[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68265-68275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30380]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 031126295-3295-01; I.D. 111703B]


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

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

ACTION: Interim final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 2004 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts 
for each category of groundfish, Community Development Quota (CDQ) 
reserve amounts, American Fisheries Act (AFA) pollock allocations and 
sideboard amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances and 
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves for the groundfish fisheries of 
the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). The 
intended effect is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in 
the BSAI.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim harvest specifications are effective from 
0001 hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2004, until the 
effective date of the final 2004 harvest specifications for BSAI 
groundfish, which will be published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared for 
this action, the final 2002 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) report, dated November 2002, and the final 2003 SAFE report, 
dated November 2003, are available from the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99510-
2252 (907-271-2809) or from its home page at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implementing the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Area (FMP) govern the groundfish fisheries in the 
BSAI. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared 
the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

[[Page 68266]]

Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). General 
regulations that also pertain to the U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H 
of 50 CFR part 600.
    The Council met in October 2003 to review scientific information 
concerning groundfish stocks including the 2002 SAFE report and the EA 
(see ADDRESSES) and recommended proposed 2004 specifications. The 
Council recommended a proposed total acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
of 3,127,003 metric tons (mt) and a proposed total TAC of 1,998,443 mt 
for the 2004 fishing year. The proposed TAC amounts for each species 
were based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(1), NMFS published in the Federal Register 
proposed harvest specifications for groundfish in the BSAI for the 2004 
fishing year (68 FR 67642, December 3, 2003). That document contains a 
detailed discussion of the proposed 2004 TACs, initial TACs (ITACs) and 
related apportionments, CDQ reserves, ABC amounts, overfishing levels, 
PSC allowances, PSQ reserve amounts, and associated management measures 
of the BSAI groundfish fishery.
    This action provides interim harvest specifications and 
apportionments thereof for the 2004 fishing year that will become 
available on January 1, 2004, and remain in effect until superseded by 
the final 2004 harvest specifications. Background information 
concerning the 2004 groundfish harvest specification process on which 
this interim action is based is provided in the above mentioned 
proposed specification document.

Establishment of Interim TACs

    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. The AFA supersedes this provision for pollock by 
requiring that the TAC for this species be fully allocated among the 
CDQ program, incidental catch allowance (ICA), and inshore, catcher/
processor, and mothership directed fishery allowances.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(iii) require that one half of 
each TAC amount placed in the non-specified reserve, with the exception 
of squid, be allocated to the groundfish CDQ reserve and that 20 
percent of the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish be 
allocated to the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve. Regulations at Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) require that 10 percent of the pollock TAC be 
allocated to the pollock CDQ reserve. With the exception of the hook-
and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the CDQ reserves are not 
further apportioned by gear. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i) also 
require that 7.5 percent of each PSC limit, with the exception of 
herring, be withheld as a 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.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2) require interim specifications to 
be effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, and remain in effect 
until superseded by the final groundfish harvest specifications. 
Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) provide that the interim 
specifications will be established as one-fourth of each proposed ITAC 
amount and apportionment thereof (not including pollock, Pacific cod, 
Atka mackerel, and the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of 
sablefish), one-fourth of each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance 
established at Sec.  679.21, and the proposed first seasonal allowance 
of pollock, Pacific cod and Atka mackerel TAC. As stated in the 
proposed specifications (68 FR 67642, December 3, 2003), no harvest of 
groundfish is authorized before the effective date of this action 
implementing the interim specifications.

Interim 2004 BSAI Groundfish Harvest Specifications

    Table 1 provides interim TAC and CDQ amounts and apportionments 
thereof. 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 gear sectors. A final rule implementing 
Amendment 77 was published on December 1, 2003 (68 FR 67086), and will 
be effective by January 1, 2004. Amendment 77 will allocate the 18.3 
percent pot gear allocation as: 15 percent to pot catcher vessels and 
3.3 percent to pot catcher processors. Regulations at Sec.  
679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an interim specification for the 
hook-and-line and pot gear allocations of sablefish for the CDQ reserve 
or for sablefish managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 
program. As a result, directed fishing for the hook-and-line and pot 
gear allocations of CDQ sablefish and IFQ sablefish is prohibited until 
the effective date of the final 2004 groundfish specifications.

  Table 1.--Interim 2004 TAC Amounts for Groundfish and Apportionments Thereof for the Bering Sea and Aleutian
                                           Islands Management Area\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Species and component (if applicable)       Area and/or gear (if applicable)     Interim TAC     Interim CDQ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock: \2\
    AFA Inshore............................  BS.................................         259,119  ..............
    AFA Inshore............................  SCA Limit \3\......................          41,769  ..............
    AFA Catcher/Processors \4\.............  BS.................................         207,295  ..............
        Catch by C/Ps......................  BS.................................         189,675  ..............
        Catch by CVs \4\...................  BS.................................          17,620  ..............
        Unlisted C/P Limit \4\.............  BS.................................           1,036  ..............
    AFA Catcher/Processors \4\.............  SCA Limit \3\......................         145,106  ..............
    AFA Mothership.........................  BS.................................          51,824  ..............
    AFA Mothership.........................  SCA Limit \3\......................          36,277  ..............
    CDQ....................................  BS.................................  ..............          59,670
    CDQ....................................  SCA Limit \3\......................  ..............          41,769
    ICA....................................  BS.................................          46,990  ..............
    ICA....................................  AI.................................           1,000  ..............
    ICA....................................  Bogoslof District..................              50  ..............
    Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.........  BS.................................          90,692  ..............
    Excessive Processing Limit \5\.........  BS.................................         155,471  ..............
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Pollock......................  ...................................         566,278          59,670
                                                                                 ===============================

[[Page 68267]]

 
Pacific Cod \6\............................  Jig................................           1,411  ..............
                                             Hook-and-line......................          42,937  ..............
                                             Catcher/Processors.................  ..............  ..............
                                             Hook-and-line Catcher Vessels......             161  ..............
                                             Pot Catcher/Processors.............           1,771  ..............
                                             Pot Catcher Vessels................           8,051  ..............
                                             Catcher Vessels <60 Hook-and-line,            1,252  ..............
                                              Pot.
                                             ICA................................             500  ..............
                                             Trawl Catcher Vessels..............          29,014  ..............
                                             Trawl Catcher/Processors...........          20,724  ..............
 
    CDQ....................................  ...................................  ..............          15,563
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Pacific Cod..................  ...................................         105,821          15,563
                                                                                 ===============================
Sablefish \7\ \8\..........................  BS Trawl...........................             283              14
                                             BS Hook-and-line and Pot...........             N/A             N/A
                                             AI Trawl...........................             151              11
                                             AI Hook-and-line and Pot...........             N/A             N/A
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Sablefish....................  ...................................             434              25
                                                                                 ===============================
Atka mackerel \9\..........................  Western AI.........................           8,496           1,499
                                             Western HLA Limit..................           5,097  ..............
                                             Central AI.........................          12,201           2,153
                                             Central HLA Limit..................           7,321  ..............
                                             Eastern AI/BS......................  ..............             781
                                             Jig Gear...........................              89  ..............
                                             Other Gear.........................           8,763  ..............
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Atka Mackerel................  ...................................          29,549           4,433
                                                                                 ===============================
Yellowfin Sole.............................  BSAI...............................          17,797           1,570
Rock Sole..................................  BSAI...............................           9,350             825
Greenland Turbot...........................  BS.................................             570              50
                                             AI.................................             281              25
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Greenland Turbot.............  ...................................             850              75
                                                                                 ===============================
Arrowtooth Flounder........................  BSAI...............................           2,550             225
Flathead Sole..............................  BSAI...............................           4,250             375
Other flatfish \10\........................  BSAI...............................             638              56
Alaska plaice..............................  BSAI...............................           2,125             188
Pacific Ocean Perch........................  BS.................................             300              27
                                             Western AI.........................           1,227             108
                                             Central AI.........................             701              62
                                             Eastern AI.........................             734              65
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Pacific Ocean Perch..........  ...................................           2,962             262
                                                                                 ===============================
Northern Rockfish..........................  BS.................................              26               2
                                             AI.................................           1,249             110
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Northern Rockfish............  ...................................            1275             112
                                                                                 ===============================
Shortraker/Rougheye \11\...................  BS.................................              29               3
                                             AI.................................             177              16
                                             AI Trawl...........................              53  ..............
                                             AI Non-trawl.......................             124  ..............
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Shortraker/Rougheye..........  ...................................             206              19
                                                                                 ===============================
Other Rockfish \12\........................  BS.................................             204              18
                                             AI.................................             135              12
                                                                                 -------------------------------
        Total Other Rockfish...............  ...................................             339              30
Squid......................................  BSAI...............................             419  ..............
``Other Species'' \13\.....................  BSAI...............................           6,866             606
                                                                                 ===============================

[[Page 68268]]

 
        Total interim TAC..................  ...................................         751,709         84,034
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Amounts are in mt. These amounts apply to the entire Bering Sea (BS) and Aleutian Islands (AI) management
  area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for purposes of these specifications, the
  BS includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ After subtraction for the CDQ reserve and ICA, the pollock ITAC is allocated as a directed fishing allowance
  (DFA). Ten percent of the pollock TAC is allocated to the pollock CDQ reserve (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)).
  NMFS is allocating 3.5 percent of the pollock as an ICA (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1)). The first seasonal
  apportionment of pollock for all sectors is 40 percent of the annual DFA.
\3\ The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) limits harvest to 28 percent of each sector's annual 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 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. The AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited from exceeding a harvest amount of 0.5
  percent of the DFA allocated to the AFA catcher/processor sector. Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii).
\5\ 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. 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.
\6\ After subtraction of the reserves, the ITAC amount for Pacific cod is allocated: 2 percent to vessels using
  jig gear, 51 percent to hook-and-line or pot gear, and 47 percent to trawl gear. The Pacific cod allocation to
  trawl gear is split evenly between catcher vessels and catcher/processors (see Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)). The
  Pacific cod allocation to hook-and-line or pot gear is further allocated as an ICA and as the following
  directed fishing allowances: 80 percent to hook-and-line catcher/processors, 0.3 percent to hook-and-line
  catcher vessels, 3.3 percent to pot catcher/processors, 15 percent to pot catcher vessels, 1.4 percent to
  catcher vessels under 60 feet LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear (see Sec.   679.20(a)(7)(i)(c)). The first
  seasonal allowances of the ITAC gear apportionments are in effect on January 1 as an interim TAC. The first
  seasonal allocations are 60 percent of the annual TAC, except for vessels using jig gear (40 percent), trawl
  catcher/processors (50 percent) and trawl catcher vessels (70 percent).
\7\ Sablefish gear allocations are as follows: In the BS subarea, trawl gear is allocated 50 percent, and hook-
  and-line and pot gear are allocated 50 percent of the TAC. In the AI subarea, trawl gear is allocated 25
  percent, and hook-and-line and pot gear are allocated 75 percent of the TAC (see Sec.   679.20(a)(4)(iii) and
  (iv)). One-fourth of the ITAC amount for trawl gear is in effect January 1 as an interim TAC amount.
\8\ The sablefish hook-and-line gear fishery is managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program and
  subject to regulations contained in subpart D of 50 CFR part 679. Twenty percent of the sablefish hook-and-
  line and pot gear final TAC amount will be reserved for use by CDQ participants. (see Sec.   679.31(c).)
  Existing regulations at Sec.   679.20(c)(2)(ii) do not provide for an interim specification for the CDQ
  nontrawl sablefish reserve or for an interim specification for sablefish managed under the IFQ program. In
  addition, in accordance with Sec.   679.7(f)(3)(ii), retention of sablefish caught with fixed gear is
  prohibited unless the harvest is authorized under a valid IFQ permit and IFQ card. In 2004, IFQ permits and
  IFQ cards will not be valid before the effective date of the 2004 final specifications. Thus, fishing for
  sablefish with fixed gear is not authorized under these interim specifications. See subpart D of 50 CFR part
  679 and Sec.   679.23(g) for guidance on the annual allocation of IFQ and the sablefish fishing season.
\9\ Regulations at Sec.   679.20 (a)(8) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian subarea and the BS
  subarea ITAC be allocated to the jig gear fleet. The amount of this allocation is 1 percent. The jig gear
  allocation is not apportioned by season. The harvest limitation area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each
  seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (Sec.   679.2). In 2004, 60 percent of each
  seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central AI.
\10\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species except for Pacific halibut (a prohibited species),
  flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, arrowtooth flounder, yellowfin sole and Alaska plaice.
\11\ 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.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern,
  shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\13\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2,
  are not included in the ``other species'' category.

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

    Under Sec.  679.21(e), annual PSC limits are specified for red king 
crab, Chionoecetes bairdi Tanner crab, and C. opilio crab in applicable 
Bycatch Limitation Zones (see Sec.  679.2) of the Bering Sea subarea, 
and for Pacific halibut and Pacific herring throughout the BSAI. 
Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e) authorize the apportionment of each PSC 
limit into PSC allowances for specified fishery categories. Under Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(i), 7.5 percent of each PSC limit specified for halibut, 
crab, and salmon is reserved as a PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish 
CDQ program.
    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2)(ii) provide that one-fourth of 
each proposed PSQ reserve and PSC allowance be made available on an 
interim basis for harvest at the beginning of the fishing year, until 
superseded by the final harvest specifications. The PSQ reserves and 
fishery specific interim PSC allowances for halibut and crab are 
specified in Table 2 and are in effect at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 
1, 2004.

     Table 2.--Interim 2004 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl and Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Prohibited species and zone
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Red King                C. bairdi (animals)
                                               Halibut    Herring      Crab     C. opilio  ---------------------
                                              mortality  (mt) BSAI   (animals   (animals)
                                              (mt) BSAI             Zone 1\1\   COBLZ \2\   Zone 1\1\  Zone 2\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl fisheries:
    Yellowfin sole..........................        222         35      4,166      694,245     85,211    447,115
    Rock sole/other flatfish/flat. sole \4\.        195          5     14,946      242,283     91,330    149,039
    Red King Crab Savings Subarea \3\.......  .........  .........      5,231  ...........  .........  .........

[[Page 68269]]

 
    Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \5\.........  .........          2  .........       10,060  .........  .........
    Rockfish--July 1-December 31............         17          2  .........       10,059  .........      2,747
    Pacific cod.............................        359          5      3,270       31,184     45,778     81,044
    Midwater trawl pollock..................  .........        296  .........  ...........  .........  .........
    Pollock/Atka mackerel/other \6\.........         58         37         50       18,107      4,306      6,868
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Trawl PSC.....................        850        382     22,432    1,005,938    226,625    686,813
                                             ===================================================================
Non-trawl fisheries:
    Pacific cod--Total......................        194  .........  .........  ...........  .........  .........
    Other non-trawl--Total..................         14  .........  .........  ...........  .........  .........
    Groundfish pot & jig....................     exempt  .........  .........  ...........  .........  .........
    Sablefish hook-and-line.................     exempt  .........  .........  ...........  .........  .........
--------------------------------------------------------
        Total non-trawl PSC.................        207
                                             ===================================================================
        PSQ Reserve \7\.....................         86  .........      1,818       81,562     18,375     55,687
                                             ===================================================================
        Grand total.........................      1,144        382     24,250    1,087,500    245,000   742,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\ In October 2003, the Council proposed limiting red king crab for trawl fisheries within the Red King Crab
  Savings Subarea (RKCSS) to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole, flathead sole, and other
  flatfish fishery category (Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\4\ ``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.
\5\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\6\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery category.
\7\ With the exception of herring, 7.5 percent of each PSC limit is allocated to the CDQ program as PSQ reserve.
  The PSQ reserve is not allocated by fishery, gear or season.

Directed Fishing Closures

    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Administrator, 
NMFS, Alaska Region (Regional Administrator) determines that any 
allocation or apportionment of a target species or ``other species'' 
category has been or will be reached, the Regional Administrator may 
establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species 
group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing 
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of 
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species 
or species group in the specified subarea or district (Sec.  
697.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, under regulations at Sec.  679.21(e), if 
the Regional Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch 
allowance of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab or C. opilio crab 
for a specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will 
prohibit directed fishing for each species in that category in the 
specified area.
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the remaining 
allocation amounts in Table 3 will be necessary as incidental catch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing 
year.

               Table 3.--Interim Directed Fishing Closures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Incidental
              Area                       Species           catch amount,
                                                               in mt
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District..............  Pollock................              50
Aleutian Islands subarea.......  Pollock................           1,000
                                 Northern Rockfish......           1,249
                                 Shortraker/rougheye                  53
                                  rockfish trawl.
                                 Shortraker/rougheye                 124
                                  rockfish non trawl.
                                 ``Other rockfish''.....             135
Bering Sea subarea.............  Pacific ocean perch....             300
                                 ``Other rockfish''.....             204
                                 Northern rockfish......              26
                                 Shortraker/rougheye                  29
                                  rockfish.
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands  ``Other Species''......           6,866
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 68270]]

    Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the 
Regional Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for 
the above species or species groups as zero.
    Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 
immediately prohibiting directed fishing for these species in the 
specified areas. These closures will remain in effect from 0001 hrs, 
A.l.t., January 1, 2004, until superseded by the final 2004 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish.
    In addition, the BSAI Zone 1 annual red king crab allowance 
specified for the trawl rockfish fishery (Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv)(D)) is 
0 mt and the BSAI first seasonal halibut bycatch allowance specified 
for the trawl rockfish fishery is 0 mt. The BSAI annual halibut bycatch 
allowance specified for the trawl Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/
sablefish fishery categories is 0 mt (Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv)(c)). 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.21(e)(7)(ii) and (v), NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish by vessels using trawl gear 
in Zone 1 of the BSAI and directed fishing for Greenland turbot/
arrowtooth flounder/sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the BSAI 
from 0001 hrs., A.l.t., January 1, 2004, until superseded by the final 
2004 harvest specifications for BSAI groundfish. NMFS is also 
prohibiting directed fishing for rockfish outside Zone 1 in the BSAI 
until 1200 hrs, A.l.t, July 4, 2004.
    While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts 
at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. 
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679. Areas are defined 
in Sec.  679.2. In the BSAI, ``Other rockfish'' includes Sebastes and 
Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, shortraker, 
rougheye, and northern rockfish.

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. Table 4 
lists the interim pollock allocations to the seven inshore catcher 
vessel pollock cooperatives for 2004. Allocations for cooperatives and 
vessels not participating in cooperatives are not made for the AI 
subarea because the Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea has been closed to 
directed fishing for pollock.

                    Table 4.--Interim 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Inshore Cooperative Allocations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Sum of member
                                                                     vessel's      Percentage of      Interim
               Cooperative name and member vessels                   official     inshore sector    cooperative
                                                                      catach        allocation      allocation
                                                                   histories\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association--Aldebaran, Arctic Explorer,           245,527          28.085          72,773
 Arcturus, Blue Fox, Cape Kiwanda, Columbia, Dominator, Exodus,
 Flying Cloud, Golden Dawn, Golden Pisces, Hazel Lorraine,
 Intrepid Explorer, Leslie Lee, Lisa Melinda, Majesty, Marcy J,
 Margaret Lyn, Nordic Explorer, Northern Patriot, Northwest
 Explorer, Pacific Ram, Pacific Viking, Pegasus, Peggy Jo,
 Perseverance, Predator, Raven, Royal American, Seeker,
 Sovereignty, Traveler, Viking Explorer.........................
Arctic Enterprise Association--Bristol Explorer, Ocean Explorer,          36,807           4.210          10,909
 Pacific Explorer...............................................
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative--Anita J., Collier Brothers,            73,656           8.425          21,831
 Commodore, Excalibur II, Goldrush, Half Moon Bay, Miss Berdie,
 Nordic Fury, Pacific Fury, Poseidon, Royal Atlantic, Sunset
 Bay, Storm Petrel..............................................
Peter Pan Fleet Cooperative--Amber Dawn, American Beauty,                 18,693           2.138           5,541
 Elizabeth F, Morning Star, Ocean Leader, Oceanic, Providian,
 Topaz, Walter N................................................
Unalaska Cooperative--Alaska Rose, Bering Rose, Destination,             106,737          12.209          31,636
 Great Pacific, Messiah, Morning Star, MS Amy, Progress, Sea
 Wolf, Vanguard, Western Dawn...................................
UniSea Fleet Cooperative--Alsea, American Eagle, Argosy, Auriga,         202,479          23.161          60,015
 Aurora, Defender, Gun-Mar, Mar-Gun, Nordic Star, Pacific
 Monarch, Seadawn, Starfish, Starlite...........................
Westward Fleet Cooperative--A.J., Alaskan Command, Alyeska,              189,942          21.727          56,298
 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.........................................             395           0.045             117
Total inshore allocation........................................         874,238             100        259,119
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ According to regulations at 679.62(e)(1) the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to the
  vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to catcher/
  processors for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors from 1995 through 1997.

    According to regulations at Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(a)(3), NMFS must 
subdivide the inshore allocation into allocations for cooperatives and 
vessels not fishing in a cooperative. In addition, according to 
regulations at Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), NMFS must establish 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 5 lists the interim apportionment of 
the Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock allocation into allocations for 
vessels fishing for an inshore cooperative and for vessels fishing for 
the inshore open access sector 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 5.

Table 5.--Interim 2004 Bering Sea Subarea Pollock Allocations, in Mt, to
 the Cooperative and Open Access Sectors of the Inshore Pollock Fishery
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                A season
                                                     A season    inside
                                                       TAC       SCA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cooperative sector:
  Vessels  99 ft.......................        n/a    163,459
  Vessels <= 99 ft................................        n/a     17,842
                                                   ---------------------

[[Page 68271]]

 
    Total.........................................    259,002    181,301
                                                   =====================
Open access sector................................        117     \2\ 82
                                                   ---------------------
    Total inshore.................................    259,119   181,383
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Steller Sea Lion Conservation area (SCA) is 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 Sideboards

    In 2003, the formula for setting AFA catcher/processor sideboard 
limits for non-pollock groundfish changed from calculations made for 
sideboard limits in 2000 through 2002. The basis for these sideboard 
limits is described in detail in the final rule implementing major 
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002). The interim 
2004 catcher/processor sideboard limits are set out in Table 6.
    All non-pollock groundfish that is harvested by listed AFA catcher/
processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the interim sideboard limits in Table 6. However, non-
pollock groundfish that is delivered to listed catcher/processors by 
catcher vessels will not be deducted from the interim 2004 sideboard 
limits for the listed catcher/processors.

              Table 6.--Interim 2004 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboards, in Mt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      1995-1997              Interim
                                                          ---------------------------------  2004 TAC   Interim
          Target species                     Area                                           available   2004 C/P
                                                            Retained  Available    Ratio     to trawl  sideboard
                                                             catch       TAC                   C/Ps      limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod trawl.................  BSAI.................     12,424     51,450      0.241     20,724      4,994
Sablefish trawl...................  BS...................          8      1,736      0.005        283          1
                                    AI...................          0      1,135      0.000        151          0
Atka mackerel.....................  Western AI...........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
                                      A season \1\.......        n/a        n/a      0.200      8,496      1,699
                                       HLA limit \2\.....  .........  .........  .........      5,097          0
                                    Central AI...........  .........  .........  .........  .........  .........
                                      A season \1\.......        n/a        n/a      0.115     12,201      1,403
                                       HLA limit \2\.....  .........  .........  .........      7,321          0
Yellowfin sole....................  BSAI.................    100,192    527,000      0.190     17,797      3,381
Rock sole.........................  BSAI.................      6,317    202,107      0.031      9,350        290
Greenland turbot..................  BS...................        121     16,911      0.007        850          6
                                    AI...................         23      6,839      0.003        570          2
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI.................         76     36,873      0.002      2,550          5
Flathead sole.....................  BSAI.................      1,925     87,975      0.022      4,250         94
Alaska plaice.....................  BSAI.................      3,243  .........      0.035      2,125         74
Other flatfish....................  BSAI.................      3,243     92,428      0.035        638         22
Pacific ocean perch...............  BS...................         12      5,760      0.002        300          1
                                    Western AI...........         54     12,440      0.004      1,227          5
                                    Central AI...........          3      6,195      0.000        701          0
                                    Eastern AI...........        125      6,265      0.020        734         15
Northern rockfish.................  BS...................          8  .........      0.008         26          0
                                    AI...................         83     13,254      0.006      1,249          7
Shortraker/rougheye...............  BS...................          8  .........      0.008         29          0
Trawl                               AI...................         42      2,827      0.015         53          1
Other rockfish....................  BS...................         18      1,026      0.018        204          4
                                    AI...................         22      1,924      0.011        135          1
Squid.............................  BSAI.................         73      3,670      0.020        419          8
Other species.....................  BSAI.................        553     65,925      0.008      6,866         55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\ HLA limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (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. Pacific cod harvest by trawl gear in the Aleutian Islands HLA, west of
  178 degrees W. long. is prohibited during the Atka mackerel HLA directed fisheries.

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(a)(5) establish a formula for PSC 
sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/processors. These amounts are 
equivalent to the percentage of PSC amounts taken 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 
taken by listed catcher/processors in BSAI non-pollock groundfish 
fisheries from 1995 through 1997 are shown in Table 7. These data were 
used to calculate the PSC catch ratios for pollock catcher/processors 
shown in Table 7. The 2004 interim 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 interim 
non-pollock groundfish fisheries.
    PSC that is caught by listed AFA catcher/processors participating 
in any

[[Page 68272]]

non-pollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 7 will accrue against 
the interim 2004 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA catcher/
processors. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(v), authorize NMFS to 
close directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish for listed AFA 
catcher/processors once an interim 2004 PSC sideboard limit listed in 
Table 7 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)(3)(iv).

         Table 7.--Interim 2004 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohbitied Species Sideboard Limits\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               1995-1997                  Interim
                                                ---------------------------------------   2004 PSC     Interim
                  PSC species                                                Ratio of    available     2004 C/P
                                                  PSC catch    Total PSC    PSC catch/  to trawl C/   sideboard
                                                                            Total PSC        Ps         limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality..............................          955       11,325        0.084          851           71
Red king crab..................................        3,098      473,750        0.007       22,432          157
C. opilio......................................    2,323,731   15,139,178        0.153    1,005,938      153,908
C. bairdi:
    Zone 1.....................................      385,978    2,750,000        0.140      226,625       31,728
    Zone 2.....................................      406,860    8,100,000        0.050      686,813       34,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in mt of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboards Limits

    Regulations at Sec.  679.64(b) establish a formula for setting AFA 
catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The 
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final 
rule implementing major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 
30, 2002). The interim 2004 AFA catcher vessel sideboard limits are 
shown in Tables 8 and 9.
    All harvests of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the interim sideboard limits listed in Table 8.

           Table 8.--Interim 2004 BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboards Limits, in Mt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Ratio of              Interim
                                                                                 1995-1997                2004
                                              Fishery by area/season/processor/    AFA CV    Interim    catcher
                  Species                                   gear                  catch to   2004 TAC    vessel
                                                                                 1995-1997             sideboard
                                                                                    TAC                  limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod................................  BSAI..............................  .........  .........  .........
                                               Jig gear........................     0.0000      1,411          0
                                               Hook-and-line CV................  .........  .........          0
                                             Jan 1-Jun 10......................     0.0006        161          0
                                               Pot gear........................  .........  .........          0
                                             Jan 1-Jun 10......................     0.0006      9,822          6
                                               CV <60 feet LOA using hook-and-      0.0006      1,252          1
                                                line or pot gear.
                                               Trawl gear, catcher vessel, Jan      0.8609     29,014     24,978
                                                20-Apr 1.
Sablefish..................................  BS trawl gear.....................     0.0906        283         26
                                             AI trawl gear.....................     0.0645        151         10
Atka mackerel..............................  Eastern AI/BS.....................  .........  .........          0
                                               Jig gear........................     0.0031         89          0
                                               Other gear......................  .........  .........          0
                                             Jan 1-Apr 15......................     0.0032      4,381         14
                                             Central AI........................  .........  .........          0
                                             Jan 1-Apr 15......................     0.0001     12,201          1
                                               HLA limit.......................     0.0001      7,321          1
                                             Western AI, Jan 1-Apr 15..........          0      8,496          0
                                             HLA limit.........................     0.0000      5,097          0
Yellowfin sole.............................  BSAI..............................     0.0647     17,797      1,151
Rock sole..................................  BSAI..............................     0.0341      9,350        319
Greenland Turbot...........................  BS................................     0.0645        570         37
                                             AI................................     0.0205        281          6
Arrowtooth flounder........................  BSAI..............................     0.0690      2,550        176
Alaska plaice..............................  BSAI..............................     0.0441      2,125         94
Other flatfish.............................  BSAI..............................     0.0441        638         28
POP........................................  BS................................     0.1000        300         30
                                             Eastern AI........................     0.0077        734          6
                                             Central AI........................     0.0025        701          2
                                             Western AI........................     0.0000      1,227          0
Northern rockfish..........................  BS................................     0.0280         26          1
                                             AI................................     0.0089      1,249         11
Shortraker/Rougheye Trawl..................  BS................................     0.0048         29          0
                                             AI................................     0.0035         53          0

[[Page 68273]]

 
Other rockfish.............................  BS................................     0.0048        204          1
                                             AI................................     0.0095        135          1
Squid......................................  BSAI..............................     0.3827        419        160
Other species..............................  BSAI..............................     0.0541      6,866        371
Flathead Sole..............................  BS trawl gear.....................     0.0505      4,250        215
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The AFA catcher vessel PSC limit for halibut and each crab species 
in the BSAI for which a trawl bycatch limit has been established will 
be a portion of the PSC limit equal to the ratio of aggregate retained 
groundfish catch by AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category 
from 1995 through 1997, relative to the retained catch of all vessels 
in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. For the BSAI, the interim PSC 
sideboard limits for AFA catcher vessels are listed in Table 9.
    Halibut and crab PSC that is caught by AFA catcher vessels 
participating in any non-pollock groundfish fishery listed in Table 9 
will accrue against the interim 2004 PSC sideboard limits for AFA 
catcher vessels. Regulations at Sec.  679.21(d)(8) and (e)(3)(v) 
provide authority to close directed fishing for non-pollock groundfish 
for AFA catcher vessels once an interim 2004 PSC sideboard limit for 
the BSAI listed in Table 9 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 under regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e).

 Table 9.--Interim 2004 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits for the
                                                    BSAI.\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Ratio of
                                                                            1995-1997                  Interim
                                                                              AFA CV                   2004 AFA
                                                                             retained     Interim      catcher
               PSC species                  Target fishery category \2\      catch to     2004 PSC    vessel PSC
                                                                              total        Limit      sideboard
                                                                             retained                   limit
                                                                              catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut.................................  Pacific cod trawl..............       0.6183          359          222
                                          Pacific cod hook-and-line or          0.0022          194            0
                                           pot.
                                          Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144          222           25
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841          195           55
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish....       0.2327            0            0
                                          Rockfish (July 4-December 31)..       0.0245           17            0
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp.       0.0227           58            1
Red King Crab...........................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183        3,270        2,022
Zone 1 \4\..............................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144        4,166          477
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841       14,946        4,246
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp.       0.0227           50            1
C. opilio...............................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       31,184       19,281
COBLZ \3\...............................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144      694,245       79,422
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841      242,283       68,833
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp.       0.0227       18,107          411
                                          Rockfish.......................       0.0245       10,059          246
                                          Turbot/Arrowtooth/Sablefish....       0.2327       10,060        2,341
                  C. bairdi.............  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       45,778       28,305
Zone 1..................................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144       85,211        9,748
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841       91,330       25,947
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp.       0.0227        4,306           98
C. bairdi...............................  Pacific cod....................       0.6183       81,044       50,110
Zone 2..................................  Yellowfin sole.................       0.1144      447,115       51,150
                                          Rock sole/flat. sole/other            0.2841      149,039       42,342
                                           flatfish \5\.
                                          Pollock/Atka mackerel/Other sp.       0.0227        6,868          156
                                          Rockfish.......................       0.0245        2,747          67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 the red king crab bycatch for trawl fisheries within the Red
  King Crab Savings Subarea be limited to 35 percent of the total allocation to the rock sole/flathead sole/
  ``other flatfish'' fishery category (Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)).
\5\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for Pacific halibut (a
  prohibited species), Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder.


[[Page 68274]]

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing 
Closures

    The Regional Administrator has determined that many of the interim 
AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in 
Table 10 and 11 are necessary as incidental catch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing year. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator 
establishes the limits listed in Table 10 and 11 as directed fishing 
allowances. The Regional Administrator finds that many of these 
directed fishing allowances will be reached before the end of the year. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing by AFA catcher/processors for the species 
in the specified areas set out in Table 10 and directed fishing by non-
exempt AFA catcher vessels for the species in the specified areas set 
out in Table 11.

   Table 10.--Interim American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures.\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Incidental
                 Species                               Area                      Gear types             catch
                                                                                                        amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..........................  BS.........................  Trawl......................            1
                                           AI.........................  Trawl......................            0
Rock sole................................  BSAI.......................  all........................          290
Greenland turbot.........................  BS.........................  all........................            6
                                           AI.........................  all........................            2
Arrowtooth flounder......................  BSAI.......................  all........................            5
Pacific ocean perch......................  BS.........................  all........................            1
                                           Western AI.................  all........................            5
                                           Central AI.................  all........................            0
                                           Eastern AI.................  all........................           15
Northern rockfish........................  BS.........................  all........................            0
                                           AI.........................  all........................            7
Shortraker/Rougheye rockfish.............  BS.........................  all........................            0
                                           AI.........................  all........................            1
Other rockfish...........................  BS.........................  all........................            4
                                           AI.........................  all........................            1
Squid....................................  BSAI.......................  all........................            8
Other species............................  BSAI.......................  all........................          55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. Specified amounts are in mt.


        Table 11.--Interim American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures.\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Incidental
                 Species                               Area                         Gear                catch
                                                                                                        amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..............................  BSAI.......................  hook-and-line..............            0
                                           BSAI.......................  pot........................            6
                                           BSAI.......................  jig........................            0
Sablefish................................  BS.........................  trawl......................           26
                                           AI.........................  trawl......................           10
Atka mackerel............................  Eastern AI/BS..............  jig........................            0
                                           Eastern AI/BS..............  other......................           14
                                           Central AI.................  all........................            1
                                           Western AI.................  all........................            0
Greenland Turbot.........................  BS.........................  all........................           37
                                           AI.........................  all........................            6
Arrowtooth flounder......................  BSAI.......................  all........................          176
Pacific ocean perch......................  BS.........................  all........................           30
                                           Western AI.................  all........................            6
                                           Central AI.................  all........................            2
                                           Eastern AI.................  all........................            0
Northern rockfish........................  BS.........................  all........................            1
                                           AI.........................  all........................           11
Shortraker/rougheye rockfish.............  BS.........................  all........................            0
                                           AI.........................  trawl......................            0
Other rockfish...........................  BS.........................  all........................            1
                                           AI.........................  all........................            1
Squid....................................  BSAI.......................  all........................          160
Other species............................  BSAI.......................  all........................         371
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679. Specified amounts are in mt.


[[Page 68275]]

Classification

    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    Because this action is a final action by NMFS, analyses required 
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act must be completed and considered by the 
agency before promulgation of the interim harvest specifications.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(c)(2) require NMFS to specify harvest 
specifications to be effective January 1 and to remain in effect until 
superceded by the final specifications. Without interim specifications 
in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not be able to 
open, resulting in disruption within the fishing industry. NMFS cannot 
publish interim specifications until proposed specifications are 
completed, because the interim specifications are derived from the 
proposed specifications, as required by regulations at 50 CFR 
679.20(c)(2).
    The proposed specifications are based on the preliminary 
recommendations of the Plan Team, which were reviewed by the Scientific 
and Statistical Committee, Advisory Panel, and Council in October, 2003 
in projecting 2003 biomass amounts, as identified in the 2002 SAFE 
Report, for the proposed 2004 ABC, overfishing levels, and TAC amounts. 
The Plan Team recommendations incorporate the most current data 
available from a number of sources, including current-year industry 
catch levels, and current-year trawl and hydro-acoustic surveys. These 
data are not available in time for Council review prior to the October 
Council meeting, as the surveys are conducted during the summer months, 
and industry catch levels reflect current year activity. These updated 
data sources represent the best available scientific information. These 
data provide the basis for the proposed and interim specifications.
    The proposed specifications, as required by regulations at 50 CFR 
679.20(c)(1)(i)(A), must be published as soon as practicable after 
consultation with the Council, which occurs at the Council's October 
meeting. This requirement, along with the requirement of national 
standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to use the best scientific 
information available, prevents NMFS from publishing the proposed 
specifications early enough to provide sufficient time to have a public 
comment period for the interim specifications, which are derived from 
the proposed specifications, and to have the interim specifications 
effective on January 1.
    As stated above, disruption of the fishing industry, and consequent 
impacts to fishing communities and the public, would occur if the 
interim specifications were not effective January 1. Additionally, the 
public is provided an opportunity to comment on the proposed 
specifications, from which the interim specifications are derived. For 
these reasons, good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive 
prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action as such 
procedures would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest.
    Likewise, the AA finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness date of the interim specifications. Regulations at 50 CFR 
679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to establish interim harvest specifications 
to be effective on January 1 and to remain in effect until superseded 
by the publication of final harvest specifications by the Office of the 
Federal Register. NMFS interprets regulations at Sec.  679.20(c)(2) as 
requiring the filing of interim specifications with the Office of the 
Federal Register before any harvest of groundfish is authorized. The 
interim specifications are based on the proposed 2004 specifications.
    The interim specifications rely on data used to propose the 2004 
specifications, and those data are not available until the after summer 
surveys are conducted (see above). Without interim specifications in 
effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not be able to open 
on that date, resulting in disruption of the fishing industry. These 
reasons constitute good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive 
the 30-day delay in effectiveness date.
    Because these interim specifications are not required to be issued 
with prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. Consequently, no regulatory 
flexibility analysis has been prepared for this action.

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

    Dated: December 2, 2003.
William Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30380 Filed 12-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P