[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 239 (Thursday, December 12, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76362-76375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31369]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 021122285-2285-01; I.D. 110602C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2003 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed 2003 initial specifications for groundfish and 
associated management measures; apportionment of reserves; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2003 initial harvest specifications, prohibited 
species bycatch allowances, and associated management measures for the 
groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and 
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2003 fishing 
year and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Area (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to 
conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI and to provide 
an opportunity for public participation in the annual groundfish 
specification process as conducted by the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council).

DATES: Comments must be received by January 13, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: 
Lori Gravel, or delivered to room 401 of the Federal Building, 709 West 
9th Street, Juneau, AK. Comments also may be sent via facsimile (fax) 
to 907-586-7557. Comments will not be accepted if submitted via e-mail 
or Internet.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA) prepared for this action are available 
from NMFS (see ADDRESSES) and comments must be received by December 20, 
2002. Copies of the final 2001 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) report, dated November 2001, are available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252 (907-271-2809).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Furuness, 907-586-7228 or e-mail 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background for the 2003 Proposed Harvest Specifications

    Groundfish fisheries in the BSAI are governed by Federal 
regulations at 50 CFR part 679 that implement the FMP. The Council 
prepared the FMP and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. General regulations governing 
U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable 
catch (TAC) for each target species and the ``other species'' category, 
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield range of 1.4 million 
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)). Regulations 
under Sec.  679.20(c)(1) further require NMFS to solicit public comment 
on proposed annual TACs, apportionments thereof, and prohibited species 
catch (PSC) allowances, and to publish proposed specifications in the 
Federal Register. The proposed specifications set forth in Tables 1 
through 13 of this action satisfy these requirements. For 2003, the 
proposed sum of TACs is 1,998,540 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final annual 
specifications for 2003 after (1) considering comments received within 
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its 
next meeting beginning December 2, 2002, and (3) considering new 
information presented in the EA, the final 2002 SAFE reports, and in 
the section 7 consultation prepared for the 2003 groundfish fisheries.
    With some exceptions, regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) require 
that one-fourth of each proposed initial TAC (ITAC) amount and 
apportionment thereof, one-fourth of each Community Development Quota 
(CDQ) reserve established under Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii), and one-fourth 
of each proposed PSC allowance established under Sec.  679.21, become 
available at 0001 hours Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, on an 
interim basis and remain in effect until superseded by the final 
specifications. Regulations that will be effective with the final rule 
to implement the Steller sea lion protection measures provide that the 
proposed first seasonal allowance for pollock, Pacific cod and Atka 
mackerel becomes available at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1 on an 
interim basis and remains in effect until superseded by the final 
specifications. Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide 
for an interim specification for either the hook-and-line and pot gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve or for sablefish managed under the Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) program. Interim TAC specifications and 
apportionments thereof for the 2003 fishing year will be published in a 
separate Federal Register notice.

[[Page 76363]]

Other Rules Affecting the 2003 Specifications

    At its October 2002 meeting, the Council recommended the extension 
of the closure of the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery through 2003 as 
a precautionary component of the Steller sea lion protection measures 
implemented under separate rulemaking. The Council also indicated that 
they may consider apportionment of the TAC of several rockfish species 
in the Aleutian Islands subarea among the Eastern, Central and Western 
Aleutian districts. A final rule implementing regulatory provisions of 
the American Fisheries Act (AFA) will be published in the Federal 
Register and effective for 2003. In order to minimize confusion, the 
proposed specifications also identify sideboard amounts for the AFA 
fisheries that will be available under the final rule. Also, NMFS has 
initiated rulemaking to permanently implement the Steller sea lion 
protection measures for 2003 and beyond. To minimize confusion and 
provide clarity to the 2003 specification process, we have included in 
the proposed 2003 harvest specifications pollock, Pacific cod and Atka 
mackerel seasonal allowances that are consistent with the existing 
protection measures.

Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

    The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available scientific 
information, including projected biomass trends, information on assumed 
distribution of stock biomass, and revised technical methods used to 
calculate stock biomass. In general, the development of ABCs and 
overfishing levels (OFLs) involves sophisticated statistical analyses 
of fish populations and is based on a successive series of six levels, 
or tiers, of reliable information available to fishery scientists.
    The best information currently available is set forth in appendix A 
of the final SAFE report for the 2001 BSAI groundfish fisheries dated 
November 2001 (see ADDRESSES). Information on the status of stocks will 
be updated with the 2002 survey results and reconsidered by the Plan 
Team at its November 2002 meeting.
    At their October 2002 meeting, the Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed the Plan 
Team's preliminary recommendations to project 2003 biomass amounts as 
identified in the 2001 SAFE for the proposed 2003 ABC, OFL, and TAC 
amounts. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's recommendations, which 
included a new approach for updating the ABCs and OFLs by using an 
estimate of 2002 catch with the November 2001 SAFE report model 
projections of 2003 ABCs for groundfish stocks managed at tiers 1-3. 
This procedure results in closer approximations to the final 2003 
specifications and therefore provides the Council and the public with 
better information. The Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts 
recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The Council also adopted the AP's 
recommendations for the 2003 proposed TACs to be set equal to the 2002 
TACs, except for yellowfin sole, northern rockfish and Atka mackerel. 
Recognizing anticipated changes in the ABCs for these species, the AP 
recommended and the Council adopted a decrease in the TACs for 
yellowfin sole and northern rockfish and an increase in the Atka 
mackerel TAC. The Council adopted the AP's recommendation to use the 
2002 PSC allowances for 2003. They will reconsider these amounts at the 
December 2002 Council meeting after new status of stocks information is 
incorporated by the Plan Team into a final SAFE report for the 2003 
BSAI groundfish fishery. None of the Council's TAC recommendations for 
2003 exceed the recommended ABC for any species category. Therefore, 
NMFS finds that the Council's recommendations for proposed 2003 OFLs, 
ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the best available information on 
the biological condition of the groundfish stocks.
    Table 1 lists the proposed 2003 OFLs, ABC amounts, and TAC amounts 
for groundfish in the BSAI. The proposed apportionment of TAC amounts 
among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.

 Table 1.--Proposed 2003 Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ
 Reserve Allocation, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands AREA (BSAI)\1\
                                             [All amounts are in mt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          CDQ
            Species                     Area          Overfishing      ABC          TAC        ITAC     reserve
                                                         level                                 \2\        \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\....................  Bering Sea (BS)\2\     2,594,000    2,088,880    1,485,000  1,283,0  148,500
                                 Aleutian Islands          31,700       23,800        1,000   40      100
                                  (Al) \2\.                46,400        4,310          100  900      10
                                 Bogoslof District.                                          90
Pacific cod....................  BSAI..............       292,680      252,020      200,000  170,000  15,000
Sablefish \5\..................  BS................         3,150        2,100        1,930  821      265
                                 AI................         4,190        2,770        2,550  541      431
Atka mackerel..................  BSAI..............       100,115       59,600       59,600  50,660   4,470
                                 Western AI........  ............       23,960       23,960  20,366   1,797
                                 Central AI........  ............       28,950       28,950  24,607   2,171
                                 Eastern AI/BS.....  ............        6,690        6,690  5,687    502
Yellowfin sole.................  BSAI..............       135,630      114,370       76,000  64,600   5,700
Rock sole......................  BSAI..............       242,585      203,870       54,000  45,900   4,050
Greenland turbot...............  BSAI..............        33,370       27,590        8,000  6,800    600
                                 BS................  ............       18,485        5,360  4,556    402
                                 AI................  ............        9,105        2,640  2,244    198
Arrowtooth flounder............  BSAI..............       120,010       99,285       16,000  13,600   1,200
Flathead sole..................  BSAI..............        90,850       74,440       25,000  21,250   1,875
Other flatfish \6\.............  BSAI..............        21,800       18,100        3,000  2,550    225
Alaska plaice..................  BSAI..............       170,915      142,070       12,000  10,200   900

[[Page 76364]]

 
Pacific ocean perch............  BSAI..............        17,850       15,060       14,800  12,580   1,110
                                 BS................  ............        2,666        2,620  2,227    197
                                 Western AI........  ............        5,759        5,660  4,811    425
                                 Central AI........  ............        3,114        3,060  2,601    230
                                 Eastern AI........  ............        3,521        3,460  2,941    260
Northern rockfish..............  BSAI..............         5,580        4,700  ...........  .......  ..........
                                 BS................  ............  ...........           13  11       1
                                 Al................  ............  ...........        4,687  3,984    352
Shortraker/rougheye............  BSAI..............         1,369        1,028  ...........  .......  ..........
                                 BS................  ............  ...........          116  99       9
                                 Al................  ............  ...........          912  775      68
Other rockfish \7\.............  BS................           482          361          361  307      27
                                 Al................           901          676          676  575      51
Squid..........................  BSAI..............         2,620        1,970        1,970  1,675    ..........
Other species \8\..............  BSAI..............        78,900       39,100       30,825  26,201   2,312
    TOTAL......................  ..................     3,995,097    3,176,100    1,998,540  1,770,6  187,225
                                                                                              18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of
  pollock, and for the purpose of these specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof
  District.
\2\ Except for pollock and the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, 15 percent
  of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for each species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction
  of these reserves. The Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea and the Bogoslof District are closed to directed fishing
  for pollock. The amounts specified are for incidental catch amounts only, and are not apportioned by season,
  sector or put into a reserve.
\3\ Except for pollock and the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish, one half of the amount of the
  TACs placed in reserve, or 7.5 percent of the TACs, is designated as a CDQ reserve for use by CDQ participants
  (see Sec.  Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii) and 679.31).
\4\ The AFA requires that 10 percent of the annual pollock TAC be allocated as a directed fishing allowance for
  the CDQ sector. NMFS then subtracts 4 percent of the remainder as an incidental catch allowance for pollock,
  which is not apportioned by season or area. The remainder of the TAC is further allocated by sector as
  follows: inshore, 50 percent; catcher/processor, 40 percent; and motherships, 10 percent.
\5\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20(b)(1) do not provide for the establishment of an ITAC for the hook-and-line and
  pot gear allocation for sablefish. The ITAC for sablefish reflected in Table 1 is for trawl gear only. Twenty
  percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear is reserved for use by CDQ
  participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(iii)).
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species),
  flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern,
  shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2,
  are not included in the ``other species'' category.

Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i) require that 15 percent of the 
TAC for each target species or species group, except for the hook-and-
line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a non-specified 
reserve. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by requiring 
that the proposed 2003 TAC for this species be fully allocated among 
the CDQ program, the ICA, 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, with the exception 
of squid, 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. Section 206(a) of 
the AFA requires that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be allocated to the 
pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hook-and-line and pot 
gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the CDQ reserves are not further 
apportioned by gear. 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 a prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserve for the CDQ 
fisheries. Regulations governing the management of the CDQ and PSQ 
reserves are set forth at Sec. Sec.  679.30 and 679.31.
    Under section 206(b) of the AFA, NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 4 
percent of the pollock TAC after subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ 
reserve. This allowance is based on an examination of the incidental 
catch of pollock in non-pollock target fisheries from 1997 through 
2001. During this 4-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged 
from a low of 3 percent in 1998, to a high of about 6 percent in 1997, 
with a 4-year average of 4 percent. Because these incidental 
percentages are contingent on the relative amounts of other groundfish 
TACs, NMFS will be better able to assess the ICA amount when the 
Council makes final ABC and TAC amount recommendations in December. 
Under regulations at Sec.  679.24(b)(4), the use of nonpelagic trawl 
gear is prohibited in the directed fishery for non-CDQ pollock in the 
BSAI.
    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.

Pollock Allocations Under the AFA

    Section 206(a) of the AFA requires that 10 percent of the BSAI 
pollock TAC be 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, 
including CDQ vessels, harvesting other groundfish species, is 
allocated as follows; 50 percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock 
for processing by the inshore component, 40 percent to catcher/
processors and catcher vessels harvesting pollock for

[[Page 76365]]

processing by catcher/processors in the offshore component, and 10 
percent to catcher vessels harvesting pollock for processing by 
motherships in the offshore component. These amounts are listed in 
Table 2.
    The AFA also contains several specific requirements concerning 
pollock and pollock allocations. First, paragraph 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 by offshore catcher vessels, listed in section 208(b), 
harvesting pollock for processing by offshore catcher/processors listed 
in section 208(e). Second, catcher/processors eligible to fish for 
pollock, as specified under paragraph 208(e)(21) of the AFA, are 
prohibited from harvesting in the aggregate a total of more than one-
half of one percent (0.5 percent) of the pollock allocated to vessels 
for processing by offshore catcher/processors. Table 2 lists 
theproposed 2003 allocations of pollock TAC as described by the AFA. 
Other provisions of the AFA, including inshore pollock cooperative 
allocations and unrestricted catcher processor and catcher vessel 
harvest limitations, are found in Tables 8 through 13.
    Table 2 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest 
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest 
within the SCA, as defined at Sec.  679.22(a)(11)(vii), is limited to 
28 percent of the annual directed fishing allowance (DFA) until April 
1. The remaining 12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season 
may be taken outside of the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after 
April 1. If the 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the 
SCA before April 1, the remainder is available to be taken inside the 
SCA after April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be 
apportioned to each industry sector in proportion to each sector's 
allocated percentage of the DFA as set forth in the AFA. These proposed 
amounts, by sector, are listed in Table 2.

 Table 2.--Proposed Allocations of the Pollock TAC and Directed Fishing Allowance (DFA) to the Inshore, Catcher/
                                  Processor, Mothership, and CDQ Components \1\
                                             [All amounts are in mt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          A/B Season \1\          C/D Season \1\
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                 Area and sector                     2002 DFA      A/B DFA  (40%    A SCA limit    C/D DFA  (60%
                                                                  of annual DFA)        \2\       of annual DFA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea..............................       1,485,000  ..............  ..............  ..............
    CDQ.........................................         148,500          59,400          41,580          89,100
    ICA \3\.....................................          53,460  ..............  ..............  ..............
    AFA Inshore.................................         641,520         256,608         179,626         384,912
    AFA Catcher Processors \4\..................         513,216         205,286         143,700         307,930
        Catch by C/Ps...........................         469,593         187,837  ..............         281,756
        Catch by CVs \4\........................          43,623          17,449  ..............          26,174
            Restricted C/P cap \5\..............           2,566           1,026  ..............           1,540
    AFA Motherships.............................         128,304          51,322          35,925          76,982
    Excessive shares cap \6\....................         224,532  ..............  ..............  ..............
Aleutian Islands: ICA \7\.......................             900
Bogoslof District: ICA \7\......................             90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ After subtraction for the CDQ reserve and the ICA, the pollock TAC is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore
  component--50 percent, catcher/processor component--40 percent, and mothership component--10 percent. Under
  paragraph 206(a) of the AFA, the CDQ reserve for pollock is 10 percent. NMFS, under regulations at Sec.
  679.24(b)(4), prohibits nonpelagic trawl gear to engage in directed fishing for non-CDQ pollock in the BSAI.
  The A/B season, January 20--June 10, is allocated 40 percent of the DFA and the C/D season, June 10--November
  1 is allocated 60 percent of the DFA.
\2\ No more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining
  12 percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside
  the SCA after April 1. If 28 percent of the annual DFA is not taken inside the SCA before April 1, the
  remainder is available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ The pollock ICA for the BS subarea is 4 percent of the TAC after subtraction of the CDQ reserve.
\4\ Subsection 210(c) of the AFA requires that not less than 8.5 percent of the directed fishing allowance
  allocated to listed catcher/processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels
  (CVs) delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\5\ The AFA requires that vessels described in section 208(e)(21) be prohibited from exceeding a harvest amount
  of one-half of one percent of the directed fishing allowance allocated to vessels for processing by AFA
  catcher/processors.
\6\ Paragraph 210(e)(1) of the AFA specifies that ``No particular individual, corporation, or other entity may
  harvest, through a fishery cooperative or otherwise, a total of more than 17.5 percent of the pollock
  available to be harvested in the directed pollock fishery.''
\7\ The Aleutian Islands subarea and the Bogoslof District are closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
  amounts specified are for incidental catch amounts only, and are not apportioned by season or sector.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TAC

    Regulations implementing Steller sea lion protection measures at 
Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii) apportion the Atka mackerel ITAC into two equal 
seasonal allowances. After subtraction of the jig gear allocation, the 
first allowance is made available for directed fishing from January 1 
to April 15 (``A'' season), and the second seasonal allowance is made 
available from September 1 to November 1 (``B'' season)(Table 3). Under 
Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional Administrator will establish 
a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no more than 60 percent of the 
seasonal TAC for the Western and Central Aleutian Districts. Pacific 
cod harvest by trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands HLA in the Western 
and Central Aleutian Districts west of 178 degrees W long. is 
prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries. Atka 
mackerel fishing is prohibited in critical habitat east of 178 degrees 
W. long. to provide maximum protection to Steller sea lions and because 
Atka mackerel is readily available in waters outside of critical 
habitat.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be 
allocated to the jig gear fleet. The amount of this allocation is 
determined annually by the Council based on several criteria,

[[Page 76366]]

including the anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The 
Council recommended and NMFS proposes that 1 percent of the Atka 
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea 
subarea be allocated to the jig gear fleet in 2003. Based on an ITAC of 
15,170 mt, the jig gear allocation would be 152 mt.
    A lottery system is used for the HLA Atka mackerel directed 
fisheries to reduce the amount of daily catch in the HLA by about half 
and to disperse the fishery over two areas (Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)).

   Table 3.--Proposed 2003 Seasonal and Spatial Apportionments, Gear Shares, and CDQ Reserve of the BSAI Atka
                                              Mackerel TAC \1\ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Seasonal apportionment \3\
                                                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                   CDQ                    A Season \4\          B Season \5\
        Subarea & component             TAC      reserve      ITAC   -------------------------------------------
                                                                                 HLA Limit             HLA Limit
                                                                        Total       \6\       Total       \6\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Aleutian District..........     23,960      1,797     20,366     10,183      6,110     10,183      6,110
Central Aleutian District               28,950      2,171     24,607     12,304      7,382     12,304      7,382
Eastern AI/BS subarea \7\..........      6,690        502      5,687  .........  .........  .........  .........
    Jig (1%) \8\...................  .........  .........         57  .........  .........  .........  .........
    Other gear (99%)...............  .........  .........      5,630      2,815  .........      2,815  .........
                                    ------------
        Total......................     59,600      4,470     50,660     25,302  .........     25,302  .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Amounts are in mt.
\2\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a)(8) establish temporal and spatial limitations for
  the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ The A season is January 1 through April 15.
\5\ The B season is September 1 through November 1.
\6\ HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.
    679.2). In 2003, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the
  Western and Central AI. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands HLA, west of 178 degrees W.
  long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries.
\7\ Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
\8\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20 (a)(8) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern AIeutian District and the
  Bering Sea subarea ITAC be allocated to the jig gear fleet. The proposed amount of this allocation is 1
  percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(A), 2 percent of the Pacific cod ITAC 
is allocated to vessels using jig gear, 51 percent to vessels using 
hook-and-line or pot gear, and 47 percent to vessels using trawl gear. 
Under regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), the portion of the 
Pacific cod TAC allocated to trawl gear is further allocated 50 percent 
to catcher vessels and 50 percent to catcher/processors. Under 
regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(C)(1), a portion of the Pacific 
cod allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear is set aside as an ICA of 
Pacific cod in directed fisheries for groundfish using these gear 
types. Based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries, NMFS 
proposes an ICA of 500 mt. The remainder of Pacific cod is further 
allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear as the following 
directed fishing allowances: 80 percent to hook-and-line catcher 
processors, 0.3 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels, 18.3 percent 
to pot gear vessels, and 1.4 percent to catcher vessels under 60 feet 
(18.3 m) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear.
    Due to concerns about the potential impact of the Pacific cod 
fishery on Steller sea lions and their critical habitat, the Pacific 
cod fisheries are temporally dispersed by the apportionment of the ITAC 
into two seasonal allowances (Sec. Sec.  679.23(e)(6) and 
679.20(a)(7)). For most non-trawl gear the first allowance, 60 percent 
of the ITAC, is made available for directed fishing from January 1 to 
June 10, and the second seasonal allowance, 40 percent of the ITAC, is 
made available from June 10 to December 31. No seasonal harvest 
constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels 
less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For 
trawl gear, the first season is January 20 to April 1 and is allocated 
60 percent of the ITAC. The second season, April 1 to June 10, and the 
third season, June 10 to November 1, are each allocated 20 percent of 
the ITAC. The trawl catcher vessel allocation is further allocated as 
70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 
percent in the third season. The trawl catcher/processor allocation is 
allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second 
season, and 20 percent in the third season. Table 4 lists the proposed 
2003 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod ITAC. 
NMFS and the Council propose that any unused portion of a seasonal 
Pacific cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the 
next seasonal allowance.

                                   Table 4.--2003 Gear Shares and Seasonal Apportionments of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Subtotal                                Seasonal apportionment\1\
                                                           Share of gear    percentages    Share of gear -----------------------------------------------
                Gear sector                    Percent     sector total      for gear      sector total
                                                               (mnt)          sectors          (mt)                    Date                Amount  (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total hook-and-line and pot gear allocation           51          86,700  ..............  ..............                                  ..............
 of Pacific cod TAC.
Incidental Catch Allowance.................  ...........  ..............  ..............             500                                  ..............

[[Page 76367]]

 
Processor and Vessel subtotal..............  ...........          86,200  ..............  ..............                                  ..............
    Hook-and-line Catcher Processors.......  ...........  ..............              80          68,960  Jan 1-Jun 10..................          41,376
                                                                                                          Jun 10-Dec. 31................          27,584
    Hook-and-Line Catcher Vessels..........  ...........  ..............             0.3             259  Jan 1-Jun 10..................             155
                                                                                                          Jun 10-Dec 31.................             104
    Pot Gear Vessels.......................  ...........  ..............            18.3          15,775  Jan 1-Jun 10..................           9,465
                                                                                                          Sept 1-Dec 31.................           6,310
Catcher Vessels <60 feet LOA using Hook-and- ...........  ..............             1.4           1,207
 line or Pot gear.
Trawl gear Total...........................           47          79,900                                                                  ..............
    Trawl Catcher Vessel...................  ...........  ..............              50          39,950  Jan 20-Apr 1..................          27,965
                                                                                                          Apr 1-Jun 10..................           3,995
                                                                                                          Jun 10-Nov 1..................           7,990
    Trawl Catcher Processor................  ...........  ..............              50          39,950  Jan 20-Apr 1..................          19,975
                                                                                                          Apr 1-Jun 10..................          11,985
                                                                                                          Jun 10-Nov 1..................           7,990
Jig........................................            2           3,400  ..............  ..............  Jan 1-Jun 10..................           2,040
                                                                                                          Jun 10-Dec 31.................           1,360
Total......................................          100         170,000  ..............  ..............                                  ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For non-trawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the TAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the TAC. No seasonal harvest
  constraints are imposed for the Pacific cod fishery by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear,
  the first season is allocated 60 percent of the TAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20 percent of the TAC. The trawl catcher
  vessels' allocation is further allocated as 70 percent in the first season, 10 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season. The
  trawl catcher/processors' allocation is allocated 50 percent in the first season, 30 percent in the second season and 20 percent in the third season.
  Any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance will be reapportioned to the next seasonal allowance.

Allocation of the Shortraker and Rougheye Rockfish TAC

    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(9), the ITAC of shortraker rockfish and 
rougheye rockfish specified for the Aleutian Islands subarea is 
allocated 30 percent to vessels using non-trawl gear and 70 percent to 
vessels using trawl gear. Based on a proposed 2003 ITAC of 775 mt, the 
trawl allocation would be 543 mt and the non-trawl allocation would be 
232 mt.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require that 
sablefish TACs for the BS and AI subareas be allocated between trawl 
and hook-and-line or pot gear types. Gear allocations of the TACs for 
the Bering Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for 
hook-and-line or pot gear, and for the Aleutian Islands subarea are 25 
percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. 
Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) require that 20 percent of 
the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be reserved as 
sablefish CDQ. Additionally, regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii)(A) 
require that 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish (one 
half of the reserve) be reserved as groundfish CDQ. Proposed 2003 gear 
allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts are specified 
in Table 5.

                   Table 5.--Proposed 2003 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Percent  of    Share of       ITAC         CDQ
                       Subarea & Gear                             TAC       TAC  (mt)     (mt)\1\      Reserve
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
    Trawl\2\................................................           50          965          821           72
    Hook-&-line/pot gear \3\................................           50          965          N/A          193
        Total...............................................          100        1,930          821          265
Aleutian Islands:
    Trawl\2\................................................           25          637          541           48
    Hook-&-line/pot gear \3\................................           75        1,913          N/A          383
        Total...............................................          100        2,550          541         431
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the
  reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, one half of the reserve (7.5
  percent of the specified TAC) is reserved for the CDQ program.
\3\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the
  allocated TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants. Regulations in Sec.   679.20(b)(1) do not provide for
  the establishment of an ITAC for sablefish allocated to hook-and-line or pot gear.


[[Page 76368]]

Allocation of Prohibited Species Catch Limits for Halibut, Crab, 
Salmon, and Herring

    Due to the lack of new information concerning PSC limits and 
apportionments, the Council at its October 2002 meeting recommended 
using the halibut, crab and herring 2002 PSC amounts for the proposed 
2003 amounts. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 
based on recommendations by the Plan Team and the SSC. Regulations at 
Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vii) specify a scheduled reduction of chinook salmon 
PSC limits until the final limit is reached in 2004. For 2003, the 
chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery is 33,000 fish.
    PSC limits for halibut are set in regulations at Sec.  679.21(e). 
For the BSAI trawl fisheries, the limit is 3,675 mt of mortality of 
Pacific halibut and for non-trawl fisheries, the limit is 900 mt 
mortality. PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based 
on abundance and spawning biomass.
    For 2003, the proposed PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for 
trawl vessels is 97,000 animals. Based on the criteria set out at Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(ii), the number of mature female red king crab was 
estimated in 2002 to be above 8.4 million animals, and the effective 
spawning biomass is estimated to be 14.5 million pounds (6,577 mt), 
which is less than the 55 million pound (24,948 mt).
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B) establish criteria under 
which NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the 
Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS 
to up to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance specified for the 
rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery category and must be 
based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red 
king crab bycatch. The Council recommended and NMFS proposes a red king 
crab bycatch limit equal to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch allowance 
specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' fishery 
category within the RKCSS.
    Based on 2001 survey data, C. bairdi abundance is estimated to be 
624 million crab. Given the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii) 
and the 2001 survey data, the proposed 2003 C. bairdi PSC limit for 
trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 2,970,000 animals in Zone 2 
as a result of the C. bairdi abundance estimate exceeding 400 million 
animals.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for C. opilio is based 
on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. 
The C. opilio PSC limit is set at 0.1133 percent of the Bering Sea 
abundance index. Based on the 2001 survey estimate of 3.86 billion 
animals, the calculated limit would be 4,373,380 animals. Because this 
limit is less than 4.5 million animals, under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv)(B) 
the proposed 2003 C. opilio PSC limit is 4,350,000 animals.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vi), the proposed PSC limit of Pacific 
herring caught while conducting any trawl operation for groundfish in 
the BSAI is 1 percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. 
NMFS's best estimate of 2002 herring biomass is 152,574 mt. This amount 
was derived using 2001 survey data and an age-structured biomass 
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game 
(ADF&G). Therefore, the proposed herring PSC limit for 2003 is 1,526 
mt.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit 
specified for crab and halibut is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by 
the groundfish CDQ program. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3) require 
the apportionment of each trawl PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances 
for seven specified fishery categories. Regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize the apportionment of the non-trawl halibut 
PSC limit among five fishery categories. The proposed fishery bycatch 
allowances for the trawl and non-trawl fisheries are listed in Table 6.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorize exemption of 
specified non-trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past 
years, NMFS after consultation with the Council, is proposing to exempt 
pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery 
categories from halibut bycatch restrictions because these fisheries 
use selective gear types that take comparatively few halibut. In 2002, 
total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 
approximately 13,989 mt with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 
about 7 mt. The 2002 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 172 mt 
of groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft 
(18.3 m) LOA and are exempt from observer coverage requirements. As a 
result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the jig 
gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality 
is assumed because of the selective nature of this gear type and the 
likelihood that halibut caught with jig gear have a high survival rate 
when released.
    As in past years, the Council recommended that the sablefish IFQ 
fishery be exempt from halibut bycatch restrictions because of the 
sablefish and halibut IFQ program (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). The 
IFQ program requires legal-sized halibut to be retained by vessels 
using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder is aboard and 
is holding unused halibut IFQ. This action results in less halibut 
discard in the sablefish fishery. In 1995, about 36 mt of halibut 
discard mortality was estimated for the sablefish IFQ fishery. A 
similar estimate for 1996 through 2002 has not been calculated, but 
NMFS has no information indicating that it would be significantly 
different.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(5) authorize NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of 
PSC allowances. At its October 2002 meeting, the Council proposed no 
seasonal apportionments, except for the trawl bycatch allowance for 
halibut bycatch specified for the rockfish trawl fishery. The intent of 
this proposal was to reduce halibut bycatch during the first quarter 
when it is the highest. NMFS anticipates that the Council will 
recommend additional seasonal apportionments during its December 2002 
meeting.

    Table 6.--Proposed 2003 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Prohibited species and Zone
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Red King                  C. bairdi  (animals)
          Trawl fisheries             Halibut      Herring        Crab      C. opilio  -------------------------
                                     mortality    (mt)  BSAI   (animals)    (animals)
                                     (mt)  BSAI                Zone 1 \1\   COBLZ \2\    Zone 1 \1\   Zone 2 \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole....................          886          139       16,664    2,776,981      340,844    1,788,459
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole          779           20       59,782      969,130      365,320      596,154
 \3\..............................
    RKCSS \3\.....................  ...........  ...........       20,924  ...........  ...........  ...........

[[Page 76369]]

 
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \4\...  ...........            9  ...........       40,238  ...........  ...........
Rockfish: July 1--December 31.....           69            7  ...........       40,237  ...........       10,988
Pacific cod.......................        1,434           20       11,664      124,736      183,112      324,176
Midwater trawl pollock............  ...........        1,184  ...........  ...........  ...........  ...........
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other \5\...          232           46        1,615       72,428       17,224       27,473
                                   --------------
        Total Trawl PSC...........        3,400        1,526       89,725    4,023,750      906,500    2,747,250
-----------------------------------
        Non-Trawl Fisheries
Pacific cod--Total................          775
Other non-trawl--Total............           58
Groundfish pot & jig exempt.......        (\7\)
Sablefish hook-&-line exempt......        (\7\)
                                   -------------
    Total Non-Trawl...............          833
        PSQ Reserve \6\...........          342  ...........        7,275      326,250       73,500      222,750
                                   ==============
            Grand Total...........        4,575        1,526       97,000    4,350,000      980,000   2,970,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at 50 CFR part 679, Figure 13.
\3\ The Council at its October 2002 meeting proposed that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the
  RKCSS be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole, flathead sole, and other flatfish
  fishery category (Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)). ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish
  species, except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species), greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole and
  arrowtooth flounder.
\4\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\5\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\6\ With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the CDQ program as PSQ reserve.
  The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear or season.
\7\ Exempt.

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), will 
use observed halibut bycatch rates, assumed mortality rates, and 
estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut 
bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. The 
Regional Administrator monitors a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality 
allowances using assumed mortality rates that are based on the best 
information available, including information contained in the annual 
SAFE report.
    The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the Preseason 
Assumed halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs) developed by staff of 
the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) for the 2002 BSAI 
groundfish fisheries be used for purposes of monitoring halibut bycatch 
allowances established for 2003 (Table 7). Results from analysis of 
halibut release condition data for 2000 showed continued stability in 
halibut DMRs for many fisheries. Plots of annual DMRs against the 10-
year mean indicated little change since 1990 for some fisheries, 
particularly the major trawl fisheries. DMRs were more variable for the 
smaller fisheries which typically take minor amounts of halibut 
bycatch. For 2002, Preseason Assumed DMRs were used, which included use 
of the long-term mean DMR for a 3-year period before revisions are 
proposed, except for the BSAI hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery and CDQ 
fisheries, for which annual DMRs were used. The IPHC will continue to 
conduct annual analyses of observer data and recommend changes to the 
DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation from the mean and for 
the CDQ fisheries. For 2002, the BSAI hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery 
DMR did not change; but the CDQ fishery DMRs were adjusted. The 
justification for these mortality rates is discussed in the final SAFE 
report dated November 2001. The proposed mortality rates listed in 
Table 7 are subject to change pending the results of an updated 
analysis on halibut mortality rates in the groundfish fisheries that 
IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the Council at its December 2002 
meeting.

 Table 7.--Proposed 2003 Assumed Pacific Halibut Mortality Rates for the
                             BSAI Fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Preseason
                                                               assumed
                          Fishery                             mortality
                                                              (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line gear fisheries:
  Rockfish.................................................           25
  Pacific cod..............................................           12
  Greenland turbot.........................................           18
  Sablefish................................................           22
  Other Species............................................           12
Trawl gear fisheries:
  Midwater pollock.........................................           84
  Nonpelagic pollock.......................................           76
  Yellowfin sole...........................................           81
  Rock sole................................................           76
  Flathead sole............................................           67
  Other flatfish...........................................           71
  Rockfish.................................................           69
  Pacific cod..............................................           67
  Atka mackerel............................................           75
  Greenland turbot.........................................           70
  Sablefish................................................           50
  Other species............................................           67
Pot gear fisheries:
  Pacific cod..............................................            8
  Other species............................................            8
CDQ Trawl fisheries:
  Atka mackerel............................................           89
  Flathead sole............................................           83
  Midwater pollock.........................................           88
  Nonpelagic pollock.......................................           90

[[Page 76370]]

 
  Rockfish.................................................           89
  Yellowfin sole...........................................           77
CDQ Hook-and-line fisheries:
  Pacific cod..............................................           13
  Greenland turbot.........................................           14
CDQ Pot fisheries:
  Pacific cod..............................................            7
  Sablefish................................................           38
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations

    The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  
679.4, will set forth procedures for AFA inshore catcher vessel pollock 
cooperatives to apply for and receive cooperative fishing permits and 
inshore pollock allocations. NMFS received applications from seven 
inshore catcher vessel cooperatives. Table 8 lists the proposed pollock 
allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives 
based on 2002 cooperative allocations and NMFS' assumption, at this 
date, that the cooperatives membership will remain unchanged in 2003. 
Allocations for cooperatives and vessels not participating in 
cooperatives are not made for the AI subarea because the AI subarea has 
been closed to directed fishing for pollock. These allocations may be 
revised pending adjustments to cooperatives' membership prior to 2003.

                   Table 8.--Proposed 2003 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Sum of member   Percentage of
                                                                     vessel's     inshore sector   Annual co-op
               Cooperative name and member vessels                official catch    allocation      allocation
                                                                   histories \1\     (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association: Aldebaran, Arctic Explorer,           245,527          28.085         180,169
 Arcturus, Blue Fox, Cape Kiwanda, Columbia, Dominator, Exodus,
 Flying Cloud, Golden Dawn, Golden Pisces, Hazel Lorraine,
 Intrepid Explorer, Leslie Lee, Lisa Melinda, Majesty, Marcy J,
 Margaret Lyn, Nordic Explorer, Northern Patriot, Northwest
 Explorer, Pacific Ram, Pacific Viking, Pegasus, Peggy Jo,
 Perseverance, Predator, Raven, Royal American, Seeker,
 Sovereignty, Traveler, Viking Explorer.........................
Arctic Enterprise Association: Bristol Explorer, Ocean Explorer,          36,807           4.210          27,009
 Pacific Explorer...............................................
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative: Anita J, Collier Brothers,             73,656           8.425          54,049
 Commodore, Excalibur II, Goldrush, Half Moon Bay, Miss Berdie,
 Nordic Fury, Pacific Fury, Poseidon, Royal Atlantic, Sunset
 Bay, Storm Petrel..............................................
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative: Amber Dawn, American Beauty,                 18,693           2.138          13,717
 Elizabeth F, Morning Star, Ocean Leader, Oceanic, Providian,
 Topaz, Walter N................................................
Unalaska Cooperative: Alaska Rose, Bering Rose, Destination,             106,737          12.209          78,324
 Great Pacific, Messiah, Morning Star, Ms Amy, Progress, Sea
 Wolf, Vanguard, Western Dawn...................................
UniSea Fleet Cooperative: Alsea, American Eagle, Argosy, Auriga,         201,566          23.056         147,910
 Aurora, Defender, Gun-Mar, Nordic Star, Pacific Monarch,
 Seadawn, Starfish, Starlite....................................
Westward Fleet Cooperative: A.J., Alaskan Command, Alyeska,              189,544          21.681         139,089
 Arctic Wind, Caitlin Ann, Chelsea K, Dona Martita, Fierce
 Allegiance, Hickory Wind, Ocean Hope 3, Pacific Knight, Pacific
 Prince, Starward, Viking, Westward I...........................
Open access AFA vessels.........................................           1,707           0.195           1,252
                                                                 -----------------
Total inshore allocation........................................         874,238             100        641,520
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ According to regulations that will be effective with the final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA
  at 679.62(e)(1) the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the vessel's best 2 of 3 years
  inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/processors for vessels that
  made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.

    When the final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) is published, NMFS intends to subdivide the 
inshore allocation into allocations for cooperatives and vessels not 
fishing in a cooperative (i.e., the open access sector). In addition, 
under Sec.  679.22(a)(11)(vii), NMFS intends to establish harvest 
limits inside the Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) and provide 
a set-aside so that catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 
m) LOA have the opportunity to operate entirely within the SCA during 
the A season. Accordingly, Table 9 lists the proposed apportionment of 
the Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock allocation into allocations for 
vessels fishing in a cooperative and for vessels not participating in a 
cooperative and establishes a cooperative-sector SCA set-aside for AFA 
catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA. The SCA set-
aside for sector catcher vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) 
LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established 
inseason based on actual participation levels and is not included in 
Table 9. These proposed allocations may be revised pending final review 
and approval of 2003 cooperative agreements.

[[Page 76371]]



Table 9.--Proposed 2003 Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the
                                            Inshore Pollock Fishery.
                                          [Amounts are expressed in MT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   A season SCA
                                                                  A/B season TAC        \1\       C/D season TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative sector:
Vessels  99 ft.......................................             n/a         154,025             n/a
Vessels < 99 ft.................................................             n/a          25,250             n/a
    Total.......................................................         256,107         179,275         384,161
Open access sector..............................................             501         \2\ 351             751
                                                                 -----------------
    Total inshore...............................................         256,608         179,626        384,912
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Steller sea lion conservation area established at Sec.   679.22(a)(11)(vii).
\2\ SCA limitations for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will
  be established on an inseason basis in accordance with Sec.   679.22(a)(11)(vii)(C)(2) which specifies that
  ``the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing for pollock by vessels catching pollock for
  processing by the inshore component greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA before reaching the inshore SCA harvest
  limit during the A season to accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the
  SCA for the duration of the inshore seasonal opening.''

Unrestricted AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboards

    In 2003, the formula for setting AFA catcher/processor sideboard 
limits for non-pollock groundfish will change from calculations made 
for sideboards in 2000 through 2002. The Council made a distinction 
between retained and total catch for the purpose of calculating 
sideboard limits and felt that AFA vessels should not receive sideboard 
credit for groundfish that was discarded and not utilized. The catcher/
processor sideboard limits for BSAI groundfish other than Atka mackerel 
will be based on the 1995 through 1997 retained catch of such 
groundfish species by the 20 listed AFA catcher/processors listed in 
paragraphs 208(e)(1) through (20) of the AFA and the nine ineligible 
catcher/processors listed in section 209 of the AFA, except for Pacific 
cod which will be based on 1997 retained catch only and Pacific ocean 
perch in the Aleutian Islands subarea which will be based on 1996 and 
1997 retained catch only. The AFA catcher/processor sideboard limit for 
Atka mackerel is zero percent of the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern 
Aleutians district's annual TAC, 11.5 percent of the Central Aleutian 
district's annual TAC, and 20 percent of the Western Aleutian 
district's annual TAC.
    The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the 
Proposed Rule for Amendments 61/61/13/8 to Implement Major Provisions 
of the AFA (66 FR 65028, December 17, 2001). The proposed 2003 catcher/
processor sideboard limits are set out in Table 10 below.
    All non-pollock groundfish that is harvested by unrestricted AFA 
catcher/processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will 
be deducted from the proposed sideboard limits in Table 10. However, 
non-pollock groundfish that is delivered to listed catcher/processors 
by catcher vessels will not be deducted from the proposed 2003 
sideboard limits for the listed catcher/processors.

                              Table 10.--Proposed 2003 Unrestricted BSAI AFA Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are Expressed in MT]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                              1995-1997              Proposed
                                                                                                  --------------------------------- 2003 ITAC   Proposed
                Target species                                        Area                                                          available   2003 C/P
                                                                                                    Retained  Available    Ratio     to trawl  sideboard
                                                                                                     catch       TAC                   C/Ps      limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl............................  BSAI..............................................     12,424     51,450      0.241     39,950      9,628
Sablefish trawl..............................  BS................................................          8      1,736      0.005        821          4
                                               AI................................................          0      1,135      0.000        541          0
Atka mackerel................................  Western AI:                                         .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
                                                 A season \1\                                            n/a        n/1      0.200     10,183      2,037
                                                 HLA limit \1\...................................  .........  .........  .........  .........      1,222
                                                 B season                                                n/a        n/a      0.200     10,183      2,037
                                                 HLA Limit\2\....................................  .........  .........  .........  .........      1,222
                                               Central AI:                                         .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
                                                 A season \1\                                            n/a        n/a      0.115     12,304      1,415
                                                 HLA limit.......................................  .........  .........  .........  .........        849
                                                 B season                                                n/a        n/a      0.115     12,304      1,415
                                                 HLA limit.......................................  .........  .........  .........  .........        849
Yellowfin sole...............................  BSAI..............................................    100,192    527,000      0.190     64,600     12,274
Rock sole....................................  BSAI..............................................      6,317    202,107      0.031     45,900      1,423
Greenland turbot.............................  BS................................................        121     16,911      0.007      4,556         32
                                               AI................................................         23      6,839      0.003      2,244          7
Arrowtooth flounder..........................  BSAI..............................................         76     36,873      0.002     13,600         27
Flathead sole................................  BSAI..............................................      1,925     87,975      0.022     21,250        468
Alaska plaice................................  BSAI..............................................      3,243      0.035     10,200        357
Other flatfish...............................  BSAI..............................................      3,243     92,428      0.035      2,550         89
Pacific ocean perch..........................  BS................................................         12      5,760      0.002      2,227          4

[[Page 76372]]

 
                                               Western AI........................................         54     12,440      0.004      4,811         19
                                               Central AI........................................          3      6,195      0.000      2,601          0
                                               Eastern AI........................................        125      6,265      0.020      2,941         59
Northern rockfish............................  BS................................................          8  .........      0.008         11          0
                                               AI................................................         83     13,254      0.006      3,984         24
Shortraker/rougheye..........................  BS................................................          8  .........      0.008         99          1
                                               AI................................................         42      2,827      0.015        775         12
Other rockfish...............................  BS................................................         18      1,026      0.018        307          6
                                               AI................................................         22      1,924      0.011        575          6
Squid........................................  BSAI..............................................         73      3,670      0.020      1,675         34
Other species................................  BSAI..............................................        553     65,925      0.008     26,201       210
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Unrestricted
  AFA catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian district and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the
  available TAC in the Western Aleutian district, and 11.5 percent of the available TAC in the Central Aleutian district.
\2\ HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.   679.2). In 2003, 60 percent of each
  seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian districts. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the
  Aleutian Islands HLA, west of 178 degrees W. long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries.

    The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  
679.63(a)(2) will establish a formula for PSC sideboard limits for 
unrestricted AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are expected to be 
equivalent to the percentage of prohibited species bycatch limits 
harvested in the non-pollock groundfish fisheries by the AFA catcher/
processors listed in subsection 208(e) and section 209 of the AFA from 
1995 through 1997. Prohibited species amounts harvested by these 
catcher/processors in BSAI non-pollock groundfish fisheries from 1995 
through 1997 are shown in Table 11. These data were used to calculate 
the relative amount of prohibited species catch limits harvested by 
pollock catcher/processors, which were then used to determine the 
prohibited species sideboard limits for unrestricted AFA catcher/
processors in the 2003 non-pollock groundfish fisheries.
    PSC that is caught by unrestricted AFA catcher/processors 
participating in any non-pollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 11 
would accrue against the proposed 2003 PSC limits for the listed 
catcher/processors. Regulations that will be effective with the final 
rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(v) 
provide NMFS with the authority to close directed fishing for non-
pollock groundfish for unrestricted AFA catcher/processors once a 
proposed 2003 PSC limitation listed in Table 11 is reached.
    Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by unrestricted AFA catcher/
processors while fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch 
allowances annually specified for either the midwater pollock or the 
pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery categories under the final 
rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  679.21(e).

    Table 11.--Proposed 2003 Unrestricted BSAI AFA Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Amounts\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1995-1997                  Proposed
                                                ---------------------------------------   2003 PSC     Proposed
                  PSC species                                                            available     2003 C/P
                                                  PSC catch    Total PSC      Ratio       to trawl      limit
                                                                                          vessels
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality..............................          955       11,325        0.084        3,400          286
Red king crab..................................        3,098      473,750        0.007       89,725          628
C. opilio......................................    2,323,731   15,139,178        0.153    4,023,750      615,634
C. bairdi:
    Zone 1.....................................      385,978    2,750,000        0.140      906,500      126,910
    Zone 2.....................................      406,860    8,100,000        0.050    2,747,250     137,363
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards

    The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  
679.63(b) will establish formulas for setting AFA catcher vessel 
groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The basis for these 
sideboard limits is described in detail in the Proposed Rule for 
Amendments 61/61/13/8 to Implement Major Provisions of the AFA (66 FR 
65028, December 17, 2001). For 2002, NMFS revised the ratio 2001 of 
1995 to 1997 AFA catcher vessel retained catch to the 1995 to 1997 TAC. 
These revisions are based on ADF&G editing of fish tickets and NMFS 
editing of observer catch data and weekly production reports. The 
proposed 2003 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits are shown in Tables 
12 and 13.

[[Page 76373]]

    All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the proposed sideboard limits listed in Table 12.

                          Table 12.--Proposed 2003 BSAI AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards.
                                          [Amounts Are Expressed in MT]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-                   Proposed 2003
                                                                    1997 AFA CV    Proposed 2003  catcher vessel
        Species and fishery by area/season/processor/gear         catch to 1995-    Initial TAC      sideboard
                                                                     1997 TAC                         limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod:
    BSAI:
        jig gear................................................          0.0000           3,400               0
        Hook-and-line CV:
            Jan 1-Jun 10........................................          0.0006             155               0
            Jun 10-Dec 31.......................................          0.0006             103               0
        Pot gear:
            Jan 1--Jun 10.......................................          0.0006           9,465               6
            Sept 1-Dec 31.......................................          0.0006           6,310               4
        CV < 60 feet LOA........................................          0.0006           1,207               0
    Using hook-and-line or Pot gear
        Trawl gear
            Catcher vessel:
                Jan 20--Apr 1...................................          0.8609          27,965          24,075
                Apr 1-Jun 10....................................          0.8609           3,995           3,439
                Jun 10-Nov 1....................................          0.8609           7,990           6,879
Sablefish:
    BS trawl gear...............................................          0.0906             821              74
    AI trawl gear...............................................          0.0645             541              35
Atka mackerel:
    Eastern AI/BS: jig gear.....................................          0.0031              57               0
    Other gear:
        Jan 1-Apr 15............................................          0.0032           2,815               9
        Sept 1-Nov 1............................................          0.0032           2,815               9
    Central AI:
        Jan-Apr 15..............................................          0.0001          12,304               1
            HLA limit...........................................          0.0001           7,382               1
        Sept 1-Nov 1............................................          0.0001          12,304               1
            HLA limit...........................................          0.0001           7,382               1
    Western AI:
        Jan-Apr 15..............................................          0.0000          10,183               0
            HLA limit...........................................          0.0000           6,110               0
        Sept 1-Nov 1............................................          0.0000          10,183               0
            HLA limit...........................................          0.0000           6,110               0
Yellowfin sole:.................................................
    BSAI                                                                  0.0647          64,600           4,180
Rock sole:......................................................
    BSAI                                                                  0.0341          45,900           1,565
Greenland Turbot:
    BS..........................................................          0.0645           4,556             294
    AI..........................................................          0.0205           2,244              46
Arrowtooth flounder:............................................
    BSAI                                                                  0.0690          13,600             938
Alaska plaice:..................................................
    BSAI                                                                  0.0441          10,200             450
Other flatfish:.................................................
    BSAI                                                                  0.0441           2,550             112
Pacific ocean perch:
    BS..........................................................          0.1000           2,620             262
    Eastern AI..................................................          0.0077           2,941              23
    Central AI..................................................          0.0025           2,601               7
    Western AI..................................................          0.0000           4,811               0
Northern rockfish:
    BS..........................................................          0.0280              11               0
    AI..........................................................          0.0089           3,984              35
Shortraker/Rougheye:
    BS..........................................................          0.0048              99               0
    AI..........................................................          0.0035             775               3
Other rockfish:
    BS..........................................................          0.0048             307               1
    AI..........................................................          0.0095             575               5
Squid:..........................................................
    BSAI........................................................          0.3827           1,675             641
Other species:..................................................

[[Page 76374]]

 
    BSAI........................................................          0.0541          26,201           1,417
Flathead Sole:..................................................
    BS trawl gear...............................................          0.0505          21,250           1,073
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at Sec.  
679.63(b) will establish a formula for PSC sideboard limits for AFA 
catcher vessels. The AFA catcher vessel PSC bycatch limit for halibut 
in the BSAI and GOA, and each crab species in the BSAI for which a 
trawl bycatch limit has been established will be a portion of the PSC 
limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained groundfish catch by AFA 
catcher vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 
relative to the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 
through 1997. These proposed PSC sideboard limits are listed in Table 
13.
    Halibut and crab PSC that is caught by AFA catcher vessels 
participating in any non-pollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 13 
will accrue against the proposed 2003 PSC limits for the AFA catcher 
vessels. The final rule to implement major provisions of the AFA at 
Sec.  679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) will provide authority to close 
directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish for AFA catcher vessels 
once a proposed 2003 PSC limitation listed in Table 13 for the BSAI is 
reached. PSC that is caught by AFA catcher vessels while fishing for 
pollock in the BSAI will accrue against either the midwater pollock or 
the pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery categories.

      Table 13.--Proposed 2003 AFA Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits for the BSAI\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-                   Proposed 2003
                                                                    1997 AFA CV                     AFA catcher
           PSC species and target fishery category \2\            retained catch   Proposed 2003    vessel PSC
                                                                     to total        PSC Limit       sideboard
                                                                  retained catch                       limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut:
    Pacific cod trawl...........................................          0.6183           1,434             887
    Pacific cod hook-and-line or pot............................          0.0022             775               2
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          0.1144             886             101
    Rock sole/flat. sole/other flatfish \5\.....................          0.2841             779             221
    Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.................................          0.2327               0               0
    Rockfish....................................................          0.0245              69               2
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227             232               5
Red King Crab Zone 1: \4\
    Pacific cod.................................................          0.6183          11,664           7,212
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          0.1144          16,664           1,906
    Rock sole/flat. sole/other flatfish \5\.....................          0.2841          59,782          16,984
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227           1,615              37
C. opilio--COBLZ: \3\
    Pacific cod.................................................          0.6183         124,736          77,124
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          0.1144       2,776,981         317,687
    Rock sole/flat. sole/other flatfish \5\.....................          0.2841         969,130         275,330
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227          72,428           1,644
    Rockfish....................................................          0.0245          40,237             986
    Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish.................................          0.2327          40,238           9,363
C. bairdi--Zone 1:
    Pacific cod.................................................          0.6183         183,112         113,218
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          0.1144         340,844          38,993
    Rock sole/flat. sole/other flatfish \5\.....................          0.2841         365,320         103,787
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227          17,224             391
C. bairdi--Zone 2:
    Pacific cod.................................................          0.6183         324,176         200,438
    Yellowfin sole..............................................          0.1144       1,788,459         204,600
    Rock sole/flat. sole/other flatfish \5\.....................          0.2841         596,154         169,367
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227          27,473             624
    Rockfish....................................................          0.0245          10,988            269
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ C. opilio Bycatch Limitation Zone. Boundaries are defined at Figure 13 of 50 CFR part 679.
\4\ The Council at its October 2002 meeting recommended that red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within
  the RKCSS be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish''
  fishery category (Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for Pacific halibut (a
  prohibited species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder.


[[Page 76375]]

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    Pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NMFS has 
initiated consultation on the effects of the 2003 harvest 
specifications on listed species, including the Steller sea lion, and 
designated critical habitat. This consultation will be completed in 
December 2002 before the start of the 2003 groundfish fishery. This 
consultation cannot be completed until new fishery information is 
available in late November.
    NMFS prepared a draft EA that describes the impacts on the human 
environment that would result from implementation of the proposed 
harvest specifications. A final EA that describes the impacts on the 
human environment that will result from implementation of the final 
2003 harvest specifications will be prepared after the public comment 
period and after the December 2002 Council meeting. The final EA will 
also incorporate the findings of the section 7 consultations under the 
ESA on the 2003 harvest specifications.
    NMFS prepared an IRFA for this action in accordance with the 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 
603(b)). This IRFA evaluated the effects of the proposed specifications 
on regulated small entities. The reasons for the action, a statement of 
the objectives of the action, and the legal basis for the proposed 
rule, are discussed earlier in the preamble.
    The small entities affected by this action are those that harvest 
fish under the terms of the specifications in the BSAI. The IRFA 
identified 193 small catcher vessels, 31 small catcher/processors, and 
six small CDQ groups.
    Data on operating costs for these entities does not exist, so it is 
impossible to make estimates of net returns or cash flow. Changes in 
estimated first wholesale gross revenues between the proposed 2003 
specifications and estimated 2002 gross revenues (used as a baseline) 
were used as an index of adverse impact on small entities. The 
preferred alternative was found to have estimated aggregate gross 
revenues very similar to those in 2002. Therefore, this alternative was 
not found to have an adverse impact.
    No projected additional reporting, record keeping and other 
compliance requirements exist in the proposed rule. No relevant Federal 
rules exist that may duplicate, overlap or conflict with the proposed 
rule.
    The preferred alternative was compared to the four other 
alternatives usually evaluated during the specifications process. These 
alternatives are defined by the use of different harvest rates (F 
values). The other alternatives are, (a) Set F equal to 
maxFABC, (b) Set F equal to 50% of maxFABC, (C) 
Set F equal to the most recent five year average actual F, and (d) Set 
F equal to zero. The preferred alternative was associated with gross 
revenues very similar to those of alternative (a). The model was unable 
to discern a meaningful difference. The preferred alternative was found 
to generate gross revenues larger than those for alternatives (b), (c), 
and (d). Three of the alternatives examined, therefore, were found to 
have an adverse impact. The fourth was found, like the proposed 
specifications, to have no adverse impact.

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

    Dated: December 6, 2002.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31369 Filed 12-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P