[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66109-66129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26088]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 191126-0094]
RTID 0648-XY201


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2020 and 2021 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; harvest specifications and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications, 
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for 
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2020 
and 2021 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The 
2020 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 
2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, and the 2021 harvest 
specifications will be superseded in early 2021 when the final 2021 and 
2022 harvest specifications are published. The intended effect of this 
action is to conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA in 
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2019-0102, by either of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019-0102, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Glenn Merrill, Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Alaska Region 
NMFS, Attn: Records Office. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 
99802-1668.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the comment period ends. All comments received are a part of the public 
record, and NMFS will post the comments for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
is publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/
A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the Final EIS, the annual Supplementary Information Reports 
(SIRs) to the Final EIS, and the Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) prepared for this action area available from https://www.regulations.gov. An updated 2020 SIR for the final 2020 and 2021 
harvest specifications will be available from the same source. The 
final 2018 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for 
the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 2018, is available 
from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 605 West 
4th Avenue, Suite 306, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, phone 907-271-2809, or 
from the Council's website at https://www.npfmc.org. The 2019 SAFE 
report for the GOA will be available from the same source.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obren Davis, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the groundfish fisheries in the 
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery Management 
Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council prepared 
the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), 16 U.S.C. 1801, 
et seq. Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and implementing the FMP 
appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require that NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 
for each target species, the sum of which must be within the optimum 
yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt) (Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(B)). Section 679.20(c)(1) further requires NMFS to 
publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual TACs and 
apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) 
limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and Pacific cod. The 
proposed harvest specifications in Tables 1 through 19 of this rule 
satisfy these requirements. For 2020 and 2021, the sum of the proposed 
TAC amounts is 408,534 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2020 and 2021 
harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within 
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its 
December 2019 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the 
2020 SIR to the Final EIS that assesses the need to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS (see ADDRESSES), and (4) considering information 
presented in the final 2019 SAFE reports prepared for the 2020 and 2021 
groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Affecting or Potentially Affecting the 2020 and 2021 
Harvest Specifications

Reclassify Sculpins as an Ecosystem Component Species

    In October 2019, the Council recommended that sculpins be 
reclassified 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. Currently, NMFS annually sets an overfishing level 
(OFL), Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC), and TAC for sculpins in the 
GOA groundfish harvest specifications. Under the Council's recommended 
action, OFL, ABC, and TAC specifications for sculpins would no longer 
be required. NMFS intends to develop rulemaking to implement the 
Council's recommendation for sculpins. Such rulemaking would prohibit 
directed fishing for sculpins, maintain recordkeeping and reporting, 
and establish a sculpin maximum retainable amount when directed fishing 
for groundfish species at 20 percent to discourage retention, while 
allowing flexibility to prosecute groundfish fisheries. Further details 
(and public comment on the sculpin action) will be available on 
publication of the proposed

[[Page 66110]]

rule to implement an FMP amendment that would reclassify sculpins as an 
ecosystem component species of the FMP. If the FMP amendment and its 
implementing regulations are approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the 
action is anticipated to be effective in 2021. Until effective, NMFS 
will continue to publish OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for sculpins in the GOA 
groundfish harvest specifications.

Final Rulemaking To Prohibit Directed Fishing for American Fisheries 
Act (AFA) and Crab Rationalization (CR) Program Sideboard Limits

    On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that 
modified regulations for the AFA Program and CR Program participants 
subject to limits on the catch of specific species (sideboard limits) 
in the GOA. Sideboard limits are intended to prevent participants who 
benefit from receiving exclusive harvesting privileges in a particular 
fishery from shifting effort to other fisheries. Specifically, the 
final rule established regulations to prohibit directed fishing for 
most groundfish species or species groups subject to sideboard limits 
under the AFA Program and CR Program, rather than prohibiting directed 
fishing through the annual GOA harvest specifications. Since the final 
rule is now effective, NMFS is no longer publishing in the annual GOA 
harvest specifications the AFA Program and CR Program sideboard limit 
amounts for groundfish species or species groups subject to the final 
rule. Those groundfish species subject to the final rule associated 
with sideboard limits are now prohibited to directed fishing in 
regulation (Sec. Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and 680.22(e)(1)(i) and 
(iii) and Tables 54, 55, and 56 to 50 CFR part 679). NMFS will continue 
to publish in the annual GOA harvest specifications the AFA Program and 
CR Program sideboard limit amounts for groundfish species or species 
groups that were not subject to the final rule (see Tables 13, 14, and 
15 of this action).

Proposed Revisions to the GOA Pollock Seasons and Pacific Cod Seasonal 
Allocations

    In June 2019, the Council recommended for Secretarial review 
Amendment 109 to the FMP. Amendment 109 would revise pollock seasons 
and Pacific cod seasonal allocations. Amendment 109 would modify the 
existing annual pollock TAC allocation to two equal (50 percent of TAC) 
seasonal allocations, rather than four equal seasons (25 percent of 
TAC). The pollock A and B seasons would be combined into a January 20 
through May 31 A season, and the pollock C and D seasons would be 
combined into a September 1 through November 1 B season. Additionally, 
Amendment 109 would revise the Pacific cod TAC seasonal apportionments 
to the trawl CV sector by increasing the A season allocation and 
decreasing the B season allocation. Further details (and public comment 
on Amendment 109) will be available on publication of the proposed rule 
to implement Amendment 109. If Amendment 109 and its implementing 
regulations are approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the action is 
anticipated to be effective in 2021.

Proposed ABC and TAC Specifications

    In October 2019, the Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee 
(SSC), its Advisory Panel (AP), and the Council reviewed the most 
recent biological and harvest information about the condition of the 
GOA groundfish stocks. The Council's GOA Groundfish Plan Team (Plan 
Team) compiled and presented this information in the final 2018 SAFE 
report for the GOA 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 
GOA ecosystem and the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries 
off Alaska. From these data and analyses, the Plan Team recommends, and 
the SSC sets, an OFL and ABC for each species or species group. The 
amounts proposed for the 2020 and 2021 OFLs and ABCs are based on the 
2018 SAFE report. The AP and Council recommended that the proposed 2020 
and 2021 TACs be set equal to proposed ABCs for all species and species 
groups, with the exception of the species and species groups further 
discussed below. The proposed OFLs, ABCs, and TACs could be changed in 
the final harvest specifications depending on the most recent 
scientific information contained in the final 2019 SAFE report. The 
stock assessments that will comprise, in part, the 2019 SAFE report are 
available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessment-and-fishery-evaluation. The final 2019 SAFE report will be available from the same 
source.
    In November 2019, the Plan Team will update the 2018 SAFE report to 
include new information collected during 2019, such as NMFS stock 
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team will 
compile this information and present the draft 2019 SAFE report at the 
December 2019 Council meeting. At that meeting, the SSC and the Council 
will review the 2019 SAFE report, and the Council will approve the 2019 
SAFE report. The Council will consider information in the 2019 SAFE 
report, recommendations from the November 2019 Plan Team meeting and 
December 2019 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant 
written public comments in making its recommendations for the final 
2020 and 2021 harvest specifications. Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(2) 
and (3), the Council could recommend adjusting the TACs if warranted 
based on the biological condition of groundfish stocks or a variety of 
socioeconomic considerations, or if required to cause the sum of TACs 
to fall within the optimum yield range.

Sablefish OFL

    For sablefish, at its October 2019 meeting, the SSC discussed the 
Plan Team's recommendation to review the apportionment and 
specification of the sablefish OFL and its status quo apportionments in 
the Bering Sea (BS), Aleutian Islands (AI), and the GOA. The sablefish 
stock assessment currently uses an Alaska-wide model that establishes 
an Alaska-wide OFL, which is then apportioned to three area specific 
OFLs: BS, AI, and GOA. The Alaska-wide OFL is currently the measurable 
and objective criteria used to monitor and assess the status of the 
sablefish stock to prevent overfishing and to determine whether 
overfishing has occurred or the stock is overfished. The 2018 sablefish 
SAFE report highlights that, given extremely high movement rates 
throughout their range, sablefish are likely one Alaska-wide stock with 
no sub-populations in Alaska.
    At its September 2019 meeting, the Plan Team discussed that there 
did not appear to be a conservation concern that warranted sub-area 
OFLs, particularly since the six sub-area ABC apportionments are 
designed to spread harvest across areas and prevent any localized 
depletion. At its October 2019 meeting, the SSC had extensive 
discussion about the appropriate process for considering a combined 
OFL, and the SSC determined that combining the OFL is a viable option 
to consider for the OFL specification for 2020 and 2021. The Plan Team 
and SSC recommended that the sablefish stock assessment include three 
options for apportioning and specifying sablefish OFLs for review at 
the November 2019 Plan Team and December 2019 SSC meetings: (1) No 
change in the

[[Page 66111]]

apportionment and specification of a BS OFL, an AI OFL, and a GOA OFL 
(status quo); (2) apportioning and specifying a Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands (BSAI) OFL, and a separate GOA OFL; and (3) specifying an 
Alaska-wide OFL.
    The SSC will review these three options in the sablefish stock 
assessment to consider a possible change to the current sablefish OFL 
apportionment during the December Council meeting. Based on the 
recommendations of the SSC, NMFS may implement a change to the 
specification of sablefish OFL in the final 2020 and 2021 harvest 
specifications.

GOA Pacific Cod

    For Pacific cod, at its October 2019 meeting, the SSC discussed the 
precipitous decline of the Pacific cod stock over recent years, which 
may have substantial management implications. The Steller sea lion 
harvest control regulations at Sec.  679.20(d)(4) state that if a 
biological assessment of the Pacific cod stock projects that the 
spawning biomass in an area will be equal to or below 20 percent of the 
projected unfished spawning biomass during a fishing year, then the 
Regional Administrator will prohibit directed fishing within that area 
and the directed fishery will remain closed until a subsequent 
biological assessment projects that the spawning biomass will exceed 20 
percent of the projected unfished spawning biomass. Also, if Pacific 
cod spawning biomass falls below the B17.5% 
level, a rebuilding plan will be required to comply with provisions of 
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The SSC emphasizes that both of these 
scenarios are possible, given the results from the preliminary 
September 2019 models.

Potential Changes Between Proposed and Final Specifications

    In previous years, the most significant changes (relative to the 
amount of assessed tonnage of fish) to the OFLs and ABCs from the 
proposed to the final harvest specifications have been based on the 
most recent NMFS stock surveys. These surveys provide updated estimates 
of stock biomass and spatial distribution, and inform changes to the 
models used for producing stock assessments. At the September 2019 Plan 
Team meeting, NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results, 
potential changes to assessment models, and accompanying, preliminary 
stock estimates. At the October 2019 Council meeting, the SSC reviewed 
this information. The species with possible significant model changes 
are Pacific cod, dover sole, rex sole, flathead sole, Pacific ocean 
perch, and shortraker and rougheye rockfish. Model changes can result 
in changes to final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs.
    In November 2019, the Plan Team will consider updated stock 
assessments for groundfish, which will be included in the draft 2019 
SAFE report. If the 2019 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass 
trend is increasing for a species, then the final 2020 and 2021 harvest 
specifications for that species may reflect an increase from the 
proposed harvest specifications. Conversely, if the 2019 SAFE report 
indicates that the stock biomass trend is decreasing for a species, 
then the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications may reflect a 
decrease from the proposed harvest specifications.
    The proposed 2020 and 2021 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are based on the 
best available biological and socioeconomic information, including 
projected biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock 
biomass, and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. 
The FMP specifies the tiers to be used to compute OFLs and ABCs. The 
tiers applicable to a particular stock or stock complex are determined 
by the level of reliable information available to the fisheries 
scientists. This information is categorized into a successive series of 
six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with Tier 1 representing the 
highest level of information quality available and Tier 6 representing 
the lowest level of information quality available. The Plan Team used 
the FMP tier structure to calculate OFLs and ABCs for each groundfish 
species. The SSC adopted the proposed 2020 and 2021 OFLs and ABCs 
recommended by the Plan Team for all groundfish species. The Council 
adopted the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC 
recommendations.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The Council recommended proposed 2020 and 2021 TACs that are equal 
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exception 
of pollock in the combined Western and Central Regulatory Areas and the 
West Yakutat (WYK) District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (the W/C/WYK 
Regulatory Area), Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western 
Regulatory Area, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas, and Atka mackerel. The W/C/WYK Regulatory 
Area pollock TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs are set to account for 
the State of Alaska's (State's) guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for the 
State water pollock and Pacific cod fisheries so that the ABCs are not 
exceeded. The shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead 
sole TACs are set to allow for increased harvest opportunities for 
these target species while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in 
other fisheries. The Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate incidental 
catch amounts in other fisheries. These reductions are described below.
    NMFS's proposed apportionments of groundfish species are based on 
the distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas over which NMFS 
manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of 
pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish. Additional detail on 
apportionments of pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish are described 
below.
    The ABC for the pollock stock in the W/C/WYK Regulatory Area 
accounts for the GHL established by the State for the Prince William 
Sound (PWS) pollock fishery. The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council have 
recommended that the sum of all State water and Federal water pollock 
removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. For 2020 and 
2021, the Council recommended the W/C/WYK pollock ABC, including the 
amount to account for the State's PWS GHL. At the November 2018 Plan 
Team meeting, State fisheries managers recommended setting the PWS GHL 
at 2.5 percent of the annual W/C/WYK pollock ABC. For 2020, this yields 
a PWS pollock GHL of 2,722 mt, a decrease from the 2019 PWS GHL of 
3,396 mt. After accounting for PWS GHL, the 2020 and 2021 pollock ABC 
for the combined W/C/WYK areas is then apportioned among four 
statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640) as both ABCs and TACs, 
as described below and detailed in Table 1. The total ABCs and TACs for 
the four statistical areas, plus the State GHL, do not exceed the 
combined W/C/WYK ABC. The proposed W/C/WYK 2020 and 2021 pollock ABC is 
108,892 mt, and the proposed TAC is 106,170 mt.
    Apportionments of pollock to the W/C/WYK management areas are 
considered to be apportionments of annual catch limit (ACLs) rather 
than apportionments of ABCs. This more accurately reflects that such 
apportionments address management concerns, rather than biological or 
conservation concerns. In addition, apportionments of the ACL in this 
manner allow NMFS to balance any transfer of TAC among Areas 610, 620, 
and 630 pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)

[[Page 66112]]

to ensure that the combined W/C/WYK ACL, ABC, and TAC are not exceeded.
    NMFS proposes pollock TACs in the Western Regulatory Area (Area 
610), Central Regulatory Area (Areas 620 and 630), and the West Yakutat 
District (Area 640) and the Southeast Outside (SEO) District (Area 650) 
of the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA (see Table 1). NMFS also 
proposes seasonal apportionment of the annual pollock TAC in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical Areas 
610, 620, and 630. These apportionments are divided equally among each 
of the following four seasons: The A season (January 20 through March 
10), the B season (March 10 through May 31), the C season (August 25 
through October 1), and the D season (October 1 through November 1) 
(Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), and 679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A) and 
(B)). Additional detail is provided below; Table 2 lists these amounts.
    The proposed 2020 and 2021 Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate 
the State's GHLs for Pacific cod in State waters in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas, as well as in PWS (see Table 1). The Plan 
Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all State water 
and Federal water Pacific cod removals from the GOA not exceed ABC 
recommendations. Accordingly, the Council set the 2020 and 2021 Pacific 
cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas to 
account for State GHLs. Therefore, the proposed 2020 and 2021 Pacific 
cod TACs are less than the proposed ABCs by the following amounts: (1) 
Western GOA, 2,909 mt; (2) Central GOA, 2,435 mt; and (3) Eastern GOA, 
540 mt. These amounts reflect the State's 2020 and 2021 GHLs in these 
areas, which are 30 percent of the Western GOA proposed ABC, and 25 
percent of the Eastern and Central GOA proposed ABCs.
    NMFS also proposes seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod TACs 
in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas. Sixty percent of the 
annual TAC is apportioned to the A season for hook-and-line, pot, and 
jig gear from January 1 through June 10, and for trawl gear from 
January 20 through June 10. Forty percent of the annual TAC is 
apportioned to the B season for jig gear from June 10 through December 
31, for hook-and-line and pot gear from September 1 through December 
31, and for trawl gear from September 1 through November 1 (Sec. Sec.  
679.23(d)(3) and 679.20(a)(12)). The Western and Central GOA Pacific 
cod TACs are allocated among various gear and operational sectors. The 
Pacific cod sector apportionments are discussed in detail in a 
subsequent section and in Table 3 of this rule.
    The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments 
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (Sec.  679.7(b)(1)) and makes 
available five percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to 
vessels using trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other trawl 
groundfish fisheries in the WYK District (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). 
Additional detail is provided below. Tables 4 and 5 list the proposed 
2020 and 2021 allocations of the sablefish TAC to fixed gear and trawl 
gear in the GOA.
    For 2020 and 2021, the Council recommends and NMFS proposes the 
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in Table 1. The proposed ABCs reflect 
harvest amounts that are less than the specified overfishing levels. 
These amounts are consistent with the biological condition of 
groundfish stocks as described in the 2018 SAFE report, and adjusted 
for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, including 
maintaining the total TAC within the required OY range. The sum of the 
proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 408,534 mt for 2020 and 2021, 
which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. These proposed 
amounts and apportionments by area, season, and sector are subject to 
change pending consideration of the 2019 SAFE report and the Council's 
recommendations for the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications 
during its December 2019 meeting.

    Table 1--Proposed 2020 and 2021 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat,
 Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
                          Regulatory Area, and Gulfwide District of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Species                          Area 1                 OFL             ABC            TAC 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\...........................  Shumagin (610)..........             n/a          19,939          19,939
                                        Chirikof (620)..........             n/a          57,279          57,279
                                        Kodiak (630)............             n/a          24,345          24,345
                                        WYK (640)...............             n/a           4,607           4,607
                                        W/C/WYK (subtotal)......         148,968         108,892         106,170
                                        SEO (650)...............          11,697           8,773           8,773
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                          160,665         117,665         114,943
Pacific cod \3\.......................  W.......................             n/a           9,695           6,787
                                        C.......................             n/a           9,738           7,304
                                        E.......................             n/a           2,159           1,619
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           26,078          21,592          15,709
Sablefish \4\.........................  W.......................             n/a           2,105           2,105
                                        C.......................             n/a           6,931           6,931
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,433           2,433
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           3,993           3,993
                                        E (WYK and SEO)                      n/a           6,426           6,426
                                         (subtotal).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           34,782          15,462          15,462
Shallow-water flatfish \5\............  W.......................             n/a          25,952          13,250
                                        C.......................             n/a          26,065          26,065
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,308           2,308
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,983           1,983
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           69,167          56,308          43,606
Deep-water flatfish \6\...............  W.......................             n/a             420             420

[[Page 66113]]

 
                                        C.......................             n/a           3,488           3,488
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           3,323           3,323
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,393           2,393
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           11,581           9,624           9,624
Rex sole..............................  W.......................             n/a           2,956           2,956
                                        C.......................             n/a           8,371           8,371
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,664           1,664
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,734           1,734
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           17,942          14,725          14,725
Arrowtooth flounder...................  W.......................             n/a          34,765          14,500
                                        C.......................             n/a          68,575          68,575
                                        WYK.....................             n/a          15,368           6,900
                                        SEO.....................             n/a          22,157           6,900
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                          168,634         140,865          96,875
Flathead sole.........................  W.......................             n/a          13,771           8,650
                                        C.......................             n/a          21,965          15,400
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,097           2,097
                                        SEO.....................             n/a             440             440
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           46,666          38,273          26,587
Pacific ocean perch \7\...............  W.......................             n/a           3,125           3,125
                                        C.......................             n/a          19,024          19,024
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           3,192           3,192
                                        W/C/WYK.................          30,128          25,341          25,341
                                        SEO.....................           2,748           2,311           2,311
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                           32,876          27,652          27,652
Northern rockfish \8\.................  W.......................             n/a           1,122           1,122
                                        C.......................             n/a           3,147           3,147
                                        E.......................             n/a               1  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            5,093           4,270           4,269
Shortraker rockfish \9\...............  W.......................             n/a              44              44
                                        C.......................             n/a             305             305
                                        E.......................             n/a             514             514
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            1,151             863             863
Dusky rockfish \10\...................  W.......................             n/a             774             774
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,742           2,742
                                        WYK.....................             n/a              94              94
                                        SEO.....................             n/a              60              60
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            4,484           3,670           3,670
Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish\11\  W.......................             n/a             172             172
                                        C.......................             n/a             545             545
                                        E.......................             n/a             697             697
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            1,699           1,414           1,414
Demersal shelf rockfish \12\..........  SEO.....................             411             261             261
Thornyhead rockfish \13\..............  W.......................             n/a             326             326
                                        C.......................             n/a             911             911
                                        E.......................             n/a             779             779
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            2,688           2,016           2,016
Other rockfish 14 15..................  W/C combined............             n/a           1,737           1,737
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             368             368
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           3,489           3,489
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            7,356           5,594           5,594
Atka mackerel.........................  GW......................           6,200           4,700           3,000
Big skates \16\.......................  W.......................             n/a             504             504
                                        C.......................             n/a           1,774           1,774
                                        E.......................             n/a             570             570
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            3,797           2,848           2,848
Longnose skates \17\..................  W.......................             n/a             149             149

[[Page 66114]]

 
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,804           2,804
                                        E.......................             n/a             619             619
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                          Total                            4,763           3,572           3,572
Other skates \18\.....................  GW......................           1,845           1,384           1,384
Sculpins..............................  GW......................           6,958           5,301           5,301
Sharks................................  GW......................          10,913           8,184           8,184
Octopuses.............................  GW......................           1,300             975             975
                                                                 ===============================================
    Total.............................  ........................         627,049         487,218         408,534
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2. (W = Western Gulf of Alaska; C = Central Gulf of
  Alaska; E = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK = West Yakutat District; SEO = Southeast Outside District; GW = Gulf-
  wide).
\2\ The total for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas pollock ABC is 108,892 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (2,722 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 106,170 mt (for the W/C/WYK
  Regulatory Areas) is apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640). These
  apportionments are considered subarea ACLs, rather than ABCs, for specification and reapportionment purposes.
  The ACLs in Areas 610, 620, and 630 are further divided by season, as detailed in Table 2. In the West Yakutat
  (Area 640) and Southeast Outside (Area 650) Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided
  into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned 60 percent to the A season and 40 percent to the B season in the
  Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA. Pacific cod TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is
  allocated 90 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent
  to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the offshore component. Table 3 lists the proposed 2020
  and 2021 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments.
\4\ Sablefish is allocated to fixed and trawl gear in 2020 and trawl gear in 2021. Tables 4 and 5 list the
  proposed 2020 and 2021 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes the 1 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area has been included in the other rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus
  (blackspotted).
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means Sebastes species.
\14\ ``Other rockfish means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio), S.
  goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish (S. polyspinous).
\15\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the
  Eastern Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the ``other rockfish'' and demersal shelf
  rockfish categories. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish.
\16\ ``Big skates'' means Raja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skates'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja and Raja spp.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses 
in reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the 
fishing year. Section 679.20(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to reapportion all 
or part of these reserves. In 2019, NMFS reapportioned all of the 
reserves in the final harvest specifications. For 2020 and 2021, NMFS 
proposes reapportionment of each of the reserves for pollock, Pacific 
cod, flatfish, sculpins, sharks, and octopuses back into the original 
TAC from which the reserve was derived. NMFS expects, based on recent 
harvest patterns, that such reserves will not be necessary and that the 
entire TAC for each of these species will be caught. The TACs in Table 
1 reflect this proposed reapportionment of reserve amounts to the 
original TAC for these species and species groups, i.e., each proposed 
TAC for the above-mentioned species or species groups contains the full 
TAC recommended by the Council.

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

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is 
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. 
Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified 
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned 
into four equal seasonal allowances of 25 percent. As established by 
Sec.  679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season 
allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10 
through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through 
November 1, respectively.
    Pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in propostion 
to the distribution of pollock biomass, pursuant to Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). In the A and B seasons, the apportionments 
previously were in proportion to the distribution of pollock based on 
the four most recent NMFS winter surveys. In the C and D seasons, the 
apportionments were in proportion to the distribution of pollock based 
on the four most recent NMFS summer surveys. For 2020 and 2021, the 
Council

[[Page 66115]]

recommends, and NMFS proposes, following the apportionment methodology 
for the A season that was previously used for the 2019 and 2020 harvest 
specifications. This methodology averages the winter and summer 
distribution of pollock in the Central Regulatory Area for the A season 
instead of using the distribution based on only the winter surveys. The 
average is intended to reflect the best available information about 
migration patterns, distribution of pollock, and the performance of the 
fishery in the area during the A season for the 2019 and 2020 fishing 
years. For the A season, the apportionment is based on the proposed 
adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass of 
approximately 3 percent, 86 percent, and 11 percent in Statistical 
Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. For the B season, the 
apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass 
of approximately 3 percent, 86 percent, and 11 percent in Statistical 
Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. For the C and D seasons, the 
apportionment is based on the relative distribution of pollock biomass 
of approximately 37 percent, 27 percent, and 37 percent in Statistical 
Areas 610, 620, and 630, respectively. The pollock chapter of the 2018 
SAFE report (see ADDRESSES) contains a comprehensive description of the 
apportionment process and reasons for the minor changes from past 
apportionments.
    Within any fishing year, the amount by which a seasonal allowance 
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, 
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the 
Regional Administrator (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount 
is limited to 20 percent of the subsequent seasonal TAC apportionment 
for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent 
limit could be further distributed to the subsequent season in the 
other statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass to the 
subsequent season and in an amount no more than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in those statistical areas (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2020 and 2021 pollock TACs in the 
WYK District of 4,607 mt and the SEO District of 8,773 mt are not 
allocated by season.
    Table 2 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 seasonal biomass 
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock 
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown. 
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires allocation of 100 percent of the 
pollock TAC in all regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after 
subtraction of amounts projected by the Regional Administrator to be 
caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to 
directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of 
pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for 
processing by the offshore component is the amount that will be taken 
as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species 
other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by 
Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, the incidental catch amounts of 
pollock are unknown and will be determined during the 2020 fishing 
year.

       Table 2--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska; Seasonal Biomass
                                      Distribution, Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season \2\                                           Shumagin
                                                     Chirikof
                                                      Kodiak                   Total \3\
                                                    (Area 610)
                                                    (Area 620)
                                                    (Area 630)            ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (Jan 20-Mar 10).......................             680         (2.68%)          21,888        (85.39%)           2,823        (11.12%)          25,391
B (Mar 10-May 31).......................             680         (2.68%)          21,888        (85.39%)           2,823        (11.12%)          25,391
C (Aug 25-Oct 1)........................           9,290        (36.59%)           6,752        (26.59%)           9,349        (36.82%)          25,391
D (Oct 1-Nov 1).........................           9,290        (36.59%)           6,752        (26.59%)           9,349        (36.82%)          25,391
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total........................          19,939  ..............          57,279  ..............          24,345  ..............         101,564
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2)(i) through (iv), the A, B, C, and D season allowances are available from January 20 through March 10, March 10
  through May 31, August 25 through October 1, and October 1 through November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and
  offshore components are not shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not included in the total pollock TACs shown in
  this table.

Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS proposes allocations for 
the 2020 and 2021 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. NMFS 
also proposes allocating the 2020 and 2021 Pacific cod TACs annually 
between the inshore (90 percent) and offshore (10 percent) components 
in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA (Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii)). In 
the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to 
vessels using jig gear, and then among catcher vessels (CVs) less than 
50 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear, CVs equal to or 
greater than 50 feet in length overall using hook-and-line gear, 
catcher/processors (C/Ps) using hook-and-line gear, CVs using trawl 
gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear (Sec.  
679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)). In the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is 
apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then among 
CVs using hook-and-line gear, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, CVs using 
trawl gear, C/Ps using trawl gear, and vessels using pot gear (Sec.  
679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)). The overall seasonal apportionments in the 
Western and Central GOA are 60 percent of the annual TAC to the A 
season and 40 percent of the annual TAC to the B season.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the 
Pacific cod allowance from the A season may be subtracted from, or 
added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any portion 
of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations that is 
determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may be

[[Page 66116]]

reallocated to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the 
fishing year.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A) and (B), a portion of the 
annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central GOA will be 
allocated to vessels with a Federal fisheries permit that use jig gear 
before the TACs are apportioned among other non-jig sectors. In 
accordance with the FMP, the annual jig sector allocations may increase 
to up to 6 percent of the annual Western and Central GOA Pacific cod 
TACs, depending on the annual performance of the jig sector (see Table 
1 of Amendment 83 to the FMP for a detailed discussion of the jig 
sector allocation process (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011)). Jig sector 
allocation increases are established for a minimum of two years.
    NMFS has evaluated the historical harvest performance of the jig 
sector in the Western and Central GOA, and proposes 2020 and 2021 
Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical 
harvest performance through 2018. For 2020 and 2021, NMFS proposes that 
the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 
Western GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.5 percent and an 
additional performance increase of 1.0 percent. NMFS also proposes that 
the jig sector receive 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 
Central GOA. This includes a base allocation of 1.0 percent and no 
additional performance increase. The 2014 through 2018 Pacific cod jig 
allocations, catch, and percent allocation changes are listed in Figure 
1.

    Figure 1--Summary of Western GOA and Central GOA Pacific Cod Catch by Jig Gear in 2014 Through 2018, and Corresponding Percent Allocation Changes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Percent  of
              Area                     Year           Initial       Initial TAC     Catch (mt)        initial     >90% of initial    Change to  percent
                                                  percent of TAC    allocation                      allocation       allocation?         allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGOA............................            2014             2.5             573             785             137               Y   Increase 1%.
                                            2015             3.5             948              55               6               N   None.
                                            2016             3.5             992              52               5               N   Decrease 1%.
                                            2017             2.5             635              49               8               N   Decrease 1%.
                                            2018             1.5             125             121              97               Y   Increase 1%.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CGOA............................            2014             2.0             797             262              33               N   Decrease 1%.
                                            2015             1.0             460             355              77               N   None.
                                            2016             1.0             370             267              72               N   None.
                                            2017             1.0             331              18               6               N   None.
                                            2018             1.0              61               0               0               N   None.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2019 harvest performance of the 
jig sector in the Western and Central GOA when the 2019 fishing year is 
complete to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations 
proposed by this action in conjunction with the final 2020 and 2021 
harvest specifications. The current catch through October 2019 by the 
Western GOA jig sector indicates that the Pacific cod allocation 
percentage to this sector would probably increase by 1 percent in 2020 
(from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent). Also, the current catch by the 
Central GOA jig sector indicates that this sector's Pacific cod 
allocation percentage would not change in 2020, and would remain at 1 
percent. The jig sector allocations for the Western and Central GOA are 
further apportioned between the A (60 percent) and B (40 percent) 
seasons (Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i) and 679.23(d)(3)(iii)).
    Table 3 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 Pacific cod TACs.

 Table 3--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the GOA;
  Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA for Processing by the Inshore and
                                               Offshore Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual          Sector                          Sector
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation     percentage of     Seasonal      percentage of     Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA
Jig (2.5% of TAC)...............             170             N/A             102             N/A              68
Hook-and-line CV................              93            0.70              46            0.70              46
Hook-and-line C/P...............           1,310           10.90             721            8.90             589
Trawl CV........................           2,541           27.70           1,833           10.70             708
Trawl C/P.......................             159            0.90              60            1.50              99
Pot CV and Pot C/P..............           2,514           19.80           1,310           18.20           1,204
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................           6,787           60.00           4,072           40.00           2,715
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA
Jig (1.0% of TAC)...............              73             N/A              44             N/A              29
Hook-and-line <50 CV............           1,056            9.32             674            5.29             382
Hook-and-line >=50 CV...........             485            5.61             406            1.10              79

[[Page 66117]]

 
Hook-and-line C/P...............             369            4.11             297            1.00              72
Trawl CV \1\....................           3,007           21.13           1,528           20.45           1,479
Trawl C/P.......................             304            2.00             145            2.19             159
Pot CV and Pot C/P..............           2,010           17.83           1,289            9.97             721
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................           7,304           60.00           4,382           40.00           2,921
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Eastern GOA                       ..............  Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                  Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
                                           1,619                   1,457
                                                     162
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 278 mt, of the
  annual Central GOA Pacific cod TAC (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the
  Trawl CV B season allowance (see Table 8: Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and
  Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).

Proposed Allocations of the Sablefish TAC Amounts to Vessels Using 
Fixed Gear and Trawl Gear

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) requires allocations of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to fixed and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to fixed gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated 
to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is 
allocated to fixed gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The 
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may be used only 
to support incidental catch of sablefish while directed fishing for 
other target species using trawl gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)).
    In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended and 
NMFS proposes specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl 
gear in the WYK District. The remainder of the WYK sablefish TAC is 
allocated to vessels using fixed gear. This proposed action allocates 
100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using 
fixed gear. This results in a proposed 2020 allocation of 321 mt to 
trawl gear and 2,112 mt to fixed gear in the WYK District, a proposed 
2020 allocation of 3,993 mt to fixed gear in the SEO District, and a 
proposed 2021 allocation of 321 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District. 
Table 4 lists the allocations of the proposed 2020 sablefish TACs to 
fixed and trawl gear. Table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 
2021 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
    The Council recommended that the trawl sablefish TAC be established 
for two years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by 
trawl gear could commence in January in the second year of the 
groundfish harvest specifications. Tables 4 and 5 list the proposed 
2020 and 2021 trawl allocations, respectively.
    The Council recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that the sablefish IFQ fishery is 
conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery and is based on the 
most recent survey information. Since there is an annual assessment for 
sablefish and since the final harvest specifications are expected to be 
published before the IFQ season begins (typically, in early March), the 
Council recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be set annually, 
rather than for 2 years, so that the best available scientific 
information could be considered in establishing the sablefish ABCs and 
TACs. Accordingly, Table 4 lists the proposed 2020 fixed gear 
allocations, and the 2021 fixed gear allocations will be specified in 
the 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications.
    With the exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to 
the Rockfish Program (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), directed 
fishing for sablefish with trawl gear is closed during the fishing 
year. Also, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior 
to January 20 (Sec.  679.23(c)). Therefore, it is not likely that the 
sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached before the 
effective date of the final 2021 and 2022 harvest specifications.

   Table 4--Proposed 2020 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Fixed and Trawl Gear
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Fixed gear         Trawl
                          Area/district                                 TAC         allocation      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           2,105           1,684             421
Central \1\.....................................................           6,931           5,545           1,386
West Yakutat \2\................................................           2,433           2,112             321
Southeast Outside...............................................           3,993           3,993               0

[[Page 66118]]

 
    Total.......................................................          15,462          13,334           2,129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (713 mt). See Table 8: Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA.
  This results in 673 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
  Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.


       Table 5--Proposed 2021 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Fixed gear         Trawl
                          Area/district                                 TAC         allocation      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           2,105             n/a             421
Central \2\.....................................................           6,931             n/a           1,386
West Yakutat \3\................................................           2,433             n/a             321
Southeast Outside...............................................           3,993             n/a               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          15,462             n/a           2,129
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish Individual Fishing Quota
  fisheries be limited to 1 year.
\2\ The trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (713 mt). See Table 8: Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA.
  This results in 673 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\3\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West
  Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

Proposed Allocations, Apportionments, and Sideboard Limitations for the 
Rockfish Program

    These proposed 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications for the GOA 
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations 
established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily 
trawl CVs and trawl C/Ps, with limited participation by vessels using 
longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative 
quota to participants for primary species (Pacific ocean perch, 
northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) and secondary species (Pacific 
cod, rougheye rockfish, sablefish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead 
rockfish), allows a participant holding a license limitation program 
(LLP) license with rockfish quota share to form a rockfish cooperative 
with other persons, and allows holders of C/P LLP licenses to opt out 
of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an entry level fishery 
for rockfish primary species for vessels using longline gear. Longline 
gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
    Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species in the Central 
GOA are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch 
needs in other directed fisheries (Sec.  679.81(a)(2)). Participants in 
the Rockfish Program also receive a portion of the Central GOA TAC of 
specific secondary species. In addition to groundfish species, the 
Rockfish Program allocates a portion of the halibut PSC limit (191 mt) 
from the third season deep-water species fishery allowance for the GOA 
trawl fisheries to Rockfish Program participants (Sec.  679.81(d) and 
Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679). The Rockfish Program also establishes 
sideboard limits to restrict the ability of harvesters that operate 
under the Rockfish Program to increase their participation in other, 
non-Rockfish Program fisheries. These restrictions and halibut PSC 
limits are discussed in a subsequent section titled ``Rockfish Program 
Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations.''
    Section 679.81(a)(2)(ii) and Table 28e to 50 CFR part 679 require 
allocations of 5 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 5 mt of northern rockfish, 
and 50 mt of dusky rockfish to the entry level longline fishery in 2020 
and 2021. The allocation for the entry level longline fishery may 
increase incrementally each year if the catch exceeds 90 percent of the 
allocation of a species. The incremental increase in the allocation 
would continue each year until it reaches the maximum percentage of the 
TAC for that species. In 2019, the catch for all three primary species 
did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated rockfish species. Therefore, 
NMFS is not proposing any increases to the entry level longline fishery 
2020 and 2021 allocations in the Central GOA. The remainder of the TACs 
for the rockfish primary species would be allocated to the CV and C/P 
cooperatives (Sec.  679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 6 lists the allocations 
of the proposed 2020 and 2021 TACs for each rockfish primary species to 
the entry level longline fishery, the potential incremental increases 
for future years, and the maximum percentages of the TACs for the entry 
level longline fishery.

[[Page 66119]]



 Table 6--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in
                                           the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Incremental increase in
                                                                      2021 if >90 percent of     Up to maximum
        Rockfish primary species         2020 and 2021 allocations      2020 allocation is      percent of each
                                                                            harvested               TAC of:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch....................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                 1%
Northern rockfish......................  5 metric tons............  5 metric tons............                 2%
Dusky rockfish.........................  50 metric tons...........  20 metric tons...........                 5%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 679.81 requires allocations of rockfish primary species 
among various sectors of the Rockfish Program. Table 7 lists the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 allocations of rockfish primary species in the 
Central GOA to the entry level longline fishery, and rockfish CV and C/
P cooperatives in the Rockfish Program. NMFS also proposes setting 
aside incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other directed fisheries in 
the Central GOA of 3,000 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 300 mt of northern 
rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky rockfish. These amounts are based on 
recent average incidental catches in the Central GOA by other 
groundfish fisheries.
    Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or C/P cooperatives are 
not included in these proposed harvest specifications. Rockfish Program 
applications for CV cooperatives and C/P cooperatives are not due to 
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot 
calculate 2020 and 2021 allocations in conjunction with these proposed 
harvest specifications. NMFS will post the 2020 allocations on the 
Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish when they become available after March 1.

  Table 7--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the
                 Entry Level Longline Fishery and Rockfish Coooperatives in the Rockfish Program
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Allocation to
                                                   Incidental                       the entry     Allocation to
    Rockfish primary species       Central GOA        catch       TAC minus ICA       level        the rockfish
                                       TAC          allowance                      longline\1\   cooperatives\2\
                                                      (ICA)                          fishery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch............          19,024           3,000          16,024               5           16,019
Northern rockfish..............           3,147             300           2,847               5            2,842
Dusky rockfish.................           2,742             250           2,492              50            2,442
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total......................          24,913           3,550          21,363              60           21,303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (Sec.   679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and C/P cooperatives (Sec.   679.81).

    Section 679.81(c) and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 requires 
allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and C/P cooperatives in 
the Central GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, 
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. C/P 
cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl gear 
allocation, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 
and thornyhead rockfish. Table 8 lists the apportionments of the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the 
Central GOA to CV and C/P cooperatives.

   Table 8--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher
                                    Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Catcher vessel  cooperatives   Catcher/processor cooperatives
                                    Central GOA  ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Rockfish secondary species       annual TAC     Percentage of   Apportionment   Percentage of   Apportionment
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.....................           7,304            3.81             278             0.0               0
Sablefish.......................           6,931            6.78             470            3.51             243
Shortraker rockfish.............             305             0.0               0           40.00             122
Rougheye and blackspotted                    545             0.0               0           58.87             321
 rockfish.......................
Thornyhead rockfish.............             911            7.84              71           26.50             241
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the 
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In October 2019, the 
Council recommended, and NMFS now proposes, halibut PSC limits of 1,706 
mt for trawl gear, 257 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the

[[Page 66120]]

demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District.
    The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut 
PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(i)(A)). The separate halibut PSC limit for the DSR 
fishery is intended to prevent that fishery from being impacted from 
the halibut PSC incurred by other GOA fisheries. NMFS estimates low 
halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR 
fisheries and the gear soak times are short, (2) the DSR fishery occurs 
in the winter when there is less overlap in the distribution of DSR and 
halibut, and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. 
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the commercial GHL for the 
DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of DSR incidental catch in 
all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence); and (2) the 
allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. Of the 261 mt TAC for DSR in 
2019, 25 mt were available for directed fishing by the DSR commercial 
fishery, of which 18 mt were harvested (through September 25, 2019).
    The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the 
halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes 
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear 
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2020 and 
2021. The Council recommended, and NMFS is proposing, these exemptions 
because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch 
mortality; (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if 
any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ 
for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the 
vessel is operating (Sec.  679.7(f)(11)); (3) some sablefish IFQ permit 
holders hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain 
the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ; and (4) NMFS 
estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries given 
the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective 
nature of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and 
released with jig gear.
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch 
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2019. The 
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through October 5, 2019 is 818 mt 
for trawl gear and 48 mt for hook-and-line gear for a total halibut 
mortality of 866 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using 
groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska Region's catch 
accounting system. This accounting system contains historical and 
recent catch information compiled from each Alaska groundfish fishery.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) and (ii) authorizes NMFS to seasonally 
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. 
The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the 
following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: 
(1) Seasonal distribution of halibut, (2) seasonal distribution of 
target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution, (3) 
expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes 
in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species, (4) 
expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis, (5) expected changes in 
directed groundfish fishing seasons, (6) expected actual start of 
fishing effort, and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal 
halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry. 
Based on public comment, the information presented in the 2019 SAFE 
report, and catch data from NMFS, the State, or the International 
Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), the Council may recommend or NMFS 
may make changes to the seasonal, gear-type, or fishery category 
apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 2020 and 2021 
harvest specifications pursuant to Sec.  679.21(d)(1) and (d)(4).
    The final 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications (84 FR 9416, March 
14, 2019) summarized the Council's and NMFS's findings for these FMP 
and regulatory considerations with respect to halibut PSC limits. The 
Council's and NMFS's proposed findings for these proposed 2020 and 2021 
harvest specifications are unchanged from the final 2019 and 2020 
harvest specifications. Table 9 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 
Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and apportionments. The halibut 
PSC limits in these tables reflect the halibut PSC limits set forth at 
Sec.  679.21(d)(2) and (3). Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) 
specifies that any underages or overages of a seasonal apportionment of 
a halibut PSC limit will be added to or deducted from the next 
respective seasonal apportionment within the fishing year.

                               Table 9--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Trawl gear                                                             Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Other than DSR                                    DSR
                 Season                    Percent     Amount  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Season             Percent     Amount             Season              Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1......................       30.5        519  January 1-June 10..........         86        221  January 1-December 31.....          9
April 1-July 1..........................         20        341  June 10-September 1........          2          5  ..........................  .........
July 1-August 1.........................         27        462  September 1-December 31....         12         31  ..........................  .........
August 1-October 1......................        7.5        128  ...........................  .........  .........  ..........................  .........
October 1-December 31...................         15        256  ...........................  .........  .........  ..........................  .........
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................  .........      1,706  ...........................  .........        257  ..........................          9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery and
  fisheries other than DSR. The Council recommended and NMFS proposes that the hook-and-line sablefish fishery, and the pot and jig gear groundfish
  fisheries, be exempt from halibut PSC limits.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery 
categories listed in Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments 
are based on each category's share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of 
groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories 
for the trawl halibut PSC

[[Page 66121]]

limits are (1) a deep-water species fishery, composed of sablefish, 
rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and 
(2) a shallow-water species fishery, composed of pollock, Pacific cod, 
shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka mackerel, skates, and 
``other species'' (sculpins, sharks, and octopuses) (Sec.  
679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Halibut mortality incurred while directed fishing 
for skates with trawl gear accrues towards the shallow-water species 
fishery halibut PSC limit (69 FR 26320, May 12, 2004). Table 10 lists 
the proposed 2020 and 2021 seasonal apportionments of trawl halibut PSC 
limits between the trawl gear deep-water and the shallow-water species 
fisheries.
    NMFS will combine available trawl halibut PSC limit apportionments 
in part of the second season deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries for use in either fishery from May 15 through June 30 (Sec.  
679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D)). This is intended to maintain groundfish harvest 
while minimizing halibut bycatch by these sectors to the extent 
practicable. This provides the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water 
species fisheries additional flexibility and the incentive to 
participate in fisheries at times of the year that may have lower 
halibut PSC rates relative to other times of the year.
    Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679 specifies the amount of the trawl 
halibut PSC limit that is assigned to the CV and C/P sectors that are 
participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program. This includes 117 mt 
of halibut PSC limit to the CV sector and 74 mt of halibut PSC limit to 
the C/P sector. These amounts are allocated from the trawl deep-water 
species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment. After the 
combined CV and C/P halibut PSC limit allocation of 191 mt to the 
Rockfish Program, 150 mt remains for the trawl deep-water species 
fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii)(B) limits the amount of the halibut PSC 
limit allocated to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-
apportioned to the general GOA trawl fisheries to no more than 55 
percent of the unused annual halibut PSC limit apportioned to Rockfish 
Program participants. The remainder of the unused Rockfish Program 
halibut PSC limit is unavailable for use by any person for the 
remainder of the fishing year (Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)).

  Table 10--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Seasonal Apportionments of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limit Apportioned Between
                          the Trawl Gear Shallow-Water and Deep-Water Species Fisheries
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Season                                Shallow-water  Deep-water \1\       Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1..............................................             384             135             519
April 1-July 1..................................................              85             256             341
July 1-August 1.................................................             121             341             462
August 1-October 1..............................................              53              75             128
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
Subtotal, January 20-October 1..................................             643             807           1,450
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
October 1-December 31 \2\.......................................  ..............  ..............             256
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................  ..............  ..............           1,706
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Rockfish Program will receive 191 mt of the third season (July
  1 through August 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment.
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fisheries during the fifth
  season (October 1 through December 31).

    Section 679.21(d)(2) requires that the ``other hook-and-line 
fishery'' halibut PSC limit apportionment to vessels using hook-and-
line gear be divided between CVs and C/Ps. NMFS must calculate the 
halibut PSC limit apportionments for the entire GOA to hook-and-line 
CVs and C/Ps in accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) and in 
conjunction with these harvest specifications. A comprehensive 
description and example of the calculations necessary to apportion the 
``other hook-and-line fishery'' halibut PSC limit between the hook-and-
line CV and C/P sectors were included in the proposed rule to implement 
Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011) and are not 
repeated here.
    For 2020 and 2021, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments of 120 mt and 137 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-
and-line C/P sectors, respectively. The 2020 and 2021 annual halibut 
PSC limits are divided into three seasonal apportionments, using 
seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent. Table 11 
lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 annual halibut PSC limits and seasonal 
apportionments between the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line C/P 
sectors in the GOA.
    No later than November 1 each year, any halibut PSC limit allocated 
under Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(ii)(B) not projected by the Regional 
Administrator to be used by one of the hook-and-line sectors during the 
remainder of the fishing year will be made available to the other 
sector. NMFS calculates the projected unused amount of halibut PSC 
limit by either the CV hook-and-line or the C/P hook-and-line sectors 
of the ``other hook-and-line fishery'' for the remainder of the year. 
The projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of these 
sectors is made available to the remaining hook-and-line sector for the 
remainder of that fishing year if NMFS determines that an additional 
amount of halibut PSC limit is necessary for that sector to continue 
its directed fishing operations (Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)).

[[Page 66122]]



 Table 11--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fisheries'' Halibut PSC Allowance
                   Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Sector
  ``Other than DSR''   Hook-and-line sector   Sector annual         Season           Seasonal        seasonal
      allowance                                  amount                             percentage        amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
257..................  Catcher Vessel......             120  January 1-June 10..              86             103
                                                             June 10-September 1               2               2
                                                             September 1-                     12              14
                                                              December 31.
                       Catcher/Processor...             137  January 1-June 10..              86             118
                                                             June 10-September 1               2               3
                                                             September 1-                     12              16
                                                              December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 with the annual GOA stock 
assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings are included as an 
appendix to the annual GOA 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, the SSC, and the Council. A 
summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 
2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87881, 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 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 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.
    In October 2019, the Council recommended adopting the halibut DMRs 
derived from the revised methodology for the proposed 2020 and 2021 
DMRs. The proposed 2020 and 2021 DMRs use an updated 2-year reference 
period of 2017 and 2018. Comparing the proposed 2020 and 2021 DMRs to 
the final DMRs from the 2019 and 2020 harvest specifications, the 
proposed DMR for Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear 
increased to 52 percent from 49 percent, the proposed DMR for non-
Rockfish Program C/Vs using non-pelagic trawl gear increased to 68 
percent from 67 percent, the proposed DMR for C/Ps and motherships 
using non-pelagic trawl gear decreased to 75 percent from 79 percent, 
the proposed DMR for CVs using hook-and-line gear decreased to 13 
percent from 21 percent, and the proposed DMR for C/Ps and CVs using 
pot gear decreased to 0 percent from 4 percent. Table 12 lists the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 DMRs.

       Table 12--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Discard Mortality Rates for Vessels Fishing in the Gulf of Alaska
                               [Values are percent of halibut assumed to be dead]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Halibut
                                                                                                      discard
                  Gear                              Sector                Groundfish fishery      mortality rate
                                                                                                     (percent)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl...........................  Catcher vessel............  All.......................             100
                                          Catcher/processor.........  All.......................             100
Non-pelagic trawl.......................  Catcher vessel............  Rockfish Program..........              52
                                          Catcher vessel............  All others................              68
                                          Mothership and catcher/     All.......................              75
                                           processor.
Hook-and-line...........................  Catcher/processor.........  All.......................              11
                                          Catcher vessel............  All.......................              13
Pot.....................................  Catcher vessel and catcher/ All.......................               0
                                           processor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 66123]]

Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits

    Amendment 93 to the FMP (77 FR 42629, July 20, 2012) established 
separate Chinook salmon PSC limits in the Western and Central 
regulatory areas of the GOA in the pollock trawl directed fishery. 
These limits require that NMFS close directed fishing for pollock in 
the Western and Central GOA if the applicable Chinook salmon PSC limit 
is reached (Sec.  679.21(h)(8)). The annual Chinook salmon PSC limits 
in the pollock trawl directed fishery of 6,684 salmon in the Western 
GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set in Sec.  
679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii).
    Amendment 97 to the FMP (79 FR 71350, December 2, 2014) established 
an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon for the non-pollock 
groundfish trawl fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit 
is apportioned among three sectors: 3,600 Chinook salmon to trawl C/Ps; 
1,200 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs participating in the Rockfish 
Program; and 2,700 Chinook salmon to trawl CVs not participating in the 
Rockfish Program (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will monitor the Chinook 
salmon PSC in the non-pollock GOA groundfish fisheries and close an 
applicable sector if it reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit.
    The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl C/Ps and trawl 
CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program, may be increased in 
subsequent years based on the performance of these two sectors and 
their ability to minimize their use of their respective Chinook salmon 
PSC limits. If either or both of these two sectors limit its use of 
Chinook salmon PSC to a certain threshold amount in 2019 (3,120 for 
trawl C/Ps and 2,340 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs), that sector 
will receive an increase to its 2020 Chinook salmon PSC limit (4,080 
for trawl C/Ps and 3,060 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs) (Sec.  
679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will evaluate the annual Chinook salmon PSC by 
trawl C/Ps and non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs when the 2019 fishing 
year is complete to determine whether to increase the Chinook salmon 
PSC limits for these two sectors. Based on preliminary 2019 Chinook 
salmon PSC data, the trawl C/P sector may receive an incremental 
increase of Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2020, and the non-Rockfish 
Program trawl CV sector may not receive an incremental increase of 
Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2020. This evaluation will be completed in 
conjunction with the final 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications.

AFA C/P and CV Groundfish Sideboard Limits

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limits on AFA C/Ps and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard limits 
are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and processors who 
do not directly benefit from the AFA from those fishermen and 
processors who receive exclusive harvesting and processing privileges 
under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits listed AFA C/Ps and C/
Ps designated on a listed AFA C/P permit from harvesting any species of 
fish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.  679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed 
AFA C/Ps and C/Ps designated on a listed AFA C/P permit from processing 
any pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery in the GOA and any 
groundfish harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
    AFA CVs that are less than 125 ft (38.1 meters) length overall, 
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA 
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA CV groundfish 
sideboard limits under Sec.  679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for 
non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest 
levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 
679.64(b)(3)(iv) establishes for CVs the groundfish sideboard limits in 
the GOA based on the aggregate retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of 
each sideboard species from 1995 through 1997 divided by the TAC for 
that species over the same period.
    NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that 
implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed 
fishing for specific groundfish species or species groups subject to 
sideboard limits (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and Table 56 to 50 CFR part 
679). Sideboard limits not subject to the final rule continue to be 
calculated and included in the GOA annual harvest specifications.
    Table 13 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 groundfish sideboard 
limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or 
incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from 
the sideboard limits listed in Table 13.

                 Table 13--Proposed 2020 and 2021 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Ratio of  1995-
                                                                                                  1997  non-exempt    Proposed  2020     Proposed  2020
                Species                   Apportionments by season/        Area/component         AFA CV catch  to    and 2021  TACs     and 2021  non-
                                                    gear                                           1995-1997  TAC          \3\           exempt  AFA CV
                                                                                                                                        sideboard limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock................................  A Season..................  Shumagin (610)............             0.6047                680                411
                                         January 20-March 10.......  Chirikof (620)............             0.1167             21,888              2,554
                                                                     Kodiak (630)..............             0.2028              2,823                573
                                         B Season..................  Shumagin (610)............             0.6047                680                411
                                         March 10-May 31...........  Chirikof (620)............             0.1167             21,888              2,554
                                                                     Kodiak (630)..............             0.2028              2,823                573
                                         C Season..................  Shumagin (610)............             0.6047              9,290              5,617
                                         August 25-October 1.......  Chirikof (620)............             0.1167              6,752                788
                                                                     Kodiak (630)..............             0.2028              9,349              1,896
                                         D Season..................  Shumagin (610)............             0.6047              9,290              5,617
                                         October 1-November 1......  Chirikof (620)............             0.1167              6,752                788
                                                                     Kodiak (630)..............             0.2028              9,349              1,896
                                         Annual....................  WYK (640).................             0.3495              4,607              1,610
                                                                     SEO (650).................             0.3495              8,773              3,066
Pacific cod............................  A Season \1\..............  W.........................             0.1331              4,072                542

[[Page 66124]]

 
                                         January 1-June 10.........  C.........................             0.0692              4,382                303
                                         B Season \2\..............  W.........................             0.1331              2,715                361
                                         September 1-December 31...  C.........................             0.0692              2,921                202
Flatfish, shallow-water................  Annual....................  W.........................             0.0156             13,250                207
                                                                     C.........................             0.0587             26,065              1,530
Flatfish, deep-water...................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0647              3,488                226
                                                                     E.........................             0.0128              5,716                 73
Rex sole...............................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0384              8,371                321
Arrowtooth flounder....................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0280             68,575              1,920
Flathead sole..........................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0213             15,400                328
Pacific ocean perch....................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0748             19,024              1,423
                                                                     E.........................             0.0466              5,503                256
Northern rockfish......................  Annual....................  C.........................             0.0277              3,147                 87
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
\3\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs.

Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA 
are based on the aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA 
CVs in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997 divided by the 
retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through 1997 
(Sec.  679.64(b)(4)(ii)). Table 14 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 
non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC sideboard limits for vessels using trawl 
gear in the GOA.

 Table 14--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits
                                     for Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
                               [PSC limits are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Ratio of  1995-
                                                                    1997  non-
                                                                  exempt  AFA CV  Proposed  2020  Proposed  2020
       Season             Season dates        Fishery  category       retained     and 2021  PSC  and 2021  non-
                                                                  catch to total       limit      exempt  AFA CV
                                                                     retained                        PSC limit
                                                                       catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..................  January 20-April 1...  shallow-water.......           0.340             384             131
                                            deep-water..........           0.070             135               9
2..................  April 1-July 1.......  shallow-water.......           0.340              85              29
                                            deep-water..........           0.070             256              18
3..................  July 1--August 1.....  shallow-water.......           0.340             121              41
                                            deep-water..........           0.070             341              24
4..................  August 1--October 1..  shallow-water.......           0.340              53              18
                                            deep-water..........           0.070              75               5
5..................  October 1--December    all targets.........           0.205             256              52
                      31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual................................  Total shallow-water.  ..............  ..............             219
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Total deep-water....  ..............  ..............              56
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Grand Total, all seasons and categories               1,706             327
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish sideboard limits for vessels 
with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to 
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by 
the CR Program to expand their level of participation in the GOA 
groundfish fisheries. Sideboard harvest limits restrict these vessels' 
catch to their collective historical landings in each GOA groundfish 
fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish fishery). Sideboard limits 
also apply to landings made using an LLP license derived from the 
history of a restricted vessel, even if that LLP license is used on 
another vessel.
    The basis for these sideboard harvest limits is described in detail 
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the CR Program, 
including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery

[[Page 66125]]

Management Plan for Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs 
(Crab FMP) (70 FR 10174, March 2, 2005), Amendment 34 to the Crab FMP 
(76 FR 35772, June 20, 2011), Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 74670, 
December 1, 2011), and Amendment 45 to the Crab FMP (80 FR 28539, May 
19, 2015). Also, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 
2019) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-AFA crab vessels 
from directed fishing for all groundfish species or species groups 
subject to sideboard limits, except for Pacific cod apportioned to CVs 
using pot gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas (Sec.  
680.22(e)(1)(iii)).
    Table 15 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 groundfish sideboard 
limits for non-AFA crab vessels not subject to the directed fishing 
prohibition under Sec.  680.22(e)(1)(iii). All targeted or incidental 
catch of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated 
LLP licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits.

                         Table 15--Proposed 2020 and 2021 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Ratio of 1996-                   Proposed 2020
                                                                                                           2000 non-AFA                    and 2021 non-
                                                                                                            crab vessel    Proposed 2020     AFA crab
                 Species                              Season/gear                Area/component/gear      catch to  1996-  and 2021 TACs      vessel
                                                                                                            2000  total                      sideboard
                                                                                                              harvest                          limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod..............................  A Season: January 1-June 10.....  Western Pot CV.............          0.0997           4,072             406
                                           Central Pot CV                    0.0474.....................           4,382             208
                                           B Season: September 1-December    Western Pot CV.............          0.0997           2,715             271
                                            31.
                                           Central Pot CV                    0.0474.....................           2,921             138
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

    The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard 
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, C/P rockfish 
sideboard restrictions, and C/P opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions 
(Sec.  679.82(c)(1)). These sideboards are intended to limit the 
ability of rockfish harvesters to expand into other fisheries.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern 
rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District from July 1 
through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for 
arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(d)).
    C/Ps participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted 
by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These C/Ps are prohibited 
from directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
northern rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(2)). Holders of C/P-designated 
LLP licenses that opt out of participating in a Rockfish Program 
cooperative will be able to access that portion of each rockfish 
sideboard limits that is not assigned to Rockfish Program cooperatives 
(Sec.  679.82(e)(7)). The sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in 
the Western GOA and West Yakutat District is set forth in Sec.  
679.82(e)(4). Table 16 lists the proposed 2020 and 2021 Rockfish 
Program C/P rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA and West 
Yakutat District. Due to confidentiality requirements associated with 
fisheries data, the sideboard limits for the West Yakutat District are 
not displayed.

Table 16--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Rockfish Program Sideboard Limits for the Western GOA and West Yakutat District
                                by Fishery for the Catcher/Processor (C/P) Sector
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    C/P sector  (% of  Proposed  2020   Proposed  2020 and 2021
              Area                    Fishery              TAC)         and 2021 TACs     C/P sideboard  limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA....................  Dusky rockfish...  72.3.............             774  560.
                                 Pacific ocean      50.6.............           3,125  1,581.
                                  perch.
                                 Northern rockfish  74.3.............           1,122  834.
West Yakutat District..........  Dusky rockfish...  Confidential 1...              94  Confidential. 1
                                 Pacific ocean      Confidential 1...           3,192  Confidential. 1
                                  perch.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Not released due to confidentiality requirements associated with fish ticket data, as established by NMFS
  and the State of Alaska.

    Under the Rockfish Program, the C/P sector is subject to halibut 
PSC sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries from July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(3) and (e)(5)). 
Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by fishery are set forth in Sec.  
679.82(e)(5). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector, 
as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of 
the annual halibut PSC limit. C/Ps that opt out of the Rockfish Program 
would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-
water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to C/P rockfish 
cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for C/Ps that elect to opt out 
of participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in Sec.  
679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are linked to the catch 
history of specific vessels that may choose to opt out. After March 1, 
NMFS will determine which C/Ps have opted-out of the Rockfish Program 
in 2020, and will know the ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out 
sideboard

[[Page 66126]]

ratios. NMFS will then calculate any applicable opt-out sideboard 
limits for 2020 and post these limits on the Alaska Region website at 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-fisheries-management-reports#central-goa-rockfish. Table 17 lists the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 Rockfish Program halibut PSC limits for the C/P 
sector.

                          Table 17--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Rockfish Program Halibut PSC Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Annual  shallow-  Annual  deep-
                                                                      Shallow-water      Deep-water                      water  species   water  species
                                                                     species fishery  species fishery   Annual halibut      fishery          fishery
                               Sector                                   halibut PSC      halibut PSC   PSC limit  (mt)    halibut PSC      halibut PSC
                                                                     sideboard ratio  sideboard ratio                   sideboard limit  sideboard limit
                                                                         (percent)        (percent)                           (mt)             (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor..................................................            0.10             2.50            1,706                2               43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment 80 Program Groundfish and PSC Sideboard Limits

    Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) 
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl C/
P sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut 
PSC limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit the ability 
of participants eligible for the Amendment 80 Program to expand their 
harvest efforts in the GOA.
    Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits 
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece, 
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to 50 CFR part 
679. Under Sec.  679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is prohibited from 
directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, dusky 
rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
    Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 
1998 through 2004 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 18 lists the 
proposed 2020 and 2021 groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 
Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of 
sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the 
sideboard limits in Table 18.

        Table 18--Proposed 2020 and 2021 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Ratio of                     Proposed  2020
                                                                   Amendment  80                     and 2021
                                                                      sector      Proposed  2020   Amendment  80
           Species                  Season             Area       vessels  1998-   and 2021  TAC      vessel
                                                                  2004  catch to       (mt)          sideboard
                                                                        TAC                        limits  (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season:         Shumagin (610).           0.003             680               2
                                January 20-
                                March 10.
                                                 Chirikof (620).           0.002          21,888              44
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           2,823               6
                               B Season: March   Shumagin (610).           0.003             680               2
                                10-May 31.
                                                 Chirikof (620).           0.002          21,888              44
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           2,823               6
                               C Season: August  Shumagin (610).           0.003           9,290              28
                                25-October 1.
                                                 Chirikof (620).           0.002           6,752              14
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           9,349              19
                               D Season:         Shumagin (610).           0.003           9,290              28
                                October 1-       Chirikof (620).           0.002           6,752              14
                                November 1.
                                                 Kodiak (630)...           0.002           9,349              19
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......           0.002           4,607               9
Pacific cod..................  A Season 1        W..............           0.020           4,072              81
                                January 1-June   C..............           0.044           4,382             193
                                10.
                               B Season \2\      W..............           0.020           2,715              54
                                September 1-     C..............           0.044           2,921             129
                                December 31.
                               Annual..........  WYK............           0.034           1,619              55
Pacific ocean perch..........  Annual..........  W..............           0.994           3,125           3,106
                                                 WYK............           0.961           3,192           3,068
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  W..............           1.000           1,122           1,122
Dusky rockfish...............  Annual..........  W..............           0.764             774             591
                                                 WYK............           0.896              94              84
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


[[Page 66127]]

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
in the GOA are based on the historical use of halibut PSC by Amendment 
80 Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. 
These values are slightly lower than the average historical use to 
accommodate two factors: Allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota 
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece 
from this restriction (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)). Table 19 lists the proposed 
2020 and 2021 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program 
vessels. These tables incorporate the maximum percentages of the 
halibut PSC sideboard limits that may be used by Amendment 80 Program 
vessels as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. Any residual 
amount of a seasonal Amendment 80 halibut PSC sideboard limit may carry 
forward to the next season limit (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)).

    Table 19--Proposed 2020 and 2021 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Historic                     Proposed  2020
                                                                   Amendment  80  Proposed  2020     and 2021
                                                                    use of the       and 2021      Amendment  80
       Season             Season dates        Fishery category    annual halibut    annual PSC      vessel  PSC
                                                                     PSC limit      limit  (mt)      sideboard
                                                                      (ratio)                       limit  (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..................  January 20-April 1...  shallow-water.......          0.0048           1,706               8
                                            deep-water..........          0.0115           1,706              20
2..................  April 1-July 1.......  shallow-water.......          0.0189           1,706              32
                                            deep-water..........          0.1072           1,706             183
3..................  July 1-August 1......  shallow-water.......          0.0146           1,706              25
                                            deep-water..........          0.0521           1,706              89
4..................  August 1-October 1...  shallow-water.......          0.0074           1,706              13
                                            deep-water..........          0.0014           1,706               2
5..................  October 1-December 31  shallow-water.......          0.0227           1,706              39
                                            deep-water..........          0.0371           1,706              63
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual................................  Total shallow-water.  ..............  ..............             117
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Total deep-water....  ..............  ..............             357
                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Grand Total, all seasons and categories                                 474
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    NMFS has determined that the proposed harvest specifications are 
consistent with the FMP and preliminarily determined that the proposed 
harvest specifications are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
other applicable laws, subject to further review after public comment.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866. This proposed rule is not an 
Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because this rule is not 
significant under Executive Order 12866.
    NMFS prepared an EIS for the Alaska groundfish harvest 
specifications and alternative harvest strategies and made it available 
to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On February 13, 2007, 
NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS. A SIR that assesses the need to 
prepare a Supplemental EIS is being prepared for the final 2020 and 
2021 harvest specifications. 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 proposed 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.
    NMFS prepared an IRFA as required by section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 603), analyzing the methodology for 
establishing the relevant TACs. The IRFA evaluated the economic impacts 
on small entities of alternative harvest strategies for the groundfish 
fisheries in the EEZ off Alaska. As described in the methodology, TACs 
are set to a level that falls within the range of ABCs recommended by 
the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY specified in the FMP. 
While the specific numbers that the methodology produces may vary from 
year to year, the methodology itself remains constant.
    A description of the proposed action, why it is being considered, 
and the legal basis for this proposed action are contained in the 
preamble above. A copy of the IRFA is available from NMFS (see 
ADDRESSES). A summary of the IRFA follows.
    The action under consideration is a harvest strategy to govern the 
catch of groundfish in the GOA. The preferred alternative (Alternative 
2) is the existing harvest strategy in which TACs fall within the range 
of ABCs recommended by the SSC. However, as discussed below, NMFS also 
considered other alternatives. This action is taken in accordance with 
the FMP prepared by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
    The entities directly regulated by this action are those that 
harvest groundfish in the EEZ of the GOA and in parallel fisheries 
within State of Alaska waters. These include entities operating CVs and 
C/Ps within the action area and entities receiving direct allocations 
of groundfish.
    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)

[[Page 66128]]

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. In addition, 
under the RFA, the aggregate gross receipts of all participating 
members of a cooperative must meet the ``under $11 million'' threshold 
to be considered a small entity.
    The IRFA shows that, in 2018, there were 756 individual CVs with 
gross revenues less than or equal to $11 million. This estimate 
accounts for corporate affiliations among vessels, and for cooperative 
affiliations among fishing entities, since some of the fishing vessels 
operating in the GOA are members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, 
GOA rockfish cooperatives, or BSAI CR Program cooperatives. Vessels 
that participate in these cooperatives are considered to be large 
entities within the meaning of the RFA because the aggregate gross 
receipts of all participating members exceed the $11 million threshold. 
After accounting for membership in these cooperatives, there are an 
estimated 756 small CV entities remaining in the GOA groundfish sector. 
However, the estimate of 756 CVs may be an overstatement of the number 
of small entities. This latter group of vessels had average gross 
revenues that varied by gear type. Average gross revenues for hook-and-
line CVs, pot gear CVs, and trawl gear CVs are estimated to be 
$390,000, $870,000, and $2 million, respectively. Revenue data for the 
three C/Ps considered to be small entities are confidential.
    The preferred alternative (Alternative 2) was compared to four 
other alternatives. Alternative 1 would have set TACs to generate 
fishing rates equal to the maximum permissible ABC (if the full TAC 
were harvested), unless the sum of TACs exceeded the GOA OY, in which 
case TACs would be limited to the OY. Alternative 3 would have set TACs 
to produce fishing rates equal to the most recent 5-year average 
fishing rates. Alternative 4 would have set TACs to equal the lower 
limit of the GOA OY range. Alternative 5, the ``no action 
alternative,'' would have set TACs equal to zero.
    The TACs associated with Alternative 2, the preferred harvest 
strategy, are those recommended by the Council in October 2019. OFLs 
and ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the 
Council's Plan Team in September 2019, and reviewed by the Council's 
SSC in October 2019. The Council based its TAC recommendations on those 
of its AP, which were consistent with the SSC's OFL and ABC 
recommendations.
    Alternative 1 selects harvest rates that would allow fishermen to 
harvest stocks at the level of ABCs, unless total harvests were 
constrained by the upper bound of the GOA OY of 800,000 mt. As shown in 
Table 1 of the preamble, the sum of ABCs in 2020 and 2021 would be 
487,218 mt, which is below the upper bound of the OY range. The sum of 
TACs is 408,534 mt, which is less than the sum of ABCs. In this 
instance, Alternative 1 is consistent with the preferred alternative 
(Alternative 2), meets the objectives of that action, and has small 
entity impacts that may be equivalent to the preferred alternative. 
However, it is not likely that Alternative 1 would result in reduced 
adverse economic impacts to directly-regulated small entities relative 
to Alternative 2. The selection of Alternative 1, which could increase 
all TACs up to the sum of ABCs, would not take into account the fact 
that that increased TACs for some species probably would not be fully 
harvested. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including the 
lack of commercial or market interest in some species. Additionally, an 
underharvest of flatfish TACs could result due to other factors, such 
as the fixed, and therefore constraining, PSC limits associated with 
the harvest of the GOA groundfish species. Furthermore, TACs may be set 
lower than ABC for conservation purposes, as is the case with other 
rockfish in the Eastern GOA. Finally, the TACs for two species (pollock 
and Pacific cod) cannot be set equal to ABC, as the TAC must be reduced 
to account for the State's GHLs in these fisheries.
    Alternative 3 selects harvest rates based on the most recent 5 
years of harvest rates (for species in Tiers 1 through 3) or based on 
the most recent 5 years of harvests (for species in Tiers 4 through 6). 
This alternative is inconsistent with the objectives of this action 
because it does not take account of the most recent biological 
information for this fishery, as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. 
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 
or species group for each year in the SAFE report (see ADDRESSES).
    Alternative 4 would lead to significantly lower harvests of all 
groundfish species and would reduce the TACs from the upper end of the 
OY range in the GOA to its lower end of 116,000 mt. Overall, this 
alternative would reduce 2020 TACs by about 72 percent and would lead 
to significant reductions in harvests of species harvested by small 
entities. While production declines in the GOA would be associated with 
offsetting price increases in the GOA, the size of these increases is 
uncertain and would still be constrained by production of substitutes. 
There are close substitutes for GOA groundfish species available in 
significant quantities from the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
management area. Thus, price increases associated with reduced 
production are not likely to fully offset revenue declines from reduced 
production, and this alternative would have a detrimental impact on 
small entities.
    Alternative 5, which sets all harvests equal to zero, would have a 
significant adverse economic impact on small entities and would be 
contrary to obligations to achieve OY on a continuing basis, as 
mandated by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Under Alternative 5, all 
individual CVs impacted by this rule would have gross revenues of $0. 
Additionally, the small C/Ps impacted by this rule also would have 
gross revenues of $0.
    The proposed harvest specifications (Alternative 2) extend the 
current 2020 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs to 2020 and 2021. As noted in the 
IRFA and this preamble, the Council may modify its recommendations for 
final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs in December 2019, when it reviews the 
November 2019 SAFE report from its Groundfish Plan Team, and the 
December 2019 Council meeting reports of its SSC and AP. Because the 
2020 TACs in these proposed 2020 and 2021 harvest specifications are 
unchanged from the 2020 TACs in the final 2019 and 2020 harvest 
specifications (84 FR 9416; March 14, 2019), and because the sum of all 
TACs remains within OY for the GOA, NMFS does not expect adverse 
impacts on small entities. Also, NMFS does not expect any changes made 
by the Council in December 2019 to have significant adverse impacts on 
small entities.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered or threatened 
species resulting from fishing activities conducted under these harvest 
specifications are discussed in the Final EIS and its accompanying 
annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).


[[Page 66129]]


    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: November 26, 2019.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26088 Filed 12-2-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P