Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9000-9027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04539]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 180713633-9174-02]
RIN 0648-XG356

Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea
and Aleutian Islands; Final 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for
Groundfish

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 9001]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications,
apportionments, and prohibited species catch allowances for the
groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for
groundfish during the remainder of the 2019 and the start of the 2020
fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands Management Area (FMP). The 2019 harvest specifications
supersede those previously set in the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications, and the 2020 harvest specifications will be superseded
in early 2020 when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are
published. The intended effect of this action is to conserve and manage
the groundfish resources in the BSAI in accordance with the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Harvest specifications and closures are effective from 1200
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours,
A.l.t., December 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of
Decision (ROD), annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIRs) to the
EIS, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) prepared
for this action are available from https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
The 2018 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the
groundfish resources of the BSAI, dated November 2018, as well as the
SAFE reports for previous years, are available from the North Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK, 99510-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's
website at https://www.npfmc.org/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Whitney, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The
Council prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it, under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear
at 50 CFR part 600.
The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable
catch (TAC) for each target species category. The sum of all TAC for
all groundfish species in the BSAI must be within the optimum yield
(OY) range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec.
679.20(a)(1)(i)(A)). This final rule specifies the total TAC at 2.0
million mt for both 2019 and 2020. NMFS also must specify
apportionments of TAC, prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances, and
prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves established by Sec. 679.21;
seasonal allowances of pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel TAC;
American Fisheries Act allocations; Amendment 80 allocations; Community
Development Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii); and acceptable biological catch (ABC) surpluses and
reserves for CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperative for flathead
sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The final harvest specifications
set forth in Tables 1 through 25 of this action satisfy these
requirements.
Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires that NMFS consider public
comment on the proposed harvest specifications and, after consultation
with the Council, publish final harvest specifications in the Federal
Register. The proposed 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications for the
groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register
on December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815). Comments were invited and accepted
through January 7, 2019. NMFS received no comments on the proposed
harvest specifications. NMFS consulted with the Council on the final
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications during the December 2018 Council
meeting in Anchorage, AK. After considering public comments, as well as
biological and socioeconomic data that were available at the Council's
December meeting, in this final rule NMFS implements the final 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications as recommended by the Council.

ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

The final ABC amounts for Alaska groundfish are based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic information, including projected
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass,
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In
general, the development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFLs) involves
sophisticated statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP
specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts based on
the level of reliable information available to fishery scientists. Tier
1 represents the highest level of information quality available, while
Tier 6 represents the lowest.
In December 2018, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current
biological and harvest information about the condition of the BSAI
groundfish stocks. The Council's BSAI Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team)
compiled and presented this information in the 2018 SAFE report for the
BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2018 (see ADDRESSES). The
SAFE report contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and
estimates of each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as
well as summaries of the available information on the BSAI ecosystem
and the economic condition of groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS
notified the public of the comment period for these harvest
specifications--and of the publication of the 2018 SAFE report--in the
notice of proposed harvest specifications. From the data and analyses
in the SAFE report, the Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for each
species or species group at the November 2018 Plan Team meeting.
In December 2018, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs
as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations,
including maintaining the sum of all the TACs within the required OY
range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As required by annual catch
limit rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, January 16, 2009), none of
the Council's recommended 2019 or 2020 TACs exceed the final 2019 or
2020 ABCs for any species or species group. NMFS finds that the
Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the
preferred harvest strategy and the biological condition of groundfish
stocks as described in the 2018 SAFE report that was approved by the
Council. Therefore, this final rule provides notice that the Secretary
of Commerce approves the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications as
recommended by the Council.
The 2019 harvest specifications set in this final action will
supersede the 2019 harvest specifications previously set in the final
2018 and 2019 harvest specifications (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018).
The 2020 harvest specifications herein will be superseded in early 2020

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when the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are published.
Pursuant to this final action, the 2019 harvest specifications
therefore will apply for the remainder of the current year (2019),
while the 2020 harvest specifications are projected only for the
following year (2020) and will be superseded in early 2020 by the final
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications. Because this final action
(published in early 2019) will be superseded in early 2020 by the
publication of the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications, it is
projected that this final action will implement the harvest
specifications for the BSAI for approximately one year.

Other Actions Affecting the 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications

Amendment 117: Reclassify Squid as an Ecosystem Species

As described in the proposed harvest specifications, NMFS published
the final rule to implement Amendment 117 to the FMP (83 FR 31460, July
6, 2018). This rule reclassified squid in the FMP as an ``Ecosystem
Component'' species, which is a category of non-target species that are
not in need of conservation and management. NMFS will no longer set an
OFL, ABC, and TAC for squid. Therefore, the final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications for the BSAI do not include an OFL, ABC, and TAC for
squid. Amendment 117 prohibits directed fishing for squid, while
maintaining recordkeeping and reporting requirements for squid.
Amendment 117 also establishes a squid maximum retainable amount when
directed fishing for groundfish species at 20 percent to discourage
targeting squid species.

Rulemaking To Prohibit Directed Fishing for American Fisheries Act
(AFA) Sideboard Limits

On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723,
February 8, 2019) that modifies regulations for the American Fisheries
Act (AFA) Program participants subject to limits on the catch of
specific species (sideboard limits) in the BSAI. Sideboard limits are
intended to prevent AFA Program participants who benefit from receiving
exclusive harvesting privileges in a particular fishery from shifting
effort to other fisheries.
Specifically, the final rule primarily establishes regulations to
prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish
species or species groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for
AFA sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications.
Currently, NMFS calculates numerous AFA Program sideboard limits as
part of the annual BSAI groundfish harvest specifications process and
publishes these sideboard limits in the Federal Register. Concurrently,
NMFS prohibits directed fishing for the majority of the groundfish
sideboard limits because most limits are too small to support directed
fishing. Rather than continue this annual process, the final rule
revises regulations to prohibit directed fishing in regulation for most
AFA Program groundfish sideboard limits. Once the final rule is
effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in
the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard limit
amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule (contained in
Tables 20 and 22 of this action), and those groundfish species subject
to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation
(84 FR 2723).

State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels

For 2019 and 2020, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) for the State of
Alaska (State) established the guideline harvest level (GHL) for
vessels using pot gear in State waters in the Bering Sea subarea (BS)
equal to 8 percent of the Pacific cod ABC in the BS. Also, for 2019 and
2020, the BOF established an additional GHL for vessels using jig gear
in State waters in the BS equal to 45 mt of Pacific cod in the BS. The
Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all
State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from the BS not exceed the
ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the BS. Accordingly, the Council
recommended and NMFS approves that the 2019 and 2020 Pacific cod TACs
in the BS account for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State
waters in the BS. Also, the BOF approved a one percent annual increase
in the BS GHL for vessels using pot gear, up to 15 percent of the BS
ABC, if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested by November 15 of the
preceding year. If 90 percent of the 2019 BS GHL is not harvested by
November 15, 2019, the 2020 GHL will remain at 8 percent. If, however,
90 percent of the 2019 BS GHL is harvested by November 15, 2019, the
2020 GHL will increase by 1 percent to 9 percent of the 2020 BS ABC,
and the 2020 BS TAC will be set to account for the increased BS GHL.
For 2019 and 2020, the BOF established a GHL in State waters in the
Aleutian Islands subarea (AI) equal to 31 percent of the Pacific cod
ABC in the AI. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended
that the sum of all State and Federal water Pacific cod removals from
the AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod in the AI.
Accordingly, the Council recommended and NMFS approves that the 2019
and 2020 Pacific cod TACs in the AI account for the State's GHL for
Pacific cod caught in State waters in the AI.

Changes from the Proposed 2019 and 2020 Harvest Specifications for the
BSAI

The Council's recommendations for the proposed 2019 and 2020
harvest specifications (83 FR 62815, December 6, 2018) were based
largely on information contained in the 2017 SAFE report for the BSAI
groundfish fisheries. Through the proposed harvest specifications, NMFS
notified the public that these harvest specifications could change, as
the Council would consider information contained in the 2018 SAFE
report; recommendations from the Plan Team, SSC, and AP committees; and
public comments when making its recommendations for final harvest
specifications at the December 2018 Council meeting. NMFS further
notified the public that, as required by the FMP and its implementing
regulations, the sum of the TACs must be within the OY range of 1.4
million and 2.0 million mt.
Information contained in the 2018 SAFE report indicates biomass
changes from the 2017 SAFE report for several groundfish species. The
2018 report was made available for public review during the public
comment period for the proposed harvest specifications. At the December
2018 Council meeting, the SSC recommended the 2019 and 2020 ABCs based
on the best and most recent information contained in the 2018 SAFE
report. This recommendation resulted in an ABC sum total for all BSAI
groundfish species in excess of 2.0 million mt for both 2019 and 2020.
Based on increased fishing effort in 2018, the Council recommends
final BS pollock TACs increase by 12,800 mt in 2019 and 35,800 mt in
2020 compared to the proposed 2019 and 2020 BS pollock TACs. In terms
of percentage, the largest increases in final 2019 and 2020 TACs
relative to the proposed 2019 and 2020 TACs include BSAI shortraker
rockfish and octopuses. The increases account for anticipated higher
incidental catches of these species, based on increased incidental
catches in 2018. Other increases in the final 2019 TACs relative to the
proposed 2019 TACs include Bering Sea Pacific cod, Alaska plaice,
``other flatfish,'' Pacific ocean perch, Central Aleutian and Western
Aleutian (CAI/WAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and Western Aleutian
Islands (WAI) Atka

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mackerel. The 2019 increases account for higher interest in directed
fishing or higher anticipated incidental catch needs.
Decreases in final 2019 TACs compared to the proposed 2019 TACs
include Bogoslof pollock, Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod, BS
sablefish, AI sablefish, yellowfin sole, arrowtooth flounder, rock
sole, flathead sole, AI ``other rockfish,'' Eastern Aleutian Islands
and Bering Sea (EAI/BS) Atka mackerel, Central Aleutian Islands (CAI)
Atka mackerel, skates, and sharks. The decreases for AI Pacific cod,
EAI/BS and CAI Atka mackerel, BS sablefish, AI sablefish, and ``other
rockfish'' are to account for ABC constraints. The remaining decreases
are for anticipated lower incidental catch needs of these species
relative to 2018.
The changes to TACs between the proposed and final harvest
specifications are based on the most recent scientific and economic
information and are consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations,
and harvest strategy as described in the proposed harvest
specifications, including the upper limit for OY of 2.0 million mt.
These changes are compared in Table 1A.
Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2019 OFL, ABC, TAC,
initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ reserve allocations of the BSAI groundfish
species or species groups; and Table 2 lists the Council's recommended
final 2020 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, and CDQ reserve allocations of the BSAI
groundfish species or species groups. NMFS concurs in these
recommendations. These final 2019 and 2020 TAC recommendations for the
BSAI are within the OY range established for the BSAI and do not exceed
the ABC for any species or species group. The apportionment of TAC
amounts among fisheries and seasons is discussed below.

Table 1--Final 2019 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve
Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2019
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
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Pollock \4\............................. BS............................ 3,914,000 2,163,000 1,397,000 1,257,300 139,700
AI............................ 64,240 52,887 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof...................... 183,080 137,310 75 75 ..............
Pacific cod \5\......................... BS............................ 216,000 181,000 166,475 148,662 17,813
AI............................ 27,400 20,600 14,214 12,693 1,521
Sablefish............................... BS............................ 3,221 1,489 1,489 1,228 205
AI............................ 4,350 2,008 2,008 1,632 339
Yellowfin sole.......................... BSAI.......................... 290,000 263,200 154,000 137,522 16,478
Greenland turbot........................ BSAI.......................... 11,362 9,658 5,294 4,500 n/a
BS............................ n/a 8,431 5,125 4,356 548
AI............................ n/a 1,227 169 144 ..............
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 82,939 70,673 8,000 6,800 856
Kamchatka flounder...................... BSAI.......................... 10,965 9,260 5,000 4,250 ..............
Rock sole \6\........................... BSAI.......................... 122,000 118,900 47,100 42,060 5,040
Flathead sole \7\....................... BSAI.......................... 80,918 66,625 14,500 12,949 1,552
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI.......................... 39,880 33,600 18,000 15,300 ..............
Other flatfish \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 21,824 16,368 6,500 5,525 ..............
Pacific ocean perch..................... BSAI.......................... 61,067 50,594 44,069 38,723 n/a
BS............................ n/a 14,675 14,675 12,474 ..............
EAI........................... n/a 11,459 11,009 9,831 1,178
CAI........................... n/a 8,435 8,385 7,488 897
WAI........................... n/a 16,025 10,000 8,930 1,070
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI.......................... 15,507 12,664 6,500 5,525 ..............
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \9\...... BSAI.......................... 676 555 279 237 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 351 75 64 ..............
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 204 204 173 ..............
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI.......................... 722 541 358 304 ..............
Other rockfish \10\..................... BSAI.......................... 1,793 1,344 663 564 ..............
BS............................ n/a 956 275 234 ..............
AI............................ n/a 388 388 330 ..............
Atka mackerel........................... BSAI.......................... 79,200 68,500 57,951 51,750 6,201
BS/EAI........................ n/a 23,970 23,970 21,405 2,565
CAI........................... n/a 14,390 14,390 12,850 1,540
WAI........................... n/a 30,140 19,591 17,495 2,096
Skates.................................. BSAI.......................... 51,152 42,714 26,000 22,100 ..............
Sculpins................................ BSAI.......................... 53,201 39,995 5,000 4,250 ..............
Sharks.................................. BSAI.......................... 689 517 125 106 ..............
Octopuses............................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 ..............
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Total............................... .............................. 5,340,955 3,367,578 2,000,000 1,791,495 195,297
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\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin
sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve.
The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-
CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).

[[Page 9004]]

\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland
turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish,
``other rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent;
catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first
for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation
for a pollock directed fishery.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 8 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in
State waters of the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State
waters of the AI.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\9\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
*Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI =
Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district).

Table 1a--Comparison of Final 2019 and 2020 With Proposed 2019 and 2020 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
[Amounts are in metric tons]
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2019 2020
2019 Final 2019 2019 Percentage 2020 Final 2020 2020 Percentage
Species Area \1\ TAC Proposed Difference difference TAC Proposed Difference difference
TAC from proposed from proposed TAC from proposed from proposed
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Pollock...................................... BS........................... 1,397,000 1,384,200 12,800 0.9 1,420,000 1,384,200 35,800 2.6
AI........................... 19,000 19,000 .............. .............. 19,000 19,000 .............. ..............
Bogoslof..................... 75 500 (425) (85.0) 75 500 (425) (85.0)
Pacific cod.................................. BS........................... 166,475 156,355 10,120 6.5 124,625 156,355 (31,730) (20.3)
AI........................... 14,214 14,835 (621) (4.2) 14,214 14,835 (621) (4.2)
Sablefish.................................... BS........................... 1,489 2,061 (572) (27.8) 1,994 2,061 (67) (3.3)
AI........................... 2,008 2,798 (790) (28.2) 2,688 2,798 (110) (3.9)
Yellowfin sole............................... BSAI......................... 154,000 156,000 (2,000) (1.3) 166,425 156,000 10,425 6.7
Greenland turbot............................. BS........................... 5,125 5,125 .............. .............. 5,125 5,125 .............. ..............
AI........................... 169 169 .............. .............. 169 169 .............. ..............
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... BSAI......................... 8,000 14,000 (6,000) (42.9) 8,000 14,000 (6,000) (42.9)
Kamchatka flounder........................... BSAI......................... 5,000 5,000 .............. .............. 5,000 5,000 .............. ..............
Rock sole.................................... BSAI......................... 47,100 49,100 (2,000) (4.1) 57,100 49,100 8,000 16.3
Flathead sole................................ BSAI......................... 14,500 16,500 (2,000) (12.1) 14,500 16,500 (2,000) (12.1)
Alaska plaice................................ BSAI......................... 18,000 16,252 1,748 10.8 18,000 16,252 1,748 10.8
Other flatfish............................... BSAI......................... 6,500 4,000 2,500 62.5 6,500 4,000 2,500 62.5
Pacific ocean perch.......................... BS........................... 14,675 11,499 3,176 27.6 14,274 11,499 2,775 24.1
EAI.......................... 11,009 9,715 1,294 13.3 11,146 9,715 1,431 14.7
CAI.......................... 8,385 7,549 836 11.1 8,205 7,549 656 8.7
WAI.......................... 10,000 9,117 883 9.7 10,000 9,117 883 9.7
Northern rockfish............................ BSAI......................... 6,500 6,500 .............. .............. 6,500 6,500 .............. ..............
Blackspotted and Rougheye rockfish........... BS/EAI....................... 75 75 .............. .............. 75 75 .............. ..............
CAI/WAI...................... 204 150 54 36.0 204 150 54 36.0
Shortraker rockfish.......................... BSAI......................... 358 150 208 138.7 358 150 208 138.7
Other rockfish............................... BS........................... 275 275 .............. .............. 275 275 .............. ..............
AI........................... 388 570 (182) (31.9) 388 ........... (182) (31.9)
Atka mackerel................................ EAI/BS....................... 23,970 33,780 (9,810) (29.0) 22,190 33,780 (11,590) (34.3)
CAI.......................... 14,390 24,895 (10,505) (42.2) 13,310 24,895 (11,585) (46.5)
WAI.......................... 19,591 13,825 5,766 41.7 18,135 13,825 4,310 31.2
Skates....................................... BSAI......................... 26,000 27,000 (1,000) (3.7) 26,000 27,000 (1,000) (3.7)
Sculpins..................................... BSAI......................... 5,000 5,000 .............. .............. 5,000 5,000 .............. ..............
Sharks....................................... BSAI......................... 125 180 (55) (30.6) 125 180 (55) (30.6)
Octopuses.................................... BSAI......................... 400 200 200 100.0 400 200 200 100.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................... BSAI......................... 2,000,000 1,996,375 3,625 0.2 2,000,000 1,996,375 3,625 0.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Bering Sea subarea (BS), Aleutian Islands subarea (AI), Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI), Eastern Aleutian District (EAI), Central Aleutian District (CAI), and
Western Aleutian District (WAI).

Table 2--Final 2020 Overfishing Level (OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), Total Allowable Catch (TAC), Initial TAC (ITAC), and CDQ Reserve
Allocation of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020
Species Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFL ABC TAC ITAC \2\ CDQ \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\............................. BS............................ 3,082,000 1,792,000 1,420,000 1,278,000 142,000
AI............................ 66,981 55,125 19,000 17,100 1,900
Bogoslof...................... 183,080 137,310 75 75 ..............

[[Page 9005]]

Pacific cod \5\......................... BS............................ 183,000 137,000 124,625 111,290 13,335
AI............................ 27,400 20,600 14,214 12,693 1,521
Sablefish............................... BS............................ 4,441 1,994 1,994 847 75
AI............................ 5,997 2,688 2,688 571 50
Yellowfin sole.......................... BSAI.......................... 284,000 257,800 166,425 148,618 17,807
Greenland turbot........................ BSAI.......................... 10,476 8,908 5,294 4,500 n/a
BS............................ n/a 7,777 5,125 4,356 548
AI............................ n/a 1,131 169 144 ..............
Arrowtooth flounder..................... BSAI.......................... 83,814 71,411 8,000 6,800 856
Kamchatka flounder...................... BSAI.......................... 11,260 9,509 5,000 4,250 ..............
Rock sole \6\........................... BSAI.......................... 147,500 143,700 57,100 50,990 6,110
Flathead sole \7\....................... BSAI.......................... 83,190 68,448 14,500 12,949 1,552
Alaska plaice........................... BSAI.......................... 37,860 31,900 18,000 15,300 ..............
Other flatfish \8\...................... BSAI.......................... 21,824 16,368 6,500 5,525 ..............
Pacific ocean perch..................... BSAI.......................... 59,396 49,211 43,625 38,343 n/a
BS............................ n/a 14,274 14,274 12,133 ..............
EAI........................... n/a 11,146 11,146 9,953 1,193
CAI........................... n/a 8,205 8,205 7,327 878
WAI........................... n/a 15,586 10,000 8,930 1,070
Northern rockfish....................... BSAI.......................... 15,180 12,396 6,500 5,525 ..............
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish \9\...... BSAI.......................... 868 715 279 237 ..............
BS/EAI........................ n/a 448 75 64 ..............
CAI/WAI....................... n/a 267 204 173 ..............
Shortraker rockfish..................... BSAI.......................... 722 541 358 304 ..............
Other rockfish \10\..................... BSAI.......................... 1,793 1,344 663 564 ..............
BS............................ n/a 956 275 234 ..............
AI............................ n/a 388 388 330 ..............
Atka mackerel........................... BSAI.......................... 73,400 63,400 53,635 47,896 5,739
EAI/BS........................ n/a 22,190 22,190 19,816 2,374
CAI........................... n/a 13,310 13,310 11,886 1,424
WAI........................... n/a 27,900 18,135 16,195 1,940
Skates.................................. BSAI.......................... 48,944 40,813 26,000 22,100 ..............
Sculpins................................ BSAI.......................... 53,201 39,995 5,000 4,250 ..............
Sharks.................................. BSAI.......................... 689 517 125 106 ..............
Octopuses............................... BSAI.......................... 4,769 3,576 400 340 ..............
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................... .............................. 4,491,785 2,967,269 2,000,000 1,789,174 194,634
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
harvest specifications, the Bering Sea subarea (BS) includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to hook-and-line and pot gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead
sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve.
The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-
CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC
allocated to hook-and-line gear or pot gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea
Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). Aleutian Islands Greenland
turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish,
``other rockfish,'' skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
for the incidental catch allowance (3.7 percent), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent;
catcher/processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Under Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first
for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (2,400 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation
for a pollock directed fishery.
\5\ Assuming an increase in the 2020 guideline harvest level based on the actual 2019 harvest, the 2020 BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 9
percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest level in State waters of the BS. The 2020 AI Pacific cod TAC is
set to account for the 31 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI.
\6\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole) and Lepidopsetta bilineata (Southern rock sole).
\7\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\8\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\9\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted).
\10\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec. 679.2 (BSAI = Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area, BS = Bering Sea subarea, AI =
Aleutian Islands subarea, EAI = Eastern Aleutian district, CAI = Central Aleutian district, WAI = Western Aleutian district).

[[Page 9006]]

Groundfish Reserves and the Incidental Catch Allowance (ICA) for
Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and
Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch

Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that NMFS reserves 15 percent of
the TAC for each target species, except for pollock, hook-and-line and
pot gear allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species, in a non-
specified reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS
allocate 20 percent of the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of
sablefish for the fixed-gear sablefish CDQ reserve for each subarea.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of
the trawl gear allocations of sablefish in the BS and AI and 10.7
percent of the Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs
to the respective CDQ reserves. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires
that NMFS allocate 10.7 percent of the TACs for Atka mackerel, Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole,
and Pacific cod to the respective CDQ reserves. Sections
679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) and 679.31(a) also require that 10 percent of the
Bering Sea pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed fishing
allowance (DFA). Sections 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i) and 679.31(a)
require that 10 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock TAC be
allocated to the pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof District pollock
TAC is allocated as an ICA pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(ii) because
the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock by
regulation (Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(i)(B)). With the exception of the hook-
and-line or pot gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do not
further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock
ICA of 3.7 percent of the BS pollock TAC after subtracting the 10
percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the
pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 2000 through 2018.
During this 19-year period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a
low of 2.2 percent in 2006 to a high of 4.6 percent in 2014, with a 19-
year average of 3 percent. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)(i)
and (ii), NMFS establishes a pollock ICA of 2,400 mt of the AI pollock
TAC after subtracting the 10 percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based
on NMFS's examination of the pollock incidental catch, including the
incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock
from 2003 through 2018. During this 16-year period, the incidental
catch of pollock ranged from a low of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of 17
percent in 2014, with a 16-year average of 8 percent.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of
3,000 mt of flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 4,000 mt of yellowfin
sole, 10 mt of WAI Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of CAI Pacific ocean
perch, 100 mt of EAI Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka mackerel,
75 mt of CAI Atka mackerel, and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka mackerel TAC
after subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve. These ICA allowances
are based on NMFS's examination of the incidental catch in other target
fisheries from 2003 through 2018.
The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified
reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments are
consistent with Sec. 679.20(a)(3) and do not result in overfishing
(see Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined
that the ITACs specified for the species listed in Table 1 need to be
supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. fishing
vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(b)(3), NMFS is
apportioning the amounts shown in Table 3 from the non-specified
reserve to increase the ITAC for AI ``other rockfish'' by 15 percent of
the ``other rockfish'' TAC in 2019 and 2020.

Table 3--Final 2019 and 2020 Apportionment of Non-Specified Reserves to ITAC Categories
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Reserve 2019 Final 2020 Reserve 2020 Final
Species-area or subarea 2019 ITAC amount ITAC 2020 ITAC amount ITAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands subarea................. 330 58 388 330 58 388
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 330 58 388 330 58 388
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allocation of Pollock TAC Under the American Fisheries Act (AFA)

Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS pollock TAC be
apportioned as a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program
and 3.7 percent for the ICA, as follows: 50 percent to the inshore
sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (C/P) sector, and 10
percent to the mothership sector. In the BS, 45 percent of the DFA is
allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 55 percent of the
DFA is allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) (Sec. Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(1) and 679.23(e)(2)). The Aleutian Islands directed
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of
pollock TAC remaining in the AI after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ
DFA (10 percent) and 2,400 mt for the ICA (Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)). In the AI, the total A season apportionment
of the TAC (including the AI directed fishery allocation, the CDQ
seasonal allowance, and the ICA) may equal up to 40 percent of the ABC
for AI pollock, and the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B
season (Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(3)). Tables 4 and 5 list these 2019
and 2020 amounts.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets harvest limits for pollock in
the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In
Area 543, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more than 5 percent
of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC. In Area 542, the A season pollock
harvest limit is no more than 15 percent of the Aleutian Islands
pollock ABC. In Area 541, the A season pollock harvest limit is no more
than 30 percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific
requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, it requires that
8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector be available for
harvest by AFA catcher vessels (CVs) with C/P sector endorsements,
unless the Regional Administrator receives a cooperative contract that
allows the distribution of harvest among AFA C/Ps and AFA CVs in a
manner agreed to by all members. Second, AFA C/Ps not listed in the AFA
are limited to harvesting not more than

[[Page 9007]]

0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the C/P sector. Tables 4 and 5
list the 2019 and 2020 allocations of pollock TAC. Tables 20 through 25
list the AFA C/P and CV harvesting sideboard limits. The tables for the
pollock allocations to the BS inshore pollock cooperatives and open
access sector will be posted on the Alaska Region website at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov.
Tables 4 and 5 also list seasonal apportionments of pollock and
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual
pollock DFA before 12 noon, April 1, as provided in Sec.
679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock SCA harvest limit will be
apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated
percentage of the DFA. Tables 4 and 5 list these 2019 and 2020 amounts
by sector.

Table 4--Final 2019 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 A season \1\ 2019 B season
2019 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,397,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 139,700 62,865 39,116 76,835
ICA \1\......................................... 46,520 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,210,780 544,851 339,018 665,929
AFA Inshore..................................... 605,390 272,425 169,509 332,964
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 484,312 217,940 135,607 266,372
Catch by C/Ps............................... 443,145 199,415 n/a 243,730
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 41,167 18,525 n/a 22,642
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,422 1,090 n/a 1,332
AFA Motherships................................. 121,078 54,485 33,902 66,593
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 211,886 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 363,234 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 52,887 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 1,900 1,900 n/a
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 14,700 14,700 n/a
Area harvest limit \7\.......................... n/a n/a n/a n/a
541......................................... 15,866 n/a n/a n/a
542......................................... 7,933 n/a n/a n/a
543......................................... 2,644 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................... 75 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.7 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock
TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to
the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is
allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available
for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is
a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 5--Final 2020 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 A season \1\ 2020 B season
2020 -------------------------------- \1\
Area and sector Allocations SCA harvest ---------------
A season DFA limit \2\ B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................... 1,420,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 142,000 63,900 39,760 78,100
ICA \1\......................................... 47,286 n/a n/a n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................... 1,230,714 553,821 344,600 676,893
AFA Inshore..................................... 615,357 276,911 172,300 338,446

[[Page 9008]]

AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................... 492,286 221,529 137,840 270,757
Catch by C/Ps............................... 450,441 202,699 n/a 247,743
Catch by CVs \3\............................ 41,844 18,830 n/a 23,014
Unlisted C/P Limit \4\...................... 2,461 1,108 n/a 1,354
AFA Motherships................................. 123,071 55,382 34,460 67,689
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\.................. 215,375 n/a n/a n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\.................. 369,214 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................... 30,803 n/a n/a n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\................ 19,000 n/a n/a n/a
CDQ DFA......................................... 1,900 760 n/a 1,140
ICA............................................. 2,400 1,200 n/a 1,200
Aleut Corporation............................... 14,700 10,361 n/a 4,339
Area harvest limit \7\ 541...................... 9,241 n/a n/a n/a
542............................................. 4,620 n/a n/a n/a
543............................................. 1,540 n/a n/a n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................... 500 n/a n/a n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the Bering Sea subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
percent) and the ICA (3.7 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: Inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
processor sector (C/P)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the Bering Sea subarea, 45 percent
of the DFA is allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA is allocated to the B
season (June 10-November 1). Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual Aleutian Islands pollock
TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (2,400 mt), is allocated to
the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the Aleutian Islands subarea, the A season is
allocated up to 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock.
\2\ In the Bering Sea subarea, pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's
annual DFA may be taken from the SCA before noon, April 1.
\3\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the DFA allocated to listed C/Ps shall be available
for harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a C/P endorsement delivering to listed C/Ps, unless there is
a C/P sector cooperative for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted catcher/processors are limited to harvesting
not more than 0.5 percent of the catcher/processors sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec. 679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting
the CDQ reserves, ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
non-trawl gear sector, and the jig gear allocation (Tables 6 and 7).
The percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in Table 33 to 50
CFR part 679 and in Sec. 679.91. Pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(8)(i), up
to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS Atka mackerel ITAC may be allocated
to vessels using jig gear. The percent of this allocation is
recommended annually by the Council based on several criteria,
including, among other criteria, the anticipated harvest capacity of
the jig gear fleet. The Council recommended, and NMFS approves, a 0.5
percent allocation of the Atka mackerel ITAC in the EAI and BS to the
jig gear sector in 2019 and 2020.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC into
two equal seasonal allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first
seasonal allowance for directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20
through June 10 (A season), and the second seasonal allowance from June
10 through December 31 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies
Atka mackerel seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel trawl fishing. The ICAs and
jig gear allocations are not apportioned by season.
Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) limits Atka mackerel
catch within waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller sea lion sites listed in
Table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located west of 178[deg] W longitude to
no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543, and
equally divides the annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined
at Sec. 679.23(e)(3). Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the
annual TAC in Area 543 will be no more than 65 percent of the ABC in
Area 543. Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that any unharvested
Atka mackerel A season allowance that is added to the B season be
prohibited from being harvested within waters 0 nm to 20 nm of Steller
sea lion sites listed in Table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located in
Areas 541, 542, and 543.
Tables 6 and 7 list these 2019 and 2020 Atka mackerel seasonal and
area allowances, and the sector allocations. One Amendment 80
cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year. Because all Amendment
80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation
to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2019. The
2020 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives
and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by
November 1, 2019.

[[Page 9009]]

Table 6--Final 2019 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Eastern Aleutian
district/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea District \5\ District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 23,970 14,390 19,591
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,565 1,540 2,096
A................... 1,282 770 1,048
Critical Habitat.... n/a 462 629
B................... 1,282 770 1,048
Critical Habitat.... n/a 462 629
Non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a................. 21,405 12,850 17,495
ICA.............................. Total............... 800 75 20
Jig \7\.......................... Total............... 103
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 2,050 1,278
A................... 1,025 639
Critical Habitat.... n/a 383
B................... 1,025 639
Critical Habitat.... n/a 383
Amendment 80 sector.............. Total............... 18,452 11,498 17,475
A................... 9,226 5,749 8,737
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,449 5,242
B................... 9,226 5,749 8,737
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,449 5,242
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC
for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50
CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of
this allocation for 2019 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 7--Final 2020 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
Amendment 80 Allocation of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Allocation by area
--------------------------------------------------------
Sector \1\ Season 2 3 4 Eastern Aleutian
District/Bering Central Aleutian Western Aleutian
Sea \5\ District \5\ District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.............................. n/a................. 22,190 13,310 18,135
CDQ reserve...................... Total............... 2,374 1,424 1,940
A................... 1,187 712 970
Critical Habitat.... n/a 427 582
B................... 1,187 712 970
Critical Habitat.... n/a 427 582
non-CDQ TAC...................... n/a................. 19,816 11,886 16,195
ICA.............................. Total............... 800 75 20
Jig \7\.......................... Total............... 95 ................. .................
BSAI trawl limited access........ Total............... 1,892 1,181 -
A................... 946 591 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 354 .................
B................... 946 591 .................
Critical Habitat.... n/a 354 .................
Amendment 80 sectors \7\......... Total............... 17,029 10,630 16,175
A................... 8,514 5,315 8,087
Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,189 4,852
B................... 8,514 5,315 8,087

[[Page 9010]]

Critical Habitat.... n/a 3,189 4,852
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, jig gear
allocation, and ICAs, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC
for Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in Table 33 to 50
CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see
Sec. Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) and 679.31).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
be caught inside of Steller sea lion critical habitat; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
annual TACs between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec. 679.23(e)(3); and section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2)
requires the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(i) requires that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian District and the Bering Sea
subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets the amount of
this allocation for 2020 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2020 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2019.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

The Council separated Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subarea OFLs,
ABCs, and TACs for Pacific cod in 2014 (79 FR 12108, March 4, 2014).
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of the Bering Sea
TAC and the Aleutian Islands TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ
allocations have been deducted from the respective Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod TACs, the remaining Bering Sea and
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further
BSAI Pacific cod sector allocations. If the non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is
or will be reached in either the Bering Sea or the Aleutian Islands
subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific cod
in that subarea as provided in Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii).
Section 679.20(a)(7)(i) and (ii) allocates to the non-CDQ sectors
the Pacific cod TAC in the combined BSAI TAC, after subtracting 10.7
percent for the CDQ program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using
jig gear; 2.0 percent to hook-and-line or pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3
m) length overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than
or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line C/Ps; 8.4
percent to pot CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5
percent to pot C/Ps; 2.3 percent to AFA trawl C/Ps; 13.4 percent to
Amendment 80 sector; and 22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the
hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate
portion of Pacific cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot
sectors. For 2019 and 2020, the Regional Administrator establishes an
ICA of 400 mt based on anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in
other fisheries.
The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is
established in Table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91. One
Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year. Because
all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative,
no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for
2019. The 2020 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment
80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the
program by November 1, 2019.
The sector allocations of Pacific cod are apportioned into seasonal
allowances to disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year
(see Sec. Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A), and
679.23(e)(5)). In accordance with Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C),
any unused portion of a seasonal Pacific cod allowance for any sector,
except the jig sector, will become available at the beginning of that
sector's next seasonal allowance.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that the Regional Administrator
establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod
abundance in Area 543. Based on the 2018 stock assessment, the Regional
Administrator determined the Pacific cod abundance in Area 543 to be
15.7 percent for 2019 and 2020. NMFS will first subtract the State GHL
Pacific cod amount from the Aleutian Islands Pacific cod ABC. Then NMFS
will determine the harvest limit in Area 543 by multiplying the
percentage of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543 by the remaining ABC
for Aleutian Islands Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area
543 harvest limit is 2,232 mt for 2019 and 2020.
Section 679.20(a)(7)(viii) requires specification of annual Pacific
cod allocations for the Aleutian Islands non-CDQ ICA, non-CDQ DFA, CV
Harvest Set-Aside, and Unrestricted Fishery, as well as the Bering Sea
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation. The CV Harvest Set-Aside is a
portion of the AI Pacific cod TAC that is available for harvest by
catcher vessels directed fishing for AI Pacific cod and delivering
their catch for processing to an AI shoreplant. If NMFS receives
notification of intent to process AI Pacific cod from either the City
of Adak or the City of Atka by October 31 of the previous year, the
harvest limits in Tables 9a or 9b will be in effect in the following
year.
Prior to October 31, 2018, NMFS received timely and complete notice
from the City of Adak indicating an intent to process AI Pacific cod in
2019. Accordingly, the harvest limits in Table 9a will be in effect in
2019, subject to the requirements outlined in Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E). If less than 1,000 mt of the Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside is delivered at Aleutian Islands shoreplants by
February 28, 2019, then the Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside is
lifted and the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is
suspended. If the entire Aleutian Islands CV Harvest Set-Aside

[[Page 9011]]

is fully harvested and delivered to Aleutian Islands shoreplants before
March 15, 2019, then the Bering Sea Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation
will be suspended for the remainder of the fishing year.
If NMFS receives notice of intent to process AI Pacific cod from
either the City of Adak or the City of Atka prior to October 31, 2019,
for the 2020 fishing year, Table 9b will be in effect in 2020, subject
to the requirements outlined in Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E).
The CDQ and non-CDQ seasonal allowances by gear based on the 2019
and 2020 Pacific cod TACs are listed in Tables 8 and 9, and are based
on the sector allocation percentages of Pacific cod set forth at Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) and (a)(7)(iv)(A); and the seasons set forth at
Sec. 679.23(e)(5).

Table 8--Final 2019 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Share of 2019 Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent gear sector 2019 Share of ---------------------------------
total sector total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................ n/a 166,475 n/a n/a............. n/a
BS CDQ........................ n/a 17,813 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 148,662 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI TAC........................ n/a 14,214 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI CDQ........................ n/a 1,521 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 12,693 n/a n/a............. n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit. n/a 2,232 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.... 100 161,355 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 98,104 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a 400 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii
)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 97,704 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 78,260 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 39,912
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 38,347
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 321 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 164
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 157
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 2,410 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 1,229
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 1,181
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 13,499 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 6,884
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 6,614
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2.0 n/a 3,214 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 35,660 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 26,388
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 3,923
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 5,349
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 3,711 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 2,783
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 928
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 21,622 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 16,216
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 5,405
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Jig........................... 1.4 2,259 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,355
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 452
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 452
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea will be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 400 mt for 2019
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 9--Final 2020 Gear Shares and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Share of 2020 Seasonal apportionment
Gear sector Percent gear sector 2020 Share of ---------------------------------
total sector total Seasons Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS TAC........................ n/a 124,625 n/a n/a............. n/a
BS CDQ........................ n/a 13,335 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
BS non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 111,290 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI TAC........................ n/a 14,214 n/a n/a............. n/a
AI CDQ........................ n/a 1,521 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(i)
(B).
AI non-CDQ TAC................ n/a 12,693 n/a n/a............. n/a
Western Aleutian Island Limit. n/a 2,232 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\.... n/a 123,983 n/a n/a............. n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear.. 60.8 75,382 n/a n/a............. n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\..... n/a 400 n/a see Sec. n/a
679.20(a)(7)(ii
)(B).
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total... n/a 74,982 n/a n/a............. n/a

[[Page 9012]]

Hook-and-line catcher/ 48.7 n/a 60,059 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 30,630
processor.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 29,429
Hook-and-line catcher vessel 0.2 n/a 247 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 126
>= 60 ft LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... 121
Pot catcher/processor......... 1.5 n/a 1,850 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 943
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 906
Pot catcher vessel >= 60 ft 8.4 n/a 10,359 Jan 1-Jun 10.... 5,283
LOA.
.............. .............. .............. Sept 1-Dec 31... 5,076
Catcher vessel < 60 ft LOA 2.0 n/a 2,467 n/a............. n/a
using hook-and-line or pot
gear.
Trawl catcher vessel.......... 22.1 27,400 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 20,276
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 3,014
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... 4,110
AFA trawl catcher/processor... 2.3 2,852 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 2,139
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 713
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Nov 1.... ..............
Amendment 80.................. 13.4 16,614 n/a Jan 20-Apr 1.... 12,460
.............. .............. .............. Apr 1-Jun 10.... 4,153
.............. .............. .............. Jun 10-Dec 31... ..............
Jig........................... 1.4 1,736 n/a Jan 1-Apr 30.... 1,041
.............. .............. .............. Apr 30-Aug 31... 347
.............. .............. .............. Aug 31-Dec 31... 347
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The gear shares and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and AI
Pacific cod TACs, after the subtraction of CDQ. If the TAC for Pacific cod in either the AI or BS is reached,
then directed fishing for Pacific cod in that subarea will be prohibited, even if a BSAI allowance remains.
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 400 mt for 2020
based on anticipated incidental catch in these fisheries.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 9a--2019 BSAI A-Season Pacific Cod Allocations and Limits if
Requirements in Sec. 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) Are Met
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside Amount (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI non-CDQ TAC.......................................... 12,693
AI ICA.................................................. 2,500
AI DFA.................................................. 10,193
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside \1\............................. 5,000
AI Unrestricted Fishery \2\............................. 5,193
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation....................... 26,388
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector 21,388
Limitation \3\.........................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation.................. 5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Prior to March 15, 2019, only catcher vessels that deliver their
catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed
fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is
specified as the AI CV Harvest Set-Aside, unless lifted because the
requirements pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.
\2\ Prior to March 15, 2019, vessels otherwise authorized to directed
fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of
the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI
Unrestricted Fishery.
\3\ This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may
be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2019, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of
the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.

Table 9b--2020 BSAI A-Season Pacific Cod Allocations and Limits if
Requirements in Sec. 679.20(A)(7)(VIII) Are Met
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2020 Allocations and limits under Aleutian Islands CV
Harvest Set-Aside Amount (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI non-CDQ TAC.......................................... 12,693
AI ICA.................................................. 2,500
AI DFA.................................................. 10,193
AI CV Harvest Set-Aside \1\............................. 5,000
AI Unrestricted Fishery \2\............................. 5,193
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation....................... 20,493
BSAI Trawl CV A-Season Allocation minus Sector 15,493
Limitation \3\.........................................
BS Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation.................. 5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Prior to March 15, 2020, only catcher vessels that deliver their
catch of AI Pacific cod to AI shoreplants for processing may directed
fish for that portion of the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is
specified as the AI CV Harvest Set-Aside, unless lifted because the
requirements pursuant to Sec. 679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.

[[Page 9013]]

\2\ Prior to March 15, 2020, vessels otherwise authorized to directed
fish for Pacific cod in the AI may directed fish for that portion of
the AI Pacific cod non-CDQ DFA that is specified as the AI
Unrestricted Fishery.
\3\ This is the amount of the BSAI trawl CV A-season allocation that may
be harvested in the Bering Sea prior to March 21, 2020, unless the BS
Trawl CV A-Season Sector Limitation is suspended for the remainder of
the fishing year because the requirements pursuant to Sec.
679.20(a)(7)(viii)(E) were not met.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

Section 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the
sablefish TAC for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas between
trawl gear and hook-and-line or pot gear sectors. Gear allocations of
the TAC for the BS are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for
hook-and-line or pot gear. Gear allocations of the TAC for the AI are
25 percent for trawl gear and 75 percent for hook-and-line or pot gear.
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS apportions 20 percent of
the hook-and-line or pot gear allocation of sablefish to the CDQ
reserve for each subarea. Also, Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) requires
that 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation of sablefish from the
non-specified reserves, established under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(i), be
assigned to the CDQ reserve.
The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be
established biennially. The harvest specifications for the hook-and-
line gear or pot gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
fisheries are limited to the 2019 fishing year to ensure those
fisheries are conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery.
Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the potential for
discards of halibut and sablefish in those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ
fisheries remain closed at the beginning of each fishing year until the
final harvest specifications for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in
effect. Table 10 lists the 2019 and 2020 gear allocations of the
sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts.

Table 10--Final 2019 and 2020 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent of 2019 Share of 2019 CDQ 2020 Share of 2020 CDQ
Subarea and gear TAC TAC 2019 ITAC reserve TAC 2020 ITAC reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea
Trawl \1\........................... 50 745 633 56 997 847 75
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 50 745 596 149 n/a n/a n/a
Total............................... 100 1,489 1,228 205 997 847 75
Aleutian Islands
Trawl \1\........................... 25 502 427 38 672 571 50
Hook-and-line/pot gear \2\.......... 75 1,506 1,205 301 n/a n/a n/a
Total............................... 100 2,008 1,632 339 672 571 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Except for the sablefish hook-and-line and pot gear allocation, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specific reserve (Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting these reserves.
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using hook-and-line or pot gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC is reserved for use by
CDQ participants (Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). The Council recommended that specifications for the hook-and-line gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be
limited to one year.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Allocation of the Aleutian Islands Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs

Section 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate
Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole ITACs between the Amendment 80 sector and the
BSAI trawl limited access sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for
the CDQ reserves and ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and
vessels using non-trawl gear. The allocation of the ITACs for Aleutian
Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 sector are established in accordance
with Tables 33 and 34 to 50 CFR part 679 and Sec. 679.91.
One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2019 fishing year.
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80
cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is
required for 2019. The 2020 allocations for Amendment 80 species
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for
participation in the program by November 1, 2019. Tables 11 and 12 list
the 2019 and 2020 allocations of the Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean
perch, and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs.

Table 11--Final 2019 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 11,009 8,385 10,000 14,500 47,100 154,000

[[Page 9014]]

CDQ..................................................... 1,178 897 1,070 1,552 5,040 16,478
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 973 743 178 .............. .............. 18,351
Amendment 80............................................ 8,758 6,685 8,742 9,949 36,060 115,171
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 12--Final 2020 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAS), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
Pacific Ocean Perch, and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole Tacs
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch Flathead sole Rock sole Yellowfin sole
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Eastern Central Western
Aleutian Aleutian Aleutian BSAI BSAI BSAI
District District District
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..................................................... 11,146 8,205 10,000 14,500 57,100 166,425
CDQ..................................................... 1,193 878 1,070 1,552 6,110 17,807
ICA..................................................... 100 60 10 3,000 6,000 4,000
BSAI trawl limited access............................... 985 727 178 .............. .............. 22,789
Amendment 80\1\......................................... 8,868 6,540 8,742 9,949 44,990 121,828
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2020 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2019.
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Section 679.2 defines the ABC surplus for flathead sole, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole as the difference between the annual ABC and TAC for
each species. Section 679.20(b)(1)(iii) establishes ABC reserves for
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole. The ABC surpluses and the
ABC reserves are necessary to mitigate the operational variability,
environmental conditions, and economic factors that may constrain the
CDQ groups and the Amendment 80 cooperatives from achieving, on a
continuing basis, the optimum yield in the BSAI groundfish fisheries.
NMFS, after consultation with the Council, may set the ABC reserve at
or below the ABC surplus for each species, thus maintaining the TAC
below ABC limits. An amount equal to 10.7 percent of the ABC reserves
will be allocated as CDQ ABC reserves for flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole. Section 679.31(b)(4) establishes the annual allocations
of CDQ ABC reserves among the CDQ groups. The Amendment 80 ABC reserves
shall be the ABC reserves minus the CDQ ABC reserves. Section
679.91(i)(2) establishes each Amendment 80 cooperative ABC reserve to
be the ratio of each cooperatives' quota share units and the total
Amendment 80 quota share units, multiplied by the Amendment 80 ABC
reserve for each respective species. Table 13 lists the 2019 and 2020
ABC surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and
yellowfin sole.

Table 13--Final 2019 and 2020 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for
Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Flathead 2019 Rock 2019 Yellowfin 2020 \1\ 2020 \1\ Rock 2020 \1\
Sector sole sole sole Flathead sole sole Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC..................................................... 66,625 118,900 263,200 68,448 143,700 257,800
TAC..................................................... 14,500 47,100 154,000 14,500 57,100 166,425
ABC surplus............................................. 52,125 71,800 109,200 53,948 86,600 91,375
ABC reserve............................................. 52,125 71,800 109,200 53,948 86,600 91,375
CDQ ABC reserve......................................... 5,577 7,683 11,684 5,772 9,266 9,777
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................ 46,548 64,117 97,516 48,176 77,334 81,598
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2020 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2019.

[[Page 9015]]

PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring

Section 679.21(b), (e), (f), and (g) sets forth the BSAI PSC
limits. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1), the annual BSAI halibut PSC
limits total 3,515 mt. Section 679.21(b)(1) allocates 315 mt of the
halibut PSC limit as the PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ
program, 1,745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector,
745 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl limited access
sector, and 710 mt of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl
sector.
Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B) authorizes apportionment of
the BSAI non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC allowances among six
fishery categories in Table 17, and Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B),
(e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv) requires apportionment of the trawl PSC
limits in Tables 15 and 16 into PSC allowances among seven fishery
categories.
Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends, and
NMFS agrees, that certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from
the halibut PSC limit. As in past years, after consultation with the
Council, NMFS exempts pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-
and-line gear fishery categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for
the following reasons: (1) The pot gear fisheries have low halibut
bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS estimates halibut mortality for the jig
gear fleet to be negligible because of the small size of the fishery
and the selectivity of the gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ
fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality because the IFQ program
requires that legal-size halibut be retained by vessels using hook-and-
line gear if a halibut IFQ permit holder or a hired master is aboard
and is holding unused halibut IFQ for that vessel category and the IFQ
regulatory area in which the vessel is operating (Sec. 679.7(f)(11)).
The 2018 total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the
BSAI was 28,662 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 20
mt. The 2018 jig gear fishery harvested about 56 mt of groundfish. Most
vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. As mentioned above, NMFS estimates a
negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the selective
nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with
jig gear and released.
Under Sec. 679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of
either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits
among the AFA sectors, depending on past bycatch performance, on
whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements (IPAs) are
formed, and on whether NMFS determines it is a low Chinook salmon
abundance year. NMFS will determine that it is a low Chinook salmon
abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in western Alaska is
less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon. The State of Alaska
provides to NMFS an estimate of Chinook salmon abundance using the 3-
System Index for western Alaska based on the Kuskokwim, Unalakleet, and
Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping.
If an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not
exceeded its performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6), and if it
is not a low Chinook salmon abundance year, NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no IPA is approved, or if
the sector has exceeded its performance standard under Sec.
679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low abundance year, NMFS will allocate
a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(C). If an AFA sector participates
in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its performance standard under
Sec. 679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, NMFS will allocate a
portion of the 45,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as
specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is approved, or if
the sector has exceeded its performance standard under Sec.
679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, NMFS will allocate a portion of
the 33,318 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as specified in
Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS has determined that 2018 was a low Chinook salmon abundance
year, based on the State's estimate that Chinook salmon abundance in
western Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook salmon. Therefore, in 2019,
the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook salmon, allocated to
each sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). The AFA sector
Chinook salmon allocations are also seasonally apportioned with 70
percent of the allocation for the A season pollock fishery, and 30
percent of the allocation for the B season pollock fishery (Sec. Sec.
679.21(f)(3)(i) and 679.23(e)(2)). In 2019, the Chinook salmon bycatch
performance standard under Sec. 679.21(f)(6) is 33,318 Chinook salmon,
allocated to each sector as specified in Sec. 679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
NMFS publishes the approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700 fish as the 2019 and 2020
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI pollock fishery. Section
679.21(g)(2)(ii) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the AI
PSQ reserve for the CDQ Program, and allocates the remaining 647
Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2019 and 2020
non-Chinook salmon PSC limit for vessels using trawl gear from August
15 through October 14 in the Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA).
Section 679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook
salmon, in the CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ Program, and
allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA to the
non-CDQ fisheries.
PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on
abundance and spawning biomass. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates
10.7 percent from each trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ
reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ program.
Based on 2018 survey data, the red king crab mature female
abundance is estimated at 13.1 million red king crabs, and the
effective spawning biomass is estimated at 33,275 million lbs (15,093
mt). Based on the criteria set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(i), the 2019
and 2020 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl gear is 97,000
animals. This limit derives from the mature female abundance estimate
of more than 8.4 million mature red king crab and the effective
spawning biomass estimate of more than 14.5 million lbs (6,577 mt) but
less than 55 million lbs (24,948 mt).
Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which
NMFS must specify an annual red king crab bycatch limit for the Red
King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS). The regulations limit the RKCSS red
king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit,
based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to red
king crab bycatch. In December 2018, the Council recommended and NMFS
concurs that the red king crab bycatch limit be equal to 25 percent of
the red king crab PSC limit within the RKCSS (Table 15).
Based on 2018 survey data, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
abundance is estimated at 1,238 million animals. Pursuant to criteria
set out at Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2019 and 2020 C.
bairdi crab PSC limit for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1, and
2,970,000 animals in Zone 2. The limit in Zone 1 is based on the

[[Page 9016]]

abundance of C. bairdi estimated at 1,238 million animals, which is
greater than 400 million animals. The limit in Zone 2 is based on the
abundance of C. bairdi estimated at 1,238 million animals, which is
greater than 400 million animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for trawl gear
for snow crab (C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by
the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit in
the C. opilio bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent
of the Bering Sea abundance index minus 150,000 crabs. Based on the
2018 survey estimate of 10.65 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio
crab PSC limit is 11,916,450 animals, which is above the minimum PSC
limit of 4.5 million and below the maximum PSC limit of 13 million
animals.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1
percent of the annual eastern Bering Sea herring biomass. The best
estimate of 2019 and 2020 herring biomass is 254,709 mt. This amount
was developed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game based on
biomass for spawning aggregations. Therefore, the herring PSC limit for
2019 and 2020 is 2,547 mt for all trawl gear as listed in Tables 14 and
15.
Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that PSQ reserves be subtracted
from the total trawl gear crab PSC limits. The crab and halibut PSC
limits apportioned to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access
sectors are listed in Table 35 to 50 CFR part 679. The resulting 2019
and 2020 allocations of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ reserves, the Amendment 80
sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access sector are listed in Table
14. Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(i), 679.21(e)(3)(vi), and
679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC limits assigned to
the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated to Amendment 80
cooperatives as cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC cooperative
quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not allocated to
specific fishery categories. In 2019, there are no vessels in the
Amendment 80 limited access sector and one Amendment 80 cooperative.
The 2020 PSC allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the
Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until eligible
participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
2019. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(B) requires that NMFS apportion each
trawl PSC limit for crab and herring not assigned to Amendment 80
cooperatives into PSC bycatch allowances for seven specified fishery
categories in Sec. 679.21(e)(3)(iv).
Section 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5) authorizes NMFS, after consulting
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of halibut and
crab PSC amounts for the BSAI trawl limited access and non-trawl
sectors in order to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the
available groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be
considered are (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species, (2)
seasonal distribution of target groundfish species relative to
prohibited species distribution, (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal
basis relevant to prohibited species biomass and expected catches of
target groundfish species, (4) expected variations in bycatch rates
throughout the year, (5) expected changes in directed groundfish
fishing seasons, (6) expected start of fishing effort, and (7) economic
effects of establishing seasonal prohibited species apportionments on
segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on this criteria, the
Council recommended and NMFS approves the seasonal PSC apportionments
in Tables 16 and 17 to maximize harvest among gear types, fisheries,
and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC.

Table 14--Final 2019 and 2020 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ
Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trawl PSC BSAI trawl
Non-trawl CDQ PSQ remaining Amendment limited
PSC species and area \1\ Total PSC PSC reserve \2\ after CDQ 80 sector access
PSQ \3\ fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI....... 3,515 710 315 n/a 1,745 745
Herring (mt) BSAI................. 2,547 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1.... 97,000 n/a 10,379 86,621 43,293 26,489
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ......... 11,916,450 n/a 1,275,060 10,641,390 5,230,243 3,420,143
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1... 980,000 n/a 104,860 875,140 368,521 411,228
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2... 2,970,000 n/a 317,790 2,652,210 627,778 1,241,500
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of zones.
\2\ The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit.
\3\ The Amendment 80 program reduced apportionment of the trawl PSC limits for crab below the total PSC limit.
These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors.

Table 15-Final 2019 and 2020 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red king crab
Fishery categories Herring (mt) (animals)
BSAI Zone 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.......................... 111 n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/other flatfish 54 n/a
\1\....................................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/ 7 n/a
Kamchatka flounder/sablefish...........
Rockfish................................ 7 n/a
Pacific cod............................. 13 n/a
Midwater trawl pollock.................. 2,313 n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species \2\ 42 n/a
\3\....................................
Red king crab savings subarea non- n/a 24,250
pelagic trawl gear \4\.................
-------------------------------

[[Page 9017]]

Total trawl PSC..................... 2,547 97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth
flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock
sole, and yellowfin sole.
\2\ Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and
``other species'' fishery category.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins,
sharks, and octopuses.
\4\ In December 2018, the Council recommended that the red king crab
bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within the RKCSS be
limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance (see Sec.
679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 16--FINAL 2019 and 2020 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sector
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prohibited species and area \1\
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access Halibut Red king crab C. opilio C. bairdi (animals)
fisheries mortality (mt) (animals) Zone (animals) -------------------------------
BSAI 1 COBLZ Zone 1 Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole.................. 150 23,338 3,224,126 346,228 1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
flatfish \2\...................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............
flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
sablefish......................
Rockfish April 15-December 31... 4 .............. 5,326 .............. 1,000
Pacific cod..................... 391 2,954 137,426 60,000 49,999
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other 200 197 53,265 5,000 5,000
species \3\....................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total BSAI trawl limited 745 26,489 3,420,143 411,228 1,241,500
access PSC.................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Table 17-Final 2019 and 2020 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/
Non-trawl fisheries Seasons processor Catcher vessel All non-trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod........................... Total Pacific cod....... 648 13 661
January 1-June 10....... 388 9 n/a
June 10-August 15....... 162 2 n/a
August 15-December 31... 98 2 n/a
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total....... May 1-December 31....... n/a n/a 49
Groundfish pot and jig................ n/a..................... n/a n/a Exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line............... n/a..................... n/a n/a Exempt
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total for all non-trawl PSC....... n/a..................... n/a n/a 710
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.

Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) annually
assesses the abundance and potential yield of the Pacific halibut stock
using all available data from the commercial and sport fisheries, other
removals, and scientific surveys. Additional information on the Pacific
halibut stock assessment may be found in the IPHC's 2018 Pacific
halibut stock assessment (December 2018), available on the IPHC website
at www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the 2018 Pacific halibut stock
assessment at its January 2019 annual meeting when it set the 2019
commercial halibut fishery catch limits.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments,
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch
rates, halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of
groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality
allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut incidental
catch rates are based on observers' estimates of halibut incidental
catch in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the proportion
of incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after being returned
to the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that accrues to a
particular halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR multiplied by the
estimated halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the best scientific
information available in conjunction

[[Page 9018]]

with the annual BSAI stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and
findings are included as an appendix to the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE
report.
In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the
Council's directive. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC,
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that
have undergone review by the Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A summary
of the revised methodology is included in the BSAI proposed 2017 and
2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87863, December 6, 2016), and the
comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology
is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR working group's
revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy,
transparency, and transferability in the methodology used for
calculating DMRs. The working group will continue to consider
improvements to the methodology used to calculate halibut mortality,
including potential changes to the reference period (the period of data
used for calculating the DMRs). Future DMRs, including the 2020 DMRs,
may change based on additional years of observer sampling, which could
provide more recent and accurate data and which could improve the
accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The new methodology
will continue to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that more accurately
reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different sectors of
their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors to respond
with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for
that sector.
At the December 2018 meeting, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed and
concurred in the revised DMRs. The 2019 and 2020 DMRs use an updated 2-
year reference period. Comparing the 2019 and 2020 final DMRs to the
final DMRs from the 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications, the DMR for
motherships and catcher/processors using non-pelagic trawl gear
decreased to 78 percent from 84 percent, the DMR for catcher vessels
using non-pelagic trawl gear decreased to 59 percent from 60 percent,
the DMR for catcher vessels using hook-and-line gear decreased to 4
percent from 17 percent, and the DMR for pot gear increased to 19
percent from 9 percent. Table 18 lists the final 2019 and 2020 DMRs.

Table 18-2019 and 2020 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR) for
the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut
discard
Gear Sector mortality rate
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl.................. All.................... 100
Non-pelagic trawl.............. Mothership and catcher/ 78
processor.
Non-pelagic trawl.............. Catcher vessel......... 59
Hook-and-line.................. Catcher/processor...... 8
Hook-and-line.................. Catcher vessel......... 4
Pot............................ All.................... 19
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea,
regulatory area, or district (see Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly,
pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), if the Regional
Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of
halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a
specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will
prohibit directed fishing for each species or species group in that
fishery category in the area specified by regulation for the remainder
of the fishing year.
Based on historic catch patterns and anticipated fishing activity,
the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish
allocation amounts in Table 19 will be necessary as incidental catch to
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2019 and 2020
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i),
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and
species groups in Table 19 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with
Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these
sectors and species or species groups in the specified areas effective
at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2020. Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector,
bycatch allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C.
opilio crab listed in Table 19 are insufficient to support directed
fisheries. Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 679.21(b)(4)(i) and
(e)(7), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors,
species, and fishery categories in the specified areas effective at
1200 hours, A.l.t., March 13, 2019, through 2400 hours, A.l.t.,
December 31, 2020.

Table 19--2019 and 2020 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 2020
Incidental Incidental
Area Sector Species catch catch
allowance allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District................. All.................. Pollock.............. 75 75
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... All.................. ICA pollock.......... 2,400 2,400
``Other rockfish'' 388 388
\2\.
Aleutian Islands subarea.......... Trawl non-CDQ........ Sablefish............ 427 571
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering Non-amendment 80, ICA Atka mackerel.... 800 800
Sea. CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.

[[Page 9019]]

Eastern Aleutian District/Bering All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 75 75
Sea. rockfish.
Eastern Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, ICA Pacific ocean 100 100
CDQ, and BSAI trawl perch.
limited access.
Central Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, ICA Atka mackerel.... 75 75
CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean 60 60
perch.
Western Aleutian District......... Non-amendment 80, CDQ ICA Atka mackerel.... 20 20
and BSAI trawl
limited access.
ICA Pacific ocean 10 10
perch.
Western and Central Aleutian All.................. Blackspotted/Rougheye 204 204
Districts. rockfish.
Bering Sea subarea................ Trawl non-CDQ........ Sablefish............ 633 847
Bering Sea subarea................ All.................. Pacific ocean perch.. 14,675 14,274
``Other rockfish'' 234 234
\2\.
ICA pollock.......... 46,520 47,286
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands... All.................. Northern rockfish.... 5,525 5,525
Shortraker rockfish.. 304 150
Skates............... 22,100 22,950
Sculpins............. 4,250 4,250
Sharks............... 106 180
Octopuses............ 340 200
Hook-and-line and pot ICA Pacific cod...... 400 400
gear.
Non-amendment 80 and ICA flathead sole.... 3,000 3,000
CDQ.
ICA rock sole........ 5,000 5,000
Non-amendment 80, ICA yellowfin sole... 4,000 4,000
CDQ, and BSAI trawl
limited access.
BSAI trawl limited Rock sole/flathead
access. sole/other flatfish--
halibut mortality,
red king crab Zone
1, C. opilio COBLZ,
C. bairdi Zone 1 and
2.
Turbot/arrowtooth/
sablefish--halibut
mortality, red king
crab Zone 1, C.
opilio COBLZ, C.
bairdi Zone 1 and 2.
Rockfish--red king
crab Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.

Closures implemented under the final 2018 and 2019 BSAI harvest
specifications for groundfish (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018) remain
effective under authority of these final 2019 and 2020 harvest
specifications and until the date specified in those notices. Closures
are posted at the following websites: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/cm/info_bulletins/ and https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries_reports/reports/. While these closures are in effect, the
maximum retainable amounts at Sec. 679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time
during a fishing trip. These closures to directed fishing are in
addition to closures and prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679.

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA C/Ps to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. These restrictions are set out as sideboard limits on
catch. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in
the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR
79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14,
2007). Table 20 lists the 2019 and 2020 AFA C/P groundfish sideboard
limits. Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC
of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
All harvest of groundfish sideboard species by listed AFA C/Ps,
whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted from
the sideboard limits in Table 20. However, groundfish sideboard species
that are delivered to listed AFA C/Ps by CVs will not be deducted from
the 2019 and 2020 sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.

[[Page 9020]]

Table 20--Final 2019 and 2020 Listed BSAI American Fisheries Act Catcher/Processor Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995-1997
------------------------------------------------ 2019 ITAC 2019 AFA C/P 2020 ITAC 2020 AFA C/P
Target species Area/ season Ratio of available to sideboard available to sideboard
Retained catch Total catch retained catch trawl C/Ps \1\ limit trawl C/Ps \1\ limit
to total catch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl............................... BS.............................. 8 497 0.0160 633 10 847 14
AI.............................. .............. 145 .............. 427 .............. 571
Atka mackerel................................. Central AI A season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.1150 6,425 739 11,116 1,278
Central AI B season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.1150 6,425 739 11,116 1,278
Western AI A season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.2000 8,748 1,750 6,173 1,235
Western AI B season \2\......... n/a n/a 0.2000 8,748 1,750 6,173 1,235
Rock sole..................................... BSAI............................ 6,317 169,362 0.0370 42,060 1,556 43,846 1,622
Greenland turbot.............................. BS.............................. 121 17,305 0.0070 4,356 30 4,356 30
AI.............................. 23 4,987 0.0050 144 1 144 1
Arrowtooth flounder........................... BSAI............................ 76 33,987 0.0020 6,800 14 6,800 14
Kamchatka flounder............................ BSAI............................ 76 33,987 0.0020 4,250 9 4,250 9
Flathead sole................................. BSAI............................ 1,925 52,755 0.0360 12,949 466 12,949 466
Alaska plaice................................. BSAI............................ 14 9,438 0.0010 15,300 15 15,300 15
Other flatfish................................ BSAI............................ 3,058 52,298 0.0580 5,525 320 5,525 320
Pacific ocean perch........................... BS.............................. 12 4,879 0.0020 12,474 25 12,133 24
Eastern AI...................... 125 6,179 0.0200 9,831 197 9,953 199
Central AI...................... 3 5,698 0.0010 7,488 7 7,327 7
Western AI...................... 54 13,598 0.0040 8,930 36 8,930 36
Northern rockfish............................. BSAI............................ 91 13,040 0.0070 5,525 39 5,525 39
Shortraker rockfish........................... BSAI............................ 50 2,811 0.0180 304 5 304 5
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish................ BS/EAI.......................... 50 2,811 0.0180 64 1 64 1
CAI/WAI......................... 50 2,811 0.0180 173 3 173 3
Other rockfish................................ BS.............................. 18 621 0.0290 234 7 234 7
AI.............................. 22 806 0.0270 388 10 388 10
Skates........................................ BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 22,100 177 22,100 177
Sculpins...................................... BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 4,250 34 4,250 34
Sharks........................................ BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 106 1 106 1
Octopuses..................................... BSAI............................ 553 68,672 0.0080 340 3 340 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec.
679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
\2\ The seasonal apportionment of Atka mackerel for the BSAI trawl limited access sector is 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season. Listed AFA catcher/processors are limited
to harvesting no more than zero in the Eastern Aleutian District and Bering Sea subarea, 20 percent of the annual ITAC specified for the Western Aleutian District, and 11.5 percent of the
annual ITAC specified for the Central Aleutian District.
Notes: Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA catcher/processors from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80
sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.

[[Page 9021]]

On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard limits in the BSAI. The final rule establishes
regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species groups, rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits
through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final rule is effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA
Program sideboard limit amounts for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in regulation
(84 FR 2723).

Section 679.64(a)(2) and Tables 40 and 41 of 50 CFR part 679
establish a formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for halibut
and crab caught by listed AFA C/Ps. The basis for these sideboard
limits is described in detail in the final rules implementing the major
provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80
(72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007).
PSC species listed in Table 21 that are caught by listed AFA C/Ps
participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will accrue
against the 2019 and 2020 PSC sideboard limits for the listed AFA C/Ps.
Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to
close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for listed AFA
C/Ps once a 2019 or 2020 PSC sideboard limit listed in Table 21 is
reached.
Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or
crab PSC by listed AFA C/Ps while fishing for pollock will accrue
against the PSC allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka
mackerel/``other species'' fishery categories under Sec.
679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).

Table 21--Final 2019 and 2020 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 and 2020
PSC available 2019 and 2020
Ratio of PSC to trawl AFA catcher/
PSC species and area \1\ catch to total vessels after processor
PSC subtraction of sideboard
PSQ \2\ limit \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI.......................................... n/a n/a 286
Red king crab Zone 1............................................ 0.007 86,621 606
C. opilio (COBLZ)............................................... 0.153 10,641,390 1,628,133
C. bairdi Zone 1................................................ 0.140 875,140 122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2................................................ 0.050 2,652,210 132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits

Pursuant to Sec. 679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects
resulting from the AFA and from fishery cooperatives in the pollock
directed fishery. Section 679.64(b)(3) and (4) establishes a formula
for setting AFA CV groundfish and halibut and crab PSC sideboard limits
for the BSAI. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in
detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA
(67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668,
September 14, 2007). Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA CVs from a
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC
of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl
limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt. Tables 22 and 23 list
the 2019 and 2020 AFA CV sideboard limits.
All catch of groundfish sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
CVs, whether as targeted catch or incidental catch, will be deducted
from the 2019 and 2020 sideboard limits listed in Table 22.
Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in Table 23 that are caught by
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery for groundfish other
than pollock will accrue against the 2019 and 2020 PSC sideboard limits
for the AFA CVs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7)
authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish other than
pollock for AFA CVs once a 2019 or 2020 PSC sideboard limit listed in
Table 23 is reached. Pursuant to Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and
(e)(3)(ii)(C), the halibut and crab PSC by AFA CVs while fishing for
pollock in the BSAI will accrue against the PSC allowances annually
specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other species'' fishery
categories under Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).

Table 22--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel BSAI Groundfish Sideboard Limits
[Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995- 2019 AFA 2020 AFA
1997 AFA CV 2019 Initial catcher vessel 2020 Initial catcher vessel
Species/gear Fishery by area/season catch to 1995- TAC \1\ sideboard TAC \1\ sideboard
1997 TAC limits limits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod/Jig gear...................... BSAI........................ .............. n/a .............. n/a ..............
Pacific cod/Hook-and-line CV>=60 feet LOA. BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 164 0 127 0
BSAI Jun 10-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 157 0 122 0
Pacific cod pot gear CV................... BSAI Jan 1-Jun 10........... 0.0006 6,884 4 5,340 3
BSAI Sept 1-Dec 31.......... 0.0006 6,614 4 5,131 3

[[Page 9022]]

Pacific cod CV >= 60 feet LOA using hook- BSAI........................ 0.0006 3,214 2 2,493 1
and-line or pot gear.
Pacific cod trawl gear CV................. BSAI Jan 20-Apr 1........... 0.8609 26,388 22,717 20,493 17,642
BSAI Apr 1-Jun 10........... 0.8609 3,923 3,377 3,046 2,622
BSAI Jun 10-Nov 1........... 0.8609 5,349 4,605 4,154 3,576
Sablefish trawl gear...................... BS.......................... 0.0906 633 57 847 77
AI.......................... 0.0645 427 28 571 37
Atka mackerel............................. Eastern AI/BS Jan 1-Jun 10.. 0.0032 10,703 34 9,908 32
Eastern AI/BS Jun 10-Nov 1.. 0.0032 10,703 34 9,908 32
Central AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... 0.0001 6,425 1 5,933 1
Central AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... 0.0001 6,425 1 5,933 1
Western AI Jan 1-Jun 10..... .............. 8,748 .............. 8,098 ..............
Western AI Jun 10-Nov 1..... .............. 8,748 .............. 8,098 ..............
Rock sole................................. BSAI........................ 0.0341 42,060 1,434 50,990 1,739
Greenland turbot.......................... BS.......................... 0.0645 4,356 281 4,356 281
AI.......................... 0.0205 144 3 144 3
Arrowtooth flounder....................... BSAI........................ 0.0690 6,800 469 6,800 469
Kamchatka flounder........................ BSAI........................ 0.0690 4,250 293 4,250 293
Alaska plaice............................. BSAI........................ 0.0441 15,300 675 15,300 675
Other flatfish............................ BSAI........................ 0.0441 5,525 244 5,525 244
Flathead sole............................. BS.......................... 0.0505 12,949 654 12,949 654
Pacific ocean perch....................... BS.......................... 0.1000 12,474 1,247 12,133 1,213
Eastern AI.................. 0.0077 9,831 76 9,953 77
Central AI.................. 0.0025 7,488 19 7,327 18
Western AI.................. .............. 8,930 .............. 8,930 ..............
Northern rockfish......................... BSAI........................ 0.0084 5,525 46 5,525 46
Shortraker rockfish....................... BSAI........................ 0.0037 304 1 304 1
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish............ BS/EAI...................... 0.0037 64 0 64 0
CAI/WAI..................... 0.0037 173 1 173 1
Other rockfish............................ BS.......................... 0.0048 234 1 234 1
AI.......................... 0.0095 388 4 388 4
Skates.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 22,100 1,196 22,100 1,196
Sculpins.................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 4,250 230 4,250 230
Sharks.................................... BSAI........................ 0.0541 106 6 106 6
Octopuses................................. BSAI........................ 0.0541 340 18 340 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Aleutians Islands Pacific ocean perch, and BSAI Atka mackerel, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and rock sole are multiplied by the remainder of the TAC
of that species after the subtraction of the CDQ reserve under Sec. 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C).
Notes: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the 2019 and 2020 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole
assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that modifies regulations for AFA Program participants subject to sideboard limits in the
BSAI. The final rule establishes regulations to prohibit directed fishing for sideboard limits for specific groundfish species or species groups,
rather than prohibiting directed fishing for AFA Program sideboard limits through the BSAI annual harvest specifications. Once the final rule is
effective (effective March 11, 2019), NMFS will no longer publish in the annual BSAI harvest specifications the AFA Program sideboard limit amounts
for groundfish species subject to the final rule, and the groundfish species subject to the final rule will be prohibited to directed fishing in
regulation (84 FR 2723).

Table 23--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 and 2020
AFA catcher PSC limit 2019 and 2020
Target fishery category vessel PSC after AFA catcher
PSC species and area \1\ \2\ sideboard subtraction of vessel PSC
limit ratio PSQ reserves sideboard
\3\ limit \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut............................... Pacific cod trawl....... n/a n/a 887
Pacific cod hook-and- n/a n/a 2
line or pot.
Yellowfin sole total.... n/a n/a 101
Rock sole/flathead sole/ n/a n/a 228
Alaska plaice/other
flatfish \4\.
Greenland turbot/ n/a n/a ..............
arrowtooth/Kamchatka/
sablefish.

[[Page 9023]]

Rockfish................ n/a n/a 2
Pollock/Atka mackerel/ n/a n/a 5
other species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1.................. n/a..................... 0.2990 86,621 25,900
C. opilio COBLZ....................... n/a..................... 0.1680 10,641,390 1,787,754
C. bairdi Zone 1...................... n/a..................... 0.3300 875,140 288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2...................... n/a..................... 0.1860 2,652,210 493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec. 679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Target trawl fishery categories are defined at Sec. 679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
and yellowfin sole.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses.

AFA Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures

Based on historical catch patterns, the Regional Administrator has
determined that many of the AFA C/P and CV sideboard limits listed in
Tables 24 and 25 are necessary as incidental catch to support other
anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2019 and 2020 fishing years.
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), the Regional Administrator
establishes the sideboard limits listed in Tables 24 and 25 as DFAs.
Because many of these DFAs will be reached before the end of the year
in 2019 and 2020, the Regional Administrator has determined, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), that NMFS is prohibiting
directed fishing by listed AFA C/Ps for the species in the specified
areas set out in Table 24, and prohibiting directed fishing by non-
exempt AFA CVs for the species in the specified areas set out in Table
25.

Table 24--Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Listed Catcher/Processor Sideboard Directed Fishing
Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 Sideboard 2020 Sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish trawl................... BS................... trawl................ 10 14
AI................... trawl................ .............. ..............
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,556 1,622
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 30 30
AI................... all.................. 1 1
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 14 14
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 9 9
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 15 15
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 320 320
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 466 466
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 25 24
Eastern AI........... all.................. 197 199
Central AI........... all.................. 7 7
Western AI........... all.................. 36 36
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 39 39
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 5 5
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish.... EBS/EAI.............. all.................. 1 1
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 3 3
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 7 7
AI................... all.................. 10 10
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 177 177
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 34 34
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 3 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.

[[Page 9024]]

Table 25-Final 2019 and 2020 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures \1\
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 sideboard 2020 sideboard
Species Area Gear types limit limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod....................... BSAI................. hook-and-line CV>=60 0 0
feet LOA.
BSAI................. pot CV>=60 feet LOA.. 9 8
BSAI................. hook-and-line or pot 2 2
CV<=60 feet LOA.
BSAI................. jig.................. 0 0
Sablefish......................... BS................... trawl................ 56 79
AI................... trawl................ 27 38
Atka mackerel..................... Eastern AI/BS........ all.................. 104 96
Central AI........... all.................. 2 2
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Greenland turbot.................. BS................... all.................. 281 281
AI................... all.................. 3 3
Arrowtooth flounder............... BSAI................. all.................. 799 821
Kamchatka flounder................ BSAI................. all.................. 293 293
Alaska plaice..................... BSAI................. all.................. 501 609
Other flatfish \2\................ BSAI................. all.................. 150 150
Flathead sole..................... BSAI................. all.................. 654 744
Rock sole......................... BSAI................. all.................. 1,434 1,495
Pacific ocean perch............... BS................... all.................. 1008 977
Eastern AI........... all.................. 62 67
Central AI........... all.................. 17 17
Western AI........... all.................. 0 0
Northern rockfish................. BSAI................. all.................. 44 46
Shortraker rockfish............... BSAI................. all.................. 1 1
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish.... BS/EAI............... all.................. 0 0
CAI/WAI.............. all.................. 1 1
Other rockfish \3\................ BS................... all.................. 1 1
AI................... all.................. 5 5
Skates............................ BSAI................. all.................. 1,242 1,242
Sculpins.......................... BSAI................. all.................. 230 230
Sharks............................ BSAI................. all.................. 10 10
Squids............................ BSAI................. all.................. 390 390
Octopuses......................... BSAI................. all.................. 14 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in Table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut, Alaska plaice, flathead sole,
Greenland turbot, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Kamchatka flounder, and arrowtooth flounder.
\3\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean perch, northern
rockfish, shortraker rockfish, and blackspotted/rougheye rockfish.

Response to Comments

NMFS received no comments during the public comment period for the
proposed BSAI groundfish harvest specifications. No changes were made
to the final rule in response to the comment letters received.

Classification

NMFS has determined that these final harvest specifications are
consistent with the FMP and with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other
applicable laws.
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
NMFS prepared an EIS for this action (see ADDRESSES) and made it
available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February
13, 2007, NMFS issued the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final EIS.
In February 2019, NMFS prepared a Supplemental Information Report (SIR)
for this action. Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this
action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes
the environmental, social, and economic consequences of the groundfish
harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources
in the action area. Based on the analysis in the Final EIS, NMFS
concluded that the preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) provides the
best balance among relevant environmental, social, and economic
considerations and allows for continued management of the groundfish
fisheries based on the most recent, best scientific information.
The SIR evaluates the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for
the 2019 and 2020 groundfish harvest specifications. An SEIS should be
prepared if (1) the agency makes substantial changes in the proposed
action that are relevant to environmental concerns; or (2) significant
new circumstances or information exist relevant to environmental
concerns and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts (40 CFR
1502.9(c)(1)). After reviewing the information contained in the SIR and
SAFE reports, the Regional Administrator has determined that (1)
approval of the 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, which were set
according to the preferred harvest strategy in the EIS, does not
constitute a substantial change in the action; and (2) there are no
significant new circumstances or information relevant to environmental
concerns and bearing on the action or its impacts. Additionally, the
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications will result in environmental,
social, and economic impacts within the scope of those analyzed and
disclosed in the EIS. Therefore, supplemental National Environmental
Policy Act documentation is not necessary to implement the 2019 and
2020 harvest specifications.

[[Page 9025]]

Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604)
requires that, when an agency promulgates a final rule under 5 U.S.C.
553, after being required by that section, or any other law, to publish
a general notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency shall prepare a
final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA). The following constitutes
the FRFA prepared in the final action.
The required contents of a FRFA, as described in section 604, are:
(1) A statement of the need for, and objectives of, the rule; (2) a
statement of the significant issues raised by the public comments in
response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis, a statement of
the assessment of the agency of such issues, and a statement of any
changes made in the proposed rule as a result of such comments; (3) the
response of the agency to any comments filed by the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in response to the
proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change made to the
proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the comments; (4) a
description of and an estimate of the number of small entities to which
the rule will apply or an explanation of why no such estimate is
available; (5) a description of the projected reporting, recordkeeping,
and other compliance requirements of the rule, including an estimate of
the classes of small entities which will be subject to the requirement
and the type of professional skills necessary for preparation of the
report or record; and (6) a description of the steps the agency has
taken to minimize the significant economic impact on small entities
consistent with the stated objectives of applicable statutes, including
a statement of the factual, policy, and legal reasons for selecting the
alternative adopted in the final rule and why each one of the other
significant alternatives to the rule considered by the agency which
affect the impact on small entities was rejected.
A description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are
included at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are
not repeated here.
NMFS published the proposed rule on December 6, 2018 (83 FR 62815).
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to
accompany the proposed action, and included a summary in the proposed
rule. The comment period closed on January 7, 2019. No comments were
received on the IRFA or on the economic impacts of the rule more
generally. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration did not file any comments on the proposed rule.
The entities directly regulated by this action are those that
harvest groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and in
parallel fisheries within State waters. These include entities
operating catcher vessels and catcher/processors within the action area
and entities receiving direct allocations of groundfish.
For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has
combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its
affiliated operations worldwide.
Using the most recent data available (2017), the estimated number
of directly regulated small entities include approximately 170 catcher
vessels, four catcher/processors, and six CDQ groups. Some of these
vessels are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, Gulf of Alaska
rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI Crab Rationalization Program
cooperatives, and, since under the RFA the aggregate gross receipts of
all participating members of the cooperative must meet the ``under $11
million'' threshold, the cooperatives are considered to be large
entities within the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the estimate of 170
catcher vessels may be an overstatement of the number of small
entities. Average gross revenues in 2017 were $570,000 for small hook-
and-line vessels, $1.37 million for small pot vessels, and $3.15
million for small trawl vessels. The average gross revenue for catcher/
processors are not reported, due to confidentiality considerations.
This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting
requirements.
The significant alternatives were those considered as alternative
harvest strategies when the Council selected its preferred harvest
strategy (Alternative 2) in December 2006. These included the
following:
Alternative 1: Set TAC to produce fishing mortality rates,
F, that are equal to maxFABC, unless the sum of the TAC is constrained
by the OY established in the FMP. This is equivalent to setting TAC to
produce harvest levels equal to the maximum permissible ABC, as
constrained by OY. The term ``maxFABC'' refers to the maximum
permissible value of FABC under Amendment 56 to the BSAI and Gulf of
Alaska groundfish fishery management plans. Historically, the TAC has
been set at or below the ABC; therefore, this alternative represents a
likely upper limit for setting the TAC within the OY and ABC limits.
Alternative 3: For species in Tiers 1, 2, and 3, set TAC
to produce F equal to the most recent 5-year average actual F. For
species in Tiers 4, 5, and 6, set TAC equal to the most recent 5-year
average actual catch. For stocks with a high level of scientific
information, TAC would be set to produce harvest levels equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual fishing mortality rates. For stocks
with insufficient scientific information, TAC would be set equal to the
most recent 5-year average actual catch. This alternative recognizes
that for some stocks, catches may fall well below ABC, and recent
average F may provide a better indicator of actual F than FABC does.
Alternative 4: First, set TAC for rockfish species in Tier
3 at F75%; set TAC for rockfish species in Tier 5 at F=0.5M; and set
spatially explicit TAC for shortraker and rougheye rockfish in the
BSAI. Second, taking the rockfish TAC as calculated above, reduce all
other TAC by a proportion that does not vary across species, so that
the sum of all TAC, including rockfish TAC, is equal to the lower bound
of the area OY (1.4 million mt in the BSAI). This alternative sets
conservative and spatially explicit TAC for rockfish species that are
long-lived and late to mature, and sets conservative TAC for the other
groundfish species.
Alternative 5: (No Action) Set TAC at zero.
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative chosen by the Council:
Set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs recommended through the
Council harvest specifications process and TACs recommended by the
Council. Under this scenario, F is set equal to a constant fraction of
maxFABC. The recommended fractions of maxFABC may vary among species or
stocks, based on other considerations unique to each. This is the
method for determining TACs that has been used in the past.
Alternatives 1, 3, 4, and 5 do not meet the objectives of this
action, and although Alternatives 1 and 3 may have a smaller adverse
economic impact on small entities than the preferred alternative,
Alternatives 4 and 5 likely would have a significant adverse economic
impact on small entities. The Council rejected these alternatives as
harvest strategies in 2006, and the Secretary of Commerce did so in
2007.

[[Page 9026]]

Alternative 1 would lead to TAC limits whose sum exceeds the
fishery OY, which is set out in statute and the FMP. As shown in Table
1 and Table 2, the sum of ABCs in 2019 and 2020 would be 3,367,578 mt
and 2,967,269 mt, respectively. Both of these are substantially in
excess of the fishery OY for the BSAI. This result would be
inconsistent with the objectives of this action, in that it would
violate the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2004, Public Law 108-
199, Division B, section 803(c), and the FMP, which both set a 2.0
million mt maximum harvest for BSAI groundfish.
Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5
years' worth of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or
based on the most recent 5 years' worth of harvests (for species in
Tiers 4 through 6). This alternative is also inconsistent with the
objectives of this action, as well as National Standard 2 of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(2)), because it does not take
into account the most recent biological information for this fishery.
NMFS annually conducts at-sea stock surveys for different species, as
well as statistical modeling, to estimate stock sizes and permissible
harvest levels. Actual harvest rates or harvest amounts are a component
of these estimates, but in and of themselves may not accurately portray
stock sizes and conditions. Harvest rates are listed for each species
category for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all
groundfish species to reduce TAC from the upper end of the OY range in
the BSAI to its lower end of 1.4 million mt. This result would lead to
significant reductions in harvests of species by small entities. While
reductions of this size could be associated with offsetting price
increases, the size of these increases is uncertain, and, assuming
volume decreases would lead to price increases, it is unclear whether
price increases would be sufficient to offset the volume decreases and
to leave revenues unchanged for small entities. Thus, this alternative
would have an adverse economic impact on small entities, compared to
the preferred alternative.
Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, may address
conservation issues, but would have a significant adverse economic
impact on small entities and would be inconsistent with achieving OY on
a continuing basis, as mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C.
1851(a)(1)).
Impacts on marine mammals resulting from fishing activities
conducted under this rule are discussed in the EIS (see ADDRESSES).
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date
of effectiveness for this rule because delaying this rule is contrary
to the public interest. The Plan Team review of the 2018 SAFE report
occurred in November 2018, and the Council considered and recommended
the final harvest specifications in December 2018. Accordingly, NMFS's
review of the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications could not
begin until after the December 2018 Council meeting, and after the
public had time to comment on the proposed action.
If this rule's effectiveness is delayed, fisheries that might
otherwise remain open under these rules may prematurely close based on
the lower TACs established in the final 2018 and 2019 harvest
specifications (83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). If implemented
immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to continue fishing,
because some of the new TACs implemented by this rule are higher than
the TACs under which they are currently fishing.
In addition, immediate effectiveness of this action is required to
provide consistent management and conservation of fishery resources
based on the best available scientific information. This is
particularly pertinent for those species that have lower 2019 ABCs and
TACs than those established in the 2018 and 2019 harvest specifications
(83 FR 8365, February 27, 2018). If implemented immediately, this rule
would ensure that NMFS can properly manage those fisheries for which
this rule sets lower 2019 ABCs and TACs, which are based on the most
recent biological information on the condition of stocks, rather than
managing species under the higher TACs set in the previous year's
harvest specifications.
Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock and Pacific cod, are
intensive, fast-paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for
flatfish, rockfish, skates, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses, are
critical as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other
fisheries. U.S. fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch
the TAC allocations in these fisheries. Any delay in allocating the
final TAC limits in these fisheries would cause confusion in the
industry and potential economic harm through unnecessary discards, thus
undermining the intent of this rule. Predicting which fisheries may
close is difficult because these fisheries are affected by several
factors that cannot be predicted in advance, including fishing effort,
weather, movement of fishery stocks, and market price. Furthermore, the
closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other fisheries, for
example by freeing up fishing vessels, which would allow those vessels
to move from closed fisheries to open ones and lead to an increase in
the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, thereby causing those
open fisheries to close at an accelerated pace.
Additionally, in fisheries subject to declining sideboards,
delaying this rule's effectiveness could allow some vessels to
inadvertently reach or exceed their new sideboard limits. Because
sideboards are intended to protect traditional fisheries in other
sectors, allowing one sector to exceed its new sideboards by delaying
this rule's effectiveness would effectively reduce the available catch
for sectors that the sideboard limits are meant to protect. Moreover,
the new TACs and sideboard limits protect the fisheries from being
overfished. Thus, the delay is contrary to the public interest in
protecting traditional fisheries and fish stocks.
If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 15,
2019, which is the start of the 2019 Pacific halibut season as
specified by the IPHC, the hook-and-line sablefish fishery will not
begin concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. Delayed
effectiveness of this action would result in confusion for sablefish
harvesters and economic harm from unnecessary discard of sablefish that
are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both hook-and-line sablefish
and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ program. Immediate
effectiveness of the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications will
allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin concurrently with the Pacific
halibut IFQ season.
Finally, immediate effectiveness also would provide the fishing
industry the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct its
fishing operations with respect to new information about TAC limits.
Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date
of effectiveness under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

Small Entity Compliance Guide

This final rule is a plain language guide to assist small entities
in complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary
purpose is to announce the final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the

[[Page 9027]]

groundfish fisheries of the BSAI. This action is necessary to establish
harvest limits and associated management measures for groundfish during
the 2019 and 2020 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and
objectives of the FMP. This action directly affects all fishermen who
participate in the BSAI fisheries. The specific amounts of OFL, ABC,
TAC, and PSC amounts are provided in tables to assist the reader. NMFS
will announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and
information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen
should keep themselves informed of such closures.

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540(f); 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3631 et seq.; Pub. L. 105-277; Pub. L. 106-
31; Pub. L. 106-554; Pub. L. 108-199; Pub. L. 108-447; Pub. L. 109-
241; Pub. L. 109-479.

Dated: March 7, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04539 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P