[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 246 (Thursday, December 22, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79620-79645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32848]



[[Page 79620]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 111207737-1735-01]
RIN 0648-XA711


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications, 
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for 
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2012 
and 2013 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The 
intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage the groundfish 
resources in the GOA in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Address written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region, 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. You may submit comments on this document, 
identified by NOAA-NMFS-2011-0228, by any one of the following methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal, 
first click the ``submit a comment'' icon, then enter NOAA-NMFS-2011-
0228 in the keyword search. Locate the document you wish to comment on 
from the resulting list and click on the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on 
that line.
     Mail comments to: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
     Fax comments to: (907) 586-7557.
     Hand deliver comments to the Federal Building at: 709 West 
9th Street, Room 420A, Juneau, AK.
    Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above 
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and 
considered by NMFS. Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address) submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will 
accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you 
wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word or Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.
    Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Supplementary 
Information Report (SIR) to the EIS, and the Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained 
from http://www.regulations.gov or from the Alaska Region Web site at 
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov. The final 2010 Stock Assessment and 
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the 
GOA, dated November 2010, is available from the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306, 
Anchorage, AK 99501, phone (907) 271-2809, or from the Council's Web 
site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/npfmc. The draft 2011 SAFE 
report for the GOA is available from the same source.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Pearson, (907) 481-1780, or Obren 
Davis, (907) 586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council 
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801, 
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP 
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
    These proposed harvest specifications are based in large part on 
the 2010 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). On December 8, 2011, the Council 
considered the draft 2011 SAFE report as it developed its 
recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 overfishing levels (OFLs), 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) amounts, and total allowable catch 
(TAC) limits. In addition to the proposed harvest specifications, this 
proposed rule identifies anticipated changes to the proposed harvest 
specifications that may result from the Council's review of the draft 
2011 SAFE report.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify the TACs for each target 
species, the sum of which must be within the optimum yield (OY) range 
of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt). Section 679.20(c)(1) further 
requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual 
TACs, halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts, and seasonal 
allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. The proposed harvest 
specifications in Tables 1 through 21 of this document satisfy these 
requirements. For 2012 and 2013, the sum of the proposed TAC amounts is 
584,440 mt. Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2012 
and 2013 harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received 
within the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council 
at its December 2011 meeting, and (3) considering information presented 
in the Final EIS (see ADDRESSES) and the final 2011 SAFE report 
prepared for the 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Affecting the 2012 and 2013 Harvest Specifications 
Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP

    NMFS prepared a final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP, 
which was published on December 1, 2011 (76 FR 74670). Amendment 83 
allocates the Pacific cod TAC in the Western and Central regulatory 
areas of the GOA among various gear and operational sectors, and 
eliminates inshore and offshore allocations in these two regulatory 
areas. These allocations apply to both annual and seasonal limits of 
Pacific cod for the applicable sectors. These apportionments are 
discussed in detail in a subsequent section of this proposed rule. 
Amendment 83 is intended to reduce competition among sectors and to 
support stability in the Pacific cod fishery. The final rule 
implementing Amendment 83 limits access to the Federal Pacific cod TAC 
fisheries prosecuted in State of Alaska (State) waters adjacent to the 
Western and Central regulatory areas in the GOA, otherwise known as 
parallel fisheries. Amendment 83 does not change the existing annual 
Pacific cod TAC allocation between the inshore and offshore processing 
components in the

[[Page 79621]]

Eastern regulatory area of the GOA. A full description of Amendment 83 
is contained in the proposed rule for that action (76 FR 44700, July 
26, 2011).
    In the Central GOA, NMFS must allocate the Pacific cod TAC among 
vessels using jig gear, catcher vessels (CVs) less than 50 feet (15.24 
meters) length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or 
greater than 50 feet (15.24 meters) length overall using hook-and-line 
gear, catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hook-and-line gear, CVs using 
trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. In the 
Western GOA, NMFS must allocate the Pacific cod TAC among vessels using 
jig gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, 
CVs using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear. Table 3 lists the 
proposed amounts of these seasonal allowances. For the Pacific cod 
sector splits and associated management measures to become effective in 
the GOA at the beginning of the 2012 fishing year, NMFS intends to 
publish a final rule in late December 2011 to revise the final 2012 
harvest specifications for Pacific cod (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011).
    If the implementation of Amendment 83 was delayed, NMFS would have 
managed the Pacific cod fisheries in the GOA with existing fisheries 
management measures. The Pacific cod TACs would have been apportioned 
among the inshore and offshore components in the Western and Central 
GOA management areas, rather than among the various fishing sectors 
described previously. The Pacific cod fishery would have been subject 
to existing fisheries management measures until the approval and 
implementation of the Pacific cod sector splits embodied in Amendment 
83.

Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits Revisions

    At its October 2011 meeting, the Council decided to pursue possible 
revisions to the GOA halibut PSC limits through an FMP amendment and an 
associated regulatory amendment. The alternatives being analyzed 
include no change from the current halibut PSC limits, and reductions 
of 5, 10, or 15 percent from the current halibut PSC limits apportioned 
between trawl gear and hook-and-line gear. Apportionment of trawl PSC 
limits between the deep-water and shallow-water fisheries, limits for 
non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) CVs using trawl gear, Rockfish 
Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P and CV sectors, and halibut PSC 
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels could be affected. The Council 
intends to schedule initial review and final action for the proposed 
amendment during the first half of 2012 for implementation in the 
latter half of 2012 or at the beginning of 2012, pending approval by 
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary).

Pelagic Shelf Rockfish Species Group Revisions

    At the October 2011 meeting, the Council recommended removing widow 
and yellowtail rockfish from the pelagic shelf rockfish (PSR) species 
group and including these two species in the ``other rockfish'' species 
group. The remaining species in the PSR species group, dusky rockfish, 
would be managed as a separate, individual species. Extensive GOA trawl 
survey data and other information now exist that indicate dusky 
rockfish does not generally share the same geographic distribution and 
habitat with the other two PSR species, yellowtail and widow rockfish.
    There has been no directed fishing for the ``other rockfish'' 
species group in many years, and present catches are all taken as 
incidental catch in other directed fisheries. In these proposed harvest 
specifications, the PSR species group would consist of a single 
species, dusky rockfish.
    NMFS intends to propose FMP and regulatory amendments to dissolve 
the PSR species group and substitute a description of the dusky 
rockfish target fishery, revise the description of the ``other 
rockfish'' fishery in the FMP, and substitute dusky rockfish for PSR 
throughout the regulations at 50 CFR part 679. The management measures 
associated with PSR and dusky rockfish would be identical.
    Based on the 2010 SAFE report this action would reduce the proposed 
2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs for PSR by 121 mt and 91 mt, respectively. 
NMFS proposes to add these amounts to the 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs 
for ``other rockfish.'' These amounts are listed in Table 1.

Rockfish Program Renewal

    The existing Central GOA Rockfish Pilot Program will expire 
December 31, 2011. For that reason, NMFS did not include 2012 
allocations to the Rockfish Pilot Program in the final 2011 and 2012 
harvest specifications for groundfish (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011). 
NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 to the GOA FMP 
on August 19, 2011 (76 FR 52148). If approved by the Secretary, 
Amendment 88 would establish the Central GOA Rockfish Program (Rockfish 
Program), which would be effective from January 1, 2012, through 
December 31, 2021. This proposed program would allocate exclusive 
harvest privileges to License Limitation Program (LLP) license holders 
who used trawl gear to target Pacific ocean perch, PSR, and northern 
rockfish during specific qualifying years. These are the three primary 
rockfish species in the Rockfish Program.
    The incidentally harvested groundfish taken in the primary rockfish 
fisheries are allocated under the proposed Rockfish Program as 
secondary species. The secondary species are Pacific cod, rougheye 
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, and sablefish. 
Also, the proposed Rockfish Program would allocate a portion of the 
halibut PSC limit from the third season deep-water species fishery 
allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants. 
The proposed Rockfish Program would allocate a fixed amount of the 
trawl PSC allowance to the Rockfish Program: 117 mt to the CV sector 
and 74 mt to the C/P sector. It also would permanently retire 27 mt of 
the halibut PSC limit from being re-allocated to any fishery.
    The proposed Rockfish Program would continue to assign quota share 
and cooperative quota to participants for primary and secondary 
species, allow a participant holding an LLP license with rockfish quota 
share to form a rockfish cooperative with other persons, and allow 
holders of C/P LLP licenses to opt-out of participating in a rockfish 
cooperative on an annual basis. An entry level fishery for rockfish 
primary species also would continue for vessels using longline gear. 
Additionally, the proposed Rockfish Program continues to establish 
sideboard limits to limit the ability of harvesters operating under the 
Rockfish Program from increasing their participation in other, non-
Rockfish Program fisheries. This proposed rule includes those elements 
of the proposed Rockfish Program which could be included in the final 
2012 and 2013 harvest specifications for the GOA.
    If Amendment 88 is not implemented or the implementation of the 
Rockfish Program is delayed, the Central GOA rockfish fisheries would 
be managed under applicable LLP groundfish regulations. These 
regulations govern the general groundfish fisheries in the GOA, and 
include permitting, recordkeeping, and other management requirements. 
Rockfish cooperatives would not be permitted to form, and NMFS would 
resume the management of the primary rockfish species allocated under 
the Rockfish Program, rather than having cooperatives be responsible 
for managing their cooperative quota. NMFS does not consider it likely 
that

[[Page 79622]]

the implementation of Amendment 88 will be delayed. If implementation 
were delayed into early 2012, the primary species managed under the 
Rockfish Program could still be allocated and caught in 2012, as these 
rockfish fisheries typically commence in the summer months.

Other Actions Affecting Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) in the GOA

    NMFS has submitted Amendment 93 to the FMP for review by the 
Secretary. NMFS has published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 93 
(76 FR 77757, December 14, 2011). If approved, Amendment 93 would 
establish an annual PSC limit of 25,000 Chinook salmon for the pollock 
fisheries in the Central and Western GOA, increase observer coverage 
requirements for vessels under 60 feet length overall until superseded 
by pending changes to the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program, 
and require full retention of all salmon taken in the Central and 
Western GOA pollock fisheries until they can be counted and sampled. 
The annual 25,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit would be apportioned between 
the Western GOA (6,684 salmon) and the Central GOA (18,316 salmon).
    If Amendment 93 is approved and implemented in 2012 prior to the 
start of pollock C season on August 25, 2012, NMFS could establish a 
Chinook salmon PSC limit in the C and D pollock seasons of 5,598 fish 
in the Western GOA and 8,929 fish in the Central GOA. If the annual 
Chinook salmon PSC limits are reached in either reporting area, 
directed fishing for pollock in the applicable reporting area would be 
closed for the remainder of the fishing year. However, if the 
implementing rulemaking is not completed prior to the start of the 
pollock C season, then NMFS would delay the establishment of Chinook 
salmon PSC limits until 2013. Until the approval and implementation of 
Amendment 93 occurs, there are no applicable Chinook salmon PSC limits 
in effect in the GOA.

Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications

    In October 2011, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed most recent 
biological and harvest information about the condition of groundfish 
stocks in the GOA. This information was compiled by the Plan Team and 
presented in the final 2010 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish 
fisheries, dated November 2010 (see ADDRESSES). The amounts proposed 
for the 2012 and 2013 ABCs are based on the 2010 SAFE report, with the 
exception of the PSR and ``other rockfish'' species group, as discussed 
previously in the preamble. The AP and Council recommended that the 
proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs be set equal to ABCs for all species and 
species groups. The proposed ABCs and TACs could be changed in the 
final harvest specifications depending on the most recent scientific 
information contained in the final 2011 SAFE report. 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 GOA ecosystem and the 
economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska. From these 
data and analyses, the Plan Team estimates an OFL and ABC for each 
species or species group.
    In November 2011, the Plan Team updated the 2010 SAFE report to 
include new information collected during 2011, such as NMFS stock 
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team 
compiled this information and produced the draft 2011 SAFE report for 
presentation at the December 2011 Council meeting. The Council will 
consider information in the draft 2011 SAFE report, recommendations 
from the November 2011 Plan Team meeting and December 2011 SSC and AP 
meetings, public testimony, and relevant written public comments in 
making its recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 harvest 
specifications. Pursuant to section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP, the Council 
could recommend adjusting the TACs if ``warranted on the basis of 
bycatch considerations, management uncertainty, or socioeconomic 
considerations, or if required in order to cause the sum of the TACs to 
fall within the OY range.''
    In previous years the largest changes from the proposed to the 
final harvest specifications have been based on the most recent NMFS 
stock surveys, which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and 
spatial distribution, and changes to the models used for making stock 
assessments. NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results, 
changes to assessment models, and accompanying stock estimates at the 
September Plan Team meeting, and the SSC reviewed this information at 
the October 2011 Council meeting. In November 2011, the Plan Team 
considered updated stock assessments for groundfish, which were 
included in the draft 2011 SAFE report.
    If the draft 2011 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass 
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2012 and 2013 harvest 
specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the 
proposed harvest specifications. The draft 2011 SAFE reports indicate 
that the biomass trend for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, shortraker 
rockfish, big skates, and sculpins may be increasing. Conversely, if 
the draft 2011 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass trend is 
decreasing for a species, then the final 2012 and 2013 harvest 
specifications may reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest 
specifications. The draft 2011 SAFE reports indicate that the biomass 
trend for shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, flathead sole, 
northern rockfish, rougheye rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, pelagic 
shelf rockfish (dusky rockfish), thornyhead rockfish, longnose skates, 
and other skates may be decreasing. The biomass trends for species not 
listed above are relatively level and stable or cannot be determined.
    The proposed ABCs and TACs are based on the best available 
biological and socioeconomic information, including projected biomass 
trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and 
revised methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP specifies the 
formulas, or tiers, to be used to compute ABCs and OFLs. The formulas 
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined by the 
level of reliable information available to the fisheries scientists. 
This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers 
to define OFL and ABC amounts, with tier one representing the highest 
level of information quality available and tier six representing the 
lowest level of information quality available.
    The SSC adopted the proposed 2012 and 2013 OFLs and ABCs 
recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The Council 
adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC 
recommendations. These amounts are unchanged from the final 2012 
harvest specifications published in the Federal Register on March 1, 
2011 (76 FR 11111), with the exception of certain species categories 
that are discussed in the following section.

Comparison of Final 2011 TAC Amounts With Proposed 2012 and 2013 ABC 
and TAC Amounts

    The proposed 2012 and 2013 ABCs for pollock, deep-water flatfish, 
flathead sole, and ``other rockfish'' are higher than the final harvest 
specifications established for 2011. In contrast, the proposed 2012 and 
2013 ABCs for Pacific cod, sablefish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, 
Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic

[[Page 79623]]

shelf rockfish are lower than those established for 2011. These 
differences reflect the stock projections and trends made for these 
species during the final GOA harvest specifications process in November 
2010. For the remaining target species, the Council recommended and 
NMFS proposes ABC levels that are unchanged from 2011. More information 
on these changes is included in the final 2010 SAFE report (see 
ADDRESSES). The most recent stock assessment information will be 
included in the 2011 SAFE report, which will be available for Council 
approval at its December 2011 meeting.
    In the GOA, the total proposed 2012 and 2013 TAC amounts are 
584,440 mt, an increase of 84 percent from the 2011 TAC total of 
318,288 mt. As discussed below, the TAC increases proposed for 2012 and 
2013 are due almost entirely to increases for flatfish species, ``other 
rockfish'', and Atka mackerel. The following table compares the final 
2011 TACs to the proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs.

   Comparison of Final 2011 and Proposed 2012 and 2013 Total Allowable
                Catch (TAC) Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska
                       [Values are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Proposed 2012 and
             Species                Final 2011 TACs        2013 TACS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.........................              96,215             121,649
Pacific cod.....................              65,100              58,650
Sablefish.......................              11,290              10,345
Shallow water flatfish..........              20,062              56,242
Deep-water flatfish.............               6,305               6,486
Rex sole........................               9,565               9,396
Arrowtooth flounder.............              43,000             211,027
Flathead sole...................              10,587              50,591
Pacific ocean perch.............              16,997              16,187
Northern rockfish...............               4,854               4,614
Shortraker rockfish.............                 914                 914
Other rockfish..................               1,195               3,842
Pelagic shelf rockfish..........               4,754               4,347
Rougheye rockfish...............               1,312               1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish.........                 300                 300
Thornyhead rockfish.............               1,770               1,770
Atka mackerel...................               2,000               4,700
Big skates......................               3,328               3,328
Longnose skates.................               2,852               2,852
Other skates....................               2,093               2,093
Squids..........................               1,148               1,148
Sharks..........................               6,197               6,197
Octopuses.......................                 954                 954
Sculpins........................               5,496               5,496
                                 ---------------------------------------
    Total.......................             318,288             584,440
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The Council recommended proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs that are equal 
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exception 
of Pacific cod. The Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State's 
Guideline Harvest Levels (GHL) for Pacific cod so that the ABCs are not 
exceeded. The Council's rationale for increases for flatfish species, 
``other rockfish'', and Atka mackerel TACs was that the sum of the 
proposed TACs is well below the OY limit of 800,000 mt. In addition, 
the Council noted that NMFS prohibits retention of a species when its 
TAC is reached, even when ABC levels are significantly above TAC 
levels. Public testimony indicated that the 2011 harvest of some 
species, such as arrowtooth flounder in the Central regulatory area of 
the GOA, were expected to close for directed fishing given the 
relatively small 2011 TAC compared to the ABC. Therefore, an increase 
in these TACs could help prevent regulatory discards. Testifiers also 
noted that several of the current 2012 flatfish ABCs are significantly 
higher than their respective TACs, which means that the TACs for these 
flatfish species could be increased under the OY and the buffer 
available between TACs and ABCs.
    NMFS does not anticipate any difficulty managing the increased TACs 
for flatfish, ``other rockfish,'' and Atka mackerel within bounds and 
constraints of existing fisheries management measures applicable to 
these GOA fisheries. NMFS believes that harvest of most GOA flatfish 
species will continue to be constrained by halibut PSC limits and that 
2012 harvests of these species will approximate 2011 harvests. In 
addition, per its standard management practices, NMFS will continue to 
assess whether the TAC established for each of these species will 
support a directed fishery. If so, NMFS will then calculate a directed 
fishing allowance (DFA) for a given species that is below the TAC. The 
difference between TAC and the DFA is the amount that is available for 
incidental catch of a particular species in other groundfish fisheries. 
At its October 2011 meeting, the Council expressed an interest in 
reducing the final 2012 and 2013 TACs for flatfish, ``other rockfish,'' 
and Atka mackerel to amounts consistent with the November 2011 SAFE 
report and anticipated future harvests. This issue may be addressed at 
the Council's December 2011 meeting.
    The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western, Central, and 
West Yakutat Regulatory Areas (W/C/WYK) has been adjusted to reflect 
the GHL established by the State for the Prince William Sound (PWS) 
pollock fishery since its inception in 1995. Genetic studies revealed 
that the pollock in PWS was not a separate stock from the combined W/C/
WYK population. Accordingly, the Council recommended decreasing the W/
C/WYK pollock ABC

[[Page 79624]]

to account for the State's PWS GHL. For 2012, the PWS GHL for pollock 
is 2,7700 mt, per the recommendation of State of Alaska fisheries 
managers.
    The apportionment of annual pollock TAC among the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA reflects the seasonal biomass 
distribution and is discussed in greater detail below. The annual 
pollock TAC in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is 
apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, and divided 
equally among each of the following four seasons: The A season (January 
20 through March 10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C 
season (August 25 through October 1), and the D season (October 1 
through November 1) (50 CFR 679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and 
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and (B)). These amounts are listed in Table 2.
    The AP, SSC, and Council recommended apportionment of the ABC for 
Pacific cod in the GOA among regulatory areas based on the three most 
recent NMFS summer trawl surveys. The proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific 
cod TACs are affected by the State waters fishery for Pacific cod in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS. The Plan 
Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State and 
Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC 
recommendations. Accordingly, the Council recommended reducing the 
proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs from the proposed ABCs for the 
Eastern, Central, and Western Regulatory Areas to account for State 
GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TACs are less 
than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Eastern GOA, 587 
mt; (2) Central GOA, 12,121 mt; and (3) Western GOA, 6,842 mt. These 
amounts reflect the sum of the State's 2012 and 2013 GHLs in these 
areas, which are 25 percent of the Eastern, Central, and Western GOA 
proposed ABCs. These are the same percentage amounts used to apportion 
the Pacific cod ABCs to State waters GHLs that were used in 2011.
    NMFS also is proposing seasonal apportionments of the annual 
Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty 
percent of the annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-
line, pot, or jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl 
gear from January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC 
is apportioned to the B season for hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear from 
September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 1 
through November 1 (Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)).
    The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments also 
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area and makes available five 
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to trawl gear for 
use as incidental catch in other directed groundfish fisheries in the 
WYK District (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). These amounts are listed in 
Tables 4 and 5.
    The sum of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 584,440 mt 
for 2012 and 2013, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. 
The sums of the proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are higher than the final 
2012 TACs currently specified for the GOA groundfish fisheries (76 FR 
11111, March 1, 2011). The proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are higher for 
shallow water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, other 
rockfish, and Atka mackerel. The proposed 2012 and 2013 TACs are lower 
for rex sole and pelagic shelf rockfish, as a result of NMFS 
incorrectly specifying the TAC for rex sole in the SEO District and the 
assignment of widow and yellowtail rockfish from the pelagic shelf 
rockfish species group to the ``other rockfish'' species group.
    In the final 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 
2011), NMFS incorrectly specified the 2012 ABC and TAC for rex sole in 
the Southeast Outside (SEO) District as 889 mt. Based on the 2010 SAFE 
report and the Council's recommendation for the 2012 rex sole TACs, 
this action proposes to correct this amount to 869 mt. For 2012 and 
2013, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes the ABCs and TACs 
listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are 
less than the specified overfishing levels. The sum of the proposed 
2012 and 2013 ABCs for all assessed groundfish is 603,990 mt, which is 
higher than the final 2011 ABC total of 590,121 mt (76 FR 11111, March 
1, 2011).
    Table 1 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and area 
apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. These amounts are consistent 
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 
2010 SAFE report, and adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic 
considerations, including maintaining the total TAC within the required 
OY range. These proposed amounts are subject to change pending the 
completion of the draft 2011 SAFE report and the Council's 
recommendations for the final 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications 
during its December 2011 meeting.

  Table 1--Proposed 2012 and 2013 ABCs, TACs, and OFLs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat (W/C/
 WYK), Western (W), Central (C), Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas, and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside
                            (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW) Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Species                         Area \1\                OFL             ABC             TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\...........................  Shumagin (610)..........             n/a          34,932          34,932
                                        Chirikof (620)..........             n/a          48,293          48,293
                                        Kodiak (630)............             n/a          26,155          26,155
                                        WYK (640)...............             n/a           3,024           3,024
                                        W/C/WYK (subtotal)......         151,030         112,404         112,404
                                        SEO (650)...............          12,326           9,245           9,245
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................         163,356         121,649         121,649
Pacific cod \3\.......................  W.......................             n/a          27,370          20,528
                                        C.......................             n/a          48,484          36,362
                                        E.......................             n/a           2,346           1,760
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          92,300          78,200          58,650
Sablefish \4\.........................  W.......................             n/a           1,484           1,484
                                        C.......................             n/a           4,343           4,343
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,818           1,818

[[Page 79625]]

 
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,700           2,700
                                        E (WYK and SEO)                      n/a           4,518           4,518
                                         (subtotal).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          12,232          10,345          10,345
Shallow-water flatfish \6\............  W.......................             n/a          23,681          23,681
                                        C.......................             n/a          29,999          29,999
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,228           1,228
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,334           1,334
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          67,768          56,242          56,242
Deep-water flatfish \5\...............  W.......................             n/a             541             541
                                        C.......................             n/a           3,004           3,004
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,144           2,144
                                        SEO.....................             n/a             797             797
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           8,046           6,486           6,486
Rex sole..............................  W.......................             n/a           1,490           1,490
                                        C.......................             n/a           6,184           6,184
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             853             853
                                        SEO.....................             n/a             869             869
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                        Total...................          12,279           9,396           9,396
Arrowtooth flounder...................  W.......................             n/a          33,975          33,975
                                        C.......................             n/a         143,119         143,119
                                        WYK.....................             n/a          22,327          22,327
                                        SEO.....................             n/a          11,606          11,606
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................         248,576         211,027         211,027
Flathead sole.........................  W.......................             n/a          17,960          17,960
                                        C.......................             n/a          28,938          28,938
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,125           2,125
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,568           1,568
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          63,202          50,591          50,591
Pacific ocean perch \7\...............  W.......................           3,068           2,665           2,665
                                        C.......................          11,379           9,884           9,884
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,845           1,845
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,793           1,793
                                        E (WYK and SEO)                    4,188           3,638           3,638
                                         (subtotal).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          18,635          16,187          16,187
Northern rockfish 8,9.................  W.......................             n/a           2,446           2,446
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,168           2,168
                                        E.......................             n/a               0               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,498           4,614           4,614
Shortraker rockfish \11\..............  W.......................             n/a             134             134
                                        C.......................             n/a             325             325
                                        E.......................             n/a             455             455
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           1,219             914             914
Other rockfish \9,12\.................  W.......................             n/a             224             224
                                        C.......................             n/a             566             566
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             283             283
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,769           2,769
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,002           3,842           3,842
Pelagic shelf rockfish \13\...........  W.......................             n/a             558             558
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,791           2,791
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             372             372
                                        SEO.....................             n/a             626             626
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,266           4,347           4,347
Rougheye rockfish \10\................  W.......................             n/a              81              81
                                        C.......................             n/a             868             868
                                        E.......................             n/a             363             363
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           1,579           1,312           1,312
Demersal shelf rockfish \14\..........  SEO.....................             479             300             300

[[Page 79626]]

 
Thornyhead rockfish...................  W.......................             n/a             425             425
                                        C.......................             n/a             637             637
                                        E.......................             n/a             708             708
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           2,360           1,770           1,770
Atka mackerel.........................  GW......................           6,200           4,700           4,700
Big skates \15\.......................  W.......................             n/a             598             598
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,049           2,049
                                        E.......................             n/a             681             681
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           4,438           3,328           3,328
Longnose skates \16\..................  W.......................             n/a              81              81
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,009           2,009
                                        E.......................             n/a             762             762
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           3,803           2,852           2,852
Other skates \17\.....................  GW......................           2,791           2,093           2,093
Squids................................  GW......................           1,530           1,148           1,148
Sharks................................  GW......................           8,263           6,197           6,197
Octopus...............................  GW......................           1,272             954             954
Sculpins..............................  GW......................           7,328           5,496           5,496
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.............................  ........................         743,422         603,990         584,440
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2. (W=Western Gulf of Alaska; C=Central Gulf of
  Alaska; E=Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK=West Yakutat District; SEO=Southeast Outside District; GW=Gulf-wide).
\2\ Pollock is apportioned in the Western/Central Regulatory Areas among three statistical areas. Table 2 lists
  the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal apportionments. In the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the
  Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60% to the A season and 40% to the B season in the Western and
  Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod is allocated 90% for processing by the inshore component and
  10% for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod seasonal
  apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to hook-and-line and trawl gear in 2012 and trawl gear in 2013. Tables 4 and 5 list
  the proposed 2012 and 2013 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\6\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 3 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the slope rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, slope rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\10\ ``Rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\11\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\12\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District means slope
  rockfish.
\13\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' means, Sebastes variabilis (dusky).
\14\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\15\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\16\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\17\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids, 
sculpins, and octopuses in reserves for possible apportionment at a 
later date during the fishing year. In 2011, NMFS apportioned all of 
the reserves in the final harvest specifications. For 2012 and 2013, 
NMFS proposes reapportionment of all the reserves for pollock, Pacific 
cod, flatfish, skates, sharks, squids, sculpins, and octopuses. Table 1 
reflects the apportionment of reserve amounts for these species and 
species groups. Each proposed TAC for the above mentioned species 
categories contains the full TAC recommended by the Council, since no 
reserve was created from the relevant species categories.

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

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is 
further allocated between inshore and offshore processing components. 
Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified 
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned 
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established

[[Page 79627]]

by Sec.  679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season 
allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10 
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through 
November 1, respectively.
    Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments 
are in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass based on the 
four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D seasons, the 
apportionments are in proportion to the distribution of pollock biomass 
based on the four most recent NMFS summer surveys. For 2012 and 2013, 
the Council recommends, and NMFS proposes, averaging the winter and 
summer distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory Area for the A 
season. The average is intended to reflect the distribution of pollock 
and the performance of the fishery in the area during the A season for 
the 2012 and 2013 fishing years. During the A season, the apportionment 
is based on an adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of 
pollock biomass of approximately 23 percent, 56 percent, and 21 percent 
in Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the B 
season, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of 
pollock biomass at 23 percent, 67 percent, and 10 percent in 
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. During the C and D 
seasons, the apportionment is based on the relative distribution of 
pollock biomass at 41 percent, 27 percent, and 32 percent in 
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively.
    Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance 
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, 
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the 
Regional Administrator (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount 
is limited to 20 percent of the unharvested seasonal apportionment for 
the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20 percent 
limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in 
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those 
statistical areas (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed pollock 
TACs in the WYK District of 3,024 mt and SEO District of 9,245 mt for 
2012 and 2013 are not allocated by season.
    Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of 
the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after 
subtraction of amounts that are projected by the Regional Administrator 
to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to 
directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of 
pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for 
processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken 
as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species 
other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed under 
Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts 
of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year 
as NMFS monitors the fishing activities in the offshore component.
    Table 2 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal biomass 
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock 
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown.

       Table 2--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass
                                      Distribution, Area Apportionments, and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Season \2\                              Shumagin (Area 610)
                                                                  Chirikof (Area 620)
                                                                   Kodiak (Area 630)        Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10)............................................        6,186     (22.62%)       15,374     (56.22%)        5,783     (21.15%)       27,345
B (Mar 10-May 31)............................................        6,185     (22.62%)       18,394     (67.26%)        2,765     (10.11%)       27,345
C (Aug 25-Oct 1).............................................       11,280     (41.25%)        7,262     (26.55%)        8,803     (32.19%)       27,345
D (Oct 1-Nov 1)..............................................       11,280     (41.25%)        7,262     (26.55%)        8,803     (32.19%)       27,345
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total \3\.........................................       34,932  ...........       48,293  ...........       26,155  ...........      109,380
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 to March 10, March 10 to
  May 31, August 25 to October 1, and October 1 to November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore
  components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The WYK and SEO District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.

Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod

    As previously discussed in the preamble, NMFS intends to publish a 
final rule to implement Amendment 83 to the FMP, with effectiveness 
anticipated in January 2012. Amendment 83 allocates the Pacific cod 
TACs in the Western and Central regulatory areas of the GOA among gear 
and operational sectors. This rule also limits access to the Federal 
Pacific cod TAC fisheries prosecuted in State waters, known as parallel 
fisheries, adjacent to the Western and Central GOA. Per these sector 
allocations, NMFS proposes allocations of the annual Pacific cod TAC 
between the inshore and offshore components in the Eastern GOA; 
seasonally between vessels using jig gear, CVs less than 50 feet in 
length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 
50 in length overall using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line 
gear, CVs using trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using 
pot gear in the Central GOA; and seasonally between vessels using jig 
gear, CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs 
using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear in the Western GOA. The 
overall seasonal apportionments in the Western and Central GOA are 60 
percent of the annual TAC to the A season and 40 percent of the annual 
TAC to the B season. Absent implementation of Amendment 83 in 2011, 
NMFS would continue to apportion Pacific cod in the Western and Central 
management areas to the inshore and offshore components pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii), rather than to specific sectors.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the 
Pacific cod allowance

[[Page 79628]]

from the A season will be subtracted from, or added to, the subsequent 
B season allowance. In addition, per the measures that will be 
implemented by Amendment 83 to the FMP, any portion of the hook-and-
line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that are determined by NMFS 
as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be reapportioned to other 
sectors for harvest during the remainder of the fishery year.
    NMFS proposes to calculate the 2012 and 2013 Pacific cod TAC 
allocations in the following manner, according to the anticipated 
management changes that will be implemented by Amendment 83. First, the 
jig sector would receive 1.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in 
the Western GOA and 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 
Central GOA. The jig sector annual allocation would further be 
apportioned between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) seasons. 
Should the jig sector harvest 90 percent or more of its allocation in 
an area during the fishing year, then this allocation would increase by 
one percent in the subsequent fishing year, up to six percent of the 
annual TAC. NMFS proposes to allocate the remainder of the annual 
Pacific cod TAC based on gear type, operation type, and vessel length 
overall in the Western and Central GOA. Table 3 lists the seasonal 
apportionments and allocations of the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific 
cod TACs.

   Table 3--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts to Gear
  Types, Operational Types, and Vessel Length Overall in the Western and Central Gulf of Alaska and Allocations
               for Processing by the Inshore and Offshore Components in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                      Annual     ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation      Sector % of      Seasonal       Sector % of      Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA
Jig (1.5% of TAC)...............             308             N/A             185             N/A             123
Hook-and-line CV................             283            0.70             142            0.70             142
Hook-and-line C/P...............           4,004           10.90           2,204            8.90           1,800
Trawl CV........................           7,764           27.70           5,601           10.70           2,164
Trawl C/P.......................             485            0.90             182            1.50             303
All Pot CV and Pot C/P..........           7,684           19.80           4,004           18.20           3,680
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................          20,528           60.00          12,317           40.00           8,211
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA
Jig (1.0% of TAC)...............             364             N/A             218             N/A             146
Hook-and-line < 50 CV...........           5,257            9.32           3,354            5.29           1,903
Hook-and-line >= 50 CV..........           2,414            5.61           2,019            1.10             395
Hook-and-line C/P...............           1,838            4.11           1,478            1.00             359
Trawl CV........................          14,970           21.13           7,609           20.45           7,361
Trawl C/P.......................           1,511            2.00             721            2.19             790
All Pot CV and Pot C/P..........          10,010           17.83           6,419            9.97           3,591
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................          36,363           60.00          21,818           40.00          14,545
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA.....................           1,760    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                                               1,584
                                                176
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to hook-and-line 
and trawl gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent 
of each TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear, and 20 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 
percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear and five percent 
is allocated to trawl gear. The trawl gear allocation in the Eastern 
GOA may only be used to support incidental catch of sablefish in 
directed fisheries for other target species (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). In 
recognition of the trawl ban in the SEO District of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes the 
allocation of five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area 
sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the WYK District making the remainder of 
the WYK sablefish TAC available to vessels using hook-and-line gear. As 
a result, NMFS proposes to allocate 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in 
the SEO District to vessels using hook-and-line gear. This 
recommendation results in a proposed 2012 allocation of 226 mt to trawl 
gear and 4,292 mt to hook-and-line gear in the Eastern GOA. Table 4 
lists the allocations of the proposed 2011 sablefish TACs to hook-and-
line and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2013 
sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
    The Council recommended that the hook-and-line sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that the Individual Fishery Quota (IFQ) 
fishery is conducted concurrent with the halibut IFQ fishery and is 
based on the most recent survey information. The Council also 
recommended that only the trawl sablefish TAC be established for two 
years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl gear 
could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish harvest 
specifications. However, since there is an annual NMFS survey and 
assessment for sablefish and the final harvest specifications are 
expected to be published before the IFQ season begins (typically, in 
early March), the Council recommended that the sablefish TAC be

[[Page 79629]]

set on an annual basis so that the best and most recent scientific 
information could be considered in recommending the ABCs and TACs. 
Since sablefish is closed for directed fishing for trawl gear during 
the entire fishing year, except those vessels that were provided the 
Rockfish Program cooperative allocations, and given that fishing for 
groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior to January 20, it is not 
likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached 
before the effective date of the final harvest specifications.

  Table 4--Proposed 2012 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Hook-and-Line and Trawl
                                                      Gear
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Hook-and-line
            Area/District                        TAC                   allocation            Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western..............................                    1,484                    1,187                      297
Central..............................                    4,343                    3,474                      869
West Yakutat \1\.....................                    1,818                    1,457                      361
Southeast Outside....................                    2,700                    2,700                        0
    Total............................                   10,345                    8,818                    1,527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area
  (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  district.


       Table 5--Proposed 2013 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Hook-and-line
            Area/District                        TAC                   allocation            Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western..............................                    1,484                      n/a                      297
Central..............................                    4,343                      n/a                      869
West Yakutat \2\.....................                    1,818                      n/a                      361
Southeast Outside....................                    2,700                      n/a                        0
    Total............................                   10,345                      n/a                    1,527
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish Individual Fishing
  Quota fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area
  (West Yakutat and Southeast Outside districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  district.

 Proposed Apportionments to the Central GOA Rockfish Program

    Amendment 88 to the FMP would reauthorize the Central GOA Rockfish 
Program (Rockfish Program). As discussed previously in the preamble, 
NMFS published a proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 on August 19, 
2011 (76 FR 52148), with anticipated effectiveness in 2012. If approved 
by the Secretary, NMFS would allocate the primary rockfish species 
(Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, and pelagic shelf rockfish), 
after deducting for incidental catch needs in other directed groundfish 
fisheries, to participants in the Rockfish Program. Potential 
participants in the proposed Rockfish Program include vessels in CV 
cooperatives, C/P cooperatives, and vessels in the entry-level longline 
category. Additionally, C/Ps may elect to opt out of the Rockfish 
Program. Absent implementation of Amendment 88, NMFS would manage the 
rockfish fisheries in the Central GOA management area under regulations 
in effect for the other GOA groundfish fisheries managed under the LLP, 
including permitting requirements at Sec.  679.4(k) and general 
limitations at Sec.  679.20.
    NMFS proposes to allocate 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of 
northern rockfish, and 30 mt of PSR to the entry level longline fishery 
in 2012 and 2013. Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and 
handline gear. The remainder of the TACs for the primary rockfish 
species would be allocated to the CV and C/P cooperatives. The 
allocation for the entry level longline fishery would increase 
incrementally each year if the sector harvests 90 percent or more of 
the allocation of a species. The incremental increase in the allocation 
would continue each year until it reaches the cap for the maximum 
percent of the TAC for that species. Table 6 lists the proposed 2012 
and 2013 allocations for each rockfish primary species to the entry 
level longline fishery, the incremental increase for future years, and 
the cap for the entry level longline fishery.

 Table 6--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Rockfish to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in the Central Gulf
                                                    of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Incremental increase per
                                           Proposed 2012 and 2013    season if  >= 90 percent    Up to maximum
        Rockfish primary species                allocations             of  allocation is        percent of TAC
                                                                            harvested
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch....................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                  1
Northern rockfish......................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                  2
Pelagic shelf rockfish.................  30 metric tons...........  20 metric tons...........                  5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS proposes allocations of primary rockfish species among various 
components of the proposed Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the proposed 
2012 and 2013 allocations of rockfish in the Central GOA to longline 
gear in the

[[Page 79630]]

entry level rockfish fishery and other participants in the proposed 
program, which include CV and C/P cooperatives. NMFS also proposes 
setting aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other directed 
fisheries in the Central GOA of 700 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 125 mt 
of northern rockfish, and 125 mt of PSR. These amounts are based on 
recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other 
groundfish fisheries. Allocations between vessels belonging to CV or C/
P cooperatives are not included in these proposed harvest 
specifications. Rockfish Program applications for CV cooperatives, C/P 
cooperatives, and C/Ps electing to opt out of the program are not due 
to NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year, thereby preventing NMFS 
from calculating 2012 and 2013 allocations in conjunction with these 
proposed harvest specifications. NMFS will post these allocations on 
the Alaska Region Web site at (http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm) when they become available 
after March 1.

 Table 7--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Allocations of Rockfish in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry-Level Longline Fishery and Other Participants in the
                                                                    Rockfish Program
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                           Initial
                                                                                                                        allocation to    Other rockfish
                            Species                                    TAC        Incidental catch    TAC minus ICA    the entry level       program
                                                                                      allowance                         longline \1\    participants \2\
                                                                                                                           fishery         allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch...........................................             9,884               700             9,184                 5             9,179
Northern rockfish.............................................             2,168               125             2,043                 5             2,038
Pelagic shelf rockfish........................................             2,791               125             2,666                30             2,636
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................................            14,843               700            13,893                40            13,853
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
\2\ Other Rockfish Program participants include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives.

    Amendment 88, if approved, would also allocate secondary species to 
the Rockfish Program in the Central GOA. These species include 
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, thornyhead rockfish, Pacific 
cod for the CV cooperatives, and rougheye and shortraker rockfish for 
the C/P cooperatives. Table 8 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 
apportionments of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA to CV 
and C/P cooperatives.

               Table 8--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to CV and C/P Cooperatives
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            CV cooperatives                    C/P cooperatives
                                                                   Central GOA   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Species                                annual TAC       Percentage of     Apportionment     Percentage of     Apportionment
                                                                                         TAC              (mt)               TAC              (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...................................................            32,362              3.81             1,385               N/A               N/A
Sablefish (trawl).............................................               869              6.78                59              3.51                31
Shortraker rockfish...........................................               325               N/A               N/A             40.00               130
Rougheye rockfish.............................................               868               N/A               N/A             58.87               511
Thornyhead rockfish...........................................               637              7.84                50             26.50               169
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and permits the 
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In October 2011, the 
Council recommended that NMFS maintain the 2011 halibut PSC limits of 
2,000 mt for trawl gear and 300 mt for hook-and-line gear for the 2012 
and 2013 groundfish fisheries. As discussed previously in this 
preamble, the Council may take action to modify the GOA halibut PSC 
limits in 2012, which may lead to adjustments or reductions to the 
halibut PSC limits proposed in this action either in the latter half of 
2012 or at the beginning of 2013.
    Ten mt of the 300 mt hook-and-line limit is further allocated to 
the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District. The DSR 
fishery is defined at Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(A). This fishery has been 
apportioned 10 mt in recognition of its small scale harvests. Most 
vessels in the DSR fishery are less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length overall 
and are exempt from observer coverage. Therefore, observer data are not 
available to verify actual bycatch amounts. NMFS estimates low halibut 
bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR 
fisheries and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs 
in the winter when less overlap occurs in the distribution of DSR and 
halibut, and, (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR 
TAC. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the GHL for the DSR 
fishery after estimates of incidental catch in all fisheries (including 
halibut and subsistence) and allocation to the sport fish fishery have 
been deducted. Of the 295 mt TAC for DSR in 2010, 89 mt were available 
for the directed commercial fishery, of which 22 mt were harvested.
    The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the 
halibut PSC limit. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes 
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear 
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2012 and 
2013. The Council recommended and NMFS is proposing these exemptions 
because (1) pot gear

[[Page 79631]]

fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality (averaging 19 mt 
annually from 2001 through 2010), (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit 
discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds 
unused halibut IFQ (Sec.  679.7(f)(11)), (3) sablefish IFQ fishermen 
typically hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain 
the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ, and (4) NMFS 
estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries. NMFS 
estimates halibut mortality is negligible in the jig gear fisheries 
given the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear (averaging 
293 mt annually from 2001 through 2010), the selective nature of jig 
gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released with 
jig gear.
    Section 679.21(d)(5) authorizes NMFS to seasonally apportion the 
halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. The FMP and 
regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the following 
information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: (1) Seasonal 
distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of target groundfish 
species relative to halibut distribution, (3) expected halibut bycatch 
needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes in halibut biomass and 
expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) expected bycatch rates 
on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish 
fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of fishing effort, and (7) 
economic effects of establishing seasonal halibut allocations on 
segments of the target groundfish industry.
    The final 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 
1, 2011) summarized the Council's and NMFS' findings with respect to 
halibut PSC for each of these FMP considerations. The Council's and 
NMFS' findings for 2012 and 2013 are unchanged from 2011. Table 9 lists 
the proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and 
apportionments. Section 679.21(d)(5)(iii) and (iv) specify that any 
underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of a PSC limit will 
be deducted from or added to the next respective seasonal apportionment 
within the fishing year.

                               Table 9--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Trawl gear                                                             Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Other than DSR                                    DSR
                Season                    Percent       Amount   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Season             Percent       Amount             Season            Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1...................          27.5          550  January 1-June 10.......           86          250  January 1-December 31..         10
April 1-July 1.......................          20            400  June 10-September 1.....            2            5  .......................  .........
July 1-September 1...................          30            600  September 1-December 31.           12           35  .......................  .........
September 1-October 1................           7.5          150  ........................  ...........  ...........  .......................  .........
October 1-December 31................          15            300  ........................  ...........  ...........  .......................  .........
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............................  ............        2,000  ........................  ...........          290  .......................         10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut PSC limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and fisheries other than DSR. The
  hook-and-line IFQ sablefish fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories. The annual 
apportionments are based on each category's proportional share of the 
anticipated halibut bycatch mortality during a fishing year and 
optimization of the total amount of groundfish harvest under the 
halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories for the trawl halibut PSC 
limits are (1) a deep-water species category, composed of sablefish, 
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and 
(2) a shallow-water species category, composed of pollock, Pacific cod, 
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, sharks, 
squids, sculpins, and octopuses (Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Table 10 
lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 seasonal apportionments of Pacific 
halibut PSC trawl limits between the deep-water and the shallow-water 
species categories. Based on public comment and information presented 
in the final 2011 SAFE report, the Council may recommend or NMFS may 
make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category 
apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2012 and 2013 
harvest specifications.

  Table 10--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between
                     the Trawl Gear Shallow-Water Species and Deep-Water Species Categories
                                          ([Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Season                     Shallow-water             Deep-water \1\                 Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1.......................               450  100..............................               550
April 1-July 1...........................               100  300..............................               400
July 1-September 1.......................               200  400..............................               600
September 1--October 1...................               150  Any remainder....................               150
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, January 20-October 1.......               900  800..............................             1,700

[[Page 79632]]

 
October 1-December 31 \2\................  ................  .................................               300
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total................................  ................  .................................             2,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program will receive a portion
  of the third season (July 1 through September 1) deep-water category halibut PSC apportionment. This amount is
  not currently known but will be posted on the Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov when
  it becomes available.
\2\ There is no apportionment between shallow-water and deep-water trawl fishery categories during the fifth
  season (October 1 through December 31).

    According to the provisions of Amendment 83 to the FMP, the pending 
action that establishes Pacific cod sector splits, the ``other than 
DSR'' halibut PSC apportionment to vessels using hook-and-line gear 
must be apportioned between CVs and C/Ps. To calculate the halibut PSC 
apportionments to the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors annually, NMFS 
must first scale the total hook-and-line CV and C/P percentage sector 
allocations in proportion to the relative size of the Pacific cod TAC 
area apportionments on an annual basis. This is because the Pacific cod 
TAC allocations to each regulatory area may change depending on the 
stock status in each area, as determined by the biennial surveys. NMFS 
proposes to apportion the GOA hook-and-line halibut PSC limit for the 
``other than DSR'' category to the hook-and-line CV and C/P sectors in 
proportion to the scaled hook-and-line sector allocations. These sum to 
10.4 percent to the hook-and-line C/P sector and 14.1 percent to the 
hook-and-line CV sector in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas in 
the GOA, as explained in the final rule associated with Amendment 83 
(76 FR 74760, December 1, 2011).
    Ten mt of the overall 300 mt hook-and-line PSC limit is allocated 
to the DSR fishery, leaving 290 mt to be allocated between the hook-
and-line CVs and C/Ps. To calculate the annual hook-and-line 
allocations of the PSC limit, NMFS would multiply the scaled annual 
allocations of TAC by the 290 mt ``non-demersal shelf rockfish'' hook-
and-line PSC limit. For 2012 and 2013 NMFS proposes that hook-and-line 
CV and hook-and-line C/P sectors receive annual halibut PSC limits of 
167 mt and 123 mt, respectively. In addition, these annual limits are 
divided between three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal 
percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. These annual 
limits and seasonal apportionments are shown in Table 11.
    No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS would calculate the 
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the hook-and-
line sectors for the remainder of the year. The projected unused amount 
of halibut PSC limit would be made available to the other hook-and-line 
sector for the remainder of that fishing year.

 Table 11--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Hook-and-Line (HAL) Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits and Seasonal Apportionments by Sectors for the Gulf
                                                             of Alaska Groundfish Fisheries
                          [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1 percent]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Relative percent
              Operational type                 Sum of percent    between C/P and  Annual PSC limit   1st Season  PSC   2nd Season  PSC   3rd Season  PSC
                                                                       CV                                 limit             limit             limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAL C/P.....................................              10.4              42.4               123               106                 2                15
HAL CV......................................              14.1              57.6               167               144                 3                20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Rockfish Program, if approved, would require NMFS to allocate a 
fixed amount of the halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment to the 
deep-water species category to participants in the Rockfish Program. 
This amount is based on 87.5 percent of the 2000 through 2006 average 
halibut mortality usage of 218.8 mt. Of this amount, 134.1 mt of the 
halibut PSC is proposed to be allocated to the CV sector and 84.7 mt is 
proposed to be allocated to the C/P sector. Additionally, 27.4 mt (16.8 
mt from the CV sector and 10.6 mt from the C/P sector) would be 
permanently removed from the annual apportionment for fisheries using 
trawl gear in the GOA. This would result in 117.3 mt of halibut PSC 
limit being available for use in the Rockfish Program by the CV sector 
and 74.1 mt available for use by the C/P sector.
    NMFS anticipates that additional halibut PSC limits for the 
Rockfish Program will be implemented by Amendment 88. The proposed 
regulations associated with the reauthorized Rockfish Program (76 FR 
52148, August 19, 2011) would limit the amount of the halibut PSC limit 
allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-apportioned 
to the general GOA trawl fisheries. This would restrict halibut PSC 
limit reallocation to the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries from the 
Rockfish Program to no more than 55 percent of the unused annual 
halibut PSC apportioned to Rockfish Program participants. The remainder 
of the unused Rockfish Program halibut PSC limit would be unavailable 
for use by vessels directed fishing with trawl gear for the remainder 
of the fishing year. The pending final rule associated with the 
implementation of Amendment 88 does not change the halibut PSC limits 
described in the proposed rule for Amendment 88.

Estimated Halibut Bycatch in Prior Years

    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch is data 
collected by observers during 2011. The calculated halibut bycatch 
mortality by trawl, hook-and-line, and pot gears through October 1, 
2011, is 1,319 mt, 185 mt, and 50 mt, respectively, for a

[[Page 79633]]

total halibut mortality of 1,554 mt. This halibut mortality was 
calculated using groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska 
Region's catch accounting system. This system contains historical and 
recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery.
    Halibut bycatch restrictions seasonally constrained trawl gear 
fisheries during the 2011 fishing year. Table 12 displays the closure 
dates for fisheries that resulted from the attainment of seasonal or 
annual halibut PSC limits. NMFS does not know the amount of groundfish 
that trawl gear might have harvested if halibut PSC limits had not 
restricted some 2011 GOA groundfish fisheries.

                 Table 12--2011 Fishery Closures Due to Attainment of Pacific Halibut PSC Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Federal Register
           Fishery category                  Opening date             Closure date               Citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl Deep-water, season 2...........  January 20, 2011.......  April 22, 2011.........  76 FR 23511, April 27,
                                                                                          2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4.....  September 1, 2011......  September 3, 2011......  76 FR 55276, September
                                                                                          7, 2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4.....  September 14, 2011.....  September 16, 2011.....  76 FR 57679, September
                                                                                          16, 2011.
Trawl Shallow-water,\1\ season 4.....  September 20, 2011.....  Remained open through    .......................
                                                                 end of season 4,
                                                                 October 1, 2011.
Hook-and-line gear, all targets.\2\..  January 1, 2011........  Remains open.            .......................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ With the exception of vessels participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program and vessels fishing for
  pollock using pelagic trawl gear.
\2\ With the exception of the IFQ sablefish fishery, which is open March 12, 2011, through November 18, 2011.

Current Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

    The most recent halibut stock assessment was developed by the 
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) staff in December 2010 
for the 2011 commercial fishery; this assessment was considered by the 
IPHC at its annual meeting in January 2011. Since 2006, the IPHC stock 
assessment has been fitted to a coastwide data set (including the 
United States and Canada) to estimate total biomass. Coastwide total 
halibut biomass at the beginning of 2011 was estimated to be 317 
million pounds (143,790 mt), down from 334 million pounds (151,500 mt) 
in 2010. The coastwide total halibut biomass was apportioned among 
regulatory areas in accordance with survey estimates of relative 
abundance and other considerations.
    The halibut resource is fully utilized. Recent catches in the 
commercial halibut fisheries in Alaska over the last 17 years (1994-
2010) have averaged 32,336 mt round weight per year. In January 2011, 
the IPHC recommended Alaska commercial catch limits totaling 19,662 mt 
for 2011, a 25 percent decrease from 24,372 mt in 2010. Through 
December 31, 2010, commercial hook-and-line harvests of halibut off 
Alaska totaled 24,118 mt round weight.
    The IPHC and its staff have expressed concerns that the IPHC's Slow 
Up-Fast Down (SUFD) harvest policy adjustments, which applied a policy 
of a 33 percent increase from the previous year's catch limit and a 50 
percent decrease in recommended catch, have not achieved target harvest 
rate goals due to continued stock declines, decreases in halibut growth 
rate, and a recent history of high exploitation rates in some areas. 
The IPHC adopted the staff's recommendation that the SUFD policy be 
modified to a ``Slow Up-Full Down (SUFullD)'' policy to achieve the 
necessary reductions in harvest rate and promote increases in total 
halibut biomass. The SUFullD policy incorporates the existing policy of 
a 33 percent increase from the previous year's catch limits when stock 
yields are expected to increase but uses a 100 percent decrease in 
recommended catch when stock yields are projected to decrease.
    The largest decreases in the 2011 catch limit recommendations in 
Alaska are for Area 2C, down from 2,661 mt round weight in 2010 to 
1,409 mt round weight in 2011 (the decline is primarily the result of 
the application of the SUFullD harvest policy adjustment), and, for 
Areas 3A and 3B combined, down from 18,077 mt round weight in 2010 to 
13,233 mt round weight in 2011 (the decline is primarily due to a 
decline in estimated total halibut biomass).
    Additional information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may 
be found in the IPHC's 2010 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 
2010), available on the IPHC Web site at http://www.iphc.washington.edu. The IPHC will consider the 2011 Pacific 
halibut assessment at its January 2012 annual meeting when it will set 
the 2012 commercial halibut fishery catch limits.

Other Considerations Associated With Halibut PSC

    The IPHC will adjust the allowable commercial catch of halibut to 
account for the overall halibut PSC limit established for groundfish 
fisheries. The 2012 and 2013 groundfish fisheries are expected to use 
the entire proposed annual halibut PSC limit, whether that amount is 
2,300 mt as proposed under the status quo, or some lesser amount that 
may be selected and implemented under the Council's pending halibut PSC 
action. The allowable directed commercial catch is determined by first 
accounting for recreational and subsistence catch, waste, and bycatch 
mortality, and then provides the remainder to the directed fishery. 
Groundfish fishing is not expected to affect adversely the halibut 
stocks. Methods available for reducing halibut bycatch include (1) 
consistent monitoring through publication of vessel specific bycatch 
rates on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov, (2) modifications to gear, (3) changes in 
groundfish fishing seasons, (4) individual transferable quota programs, 
and (5) time/area closures.
    With respect to fishing gear modifications, various regulations 
have been implemented to address halibut bycatch concerns that are 
associated with different gear types. The definitions of the various 
gear types defined at Sec.  679.2 under ``Authorized fishing gear'' 
delineate a variety of different requirements and restrictions by gear 
type. Many of these requirements are intended to decrease or minimize 
halibut bycatch by pot, trawl, and hook-and-line gear.
    For example, groundfish pots must be constructed with biodegradable 
panels and tunnel openings to reduce halibut bycatch, thereby reducing 
halibut mortality in the groundfish pot fisheries. Further, the 
definition of ``pelagic trawl gear'' includes specific construction 
parameters and performance characteristics that distinguish it from 
nonpelagic trawl gear, which is designed for use in proximity to the

[[Page 79634]]

seafloor. Because halibut bycatch by pelagic trawl gear is minimal, 
directed fishing for pollock with pelagic trawl gear may continue even 
when the halibut PSC limit for the shallow-water species fishery is 
reached (see Sec.  679.21(d)(7)(i)). Finally, all hook-and-line vessel 
operators are required to employ careful release measures when handling 
halibut bycatch (Sec.  679.7(a)(13)). These measures are intended to 
reduce handling mortality, thereby lowering overall halibut bycatch 
mortality in the groundfish fisheries, and to increase the amount of 
groundfish harvested under the available halibut mortality bycatch 
limits.
    The FMP requires that the Council review recent halibut bycatch 
data and recommend proposed halibut PSC limits in conjunction with 
developing proposed groundfish harvest levels. NMFS and the Council 
will review the methods available for reducing halibut bycatch listed 
here to determine their effectiveness and will initiate changes, as 
necessary, in response to this review or to public testimony and 
comment.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut bycatch rates, discard 
mortality 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 proposes the Council's recommendation that the halibut DMRs 
developed and recommended by the IPHC for the 2011 GOA groundfish 
fisheries be used for monitoring the proposed 2012 and 2013 halibut 
bycatch mortality allowances (see Tables 9-11). The IPHC developed the 
DMRs for the 2011 GOA groundfish fisheries using the 10-year mean DMRs 
for those fisheries. Long-term average DMRs were not available for some 
fisheries, so rates from the most recent years were used. For the 
squid, shark, sculpin, octopus, and skate fisheries, where insufficient 
mortality data are available, the mortality rate of halibut caught in 
the Pacific cod fishery for that gear type was recommended as a default 
rate. The IPHC will analyze observer data annually and recommend 
changes to the DMRs when a fishery DMR shows large variation from the 
mean. A discussion of the DMRs and their justification is presented in 
Appendix 2 to the 2010 SAFE report (see ADDRESSES). Table 13 lists the 
proposed 2012 and 2013 DMRs.

  Table 13--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Halibut Discard Mortality Rates for
                  Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
           [Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Gear                  Target fishery    Mortality rate (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hook-and-line...................  Other fisheries                     12
                                   \1\.
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Skates............                  12
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Pacific cod.......                  12
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Rockfish..........                   9
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl...........................  Arrowtooth                          72
                                   flounder.
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Deep-water                          48
                                   flatfish.
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Flathead sole.....                  65
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Non-pelagic                         59
                                   pollock.
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Other fisheries...                  62
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Pacific cod.......                  62
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Pelagic pollock...                  76
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Rex sole..........                  64
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Rockfish..........                  67
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Sablefish.........                  65
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Shallow-water                       71
                                   flatfish.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pot.............................  Other fisheries...                  17
                                 ---------------------------------------
                                  Pacific cod.......                  17
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Other fisheries includes all gear types for Atka mackerel, sculpins,
  sharks, skates, squids, octopuses, and hook-and-line sablefish.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel 
Groundfish Sideboard Limits

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits 
are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who 
do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and 
processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges 
under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps from 
harvesting any species

[[Page 79635]]

of fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits 
listed AFA C/Ps from processing any pollock harvested in a directed 
pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish harvested in Statistical 
Area 630 of the GOA.
    AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall, 
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA 
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA sideboard limits 
under Sec.  679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs 
operating in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest levels of 
TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establishes the groundfish sideboard limitations in 
the GOA based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of each 
sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for that 
species over the same period.
    As provided by Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26, 
2011), NMFS proposes to recalculate and establish sideboards 
limitations for Pacific cod for the non-exempt AFA CVs in the Western 
and Central GOA that would supersede the inshore offshore and offshore 
processing sideboards established under the AFA. The sideboard limits 
for other species would continue to be calculated as they have in the 
past, including the Eastern GOA sideboard limit. Table 14 lists the 
proposed 2012 and 2013 groundfish sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA 
CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of sideboard 
species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from the sideboard limits listed in 
Table 14. Absent implementation of Amendment 83, these sideboards would 
calculated and managed per the status quo, i.e., with specific inshore 
and offshore sideboards, including those established for 2012 by the 
final GOA 2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 
2011).

  Table 14--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest
                                                Sideboard Limits
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1995-                   Proposed 2012
                                                                     1997 non-                     and 2013 non-
           Species              Apportionments    Area/component   exempt AFA CV   Proposed 2012   exempt AFA CV
                                by season/gear                    catch to 1995-   and 2013 TACs     sideboard
                                                                     1997 TAC                          limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season--        Shumagin (610).          0.6047           6,186           3,741
                                January 20-
                                March 10.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          15,374           1,794
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           5,783           1,173
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season--March   Shumagin (610).          0.6047           6,185           3,740
                                10-May 31.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          18,392           2,147
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           2,765             561
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               C Season--August  Shumagin (610).          0.6047          11,280           6,821
                                25-October 1.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167           7,262             847
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           8,803           1,785
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               D Season--        Shumagin (610).          0.6047          11,280           6,821
                                October 1-
                                November 1.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167           7,262             847
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           8,803           1,785
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......          0.3495           3,024           1,057
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 SEO (650)......          0.3495           9,245           3,231
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................  A Season \1\--    W..............          0.1331          12,317           1,639
                                January 1-June
                                10.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0692          21,818           1,510
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season \2\--    W..............          0.1331           8,211           1,093
                                September 1-
                                December 31.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0692          14,545           1,007
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual..........  E inshore......          0.0079           1,583              13
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E offshore.....          0.0078             176               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79636]]

 
Sablefish....................  Annual, trawl     W..............          0.0000             297               0
                                gear.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0642             869              56
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0433             226              10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, Shallow-water......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0156          23,681             369
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0587          29,999           1,761
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0126           2,562              32
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, deep-water.........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0000             541               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0647           3,004             194
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0128           2,941              38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole.....................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0007           1,490               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0384           6,184             237
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0029           1,722               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0021          33,975              71
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0280         143,119           4,007
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0002          33,933               7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0036          17,968              65
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0213          28,938             616
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0009           3,693               3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific Ocean perch..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0023           2,665               6
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0748           9,884             739
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0466           3,638             170
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0003           2,446               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0277           2,168              60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0000             134               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0218             325               7
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0110             455               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish...............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0034             224               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.1699             566              96
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           3,052               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish.......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0001             558               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           2,791               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0067             998               7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye rockfish............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0000              81               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0237             868              21
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79637]]

 
                                                 E..............          0.0124             363               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish......  Annual..........  SEO............          0.0020             300               1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead rockfish..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0280             425              12
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0280             637              18
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0280             708              20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0309           4,700             145
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skates...................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0063             598               4
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0063           2,049              13
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0063             681               4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skates..............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0063              81               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0063           2,009              13
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0063             762               5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates.................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0063           2,093              13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squids.......................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0063           1,148               7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharks.......................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0063           6,197              39
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octopuses....................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0063             954               6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sculpins.....................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0063           5,496              35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA 
are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA 
CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the 
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997 
(Sec.  679.64(b)(4)). Table 15 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 non-
exempt AFA CV halibut PSC limits for vessels using trawl gear in the 
GOA.

 Table 15--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits for Vessels Using Trawl
                                                                     Gear in the GOA
                                                [PSC limits are rounded to the nearest whole metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Ratio of 1995-1997 non-
                                                                               exempt AFA CV  retained   Proposed 2012 and 2013   Proposed 2012 and 2013
        Season                Season dates               Target fishery        catch to total retained         PSC limit          non-exempt AFA CV PSC
                                                                                        catch                                             limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................  January 20-April 1........  shallow-water.............                    0.340                      450                      153
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   deep-water................                    0.070                      100                        7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2....................  April 1-July 1............  shallow-water.............                    0.340                      100                       34
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   deep-water................                    0.070                      300                       21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3....................  July 1-September 1........  shallow-water.............                    0.340                      200                       68
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   deep-water................                    0.070                      400                       28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79638]]

 
4....................  September 1-October 1.....  shallow-water.............                    0.340                      150                       51
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   deep-water................                    0.070                        0                        0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5....................  October 1-December 31.....  all targets...............                    0.205                      300                       62
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with 
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to 
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by 
the Crab Rationalization Program to expand their level of participation 
in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits restrict these 
vessels' catch to their collective historical landings in all GOA 
groundfish fisheries (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). 
Sideboard limits also apply to landings made using an LLP license 
derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that license 
is used on another vessel.
    Vessels exempt from Pacific cod sideboards are those that landed 
less than 45,359 kilograms of Bering Sea snow crab and more than 500 mt 
of groundfish (in round weight equivalents) from the GOA between 
January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000, and any vessel named on an LLP 
license that was based in whole or in part on the fishing history of a 
vessel meeting the criteria in Sec.  680.22(a)(3).
    Sideboard limits for non-AFA crab vessels operating in the GOA are 
based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish 
fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 680.22(d) and (e) base the 
groundfish sideboard limits in the GOA on the retained catch by non-AFA 
crab vessels of each sideboard species from 1996 through 2000 divided 
by the total retained harvest of that species over the same period.
    NMFS issued a final rule on June 20, 2011 (76 FR 35772), to 
implement Amendment 34 to the Fishery Management Plan for Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs. Amendment 34 amended the Bering 
Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab Rationalization Program to exempt 
additional recipients of crab quota share from GOA pollock and Pacific 
cod sideboards. Such sideboards apply to some vessels and LLP licenses 
that are used to participate in these two fisheries. The sideboard 
ratios for pollock are unchanged. The sideboard ratios for Pacific cod 
in the Western GOA were changed under Amendment 34. However, those 
changes have been superseded by the Pacific cod sector splits 
implemented by the pending final rule for Amendment 83, which includes 
dividing the Pacific cod sideboards among applicable industry sectors.
    Under the pending final rule for Amendment 83, the non-AFA crab 
vessel sideboards for the inshore and offshore components in the 
Western and Central GOA were combined. These combined sideboards must 
then be allocated per the sector allocations established under 
Amendment 83. Thus, NMFS proposes to specify sideboards limitations in 
the Pacific cod fisheries for the non-AFA crab vessels in the Western 
and Central GOA that supersede the original inshore offshore and 
offshore processing sideboards established under the Crab 
Rationalization Program. Table 16 lists these proposed 2012 and 2013 
groundfish sideboard limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted 
or incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels 
or associated LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard 
limits. Absent implementation of Amendment 83, these sideboards would 
be calculated and managed per the status quo, i.e., with the specific 
inshore and offshore sideboards established for 2012 by the final GOA 
2011 and 2012 harvest specifications (76 FR 11111, March 1, 2011), 
rather than sector-specific sideboards.

 Table 16--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limits
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of 1996-                   Proposed 2012
                                                                   2000 non-AFA                    and 2013 non-
                                                 Area/component/    crab vessel    Proposed 2012     AFA crab
           Species                Season/gear          gear       catch to 1996-   and 2013 TACs      vessel
                                                                    2000 total                       sideboard
                                                                      harvest                          limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season........  Shumagin (610).          0.0098           6,186              61
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               January 20-March  Chirikof (620).          0.0031          15,374              48
                                10.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.0002           5,783               1
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season........  Shumagin (610).          0.0098           6,185              61
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               March 10-May 31.  Chirikof (620).          0.0031          18,393              57
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79639]]

 
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.0002           2,765               1
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               C Season........  Shumagin (610).          0.0098          11,280             111
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               August 25-        Chirikof (620).          0.0031           7,262              23
                                October 1.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.0002           8,803               2
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               D Season........  Shumagin (610).          0.0098          11,280             111
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               October 1-        Chirikof (620).          0.0031           7,262              23
                                November 1.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.0002           8,803               2
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......          0.0000           3,024               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 SEO (650)......          0.0000           9,245               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................  A Season\1\.....  W Jig CV.......          0.0000          12,317               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Hook-and-line          0.0003          12,317               4
                                                  CV.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               January 1-June    W Hook-and-line          0.0015          12,317              18
                                10.               C/P.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Pot CV.......          0.0816          12,317           1,005
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Pot C/P......          0.0064          12,317              79
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Trawl CV.....          0.0060          12,317              74
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Jig CV.......          0.0000          21,818               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Hook-and-line          0.0001          21,818               2
                                                  CV.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Hook-and-line          0.0000          21,818               0
                                                  C/P.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Pot CV.......          0.0354          21,818             772
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Pot C/P......          0.0092          21,818             201
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Trawl CV.....          0.0010          21,818              22
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season \2\....  W Jig CV.......          0.0000           8,211               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Hook-and-line          0.0003           8,211               2
                                                  CV.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Hook-and-line          0.0015           8,211              12
                                                  C/P.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               September 1-      W Pot CV.......          0.0816           8,211             670
                                December 31.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Pot C/P......          0.0064           8,211              53
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 W Trawl CV.....          0.0060           8,211              49
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Jig CV.......          0.0000          14,546               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Hook-and-line          0.0001          14,546               1
                                                  CV.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Hook-and-line          0.0000          14,546               0
                                                  C/P.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Pot CV.......          0.0354          14,546             515
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Pot C/P......          0.0092          14,546             134
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C Trawl CV.....          0.0010          14,546              15
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79640]]

 
                               Annual..........  E inshore......          0.0110           1,584              17
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E offshore.....          0.0000             176               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish....................  Annual, trawl     W..............          0.0000             297               0
                                gear.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000             869               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000             226               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, shallow-water......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0059          23,681             140
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0001          29,999               3
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           2,562               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatfish, deep-water.........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0035             541               2
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           3,004               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           2,941               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole.....................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0000           1,490               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           6,184               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           1,722               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0004          33,975              14
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0001         143,119              14
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000          33,933               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0002          17,960               4
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0004          28,938              12
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           3,693               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0000           2,665               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           9,884               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           3,638               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0005           2,446               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           2,168               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0013             134               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0012             325               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0009             455               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Rockfish...............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0035             224               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0033             566               2
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000           3,052               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish.......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0017             558               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0000           2,791               0
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 79641]]

 
                               ................  E..............          0.0000             998               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye.....................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0067              81               1
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0047             868               4
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0008             363               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demersal shelf rockfish......  Annual..........  SEO............          0.0000             300               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornyhead Rockfish..........  Annual..........  W..............          0.0047             425               2
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0066             637               4
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0045             708               3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0000           4,700               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate....................  Annual..........  W..............          0.0392             598              23
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0159           2,049              33
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000             681               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skate...............  Annual..........  W..............          0.0392              81               3
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 C..............          0.0159           2,009              32
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 E..............          0.0000             762               0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates.................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0176           2,093              37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharks.......................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0176           6,197             109
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Squids.......................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0176           1,148              20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Octopuses....................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0176             954              17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sculpins.....................  Annual..........  Gulfwide.......          0.0176           5,496              97
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

    Amendment 88 to the FMP would reauthorize the Rockfish Program, as 
previously described in the preamble. If approved, this amendment would 
establish three classes of sideboard provisions: CV groundfish 
sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish sideboard restrictions, and C/P 
opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions. These sideboards are intended to 
limit the ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other 
fisheries. A full description of the Rockfish Program sideboard 
provisions is contained in the proposed rule to implement Amendment 88 
(76 FR 52148, August 19, 2011), including the proposed regulations that 
would establish the following limitations. Absent implementation of 
Amendment 88, these sideboards would not need to be calculated, as 
there would not be an applicable Rockfish Program fisheries or 
participants to which sideboards would apply. As described earlier in 
the preamble, the Central GOA rockfish fisheries would revert to being 
managed under the general limitations proscribed for the GOA groundfish 
fisheries, rather than with fisheries cooperatives and specific 
allocations.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for northern rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat Districts 
from July 1 through July 31. Furthermore, CVs may not participate in 
directed fishing for arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex 
sole in the GOA from July 1 through July 31.
    Amendment 88 also establishes rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard 
limitations for C/Ps participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives. 
These C/Ps are prohibited from directed fishing for northern rockfish, 
Pacific ocean perch, and pelagic shelf rockfish in the Western GOA and 
West Yakutat District. The sideboard limits are in effect only during 
the month of July, and are designed to restrict eligible C/Ps to 
historic catch levels of these three species. Holders of C/P-designated 
LLP licenses that opt-out of participating in a rockfish cooperative 
will receive the portion of each sideboard limit that is not assigned 
to rockfish cooperatives.

[[Page 79642]]

Table 17 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program C/P 
sideboard limits in the West Yakutat District and the Western GOA. Due 
to confidentiality requirements associated with fisheries data, the 
sideboard limits for the West Yakutat District are not displayed.

 Table 17--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program Harvest Limits for the West Yakutat District and Western GOA
                                     by Fishery and Catcher/Processor Sector
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Proposed
                                                                                          Proposed     2012 and
                Area                          Fishery           C/P sector (% of TAC)     2012 and     2013 C/P
                                                                                         2013 TACs      limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Yakutat District...............  Pelagic shelf rockfish.  Confid.\1\.............          372          N/A
                                      Pacific ocean perch....  Confid.\1\.............        1,845          N/A
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA.........................  Pelagic shelf rockfish.  72.3...................          558          403
                                      Pacific ocean perch....  50.6...................        2,665        1,348
                                      Northern rockfish......  74.3...................        2,446        1,817
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data established by NMFS and
  the State of Alaska.

    The C/P sector is subject to halibut PSC sideboard limits for the 
trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fisheries during July 1 
through July 31. No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV 
sector. C/Ps that opt-out of the Rockfish Program would receive the 
portion of the deep-water and shallow-water halibut PSC sideboard limit 
not assigned to C/P rockfish cooperatives. Table 18 lists the Rockfish 
Program halibut PSC limits proposed for the C/P sector in 2012 and 
2013.

                       Table 18--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Rockfish Program Halibut Mortality Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Annual shallow-    Annual deep-
                                                                      Shallow-water      Deep-water     Annual halibut   water complex    water complex
                               Sector                                complex halibut  complex halibut  mortality limit    halibut PSC      halibut PSC
                                                                      PSC sideboard    PSC sideboard         (mt)       sideboard limit  sideboard limit
                                                                     ratio (percent)  ratio (percent)                         (mt)             (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor..................................................            0.10             2.50            2,000                2               50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt-out of 
participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in the proposed 
rule to implement Amendment 88 (76 FR 52148, August 19, 2011). These 
ratios and amounts are not known at this time because vessels 
applications for C/Ps electing to opt-out are due to NMFS on March 1 of 
each calendar year, thereby preventing NMFS from calculating proposed 
2012 and 2013 allocations. NMFS will post these allocations on the 
Alaska Region Web site at http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/goarat/default.htm when they become available.

Amendment 80 Vessel Program Groundfish Sideboard and PSC Limits

    Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) 
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/
P sector. To limit the ability of participants eligible for the 
Amendment 80 program to expand their harvest efforts in the GOA, the 
Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC limits for 
Amendment 80 Program participants.
    Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits 
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE, 
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to part 679. 
Under regulations at Sec.  679.92(d), the F/V GOLDEN FLEECE is 
prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific 
ocean perch, pelagic shelf rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
    Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 
1998 to 2004. Table 19 lists the proposed 2012 and 2013 sideboard 
limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels. All targeted or incidental 
catch of sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels will be 
deducted from the sideboard limits in Table 19.

[[Page 79643]]



        Table 19--Proposed 2012 and 2013 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Proposed 2012
                                                                     Ratio of                        and 2013
                                                                   Amendment 80    Proposed 2012   Amendment 80
           Species                  Season             Area       sector vessels   and 2013 TAC       vessel
                                                                     1998-2004         (mt)         sideboards
                                                                   catch to TAC                        (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season--......  Shumagin (610).           0.003           6,186              19
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               January 20-       Chirikof (620).           0.002          15,374              31
                                February 25.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           5,783              12
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season--......  Shumagin (610).           0.003           6,185              19
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               March 10-May 31.  Chirikof (620).           0.002          18,394              37
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           2,765               6
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               C Season--......  Shumagin (610).           0.003          11,280              34
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               August 25-        Chirikof (620).           0.002           7,262              15
                                September 15.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           8,803              18
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               D Season--......  Shumagin (610).           0.003          11,280              34
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               October 1-        Chirikof (620).           0.002           7,262              15
                                November 1.
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           8,803              18
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......           0.002           3,024               6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..................  A Season \1\--..  W..............           0.020          12,317             246
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               January 1-June    C..............           0.044          21,818             960
                                10.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               B Season \2\--..  W..............           0.020           8,211             164
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                               September 1-      C..............           0.044          14,545             640
                                December 31.
                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual..........  WYK............           0.034           1,760              60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch..........  Annual..........  W..............           0.994           2,665           2,649
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 WYK............           0.961           1,845           1,773
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  W..............           1.000           2,446           2,446
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic shelf rockfish.......  Annual..........  W..............           0.764             558             426
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 WYK............           0.896             372             333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

    The PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels in the 
GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 
Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. 
These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to 
accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota 
under the Central GOA Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V 
GOLDEN FLEECE from this restriction. Table 20 lists the proposed 2012 
and 2013 halibut PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels, as 
proscribed at Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679.

[[Page 79644]]



    Table 20--Proposed 2012 and 2013 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Historic                      Proposed 2012
                                                                   Amendment 80    Proposed 2012     and 2013
                                                                    use of the       and 2013      Amendment 80
         Season              Season dates      Fishery category   annual halibut    annual PSC      vessel PSC
                                                                     PSC limit      limit  (mt)      sideboard
                                                                      (ratio)                       limit (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................  January 20-April 1  shallow-water.....          0.0048           2,000              10
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              deep-water........          0.0115           2,000              23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.......................  April 1-July 1....  shallow-water.....          0.0189           2,000              38
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              deep-water........          0.1072           2,000             214
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.......................  July 1-September 1  shallow-water.....          0.0146           2,000              29
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              deep-water........          0.0521           2,000             104
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.......................  September 1-        shallow-water.....          0.0074           2,000              15
                           October 1.
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              deep-water........          0.0014           2,000               3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.......................  October 1-December  shallow-water.....          0.0227           2,000              45
                           31.
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              deep-water........          0.0371           2,000              74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are 
consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed 
harvest specifications are consistent 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 an 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 Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS. Copies 
of the EIS and ROD for this action are available from NMFS. The EIS 
analyzes the environmental consequences of the proposed groundfish 
harvest specifications and its alternatives on resources in the action 
area. The EIS found no significant environmental consequences from the 
proposed action or its alternatives.
    NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) as 
required by section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, analyzing 
the methodology for establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated 
the impacts on small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the 
groundfish fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As set forth in the 
methodology, TACs are set to a level that fall within the range of ABCs 
recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY 
specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the methodology 
may produce vary from year to year, the methodology itself remains 
constant.
    A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered, 
and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the 
preamble above. A copy of the analysis is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
    The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the 
catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative is the 
existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range of ABCs 
recommended by the SSC. This action is taken in accordance with the FMP 
prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    The directly regulated small entities include approximately 627 CVs 
and approximately 10 C/Ps in the GOA. The entities directly regulated 
by this action are those that harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA, 
and in parallel fisheries within State of Alaska waters. These include 
entities operating CVs and C/Ps within the action area, and entities 
receiving direct allocations of groundfish. Catcher vessels and C/Ps 
are considered to be small entities if they have annual gross receipts 
of $4 million per year or less from all economic activities, including 
the revenue of their affiliated operations (see Table 37 to the 
Economic Status of the Groundfish off Alaska, 2010, in the 2010 SAFE 
report, dated November 2010, available from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES)). Because the 627 CVs and 10 C/Ps meet this size standard, 
they are considered to be small entities for the purposes of this 
analysis.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four 
other alternatives. Alternative 1 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 GOA OY, in which 
case harvests would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set 
TACs to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent five-year 
average fishing rate. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the 
lower limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ``no action 
alternative,'' would have set TACs equal to zero.
    The TACs associated with the preferred harvest strategy are those 
adopted by the Council in October 2011, as per Alternative 2. OFLs and 
ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the 
Council's GOA Plan Team in August and September 2011, and reviewed and 
modified by the Council's SSC in October 2011. The Council based its 
TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent with the 
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations.
    Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to 
harvest stocks

[[Page 79645]]

at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were constrained by the 
upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in Table 1 of the 
preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2012 and 2013 would be about 603,990 mt, 
which falls below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum of TACs is 
equal to the sum of ABCs. In this instance, Alternative 1 is consistent 
with the preferred alternative (Alternative 2), meets the objectives of 
that action, and has small entity impacts that are equivalent to the 
preferred alternative. In some instances, the selection of Alternative 
1 would not reflect the practical implications that increased TACs 
(where the sum of TACs equals the sum of ABCs) for some species 
probably would not be fully harvested. This could be due to a lack of 
commercial or market interest in such species. Additionally, an 
underharvest of some TACs could result due to constraints such as the 
fixed, and therefore constraining, prohibited species catch limits 
associated with the harvest of the GOA groundfish species.
    Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent five 
years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or for the 
most recent five years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6). 
This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action, 
the Council's preferred harvest strategy, because it does not take 
account of the most recent biological information for this fishery. 
Harvest rates are listed for each species category for each year in the 
SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
    Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all 
species. It would reduce TACs from the upper end of the OY range in the 
GOA, to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, this would reduce 2012 
TACs by about 81 percent. This would lead to significant reductions in 
harvests of species harvested by small entities. While reductions of 
this size would be associated with offsetting price increases, the size 
of these increases is very uncertain. There are close substitutes for 
GOA groundfish species available in significant quantities from the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. While production 
declines in the GOA would undoubtedly be associated with significant 
price increases in the GOA, these increases would still be constrained 
by production of substitutes, and are very unlikely to offset revenue 
declines from smaller production. Thus, this alternative would have a 
detrimental impact on small entities.
    Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may also 
address conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse 
economic impact on small entities. Tables 2 and 3 of the IRFA (see 
ADDRESSES) provide information on numbers of individual vessels with 
gross revenues less than $4 million, and with the average gross 
revenues for these vessels. These tables indicate that median annual 
aggregate revenues for these vessels in the years from 2005 to 2009 
were $386 million; annual aggregate revenues for this group of vessels 
ranged from $308 to $451 million. These estimates do not take account 
of affiliations among vessels, and thus overstate the revenues flowing 
to small entities
    The proposed harvest specifications extend the current 2012 OFLs, 
ABCs, and most TACs, to 2012 and 2013. As noted in the IRFA, the 
Council may modify these OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2011, when it 
reviews the November meeting reports from its groundfish plan teams, 
and the December Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because 
most TACs in the proposed 2012 and 2013 harvest specifications are 
unchanged from the 2011 TACs, NMFS does not expect adverse impacts on 
small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any changes made by the 
Council in December to have significant adverse impacts on small 
entities.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered species resulting 
from fishing activities conducted under this rule are discussed in the 
EIS and its accompanying annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 1801 et seq.; 3631 et seq.; 
Public Law 108-447.

    Dated: December 16, 2011.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-32848 Filed 12-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P