[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11778-11798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5484]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 0910131363-0087-02]
RIN 0648-XS44


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 
and 2011 fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI (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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Effective from 1200 hrs, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 12, 
2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Electronic 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) for this action may be obtained 
from http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The 2009 Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the 
BSAI dated November 2009, including discard mortality rates (DMR) for 
halibut, is available from the North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's Web site at http://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7269.

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 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; 
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) 
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 is 1,677,154 mt for 2010 
and is 1,996,558 mt for 2011.
    Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires NMFS to consider public 
comment on the proposed annual TACs (and apportionments thereof) and 
PSC allowances, and to publish final harvest specifications in the 
Federal Register. The proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications and 
PSC allowances for the groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in 
the Federal Register on December 2, 2009 (74 FR 63100). Comments were 
invited and accepted through January 4, 2010. NMFS received two letters 
with four 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 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications during the December 2009 
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 2010 and 
2011 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 to define OFL and ABC amounts 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.
    In December 2009, 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 2009 
SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2009. 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 2009, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's 
recommendations. The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's 
recommendations, and the Council adopted the OFL and ABC amounts 
recommended by the SSC (Table 1). The final TAC recommendations were 
based on the ABCs as adjusted for other biological

[[Page 11779]]

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 2010 and 2011 TAC recommendations. None of the 
Council's recommended TACs for 2010 or 2011 exceeds the final 2010 or 
2011 ABCs for any species category. The final 2010 and 2011 harvest 
specifications approved by the Secretary are unchanged from those 
recommended by the Council and are consistent with the preferred 
harvest strategy alternative in the EIS (see ADDRESSES). NMFS finds 
that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with 
the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2009 
SAFE report that was approved by the Council.

Other Actions Potentially Affecting the 2010 and 2011 Harvest 
Specifications

    The Council is developing an amendment to the FMP to comply with 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements associated with annual catch limits 
and accountability measures. That amendment may result in revisions to 
how total annual groundfish mortality is estimated and accounted for in 
the annual SAFE reports, which in turn may affect the OFL, ABC, and TAC 
for certain groundfish species. NMFS will attempt to identify 
additional sources of mortality to groundfish stocks not currently 
reported or considered by the groundfish stock assessments in 
recommending OFL, ABC, and TAC for certain groundfish species. These 
additional sources of mortality may include recreational fishing, 
subsistence fishing, catch of groundfish during the NMFS trawl and 
hook-and-line surveys, catch taken under experimental fishing permits 
issued by NMFS, discarded catch of groundfish in the commercial halibut 
fisheries, use of groundfish as bait in the crab fisheries, or other 
sources of mortality not yet identified.
    At its October 2009 meeting, the Council approved Amendment 95 to 
the FMP. This amendment would separate skates from the ``other 
species'' category so that individual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs may be 
established for skates. If the Secretary approves the amendment then 
the change would be in effect for the 2011 fishing year.
    At its April 2009 meeting, the Council adopted Amendment 91 to the 
FMP. This amendment would establish new measures to minimize Chinook 
salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fisheries, including new 
Chinook salmon PSC limits that, when reached, would prohibit directed 
fishing for pollock. If approved, Amendment 91 could be effective by 
2011.

Changes From the Proposed 2010 and 2011 Harvest Specifications in the 
BSAI

    In October 2009, the Council made its recommendations for the 
proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications (74 FR 63100, December 2, 
2009) based largely on information contained in the 2008 SAFE report 
for the BSAI groundfish fisheries. The 2009 SAFE report, which was not 
available when the Council made its recommendations in October 2009, 
contains the best and most recent scientific information on the 
condition of the groundfish stocks. In December 2009, the Council 
considered the 2009 SAFE report in making its recommendations for the 
final 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications. Based on the 2009 SAFE 
report, the sum of the 2010 and 2011 recommended final TACs for the 
BSAI (1,677,154 mt for 2010, and 1,996,558 mt for 2011) are higher than 
the sums of the proposed 2010 and 2011 TACs (1,585,000 mt each year). 
Compared to the proposed 2010 TACs, the Council's final TAC 
recommendations increase for species when the best and most recent 
scientific analysis supports a larger TAC. These changes increase 
fishing opportunities for fishermen and add economic benefits to the 
nation. Increased TACs are specified for BSAI sablefish, BSAI Atka 
mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, arrowtooth flounder, flathead 
sole, Alaska plaice, BSAI Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and 
``other species.'' The Council reduced TAC levels to provide greater 
protection for several species including Bering Sea subarea pollock, 
Pacific cod, Greenland turbot, and rougheye rockfish.
    The largest TAC reduction was for Pacific cod. The 2010 BSAI 
Pacific cod ABC was reduced 25,000 mt, and the corresponding TAC was 
reduced 24,250. While the Plan Team's selected model incorporating the 
latest catch and survey data results in a lower ABC and TAC than the 
proposed rule, the SSC noted that both the 2006 and 2008 year class 
appear to be strong, which should create an increasing population and 
biomass in the near future. For 2011, the model produces an ABC 15,000 
mt higher than the proposed ABC.
    The SSC concurred with the Plan Team's model choice for Bering Sea 
pollock, which when incorporated with updated survey and catch data 
results in an ABC and TAC 2,000 mt lower than the proposed harvest 
specifications for 2010. While the SSC notes that there are legitimate 
concerns over the Bering Sea pollock stock, the 2006 and 2008 year 
classes appear to be strong and there are several precautionary aspects 
incorporated into the current stock assessment. The SSC also notes that 
while the current model produces a 295,000 mt higher Bering Sea pollock 
ABC and TAC for 2011, these numbers are provisional and will be greatly 
affected by next year's data collection and analysis.
    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. 
These changes are compared in the following table:

                             Comparison of Final 2010 and 2011 with Proposed 2010 and 2011 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
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                                                                                               2010                                            2011
              Species                      Area \1\       2010 final TAC   2010 proposed    difference    2011 final TAC   2011 proposed    difference
                                                                                TAC        from proposed                        TAC        from proposed
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Pollock............................  BS.................         813,000         815,000          -2,000       1,110,000         815,000         295,000
                                     AI.................          19,000          19,000               0          19,000          19,000               0
                                     Bogoslof...........              50              10              40              50              10              40
Pacific cod........................  BSAI...............         168,780         193,030         -24,250         207,580         193,030          14,550
Sablefish..........................  BS.................           2,790           2,520             270           2,500           2,520             -20
                                     AI.................           2,070           2,040              30           1,860           2,040            -180
Atka mackerel......................  EAI/BS.............          23,800          22,900             900          20,900          22,900          -2,000
                                     CAI................          29,600          28,500           1,100          26,000          28,500          -2,500
                                     WAI................          20,600          19,700             900          18,100          19,700          -1,600
Yellowfin sole.....................  BSAI...............         219,000         180,000          39,000         213,000         180,000          33,000

[[Page 11780]]

 
Rock sole..........................  BSAI...............          90,000          75,000          15,000          90,000          75,000          15,000
Greenland turbot...................  BS.................           4,220           4,920            -700           3,700           4,920          -1,220
                                     AI.................           1,900           2,210            -310           1,670           2,210            -540
Arrowtooth flounder................  BSAI...............          75,000          60,000          15,000          75,000          60,000          15,000
Flathead sole......................  BSAI...............          60,000          50,000          10,000          60,000          50,000          10,000
Other flatfish.....................  BSAI...............          17,300          17,400            -100          17,300          17,400            -100
Alaska plaice......................  BSAI...............          50,000          30,000          20,000          50,000          30,000          20,000
Pacific ocean perch................  BS.................           3,830           3,780              50           3,790           3,780              10
                                     EAI................           4,220           4,160              60           4,180           4,160              20
                                     CAI................           4,270           4,210              60           4,230           4,210              20
                                     WAI................           6,540           6,450              90           6,480           6,450              30
Northern rockfish..................  BSAI...............           7,240           6,000           1,240           7,290           6,000           1,290
Shortraker rockfish................  BSAI...............             387             387               0             387             387               0
Rougheye rockfish..................  BSAI...............             547             552              -5             531             552             -21
Other rockfish.....................  BS.................             485             485               0             485             485               0
                                     AI.................             555             555               0             555             555               0
Squid..............................  BSAI...............           1,970           1,970               0           1,970           1,970               0
Other species......................  BSAI...............          50,000          34,221          15,779          50,000          34,221          15,779
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................  BSAI...............       1,677,154       1,585,000          92,154       1,996,558       1,585,000         411,558
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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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications, 
NMFS is apportioning the amounts shown in Table 2 from the non-
specified reserve to increase the ITAC of several target species.

 Table 1--Final 2010 and 2011 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]
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                                                                                                     2010                                                        2011
                  Species                                Area            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              OFL         ABC         TAC      ITAC \2\     CDQ \3\       OFL         ABC         TAC      ITAC \2\     CDQ \3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \3\................................  BS \2\.....................     918,000     813,000     813,000     731,700      81,300   1,220,000   1,110,000   1,110,000     999,000     111,000
                                             AI \2\.....................      40,000      33,100      19,000      17,100       1,900      39,100      32,200      19,000      17,100       1,900
                                             Bogoslof...................      22,000         156          50          50           0      22,000         156          50          50           0
Pacific cod \4\............................  BSAI.......................     205,000     174,000     168,780     150,721      18,059     251,000     214,000     207,580     185,369      22,211
Sablefish \5\..............................  BS.........................       3,310       2,790       2,790       2,302         384       2,970       2,500       2,500       1,063          94
                                             AI.........................       2,450       2,070       2,070       1,682         349       2,200       1,860       1,860         395          35
Atka mackerel..............................  BSAI.......................      88,200      74,000      74,000      66,082       7,918      76,200      65,000      65,000      58,045       6,955
                                             EAI/BS.....................         n/a      23,800      23,800      21,253       2,547         n/a      20,900      20,900      18,664       2,236
                                             CAI........................         n/a      29,600      29,600      26,433       3,167         n/a      26,000      26,000      23,218       2,782
                                             WAI........................         n/a      20,600      20,600      18,396       2,204         n/a      18,100      18,100      16,163       1,937
Yellowfin sole.............................  BSAI.......................     234,000     219,000     219,000     195,567      23,433     227,000     213,000     213,000     190,209      22,791
Rock sole..................................  BSAI.......................     243,000     240,000      90,000      80,370       9,630     245,000     242,000      90,000      80,370       9,630
Greenland turbot...........................  BSAI.......................       7,460       6,120       6,120       5,202         n/a       6,860       5,370       5,370       4,565         n/a
                                             BS.........................         n/a       4,220       4,220       3,587         452         n/a       3,700       3,700       3,145         396
                                             AI.........................         n/a       1,900       1,900       1,615           0         n/a       1,670       1,670       1,420           0
Arrowtooth flounder........................  BSAI.......................     191,000     156,000      75,000      63,750       8,025     191,000     157,000      75,000      63,750       8,025
Flathead sole..............................  BSAI.......................      83,100      69,200      60,000      53,580       6,420      81,800      68,100      60,000      53,580       6,420
Other flatfish \6\.........................  BSAI.......................      23,000      17,300      17,300      14,705           0      23,000      17,300      17,300      14,705           0
Alaska plaice..............................  BSAI.......................     278,000     224,000      50,000      42,500           0     314,000     248,000      50,000      42,500           0
Pacific ocean perch........................  BSAI.......................      22,400      18,860      18,860      16,677         n/a      22,200      18,680      18,680      16,518         n/a
                                             BS.........................         n/a       3,830       3,830       3,256           0         n/a       3,790       3,790       3,222           0
                                             EAI........................         n/a       4,220       4,220       3,768         452         n/a       4,180       4,180       3,733         447
                                             CAI........................         n/a       4,270       4,270       3,813         457         n/a       4,230       4,230       3,777         453
                                             WAI........................         n/a       6,540       6,540       5,840         700         n/a       6,480       6,480       5,787         693
Northern rockfish..........................  BSAI.......................       8,640       7,240       7,240       6,154           0       8,700       7,290       7,290       6,197           0
Shortraker rockfish........................  BSAI.......................         516         387         387         329           0         516         387         387         329           0

[[Page 11781]]

 
Rougheye rockfish..........................  BSAI.......................         669         547         547         465           0         650         531         531         451           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.......................      88,200      61,100      50,000      42,500           0      88,200      61,100      50,000      42,500           0
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..................................  ...........................   2,462,945   2,121,880   1,677,154   1,493,994     159,478   2,826,396   2,467,484   1,996,558   1,779,254     191,050
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\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. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 5).
\3\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), the annual BS 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 3 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.

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. Sections 
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) and (e)(4)(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 393 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 BS 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 2009. 
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 an 11-
year average of 3.3 percent. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of 
1,600 mt of the AI subarea TAC 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 2009. During this 
7-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 7-year average 
of 7 percent.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 
5,000 mt of flathead sole, 10,000 mt of rock sole, 2,000 mt of 
yellowfin sole, 50 mt of Western Aleutian District Pacific (WAI) ocean 
perch, 50 mt of Central Aleutian District (CAI) Pacific ocean perch, 
100 mt of Eastern Aleutian District (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 50 mt of 
WAI Atka mackerel, 75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 75 mt of EAI and BS 
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 2009.
    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

[[Page 11782]]

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 2010 and 2011.

                                        Table 2--Final 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Reserves to ITAC Categories
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           2010 reserve     2010 final                     2011 reserve     2011 final
                 Species-area or subarea                     2010 ITAC        amount           ITAC          2011 ITAC        amount           ITAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish-BSAI................................             329              58             387             329              58             387
Rougheye rockfish-BSAI..................................             465              82             547             451              80             531
Northern rockfish-BSAI..................................           6,154           1,086           7,240           6,196           1,094           7,290
Other rockfish-Bering Sea subarea.......................             412              73             485             412              73             485
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................................           7,360           1,299           8,659           7,388           1,305           8,693
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 BS 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 BS 
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 2010 and 2011 amounts.
    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific 
requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, 8.5 percent of 
the pollock allocated to the catcher/processor sector will be available 
for harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with catcher/processor (CP) 
sector endorsements, unless the Regional Administrator receives a 
cooperative contract that provides for the distribution of harvest 
among AFA CPs and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to by all members. Second, 
AFA CPs 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 2010 and 2011 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 11 
through 16 list the AFA CP and CV harvesting sideboard limits. The 
tables for the pollock allocations to the BS 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 12 noon, April 1. The remaining 12 
percent of the 40 percent annual DFA allocated to the A season may be 
taken outside the SCA before 12 noon, April 1 or inside the SCA after 
12 noon, April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken 
inside the SCA before 12 noon, April 1, the remainder will be available 
to be taken inside the SCA after 12 noon, 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 these 2010 
and 2011 amounts by sector.

     Table 3--Final 2010 and 2011 Allocations of Pollock TACS to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        2010 A season \1\      2010 B                    2011 A season \1\      2011 B
                                                                    ------------------------ season \1\              ------------------------ season \1\
                    Area and sector                         2010                     SCA    ------------     2011                     SCA    -----------
                                                        allocations   A season     harvest    B season   Allocations   A season     harvest    B season
                                                                         DFA      limit \2\      DFA                      DFA      limit \2\      DFA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea....................................      813,000         n/a         n/a         n/a    1,110,000         n/a         n/a         n/a
    CDQ DFA...........................................       81,300      32,520      22,764      48,780      111,000      44,400      31,080      66,600
    ICA \1\...........................................       29,268         n/a         n/a         n/a       39,960         n/a         n/a         n/a
    AFA Inshore.......................................      351,216     140,486      98,340     210,730      479,520     191,808     134,266     287,712
        AFA Catcher/Processors \3\....................      280,973     112,389      78,672     168,584      383,616     153,446     107,412     230,170
        Catch by C/Ps.................................      257,090     102,836         n/a     154,254      351,009     140,403         n/a     210,605
        Catch by CVs \3\..............................       23,883       9,553         n/a      14,330       32,607      13,043         n/a      19,564
            Unlisted C/P Limit \4\....................        1,405         562         n/a         843        1,918         767         n/a       1,151
    AFA Motherships...................................       70,243      28,097      19,668      42,146       95,904      38,362      26,853      57,542
    Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\....................      122,926         n/a         n/a         n/a      167,832         n/a         n/a         n/a
    Excessive Processing Limit \6\....................      210,730         n/a         n/a         n/a      287,712         n/a         n/a         n/a
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total Bering Sea DFA..........................      702,432     280,973     196,681     421,459      959,040     383,616     268,531     575,424
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
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11783]]

 
Bogoslof District ICA \7\.............................           50         n/a         n/a         n/a           50         n/a         n/a         n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS 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 BS 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 BS subarea, no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1. The remaining 12
  percent of the annual DFA allocated to the A season may be taken outside of the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1 or inside the SCA after 12:00 noon,
  April 1. If less than 28 percent of the annual DFA is taken inside the SCA before 12:00 noon, April 1, the remainder will be available to be taken
  inside the SCA after 12:00 noon, 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 to the 
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtraction 
of the CDQ reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs for the BSAI trawl 
limited access sector and non-trawl gear (Table 4). 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 EAI and 
the BS 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 EAI and BS to the jig gear 
in 2010 and 2011. Based on the 2010 TAC of 23,800 mt after subtractions 
of the CDQ reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would be 106 mt for 
2010. Based on the 2011 TAC of 20,900 mt after subtractions of the CDQ 
reserve and ICA, the jig gear allocation would be 93 mt for 2011.
    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 WAI and CAI 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)(B)(1)). There is no 
allocation of Atka mackerel to the BSAI trawl limited access sector in 
the WAI. Therefore, no vessels in the BSAI trawl limited access sector 
will be assigned to the WAI 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 EAI and BS subarea for any one 
of the three trawl sectors allocated Atka mackerel TAC.
    Table 4 lists these 2010 and 2011 amounts. The 2011 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, 2010.

 Table 4--Final 2010 and 2011 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      2010 allocation by area                         2011 allocation by area
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Eastern                                         Eastern
             Sector \1\                  Season 2 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................          23,800          29,600          20,600          20,900          26,000          18,100
CDQ reserve........................  Total..............           2,547           3,167           2,204           2,236           2,782           1,937

[[Page 11784]]

 
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           1,900           1,323             n/a           1,669           1,162
ICA................................  Total..............              75              75              50              75              75              50
Jig \6\............................  Total..............             106               0               0              93               0               0
BSAI trawl limited access..........  Total..............           1,264           1,581               0           1,480           1,851               0
                                     A..................             632             791               0             740             926               0
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a             474               0             n/a             555               0
                                     B..................             632             791               0             740             926               0
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a             474               0             n/a             555               0
Amendment 80 sectors...............  Total..............          19,808          24,776          18,346          17,016          21,292          16,113
                                     A..................           9,904          12,388           9,173           8,508          10,646           8,057
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           7,433           5,504             n/a           6,387           4,834
                                     B..................           9,904          12,388           9,173           8,508          10,646           8,057
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           7,433           5,504             n/a           6,387           4,834
Amendment 80 limited access........  Total..............          10,526          14,913          11,310             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     A..................           5,263           7,457           5,655             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           4,474           3,393             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     B..................           5,263           7,457           5,655             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           4,474           3,393             n/a             n/a             n/a
Amendment 80 cooperatives..........  Total..............           9,282           9,863           7,036             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     A..................           4,641           4,932           3,518             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           2,959           2,111             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     B..................           4,641           4,932           3,518             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                     HLA \5\............             n/a           2,959           2,111             n/a             n/a             n/a
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtraction of the CDQ
  reserves, jig gear allocation, and ICAs. 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
  the Central and Western Aleutian Districts, 60 percent of each seasonal allowance is available for fishing inside the HLA.
\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.

 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 CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall (LOA), 0.2 
percent to hook-and-line CVs 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 CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA, 1.5 percent to pot 
catcher/processors, 2.3 percent to AFA trawl catcher/processors, 13.4 
percent to non-AFA trawl catcher/processors, and 22.1 percent to trawl 
CVs. 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 2010 and 2011, 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 2011 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, 2010.
    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.
    The CDQ and non-CDQ season allowances by gear based on the 2010 and 
2011 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 5a and 5b based on the 
sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasonal allowances 
of Pacific cod set forth at Sec.  679.23(e)(5).

[[Page 11785]]



              Table 5a--Final 2010 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2010 share                      2010 seasonal apportionment
                                                    of gear    2010 share of -----------------------------------
             Gear sector                Percent     sector     sector total
                                                     total                             Dates             Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................        100     168,780             n/a  n/a....................        n/a
CDQ..................................       10.7      18,059             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.........       60.8      91,638             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      91,138             n/a  n/a....................        n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor......       48.7         n/a          73,000  Jan 1-Jun 10...........     37,230
                                                                              Jun 10-Dec 31..........     35,770
Hook-and-line catcher vessel >= 60 ft        0.2         n/a             300  Jan 1-Jun 10...........        153
 LOA.                                                                         Jun 10-Dec 31..........        147
Pot catcher/processor................        1.5         n/a           2,248  Jan 1-Jun 10...........      1,147
                                                                              Sept 1-Dec 31..........      1,102
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft LOA......        8.4         n/a          12,591  Jan 1-Jun 10...........      6,422
                                                                              Sept 1-Dec 31..........      6,170
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-         2         n/a           2,998  n/a....................        n/a
 and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.................       22.1      33,309             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........     24,649
                                                                              Apr 1-Jun 10...........      3,664
                                                                              Jun 10-Nov 1...........      4,996
AFA trawl catcher/processor..........        2.3       3,467             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........      2,600
                                                                              Apr 1-Jun 10...........        867
                                                                              Jun 10-Nov 1...........          0
Amendment 80.........................       13.4      20,197             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........     15,147
                                                                              Apr 1-Jun 10...........      5,049
                                                                              Jun 10-Nov 1...........          0
Amendment 80 limited access..........        n/a         n/a           3,319  Jan 20-Apr 1...........      2,489
                                                                              Apr 1-Jun 10...........        830
                                                                              Jun 10-Nov 1...........          0
Amendment 80 cooperatives............        n/a         n/a          16,878  Jan 20-Apr 1...........     12,658
                                                                              Apr 1-Jun 10...........      4,219
                                                                              Jun 10-Nov 1...........          0
Jig..................................        1.4       2,110             n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30...........      1,266
                                                                              Apr 30-Aug 31..........        422
                                                                              Aug 31-Dec 31..........        422
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.


              Table 5b--Final 2011 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod Tac
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2011 share                    2011 seasonal apportionment \2\
                                                    of gear    2011 share of -----------------------------------
             Gear sector                Percent     sector     sector total
                                                     total                             Dates             Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total TAC............................        100     207,580             n/a  n/a....................        n/a
CDQ..................................       10.7      22,211             n/a  see Sec.                       n/a
                                                                               679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.........       60.8     112,704             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     112,204             n/a  n/a....................        n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processor......       48.7         n/a          89,874  Jan 1-Jun 10...........     45,836
                                                                              Jun 10-Dec 31..........     44,038
Hook-and-line catcher vessel = 60 ft LOA.                                                              Jun 10-Dec 31..........        181
Pot catcher/processor................        1.5         n/a           2,768  Jan 1-Jun 10...........      1,412
                                                                              Sept 1-Dec 31..........      1,356
Pot catcher vessel = 60 ft        8.4         n/a          15,502  Jan 1-Jun 10...........      7,906
 LOA.                                                                         Sept 1-Dec 31..........      7,596
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA using hook-         2         n/a           3,691  n/a....................        n/a
 and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.................       22.1      40,967             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........     30,315
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10...........      4,506
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1...........      6,145
AFA trawl catcher/processor..........        2.3       4,263             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........      3,198
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10...........      1,066
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Jun 10-Nov 1...........          0
Amendment 80.........................       13.4      24,839             n/a  Jan 20-Apr 1...........     18,630
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Apr 1-Jun 10...........      6,210
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  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

[[Page 11786]]

 
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       2,595             n/a  Jan 1-Apr 30...........      1,557
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Apr 30-Aug 31..........        519
                                       .........  ..........  ..............  Aug 31-Dec 31..........        519
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2011
  based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
\2\ The 2011 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, 2010.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require the allocation of 
sablefish TACs for the BS and AI subareas between trawl and hook-and-
line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TACs for the BS subarea are 
50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear. 
Gear allocations of the TACs 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)(ii)(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 from the nonspecified 
reserves, established under Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i), to the CDQ reserve. 
The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be established 
biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear and 
pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries will be 
limited to the 2010 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are 
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent 
sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce 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 2010 and 2011 gear allocations of the 
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.

                                     Table 6--Final 2010 and 2011 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACS
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2010 Share of                     2010 CDQ      2011 Share of                     2011 CDQ
            Subarea and gear              Percent of TAC        TAC          2010 ITAC        reserve           TAC          2011 ITAC        reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
    Trawl \1\...........................              50           1,395           1,186             105           1,250           1,063              94
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\..........              50           1,395           1,116             279             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................             100           2,790           2,302             384           1,250           1,063              94
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aleutian Islands
    Trawl \1\...........................              25             518             440              39             465             395              35
    Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\..........              75           1,552           1,242             310             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................             100           2,070           1,682             349             465             395              35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 one year.

Allocation of the AI 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 AI 
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 AI 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 2011 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, 
2010. Tables 7a and 7b lists the 2010 and 2011 allocations of the AI 
Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole TACs.

[[Page 11787]]



 Table 7a--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                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sector                        Eastern         Central         Western
                                               Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                               District        District        District
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.......................................           4,220           4,270           6,540          60,000          90,000         219,000
CDQ.......................................             452             457             700           6,420           9,630          23,433
ICA.......................................             100              50              50           5,000          10,000           2,000
BSAI trawl limited access.................             367             376             116               0               0          42,369
Amendment 80..............................           3,302           3,387           5,674          48,580          70,370         151,198
Amendment 80 limited access...............           1,751           1,796           3,009           5,708          17,507          60,465
Amendment 80 cooperatives.................           1,551           1,591           2,666          42,872          52,863          90,733
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 7b--Final 2011 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                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sector                        Eastern         Central         Western
                                               Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                               District        District        District
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.......................................           4,180           4,230           6,480          60,000          90,000         213,000
CDQ.......................................             447             453             693           6,420           9,630          22,791
ICA.......................................             100              50              50           5,000          10,000           2,000
BSAI trawl limited access.................             363             373             115               0               0          39,154
Amendment 80..............................           3,269           3,355           5,622          48,580          70,370         147,983
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 2011 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, 2010.

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 2010 and 2011 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) allocate 326 
mt 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)(vi) specifies 29,000 fish 
as the 2010 and 2011 Chinook salmon PSC limit for the BS 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)(viii) specifies 700 fish as the 
2010 and 2011 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)(vii) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2010 and 2011 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. The regulations and allocations of Chinook salmon 
are subject to change in 2011 pending approval of Amendment 91 to the 
FMP.
    PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on 
abundance and spawning biomass. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1), 10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit 
specified for crab is allocated from as a PSQ reserve for use by the 
groundfish CDQ program.
    The red king crab mature female abundance is estimated from the 
2009 survey data at 36.1 million red king crabs (http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/AFSC-TM/NOAA-TM-AFSC-201.pdf, Table 3.), 
and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 70.4 million lb 
(http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/region4/shellfsh/crabs/news_rel/2009/nr090930a.pdf). Based on the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i), 
the 2010 and 2011 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 2009, 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 2009 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) 
abundance is estimated at 346 million animals. Given the criteria set 
out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2010 and 2011 C. bairdi 
crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 830,000 animals in Zone 1 and 
2,520,000 animals in Zone 2. These limits are

[[Page 11788]]

derived from the C. bairdi crab abundance estimate being in excess of 
the 270 million animals for the Zone 1 allocation and 290 million 
animals for the Zone 2 allocation, but less than 400 million animals 
for both Zone allocations. These limits are specified in Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(ii).
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), 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 BS abundance index if left unadjusted. However, if the 
abundance is less than 4.5 million animals, the minimum PSC limit will 
be 4,350,000 animals pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii)(A) and (B). 
Based on the 2009 survey estimate of 3.06 billion animals, the 
calculated limit is 4,350,000 animals.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring 
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1 
percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best estimate of 
2010 and 2011 herring biomass is 197,400 mt. This amount was derived 
using 2009 survey data and an age-structured biomass projection model 
developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Therefore, the 
herring PSC limit for 2010 and 2011 is 1,974 mt for all trawl gear as 
presented in Tables 8a and b.
    Section 679.21(e)(3)(A) requires PSQ reserves to be subtracted from 
the total trawl PSC limits. The amounts of 2010 PSC limits assigned to 
the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors are specified in 
Table 35 to part 679. The resulting allocation of PSC to CDQ PSQ, the 
Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access fisheries are 
listed in Table 8a. 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 
2011 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, 
2010. 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.
    Pursuant to section 3.6 of the BSAI FMP, the Council recommends and 
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt 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 because of the small size of the fishery and the selectivity 
of the gear, 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 2009, total groundfish 
catch for the pot gear fishery in the BSAI was approximately 16,160 mt, 
with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of about 1.3 mt. The 2009 
jig gear fishery harvested about 44 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 2010 and 2011 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the EDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
                                                                 Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Non-trawl                                             Amendment 80 sector
                                                                   PSC                    Trawl PSC               --------------------------  BSAI trawl
                   PSC species                     Total non-   remaining   Total trawl   remaining     CDQ PSQ                                limited
                                                   trawl PSC    after CDQ       PSC       after CDQ   reserve \1\      2010         2011        access
                                                                 PSQ \1\                   PSQ \1\                                             fishery
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI.....................          900          832        3,675        3,349          393        2,425        2,375          875
Herring (mt) BSAI...............................          n/a          n/a        1,974          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1 \1\..............          n/a          n/a      197,000      175,921       21,079       98,920       93,432       53,797
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ \2\...................          n/a          n/a    4,350,000    3,884,550      465,450    2,148,156    2,028,512    1,248,494
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1 \2\.............          n/a          n/a      830,000      741,190       88,810      351,176      331,608      348,285

[[Page 11789]]

 
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2.................          n/a          n/a    2,520,000    2,250,360      269,640      599,271      565,966    1,053,394
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(2) allocates 326 mt of the trawl halibut mortality limit and Sec.   679.21(e)(4)(i)(A) allocates 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 Sec.   679.2 for definitions of zones.


 Table 8b--Final 2010 and 2011 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
        Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for all Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Red king
                                                  Herring        crab
              Fishery categories                 (mt) BSAI    (animals)
                                                                Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole................................          169          n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish \1\....           29          n/a
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \2\...............           14          n/a
Rockfish......................................           10          n/a
Pacific cod...................................           29          n/a
Midwater trawl pollock........................        1,508          n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \2\.......          214          n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non-pelagic               n/a       49,250
 trawl gear \3\...............................
Total trawl PSC...............................        1,974      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\ Pollock other than pelagic trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and ``other
  species'' fishery category.
\3\ In December 2009 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 allowance (see Sec.
  679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).


Table 8c--Final 2010 and 2011 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector and
                                               Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Prohibited species and area \1\
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Red king                   C. bairdi (animals)
  BSAI trawl limited access fisheries     Halibut mortality       crab      C. opilio  -------------------------
                                              (mt) BSAI        (animals)    (animals)
                                                                 Zone 1       COBLZ        Zone 1       Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole........................                   167       47,397    1,176,494      293,234    1,005,879
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish                     0            0            0            0            0
 \2\..................................
Turbot/arrow tooth/sablefish \3\......                     0            0            0            0            0
Rockfish April 15-December 31.........                     5            0        2,000            0          848
Pacific cod...........................                   453        6,000       50,000       50,816       42,424
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species...                   250          400       20,000        4,235        4,242
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited access                      875       53,797    1,248,494      348,285    1,053,394
     PSC..............................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


        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.

[[Page 11790]]

 
\3\ Greenland turbot, arrowtooth flounder, and sablefish fishery category.


        Table 8d--Final 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowance for the BSAI Amendment 80 Cooperatives
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Prohibited species and zones \1\
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Red king                   C. bairdi (animals)
                      Year                         Halibut        crab      C. opilio  -------------------------
                                                  mortality    (animals)    (animals)
                                                  (mt) BSAI      Zone 1       COBLZ        Zone 1       Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2010...........................................        1,754       70,237    1,461,309      257,715      440,277
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of zones.


  Table 8e--Final 2010 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Amendment 80 Limited Access Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Prohibited species and area \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Red king                   C. bairdi (animals)
                                                   Halibut        crab      C. opilio  -------------------------
     Amendment 80 limited access fisheries        mortality    (animals)    (animals)
                                                  (mt) BSAI      Zone 1       COBLZ        Zone 1       Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................................          440        9,690      633,544       51,561      128,794
    Jan 20--Jul 1..............................          293        9,500      617,709       46,515      102,242
    Jul 1--Dec 31..............................          147          190       15,835        5,046       26,552
Rock sole/other flat/flathead sole \2\.........          139       18,947       53,203       41,799       30,099
    Jan 20--Apr 1..............................          108       18,685       51,204       37,500       27,000
    Apr 1--Jul 1...............................           16          130        1,000        2,150        1,550
    July 1--Dec 31.............................           15          132          999        2,149        1,549
Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish \3\................            6           45          100          100          100
Rockfish.......................................           45          n/a          n/a          n/a          n/a
Pacific cod....................................            1            1            1            1            1
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \4\........           40            0            0            0            0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Amendment 80 trawl limited access PSC          671       28,683      686,848       93,461      158,994
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\ 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 DMRs

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, DMRs, 
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 
2010 and 2011 BSAI groundfish fisheries for use in monitoring the 2010 
and 2011 halibut bycatch allowances (see Tables 8a-e). The IPHC 
developed these DMRs for the 2010 and 2011 BSAI fisheries using the 10-
year mean 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. The document justifying these DMRs is 
available in Appendix 2 in the final 2009 SAFE report dated November 
2009 (see ADDRESSES). Table 9 lists the 2010 and 2011 DMRs.

Table 9--Final 2010 and 2011 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
                                the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Halibut
                                                              discard
              Gear                       Fishery          mortality rate
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-CDQ hook-and-line..........  Greenland turbot.......              11
                                 Other species..........              10
                                 Pacific cod............              10
                                 Rockfish...............               9
Non-CDQ trawl..................  Arrowtooth flounder....              76
                                 Atka mackerel..........              76
                                 Flathead sole..........              74
                                 Greenland turbot.......              67
                                 Non-pelagic pollock....              73
                                 Pelagic pollock........              89
                                 Other flatfish.........              72

[[Page 11791]]

 
                                 Other species..........              71
                                 Pacific cod............              71
                                 Rockfish...............              81
                                 Rock sole..............              82
                                 Sablefish..............              75
                                 Yellowfin sole.........              81
Non-CDQ Pot....................  Other species..........               8
                                 Pacific cod............               8
CDQ trawl......................  Atka mackerel..........              85
                                 Greenland turbot.......              88
                                 Flathead sole..........              84
                                 Non-pelagic pollock....              85
                                 Pacific cod............              90
                                 Pelagic pollock........              90
                                 Rockfish...............              84
                                 Rock sole..............              87
                                 Yellowfin sole.........              85
CDQ hook-and-line..............  Greenland turbot.......               4
                                 Pacific cod............              10
CDQ pot........................  Pacific cod............               8
                                 Sablefish..............              32
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    Based upon historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing 
activity, 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 2010 and 2011 
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., March 11, 2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011. 
Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access and the Amendment 80 limited 
access sectors, bycatch allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi 
crab, and C. opilio crab listed in Table 10 are insufficient to support 
directed fisheries. 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., March 
11, 2010, through 2400 hrs, A.l.t., December 31, 2011.

                              Table 10--2010 and 2011 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
           [Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       2010            2011
                                                                                    Incidental      Incidental
               Area                         Sector                Species              catch           catch
                                                                                     allowance       allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District.................  All..................  Pollock..............              50              50
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....              75              75
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                 100             100
                                                            perch.
Central Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA Atka mackerel....              75              75
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  50              50
                                                            perch.
Western Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA Atka mackerel....              50              50
 Sea.                                BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  50              50
                                                            perch.
Bering Sea subarea................  All..................  Pacific ocean perch..           3,256           3,222
                                                           ``Other rockfish''...             485             485
                                                           ICA pollock..........          29,268          39,960
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands...  All..................  Northern rockfish....           7,240           7,290

[[Page 11792]]

 
                                                           Shortraker rockfish..             387             387
                                                           Rougheye rockfish....             547             531
                                                           ``Other species''....          42,500          42,500
                                    Hook-and-line and pot  ICA Pacific cod......             500             500
                                     gear.
                                    Non-amendment 80.....  ICA flathead sole....           5,000           5,000
                                                           ICA rock sole........          10,000          10,000
                                    Non-amendment 80 and   ICA yellowfin sole...           2,000           2,000
                                     BSAI trawl limited
                                     access.
                                    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   Rockfish--red king                  0             n/a
                                     access.                crab zone 1, C.
                                                            opilio COBLZ, C.
                                                            bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
                                                           Pacific cod--halibut                1             n/a
                                                            mortality, red king
                                                            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 2009 and 2010 BSAI harvest 
specifications for groundfish (74 FR 7359, February 17, 2009) remain 
effective under authority of these final 2010 and 2011 harvest 
specifications, and are posted at the following Web sites: http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/infobulletins/infobulletins.asp?Yr=2010, 
and http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/2010/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 CV 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 CV 
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 CVs under the Rockfish Program sideboard 
limitations.

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 2010 and 2011 
catcher/processor sideboard limits.
    All harvest 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 
CVs will not be deducted from the 2010 and 2011 sideboard limits for 
the listed AFA catcher/processors.

[[Page 11793]]



                     Table 11--Final 2010 and 2011 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             1995-1997
                                                              ---------------------------------------  2010 ITAC                 2011 ITAC
                                                                                           Ratio of    available   2010 AFA C/   available   2011 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        1,186           19        1,063           17
                                      AI.....................            0          145            0          440            0          395            0
Atka mackerel.......................  Central AI
                                      A season \2\...........          n/a          n/a        0.115       13,217        1,520       11,609        1,335
                                         HLA limit \3\.......          n/a          n/a          n/a        7,930          912        6,965          801
                                      B season \2\...........          n/a          n/a        0.115       13,217        1,520       11,609        1,335
                                         HLA limit \3\.......          n/a          n/a          n/a        7,930          912        6,965          801
                                      Western AI
                                      A season \2\...........          n/a          n/a          0.2        9,198        1,840        8,082        1,616
                                         HLA limit \3\.......          n/a          n/a          n/a        5,519        1,104        4,849          970
                                      B season \2\...........          n/a          n/a          0.2        9,198        1,840        8,082        1,616
                                         HLA limit\3\........          n/a          n/a          n/a        5,519        1,104        4,849          970
Yellowfin sole \4\..................  BSAI...................      100,192      435,788         0.23      195,567          n/a      190,209          n/a
Rock sole...........................  BSAI...................        6,317      169,362        0.037       80,370        2,974       80,370        2,974
Greenland turbot....................  BS.....................          121       17,305        0.007        3,587           25        3,145           22
                                      AI.....................           23        4,987        0.005        1,615            8        1,420            7
Arrowtooth flounder.................  BSAI...................           76       33,987        0.002       63,750          128       63,750          128
Flathead sole.......................  BSAI...................        1,925       52,755        0.036       53,580        1,929       53,580        1,929
Alaska plaice.......................  BSAI...................           14        9,438        0.001       42,500           43       42,500           43
Other flatfish......................  BSAI...................        3,058       52,298        0.058       14,705          853       14,705          853
Pacific ocean perch.................  BS.....................           12        4,879        0.002        3,256            7        3,222            6
                                      Eastern AI.............          125        6,179         0.02        3,768           75        3,733           75
                                      Central AI.............            3        5,698        0.001        3,813            4        3,777            4
                                      Western AI.............           54       13,598        0.004        5,840           23        5,787           23
Northern rockfish...................  BSAI...................           91       13,040        0.007        7,240           51        7,290           51
Shortraker rockfish.................  BSAI...................           50        2,811        0.018          387            7          387            7
Rougheye rockfish...................  BSAI...................           50        2,811        0.018          547           10          531           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       42,500          340
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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
  2010 and 2011, 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 2010 and 2011 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin
  sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector (195,567 mt in 2010 and 190,209 mt in 2011) 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 or 2011 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 2010 and 2011 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2010 and 2011
                                                                                   PSC available
                                                                   Ratio of PSC      to trawl      2010 and 2011
                    PSC species and area \1\                      catch to total   vessels after   C/P sideboard
                                                                        PSC       subtraction of     limit \2\
                                                                                      PSQ \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI..........................................             n/a             n/a             286

[[Page 11794]]

 
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......................................................            0.14         741,190         103,767
    Zone 2......................................................            0.05       2,250,360         112,518
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA CV Sideboard Limits

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is 
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CV 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 CV 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 2010 and 2011 AFA CV sideboard limits.
    All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA 
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted 
from the 2010 and 2011 sideboard limits listed in Table 13.

                          Table 13--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Ratio of 1995-                     2010 AFA                        2011 AFA
                                                                            1997 AFA CV    2010 initial   catcher vessel   2011 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           2,110               0           2,595               0
                                            Hook-and-line CV............             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                               Jan 1-Jun 10.............          0.0006             153               0             188               0
                                               Jun 10-Dec 31............          0.0006             147               0             181               0
                                            Pot gear CV.................             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                               Jan 1-Jun 10.............          0.0006           6,422               4           7,906               5
                                               Sept 1-Dec 31............          0.0006           6,170               4           7,596               5
                                            CV < 60 feet LOA using hook-          0.0006           2,998               2           3,691               2
                                             and-line or pot gear.
                                            Trawl gear CV
                                               Jan 20-Apr 1.............          0.8609          24,649          21,220          30,315          26,098
                                               Apr 1-Jun 10.............          0.8609           3,664           3,154           4,506           3,879
                                               Jun 10-Nov 1.............          0.8609           4,996           4,301           6,145           5,290
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................................  BS trawl gear...............          0.0906           1,186             107           1,063              96
                                            AI trawl gear...............          0.0645             440              28             395              25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel.............................  Eastern AI/BS
                                               Jan 1-Apr 15.............          0.0032          10,627              34           9,332              30
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............          0.0032          10,627              34           9,332              30
                                            Central AI
                                               Jan-Apr 15...............          0.0001          13,217               1          11,609               1
                                                 HLA limit..............          0.0001           7,930               1           6,965               1
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............          0.0001          13,217               1          11,609               1
                                                 HLA limit..............          0.0001           7,930               1           6,965               1
                                            Western AI
                                               Jan-Apr 15...............               0           9,198               0           8,082               0
                                                 HLA limit..............             n/a           5,519               0           4,849               0
                                               Sept 1-Nov 1.............               0           9,198               0           8,082               0
                                                 HLA limit..............             n/a           5,519               0           4,849               0
Yellowfin sole \2\........................  BSAI........................          0.0647         195,567             n/a         190,209             n/a
Rock sole.................................  BSAI........................          0.0341          80,370           2,741          80,370           2,741
Greenland turbot..........................  BS..........................          0.0645           3,587             231           3,145             203
                                            AI..........................          0.0205           1,615              33           1,420              29
Arrowtooth flounder.......................  BSAI........................           0.069          63,750           4,399          63,750           4,399
Alaska plaice.............................  BSAI........................          0.0441          42,500           1,874          42,500           1,874

[[Page 11795]]

 
Other flatfish............................  BSAI........................          0.0441          14,705             648          14,705             648
Pacific ocean perch.......................  BS..........................             0.1           3,256             326           3,222             322
                                            Eastern AI..................          0.0077           3,768              29           3,733              29
                                            Central AI..................          0.0025           3,813              10           3,777               9
                                            Western AI..................               0           5,840               0           5,787               0
Northern rockfish.........................  BSAI........................          0.0084           7,240              61           7,290              61
Shortraker rockfish.......................  BSAI........................          0.0037             387               1             387               1
Rougheye rockfish.........................  BSAI........................          0.0037             465               2             451               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          42,500           2,299
Flathead sole.............................  BS trawl gear...............          0.0505          53,580           2,706          53,580           2,706
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2010 and 2011 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole
  assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector (195,567 mt in 2010 and 190,209 mt in 2011) is greater than 125,000 mt.

    Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 14 that are caught by 
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other 
than pollock will accrue against the 2010 and 2011 PSC sideboard limits 
for the AFA CVs. Sections 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21 (e)(3)(v) authorize 
NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for 
AFA CVs once a 2010 or 2011 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 14 is 
reached. The PSC that is caught by AFA CVs 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 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
                                                for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2010 and 2011   2010 and 2011
                                                                    AFA catcher      PSC limit      AFA catcher
            PSC species              Target fishery category \2\    vessel PSC         after        vessel PSC
                                                                     sideboard    subtraction of     sideboard
                                                                    limit ratio    PSQ reserves        limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut............................  Pacific cod trawl..........             n/a             n/a             887
                                     Pacific cod hook-and-line               n/a             n/a               2
                                      or pot.
                                     Yellowfin sole total.......             n/a             n/a             101
                                     Rock sole/flathead sole/                n/a             n/a             228
                                      other flatfish total \3\.
                                     Turbot/arrowtooth/sablefish             n/a             n/a               0
                                     Rockfish...................             n/a             n/a               2
                                     Pollock/Atka mackerel/other             n/a             n/a               5
                                      species.
Red king crab Zone 1 \4\...........  n/a........................           0.299         175,921          52,600
C. opilio COBLZ \4\................  n/a........................           0.168       3,884,550         652,604
C. bairdi Zone 1 \4\...............  n/a........................            0.33         741,190         244,593
C. bairdi Zone 2 \4\...............  n/a........................           0.186       2,250,360         418,567
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\ ``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.
\4\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.

AFA CP and CV Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures

    Based upon historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator 
has determined that many of the AFA CP and CV sideboard limits listed 
in Tables 15 and 16 are necessary as incidental catch to support other 
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2010 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. 
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of the year, 
the Regional Administrator has determined, in accordance with Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS prohibit 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 CVs for the species in 
the specified areas set out in Table 16.

[[Page 11796]]



    Table 15--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
                                                  Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  2010 sideboard  2011 sideboard
              Species                        Area                Gear types            limit           limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl...................  BS...................  trawl................              19              17
                                    AI...................  trawl................               0               0
Rock sole.........................  BSAI.................  all..................           2,974           2,974
Greenland turbot..................  BS...................  all..................              25              22
                                    AI...................  all..................               8               7
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI.................  all..................             128             128
Flathead sole.....................  BSAI.................  all..................           1,929           1,929
Pacific ocean perch...............  BS...................  all..................               7               6
                                    Eastern AI...........  all..................              75              75
                                    Central AI...........  all..................               4               4
                                    Western AI...........  all..................              23              23
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI.................  all..................              51              51
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             340
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.


   Table 16--Final 2010 and 2011 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  2010 sideboard  2011 sideboard
              Species                        Area                Gear types            limit           limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.......................  BSAI.................  hook-and-line........             300             369
                                    BSAI.................  pot..................              10              12
                                    BSAI.................  jig..................               0               0
Sablefish.........................  BS...................  trawl................             107              96
                                    AI...................  trawl................              28              25
Atka mackerel.....................  Eastern AI/BS........  all..................              68              60
                                    Central AI...........  all..................               2               2
                                    Western AI...........  all..................               0               0
Greenland turbot..................  BS...................  all..................             231             203
                                    AI...................  all..................              33              29
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI.................  all..................           4,399           4,399
Flathead sole.....................  BSAI.................  all..................           2,706           2,706
Rock sole.........................  BSAI.................  all..................           2,741           2,741
Pacific ocean perch...............  BS...................  all..................             326             322
                                    Eastern AI...........  all..................              29              29
                                    Central AI...........  all..................              10               9
                                    Western AI...........  all..................               0               0
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI.................  all..................              61              61
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           2,299
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.

Response to Comments

    NMFS received two letters of comment, from an environmental 
organization and an individual, which included four distinct comments, 
in response to the proposed 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications. These 
comments are summarized and responded to below.
    Comment 1: The commenter raises general concerns about NMFS' 
management of fisheries, asserting that fishery policies have not 
benefited American citizens. The commenter also asserts that NMFS does 
not enforce fisheries regulations and should not be allowed to manage 
commercial fisheries.
    Response: This comment is not specifically related to the proposed 
rule. The comment recommends broad changes to fisheries management and 
provides opinions of the Federal Government's general management of 
marine resources that are outside of the scope of this action. The 
comment did not raise new relevant issues or concerns that have not 
been explained in the preamble to the proposed rule or addressed in the 
SAFE reports and other

[[Page 11797]]

analyses prepared to support the BSAI groundfish harvest 
specifications.
    Comment 2: The comment asserts that the groundfish quotas are too 
high.
    Response: The harvest specifications process is intended to foster 
conservation and management of marine resources. This process 
incorporates the best available scientific information from the most 
recent stock assessment and fisheries evaluation reports prepared by 
multi-disciplinary teams of scientists. Such reports contain the most 
recent scientific information on the condition of various groundfish 
stocks, as well as the condition of other ecosystem components and 
economic data about Alaska groundfish fisheries. This suite of 
information allows the Council to make scientifically-based 
recommendations for annual catch limits that do not exceed, on a 
species by species basis, the OFLs and ABCs established for each BSAI 
target species managed under the FMP.
    Comment 3: Overfishing is having a detrimental effect on the health 
of oceans and coastal communities.
    Response: This comment does not specially address the proposed 2010 
and 2011 harvest specifications for the BSAI. None of the species 
encompassed by these harvest specifications are overfished or subject 
to overfishing.
    Comment 4: The decline of pollock stocks is having a detrimental 
impact on marine mammals.
    Response: The most recent pollock stock surveys indicate that BSAI 
pollock stocks in this management area are not overfished and are 
unlikely to be overfished in the near future. The BS stock is expected 
to increase as recent cohorts mature and enter the fishery. 
Furthermore, the EIS (see ADDRESSES) prepared for the Alaska groundfish 
fisheries newest specifications process identified a preferred harvest 
strategy for groundfish and concluded that the preferred harvest 
strategy, under existing regulations, would have no lasting adverse 
impacts on marine mammals and other marine life. Additionally, pursuant 
to the Endangered Species Act, NMFS consults to ensure that federal 
actions, including this one, do not jeopardize the continued existence 
of any endangered or threatened marine mammal species.

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 (see ADDRESSES) and made 
it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS. In January 
2010, 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 2010 
and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 harvest specifications.
    The proposed harvest specifications were published in the Federal 
Register on December 2, 2009 (74 FR 63100). 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 4, 2010. No 
comments were received regarding the IRFA or the economic impacts of 
this action. A FRFA was prepared pursuant to 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 FRFA 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 FRFA 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 Act. Significant issues raised by public comment 
are addressed in the preamble and not repeated here.
    The directly regulated small entities include approximately 810 
small CVs, fewer than 20 small CPs, and six CDQ groups. The entities 
directly regulated by this action are those that harvest groundfish in 
the EEZ of the BSAI and in parallel fisheries within State waters. 
These include entities operating CV and CP vessels within the action 
area, and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish. CVs and 
CPs 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

[[Page 11798]]

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--the ``no action'' 
alternative--would have set TACs equal to zero.
    Alternative 2 was chosen instead of alternatives 3, 4, and 5, which 
produced smaller first wholesale revenue indices for both non-CDQ and 
CDQ sectors than Alternative 2. Moreover, higher Alternative 1 TACs are 
associated with maximum permissible ABCs, which may be higher than 
Alternative 2 TACs, 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.
    Harvests are controlled by the enforcement of total allowable catch 
(TAC) limits, and prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, apportionments 
of those limits among seasons and areas, and allocations of the limits 
among fishing fleets. TAC seasonal apportionments and allocations are 
specified by regulations at 50 CFR part 679.
    There are no significant alternatives to the proposed rule that 
accomplish the stated objectives, are consistent with applicable 
statutes, and that would minimize the economic impact of the proposed 
rule on small entities.
    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 
2009, and Council consideration and recommendations occurred in 
December 2009. Accordingly, NMFS review could not begin until January 
2010. For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs 
established under the 2009 and 2010 final harvest specifications (74 FR 
7359, February 17, 2009) were not reached, the possibility exists that 
they would be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period, if implemented, because their TACs could be 
reached. Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock, Pacific cod, and 
Atka mackerel 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 confusion 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.
    In fisheries subject to declining sideboards, a failure to 
implement the updated sideboards before initial season's end could 
preclude the intended economic protection to the non-sideboarded 
sectors. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboards, economic 
benefit could be precluded to the sideboarded sectors.
    If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 6, 
2010, which is the start of the 2010 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 confusion for the industry and economic harm from unnecessary 
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 2010 and 2011 harvest 
specifications will allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin 
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ 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.
    The preceding consequences of delaying the rule would undermine the 
rule's intent. 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 2010 and 2011 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 2010 and 2011 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: March 9, 2010.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5484 Filed 3-11-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P