[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13238-13264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04315]



[[Page 13237]]

Vol. 88

Thursday,

No. 41

March 2, 2023

Part II





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration





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50 CFR Part 679





Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of Alaska; 
Final 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 41 / Thursday, March 2, 2023 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 13238]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 230224-0053; RTID 0648-XC347]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Final 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2023 and 2024 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 
remainder of the 2023 and the start of the 2024 fishing years and to 
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The 2023 harvest specifications 
supersede those previously set in the final 2022 and 2023 harvest 
specifications, and the 2024 harvest specifications will be superseded 
in early 2024 when the final 2024 and 2025 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 (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Harvest specifications and closures are effective at 1200 hours, 
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 2, 2023, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., 
December 31, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Record of Decision 
(ROD), and the annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIRs) to the 
EIS prepared for this action are available from https://www.regulations.gov. The 2022 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation 
(SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 
2022, and SAFE reports for previous years are available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 1007 West Third Avenue, 
Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the 
Council's website at https://www.npfmc.org.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone of the GOA under the FMP. The Council 
prepared the FMP under the authority of the 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) (50 CFR 
679.20(a)(1)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(2)). Section 679.20(c)(1) further 
requires that NMFS 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. Upon consideration of public comment received under Sec.  
679.20(c)(1), NMFS must publish a notification of final harvest 
specifications for up to 2 fishing years as annual TACs and 
apportionments, Pacific halibut PSC limits, and seasonal allowances of 
pollock and Pacific cod, per Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final harvest 
specifications set forth in Tables 1 through 27 of this rule reflect 
the outcome of this process, as required at Sec.  679.20(c).
    The proposed 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for groundfish of 
the GOA and Pacific halibut PSC limits were published in the Federal 
Register on December 2, 2022 (87 FR 74102). Comments were invited and 
accepted through January 3, 2023. NMFS did not receive any comments on 
the proposed harvest specifications. In December 2022, NMFS consulted 
with the Council regarding the 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications. 
After considering public comment at public meetings, as well as 
biological and socioeconomic data that were available at the Council's 
December 2022 meeting, NMFS is implementing the final 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council. For 2023, the 
sum of the TAC amounts is 468,796 mt. For 2024, the sum of the TAC 
amounts is 476,537 mt.

Other Actions Affecting the 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications

Amendment 112 to the FMP: Sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) 
Program Revisions

    On November 23, 2022, NMFS published a proposed rule (87 FR 71559) 
to implement Amendment 112 to the FMP, which, if approved, would allow 
jig gear as an authorized fishing gear type in the GOA sablefish 
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries. The Council's intent in 
recommending Amendment 112 is to increase entry-level opportunities and 
increase flexibility for IFQ holders. This is because jig gear is a 
smaller investment than other gear types and does not require 
significant vessel retrofits as with other gear. Additionally, jig gear 
is already an authorized gear type for the harvest of halibut IFQ and 
this action would further align the authorized gear types in the 
halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries. Additionally, the proposed rule 
includes a variety of other provisions, which, if approved, would 
revise regulations associated with requirements or exemptions for the 
use of collapsible pot gear. It would also revise regulatory 
specifications for gear marking, pot limits, and other pot use 
restrictions in the GOA. Further details are available in the proposed 
rule to implement Amendment 112. If the FMP amendment and its 
implementing regulations are approved by the Secretary of Commerce, the 
action is anticipated to be effective for the 2023 IFQ season.

Amendment 122 to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands FMP: Pacific Cod 
Cooperative Program

    NMFS is developing a proposed rule to implement Amendment 122 to 
the FMP for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
Management Area (BSAI), which, if approved, would establish the Pacific 
Cod Trawl Cooperative Program (PCTC Program) to allocate BSAI Pacific 
cod harvest quota to qualifying groundfish License Limitation Program 
(LLP) license holders and qualifying processors. The PCTC Program would 
be a limited access privilege program (LAPP) for the harvest of Pacific 
cod in the BSAI trawl catcher vessel (CV) sector. One of the elements 
of the proposed PCTC Program is to revise the GOA groundfish sideboard 
limits and halibut PSC limits for LLP licenses that receive allocations 
of PCTC quota share. The Program would change the American Fisheries 
Act (AFA) non-exempt GOA groundfish sideboard and halibut PSC limits 
for all

[[Page 13239]]

non-exempt AFA LLP licenses and CVs based on the GOA fishing activity 
of these vessels in the aggregate during the PCTC Program qualifying 
years. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce, Amendment 122 and its 
implementing regulations would affect the calculation and establishment 
of the groundfish sideboard limits and halibut PSC limits discussed in 
the subsequent American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and 
Catcher Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limits and Non-Exempt AFA Catcher 
Vessel Halibut PSC Limits sections of this rule.

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

    In December 2022, 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 2022 SAFE report 
for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2022 (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 
overfishing level (OFL) and ABC for each species and species group. The 
2022 SAFE report was made available for public review during the public 
comment period for the proposed harvest specifications.
    In previous years, the greatest changes from the proposed to the 
final harvest specifications have been based on recent NMFS stock 
surveys, which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial 
distribution, and changes to the models used for producing stock 
assessments. At the November 2022 Plan Team meeting, NMFS scientists 
presented updated and new survey results, changes to stock assessment 
models, and accompanying stock assessment estimates for groundfish 
species and species groups that are included in the 2022 SAFE report 
per the stock assessment schedule found in the 2022 SAFE report 
introduction. The SSC reviewed this information at the December 2022 
Council meeting. Changes from the proposed to the final 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications are discussed below.
    The final 2023 and 2024 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
available biological information, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
methods used to calculate stock biomass, and the final 2023 and 2024 
TACs are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to 
compute OFLs and ABCs. The formulas applicable to a particular stock or 
stock complex are determined by the level of reliable information 
available to 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 OFL 
and ABC amounts for each groundfish species. The SSC adopted the final 
2023 and 2024 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team.
    The Council adopted the SSC's OFLs and ABCs and the AP's TAC 
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations are based on the ABCs 
and are adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, 
including maintaining the sum of all TACs within the required OY range 
of 116,000 to 800,000 mt.
    The Council recommended 2023 and 2024 TACs that are equal to ABCs 
for pollock in the Southeast Outside (SEO) District, sablefish, 
shallow-water flatfish in the Central GOA and the West Yakutat and SEO 
Districts, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder in the 
Central GOA and the West Yakutat District, flathead sole in the Central 
GOA and the West Yakutat and SEO Districts, Pacific ocean perch (a 
rockfish species), northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, dusky 
rockfish, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, 
thornyhead rockfish, ``other rockfish'' in the Western/Central GOA and 
West Yakutat District, big skate, longnose skate, other skates, sharks, 
and octopuses in the GOA. The Council recommended TACs for 2023 and 
2024 that are less than the ABCs for pollock for the combined Western 
and Central GOA and West Yakutat District area, Pacific cod, shallow-
water flatfish in the Western GOA, arrowtooth flounder in the Western 
GOA and the SEO District, flathead sole in the Western GOA, Atka 
mackerel, and ``other rockfish'' in the SEO District.
    The combined Western, Central, and West Yakutat pollock TAC and the 
GOA Pacific cod TACs are set to accommodate the State of Alaska's 
(State's) guideline harvest levels (GHLs) so that the ABCs for pollock 
and Pacific cod are not exceeded. The Western GOA shallow-water 
flatfish, Western GOA arrowtooth flounder, and Western GOA 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, more fully utilized fisheries. Similarly, the SEO District 
arrowtooth flounder TAC is set lower than ABC to conserve halibut PSC 
limit for use in other fisheries or because there is limited commercial 
interest and participation in this fishery. The Atka mackerel TAC is 
set to accommodate incidental catch amounts in other fisheries. The 
``other rockfish'' TAC in the SEO District is set to reduce the amount 
of discards of the species in that complex.
    The final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications approved by the 
Secretary of Commerce are unchanged from those recommended by the 
Council, and are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy 
alternative outlined in the FMP and EIS (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are 
consistent with the biological condition of the groundfish stocks as 
described in the final 2022 SAFE report. NMFS also finds that the 
Council's recommendations for TACs are consistent with the biological 
condition of groundfish stocks as adjusted for other biological and 
socioeconomic considerations, including maintaining the sum of all TACs 
within the OY range. NMFS reviewed the Council's recommended TACs and 
apportionments, and NMFS approves these harvest specifications under 50 
CFR 679.20(c)(3)(ii). The apportionment of TAC amounts among gear types 
and sectors, processing sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
    Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2023 and 2024 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and 
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The 2023 harvest 
specifications set in this final action supersede the 2023 harvest 
specifications previously set in the final 2022 and 2023 harvest 
specifications (87 FR 11599, March 2, 2022). The 2024 harvest 
specifications will be superseded in early 2024 when the final 2024 and 
2025 harvest specifications are published. Pursuant to this final 
action, the 2023 harvest specifications therefore will apply for the 
remainder of the current year (2023), while the 2024 harvest 
specifications are projected only for the following year (2024) and 
will be superseded in early 2024 by the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications. Because this final action (published in early 2023) 
will be superseded in early 2024 by the

[[Page 13240]]

publication of the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, it is 
projected that this final action will implement the harvest 
specifications for the GOA for approximately 1 year.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    NMFS's apportionment of groundfish species is 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 and are described below.
    The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas and the West Yakutat (WYK) District of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area (the W/C/WYK) includes the amount 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 waters and Federal waters pollock removals from the 
GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. For 2023 and 2024, the SSC 
recommended and the Council approved the W/C/WYK pollock ABC, including 
the amount to account for the State's PWS GHL. At the November 2022 
Plan Team meeting, State fisheries managers recommended setting the PWS 
pollock GHL at 2.5 percent of the annual W/C/WYK pollock ABC. For 2023, 
this yields a PWS pollock GHL of 3,723 mt, an increase of 396 mt from 
the 2022 PWS pollock GHL of 3,327 mt. For 2024, the PWS pollock GHL is 
4,027 mt, an increase of 700 mt from the 2022 PWS pollock GHL of 3,327 
mt. After the GHL reductions, the 2023 and 2024 pollock ABCs for the 
combined W/C/WYK areas are then apportioned between four statistical 
areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640) as both ABCs and TACs, as 
described below and detailed in Tables 1 and 2. The total ABCs and TACs 
for the four statistical areas, plus the State PWS GHL, do not exceed 
the combined W/C/WYK ABC.
    Apportionments of pollock to the W/C/WYK areas are considered to be 
``apportionments of annual catch limits (ACLs)'' rather than ``ABCs.'' 
This more accurately reflects that such apportionments address 
management, 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) to ensure that the combined W/C/WYK ACL, ABC, 
and TAC are not exceeded.
    NMFS establishes pollock TACs in the Western (Area 610) and Central 
(Areas 620 and 630) Regulatory Areas and the West Yakutat (Area 640) 
and the SEO (Area 650) Districts of the GOA (see Tables 1 and 2). NMFS 
also establishes seasonal apportionments of the annual pollock TACs in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical 
Areas 610, 620, and 630. Additional detail on area apportionments and 
seasonal allowances is provided in the Apportionments of Pollock TAC 
Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and Allocations for Processing by 
Inshore and Offshore Components section of this rule; Tables 3 and 4 
list these amounts.
    The 2023 and 2024 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 (in the Eastern Regulatory Area). 
The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all 
State waters and Federal waters Pacific cod removals from the GOA not 
exceed ABC recommendations. The Council recommended setting the 2023 
and 2024 Pacific cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern 
Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. Therefore, the 2023 Pacific 
cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Western 
GOA, 2,239 mt; (2) Central GOA, 3,708 mt; and (3) Eastern GOA, 585 mt. 
The 2024 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following 
amounts: (1) Western GOA, 2,062 mt; (2) Central GOA, 3,414 mt; and (3) 
Eastern GOA, 539 mt. These amounts reflect the State's 2023 and 2024 
GHLs in these areas, which are 30 percent of the Western GOA ABC and 25 
percent of the Eastern and Central GOA ABCs.
    The Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs are allocated among 
various gear and operational sectors. NMFS also establishes seasonal 
apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas. The Pacific cod sector and seasonal 
apportionments are discussed in detail in the Annual and Seasonal 
Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC section and in Tables 5 and 6 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 5 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)). 
Tables 7 and 8 list the final 2023 and 2024 allocations of sablefish 
TAC to fixed gear and trawl gear in the GOA.

Changes From the Proposed 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications in the 
GOA

    In October 2022, the Council's recommendations for the proposed 
2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (87 FR 74102, December 2, 2022) 
were based largely on information contained in the final 2021 SAFE 
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2021. The final 
2021 SAFE report for the GOA is available from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES). The Council proposed that the final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
established for the 2023 groundfish fisheries (87 FR 11599, March 2, 
2022) be used for the proposed 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (87 
FR 74102, December 2, 2022), pending completion and review of the 2022 
SAFE report at the Council's December 2022 meeting.
    As described previously, the SSC recommended the final 2023 and 
2024 OFLs and ABCs as recommended by the Plan Team, with the exception 
of the Pacific cod and demersal shelf rockfish OFLs and ABCs. The 
Council adopted as its recommendations the SSC's OFL and ABC 
recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations for 2023 and 2024.
    The final 2023 ABCs are higher than the proposed 2023 ABCs 
published in the proposed 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (87 FR 
74102, December 2, 2022) for pollock, sablefish, shallow-water 
flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern 
rockfish, dusky rockfish, and sharks. The final 2023 ABCs are lower 
than the proposed 2023 ABCs for Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, 
flathead sole, demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, and 
rougheye and blackspotted rockfish.
    The final 2024 ABCs are higher than the proposed 2024 ABCs for 
pollock, sablefish, shallow-water flatfish, rex sole, flathead sole, 
dusky rockfish, and sharks. The final 2024 ABCs are lower than the 
proposed 2024 ABCs for Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, arrowtooth 
flounder, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, rougheye and 
blackspotted rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, and thornyhead 
rockfish. For the remaining

[[Page 13241]]

target species (shortraker rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' Atka mackerel, 
big skates, longnose skates, other skates, and octopus), the Council 
recommended the final 2023 and 2024 ABCs that are the same as the 
proposed 2023 and 2024 ABCs.
    Additional information explaining the changes between the proposed 
and final ABCs is included in the final 2022 SAFE report, which was not 
completed and available when the Council made its proposed ABC and TAC 
recommendations in October 2022. At that time, the most recent stock 
assessment information was contained in the final 2021 SAFE report. The 
final 2022 SAFE report contains the best and most recent scientific 
information on the condition of the groundfish stocks, as previously 
discussed in this preamble, and is available for review (see 
ADDRESSES). The Council considered the 2022 SAFE report in December 
2022 when it made recommendations for the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications. In the GOA, the total final 2023 TAC amount is 468,796 
mt, an increase of 5.7 percent from the total proposed 2023 TAC amount 
of 443,615 mt. The total final 2024 TAC amount is 476,537 mt, an 
increase of 7.4 percent from the total proposed 2024 TAC amount of 
443,615 mt. Table 1a summarizes the difference between the proposed and 
final TACs.
    Annual stock assessments incorporate a variety of new or revised 
inputs, such as survey data or catch information, as well as changes to 
the statistical models used to estimate a species' biomass and 
population trend. Changes to biomass and ABC estimates are primarily 
based on fishery catch updates to species' assessment models. Some 
species, such as pollock and sablefish, have additional surveys 
conducted on an annual basis, which resulted in additional data being 
available for the 2022 assessments for these stocks.
    The changes for individual species or species groups from the 
proposed 2023 TACs to the final 2023 TACs are within a range of plus 53 
percent or minus 22 percent, and the changes from the proposed 2024 
TACs to the final 2024 TACs are within a range of plus 45 percent or 
minus 22 percent. Based on changes in the estimates of overall biomass 
in the stock assessment for 2023 and 2024, as compared to the estimates 
previously made for 2022 and 2023, the species or species group with 
the greatest TAC percentage increases are pollock, flathead sole, dusky 
rockfish, and sharks. Based on changes in the estimates of biomass, the 
species or species group with the greatest TAC percentage decreases are 
Pacific cod, demersal shelf rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish. For all 
other species and species groups, changes from the proposed 2023 TACs 
to the final 2023 TACs and changes from the proposed 2024 TACs to the 
final 2024 TACs are less than a 10 percent change (either increase or 
decrease). These TAC changes correspond to associated changes in the 
OFLs and ABCs, as recommended by the SSC, AP, and Council.
    Detailed information providing the basis for the changes described 
above is contained in the final 2022 SAFE report. The final TACs are 
based on the best scientific information available, including 
biological and socioeconomic information. These TACs are specified in 
compliance with the harvest strategy described in the proposed and 
final rules for the 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications.

                                Table 1a--Comparison of Proposed and Final 2023 and 2024 GOA Total Allowable Catch Limits
                                              [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentage]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            2023 Final                                      2024 Final
                 Species                   2023 and 2024  2023 Final TAC    minus 2023      Percentage    2024 Final TAC    minus 2024      Percentage
                                           Proposed TAC                    Proposed TAC     difference                     Proposed TAC     difference
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.................................         139,977         156,578          16,601              12         168,416          28,439              20
Pacific cod.............................          21,096          18,103          -2,994             -14          16,668          -4,428             -21
Sablefish...............................          22,003          23,201           1,198               5          21,095            -908              -4
Shallow-water flatfish..................          44,272          44,302              30               0          45,425           1,153               3
Deep-water flatfish.....................           5,818           5,816              -2               0           5,719             -99              -2
Rex sole................................          20,594          20,664              70               0          21,097             503               2
Arrowtooth flounder.....................          95,512          94,286          -1,226              -1          93,389          -2,123              -2
Flathead sole...........................          27,426          35,337           7,911              29          35,839           8,413              31
Pacific ocean perch.....................          37,104          37,193              89               0          36,196            -908              -2
Northern rockfish.......................           4,920           4,964              44               1           4,741            -179              -4
Shortraker rockfish.....................             705             705               0               0             705               0               0
Dusky rockfish..........................           5,181           7,917           2,736              53           7,520           2,339              45
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish..........             781             775              -6              -1             772              -9              -1
Demersal shelf rockfish.................             365             283             -82             -22             283             -82             -22
Thornyhead rockfish.....................           1,953           1,628            -325             -17           1,628            -325             -17
Other rockfish..........................           1,610           1,610               0               0           1,610               0               0
Atka mackerel...........................           3,000           3,000               0               0           3,000               0               0
Big skate...............................           2,867           2,867               0               0           2,867               0               0
Longnose skate..........................           2,712           2,712               0               0           2,712               0               0
Other skates............................             984             984               0               0             984               0               0
Sharks..................................           3,755           4,891           1,136              30           4,891           1,136              30
Octopuses...............................             980             980               0               0             980               0               0
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................         443,615         468,796          25,181             5.7         476,537          32,922             7.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 13242]]

    The final 2023 and 2024 TAC amounts for the GOA are within the OY 
range established for the GOA and do not exceed the ABC for any species 
or species group. Tables 1 and 2 list the final OFL, ABC, and TAC 
amounts for GOA groundfish for 2023 and 2024, respectively.

 Table 1--Final 2023 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central,
 Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, and
                                    Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Species                         Area \1\                OFL             ABC             TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\...........................  Shumagin (610)..........             n/a          26,958          26,958
                                        Chirikof (620)..........             n/a          77,005          77,005
                                        Kodiak (630)............             n/a          33,729          33,729
                                        WYK (640)...............             n/a           7,523           7,523
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           W/C/WYK (subtotal)            173,470         148,938         145,215
                                            \2\.
                                        SEO (650)...............          15,150          11,363          11,363
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............         188,620         160,301         156,578
Pacific cod \3\.......................  W.......................             n/a           7,464           5,225
                                        C.......................             n/a          14,830          11,123
                                        E.......................             n/a           2,340           1,755
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          29,737          24,634          18,103
Sablefish \4\.........................  W.......................             n/a           4,473           4,473
                                        C.......................             n/a           9,921           9,921
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           3,205           3,205
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           5,602           5,602
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Subtotal TAC.........             n/a                          23,201
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............          47,390          40,502             n/a
Shallow-water flatfish \5\............  W.......................             n/a          22,485          13,250
                                        C.......................             n/a          26,769          26,769
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,677           2,677
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,606           1,606
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          65,736          53,537          44,302
Deep-water flatfish \6\...............  W.......................             n/a             256             256
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,105           2,105
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,407           1,407
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,048           2,048
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           6,918           5,816           5,816
Rex sole..............................  W.......................             n/a           3,236           3,236
                                        C.......................             n/a          13,110          13,110
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,439           1,439
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,879           2,879
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          25,135          20,664          20,664
Arrowtooth flounder...................  W.......................             n/a          30,469          14,500
                                        C.......................             n/a          65,000          65,000
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           7,886           7,886
                                        SEO.....................             n/a          16,130           6,900
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................         142,749         119,485          94,286
Flathead sole.........................  W.......................             n/a          12,793           8,650
                                        C.......................             n/a          21,487          21,487
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,320           2,320
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,880           2,880
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          48,161          39,480          35,337
Pacific ocean perch \7\...............  W.......................             n/a           2,529           2,529
                                        C.......................             n/a          29,940          29,940
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,370           1,370
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           W/C/WYK subtotal.....          40,308          33,839          33,839
                                        SEO.....................           3,994           3,354           3,354
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............          44,302          37,193          37,193
Northern rockfish \8\.................  W.......................             n/a           2,614           2,614
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,350           2,350
                                        E.......................             n/a  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,927           4,964           4,964

[[Page 13243]]

 
Shortraker rockfish \9\...............  W.......................             n/a              51              51
                                        C.......................             n/a             280             280
                                        E.......................             n/a             374             374
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................             940             705             705
Dusky rockfish \10\...................  W.......................             n/a             149             149
                                        C.......................             n/a           7,647           7,647
                                        WYK.....................             n/a              90              90
                                        SEO.....................             n/a              31              31
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           9,638           7,917           7,917
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish      W.......................             n/a             180             180
 \11\.
                                        C.......................             n/a             232             232
                                        E.......................             n/a             363             363
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................             930             775             775
Demersal shelf rockfish \12\..........  SEO.....................             376             283             283
Thornyhead rockfish \13\..............  W.......................             n/a             314             314
                                        C.......................             n/a             693             693
                                        E.......................             n/a             621             621
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           2,170           1,628           1,628
Other rockfish \14\ \15\..............  W and C.................             n/a             940             940
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             370             370
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,744             300
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,320           4,054           1,610
Atka mackerel.........................  GW......................           6,200           4,700           3,000
Big skate \16\........................  W.......................             n/a             591             591
                                        C.......................             n/a           1,482           1,482
                                        E.......................             n/a             794             794
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           3,822           2,867           2,867
Longnose skate \17\...................  W.......................             n/a             151             151
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,044           2,044
                                        E.......................             n/a             517             517
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           3,616           2,712           2,712
Other skates \18\.....................  GW......................           1,311             984             984
Sharks................................  GW......................           6,521           4,891           4,891
Octopus...............................  GW......................           1,307             980             980
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............         646,826         539,072         468,796
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 148,938 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (3,723 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 145,215 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 3 (final 2023 seasonal
  biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal
  allowances). 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, after seasonal apportionment to the jig sector, as follows: (1)
  63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season and (2) 64.16 percent to the A season and
  35.84 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, respectively. 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 5 lists the final 2023 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector allocations.
\4\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (47,390 mt and 40,502 mt, respectively), and the Alaska-wide
  totals are included in the total OFL and ABC in Table 1. Additionally, sablefish is allocated to trawl and
  fixed gear in 2023 and trawl gear in 2024. Table 7 lists the final 2023 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 polyspinis. For management purposes, the 1 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska 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'' mean Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and S. 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 Sebastolobus species.

[[Page 13244]]

 
\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 (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\15\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes
  ``other rockfish.''
\16\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' mean Bathyraja and Raja spp.


 Table 2--Final 2024 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central,
 Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, and
                                    Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Species                         Area \1\                OFL             ABC             TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\...........................  Shumagin (610)..........             n/a          29,156          29,156
                                        Chirikof (620)..........             n/a          83,283          83,283
                                        Kodiak (630)............             n/a          36,478          36,478
                                        WYK (640)...............             n/a           8,136           8,136
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           W/C/WYK (subtotal)            186,101         161,080         157,053
                                            \2\.
                                        SEO (650)...............          15,150          11,363          11,363
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............         201,251         172,443         168,416
Pacific cod \3\.......................  W.......................             n/a           6,873           4,811
                                        C.......................             n/a          13,655          10,241
                                        E.......................             n/a           2,155           1,616
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          27,507          22,683          16,668
Sablefish \4\.........................  W.......................             n/a           4,626           4,626
                                        C.......................             n/a           8,819           8,819
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,669           2,669
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           4,981           4,981
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Subtotal TAC.........             n/a             n/a          21,095
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............          48,561          41,539             n/a
Shallow-water flatfish \5\............  W.......................             n/a          23,299          13,250
                                        C.......................             n/a          27,737          27,737
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,774           2,774
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           1,664           1,664
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          68,015          55,474          45,425
Deep-water flatfish \6\...............  W.......................             n/a             255             255
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,068           2,068
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,383           1,383
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,013           2,013
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           6,802           5,719           5,719
Rex sole..............................  W.......................             n/a           3,314           3,314
                                        C.......................             n/a          13,425          13,425
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,453           1,453
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,905           2,905
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          25,652          21,097          21,097
Arrowtooth flounder...................  W.......................             n/a          30,093          14,500
                                        C.......................             n/a          64,200          64,200
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           7,789           7,789
                                        SEO.....................             n/a          15,932           6,900
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................         141,008         118,014          93,389
Flathead sole.........................  W.......................             n/a          13,033           8,650
                                        C.......................             n/a          21,892          21,892
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           2,363           2,363
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,934           2,934
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          49,073          40,222          35,839
Pacific ocean perch \7\...............  W.......................             n/a           2,461           2,461
                                        C.......................             n/a          29,138          29,138
                                        WYK.....................             n/a           1,333           1,333
                                        W/C/WYK.................          39,229          32,932          32,932
                                        SEO.....................           3,888           3,264           3,264
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................          43,117          36,196          36,196

[[Page 13245]]

 
Northern rockfish \8\.................  W.......................             n/a           2,497           2,497
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,244           2,244
                                        E.......................             n/a  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,661           4,741           4,741
Shortraker rockfish \9\...............  W.......................             n/a              51              51
                                        C.......................             n/a             280             280
                                        E.......................             n/a             374             374
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................             940             705             705
Dusky rockfish \10\...................  W.......................             n/a             141             141
                                        C.......................             n/a           7,264           7,264
                                        WYK.....................             n/a              85              85
                                        SEO.....................             n/a              30              30
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           9,154           7,520           7,520
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish      W.......................             n/a             180             180
 \11\.
                                        C.......................             n/a             231             231
                                        E.......................             n/a             361             361
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................             927             772             772
Demersal shelf rockfish \12\..........  SEO.....................             376             283             283
Thornyhead rockfish \13\..............  W.......................             n/a             314             314
                                        C.......................             n/a             693             693
                                        E.......................             n/a             621             621
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           2,170           1,628           1,628
Other rockfish \14\ \15\..............  W and C.................             n/a             940             940
                                        WYK.....................             n/a             370             370
                                        SEO.....................             n/a           2,744             300
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           5,320           4,054           1,610
Atka mackerel.........................  GW......................           6,200           4,700           3,000
Big skate \16\........................  W.......................             n/a             591             591
                                        C.......................             n/a           1,482           1,482
                                        E.......................             n/a             794             794
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           3,822           2,867           2,867
Longnose skate \17\...................  W.......................             n/a             151             151
                                        C.......................             n/a           2,044           2,044
                                        E.......................             n/a             517             517
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                           Total................           3,616           2,712           2,712
Other skates \18\.....................  GW......................           1,311             984             984
Sharks................................  GW......................           6,521           4,891           4,891
Octopus...............................  GW......................           1,307             980             980
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                             Total..............         658,311         550,224         476,537
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 161,080 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (4,027 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 157,053 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 4 (final 2024 seasonal
  biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal
  allowances). 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, after seasonal apportionment to the jig sector, as follows: 1)
  63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season and 2) 64.16 percent to the A season and 35.84
  percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, respectively. 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 6 lists the final 2024 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector allocations.
\4\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (48,561 mt and 41,539 mt, respectively), and the Alaska-wide
  totals are included in the total OFL and ABC in Table 2. Additionally, sablefish is allocated only to trawl
  gear for 2024. Table 8 lists the final 2024 allocation of sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
\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 polyspinis. For management purposes, the 1 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the ``other rockfish'' species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.

[[Page 13246]]

 
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' mean Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and S. 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 Sebastolobus 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 (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\15\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes
  ``other rockfish.''
\16\ ``Big skate'' means Raja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' mean Bathyraja and Raja spp.

Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses in 
reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing 
year. For 2023 and 2024, NMFS proposed reapportionment of all the 
reserves in the proposed 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications published 
in the Federal Register on December 2, 2022 (87 FR 74102). NMFS did not 
receive any public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For the 
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, NMFS reapportions, as 
proposed, all the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, 
and octopuses back to the original TAC limit from which the reserve was 
derived (Sec.  679.20(b)(3)). This is being done because NMFS expects, 
based on recent harvest patterns, that such reserves are not necessary 
or that the entire TAC for each of these species will be caught. The 
TACs listed in Tables 1 and 2 reflect reapportionments of reserve 
amounts to the original TAC limit for these species and species groups, 
i.e., each final TAC for the above-mentioned species or species groups 
contains the full TAC recommended by the Council.

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. 
The pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630. These 
apportionments are divided into two equal seasonal allowances of 50 
percent to the A season (January 20 through May 31) and 50 percent to 
the B season (September 1 through November 1) (Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) and 679.23(d)(2)).
    Effective in 2021, regulatory changes revised the number of GOA 
pollock seasons to two seasons from four seasons (85 FR 38093, June 25, 
2020). The GOA pollock stock assessment continues to use a four-season 
methodology to determine pollock distribution in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA to maintain continuity in the 
historical pollock apportionment time-series. Pollock TACs in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are apportioned among 
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in proportion to the distribution 
of pollock biomass determined by the most recent NMFS surveys, pursuant 
to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). The pollock chapter of the 2022 SAFE 
report (see ADDRESSES) contains a comprehensive description of the 
apportionment and reasons for the minor changes from past 
apportionments. For purposes of specifying pollock TAC between two 
seasons for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, NMFS 
has summed the A and B season apportionments and the C and D season 
apportionments, using the four-season methodology, as calculated in the 
2022 GOA pollock assessment. This yields the seasonal amounts specified 
for the A season and the B season, respectively.
    Within any fishing year, the amount by which a pollock seasonal 
allowance is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or 
subtracted from, the subsequent seasonal allowance for the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas 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 other statistical areas, in 
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those 
statistical areas 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 pollock TACs in the WYK and the SEO Districts 
of 7,523 mt and 11,363 mt, respectively, in 2023, and 8,136 mt and 
11,363 mt, respectively, in 2024, are not allocated by season.
    Tables 3 and 4 list the final 2023 and 2024 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 the allocation of 100 percent of the 
pollock TAC in all GOA regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after 
subtraction of pollock 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 that 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, these incidental catch amounts 
of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year 
during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component.

[[Page 13247]]



 Table 3--Final 2023 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
                           Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                               [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton \1\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Shumigan (Area  Chirikof (Area   Kodiak (Area
                   Season \2\                          610)            620)            630)          Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)...........................           1,685          58,039           9,121          68,846
B (September 1-November 1)......................          25,272          18,965          24,608          68,846
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total................................          26,958          77,005          33,729         137,691
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2), directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory
  Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: January 20 through May 31 and September 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.


 Table 4--Final 2024 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
                           Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                               [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton \1\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Shumigan (Area  Chirikof (Area   Kodiak (Area
                   Season \2\                          610)            620)            630)          Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)...........................           1,823          62,771           9,864          74,459
B (September 1-November 1)......................          27,333          20,511          26,614          74,459
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total................................          29,156          83,283          36,478         148,917
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2), directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory
  Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: January 20 through May 31 and September 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.

Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS seasonally allocates the 
2023 and 2024 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. In the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas, a portion 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, 
and a portion 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.  679.20(a)(12) and 679.23(d)(3)). NMFS 
also allocates the 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 (15.2 meters (m)) in length overall using hook-and-
line gear, CVs equal to or greater than 50 feet (15.2 m) in length 
overall using hook-and-line gear, catcher/processors (CPs) using hook-
and-line gear, CVs using trawl gear, CPs 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, CPs using hook-and-
line gear, CVs using trawl gear, CPs using trawl gear, and vessels 
using pot gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)). Excluding seasonal 
apportionments to the jig sector, NMFS seasonally apportions the 
remainder of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western GOA as 63.84 
percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season, and in the 
Central GOA as 64.16 percent to the A season and 35.84 percent to the B 
season.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the 
Pacific cod season 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 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 the rulemaking to implement 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 2 years.
    NMFS has evaluated the historical harvest performance of the jig 
sector in the Western and Central GOA, and is establishing the 2023 and 
2024 Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical 
harvest performance through 2022. NMFS did not evaluate the 2020 
performance of the jig sectors in the Western and Central GOA. Since 
NMFS prohibited directed fishing for all Pacific cod sectors in 2020, 
the catch for the jig sectors could not reach 90 percent of the annual 
allocation that is required for a performance increase in the following 
year's allocation (87 FR 74102, December 2, 2022; 84 FR 70438, December 
23, 2019). For 2023 and 2024,

[[Page 13248]]

NMFS allocates the jig sector 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC 
in the Western GOA. The 2023 and 2024 allocations consist of a base 
allocation of 1.5 percent of the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC, and prior 
additional performance increases of 1.0 percent. For 2023 and 2024, 
NMFS allocates the jig sector 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC 
in the Central GOA. The 2023 and 2024 allocations consist of a base 
allocation of 1.0 percent of the Central GOA Pacific cod TAC, and no 
additional performance increase in the Central GOA.
    For 2023 and 2024, NMFS is apportioning the jig sector allocations 
for the Western and Central GOA between the A season (60 percent) and 
the B season (40 percent), pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i). This is 
the same jig sector seasonal apportionment implemented in prior 
groundfish harvest specifications for the GOA and is consistent with 
Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011).
    Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal apportionments and allocations of 
the 2023 and 2024 Pacific cod TACs.

Table 5--Final 2023 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
    the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
                                              Processing 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)...........             131            2.50              78             N/A              52
    Hook-and-line CV............              71            0.70              36            0.70              36
    Hook-and-line CP............           1,009           10.90             555            8.90             453
    Trawl CV....................           1,956           31.54           1,607            6.86             349
    Trawl CP....................             122            0.90              46            1.50              76
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           1,936           19.80           1,009           18.20             927
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................           5,225           63.84           3,331           36.16           1,894
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA:
    Jig (1.0% of TAC)...........             111            1.00              67             N/A              44
    Hook-and-line <50 CV........           1,608            9.32           1,026            5.29             582
    Hook-and-line >=50 CV.......             738            5.61             618            1.10             121
    Hook-and-line CP............             562            4.11             452            1.00             110
    Trawl CV \1\................           4,579           25.29           2,785           16.29           1,794
    Trawl CP....................             462            2.00             221            2.19             242
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           3,062           17.83           1,963            9.97           1,098
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          11,123           64.16           7,131           35.84           3,991
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA.....................  ..............    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1,755                   1,580
                                                     176
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 424 mt, of the
  annual Central GOA TAC, which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season allowance (see Table 12. Final 2023
  Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).


Table 6--Final 2024 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
    the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
                                              Processing 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)...........             120            2.50              72             N/A              48
    Hook-and-line CV............              66            0.70              33            0.70              33
    Hook-and-line CP............             929           10.90             511            8.90             417
    Trawl CV....................           1,801           31.54           1,479            6.86             322
    Trawl CP....................             113            0.90              42            1.50              70
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           1,783           19.80             929           18.20             854
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................           4,811           63.84           3,067           36.16           1,744
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA:

[[Page 13249]]

 
    Jig (1.0% of TAC)...........             102            1.00              61             N/A              41
    Hook-and-line <50 CV........           1,481            9.32             944            5.29             536
    Hook-and-line >=50 CV.......             680            5.61             569            1.10             111
    Hook-and-line CP............             518            4.11             416            1.00             101
    Trawl CV \1\................           4,216           25.29           2,564           16.29           1,652
    Trawl CP....................             426            2.00             203            2.19             222
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           2,819           17.83           1,808            9.97           1,011
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          10,241           64.16           6,566           35.84           3,675
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA.....................  ..............    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1,616                   1,455
                                                     162
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 390 mt, of the
  annual Central GOA TAC, which is deducted from the Trawl CV B season allowance (see Table 13. Final 2024
  Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).

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

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require 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 only be used 
to support incidental catch of sablefish using trawl gear while 
directed fishing for other target species (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 approves, specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl 
gear in the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area. The remainder 
of the WYK District sablefish TAC is allocated to vessels using fixed 
gear. NMFS allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO 
District to vessels using fixed gear. This action results in 2023 
allocations of 440 mt to trawl gear and 2,765 mt to fixed gear in the 
WYK District, a 2023 allocation of 5,602 mt to fixed gear in the SEO 
District, and a 2024 allocation of 383 mt to trawl gear in the WYK 
District. Table 7 lists the allocations of the 2023 sablefish TACs to 
fixed and trawl gear. Table 8 lists the allocations of the 2024 
sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
    The Council recommended that a trawl sablefish TAC be established 
for 2 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. Both the 2023 and 2024 trawl allocations are 
specified in these final harvest specifications in Tables 7 and 8, 
respectively.
    The Council also recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that this 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 in March 2023, the Council 
recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be set annually, rather 
than for 2 years, so that the best scientific information available 
could be considered in establishing the sablefish TACs. Accordingly, 
Table 7 lists the 2023 fixed gear allocations, and the 2024 fixed gear 
allocations will be specified in the 2024 and 2025 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 in the GOA 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 will be reached 
before the effective date of these final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications.

     Table 7--Final 2023 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 gear
                          Area/district                                 TAC         allocation      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           4,473           3,578             895
Central \1\.....................................................           9,921           7,936           1,985
West Yakutat \2\................................................           3,205           2,765             440

[[Page 13250]]

 
Southeast Outside...............................................           5,602           5,602               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          23,201          19,881           3,320
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The trawl allocation of sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (1,021 mt). See Table 12: Final 2023 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the
  Central GOA. This results in 964 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\2\ The trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.


        Table 8--Final 2024 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Fixed gear      Trawl gear
                          Area/district                                 TAC         allocation      allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western.........................................................           4,626             n/a             925
Central \2\.....................................................           8,819             n/a           1,764
West Yakutat \3\................................................           2,669             n/a             383
Southeast Outside...............................................           4,981             n/a               0
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          21,095               0           3,072
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that the final 2024 harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish Individual
  Fishing Quota fisheries not be specified in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications. The final 2024
  harvest specifications for fixed gear will be specified in the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.
\2\ The trawl allocation of sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (907 mt). See Table 13: Final 2024 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the
  Central GOA. This results in 857 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\3\ The trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

Allocations, Apportionments, and Sideboard Limits for the Rockfish 
Program

    These final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications for the GOA 
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations 
established by the Rockfish Program. Rockfish Program participants are 
primarily trawl CVs and trawl CPs, 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 and blackspotted 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 CP 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 groundfish 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 operating under the Rockfish Program to increase 
their participation in other, non-Rockfish Program fisheries. These 
restrictions and halibut PSC limits are discussed in the Rockfish 
Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations section of 
this rule.
    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 2023 
and 2024. The allocations for the entry-level longline fishery may 
increase incrementally each year if the catch in the previous year 
exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental 
increase in the allocation would continue each year until it reaches 
the maximum percent of the TAC assigned to the Rockfish Program for 
that species. In 2022, the catch of Pacific ocean perch, northern 
rockfish, and dusky rockfish did not attain the 90 percent threshold, 
and the final allocations for 2023 therefore remain the same as the 
2022 allocations. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary 
species are allocated to the CV and CP cooperatives (Sec.  
679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 9 lists the allocations of the 2023 and 2024 
TACs for each rockfish primary species to the entry-level longline 
fishery, the potential incremental increases for future years, and the 
maximum percent of the TACs assigned to the Rockfish Program that may 
be allocated to the rockfish entry-level longline fishery.

[[Page 13251]]



Table 9--Final 2023 and Initial 2024 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery
                                          in the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Incremental increase in
       Rockfish primary species         2023 and 2024 allocations     2024 if >90% of 2023       Up to maximum
                                                                    allocation is harvested     percent of TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. Tables 10 and 11 list 
the final 2023 and 2024 allocations of rockfish primary species in the 
Central GOA to the entry-level longline fishery, and rockfish CV and CP 
cooperatives in the Rockfish Program. NMFS also is 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 of these species in the Central GOA 
by other groundfish fisheries.
    Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or CP cooperatives are 
not included in these final harvest specifications. Rockfish Program 
applications for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives are not due to 
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot 
calculate 2023 and 2024 allocations in conjunction with these final 
harvest specifications (Sec.  679.81(f)). After receiving the Rockfish 
Program applications, NMFS will calculate the 2023 allocations for CV 
and CP cooperatives, as set forth in Sec.  679.81(b), (c), and (e); 
NMFS will post the 2023 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, 2023.

  Table 10--Final 2023 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level
                       Longline Fishery and Rockfish Cooperatives in the Rockfish Program
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Allocation to   Allocation to
                                    Central GOA     Incidental                       the entry     the Rockfish
    Rockfish primary species        annual TAC         catch       TAC minus ICA  level longline   cooperatives
                                                     allowance                      \1\ fishery         \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.............          29,940           3,000          26,940               5          26,935
Northern rockfish...............           2,350             300           2,050               5           2,045
Dusky rockfish..................           7,647             250           7,397              50           7,347
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................          39,937           3,550          36,387              60          36,327
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (50 CFR 679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (50 CFR 679.81).


  Table 11--Final 2024 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level
                       Longline Fishery and Rockfish Cooperatives in the Rockfish Program
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Allocation to   Allocation to
                                    Central GOA     Incidental                       the entry     the Rockfish
    Rockfish primary species        annual TAC         catch       TAC minus ICA  level longline   cooperatives
                                                     allowance                      \1\ fishery         \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.............          29,138           3,000          26,138               5          26,133
Northern rockfish...............           2,244             300           1,944               5           1,939
Dusky rockfish..................           7,264             250           7,014              50           6,964
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................          38,646           3,550          35,096              60          35,036
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (50 CFR 679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (50 CFR 679.81).

    Section 679.81(c) and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 require 
allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and CP cooperatives in 
the Central GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, 
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. CP 
cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl gear 
allocation, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 
and thornyhead rockfish. Tables 12 and 13 list the apportionments of 
the 2023 and 2024 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA 
to CV and CP cooperatives.

[[Page 13252]]



        Table 12--Final 2023 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         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........................................................           11,123             3.81              424             0.00                0
Sablefish..........................................................            9,921             6.78              673             3.51              348
Shortraker rockfish................................................              280             0.00                0            40.00              112
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish.....................................              232             0.00                0            58.87              137
Thornyhead rockfish................................................              693             7.84               54            26.50              184
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Table 13--Final 2024 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         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........................................................           10,241             3.81              390             0.00                0
Sablefish..........................................................            8,819             6.78              598             3.51              310
Shortraker rockfish................................................              280             0.00                0            40.00              112
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish.....................................              231             0.00                0            58.87              136
Thornyhead rockfish................................................              693             7.84               54            26.50              184
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl gear and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the 
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In December 2022, the 
Council recommended and NMFS approves halibut PSC limits of 1,705 mt 
for trawl gear, 257 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the 
demersal shelf (DSR) rockfish fishery in the SEO District for both 2023 
and 2024, consistent with Sec.  679.21.
    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 
fishery 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 estimates of DSR incidental catch in 
all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence) and allocation to the 
sport DSR fishery. In 2022, the commercial fishery for DSR was closed 
due to concerns about declining DSR biomass.
    The FMP authorizes the Council and NMFS to exempt specific gear 
from the halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, 
exempts pot gear, the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery categories, and 
jig gear from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2023 and 2024. The 
Council recommended, and NMFS approves, these exemptions because: (1) 
the 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 catcher vessel 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 fishermen 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 2022. The 
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through December 31, 2022, is 355 
mt for trawl gear and 43 mt for hook-and-line gear for a total halibut 
mortality of 398 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) authorize 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. The 
Council considered information from the 2022 SAFE report, NMFS catch 
data, State of Alaska catch data, International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) stock assessment and mortality data, and public 
testimony when apportioning the halibut PSC limits. NMFS concurs with 
the Council's recommendations listed in

[[Page 13253]]

Table 14, which shows the final 2023 and 2024 Pacific halibut PSC 
limits, allowances, and apportionments.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specify that any unused amounts, 
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 14--Final 2023 and 2024 Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (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          86      221  January 1-              9
                                                   10.                                  December 31.
April 1-July 1...............      20.0      341  June 10-                 2        5
                                                   September 1.
July 1-August 1..............      27.0      462  September 1-            12       31
                                                   December 31.
August 1-October 1...........       7.5      128
October 1-December 31........      15.0      256
                              -------------------                  -------------------                  --------
    Total....................  ........    1,705  ................  ........      257  ................        9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the DSR
  fishery in the SEO District and to the hook-and-line fisheries other than the DSR fishery. The fixed gear
  sablefish IFQ fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all groundfish fisheries.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories listed in Sec.  
679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments are based on each 
category's proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during the fishing year and optimization of the total amount 
of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery 
categories for the trawl halibut PSC 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, and ``other species'' (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).
    NMFS will combine available trawl halibut PSC limit apportionments 
during a portion 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 deep-water and shallow-water species 
trawl 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 15 lists the final 2023 and 2024 apportionments of trawl 
halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water 
species fishery categories.
    Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679 specifies the amount of the trawl 
halibut PSC limit that is assigned to the CV and CP sectors that are 
participating in the Rockfish Program. This includes 117 mt of halibut 
PSC limit to the CV sector and 74 mt of halibut PSC limit to the CP 
sector. These amounts are allocated from the trawl deep-water species 
fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment. After the combined 
CV and CP 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 last seasonal apportionment for the general GOA 
trawl fisheries during the current fishing year 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 15--Final 2023 and 2024 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits Between the Trawl
                Gear Deep-Water Species Fishery and the Shallow-Water Species Fishery Categories
                                           [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
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 13254]]

 
    Total..............................................  .................  .................              1,705
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Vessels participating in cooperatives in the Central GOA 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 fishery categories during the
  fifth season (October 1 through December 31).

    Section 679.21(d)(2)(i)(B) requires that the ``other hook-and-line 
fishery'' halibut PSC limit apportionment to vessels using hook-and-
line gear must be apportioned between CVs and CPs in accordance with 
Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) 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 CP 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.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii), the hook-and-line halibut PSC 
limit for the ``other hook-and-line fishery'' is apportioned between 
the CV and CP sectors in proportion to the total Western and Central 
GOA Pacific cod allocations, which vary annually based on the 
proportion of the Pacific cod biomass between the Western, Central, and 
Eastern GOA. Pacific cod is apportioned among these three management 
areas based on the percentage of overall biomass per area, as 
calculated in the 2022 Pacific cod stock assessment. Updated 
information in the final 2022 SAFE report describes this distributional 
calculation, which allocates ABC among GOA regulatory areas on the 
basis of the three most recent stock surveys. For 2023 and 2024, the 
distribution of the total GOA Pacific cod ABC is 29 percent to the 
Western GOA, 61 percent to the Central GOA, and 10 percent to the 
Eastern GOA. Therefore, the calculations made in accordance with Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(iii) incorporate the most recent information on GOA 
Pacific cod distribution and allocations with respect to establishing 
the annual halibut PSC limits for the CV and CP hook-and-line sectors 
of the ``other hook-and-line fishery.'' Additionally, the annual 
halibut PSC limits for both the CV and CP sectors of the ``other hook-
and-line fishery'' are divided into three seasonal apportionments, 
using seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent.
    For 2023 and 2024, NMFS apportions halibut PSC limits of 150 mt and 
107 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line CP sectors, 
respectively. Table 16 lists the final 2023 and 2024 apportionments of 
halibut PSC limits between the hook-and-line CV and the hook-and-line 
CP sectors of the ``other hook-and-line fishery.''
    No later than November 1 of each year, NMFS will calculate the 
projected unused amount of halibut PSC limit by either of the CV or CP 
hook-and-line sectors that comprise the two sectors of the ``other 
hook-and-line fishery'' for the remainder of the year. The projected 
unused amount of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other 
sector for the remainder of that fishing year (Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)), if NMFS determines that an additional amount of 
halibut PSC is necessary for that sector to continue its directed 
fishing operations.

  Table 16--Final 2023 and 2024 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fishery'' Annual Halibut Prohibited
       Species Catch Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Sector
 ``Other than DSR'' allowance    Hook-and-line    Sector annual       Season         Seasonal        seasonal
                                    sector           amount                         percentage        amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
257..........................  Catcher Vessel..             150  January 1-June               86             129
                                                                  10.
                                                                 June 10-                      2               3
                                                                  September 1.
                                                                 September 1-                 12              18
                                                                  December 31.
                               Catcher/                     107  January 1-June               86              92
                                Processor.                        10.
                                                                 June 10-                      2               2
                                                                  September 1.
                                                                 September 1-                 12              13
                                                                  December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

    The IPHC annually assesses the abundance and potential yield of the 
Pacific halibut stock using all available data from the commercial and 
sport fisheries, other removals, and scientific surveys. Additional 
information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the 
IPHC's 2022 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 2022), available 
on the IPHC website at https://www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the 
2022 Pacific halibut stock assessment at its January 2023 annual 
meeting when it set the 2023 commercial halibut fishery catch limits.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch 
rates, halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of 
groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut

[[Page 13255]]

incidental catch rates are based on observed 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 GOA Plan Team, 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). The new methodology continues to ensure 
that NMFS is using DMRs that accurately reflect halibut mortality, 
which will inform the sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and 
allow sectors to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, 
eventually, the DMR for that sector.
    At the December 2022 meeting, the SSC, AP, and the Council 
concurred with the revised DMR estimation methodology, and NMFS adopts 
for 2023 and 2024 the DMRs calculated under the revised methodology, 
which uses an updated 2-year reference period. The final 2023 and 2024 
DMRs in this rule are unchanged from the DMRs in the proposed 2023 and 
2024 harvest specifications (87 FR 74102, December 2, 2022). Table 17 
lists these final 2023 and 2024 DMRs.

     Table 17--Final 2023 and 2024 Halibut 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..........              55
                                          Catcher vessel............  All others................              74
                                          Mothership and catcher/     All.......................              83
                                           processor.
Hook-and-line...........................  Catcher/processor.........  All.......................              13
                                          Catcher vessel............  All.......................               9
Pot.....................................  Catcher vessel and catcher/ All.......................              27
                                           processor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 GOA in 
the directed pollock trawl fishery. NMFS is required to close the 
directed pollock fishery in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 
the GOA if the applicable Chinook salmon PSC limit in that regulatory 
area will be reached (Sec.  679.21(h)(8)). The annual Chinook salmon 
PSC limits in the directed pollock fishery of 6,684 salmon in the 
Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set at Sec.  
679.21(h)(2).
    Amendment 97 to the FMP (79 FR 71350, December 2, 2014) established 
an initial annual PSC limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon for the trawl non-
pollock groundfish fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit 
is apportioned among the three sectors that conduct directed fishing 
for groundfish species other than pollock: 3,600 Chinook salmon to 
trawl CPs; 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 trawl non-pollock groundfish 
fisheries and close an applicable sector if it will reach its Chinook 
salmon PSC limit.
    The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl CPs 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 during a calendar year. If either or both of these two 
sectors limited its use of Chinook salmon PSC to a specified threshold 
amount in 2022 (3,120 for trawl CPs and 2,340 for Non-Rockfish Program 
trawl CVs), that sector will receive an incremental increase to its 
2023 Chinook salmon PSC limit (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). In 2022, the trawl 
CP sector did not exceed 3,120 Chinook salmon PSC; therefore, the 2023 
trawl CP sector Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 4,080 Chinook salmon. 
In 2022, the Non-Rockfish Program trawl CV sector did not exceed 2,340 
Chinook salmon PSC; therefore, the 2023 Non-Rockfish Program trawl CV 
sector Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 3,060 Chinook salmon.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel 
Groundfish Harvest Limits

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limitations on AFA CPs 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 as compared to 
those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and 
processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits 
listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from 
harvesting any species of groundfish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.  
679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed 
AFA CP permit from processing any pollock harvested in a directed 
pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish

[[Page 13256]]

harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
    AFA CVs that are less than 125 feet (38.1 m) length overall, have 
annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
(BSAI) less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 GOA groundfish 
landings 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 the CV groundfish sideboard limitations in 
the GOA based on the aggregate retained catch of non-exempt AFA CVs of 
each sideboard species or species group from 1995 through 1997 divided 
by the sum of the TACs for that species or species group available to 
CVs 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 (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) continue to be calculated and 
included in the GOA annual harvest specifications.
    Tables 18 and 19 list the final 2023 and 2024 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 Tables 18 and 19.

   Table 18--Final 2023 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-                    Final 2023 non-
           Species              Apportionments         Area       exempt  AFA CV    Final 2023     exempt AFA CV
                                   by season                          catch to       TACs \3\        sideboard
                                                                  1995-1997  TAC                       limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season January  Shumagin (610).          0.6047           1,685           1,019
                                20-May 31.
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          58,039           6,773
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           9,121           1,850
                               B Season          Shumagin (610).          0.6047          25,272          15,282
                                September 1-
                                November 1.
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          18,965           2,213
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028          24,608           4,990
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......          0.3495           7,523           2,629
                                                 SEO (650)......          0.3495          11,363           3,971
Pacific cod..................  A Season \1\      W..............          0.1331           3,331             443
                                January 1-June
                                10.
                                                 C..............          0.0692           7,131             493
                               B Season \2\      W..............          0.1331           1,894             252
                                September 1-
                                December 31.
                                                 C..............          0.0692           3,991             276
Flatfish, shallow-water......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0156          13,250             207
                                                 C..............          0.0587          26,769           1,571
Flatfish, deep-water.........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0647           2,105             136
                                                 E..............          0.0128           3,455              44
Rex sole.....................  Annual..........  C..............          0.0384          13,110             503
Arrowtooth flounder..........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0280          65,000           1,820
Flathead sole................  Annual..........  C..............          0.0213          21,487             458
Pacific ocean Perch..........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0748          29,940           2,240
                                                 E..............          0.0466           4,724             220
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  C..............          0.0277           2,350              65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.


   Table 19--Final 2024 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-                    Final 2024 non-
           Species              Apportionments         Area       exempt  AFA CV    Final 2024     exempt AFA CV
                                   by season                          catch to       TACs \3\        sideboard
                                                                  1995-1997  TAC                       limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  A Season January  Shumagin (610).          0.6047           1,823           1,102
                                20-May 31.
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          62,771           7,325
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028           9,864           2,000
                               B Season          Shumagin (610).          0.6047          27,333          16,528
                                September 1-
                                November 1.
                                                 Chirikof (620).          0.1167          20,511           2,394
                                                 Kodiak (630)...          0.2028          26,614           5,397
                               Annual..........  WYK (640)......          0.3495           8,136           2,844
                                                 SEO (650)......          0.3495          11,363           3,971
Pacific cod..................  A Season \1\      W..............          0.1331           3,067             408
                                January 1-June
                                10.

[[Page 13257]]

 
                                                 C..............          0.0692           6,566             454
                               B Season \2\      W..............          0.1331           1,744             232
                                September 1-
                                December 31.
                                                 C..............          0.0692           3,675             254
Flatfish, shallow-water......  Annual..........  W..............          0.0156          13,250             207
                                                 C..............          0.0587          27,737           1,628
Flatfish, deep-water.........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0647           2,068             134
                                                 E..............          0.0128           3,396              43
Rex sole.....................  Annual..........  C..............          0.0384          13,425             516
Arrowtooth flounder..........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0280          64,200           1,798
Flathead sole................  Annual..........  C..............          0.0213          21,892             466
Pacific ocean perch..........  Annual..........  C..............          0.0748          29,138           2,180
                                                 E..............          0.0466           4,597             214
Northern rockfish............  Annual..........  C..............          0.0277           2,244              62
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 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 20 lists the final 2023 and 2024 non-
exempt AFA CV halibut PSC sideboard limits for vessels using trawl gear 
in the GOA.

   Table 20--Final 2023 and 2024 Non-Exempt AFA CV Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Sideboard Limits for
                                       Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Ratio of  1995-
                                                                  1997  non-
                                                                exempt  AFA CV   2023 and 2024    2023 and 2024
           Season               Season dates    Target fishery      retained      halibut PSC    non-exempt  AFA
                                                                   catch  to         limit       CV  halibut PSC
                                                                     total                            limit
                                                                retained catch
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................  January 20-      shallow-water..           0.340             384               131
                               April 1.
                                               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-        shallow-water..           0.340              53                18
                               October 1.
                                               deep-water.....           0.070              75                 5
5...........................  October 1-       all targets....           0.205             256                52
                               December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual.......................................  Total shallow-   ..............  ..............  ................
                                                water.
                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Total deep-      ..............  ..............                56
                                                water.
                             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Total, all season and categories           1,705             328
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch 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 Crab Rationalization (CR) Program to expand their level of 
participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard 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 catch 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 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 Management

[[Page 13258]]

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).
    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)). Accordingly, the GOA annual harvest specifications 
will include the non-AFA crab vessel groundfish sideboard limits for 
only Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot gear in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas.
    Tables 21 and 22 list the final 2023 and 2024 groundfish sideboard 
limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. 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 21--Final 2023 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Ratio of 1996-
                                                                                                 2000 non-AFA crab                      Final 2023 non-
                Species                             Season                     Area/gear          vessel catch to    Final 2023 TACs    AFA crab vessel
                                                                                                  1996-2000 total                       sideboard limit
                                                                                                      harvest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........................  A Season January 1-June 10...  Western Pot CV..........             0.0997              3,331                332
                                                                       Central Pot CV..........             0.0474              7,131                338
                                        B Season September 1-December  Western Pot CV..........             0.0997              1,894                189
                                         31.
                                                                       Central Pot CV..........             0.0474              3,991                189
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                               Table 22--Final 2024 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Ratio of 1996-
                                                                                                 2000 non-AFA crab                      Final 2024 non-
                Species                             Season                     Area/gear          vessel catch to    Final 2024 TACs    AFA crab vessel
                                                                                                  1996-2000 total                       sideboard limit
                                                                                                      harvest
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........................  A Season January 1-June 10...  Western Pot CV..........             0.0997              3,067                306
                                                                       Central Pot CV..........             0.0474              6,566                311
                                        B Season September 1-December  Western Pot CV..........             0.0997              1,744                174
                                         31.
                                                                       Central Pot CV..........             0.0474              3,675                174
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

    The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard 
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, CP rockfish sideboard 
restrictions, and CP 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 GOA groundfish fisheries.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern 
rockfish in the West Yakutat District and Western GOA 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)).
    CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted 
by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These CPs are prohibited 
from directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
northern rockfish in the West Yakutat District and Western GOA from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(2)). Prior to 2021, CPs 
participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives were restricted by 
rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA. A final rule that 
implemented Amendment 111 to the FMP (86 FR 11895, March 1, 2021) 
removed from regulation the Western GOA rockfish sideboard limits for 
Rockfish Program CPs. That rule also revised and clarified the 
establishment of the West Yakutat District rockfish sideboard ratios in 
regulation. The rockfish sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in 
the West Yakutat District is an established percentage of the TAC for 
catcher/processors in the directed fishery for dusky rockfish and 
Pacific ocean perch (Sec.  679.82(e)(4)). These percentages are 
confidential.
    Holders of CP-designated LLP licenses that opt out of participating 
in a Rockfish Program cooperative will be able to access that portion 
of each rockfish sideboard limit that is not assigned to rockfish 
cooperatives (Sec.  679.82(e)(7)).
    Under the Rockfish Program, the CP sector is subject to halibut PSC 
sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries (Sec.  679.82(e)(3) and (5)). Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by 
fishery are set forth in Sec.  679.82(e)(5). The CP sector halibut PSC 
sideboard limits are in effective from July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  
679.82(e)(6)). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector, 
as CVs participating in cooperatives receive a portion of the annual 
halibut PSC limit. CPs that opt out of the Rockfish Program are able to 
access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-water species fishery 
halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to CP rockfish cooperatives. 
The sideboard provisions for CPs 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, however, some of these vessels may choose to opt out of the 
Rockfish Program. After March 1, NMFS will determine which CPs have 
opted-out of the Rockfish Program in 2023, and NMFS will know the 
ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. NMFS 
will then calculate any applicable opt-out

[[Page 13259]]

sideboards for 2023 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 23 lists the 
final 2023 and 2024 Rockfish Program halibut PSC sideboard limits for 
the CP sector.

                      Table 23--Final 2023 and 2024 Rockfish Program Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Annual  shallow-  Annual  deep-
                                                                      Shallow-water      Deep-water     2023 and 2024    water  species   water  species
                                                                     species fishery  species fishery      halibut          fishery          fishery
                               Sector                                  halibut PSC      halibut PSC    mortality limit    halibut PSC      halibut PSC
                                                                     sideboard ratio  sideboard ratio        (mt)       sideboard limit  sideboard limit
                                                                         (percent)        (percent)                           (mt)             (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor..................................................            0.10             2.50            1,705                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 CP 
sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC 
catch 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 fishing vessel (F/
V) Golden Fleece, to amounts no greater than the limits listed 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). Tables 24 and 25 
list the final 2023 and 2024 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 Tables 24 and 25.

                                  Table 24--Final 2023 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Ratio of
                                                                                                    amendment 80                       2023 Amendment 80
                Species                       Apportionments and                 Area              sector vessels     2023 TAC (mt)     vessel sideboard
                                            allocations by season                                 1998-2004 catch                          limit (mt)
                                                                                                       to TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...............................  A Season January 20-May 31...  Shumagin (610)..........              0.003              1,685                  5
                                                                       Chirikof (620)..........              0.002             58,039                116
                                                                       Kodiak (630)............              0.002              9,121                 18
                                        B Season September 1-November  Shumagin (610)..........              0.003             25,272                 76
                                         1.
                                                                       Chirikof (620)..........              0.002             18,965                 38
                                                                       Kodiak (630)............              0.002             24,608                 49
                                        Annual.......................  WYK (640)...............              0.002              7,523                 15
Pacific cod...........................  A Season \1\ January 1-June    W.......................              0.020              3,331                 67
                                         10.
                                                                       C.......................              0.044              7,131                314
                                        B Season \2\ September 1-      W.......................              0.020              1,894                 38
                                         December 31.
                                                                       C.......................              0.044              3,991                176
                                        Annual.......................  WYK.....................              0.034              1,755                 60
Pacific ocean perch...................  Annual.......................  W.......................              0.994              2,529              2,514
                                                                       WYK.....................              0.961              1,370              1,317
Northern rockfish.....................  Annual.......................  W.......................              1.000              2,614              2,614
Dusky rockfish........................  Annual.......................  W.......................              0.764                149                114
                                                                       WYK.....................              0.896                 90                 81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 13260]]


                                  Table 25--Final 2024 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Ratio of
                                                                                                    amendment 80                       2024 Amendment 80
                Species                       Apportionments and                 Area              sector vessels     2024 TAC (mt)     vessel sideboard
                                            allocations by season                                 1998-2004 catch                          limit (mt)
                                                                                                       to TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock...............................  A Season January 20-May 31...  Shumagin (610)..........              0.003              1,823                  5
                                                                       Chirikof (620)..........              0.002             62,771                126
                                                                       Kodiak (630)............              0.002              9,864                 20
                                        B Season September 1-November  Shumagin (610)..........              0.003             27,333                 82
                                         1.
                                                                       Chirikof (620)..........              0.002             20,511                 41
                                                                       Kodiak (630)............              0.002             26,614                 53
                                        Annual.......................  WYK (640)...............              0.002              8,136                 16
Pacific cod...........................  A Season \1\ January 1-June    W.......................              0.020              3,067                 61
                                         10.
                                                                       C.......................              0.044              6,566                289
                                        B Season \2\ September 1-      W.......................              0.020              1,744                 35
                                         December 31.
                                                                       C.......................              0.044              3,675                162
                                        Annual.......................  WYK.....................              0.034              1,616                 55
Pacific ocean perch...................  Annual.......................  W.......................              0.994              2,461              2,446
                                                                       WYK.....................              0.961              1,333              1,281
Northern rockfish.....................  Annual.......................  W.......................              1.000              2,497              2,497
Dusky rockfish........................  Annual.......................  W.......................              0.764                141                108
                                                                       WYK.....................              0.896                 85                 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
in the GOA are based on the historic 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 historic 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 26 lists the final 
2023 and 2024 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 26--Final 2023 and 2024 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Historic
                                                                                                  amendment 80 use                       2023 and 2024
                                                                                                   of the  annual     2023 and 2024       Amendment 80
                Season                           Season dates               Target fishery          halibut  PSC      Annual halibut     vessel halibut
                                                                                                    limit catch      PSC limit  (mt)       PSC limit
                                                                                                      (ratio)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................................  January 20-April 1...........  shallow-water...........             0.0048              1,705                  8
                                                                       deep-water..............             0.0115              1,705                 20
2.....................................  April 1-July 1...............  shallow-water...........             0.0189              1,705                 32
                                                                       deep-water..............             0.1072              1,705                183
3.....................................  July 1-August 1..............  shallow-water...........             0.0146              1,705                 25
                                                                       deep-water..............             0.0521              1,705                 89
4.....................................  August 1-October 1...........  shallow-water...........             0.0074              1,705                 13
                                                                       deep-water..............             0.0014              1,705                  2
5.....................................  October 1-December 31........  shallow-water...........             0.0227              1,705                 39
                                                                       deep-water..............             0.0371              1,705                 63
                                                                                                --------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................  .............................  ........................  .................  .................                474
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Regional Administrator 
determines (1) that any allocation or apportionment of a target species 
or species group allocated or apportioned to a fishery will be reached; 
or (2) with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, that an allocation or 
apportionment to an inshore or offshore component or sector allocation 
will be reached, then the Regional Administrator may establish a 
directed fishing allowance (DFA) for that species or species group. If 
the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA and that allowance is or 
will be reached before the end of the fishing season or year, NMFS will 
prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group in the 
specified GOA

[[Page 13261]]

subarea, regulatory area, or district (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the TACs for the 
species listed in Table 27 are necessary to account for the incidental 
catch of these species in other anticipated groundfish fisheries for 
the 2023 and 2024 fishing years.

      Table 27--2023 and 2024 Directed Fishing Closures in the GOA
 [Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric
                                  tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Incidental catch
                                    Area/component/     amount and year
             Target                      gear         (if amounts differ
                                                           by year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.........................  all/offshore......  not applicable.\1\
Sablefish \2\...................  all/trawl.........  3,320 (2023).
                                                      3,072 (2024).
Pacific cod.....................  Western, CV, HAL..  71 (2023), 66
                                                       (2024).
                                  Western, CP, trawl  122 (2023, 113
                                                       (2024).
                                  Central, CP, trawl  462 (2023), 426
                                                       (2024).
Shortraker rockfish \2\.........  all...............  705
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish    all...............  775 (2023) 772
 \2\.                                                  (2024).
Thornyhead rockfish \2\.........  all...............  1,628.
Other rockfish..................  all...............  1,610.
Atka mackerel...................  all...............  3,000.
Big skate.......................  all...............  2,867.
Longnose skate..................  all...............  2,712.
Other skates....................  all...............  984.
Sharks..........................  all...............  4,891.
Octopuses.......................  all...............  980.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pollock is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore
  component under Sec.   679.20(a)(6)(i).
\2\ Closures are not applicable to participants in cooperatives
  conducted under the Central GOA Rockfish Program because cooperatives
  are prohibited from exceeding their allocations (Sec.
  679.7(n)(6)(viii)).

    Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the 
Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species or species 
groups listed in Table 27 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for those 
species, areas, gear types, and components in the GOA listed in Table 
27 effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 2, 2023, through 2400 hours, 
A.l.t., December 31, 2024.
    Closures implemented under the 2022 and 2023 GOA harvest 
specifications for groundfish (87 FR 11599, March 2, 2022) remain 
effective under authority of these final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications and until the date specified in those closure 
notifications. Closures are posted at the following website under the 
Alaska filter for Management Areas: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/rules-and-announcements/bulletins.
    While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts 
at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. 
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS may implement other 
closures during the 2023 and 2024 fishing years as necessary for 
effective conservation and management.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS did not receive any comments during the public comment period 
for the proposed groundfish harvest specifications.

Classification

    NMFS is issuing this final rule pursuant to section 305(d) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP and regulations 
are designed to authorize NMFS to take this action. See 50 CFR part 
679. The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the final 
harvest specifications are consistent with the FMP and with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 
because it only implements annual catch limits in the GOA.
    NMFS prepared an EIS for the Alaska groundfish harvest 
specifications and alternative harvest strategies (see ADDRESSES) and 
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the EIS. In January-February 
2023, NMFS prepared a SIR for this action to provide a subsequent 
assessment of the action and to address the need to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS (SEIS; 40 CFR 1501.11(b); Sec.  1502.9(d)(1)). Copies 
of the EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this action are available from 
NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the environmental, social, 
and economic consequences of the groundfish harvest specifications and 
alternative harvest strategies on resources in the action area. Based 
on the analysis in the Final EIS, NMFS concluded that the preferred 
Alternative (Alternative 2) provides the best balance among relevant 
environmental, social, and economic considerations and allows for 
continued management of the groundfish fisheries based on the most 
recent, best scientific information. The preferred alternative is a 
harvest strategy in which TACs are set at a level within the range of 
ABCs recommended by the Council's SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve 
the OY specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the 
harvest strategy produces may vary from year to year, the methodology 
used for the preferred harvest strategy remains constant.
    The annual SIR evaluates the need to prepare a SEIS for the 2023 
and 2024 groundfish harvest specifications. An SEIS must be prepared if 
(1) the agency makes substantial changes in the proposed action that 
are relevant to environmental concerns; or (2) significant new 
circumstances or information exist relevant to environmental concerns 
and bearing on the proposed action or its impacts (40 CFR 
1502.9(d)(1)). After reviewing the information contained in the SIR and 
SAFE report, the Regional Administrator has determined that (1) 
approval of the 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, which were set 
according to the preferred harvest strategy in the EIS, does not 
constitute a substantial

[[Page 13262]]

change in the action; and (2) there are no significant new 
circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and 
bearing on the action or its impacts. The 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications will result in environmental, social, and economic 
impacts within the scope of those analyzed and disclosed in the EIS. 
Therefore, a SEIS is not necessary to implement the 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications.
    Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604) 
requires that, when an agency promulgates a final rule under 5 U.S.C. 
553, after being required by that section or any other law, to publish 
a general notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency shall prepare a 
final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA). The following constitutes 
the FRFA prepared for these final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications.
    Section 604 of the RFA describes the required contents of a FRFA: 
(1) a statement of the need for, and objectives of, the rule; (2) a 
statement of the significant issues raised by the public comments in 
response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a 
statement of the assessment of the agency of such issues, and a 
statement of any changes made in the proposed rule as a result of such 
comments; (3) the response of the agency to any comments filed by the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in 
response to the proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change 
made to the proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the 
comments; (4) a description of and an estimate of the number of small 
entities to which the rule will apply or an explanation of why no such 
estimate is available; (5) a description of the projected reporting, 
recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements of the rule, including 
an estimate of the classes of small entities which will be subject to 
the requirement and the type of professional skills necessary for 
preparation of the report or record; and (6) a description of the steps 
the agency has taken to minimize the significant economic impact on 
small entities consistent with the stated objectives of applicable 
statutes, including a statement of the factual, policy, and legal 
reasons for selecting the alternative adopted in the final rule and why 
each one of the other significant alternatives to the rule considered 
by the agency that affect the impact on small entities was rejected.
    A description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are 
contained at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are 
not repeated here.
    NMFS published the proposed rule on December 2, 2022 (87 FR 74102). 
NMFS prepared an IRFA to accompany the proposed action, and included 
the IRFA in the proposed rule. The comment period closed on January 3, 
2023. No comments were received on the IRFA or on the economic impacts 
of the rule more generally. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration did not file any comments on the proposed rule.
    The entities directly regulated by this action are: (1) entities 
operating vessels with groundfish Federal fishing permits (FFPs) 
catching FMP groundfish in Federal waters; (2) all entities operating 
vessels, regardless of whether they hold groundfish FFPs, catching FMP 
groundfish in the State-waters parallel fisheries; and (3) all entities 
operating vessels fishing for halibut inside 3 miles (5.6 km) of the 
shore (whether or not they have FFPs).
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    Using the most recent data available (2021), the estimated number 
of directly regulated small entities includes approximately 671 
individual catcher vessel and CP entities with gross revenues meeting 
the small entity criteria. This includes an estimated 668 small CV 
entities and 3 small CP entities in the GOA groundfish sector. The 
determination of entity size is based on vessel revenues and affiliated 
group revenues. This determination also includes an assessment of 
fisheries cooperative affiliations, although actual vessel ownership 
affiliations have not been completely established. However, the 
estimate of these 671 CVs and CPs may be an overstatement of the number 
of small entities because of the complexity of analyzing the linkages 
and affiliations across these vessels, particularly since many of them 
conduct operations in Federal and State fisheries. The CVs 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, $720,000, and $1.96 million, respectively. Average gross 
revenues for CP entities are confidential.
    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    This action implements the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications, apportionments, and halibut PSC limits for the 
groundfish fishery of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish 
harvest limits for groundfish during the 2023 and 2024 fishing years 
and is taken in accordance with the FMP prepared by the Council 
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The establishment of the final 
harvest specifications is governed by the Council's harvest strategy 
for the catch of groundfish in the GOA. The harvest strategy was 
selected previously from among five alternatives, with the preferred 
alternative harvest strategy being one in which the TACs fall within 
the range of ABCs recommended by the SSC. Under this preferred 
alternative harvest strategy, TACs are set within the range of ABCs 
recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY 
specified in the FMP; and while the specific TAC numbers that the 
harvest strategy produces may vary from year to year, the methodology 
used for the preferred harvest strategy remains constant. This final 
action implements the preferred alternative harvest strategy previously 
chosen by the Council to set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs 
recommended through the Council harvest specifications process and as 
recommended by the Council. This is the method for determining TACs 
that has been used in the past.
    The final 2023 and 2024 TACs associated with preferred harvest 
strategy are those recommended by the Council in December 2022. OFLs 
and ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the 
Council's Plan Team, and reviewed by the Council's SSC. The Council 
based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which were consistent 
with the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations. The sum of all TACs remains 
within the OY for the GOA consistent with Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)(B).
    The final 2023 and 2024 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
available biological information, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods to calculate stock biomass. The final 2023 and 2024 
TACs are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. The final 2023 and 2024 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are 
consistent with the biological

[[Page 13263]]

condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2022 SAFE report, 
which is the most recent, completed SAFE report. Accounting for the 
most recent biological information to set the final OFLs, ABCs, and 
TACs is consistent with the objectives for this action, as well as 
National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(2)) 
that actions shall be based on the best scientific information 
available.
    Under this action, the final ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are 
less than the specified overfishing levels. The final TACs are within 
the range of final ABCs recommended by the SSC and do not exceed the 
biological limits recommended by the SSC (the ABCs and overfishing 
levels). For most species and species groups in the GOA, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS sets, final TACs equal to final ABCs, which is 
intended to maximize harvest opportunities in the GOA, unless other 
conservation or management reasons support setting TAC amounts less 
than the ABCs.
    For the following species and species groups, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS sets, TACs that are less than the ABCs: for 
pollock for the combined Western and Central GOA and West Yakutat 
District area; Pacific cod; shallow-water flatfish in the Western GOA; 
arrowtooth flounder in the Western GOA and the SEO District; flathead 
sole in the Western GOA, Atka mackerel; and ``other rockfish'' in the 
SEO District. These specific reductions were reviewed and recommended 
by the Council's AP, and the Council in turn adopted the AP's 
recommendations for the final 2023 and 2024 TACs.
    Increasing TACs for some species may not result in increased 
harvest opportunities for those species. This is due to a variety of 
reasons. There may be a lack of commercial or market interest in some 
species. Additionally, there are fixed, and therefore constraining, PSC 
limits associated with the harvest of the GOA groundfish species that 
can lead to an underharvest of flatfish TACs. For this reason, 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. Similarly, the SEO District arrowtooth flounder TAC is set 
lower than ABC to conserve halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries 
or because there is limited commercial interest in this fishery. The 
Atka mackerel TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts in 
other fisheries. The ``other rockfish'' TAC in the SEO District is set 
to reduce the amount of discards of the species in that complex. 
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. The W/C/WYK Regulatory Area pollock TAC and 
the GOA Pacific cod TACs are therefore set to account for the State's 
GHLs for the State waters pollock and Pacific cod fisheries so that the 
ABCs are not exceeded.
    Based upon the best available scientific data, and in consideration 
of the Council's objectives of this action, there are no significant 
alternatives to the final rule that have the potential to accomplish 
the stated objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and any other 
applicable statutes and that have the potential to minimize any 
significant adverse economic impact of the final rule on small 
entities. This action is economically beneficial to entities operating 
in the GOA, including small entities. The action specifies TACs for 
commercially valuable species in the GOA and allows for the continued 
prosecution of the fishery, thereby creating the opportunity for 
fishery revenue. After public process, during which the Council 
solicited input from stakeholders, the Council concluded that these 
final harvest specifications would best accomplish the stated 
objectives articulated in the preamble for this final rule and in 
applicable statutes and would minimize to the extent practicable 
adverse economic impacts on the universe of directly regulated small 
entities.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals, or endangered or threatened 
species, resulting from fishing activities conducted under this rule 
are discussed in the Final EIS and its accompanying annual SIRs (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date 
of effectiveness for this rule because delaying this rule is contrary 
to the public interest. The Plan Team review of the 2022 SAFE report 
occurred in November 2022, and, based on the 2022 SAFE report, the 
Council considered and recommended the final harvest specifications in 
December 2022. Accordingly, NMFS's review of the final 2023 and 2024 
harvest specifications could not begin until after the December 2022 
Council meeting, and after the public had time to comment on the 
proposed action.
    For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs established 
under the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications (87 FR 11599, 
March 2, 2022) have not yet been reached, it is possible that they 
would be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period, because those fisheries have nearly reached those 
previously set TACs. Some affected fisheries therefore could close 
soon, as they are already close to reaching their TACs, and such 
closures would cause unnecessary economic harm to the fisheries in the 
cases where this final rule increases some of the groundfish TACs. If 
implemented immediately, this final rule would allow these fisheries to 
continue fishing, because some of the new TACs implemented by this rule 
are higher than the TACs under which they are currently fishing.
    In addition, immediate effectiveness of this action is required to 
provide consistent management and conservation of fishery resources 
based on the best available scientific information. This is 
particularly pertinent for those species that have lower 2023 ABCs and 
TACs than those established in the 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications 
(87 FR 11599, March 2, 2022), including target species such as Pacific 
cod. If implemented immediately, this rule would ensure that NMFS can 
properly manage those fisheries for which this rule sets lower 2023 
ABCs and TACs, which are based on the most recent biological 
information on the condition of stocks. The changes between the 
proposed 2023 ABCs and TACs are discussed earlier in the Changes from 
the Proposed 2023 and 2024 Harvest Specifications in the GOA section of 
this rule.
    Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock, are intensive, fast-
paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for sablefish, 
flatfish, rockfish, Atka mackerel, skates, sharks, and octopuses, are 
critical either as directed fisheries or as incidental catch in other 
fisheries. Thus, for those species that have higher 2023 TACs than 
under the final 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications (87 FR 11599, 
March 2, 2022) than the TACs established by this final rule, there is 
some risk of exceeding these TAC limits. U.S. fishing vessels have 
demonstrated the capacity to catch the TAC allocations in many of these 
fisheries. If the date of effectiveness of this rule were to be delayed 
30 days and a TAC was reached during those 30 days, NMFS would be 
required to close directed fishing or prohibit retention for the 
applicable species. Such closures and unnecessary discards would cause 
confusion to the industry and potential economic harm to fishermen, 
undermining the intent of this rule. Waiving the 30-day delay in the 
date of effectiveness allows NMFS to prevent

[[Page 13264]]

this potential economic harm that could occur, should the previously 
set 2023 TACs (as set under the 2022 and 2023 harvest specifications) 
be reached during such a delay. In addition, determining which 
fisheries may close in advance is nearly impossible because these 
fisheries are affected by several factors, including fishing effort, 
weather, movement of fishery stocks and market price, which cannot be 
predicted. Furthermore, the closure of one fishery has a cascading 
effect on other fisheries; the closure would free up fishing vessels, 
allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open fisheries, thereby 
increasing the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, and 
potentially causing them to close sooner.
    In fisheries subject to declining sideboard limits, a failure to 
implement the updated sideboard limits before the initial season's end 
could deny the intended economic protection to the non-sideboarded 
sectors. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboard limits, 
economic benefit could be denied to the sideboard-limited sectors.
    If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 10, 
2023, which is the start of the 2023 Pacific halibut season as 
specified by the IPHC, the fixed gear sablefish fishery will not begin 
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. This would result in 
confusion for the industry and economic harm from unnecessary discard 
of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both fixed 
gear sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ 
program. Immediate effectiveness of these final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications will allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin 
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season.
    Finally, immediate effectiveness also provides the fishing industry 
the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct its fishing 
operations with respect to new information about TACs. Therefore, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), NMFS finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delay in the date of effectiveness for this rule.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The tables contained in this final rule are provided online 
and serve as the plain language guide to assist small entities in 
complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary 
purpose is to announce the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications 
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries 
of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and 
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2023 and 2024 
fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP. 
This action affects all fishermen who participate in the GOA fisheries. 
The specific OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts are provided in tables in 
this final rule to assist the reader. This final rule also contains 
plain language summaries of the underlying relevant regulations 
supporting the harvest specifications and the harvest of groundfish in 
the GOA that the reader may find helpful.
    Information to assist small entities in complying with this final 
rule is provided online. The OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC tables are 
individually available online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-groundfish-harvest-specifications. 
Explanatory information on the relevant regulations supporting the 
harvest specifications is also found in footnotes to the tables. 
Harvest specification changes are also available from the same online 
source, which includes applicable Federal Register notices, information 
bulletins, and other supporting materials. NMFS will announce closures 
of directed fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins 
released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep 
themselves informed of such closures.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1540 (f), 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: February 27, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-04315 Filed 3-1-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P