[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74739-74758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7463]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 051201318-5318-01; I.D. 112805A]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2006 and 2007 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; apportionment of reserves; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications, reserves 
and apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) 
limits, for the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This 
action is necessary to establish harvest limits and associated 
management measures for groundfish during the 2006 and 2007 fishing 
years. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the 
groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by January 17, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Lori Durall. Comments may be submitted by:
     Mail to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
     Hand Delivery to the Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK;
     E-mail to [email protected] and include 
in the subject line the document identifier: 2006 Proposed 
Specifications (E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are 
limited to 5 megabytes);
     Fax to 907-586-7557; or
     Webform at the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at that site for 
submitting comments.
    Copies of the draft Environmental Assessment/Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (EA/IRFA) prepared for this action are available 
from NMFS at the address above or from the Alaska Region Web site 
www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2004 Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) reports, dated November 2004, and the October 
2005 Council meeting minutes, are available from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK, 
99510 or from its home page at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, Sustainable Fisheries 
Division, Alaska Region, 907-481-1780 or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in the exclusive economic 
zone off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
GOA (FMP). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 
U.S.C. 1801, et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and 
implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
    These proposed specifications are based on the 2004 SAFE reports. 
In November 2005, the 2005 SAFE reports will be used to develop the 
2006 and 2007 final acceptable biological catch (ABC) amounts. Any 
anticipated changes in the final specifications from the proposed 
specification are identified in this notice for public review.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch 
(TAC) for each target species and for the ``other species'' category, 
the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 116,000 
metric tons (mt) to 800,000 mt. Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires 
NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs, 
halibut PSC amounts, and seasonal allowances of pollock and inshore/
offshore Pacific cod. The proposed specifications set forth in Tables 1 
through 16 of this document satisfy these requirements. For 2006, the 
sum of the proposed TAC amounts is 301,304 mt. For 2007, the sum of the 
proposed TAC amounts is 281,640 mt. Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will 
publish the 2006 and 2007 final specifications after (1) considering 
comments received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting 
with the Council at its December 2005 meeting, and (3) considering new 
information presented in the EA and the final 2005 SAFE report prepared 
for the 2006 and 2007 fisheries.

Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications

    The proposed ABC and TAC for each species or species group are 
based on the best available biological and socioeconomic information, 
including projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution 
of stock biomass, and revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. 
The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used in computing ABCs 
and overfishing levels (OFL). The formulas applicable to a particular 
stock or stock complex are determined by the level of reliable 
information available to fisheries scientists. This information is 
categorized into a successive series of six tiers with tier one 
representing the highest level of information and tier six the lowest 
level of information.
    The Council and its Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) and 
Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current biological and harvest information 
about the condition of groundfish stocks in the GOA in October 2005. 
Most of the information available to the SSC, AP, and Council was 
initially compiled by the Council's GOA Groundfish Plan Team and was 
presented in the final 2004 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish 
fisheries, dated November 2004 (see ADDRESSES). The Plan Team annually 
produces the SAFE report as the first step in the process of specifying 
TACs.
    The SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific 
analyses, estimates of each species' biomass and other biological 
parameters, summaries of the available information on the GOA 
ecosystem, and the economic condition

[[Page 74740]]

of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these data and analyses, 
the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each species category. The 2004 SAFE 
report will be updated to include new information collected during 
2005. The Plan Team will provide revised stock assessments in November 
2005 in the final 2005 SAFE report. The Council will review the 2005 
SAFE report in December 2005. The final 2006 and 2007 harvest 
specifications may be adjusted from the proposed harvest specifications 
based on the 2005 SAFE report.
    The SSC adopted the OFL and ABC recommendations from the Plan Team 
for all groundfish species. Based on the recommendations from the SSC 
for OFLs and ABCs and the AP recommendations for TAC amounts, the 
Council recommended amending the 2006 OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts for 
pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, flathead sole, arrowtooth flounder, 
northern rockfish, and ``other species'' as published in the 2005 and 
2006 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA on February 
24, 2005 (70 FR 8958). These amended amounts were recommended by the 
Council based on new information developed in 2005. For tier 1-3 stocks 
listed above, the GOA Groundfish Plan Team recommended projected 
groundfish OFLs and ABCs for 2006 and 2007 at its September 2005 
meeting. The projections for tier 1-3 stocks used species-specific 
Alaska Fisheries Science Center population models, which include 
information on age structure, growth and reproduction, and natural and 
fishing mortality. The Council recommended that proposed OFL and ABC 
levels for those stocks in tiers 4-6, for which projections cannot be 
made, remain unchanged from 2005 levels for 2006 and 2007.
    As in 2005, the SSC's, AP's and Council's recommendation for the 
method of apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas 
includes commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment 
scientists believe that the use of unbiased commercial fishery data 
reflecting catch-per-unit effort provides a desirable input for stock 
distribution assessments. The use of commercial fishery data is 
evaluated annually to assure that unbiased information is included in 
stock distribution models. The Council's recommendation for sablefish 
area apportionments also takes into account the prohibition on the use 
of trawl gear in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District of the Eastern 
GOA and makes available 5 percent of the combined Eastern GOA TACs to 
trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish 
fisheries in the West Yakutat District (WYK).
    The AP, SSC, and Council recommended that the ABC for Pacific cod 
in the GOA be apportioned among regulatory areas based on the three 
most recent NMFS summer trawl surveys. As in previous years, the Plan 
Team, SSC, and Council recommended that total removals of Pacific cod 
from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. Accordingly, the Council 
recommended adjusting the 2006 and 2007 TACs downward from the ABCs by 
amounts equal to the 2005 guideline harvest levels (GHL) established 
for Pacific cod by the State of Alaska (State) for the state managed 
fisheries in the GOA. The effect of the State's GHL on the Pacific cod 
TAC is discussed in greater detail below. As in 2005, for 2006 and 
2007, NMFS proposes to establish an A season directed fishing allowance 
(DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA based on the management 
area TACs less the recent average A season incidental catch of Pacific 
cod in each management area before June 10 (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)). The 
DFA and incidental catch before June 10 will be managed such that total 
harvest in the A season will be no more than 60 percent of the annual 
TAC. Incidental catch taken after June 10 will continue to be taken 
from the B season TAC. This action meets the intent of the Steller Sea 
Lion Protection Measures by achieving temporal dispersion of the 
Pacific cod removals and reducing the likelihood of harvest exceeding 
60 percent of the annual TAC in the A season (January 1 through June 
10).
    For 2006 and 2007, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the 
ABCs listed in Tables 1 and 2. These amounts reflect harvest amounts 
that are less than the proposed 2006 and 2007 overfishing amounts. The 
sum of the proposed 2006 ABCs for all target species TACs is 547,181 
mt, which is higher than the final 2005 ABC total of 539,263 mt and the 
final 2006 ABC total of 542,456 mt (70 FR 8958, February 24, 2005). The 
sum of the proposed 2007 ABCs for all target species TACs is 536,559 
mt, which is lower than the final 2005 ABC total and the final 2006 ABC 
total of 547,181 mt.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The Council recommended proposed TACs for 2006 and 2007 that are 
equal to proposed ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, 
sablefish, Pacific ocean perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, 
northern rockfish, pelagic shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, 
demersal shelf rockfish, skates, and Atka mackerel. The Council 
recommended TACs that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead 
sole, shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and other rockfish.
    The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass 
distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual 
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 
divided into four equal seasonal apportionments. Twenty-five percent of 
the annual TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
is apportioned respectively to the A season (January 20 through March 
10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August 25 
through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1) in 
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 of the GOA (Sec. Sec.  
679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
    The 2006 and 2007 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the State's 
developing fishery for Pacific cod in State waters in the Western and 
Central GOA, and in Prince William Sound (PWS). The SSC, AP, and 
Council recommended that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific 
cod removals not exceed the ABC. Accordingly, the Council recommended 
that for 2006 and 2007, the Pacific cod TACs be reduced from ABC levels 
to account for State GHLs in each regulatory area of the GOA. 
Therefore, respective 2006 TACs are reduced from ABCs as follows: (1) 
Eastern GOA 386 mt, (2) Central GOA 7,898 mt, and (3) Western GOA 4,988 
mt. Respective 2007 TACs are reduced as follows: (1) Eastern GOA 324 
mt, (2) Central GOA 6,643 mt, and (3) Western GOA 4,196 mt. These 
amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2006 and 2007 GHLs in these 
areas, which are 10 percent, 25 percent, and 25 percent of the Eastern, 
Central, and Western GOA ABCs, respectively.
    NMFS also is proposing seasonal apportionments of the annual 
Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty 
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl 
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC 
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot or jig gear from 
September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 
through November 1 (Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(11)). These 
seasonal apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TAC are discussed in 
greater detail below.

[[Page 74741]]

    The FMP specifies that the amount for the ``other species'' 
category is calculated as 5 percent of the combined TAC amounts for 
target species. The 2006 GOA-wide ``other species'' TAC is 14,348 mt 
and the 2007 TAC is 13,411 mt, which is 5 percent of the sum of the 
combined TAC amounts (286,946 mt for 2006 and 268,229 mt for 2007) for 
the assessed target species. The sum of the TACs for all GOA groundfish 
is 301,304 mt for 2006 and 281,640 mt for 2007, which is within the OY 
range specified by the FMP. The sum of the proposed 2006 TACs are 
higher than the 2005 TAC sum of 291,298 mt while the sum of the 
proposed 2007 TACs are lower than in 2005.
    In June 2005, the Council selected its preferred alternative for 
Amendment 69 to the GOA FMP to revise the manner in which the ``other 
species'' complex TAC is annually established. If approved, Amendment 
69 would allow the Council, as part of its annual harvest specification 
process, to recommend a TAC amount for the ``other species'' less than 
or equal to 5 percent of the sum of the combined TAC amounts for target 
species. The intent of Amendment 69 is to better conserve and manage 
the species which comprise the ``other species'' complex.
    If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the Central Gulf of 
Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program would allocate rockfish, associated 
groundfish, halibut PSC limits, and groundfish sideboard limits to a 
specific group of eligible harvesters in 2007. These amounts are 
expected to be identified in September 2006 and would modify the 
harvest specifications for 2007.
    NMFS finds that the Council's recommendations for proposed OFL, 
ABC, and TAC amounts are consistent with the biological condition of 
groundfish stocks as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic 
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required 
OY range of 116,000 to 800,000 mt. The proposed 2006 and 2007 ABCs, 
TACs, and OFLs are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1.--Proposed 2006 ABCs, TACs, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/
C/WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside
                            (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska.
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Overfishing
            Total                     Species               Area 1             ABC          TAC          level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Pollock 2...........  Shumagin (610)......       35,202       35,202          N/A
                                                     Chirikof (620)......       39,865       39,865          N/A
                                                     Kodiak (630)........       21,678       21,678          N/A
                                                     WYK (640)...........        1,955        1,955          N/A
  Subtotal...................                        W/C/WYK.............       98,700       98,700      133,900
                                                     SEO (650)...........        6,520        6,520        8,690
      Total..................                                                  105,220      105,220      142,590
                               Pacific cod 3.......  W...................       19,952       14,964          N/A
                                                     C...................       31,590       23,692          N/A
                                                     E...................        3,858        3,472          N/A
      Total..................                                                   55,400       42,128       82,000
                               Flatfish 4 (deep-     W...................          330          330          N/A
                                water).
                                                     C...................        3,340        3,340          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,120        2,120          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,030        1,030          N/A
      Total..................                                                    6,820        6,820        8,490
                               Rex sole............  W...................        1,680        1,680          N/A
                                                     C...................        7,340        7,340          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        1,340        1,340          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        2,290        2,290          N/A
      Total..................                                                   12,650       12,650       16,480
                               Flathead sole.......  W...................       12,316        2,000          N/A
                                                     C...................       31,617        5,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        3,149        3,149          N/A
                                                     SEO.................          408          408          N/A
      Total..................                                                   47,490       10,557       59,240
                               Flatfish 5 (shallow-  W...................       21,580        4,500          N/A
                                water).
                                                     C...................       27,250       13,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,030        2,030          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,210        1,210          N/A
      Total..................                                                   52,070       20,740       63,840
                               Arrowtooth flounder.  W...................       25,833        8,000          N/A
                                                     C...................      166,275       25,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................       11,599        2,500          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        9,753        2,500          N/A
      Total..................                                                  213,460       38,000      249,140
                               Sablefish 6.........  W...................        2,371        2,371          N/A
                                                     C...................        6,767        6,767          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,409        2,409          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        3,333        3,333          N/A
  Subtotal...................                        E...................        5,742        5,742          N/A
      Total..................                                                   14,880       14,880       18,000
                               Pacific ocean perch   W...................        2,525        2,525        3,019
                                7.
                                                     C...................        8,375        8,375       10,008
                                                     WYK.................          813          813          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,579        1,579          N/A
  Subtotal...................                        E...................          N/A          N/A        2,860

[[Page 74742]]

 
      Total..................                                                   13,292       13,292       15,887
                               Shortraker rockfish   W...................          155          155          N/A
                                8.
                                                     C...................          324          324          N/A
                                                     E...................          274          274          N/A
      Total..................                                                      753          753          982
                               Rougheye rockfish 9.  W...................          188          188          N/A
                                                     C...................          557          557          N/A
                                                     E...................          262          262          N/A
      Total..................                                                    1,007        1,007        1,531
                               Other rockfish 10 11  W...................           40           40          N/A
                                                     C...................          300          300          N/A
                                                     WYK.................          130          130          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        3,430          200          N/A
      Total..................                                                    3,900          670        5,150
                               Northern rockfish 11  W...................          752          752          N/A
                                12.
                                                     C...................        3,978        3,978          N/A
                                                     E...................            0            0          N/A
      Total..................                                                    4,730        4,730        5,620
                               Pelagic shelf         W...................          366          366          N/A
                                rockfish 13.
                                                     C...................        2,973        2,973          N/A
                                                     WYK.................          205          205          N/A
                                                     SEO.................          871          871          N/A
      Total..................                                                    4,415        4,415        5,510
                               Thornyhead rockfish.  W...................          410          410          N/A
                                                     C...................        1,010        1,010          N/A
                                                     E...................          520          520          N/A
      Total..................                                                    1,940        1,940        2,590
                               Big skates 14.......  W...................          727          727          N/A
                                                     C...................        2,463        2,463          N/A
                                                     E...................          809          809          N/A
      Total..................                                                    3,999        3,999        5,332
                               Longnose skates 15..  W...................           66           66          N/A
                                                     C...................        1,972        1,972          N/A
                                                     E...................          780          780          N/A
      Total..................                                                    2,818        2,818        3,757
                               Other skates 16.....  GW..................        1,327        1,327        1,769
                               Demersal shelf        SEO.................          410          410          640
                                rockfish 18.
                               Atka mackerel.......  GW..................          600          600        6,200
                               Other species 17 19.  GW..................          N/A       14,348          N/A
      Total 20...............                                                  547,181      301,304     694,748
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2.
2 Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. During the A
  season, the apportionment is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of
  approximately 24 percent, 56 percent, and 20 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
  During the B season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 24 percent,
  66 percent, and 10 percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D seasons,
  the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 49 percent, 21 percent, and 30
  percent in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. These proposed seasonal apportionments for 2006
  and 2007 are shown in Tables 5 and 6. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
  Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
3 The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to an A season and 40 percent to a B season in the
  Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90 percent for processing by the
  inshore component and 10 percent for processing by the offshore component. Proposed seasonal apportionments
  and component allocations of TAC for 2006 and 2007 are shown in Tables 7 and 8.
4 ``Deep water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
5 ``Shallow water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
6 Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2006 and to trawl gear in 2007 these amounts are
  shown in Tables 3 and 4.
7 ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
8 ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
9 ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus.
10 ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the SEO District means slope
  rockfish.
11 ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S.
  goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), and S. reedi (yellowmouth). In the Eastern GOA only, slope rockfish also includes northern
  rockfish, S. polyspinous.
12 ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
13 ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes ciliatus (dark), S. variabilis (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and
  S. flavidus (yellowtail).
14 Big skate means Raja binoculata.
15 Longnose skate means Raja rhina.
16 Other skates means Bathyraja spp.

[[Page 74743]]

 
17 N/A means not applicable.
18 ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S.
  maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
19 ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ``other species'',
  the TAC for ``other species'' equals 5 percent of the TACs for assessed target species.
20 The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.
 These footnotes also apply to Table 2.


Table 2.--Proposed 2007 ABCs, TACs, and Overfishing Levels of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/
C/WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside
                            (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska.
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Overfishing
            Total                     Species              Area \1\            ABC          TAC         level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Pollock \2\.........  Shumagin (610)......       31,743       31,743          N/A
                                                     Chirikof (620)......       35,947       35,947          N/A
                                                     Kodiak (630)........       19,547       19,547          N/A
                                                     WYK (640)...........        1,763        1,763          N/A
  Subtotal...................                        W/C/WYK.............       89,000       89,000      119,800
                                                     SEO (650)...........        6,520        6,520        8,690
      Total..................                                                   95,520       95,520      128,490
                               Pacific cod \3\.....  W...................       16,783       12,587          N/A
                                                     C...................       26,572       19,929          N/A
                                                     E...................        3,245        2,920          N/A
      Total..................                                                   46,600       35,436       68,900
                               Flatfish \4\ (deep-   W...................          330          330          N/A
                                water).
                                                     C...................        3,340        3,340          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,120        2,120          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,030        1,030          N/A
      Total..................                                                    6,820        6,820        8,490
                               Rex sole............  W...................        1,680        1,680          N/A
                                                     C...................        7,340        7,340          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        1,340        1,340          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        2,290        2,290          N/A
      Total..................                                                   12,650       12,650       16,480
                               Flathead sole.......  W...................       12,355        2,000          N/A
                                                     C...................       31,721        5,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,336        2,336          N/A
                                                     SEO.................          308          308          N/A
      Total..................                                                   47,650        9,644       59,500
                               Flatfish \5\          W...................       21,580        4,500          N/A
                                (shallow-water).
                                                     C...................       27,250       13,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,030        2,030          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,210        1,210          N/A
      Total..................                                                   52,070       20,740       63,840
                               Arrowtooth flounder.  W...................       26,939        8,000          N/A
                                                     C...................      173,394       25,000          N/A
                                                     WYK.................       12,096        2,500          N/A
                                                     SEO.................       10,171        2,500          N/A
      Total..................                                                  222,600       38,000      260,150
                               Sablefish \6\.......  W...................        2,215        2,215          N/A
                                                     C...................        6,322        6,322          N/A
                                                     WYK.................        2,250        2,250          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        3,113        3,113          N/A
  Subtotal...................                         E                          5,363        5,363          N/A
      Total..................                                                   13,900       13,900       16,900
                               Pacific ocean perch   W...................        2,494        2,494        2,985
                                \7\.
                                                     C...................        8,293        8,293        9,896
                                                     WYK.................          803          803          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        1,560        1,560          N/A
  Subtotal...................                        E...................          N/A          N/A        2,829
      Total..................                                                   13,150       13,150       15,710
                               Shortraker rockfish   W...................          155          155          N/A
                                \8\.
                                                     C...................          324          324          N/A
                                                     E...................          274          274          N/A
      Total..................                                                      753          753          982
                               Rougheye rockfish     W...................          188          188          N/A
                                \9\.
                                                     C...................          557          557          N/A
                                                     E...................          262          262          N/A
      Total..................                                                    1,007        1,007        1,531
                               Other rockfish \10\   W...................           40           40          N/A
                                \11\.
                                                     C...................          300          300          N/A
                                                     WYK.................          130          130          N/A
                                                     SEO.................        3,430          200          N/A

[[Page 74744]]

 
      Total..................                                                    3,900          670        5,150
                               Northern rockfish     W...................          704          704          N/A
                                \11\ \12\.
                                                     C...................        3,726        3,726          N/A
                                                     E...................            0            0          N/A
      Total..................                                                    4,430        4,430        5,270
                               Pel agic shelf        W...................          366          366          N/A
                                rockfish \13\.
                                                     C...................        2,973        2,973          N/A
                                                     WYK.................          205          205          N/A
                                                     SEO.................          871          871          N/A
      Total..................                                                    4,415        4,415        5,510
                               Thornyhead rockfish.  W...................          410          410          N/A
                                                     C...................        1,010        1,010          N/A
                                                     E...................          520          520          N/A
      Total..................                                                    1,940        1,940        2,590
                               Big skates \14\.....  W...................          727          727          N/A
                                                     C...................        2,463        2,463          N/A
                                                     E...................          809          809          N/A
      Total..................                                                    3,999        3,999        5,332
                               Longnose skates \15\  W...................           66           66          N/A
                                                     C...................        1,972        1,972          N/A
                                                     E...................          780          780          N/A
      Total..................                                                    2,818        2,818        3,757
                               Other skates \16\...  GW..................        1,327        1,327        1,769
                               Demersal shelf        SEO.................          450          450          690
                                rockfish \18\.
                               Atka mackerel.......  GW..................          600          600        6,200
                               Other species \17\    GW..................         \21\       13,411          N/A
                                \19\.
      Total \20\.............                                                  536,559      281,640      677,191
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The footnotes in Table 2 are identical to those presented above for Table 1.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Regulations at Sec.  679.20(b)(2) require 20 percent of each TAC 
for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category 
to be set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date. 
In 2005, NMFS reapportioned all the reserves in the final harvest 
specifications. For 2006 and 2007, NMFS proposes apportionment of all 
the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and ``other species.'' 
Specifications of TAC shown in Tables 1 and 2 reflect apportionment of 
reserve amounts for these species and species groups.

Proposed Apportionments of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using 
Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear

    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii), sablefish TACs for each of 
the regulatory areas and districts are allocated to hook-and-line and 
trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of 
each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each TAC 
is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern GOA, 95 percent of the TAC 
is allocated to hook-and-line gear and 5 percent is allocated to trawl 
gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern GOA may only be used to 
support incidental catch of sablefish in directed fisheries for other 
target species (Sec.  679.20(a)(1)). In recognition of the trawl ban in 
the SEO District of the Eastern GOA, the Council recommended and NMFS 
proposes that 5 percent of the combined Eastern GOA sablefish TAC be 
allocated to trawl gear in the WYK District and the remainder to 
vessels using hook-and-line gear. In the SEO District, 100 percent of 
the sablefish TAC is allocated to vessels using hook-and-line gear. The 
Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established 
biennially. This recommendation results in an allocation of 287 mt to 
trawl gear and 2,122 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK District and 
3,333 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District in 2006. Table 3 
shows the allocations of the proposed 2006 sablefish TACs between hook-
and-line gear and trawl gear. Table 4 presents the allocation of the 
proposed 2007 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.

 Table 3.--Proposed 2006 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations Thereof to Hook-and-
                                               Line and Trawl Gear
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Hook-and-line         Trawl
                       Area/District                               TAC          apportionment     apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...................................................             2,371             1,897               474
Central...................................................             6,767             5,414             1,353
West Yakutat..............................................             2,409             2,122               287

[[Page 74745]]

 
Southeast Outside.........................................             3,333             3,333                 0
                                                           -------------------
        Total.............................................            14,880            12,766             2,114
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 4.--Proposed 2007 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation Thereof to Trawl Gear
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Hook-and-line
                       Area/District                               TAC          apportionment         Trawl
                                                                                     \1\          apportionment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...................................................             2,215               N/A               443
Central...................................................             6,322               N/A             1,264
West Yakutat..............................................             2,250               N/A               268
Southeast Outside.........................................             3,113               N/A                 0
                                                           -------------------
      Total...............................................            13,900               N/A            1,975
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to
  1 year to ensure that those fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery.

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

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is 
further divided between inshore and offshore processing components. 
Under Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified for 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned into 
four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by Sec.  
679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are 
available from January 20 through March 10, March 10 through May 31, 
August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, 
respectively.
    Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among statistical areas 610, 620, and 630 in the A and 
B seasons in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on 
a composite of NMFS winter surveys and in the C and D seasons in 
proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on the four 
most recent NMFS summer surveys. As in 2005, the Council recommended 
averaging the winter and summer distribution of pollock in the Central 
Regulatory Area for the A season to better reflect the distribution of 
pollock and the performance of the fishery in the area during the A 
season for the 2006 and 2007 fishing years. Within any fishing year, 
the underage or overage of a seasonal allowance may be added to, or 
subtracted from, subsequent seasonal allowances. The rollover amount is 
limited to 20 percent of the seasonal apportionment for the statistical 
area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent limit could be 
further distributed to the other statistical areas, in proportion to 
the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those statistical 
areas. The WYK District pollock TAC of 1,955 mt in 2006, and 1,763 mt 
in 2007, along with the SEO District pollock TAC of 6,520 mt for 2006 
and 2007, are not allocated seasonally.
    Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of 
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances 
thereof to vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore 
component after subtraction of amounts that are projected by the 
Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore 
component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. 
The amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by the offshore component is that amount 
actually taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for 
groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable 
amounts allowed under at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these 
incidental catch amounts are unknown and will be determined during the 
fishing year.
    The proposed 2006 and 2007 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock 
in the Western and Central GOA, area apportionments, and seasonal 
apportionments for the A, B, C, and D seasons are summarized in Tables 
5 and 6.

   Table 5.--Proposed 2006 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of
        Alaska; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
                      [Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Shumagin  (Area     Chirikof  (Area
             Season                      610)                620)         Kodiak  (Area 630)         Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A...............................      5,835 (24.12%)     13,547 (56.01%)      4,805 (19.87%)       24,187 (100%)
B...............................      5,835 (24.12%)      16,012 (66.2%)       2,339 (9.68%)       24,186 (100%)

[[Page 74746]]

 
C...............................     11,766 (48.64%)       5,153 (21.3%)      7,267 (30.06%)       24,186 (100%)
D...............................     11,766 (48.64%)       5,153 (21.3%)      7,267 (30.06%)       24,186 (100%)
                                 ---------------------
        Annual total............              35,202              39,865              21,678              96,745
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 6.--Proposed 2007 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of
        Alaska; Seasonal Biomass Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
                      [Area Apportionments Resulting From Seasonal Distribution of Biomass]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Shumagin  (Area     Chirikof  (Area
             Season                      610)                620)         Kodiak  (Area 630)         Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A...............................      5,262 (24.12%)     12,216 (56.01%)      4,332 (19.87%)       21,810 (100%)
B...............................      5,261 (24.12%)      14,439 (66.2%)       2,109 (9.68%)       21,809 (100%)
C...............................     10,610 (48.64%)       4,646 (21.3%)      6,553 (30.06%)       21,809 (100%)
D...............................     10,610 (48.64%)       4,646 (21.3%)      6,553 (30.06%)       21,809 (100%)
                                 ---------------------
        Annual total............              31,743              35,947              19,547              87,237
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC and Allocations for 
Processing of Pacific Cod TAC Between Inshore and Offshore Components

    Pacific cod fishing is divided into two seasons in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. For hook-and-line, pot, and jig 
gear, the A season is January 1 through June 10, and the B season is 
September 1 through December 31. For trawl gear, the A season is 
January 20 through June 10, and the B season is September 1 through 
November 1 (Sec.  679.23(d)(3)). After subtraction of incidental catch, 
60 percent and 40 percent of the annual TAC will be available for 
harvest during the A and B seasons, respectively, and will be 
apportioned between the inshore and offshore processing components, as 
provided in Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii). Between the A and the B seasons, 
directed fishing for Pacific cod is closed, and fishermen participating 
in other directed fisheries may retain Pacific cod up to the maximum 
retainable amounts allowed under Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). Under Sec.  
679.20(a)(11)(ii), any overage or underage of Pacific cod allowance 
from the A season may be subtracted from or added to the subsequent B 
season allowance.
    Section 679.20(a)(6)(ii) requires the allocation of the TAC 
apportionment of Pacific cod in all regulatory areas to vessels 
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore and offshore 
components. Ninety percent of the Pacific cod TAC in each regulatory 
area is allocated to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the 
inshore component. The remaining 10 percent of the TAC is allocated to 
vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. 
These seasonal apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2006 and 
2007 Pacific cod TACs are shown in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.

Table 7.--Proposed 2006 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska;
                        Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Component allocation
               Season                   Regulatory area            TAC       -----------------------------------
                                                                                Inshore (90%)    Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.............................  Western..............            14,964            13,468             1,496
A season (60%).....................  .....................             8,978             8,080               898
B season (40%).....................  .....................             5,986             5,388               598
Annual.............................  Central..............            23,692            21,323             2,369
A season (60%).....................  .....................            14,215            12,794             1,421
B season (40%).....................  .....................             9,477             8,529               948
Annual.............................  Eastern..............             3,472             3,125               347
                                                           -------------------
    Total..........................  .....................            42,128            37,915             4,213
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 74747]]


Table 8.--Proposed 2007 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska;
                        Allocations for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Component allocation
               Season                   Regulatory area            TAC       -----------------------------------
                                                                                Inshore (90%)    Offshore (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.............................  Western..............            12,587            11,328             1,259
A season (60%).....................  .....................             7,552             6,797               755
B season (40%).....................  .....................             5,035             4,531               504
Annual.............................  Central..............            19,929            17,936             1,993
A season (60%).....................  .....................            11,957            10,761             1,196
B season (40%).....................  .....................             7,972             7,175               797
Annual.............................  Eastern..............             2,920             2,628               292
                                                           -------------------
    Total..........................  .....................            35,436            31,892             3,544
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Halibut PSC Limits

    Under Sec.  679.21(d), annual halibut PSC limits are established 
and apportioned to trawl and hook-and-line gears and may be established 
for pot gear. In October 2005, the Council recommended that NMFS 
maintain the 2005 halibut PSC limits of 2,000 mt for the trawl 
fisheries and 300 mt for the hook-and-line fisheries. Ten mt of the 
hook-and-line limit is further allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish 
(DSR) fishery in the SEO District. Historically, the DSR fishery, 
defined at Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A), has been apportioned this amount 
in recognition of its small scale harvests. Most vessels in the DSR 
fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA) making them 
exempt from observer coverage. Although observer data are not available 
to verify actual bycatch amounts, NMFS assumes the halibut bycatch in 
the DSR fishery is low because of the short soak times for the gear and 
duration of the DSR fishery. Also, the DSR fishery occurs in the winter 
when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and halibut.
    Section 679.21(d)(4) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. The Council recommended 
that pot gear, jig gear, and the hook-and-line sablefish fishery be 
exempted from the non-trawl halibut limit for 2006 and 2007. The 
Council recommended these exemptions because: (1) The pot gear 
fisheries experience low halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 11 mt 
annually from 2001 through 2004 and 38 mt through October 8, 2005); (2) 
the Individual Fishing Quota (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; and (3) 
halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet cannot be estimated because 
these vessels do not carry observers. NMFS assumes halibut mortality is 
very low given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear 
(averaging 303 mt annually from 2001 through 2004 and 153 mt through 
October 8, 2005) and assumes that survival rates of any halibut 
incidentally caught by jig gear and released are high.
    Under Sec.  679.21(d)(5), NMFS seasonally apportions the halibut 
PSC limits based on recommendations from the Council. The FMP and 
regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following 
information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal 
distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish 
species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch 
needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and 
expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates 
on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish 
fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7) 
economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on 
segments of the target groundfish industry.
    The final 2005 groundfish and PSC specifications (70 FR 8958, 
February 24, 2005) summarized the Council and NMFS findings with 
respect to each of these FMP considerations. The Council's and NMFS' 
findings are unchanged. The proposed Pacific halibut PSC limits, and 
apportionments thereof for 2006 and 2007, are presented in Table 9. 
Sections 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any underages or 
overages in a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will be deducted 
from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment within the 
2006 and 2007 fishing years.

   Table 9.--Proposed 2006 and 2007 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments. The Pacific Halibut PSC Limit for Hook-and-Line Gear Is
   Allocated to the Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) Fishery and Fisheries Other Than DSR. The Hook-and-Line Sablefish Fishery Is Exempt From Halibut PSC
                                                                         Limits.
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Trawl gear                                                               Hook-and-line gear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Other than DSR                                        DSR
                 Dates                       Amount     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Dates                   Amount                   Dates                  Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1.....................     550 (27.5%)  January 1-June 10..............       250 (86%)  January-December 31...........       10 (100%)
April 1-July 1.........................       400 (20%)  June 10-September 1............          5 (2%)  ..............................  ..............
July 1-September 1.....................       600 (30%)  September 1-December 31........        35 (12%)  ..............................  ..............
September 1-October 1..................      150 (7.5%)  ...............................  ..............  ..............................  ..............
October 1-December 31..................       300 (15%)  ...............................  ..............  ..............................  ..............
                                        -----------------

[[Page 74748]]

 
    Total..............................    2,000 (100%)  ...............................      290 (100%)  ..............................       10 (100%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes the further apportionment of 
the trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories, based on each 
category's proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during a fishing year and the need to optimize the total 
amount of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery 
categories for the trawl halibut PSC limits are (1) a deep-water 
species complex, comprised of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, 
rex sole and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species 
complex, comprised of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, 
flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and ``other species'' (Sec.  
679.21(d)(3)(iii)). The proposed 2006 and 2007 seasonal apportionments 
for these two fishery complexes are presented in Table 10.

 Table 10.--Proposed 2006 and 2007 Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl
                      Gear Deep-Water Species Complex and the Shallow-Water Species Complex
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Season                              Shallow-water      Deep-water           Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1........................................               450               100               550
April 1-July 1............................................               100               300               400
July 1-September 1........................................               200               400               600
September 1-October 1.....................................               150     Any remainder               150
                                                           -------------------
    Subtotal January 20-October 1.........................               900               800             1,700
October 1-December 31.....................................               N/A               N/A               300
                                                           -------------------
    Total.................................................               N/A               N/A             2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water fishery complexes during the 5th season (October 1-
  December 31).

    Based on public comment and information contained in the final 2005 
SAFE report, the Council may recommend, or NMFS may make, changes in 
the seasonal, gear-type, or fishing-complex apportionments of halibut 
PSC limits for the final 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications. NMFS 
will consider the following types of information in setting final 
halibut PSC limits.

Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years

    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data 
collected by observers during 2005. The calculated halibut bycatch 
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gears through October 8, 
2005, is 2,005 mt, 187 mt, and 38 mt, respectively, for a total halibut 
mortality of 2,230 mt.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear 
fisheries during the 2005 fishing year. Trawling during the first 
season closed for the deep-water complex on March 23 (70 FR 15600, 
March 28, 2005) and during the second season on April 8 (70 FR 19339, 
April 13, 2005). This April 18 closure was modified to open trawling 
for the deep-water fishery complex from April 24 through May 3 (70 FR 
21678, April 27, 2005 and 70 FR 23940, May 6, 2005). Trawling during 
the third season closed for the deep-water complex on July 24 (70 FR 
43327, July 27, 2005) and during the fourth season on September 4 (70 
FR 52326, September 2, 2005). Trawling during the third season closed 
for the shallow-water complex on August 19 (70 FR 49507, August 24, 
2005) and during the fourth season on September 4 (70 FR 52325, 
September 2, 2005). Trawling for all groundfish targets (with the 
exception of pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear) closed for 
the fifth season on October 1 (70 FR 57803, October 4, 2005). The use 
of hook-and-line gear targeting groundfish has remained open thus far 
as the first seasonal allowance of halibut PSC has not been reached (as 
of November 8, 2005). The amount of groundfish that trawl gear might 
have harvested if halibut catch limitations had not restricted the 2005 
season is unknown.

Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks and Catch

    Proposed 2006 and 2007 ABCs for pollock, flathead sole, and 
arrowtooth flounder (in 2007) are higher than those established for 
2005. However, the proposed 2006 and 2007 ABCs for Pacific cod, 
sablefish, arrowtooth (in 2006), northern rockfish, Pacific ocean 
perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish are lower than those established for 
2005. For the remaining target species, the Council recommended that 
ABC levels remain unchanged from 2005. More information on these 
changes is included in the final SAFE report (November 2004) and in the 
Council, SSC, and AP October 2005 meeting minutes available from the 
Council (see ADDRESSES).
    The total TAC amounts for the GOA are 301,304 mt for 2006, and 
281,640 mt

[[Page 74749]]

for 2007, an increase of about 3.4 percent in 2006 and a decrease of 
about 3.3 percent in 2007 from the 2005 TAC total of 291,298 mt. Those 
fisheries for which the 2006 and 2007 TACs are lower than in 2005 are 
Pacific cod (decreased to 42,128 mt in 2006 and 35,436 mt in 2007 from 
44,433 mt in 2005), flathead sole (decreased to 9,644 mt in 2007 from 
10,390 mt in 2005), sablefish (decreased to 14,880 mt in 2006 and 
13,900 mt in 2007 from 15,940 mt in 2005), northern rockfish (decreased 
to 4,730 mt in 2006 and 4,430 mt in 2007 from 5,091 mt in 2005), 
Pacific ocean perch (decreased to 13,292 mt in 2006 and 13,150 mt in 
2007 from 13,575 mt in 2005), and ``other species'' (decreased to 
13,411 mt in 2007 from 13,871 mt in 2005). Those fisheries for which 
the 2006 and 2007 TACs are higher than in 2005 are pollock (increased 
to 105,220 mt in 2006 and 95,520 mt in 2007 from 91,710 mt in 2005), 
flathead sole (increased to 10,557 mt in 2006 mt from 10,390 mt in 
2005), and ``other species'' (increased to 13,411 mt in 2006 from 
13,871 mt in 2005).

Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

    The most recent halibut stock assessment was conducted by the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) in December 2004 for 
the 2005 commercial fishery. The 2004 assessment contains minor 
technical changes from the previous year. The halibut stock is healthy 
in the central and southern portion of its range (Areas 3A through 2A) 
but is believed to have declined in western and northern portion of its 
range (Areas 3B and 4). The current exploitable halibut biomass in 
Alaska for 2005 was estimated to be 149,687 mt, down from 215,912 mt in 
2004. Most of this change is due to revised estimates of biomass in 
2004. The female spawning biomass remains far above the minimum which 
occurred in the 1970s.
    The exploitable biomass of the Pacific halibut stock apparently 
peaked at 326,520 mt in 1988. According to the IPHC, the long-term 
average reproductive biomass for the Pacific halibut resource was 
estimated at 118,000 mt. Long-term average yield was estimated at 
26,980 mt, round weight. The species is fully utilized. Recent average 
catches (1994-2004) in the commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska have 
averaged 34,241 mt, round weight. This catch in Alaska is 27 percent 
higher than long-term potential yield for the entire halibut stock 
reflecting the good condition of the Pacific halibut resource. In 
January 2005, the IPHC recommended commercial catch limits totaling 
35,828 mt, round weight, for Alaska in 2005. Through October 14, 2005, 
commercial hook- and line harvests of halibut in Alaska totaled 34,459 
mt, round weight.
    In 2004, IPHC staff identified a 25 percent harvest rate as a 
candidate target rate for use with the new population assessment, 
pending its evaluation using the sex-specific population model. This 
updated evaluation was completed and indicated that a harvest rate less 
than 25 percent would result in a 50 percent lower probability that the 
stock biomass would reach a level requiring reductions in harvest rate. 
Accordingly, the IPHC adopted a harvest rate of 22.5 percent for the 
central and southern regulatory areas (Areas 3A through 2A) and a 
harvest rate of 20 percent for the western and northern regulatory 
areas (Areas 3B and 4) in 2005. The lower rate for the western and 
northern areas is based on a concern that the long term productivity of 
these areas may not be as high as the central and southern areas.
    Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may 
be found in the IPHC's 2004 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 
2004), available from the IPHC and on its website at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC will consider the 2005 Pacific 
halibut assessment for 2006 at its January 2006 annual meeting when it 
sets the 2006 commercial halibut fishery quotas.

Other Factors

    The allowable commercial catch of halibut will be adjusted to 
account for the overall halibut PSC mortality limit established for 
groundfish fisheries. The 2006 and 2007 groundfish fisheries are 
expected to use the entire proposed annual halibut PSC limit of 2,300 
mt. The allowable directed commercial catch is determined by accounting 
for the recreational and subsistence catch, waste, and bycatch 
mortality and then providing the remainder to the directed fishery. 
Groundfish fishing is not expected to adversely affect the halibut 
stocks. Methods available for reducing halibut bycatch include: (1) 
Publication of individual vessel bycatch rates on the NMFS Alaska 
Region homepage at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov, (2) modifications to gear, 
(3) changes in groundfish fishing seasons, (4) individual transferable 
quota programs, and (5) time/area closures.
    Reductions in groundfish TAC amounts provide no incentive for 
fishermen to reduce bycatch rates. Costs that would be imposed on 
fishermen as a result of reducing TAC amounts depend on the species and 
amounts of groundfish foregone.
    Under Sec.  679.2, the definition of ``Authorized fishing gear,'' 
paragraph 12, specifies requirements for biodegradable panels and 
tunnel openings for groundfish pots to reduce halibut bycatch. As a 
result, low bycatch and mortality rates of halibut in pot fisheries 
have justified exempting pot gear from PSC limits.
    The regulations also define ``Pelagic trawl gear'' in a manner 
intended to reduce bycatch of halibut by displacing fishing effort off 
the bottom of the sea floor when certain halibut bycatch levels are 
reached during the fishing year. The definition provides standards for 
physical conformation (Sec.  679.2, ``Authorized fishing gear,'' 
paragraph 11) and performance of the trawl gear in terms of crab 
bycatch (Sec.  679.7(a)(14)). Furthermore, all hook-and-line vessel 
operators are required to employ careful release measures when handling 
halibut bycatch (Sec.  679.7(a)(13)). These measures are intended to 
reduce handling mortality, thereby lowering overall halibut bycatch 
mortality in the groundfish fisheries, and to increase the amount of 
groundfish harvested under the available halibut mortality bycatch 
limits.
    NMFS and the Council will review the methods available for reducing 
halibut bycatch listed here to determine their effectiveness, and will 
initiate changes, as necessary, in response to this review or to public 
testimony and comment.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    The Council recommends and NMFS proposes that the recommended 
halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs) developed by the staff of the 
IPHC for the 2005 GOA groundfish fisheries be used to monitor halibut 
bycatch mortality limits established for the 2006 and 2007 GOA 
groundfish fisheries. The IPHC recommended use of long-term average 
DMRs for the 2004-2006 groundfish fisheries. The IPHC recommendation 
also includes a provision that DMRs could be revised should analysis 
indicate that a fishery's annual DMR deviates substantially (up or 
down) from the long-term average. Most of the IPHC's assumed DMRs were 
based on an average of mortality rates determined from NMFS observer 
data collected between 1993 and 2002. DMRs were lacking for some 
fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the 
``other species'' and skate fisheries, where insufficient mortality 
data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in the Pacific 
cod fishery for each gear type was recommended as

[[Page 74750]]

a default rate. The DMRs proposed for the GOA in 2006 and 2007 are 
unchanged from those used in 2005. The DMRs for hook-and-line targeted 
fisheries range from 8 to 13 percent. The DMRs for trawl targeted 
fisheries range from 57 to 75 percent. The DMRs for all pot targeted 
fisheries is 17 percent. The proposed DMRs for 2006 and 2007 are listed 
in Table 11. The justification for these DMRs is discussed in Appendix 
A of the final SAFE report dated November 2004. The IPHC will update 
and provide recommendations for halibut DMRs in 2006 for the 2007 
groundfish fisheries.

   Table 11.--Proposed 2006 and 2007 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
                        [Listed values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Gear                                           Target                       Mortality Rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line.................................  Other species.................................                13
                                                Skates........................................                13
                                                Pacific cod...................................                13
                                                Rockfish......................................                 8
Trawl.........................................  Arrowtooth flounder...........................                69
                                                Atka mackerel.................................                60
                                                Deep-water flatfish...........................                57
                                                Flathead sole.................................                62
                                                Non pelagic pollock...........................                59
                                                Other species.................................                61
                                                Skates........................................                61
                                                Pacific cod...................................                61
                                                Pelagic pollock...............................                75
                                                Rex sole......................................                62
                                                Rockfish......................................                67
                                                Sablefish.....................................                62
                                                Shallow-water flatfish........................                68
Pot...........................................  Other species.................................                17
                                                Skates........................................                17
                                                Pacific cod...................................                17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher Vessel Groundfish 
Harvest and PSC Limitations

    Section 679.64 established groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limitations on AFA catcher/processors and catcher vessels in 
the GOA. These sideboard limitations are necessary to protect the 
interests of fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from 
the AFA from fishermen and processors who received exclusive harvesting 
and processing privileges under the AFA. In the GOA, listed AFA 
catcher/processors are prohibited from harvesting any species of fish 
(Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(ii)) and from processing any groundfish harvested in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA (Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(iv)). Section 
679.64(b)(2)(ii) exempts from sideboard limitations AFA catcher vessels 
in the GOA less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA whose annual Bering Sea and 
Aleutians Islands pollock landings totaled less than 5,100 mt and that 
made 40 or more GOA groundfish landings from 1995 through 1997.
    For non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA, sideboard 
limitations are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in 
groundfish fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. Section 679.64(b)(3)(iii) 
establishes the GOA groundfish sideboard limitations based on the 
retained catch of non-exempt AFA catcher vessels of each sideboard 
species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that species over 
the same period. These amounts are listed in Table 12 for 2006 and in 
Table 13 for 2007. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard 
species made by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels will be deducted from 
the sideboard limits in Tables 12 and 13.

 Table 12.--Proposed 2006 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
                                                   Limitations
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-
                                          Apportionments and         1997 non-                       2006 non-
              Species                allocations by area/season/   exempt AFA CV     2006 TAC       exempt AFA
                                            processor/gear        catch to 1995-                  catcher vessel
                                                                     1997 TAC                        sideboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock............................  A Season (W/C areas only)
                                     January 20-March 10
                                     Shumagin (610)                       0.6112           5,835           3,566
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.1427          13,547           1,933
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.2438           4,805           1,171
                                     B Season (W/C areas only)..
                                     March 10-May 31
                                     Shumagin (610).............          0.6112           5,835           3,566
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.1427          16,012           2,285
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.2438           2,339             570
                                     C Season (W/C areas only)

[[Page 74751]]

 
                                     August 25-October 1
                                     Shumagin (610).............          0.6112          11,766           7,191
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.1427           5,153             735
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.2438           7,267           1,772
                                     D Season (W/C areas only)
                                     October 1-November 1
                                     Shumagin (610).............          0.6112          11,766           7,191
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.1427           5,153             735
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.2438           7,267           1,772
                                     Annual
                                     WYK (640)..................          0.3499           1,955             684
                                     SEO (650)..................          0.3499           6,520           2,281
Pacific cod........................  A Season\1\
                                     January 1-June 10
                                     W inshore..................          0.1423           8,080           1,050
                                     W offshore.................          0.1026             898              92
                                     C inshore..................          0.0722          12,794             924
                                     C offshore.................          0.0721           1,421             102
                                     B Season \2\
                                     September 1-December 31.
                                     W inshore..................          0.1423           5,388             767
                                     W offshore.................          0.1026             598              61
                                     C inshore..................          0.0722           8,529             616
                                     C offshore.................          0.0721             948              68
                                     Annual
                                     E inshore..................          0.0079           3,125              25
                                     E offshore.................          0.0078             347               3
Flatfish deep-water................  W..........................          0.0000             330               0
                                     C..........................          0.0670           3,340             224
                                     E..........................          0.0171           3,150              54
Rex sole...........................  W..........................          0.0010           1,680               2
                                     C..........................          0.0402           7,340             295
                                     E..........................          0.0153           3,360              56
Flathead sole......................  W..........................          0.0036           2,000               7
                                     C..........................          0.0261           5,000             131
                                     E..........................          0.0048           3,557              17
Flatfish shallow-water.............  W..........................          0.0156           4,500              70
                                     C..........................          0.0598          13,000             777
                                     E..........................          0.0126           3,240              41
Arrowtooth flounder................  W..........................          0.0021           8,000              17
                                     C..........................          0.0309          25,000             773
                                     E..........................          0.0020           5,000              10
Sablefish..........................  W trawl gear...............          0.0000             474               0
                                     C trawl gear...............          0.0720           1,353              97
                                     E trawl gear...............          0.0488             287              14
Pacific ocean perch................  W..........................          0.0623           2,525             157
                                     C..........................          0.0866           8,357             725
                                     E..........................          0.0466           2,392             111
Shortraker rockfish................  W..........................          0.0000             155               0
                                     C..........................          0.0237             324               8
                                     E..........................          0.0124             247               3
Rougheye rockfish..................  W..........................          0.0000             188               0
                                     C..........................          0.0237             557              13
                                     E..........................          0.0124             262               3
Other rockfish.....................  W..........................          0.0034              40               0
                                     C..........................          0.2065             300              62
                                     E..........................          0.0000             330               0
Northern rockfish..................  W..........................          0.0003             752               0
                                     C..........................          0.0336           3,978             146
Pelagic shelf rockfish.............  W..........................          0.0001             366               0
                                     C..........................          0.0000           2,973               0
                                     E..........................          0.0067           1,076               7
Thornyhead rockfish................  W..........................          0.0308             410              13
                                     C..........................          0.0308           1,010              31
                                     E..........................          0.0308             520              16
Big skates.........................  W..........................          0.0090             727               7

[[Page 74752]]

 
                                     C..........................          0.0090           2,463              22
                                     E..........................          0.0090             809               7
Longnose skates....................  W..........................          0.0090              66               1
                                     C..........................          0.0090           1,972              18
                                     E..........................          0.0090             780               7
Other skates.......................  GW.........................          0.0090           1,327              12
Demersal shelf rockfish............  SEO........................          0.0020             410               1
Atka mackerel......................  Gulfwide...................          0.0309             600              19
Other species......................  Gulfwide...................          0.0090          14,348            129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


 Table 13.--Proposed 2007 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
                                                  Limitations.
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-
                                                                     1997 non-                       2007 non-
            Species              Apportionments and allocations    exempt AFA CV     2007 TAC       exempt AFA
                                  by area/season/processor/gear   catch to 1995-                  catcher vessel
                                                                     1997 TAC                        sideboard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.......................  A Season (W/C areas only):
                                 January 20-March 10
                                Shumagin (610)..................          0.6112           5,262           3,216
                                Chirikof (620)..................          0.1427          12,216           1,743
                                Kodiak (630)....................          0.2438           4,332           1,056
                                B Season (W/C areas only)
                                March 10-May 31
                                Shumagin (610)..................          0.6112           5,261           3,216
                                Chirikof (620)..................          0.1427          14,439           2,060
                                Kodiak (630)....................          0.2438           2,109             514
                                C Season (W/C areas only)
                                August 25-October 1
                                Shumagin (610)..................          0.6112          10,610           6,485
                                Chirikof (620)..................          0.1427           4,646             633
                                Kodiak (630)....................          0.2438           6,553           1,598
                                D Season (W/C areas only)
                                October 1-November 1
                                Shumagin (610)..................          0.6112          10,610           6,485
                                Chirikof (620)..................          0.1427           4,646             663
                                Kodiak (630)....................          0.2438           6,553           1,598
                                Annual
                                WYK (640).......................          0.3499           1,763             617
                                SEO (650).......................          0.3499           6,520           2,281
Pacific cod...................  A Season \1\
                                January 1-June 10
                                W inshore.......................          0.1423           6,797             967
                                W offshore......................          0.1026             755              77
                                C inshore.......................          0.0722          10,761             777
                                C offshore......................          0.0721           1,197              86
                                B Season \2\
                                September 1-December 31
                                W inshore.......................          0.1423           4,531             645
                                W offshore......................          0.1026             504              52
                                C inshore.......................          0.0722           7,175             518
                                C offshore......................          0.0721             797              57
                                Annual
                                E inshore.......................          0.0079           2,628              21
                                E offshore......................          0.0078             292               2
Flatfish deep-water...........
                                W...............................          0.0000             330               0
                                C...............................          0.0670           3,340             224
                                E...............................          0.0171           3,150              54
Rex sole......................
                                W...............................          0.0010           1,680               2

[[Page 74753]]

 
                                C...............................          0.0402           7,340             295
                                E...............................          0.0153           3,630              56
Flathead sole.................
                                W...............................          0.0036           2,000               7
                                C...............................          0.0261           5,000             131
                                E...............................          0.0048           2,664              13
Flatfish shallow-water........
                                W...............................          0.0156           4,500              70
                                C...............................          0.0598          13,000             777
                                E...............................          0.0126           3,240              41
Arrowtooth flounder...........
                                W...............................          0.0021           8,000              17
                                C...............................          0.0309          25,000             773
                                E...............................          0.0020           5,000              10
Sablefish.....................
                                W trawl gear....................          0.0000             443               0
                                C trawl gear....................          0.0720           1,264              91
                                E trawl gear....................          0.0488             268              13
Pacific ocean perch...........
                                W...............................          0.0623           2,494             155
                                C...............................          0.0866           8,293             718
                                E...............................          0.0466           2,363             110
Shortraker rockfish...........
                                W...............................          0.0000             155               0
                                C...............................          0.0237             324               8
                                E...............................          0.0124             247               3
Rougheye rockfish.............
                                W...............................          0.0000             188               0
                                C...............................          0.0237             557              13
                                E...............................          0.0124             262               3
Other rockfish................
                                W...............................          0.0034              40               0
                                C...............................          0.2065             300              62
                                E...............................          0.0000             330               0
Northern rockfish.............
                                W...............................          0.0003             704               0
                                C...............................          0.0336           3,726             136
Pelagic shelf rockfish........
                                W...............................          0.0001             366               0
                                C...............................          0.0000           2,973               0
                                E...............................          0.0067           1,076               7
Thornyhead rockfish...........
                                W...............................          0.0308             410              13
                                C...............................          0.0308           1,010              31
                                E...............................          0.0308             520              16
Big skates....................
                                W...............................          0.0090             727               7
                                C...............................          0.0090           2,463              22
                                E...............................          0.0090             809               7
Longnose skates...............
                                W...............................          0.0090              66               1
                                C...............................          0.0090           1,972              18
                                E...............................          0.0090             780               7
Other skates..................
                                GW..............................          0.0090           1,327              12
Demersal shelf rockfish.......
                                SEO.............................          0.0020             410               1
Atka mackerel.................
                                Gulfwide........................          0.0309             600              19
Other species.................
                                Gulfwide........................          0.0090          13,411            121
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


[[Page 74754]]

    In accordance with Sec.  679.64(b)(4), PSC sideboard limitations 
for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA are based on the ratio of 
aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels 
in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997, relative to the 
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997. 
These amounts are shown in Table 14.

          Table 14.--Proposed 2006 and 2007 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for the GOA.
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              Ratio of 1995-1997
                                                                                               non-exempt AFA CV                      2006 and 2007 non-
              PSC species                         Season                 Target fishery        retained catch to   2006 and 2007 PSC  exempt AFA catcher
                                                                                                total retained           limit         vessel PSC limit
                                                                                                     catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (mortality in mt).............  Trawl 1st seasonal         shallow water targets....               0.340                 450                 153
                                         allowance January 20-
                                         April 1.
                                                                   deep water targets.......               0.070                 100                   7
                                        Trawl 2nd seasonal         shallow water targets....               0.340                 100                  34
                                         allowance April 1-July 1.
                                                                   deep water targets.......               0.070                 300                  21
                                        Trawl 3rd seasonal         shallow water targets....               0.340                 200                  68
                                         allowance July 1-
                                         September 1.
                                                                   deep water targets.......               0.070                 400                  28
                                        Trawl 4th seasonal         shallow water targets....               0.340                 150                  51
                                         allowance September 1-
                                         October 1.
                                                                   deep water targets.......               0.070                   0                   0
                                        Trawl 5th seasonal         all targets..............               0.205                 300                  61
                                         allowance October 1-
                                         December 31.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limitations for vessels 
with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to 
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by 
the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation 
in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Restrictions on participation in other 
fisheries, also called sideboards, will restrict a vessel's harvests to 
its historical landings in all GOA groundfish fisheries (except the 
fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Restrictions also will apply to landings 
made using a License Limitation Program (LLP) license derived from the 
history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP is used on another 
vessel.
    For non-AFA crab vessels in the GOA, sideboards limitations are 
based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish 
fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. The regulations base the groundfish 
sideboard limitations in the GOA on the retained catch by non-AFA crab 
vessels of each sideboard species from 1996 through 2000 divided by the 
total retained harvest of that species over the same period (Sec.  
680.22 (d) and (e)). These amounts are listed in Table 15 for 2006 and 
in Table 16 for 2007. All harvests of sideboard species made by non-AFA 
crab vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the sideboard limits in Tables 15 and 16. Vessels exempt 
from Pacific cod sideboards are those that landed less than 45,359 kg 
of Bering Sea snow crab and more than 500 mt of groundfish (in round 
weight equivalents) from the GOA between January 1, 1996 and December 
31, 2000, and any vessel named on an LLP that was generated in whole or 
in part by the fishing history of a vessel meeting the criteria in 
Sec.  680.22(a)(3). The ratios of 1996-2000 non-AFA CV catch to 1996-
2000 total harvest in Tables 15 and 16 may be subject to modification 
pending changes to named vessels on LLPs as of December 31, 2005.

                    Table 15.--Proposed 2006 GOA Non American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Ratio of 1996-
                                                                                                     2000 non-AFA CV                      2006 non-AFA
                    Species                        Apportionments and allocations by area/season/    catch to 1996-       2006 TAC         crab vessel
                                                                   processor/gear                      2000 total                           sideboard
                                                                                                         harvest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock........................................  A Season (W/C areas only); January 20-March 10
                                                 Shumagin (610)...................................            0.0325             5,835               190
                                                 Chirikof (620)...................................            0.0101            13,547               137
                                                 Kodiak (630).....................................            0.0003             4,805                 1
                                                 B Season (W/C areas only); March 10-May 31
                                                 Shumagin (610)...................................            0.0325             5,835               190
                                                 Chirikof (620)...................................            0.0101            16,012               162
                                                 Kodiak (630).....................................            0.0003             2,339                 1
                                                 C Season (W/C areas only); August 25-October 1

[[Page 74755]]

 
                                                 Shumagin (610)...................................            0.0325            11,766               382
                                                 Chirikof (620)...................................            0.0101             5,153                52
                                                 Kodiak (630).....................................            0.0003             7,267                 2
                                                 D Season (W/C areas only); October 1-November 1
                                                 Shumagin (610)...................................            0.0325            11,766               382
                                                 Chirikof (620)...................................            0.0101             5,153                52
                                                 Kodiak (630).....................................            0.0003             7,267                 2
                                                 Annual
                                                 WYK (640)........................................            0.0000             1,955                 0
                                                 SEO (650)........................................            0.0000             6,520                 0
Pacific cod....................................  A Season 1; January 1-June 10
                                                 W inshore........................................            0.0976             8,080               789
                                                 W offshore.......................................            0.3550               898               319
                                                 C inshore........................................            0.0502            12,794               642
                                                 C offshore.......................................            0.2659             1,421               378
                                                 B Season 2 September 1-December 31
                                                 W inshore........................................            0.0976             5,388               526
                                                 W offshore.......................................            0.3550               598               212
                                                 C inshore........................................            0.0502             8,529               428
                                                 C offshore.......................................            0.2659               948               252
                                                 Annual
                                                 E inshore........................................            0.0179             3,125                56
                                                 E offshore.......................................            0.0000               347                 0
Flatfish deep-water............................  W................................................            0.0048               330                 2
                                                 C................................................            0.0001             3,340                 0
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             3,150                 0
Rex sole.......................................  W................................................            0.0001             1,680                 0
                                                 C................................................            0.0001             7,340                 1
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             3,630                 0
Flathead sole..................................  W................................................            0.0037             2,000                 7
                                                 C................................................            0.0005             5,000                 3
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             3,557                 0
Flatfish shallow-water.........................  W................................................            0.0061             4,500                27
                                                 C................................................            0.0001            13,000                 1
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             3,240                 0
Arrowtooth flounder............................  W................................................            0.0017             8,000                14
                                                 C................................................            0.0003            25,000                 8
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             5,000                 0
Sablefish......................................  W trawl gear.....................................            0.0000               474                 0
                                                 C trawl gear.....................................            0.0007             1,353                 1
                                                 E trawl gear.....................................            0.0000               287                 0
Pacific ocean perch............................  W................................................            0.0000             2,525                 0
                                                 C................................................            0.0008             8,357                 7
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             2,392                 0
Shortraker rockfish............................  W................................................            0.0017               155                 0
                                                 C................................................            0.0028               324                 1
                                                 E................................................            0.0012               247                 0
Rougheye rockfish..............................  W................................................            0.0067               188                 1
                                                 C................................................            0.0050               557                 3
                                                 E................................................            0.0011               262                 0
Other rockfish.................................  W................................................            0.0035                40                 0
                                                 C................................................            0.0034               300                 1
                                                 E................................................            0.0001               330                 0
Northern rockfish..............................  W................................................            0.0005               752                 0
                                                 C................................................            0.0018             3,978                 7
Pelagic shelf rockfish.........................  W................................................            0.0017               366                 1
                                                 C................................................            0.0002             2,973                 1
                                                 E................................................            0.0000             1,076                 0
Thornyhead rockfish............................  W................................................            0.0051               410                 2
                                                 C................................................            0.0077             1,010                 8
                                                 E................................................            0.0050               520                 3
Big skate......................................  W................................................            0.0200               727                15
                                                 C................................................            0.0200             2,463                49
                                                 E................................................            0.0200               809                16
Longnose skate.................................  W................................................            0.0200                66                 1
                                                 C................................................            0.0200             1,972                39

[[Page 74756]]

 
                                                 E................................................            0.0200               780                16
Other skates...................................  GW...............................................            0.0200             1,327                27
Demersal shelf rockfish........................  SEO..............................................            0.0000               410                 0
Atka mackerel..................................  Gulfwide.........................................            0.0000               600                 0
Other species..................................  Gulfwide.........................................            0.0200            14,348              287
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


      Table 16.--Proposed 2007 GOA Non American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
                                                  Limitations.
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1996-
                                          Apportionments and       2000 non-AFA                    2007 non-AFA
              Species                allocations by area/season/    CV catch to      2007 TAC       crab vessel
                                            processor/gear           1996-2000                       sideboard
                                                                   total harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock............................  A Season (W/C areas only)
                                     January 20-March 10
                                     Shumagin (610).............          0.0325           5,262             171
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.0101          12,216             123
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.0003           4,332               1
                                     B Season (W/C areas only)
                                     March 10-May 31
                                     Shumagin (610)                       0.0325           5,261             171
                                     Chirikof (620)                       0.0101          14,439             146
                                     Kodiak (630)                         0.0003           2,109               1
                                     C Season (W/C areas only)
                                     August 25-October 1
                                     Shumagin (610).............          0.0325          10,610             345
                                     Chirikof (620).............          0.0101           4,646              47
                                     Kodiak (630)...............          0.0003           6,553               2
                                     D Season (W/C areas only)
                                     October 1-November 1
                                     Shumagin (610)                       0.0325          10,610             345
                                     Chirikof (620)                       0.0101           4,646              47
                                     Kodiak (630)                         0.0003           6,553               2
                                     Annual
                                     WYK (640)                            0.0000           1,763               0
                                     SEO (650)                            0.0000           6,520               0
Pacific cod........................  A Season \1\
                                     January 1-June 10
                                     W inshore..................          0.0976           6,797             663
                                     W offshore.................          0.3550             755             268
                                     C inshore..................          0.0502          10,761             540
                                     C offshore.................          0.2659           1,197             318
                                     B Season \2\
                                     September 1-December 31
                                     W inshore..................          0.0976           4,531             442
                                     W offshore.................          0.3550             504             179
                                     C inshore..................          0.0502           7,175             360
                                     C offshore.................          0.2659             797             212
                                     Annual
                                     E inshore..................          0.0179           2,628              47
                                     E offshore.................          0.0000             292               0
Flatfish deep-water................  W..........................          0.0048             330               2
                                     C..........................          0.0001           3,340               0
                                     E..........................          0.0000           3,150               0
Rex sole...........................  W..........................          0.0001           1,680               0
                                     C..........................          0.0001           7,340               1
                                     E..........................          0.0000           3,630               0
Flathead sole......................  W..........................          0.0037           2,000               7
                                     C..........................          0.0005           5,000               3
                                     E..........................          0.0000           2,664               0

[[Page 74757]]

 
Flatfish shallow water.............  W..........................          0.0061           4,500              27
                                     C..........................          0.0001          13,000               1
                                     E..........................          0.0000           3,240               0
Arrowtooth flounder................  W..........................          0.0017           8,000              14
                                     C..........................          0.0003          25,000               8
                                     E..........................          0.0000           5,000               0
Sablefish..........................  W trawl gear...............          0.0000             443               0
                                     C trawl gear...............          0.0007           1,264               1
                                     E trawl gear...............          0.0000             268               0
Pacific ocean perch................  W..........................          0.0000           2,494               0
                                     C..........................          0.0008           8,293               7
                                     E..........................          0.0000           2,363               0
Shortraker rockfish................  W..........................          0.0017             155               0
                                     C..........................          0.0028             324               1
                                     E..........................          0.0012             247               0
Rougheye rockfish..................  W..........................          0.0067             188               1
                                     C..........................          0.0050             557               3
                                     E..........................          0.0011             262               0
Other rockfish.....................  W..........................          0.0035              40               0
                                     C..........................          0.0034             300               1
                                     E..........................          0.0001             330               0
Northern rockfish..................  W..........................          0.0005             704               0
                                     C..........................          0.0018           3,726               7
Pelagic shelf rockfish.............  W..........................          0.0017             366               1
                                     C..........................          0.0002           2,973               1
                                     E..........................          0.0000           1,076               0
Thornyhead rockfish................  W..........................          0.0051             410               2
                                     C..........................          0.0077           1,010               8
                                     E..........................          0.0050             520               3
Big skate..........................  W..........................          0.0200             727              15
                                     C..........................          0.0200           2,463              49
                                     E..........................          0.0200             809              16
Longnose skate.....................  W..........................          0.0200              66               1
                                     C..........................          0.0200           1,972              39
                                     E..........................          0.0200             780              16
Other skates.......................  GW.........................          0.0200           1,327              27
Demersal shelf rockfish............  SEO........................          0.0000             410               0
Atka mackerel......................  Gulfwide...................          0.0000             600               0
Other species......................  Gulfwide...................          0.0200          13,411            268
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

Classification

    An IRFA was prepared to evaluate the impacts of the 2006 and 2007 
proposed harvest specifications on directly regulated small entities. 
This IRFA is intended to meet the statutory requirements of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA). A copy of the IRFA is available from 
NMFS (See ADDRESSES). The reason for the action, a statement of the 
objective of the action, and the legal basis are discussed in the 
preamble and are not repeated here.
    The 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications establish harvest limits 
for the groundfish species and species groups in the GOA. Entities 
directly impacted are those fishing for groundfish in the Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ), or in parallel fisheries in State waters (in which 
harvests are counted against the Federal TAC). An estimated 693 small 
catcher vessels, 18 small catcher/processors, and 6 small private non-
profit CDQ groups may be directly regulated by these harvest 
specifications in the GOA. The catcher vessel estimate in particular is 
subject to various uncertainties. It may provide an underestimate since 
it does not count vessels that fish only within State parallel 
fisheries. This underestimate may be offset by upward biases introduced 
by the use of preliminary price estimates (which don't fully account 
for post-season price adjustments) and by a failure to account for 
affiliations, other than AFA cooperative affiliations, among entities. 
For these reasons, the catcher vessel estimate must be considered an 
approximation.
    The IRFA examined the impacts of the preferred alternative on small 
entities within fisheries reliant on species groups whose TACs might be 
notably adjusted by the harvest specifications. The IRFA identified the 
potential for adverse impacts on small fishing operations harvesting 
Pacific cod, sablefish, and rockfish species in the GOA.
    GOA Pacific cod revenue decreases for small entities and were 
estimated to be about 1 percent of their revenues from all sources in 
2006 and 3.7 percent between 2005 and 2007. Sablefish revenue decreases 
for small entities and

[[Page 74758]]

were estimated to be about 3.7 percent of their revenues from all 
sources in 2006 and 6.7 percent between 2005 and 2007. TAC declines 
were expected for the rockfish species or species groups, Pacific ocean 
perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish. Rockfish revenue 
changes for small entities were estimated to be a maximum of 4.7 
percent of their revenues from all sources in 2006 and a maximum of 4 
percent between 2005 and 2007.
    This regulation does not impose new recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements on the regulated small entities. This analysis did not 
reveal any Federal rules that duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the 
proposed action.
    This analysis examined four alternatives to the preferred 
alternative. These included alternatives that set TACs to produce 
fishing rates equal to maxFABC, one half maxFABC, 
the recent 5 year average F, and zero. Only one of these alternatives, 
setting TACs equal to maxFABC, would have potentially a 
smaller adverse impact on small entities than the preferred 
alternative. This alternative is associated with larger gross revenues 
for the GOA fisheries. Many of the vessels identified above would share 
in these gross revenues. However, the maxFABC is a fishing 
rate that may, and often does, exceed biologically recommended ABCs. 
For the pollock, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, sablefish, Pacific 
ocean perch, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, northern rockfish, 
pelagic shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, 
skate, and Atka mackerel fisheries described above, the preferred 
alternative, which produces fishing rates less than maxFABC, 
sets TACs equal to projected annual ABCs. In addition, the preferred 
alternative TACs for Pacific cod, when combined with the State of 
Alaska guideline harvest levels for these fisheries, also equals ABC. 
The increases in TACs related to producing fishing rates of 
maxFABC would not be consistent with biologically prudent 
fishery management because they do not fall within the scientifically 
determined ABC.
    This action is authorized under Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1540(f); 1801 et seq.; 1851 
note; and 3631 et seq.

    Dated: December 12, 2005.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
 [FR Doc. E5-7463 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P