[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7359-7381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3297]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0810141351-9087-02]
RIN 0648-XL28


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2009 and 2010 Harvest Specifications for 
Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final rule; closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications and 
prohibited species catch allowances for the groundfish fishery of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2009 
and 2010 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands Management Area (FMP). The intended effect of this 
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the BSAI 
in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), February 
17, 2009, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision (ROD), 
Supplementary Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) prepared for this action are available on 
the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. 
Printed copies can be obtained from the Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 
21668, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Copies of the 2008 
Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the 
groundfish resources of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI) dated November 2008, are available from the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 
99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from its Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269, or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMP, 
and NMFS approved it under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). General regulations 
governing U.S. fisheries also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify the total allowable catch 
(TAC) for each target species and for the ``other species'' category, 
and the sum must be within the optimum yield (OY) range of 1.4 million 
to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)). NMFS also 
must specify apportionments of TACs, prohibited species catch (PSC)

[[Page 7360]]

allowances, and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by 
Sec.  679.21, seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka 
mackerel TAC, Amendment 80 allocations, and Community Development Quota 
(CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii). The final 
harvest specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 16 of this action 
satisfy these requirements. The sum of TACs for 2009 is 1,681,586 mt 
and for 2010 is 2,000,000 mt.
    Section 679.20(c)(3) further requires NMFS to consider public 
comment on the proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof and the 
proposed PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in 
the Federal Register. The proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications 
and PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were 
published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75059). 
Comments were invited and accepted through January 9, 2009. NMFS 
received three letters with 30 comments on the proposed harvest 
specifications. These comments are summarized and responded to in the 
Response to Comments section of this rule. NMFS consulted with the 
Council on the final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications during the 
December 2008 Council meeting in Anchorage, AK. After considering 
public comments, as well as biological and economic data that were 
available at the Council's December meeting, NMFS is implementing the 
final 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications as recommended by the 
Council.

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Harvest Specifications

    The final ABC levels are based on the best available biological and 
socioeconomic information, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the 
development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves 
sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP 
specifies a series of six tiers based on the level of reliable 
information available to fishery scientists. Tier one represents the 
highest level of information quality available while tier six 
represents the lowest level of information quality available.
    In December 2008, the Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), 
Advisory Panel (AP), and Council reviewed current biological 
information about the condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The 
Council's Plan Team compiled and presented this information in the 2008 
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2008. The 
SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and 
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as 
well as summaries of the available information on the BSAI ecosystem 
and the economic condition of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. The SAFE 
report is available for public review (see ADDRESSES). From these data 
and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an OFL and ABC for each species 
or species category.
    In December 2008, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's 
recommendations. Except for BSAI Pacific cod and Aleutian Islands 
pollock, the SSC, AP, and Council endorsed the Plan Team's ABC 
recommendations. For 2009 and 2010, the SSC recommended higher Pacific 
cod OFLs and ABCs than the OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team. 
The Plan Team chose values between the two best performing models. 
However, the SSC chose the best performing model, and did not see a 
need to adjust that model's estimates downward. For Aleutian Island 
pollock, the Plan Team adopted recommendations from the Center of 
Independent Experts to include survey data east of Adak. The SSC 
concluded that this data should be included. This was due to 
uncertainties in the spatial stock structure in the region, the 
variation of length compositions across the area, the concentration of 
survey data along the eastern edge of the region in the early survey 
years, and additional evidence that these pollock may be from the 
Bogoslof or EBS stocks, rather than the Aleutian Island stock. The 
elimination of this survey data resulted in higher OFL and ABC values. 
The Council adopted the ABCs recommended by the SSC.
    The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that total removals 
of Pacific cod from the BSAI not exceed ABC recommendations. In 2007, 
the Board of Fisheries for the State of Alaska (State) established a 
guideline harvest level (GHL) west of 170 degrees west longitude in the 
AI subarea equal to 3 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BSAI. 
Accordingly, the Council recommended that the 2009 and 2010 Pacific cod 
TACs be adjusted downward from the ABCs by amounts equal to the 2009 
and 2010 GHLs.
    The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs as adjusted 
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including 
maintaining the sum of the TACs within the required OY range of 1.4 
million to 2.0 million mt. The Council adopted the AP's 2009 and 2010 
TAC recommendations. None of the Council's recommended TACs for 2009 or 
2010 exceeds the final 2009 or 2010 ABCs for any species category. The 
2009 and 2010 harvest specifications approved by the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) are unchanged from those recommended by the 
Council and are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy 
alternative in the EIS. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, 
ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the biological condition of 
groundfish stocks as described in the 2008 SAFE report that was 
approved by the Council.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2009 and 2010 Harvest 
Specifications

    The final rule implementing Amendment 73 to the FMP was published 
in the Federal Register on December 31, 2008 (73 FR 80307). Amendment 
73 removes dark rockfish from the ``other rockfish'' category in the 
FMP in order to allow the State of Alaska (State) to assume management 
of dark rockfish. This action is necessary to allow the State to 
implement more responsive, regionally based management measures than 
are currently possible under the FMP. Based on the approval of 
Amendment 73, the Council recommended final 2009 and 2010 harvest 
specifications for BSAI groundfish.
    The Council is considering a proposal that would allocate the 
Pacific cod TAC by Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands (AI) subarea 
instead of a combined BSAI TAC, although associated fishery management 
implications would require more time to assess and resolve. As a 
result, a Pacific cod split between subareas has not been established 
for 2009 or 2010. Additional proposals being developed by the Plan Team 
for Council consideration would separate some species from the ``other 
species'' category so that individual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs may be 
established for these species. Another would allocate the ABC for 
rougheye rockfish by Bering Sea subarea and Aleutian Islands (AI) 
subarea instead of a combined BSAI ABC.

Changes From the Proposed 2009 and 2010 Harvest Specifications in the 
BSAI

    In October 2008, the Council made its recommendations for the 
proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications (73 FR 75059, December 
10, 2008) based largely on information contained in the 2007 SAFE 
report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 2008 SAFE report, which 
was not available when the Council

[[Page 7361]]

made its recommendations in October 2008, contains the best and most 
recent scientific information on the condition of the groundfish 
stocks. In December 2008, the Council considered the 2008 SAFE report 
in making its recommendations for the final 2009 and 2010 harvest 
specifications. Based on the 2008 SAFE report, the sum of the 2009 and 
2010 recommended final TACs for the BSAI (1,681,586 mt for 2009 and 
2,000,000 mt for 2010) is lower than the sum of the proposed 2009 TACs 
and higher than the sum of the proposed 2010 TACs (1,824,204 mt each 
year). Compared to the proposed 2009 TACs, the Council's final TAC 
recommendations increase for species when sufficient information 
supports a larger TAC. This increases fishing opportunities for 
fishermen and adds economic benefits to the nation. These species 
include BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod, rock sole, and 
Greenland turbot. The Council reduced TAC levels to provide greater 
protection for several species including Bering Sea subarea pollock, 
yellowfin sole, ``other flatfish,'' and Pacific ocean perch.
    The largest TAC reduction was for Bering Sea subarea pollock. The 
2009 Bering Sea subarea pollock ABC and the corresponding TAC were 
reduced 185,000 mt below the proposed rule due to the addition of new 
survey and catch data incorporated into the pollock assessment models 
after the Council recommended the proposed harvest specifications. The 
reduction in the 2009 ABC and corresponding TAC is a consequence of low 
recruitment in the years 2002 through 2005. The assessment model 
remains unchanged and the stock still is in tier 1, as recommended by 
the SSC. Conversely, the new survey data increased the 2010 Bering Sea 
subarea pollock ABC and TAC by 230,000 mt. This increase is due to the 
recruitment of the 2006 year class, which has now appeared strong in 
two different surveys.
    The changes in the final rule from the proposed rule are based on 
the most recent scientific information and implement the harvest 
strategy described in the proposed rule for the harvest specifications 
and are compared in the following table:

                             Comparison of Final 2009 and 2010 With Proposed 2009 and 2010 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                                                                          2009                                   2010
                                                                             2009 final      2009      difference   2010 final      2010      difference
                   Species                              Area \1\                TAC        proposed       from         TAC        proposed       from
                                                                                             TAC        proposed                    TAC        proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.....................................  BS..........................      815,000    1,000,000     -185,000    1,230,000    1,000,000      230,000
                                              AI..........................       19,000       19,000            0       19,000       19,000            0
                                              Bogoslof....................           50           10           40           10           10            0
Pacific cod.................................  BSAI........................      176,540      170,720        5,820      193,030      170,720       22,310
Sablefish...................................  BS..........................        2,720        2,610          110        2,520        2,610          -90
                                              AI..........................        2,200        2,230          -30        2,040        2,230         -190
Atka mackerel...............................  EAI/BS......................       27,000       15,300       11,700       22,900       15,300        7,600
                                              CAI.........................       32,500       19,000       13,500       28,500       19,000        9,500
                                              WAI.........................       16,900       13,200        3,700       19,700       13,200        6,500
Yellowfin sole..............................  BSAI........................      210,000      225,000      -15,000      180,000      225,000      -45,000
Rock sole...................................  BSAI........................       90,000       75,000       15,000       75,000       75,000            0
Greenland turbot............................  BS..........................        5,090        1,750        3,340        4,920        1,750        3,170
                                              AI..........................        2,290          790        1,500        2,210          790        1,420
Arrowtooth flounder.........................  BSAI........................       75,000       75,000            0       60,000       75,000      -15,000
Flathead sole...............................  BSAI........................       60,000       50,000       10,000       50,000       50,000            0
Other flatfish..............................  BSAI........................       17,400       21,600       -4,200       17,400       21,600       -4,200
Alaska plaice...............................  BSAI........................       50,000       50,000            0       30,000       50,000      -20,000
Pacific ocean perch.........................  BS..........................        3,820        4,100         -280        3,780        4,100         -320
                                              EAI.........................        4,200        4,810         -610        4,160        4,810         -650
                                              CAI.........................        4,260        4,900         -640        4,210        4,900         -690
                                              WAI.........................        6,520        7,490         -970        6,450        7,490       -1,040
Northern rockfish...........................  BSAI........................        7,160        8,130         -970        6,000        8,130       -2,130
Shortraker rockfish.........................  BSAI........................          387          424          -37          387          424          -37
Rougheye rockfish...........................  BSAI........................          539          202          337          552          202          350
Other rockfish..............................  BS..........................          485          414           71          485          414           71
                                              AI..........................          555          554            1          555          554            1
Squid.......................................  BSAI........................        1,970        1,970            0        1,970        1,970            0
Other species...............................  BSAI........................       50,000       50,000            0       34,221       50,000      -15,779
                                                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................  BSAI........................    1,681,586    1,824,204     -142,618    2,000,000    1,824,204      175,796
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\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI),
  Central Aleutian District (CAI), and Western Aleutian District (WAI).

    The final 2009 and 2010 TAC recommendations for the BSAI are within 
the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any 
single species or complex. Table 1 lists the final 2009 and 2010 OFL, 
ABC, TAC, initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve amounts of the BSAI 
groundfish. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and 
seasons is discussed below.
    As mentioned in the proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications, 
NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-
specified reserve to increase the ITAC of several target species.

[[Page 7362]]



                   Table 1--Final 2009 and 2010 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
                                                                                                      [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          2009                                                                              2010
              Species                        Area         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                OFL                           ABC          TAC        ITAC \2\     CDQ \3\        OFL          ABC          TAC        ITAC \2\     CDQ \3\
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \3\.......................  BS \2\...............                                        977,000      815,000      815,000      733,500       81,500    1,430,000    1,230,000    1,230,000    1,107,000      123,000
                                    AI \2\...............                                         32,600       26,900       19,000       17,100        1,900       36,800       30,400       19,000       17,100        1,900
                                    Bogoslof.............                                         58,400        7,970           50           50            0       58,400        7,970           10           10            0
Pacific cod \4\...................  BSAI.................                                        212,000      182,000      176,540      157,650       18,890      235,000      199,000      193,030      172,376       20,654
Sablefish \5\.....................  BS...................                                          3,210        2,720        2,720        2,244          374        2,980        2,520        2,520        1,071           95
                                    AI...................                                          2,600        2,200        2,200        1,788          371        2,410        2,040        2,040          429           38
Atka mackerel.....................  BSAI.................                                         99,400       83,800       76,400       68,225        8,175       84,400       71,100       71,100       63,492        7,608
                                    EAI/BS...............                                            n/a       27,000       27,000       24,111        2,889          n/a       22,900       22,900       20,450        2,450
                                    CAI..................                                            n/a       33,500       32,500       29,023        3,478          n/a       28,500       28,500       25,451        3,050
                                    WAI..................                                            n/a       23,300       16,900       15,092        1,808          n/a       19,700       19,700       17,592        2,108
Yellowfin sole....................  BSAI.................                                        224,000      210,000      210,000      187,530       22,470      210,000      198,000      180,000      160,740       19,260
Rock sole.........................  BSAI.................                                        301,000      296,000       90,000       80,370        9,630      314,000      310,000       75,000       66,975        8,025
Greenland turbot..................  BSAI.................                                         14,800        7,380        7,380        6,273          n/a       14,400        7,130        7,130        6,061          n/a
                                    BS...................                                            n/a        5,090        5,090        4,327          545          n/a        4,920        4,920        4,182          526
                                    AI...................                                            n/a        2,290        2,290        1,947            0          n/a        2,210        2,210        1,879            0
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI.................                                        190,000      156,000       75,000       63,750        8,025      196,000      161,000       60,000       51,000        6,420
Flathead sole.....................  BSAI.................                                         83,800       71,400       60,000       53,580        6,420       81,800       69,800       50,000       44,650        5,350
Other flatfish \6\................  BSAI.................                                         23,100       17,400       17,400       14,790            0       23,100       17,400       17,400       14,790            0
Alaska plaice.....................  BSAI.................                                        298,000      232,000       50,000       42,500            0      354,000      275,000       30,000       25,500            0
Pacific ocean perch...............  BSAI.................                                         22,300       18,800       18,800       16,624          n/a       22,100       18,600       18,600       16,447          n/a
                                    BS...................                                            n/a        3,820        3,820        3,247            0          n/a        3,780        3,780        3,213            0
                                    EAI..................                                            n/a        4,200        4,200        3,751          449          n/a        4,160        4,160        3,715          445
                                    CAI..................                                            n/a        4,260        4,260        3,804          456          n/a        4,210        4,210        3,760          450
                                    WAI..................                                            n/a        6,520        6,520        5,822          698          n/a        6,450        6,450        5,760          690
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI.................                                          8,540        7,160        7,160        6,086            0        8,580        7,190        6,000        5,100            0
Shortraker rockfish...............  BSAI.................                                            516          387          387          329            0          516          387          387          329            0
Rougheye rockfish.................  BSAI.................                                            660          539          539          458            0          640          552          552          469            0
Other rockfish \7\................  BSAI.................                                          1,380        1,040        1,040          884            0        1,380        1,040        1,040          884            0
                                    BS...................                                            n/a          485          485          412            0          n/a          485          485          412            0
                                    AI...................                                            n/a          555          555          472            0          n/a          555          555          472            0
Squid.............................  BSAI.................                                          2,620        1,970        1,970        1,675            0        2,620        1,970        1,970        1,675            0
Other species \8\.................  BSAI.................                                         80,800       63,700       50,000       42,500            0       80,700       63,700       34,221       29,088            0
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................  .....................                                      2,636,726    2,204,366    1,681,586    1,497,906      159,902    3,159,826    2,674,799    2,000,000    1,785,185     194,462
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these harvest specifications, the Bering Sea (BS) subarea includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species, 15 percent of each TAC is put into a reserve. The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after
  the subtraction of these reserves.
\3\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (4.0 percent), is further
  allocated by sector for a directed pollock fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual Aleutian Islands subarea
  pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (1,600 mt) is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery.
\4\ The Pacific cod TAC is reduced by three percent from the ABC to account for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the Aleutian Islands subarea.
\5\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.  Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland
  turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern
  rockfish, shortraker rockfish, rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' squid, and ``other species'' are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\6\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, and Alaska plaice.
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern, dark, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
\8\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus. Forage fish, as defined at Sec.   679.2, are not included in the ``other species'' category.


[[Page 7363]]

Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for Pollock, Atka 
Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and Aleutian 
Islands Pacific Ocean Perch

    Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires the placement of 15 percent of the 
TAC for each target species or ``other species'' category, except for 
pollock, the hook-and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish, and 
the Amendment 80 species, in a non-specified reserve. Section 
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that 20 percent of the hook-and-line and 
pot gear allocation of sablefish be allocated to the fixed gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires allocation 
of 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocations of sablefish and 10.7 
percent of the Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs 
to the respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires 
allocation of 10.7 percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian 
Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, 
and Pacific cod be allocated to the CDQ reserves. Sections 
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require the allocation of 10 
percent of the BSAI pollock TACs to the pollock CDQ directed fishing 
allowance (DFA). The entire Bogoslof District pollock TAC is allocated 
as an ICA (see Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(ii)). With the exception of the hook-
and-line and pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not 
further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear. Section 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires withholding 7.5 percent of the Chinook 
salmon PSC limit, 10.7 percent of the crab and non-Chinook salmon PSC 
limits, and 343 (mt) of halibut PSC as PSQ reserves for the CDQ 
fisheries. Sections 679.30 and 679.31 set forth regulations governing 
the management of the CDQ and PSQ reserves, respectively.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock 
ICA of 4 percent of the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC after 
subtraction of the 10 percent CDQ reserve. This allowance is based on 
NMFS' examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the 
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock 
from 1999 through 2008. During this 9-year period, the pollock 
incidental catch ranged from a low of 2.4 percent in 2006 to a high of 
5 percent in 1999, with a 10-year average of 3 percent. Pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock 
ICA of 1,600 mt for the AI subarea after subtraction of the 10 percent 
CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS' examination of the pollock 
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in 
target fisheries other than pollock from 2003 through 2008. During this 
6-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 
percent in 2006 to a high of 10 percent in 2003, with a 6-year average 
of 6 percent.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 
4,500 mt of flathead sole, 5,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of yellowfin 
sole, 10 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 10 mt of 
Central Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern 
Aleutian District Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of Western Aleutian 
District Atka mackerel, 20 mt of Central Aleutian District Atka 
mackerel, and 200 mt of Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea 
subarea Atka mackerel TAC after subtraction of the 10.7 percent CDQ 
reserve. These allowances are based on NMFS' examination of the 
incidental catch in other target fisheries from 2003 through 2008.
    The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified 
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be 
apportioned to a target species or to the ``other species'' category 
during the year, providing that such apportionments do not result in 
overfishing (see Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii)). The Regional Administrator 
has determined that the ITACs specified for the species listed in Table 
2 need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. 
fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC 
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(b)(3), NMFS is 
apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-specified 
reserve to increase the ITAC for northern rockfish, shortraker 
rockfish, rougheye rockfish, and Bering Sea ``other rockfish'' by 15 
percent of the TAC in 2009 and 2010.

                        Table 2--Final 2009 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2009                                   2010
     Species--area or subarea        2009 ITAC     reserve     2009 final   2010 ITAC     reserve     2010 final
                                                    amount        ITAC                     amount        ITAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish--BSAI.........          329           58          387          329           58          387
Rougheye rockfish--BSAI...........          458           81          539          469           83          552
Northern rockfish--BSAI...........        6,086        1,074        7,160        5,100          900        6,000
Other rockfish--Bering Sea subarea          412           73          485          412           73          485
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................        7,285        1,286        8,571        6,310        1,114        7,424
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)

    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the pollock TAC 
apportioned to the Bering Sea subarea, after subtraction of the 10 
percent for the CDQ program and the 4 percent for the ICA, be allocated 
as a DFA as follows: 50 percent to the inshore sector, 40 percent to 
the catcher/processor sector, and 10 percent to the mothership sector. 
In the Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A 
season (January 20-June 10), and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to 
the B season (June 10-November 1). The AI directed pollock fishery 
allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of pollock remaining 
in the AI subarea after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ DFA (10 
percent) and 1,600 mt for the ICA. In the AI subarea, 40 percent of the 
DFA is allocated to the A season and the remainder of the directed 
pollock fishery is allocated to the B season. Table 3 lists these 2009 
and 2010 amounts.
    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific 
requirements regarding Bering Sea pollock allocations. First, 8.5 
percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector will 
be available for harvest by AFA catcher vessels with catcher/processor 
sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a 
cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of harvest 
among AFA catcher/processors and AFA catcher vessels in a manner agreed 
to by all members. Second, AFA

[[Page 7364]]

catcher/processors not listed in the AFA are limited to harvesting not 
more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor 
sector. Table 3 lists the 2009 and 2010 allocations of pollock TAC. 
Tables 11 through 15 list the AFA catcher/processor and catcher vessel 
harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the pollock allocations to 
the Bering Sea subarea inshore pollock cooperatives and open access 
sector will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
    Table 3 also lists seasonal apportionments of pollock and harvest 
limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The harvest 
within the SCA, as defined at Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to 28 
percent of the annual DFA until April 1. The remaining 12 percent of 
the 40 percent annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken 
outside the SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less 
than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 
1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after 
April 1. The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be apportioned to 
each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated percentage of the 
DFA. Table 3 lists by sector these 2009 and 2010 amounts.

     Table 3--Final 2009 and 2010 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          2009 A season \1\     2009 B                     2010 A season \1\     2010 B
                                                                       ----------------------   season                  ----------------------   season
                                                             2009                                \1\          2010                                \1\
                    Area and sector                       Allocations    A season     SCA    -----------   Allocations    A season     SCA    ----------
                                                                           DFA      harvest    B season                     DFA      harvest    B season
                                                                                   limit \2\     DFA                                limit \2\     DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea....................................         815,000        n/a        n/a        n/a       1,230,000        n/a        n/a        n/a
    CDQ DFA...........................................          81,500     32,600     22,820     48,900         123,000     49,200     34,440     73,800
    ICA \1\...........................................          29,340        n/a        n/a        n/a          44,280        n/a        n/a        n/a
    AFA Inshore.......................................         352,080    140,832     98,582    211,248         531,360    212,544    148,781    318,816
    AFA Catcher/Processors \3\........................         281,664    112,666     78,866    168,998         425,088    170,035    119,025    255,053
        Catch by C/Ps.................................         257,723    103,089        n/a    154,634         388,956    155,582        n/a    233,373
        Catch by CVs \3\..............................          23,941      9,577        n/a     14,365          36,132     14,453        n/a     21,679
        Unlisted C/P Limit \4\........................           1,408        563        n/a        845           2,125        850        n/a      1,275
AFA Motherships.......................................          70,416     28,166     19,716     42,250         106,272     42,509     29,756     63,763
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\........................         123,228        n/a        n/a        n/a         185,976        n/a        n/a        n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\........................         211,248        n/a        n/a        n/a         318,816        n/a        n/a        n/a
    Total Bering Sea DFA..............................         704,160    281,664    197,165    422,495       1,062,721    425,087    297,562    637,632
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands subarea \1\..........................          19,000        n/a        n/a        n/a          19,000        n/a        n/a        n/a
    CDQ DFA...........................................           1,900        760        n/a      1,140           1,900        760        n/a      1,140
    ICA...............................................           1,600        800        n/a        800           1,600        800        n/a        800
    Aleut Corporation.................................          15,500     15,500        n/a          0          15,500     15,500        n/a          0
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bogoslof District ICA \7\.........................              50        n/a        n/a        n/a              10        n/a        n/a        n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock, after subtraction for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and the ICA (4 percent), is
  allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the
  Bering Sea subarea, 40 percent of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 60 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B season
  (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed
  fishing allowance (10 percent) and second the ICA (1,600 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a directed pollock fishery. In the AI subarea,
  the A season is allocated 40 percent of the ABC and the B season is allocated the remainder of the directed pollock fishery.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before April 1. The remaining 12 percent of
  the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of SCA before April 1 or inside the SCA after April 1. If less than 28 percent of the
  annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken inside the SCA after April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), not less than 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed catcher/processors shall be available for harvest
  only by eligible catcher vessels delivering to listed catcher/processors.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the
  catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
  pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0 percent of the sum of the non-CDQ
  pollock DFAs.
\7\ The Bogoslof District is closed by the final harvest specifications to directed fishing for pollock. The amounts specified are for ICA only and are
  not apportioned by season or sector.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

    Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after 
subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the 
BSAI trawl limited access sector and non-trawl gear, to the Amendment 
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC 
for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access 
sectors is established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.  679.91.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(i), up to 2 percent of the Eastern 
Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea Atka mackerel ITAC may be 
allocated to jig gear. The amount of this allocation is determined 
annually by the Council based on several criteria, including the 
anticipated harvest capacity of the jig gear fleet. The Council 
recommended, and NMFS approves, a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka 
mackerel ITAC in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea 
to the jig gear in 2009 and 2010. Based on the 2009 TAC of 27,000 mt 
after subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation 
would be 120 mt for 2009. Based on the 2010 TAC of 22,900 mt after 
subtractions of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would 
be 101 mt for 2010.

[[Page 7365]]

    Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel ITAC into 
two equal seasonal allowances. The first seasonal allowance is made 
available for directed fishing from January 1 (January 20 for trawl 
gear) to April 15 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance is made 
available from September 1 to November 1 (B season). The jig gear 
allocation is not apportioned by season.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1), the Regional 
Administrator will establish a harvest limit area (HLA) limit of no 
more than 60 percent of the seasonal TAC for the Western and Central 
Aleutian Districts.
    NMFS will establish HLA limits for the CDQ reserve and each of the 
three non-CDQ trawl sectors: the BSAI trawl limited access sector, the 
Amendment 80 limited access fishery, and an aggregate HLA limit 
applicable to all Amendment 80 cooperatives. NMFS will assign vessels 
in each of the three non-CDQ sectors that apply to fish for Atka 
mackerel in the HLA to an HLA fishery based on a random lottery of the 
vessels that apply (see Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(iii)). There is no 
allocation of Atka mackerel to the BSAI trawl limited access sector in 
the Western Aleutian District. Therefore, no vessels in the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector will be assigned to the Western Aleutian District 
HLA fishery.
    Each trawl sector will have a separate lottery. A maximum of two 
HLA fisheries will be established in Area 542 for the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be 
established for vessels assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives: a first 
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery 
in Area 543. A maximum of four HLA fisheries will be established for 
vessels assigned to the Amendment 80 limited access fishery: a first 
and second HLA fishery in Area 542, and a first and second HLA fishery 
in Area 543. NMFS will initially open fishing in the HLA for the first 
HLA fishery in all three trawl sectors at the same time. The initial 
opening of fishing in the HLA will be based on the first directed 
fishing closure of Atka mackerel for the Eastern Aleutian District and 
Bering Sea subarea for any one of the three trawl sectors allocated 
Atka mackerel TAC.
    Table 4 lists these 2009 and 2010 amounts. The 2010 allocations for 
Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants 
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2009.

 Table 4--Final 2009 and 2010 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and Amendment 80 Allocations of the
                                                                 BSAI ATKA Mackerel TAC
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2009 allocation by area                2010 allocation by area
                                                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Eastern                                Eastern
                 Sector \1\                          Season \3\ \4\           Aleutian     Central      Western      Aleutian     Central      Western
                                                                             District/     Aleutian     Aleutian    District/     Aleutian     Aleutian
                                                                             Bering Sea    District     District    Bering Sea    District     District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.........................................  n/a.........................       27,000       32,500       16,900       22,900       28,500       19,700
CDQ reserve.................................  Total.......................        2,889        3,478        1,808        2,450        3,050        2,108
                                              HLA \5\.....................          n/a        2,087        1,085          n/a        1,830        1,265
ICA.........................................  Total.......................          200           20           20          200           20           20
Jig \6\.....................................  Total.......................          120            0            0          101            0            0
BSAI trawl limited access...................  Total.......................          952        1,160            0        1,209        1,526            0
                                              A...........................          476          580            0          604          763            0
                                              HLA \4\.....................          n/a          348            0          n/a          458            0
                                              B...........................          476          580            0          604          763            0
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a          348            0          n/a          458            0
Amendment 80 sectors........................  Total.......................       22,840       27,842       15,072       18,940       23,905       17,572
                                              A...........................       11,420       13,921        7,536        9,470       11,952        8,786
                                              HLA \4\.....................          n/a        8,353        4,522          n/a        7,171        5,272
                                              B...........................       11,420       13,921        7,536        9,470       11,952        8,786
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a        8,353        4,522          n/a        7,171        5,272
Amendment 80 limited access.................  Total.......................       12,328       16,795        9,275          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              A...........................        6,164        8,398        4,638          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a        5,039        2,783          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              B...........................        6,164        8,398        4,638          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a        5,039        2,783          n/a          n/a          n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives...................  Total.......................       10,512       11,047        5,797          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              A...........................        5,256        5,524        2,899          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a        3,314        1,739          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              B...........................        5,256        5,524        2,899          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                              HLA\4\......................          n/a        3,314        1,739          n/a          n/a         n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80
  and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is
  established in Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.  Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Regulations at Sec.  Sec.   679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ The A season is January 1 (January 20 for trawl gear) to April 15 and the B season is September 1 to November 1.
\5\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2009 and 2010, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after
  subtraction of the CDQ reserve and ICA. The amount of this allocation is 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.


[[Page 7366]]

Allocation of the Pacific cod ITAC

    Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocates the Pacific cod TAC in 
the BSAI, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserve, as 
follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear, 2.0 percent to hook-
and-line and pot catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length 
overall (LOA), 0.2 percent to hook-and-line catcher vessels greater 
than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 48.7 percent to hook-and-line 
catcher/processors, 8.4 percent to pot catcher vessels greater than or 
equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot catcher/processors, 2.3 
percent to American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher/processors, 13.4 
percent to non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and 22.1 percent to trawl 
catcher vessels. The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be 
deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the 
hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2009 and 2010, the Regional 
Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on anticipated 
incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. The allocation of 
the ITAC for Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is established in 
Table 33 to part 679 and Sec.  679.91. The 2010 allocations for Pacific 
cod between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited 
access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for 
participation in the program by November 1, 2009.
    The Pacific cod ITAC is apportioned into seasonal allowances to 
disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year (see 
Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7) and 679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific 
cod allowance will become available at the beginning of the next 
seasonal allowance.
    Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.23(e)(5), the CDQ 
season allowances by gear are as follows: For hook-and-line catcher/
processors and hook-and-line catcher vessels greater than or equal to 
60 ft (18.3 m) LOA harvesting CDQ Pacific cod, the first seasonal 
allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is available for directed fishing 
from January 1 to June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 40 
percent of the ITAC is available from June 10 to December 31. No 
seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on the CDQ Pacific cod fishery 
for pot gear or hook-and-line catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) 
LOA. For vessels harvesting CDQ Pacific cod with trawl gear, the first 
seasonal allowance of 60 percent of the ITAC is available January 20 to 
April 1. The second seasonal allowance, April 1 to June 10, and the 
third seasonal allowance, June 10 to November 1, are each allocated 20 
percent of the ITAC. The CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel 
allocation is further allocated as 70 percent of the first seasonal 
allowance, 10 percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 20 percent 
in the third seasonal allowance. The CDQ Pacific cod trawl catcher/
processor allocation is 50 percent in the first seasonal allowance, 30 
percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 20 percent in the third 
seasonal allowance. For jig gear, the first and third seasonal 
allowances are each allocated 40 percent of the ITAC and the second 
seasonal allowance is allocated 20 percent of the ITAC.
    Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) and 679.23(e)(5), the 
non-CDQ season allowances by gear are as follows. For hook-and-line and 
pot catcher/processors and hook-and-line and pot catcher vessels 
greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, the first seasonal 
allowance of 51 percent of the ITAC is available for directed fishing 
from January 1 to June 10, and the second seasonal allowance of 49 
percent of the ITAC is available from June 10 (September 1 for pot 
gear) to December 31. No seasonal harvest constraints are imposed on 
the Pacific cod fishery for catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) 
LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear. For trawl gear, the first seasonal 
allowance is January 20 to April 1, the second seasonal allowance is 
April 1 to June 10, and the third seasonal allowance is June 10 to 
November 1. The trawl catcher vessel allocation is further allocated as 
74 percent in the first seasonal allowance, 11 percent in the second 
seasonal allowance, and 15 percent in the third seasonal allowance. The 
trawl catcher/processor allocation is allocated 75 percent in the first 
seasonal allowance, 25 percent in the second seasonal allowance, and 
zero percent in the third seasonal allowance. For jig gear, the first 
seasonal allowance is allocated 60 percent of the ITAC, and the second 
and third seasonal allowances are each allocated 20 percent of the 
ITAC. Table 5 lists the 2009 and 2010 allocations and seasonal 
apportionments of the Pacific cod TAC.

              Table 5a--Final 2009 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2009 share                      2009 seasonal apportionment
                                                    of gear    2009 share of -----------------------------------
              Gear sector                Percent    sector     sector total
                                                     total                              Dates            Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC.............................       100     176,540             n/a  n/a.....................       n/a
CDQ...................................      10.7      18,890             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear..........      60.8      95,851             n/a  0.......................       n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \1\.............       n/a         500             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total...........       n/a      95,351             n/a  n/a.....................       n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor.......      48.7         n/a          76,375  Jan 1-Jun 10............    38,951
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...........    37,424
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 ft        0.2         n/a             314  Jan 1-Jun 10............       160
 LOA.
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...........       154
Pot catcher/processor.................       1.5         n/a           2,352  Jan 1-Jun 10............     1,200
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...........     1,152
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA.......       8.4         n/a          13,173  Jan 1-Jun 10............     6,718
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...........     6,455
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-       2.0         n/a           3,137  n/a.....................       n/a
 and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel..................      22.1      34,841             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............    25,782
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............     3,832
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............     5,226
AFA trawl catcher/processor...........       2.3       3,626             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............     2,719
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............       906
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80..........................      13.4      21,125             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............    15,844

[[Page 7367]]

 
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............     5,281
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80 limited access...........       n/a         n/a           3,471  Jan 20-Apr 1............     2,603
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............       868
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80 cooperatives.............       n/a         n/a          17,654  Jan 20-Apr 1............    13,241
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............     4,414
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Jig...................................       1.4       2,207             n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30............     1,324
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 30-Aug 31...........       441
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Aug 31-Dec 31...........       441
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2009
  based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.


              Table 5b--Final 2010 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2010 share                    2010 seasonal apportionment \2\
                                                    of gear    2010 share of -----------------------------------
              Gear sector                Percent    sector     sector total
                                                     total                              Dates            Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC.............................       100     193,030             n/a  n/a.....................       n/a
CDQ...................................      10.7      20,654             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear..........      60.8     104,804             n/a  n/a.....................       n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \1\.............       n/a         500             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(ii)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total...........       n/a     104,304             n/a  n/a.....................       n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor.......      48.7         n/a          83,547  Jan 1-Jun 10............    42,609
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...........    40,938
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 ft        0.2         n/a             343  Jan 1-Jun 10............       175
 LOA.
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Dec 31...........       168
Pot catcher/processor.................       1.5         n/a           2,573  Jan 1-Jun 10............     1,312
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...........     1,261
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA.......       8.4         n/a          14,410  Jan 1-Jun 10............     7,349
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Sept 1-Dec 31...........     7,061
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-       2.0       3,431           3,431  n/a.....................       n/a
 and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel..................      22.1      38,095             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............    28,190
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............     4,190
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............     5,714
AFA trawl catcher/processor...........       2.3       3,965             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............     2,973
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............       991
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80..........................      13.4      23,098             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1............    17,324
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............     5,775
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80 limited access \2\.......       n/a         n/a  see footnote 2  Jan 20-Apr 1............       75%
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............       25%
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Amendment 80 cooperatives \2\.........       n/a         n/a  see footnote 2  Jan 20-Apr 1............       75%
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10............       25%
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1............         0
Jig...................................       1.4       2,413             n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30............     1,448
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Apr 30-Aug 31...........       483
                                        ........  ..........  ..............  Aug 31-Dec 31...........       483
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt for 2010
  based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2010 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
  access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
  1, 2009.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require the allocation of 
sablefish TACs for the Bering Sea and AI subareas between trawl and 
hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the Bering 
Sea subarea are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-
line or pot gear and for the AI subarea are 25 percent for trawl gear 
and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. Section 
679.20(b)(1)(iii)(B) requires apportionment of 20 percent of the hook-
and-line and pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. 
Additionally, Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires apportionment of 7.5 
percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ reserve. 
The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established 
biennially. The

[[Page 7368]]

harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and pot gear 
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries will be limited to 
the 2009 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted 
concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and 
halibut IFQ fisheries reduces the potential for discards of halibut and 
sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ fisheries will remain 
closed at the beginning of each fishing year until the final 
specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in effect. Table 6 
lists the 2009 and 2010 gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ 
reserve amounts.

                                     Table 6--Final 2009 and 2010 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Percent of   2009 Share                 2009 CDQ    2010 Share                 2010 CDQ
                       Subarea and gear                            TAC         of TAC     2009 ITAC     reserve       of TAC     2010 ITAC     reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
    Trawl \1\................................................           50        1,360        1,156          102        1,260        1,071           95
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\...............................           50        1,360        1,088          272          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL....................................................          100        2,720        2,244          374        1,260        1,071           95
Aleutian Islands
    Trawl \1\................................................           25          550          468           41          505          429           38
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\...............................           75        1,650        1,320          330          n/a          n/a          n/a
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        TOTAL................................................          100        2,200        1,788          371          505          429           38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line or pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the reserve. The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC
  after the subtraction of these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
  CDQ participants. The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to 1 year.

Allocation of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI 
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs

    Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require the allocation between 
the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector for 
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock 
sole, and yellowfin sole TACs, after subtraction of 10.7 percent for 
the CDQ reserve and an ICA for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and 
vessels using non-trawl gear. The allocation of the ITAC for Aleutian 
Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector is established in Tables 33 
and 34 to part 679 and Sec.  679.91. The 2010 allocations for Amendment 
80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and limited access sector 
will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation 
in the program by November 1, 2009. Table 7 lists the 2009 and 2010 
allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.

 Table 7a--Final 2009 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment
  80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin
                                                    Sole TACS
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Pacific ocean perch                            BSAI
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Sector                  Eastern      Central      Western
                                      Aleutian     Aleutian     Aleutian     Flathead    Rock sole    Yellowfin
                                      District     District     District       sole                      sole
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC...............................        4,200        4,260        6,520       60,000       90,000      210,000
CDQ...............................          449          456          698        6,420        9,630       22,470
ICA...............................          100           10           10        4,500        5,000        2,000
BSAI trawl limited access.........          365          379          116            0            0       39,154
Amendment 80......................        3,286        3,415        5,696       49,080       75,370      146,376
Amendment 80 limited access.......        1,742        1,811        3,020        5,729       18,559       58,389
Amendment 80 cooperatives.........        1,543        1,604        2,676       43,351       56,811       87,987
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 7b--Final 2010 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment
  80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin
                                                    Sole TACS
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Pacific ocean perch                            BSAI
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Sector                  Eastern      Central      Western
                                      Aleutian     Aleutian     Aleutian     Flathead    Rock sole    Yellowfin
                                      District     District     District       sole                      sole
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC...............................        4,160        4,210        6,450       50,000       75,000      180,000

[[Page 7369]]

 
CDQ...............................          445          450          690        5,350        8,025       19,260
ICA...............................          100           10           10        4,500        5,000        2,000
BSAI trawl limited access.........          361          375          115            0            0       28,438
Amendment 80......................        3,253        3,375        5,635       40,150       61,975      130,302
Amendment 80 limited access \1\...          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives \1\.....          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a         n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2010 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited
  access sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November
  1, 2009.

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

    Section 679.21(e) sets forth the BSAI PSC limits. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(iv) and (e)(2), the 2009 and 2010 BSAI halibut mortality 
limits are 3,675 mt for trawl fisheries and 900 mt for the non-trawl 
fisheries. Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 
276 mt in 2009 and 326 mt in 2010 of the trawl halibut mortality limit 
and 7.5 percent, or 67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as 
the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. Section 
679.21(e)(1)(vii) specifies 29,000 fish as the 2009 and 2010 Chinook 
salmon PSC limit for the Bering Sea subarea pollock fishery. Section 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 2,175 Chinook 
salmon, as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program and allocates the 
remaining 26,825 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 
679.21(e)(1)(ix) specifies 700 fish as the 2009 and 2010 Chinook salmon 
PSC limit for the AI subarea pollock fishery. Section 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(i) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, 
as the AI subarea PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates the remaining 
647 Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(e)(1)(viii) 
specifies 42,000 fish as the 2009 and 2010 non-Chinook salmon PSC 
limit. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(3)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 
4,494 non-Chinook salmon, as the PSQ for the CDQ program and allocates 
the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
    PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on 
abundance and spawning biomass.
    The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 
2008 survey data at 35 million red king crabs, and the effective 
spawning biomass is estimated at 75 million lb (34,020 mt). Based on 
the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii), the 2009 and 2010 PSC 
limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 197,000 animals. 
This limit derives from the mature female abundance of more than 8.4 
million king crab and the effective spawning biomass estimate of more 
than 55 million lb (24,948 mt).
    Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which 
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red 
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS to 
up to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit based on the need to 
optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red king crab bycatch. In 
December 2008, the Council recommended, and NMFS approves, that the red 
king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC 
limit within the RKCSS (Table 8b).
    Based on 2008 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) 
abundance is estimated at 435 million animals. Given the criteria set 
out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), the calculated 2009 and 2010 C. bairdi 
crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1 and 
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits are derived from the C. 
bairdi crab abundance estimate being in excess of the 400 million 
animal threshold specified in Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii).
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv), the PSC limit for snow crab C. 
opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by the NMFS annual 
bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit is set at 0.1133 
percent of the Bering Sea abundance index. Based on the 2008 survey 
estimate of 2.6 billion animals, the calculated limit is 4,350,000 
animals.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(vi), the PSC limit of Pacific 
herring caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish 
is 1 percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best 
estimate of 2009 and 2010 herring biomass is 169,675 mt. This amount 
was derived using 2008 survey data and an age-structured biomass 
projection model developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 
Therefore, the herring PSC limit for 2009 and 2010 is 1,697 mt for all 
trawl gear as presented in Tables 8a and b.
    Section 679.21(e)(3) requires, after subtraction of PSQ reserves, 
that crab and halibut trawl PSC be apportioned between the BSAI trawl 
limited access and Amendment 80 sectors as presented in Table 8a. The 
amount of 2009 PSC limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector is 
specified in Table 35 to part 679. Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iv) 
and Sec.  679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC assigned to 
the Amendment 80 sector is then sub-allocated to Amendment 80 
cooperatives as PSC cooperative quota (CQ) and to the Amendment 80 
limited access fishery as presented in Tables 8d and 8e. PSC CQ 
assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to specific 
fishery categories. The 2010 PSC allocations between Amendment 80 
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be 
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the 
program by November 1, 2009. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires the 
apportionment of each trawl PSC limit not assigned to Amendment 80 
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery 
categories.
    Section 679.21(e)(4)(i) authorizes the apportionment of the non-
trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC bycatch allowances among six fishery 
categories. Table 8c lists the fishery bycatch allowances for the trawl 
and non-trawl fisheries.
    Section 679.21(e)(4)(ii) authorizes the exemption of specified non-
trawl

[[Page 7370]]

fisheries from the halibut PSC limit. As in past years after 
consultation with the Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the 
sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear fishery categories from halibut 
bycatch restrictions because (1) The pot gear fisheries have low 
halibut bycatch mortality, (2) halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet 
is assumed to be negligible, and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ 
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program 
requires legal-size halibut to be retained by vessels using hook-and-
line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard 
and is holding unused halibut IFQ (subpart D of 50 CFR part 679). In 
2008, total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was 
approximately 22,160 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality 
of about 6 mt. The 2008 jig gear fishery harvested about 228 mt of 
groundfish. Most vessels in the jig gear fleet are less than 60 ft 
(18.3 m) LOA and thus are exempt from observer coverage requirements. 
As a result, observer data are not available on halibut bycatch in the 
jig gear fishery. However, a negligible amount of halibut bycatch 
mortality is assumed because of the selective nature of jig gear and 
the low mortality rate of halibut caught with jig gear and released.
    Section 679.21(e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consultation with the 
Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of PSC amounts for the 
BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors in 
order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available 
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered 
are (1) Seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2) seasonal 
distribution of target groundfish species, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a 
seasonal basis relevant to prohibited species biomass, (4) expected 
variations in bycatch rates throughout the year, (5) expected start of 
fishing effort, and (6) economic effects of seasonal PSC apportionments 
on industry sectors. The Council recommended and NMFS approves the 
seasonal PSC apportionments in Tables 8c and 8e to maximize harvest 
among gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of 
PSC based on the above criteria.

 Table 8a--Final 2009 and 2010 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
                                                                 Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Non-trawl                                                             Amendment 80 sector
                                                   PSC                                                            --------------------------  BSAI trawl
           PSC species             Total non-   remaining   Total trawl  Trawl PSC remaining  CDQ PSQ reserve \1\                              limited
                                   trawl PSC    after CDQ       PSC       after CDQ PSQ \1\                            2009         2010        access
                                                 PSQ \1\                                                                                       fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI.....          900          832        3,675  3,400 in 2009, and   343 in 2009, and           2,475        2,425          875
                                                                          3,282 in 2010.       393 in 2010.
Herring (mt) BSAI...............          n/a          n/a        1,697  n/a................  n/a................          n/a          n/a          n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1            n/a          n/a      197,000  175,921............  21,079.............      104,427       98,920       53,797
 \2\.
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\...          n/a          n/a    4,350,000  3,884,550..........  465,450............    2,267,412    2,148,156    1,248,494
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1           n/a          n/a      980,000  875,140............  104,860............      437,658      414,641      411,228
 \2\.
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2           n/a          n/a    2,970,000  2,652,210..........  317,790............      745,536      706,284   1,241,500
 \2\.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Sections 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) and (e)(4)(i)(A) allocate 276 mt in 2009 and 326 mt in 2010 of the trawl halibut mortality limit and 7.5 percent, or
  67 mt, of the non-trawl halibut mortality limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program. The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7
  percent of each crab PSC limit.
\2\ Refer to 50 CFR 679.2 for definitions of areas.


 Table 8b--Final 2009 and 2010 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
        Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Red king crab
           Fishery categories              Herring (mt)      (animals)
                                               BSAI           Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..........................             146             n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish                25             n/a
 \1\....................................
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\.........              12             n/a
Rockfish................................               9             n/a
Pacific cod.............................              25             n/a
Midwater trawl pollock..................           1,296             n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \3\.             184             n/a
Red king crab savings subarea Non-                   n/a          49,250
 pelagic trawl gear \4\.................
                                         -------------------------------
    Total trawl PSC.....................           1,697        197,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
  except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland
  turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\2\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery
  category.
\3\ Non-pelagic pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' fishery
  category.
\4\ In December 2008 the Council recommended that the red king crab
  bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
  limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit (see Sec.
  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).


[[Page 7371]]


          Table 8c--Final 2009 and 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector and Non-Trawl Fisheries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Prohibited species and area \1\
                                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              BSAI trawl limited access fisheries                                          Red king crab     C. opilio          C. bairdi (animals)
                                                                  Halibut mortality (mt)  (animals) Zone     (animals)   -------------------------------
                                                                           BSAI                  1             COBLZ          Zone 1          Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................................................                      187          47,397       1,176,494         346,228       1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \2\.....................                        0               0               0               0               0
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\................................                        0               0               0               0               0
Rockfish.......................................................                        5               0           2,000          60,000           1,000
Pacific cod....................................................                      508           6,000          50,000          60,000          50,000
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\........................                      175             400          20,000           5,000           5,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited access PSC........................                      875          53,797       1,248,494         411,228       1,241,500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
Non-trawl fisheries.............................................    Catcher     Catcher
                                                                   processor    vessel
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod--Total..............................................         760          15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    January 1-June 10...........................................         314          10
    June 10-August 15...........................................           0           3
    August 15-December 31.......................................         446           2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other non-trawl--Total..........................................            58
 
    May 1-December 31...........................................            58
 
Groundfish pot and jig..........................................          exempt
 
Sablefish hook-and-line.........................................          exempt
 
    Total non-trawl PSC.........................................            833
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 \1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot,
  rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus.


                            Table 8d--Final 2009 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Prohibited species and area \1\
                                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Year                                                                                                C. bairdi (animals)
                                                       Halibut mortality     Red king crab         C. opilio     ---------------------------------------
                                                           (mt) BSAI       (animals) Zone 1     (animals) COBLZ         Zone 1              Zone 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009................................................              1,793              74,351           1,544,825             321,922             548,443
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.


  Table 8e--Final 2009 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Limited Access Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Prohibited species and area \1\
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Amendment 80 limited access        Halibut      Red king crab     C. opilio          C. bairdi (animals)
            fisheries             mortality (mt)     (animals)       (animals)   -------------------------------
                                       BSAI           Zone 1           COBLZ          Zone 1          Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..................             370           6,286         634,639          61,785         151,133
    Jan 20-Jul 1................             223           6,096         618,505          55,778         119,056
    Jul 1-Dec 31................             147             190          16,134           6,007          32,077
Rock sole/other flat/flathead                217          23,750          87,848          53,851          45,860
 sole \2\.......................
    Jan 20-Apr 1................             177          23,400          84,877          47,510          40,060
    Apr 1-Jul 1.................              20             175           1,561           3,320           2,900
    July 1-Dec 31...............              20             175           1,410           3,021           2,900
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\.               5              50             100             100             100
Rockfish........................              45             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
Pacific cod.....................               0               0               0               0               0
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other                   45               0               0               0               0
 species \4\....................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Amendment 80 trawl                 682          30,086         722,587         115,736         197,093
     limited access PSC.........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.

[[Page 7372]]

 
\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.
\4\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ''other species'' fishery category. ``Other
  species'' for PSC monitoring includes sculpins, sharks, skates, and octopus.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, discard 
mortality rates (DMR), and estimates of groundfish catch to project 
when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality allowance or seasonal 
apportionment is reached. The DMRs are based on the best information 
available, including information contained in the annual SAFE report.
    NMFS approves the halibut DMRs developed and recommended by the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the Council for the 
2009 and 2010 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2009 
and 2010 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a-e). The IPHC 
developed these DMRs for the 2009 and 2010 BSAI non-CDQ fisheries using 
the 10-year mean DMRs for those fisheries. The IPHC changed the DMRs 
for the 2009 and 2010 BSAI CDQ fisheries using the 1998 to 2007 DMRs 
for those fisheries. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and 
recommend changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation 
from the mean. A copy of the document justifying these DMRs is 
available from the Council (see ADDRESSES), and the DMRs are discussed 
in the final 2008 SAFE report dated November 2008. Table 9 lists the 
2009 and 2010 DMRs.

                Table 9--Final 2009 and 2010 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for the BSAI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Halibut discard mortality rate
                                                                                             (percent)
                     Gear                                    Fishery             -------------------------------
                                                                                       2009            2010
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line.........................  Greenland turbot................              13              13
                                                Other species...................              11              11
                                                Pacific cod.....................              11              11
                                                Rockfish........................              17              17
Non-CDQ trawl.................................  Arrowtooth flounder.............              75              75
                                                Atka mackerel...................              76              76
                                                Flathead sole...................              70              70
                                                Greenland turbot................              70              70
                                                Non-pelagic pollock.............              74              74
                                                Pelagic pollock.................              88              88
                                                Other flatfish..................              74              74
                                                Other species...................              70              70
                                                Pacific cod.....................              70              70
                                                Rockfish........................              76              76
                                                Rock sole.......................              80              80
                                                Sablefish.......................              75              75
                                                Yellowfin sole..................              80              80
Non-CDQ pot...................................  Other species...................               7               7
                                                Pacific cod.....................               7               7
CDQ trawl.....................................  Atka mackerel...................              85              85
                                                Flathead sole...................              87              84
                                                Non-pelagic pollock.............              86              85
                                                Pelagic pollock.................              90              90
                                                Rockfish........................              82              82
                                                Rock sole.......................              86              88
                                                Yellowfin sole..................              84              84
CDQ hook-and-line.............................  Greenland turbot................               4               4
                                                Pacific cod.....................              10              10
CDQ pot.......................................  Pacific cod.....................               7               7
                                                Sablefish.......................              35              34
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the 
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment 
of a target species or ``other species'' category has been or will be 
reached. If the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA, and that 
allowance is or will be reached before the end of the fishing year, 
NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group 
in the specified subarea or district (see Sec.  697.20(d)(1)(iii)). 
Similarly, pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e), if the Regional Administrator 
determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of halibut, red 
king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a specified area has 
been reached, the Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing 
for each species in that category in the specified area.
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish 
allocation amounts in Table 10 will be necessary as incidental catch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2009 and 2010 
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), 
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and 
species groups in Table 10 as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these 
sectors and species in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., February 17, 2009, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2010. 
Also, the

[[Page 7373]]

BSAI trawl limited access and Amendment 80 limited access sectors 
bycatch allowances of halibut in Table 10 are zero mt and the bycatch 
allowances of red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. opilio crab in 
Table 10 are 0 animals. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.21(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors 
and fishery categories in the specified areas effective at 1200 hrs, 
A.l.t., February 17, 2009, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2010.

                              Table 10--2009 and 2010 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
           [Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       2009            2010
                                                                                    Incidental      Incidental
               Area                         Sector                Species              catch           catch
                                                                                     allowance       allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District.................  All..................  Pollock..............              50              10
Aleutian Islands subarea..........  All..................  ICA pollock..........           1,600           1,600
                                                           ``Other rockfish''...             472             472
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA Atka mackerel....             200             200
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                 100             100
                                                            perch.
Central Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA Atka mackerel....              20              20
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  10              10
                                                            perch.
Western Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA Atka mackerel....              20              20
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  10              10
                                                            perch.
Bering Sea subarea................  All..................  Pacific ocean perch..           3,247           3,213
                                                           ``Other rockfish''...             485             485
                                                           ICA pollock..........          29,340          44,280
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands...  All..................  Northern rockfish....           7,160           6,000
                                                           Shortraker rockfish..             387             387
                                                           Rougheye rockfish....             539             552
                                                           ``Other species''....          42,500          29,088
                                    Hook-and-line and pot  ICA Pacific cod......             500             500
                                     gear.
                                    Non-amendment 80.....  ICA flathead sole....           4,500           4,500
                                                           ICA rock sole........           5,000           5,000
                                                           ICA yellowfin sole...           2,000           2,000
                                    BSAI trawl limited     Rock sole/flathead                  0               0
                                     access.                sole/other flatfish--
                                                            halibut mortality,
                                                            red king crab zone
                                                            1, C. opilio COBLZ,
                                                            C. bairdi Zone 1 and
                                                            2.
                                                           Turbot/arrowtooth/                  0               0
                                                            sablefish--halibut
                                                            mortality, red king
                                                            crab zone 1, C.
                                                            opilio COBLZ, C.
                                                            bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
                                                           Rockfish--red king                  0               0
                                                            crab zone 1.
                                    Amendment 80 limited   Turbot/arrowtooth/                  0             n/a
                                     access.                sablefish--halibut
                                                            mortality, red king
                                                            crab zone 1, C.
                                                            bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
                                                           Rockfish--red king                  0             n/a
                                                            crab zone 1, C.
                                                            opilio COBLZ, C.
                                                            bairdi  Zone 1 and 2.
                                                           Pollock/Atka mackerel/              0             n/a
                                                            other species--red
                                                            king crab zone 1, C.
                                                            opilio COBLZ, C.
                                                            bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.

    Closures implemented under the 2008 and 2009 Bering Sea and 
Aleutian Islands harvest specifications for groundfish (73 FR 10160, 
February 26, 2008) remain effective under authority of these final 2009 
and 2010 harvest specifications, and are posted at the following Web 
sites: http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2009, and http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2009/status.htm. While these closures are in effect, the maximum 
retainable amounts at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during 
a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in addition to 
closures and prohibitions found in regulations at 50 CFR part 679.

Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Pilot Program (Rockfish Program)

    On June 6, 2005, the Council adopted the Rockfish Program to meet 
the requirements of Section 802 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 
of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-199). The basis for the BSAI fishing prohibitions 
and the catcher vessel BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limits of the 
Rockfish Program are discussed in detail in the final rule to Amendment 
68 to the Fishery Management Plan for groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska 
(71 FR 67210, November 20, 2006). Pursuant to Sec.  679.82(d)(6)(i), 
the catcher vessel BSAI Pacific cod sideboard limit is 0.0 mt. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.82(d)(7)(ii), NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for BSAI Pacific cod in July for catcher 
vessels under the Rockfish Program sideboard limitations.

[[Page 7374]]

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is 
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA catcher/
processors to engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other 
than pollock to protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from 
adverse effects resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in 
the directed pollock fishery. The basis for these sideboard limits is 
described in detail in the final rules implementing the major 
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 
(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 11 lists the 2009 and 2010 
catcher/processor sideboard limits.
    All catch of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA catcher/
processors, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the sideboard limits in Table 11. However, groundfish 
sideboard species that are delivered to listed catcher/processors by 
catcher vessels will not be deducted from the 2009 and 2010 sideboard 
limits for the listed AFA catcher/processors.

                     Table 11--Final 2009 and 2010 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             1995-1997
                                                              ---------------------------------------  2009 ITAC                 2010 ITAC
                                                                                           Ratio of    available   2009 AFA C/   available   2010 AFA C/
           Target species                       Area             Retained                  retained   to trawl C/     P side    to trawl C/     P side
                                                                  catch     Total catch    catch to      Ps \1\    board limit     Ps \1\    board limit
                                                                                         total catch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl.....................  BS.....................            8          497        0.016        1,156           18        1,071           17
                                      AI.....................            0          145        0.000          468            0          429            0
Atka mackerel.......................  Central AI A season \2\          n/a          n/a        0.115       14,512        1,669       12,726        1,463
                                      HLA limit \3\..........          n/a          n/a          n/a        8,707        1,001        7,636          878
                                      B season \2\...........          n/a          n/a        0.115       14,512        1,669       12,726        1,463
                                      HLA limit \3\..........          n/a          n/a          n/a        8,707        1,001        7,636          878
                                      Western AI A season \2\          n/a          n/a        0.200        7,546        1,509        8,796        1,759
                                      HLA limit \3\..........          n/a          n/a          n/a        4,528          906        5,278        1,056
                                      B season \2\...........          n/a          n/a        0.200        7,546        1,509        8,796        1,759
                                      HLA limit \3\..........          n/a          n/a          n/a        4,528          906        5,278        1,056
Yellowfin sole \4\..................  BSAI...................      100,192      435,788        0.230      187,530          n/a      160,740          n/a
Rock sole...........................  BSAI...................        6,317      169,362        0.037       80,370        2,974       66,975        2,478
Greenland turbot....................  BS.....................          121       17,305        0.007        4,327           30        4,182           29
                                      AI.....................           23        4,987        0.005        1,947           10        1,879            9
Arrowtooth flounder.................  BSAI...................           76       33,987        0.002       63,750          128       51,000          102
Flathead sole.......................  BSAI...................        1,925       52,755        0.036       53,580        1,929       44,650        1,607
Alaska plaice.......................  BSAI...................           14        9,438        0.001       42,500           43       25,500           26
Other flatfish......................  BSAI...................        3,058       52,298        0.058       14,790          858       14,790          858
Pacific ocean perch.................  BS.....................           12        4,879        0.002        3,247            6        3,213            6
                                      Eastern AI.............          125        6,179        0.020        3,751           75        3,715           74
                                      Central AI.............            3        5,698        0.001        3,804            4        3,760            4
                                      Western AI.............           54       13,598        0.004        5,822           23        5,760           23
Northern rockfish...................  BSAI...................           91       13,040        0.007        7,160           50        6,000           42
Shortraker rockfish.................  BSAI...................           50        2,811        0.018          387            7          387            7
Rougheye rockfish...................  BSAI...................           50        2,811        0.018          539           10          552           10
Other rockfish......................  BS.....................           18          621        0.029          485           14          485           14
                                      AI.....................           22          806        0.027          472           13          472           13
Squid...............................  BSAI...................           73        3,328        0.022        1,675           37        1,675           37
Other species.......................  BSAI...................          553       68,672        0.008       42,500          340       29,088          233
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC
  after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel in the open access fishery is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA
  catcher/processors are limited to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC
  specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
\3\ Harvest Limit Area (HLA) limit refers to the amount of each seasonal allowance that is available for fishing inside the HLA (see Sec.   679.2). In
  2009 and 2010, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA in the Western and Central Aleutian Districts.
\4\ Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2009 and 2010 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin
  sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector (187,530 mt in 2009 and 160,740 mt in 2010) is greater than 125,000 mt.

    Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of part 679 establish a 
formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for listed AFA catcher/
processors. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail 
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 
2007).
    PSC species listed in Table 12 that are caught by listed AFA 
catcher/processors participating in any groundfish fishery other than 
pollock will accrue against the 2009 and 2010 PSC sideboard limits for 
the listed AFA catcher/processors. Section 679.21(e)(3)(v) authorizes 
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for 
listed AFA catcher/processors once a 2009 or 2010

[[Page 7375]]

PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 12 is reached.
    Crab or halibut PSC caught by listed AFA catcher/processors while 
fishing for pollock will accrue against the bycatch allowances annually 
specified for either the midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/
``other species'' fishery categories under regulations at Sec.  
679.21(e)(3)(iv).

 Table 12--Final 2009 and 2010 BSAI American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard
                                                     Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2009 and 2010
                                                                                   PSC available
                                                                   Ratio of PSC      to trawl      2009 and 2010
                    PSC species and area \2\                      catch to total   vessels after   C/P sideboard
                                                                        PSC       subtraction of     limit \1\
                                                                                      PSQ \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI..........................................             n/a             n/a             286
Red king crab zone 1............................................           0.007         175,921           1,231
C. opilio (COBLZ)...............................................           0.153       3,884,550         594,336
C. bairdi:
    Zone 1......................................................           0.140         875,140         122,520
    Zone 2......................................................           0.050       2,652,210        132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is 
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA catcher vessels to 
engage in directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to 
protect participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects 
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the directed 
pollock fishery. Section 679.64(b) establishes a formula for setting 
AFA catcher vessel groundfish and PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. 
The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the 
final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 
December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). 
Tables 13 and 14 list the 2009 and 2010 AFA catcher vessel sideboard 
limits.
    All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be 
deducted from the 2009 and 2010 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.

                          Table 13--Final 2009 and 2010 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Ratio of 1995-                     2009 AFA                        2010 AFA
                                                                            1997 AFA CV    2009 initial   catcher vessel   2010 initial   catcher vessel
                  Species                   Fishery by area/gear/ season  catch to 1995-      TAC \1\        sideboard        TAC \1\        sideboard
                                                                             1997 TAC                         limits                          limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...............................  BSAI........................
                                            Jig gear....................          0.0000           2,207               0           2,413               0
                                            Hook-and-line CV............             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                               Jan 1-Jun 10.............          0.0006             160               0             175               0
                                               Jun 10-Dec 31............          0.0006             154               0             168               0
                                            Pot gear CV.................             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                               Jan 1-Jun 10.............          0.0006           6,719               4           7,349               4
                                               Sept 1-Dec 31............          0.0006           6,455               4           7,061               4
                                            CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-          0.0006           3,137               2           3,431               2
                                             and-line or pot gear.
                                            Trawl gear CV...............
                                               Jan 20-Apr 1.............          0.8609          25,782          22,196          28,190          24,269
                                               Apr 1-Jun 10.............          0.8609           3,832           3,299           4,190           3,607
                                               Jun 10-Nov 1.............          0.8609           5,226           4,499           5,714           4,919
Sablefish.................................  BS trawl gear...............          0.0906           1,156             105           1,071              97
                                            AI trawl gear...............          0.0645             468              30             429              28
Atka mackerel.............................  Eastern AI/BS...............
                                               Jan 1-Apr 15.............          0.0032          12,056              39          10,225              33
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............          0.0032          12,056              39          10,225              33
                                            Central AI..................
                                               Jan-Apr 15...............          0.0001          14,512               1          12,726               1
                                               HLA limit................          0.0001           8,707               1           7,636               1
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............          0.0001          14,512               1          12,726               1
                                               HLA limit................          0.0001           8,707               1           7,636               1
                                            Western AI..................
                                               Jan-Apr 15...............          0.0000           7,546               0           8,796               0
                                               HLA limit................             n/a           4,528               0           5,278               0
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............          0.0000           7,546               0           8,796               0
                                               HLA limit................             n/a           4,528               0           5,278               0
Yellowfin sole \2\........................  BSAI........................          0.0647         187,530             n/a         160,740             n/a
Rock sole.................................  BSAI........................          0.0341          80,370           2,741          66,975           2,284

[[Page 7376]]

 
Greenland turbot..........................  BS..........................          0.0645           4,327             279           4,182             270
                                            AI..........................          0.0205           1,947              40           1,879              39
Arrowtooth flounder.......................  BSAI........................          0.0690          63,750           4,399          51,000           3,519
Alaska plaice.............................  BSAI........................          0.0441          42,500           1,874          25,500           1,125
Other flatfish............................  BSAI........................          0.0441          14,790             652          14,790             652
Pacific ocean perch.......................  BS..........................          0.1000           3,247             325           3,213             321
                                            Eastern AI..................          0.0077           3,751              29           3,715              29
                                            Central AI..................          0.0025           3,804              10           3,760               9
                                            Western AI..................          0.0000           5,822               0           5,760               0
Northern rockfish.........................  BSAI........................          0.0084           7,160              60           6,000              50
Shortraker rockfish.......................  BSAI........................          0.0037             387               1             387               1
Rougheye rockfish.........................  BSAI........................          0.0037             539               2             552               2
Other rockfish............................  BS..........................          0.0048             485               2             485               2
                                            AI..........................          0.0095             472               4             472               4
Squid.....................................  BSAI........................          0.3827           1,675             641           1,675             641
Other species.............................  BSAI........................          0.0541          42,500           2,299          29,088           1,574
Flathead sole.............................  BS trawl gear...............          0.0505          53,580           2,706          44,650          2,255
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC
  of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2009 and 2010 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole
  assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector (187,530 mt in 2009 and 160,740 mt in 2010) is greater than 125,000 mt.

    Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 14 that are caught by 
AFA catcher vessels participating in any groundfish fishery for 
groundfish other than pollock will accrue against the 2009 and 2010 PSC 
sideboard limits for the AFA catcher vessels. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 
(e)(3)(v) authorize NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other 
than pollock for AFA catcher vessels once a 2009 or 2010 PSC sideboard 
limit listed in Table 14 is reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA 
catcher vessels while fishing for pollock in the BSAI will accrue 
against the bycatch allowances annually specified for either the 
midwater pollock or the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery 
categories under regulations at Sec.  679.21(e)(3)(iv).

  Table 14--Final 2009 and 2010 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
                                                for the BSAI \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          2009 and     2009 and
                                                                           AFA catcher    2010 PSC     2010 AFA
                                                                            vessel PSC  limit after    catcher
                PSC species                  Target fishery category \2\    sideboard   subtraction   vessel PSC
                                                                           limit ratio     of PSQ     sideboard
                                                                                          reserves      limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut...................................  Pacific cod trawl............          n/a          n/a          887
                                            Pacific cod hook-and-line or           n/a          n/a            2
                                             pot.
                                            Yellowfin sole total.........          n/a          n/a          101
                                            Rock sole/flathead sole/other          n/a          n/a          228
                                             flatfish total \4\.
                                            Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish..          n/a          n/a            0
                                            Rockfish (June 1-December 31)          n/a          n/a            2
                                            Pollock/Atka mackerel/other            n/a          n/a            5
                                             species.
Red king crab Zone 1 \3\..................  n/a..........................        0.299      175,921       52,600
C. opilio COBLZ \3\.......................  n/a..........................        0.168    3,884,550      652,604
C. bairdi Zone 1 \3\......................  n/a..........................        0.330      875,140      288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2 \3\......................  n/a..........................        0.186    2,652,210     493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\2\ Target fishery categories are defined in regulation at Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), flathead sole, Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, and arrowtooth flounder.


[[Page 7377]]

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing 
Closures

    The Regional Administrator has determined that many of the AFA 
catcher/processor and catcher vessel sideboard limits listed in Tables 
15 and 16 are necessary as incidental catch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2009 fishing year. In 
accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator 
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 15 and 16 as DFAs. 
The Regional Administrator finds that many of these DFAs will be 
reached before the end of the year. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing by listed AFA 
catcher/processors for the species in the specified areas set out in 
Table 15 and directed fishing by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels for the 
species in the specified areas set out in Table 16.

    Table 15--Final 2009 and 2010 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
                                                  Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            2009         2010
             Species                          Area                   Gear types          sideboard    sideboard
                                                                                           limit        limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl..................  BS.......................  trawl...................           18           17
                                   AI.......................  trawl...................            0            0
Rock sole........................  BSAI.....................  all.....................        2,974        2,478
Greenland turbot.................  BS.......................  all.....................           30           29
                                   AI.......................  all.....................           10            9
Arrowtooth flounder..............  BSAI.....................  all.....................          128          102
Flathead sole....................  BSAI.....................  all.....................        1,929        1,607
Pacific ocean perch..............  BS.......................  all.....................            6            6
                                   Eastern AI...............  all.....................           75           74
                                   Central AI...............  all.....................            4            4
                                   Western AI...............  all.....................           23           23
Northern rockfish................  BSAI.....................  all.....................           50           42
Shortraker rockfish..............  BSAI.....................  all.....................            7            7
Rougheye rockfish................  BSAI.....................  all.....................           10           10
Other rockfish...................  BS.......................  all.....................           14           14
                                   AI.......................  all.....................           13           13
Squid............................  BSAI.....................  all.....................           37           37
``Other species''................  BSAI.....................  all.....................          340         233
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.


   Table 16--Final 2009 and 2010 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            2009         2010
             Species                          Area                   Gear types          sideboard    sideboard
                                                                                           limit        limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod......................  BSAI.....................  hook-and-line...........            0            0
                                   BSAI.....................  pot.....................           10           10
                                   BSAI.....................  jig.....................            0            0
Sablefish........................  BS.......................  trawl...................          105           97
                                   AI.......................  trawl...................           30           28
Atka mackerel....................  Eastern AI/BS............  all.....................           78           66
                                   Central AI...............  all.....................            2            2
                                   Western AI...............  all.....................            0            0
Greenland turbot.................  BS.......................  all.....................          279          270
                                   AI.......................  all.....................           40           39
Arrowtooth flounder..............  BSAI.....................  all.....................        4,399        3,519
Flathead sole....................  BSAI.....................  all.....................        2,706        2,255
Rock sole........................  BSAI.....................  all.....................        2,741        2,284
Pacific ocean perch..............  BS.......................  all.....................          325          321
                                   Eastern AI...............  all.....................           29           29
                                   Central AI...............  all.....................           10            9
                                   Western AI...............  all.....................            0            0
Northern rockfish................  BSAI.....................  all.....................           60           50
Shortraker rockfish..............  BSAI.....................  all.....................            1            1
Rougheye rockfish................  BSAI.....................  all.....................            2            2
Other rockfish...................  BS.......................  all.....................            2            2
                                   AI.......................  all.....................            4            4
Squid............................  BSAI.....................  all.....................          641          641
``Other species''................  BSAI.....................  all.....................        2,299       1,574
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.


[[Page 7378]]

Response to Comments

    NMFS received two letters of comment in support and one letter of 
comment opposed to the proposed 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications. 
NMFS has organized these letters into 30 comments. These comments are 
summarized and responded to below.
    Comment 1: Adopt tier 3 designation for Eastern Bering Sea pollock.
    Response: Groundfish fisheries are managed at tiers 1 through 6 
based on the level of information available for determining maximum 
sustainable yield and biomass. Fisheries with more reliable information 
are managed at lower tier numbers. In November 2008, the Council's BSAI 
Plan Team reviewed the information available for the Bering Sea pollock 
fishery and recommended that the fishery should be managed at the tier 
1b level. At the December 2008, Council meeting, the SSC concurred with 
the BSAI Plan Team and the stock assessment authors that the 
appropriate designation is tier 1b. The SSC further noted that there is 
sufficient information to determine Bmsy and the probability 
density function for Fmsy. Because of this, NMFS believes 
that it is appropriate for the Council to adopt an OFL and TAC based on 
tier 1b status for Eastern Bering Sea pollock.
    Comment 2: Suspend fishing on spawning aggregations and restore 
Winter Halibut Savings Area closure.
    Response: The Winter Halibut Savings Area (located to the north of 
the eastern Aleutian Islands) was established to protect juvenile 
halibut from the effects of trawling during the winter months. It was 
one of the earliest measures to implement fishing restrictions in the 
Alaska groundfish fisheries following passage of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976. This savings area was 
in effect as the Alaska groundfish fishery transitioned from a foreign 
fishery to a domestic fishery, but was superseded by more applicable 
management protection areas and fisheries closures as the domestic 
groundfish fisheries matured, including PSC limits for halibut. Current 
stock assessment models account for fishing mortality. Whether the fish 
is harvested in or out of the spawning season yields the same mortality 
upon the stock.
    Comment 3: Develop proposals for creation of no-take marine 
reserves in order to serve as experimental control areas which will 
increase the understanding of climate impacts and fulfill the Council's 
obligations under the Steller sea lion (SSL) Recovery Plan.
    Response: This comment is beyond the scope of the annual harvest 
specifications for groundfish in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. 
No-take reserves are not warranted absent specific research projects. 
NMFS has and continues to fund, conduct, and coordinate numerous 
scientific studies and research projects in the Bering Sea, including 
ones associated with climate and ecosystem changes. We believe the SSL 
recovery plan has been appropriately implemented, and NMFS continues to 
assess the recovery status of the western SSL population.
    Ongoing research efforts such as that undertaken by the Alaska 
Fisheries Science Center and the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem 
Research Program (http://bsierp.nprb.org) are studying many focal areas 
of this ecosystem, including a range of oceanographic, climate, and 
atmospheric studies. As additional data about the effects of climate or 
other ecosystem changes on fish becomes available, it will be 
integrated into NMFS' stock assessment efforts.
    Comment 4: A council member dismissed the significance of a letter 
from the public. This indicates a greater need for NMFS oversight.
    Response: NMFS is not responsible for, and does not have the 
authority to regulate the opinions of individual Council members who 
are not NMFS employees. However, the Secretary of Commerce does have 
the responsibility to review Council actions to ensure compliance with 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and other applicable public laws. NMFS 
carries out these reviews on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce. The 
opinion of an individual Council member will not influence the 
Secretary of Commerce in conducting the required and appropriate 
oversight of Council actions.
    Comment 5: Pollock catch limits may have effects upon other species 
(including pinnipeds) and the ecosystem as a whole.
    Response: NMFS agrees that the removal of pollock from the marine 
ecosystem may have impacts on parts of the ecosystem dependent on 
pollock (e.g., marine mammals), and includes ecosystem considerations 
in the annual stock assessments used for determining catch limits. NMFS 
analyzed the impacts of the federal groundfish fisheries on the North 
Pacific ecosystem in the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (January 2007). NMFS is also involved in 
comprehensive Bering Sea ecosystem studies (see comment 3). 
Furthermore, in the 2008 SAFE, a large section is devoted to ecosystem 
considerations. As these endeavors produce scientifically valid 
information, it is applied to catch limits, and other applicable 
management measures.
    Comment 6: Eastern Bering Sea pollock stocks declined about 20 
percent per year between 2003 and 2007.
    Response: NMFS concurs that this is true between 2004 and 2007 for 
estimates of biomass for age 3+ fish. This has resulted in a reduction 
of OFL and ABC levels in recent years. It should be noted that when the 
2006 recruitment year of pollock reaches the age of 3, the age 3+ 
biomass estimate is expected to rapidly increase.
    Comment 7: The 2008 hydroacoustic survey showed a roughly 50 
percent drop in Eastern Bering Sea pollock from 2007.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement. This is one factor in 
the models that produced lower OFL and ABC levels in 2009 compared to 
previous years. However, as the 2006 year class matures, the biomass, 
OFLs, and ABCs are expected to increase (see comment 6).
    Comment 8: The 2008 bottom trawl survey has the second lowest catch 
of Eastern Bering Sea pollock on record.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement (see comments 6 and 7).
    Comment 9: The 2009 spawning stock biomass for Eastern Bering Sea 
pollock is predicted to be 26 percent below Bmsy.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement. Despite the current low 
Eastern Bering Sea pollock spawning stock biomass, models suggest that 
the spawning stock will exceed Bmsy in 2010. This is because 
the 2006 year class will begin to enter the spawning stock biomass at 
that time.
    Comment 10: Recruitment of Eastern Bering Sea pollock was below 
average for most recent years.
    Response: Recruitment in the Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock is 
characterized by periodic individual high recruitment years. Because of 
this, most aggregations of consecutive years throughout the available 
time series will result in below average recruitment for most years. 
Therefore, this is not an appropriate measure of the health of the 
stock. It should be noted that 2006 was a year of high pollock 
recruitment, and that this year class should recruit into the fishery 
in 2010.
    Comment 11: The most recent Biological Opinions concluded that 
groundfish fisheries jeopardize the survival and recovery of Steller 
sea lions when pollock abundance was higher than current levels.
    Response: The most recent biological opinion was completed in 2001 
and analyzed the effects of the Alaska

[[Page 7379]]

groundfish fisheries on Steller sea lions and their designated critical 
habitat. This opinion concluded that the groundfish fisheries conducted 
within the Steller sea lion protection measures would not likely 
jeopardize the Steller sea lion's existence or result in adverse 
modification or destruction of critical habitat. NMFS implemented 
numerous measures to protect SSL in 2003. This includes the 
establishment of large fishery closures areas, harvest limits, and 
seasonal distribution of harvest for the pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka 
mackerel fisheries. Because the protection measures include a harvest 
control rule that reduces fishing effort with falling pollock 
abundance, the current measures take into account the potential for 
falling biomass and the need to reduce fishing as pollock abundance 
drops.
    Comment 12: Northern fur seal populations have dropped from 2 
million to about 0.6 million during the course of the pollock fishery.
    Response: While there are not specific protection measures in place 
for northern fur seals with respect to the Bering Sea groundfish 
fisheries, NMFS has implemented several protection measures associated 
with the Pribilof Islands and surrounding waters. This includes, the 
Pribilof Island Habitat Conservation Zone, which is closed to trawling, 
a three nautical mile no groundfish fishing site around Walrus Island 
(east of St. Paul Island) and five pollock fishing closure areas in and 
around the Pribilof Islands.
    Comment 13: Other pollock fisheries are at low levels and the 
Bogoslof fishery is closed.
    Response: The Bogoslof pollock fishery remains closed resulting 
from an international agreement to prohibit fishing in the 
international waters of the Bering Sea until stocks reach 1 million mt. 
The Aleutian Island pollock fishery is open to directed fishing. 
However, fishing remains light due to the fact that most of the 
productive fishing areas remain closed to fishing in order to protect 
Steller sea lions. Despite this lack of fishing pressure, NMFS 
acknowledges that these stocks remain at levels lower than historic 
highs, and that the OFLs and ABCs for these stocks have been set 
accordingly.
    Comment 14: Climate change has been proposed as a cause of 
declining stocks through a mechanism of pollock migrating to Russian 
waters, but recent years have been cold.
    Response: The current models used to calculate OFL and ABC are 
largely based upon survey data, and do not incorporate migration of 
stocks to Russian waters. However, NMFS does believe that it is 
important to explore alternative hypotheses, and to incorporate climate 
change and ecosystem factors into fisheries management whenever it is 
appropriate and scientifically sound. These considerations are included 
in the ecosystems chapter to the SAFE reports and are considered in the 
development of the stock assessments.
    Comment 15: Climate driven change will increase the margin of 
error, thus more conservative estimates should be adopted.
    Response: NMFS believes that the harvest specification process has 
been developed using precautionary principles. While NMFS believes that 
climate change may in fact reduce the certainty of stock assessments, 
NMFS also believes that this uncertainty will be apparent in the 
surveys and models used to estimate the health of fish stocks. Thus, 
this uncertainty will be included in models and the OFLs and ABCs will 
be set accordingly.
    Comment 16: From 1998 to 2007, 49 percent of the A season pollock 
catch was concentrated in the Steller Sea Lion conservation area, which 
puts fishing pressure on the spawning stock.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement. Any harvest of mature 
fish will apply fishing pressure to the spawning stock. This is true in 
both the A and B fishing seasons (see comment 2). Fishing mortality is 
an integral part of the Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock assessment and 
is a major factor considered when setting OFL and ABC limits. NMFS 
believes that the recommendations produced by the SAFE report authors 
and the BSAI Plan Team minimize danger to the stocks from excessive 
fishing pressure. This process is reviewed by the SSC and the Center 
for Independent Experts.
    Comment 17: Incidental catch of juvenile pollock should be 
considered.
    Response: NMFS fisheries observers during 2008 recorded that the 
incidental catch of small, i.e., juvenile pollock was low. However, the 
fishing mortality of juvenile pollock is incorporated into models used 
to project OFL, ABC, and the future health of pollock stocks.
    Comment 18: Bycatch of other species such as Chinook and non-
chinook salmon should be considered.
    Response: NMFS and the Council have taken and are taking action to 
reduce salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fishery because of the 
potential for negative impacts on salmon stocks, and bycatch in general 
for all fisheries. Existing measures have reduced salmon bycatch rates 
in the pollock fishery compared with what they would have been without 
the measures. NMFS and the Council are engaged in a comprehensive 
process to evaluate these existing measures and develop alternative 
measures that may be necessary to further reduce salmon bycatch. 
Applicable Federal law requires that bycatch be minimized to the extent 
practicable and establishes processes for assessment and responsive 
implementation of appropriate management measures if and when 
warranted.
    Comment 19: The rigorous scientific process used to develop the 
Council recommendations should be acknowledged.
    Response: NMFS agrees. NMFS also believes that this has been 
acknowledged, and that the practices used by the Council have been 
codified in the MSA to require regional fishery management councils to 
not exceed recommendations of their SSCs.
    Comment 20: The process is open, transparent, and the related 
information is widely available to the public.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement.
    Comment 21: The Council recommendation of Eastern Bering Sea 
pollock ABC and TAC of 815,000 mt is consistent with the 
recommendations of the SSC, the BSAI Plan Team, and the stock 
assessment author.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement (see comment 1).
    Comment 22: The 2009 Eastern Bering Sea pollock assessment is 
supported by three consecutive years of benthic trawl and hydroacoustic 
trawl survey data.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement.
    Comment 23: The assessment concludes that the probability of the 
Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock falling below B20 percent is very low.
    Response: NMFS agrees that this is consistent with the findings of 
the stock assessment authors and the review of the SSC, and that as the 
2006 year class enters the fishery, the stocks are likely to return to 
Bmsy (see comment 9).
    Comment 24: The SSC concluded that the Eastern Bering Sea pollock 
stock should be considered tier 1b because there is sufficient data to 
determine the Bmsy, and the probability density function for 
Fmsy.
    Response: NMFS agrees that this is consistent with the findings of 
the SSC.
    Comment 25: The Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock assessment 
authors, the SAFE, and the SSC cite strong scientific evidence that the 
2006 year class appears to be strong, and that there is a strong 
likelihood that the Eastern Bering Sea pollock stock will approach 
Bmsy by 2010.

[[Page 7380]]

    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement (see comment 9).
    Comment 26: The Eastern Aleutian Island subarea is the only region 
with consistently increasing Steller sea lion counts.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement. However, NMFS also 
believes that one sub-area is an insufficient indicator of the western 
Steller sea lion stock abundance trend overall, as other subarea counts 
have consistently declined or remained unchanged over time.
    Comment 27: The precautionary approach used to determine the 2009 
harvest specifications provide protection for Steller sea lions 
consistent with existing mitigation requirements.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this statement.
    Comment 28: The Bogoslof pollock stocks are large enough to allow a 
directed fishery. However by international agreement, this stock will 
remain closed until there is enough fish to also support a fishery in 
the international waters of the Bering Sea.
    Response: NMFS agrees (see comment 13).
    Comment 29: The Aleutian Island pollock fishery is large enough to 
support a directed fishery, but that this fishery is effectively 
limited through closure areas intended to protect Steller sea lions.
    Response: NMFS agrees that very little of the Aleutian Island 
pollock TAC is likely to be harvested due to Steller sea lion 
protection measures and the location of pollock.
    Comment 30: New large Marine Protection Areas are not needed to 
protect Bering Sea pollock stocks.
    Response: NMFS agrees that these new areas are not currently 
warranted (see comment 3).

Classification

    NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are 
consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable laws.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared a Final EIS for this action and made it available to 
the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, NMFS 
issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final EIS. In January 2009, 
NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR) for this action. 
Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and SIR for this action are available 
from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the environmental 
consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and alternative 
harvest strategies on resources in the action area. The SIR evaluates 
the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the 2009 and 2010 
groundfish harvest specifications.
    A SEIS should be prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial 
changes in the proposed action that are relevant to environmental 
concerns, or (2) significant new circumstances or information exist 
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the proposed action 
or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information 
contained in the SIR and SAFE reports, the Administrator, Alaska 
Region, has determined that (1) approval of the 2009 and 2010 harvest 
specifications, which were set according to the preferred harvest 
strategy in the Final EIS, do not constitute a change in the action; 
and (2) there are no significant new circumstances or information 
relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the action or its 
impacts. Additionally, the 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications will 
result in environmental impacts within the scope of those analyzed and 
disclosed in the Final EIS. Therefore, supplemental National 
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation is not necessary to 
implement the 2009 and 2010 harvest specifications.
    The proposed harvest specifications were published in the Federal 
Register on December 10, 2008 (73 FR 75059). An Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared to evaluate the impacts on 
small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the groundfish 
fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska on small 
entities. The public comment period ended on January 9, 2009. No 
comments were received regarding the IRFA or the economic impacts of 
this action. A Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) was 
prepared that meets the statutory requirements of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended by the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601-612). Copies of the IRFA 
and FRFA prepared for this action are available from NMFS, Alaska 
Region (see ADDRESSES).
    Each year, NMFS promulgates a rule establishing the harvest 
specifications pursuant to the adopted harvest strategy. While the 
harvest specification numbers may change from year to year, the harvest 
strategy for establishing those numbers does not change. Therefore, the 
impacts discussed in the IRFA are essentially the same. NMFS considers 
the annual rulemakings establishing the harvest specification numbers 
to be a series of closely related rules stemming from the harvest 
strategy and representing one rule for purposes of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(c)). A summary of the FRFA follows.
    The action analyzed in the IRFA is the adoption of a harvest 
strategy to govern the catch of groundfish in the BSAI. The preferred 
alternative is the status quo harvest strategy in which TACs fall 
within the range of ABCs recommended by the Council's harvest 
specification process and TACs recommended by the Council. This action 
is taken in accordance with the FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to 
the Magnuson-Stevens. Significant issues raised by public comment are 
addressed in the preamble and not repeated here.
    The directly regulated small entities include approximately 810 
small catcher vessels, fewer than 20 small catcher/processors, and six 
CDQ groups. The entities directly regulated by this action are those 
that harvest groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI 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 their annual gross receipts from all economic 
activities, including the revenue of their affiliated operations, 
totaled $4 million per year or less. Data from 2006 were the most 
recent available to determine the number of small entities.
    Estimates of first wholesale gross revenues for the BSAI non-CDQ 
and CDQ sectors 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 have set 
TACs to generate fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if 
the full TAC were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the BSAI 
optimum yield, in which case TACs would have been limited to the 
optimum yield. Alternative 3 would have set TACs to produce fishing 
rates equal to the most recent five-year average fishing rates. 
Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the lower limit of the BSAI 
optimum yield range. Alternative 5 would have set TACs equal to zero.

[[Page 7381]]

Alternative 5 is the ``no action'' alternative.
    Alternatives 3, 4, and 5 produced smaller first wholesale revenue 
indices for both non-CDQ and CDQ sectors than Alternative 2. 
Alternative 1 revenues were the same as Alternative 2 revenues in the 
BSAI for both sectors. Moreover, higher Alternative 1 TACs are 
associated with maximum permissible ABCs, while Alternative 2 TACs are 
associated with the ABCs that have been recommended to the Council by 
the Plan Team and the SSC, and more fully consider other potential 
biological issues. 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.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities 
conducted under these harvest specifications are discussed in the Final 
EIS (see ADDRESSES).
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in 
effectiveness for this rule. Plan Team review occurred in November 
2008, and Council consideration and recommendations occurred in 
December 2008. Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January 
2009. For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs 
established under the 2008 and 2009 final harvest specifications (73 FR 
10160, February 26, 2008) were not reached, the likely possibility 
exists that they will be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day 
delayed effectiveness period because their TACs could be reached. 
Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod are 
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for 
flatfish, rockfish, and ``other species,'' are critical as directed 
fisheries and as incidental catch in other fisheries. U.S. fishing 
vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the TAC allocations in 
these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the final TACs in these 
fisheries would cause disruption to the industry and potential economic 
harm through unnecessary discards. Determining which fisheries may 
close is impossible because these fisheries are affected by several 
factors that cannot be predicted in advance, including fishing effort, 
weather, movement of fishery stocks, and market price. Furthermore, the 
closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other fisheries by 
freeing-up fishing vessels, allowing them to move from closed fisheries 
to open ones, increasing the fishing capacity in those open fisheries 
and causing them to close at an accelerated pace.
    If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 21, 
2009, which is the start of the 2009 Pacific halibut season as 
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not 
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut season. This would result 
in the needless discard of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific 
halibut as both hook-and-line sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed 
under the same IFQ program. Immediate effectiveness of the final 2009 
and 2010 harvest specifications will allow the sablefish fishery to 
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut season. Also, the immediate 
effectiveness of this action is required to provide consistent 
management and conservation of fishery resources based on the best 
available scientific information, and to give the fishing industry the 
earliest possible opportunity to plan its fishing operations. Therefore 
NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in effectiveness under 
5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    The following information is a plain language guide to assist small 
entities in complying with this final rule as required by the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's 
primary purpose is to announce the final 2009 and 2010 harvest 
specifications and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the 
groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish 
harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during 
the 2009 and 2010 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and 
objectives of the FMP. This action affects all fishermen who 
participate in the BSAI fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC, 
TAC, and PSC are provided in tables to assist the reader. NMFS will 
announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and 
information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen 
should keep themselves informed of such closures.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C. 
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.

    Dated: February 9, 2009.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E9-3297 Filed 2-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P