[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60704-60713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27552]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF837


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

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

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 
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

[[Page 60705]]

calculate the observer fee for landings of groundfish and halibut made 
in 2018. NMFS will send invoices to processors and registered buyers 
subject to the fee by January 15, 2019. Fees are due to NMFS on or 
before February 15, 2019.

DATES: The standard prices are valid on January 1, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the 
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Alicia M. Miller at 
(907)586-7471. For questions about the fee billing process, contact 
Carl Greene at (907)586-7003. Additional information about the Observer 
Program is available on NMFS Alaska Region's website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/observer-program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Regulations at 50 CFR 679 subpart E, governing the Observer 
Program, require the deployment of NMFS-certified observers (observers) 
to 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 includes two observer coverage categories--the 
partial coverage category and the full coverage category. All 
groundfish and halibut vessels and processors subject to observer 
coverage are included in one of these two categories. Defined at 50 CFR 
679.51, the partial coverage category includes vessels and processors 
that are not required to have an observer at all times and the full 
coverage category includes vessels and processors required to have all 
of their fishing and processing activity 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. Throughout this notice, 
the term ``processor'' refers to shoreside processors, stationary 
floating processors, and small catcher/processors in the partial 
coverage category. On August 8, 2017, NMFS published a final rule to 
integrate electronic monitoring (EM) into the Observer Program (82 FR 
36991). Beginning in 2019, NMFS will use a portion of the fees 
collected under section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) to deploy EM 
systems on vessels in the EM selection pool of the partial coverage 
category.

Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee

    Pursuant to section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is 
authorized to assess 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 an IFQ allocation or a Federal TAC for groundfish are included 
in the fee assessment. A table with additional information about which 
landings are and are not subject to the observer fee is at Sec.  
679.55(c) and is on page 2 of an informational bulletin titled 
``Observer Fee Collection'' on the NMFS Alaska Region website at 
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/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 reviews each landing report and 
determines whether the reported landing is subject to the observer fee 
and, if so, which groundfish species in the landing are subject to the 
observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing subject to the 
observer fee will be included in the observer fee calculation. For any 
landed 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 associated with the 
landing.
    Processors and registered buyers access the landing-specific, 
observer fee information through NMFS Web Application (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings (https://elandings.alaska.gov/). Observer fee information is either available 
immediately or within 24 hours after a landing report is submitted 
electronically. A time lag occurs for some landings because NMFS must 
process each landing report through the catch accounting system 
computer programs to determine which groundfish in a landing accrues 
against a Federal TAC and are subject to the observer fee.
    Under the fee system, catcher vessel owners split the fee with the 
registered buyers or owners of shoreside or stationary floating 
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the 
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion 
of the fee, the owners of shoreside or stationary floating processors 
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from 
catcher vessels, and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of small 
catcher/processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for 
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
    NMFS sends invoices to processors and registered buyers by January 
15 of each calendar year. The total fee amount is determined by the sum 
of the fees reported for each landing at that processor or registered 
buyer in the prior calendar year. Processors and registered buyers must 
pay the fees to NMFS using NMFS Web Application by February 15 each 
year. 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 website 
at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov and on the observer fee invoice to 
be mailed to each processor and registered buyer.

Standard Prices

    This notice provides the standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish 
and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2018. 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 (ADF&G) 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

[[Page 60706]]

submitted to NMFS annually by each registered buyer that operates as a 
shoreside processor and receives and purchases IFQ landings of 
sablefish and halibut or CDQ landings of halibut under Sec.  
679.5(l)(7)(i).
    The standard prices in this notice were calculated using the 
following procedures 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. For 
NMFS to publish a standard price for a particular species-gear-port 
combination, the price data used to calculate the standard price must 
represent landings from at least four different vessels to at least 
three different processors in a port or port group. Price data that is 
confidential because fewer than four vessels or three processors 
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 
2018. These prices are based on the CFEC gross revenue data, which are 
based on landings data from ADF&G fish tickets and information from the 
COAR. The COAR contains statewide buying and production information, 
and is considered the most complete 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 2014, 
2015, and 2016 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the 
volume (round weight equivalent) from the CFEC gross revenue files for 
2014, 2015, and 2016 by species, port, and gear category, and then 
dividing total ex-vessel value over the three-year period in each 
category by total volume over the 3-year period in each category. This 
calculation results in an average ex-vessel price per pound by species, 
port, and gear category for the 3-year period. Three gear categories 
were used for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1) Non-trawl gear, 
including hook-and-line, pot, jig, troll, and others (Non-Trawl); (2) 
non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT); and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR).
    CFEC ex-vessel value and volume 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 two years old. For the 2018 standard ex-vessel prices, the 
most recent ex-vessel value and volume data available is from 2016.
    If a particular groundfish 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 groundfish 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 
for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast 
Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately when price data are 
available. Port-group data is then 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). 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'' 
(PTR/NPT) 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 2018 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 a species or species 
group and gear category combination in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, 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.

            Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species for 2018 Observer Coverage Fee
                              [Based on volume and value from 2014, 2015, and 2016]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Port/Area 3 4
          Species 1 2                                Non-Trawl          NPT             PTR           PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska Plaice Flounder (133)..  Kodiak..........              --           $0.09              --           $0.09
                                CGOA............              --            0.09              --            0.09
                                GOA.............              --            0.09              --            0.09
                                AK..............              --            0.09              --            0.09
                                ALL.............              --            0.09              --            0.09
Arrowtooth Flounder (121).....  Kodiak..........              --            0.07           $0.07              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.07            0.07              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.07            0.07              --
                                AK..............           $0.26            0.07            0.07              --
                                ALL.............            0.26            0.07            0.07              --
Atka Mackerel (193)...........  Kodiak..........              --            0.24              --            0.24
                                CGOA............              --            0.24              --            0.24
                                GOA.............              --            0.24              --            0.24
                                AK..............              --            0.24              --            0.24
                                ALL.............              --            0.24              --            0.24
Black Rockfish (142)..........  AK..............            0.54            0.18              --            0.18
Bocaccio Rockfish (137).......  Sitka...........            0.55              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.54              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.54              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.81              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.56              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.56              --              --              --

[[Page 60707]]

 
                                ALL.............            0.56              --              --              --
Butter Sole (126).............  Kodiak..........              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                AK..............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.16            0.15              --
Canary Rockfish (146).........  Ketchikan.......            0.38              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.53              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.44              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.33              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.42              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.45              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.43              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.43              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.43              --              --              --
China Rockfish (149)..........  Sitka...........            1.18              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.98              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            0.49              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.49              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.79              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.65              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.73              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.70              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.70              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.70              --              --              --
Copper Rockfish (138).........  Sitka...........            1.10              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.88              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.74              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.45              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.41              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.43              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.59              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.59              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.59              --              --              --
Darkblotched Rockfish (159)...  SEAK............            0.60              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.60              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.60              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.60              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.60              --              --              --
Dover Sole (124)..............  Kodiak..........              --            0.09            0.09              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.09            0.09              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.09            0.09              --
                                AK..............              --            0.09            0.09              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.09            0.09              --
Dusky Rockfish (172)..........  Sitka...........            0.55              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.54              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.28              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.67              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.36            0.17            0.17              --
                                Seward..........            0.61              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.38            0.17            0.17              --
                                GOA.............            0.40            0.17            0.17              --
                                AK..............            0.40            0.17            0.17              --
                                ALL.............            0.40            0.17            0.17              --
English Sole (128)............  Kodiak..........              --            0.14            0.12              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.14            0.12              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.14            0.12              --
                                AK..............              --            0.14            0.12              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.14            0.12              --
Flathead Sole (122)...........  Kodiak..........              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                AK..............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.16            0.15              --
Northern Rockfish (136).......  Kodiak..........            0.13            0.16            0.16              --
                                CGOA............            0.13            0.16            0.16              --
                                GOA.............            0.13            0.16            0.16              --
                                AK..............            0.27            0.16            0.16              --
                                ALL.............            0.27            0.16            0.16              --
Octopus (870).................  Homer...........            0.62              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.55            0.56            0.54              --

[[Page 60708]]

 
                                CGOA............            0.55            0.56            0.54              --
                                WGOA............            0.43              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.54            0.56            0.54              --
                                Dutch Harbor....            0.30              --              --              --
                                BS..............            0.28              --              --              --
                                BSAI............            0.28              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.50            0.53            0.54              --
                                ALL.............            0.50            0.53            0.54              --
Pacific Cod (110).............  Juneau..........            0.58              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.39              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.24              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.54              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.56              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            0.33              --              --              --
                                Whittier........            0.36              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.35              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.34              --              --              --
                                Kenai...........            0.32              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.34            0.29            0.27              --
                                Seward..........            0.35              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.34            0.29            0.27              --
                                King Cove.......            0.26              --              --              --
                                WGOA............            0.26            0.25              --            0.24
                                GOA.............              --            0.27            0.21              --
                                Dutch Harbor....            0.28            0.26              --            0.26
                                BS..............            0.28            0.26              --            0.26
                                BSAI............            0.29            0.26              --            0.26
                                Stationary                  0.28            0.26              --            0.26
                                 Floating
                                 Processor.
                                AK..............            0.30            0.26            0.20              --
                                ALL.............            0.30            0.26            0.20              --
Pacific Ocean Perch (141).....  Kodiak..........              --            0.18            0.19              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.18            0.19              --
                                GOA.............            0.28            0.18            0.19              --
                                AK..............            0.35            0.18            0.18              --
                                ALL.............            0.35            0.18            0.18              --
Pollock (270).................  Kodiak..........            0.10            0.12            0.11              --
                                Seward..........            0.03              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.09            0.12            0.11              --
                                WGOA............              --            0.13              --            0.11
                                GOA.............            0.09            0.12            0.11              --
                                Dutch Harbor....            0.10            0.16              --            0.15
                                BS..............            0.07            0.15              --            0.13
                                BSAI............            0.07            0.15              --            0.13
                                Stationary                    --            0.14              --            0.14
                                 Floating
                                 Processor.
                                AK..............            0.09            0.12            0.11              --
                                ALL.............            0.09            0.12            0.11              --
Quillback Rockfish (147)......  Craig...........            1.20              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.51              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.27              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.97              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.75              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            0.28              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.34              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.49              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.39              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.40              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.48              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.48              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.48              --              --              --
Redbanded Rockfish (153)......  Juneau..........            0.31              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.33              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.25              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.54              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.39              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.35              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.36              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.23            0.19              --            0.19
                                Seward..........            0.38              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.35            0.19              --            0.19
                                GOA.............            0.38            0.19              --            0.19
                                AK..............            0.38            0.19              --            0.19

[[Page 60709]]

 
                                ALL.............            0.38            0.19              --            0.19
Redstripe Rockfish (158)......  Sitka...........            0.48              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.47              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.47              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.75              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.58              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.56              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.56              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.56              --              --              --
Rex Sole (125)................  Kodiak..........              --            0.34            0.34              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.34            0.34              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.34            0.34              --
                                AK..............              --            0.34            0.33              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.34            0.33              --
Rock Sole (123)...............  Kodiak..........              --            0.22            0.21              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.22            0.21              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.22            0.21              --
                                AK..............              --            0.22            0.21              --
                                ALL.............              --            0.22            0.21              --
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)......  SEAK............            0.32              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.32              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.44              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.48              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.44              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.44              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.44              --              --              --
Rougheye Rockfish (151).......  Juneau..........            0.30              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.32              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.28              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.55              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.44              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            0.31              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.30              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.36              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.30            0.20            0.20              --
                                Seward..........            0.40              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.34            0.20            0.20              --
                                GOA.............            0.37            0.21            0.20              --
                                AK..............            0.37            0.21            0.20              --
                                ALL.............            0.37            0.21            0.20              --
Sablefish (blackcod) (710)....  Kodiak..........         \5\ n/a            2.77            2.72              --
                                CGOA............         \5\ n/a            2.77            2.72              --
                                GOA.............         \5\ n/a            2.77            2.72              --
                                AK..............         \5\ n/a            2.77            2.72              --
                                ALL.............         \5\ n/a            2.77            2.72              --
Shortraker Rockfish (152).....  Juneau..........            0.33              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.32              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.29              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.53              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.42              --              --              --
                                Whittier........            0.41              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.46              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.39              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.33            0.21            0.20              --
                                Seward..........            0.40              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.39            0.21            0.21              --
                                GOA.............            0.41            0.25            0.21              --
                                BSAI............            0.46              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.41            0.25            0.21              --
                                ALL.............            0.41            0.25            0.21              --
Silvergray Rockfish (157).....  Juneau..........            0.36              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.50              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.58              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.47              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.36              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.57              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.44              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.46              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.46              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.46              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.46              --              --              --

[[Page 60710]]

 
Skate, Alaska (703)...........  CGOA............            0.45              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.45              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.45              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.45              --              --              --
Skate, Big (702)..............  EGOA............            0.41              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.45            0.45            0.45              --
                                Seward..........            0.41              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.45            0.45            0.45              --
                                GOA.............            0.44            0.45            0.45              --
                                AK..............            0.44            0.45            0.45              --
                                ALL.............            0.44            0.45            0.45              --
Skate, Longnose (701).........  Petersburg......            0.40              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.40              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.40              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.38              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.45            0.45            0.45              --
                                Seward..........            0.40              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.43            0.45            0.45              --
                                GOA.............            0.43            0.45            0.45              --
                                AK..............            0.43            0.45            0.45              --
                                ALL.............            0.43            0.45            0.45              --
Skate, Other (700)............  SEAK............            0.41              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.41              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.42              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.42              --              --            0.16
                                ALL.............            0.42              --              --            0.16
Starry Flounder (129).........  Kodiak..........              --            0.11              --            0.11
                                CGOA............              --            0.11              --            0.11
                                GOA.............              --            0.11              --            0.11
                                AK..............              --            0.11              --            0.11
                                ALL.............              --            0.11              --            0.11
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots)    Juneau..........            1.00              --              --              --
 (143).
                                Ketchikan.......            1.16              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.97              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            1.00              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.69              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.79              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.61            0.74              --            0.74
                                Seward..........            0.76              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.71            0.74            0.74              --
                                WGOA............            0.77              --              --              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.74            0.74              --
                                BS..............            0.73              --              --              --
                                BSAI............            0.70              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.79            0.74            0.74              --
                                ALL.............            0.79            0.74            0.74              --
Tiger Rockfish (148)..........  SEAK............            0.49              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.35              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.51              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.42              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.43              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.45              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.45              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.45              --              --              --
Vermilion Rockfish (184)......  Sitka...........            1.22              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            1.03              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            1.03              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            1.03              --              --              --
                                AK..............            1.03              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            1.03              --              --              --
Widow Rockfish (156)..........  GOA.............            1.15              --              --              --
                                AK..............            1.15              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            1.15              --              --              --
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)......  Craig...........            1.06              --              --              --
                                Juneau..........            0.97              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            1.54              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            1.14              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            1.86              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            1.66              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            1.02              --              --              --
                                Whittier........            0.94              --              --              --

[[Page 60711]]

 
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.99              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.85              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.39            0.24              --            0.24
                                Seward..........            0.56              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.61            0.24              --            0.24
                                WGOA............            0.46              --              --              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.24              --            0.24
                                AK..............            1.35            0.24              --            0.24
                                ALL.............            1.35            0.24              --            0.24
Yellowtail Rockfish (155).....  Sitka...........            0.70              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.62              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.63              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.58              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.23              --              --              --
                                Seward..........            0.87              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.44              --              --              --
                                GOA.............            0.47              --              --              --
                                AK..............            0.47              --              --              --
                                ALL.............            0.46              --              --              --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If species is not listed, use price for the species group in Table 2 if it exists in the management area. If
  no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no fee will be
  assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ For species codes, see Table 2a to 50 CFR part 679.
\3\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec.   679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska;
  BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern
  Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK =
  Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
\4\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
  round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
  use port group and gear type, or see Table 2 or Table 3.
\5\ n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in Table 3 with
  the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings.


         Table 2--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species Groups for 2018 Observer Coverage Fee
                              [based on volume and value from 2014, 2015, and 2016]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Port/Area \2\
       Species Group \1\               \3\           Non-Trawl          NPT             PTR           PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Sole (FSOL)..........  Kodiak..........              --           $0.16           $0.15              --
                                CGOA............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.16            0.15              --
                                AK..............              --            0.16            0.15              --
GOA Deep-Water \4\ Flatfish     Kodiak..........              --            0.09            0.09              --
 (DFL4).
                                CGOA............              --            0.09            0.09              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.09            0.09              --
GOA Shallow-Water \5\ Flatfish  Kodiak..........              --            0.21            0.20              --
 (SFL1).
                                CGOA............              --            0.21            0.20              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.21            0.20              --
GOA Skate, Other (USKT).......  SEAK............           $0.41              --              --              --
                                EGOA............            0.41              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........              --              --              --           $0.44
                                Seward..........            0.42              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.43              --              --            0.44
                                GOA.............            0.43              --              --            0.44
Other Rockfish \6\ \7\ (ROCK).  Juneau..........            0.44              --              --              --
                                Ketchikan.......            0.35              --              --              --
                                Petersburg......            0.36              --              --              --
                                Sitka...........            0.58              --              --              --
                                SEAK............            0.47              --              --              --
                                Cordova.........            0.75              --              --              --
                                Whittier........            0.73              --              --              --
                                EGOAxSE.........            0.74              --              --              --
                                Homer...........            0.80              --              --              --
                                Kodiak..........            0.38            0.18            0.21              --
                                Seward..........            0.48              --              --              --
                                CGOA............            0.53            0.18            0.21              --
                                WGOA............            0.61              --              --              --
                                GOA.............              --            0.18            0.21              --
                                BS..............            0.73              --              --              --
                                BSAI............            0.67              --              --              --
                                AK..............              --            0.18            0.21              --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential

[[Page 60712]]

 
\1\ If groundfish species is not listed in Table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the
  management area. If no price is available for the species or species group in Table 1, Table 2, or Table 3, no
  fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec.   679.2. (AK = Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/
  Aleutian Islands; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of
  Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska)
\3\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
  round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
  use port group and gear type combination.
\4\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' in the GOA means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole,
  rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ In the GOA:
``Other 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 (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes
  other rockfish.
``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).
\7\ ``Other rockfish'' in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean
  perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.

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 species and port or port group. Volume and ex-
vessel value data collected on the 2017 IFQ Buyer Report for landings 
made from October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017, were used to 
calculate the standard ex-vessel prices for the 2018 observer fee for 
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that 
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.

    Table 3--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Halibut IFQ, Halibut CDQ,
 Sablefish IFQ, and Sablefish Accruing Against the Fixed Gear Sablefish
                  CDQ Reserve for the 2018 Observer Fee
                    [based on 2017 IFQ Buyer Report]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Species                   Port/Area \1\        Price \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (200).....................  Juneau..............           $6.72
                                    Ketchikan...........            6.62
                                    Petersburg..........            6.64
                                    Sitka...............            6.49
                                    SEAK................            6.62
                                    EGOAxSE.............            6.39
                                    Homer...............            6.46
                                    Kodiak..............            6.38
                                    Seward..............            6.46
                                    CGOA................            6.42
                                    WGOA................            5.82
                                    Adak................            5.47
                                    AI..................            5.37
                                    BS..................            5.97
                                    AK..................            6.36
                                    ALL.................            6.36
Sablefish (710)...................  Ketchikan...........            4.91
                                    Sitka...............            5.11
                                    SEAK................            5.08
                                    EGOA................            4.98
                                    Homer...............            4.44
                                    Kodiak..............            4.77
                                    CGOA................            4.71
                                    WGOA................            4.73
                                    Adak................            5.00
                                    AI..................            4.50
                                    BS..................            4.12
                                    AK..................            4.76
                                    ALL.................            4.76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas are defined at Sec.   679.2. (AK = Alaska; ALL =
  all ports including those outside Alaska; AI = Aleutian Islands
  subarea; BS = Bering Sea subarea; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska;
  EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except Southeast Alaska; SEAK =
  Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska)
\2\ If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that
  price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish
  landings and the headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut
  landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group.



[[Page 60713]]

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

    Dated: December 18, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27552 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P