is 
allocated to vessels using jig gear, 44 percent to vessels using hook-
and-line or pot gear, and 54 percent to vessels using trawl gear. At 
its December 1995 meeting, the Council recommended a seasonal 
apportionment of the portion of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to 
vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear. The seasonal apportionments 
are authorized under Sec. 675.20(a)(2)(v) to provide for the harvest of 
Pacific cod when flesh quality and market conditions are optimum and 
Pacific halibut bycatch rates are low. The Council's recommendations 
for seasonal apportionments are based on: (1) Seasonal distribution of 
Pacific cod relative to prohibited species distributions, (2) expected 
variations in prohibited species bycatch rates experienced in the 
Pacific cod fisheries throughout the year, and (3) economic effects of 
seasonal apportionment of Pacific cod on the hook-and-line and pot gear 
fisheries. The seasonal allocation of the Pacific cod ITAC is specified 
in Table 4.

                         Table 4.--1996 Gear Shares of the BSAI Pacific Cod Initial TAC                         
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Seasonal apportionment              
               Gear                Percent TAC   Share ITAC ----------------------------------------------------
                                                    (mt)                Date              Percent    Amount (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jig..............................            2        4,590  Jan. 1-Dec. 31...........          100        4,590
Hook-and-line/pot gear...........           44      100,980  Jan. 1-Apr. 30...........           79       80,000
                                                             May 1-Aug. 31............           18       18,000
                                                             Sep. 1-Dec. 31...........            3        2,980
Trawl gear.......................           54      123,930  Jan 1-Dec 31.............          100      123,930
      Total......................          100      229,500                                                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sablefish Gear Allocation and CDQ Allocations for Sablefish

    Regulations at Sec. 675.24(c)(1) require that sablefish TACs for 
BSAI subareas be divided between trawl and hook-and-line/pot gear 
types. Gear allocations of TACs are established in the following 
proportions: Bering Sea subarea: Trawl gear--50 percent; hook-and-line/
pot gear--50 percent; and Aleutian Islands subarea: Trawl gear--25 
percent; hook-and-line/pot gear--75 percent. In addition, regulations 
under Sec. 676.24(b) require NMFS to withhold 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear sablefish allocation as sablefish CDQ reserve. 
Gear allocations of sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts are specified 
in Table 5.

                        Table 5.--1996 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Percent of    Share of   Initial TAC             
               Subarea                         Gear             TAC (mt)     TAC (mt)     (mt) \1\   CDQ reserve
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea..........................  Trawl.................           50          550          468          N/A
                                      Hook-and-line/pot gear           50          550          N/A          110
                                       \2\.                                                                     
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................  ......................  ...........        1,100          468             
Aleutian Islands....................  Trawl.................           25          300          255          N/A
                                      Hook-and-line/pot gear           75          900          N/A          180
                                       \2\.                                                                     
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................  ......................  ...........        1,200          255         290 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 0.15 of TAC is apportioned to reserve. The  
  ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.                                     

[[Page 4317]]
                                                                                                                
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the
  allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants. Regulations at Sec.  675.20(a)(3) do not provide for   
  the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.                            


    Under regulations governing the sablefish CDQ program at 
Sec. 676.24, NMFS may allocate the 1996 sablefish CDQ reserve to 
eligible Western Alaska communities or groups of communities that have 
an approved CDP. NMFS has approved seven CDP's and associated 
percentages of the sablefish CDQ reserve for each CDP recipient for 
1995-97 (59 FR 61877, December 2, 1994). Table 6 lists the approved CDP 
recipients, and each recipient's allocation of the 1996 sablefish CDQ 
reserve for each subarea.

 Table 6.--Approved Shares (Percentages) and Resulting Allocations (MT) 
 of the 1996 Sablefish CDQ Reserve Specified for the Bering Sea (BS) and
      Aleutian Islands (AI) Subareas Among Approved CDP Recipients      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Allocation
     Sablefish CDP recipient          Area        Percent        (mt)   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka Fishermen's Association....  BS                      0            0
                                  AI                      0            0
Bristol Bay Economic Development  BS                      0            0
 Corp.                                                                  
                                  AI                     25           45
Coastal Villages Fishing          BS                      0            0
 Cooperative.                                                           
                                  AI                     25           45
Norton Sound Economic             BS                     25           28
 Development Corporation.                                               
                                  AI                     30           54
Pribilof Island Fishermen.......  BS                      0            0
                                  AI                      0            0
Yukon Delta Fisheries             BS                     75           82
 Development Association.                                               
                                  AI                     10           18
Aleutian Pribilof Islands         BS                      0            0
 Community Development                                                  
 Association.                                                           
                                  AI                     10           18
                                               -------------------------
      Total.....................  BS                    100          110
                                  AI                    100          180
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allocation of Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Crab, Halibut, 
and Herring

    PSC limits of red king crab and C. bairdi Tanner crab in Bycatch 
Limitation Zones (50 CFR 675.2) of the Bering Sea subarea, and for 
Pacific halibut throughout the BSAI specified under Sec. 675.21(a). The 
PSC limits are:

--Zone 1 trawl fisheries, 200,000 red king crabs;
--Zone 1 trawl fisheries, 1 million C. bairdi Tanner crabs;
--Zone 2 trawl fisheries, 3 million C. bairdi Tanner crabs;
--BSAI trawl fisheries, 3,775 mt mortality of Pacific halibut;
--BSAI nontrawl fisheries, 900 mt mortality of Pacific halibut; and
--BSAI trawl fisheries, 1,697 mt Pacific herring.

    The PSC limit of Pacific herring caught while conducting any trawl 
operation for groundfish in the BSAI is 1 percent of the annual eastern 
Bering Sea herring biomass. The best estimate of 1996 herring biomass 
is 169,700 mt. This amount was derived using 1995 survey data and an 
age-structured biomass projection model developed by the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 1996 
is 1,697 mt.
    Regulations under Sec. 675.21(b) authorize the apportionment of 
each PSC limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. 
Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii) specify seven trawl fishery 
categories (midwater pollock, Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish, rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish, yellowfin sole, 
rockfish, Pacific cod, and bottom pollock/Atka mackerel/``other 
species''). Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(2) authorize the 
apportionment of the non-trawl halibut PSC limit among five fishery 
categories (Pacific cod hook-and-line, sablefish hook-and-line, 
groundfish pot gear, groundfish jig gear, and other non-trawl fishery 
categories). The fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl and nontrawl 
fisheries are listed in Table 7.
    The fishery bycatch allowances listed in Table 7 reflect the 
recommendations made to the Council by its AP. These recommendations 
generally reflect those established for 1995 except for the halibut 
bycatch allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth 
flounder/sablefish fishery category. A halibut bycatch allowance equal 
to zero is specified for this fishery category in 1996. This means that 
directed fishing for these species by vessels using trawl gear is 
prohibited. The reasons for this action were discussed in the December 
6, 1995, publication of the proposed 1996 specifications (60 FR 62373). 
The remainder of the prohibited species bycatch allowances were based 
on 1995 bycatch amounts, anticipated 1996 harvest of groundfish by 
trawl gear and fixed gear, and assumed halibut mortality rates in the 
different groundfish fisheries.
    Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(2) authorize exemption of specified 
non-trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in 1995, the Council 
recommended that the pot gear, jig gear, and sablefish hook-and-line 
gear fishery categories be exempt from the halibut bycatch 
restrictions.
    The Council recommended that the pot and jig gear fisheries be 
exempt from halibut-bycatch restrictions because these fisheries use 
selective gear types that experience low halibut bycatch mortality. In 
1995, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 
approximately 21,000 mt with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 
less than 15 mt. The 1995 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 
700 mt of groundfish. The jig gear fleet is comprised of vessels less 
than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall that are exempt from observer 
coverage requirements. As a result, no observer data are available on 
halibut bycatch in the BSAI 

[[Page 4318]]
jig gear fishery. Nonetheless, the selective nature of this gear type 
and the relatively small amount of groundfish harvested with jig gear 
likely results in a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality.
    As in 1995, the Council recommended that the sablefish Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery be exempt from halibut bycatch restrictions 
because of the sablefish and halibut IFQ program (50 CFR part 676). The 
IFQ program requires legal-sized halibut to be retained by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is aboard. The 
best available information on the 1995 sablefish IFQ fishery indicates 
that less than 40 mt of halibut discard mortality was associated with 
this fishery.

      Table 7.--Final 1996 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Trawl fisheries                              Zone 1          Zone 2         BSAI-wide  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab, number of animals:                                                                               
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          50,000                                
    Rcksol/flatsol/othflat \1\..................................         110,000                                
    Turb/arrow/sab \2\..........................................               0                                
    Rockfish....................................................               0                                
    Pacific cod.................................................          10,000                                
    Plck/Atka/othr \3\..........................................          30,000                                
                                                                 -----------------                              
      Total.....................................................         200,000                                
                                                                 =================                              
C. Bairdi tanner crab, number of animals:                                                                       
    Yellowfin sole..............................................         250,000       1,530,000                
    Rcksol/flatsol/othflat......................................         425,000         510,000                
    Turb/arrow/sab..............................................               0               0                
    Rockfish....................................................               0          10,000                
    Pacific cod.................................................         250,000         260,000                
    Plck/Atka/othr..............................................          75,000         690,000                
                                                                 ---------------------------------              
      Total.....................................................       1,000,000       3,000,000                
                                                                 =================================              
Pacific halibut, mortality (MT):                                                                                
    Yellowfin sole..............................................  ..............  ..............             820
    Rcksol/flatsol/othflat......................................  ..............  ..............             730
    Turb/arrow/sab..............................................  ..............  ..............               0
    Rockfish....................................................  ..............  ..............             110
    Pacific cod.................................................  ..............  ..............           1,685
    Plck/Atka/othr..............................................  ..............  ..............             430
                                                                                                 ---------------
      Total.....................................................  ..............  ..............           3,775
                                                                                                 ===============
Pacific herring (MT):                                                                                           
    Midwater pollock\4\.........................................  ..............  ..............           1,227
    Yellowfin sole..............................................  ..............  ..............             287
    Rcksol/flatsol/othflat......................................  ..............  ..............               0
    Turb/arrow/sab..............................................  ..............  ..............               0
    Rockfish....................................................  ..............  ..............               7
    Pacific cod.................................................  ..............  ..............              22
    Plck/Atka/othr\4\...........................................  ..............  ..............             154
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................................  ..............  ..............           1,697
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Non-Trawl Fisheries                                                                      
                                                                                                                
Pacific halibut, mortality (MT):                                                                                
    Pacific cod hook-and-line...................................  ..............  ..............             800
    Sablefish hook-and-line.....................................  ..............  ..............             (5)
    Groundfish pot gear.........................................  ..............  ..............             (5)
    Groundfish jig gear.........................................  ..............  ..............             (5)
    Other non-trawl.............................................  ..............  ..............             100
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................................  ..............  ..............            900 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Rock sole, flathead sole, and other flatfish fishery category.                                              
\2\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.                                      
\3\ Pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.                                             
\4\ Pollock other than midwater pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.                 
\5\ Exempt.                                                                                                     

Seasonal Apportionments of PSC limits

    Regulations at Sec. 675.21(b)(3) authorize NMFS, after consultation 
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of prohibited 
species bycatch allowances. At its December 1995 meeting, the Council 
recommended that certain crab bycatch allowances apportioned to the 
yellowfin sole fishery, the trawl fishery halibut bycatch allowances, 
and the halibut bycatch allowance apportioned to the Pacific cod hook-
and-line gear fishery be seasonally apportioned as shown in 

[[Page 4319]]
Table 8. The recommended seasonal apportionments reflect 
recommendations made to the Council by its AP.
    The Council recommended a seasonal apportionment of the Zone 1 red 
king crab and Zone 1 C. bairdi bycatch allowances apportioned to the 
yellowfin sole fishery. This recommendation was intended to balance 
concerns about undesirable high bycatch rates of red king crab in Zone 
1 with the recognition that Zone 1 provides desirable fishing grounds 
for the yellowfin sole fleet during the time of the year when trawl 
closure areas and ice cover in more northern waters restrict fishing 
opportunities. Furthermore, halibut and C. bairdi bycatch rates 
experienced in Zone 1 tend to be lower than those encountered on other 
fishing grounds in the Bering Sea.
    The Council recommended seasonal apportionments of the halibut 
bycatch allowances specified for the trawl flatfish and rockfish 
fisheries to provide additional fishing opportunities in the BSAI early 
in the year and to reduce the incentive for trawl vessel operators to 
move from the BSAI to the Gulf of Alaska after the rock sole roe 
fishery is closed, typically by the end of February.
    The seasonal apportionment of the halibut bycatch allowance 
specified for the Pacific cod trawl fishery is intended to provide the 
opportunity for a late fall fishery in the event that sufficient 
amounts of the Pacific cod TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear 
remain.
    The recommended seasonal apportionment of the halibut bycatch 
allowance for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery 
category is based on the seasonal allowances of the Bering Sea pollock 
ITAC recommended for the roe and non-roe seasons, and the assumption 
that most of the pollock taken during the roe season will be taken with 
pelagic trawl gear with reduced halibut bycatch rates.
    The Council recommended three seasonal apportionments of the 
halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line 
fishery. The intent of this recommendation was to provide amounts of 
halibut necessary to support the harvest of the seasonal apportionments 
of Pacific cod TAC listed in Table 4, as well as limit a hook-and-line 
fishery for Pacific cod during summer months when halibut bycatch rates 
are high. As authorized under Sec. 675.21(b)(3)(iii), the Council 
further recommended that any unused portion of the first seasonal 
halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line 
fishery be reapportioned to the third seasonal allowance to avoid 
opportunity for additional fishing for Pacific cod during summer 
months. Any overage of a halibut bycatch allowance would be deducted 
from the remaining seasonal bycatch allowances specified for 1996 in 
amounts proportional to those remaining seasonal bycatch allowances.

 Table 8.--Final Seasonal Apportionments of the 1996 Prohibited Species 
      Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Seasonal
                       Trawl fisheries                          bycatch 
                                                               allowance
------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Pacific halibut, mortality (mt):                         
                                                                        
Yellowfin sole:                                                         
  Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................        160
  Apr. 01-May 10.............................................        150
  May 11-Aug. 14.............................................        100
  Aug. 15-Dec. 31............................................        410
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................        820
                                                              ==========
Rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'':                             
  Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................        453
  Apr. 01-Jun. 30............................................        139
  Jul. 01-Dec. 31............................................        138
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................        730
                                                              ==========
Rockfish:                                                               
  Jan.20-Mar. 31.............................................         30
  Apr.01-Jun. 30.............................................         50
  Jul.01-Dec. 31.............................................         30
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................        110
                                                              ==========
Pacific cod:                                                            
  Jan. 20-Oct. 24............................................      1,585
  Oct. 25-Dec. 31............................................        100
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................      1,685
                                                              ==========
Pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'':                                
  Jan. 20-Apr. 15............................................        330
  Apr. 16-Dec. 31............................................        100
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................        430
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
           Zone 1 Red king crab, Number of animals:                     
                                                                        
Yellowfin sole:                                                         
  Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................      5,000
  Apr. 01-May 10.............................................     15,000
  May 11-Aug. 14.............................................     10,000
  Aug. 15-Dec. 31............................................     20,000
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................     50,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
          Zone 1 C. Bairdi crab, number of animals:                     
Yellowfin sole:                                                         
  Jan. 20-Mar. 31............................................     50,000
  Apr. 01-Dec 31.............................................    200,000
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................    250,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Trawl Gear:                                                         
                                                                        
               Pacific halibut mortality (mt):                          
                                                                        
  Pacific cod hook-and-line:\1\..............................           
  Jan. 01-Apr. 30............................................        475
  May 01-Aug. 31.............................................         40
  Sep. 01-Dec. 31............................................        285
                                                              ----------
      Total..................................................       800 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Any unused portion of the first seasonal halibut bycatch allowance  
  specified for the Pacific cod hook-and-line fishery will be           
  reapportioned to the third seasonal allowance. Any overage of a       
  seasonal halibut bycatch allowance would be deducted from the         
  remaining seasonal bycatch allowances specified for 1996 in amounts   
  proportional to those remaining seasonal bycatch allowances.          

    For purposes of monitoring the fishery halibut bycatch mortality 
allowances and apportionments, the Regional Director will use observed 
halibut bycatch rates and estimates of groundfish catch to project when 
a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal 
apportionment is reached. The Regional Director monitors the fishery's 
halibut bycatch mortality allowances using assumed mortality rates that 
are based on the best information available, including information 
contained in the final annual SAFE report.
    The Council recommended that the assumed halibut mortality rates 
developed by staff of the International Pacific Halibut Commission 
(IPHC) for the 1996 BSAI groundfish fisheries be adopted for purposes 
of monitoring halibut bycatch allowances established for the 1996 
groundfish fisheries. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation. 
The IPHC's assumed halibut mortality rates generally are based on an 
average of mortality rates determined from NMFS observer data collected 
during 1993 and 1994. Assumed Pacific halibut mortality rates for BSAI 
fisheries during 1996 are specified in Table 9.

[[Page 4320]]


Table 9.--Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the BSAI Fisheries
                               during 1996                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Assumed 
                           Fishery                             mortality
                                                               (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line gear fisheries:                                           
  Rockfish...................................................       24  
  Pacific cod................................................       11.5
  Greenland turbot...........................................       22  
  Sablefish..................................................       17  
Trawl gear fisheries:                                                   
  Midwater pollock...........................................       88  
  Non-pelagic pollock........................................       78  
  Yellowfin sole.............................................       73  
  Rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish...................       73  
  Rockfish...................................................       75  
  Pacific cod................................................       63  
  Atka mackerel..............................................       63  
  Arrowtooth flounder........................................       49  
  Greenland turbot...........................................       49  
  Sablefish..................................................       49  
  Other species..............................................       82  
Pot gear fisheries:                                                     
  Pacific cod................................................        7  
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Groundfish PSC Limits

    No PSC limits for groundfish species are specified in this action. 
Section 675.20(a)(6) authorizes NMFS to specify PSC limits for 
groundfish species or species groups for which the TAC will be 
completely harvested by domestic fisheries. These PSC limits apply only 
to JVP or TALFF fisheries. At this time, no groundfish are allocated to 
either JVP or TALFF and specifications of groundfish PSC limits are 
unnecessary.

Closures to Directed Fishing

    Under Sec. 675.20(a)(8), if the Regional Director determines that 
the amount of a target species or ``other species'' category 
apportioned to a fishery or, with respect to pollock, to an inshore or 
offshore component allocation, is likely to be reached, the Regional 
Director may establish a directed fishing allowance for the species or 
species group. If the Regional Director established 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. Similarly, under 
Secs. 675.21(c) and 675.21(d), if the Regional Director determines that 
a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red king crab, or C. 
bairdi tanner crab for a specified area has been reached, the Regional 
Director will prohibit directed fishing for each species in that 
category in the specified area.
    The Regional Director has determined that the TAC amounts of 
pollock in the Bogoslof District, Pacific ocean perch in the Bering Sea 
subarea and in the Eastern and Central Aleutian Islands districts, 
shortraker/rougheye rockfish in the Aleutian Islands subarea, other 
rockfish in the BSAI subareas, and other red rockfish in the Bering Sea 
will be necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries. Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing 
for these target species in the specified area identified in Table 10 
to prevent exceeding the groundfish TACs specified in Table 1 of this 
document.
    A Zone 1 red king crab bycatch allowance of zero crab is specified 
for the rockfish trawl fishery, which is defined at 
Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(D). Similarly, the BSAI halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish trawl fishery category, defined at Sec. 675.21(b)(1)(iii)(C), 
is 0 mt. The Regional Director has determined, in accordance with 
Secs. 675.21(c)(1)(i) and 675.21(c)(1)(iii), that the red king crab 
bycatch allowance specified for the trawl rockfish fishery in Zone 1 
and the halibut bycatch allowance specified for the Greenland turbot/
arrowtooth flounder/sablefish trawl fishery category has been caught. 
Therefore, NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish in Zone 1 
by vessels using trawl gear, and for Greenland turbot, arrowtooth 
flounder, and sablefish in the BSAI by vessels using trawl gear (Table 
10).
    The closures listed in Table 10 supersede the closures announced in 
the 1996 interim specifications (60 FR 62339, December 6, 1996). In 
accordance with Sec. 675.20(a)(7)(ii), these closures will remain in 
effect until 12 midnight, A.l.t., December 31, 1996. While these 
closure are in effect, the maximum retainable bycatch amounts at 
Sec. 675.20(h) apply at any time during a fishing trip. Additional 
closures and restrictions may be found in existing regulations at 50 
CFR part 675.
    Under the 1996 interim specification, NMFS closed directed fishing 
for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian Islands District. The 
final 1996 specifications contained in this action supersede the 
interim 1996 specifications. Therefore, directed fishing for Pacific 
ocean perch is authorized in the Western Aleutian Islands District 
under the final 1996 specifications.

       Table 10.--Closures to Directed Fishing Under 1996 TACs \1\      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fishery (all gear)                     Closed area \2\      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock in Bogoslof District..............  Statistical Area 518.       
Pacific ocean perch.......................  Bering Sea.                 
                                            Eastern AI.\3\              
                                            Central AI.                 
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish..............  AI.                         
Other rockfish \4\........................  BSAI.                       
Other red rockfish \5\....................  Bering Sea.                 
Rockfish (trawl only).....................  Zone 1.                     
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish       BSAI.                       
 (trawl only).                                                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and  
  prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 675.                 
\2\ Refer to Sec.  675.2 for definitions of areas.                      
\3\ ``AI'' means Aleutian Islands area.                                 
\4\ In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and Sebastolobus  
  species except for Pacific ocean perch and the ``other red rockfish'' 
  species.                                                              
\5\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and
  northern.                                                             

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 611.93(b), 675.20, and 676; 
and is exempt from review under E.O. 12866.
    This action adopts final 1996 harvest specifications for the BSAI, 
revises associated management measures, and closes specified fisheries. 
Generally, this action does not significantly revise management 
measures in a manner that would require time to plan or prepare for 
those revisions. In some cases, such as closures, action must be taken 
immediately to conserve fishery resources. Without these closures, 
specified prohibited species bycatch allowances will be exceeded, 
established TAC amounts will be overharvested, and retention of some 
groundfish species will become prohibited, which would disadvantage 
fishermen who could no longer retain bycatch amounts of these species. 
The immediate effectiveness of this action is required to provide 
consistent management and conservation of fishery resources. 
Accordingly, the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA (AA), 
finds good cause exists to waive the 30-day delayed effectiveness 
period under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) with respect to such provisions. In 
some cases, the interim specifications in effect would be insufficient 
to allow directed fisheries to operate during a 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period, which would result in unnecessary closures and 
disruption within the fishing industry; in many of these cases, the 
final specifications will allow the fisheries to continue, thus 
relieving a restriction. Provisions of a rule relieving a restriction 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1) are 

[[Page 4321]]
not subject to a delay in the effective date.
    Pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NMFS and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have determined that the groundfish 
fisheries operating under the 1996 BSAI TAC specifications are unlikely 
to jeopardize the continued existence or recovery of species listed as 
endangered or threatened or to adversely modify critical habitat of 
these species.
    NMFS prepared an EA on the 1996 TAC specifications. The AA 
concluded that no significant impact on the environment will result 
from their implementation. A copy of the EA is available (see 
ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: January 30, 1996.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-2291 Filed 1-30-96; 4:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W