[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 232 (Wednesday, December 3, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67642-67655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30134]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 031124287-3287-01; I.D. 111703C]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Proposed 2004 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed 2004 harvest specifications for groundfish; 
apportionment of Reserves; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2004 harvest specifications and prohibited 
species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2004 
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.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 2, 2004.

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 Durall, 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 January 2, 
2004. Copies of the final 2002 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) report, dated November 2002, are available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99510-2252 (907-271-2809), or from its homepage at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background for the 2004 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) (see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)). 
Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(1) further require NMFS to solicit 
public comment on proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, PSC 
allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by 
Sec.  679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock TAC, including pollock 
Community Development Quota (CDQ), and CDQ reserve amounts established 
by Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) 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 2004, the 
proposed sum of TACs is 1,998,443 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final annual 
specifications for 2004 after (1) considering comments received within 
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council, which 
will occur at its next meeting beginning the week of December 8, 2003, 
and (3) considering new information presented in the EA and the final 
2003 SAFE reports prepared for the 2004 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 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 at 
Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) (A) and (B) require that the proposed first 
seasonal allowance of non-CDQ and CDQ 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 2004 fishing year will be published in a 
separate Federal Register notice.

Other Rules Affecting the 2004 Specifications

    In October 2003, the Council discussed Aleutian Islands pollock 
fishery management, but made no recommendation to close or open the 
fishery in 2004. The Council set the proposed Aleutian Islands pollock 
TAC at 2003 amounts, which is for incidental catch only. The Council 
may consider apportionment of the TAC of several rockfish species in 
the Aleutian Islands subarea among the Eastern, Central, and Western 
Aleutian Districts and separating the shortraker and rougheye rockfish 
TAC.
    Amendment 77 to the FMP, approved by the Secretary of Commerce on 
October 20, 2003, provides for apportioning the BSAI Pacific cod TAC 
among hook-and-line and pot gears sector. Table 4 lists the proposed 
2004 allocations and seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod ITAC 
based on regulations that would implement Amendment 77. For more

[[Page 67643]]

information on Amendment 77, see the proposed rule at 68 FR 49416, 
August 18, 2003. A final rule implementing Amendment 77 was published 
on December 1, 2003 68 FR 67056 and will be effective by January 1, 
2004.

Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

    The proposed ABC levels are based on the best available biological 
and socioeconomic 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 6 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 2003 BSAI groundfish fisheries dated 
November 2002 (see ADDRESSES). Information on the status of stocks will 
be updated with the 2003 survey results and reconsidered by the Plan 
Team in November 2003 for the 2003 SAFE reports. The final harvest 
specifications will be based on the 2003 SAFE reports.
    In October 2003, 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 
2002 SAFE, for the proposed 2004 ABC, OFL, and TAC amounts. The SSC 
concurred with the Plan Team's recommendations, which estimates the 
proposed ABCs and OFLs by using a projection of 2003 groundfish harvest 
with the November 2002 SAFE report model projections of 2003 ABCs for 
groundfish stocks managed at tiers 1-3. The Council adopted the OFL and 
ABC amounts recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The Council also adopted 
the AP's recommendation that the 2004 proposed TACs be set equal to the 
2003 TACs, except for sablefish, Pacific ocean perch, 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 sablefish, Pacific ocean perch, and Atka mackerel. The Council 
adopted the AP's recommendation to use the 2003 PSC allowances for 
2004. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 2003, after 
the Plan Team incorporates new status of stocks information into a 
final SAFE report for the 2004 BSAI groundfish fishery. None of the 
Council's TAC recommendations for 2004 exceed the recommended ABC for 
any species category. Therefore, NMFS finds that the Council's 
recommendations for proposed 2004 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent 
with the best available information on the biological condition of the 
groundfish stocks.
    Table 1 lists the proposed 2004 OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts for 
groundfish in the BSAI. The proposed apportionment of TAC amounts among 
fisheries and seasons is discussed below.

 Table 1.--Proposed 2004 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 metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         CDQ
          Species and area              Overfishing level         ABC          TAC        ITAC \2\   reserve \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock: \4\
    Bering Sea (BS) \2\............                2,636,000    2,127,700    1,491,760    1,342,584      149,176
    Aleutian Islands (AI) \2\......                   52,600       39,400        1,000        1,000  ...........
    Bogoslof District..............                   45,300        4,070           50           50  ...........
Pacific cod: BSAI..................                  359,000      245,000      207,500      176,375       15,563
Sablefish: \5\
    BS.............................                    3,818        2,658        2,658        1,131          265
    AI.............................                    4,082        2,842        2,842          603          431
Atka mackerel:
    BSAI...........................                  104,100       61,600       59,111       50,244        4,433
    Western AI.....................  .......................       22,479       19,990       16,992        1,499
    Central AI.....................  .......................       28,708       28,708       24,402        2,153
    Eastern AI/BS..................  .......................       10,413       10,413        8,851          781
Yellowfin sole: BSAI...............                  130,000      109,600       83,750       71,188        6,281
Rock sole: BSAI....................                  119,400       99,900       44,000       37,400        3,300
Greenland turbot:
    BSAI...........................                   16,755        6,900        4,000        3,400          300
    BS.............................  .......................        4,600        2,680        2,278          201
    AI.............................  .......................        2,300        1,320        1,122           99
Arrowtooth flounder: BSAI..........                  175,800      142,200       12,000       10,200          900
Flathead sole: BSAI................                   74,100       61,100       20,000       17,000        1,500
Other flatfish: \6\ BSAI...........                   21,400       16,000        3,000        2,550          225
Alaska plaice: BSAI................                  166,300      138,200       10,000        8,500          750
Pacific ocean perch:
    BSAI...........................                   17,600       14,900       13,932       11,842        1,045
    BS.............................  .......................        2,378        1,410        1,199          106
    Western AI.....................  .......................        5,773        5,773        4,907          433
    Central AI.....................  .......................        3,296        3,296        2,802          247
    Eastern AI.....................  .......................        3,454        3,454        2,936          259
Northern rockfish:
    BSAI...........................                    9,468        7,101  ...........  ...........  ...........
    BS.............................  .......................  ...........          121          103            9
    AI.............................  .......................  ...........        5,879        4,997          441
Shortraker/rougheye:
    BSAI...........................                    1,289          967  ...........  ...........  ...........
    BS.............................  .......................  ...........          137          116           10

[[Page 67644]]

 
    AI.............................  .......................  ...........          830          706           62
Other rockfish: \7\................
    BS.............................                    1,280          960          960          816           72
    AI.............................                      846          634          634          539           48
Squid: BSAI........................                    2,620        1,970        1,970        1,675  ...........
Other species: \8\ BSAI............                   81,100       43,300       32,309       27,463        2,423
                                    --------------------------
      Total........................                4,002,858    3,127,003    1,998,443    1,770,482     187,225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 American Fisheries Act (AFA), Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), requires that 10 percent of the annual
  pollock TAC be allocated as a directed fishing allowance for the CDQ sector. NMFS then subtracts 3.5 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 pollock and 
the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, be placed in a 
non-specified reserve. Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) require 
that one half of each TAC amount placed in the non-specified reserve 
(7.5 percent), 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. Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) specify how the 
pollock TAC apportioned to the Bering Sea Subarea, after subtraction of 
the 10 percent CDQ reserve under Sec.  679.31(a), will be allocated. 
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 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 Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock ICA of 
3.5 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 1998 through 
2003. During this 6-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged 
from a low of 2 percent in 2003, to a high of 5 percent in 1999, with a 
6-year average of 3 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.
    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, see Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii).

Pollock Allocations Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1) require 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 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 proposed amounts are listed in Table 2.
    The AFA also contains several specific requirements concerning 
pollock and pollock allocations under Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4). 
First, 8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the offshore AFA 
catcher/processor sector will be available for harvest by AFA catcher 
vessels with offshore sector endorsements, unless the Regional 
Administrator receives a cooperative contract that provides for the 
distribution of harvest between catcher/processors and catcher vessels 
in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA catcher/processors 
not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 
percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector. Table 
2 lists the proposed 2004 allocations of pollock TAC as prescribed by 
the AFA. Other provisions of the AFA, including

[[Page 67645]]

inshore pollock cooperative allocations and listed catcher/processor 
and catcher vessel harvesting sideboard limits, 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)(7)(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 2004 Allocations of the Pollock TAC and Directed Fishing Allowance (DFA) to the Inshore,
                              Catcher/Processor, Mothership, and CDQ Components\1\
                                        [All amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  A season\1\        B season\1\
                                                                          --------------------------------------
                       Area and sector                            2004       A season                  B season
                                                              allocations  DFA (40% of  SCA harvest  DFA (60% of
                                                                           annual DFA)   limit \2\   annual DFA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea..........................................    1,491,760  ...........  ...........  ...........
    CDQ.....................................................      149,176       59,670       41,769       89,506
    ICA\1\..................................................       46,990  ...........  ...........  ...........
    AFA Inshore.............................................      647,797      259,119      181,383      388,678
    AFA Catcher/Processors \4\..............................      518,237      207,295      145,106      310,942
        Catch by C/Ps.......................................      474,187      189,675  ...........      284,512
        Catch by CVs \4\....................................       44,050       17,620  ...........       26,430
            Unlisted C/P Limit \5\..........................        2,591        1,036  ...........        1,555
    AFA Motherships.........................................      129,559       51,824       36,277       77,736
    Excessive Harvesting Limit \6\..........................      226,729  ...........  ...........  ...........
    Excessive Processing Limit \7\..........................      388,678  ...........  ...........  ...........
Total Bering Sea DFA........................................    1,491,760      577,908      404,535      866,862
Aleutian Islands ICA\8\.....................................        1,000  ...........  ...........  ...........
Bogoslof District ICA\8\....................................           50  ...........  ...........  ...........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), after subtraction for the CDQ reserve--10 percent and the ICA--3.5 percent,
  the pollock TAC is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore component--50 percent, catcher/processor component--
  40 percent, and mothership component--10 percent. The A season, January 20-June 10, is allocated 40 percent of
  the DFA and the B 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.
\4\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/
  processors (C/Ps) shall be available for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels (CVs) delivering to listed
  catcher/processors.
\5\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited from exceeding a
  harvest amount of 0.5 percent of the DFA allocated to the AFA catcher/processors sector.
\6\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6) require that NMFS establish an excessive harvesting share limit
  equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
\7\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7) require that NMFS establish an excessive processing share limit
  equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the pollock DFAs.
\8\ The Aleutian Islands subarea and the Bogoslof District are closed by the proposed specifications 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

    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, 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 2004. Based on an ITAC of 8,851 mt, 
the jig gear allocation is 89 mt.
    Regulations implementing Steller sea lion protection measures at 
Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) 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. 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, see Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii).

[[Page 67646]]



 Table 3.--Proposed 2004 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, and CDQ Reserve of the BSAI ATKA Mackerel
                                                     TAC\1\
                                        [All amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Seasonal allowances \2\
                                                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                   CDQ                     A season \3\         B season \3\
       Subarea and component            TAC      reserve      ITAC   -------------------------------------------
                                                                                 HLA limit             HLA limit
                                                                        Total       \4\        Total      \4\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Aleutian District..........     19,990      1,499     16,992      8,496      5,097      8,496      5,097
Central Aleutian District..........     28,708      2,153     24,402     12,201      7,321     12,201      7,321
Eastern AI/BS subarea\5\...........     10,413        781      8,851  .........  .........  .........  .........
    Jig (1%) \6\...................  .........  .........         89  .........  .........  .........  .........
    Other gear (99%)...............  .........  .........      8,763      4,381  .........      4,381  .........
                                    ------------
          Total....................     59,111      4,433     50,244     25,078  .........     25,078  .........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for
  the Atka mackerel fishery.
\2\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\3\ The A season is January 1 to April 15 and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\4\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing
  inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In 2004, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing
  inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\5\ Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea.
\6\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(i) 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 
DFAs: 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. The final rule implementing 
Amendment 77 will split the pot gear sector share of the DFA: 3.3 
percent to pot catcher/processors and 15 percent to pot catcher 
vessels. A final rule implementing Amendment 77 was published on 
December 1, 2003 68 FR 67086 and will be effective by January 1, 2004.
    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 dispersed by the apportionment of the ITAC into 
seasonal allowances (see Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii) and 
679.23(e)(5)). For most non-trawl gear the first seasonal 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. The 
regulations implementing Amendment 77 will establish three seasonal 
allowances for jig gear: the first seasonal allowance, 40 percent of 
the ITAC, is January 1 to April 30; the second seasonal allowance, 20 
percent of the ITAC, is April 1 to August 31; and the third seasonal 
allowance, 40 percent of the ITAC, is August 31 to December 31. 
Amendment 77 will also allow the reallocation of any projected unused 
portion of a seasonal allowance of Pacific cod for vessels using jig 
gear to catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-
line or pot gear. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on the 
Pacific cod fishery prosecuted 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 2004 
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.--Proposed 2004 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Share of                Share of                   Seasonal apportionment \1\
                                                            sector     Subtotal      gear   ------------------------------------------------------------
                 Gear sector                    Percent      gear    percentages    sector
                                                            total      for gear     total                          Date                          Amount
                                                             (mt)      sectors       (mt)                                                         (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total hook-and-line and pot gear allocation           51     89,951  ...........  .........                                                    .........
 of Pacific cod TAC.
    Incidental Catch Allowance...............  .........  .........  ...........        500                                                    .........
    Processor and Vessel sub-total...........  .........     89,451  ...........  .........                                                    .........

[[Page 67647]]

 
    Hook-and-line Catcher/Processors.........  .........  .........          80      71,561  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................     42,937
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Jun 10-Dec 31...................................     28,624
    Hook-and-Line Catcher Vessels............  .........  .........         0.3         268  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................        161
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Jun 10-Dec 31...................................        107
    Pot Catcher/Processors...................  .........  .........         3.3       2,952  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................      1,771
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Sept 1-Dec 31...................................      1,181
    Pot Catcher Vessels......................  .........  .........          15      13,418  Jan 1-Jun 10....................................      8,051
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Sept 1-Dec 31...................................      5,367
    Catcher Vessels <60 feet LOA using Hook-   .........  .........         1.4       1,252                                                    .........
     and-line or Pot gear.
Trawl Gear Total.............................         47     82,896  ...........  .........                                                    .........
    Trawl Catcher Vessel.....................  .........  .........          50      41,448  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................     29,014
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................      4,145
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Jun 10-Nov 1....................................      8,290
    Trawl Catcher/Processor..................  .........  .........          50      41,448  Jan 20-Apr 1....................................     20,724
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Apr 1-Jun 10....................................     12,434
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Jun 10-Nov 1....................................      8,290
Jig..........................................          2      3,528  ...........  .........  Jan 1-Apr 1.....................................      1,411
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Apr 1-Aug 31....................................        706
                                               .........  .........  ...........  .........  Aug 31-Dec 31...................................      1,411
                                              ----------------------------------------------
      Total..................................        100    176,375  ...........  .........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 \1\ For most non-trawl gear the first season is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 40 percent of the ITAC. For jig
  gear, the first season and third seasons are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second season is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC. 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 ITAC and the second and third seasons are each allocated 20 percent of the ITAC.
  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 2004 ITAC of 706 mt, the 
trawl allocation is 494 mt and the non-trawl allocation is 212 mt.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require that 
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas be 
allocated between trawl and hook-and-line or pot gear. 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 apportioned to the CDQ reserve. 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 apportioned 
to the CDQ reserve. Proposed 2004 gear allocations of the sablefish TAC 
and CDQ reserve amounts are specified in Table 5.

                   Table 5.--Proposed 2004 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Percent of    Share of    ITAC (mt)
                      Subarea and gear                            TAC        TAC (mt)       \1\      CDQ reserve
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
    Trawl \2\...............................................           50        1,329        1,130          100
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \3\..............................           50        1,329          N/A          266
                                                             --------------
          Total.............................................          100        2,658        1,130          365
Aleutian Islands:
    Trawl \2\...............................................           25          711          604           53
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \3\..............................           75        2,132          N/A          426
                                                             --------------
          Total.............................................          100        2,842          604         480
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or 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 67648]]

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

    Due to the lack of new information concerning PSC limits and 
apportionments in October 2003, the Council recommended using the 
halibut, crab, and herring 2003 PSC amounts for the proposed 2004 
amounts. The Council will reconsider these amounts in December 2003, 
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 2004, the 
proposed chinook salmon PSC limit for the pollock fishery is 29,000 
fish. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i) allocate 7.5 percent or 
2,175 chinook salmon as the proposed PSQ for the CDQ program and the 
remaining 26,825 chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
    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 Pacific halibut 
mortality and for non-trawl fisheries, the limit is 900 mt of 
mortality. PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based 
on abundance and spawning biomass.
    The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 
2002 survey data to be 18.6 million king crab and the effective 
spawning biomass is estimated to be 37.7 million pounds (17,100 mt). 
Based on the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii), the proposed 
2003 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000 
animals as a result of the mature female abundance being above 8.4 
million king crab, and the effective spawning biomass estimate being 
greater than 14.5 (6,577 mt), but less than 55 million pounds (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 
red king crab bycatch limit to up to 35 percent of the trawl bycatch 
allowance specified for the rock sole/flathead sole/``other flatfish'' 
fishery category. The limit must be based on the need to optimize the 
groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. The Council 
recommended, and NMFS approves, a proposed 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 2002 survey data, the Chionoecetes bairdi crab abundance 
is estimated to be 464.9 million animals. Given the criteria set out at 
Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), the proposed 2004 C. bairdi crab 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 crab abundance estimate of over 400 
million animals.
    Under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for C. opilio crab is 
based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual bottom trawl 
survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 percent of the 
Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2002 survey estimate of 1.49 
billion animals, the calculated limit is 1,169,000 animals. Because 
this limit is less than 4.5 million, under Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv)(B), 
the proposed 2004 C. opilio crab PSC limit is 4,350,000 million 
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 2003 herring biomass is 152,574 mt. This amount 
was derived using 2002 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 2004 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 2003, 
total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 
approximately 17,929 mt with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 
about 3 mt. The 2003 groundfish jig gear fishery harvested about 156 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 
halibut retention requirements 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 
provision results in reduced 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 2003 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. In October 2003, 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 
halibut bycatch is the highest. NMFS anticipates that the Council will 
recommend additional seasonal apportionments during its December 2003 
meeting.

[[Page 67649]]



    Table 6.--Proposed 2004 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 \3\..         779          20      59,782     969,130     365,320     596,154
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \4\.........  ..........           9  ..........      40,238  ..........  ..........
Rockfish: July 4-December 31............          69           7  ..........      40,237  ..........      10,988
Pacific cod.............................       1,434          20      13,079     124,736     183,112     324,176
Midwater trawl pollock..................  ..........       1,184  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other \5\.........         232         146         200      72,428      17,224      27,473
Red King Crab Savings Subarea (non-       ..........  ..........      20,924  ..........  ..........  ..........
 pelagic trawl).........................
                                         -------------
      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  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........
    Sablefish hook-and-line.............      exempt  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........  ..........
                                         -------------
          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\ ``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.

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator), will 
use observed halibut bycatch rates, assumed discard mortality rates 
(DMR), and estimates of groundfish catch to project when a fishery's 
halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal apportionment is 
reached. The assumed DMRs are based on the best information available, 
including information contained in the annual SAFE report.
    The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the recommended 
halibut DMRs developed by staff of the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) for the 2003 BSAI groundfish fisheries be used for 
monitoring halibut bycatch allowances established for the 2004 
groundfish fisheries (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 that typically take minor amounts of halibut bycatch. For 
2003 for most groundfish fisheries, DMRs were used based on long-term 
mean for a 3-year period before revisions were proposed. Annual DMRs 
were used for the BSAI hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery and CDQ 
fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend 
changes to the DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation from the 
mean. For 2003, the BSAI hook-and-line Pacific cod fishery DMR did not 
change; but the CDQ fishery DMRs were adjusted. The justification for 
these proposed DMRs is discussed in Appendix A of the final SAFE report 
dated November 2002. The proposed DMRs listed in Table 7 are subject to 
change pending the results of an updated analysis on halibut DMRs in 
the groundfish fisheries that IPHC staff is scheduled to present to the 
Council at its December 2003 meeting.

 Table 7.--Proposed 2004 Assumed Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates
                         for the BSAI Fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Preseason
                                                                assumed
                           Fishery                             mortality
                                                               (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line gear fisheries:
  Greenland turbot...........................................         18
  Other Species..............................................         12
  Pacific cod................................................         12
  Rockfish...................................................         25
  Sablefish..................................................         22
Trawl gear fisheries:
  Atka mackerel..............................................         75
  Flathead sole..............................................         67
  Greenland turbot...........................................         70
  Nonpelagic pollock.........................................         76
  Pelagic pollock............................................         84
  Other flatfish.............................................         71
  Other species..............................................         67
  Pacific cod................................................         67
  Rockfish...................................................         69
  Rock sole..................................................         76
  Sablefish..................................................         50
  Yellowfin sole.............................................         81
Pot gear fisheries:
  Other species..............................................          8
  Pacific cod................................................          8

[[Page 67650]]

 
CDQ trawl fisheries:
  Atka mackerel..............................................         80
  Flathead sole..............................................         90
  Nonpelagic pollock.........................................         90
  Pelagic pollock............................................         89
  Rockfish...................................................         90
  Yellowfin sole.............................................         83
CDQ hook-and-line fisheries:
  Greenland turbot...........................................          4
  Pacific cod................................................         11
CDQ pot fisheries:
  Pacific cod................................................          2
  Sablefish..................................................         46
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Pollock Allocations

    Regulations at Sec.  679.4 set forth procedures for AFA inshore 
catcher vessel pollock cooperatives to apply for and receive 
cooperative fishing permits and inshore pollock allocations. For 2003, 
NMFS received applications from seven inshore catcher vessel 
cooperatives. Applications for 2004 must be received by the Regional 
Administrator by December 1, 2003. Table 8 lists the proposed pollock 
allocations to the seven inshore catcher vessel pollock cooperatives 
based on 2003 cooperative allocations and the assumption that the 
cooperatives' membership will remain unchanged in 2004. 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 2004.

     Table 8.--Proposed 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative
                               Allocations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Sum of
                                      member
                                     vessel's    Percentage  Annual  co-
   Cooperative name and member       official    of inshore       op
             vessels                  catch        sector     allocation
                                    histories    allocation      (mt)
                                     \1\ (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel                  245,527       28.085      181,932
 Association: ALDEBARAN, ARCTIC
 EXPLORER, 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:          36,807        4.210       27,273
 BRISTOL EXPLORER, OCEAN
 EXPLORER, PACIFIC EXPLORER......
Northern Victor Fleet                   73,656        8.425       54,578
 Cooperative: ANITA J, COLLIER
 BROTHERS, COMMODORE, EXCALIBUR
 II, GOLDRUSH, HALF MOON BAY,
 MISS BERDIE, NORDIC FURY,
 PACIFIC FURY, POSEIDON, ROYAL
 ATLANTIC, SUNSET BAY, STORM
 PETREL..........................
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative:            18,693        2.138       13,851
 AMBER DAWN, AMERICAN BEAUTY,
 ELIZABETH F, MORNING STAR, OCEAN
 LEADER, OCEANIC, PROVIDIAN,
 TOPAZ, WALTER N.................
Unalaska Cooperative: ALASKA           106,737       12.209       79,091
 ROSE, BERING ROSE, DESTINATION,
 GREAT PACIFIC, MESSIAH, MORNING
 STAR, MS AMY, PROGRESS, SEA
 WOLF, VANGUARD, WESTERN DAWN....
UniSea Fleet Cooperative: ALSEA,       201,566       23.056      149,357
 AMERICAN EAGLE, ARGOSY, AURIGA,
 AURORA, DEFENDER, GUN-MAR,
 NORDIC STAR, PACIFIC MONARCH,
 SEADAWN, STARFISH, STARLITE.....
Westward Fleet Cooperative: A.J.,      189,942       21.727      140,744
 ALASKAN COMMAND, ALYESKA, ARCTIC
 WIND, CAITLIN ANN, CHELSEA K,
 DONA MARTITA, FIERCE ALLEGIANCE,
 HICKORY WIND, OCEAN HOPE 3,
 PACIFIC CHALLENGER, PACIFIC
 KNIGHT, PACIFIC PRINCE,
 STARWARD, VIKING, WESTWARD I....
Open access AFA vessels..........        1,309        0.150          970
                                  --------------
      Total inshore allocation...      874,238          100     647,797
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ According to regulations at Sec.   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.

    Under regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), NMFS subdivides the 
inshore allocation into allocations for cooperatives and vessels not 
fishing in a cooperative. In addition, under Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), 
NMFS establishes harvest limits inside the Steller sea lion 
conservation area (SCA) and provides 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 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 2004 cooperative agreements.

[[Page 67651]]



Table 9.--Proposed 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations to the Cooperative and Non-Cooperative Sectors of
                                           the Inshore Pollock Fishery
                                        [All amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     A season
                                                                   A season TAC   inside SCA \1\   B season TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative sector:
    Vessels  99 ft...................................             n/a         155,616             n/a
    Vessels <= 99 ft............................................             n/a          25,495             n/a
                                                                 -----------------
          Total.................................................         258,731         181,111         388,096
Open access sector..............................................             388         \2\ 272             582
                                                                 -----------------
    Total inshore...............................................         259,119         181,383        388,678
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Steller sea lion conservation area established at Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(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)(7)(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.''

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

    Under regulations at Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional Administrator 
will restrict the ability of listed AFA catcher/processors to engage in 
directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish species to protect 
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects 
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed 
pollock fishery. The catcher/processor sideboard limits for BSAI 
groundfish, other than Atka mackerel, Pacific cod and Pacific ocean 
perch, will be based on the 1995 through 1997 retained catch of such 
groundfish species by the 20 listed AFA catcher/processors listed in 
paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(20) of section 208 of the AFA and the 
nine ineligible catcher/processors listed in section 209 of the AFA. 
Pacific cod catcher/processor sideboard limits will be based on 1997 
retained catch only, and Pacific ocean perch in the Aleutian Islands 
subarea 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 proposed 
2004 catcher/processor sideboard limits are set out in Table 10 below.
    All non-pollock groundfish that is harvested by listed 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 2004 sideboard 
limits for the listed catcher/processors.

    Table 10.--Proposed 2004 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1995-1997
                                                ---------------------------------------   Proposed
                                                                             Ratio of    2004 ITAC     Proposed
              Target species/area                                            Retained    available     2004 C/P
                                                   Retained    Available      catch/    to trawl C/   sideboard
                                                  catch (mt)    TAC (mt)    Available     Ps (mt)     limit (mt)
                                                                               TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl: BSAI........................       12,424       51,450        0.241       45,105       10,870
Sablefish trawl:
    BS.........................................            8        1,736        0.005        1,130            6
    AI.........................................            0        1,135        0.000          603            0
Atka mackerel:
    Western AI:
        A season \1\...........................          n/a          n/a        0.200        8,496        1,699
        HLA limit \2\..........................
        B season...............................          n/a          n/a        0.200        8,496        1,699
        HLA limit..............................
    Central AI:
        A season \1\...........................          n/a          n/a        0.115       12,201        1,403
        HLA limit..............................
        B season...............................          n/a          n/a        0.115       12,201        1,403
        HLA limit..............................
Yellowfin sole: BSAI...........................      100,192      527,000        0.190       71,188       13,526
Rock sole: BSAI................................        6,317      202,107        0.031       37,400        1,159
Greenland turbot:
    BS.........................................          121       16,911        0.007        2,278           16
    AI.........................................           23        6,839        0.003        1,122            3
Arrowtooth flounder: BSAI......................           76       36,873        0.002       10,200           20
Flathead sole: BSAI............................        1,925       87,975        0.022       17,000          374
Alaska plaice: BSAI............................        3,243  ...........        0.035        9,250          324
Other flatfish: BSAI...........................        3,243       92,428        0.035        2,775           97

[[Page 67652]]

 
Pacific ocean perch:
    BS.........................................           12        5,760        0.002        1,199            2
    Western AI.................................           54       12,440        0.004        4,907           20
    Central AI.................................            3        6,195        0.000        2,802            0
    Eastern AI.................................          125        6,265        0.020        2,936           59
Northern rockfish:
    BS.........................................            8  ...........        0.008          112            1
    AI.........................................           83       13,254        0.006        5,438           33
Shortraker/rougheye:
    BS.........................................            8  ...........        0.008          126            1
    AI.........................................           42        2,827        0.015          538            8
Other rockfish:
    BS.........................................           18        1,026        0.018          888           16
    AI.........................................           22        1,924        0.011          539            6
Squid: BSAI....................................           73        3,670        0.020        1,675           34
Other species: BSAI............................          553       65,925        0.008       29,886         239
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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. Listed 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\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing
  inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In 2004, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing
  inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(a) establish a formula for PSC 
sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are 
equivalent to the percentage of PSC 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. PSC amounts 
harvested by these catcher/processors in BSAI non-pollock groundfish 
fisheries from 1995 through 1997 are shown in Table 10. These data were 
used to calculate the PSC catch ratios for pollock catcher/processors 
shown in Table 10. The 2004 PSC limits available to trawl catcher/
processors are multiplied by the ratios to determine the PSC sideboard 
limits for listed AFA catcher/processors in the 2004 non-pollock 
groundfish fisheries.
    PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating 
in any non-pollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 11 would accrue 
against the proposed 2004 PSC limits for the listed catcher/processors. 
Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(v) provide NMFS with the authority to 
close directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish for listed AFA 
catcher/processors once a proposed 2004 PSC limitation listed in Table 
11 is reached.
    Crab or halibut PSC that is caught by listed 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 regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e).

   Table 11.--Proposed 2004 BSAI American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard
                                                    Limits\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     1995-1997
                                 ------------------------------------------------  Proposed 2004
           PSC species                                             Ratio of PSC    PSC available   Proposed 2004
                                     PSC catch       Total PSC      catch/total      to trawl        C/P limit
                                                                        PSC           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 mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(b) establish formulas for setting AFA 
catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The 
catcher vessel sideboard limits for BSAI groundfish will be based on 
the 1995 through 1997 retained catch of such groundfish species by all 
AFA catcher vessels, except for Pacific cod which will be based on 1997 
retained catch by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels only. The proposed 
2004 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits are shown in Tables 12 and 13.
    All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be

[[Page 67653]]

deducted from the proposed sideboard limits listed in Table 12.

   Table 12.--Proposed 2004 BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel
                            Sideboard Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Ratio of                  Proposed
                                    1995-1997     Proposed       2004
   Species and fishery by area/       AFA CV        2004       catcher
      season/processor/gear          catch to   initial TAC     vessel
                                    1995-1997       (mt)      sideboard
                                       TAC                   limits (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod:
    BSAI:
        Jig gear.................       0.0000        3,528            0
        Hook-and-line CV:          ...........  ...........            0
            Jan 1-Jun 10.........       0.0006          161            0
            Jun 10-Dec 31........       0.0006          107            0
        Pot gear:                  ...........  ...........            0
            Jan 1--Jun 10........       0.0006        9,822            6
            Sept 1-Dec 31........       0.0006        6,548            4
    CV <60 feet LOA using hook-         0.0006        1,252            1
     and-line or pot gear........
    Trawl gear catcher vessel:     ...........  ...........            0
        Jan 20-Apr 1.............       0.8609       29,014       24,978
        Apr 1-Jun 10.............       0.8609        4,145        3,193
        Jun 10-Nov 1.............       0.8609        8,290        6,386
Sablefish:
    BS trawl gear................       0.0906        1,131          102
    AI trawl gear................       0.0645          603           39
Atka mackerel:
    Eastern AI/BS:                 ...........  ...........            0
        Jig gear.................       0.0031           89            0
        Other gear:                ...........  ...........            0
            Jan 1-Apr 15.........       0.0032        4,381           14
            Sept 1-Nov 1.........       0.0032        4,381           14
    Central AI:                    ...........  ...........            0
        Jan-Apr 15...............       0.0001       12,201            1
            HLA limit............       0.0001        7,321            1
        Sept 1-Nov 1.............       0.0001       12,201            1
            HLA limit............       0.0001        7,321            1
    Western AI:                    ...........  ...........            0
        Jan-Apr 15...............       0             8,496            0
            HLA limit............       0.0000        5,097            0
        Sept 1-Nov 1.............       0             8,496            0
            HLA limit............       0             5,097            0
Yellowfin sole: BSAI.............       0.0647       71,188        4,606
Rock sole: BSAI..................       0.0341       37,400        1,275
Greenland Turbot:
    BS...........................       0.0645        2,278          147
    AI...........................       0.0205        1,122           23
Arrowtooth flounder: BSAI........       0.0690       10,200          704
Alaska plaice: BSAI..............       0.0441        8,500          375
Other flatfish: BSAI.............       0.0441        2,550          112
Pacific ocean perch:
    BS...........................       0.1000        1,199          120
    Eastern AI...................       0.0077        2,936           23
    Central AI...................       0.0025        2,802            7
    Western AI...................       0.0000        4,907            0
Northern rockfish:
    BS...........................       0.0280          103            3
    AI...........................       0.0089        4,997           44
Shortraker/Rougheye:
    BS...........................       0.0048          116            1
    AI...........................       0.0035          706            2
Other rockfish:
    BS...........................       0.0048          816            4
    AI...........................       0.0095          539            5
Squid: BSAI......................       0.3827        1,675          641
Other species: BSAI..............       0.0541       27,463        1,486
Flathead Sole: BS trawl gear.....       0.0505       17,000          859
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(b) establish a formula for PSC 
sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels. The AFA catcher vessel PSC 
bycatch limits 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

[[Page 67654]]

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 2004 PSC limits for the AFA catcher 
vessels. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(v) provide authority to 
close directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish for AFA catcher 
vessels once a proposed 2004 PSC limit listed in Table 13 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 2004 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits for the
                                                    BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-                   Proposed 2004
                                                                    1997 AFA CV                     AFA catcher
           PSC species and target fishery category \2\            retained catch   Proposed 2004    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  ..............
    Rockfish....................................................          0.0245              69               2
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp..............................          0.0227             232               5
Red King Crab, Zone 1 \4\:
    Pacific cod.................................................          0.6183          13,079           8,087
    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             200               5
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 mt 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\ In October 2003, the Council 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 (see 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.

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an IRFA for this action in accordance with the 
provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) of 1980, as amended 
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 
U.S.C. 603(b)). A copy of this analysis is available from the Council 
(see ADDRESSES). This IRFA evaluates the effects of the proposed action 
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 
commercially harvest groundfish under the BSAI FMP. Data in the IRFA 
indicates that about 220 catcher vessels, and about 40 catcher-
processors, and six CDQ groups may be ``small entities'' under the 
terms of the RFA.
    Using the sectoral first wholesale gross revenue changes as an 
index, the preferred alternative seems to have adverse impacts in the 
sablefish sectors in the BSAI. There do not appear to be other adverse 
impacts associated with the preferred alternative. The model suggests 
that there will be revenue reductions for rockfish, Atka mackerel, and 
other species. However, the projected revenue reductions for these 
species appear to be relatively small percentages of the prior year 
(2003) gross revenue estimates. Given the large confidence intervals 
believed to be associated with these estimates, these are thought to be 
minor impacts.
    Harvest records indicate that in 2001, 87 vessels harvested 
sablefish in the BSAI in excess of the minimum harvest threshold 
adopted to select vessels for the analysis. Of these, 69 were small

[[Page 67655]]

entities according to the $3.5 million in gross revenues criterion used 
by the SBA for catcher vessels. These small vessels harvested about 
1,449 mt of sablefish in all their sablefish fisheries (some of this 
tonnage may have come from operations in the GOA). Another 71 vessels 
harvested amounts of sablefish below the minimum harvest threshold; 
these vessels only harvested a total of about 12 mt of sablefish. The 
69 small vessels above the threshold averaged about $1.1 million in all 
their fisheries (groundfish, crab, scallops, salmon and herring) in 
Alaska, and about $229,000 from all their sablefish in Alaska. If the 
small entity revenue reduction is proportionate to the overall first 
wholesale ``index'' reduction in the area, and if the small entities 
catch all of their sablefish in the BSAI, the small entity revenue 
reduction would be about $19,000. This would be about 8.3 percent of 
their sablefish revenues, and about 1.7 percent of their overall 
revenues.
    The CDQ program provides a mechanism to allow local communities to 
benefit from the BSAI fisheries. Sixty-five regional communities have 
banded together into six Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups. 
Regulations require the allocation of proportions of the annual species 
specifications to the CDQ groups. The CDQ groups may fish the 
allocations themselves, enter into joint ventures to fish them, or 
lease them out to fishing firms. These allocations generate large 
revenues for the CDQ groups. In 2001, the CDQ groups as a whole earned 
about $43 million in royalties from the program; in 2002, they earned 
about $46 million. Because the CDQ groups are non-profit organizations, 
they are treated as small entities for RFA purposes.
    The sablefish first wholesale gross revenues from CDQ program 
allocations will decline by about 8% under the preferred alternative. 
This comparatively large percentage decline is associated with a 
relatively small decline in first wholesale value of about $137,000. 
This decline in first wholesale value would be associated with a 
smaller decline in CDQ program royalties. Even if royalties were equal 
to first wholesale revenues, which they are not, this decline would be 
a small fraction of a percent of total CDQ program royalties.
    The preferred alternative was compared to the four other 
alternatives evaluated during the specifications process. These 
alternatives are defined by TACs set so as to generate different 
harvest rates (F values). Alternative 1 sets a TAC to generate the 
harvest rate associated with the maximum ABC for each species, 
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative, Alternative 3 sets TACs to 
produce fishing rates that are half those of Alternative 1, Alternative 
4 sets TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the most recent five 
year average rates, and Alternative 5 sets TACs equal to zero. Only 
Alternative 1 had a smaller adverse impact on small entities than the 
preferred alternative. However Alternative 1 would have increased 
sablefish harvests and would have failed to meet the objective of 
protecting the long run health of the sablefish stocks. Also, 
Alternative 1 would have authorized groundfish harvests in excess of 
the 2 million optimal yield cap for the BSAI.
    The action does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements on small entities. The analysis did not reveal any Federal 
rules that duplicate, overlap or conflict with the proposed action.

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

    Dated: November 26, 2003.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 03-30134 Filed 12-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P