[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 1 (Monday, January 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50-56]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34728]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 981222313-8320-02; I.D. 122198A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands Area; Interim 1999 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Interim 1999 harvest specifications for groundfish.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 1999 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts for the groundfish 
fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). 
This action is necessary to conserve and manage the groundfish 
resources in the BSAI and is intended to implement the goals and 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMP).

DATES: The Interim Specifications are effective from 0001 hours, Alaska 
local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 1999, until the effective date of the 
final 1999 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish, which will be 
published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The preliminary 1999 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) Report, dated September 1998, is available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, telephone 907-271-2809. The Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement as well as the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 1999 Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications is available from the Alaska Region NMFS, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shane Capron, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 that govern the groundfish 
fisheries in the BSAI implement the FMP. The North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it, 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 
General regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at 
subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
    The Council met in October 1998 to review scientific information 
concerning groundfish stocks. The Council adopted for public review the 
preliminary SAFE Report for the 1999 BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 
preliminary SAFE Report, dated September 1998, provides an update on 
the status of stocks. Copies of the SAFE Report are available from the 
Council (see ADDRESSEES). The preliminary TAC amounts for each species 
are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. The Council recommended a preliminary total acceptable 
biological catch (ABC) of 2,379,976 metric tons (mt) and a preliminary 
total TAC of 1,925,000 mt for the 1999 fishing year.
    Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1), NMFS published in the December 30, 1998 
Federal Register, proposed harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish 
for the 1999 fishing year. That document contains a detailed discussion 
of the 1999 groundfish harvest specifications and of the proposed 1999 
TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and related apportionments, ABC amounts, 
overfishing levels, PSC amounts, and associated management measures of 
the BSAI groundfish fishery including detailed information on the 
implementation of the American Fisheries Act (AFA).
    This action provides interim harvest specifications and 
apportionments thereof for BSAI groundfish for the 1999 fishing year 
that will become available on January 1, 1999, and remain in effect 
until superseded by the final 1999 harvest specifications.
    NMFS notes that the Council at its December 1998, meeting requested 
NMFS to implement an emergency interim rule establishing conservation 
measures to mitigate impacts of the BSAI pollock fishery on Steller sea 
lions and their critical habitat. NMFS is currently preparing an 
emergency rule to implement parts of the Council's recommendations as 
well as other measures necessary to ensure that the pollock trawl 
fishery does not jeopardize the continued existence, or adversely 
modify the critical habitat, of Steller sea lions. These emergency 
measures will likely revise these interim specifications for pollock.

Establishment of Interim TACs

    Fifteen percent of the TAC for each target species or species 
group, except for the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of 
sablefish, is automatically placed in a non-specified reserve 
(Sec. 679.20(b)(1)). The remainder is the initial TAC (ITAC). The AFA 
supersedes this provision for pollock because the 1999 TAC for this 
species is required to be fully allocated among the CDQ program, 
incidental catch allowance, and inshore, catcher/processor, and 
mothership directed fishery allowances.
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(iii) require that one-half of each 
TAC amount placed in the non-specified reserve be allocated to the 
groundfish CDQ reserve, and that 20 percent of the hook-and-line and 
pot gear allocation of sablefish, be allocated to the fixed-gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve. The AFA requires that 10 percent of the pollock 
TAC be allocated to a pollock CDQ reserve (section 206). The groundfish 
and pollock CDQ reserves are not further apportioned by gear. Fifteen 
percent of the groundfish CDQ reserve established for squid, arrowtooth 
flounder, and ``other species'' is apportioned to a non-specific CDQ 
reserve. Regulations governing the use and release of the non-specific 
CDQ reserve are found at Sec. 679.31(g). Regulations at 
Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i) also require that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, 
with the exception of herring, be withheld as prohibited species quota 
(PSQ) reserve for the CDQ fisheries. Regulations governing the 
management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves are set forth at Sec. 679.30 and 
Sec. 679.31.
    After subtraction of the CDQ reserves, the remainder of the non-
specified 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.

[[Page 51]]

    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) require that one-fourth of 
each proposed ITAC amount and apportionment thereof (not including the 
first seasonal allowance of pollock), one-fourth of each prohibited 
species catch (PSC) allowance established under Sec. 679.21, and the 
first seasonal allowance of pollock TAC become effective 0001 hours, 
A.l.t., January 1, on an interim basis and remain in effect until 
superseded by the final groundfish harvest specifications.
    A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on November 
9, 1998, (63 FR 60288) that would implement measures to mitigate 
effects of the Atka mackerel fishery on Steller sea lion critical 
habitat. NMFS anticipates that a final rule will be effective by 
January 20, 1999, the start of the 1999 trawl season, that will 
seasonally apportion the Atka mackerel TACs and revise the interim 
specifications for this species.

Apportionment of Pollock TAC to Vessels Using Nonpelagic Trawl Gear

    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B) authorize NMFS, in 
consultation with the Council, to limit the amount of pollock that may 
be taken in the directed fishery for pollock using nonpelagic trawl 
gear. At its June 1998 meeting, the Council adopted management measures 
that, if approved by NMFS, would prohibit the use of nonpelagic trawl 
gear in the directed fishery for pollock and reduce specified 
prohibited species bycatch limits by amounts equal to anticipated 
savings in bycatch or bycatch mortality that would be expected from 
this prohibition. The Council did not take specific action to allocate 
zero amounts of pollock to the 1999 directed fishery for pollock with 
nonpelagic trawl gear under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(B) because 
implementation of the Council's June action in time for the 1999 
fishery was assumed.
    NMFS recognizes that the Council's proposed prohibition on the use 
of nonpelagic trawl gear in the BSAI pollock fishery will not be 
effective in time for the 1999 pollock ``A'' season fishery that starts 
on January 20. Therefore, NMFS allocates 0 mt of the BSAI pollock TAC 
to the directed fishery for pollock with nonpelagic trawl gear. The 
action is necessary to reduce unnecessary bycatch in the 1999 pollock 
fishery and to carry out the Council's intent for this fishery. For 
further discussion of this action see the proposed 1999 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 1998.

Interim 1999 BSAI Groundfish Harvest Specifications

    Table 1 provides interim TAC and CDQ amounts and apportionments 
thereof. Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an 
interim specification for the non-trawl sablefish CDQ reserve or for 
sablefish managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) management 
plan. As a result, fishing for the non-trawl allocation of CDQ 
sablefish and sablefish harvested with fixed gear is prohibited until 
the effective date of the Final 1999 Groundfish Specifications.

  Table 1.--Interim 1999 TAC Amounts for Groundfish and Apportionments
  There for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area \1\ \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Species and component  (if     Area and/or gear     Interim    Interim
         applicable)             (if applicable)       TAC        CDQ
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\
    Inshore.................  BS..................    197,012
    Catcher/processor.......  BS..................    157,610
    Mothership..............  BS..................     39,402
    CDQ.....................  BS..................                46,575
    Inshore.................  AI..................     10,067
    Catcher/processor.......  AI..................      8,054
    Mothership..............  AI..................      2,013
    CDQ.....................  AI..................                 2,380
    Inshore.................  BogDist.............        423
    Catcher/processor.......  BogDist.............        338
    Mothership..............  BogDist.............         85
    CDQ.....................  BogDist.............                   100
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Pollock.......    ..................    415,005     49,055
Pacific Cod \3\.............  Jig.................        893
                              H/L & Pot...........     22,759
                              Trawl C/Vs..........     10,487
                              Trawl C/Ps..........     10,487
    CDQ.....................    ..................                 3,938
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Pacific cod...    ..................     44,625      3,938
Sablefish \4\ \5\...........  BS-Trawl............        138         12
                              BS-H/L & Pot........        N/A        N/A
                              AI-Trawl............         73          6
                              AI-H/L & Pot........        N/A        N/A
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Sablefish.....    ..................        211         18
Atka mackerel \6\...........  Western AI..........      5,738        506
                              Central AI..........      4,760        420
                              Eastern AI/BS.......      3,166        279
                              Jig gear............         32
                              Other gear..........      3,135
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Atka mackerel.    ..................     13,664      1,205
Yellowfin sole..............  BSAI................     46,750      4,125
Rock sole...................  BSAI................     21,250      1,875

[[Page 52]]

 
Greenland turbot............  BS..................      2,136        188
                              AI..................      1,052         93
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Greenland         ..................      3,188        281
         turbot.
Arrowtooth flounder.........  BSAI................      3,400        255
Flathead sole...............  BSAI................     21,250      1,875
Other flatfish \7\..........  BSAI................     19,005      1,677
Pacific ocean perch.........  BS..................        298         26
                              Western AI..........      1,186        105
                              Central AI..........        733         65
                              Eastern AI..........        652         57
                                                   ---------------------
        Total Pacific ocean     ..................      2,869        253
         perch.
Other red rockfish \8\......  BS..................         57          5
Sharpchin/Northern..........  AI..................        899         79
Shortraker/Rougheye.........  AI..................        205         18
Other rockfish \9\..........  BS..................         78          7
                              AI..................        146         13
                                                   ---------------------
        Total other rockfish    ..................        224         20
Squid.......................  BSAI................        419         31
Other Species \10\..........  BSAI................      5,483        411
Non-specified CDQ reserve     BSAI................                   123
 \11\.
                                                   ---------------------
        Total interim TAC...    ..................    601,668    65,246
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 purposes of these
  specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District (BogDist).
\2\ After subtraction of the pollock CDQ amount (10 percent of the TAC)
  and the incidental catch allowance (6 percent of the remainder of the
  TAC), the ITAC amounts of pollock for each subarea or district are
  then divided into A and B seasonal allowances. (See Sec.
  679.20(a)(5)(i).) For the BS subarea, the A and B seasonal
  apportionments are 45 and 55 percent of the pollock ITAC amounts,
  respectively. The AI subarea and the Bogoslof District receive 100
  percent of their respective ITAC seasonal allowances during the A
  season with the remainder of the respective ITAC seasonal allowance
  during the B season. Component allocations of the ITAC amounts are 50
  percent for the Inshore, 40 percent for listed catcher/processors, and
  10 percent to vessels delivering to Motherships. The first seasonal
  allowance of the pollock component allocations are in effect on
  January 1 as an interim TAC. NMFS, under regulations at Sec.
  679.20(a)(5)(i)(B), allocates 0 mt of pollock to nonpelagic trawl
  gear. This action is based on Council intent to prohibit the use of
  nonpelagic trawl gear in 1999 because of concerns of unnecessary
  bycatch with bottom trawl gear in the pollock fishery.
\3\ After subtraction of the reserves, the ITAC amount for Pacific cod
  is allocated 2 percent to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to H/L
  gear, and 47 percent to Trawl. The Pacific cod allocation to trawl
  gear is split evenly between catcher vessels and catcher/processor
  vessels (See Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)). Pacific cod ITAC seasonal
  apportionments to vessels using H/L or pot gear are not reflected in
  the interim TAC amounts. One-fourth of the ITAC gear apportionments
  are in effect on January 1 as an interim TAC.
\4\ Sablefish gear allocations are as follows: In the BS subarea, trawl
  gear is allocated 50 percent and H/L and pot gear is allocated 50
  percent of the TAC. In the AI subarea, trawl gear is allocated 25
  percent, and H/L and pot gear is allocated 75 percent of the TAC (See
  Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv)). Fifteen percent of the sablefish
  trawl gear allocation is placed in the nonspecific reserve. One-fourth
  of the ITAC amount for trawl gear is in effect January 1 as an interim
  TAC amount.
\5\ The sablefish H/L gear fishery is managed under the IFQ program and
  subject to regulations contained in subpart D of 50 CFR part 679.
  Twenty percent of the sablefish H/L and pot gear final TAC amount will
  be reserved for use by CDQ participants. (See Sec.  679.31(c).)
  Existing regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an
  interim specification for the CDQ sablefish reserve or for an interim
  specification for sablefish managed under the IFQ program. In
  addition, in accordance with Sec.  679.7(f)(3), retention of sablefish
  caught with fixed gear is prohibited unless the harvest is authorized
  under a valid IFQ permit and IFQ card. In 1999, IFQ permits and IFQ
  cards will not be valid prior to the effective date of the 1999 final
  specifications. Thus, fishing for sablefish with fixed gear is not
  authorized under these interim specifications. See subpart D of 50 CFR
  part 679 and Sec.  679.23(g) for guidance on the annual allocation of
  IFQ and the sablefish fishing season.
\6\ Regulations at Sec.  679.20 (a)(8) require that up to 2 percent of
  the Eastern AI area ITAC be allocated to the jig gear fleet. The
  amount of this allocation is 1 percent and was determined by the
  Council based on anticipated harvest capacity of the Jig gear fleet.
  The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific
  halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock
  sole, arrowtooth flounder, and yellowfin sole.
\8\ ``Other red rockfish'' includes shortraker, rougheye, sharpchin, and
  northern rockfish in the BS subarea.
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species
  except for Pacific ocean perch, sharpchin, northern, shortraker, and
  rougheye rockfish.
\10\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, eulachon,
  smelts, capelin, and octopus.
\11\ Fifteen percent of the groundfish CDQ reserve established for
  squid, arrowtooth flounder, and ``other species'' is allocated to a
  non-specific CDQ reserve ( Sec.  679.31(g)).

Pollock Allocations Under the AFA

    The AFA specifies the manner in which the BSAI pollock TAC must be 
allocated among industry components. Under section 206 of the AFA, 10 
percent of the BSAI pollock TAC is allocated as a directed fishing 
allowance to the CDQ program. The remainder of the BSAI pollock TAC, 
after the subtraction of an allowance for the incidental catch of 
pollock by vessels harvesting other groundfish species, is allocated: 
50 percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by the 
inshore component, 40 percent to listed catcher/processors and listed 
catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by listed catcher/
processors in the offshore component, and 10 percent to catcher vessels 
harvesting pollock for processing by listed motherships in the offshore 
component (Table 1). For 1999, NMFS has proposed

[[Page 53]]

an incidental catch allowance of 6 percent of the pollock TAC after 
subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. The considerations leading 
to this proposal are discussed in the proposed 1999 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish which was published in the Federal 
Register on December 30, 1998.
    The AFA also contains three specific pollock allocations that must 
be specified annually. First, paragraph 208(e)(21) of the AFA specifies 
that catcher/processors qualifying to fish for pollock under this 
paragraph are prohibited from harvesting in the aggregate a total of 
more than one-half (0.5) percent of the pollock allocated to vessels 
for processing by offshore catcher/processors. Second, section 210(c) 
of the AFA requires that not less than 8.5 percent of the pollock 
allocated to vessels for processing by offshore catcher/processors be 
available for harvest only by offshore catcher vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by offshore catcher/processors listed in section 
208(b). Third, section 210(e)(1) prohibits any particular individual, 
corporation, or other entity from harvesting a total of more than 17.5 
percent of the pollock available to be harvested in the directed 
pollock fishery. The interim allocations and catch limits are equal to 
the proposed pollock ``A'' season specifications set out in Table 2 of 
the proposed specifications.

Interim Allocation of PSC Limits for Crab, Halibut, and Herring

    Under Sec. 679.21(e), annual PSC limits are specified for red king 
crab, Chionoecetes (C.) bairdi Tanner crab, and C. opilio crab in 
applicable Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec. 679.2) of the BS subarea, 
and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI. 
Regulations under Sec. 679.21(e) authorize the apportionment of each 
PSC limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. Under 
Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for 
halibut, crab, and salmon is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by the 
groundfish CDQ program.
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(ii) require that one-fourth of 
each proposed PSC and PSQ allowance be made available on an interim 
basis for harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until 
superseded by the final harvest specifications. The fishery specific 
interim PSC allowances for halibut and crab are specified in Table 2 
and are in effect at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 1999.

     Table 2.--Interim 1999 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Prohibited species and zone
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Red King                  C. bairdi (animals)
        Trawl Fisheries           Halibut mortality    Herring     Crab     C. opilio  -------------------------
                                      (mt) BSAI          (mt)   (animals)   (animals)
                                                         BSAI     Zone 1    COBLZ \2\    Zone 1 \1\   Zone 2 \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------\1\------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................  232                         66      4,625      759,656       63,898      221,487
Rock sole/oth.flat/flat sole    184                          5     24,688      187,313       68,462       73,829
 \3\.
RKCSS \4\.....................  .....................  .......     10,000  ...........  ...........  ...........
Turbot/sablefish/arrowtooth     .....................  .......  .........       10,406  ...........  ...........
 \5\.
Rockfish......................  17                           2  .........       10,406  ...........        1,448
Pacific cod...................  358                          5      3,469       31,219       30,808       40,327
Midwater trawl pollock........  .....................      305  .........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Pollock/Atka/other \6\........  81                          38      3,469       41,625       10,269       97,198
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Trawl PSC...........  873                        421     46,250    1,040,625      173,437      434,288
Non-Trawl Fisheries
    Pacific cod...............  187
    Other non-trawl...........  21
    Groundfish pot & jig......  exempt
    Sablefish hook & line.....  exempt
        Total Non-Trawl.......  208
                               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PSQ Reserve \7\...............  88                     .......      3,750       84,375       14,063       35,212
                               =================================================================================
        Grand Total...........  1,169                      421     50,000    1,125,000      187,500     469,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.  679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Sec.  679.21(e)(7)(iv)(B).
\3\ Rock sole, other flatfish, and flathead sole category.
\4\ The Council at its October 1998 meeting allocated 10,000 red king crab to the RKCSS (Sec.
  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\6\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\7\ With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the multi-species CDQ program
  as PSQ reserve. The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear or season.

    NMFS will issue fishery closures based on these interim 
specifications if the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
determines that interim TAC amounts are required as incidental catch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries or if the PSC allowance 
for a fishery has been reached. NMFS may also issue other closures 
based on the final 1999 harvest specifications.

Protections for Other Fisheries Under the AFA

    Section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA prohibits listed catcher/processors 
from harvesting more than a specified amount of each non-pollock 
groundfish species in the BSAI. Non-pollock groundfish that is 
delivered to listed catcher/processors by catcher vessels would be 
deducted from the open access groundfish allocations and would not be 
deducted from the 1999 interim harvest limits for the listed catcher/
processors. Except for Atka mackerel, the catch limitations specified 
for the

[[Page 54]]

listed catcher/processors are equivalent to the percentage of non-
pollock groundfish harvested in the non-pollock fisheries by the listed 
catcher/processors and those listed under section 209 of the AFA during 
1995, 1996, and 1997. The groundfish harvest amounts by these vessels 
in the BSAI from 1995 through 1997 are shown in Table 3. These data 
were used to calculate the relative amount of non-pollock groundfish 
TACs harvested by listed catcher/processors in the non-pollock 
fisheries, and then used to determine the proposed harvest limits for 
non-pollock groundfish by listed catcher/processors in the 1999 BSAI 
fisheries.
    These annual limits may be higher than the interim TAC, which is 25 
percent of the ITAC. If the interim TAC is less than the listed 
catcher/processor limit then the listed catcher/processors would be 
prohibited from exceeding a harvest amount greater than the interim TAC 
as specified in Table 1. However, listed catcher/processors are not 
restricted to 25 percent of their 1999 limit (Table 3) under the 
interim TAC specifications.
    NMFS intends to establish by emergency rule inseason authority 
necessary to manage the harvest of groundfish by listed catcher/
processors so that the 1999 non-pollock harvest limits are not 
exceeded. Under the emergency rule authority, NMFS likely will limit 
directed fishing by the listed catcher/processors to Atka mackerel, 
Pacific cod, and yellowfin sole. The interim 1999 harvest limits for 
other species may not be sufficient to allow for both a directed 
fishery and for incidental catch requirements in other directed 
fisheries. NMFS intends to manage conservatively the listed catcher/
processor harvest limitations consistent with the intent of the AFA to 
limit the ability of these vessels to redistribute fishing effort into 
non-pollock fisheries in which they have not historically participated.

 Table 3.--Interim Historical Catch Ratio, 1999 Aggregate Catch Limits, and 1999 Catch Limits for Vessels Listed
                               Under Section 208 of the American Fisheries Act \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      1995-1997             1999 ITAC
                                                          --------------------------------- available     1999
       Target species \2\                   Area             Total    Available              to trawl   harvest
                                                             catch       TAC     Ratio \3\     C/Ps    limit \4\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel \5\...............  Eastern AI/BS..........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
                                  Central AI.............  .........  .........      0.115     19,040      2,190
                                  Western AI.............  .........  .........      0.200     22,950      4,590
Arrowtooth flounder.............  BSAI...................        788     36,873      0.021     13,600        291
Other flatfish..................  BSAI...................     12,145     92,428      0.131     76,019      9,989
Flathead sole...................  BSAI...................      3,030     87,975      0.034     85,000      2,927
Greenland turbot................  AI.....................         31      6,839      0.005      4,208         19
                                  BSAI...................        168     16,911      0.010      8,543         85
Other species...................  BSAI...................      3,551     65,925      0.054     21,930      1,181
Pacific Cod trawl \6\...........  BSAI...................     13,547     51,450      0.263     41,948     11,045
Pacific ocean perch \7\.........  BSAI...................         58      5,760      0.010      1,190         12
                                  Central AI.............         95      6,195      0.015      2,933         45
                                  Eastern AI.............        112      6,265      0.018      2,610         47
                                  Western AI.............        356     12,440      0.029      4,743        136
Other rockfish..................  AI.....................         95      1,924      0.049        582         29
                                  BS.....................         39      1,026      0.038        314         12
Rock sole.......................  BSAI...................     14,753    202,107      0.073     85,000      6,205
Sablefish trawl \8\.............  AI.....................          1      1,135      0.001        293          0
                                  BS.....................          8      1,736      0.005        553          3
Sharpchin/Northern..............  AI.....................      1,034     13,254      0.078      3,596        280
Squid...........................  BSAI...................          7      3,670      0.002      1,675          3
Shortraker/Rougheye.............  AI.....................         68      2,827      0.024        314          8
Other red rockfish..............  BS.....................         75      3,034      0.025        227          6
Yellowfin sole..................  BSAI...................    123,003    527,000      0.233    187,000    43,646
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The AFA specifies the manner in which the BSAI pollock TAC must be allocated among industry components and
  prohibits catcher/processors listed under paragraphs 1-20 of section 208(e) from exceeding the historical non-
  pollock harvest percentages by such catcher/processors and those listed under section 209 relative to the
  total available in the offshore component in BSAI groundfish fisheries in 1995, 1996, and 1997. Amounts are in
  metric tons.
\2\ For further definitions of target species see Table 1.
\3\ The ratio is calculated by dividing the total catch by the available TAC.
\4\ The 1999 harvest limit for listed catcher/processors is calculated by multiplying the historic catch ratio
  by the 1999 proposed ITAC available to trawl catcher/processors.
\5\ In section 211(b)(2)(C) of the AFA, catcher/processors listed in paragraphs 1-20 of section 208(e) are
  prohibited from harvesting Atka mackerel in excess of 11.5 percent of the available TAC in the Central
  Aleutian Islands area and 20 percent in the Western Aleutian Islands area. It is prohibited for listed catcher/
  processors to harvest Atka mackerel in the Eastern Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea subarea.
\6\ For Pacific cod, 47 percent of the ITAC is allocated to trawl, and of that 50 percent is available for
  catcher/processors. Separate catcher/processor and catcher/vessel allocations became effective in 1997,
  therefore only data from 1997 was used to calculate the historic ratio.
\7\ Apportionments to western, central, and eastern Aleutian Islands subareas began in 1996, therefore only data
  from 1996 and 1997 was used to calculate the historic ratio.
\8\ 25 percent of the Sablefish ITAC is allocated to trawl in the AI subarea, 50 percent is allocated to trawl
  in the BS subarea.

    Section 211(b)(2)(A) of the AFA prohibits listed catcher/processors 
from harvesting more than a specified amount of each prohibited species 
in the BSAI. These amounts are equivalent to the percentage of 
prohibited species bycatch limits harvested in the non-pollock fishery 
by the listed catcher/processors and those listed under section 209 
during 1995, 1996, and 1997. Prohibited species amounts harvested by 
these catcher/processors in BSAI non-pollock fisheries from 1995 
through 1997 is shown in Table 4. These data were used to calculate the 
relative

[[Page 55]]

amount of prohibited species bycatch limits harvested by listed 
catcher/processors, and then used to determine the proposed prohibited 
species harvest limits for listed catcher/processors in the 1999 non-
pollock fisheries. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(e)(7)(vii) and (viii) do 
not provide for fishery-specific management of the salmon bycatch 
limits. Therefore, NMFS is not including salmon catch limits for the 
listed catcher/processors during 1999.
    The Council at its November 1998 meeting proposed that prohibited 
species caught by listed catcher/processors and listed catcher vessels 
while fishing for pollock accrue against either the midwater pollock or 
the pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery categories (Table 2). 
However, PSC that is caught by listed catcher/processors participating 
in groundfish fisheries other than pollock (Table 3), shall accrue 
against the 1999 PSC limits for the listed catcher/processors as 
outlined in section 211(b)(2)(B) of the AFA (Table 4). The emergency 
rule being prepared by NMFS to manage the AFA harvest limitations 
specified for listed catcher/processors will provide authority to close 
directed fishing for groundfish to the listed catcher/processors once a 
1999 PSC limitation listed in Table 4 is reached.

      Table 4.--Proposed PSC Limits for Vessels Listed Under Section 208 of the American Fisheries Act \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 1995-1997                  1999 PSC
                   PSC species                    ---------------------------------------  available      1999
                                                    PSC catch      Total PSC      Ratio     to C/Ps    limit \3\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\2\--------------------------
Halibut mortality................................          955          11,325     0.084        3,492        294
Herring..........................................           62           5,137     0.012        1,685         20
Red king crab....................................        7,641         473,750     0.016      185,000      2,984
  C. bairdi
    Zone 1.......................................      385,978       2,750,000     0.140      693,750     97,372
    Zone 2.......................................      406,860       8,100,000     0.050    1,737,150     87,256
C. opilio........................................    2,323,731      15,139,178     0.153    4,162,500   638,907
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The AFA specifies the manner in which the BSAI pollock TAC must be allocated among industry components and
  prohibits catcher/processors listed under sections 1-20 of section 208(e) from exceeding the historical
  harvest percentages of prohibited species by such catcher/processors and those listed under section 209
  relative to the total available in the offshore component in BSAI groundfish fisheries in 1995, 1996, and
  1997. Amounts are in metric tons.
\2\ The ratio is calculated by dividing the PSC catch by the total PSC available.
\3\ The 1999 prohibited species catch limit for listed catcher/processors is calculated by multiplying the
  historic ratio by the PSC available in 1999. The 1999 PSC limit is based on an annual amount and is not
  reduced on an interim basis.

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under E.O. 12866.
    Pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NMFS has 
completed a consultation on the effects of the pollock and Atka 
mackerel fisheries on listed and candidate species, including the 
Steller sea lion, and designated critical habitat. The biological 
opinion prepared for this consultation, dated December 3, 1998, 
concludes that the pollock fisheries in the BSAI and the GOA jeopardize 
the continued existence of Steller sea lions and adversely modify their 
designated critical habitat. The biological opinion contains reasonable 
and prudent alternatives (RPAs) to mitigate the adverse impacts of the 
pollock fisheries on Steller sea lions. Specific measures necessary to 
implement the RPAs were discussed at the December 1998 Council meeting. 
On December 16, 1998, NMFS issued revised reasonable and prudent 
alternatives based on the Council's recommendations adopted during its 
December meeting, which adhere to the principles identified in the 
December 3, 1998, Biological Opinion. NMFS will implement measures 
necessary to comply with the RPAs prior to the start of the 1999 
pollock trawl fishery. If these measures are not in place by the 
scheduled regulatory opening on January 20, 1999, then NMFS will close 
the pollock trawl fishery.
    NMFS also initiated consultation on the effects of the 1999 BSAI 
groundfish fisheries (excluding pollock and Atka mackerel) on listed 
and candidate species, including the Steller sea lion and listed 
seabirds, and on designated critical habitat. The Biological Opinion 
prepared for this consultation, dated December 22, 1998, concludes that 
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI (excluding pollock and Atka mackerel) 
are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the listed and 
candidate species, or to adversely modify designated critical habitat.
    NMFS has also initiated consultation on the effects of the 1999 
BSAI groundfish fisheries on listed and candidate species, including 
the Steller sea lion and listed seabirds, and on designated critical 
habitat. This consultation will be concluded prior to the start of 
fishing on January 1, 1999, under the 1999 interim specifications. 
Pending determinations under this consultation, NMFS may initiate 
emergency rulemaking to mitigate any adverse impacts resulting from the 
BSAI groundfish fisheries on listed and candidate species and 
designated critical habitat.
    The Assistant Administrator, NMFS (AA), finds for good cause under 
5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) that the need to establish interim total allowable 
catch levels and other management measures for fisheries in the BSAI, 
effective on January 1, 1999, makes it impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest to provide prior notice and opportunity for public 
comment on this rule. Likewise, the AA finds for good cause under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3) that the need to establish interim TACs levels and 
other management measures in the BSAI, effective January 1, 1999, makes 
it impractical and contrary to the public interest to delay the 
effective date of the limits and measures for 30 days. Regulations at 
Sec. 679.20(c)(2) require NMFS to specify interim harvest 
specifications to be effective on January 1 and remain in effect until 
superseded by the final specifications in order for the BSAI groundfish 
fishing season to begin on January 1 (see Sec. 679.23). Without interim 
specifications in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would 
not be able to open on that date, which would result in unnecessary 
closures and disruption within the fishing industry. Because the stock 
assessment reports and other information concerning the fisheries in 
the BSAI became available only recently, NMFS is not able to provide an 
opportunity for comment on the interim specifications. NMFS anticipates 
that the interim specifications will be in

[[Page 56]]

effect for only a short period of time before they are superseded by 
the final specifications. The proposed 1999 harvest specifications for 
groundfish of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 1998 and provide the opportunity for public comment. The 
interim specification will be effective January 1, 1999.
    Because these interim specifications are not required to be issued 
with prior notice and opportunity for public comment, the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. 
Consequently, no regulatory flexibility analysis has been prepared.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et seq.

    Dated: December 28, 1998.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-34728 Filed 12-28-98; 4:23 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P