[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12094-12103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6028]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 990304062-9062-01; I.D. 121098B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Final 1999 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final 1999 harvest specifications for groundfish and associated 
management measures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 1999 harvest specifications for Gulf of 
Alaska (GOA) groundfish and associated management measures. This action 
is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated management 
measures for groundfish during the 1999 fishing year and to accomplish 
the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish 
of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to 
conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA.

DATES: The final 1999 harvest specifications and associated management 
measures are effective at noon on March 8, 1999, through 2400 hrs, 
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), December 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The final Environmental Assessment and Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis prepared for the 1999 Total Allowable Catch 
Specifications may be obtained from the Sustainable Fisheries 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 Report (SAFE 
report), dated November 1998, is available from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, 605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 
99501-2252, or by calling 907-271-2809.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, 907-481-1780 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone of the GOA according to the FMP. The North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP under the authority of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. 
Regulations implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR part 679. General 
regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at 50 CFR 
part 600.
    NMFS announces for the 1999 fishing year: (1) Specifications of 
total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for each groundfish species 
category in the GOA, and reserves; (2) apportionments of reserves; (3) 
allocations of the sablefish TAC to vessels using hook-and-line and 
trawl gear; (4) apportionments of pollock TAC among regulatory areas, 
seasons, and allocations for processing between inshore and offshore 
components; (5) allocations for processing of Pacific cod TAC between 
inshore and offshore components; (6) Pacific halibut prohibited species 
catch (PSC) limits; and (7) fishery and seasonal apportionments of the 
Pacific halibut PSC limits. A discussion of each of these measures 
follows.
    Regulations implementing the FMP establish the process of 
determining TACs for groundfish species in the GOA. Pursuant to 
Sec. 679.20(a)(2), the sum of the TACs for all species must fall within 
the combined optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000-800,000 metric tons 
(mt) established for these species at Sec. 679.20(a)(1)(ii).
    Council met from October 7 through 12, 1998, and developed 
recommendations for proposed 1999 TAC specifications for each species 
category of groundfish on the basis of the best available scientific 
information. The Council also recommended associated management 
measures pertaining to the 1999 fishing year.
    The Council proposed rolling over all the 1998 final specifications 
for 1999, pending an update of the preliminary 1998 SAFE report to 
include new information collected during 1998 and revised stock 
assessments to be incorporated in the final SAFE report. Pursuant to 
Sec. 679.20(c)(1)(ii), NMFS published the proposed 1999 harvest 
specifications for the GOA groundfish fishery in the Federal Register 
on December 30, 1998 (63 FR 71876), and comments were accepted through 
January 29, 1999. NMFS did not receive any comments on the proposed 
1999 GOA specifications. Interim TAC and PSC amounts equal to one-
fourth of the proposed amounts were published in the Federal Register 
on January 4, 1999 (64 FR 46). The final 1999 initial groundfish 
harvest specifications and associated management measures implemented 
by this action supersede the interim 1999 specifications.
    The Council met December 9 through 14, 1998, to review the best 
available scientific information concerning groundfish stocks, and to 
consider public testimony regarding 1999 groundfish fisheries. The best 
available scientific information is contained in the current SAFE 
report, dated November 1998. The SAFE report includes the most recent 
information concerning the status of groundfish stocks based on the 
most recent catch data, survey data, and biomass projections using 
different modeling approaches or assumptions. The Council's GOA Plan 
Team prepared the SAFE report and presented it to the Council and the 
Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) and Advisory Panel 
(AP) at the December 1998 Council meeting. The Plan Team's 
recommendations for acceptable biological catch (ABC) levels and 
overfishing levels (OFL) are contained in the SAFE report.

[[Page 12095]]

    For establishment of the ABCs and TACs, the Council considered 
information in the SAFE report, recommendations from its SSC and AP, as 
well as public testimony. The SSC adopted the OFL recommendations from 
the Plan Team, which were provided in the SAFE report, for all 
groundfish species categories. The SSC also adopted the ABC 
recommendations from the Plan Team, which were provided in the SAFE 
report, for all of the groundfish species categories, except pollock 
and Pacific cod in the GOA.
    The SSC did not adopt the Plan Team's recommendation of ABC for 
pollock in the GOA. The Plan Team's recommendation was to exclude 
pollock harvested in the State of Alaska (State) managed pollock 
fishery in Prince William Sound (PWS) from the ABC specified for the 
GOA based on the results of a 1997 bottom trawl survey conducted by the 
State. The SSC did not concur, and remains unconvinced that the PWS 
fishery exploits a resource that is entirely independent of the 
assessed GOA population. The SSC recommended that the State's guideline 
harvest level (GHL) of 2,100 mt in the PWS pollock fishery be deducted 
from the total GOA ABC of 103,020 mt, reducing the ABC to 100,920 mt, 
and that the 100,920 mt ABC be apportioned among GOA regulatory areas 
based on the biomass distribution throughout the GOA.
    The SSC also did not adopt the Plan Team's recommendation of ABC 
for Pacific Cod. In consideration of the influence of a strong 1995 
year class on the ABC assessment and the declining trend of spawning 
biomass, the Plan Team recommended that the 1998 ABC of 77,900 mt be 
rolled over to 1999. The SSC, while considering the recent biomass 
decline, believes the 1999 ABC assessment of 90,900 mt represents the 
best scientific estimate and uses new data from the 1998 fishery. The 
SSC recommended an ABC stepped up from 1998 as the average value of the 
two years: 77,900 mt and 90,900 mt, resulting in an ABC of 84,400 mt. 
The Council adopted the SSC's ABC recommendation for Pacific cod. 
Because the Plan Team, SSC, and Council recommended that total removals 
of Pacific cod from the GOA not exceed the ABC recommendations for 
those areas, the Council recommended that the TACs be adjusted downward 
from the ABCs by amounts equal to the 1999 GHLs established for Pacific 
cod by the State of Alaska for a State-managed fishery in State waters. 
The effect of the State's GHL on the Pacific cod TAC is discussed in 
greater detail below.
    In consideration of the trawl prohibition east of 140 deg. W. 
long., the Plan Team recommended dividing Eastern GOA ABCs among the 
West Yakutat (WYK) and Southeast Outside (SEO) Districts for those 
groundfish that could be disproportionately harvested (relative to 
estimated biomass) in directed fisheries by trawl gear in the WYK area. 
The Plan Team recommended separate ABCs for pollock, all flatfish, 
Pacific ocean perch (POP), other slope rockfish, pelagic shelf 
rockfish, and sablefish. The Plan Team did not recommend separating the 
Eastern GOA ABC for those groundfish caught by multiple gear types in 
directed fisheries and those harvested only as bycatch. The SSC adopted 
the Plan Team's ABC recommendations in the Eastern GOA, with the 
exception of pollock.
    The Plan Team also recommended a split of the Eastern GOA pollock 
ABC between the WYK and SEO Districts to prevent a disproportionate 
harvest of pollock from the WYK District following the 1998 prohibition 
of the use of any gear other than non-trawl gear east of 140 deg. W. 
long. (Sec. 679.7(i)(1)). The SSC did not concur stating that because 
pollock is a migratory species, its harvest in the WYK District should 
not harm the overall Eastern GOA population. The SSC recommended a 
single ABC for pollock in the Eastern GOA. The Council accepted the 
SSC's recommendation for pollock ABCs in the GOA.
    The Council adopted the SSC's ABC recommendations for the Eastern 
GOA, except for sablefish. The Council recommended a single sablefish 
ABC for the Eastern GOA to allow for the allocation of the 5 percent 
Eastern GOA trawl allocation to the WYK District, due to the trawl 
prohibition east of 140 deg. W. long. The Plan Team, SSC, and Council 
also recommended combining the ABC for northern rockfish with the ABC 
for the other rockfish assemblage in the Eastern GOA. Northern rockfish 
is uncommon in the Eastern GOA, the eastern limit of the species range, 
and the resultant small ABC is impracticable to manage.
    The Council's recommended ABCs, listed in Table 1, reflect harvest 
amounts that are less than the specified overfishing amounts. The sum 
of the 1999 ABCs for all groundfish is 532,590 mt, which is lower than 
the 1998 ABC total of 548,650 mt.

1999 Harvest Specifications

1. Specifications of TAC and Reserves

    The Council recommended TACs equal to ABCs for pollock, deep-water 
flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, shortraker/rougheye rockfish, other 
slope rockfish, northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, thornyhead 
rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, and Atka mackerel. The Council 
recommended TACs less than the ABC for Pacific cod, flathead sole, 
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and POP (Table 1).
    The TAC for pollock has decreased in the Central and Western GOA 
from 119,150 mt in 1998 to 92,480 mt in 1999. It has increased from 
5,580 mt in 1998 to 8,440 mt in 1999 in the Eastern GOA. The 
apportionment of TAC in the Central and Western GOA reflects the 
current biomass distribution. The Council did not adopt the AP's 
recommendation for a single pollock TAC in the Eastern GOA. The 
Council's recommendation for the 1999 pollock TAC in the Eastern GOA is 
2,110 mt in the WYK District and 6,330 mt in the SEO District. The 
Council's recommendation is based on consideration of the survey 
estimates of distribution in the Eastern GOA and the potential for 
disproportionate harvest in the WYK District.
    Pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, NMFS completed 
a consultation on the effects of the pollock fisheries on listed 
species, including the Steller sea lion, and designated critical 
habitat. The biological opinion prepared for the consultation, dated 
December 3, 1998, and revised December 16, 1998, concluded that the 
pollock fishery in the GOA jeopardizes the continued existence of 
Steller sea lions and adversely modifies their habitat. At its December 
meeting, the Council reviewed the reasonable and prudent alternatives 
(RPAs) contained in the biological opinion to mitigate the adverse 
impacts of the GOA pollock fishery on Steller sea lions and made 
recommendations to NMFS for implementing specific RPAs. The Council's 
RPA recommendations for the 1999 pollock fishery in the GOA included 
four seasonal apportionments of pollock TAC, with limited rollovers, in 
the Western and Central GOA; limitations on the seasonal harvest of 
pollock in critical habitat; augmentation of the closure areas around 
rookery and haul-out sites; and the establishment of a 136 mt (300,000 
lb) trip limit for pollock in the Western and Central GOA. NMFS 
incorporated these recommendations and other management measures into 
an

[[Page 12096]]

emergency rule (64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999), effective from January 
20, 1999, through July 19, 1999. The final specifications establish 
four seasonal apportionments of the pollock TAC (Table 3). Under the 
emergency rule, 30 percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A 
season (January 20 through April 1) with a harvest limitation of 15,857 
mt within the Shelikof Strait conservation zone 
(Sec. 679.22(b)(3)(iii)); 20 percent to the B season (June 1 through 
July 1); 25 percent to the C season (September 1 until closed in a 
particular statistical area or October 1, whichever date is earlier); 
and 25 percent to the D season (which starts 5 days after the C season 
closure in a particular statistical area through November 1 
(Sec. 679.23(d)(3)(i) through (iv)). The harvest limitation of 15,857 
mt in the Shelikof Strait conservation area during the A season is 
derived from the most recent estimate of pollock biomass in the 
critical habitat of the Shelikof Strait (489,900 mt) divided by the 
most recent pollock biomass estimated for the entire GOA (933,000 mt) 
multiplied by the first seasonal apportionment of pollock TAC, 30 
percent of the annual TACs in the GOA (30,280 
mt)(Sec. 679.22(b)(2)(iii)(C)).
    The 1999 Pacific cod TAC is affected by the State's developing 
fishery for Pacific cod in state waters in the Central and Western GOA, 
as well as PWS. The SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of 
all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals should not exceed the 
ABC. The Council recommended that (1) the TAC for the Eastern GOA be 
lower than the ABC by 320 mt, the amount of the State's proposed GHL 
for PWS, and (2) the TACs for the Central and Western GOA be lower than 
the ABCs by 10,235 mt and 5,910 mt respectively, the amounts of the 
State's proposed GHLs for these areas. These amounts reflect the 
increased percentages the State has established for GHLs in these 
areas. In the Western GOA, the State Pacific cod GHL has increased from 
15 percent in 1998, to 20 percent in 1999. The Pacific cod GHL in the 
Central GOA has increased from 15 percent in 1998 to 19.25 percent in 
1999. The State's Pacific cod GHL of 320 mt for PWS is based on 25 
percent of the Eastern GOA ABC, and is unchanged from 1998.
    The Council accepted the AP recommendation for the TACs of all 
species, except pollock and POP. For pollock, the Council requested 
that NMFS establish separate pollock TACs for the WYK and SEO Districts 
of the Eastern GOA as proposed by the Plan Team in its ABC 
recommendations to prevent disproportionate harvest (relative to 
biomass estimates) of pollock from the WYK District. For POP, the 
Council recommended a TAC of 820 mt of POP in the WYK District, less 
than the 1,350 mt TAC recommended by the AP. The Council's 
recommendation is based upon the most recent estimate of biomass in the 
area and concerns that POP has only recently been estimated to have met 
rebuilding goals.
    The FMP specifies 5-percent of the combined TAC amount for target 
species as the formula for specifying the amount for the ``other 
species'' category. The GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is 14,600 mt, 
which is 5 percent of the sum of the combined TAC amounts for the 
target species. The sum of the TACs for all GOA groundfish is 306,535 
mt, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sum of the 
TACs is lower than the 1998 TAC sum of 327,046 mt. On February 6, 1998, 
NMFS approved Amendment 39 to the FMP, which established a new species 
category for forage fish species. Amendment 39 removed capelin, 
eulachon, and smelt from the ``other species'' category in the FMP and 
moved these species to the new forage fish species category. While this 
action changed the list of species in the ``other species'' category, 
it did not affect the formula for specifying a TAC for the ``other 
species'' category, which remains 5 percent of the combined TAC amounts 
for target species. Under Amendment 39, ABC and TAC amounts are not 
specified for forage fish species.
    NMFS has reviewed the Council's recommended TAC specifications and 
apportionments and hereby approves these specifications under 
Sec. 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The 1999 ABCs, TACs, and overfishing levels are 
shown in Table 1.

Table 1.--1999 ABCs, TACs, Initial TACs (Pacific Cod Only) and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/
    Central (W/C), Western (W), Central (C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat (WYK),
                   Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulf-Wide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Species                 Area \1\            ABC             TAC         Initial TAC     Overfishing
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\
    Shumagin..................  (610)...........          23,120         23,120}  ..............  ..............
    Chirikof..................  (620)...........          38,840         38,840}  ..............  ..............
    Kodiak....................  (630)...........          30,520         30,520}  ..............  ..............
        Subtotal..............  W/C.............          92,480         92,480   ..............         134,100
    WYK.......................  (640)...........  ..............          2,110}  ..............  ..............
    SEO.......................  (650)...........  ..............          6,330}  ..............  ..............
        Subtotal..............  E...............           8,440          8,440   ..............          12,300
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................         100,920        100,920   ..............         146,400
                                                 ===============================================================
Pacific cod \3\
                                W...............          29,540         23,630           18,904  ..............
                                C...............          53,170         42,935           34,348  ..............
                                E...............           1,690          1,270            1,016  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................          84,400         67,835           54,268         134,000
Flatfish \4\ (deep water).....  W...............             240            240   ..............  ..............
                                C...............           2,740          2,740   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............           1,720          1,720   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............           1,350          1,350   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           6,050          6,050   ..............           8,070
Rex sole \4\..................  W...............           1,190          1,190   ..............  ..............

[[Page 12097]]

 
                                C...............           5,490          5,490   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............             850            850   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............           1,620          1,620   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           9,150          9,150   ..............          11,920
Flathead sole.................  W...............           8,440          2,000   ..............  ..............
                                C...............          15,630          5,000   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............           1,270          1,270   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............             770            770   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................          26,110          9,040   ..............          34,010
Flatfish \5\ (shallow water)..  W...............          22,570          4,500   ..............  ..............
                                C...............          19,260         12,950   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............             250            250   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............           1,070          1,070   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................          43,150         18,770   ..............          59,540
Arrowtooth flounder...........  W...............          34,400          5,000   ..............  ..............
                                C...............         155,930         25,000   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............          13,260          2,500   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............          13,520          2,500   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................         217,110         35,000   ..............         308,880
Sablefish \6\.................  W...............           1,820          1,820   ..............  ..............
                                C...............           5,590          5,590   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............  ..............          2,090}  ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............  ..............          3,200}  ..............  ..............
        Subtotal..............  E...............           5,290          5,290   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................          12,700         12,700   ..............          19,720
                                                 ===============================================================
Pacific ocean perch \7\.......  W...............           1,850          1,850   ..............           2,610
                                C...............           6,760          6,760   ..............           9,520
                                WYK.............             820            820   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............           3,690          3,160   ..............  ..............
        Subtotal..............  E...............  ..............  ..............  ..............           6,360
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................          13,120         12,590   ..............          18,490
                                                 ===============================================================
Short raker/rougheye \8\......  W...............             160            160   ..............  ..............
                                C...............             970            970   ..............  ..............
                                ................             460            460   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           1,590          1,590   ..............           2,740
Other rockfish 9, 10..........  W...............              20             20   ..............  ..............
                                C...............             650            650   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............             470            470   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............           4,130          4,130   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           5,270          5,270   ..............           7,560
Northern rockfish 0, 12.......  W...............             840            840   ..............  ..............
                                C...............           4,150          4,150   ..............  ..............
                                E...............             N/A            N/A   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           4,990          4,990   ..............           9,420
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\...  W...............             530            530   ..............  ..............
                                C...............           3,370          3,370   ..............  ..............
                                WYK.............             740            740   ..............  ..............
                                SEO.............             240            240   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           4,880          4,880   ..............           8,190
Thornyhead rockfish...........  W...............             260            260   ..............  ..............
                                C...............             700            700   ..............  ..............
                                E...............           1,030          1,030   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total.................  ................           1,990          1,990   ..............           2,800
Demersal shelf rockfish \11\..  SEO.............             560            560   ..............             950
Atka mackerel.................  GW..............             600            600   ..............           6,200

[[Page 12098]]

 
Other \14\ species............  GW..............        N/A \15\         14,600   ..............  ..............
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Total \16\............  ................         532,590        306,535   ..............        778,890
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.  679.2.
\2\ Pollock is apportioned to three statistical areas in the combined Western/Central Regulatory Area (Table 3),
  each of which is further divided into four seasonal allowances. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not
  divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent for processing by
  the offshore component. Component allocations are shown in Table 4.
\4\ ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears (Table 2).
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means
  Slope rockfish.
\10\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegates (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, ``slope rockfish'' also includes northern
  rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\11\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
 
\12\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus
  (yellowtail).
\14\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, skates, squid, and octopus. The TAC for ``other species'' equals
  5 percent of the TACs of target species.
\15\ N/A means not applicable.
\16\ The total ABC is the sum of the ABCs for target species.

2. Apportionments of Reserves

    Regulations implementing the FMP require 20 percent of each TAC for 
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category be 
set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date 
(Sec. 679.20(b)(2)). For the preceding 11 years, including 1998, NMFS 
reapportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest specifications, 
except for Pacific cod. Beginning in 1997, NMFS retained the Pacific 
cod reserve. NMFS proposed reapportionment of all reserves for 1999, 
except for Pacific cod, in the proposed GOA groundfish specifications 
published in the Federal Register on December 30, 1998 (63 FR 71876). 
NMFS received no public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For 
1999, NMFS has reapportioned all of the reserve for pollock, flatfish, 
and ``other species.'' NMFS is retaining the Pacific cod reserve at 
this time to provide for a management buffer to account for excessive 
fishing effort and/or incomplete or late catch reporting. In recent 
years, unpredictable increases in fishing effort and harvests, 
uncertainty of incidental catch needs in other directed fisheries 
throughout the year, and untimely submission and revision of weekly 
processing reports have resulted in early and late closures of the 
Pacific cod fishery. NMFS believes that retention of the Pacific cod 
reserve to provide for TAC management difficulties later in the year is 
a conservative approach that will lead to a more orderly fishery and 
provide greater assurance that incidental catch of Pacific cod may be 
retained throughout the year. Specifications of TAC shown in Table 1 
reflect apportionment of reserve amounts for pollock, flatfish species, 
and ``other species.'' Table 1 also lists the initial TACs for Pacific 
cod which reflect the withholding of the Pacific cod TAC reserve.

3. Allocations of the Sablefish TACs to Vessels Using Hook-and-Line and 
Trawl Gear

    Under Sec. 679.20(a)(4) (i) and (ii), sablefish TACs for each of 
the regulatory areas and districts are allocated to hook-and-line and 
trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of 
each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 20 percent of each TAC 
is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent 
of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is 
allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern 
Regulatory Area may only be used to support incidental catch of 
sablefish in directed fisheries for other target species. In 
recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area, the Council recommended that 90 percent of the WYK 
District sablefish TAC and 100 percent of the SEO District sablefish 
TAC be allocated to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This 
recommendation results in an allocation of 209 mt to trawl gear and 
1,881 mt to hook-and-line gear in WYK District. However, the resultant 
10-percent allocation of WYK District sablefish TAC to trawl gear (209 
mt) does not equal 5 percent of the combined Eastern GOA TACs (265 mt) 
as required at Sec. 679.20(a)(4)(i). Therefore, NMFS is adjusting the 
allocation of sablefish TAC in the WYK District by allocating 1,825 mt 
of the sablefish TAC to hook-and-line gear and 265 mt of the sablefish 
TAC to trawl gear. Table 2 shows the allocations of the 1999 sablefish 
TACs between hook-and-line and trawl gear.

[[Page 12099]]



 Table 2.--1999 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations Thereof to Hook-And-Line and
                                                   Trawl Gear
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Hook-and-line       Trawl
                          Area/district                                 TAC        apportionment   apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           1,820           1,456             364
Central.........................................................           5,590           4,472           1,118
West Yakutat....................................................           2,090           1,825             265
Southeast Outside...............................................           3,200           3,200               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          12,700          10,953           1,747
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Apportionments of Pollock TAC Among Regulatory Areas and Seasons, 
and Allocations for Processing by Inshore and Offshore Components

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by area and season, and is 
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. 
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(A) require that the TAC for 
pollock in the combined Western and Central GOA be apportioned in 
proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass as determined by the 
most recent NMFS surveys among the Shumagin (610), Chirikof (620), and 
Kodiak (630) statistical areas. This measure was intended to provide 
spatial distribution of the pollock harvest as a sea lion protection 
measure. As required by the emergency rule effective January 20, 1999 
(64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999) each statistical area apportionment is 
further apportioned into four seasonal allowances of 30, 20, 25, and 25 
percent, respectively (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C)). As required by 
Sec. 679.23(d)(3), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available 
on January 20, June 1, September 1, and 5 days following the C season 
closure, respectively. Within any fishing year, underage or overage of 
a seasonal allowance may be added to or subtracted from subsequent 
seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the Administrator, 
Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), provided that a revised 
seasonal allowance does not exceed 30 percent of the annual TAC 
apportionment (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii)(C)). The WYK and SEO District 
pollock TACs of 2,110 mt and 6,330 mt, respectively, are not allocated 
seasonally.
    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii) require that 100-percent of 
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances 
thereof be allocated to vessels catching pollock for processing by the 
inshore component after subtraction of amounts that the Regional 
Administrator projects will be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore 
component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. 
The amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by the offshore component is that amount 
actually taken as bycatch during directed fishing for groundfish 
species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable bycatch 
amounts allowed under regulations at Sec. 679.20 (e) and (f). At this 
time, these bycatch amounts are unknown and will be determined during 
the fishing year. The distribution of pollock within the combined 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas is shown in Table 3, except that 
amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore component 
are not shown. The emergency rule (64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999) 
implementing the RPAs for the pollock fishery is effective until July 
19, 1999. NMFS intends to extend this emergency rule beyond for an 
additional 180 days. However, the Council may make additional 
recommendations for the B and C seasons, which adhere to the biological 
principals of the RPAs and would require amending these specifications.

        Table 3.--Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (W/C GOA); Biomass Distribution, Area
  Apportionments, and Seasonal Allowances. ABC for the W/C GOA is 92,480 Metric Tons (mt). Biomass Distribution is Based on 1996 Survey Data. TACs are
                                         Equal to ABC. Inshore and Offshore Allocations of Pollock are not Shown
                                                                   [Values are in mt]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                Seasonal allowances
                    Statistical area                          Biomass      1999 ABC=TAC  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              percent                            A               B               C               D
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shumagin (610)..........................................              25          23,120           6,936           4,624           5,780           5,780
Chirikof (620)..........................................              42          38,840          11,652           7,768           9,710           9,710
Kodiak (630)............................................              33          30,520           9,156           6,104           7,630           7,630
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................             100          92,480          27,744          18,496          23,120          23,120
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Harvests of pollock in Shelikof Strait conservation zone, defined at Sec.  679.22(b)(3)(iii)(C) are limited to 15,857 mt during the A season.

5. Allocations for Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and 
Offshore Components

    Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(iii) require that the TAC 
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas be allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore 
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory 
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. 
These allocations of the Pacific cod initial TAC for 1999 are shown in 
Table 4. The Pacific cod reserves are not included in the table.

[[Page 12100]]



  Table 4.--1999 Allocation (Metric Tons) of Pacific Cod Initial TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska; Allocations
                              for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       Component allocation
                         Regulatory area                            Initial TAC  -------------------------------
                                                                                   Inshore (90%)  Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................          18,904          17,014           1,890
Central.........................................................          34,348          30,913           3,435
Eastern.........................................................           1,016             914             102
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          54,268          48,841           5,427
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Pacific Halibut PSC Mortality Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d), annual Pacific halibut PSC limits are 
established and apportioned to trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be 
established for pot gear.
    As in 1998, the Council recommended that pot gear, jig gear, and 
the hook-and-line sablefish fishery be exempted from the non-trawl 
halibut limit for 1999. The Council recommended these exemptions 
because of the low halibut bycatch mortality experienced in the pot 
gear fisheries (13 mt in 1998) and because of the 1995 implementation 
of the sablefish and halibut Individual Fishing Quota program, which 
allows legal-sized halibut to be retained in the sablefish fishery. 
Halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet cannot be estimated because 
these vessels do not carry observers. However, halibut mortality is 
assumed to be very low given the small amount of fish harvested by this 
gear type (279 mt in 1998) and the assumed high survival rate of any 
halibut that are incidentally taken and discarded.
    As in 1998, the Council recommended a hook-and-line halibut PSC 
mortality limit of 300 mt. Ten mt of this limit are apportioned to the 
demersal shelf rockfish fishery in the Southeast Outside District. The 
remainder is seasonally apportioned among the non-sablefish hook-and-
line fisheries as shown in Table 5.
    The Council continued to recommend a trawl halibut PSC mortality 
limit of 2,000 mt. The PSC limit has remained unchanged since 1989. 
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize separate apportionments 
of the trawl halibut PSC limit between trawl fisheries for deep-water 
and shallow-water species. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(5) authorize 
seasonal apportionments of halibut PSC limits. For 1999, the Council 
recommended delaying the release of the third seasonal apportionment of 
trawl halibut PSC limits in July to facilitate inseason management of 
directed trawl fisheries, particularly rockfish.
    NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendations described here and 
listed in Table 5. The following types of information as presented in, 
and summarized from, the current SAFE report, or as otherwise available 
from NMFS, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) or public testimony were considered:
(A) Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is 
based on 1998 observed halibut bycatch rates and NMFS's estimates of 
groundfish catch. The calculated halibut bycatch mortality by trawl, 
hook-and-line, and pot gear through December 31, 1998, is 2,023 mt, 296 
mt, and 13 mt, respectively, for a total of 2,332 mt.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear and 
hook-and-line gear fisheries throughout 1998. Trawling for the deep-
water fishery complex was closed during the first quarter on March 10 
(63 FR 12688, March 16, 1998), for the second quarter on April 21 (63 
FR 20541, April 27, 1998) and for the third quarter on July 28 (63 FR 
40839, July 31, 1998). The shallow-water complex was closed in the 
second quarter on May 2 (63 FR 24984, May 6, 1998) and in the third 
quarter on August 3 (63 FR 42281, August 7, 1998). All trawling was 
closed in the fourth quarter on October 9 (63 FR 55341, October 15, 
1998). The use of hook-and-line gear for groundfish other than 
sablefish or demersal shelf rockfish was closed in the first seasonal 
apportionment on April 18 (63 FR 19850, April 22, 1998) and for the 
remainder of the year on May 26 (63 FR 29670, June 1, 1998, and 63 FR 
45765, August 27, 1998).
    The amount of groundfish that trawl gear and hook-and-line gear 
might have harvested if halibut catch limitations had not restricted 
the season in 1998, is unknown.
(B) Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks
    At its December 1998 meeting, the Council adopted higher ABCs for 
Pacific cod, arrowtooth flounder, POP, and other rockfish than those 
established for 1998. The Council adopted lower ABCs for pollock, deep 
water flatfish, sablefish, northern rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish 
than those established for 1998. More information on these changes is 
included in the Final SAFE report (November 1998) and in the Council 
and SSC minutes.
(C) Expected Changes in Groundfish Catch
    The total of the 1999 TACs for the GOA is 306,535 mt, a decrease of 
6 percent from the 1998 TAC total of 327,046 mt. Those fisheries for 
which the 1999 TACs are lower than in 1998 are pollock (decreased to 
100,920 mt from 124,730 mt), deep water flatfish (decreased to 6,050 mt 
from 7,170 mt), sablefish (decreased to 12,700 mt from 14,120 mt), 
northern rockfish (decreased to 4,990 mt from 5,000 mt), thornyhead 
rockfish (decreased to 1,990 mt from 2,000 mt), and other species 
(decreased to 14,600 mt from 15,570 mt). Those species for which the 
1999 TACs are higher than in 1998 are Pacific cod (increased to 67,835 
mt from 66,060 mt), shallow water flatfish (increased to 18,770 mt from 
18,630 mt), POP (increased to 12,590 mt from 10,776 mt), and other 
rockfish (increased to 5,270 mt from 2,170 mt).
(D) Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition
    The stock assessment for 1998 conducted by the IPHC indicates total 
exploitable biomass estimates of Pacific halibut in the BSAI and GOA 
management areas together to be 227,366 mt using an age-specific 
estimate and 246,190 mt using a length-specific estimate from the 
standardized hook-and-line survey for 1999. In the age-specific 
estimate, the assumption is that the selection of fish by the survey is 
based primarily on the age of the fish and reflects the availability of 
fish of different ages on the grounds. In the length-specific estimate, 
the assumption is that the selection of fish by the survey is based 
primarily on the size of the fish,

[[Page 12101]]

because fish of different sizes are not equally vulnerable to the 
survey gear.
    New information used in the stock assessment in 1998 includes 
updated assessment methods and results, IPHC hook-and-line surveys, 
NMFS trawl survey catches of halibut, and updated information on 
removals of halibut from all sources. For 1998, the assessment model 
contains only one significant change from last year. The IPHC had used 
an estimated rate of natural mortality of M = 0.20. This value was an 
average of a wide range of estimates. Some previous IPHC studies have 
employed estimates other than 0.20. The IPHC staff reviewed available 
evidence in consideration of these results and due to scientific 
uncertainty adopted a more conservative value of M = 0.15, a 25-percent 
reduction from the previous value. The major changes in the estimates 
of exploitable biomass for 1999 derive from the change in the estimate 
of natural mortality, rather than from stock condition indices.
    Pacific halibut biomass remains at a relatively high level but has 
declined slightly in the central and southern portions of the range. 
Recruitment of halibut in recent years has declined from the peak seen 
in 1995, when the 1987 year class began recruiting to the fishery. 
Exploitable biomass is expected to decline over the next three to five 
years as this year class passes out of the exploitable stock. 
Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be 
found in the SAFE report.
(E) Other Factors
    The proposed 1999 specifications (63 FR 71876, December 30, 1998) 
discussed potential impacts of expected fishing for groundfish on 
halibut stocks, as well as methods available for, and costs of, 
reducing halibut bycatch in the groundfish fisheries.

7. Fishery and Seasonal Apportionments of the Halibut PSC Limits

    Under Sec. 679.21(d)(5), NMFS seasonally apportions the halibut PSC 
limits based on recommendations from the Council. The FMP requires that 
the Council, in recommending seasonal apportionments of halibut PSC 
limits, consider: (a) Seasonal distribution of halibut, (b) seasonal 
distribution of target groundfish species relative to halibut 
distribution, (c) expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis 
relative to changes in halibut biomass and expected catches of target 
groundfish species, (d) expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (e) 
expected changes in directed groundfish fishing seasons, (f) expected 
actual start of fishing effort, and (g) economic effects of 
establishing seasonal halibut allocations on segments of the target 
groundfish industry.
    The final 1998 GOA groundfish and PSC specifications (63 FR 12027, 
March 12, 1998) summarize Council findings with respect to each of the 
FMP considerations set forth above. For 1999, the Council has 
reiterated its findings with respect to these FMP considerations and 
recommended that seasonal apportionments be unchanged from 1998, with 
one exception. For 1999, the Council recommended that the third 
seasonal apportionment of halibut PSC limits for trawl gear in the GOA 
be delayed until July 11 to coincide with the seasonal apportionment of 
halibut PSC limits for trawl gear in the BSAI and to facilitate 
inseason management. NMFS notes that the delay in the third seasonal 
apportionment until July 11 could potentially adversely affect the 
results of the NMFS 1999 sablefish hook-and-line survey in the GOA. 
Therefore, NMFS is adjusting the start of the third seasonal 
apportionment to July 4, which will meet the Council's objective of 
improving inseason management while minimizing the potential impacts of 
the trawl fisheries on the NMFS sablefish survey later in July. Pacific 
halibut PSC limits, and apportionments thereof, are presented in Table 
5. Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any 
overages or shortfalls in a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will 
be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment 
within the 1999 season.

                 Table 5.--Final 1999 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
 [The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery
  and fisheries other than DSR. (Values are in metric tons) The hook-and-line sablefish fishery is exempt from
                                              halibut PSC limits.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Trawl gear                                           Hook-and-line gear
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Other than DSR                         DSR
            Dates                  Amount     ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Dates           Amount           Dates           Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan 1-Mar 31.................       600 (30%)  Jan 1-May 17....       250 (86%)  Jan 1-Dec 31...       10 (100%)
Apr 1-Jul 3..................       400 (20%)  May 18-Aug 31...         15 (5%)
Jul 4-Sep 30.................       600 (30%)  Sep 1-Dec 31....         25 (9%)
Oct 1-Dec 31.................       400 (20%)
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total:.................    2,000 (100%)  ................      290 (100%)  ...............       10 (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize apportionments of 
the trawl halibut PSC limit to a deep-water species complex, comprised 
of sablefish, all rockfish targets, deep-water flatfish, rex sole and 
arrowtooth flounder; and a shallow-water species complex, comprised of 
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka 
mackerel, and ``other species''. The apportionment for these two 
fishery complexes is presented in Table 6.

Table 6.--Final 1999 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-Water Species
                                  Complex and the Shallow-Water Species Complex
                                           (Values are in Metric Tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Season                                Shallow-water    Deep-water         Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. 20-Mar. 31.................................................             500             100             600
Apr. 1-Jul. 3...................................................             100             300             400

[[Page 12102]]

 
Jul. 4-Sep. 30..................................................             200             400             600
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal
Jan. 20-Sep. 30.................................................             800             800           1,600
Oct. 1-Dec. 31..................................................  ..............  ..............             400
                                                                                                 ---------------
    Total.......................................................  ..............  ..............          2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery complexes during the 4th quarter.

    The Council recommended that the revised halibut discard mortality 
rates recommended by the IPHC be adopted for purposes of monitoring 
halibut bycatch mortality limits established for the 1999 groundfish 
fisheries. NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation. Most of the 
IPHC's assumed halibut mortality rates were based on an average of 
mortality rates determined from NMFS observer data collected during 
1996 and 1997. For fisheries where a steady trend from 1994 to 1997 
towards increasing or decreasing mortality rates was observed, the IPHC 
recommended using the most recent year's observed rate. Rates for 1996 
and 1997 were lacking for some fisheries, so rates from the most recent 
years were used. For fisheries where insufficient mortality data are 
available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific cod 
fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default rate. The 
majority of the assumed mortality rates recommended for 1999 differ 
slightly from those used in 1998, except for the hook-and-line Pacific 
cod fishery discard mortality rate, which increased to 16 percent for 
1999 from 12 percent in 1998. The Council recommended that a sector 
specific discard mortality rate be used for the catcher vessel and the 
catcher/processor vessel fleets in the trawl flathead sole fishery. The 
recommended rates for hook-and-line targeted fisheries range from 9 to 
16 percent. The recommended rates for most trawl targeted fisheries are 
unchanged or lower than those used in 1998 and range from 55 to 76 
percent. The recommended rate for all pot targeted fisheries is 6 
percent, a decrease from that used in 1998. The 1999 assumed halibut 
mortality rates are listed in Table 7.

   Table 7.--1999 Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for Vessels
                      Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
    [Listed values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Gear and target                      Mortality rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-Line:
    Pacific cod.........................................              16
    Rockfish............................................               9
    Other species.......................................              16
Trawl:
    Midwater pollock....................................              76
    Rockfish............................................              64
    Shallow-water flatfish..............................              71
    Pacific cod.........................................              66
    Deep-water flatfish.................................              66
    Flathead sole
        Catcher vessels.................................              58
        Catcher/processing vessels......................              74
    Rex sole............................................              55
    Bottom pollock......................................              73
    Atka mackerel.......................................              57
    Sablefish...........................................              71
    Other species.......................................              66
Pot:
    Pacific cod.........................................               6
    Other species.......................................               6
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    The following information satisfies the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, which requires a plain language guide 
to assist small entities in complying with this rule. This rule 
announces the final 1999 harvest specifications and associated 
management measures for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska. 
This action affects all fishermen who participate in the GOA fishery. 
NMFS will announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register 
and in information bulletins released by the Alaska Region when the 
announced TAC specifications or apportionments thereof have been 
reached. Affected fishermen should keep themselves informed of such 
closures.

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 species, including the Steller sea lion, 
and designated critical

[[Page 12103]]

habitat. The biological opinion prepared for this consultation, dated 
December 3, 1998, and revised December 16, 1998, concluded 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 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 
Council meeting and were implemented by NMFS through emergency 
rulemaking effective January 20, 1999 (64 FR 3437, January 22, 1999), 
prior to the start of the 1999 GOA pollock fishery. This final rule 
establishes harvest specifications in accordance with those mitigation 
measures as required by the RPAs on December 3, 1998, and revised on 
December 16, 1998, for the 1999 GOA pollock fishery. The emergency rule 
expires on July 19, 1999. The Council will make recommendations to NMFS 
on final mitigation measures for 1999 during its June meeting, and NMFS 
will promulgate subsequent rulemaking to implement all reasonable and 
prudent alternatives that NMFS determines are necessary to avoid 
jeopardy to the Steller sea lion and adverse modifications of its 
critical habitat for the remainder of the 1999 fishing year. That 
action may result in changes to the final specifications.
    NMFS prepared an initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) 
pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act that describes the impact 
the 1999 harvest specifications may have on small entities. Comments 
were solicited on the IRFA, however, none were received. NMFS has 
prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis which analyzes the new 
TAC levels, this is needed because the Council has recommended new TAC 
amounts, based on updated survey and stock assessment information, for 
the final 1999 specifications. A copy of this analysis is available 
from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). Based on the number of vessels that caught 
groundfish in 1997, the number of fixed gear and trawl catcher vessels 
expected to be operating as small entities in the 1999 GOA groundfish 
fishery is 1,242.
    NMFS analyzed a range of alternative harvest levels for the GOA. 
The preferred alternative would allow the GOA groundfish fisheries to 
continue under final specifications set at 1999 levels until the total 
allowable catch (TAC) is harvested or until the fishery is closed due 
to attainment of a PSC limit, or for other management reasons. Under 
the preferred alternative, the 1999 TACs would be based on the most 
recent scientific information as reviewed by the Plan Teams, SSC, AP, 
and Council and which includes public testimony and comment from the 
October and December Council meetings and those comments sent to NMFS 
on the proposed specifications. The preferred alternative also achieves 
OY while preventing overfishing. Small entities would receive the 
maximum benefits under this alternative, in that they will be able to 
harvest target species and species groups at the highest available 
level based on stock status and ecosystem concerns.
    The alternative that would have the greatest immediate economic 
benefit to small entities would set the sum of the TACs at the maximum 
OY level. However, this alternative would not achieve the maximum long-
term benefit in that it could result in overfishing and could lead to 
overfished stocks. Another alternative that was analyzed, would 
implement the 1998 TAC amounts for 1999. This would not be based on the 
most recent scientific information, and was also rejected.
    No recordkeeping and reporting requirements are implemented with 
this final action. NMFS is not aware of any other Federal rules which 
duplicate, overlap or conflict with the final specifications.
    The establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements 
or timetables, the use of performance rather than design standards, or 
exempting affected small entities from any part of this action would 
not be appropriate because of the nature of this action.

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

    Dated: March 5, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-6028 Filed 3-8-99; 1:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P