[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74695-74710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29348]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD611


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North 
Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel 
Prices

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

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ACTION: Notification of standard ex-vessel prices.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and 
halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific 
Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program (Observer Program). This notice 
is intended to provide information to vessel owners, processors, 
registered buyers, and other participants about the standard ex-vessel 
prices that will be used to calculate the observer fee liability for 
landings of groundfish and halibut made in 2015. NMFS will send 
invoices to processors and registered buyers subject to the fee by 
January 15, 2016. Fees are due to NMFS on or before February 15, 2016.

DATES: Effective January 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the 
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Sally Bibb at 907-
586-7389. For questions about the fee billing process, contact Troie 
Zuniga, Fee Coordinator, 907-586-7105. Additional information about the 
Observer Program is available on NMFS Alaska Region's Web site at 
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/observers/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Observer Program deploys NMFS-certified observers (observers) 
who collect information necessary for the conservation and management 
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) 
groundfish and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers use information 
collected by observers to monitor quotas, manage groundfish and 
prohibited species catch, and document and reduce fishery interactions 
with protected resources. Scientists use observer-collected information 
for stock assessments and marine ecosystem research.
    The Observer Program is divided into two observer coverage 
categories--partial and full. All groundfish and halibut vessels and 
processors are included in one of these two categories. The partial 
observer coverage category includes vessels and processors that are not 
required to have an observer at all times; the full observer coverage 
category includes vessels and processors required to have all of their 
fishing and processing operations off Alaska observed. Vessels and 
processors in the full coverage category arrange and pay for observer 
services from a permitted observer provider. Observer coverage for the 
partial coverage category is funded through a system of fees based on 
the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut.

Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee

    The objective of the observer fee assessment is to levy a fee on 
all landings accruing against a Federal total allowable catch (TAC) for 
groundfish or a commercial halibut quota made by vessels that are 
subject to Federal regulations and not included in the full coverage 
category. A fee is only assessed on landings of groundfish from vessels 
designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit or from vessels landing 
individual fishing quota (IFQ) or community development quota (CDQ) 
halibut or IFQ sablefish. Within the subset of vessels subject to the 
observer fee, only landings accruing against the Federal TAC are 
included in the fee assessment. A table with additional information 
about which landings are and are not subject to the observer fee is in 
NMFS regulations at Sec.  679.55(c) and is on page 2 of an 
informational bulletin titled ``Observer Fee Collection'' on the NMFS 
Alaska Region Web page at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/observers/observerfees.pdf.

Fee Determination

    A fee equal to 1.25 percent of the ex-vessel value is assessed on 
the landings of groundfish and halibut subject to the fee. Ex-vessel 
value is determined by multiplying the standard price for groundfish by 
the round weight equivalent for each species, gear, and port 
combination, and the standard price for halibut by the headed and 
gutted weight equivalent. NMFS will assess each landing report 
submitted via eLandings and each manual landing entered into the IFQ 
landing database and determine if the landing is subject to the 
observer fee and, if it is, which groundfish in the landing are subject 
to the observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing subject to the 
observer fee will be assessed as part of the fee liability. For any 
groundfish or halibut subject to the observer fee, NMFS will apply the 
appropriate standard ex-vessel prices for the species, gear type, and 
port, and calculate the observer fee liability associated with the 
landing.
    Processors and registered buyers access the landing-specific, 
observer fee liability information through NMFS Web Application 
(https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings 
(https://elandings.alaska.gov/). For IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, and IFQ 
sablefish, this information is available as soon as the IFQ report is 
submitted. For groundfish and sablefish that accrue against the fixed 
gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the observer fee liability information is 
generally available within 24 hours of receipt of the report. The time 
lag on the groundfish and sablefish CDQ fee information is necessary 
because NMFS must process the landings report through the catch 
accounting system computer programs to determine if all of the 
groundfish in the landings are subject to the observer fee. Information 
about which groundfish in a landing accrues against a Federal TAC is 
not immediately available from the processor's data entry into 
eLandings.
    The intent of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NMFS 
is for vessel owners to split the fee liability 50/50 with the 
processor or registered buyer. While vessels and processors are 
responsible for their portion of the fee, the owner of a shoreside 
processor or a stationary floating processor and the registered buyer 
are responsible for collecting the fee, including the vessel's portion 
of the fee, and remitting the full fee liability to NMFS.
    NMFS will send invoices to processors and registered buyers for 
their total fee liability, which is determined by the sum of the fees 
reported for each landing for that processor or registered buyer for 
the prior calendar year, by January 15, 2016. Processors and registered 
buyers must pay the fees to NMFS using NMFS Web Application by February 
15, 2016. Processors and registered buyers have access to this system 
through a User ID and password issued by NMFS. Instructions for 
electronic payment will be provided on the NMFS Alaska Region Web site 
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and on the observer fee liability 
invoice to be mailed to each permit holder.

Standard Prices

    This notice provides the standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish 
and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2015. Data sources 
for ex-vessel prices are:
     For groundfish other than sablefish IFQ and sablefish 
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the State of 
Alaska's Commercial Fishery Entry Commission's (CFEC) gross revenue 
data, which are based on the Commercial Operator Annual Report (COAR) 
and Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish tickets; and
     For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish 
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the IFQ Buyer 
Report that is submitted annually to NMFS under Sec.  679.5(l)(7)(i).

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    The standard prices in this notice were calculated using applicable 
guidance for protecting confidentiality of data submitted to or 
collected by NMFS. NMFS does not publish any price information that 
would permit the identification of an individual or business. At least 
four persons must make landings of a species with a particular gear 
type at a particular port in order for NMFS to publish that price data 
for that species-gear-port combination. Similarly, at least four 
processors in a particular port must purchase a species harvested with 
a particular gear type in order for NMFS to publish a price for that 
species-gear-port combination. Price data that is confidential because 
fewer than four persons contributed data to a particular species-gear-
port combination has been aggregated to protect confidential data.

Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices

    Table 1 shows the groundfish species standard ex-vessel prices for 
2015. These prices are based on the CFEC gross revenue data, which are 
based on landings data from Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish 
tickets and information from the COAR. The COAR contains statewide 
buying and production information, and is considered the most accurate 
routinely collected information to determine the ex-vessel value of 
groundfish harvested from waters off Alaska.
    The standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish were calculated by 
adding ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross revenue files for 2011, 
2012, and 2013 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the 
volume (weight) the CFEC gross revenue files for 2011, 2012, and 2013 
by species, port, and gear category, and then dividing total ex-vessel 
value over the 3-year period in each category by total volume over the 
3-year period in each category. This calculation results in a weighted 
average ex-vessel price per pound by species, port, and gear category. 
Three gear categories were used for the standard ex-vessel prices: 
pelagic trawl gear, non-pelagic trawl gear, and other gear (hook-and-
line, pot, and jig).
    CFEC ex-vessel value data are available in the fall of the year 
following the year the fishing occurred. Thus, it is not possible to 
base ex-vessel fee liabilities on standard prices that are less than 2 
years old.
    If a particular species is not listed in Table 1, the standard ex-
vessel price for a species group, if it exists in the management area, 
will be used. If price data for a particular species remained 
confidential once aggregated to the ALL level, data is aggregated by 
species group (Flathead Sole, GOA Deep-water Flatfish; GOA Shallow-
water Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and Other Rockfish). Standard prices 
for the species groups are shown in Table 2.
    If a port-level price does not meet the confidentiality 
requirements, the data are aggregated by port-group. Port-group data is 
first aggregated by regulatory area in the GOA (Eastern GOA, Central 
GOA, and Western GOA) and by subarea in the BSAI (BS subarea and AI 
subarea). Port-group data for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern 
GOA excluding Southeast Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately 
when price data are available. If confidentiality requirements are 
still not met by aggregating prices across ports at these levels, the 
prices are aggregated at the level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide (AK) 
and ports outside of Alaska (OTAK), and finally all ports, including 
those outside of Alaska (``ALL'').
    Standard prices are presented separately for non-pelagic trawl and 
pelagic trawl when non-confidential data is available. NMFS also 
calculated prices for a ``Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic Trawl Combined'' 
category that can be used when combining trawl price data for landings 
of a species in a particular port or port group will not violate 
confidentiality requirements. Creating this standard price category 
allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2015 landings of some of the species 
with pelagic trawl gear based on a combined trawl gear price for the 
port or port group.
    If no standard ex-vessel price is listed for the species or species 
group and gear category combination, no fee will be assessed on that 
landing. Volume and value data for that species will be added to the 
standard ex-vessel prices in future years, if that data becomes 
available and display of a standard ex-vessel price meets 
confidentiality requirements.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ Standard Ex-vessel Prices

    Table 3 shows the observer fee standard ex-vessel prices for 
halibut and sablefish. These standard prices are calculated as a single 
annual average price, by port or port group. Volume and ex-vessel value 
data collected on the 2014 IFQ Buyer Report for landings made from 
October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014, were used to calculate the 
standard ex-vessel prices for the 2015 observer fee liability for 
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that 
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.

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    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 10, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29348 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C