[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 93 (Wednesday, May 14, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27557-27569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11050]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 140218151-4151-01]
RIN 0648-BD98


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Groundfish 
of the Gulf of Alaska; Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands

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 regulations to implement Amendment 100 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (BSAI FMP) and Amendment 91 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA FMP). This 
proposed action would add regulations to improve reporting of 
grenadiers, limit retention of grenadiers, and prevent direct fishing 
for grenadiers by federally permitted groundfish fishermen and is 
necessary to limit and monitor the incidental catch of grenadiers in 
the groundfish fisheries. This action is intended to promote the goals 
and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the FMPs, and other applicable law.

[[Page 27558]]


DATES: Comments must be received no later than June 13, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2014-0023, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0023, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Ellen Sebastian. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, 
AK 99802-1668.
    Instructions: 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 by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. 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, 
Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
    Electronic copies of Amendment 100 to the BSAI FMP, Amendment 91 to 
the GOA FMP, and the Environmental Assessment, the Regulatory Impact 
Review (RIR), and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) 
(collectively, Analysis) prepared for this action are available from 
www.regulations.gov or from the NMFS Alaska Region Web site at 
alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other 
aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this 
proposed rule may be submitted to NMFS and by email to [email protected] or fax to (202) 395-7285.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gretchen Harrington, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone of the GOA and BSAI under the GOA FMP and BSAI 
FMP (collectively, the FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management 
Council (Council) prepared these FMPs under the authority of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Regulations implementing the FMPs 
appear at 50 CFR part 679. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries 
also appear at 50 CFR part 600.
    The Council has submitted Amendment 100 to the BSAI FMP and 
Amendment 91 to the GOA FMP for review by the Secretary of Commerce, 
and a Notice of Availability of this amendment was published in the 
Federal Register on May 5, 2014) 79 FR 25558) with comments invited 
through July 7, 2014. All relevant written comments received by the end 
of the applicable comment period, whether specifically directed to the 
FMP amendments, this proposed rule, or both, will be considered in the 
approval/disapproval decision for these amendments and addressed in the 
response to comments in the final decision.

Background

    The groundfish fisheries in the BSAI and GOA incidentally catch 
grenadiers (family Macrouridae) while harvesting target groundfish. For 
many years, the Council has considered how best to classify grenadiers 
in the FMPs. As explained in the Analysis (see ADDRESSES), from 1980 to 
2010, grenadiers were included in the FMPs in the nonspecified species 
category. Nonspecified species were defined as a residual category of 
species and species groups of no current or foreseeable economic value 
or ecological importance, which are taken in the groundfish fishery as 
incidental catch and are in no apparent danger of depletion, and for 
which virtually no data exists that would allow population assessments.
    In 2010, the Council recommended and NMFS removed the nonspecified 
species category from the FMPs when the FMPs were revised to meet 
Magnuson-Stevens Act requirements for annual catch limits (ACLs) and 
accountability measures (AMs) under Amendment 96 to the BSAI FMP and 
Amendment 87 to the GOA FMP (Amendments 96/87, 75 FR 38454, July 2, 
2010). The nonspecified species, including grenadiers, were removed 
from the FMPs because these species were too poorly understood to set 
ACLs and AMs or to develop a management regime.
    Amendments 96/87 also amended the FMPs to organize the species 
remaining in the FMPs according to the National Standard 1 guidelines 
(50 CFR 600.310). In the National Standard 1 guidelines NMFS recommends 
two categories for species in an FMP: ``stocks in the fishery'' and 
``ecosystem component (EC) species.''
    ``Stocks in the fishery'' are defined in the National Standard 1 
guidelines (Sec.  600.310(d)(2)). ``Stocks in the fishery'' include (1) 
stocks that are targeted, and retained for sale or personal use; (2) 
stocks that are not directly targeted but are taken incidentally in 
other directed fisheries, and are retained for sale or personal use; or 
(3) stocks not targeted or retained but are taken as incidental catch 
and for which overfishing or overfished status may be a concern.
    NMFS created the EC species category to encourage ecosystem 
approaches to management and to incorporate ecosystem considerations 
for species that are not ``stocks in the fishery'' (74 FR 3178, January 
16, 2009). EC species are defined in the National Standard 1 guidelines 
(Sec.  600.310(d)(5)). In order to be designated an EC species, the 
species or species group should be (1) a non-targeted species or 
species group; (2) not subject to overfishing, overfished, or 
approaching an overfished condition; (3) not likely to become subject 
to overfishing or overfished in the absence of conservation and 
management measures; and (4) not generally retained for sale or 
personal use.
    Amendments 96/87 established the EC category and designated 
prohibited species (which include salmon, steelhead trout, crab, 
halibut, and herring) and forage fish (as defined in Table 2c to part 
679 and Sec.  679.20(i)) as EC species in the FMPs. For EC species, 
NMFS maintained conservation regulations applicable to the specific EC 
species. These include prohibiting the retention of prohibited species, 
prohibiting directed fishing for forage fish, and establishing a limit 
on the incidental harvest of forage fish while directed fishing for 
other groundfish species, known as a maximum retainable amount, of 2 
percent. Regulations at 50 CFR 679.2 define the term ``directed 
fishing.'' Regulations at Sec.  679.20(e) describe the application and 
calculation of maximum retainable amounts.
    When the Council recommended Amendments 96/87, it recognized that 
as information on a nonspecified species improves, it would consider 
moving that species back into the FMP, either as a ``stock in the 
fishery'' or as an EC species. In 2010, the Council initiated an 
analysis to consider moving grenadiers back into the FMPs. The Council 
determined that sufficient information exists for grenadiers to address 
them in the FMPs, as reflected in the Analysis prepared for this action 
(see ADDRESSES). The Analysis provides

[[Page 27559]]

the best available information on grenadiers and considers two action 
alternatives: Include grenadiers in the FMP as an EC species, or 
include grenadiers in the FMP as a ``stock in the fishery.''

Amendments 100/91 to the FMPs

    In February 2014, the Council voted unanimously to recommend 
Amendments 100/91 to the FMPs to add grenadiers to the EC category in 
the FMPs. The Council and NMFS recognized that adding grenadiers to the 
FMPs in the EC category would acknowledge their role in the ecosystem 
and limit the groundfish fisheries' impact on grenadiers. Adding 
grenadiers to the EC category would allow for improved data collection 
and catch monitoring appropriate for grenadiers given their abundance, 
distribution, and catch. The Council and NMFS determined that 
grenadiers are not a ``stock in the fishery'' because (1) grenadiers 
are not a target stock; (2) they are not generally retained for sale or 
personal use; and (3) they are not overfished, subject to overfishing, 
or approaching an overfished or overfishing status. The following 
information describes why grenadiers would be appropriate to include in 
the FMPs as an EC species group based on information summarized from 
the Analysis.
    Grenadiers are not a targeted species group and are not generally 
retained for sale or personal use. Grenadiers have no current or 
foreseeable economic value. Section 3.3 of the Analysis explains that 
grenadiers are incidentally caught in deep water trawl and hook-and-
line fisheries, but are not actively targeted or retained. In 2013, 
there was almost no reported retention of grenadiers in the BSAI (only 
1 metric ton (t) or 2,205 pounds (lb)), and only 55 t (121,254 lb) of 
grenadiers were retained in the GOA. This represents a GOA fishery-wide 
retention rate of less than one half of one percent. Of this retention 
of grenadiers, 35 t (77,162 lb) was made into fish meal, 17 t (37,479 
lb) was discarded at the dock, 3 t (6,614 lb) was retained for bait, 
and less than 1 t (2,205 lb) was sold. Thus, there is no evidence that 
grenadiers are presently being targeted or purposely retained. It is 
likely that grenadiers are being retained only when mixed with other 
catch.
    Grenadiers are not generally retained for sale or personal 
consumption. As explained in Section 3.3.4 of the Analysis, attempts in 
Alaska to create a marketable product from giant grenadiers have been 
unsuccessful. Grenadiers have very low protein content, high moisture 
content, and are generally regarded as mushy and unpalatable. No 
current market exists for grenadiers, and it is unlikely that one will 
be developed in the foreseeable future.
    Grenadiers are not generally retained for personal use. A small 
portion of the total catch of grenadiers is known to be retained for 
use as bait (e.g., 3 t (6,614 lb) in the GOA in 2013). Although 
grenadiers may be retained for use as bait in hook-and-line fisheries, 
there is no indication that this is a general practice throughout the 
hook-and-line fleets. NMFS notes that existing recordkeeping and 
reporting for the use of grenadiers is voluntary, and could 
underestimate the amount of grenadiers used for bait. However, the best 
available information indicates that grenadiers are not generally 
retained for bait.
    At the current level of catch, grenadiers are not subject to 
overfishing, overfished, or approaching an overfished condition, and 
are not likely to become subject to overfishing or overfished in the 
absence of conservation and management measures. Section 3.2 of the 
Analysis explains that NMFS has been conducting a stock assessment for 
grenadiers since 2006. At present, stock assessment information for 
giant grenadier is relatively good compared to many other non-target 
species off Alaska. Since 2010, the stock assessment has been used to 
estimate an acceptable biological catch (ABC) and an overfishing level 
(OFL), using reliable estimates of biomass and natural mortality. Giant 
grenadier served as a proxy for the grenadier species group and the 
estimated ABC and estimated OFL are based on giant grenadier 
(Albatrossia pectoralis) because relatively few other grenadier species 
(family Macrouridae) are caught in the groundfish fisheries or are 
taken in NMFS surveys. NMFS estimates the incidental catch of 
grenadiers in the groundfish fisheries using observer data. In the 
BSAI, the estimated grenadier OFL is 135,236 t (298 million lb) and the 
estimated catch is 5,294 t (12 million lb, mean for 2003-2013). In the 
GOA, the estimated grenadier OFL is 46,635 t (103 million lb) and the 
estimated catch is 8,707 t (19 million lb, mean for 2003-2013).
    Additionally, the Council recognized that adding grenadiers to the 
FMPs in the EC category would acknowledge their role in the ecosystem 
and limit the groundfish fisheries' impact on grenadiers. Section 3.6 
of the Analysis describes the current state of research and 
understanding about the ecological importance of grenadiers. For 
example, giant grenadiers have an important ecological role given their 
role as apex predators. Apex predators reside at the top of their food 
chain and have few to no predators of their own. In bottom trawl 
surveys conducted by NMFS in the Bering Sea and the GOA, giant 
grenadiers are the most abundant fish, in terms of weight, in depths 
from 600 to 3,000 feet (183-914 meters). Giant grenadier extend much 
deeper than 3,000 feet (914 meters). There are reports that they have 
been caught deeper than 6,000 feet (1,829 meters), but little is known 
about their abundance in waters deeper than 3,000 feet because neither 
the NMFS surveys nor fishing effort presently extend below this depth.

Proposed Rule

    In addition to adding grenadiers as an EC in the FMPs under 
Amendments 100/91, the Council recommended and NMFS proposes 
regulations for groundfish fishery participants to limit and monitor 
the catch of grenadiers. This proposed rule would:
     Require recordkeeping and reporting of grenadiers in the 
BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries;
     Add two grenadier species codes;
     Add grenadier product recovery rates (PRRs);
     Prohibit directed fishing for grenadiers; and
     Establish a grenadier maximum retainable amount (MRA) of 8 
percent.
    To require recordkeeping and reporting, this proposed rule would 
make changes to 50 CFR part 679. This proposed rule would add a 
definition for grenadiers and revise the definition for non-allocated 
or nonspecified species at Sec.  679.2. This proposed rule would also 
modify regulations at Sec.  679.5 to require a vessel operator or 
manager in a BSAI or GOA groundfish fishery to record and report 
retained and discarded grenadier catch. NMFS notes that this proposed 
regulation would be expected to improve the collection of information 
on the catch and retention of grenadiers. Specifically, this proposed 
regulation would improve the ability for NMFS to monitor the retention 
of grenadiers for use as bait, or in the unlikely event that grenadiers 
are retained for sale.
    NMFS would modify regulations in Table 2c to part 679 to add two 
grenadier species codes so that NMFS could track the retention of giant 
grenadiers and other grenadier species. NMFS would remove grenadiers 
from Table 2d to part 679. Section 2 of the Analysis notes that nearly 
all grenadiers encountered in the groundfish fisheries are giant 
grenadiers; therefore, it is not

[[Page 27560]]

necessary to establish more than two species codes for grenadiers (one 
for giant grenadiers and one for all other grenadier species) to 
provide the information necessary to adequately monitor grenadier 
catch.
    This proposed rule would modify Table 3 to part 679 to include PRRs 
for grenadiers of 100 percent for whole fish, 50 percent for headed and 
gutted fish, and 24.3 percent for fillets. These PRRs are established 
based on food science studies of grenadiers that estimated product 
recovery rates (see Section 3.3.4 of the Analysis for additional 
detail).
    These proposed regulatory changes would enable NMFS to collect data 
on the harvest and disposition of grenadier catch retained in the 
groundfish fisheries. The proposed changes in recordkeeping and 
reporting, definition of grenadier species codes, and grenadier PRRs 
would aid NMFS in determining if grenadiers become generally retained 
for sale or personal use, and would provide the information needed in 
any potential future consideration to modify the designation of 
grenadiers in the FMPs as a ``stock in the fishery.''
    This proposed rule would revise regulations at Sec.  679.20(i) 
andSec.  679.22(i) to prohibit directed fishing for grenadiers at all 
times in the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries. NMFS proposes 
prohibiting directed fishing as a precautionary measure to prevent 
groundfish fishermen from directed fishing for grenadiers without a 
clear and conscious decision by the Council to provide that 
opportunity. This prohibition is consistent with the regulations for 
other EC species. NMFS prohibits directed fishing for forage fish and 
prohibits retaining or possessing prohibited species, except as 
provided under the Prohibited Species Donation Program. As noted in 
Section 4.6 of the Analysis, prohibiting directed fishing would prevent 
the development of an uncontrolled fishery on grenadiers in the absence 
of applicable management measures.
    This proposed rule would add a grenadier incidental catch species 
MRA of 8 percent to Table 10 to part 679 and Table 11 to part 679. The 
MRA is the percentage of the retained catch of a species closed for 
directed fishing (incidental catch species) to the retained catch of a 
species open for directed fishing (basis species). An 8 percent MRA 
would allow vessels fishing for groundfish to retain a quantity of 
grenadiers equal to but no more than 8 percent of the round weight or 
round weight equivalent of groundfish species open to directed fishing 
that are retained on board the vessel during a fishing trip. The 
requirement to not exceed MRA proportions at any time during a trip 
limits the vessel operators' ability to maximize incidental catch of 
grenadiers.
    Section 2.2 of the Analysis provides additional detail on MRA 
management. The Council and NMFS considered a range of MRA percentages 
of 2 to 20 percent for grenadiers. The Council recommended and NMFS 
agrees that an 8 percent MRA is not likely to substantially increase 
the incentive for vessels to retain grenadiers relative to a lower MRA 
percentage (e.g., 2 percent), but would limit the amount of incidental 
catch more conservatively than a higher MRA percentage (e.g., 20 
percent). Given the lack of any market for grenadiers, NMFS has no 
indication that grenadier retention is likely to increase beyond 
current levels. Section 2.2 of the Analysis notes that a de minimus 
amount of grenadiers are retained in the BSAI, and only 0.1 percent of 
all groundfish fishing trips in the GOA would be expected to exceed an 
MRA of 8 percent. Therefore, an MRA of 8 percent would be expected to 
accommodate all current fishing practices and, if a market should 
develop, this MRA would limit the potential retention of grenadiers 
until the Council and NMFS could develop measures to manage grenadiers 
appropriately.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that this proposed rule is 
consistent with the FMP amendments, other provisions of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable law, subject to further consideration 
of comments received during the public comment period.
    This proposed rule has been determined to not be significant for 
the purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Impact Review (RIR)

    An RIR was prepared to assess all costs and benefits of available 
regulatory alternatives. The RIR considers all quantitative and 
qualitative measures. A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS 
(see ADDRESSES). The Council recommended Amendments 100/91 based on 
those measures that maximized net benefits to the Nation. Specific 
aspects of the economic analysis are discussed below in the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis section.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)

    An IRFA was prepared, as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. The IRFA describes the economic impact this proposed 
rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. A description of the 
proposed action, why it is being considered, and the legal basis for 
this proposed action are contained in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of the preamble and are not repeated here. A summary of the 
IRFA follows. Copies of the IRFA are available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES).

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by the Proposed 
Action

    In the GOA, NMFS estimates that there are a total of 1,114 small 
catcher vessels and 5 small catcher/processors. The majority of these 
(581) are catcher vessels in the hook-and-line gear sector. In the 
BSAI, NMFS estimates that there are 118 small catcher vessels and 7 
small catcher/processors. NMFS estimates that 72 small shoreside 
processors would be directly regulated by this action. This number 
includes entities located in both the BSAI and GOA, as some groundfish 
may be caught in one area and delivered to the other. Thus, NMFS 
estimates that the total number of small entities that would be 
directly regulated by this action is 1,316 small entities (1,232 
catcher vessels, 12 catcher/processors, 72 shoreside processors).

Description of Significant Alternatives that Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities

    The two aspects of this proposed rule that directly regulate small 
entities are the requirement to report grenadier catch under 
regulations at Sec.  679.5(a)(3) and the requirement that vessels not 
exceed an MRA of 8 percent, under regulations at Tables 10 and 11 to 
part 679. These requirements would have a de minimus economic impact on 
small entities, as explained in Section 5.7 of the Analysis. The 
reporting requirements were the same under all of the action 
alternatives.
    The Council considered an MRA range of 2 percent to 20 percent, 
ultimately choosing an 8 percent grenadier MRA. The Council selected an 
8 percent MRA to accommodate the current amount of grenadiers 
incidentally caught. The Council considered that there are very few 
instances when grenadier retention exceeds 8 percent; however, allowing 
a higher MRA of as much as 20 percent may not meet the objectives of

[[Page 27561]]

providing precautionary management and placing limits on harvest, as 
identified in the purpose and need for the action.
    Thus, there are no significant alternatives that would accomplish 
the objectives of accounting for grenadier catch or MRA management and 
minimize adverse economic impacts on small entities.

Duplicate, Overlapping, or Conflicting Federal Rules

    NMFS has not identified any duplication, overlap, or conflict 
between this proposed action and existing Federal rules.

Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

    The proposed rule would modify the recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements of the vessels and processors participating in the BSAI 
and GOA groundfish fisheries.
    Presently, NMFS requires catcher vessel operators, catcher/
processor operators, buying station operators, mothership operators, 
shoreside processor managers, and stationary floating processor 
managers to record and report all FMP species in logbooks, forms, 
eLandings, and eLogbooks. Recording is optional for non-FMP species. 
Grenadiers are currently listed as non-FMP species.
    The proposed rule would amend regulations to change the status of 
grenadiers (giant grenadiers and other grenadiers) from non-FMP species 
to FMP species and require operators to record and report grenadier 
species in logbooks, forms, eLandings, and eLogbooks. If operators 
retain and land grenadiers, then landings and disposition would be 
reported on fish tickets and production reports.

Collection-of-Information Requirements

    This rule contains collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), and which have been approved by 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control Number 0648-
0213 (paper recordkeeping and reporting) and OMB Control Number 0648-
0515 (electronic recordkeeping and reporting). However, this rule only 
mentions these collections and does not change either collection-of-
information.
    Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect 
of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to NMFS (see ADDRESSEES) and by email to [email protected], 
or fax to (202) 395-7285.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

    Alaska, Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 8, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS proposes to amend 50 
CFR part 679 as follows:

PART 679--FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

0
1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 679 continues to read as 
follows:

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

0
2. In Sec.  679.2, add a definition for ``Grenadiers'' in alphabetical 
order and revise the definition for ``Non-allocated or nonspecified 
species'' to read as follows:


Sec.  679.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part and Sec.  679.20(i)).
* * * * *
    Non-allocated or nonspecified species means those fish species, 
other than prohibited species, for which TAC has not been specified 
(e.g., prowfish and lingcod).
* * * * *
0
3. In Sec.  679.5, revise paragraph (a)(3) introductory text, and 
paragraphs (c)(3)(vi)(F) and (c)(4)(vi)(E) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.5  Recordkeeping and reporting (R&R).

    (a) * * *
    (3) Fish to be recorded and reported. The operator or manager must 
record and report the following information (see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) 
through (iv) of this section) for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this 
part), prohibited species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see 
Table 2c to this part), and grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part). The 
operator or manager may record and report the following information 
(see paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section) for non-
groundfish (see Table 2d to this part):
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (vi) * * *
    (F) Species codes. The operator must record and report required 
information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited 
species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this 
part), and grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part). The operator may 
record and report information for non-groundfish (see Table 2d to this 
part).
* * * * *
    (4) * * *
    (vi) * * *
    (E) Species codes. The operator must record and report the required 
information for all groundfish (see Table 2a to this part), prohibited 
species (see Table 2b to this part), forage fish (see Table 2c to this 
part), and grenadiers (see Table 2c to this part). The operator may 
also record and report the required information for non-groundfish (see 
Table 2d to this part).
* * * * *
0
4. In Sec.  679.20, revise paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.20  General limitations.

* * * * *
    (i) Forage fish and grenadiers--(1) Definition. See Table 2c to 
this part.
    (2) Applicability. The provisions of Sec.  679.20(i) apply to all 
vessels fishing for groundfish in the BSAI or GOA, and to all vessels 
processing groundfish harvested in the BSAI or GOA.
    (3) Closure to directed fishing. Directed fishing for forage fish 
and grenadiers is prohibited at all times in the BSAI and GOA.
    (4) Limits on sale, barter, trade, and processing. The sale, 
barter, trade, or processing of forage fish or grenadiers is 
prohibited, except as provided in paragraph (i)(5) of this section.
    (5) Allowable fishmeal production. Retained catch of forage fish or 
grenadier not exceeding the maximum retainable amount may be processed 
into fishmeal for sale, barter, or trade.
* * * * *
0
5. In Sec.  679.22, add paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  679.22  Closures.

* * * * *
    (i) Forage fish and grenadiers closures. See Sec.  679.20(i)(3).
0
6. Revise Table 2c to part 679 to read as follows:

[[Page 27562]]



    Table 2c to Part 679--Species Codes: FMP Forage Fish Species (all
        species of the following families) and Grenadier Species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species identification                        Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORAGE FISH:
    Bristlemouths, lightfishes, and anglemouths (family              209
     Gonostomatidae).......................................
    Capelin smelt (family Osmeridae).......................          516
    Deep-sea smelts (family Bathylagidae)..................          773
    Eulachon smelt (family Osmeridae)......................          511
    Gunnels (family Pholidae)..............................          207
    Krill (order Euphausiacea).............................          800
    Lanternfishes (family Myctophidae).....................          772
    Pacific Sand fish (family Trichodontidae)..............          206
    Pacific Sand lance (family Ammodytidae)................          774
    Pricklebacks, war-bonnets, eelblennys, cockscombs and            208
     Shannys (family Stichaeidae)..........................
    Surf smelt (family Osmeridae)..........................          515
GRENADIERS:
    Giant Grenadiers (Albatrossia pectoralis)..............          214
    Other Grenadiers.......................................          213
------------------------------------------------------------------------

0
10. Revise Table 2d to part 679 to read as follows:

          Table 2d to Part 679--Species Codes: Non-FMP Species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Species description                          Code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               GENERAL USE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arctic char, anadromous........................................      521
Dolly varden, anadromous.......................................      531
Eels or eel-like fish..........................................      210
Eel, wolf......................................................      217
GREENLING:
    Kelp.......................................................      194
    Rock.......................................................      191
    Whitespot..................................................      192
Jellyfish (unspecified)........................................      625
Lamprey, pacific...............................................      600
Lingcod........................................................      130
Lumpsucker.....................................................      216
Pacific flatnose...............................................      260
Pacific hagfish................................................      212
Pacific hake...................................................      112
Pacific lamprey................................................      600
Pacific saury..................................................      220
Pacific tomcod.................................................      250
Poacher (Family Algonidae).....................................      219
Prowfish.......................................................      215
Ratfish........................................................      714
Rockfish, black (GOA)..........................................      142
Rockfish, blue (GOA)...........................................      167
Rockfish, dark.................................................      173
Sardine, Pacific (pilchard)....................................      170
Sea cucumber, red..............................................      895
Shad...........................................................      180
Skilfish.......................................................      715
Snailfish, general (genus Liparis and genus Careproctus).......      218
Sturgeon, general..............................................      680
Wrymouths......................................................      211
Shellfish:
    Abalone, northern (pinto)..................................      860
Clams:
    Arctic surf................................................      812
    Cockle.....................................................      820
    Eastern softshell..........................................      842
    Pacific geoduck............................................      815
    Pacific littleneck.........................................      840
    Pacific razor..............................................      830
    Washington butter..........................................      810
Coral..........................................................      899
Mussel, blue...................................................      855
Oyster, Pacific................................................      880
Scallop, weathervane...........................................      850
Scallop, pink (or calico)......................................      851
SHRIMP:
    Coonstripe.................................................      864
    Humpy......................................................      963
    Northern (pink)............................................      961
    Sidestripe.................................................      962
    Spot.......................................................      965
Snails.........................................................      890
Urchin, green sea..............................................      893
Urchin, red sea................................................      892
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11. Revise Table 3 to part 679 to read as follows:

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12. Revise Table 10 to part 679 to read as follows:

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13. Revise Table 11 to part 679 to read as follows:

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[FR Doc. 2014-11050 Filed 5-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P