[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75437-75460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21303]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 061130320-6320-01 ; I.D. 112206B]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2007 and 2008 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2007 and 2008 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 for groundfish during 
the 2007 and 2008 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and 
objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of 
Alaska (FMP). The intended effect of this action is to conserve and 
manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in accordance with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act).

DATES: Comments must be received by January 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Sue Salveson, Assistant Regional 
Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, NMFS, 
Attn: Ellen Walsh, Records Officer. 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: ``2007 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 Impact Statement (DEIS) and the 
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action 
are available from NMFS at the addresses above or from the Alaska 
Region website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov. Copies of the final 2005 
Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the 
groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2005, and the October 
2006 North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) meeting minutes 
are available from the Council at West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99510 or from its website 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: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the FMP. The 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 in large part on the 2005 
SAFE reports. In November 2006, the 2006 SAFE reports will be used to 
develop the 2007 and 2008 final acceptable biological catch (ABC) 
amounts. Anticipated changes in the final specifications from the 
proposed specifications 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 
to 800,000 metric tons (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 in Tables 1 through 20 of this 
document satisfy these requirements. For 2007, the sum of the proposed 
TAC amounts is 264,367 mt. For 2008, the sum of the

[[Page 75438]]

proposed TAC amounts is 251,092 mt. Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will 
publish the 2007 and 2008 final specifications after (1) considering 
comments received within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting 
with the Council at its December 2006 meeting, and (3) considering new 
information presented in the DEIS and the final 2006 SAFE report 
prepared for the 2007 and 2008 fisheries.

Other Rules Affecting the 2007 and 2008 Harvest Specifications

    Congress granted NMFS specific statutory authority to manage 
Central GOA rockfish fisheries in Section 802 of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-199; Section 802). The 
Council adopted a proposed Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot 
Program (Rockfish Program) to meet the requirements of Section 802 on 
June 6, 2005. The elements of the Rockfish Program are discussed in 
detail in the proposed and final rules to Amendment 68 to the FMP (71 
FR 33040, June 7, 2006 and 71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006, 
respectively). The final rule is effective December 20, 2006. The 
Rockfish Program is authorized for two years, from January 1, 2007, 
until December 31, 2008. A brief overview of major provisions of the 
Rockfish Program that have implications for the 2007 and 2008 harvest 
specifications follow.
    The Rockfish Program allocates exclusive harvesting and processing 
privileges for primary rockfish species and for associated species 
harvested incidentally to those rockfish in the Central GOA-an area 
from 147[deg] W. longitude to 159[deg] W. longitude. The primary 
rockfish species are northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
pelagic shelf rockfish. Secondary species are those species 
incidentally harvested during the harvest of the primary rockfish 
species fisheries and include Pacific cod, rougheye rockfish, 
shortraker rockfish, sablefish, and thornyhead rockfish. The Rockfish 
Program also allocates a portion of the total GOA halibut mortality 
limit annually specified under Sec.  679.21 to participants based on 
historic halibut mortality rates in the primary rockfish species 
fisheries. The amounts of primary rockfish species, secondary species, 
and halibut mortality to be allocated to the Rockfish Program will not 
be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the 
Program. These amounts will be posted on the Alaska Region website at 
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov when they become available early in 2007.
    The Rockfish Program also establishes catch limits, commonly called 
``sideboards,'' to limit the ability of participants eligible for this 
Program to harvest fish in fisheries other than the Central GOA 
rockfish fisheries. Sideboards limit the total amount of catch in other 
groundfish fisheries that can be taken by eligible harvesters to 
historic levels, including harvests made in the State of Alaska (State) 
parallel groundfish fisheries. These are fisheries authorized by the 
State in its waters concurrent with the Federal fishery for which 
harvest amounts are deducted from the Federal TAC. Sideboards limit 
harvest in specific rockfish fisheries and the amount of halibut 
bycatch that can be used in certain flatfish fisheries. Tables 18 and 
19 list the proposed 2007 and 2008 groundfish sideboard limits. Table 
20 lists the proposed 2007 and 2008 halibut mortality limits.

Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications

    The proposed ABCs and TACs 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 to compute ABCs and overfishing levels 
(OFLs). 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 most reliable level 
of information and tier six the least reliable level of information.
    In October 2006, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP), reviewed current 
biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish 
stocks in the GOA. 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 2005 SAFE report for the GOA 
groundfish fisheries, dated November 2005 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE 
report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses, estimates 
of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as 
summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem and the 
economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these 
data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an ABC for each species 
category. The 2005 SAFE report will be updated to include new 
information collected during 2006. The Plan Team will provide revised 
stock assessments in November 2006 in the final 2006 SAFE report. The 
Council will review the 2006 SAFE report in December 2006. The final 
2007 and 2008 harvest specifications may be adjusted from the proposed 
harvest specifications based on the 2006 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 2007 OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts for 
pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole, flathead sole, arrowtooth 
flounder, northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, rougheye rockfish, 
pelagic shelf rockfish, and ``other species'' as published in the 2006 
and 2007 final harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA on 
March 3, 2006 (71 FR 10870). These amended amounts were recommended by 
the Council based on new information developed in 2006. For tier 1-3 
stocks listed above, the GOA Groundfish Plan Team recommended projected 
groundfish OFLs and ABCs for 2007 and 2008 at its September 2006 
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 2006 levels for 2007 and 2008.
    For 2007 and 2008, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the 
OFLs and ABCs listed in Tables 1 and 2. The ABCs reflect harvest 
amounts that are less than the specified overfishing amounts. The sum 
of the proposed 2007 ABCs for all assessed groundfish is 482,764 mt, 
which is lower than the final 2006 ABC total of 500,626 mt but higher 
than the final 2007 ABC total of 472,260 mt (71 FR 10870, March 3, 
2006). The sum of the proposed 2008 ABCs for all assessed groundfish is 
469,755 mt, which is lower than the final 2006 ABC total of 500,626 mt 
and the final 2007 ABC total of 472,260 mt.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The Council recommended proposed TACs for 2007 and 2008 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

[[Page 75439]]

rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, and skates. The Council recommended 
TACs that are less than the ABCs for Pacific cod, flathead sole, 
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, other rockfish, and Atka 
mackerel.
    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 
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, as well as 
equally among each of the following four seasons: 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)(Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv) and 
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)).
    As in 2006, the SSC and Council recommended that the method of 
apportioning the sablefish ABC among management areas in 2007 and 2008 
include commercial fishery and survey data. NMFS stock assessment 
scientists believe that unbiased commercial fishery catch-per-unit 
effort data are useful 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 Regulatory Area and makes 
available 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to 
trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish 
fisheries in the West Yakutat District (WYK)(Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)).
    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 the sum of all State and 
Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC 
recommendations. The 2007 and 2008 Pacific cod TACs are affected by the 
State's fishery for Pacific cod in its waters in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in Prince William Sound (PWS). 
Accordingly, the Council recommended the 2007 and 2008 proposed Pacific 
cod TACs be reduced from ABC amounts to account for guideline harvest 
levels (GHL) established for Pacific cod by the State for fisheries 
that occur in State waters of the GOA. Therefore, the 2007 proposed 
Pacific cod TACs are less than the proposed ABCs by the following 
amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 353 mt; (2) Central GOA, 8,099 mt; and (3) 
Western GOA, 5,743 mt. Similarly, the 2008 proposed Pacific cod TACs 
are less than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern 
GOA, 241 mt; (2) Central GOA, 5,514 mt; and (3) Western GOA; 3,910 mt. 
These amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2007 and 2008 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 TACs 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)).
    As in 2006, NMFS proposes to establish for 2007 and 2008 an A 
season directed fishing allowance (DFA) for the Pacific cod fisheries 
in the GOA based on the management area TACs minus 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 catch 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 catch exceeding 60 percent of the annual TAC in the A 
season (January 1 through June 10).
    The FMP specifies that the amount for the ``other species'' 
category be set at an amount less than or equal to 5 percent of the 
combined TAC amounts for target species. The proposed 2007 and 2008 
``other species'' TACs of 4,500 mt are less than 5 percent of the 
combined TAC amounts for target species. The sum of the proposed TACs 
for all GOA groundfish is 264,367 mt for 2007 and 251,092 mt for 2008, 
which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. The sums of the 
proposed 2007 and 2008 TACs are both lower than the sum of the 2006 
TACs of 291,950 mt.
    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. Tables 1 and 2 list the proposed 2007 and 2008 ABCs, TACs, 
and OFLs.

   Table 1 - Proposed 2007 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Total                         Species                 Area\1\          ABC        TAC        OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Pollock\2\      Shumagin (610)     23,363     23,363        n/a
                                 ..........................      Chirikof (620)     24,635     24,635        n/a
                                 ..........................        Kodiak (630)     14,905     14,905        n/a
                                 ..........................           WYK (640)      1,447      1,447        n/a
Subtotal                         ..........................             W/C/WYK     64,350     64,350     90,200
                                 ..........................           SEO (650)      6,157      6,157      8,209
Total                            ..........................  ..................     70,507     70,507     98,409
                                             Pacific cod\3\                   W     22,971     17,228        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C     32,395     24,296        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E      3,534      3,181        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................     58,900     44,705     70,100
                                   Flatfish \4\(deep-water)                   W        421        421        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      4,145      4,145        n/a

[[Page 75440]]

 
                                 ..........................                 WYK      2,665      2,665        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      1,446      1,446        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      8,677      8,677     11,008
                                                   Rex sole                   W      1,096      1,096        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      5,207      5,207        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK        992        992        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      1,405      1,405        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      8,700      8,700     11,400
                                              Flathead sole                   W     10,905      2,000        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C     26,047      5,000        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK      2,091      2,091        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO         57         57        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................     39,100      9,148     48,600
                                      Flatfish\5\ (shallow-                   W     24,720      4,500        n/a
                                                     water)
                                 ..........................                   C     24,258     13,000        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK        628        628        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      1,844      1,844        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................     51,450     19,972     62,418
                                        Arrowtooth flounder                   W     20,897      8,000        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C    139,881     30,000        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK     16,541      2,500        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      7,081      2,500        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................    184,400     43,000    215,300
                                               Sablefish\6\                   W      2,464      2,464        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      5,879      5,879        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK      2,103      2,103        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      3,254      3,254        n/a
Subtotal of SERO and WYK         ..........................                   E      5,357      5,357        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................     13,700     13,700     16,500
                                     Pacific ocean perch\7\                   W      4,282      4,282      5,069
                                 ..........................                   C      7,646      7,646      9,052
                                 ..........................                 WYK      1,135      1,135        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      1,636      1,636        n/a
Subtotal                         ..........................                   E        n/a        n/a      3,279
Total                            ..........................  ..................     14,699     14,699     17,400
                                     Shortraker rockfish\8\                   W        153        153        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C        353        353        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E        337        337        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................        843        843      1,124
                                       Rougheye rockfish\9\                   W        124        124        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C        557        557        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E        219        219        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................        900        900      1,100
                                      Other rockfish\10,11\                   W        577        577        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C        386        386        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK        317        317        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO      2,872        200        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      4,152      1,480      5,394
                                   Northern rockfish\11,12\                   W      1,719      1,719        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      4,181      4,181        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E          0          0        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      5,900      5,900      7,000
                                 Pelagic shelf rockfish\13\                   W      1,452      1,452        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      3,270      3,270        n/a
                                 ..........................                 WYK        302        302        n/a
                                 ..........................                 SEO        437        437        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      5,461      5,461      7,108
                                        Thornyhead rockfish                   W        513        513        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C        989        989        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E        707        707        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      2,209      2,209      2,945
                                             Big skates\14\                   W        695        695        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      2,250      2,250        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E        599        599        n/a
Total                            ..........................  ..................      3,544      3,544      4,726
                                        Longnose skates\15\                   W         65         65        n/a
                                 ..........................                   C      1,969      1,969        n/a
                                 ..........................                   E        861        861        n/a

[[Page 75441]]

 
Total                            ..........................  ..................      2,895      2,895      3,860
                                           Other skates\16\                  GW      1,617      1,617      2,156
                                             Demersal shelf                 SEO        410        410        650
                                               rockfish\17\
                                              Atka mackerel                  GW      4,700      1,500      6,200
                                          Other species\18\                  GW        n/a      4,500        n/a
Total\19\                        ..........................  ..................    482,764    264,367    593,398
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 22%, 57%, and 21% in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the
  apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 22%, 69%, and 9% 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 53%, 15%, and 32% in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
  Tables 5 and 6 list the 2007and 2008 proposed seasonal apportionments. 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% to an A season and 40% to a B season in the Western and
  Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
  10% for processing by the offshore component. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2007 and 2008 proposed seasonal
  apportionments and component allocations of TAC.
\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 2007 and to trawl gear in 2008. Tables 3 and 4
  list these amounts.
\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.
\17.\ ``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).
\18.\ ``Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ``other
  species.'' The FMP specifies that the amount for the ``other species'' category be set at an amount less than
  or equal to 5% of the combined TAC amounts for target species.
\19.\ The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.


Table 2 Proposed 2008 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs 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)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Total                   Species          Area\1\           ABC             TAC             OFL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Pollock\2\       Shumagin (610)  23,908          23,908          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  Chirikof (620)  25,209          25,209          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  Kodiak (630)    15,252          15,252          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK (640)       1,481           1,481           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                         ...............  W/C/WYK         65,850          65,850          92,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO (650)       6,157           6,157           8,209
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  72,007          72,007          100,909
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Pacific cod\3\   W               15,639          11,729          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               22,055          16,541          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               2,406           2,165           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  40,100          30,435          48,300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Flatfish\4\      W               421             421             n/a
                                  (deep-water)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 75442]]

 
                                 ...............  C               4,145           4,145           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             2,665           2,665           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             1,446           1,446           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  8,677           8,677           11,008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Rex sole         W               1,084           1,084           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               5,147           5,147           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             980             980             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             1,389           1,389           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  8,600           8,600           11,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Flathead sole    W               11,435          2,000           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               27,313          5,000           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             2,192           2,192           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             60              60              n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  41,000          9,242           51,110
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Flatfish\5\(sha  W               24,720          4,500           n/a
                                  llow-water)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               24,258          13,000          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             628             628             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             1,844           1,844           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  51,450          19,972          62,418
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Arrowtooth       W               21,237          8,000           n/a
                                  flounder
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               142,155         30,000          n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             16,811          2,500           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             7,197           2,500           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  187,400         43,000          218,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Sablefish\6\     W               2,213           2,213           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               5,278           5,278           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             1,888           1,888           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             2,921           2,921           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                         ...............  E               4,809           4,809           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  12,300          12,300          14,800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Pacific ocean    W               4,341           4,341           5,156
                                  perch\7\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               7,751           7,751           9,208
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             1,150           1,150           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             1,658           1,658           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 75443]]

 
Subtotal                         ...............  E               n/a             n/a             3,336
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  14,900          14,900          17,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Shortraker       W               153             153             n/a
                                  rockfish\8\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               353             353             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               337             337             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  843             843             1,124
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Rougheye         W               124             124             n/a
                                  rockfish\9\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               557             557             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               219             219             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  900             900             1,100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Other            W               577             577             n/a
                                  rockfish\10,11
                                  \
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               386             386             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             317             317             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             2,872           200             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  4,152           1,480           5,394
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Northern         W               1,690           1,690           n/a
                                  rockfish\11,12
                                  \
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               4,110           4,110           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               0               0               n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  5,800           5,800           7,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Pelagic shelf    W               1,653           1,653           n/a
                                  rockfish\13\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               3,751           3,751           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  WYK             346             346             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  SEO             501             501             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  6,251           6,251           8,554
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Thornyhead       W               513             513             n/a
                                  rockfish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               989             989             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               707             707             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  2,209           2,209           2,945
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Big skates\14\   W               695             695             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               2,250           2,250           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  E               599             599             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  3,544           3,544           4,726
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Longnose         W               65              65              n/a
                                  skates\15\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ...............  C               1,969           1,969           n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 75444]]

 
                                 ...............  E               861             861             n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                            ...............  ..............  2,895           2,895           3,860
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Other            GW              1,617           1,617           2,156
                                  skates\16\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Demersal shelf   SEO             410             410             650
                                  rockfish\17\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Atka mackerel    GW              4,700           1,500           6,200
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Other            GW              n/a             4,500           n/a
                                  species\18\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL\19\                        ...............  ..............  469,755         251,092         579,954
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 22%, 57%, and 21% in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B season, the
  apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass at 22%, 69%, and 9% 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 53%, 15%, and 32% in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
  Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2007 and 2008 seasonal apportionments. 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% to an A season and 40% to a B season in the Western and
  Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
  10% for processing by the offshore component. Tables 7 and 8 list the 2007 and 2008 proposed seasonal
  apportionments and component allocations of TAC.
\4\. ''Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, and deepsea sole.
\5\. ''Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ''deep-water flatfish,'' flatheador arrowtooth
  flounder.
\6\. Sablefish is allocated to trawl and hook-and-line gears for 2007 and to trawl gear in 2008. Tables 3 and 4
  list these amounts.
\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.
\17\. ''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).
\18\. ''Other species'' means sculpins, sharks, squid, and octopus. There is no OFL or ABC for ''other
  species.'' The FMP specifies that the amount for the ''other species'' category be set at an amount less than
  or equal to 5% of the combined TAC amounts for target species.
\19\. The total ABC and OFL is the sum of the ABCs and OFLs for assessed target species.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires that 20 percent of each TAC for 
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and the ``other species'' category be 
set aside in reserves for possible apportionment at a later date. In 
2006, NMFS apportioned all of the reserves in the final harvest 
specifications. For 2007 and 2008, NMFS proposes apportionment of all 
of the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, and ``other 
species.'' Specifications of TAC listed in Tables 1 and 2 reflect 
apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and species groups.

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

    Sections 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocation of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts 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)(4)(i)). In recognition of the 
trawl ban in the SEO District of the Eastern GOA, the Council 
recommended and NMFS proposes that the allocation of 5 percent of the 
combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC be available to trawl 
gear in the WYK District and the remainder to vessels using hook-and-
line gear. As a result, NMFS proposes to allocate 100 percent of the 
sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. 
The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established 
biennially. This recommendation results in a proposed 2007 allocation 
of 268 mt to trawl gear and 1,835 mt to hook-and-line gear in the WYK 
District and 3,254 mt to hook-and-line gear in the SEO District. Table 
3 lists the allocations of the proposed 2007 sablefish TACs

[[Page 75445]]

between hook-and-line gear and trawl gear. Table 4 lists the 
allocations of the proposed 2008 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.

   Table 3 - Proposed 2007 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of
   Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl Gear (values are
                   rounded to the nearest metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Hook-and-
             Area/district                 TAC       line        Trawl
                                                  allocation  allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western                                    2,464      1,971         493
Central                                    5,879      4,703       1,176
West Yakutat                               2,103      1,835         268
Southeast Outside                          3,254      3,254           0
Total                                     13,700     11,763       1,937
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 4 - Proposed 2008 Sablefish TAC Specifications in the Gulf of
 Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear (values are rounded to the nearest
                               metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Hook-and-line     Trawl
            Area/district               TAC    allocation\1\  allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western                                 2,213         n/a           443
Central                                 5,278         n/a         1,056
West Yakutat                            1,888         n/a           240
Southeast Outside                       2,921         n/a             0
Total                                  12,300         n/a         1,739
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-
  line gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota fisheries be limited to 1
  year.

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. 
Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(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, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of 
pollock biomass based on a composite of NMFS winter surveys. In the C 
and D seasons, the apportionments are in proportion to the distribution 
of pollock biomass based on the four most recent NMFS summer surveys. 
For 2007 and 2008, the Council recommended averaging the winter and 
summer distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory Area for the A 
season. The average is intended to reflect the distribution of pollock 
as indicated by the historic performance of the fishery during the A 
season. 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 
unharvested 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 
(Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs of 
1,447 mt and 6,157 mt in 2007 and 1,481 mt and 6,157 mt in 2008, 
respectively, are not allocated by season.
    Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of 
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances 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 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 2007 and 2008 seasonal biomass distribution of pollock 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and 
seasonal apportionments for the A, B, C, and D seasons are summarized 
in Tables 5 and 6, except that amounts of pollock for processing by the 
inshore and offshore components are not shown.

   Table 5 - 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     Kodiak (area
                 Season                         610)              620)              630)              Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A                                           3,402 (21.63%)    9,042 (57.50%)    3,282 (20.87%)     15,726 (100%)
B                                           3,401 (21.63%)   10,821 (68.81%)     1,503 (9.56%)     15,725 (100%)
C                                           8,280 (52.65%)    2,386 (15.17%)    5,060 (32.17%)     15,726 (100%)
D                                           8,280 (52.65%)    2,386 (15.17%)    5,060 (32.17%)     15,726 (100%)
Annual Total                                        23,363            24,635            14,905            62,903
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 75446]]


   Table 6 - Proposed 2008 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     Kodiak (area
                 Season                         610)              620)              630)              Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A                                           3,481 (21.63%)    9,254 (57.50%)    3,358 (20.87%)     16,093 (100%)
B                                           3,481 (21.63%)   11,073 (68.81%)     1,538 (9.56%)     16,092 (100%)
C                                           8,473 (52.65%)    2,441 (15.17%)    5,178 (32.17%)     16,092 (100%)
D                                           8,473 (52.65%)    2,441 (15.17%)    5,178 (32.17%)     16,092 (100%)
Annual Total                                        23,908            25,209            15,252            64,369
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Pacific cod 
TAC apportionment in all regulatory areas between 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 2007 and 2008 
Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.

Table 7 - 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
                                                                     Regulatory            ---------------------
                               Season                                   area        TAC      Inshore    Offshore
                                                                                              (90%)      (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Western     17,228     15,505      1,723
A season (60%)                                                       ..........     10,337      9,303      1,034
B season (40%)                                                       ..........      6,891      6,202        689
                                                                        Central     24,296     21,866      2,430
A season (60%)                                                       ..........     14,578     13,120      1,458
B season (40%)                                                       ..........      9,718      8,746        972
                                                                        Eastern      3,181      2,863        318
Total                                                                ..........     44,705     40,234     4, 471
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Table 8 - Proposed 2008 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
                                                                     Regulatory            ---------------------
                               Season                                   area        TAC      Inshore    Offshore
                                                                                              (90%)      (10%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Western     11,729     10,556      1,723
A season (60%)                                                       ..........      7,037      6,334        704
B season (40%)                                                       ..........      4,692      4,222        469
                                                                        Central     16,541     14,887      1,654
A season (60%)                                                       ..........      9,925     11,019        992
B season (40%)                                                       ..........      6,616      5,955        662
                                                                        Eastern      2,165      1,949        216
Total                                                                ..........     30,435     27,392      3,043
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 75447]]

Proposed Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program

    After deducting incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish 
fisheries in the Central Regulatory Area, 5 percent (2.5 percent to 
trawl gear and 2.5 percent to fixed gear) of the proposed TACs for 
Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish in 
the Central Regulatory Area would be allocated to the entry level 
rockfish fishery and the remaining 95 percent to those vessels eligible 
to participate in the Rockfish Program as described in the proposed and 
final rules for the Rockfish Program (71 FR 33040, June 7, 2006 and 71 
FR 67210, November 20, 2006, respectively). NMFS proposes the 2007 and 
2008 incidental catch amounts of 120 mt for northern rockfish, 100 mt 
for pelagic shelf rockfish, and 330 mt for Pacific ocean perch for 
other directed groundfish fisheries in the Central Regulatory Area. 
These proposed amounts are based on the 2003 through 2006 average 
incidental catch in the Central Regulatory Area by these other 
groundfish fisheries.

Proposed Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear and may establish 
apportionments for pot gear. In October 2006, the Council recommended 
that NMFS maintain the 2006 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. The DSR fishery is defined 
at Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has been apportioned 10 mt 
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. Therefore, 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 short duration of the 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. As in past years, NMFS, 
after consultation with the Council, proposes to exempt pot gear, jig 
gear, and the sablefish IFQ (Individual Fishing Quota) hook-and-line 
gear fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2007 
and 2008. The Council recommended these exemptions because: (1) the pot 
gear fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 18 mt 
annually from 2001 through 2005 and 21 mt through November 4, 2006); 
(2) the sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries have low halibut bycatch 
mortality because the IFQ program requires legal-sized halibut to be 
retained by vessels using hook-and-line gear if a halibut IFQ permit 
holder is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ; and (3) halibut 
mortality for the jig gear fisheries is assumed to be negligible 
although it cannot be estimated because these vessels do not carry 
observers. Halibut mortality is assumed to be very low in the jig gear 
fisheries given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear 
(averaging 298 mt annually from 2001 through 2005 and 115 mt through 
October 7, 2006), the selective nature of jig gear, and the likelihood 
that halibut caught with jig gear have a high survival rate when 
released.
    Section 679.21(d)(5) provides NMFS with the authority to seasonally 
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with 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 2006 and 2007 harvest specifications (71 FR 10870, March 
3, 2006) summarized the Council and NMFS' findings with respect to each 
of these FMP considerations. The Council and NMFS' findings for 2007 
and 2008 are unchanged from 2006. Table 9 lists the 2007 and 2008 
proposed Pacific halibut PSC limits and apportionments. 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 2007 and 2008 
fishing years.

           Table 9 - Proposed 2007 and 2008 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                           (values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Trawl gear                                          Hook-and-line gear\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Other than DSR                      DSR
                Dates                     Amount   -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Dates          Amount          Dates          Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1                             550   January 1-June 10        250  January 1-December         10
                                           (27.5%)                          (86%)                  31     (100%)
April 1-July 1                                 400   June 10-September     5 (2%)  ..................  .........
                                             (20%)                   1
July 1-September 1                       600 (30%)        September 1-         35  ..................  .........
                                                           December 31      (12%)
September 1-October 1                   150 (7.5%)          ..........  .........  ..................  .........
                                                                                .
October 1-December 31                    300 (15%)          ..........  .........  ..................  .........
                                                                                .
Total                                        2,000  ..................        290  ..................  10 (100%)
                                            (100%)                         (100%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 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.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual 
apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the 
anticipated

[[Page 75448]]

halibut bycatch mortality during a fishing year and optimization of 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 category, comprised of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water 
flatfish, rex sole and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water 
species category, comprised of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water 
flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and ``other species'' 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10 lists the 2007 and 2008 proposed 
seasonal apportionments for the two fishery categories. Based on public 
comment and information contained in the final 2006 SAFE report, the 
Council may recommend, or NMFS may make, changes in the seasonal, gear-
type, or fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the 
final 2007 and 2008 harvest specifications.

  Table 10 - Proposed 2007 and 2008 Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific
   Halibut PSC Trawl Limits Between the Trawl Gear Deep-water Species
           Categories and the Shallow-water Species Categories
                       (values are in metric tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Shallow-
               Season                  water      Deep-water      Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1                      450                 100      550
April 1-July 1                          100                 300      400
July 1-September 1                      200              400\1\      600
September 1-October 1                   150       Any remainder      150
Subtotal January 20-October 1           900                 800    1,700
October 1-December 31\2\                n/a                 n/a      300
Total                                   n/a                 n/a    2,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in coops in the Central Gulf of Alaska Pilot
  Rockfish Program will receive a portion of the third season (July 1-
  September 1) deep-water category halibut PSC apportionment. At this
  time this amount is not known but will be posted later on the Alaska
  Region website at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov when it becomes available.
\2\ There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl
  fishery categories during the fifth season (October 1 through December
  31).

Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years

    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data 
collected by observers during 2006. The calculated halibut bycatch 
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gears through October 7, 
2006, is 1,893 mt, 168 mt, and 16 mt, respectively, for a total halibut 
mortality of 2,077 mt.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear 
fisheries during the 2006 fishing year. Trawling during the second 
season closed for the deep-water species category April 27 (71 FR 
25781, May 2, 2006) and during the fourth season September 5 (71 FR 
52754, September 7, 2006). Trawling during the first season closed for 
the shallow-water species category from February 23 to February 27 (71 
FR 9977, February 28, 2006, and 71 FR 10625, March 2, 2006) and during 
the second season on June 10 (71 FR 34021, June 13, 2006). To prevent 
exceeding the fourth season halibut PSC limit for the shallow-water 
species category, directed fishing using trawl gear was limited to four 
12-hour open periods on September 1 (71 FR 51784, August 31, 2006), 
September 6 (71 FR 53339, September 11, 2006), September 20 (71 FR 
55134, September 21, 2006), and September 25 (71 FR 56898, September 
28, 2006). Trawling for all groundfish targets (with the exception of 
pollock by vessels using pelagic trawl gear) closed for the fifth 
season on October 8 (71 FR 60078, October 12, 2006). Fishing for 
groundfish using hook-and-line gear has remained open in 2006 as the 
halibut PSC limit has not been reached (as of October 7, 2006). The 
amount of groundfish that trawl gear might have harvested if halibut 
PSC limits had not restricted the 2006 season is unknown.

Expected Changes in Groundfish Stocks and Catch

    Proposed 2007 and 2008 ABCs for deep-water flatfish, flathead sole, 
arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and 
pelagic shelf rockfish are higher than those established for 2006. 
However, the proposed 2007 and 2008 ABCs for pollock, Pacific cod, 
sablefish, rex sole, and ``other species'' are lower than those 
established for 2006. For the remaining target species, the Council 
recommended that ABC levels remain unchanged from 2006. More 
information on these changes is included in the final SAFE report 
(November 2005) and in the Council, SSC, and AP minutes from the 
October 2006 meeting available from the Council (see ADDRESSES).
    In the GOA, the total proposed TAC amounts are 264,367 mt for 2007, 
and 251,092 mt for 2008, a decrease of about 10.5 percent in 2007 and 
14.0 percent in 2008 from the 2006 TAC total of 291,950 mt. Table 11 
compares the final TACs for 2006 to the proposed TACs for 2007 and 
2008.

  Table 11 - Comparison of Final 2006 and Proposed 2007 and 2008 Total
                  Allowable Catch in the Gulf of Alaska
             (values are rounded to the nearest metric ton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Species                     2006      2007      2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                                       86,807    70,507    72,007
Pacific cod                                   52,264    44,705    30,435
Sablefish                                     14,840    13,700    12,300
Rex sole                                       9,200     8,700     8,600
``Other species''                             13,856     4,500     4,500
Deep-water flatfish                            8,665     8,677     8,677
Flathead sole                                  9,077     9,148     9,252
Arrowtooth flounder                           38,000    43,000    43,000
Pacific ocean perch                           14,261    14,699    14,900
Northern rockfish                              5,091     5,900     5,800
Pelagic shelf rockfish                         5,436     5,461     6,251
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 2005 for 
the 2006 commercial fishery. The 2005 assessment methods are unchanged 
from the previous year. The current exploitable halibut biomass in

[[Page 75449]]

Alaska for 2006 was estimated to be 189,543 mt, down from 192,023 mt in 
2005. The female spawning biomass remains far above the minimum 
spawning biomass that 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 is 
estimated at 118,000 mt. Long-term average yield is estimated at 26,980 
mt, round weight. The species is fully utilized. Recent average catches 
(1994-2005) in the commercial halibut fisheries off Alaska have 
averaged 34,169 mt, round weight. Catch in waters off 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 2006, the IPHC recommended Alaska commercial catch limits 
totaling 33,421 mt, round weight, in 2006, down from 34,459 mt in 2005. 
Through October 12, 2006, commercial hook-and line harvests of halibut 
off Alaska totaled 29,060 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 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. For 2006, the 
IPHC staff recommended a harvest rate of 22.5 percent for Areas 2C and 
3A, 20 percent in Areas 3B and 4A, and 15 percent in Areas 4B and 4CDE. 
These are the same rates as used in 2005 except in Areas 4B and 4CDE, 
where the rate has been reduced from 20 percent to 15 percent. For Area 
4B, the continued decline in biomass relative to the estimated 
historical minimum, the lack of recruitment, and a new analysis of 
productivity, prompted the IPHC staff to recommend the lower harvest 
rate of 15 percent. Similarly for Area 4CDE, the sharp decline in 
survey and commercial catch rates resulted in the IPHC staff's 
recommendation of a 15 percent harvest rate.
    Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may 
be found in the IPHC's 2005 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 
2005), available on the IPHC website at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. 
The IPHC will consider the 2006 Pacific halibut assessment for 2007 at 
its January 2007 annual meeting when it sets the 2007 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 2007 and 2008 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 first 
accounting for 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 website 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'' 
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 at Sec.  679.2 under ``Authorized fishing gear,'' 
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 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 halibut discard 
mortality rates (DMRs) developed and recommended by the staff of the 
IPHC for the 2007 and 2008 GOA groundfish fisheries be used to monitor 
the 2007 and 2008 GOA proposed halibut bycatch mortality limits. The 
IPHC recommended use of long-term average DMRs for the 2007 and 2008 
groundfish fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and 
recommend changes to the DMRs where a fishery DMR shows large variation 
from the mean. Most of the IPHC's assumed DMRs were based on an average 
of mortality rates determined from NMFS observer data collected between 
1996 and 2005. Long-term average DMRs were not available 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 a default rate. The 
GOA DMRs proposed for 2007 and 2008 are revised from those used in 
2006. The DMRs for hook-and-line target fisheries range from 10 to 14 
percent. The DMRs for trawl target fisheries range from 53 to 76 
percent. The DMRs for all pot target fisheries is 16 percent. Table 12 
lists the 2007 and 2008 proposed DMRs. A copy of the document 
justifying these DMRs is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES) and 
will be discussed in Appendix A of the final 2006 SAFE report to be 
released November 2006.

  Table 12 - Proposed 2007 and 2008 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
                  Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
       (values are percent of halibut bycatch assumed to be dead)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Mortality Rate
               Gear                        Target               (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line                       Other species         14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Skates                14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific cod           14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Rockfish              10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl                               Arrowtooth flounder   69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Atka mackerel         60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Deep-water flatfish   53
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Flathead sole         61
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 75450]]

 
                                    Non-pelagic pollock   59
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Other species         63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Skates                63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific cod           63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pelagic pollock       76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Rex sole              63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Rockfish              67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Sablefish             65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Shallow-water         71
                                     flatfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot                                 Other species         16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Skates                16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific cod           16
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher Vessel Groundfish 
Harvest and PSC Limits

    Section 679.64 established groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limits on AFA catcher/processors and catcher vessels in the 
GOA. These sideboard limits are necessary to protect the interests of 
fishermen and processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA from 
fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and 
processing privileges under the AFA. Listed AFA catcher/processors are 
prohibited from harvesting any species of fish in the GOA (Sec.  
679.7(k)(1)(ii)). The listed AFA catcher/processors also are prohibited 
from processing any pollock in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in 
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA (Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(iv)). AFA catcher 
vessels that are less than 125 ft (38.1 m) LOA whose annual Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands pollock landings totaled less than 5,100 mt and 
that made 40 or more GOA groundfish landings from 1995 through 1997 are 
exempt from these sideboard limits (Sec.  679.64(b)(2)(ii)).
    Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels operating in 
the GOA 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 limits 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 proposed amounts are listed in Table 13 for 2007 and in 
Table 14 for 2008. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard 
species made by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels will be deducted from 
the sideboard limits in Tables 13 and 14.

 Table 13 - Proposed 2007 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
                                                     Limits
                                   (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Ratio of 1995-1997
                                    Area/season/component/  non-exempt AFA CV                   2007 non-exempt
              Species                        gear          catch to 1995-1997     2007 TAC      AFA CV sideboard
                                                                   TAC                               limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                             A Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    January 20 - March 10  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              3,402           2,079
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              9,042           1,290
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              3,282           800
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    B Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    March 10 - May 31      ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              3,401           2,079
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              10,821          1,544
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              1,503           366
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    C Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    August 25 - October 1  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              8,280           5,061
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              2,386           340
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              5,060           1,234
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    D Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    October 1 - November   ..................  ..............  .................
                                     1
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              8,280           5,061
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              2,386           340
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              5,060           1,234
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    WYK (640)              0.3499              1,447           506
                                    SEO (650)              0.3499              6,157           2,154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                         A Season\1\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    January 1 - June 10    ..................  ..............  .................
                                    W inshore              0.1423              9,303           1,324
                                    W offshore             0.1026              1,034           106
                                    C inshore              0.0722              13,120          947

[[Page 75451]]

 
                                    C offshore             0.0721              1,458           105
                                    B Season\2\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    September 1 -          ..................  ..............  .................
                                     December 31
                                    W inshore              0.1423              6,202           883
                                    W offshore             0.1026              689             71
                                    C inshore              0.0722              8,746           631
                                    C offshore             0.0721              972             70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    E inshore              0.0079              2,863           23
                                    E offshore             0.0078              318             2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish                            W                      0.0000              421             0
deep-water                          C                      0.0670              4,145           278
                                    E                      0.0171              4,111           70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole                            W                      0.0010              1,096           1
                                    C                      0.0402              5,207           209
                                    E                      0.0153              2,397           37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole                       W                      0.0036              2,000           7
                                    C                      0.0261              5,000           131
                                    E                      0.0048              2,148           10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water              W                      0.0156              4,500           70
                                    C                      0.0598              13,000          777
                                    E                      0.0126              2,472           31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder                 W                      0.0021              8,000           17
                                    C                      0.0309              30,000          927
                                    E                      0.0020              5,000           10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish                           W trawl gear           0.0000              493             0
                                    C trawl gear           0.0720              1,176           85
                                    E trawl gear           0.0488              268             13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch                 W                      0.0623              4,282           267
                                    C                      0.0866              7,646           662
                                    E                      0.0466              2,771           129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish                 W                      0.0000              153             0
                                    C                      0.0237              353             8
                                    E                      0.0124              337             4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish                   W                      0.0000              124             0
                                    C                      0.0237              557             13
                                    E                      0.0124              219             3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish                      W                      0.0034              577             2
                                    C                      0.2065              386             80
                                    E                      0.0000              517             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish                   W                      0.0003              1,719           1
                                    C                      0.0336              4,181           141
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish              W                      0.0001              1,452           0
                                    C                      0.0000              3,270           0
                                    E                      0.0067              739             5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish                 W                      0.0308              513             16
                                    C                      0.0308              989             30
                                    E                      0.0308              707             22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates                          W                      0.0090              695             6
                                    C                      0.0090              2,250           20
                                    E                      0.0090              599             5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates                     W                      0.0090              65              1
                                    C                      0.0090              1,969           18

[[Page 75452]]

 
                                    E                      0.0090              861             8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates                        Gulfwide               0.0090              1,617           15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish             SEO                    0,0020              410             1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel                       Gulfwide               0.0309              1,500           46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species                       Gulfwide               0.0090              4,500           41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 14 - Proposed 2008 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard
                                                     Limits
                                   (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Ratio of 1995-1997
                                    Area/season/component/  non-exempt AFA CV                   2008 non-exempt
              Species                        gear          catch to 1995-1997     2008 TAC      AFA CV sideboard
                                                                   TAC                               limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                             A Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    January 20 - March 10  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              3,481           2,128
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              9,254           1,321
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              3,358           819
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    B Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    March 10 - May 31      ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              3,481           2,128
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              11,073          1,580
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              1,538           375
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    C Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    August 25 - October 1  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              8,473           5,179
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              2,441           348
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              5,178           1,262
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    D Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    October 1 - November   ..................  ..............  .................
                                     1
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.6112              8,473           5,179
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.1427              2,441           348
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.2438              5,178           1,262
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    WYK (640)              0.3499              1,481           518
                                    SEO (650)              0.3499              6,157           2,154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                         A Season\1\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    January 1 - June 10    ..................  ..............  .................
                                    W inshore              0.1423              6,334           901
                                    W offshore             0.1026              704             72
                                    C inshore              0.0722              11,019          796
                                    C offshore             0.0721              992             72
                                    B Season\2\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    September 1 -          ..................  ..............  .................
                                     December 31
                                    W inshore              0.1423              4,222           601
                                    W offshore             0.1026              469             48
                                    C inshore              0.0722              5,955           433
                                    C offshore             0.0721              662             48
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    E inshore              0.0079              1,949           15
                                    E offshore             0.0078              216             2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish                            W                      0.0000              421             0
deep-water                          C                      0.0670              4,145           278

[[Page 75453]]

 
                                    E                      0.0171              4,111           70
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole                            W                      0.0010              1,084           1
                                    C                      0.0402              5,147           207
                                    E                      0.0153              2,369           36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole                       W                      0.0036              2,000           7
                                    C                      0.0261              5,000           131
                                    E                      0.0048              2,252           11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water              W                      0.0156              4,500           70
                                    C                      0.0598              13,000          777
                                    E                      0.0126              2,472           31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder                 W                      0.0021              8,000           17
                                    C                      0.0309              30,000          927
                                    E                      0.0020              5,000           10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish                           W trawl gear           0.0000              443             0
                                    C trawl gear           0.0720              1,056           76
                                    E trawl gear           0.0488              240             12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch                 W                      0.0623              4,341           270
                                    C                      0.0866              7,751           671
                                    E                      0.0466              2,808           131
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish                 W                      0.0000              153             0
                                    C                      0.0237              353             8
                                    E                      0.0124              337             4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish                   W                      0.0000              124             0
                                    C                      0.0237              557             13
                                    E                      0.0124              219             3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish                      W                      0.0034              577             2
                                    C                      0.2065              386             80
                                    E                      0.0000              517             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish                   W                      0.0003              1,719           1
                                    C                      0.0336              4,181           141
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish              W                      0.0001              1,653           0
                                    C                      0.0000              3,571           0
                                    E                      0.0067              847             6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish                 W                      0.0308              513             16
                                    C                      0.0308              989             30
                                    E                      0.0308              707             22
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates                          W                      0.0090              695             6
                                    C                      0.0090              2,250           20
                                    E                      0.0090              599             5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates                     W                      0.0090              65              1
                                    C                      0.0090              1,969           18
                                    E                      0.0090              861             8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates                        Gulfwide               0.0090              1,617           15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish             SEO                    0,0020              410             1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel                       Gulfwide               0.0309              1,500           46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species                       Gulfwide               0.0090              4,500           41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 75454]]

    The PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the 
GOA are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt 
AFA catcher vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 
divided by the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 
through 1997 (Sec.  679.64(b)(4)). Table 15 lists these proposed 
amounts.

  Table 15 - Proposed 2007 and 2008 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species
                                         Catch (PSC) Limits for the GOA
                                           (values are in metric tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Ratio of 1995-1997
                                                            non-exempt AFA CV                  2007 and 2008 non-
              Season                    Target fishery      retained catch to   2007 and 2008  exempt AFA CV PSC
                                                             total retained       PSC limit          limit
                                                                  catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl 1st seasonal allowance        shallow-water          0.340               450             153
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20 - April 1                deep-water             0.070               100             7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl 2nd seasonal allowance        shallow-water          0.340               100             34
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1- July 1                     deep-water             0.070               300             21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl 3rd seasonal allowance        shallow-water          0.340               200             68
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 1 - September 1                deep-water             0.070               400             28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl 4th seasonal allowance        shallow-water          0.340               150             51
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 1 - October 1             deep-water             0.070               0               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl 5th seasonal allowance        all targets            0.205               300             61
 
October 1 - December 31             .....................  ..................  ..............  .................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits 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. Sideboard limits restrict a vessel's 
harvests to its historical landings in all GOA groundfish fisheries 
(except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits also apply 
to landings made using a LLP license derived from the history of a 
restricted vessel, even if that LLP is used on another vessel.
    Sideboards limits for non-AFA crab vessels operating in the GOA are 
based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish 
fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. Sections 680.22(d) and (e) base the 
groundfish sideboard limits 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. 
These proposed amounts are listed in Table 16 for 2007 and in Table 17 
for 2008. All targeted or incidental catch of sideboard species made by 
non-AFA crab vessels will be deducted from the sideboard limits in 
Tables 16 and 17. Vessels exempt from Pacific cod sideboards are those 
that landed less than 45,359 kilograms 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).

     Table 16 - Proposed 2007 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
                                   (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Ratio of 1996-2000
                                                              non-AFA crab                     Proposed 2007 non-
              Species               Area/season/component/   vessel catch to    Proposed 2007   AFA crab vessel
                                             gear            1996-2000 total         TAC        sideboard limit
                                                                 harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                             A Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    January 20 - March 10  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              3,402           33
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              9,042           28
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              3,282           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    B Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    March 10 - May 31      ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              3,401           33
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              10,821          34
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              1,503           0
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    C Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)

[[Page 75455]]

 
                                    August 25 - October 1  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              8,280           81
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              2,386           7
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              5,060           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    D Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    October 1 - November   ..................  ..............  .................
                                     1
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              8,280           81
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              2,386           7
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              5,060           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    WYK (640)              0.0000              1,447           0
                                    SEO (650)              0.0000              6,157           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                         A Season\1\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    January 1 - June 10    ..................  ..............  .................
                                    W inshore              0.0902              9,303           839
                                    W offshore             0.2046              1,034           212
                                    C inshore              0.0383              13,120          502
                                    C offshore             0.2074              1,458           302
                                    B Season\2\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    September 1 -          ..................  ..............  .................
                                     December 31
                                    W inshore              0.0902              6,202           559
                                    W offshore             0.2046              689             141
                                    C inshore              0.0383              8,746           335
                                    C offshore             0.2074              972             202
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    E inshore              0.0110              2,863           31
                                    E offshore             0.0000              318             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish                            W                      0.0035              421             1
deep-water                          C                      0.0000              4,145           0
                                    E                      0.0000              4,111           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole                            W                      0.0000              1,096           0
                                    C                      0.0000              5,207           0
                                    E                      0.0000              2,397           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole                       W                      0.0002              2,000           0
                                    C                      0.0004              5,000           2
                                    E                      0.0000              2,148           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water              W                      0.0059              4,500           27
                                    C                      0.0001              13,000          1
                                    E                      0.0000              2,472           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder                 W                      0.0004              8,000           3
                                    C                      0.0001              30,000          3
                                    E                      0.0000              5,000           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish                           W trawl gear           0.0000              493             0
                                    C trawl gear           0.0000              1,176           0
                                    E trawl gear           0.0000              268             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch                 W                      0.0000              4,282           0
                                    C                      0.0000              7,646           0
                                    E                      0.0000              2,771           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish                 W                      0.0013              153             0
                                    C                      0.0012              353             0
                                    E                      0.0009              337             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish                   W                      0.0067              124             1
                                    C                      0.0047              557             3
                                    E                      0.0008              219             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish                      W                      0.0035              577             2

[[Page 75456]]

 
                                    C                      0.0033              386             1
                                    E                      0.0000              517             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish                   W                      0.0005              1,719           1
                                    C                      0.0000              4,181           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish              W                      0.0017              1,452           2
                                    C                      0.0000              3,270           0
                                    E                      0.0000              739             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish                 W                      0.0047              513             2
                                    C                      0.0066              989             7
                                    E                      0.0045              707             3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates                          W                      0.0392              695             27
                                    C                      0.0159              2,250           36
                                    E                      0.0000              599             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates                     W                      0.0392              65              3
                                    C                      0.0159              1,969           31
                                    E                      0.0000              861             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates                        Gulfwide               0.0176              1,617           28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish             SEO                    0,0000              410             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel                       Gulfwide               0.0000              1,500           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species                       Gulfwide               0.0176              4,500           79
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 17- Proposed 2008 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
                                   (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Ratio of 1996-2000
                                                              non-AFA crab                     Proposed 2008 non-
              Species               Area/season/component/   vessel catch to    Proposed 2008   AFA crab vessel
                                             gear            1996-2000 total         TAC        sideboard limit
                                                                 harvest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock                             A Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    January 20 - March 10  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              3,481           34
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              9,254           29
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              3,358           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    B Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    March 10 - May 31      ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              3,481           34
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              11,073          34
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              1,538           0
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    C Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    August 25 - October 1  ..................  ..............  .................
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              8,473           83
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              2,441           8
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              5,178           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    D Season (W/C areas    ..................  ..............  .................
                                     only)
                                    October 1 - November   ..................  ..............  .................
                                     1
                                    Shumagin (610)         0.0098              8,473           83
                                    Chirikof (620)         0.0031              2,441           8
                                    Kodiak (630)           0.0002              5,178           1
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    WYK (640)              0.0000              1,481           0

[[Page 75457]]

 
                                    SEO (650)              0.0000              6,157           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod                         A Season\1\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    January 1 - June 10    ..................  ..............  .................
                                    W inshore              0.0902              6,334           571
                                    W offshore             0.2046              704             144
                                    C inshore              0.0383              11,019          422
                                    C offshore             0.2074              992             206
                                    B Season\2\            ..................  ..............  .................
                                    September 1 -          ..................  ..............  .................
                                     December 31
                                    W inshore              0.0902              4,222           381
                                    W offshore             0.2046              469             96
                                    C inshore              0.0383              5,955           230
                                    C offshore             0.2074              662             137
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Annual                 ..................  ..............  .................
                                    E inshore              0.0110              1,949           21
                                    E offshore             0.0000              0               2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish                            W                      0.0035              421             1
deep-water                          C                      0.0000              5,147           0
                                    E                      0.0000              2,369           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole                            W                      0.0000              1,084           0
                                    C                      0.0000              7,340           0
                                    E                      0.0000              3,630           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole                       W                      0.0002              2,000           0
                                    C                      0.0004              5,000           2
                                    E                      0.0000              2,148           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead shallow-water              W                      0.0059              4,500           27
                                    C                      0.0001              13,000          1
                                    E                      0.0000              2,472           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder                 W                      0.0004              8,000           3
                                    C                      0.0001              30,000          3
                                    E                      0.0000              5,000           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish                           W trawl gear           0.0000              443             0
                                    C trawl gear           0.0000              1,056           0
                                    E trawl gear           0.0000              240             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch                 W                      0.0000              4,341           0
                                    C                      0.0000              7,751           0
                                    E                      0.0000              2,808           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish                 W                      0.0013              153             0
                                    C                      0.0012              353             0
                                    E                      0.0009              337             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish                   W                      0.0067              124             1
                                    C                      0.0047              557             3
                                    E                      0.0008              219             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish                      W                      0.0035              577             2
                                    C                      0.0033              386             1
                                    E                      0.0000              517             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish                   W                      0.0005              1,719           1
                                    C                      0.0000              4,181           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish              W                      0.0017              1,653           3
                                    C                      0.0000              3,571           0
                                    E                      0.0000              847             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish                 W                      0.0047              513             2
                                    C                      0.0066              989             7

[[Page 75458]]

 
                                    E                      0.0045              707             3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate                           W                      0.0392              695             27
                                    C                      0.0159              2,250           36
                                    E                      0.0000              599             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates                     W                      0.0392              65              3
                                    C                      0.0159              1,969           31
                                    E                      0.0000              861             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates                        Gulfwide               0.0176              1,617           28
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish             SEO                    0,0000              410             0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel                       Gulfwide               0.0000              1,500           0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other species                       Gulfwide               0.0176              4,500           79
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard Limitations and Halibut Mortality 
Limitations

    The Rockfish Program establishes sideboards to limit the ability of 
participants eligible for the Rockfish Program to harvest fish in 
fisheries other than the Central GOA rockfish fisheries. The Rockfish 
Program provides certain economic advantages to harvesters. Harvesters 
could use this economic advantage to increase their participation in 
other fisheries, adversely affecting the participants in other 
fisheries. These proposed sideboards limit the total amount of catch in 
other groundfish fisheries that could be taken by eligible harvesters 
and limit the amount of halibut mortality to historic levels. The 
sideboard measures are in effect only during the month of July. 
Traditionally, the Central GOA rockfish fisheries were open in July, 
and the sideboards are designed to restrict fishing during the 
historical season for the fishery, but allow eligible rockfish 
harvesters to participate in fisheries before or after the historical 
rockfish season. The two categories of sideboard limits are catch 
amount constraints and close specific directed fisheries and regions 
during July. The sideboard provisions are discussed in detail in the 
proposed rule (71 FR 33040, June 7, 2006) and final rule (71 FR 67210, 
November 20, 2006). Tables 18 and 19 list the proposed 2007 and 2008 
harvest limits for rockfish in the WYK and the Western Regulatory Area. 
Table 20 lists the proposed 2007 and 2008 halibut mortality limits for 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and the WYK.

 Table 18 - Proposed 2007 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western GOA by the Catcher/Processor (C/P) and Catcher
                                                                   Vessel (CV) Sectors
                                                       (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            C/P sector (% of   CV sector (% of                      Proposed 2007 C/P   Proposed 2007 CV
          Management Area                  Fishery                TAC)               TAC)        Proposed 2007 TAC        limit              limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District               Pelagic shelf          72.4               1.7                302                219                5
                                     rockfish
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific ocean perch    76.0               2.9                1,135              863                33
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA                         Pelagic shelf          63.3               0.0                1,452              919                0
                                     rockfish
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific ocean perch    61.1               0.0                4,282              2,616              0
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Northern rockfish      78.9               0.0                1,719              1,356              0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 19 - Proposed 2008 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits by Sector for West Yakutat District and Western GOA by the Catcher/Processor (C/P) and Catcher
                                                                   Vessel (CV) Sectors
                                                       (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            C/P sector (% of   CV sector (% of                      Proposed 2008 C/P   Proposed 2008 CV
          Management Area                  Fishery                TAC)               TAC)        Proposed 2008 TAC        limit              limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District               Pelagic shelf          72.4               1.7                346                251                4
                                     rockfish
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 75459]]

 
                                    Pacific ocean perch    76.0               2.9                1,150              874                25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA                         Pelagic shelf          63.3               0.0                1,653              1,046              0
                                     rockfish
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Pacific ocean perch    61.1               0.0                4,341              2,652              0
                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Northern rockfish      78.9               0.0                1,690              1,333              0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Table 20 - Proposed 2007 and 2008 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor and
                                             Catcher Vessel Sectors
                                   (values are rounded to nearest metric ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Deep-water                    Annual shallow-  Annual deep-
                                  Shallow-water       complex     Annual halibut   water complex   water complex
             Sector              complex halibut    halibut PSC      mortality      halibut PSC     halibut PSC
                                  PSC sideboard      sideboard      limit (mt)       sideboard       sideboard
                                      ratio            ratio                        limit (mt)      limit (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor                3.99             0.54            2,000           80              11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher vessel                   1.08             6.32            2,000           22              126
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    NMFS has determined that the proposed specifications are consistent 
with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed 
specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable laws.
    NMFS prepared a DEIS for this action; a notice of availability was 
published on September 8, 2006 (71 FR 53093). The public comment period 
closed on October 23, 2006. The DEIS analyzes the environmental 
consequences of the proposed action and its alternatives on resources 
in the action area. The DEIS found no significant environmental 
consequences from the proposed action or its alternatives, however, 
some impacts were unknown.
    An initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) was prepared, as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The IRFA 
describes the economic impact this proposed rule, if adopted, would 
have on small entities. A description of the action, why it is being 
considered, and the legal basis for this action are contained at the 
beginning of this section in the preamble and in the SUMMARY section of 
the preamble. A summary of the analysis follows. A copy of this 
analysis is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the 
harvest of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the 
status quo harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs 
recommended by the Council's Groundfish Plan Teams and TACs recommended 
by the Council. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP 
prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    The entities directly regulated by this action are those that 
harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA, and in parallel fisheries 
within State of Alaska waters. These include entities operating catcher 
vessels and catcher-processor vessels within the action area, and 
entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. Catcher vessels 
and catcher processors were considered to be small entities if they had 
annual gross receipts, from all of their economic activities, and 
including the revenue of their affiliated operations, less than or 
equal to $4 million per year. Data from 2004 was used because it was 
the most recent available.
    The directly regulated small entities include approximately 810 
small catcher vessels and fewer than 20 small catcher/processors. 
Estimates of first wholesale gross revenues for the GOA were used as 
indices of the potential impacts of the alternative harvest strategies 
on small entities. Revenues were projected to decline from 2006 levels 
in 2007 and 2008 under the preferred alternative due to declines in 
ABCs for economically key groundfish species.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four 
other alternatives. These included Alternative 1, which would set TACs 
to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the 
full TAC were harvested), unless the sum of TACs would exceed the GOA 
OY, in which case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 
would set TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent five-
year average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would set TACs to equal the 
lower bound of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5 would set TACs equal to 
zero. Alternative 5 is the ``no action'' alternative.
    Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 were all associated with smaller levels 
for important fishery TACs than the preferred alternative. Estimated 
total first wholesale gross revenues were used as an index of potential 
adverse impacts to small entities. As a consequence of the lower TAC 
levels, Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 all had smaller values of these first 
wholesale revenue indices than Alternative 2. Thus, Alternatives 3, 4, 
and 5 had greater adverse impacts on small entities. The projected 
levels for some Alternative 1 TACs were greater than those for 
Alternative 2. This led to higher gross revenue projections for 
Alternative 1. However, much of the revenue difference was due to 
projected flatfish TACs that were much larger for Alternative 1 than 
for Alternative 2. In recent years, halibut bycatch constraints in 
these fisheries have kept actual flatfish catches from reaching the 
Alternative 2 levels. Therefore, much of this revenue increase is 
probably an artifact of the model. Moreover, Alternative 2 TACs are 
constrained by the ABCs the Plan Teams and SSC are projected to 
recommend to the Council on the basis of a full consideration of

[[Page 75460]]

biological issues. These ABCs can be less than maximum permissible 
ABCs. This is expected to be the case with GOA pollock. Thus higher 
TACs, under Alternative 1 may not be consistent with prudent biological 
management of the resource. For these reasons, Alternative 2 is the 
preferred alternative.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    This action is authorized under Sec.  679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities 
conducted under this rule are discussed in the DEIS (see ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: December 6, 2006.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for RegulatoryPrograms, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-21303 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S