[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 85184-85203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26807]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 231201-0284; RTID 0648-XD436]


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of 
Alaska; Proposed 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish

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

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

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications,

[[Page 85185]]

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 2024 
and 2025 fishing years and to accomplish the goals and objectives of 
the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska. The 
2024 harvest specifications supersede those previously set in the final 
2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, and the 2025 harvest 
specifications will be superseded in early 2025 when the final 2025 and 
2026 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: Comments must be received by January 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0133, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2023-0133 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Gretchen Harrington, 
Assistant Regional Administrator, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 
Alaska Region NMFS. Mail comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-
1668.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A''; in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the Final EIS, and the annual Supplementary Information 
Reports (SIR) to the Final EIS prepared for this action are available 
from https://www.regulations.gov. An updated 2024 SIR for the final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications will be available from the same 
source. The final 2022 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) 
report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated December 2022, is 
available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) 
at 1007 West Third, Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, phone 907-271-
2809, or from the Council's website at https://www.npfmc.org. The 2023 
SAFE report for the GOA will be available from the same source.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the GOA under the Fishery 
Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). The Council 
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and 
implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require that NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 
for each target species, the sum of which must be within the optimum 
yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt) (Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(B) and 679.20(a)(2)). Section 679.20(c)(1) further 
requires NMFS to publish and solicit public comment on proposed annual 
TACs and apportionments thereof for each target species, Pacific 
halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal allowances 
of pollock and Pacific cod. The proposed harvest specifications in 
tables 1 through 19 of this rule satisfy these requirements. For 2024 
and 2025, the sum of the proposed TAC amounts is 476,537 mt.
    Under Sec.  679.20(c)(3), NMFS will publish the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications after (1) considering comments received within 
the comment period (see DATES), (2) consulting with the Council at its 
December 2023 meeting, (3) considering information presented in the 
2024 SIR to the Final EIS that assesses the need to prepare a 
Supplemental EIS (see ADDRESSES), and (4) considering information 
presented in the final 2023 SAFE report prepared for the 2024 and 2025 
groundfish fisheries.

Other Actions Affecting the 2024 and 2025 GOA Harvest Specifications

Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program

    NMFS published a final rule implementing Amendment 122 to the 
Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands Management Area (BSAI) (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023), 
establishing the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program (PCTC Program) 
to allocate BSAI Pacific cod quota share to qualifying groundfish 
License Limitation Program (LLP) license holders and qualifying 
processors. The PCTC Program is a limited access privilege program for 
the harvest of Pacific cod in the BSAI trawl catcher vessel (CV) 
sector.
    The PCTC Program modifies existing GOA sideboard limits and 
associated GOA halibut PSC limits for non-exempt American Fisheries Act 
(AFA) CVs and LLP license holders and closes directed fishing where the 
revised sideboard limits are too small to support a directed fishery. 
All GOA non-exempt AFA CVs and associated AFA LLP licenses are 
sideboarded in aggregate for all GOA groundfish fishing activity and 
for GOA halibut PSC based on their GOA catch history during the 
qualifying years 2009 through 2019, except when participating in the 
Central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA) Rockfish Program. In addition, the ratio 
used to apportion GOA halibut PSC limits is modified and the five 
seasonal apportionments based on that sideboard ratio is reduced to a 
single aggregate annual amount. Amendment 122 also closes directed 
fishing to all GOA non-exempt AFA CVs and LLP licenses for the 
following species categories: Southeast Outside (SEO) District of the 
Eastern GOA pollock, Western GOA shallow-water flatfish, Central and 
Eastern GOA deep-water flatfish, Central GOA dusky rockfish, and 
Eastern GOA and Central GOA Pacific ocean perch. NMFS will no longer 
publish AFA Program sideboard limits for these specific species or 
species groups in the Federal Register as part of the annual groundfish 
harvest specifications and instead Table 56 to 50 CFR part 679 lists 
that directed fishing for these species is prohibited to non-exempt AFA 
CVs. Amendment 122 and its implementing regulations affect the 
calculation and establishment of the groundfish sideboard limits and 
halibut PSC limits discussed below under American Fisheries Act (AFA) 
Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Groundfish Harvest and PSC Limits.

Proposed Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

    In October 2023, 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

[[Page 85186]]

Plan Team (Plan Team) compiled and presented this information in the 
final 2022 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated December 
2022 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report contains a review of the latest 
scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other 
biological parameters including possible future condition of the 
stocks, as well as summaries of the available information on the GOA 
ecosystem and the economic condition of the groundfish fisheries off 
Alaska. The SAFE provides information to the Council and NMFS for 
recommending and setting, respectively, annual harvest levels for each 
stock; documenting significant trends or changes in the resource, 
marine ecosystems, and fisheries over time; and assessing the relative 
success of existing Federal fishery management programs. An appendix to 
the SAFE is the Ecosystem Status Reports (ESRs). The ESRs compile and 
summarize information about the status of the Alaska marine ecosystems 
for the SSC, AP, Council, NMFS, and the public, and they are updated 
annually. These ESRs include ecosystem report cards, ecosystem 
assessments, and ecosystem status indicators (i.e., climate indices, 
sea surface temperature), which together provide context for ecosystem-
based fisheries management in Alaska. The ESR informs stock assessments 
and is integrated in the annual harvest recommendations through 
inclusion in stock assessment-specific risk tables. Also, the ESR 
information provides context for the SSC's recommendations for 
Overfishing Level (OFL) and ABC, as well as for the Council's TAC 
recommendations. The SAFE reports and the ESRs are presented at the 
October and December Council meetings before the SSC, AP, and the 
Council make groundfish harvest recommendations and aid NMFS in 
implementing these annual groundfish harvest specifications.
    The Plan Team, SSC, and Council also reviewed preliminary survey 
data from 2023 surveys, updates on ecological and socioeconomic 
profiles for certain species, summaries of potential changes to models 
and methodologies, and preliminary revised ESRs. From these data and 
analyses, the Plan Team recommends, and the SSC sets, an OFL and ABC 
for each species and species group. The amounts proposed for the 2024 
and 2025 OFLs and ABCs are based on the 2022 SAFE report. The AP and 
Council recommended that the proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs be set equal 
to proposed ABCs for all species and species groups, with the exception 
of the species and species groups further discussed below. The proposed 
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs could be changed in the final harvest 
specifications depending on the most recent scientific information 
contained in the final 2023 SAFE report. The individual stock 
assessments that comprise, in part, the 2022 SAFE report are available 
at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessment-and-fishery-evaluation. The final 
2023 SAFE report will be available from the same source.
    In November 2023, the Plan Team will update the 2022 SAFE report to 
include new information collected during 2023, such as NMFS stock 
surveys, revised stock assessments, and catch data. The Plan Team will 
compile this information and present the draft 2023 SAFE report at the 
December 2023 Council meeting. At that meeting, the SSC and the Council 
will review the 2023 SAFE report, and the Council will approve the 2023 
SAFE report. The Council will consider information in the 2023 SAFE 
report, recommendations from the November 2023 Plan Team meeting and 
December 2023 SSC and AP meetings, public testimony, and relevant 
written public comments in making its recommendations for the final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(2) 
and (3), the Council could recommend adjusting the final TACs, if 
warranted, based on the biological condition of groundfish stocks or a 
variety of socioeconomic considerations, or if required to cause the 
sum of TACs to fall within the OY range.

Potential Changes Between Proposed and Final Specifications

    In previous years, the most significant changes (relative to the 
amount of assessed tonnage of fish) to the OFLs and ABCs from the 
proposed to the final harvest specifications have been based on the 
most recent NMFS stock surveys. These surveys provide updated estimates 
of stock biomass and spatial distribution, and inform changes to the 
models used for producing stock assessments. At the September 2023 Plan 
Team meeting, NMFS scientists presented updated and new survey results. 
Scientists also discussed potential changes to assessment models, and 
accompanying preliminary stock estimates. At the October 2023 Council 
meeting, the SSC reviewed this information. Species and species groups 
with proposed changes to assessment models include pollock, demersal 
shelf rockfish, other rockfish, and shortraker rockfish. Model changes 
may result in changes to final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs.
    In November 2023, the Plan Team will consider updated survey 
results and updated stock assessments for groundfish, which will be 
included in the draft 2023 SAFE report. If the 2023 SAFE report 
indicates that the stock biomass trend is increasing for a species, 
then the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for that species 
may reflect an increase from the proposed harvest specifications. 
Conversely, if the 2023 SAFE report indicates that the stock biomass 
trend is decreasing for a species, then the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications may reflect a decrease from the proposed harvest 
specifications.
    The proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
available biological and scientific information, including projected 
biomass trends, information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, 
and revised technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. The FMP 
specifies the tiers to be used to calculate OFLs and ABCs. The tier 
applicable to a particular stock or stock complex is determined by the 
level of reliable information available to the fisheries scientists. 
This information is categorized into a successive series of six tiers 
to define OFLs and ABCs, with Tier 1 representing the highest level of 
information quality available and Tier 6 representing the lowest level 
of information quality available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier 
structure to calculate OFLs and ABCs for each groundfish species. The 
SSC adopted the proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the 
Plan Team for all groundfish species. The proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs 
are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. In making its recommendations, the Council adopted the 
SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC recommendations for 
all groundfish species.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    The combined Western and Central Regulatory Areas and the West 
Yakutat (WYK) District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (the W/C/WYK) 
pollock TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs are set to account for the 
State of Alaska's (State) guideline harvest levels (GHL) for the State 
waters pollock and Pacific cod fisheries so that the ABCs are not 
exceeded. These reductions are described below. The shallow-water 
flatfish TAC in the Western RegulatoryArea, arrowtooth flounder

[[Page 85187]]

TACs in the Western Regulatory Area and the SEO District, and flathead 
sole TAC in the Western Regulatory Area are set to allow for increased 
harvest opportunities for these target species while conserving the 
halibut PSC limit for use in other fisheries. The Atka mackerel TAC is 
set to accommodate incidental catch amounts (ICA) in other fisheries. 
The other rockfish TAC in the SEO District of the Eastern Regulatory 
Area is set to reduce the amount of discards of the species in that 
complex.
    NMFS's proposed apportionments of groundfish species are based on 
the distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas over which NMFS 
manages the species. Additional regulations govern the apportionment of 
pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish. Additional detail on 
apportionments of pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish are described 
below.
    The ABC for the pollock stock in the W/C/WYK Regulatory Area 
accounts for the GHL established by the State for the Prince William 
Sound (PWS) pollock fishery. The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council have 
recommended that the sum of all State waters and Federal waters pollock 
removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. At the November 
2018 Plan Team meeting, State fisheries managers recommended setting 
the future PWS GHL at 2.5 percent of the annual W/C/WYK pollock ABC. 
For 2024 and 2025, this yields a PWS pollock GHL of 4,027 mt, an 
increase of 8.17 percent from the 2023 PWS GHL of 3,723 mt. After 
reductions for the PWS GHL, the remaining 2024 and 2025 pollock ABC for 
the combined W/C/WYK areas is then apportioned among four statistical 
areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640) as both ABCs and TACs, as 
described below and detailed in table 1. The total ABCs and TACs for 
the four statistical areas, plus the State GHL, do not exceed the 
combined W/C/WYK ABC. The proposed W/C/WYK 2024 and 2025 pollock ABC is 
161,080 mt, and the proposed TAC is 157,053 mt.
    Apportionments of pollock to the W/C/WYK management areas are 
considered to be apportionments of annual catch limits (ACLs) rather 
than apportionments of ABCs. This more accurately reflects that such 
apportionments address management concerns, rather than biological or 
conservation concerns. In addition, apportionments of the ACL in this 
manner allow NMFS to balance any transfer of TAC among Areas 610, 620, 
and 630 pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) to ensure that the 
combined W/C/WYK ACL, ABC, and TAC are not exceeded.
    NMFS proposes 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 table 1). NMFS also 
proposes seasonal apportionment of the annual pollock TAC in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical Areas 
610, 620, and 630. These apportionments are divided equally among the 
following two seasons: the A season (January 20 through May 31) and the 
B season (September 1 through November 1) (Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(2) and 
679.20(a)(5)(iv)). Additional detail is provided below; table 2 lists 
these amounts.
    The proposed 2024 and 2025 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) (see table 1). 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. Accordingly, the 
Council recommended the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the Western, 
Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. 
Therefore, the proposed 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs are less than 
the proposed 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 2024 and 2025 GHLs in these areas, which are 30 
percent of the Western GOA proposed ABC, and 25 percent of the Eastern 
and Central GOA proposed ABCs.
    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 a subsequent section and in 
table 4 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 Eastern Regulatory Area (WYK and SEO 
Districts combined) TAC to vessels using trawl gear for use as 
incidental catch in other trawl groundfish fisheries in the WYK 
District (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). Additional detail is provided below. 
tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2024 and 2025 allocations of the 
sablefish TAC to fixed gear and trawl gear in the GOA.
    For 2024 and 2025, the Council recommends, and NMFS proposes, the 
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs listed in table 1. These amounts are consistent 
with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 
2022 SAFE report. The proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are 
less than the specified overfishing levels. The proposed TACs are 
adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations. The sum 
of the proposed TACs for all GOA groundfish is 476,537 mt for 2024 and 
2025, which is within the OY range specified by the FMP. These proposed 
amounts and apportionments by area, season, and sector are subject to 
change pending consideration of the 2023 SAFE report, public comment, 
and the Council's recommendations for the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications during its December 2023 meeting.

    Table 1--Proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat,
 Western, Central, and Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern
                          Regulatory Area, and Gulfwide District of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
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                   Species                               Area \1\                 OFL         ABC       TAC \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

[[Page 85188]]

 
                                              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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

[[Page 85189]]

 
                                              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 \11\.....  W.............................         n/a         180         180
                                              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/C combined..................         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 skates \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 skates \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
Octopuses...................................  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=Gulfwide).
\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 2 (proposed 2024 and
  2025 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. The
  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 4 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 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 GOA sablefish
  TAC is 21,095 mt. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2024 and 2025 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinous. For management purposes, the one mt apportionment of ABC
  to the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area has been included in the other rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.

[[Page 85190]]

 
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' means Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and Sebastes melanostictus
  (blackspotted).
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means Sebastolobus spp.
\14\ ``Other rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, other rockfish also includes northern rockfish (S. polyspinous).
\15\ Other rockfish in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District of the Eastern
  Regulatory Area means all rockfish species included in the other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish
  categories. The other rockfish species group in the SEO District only includes other rockfish.
\16\ ``Big skates'' means Beringraja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skates'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' means Bathyraja spp.

Proposed Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses in 
reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing 
year. Section 679.20(b)(3) authorizes NMFS to reapportion all or part 
of these reserves. In 2023, NMFS reapportioned all of the reserves in 
the final harvest specifications. For 2024 and 2025, NMFS proposes 
reapportionment of each of the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, 
flatfish, sharks, and octopuses back into the original TAC from which 
the reserve was derived. NMFS expects, based on recent harvest 
patterns, that such reserves will not be necessary and that the entire 
TAC for each of these species will be caught or are needed to promote 
efficient fisheries. The TACs in table 1 reflect this proposed 
reapportionment of reserve amounts to the original TAC for these 
species and species groups, i.e., each proposed TAC for the above-
mentioned species or species groups contains the full TAC recommended 
by the Council.

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

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area, and is 
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. 
Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B), the annual pollock TAC specified 
for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA is apportioned 
into two seasonal allowances of 50 percent. As established by Sec.  
679.23(d)(2), the A and B season allowances are available from January 
20 through May 31 and September 1 through November 1, respectively.
    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 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 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 seasonal allowance 
is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or subtracted from, 
subsequent seasonal allowances in a manner to be determined by the 
Regional Administrator (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount 
is limited to 20 percent of the subsequent seasonal TAC apportionment 
for the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent 
limit could be further distributed to the subsequent season in the 
other statistical areas, in proportion to the estimated biomass of the 
subsequent season and in an amount no more than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in those statistical areas (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The proposed 2024 and 2025 pollock TACs in the 
WYK District of 8,136 mt and the SEO District of 11,363 mt are not 
allocated by season.
    Table 2 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 area apportionments and 
seasonal allowances of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and 
offshore components are not shown. Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires 
allocation of 100 percent of the pollock TAC in all regulatory areas 
and all seasonal allowances to vessels catching pollock for processing 
by the inshore component after subtraction of amounts projected by the 
Regional Administrator to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore 
component incidental to directed fishing for other groundfish species. 
Thus, the amount of pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting 
pollock for processing by the offshore component is the amount that 
will be taken as incidental catch during directed fishing for 
groundfish species other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable 
amounts allowed by Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these ICAs of 
pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year 
during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component.

 Table 2--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Distribution of Pollock in the Central and Western Regulatory Areas of the Gulf
                    of Alaska; Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  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
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 85191]]

 
    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), the A and B season allowances are available from 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.

Proposed Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS proposes allocations for 
the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. NMFS 
also proposes seasonal apportionments of the Pacific cod TACs 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. The remainder of the annual TAC is apportioned to the B season 
for jig gear from June 10 through December 31, for hook-and-line and 
pot gear from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from 
September 1 through November 1 (Sec. Sec.  679.23(d)(3) and 
679.20(a)(12)). NMFS also proposes allocating the 2024 and 2025 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 Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally 
first to vessels using jig gear, and then among CVs using hook-and-line 
gear, catcher/processors (CP) 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)). In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is 
apportioned seasonally first to vessels using jig gear, and then among 
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, 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)). For 2024 and 2025, NMFS proposes 
apportioning the jig sector allocations for the Western and Central GOA 
between the A season (60 percent) and the B season (40 percent) (Sec.  
679.20(a)(12)(i)). Excluding seasonal apportionments to the jig gear 
sector, NMFS proposes apportioning the remainder of the annual Pacific 
cod TACs as follows: the seasonal apportionments of the annual TAC in 
the Western GOA are 63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to 
the B season, and in the Central GOA are 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 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 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 proposing the 2024 and 
2025 Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical 
harvest performance through 2022. For 2024 and 2025, NMFS proposes that 
the jig sector receive 2.5 percent of the annual Pacific cod TAC in the 
Western GOA. The 2024 and 2025 allocations consist of a base allocation 
of 1.5 percent of the Western GOA Pacific cod TAC and a harvest 
performance increase of 1.0 percent. For 2024 and 2025, NMFS also 
proposes that the jig sector receive 1.0 percent of the annual Pacific 
cod TAC in the Central GOA. The 2024 and 2025 allocations consist of a 
base allocation of 1.0 percent and no additional performance increases. 
The 2014 through 2023 Pacific cod jig allocations, catch, and percent 
allocation changes are listed in table 3 (and, as explained below, NMFS 
will update the 2023 summary once the fishing year is complete).

    Table 3--Summary of Western GOA and Central GOA Pacific Cod Catch by Jig Gear in 2014 Through 2023, and Corresponding Percent Allocation Changes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Initial     Initial                Percent of
                 Area                      Year     percent of      TAC     Catch (mt)    initial        >90% of initial          Change to percent
                                                        TAC     allocation               allocation        allocation?                allocation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA...........................        2014         2.5         573         785          137  Y.....................  Increase 1%.
                                              2015         3.5         948          55            6  N.....................  None.
                                              2016         3.5         992          52            5  N.....................  Decrease 1%.
                                              2017         2.5         635          49            8  N.....................  Decrease 1%.
                                              2018         1.5         125         121           97  Y.....................  Increase 1%.
                                              2019         2.5         134         134          100  Y.....................  Increase 1%.
                                              2020     \1\ n/a
                                              2021         3.5         195          26           13  N.....................  None.
                                              2022         3.5         243           2            1  N.....................  Decrease 1%.

[[Page 85192]]

 
                                              2023         2.5         131         131          101  Y.....................  Increase 1%.
Central GOA...........................        2014         2.0         797         262           33  N.....................  Decrease 1%.
                                              2015         1.0         460         355           77  N.....................  None.
                                              2016         1.0         370         267           72  N.....................  None.
                                              2017         1.0         331          18            6  N.....................  None.
                                              2018         1.0          61           0            0  N.....................  None.
                                              2019         1.0          58          30           52  N.....................  None.
                                              2020     \1\ n/a
                                              2021         1.0         102          26           26  N.....................  None.
                                              2022         1.0         113           3            3  N.....................  None.
                                              2023         1.0         111         246          222  Y.....................  Increase 1%.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ NMFS did not evaluate the 2020 performance of the jig sectors in the Western and Central GOA because NMFS prohibited directed fishing for all
  Pacific cod sectors in 2020 (84 FR 70438, December 23, 2019).

    NMFS will re-evaluate the annual 2023 harvest performance of the 
jig sector in the Western and Central GOA when the 2023 fishing year is 
complete to determine whether to change the jig sector allocations 
proposed by this action in conjunction with the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications. The current catch through October 2023 by the 
Western and Central GOA jig sectors indicates that the Pacific cod 
allocation percentage to these sectors would each increase by 1 
percent. Table 4 lists the seasonal apportionments and allocations of 
the proposed 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs.

 Table 4--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocations of Pacific Cod TAC Amounts in the GOA;
   Allocations to 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             N/A              72             N/A              48
    Hook-and-line CV............              66             0.7              33            0.70              33
    Hook-and-line CP............             929            10.9             511            8.90             417
    Trawl CV....................           1,801           31.54           1,479            6.86             322
    Trawl CP....................             113             0.9              42            1.50              70
    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:
    Jig (1.0% of TAC)...........             102             N/A              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          0.9975             101
    Trawl CV \1\................           4,216           25.29           2,564           16.29           1,652
    Trawl CP....................             426            2.00             203            2.19             222
    Pot CV and Pot CP...........           2,819           17.83           1,808            9.98           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 Pacific cod TAC (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the
  Trawl CV B season allowance (see Table 9: Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species
  in the Central GOA and Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679).

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

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) requires allocations of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to fixed and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to fixed gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated 
to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is 
allocated to fixed gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The 
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may be used only 
to support incidental catch of sablefish while directed fishing for 
other target species using trawl gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)).
    In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO 
District of

[[Page 85193]]

the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended, and NMFS 
proposes, specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 percent 
of the Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish (WYK and SEO Districts 
combined) 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. This proposed action allocates 
100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO District to vessels using 
fixed gear. This results in proposed 2024 allocations of 383 mt to 
trawl gear and 2,287 mt to fixed gear in the WYK District, and a 
proposed 2024 allocation of 4,981 mt to fixed gear in the SEO District. 
table 5 lists the allocations of the proposed 2024 sablefish TACs to 
fixed and trawl gear. Table 6 lists the allocations of the proposed 
2025 sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
    The Council recommended that the 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. Tables 5 and 6 list the proposed 2024 and 2025 
trawl allocations, respectively.
    The Council also recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that the sablefish individual fishing 
quota (IFQ) fishery is conducted concurrently with the halibut IFQ 
fishery and is based on the most recent survey information. Since there 
is an annual assessment for sablefish and since the final harvest 
specifications are expected to be published before the IFQ season 
begins (typically, in early March), the Council recommended that the 
fixed gear sablefish TAC be set annually, rather than for 2 years. 
Accordingly, table 5 lists the proposed 2024 fixed gear allocations, 
and the 2025 fixed gear allocations will be specified in the 2025 and 
2026 harvest specifications.
    With the exception of the trawl allocations that are provided to 
the Rockfish Program (see Table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), directed 
fishing for sablefish with trawl gear is closed during the fishing 
year. Also, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is prohibited prior 
to January 20 (Sec.  679.23(c)). Therefore, it is not likely that the 
sablefish allocation to trawl gear would be reached before the 
effective date of the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.

   Table 5--Proposed 2024 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
                     Area/district                            TAC            allocation        Trawl allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...............................................           4,626                 3,701                 925
Central \1\...........................................           8,819                 7,055               1,764
West Yakutat \2\......................................           2,669                 2,287                 383
Southeast Outside.....................................           4,981                 4,981                   0
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................................          21,095                18,024               3,072
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the
  Rockfish Program cooperatives (907 mt). See Table 9: Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish
  Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 856 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program
  trawl fisheries.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  District.


       Table 6--Proposed 2025 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocation to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Fixed gear
                     Area/district                            TAC            allocation        Trawl 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                   n/a               3,072
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that the proposed 2025 harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish
  Individual Fishing Quota fisheries not be specified in the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.
\2\ The proposed trawl allocation of sablefish to the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the
  Rockfish Program cooperatives (907 mt). See Table 9: Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish
  Secondary Species in the Central GOA. This results in 856 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program
  trawl fisheries.
\3\ The proposed trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts combined) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat
  District.

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

    These proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for the GOA 
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations 
established by the Rockfish Program. Program participants are primarily 
trawl CVs and trawl CPs, with limited participation by vessels using 
longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share and cooperative 
quota to trawl participants for primary species (Pacific ocean perch, 
northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) and secondary species (Pacific 
cod, rougheye rockfish, sablefish, shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead 
rockfish), allows a participant holding a 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

[[Page 85194]]

for incidental catch needs in other directed fisheries (Sec.  
679.81(a)(2)). Participants in the Rockfish Program also receive a 
portion of the Central GOA TAC of specific secondary species. In 
addition to groundfish species, the Rockfish Program allocates a 
portion of the halibut PSC limit (191 mt) from the third season deep-
water species fishery allowance for the GOA trawl fisheries to Rockfish 
Program participants (Sec.  679.81(d) and Table 28d to 50 CFR part 
679). The Rockfish Program also establishes sideboard limits to 
restrict the ability of harvesters 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 2024 
and 2025. The allocations of primary species to the entry level 
longline fishery may increase incrementally each year if the catch 
exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental 
increase in the allocations would continue each year until reaching the 
maximum percentage of the TAC for that species. In 2023, the catch for 
all three primary species did not exceed 90 percent of any allocated 
rockfish species. Therefore, NMFS is not proposing any increases to the 
entry level longline fishery 2024 and 2025 allocations in the Central 
GOA. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary species, after 
subtracting the ICAs, would be allocated to the CV and CP cooperatives 
(Sec.  679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 7 lists the allocations of the 
proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs for each rockfish primary species to the 
entry level longline fishery, the potential incremental increases for 
future years, and the maximum percentage allocations of the TACs of the 
rockfish primary species to the entry level longline fishery.

 Table 7--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery in
                                           the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Incremental
                                                                           increase in 2025
                                                       Proposed 2024 and   if >90 percent of     Up to maximum
              Rockfish primary species                 2025 allocations   2024 allocation is    percent of each
                                                         (metric tons)     harvested (metric        TAC of
                                                                                 tons)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch.................................                   5                   5                   1
Northern rockfish...................................                   5                   5                   2
Dusky rockfish......................................                  50                  20                   5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 679.81 requires allocations of rockfish primary species 
among various sectors of the Rockfish Program. Table 8 lists the 
proposed 2024 and 2025 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 proposes setting aside 
ICAs for other directed fisheries in the Central GOA of 3,000 mt of 
Pacific ocean perch, 300 mt of northern rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky 
rockfish. These amounts are based on recent average incidental catches 
in the Central GOA by other groundfish fisheries.
    Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or CP cooperatives are 
not included in these proposed 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 2024 and 2025 allocations in conjunction with these proposed 
harvest specifications. NMFS will announce the 2024 allocations after 
March 1.

  Table 8--Proposed 2024 and 2025 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]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Incidental               Allocation to   Allocation to
                                            Central GOA     catch      TAC minus     the entry     the rockfish
         Rockfish primary species               TAC       allowance       ICA     level longline   cooperatives
                                                            (ICA)                   \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 requires 
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. Table 9 lists the apportionments of the 
proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the 
Central GOA to CV and CP cooperatives.

[[Page 85195]]



   Table 9--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher
                                    Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Catcher vessel cooperatives   Catcher/processor cooperatives
                                    Central GOA  ---------------------------------------------------------------
   Rockfish secondary species       annual TAC     Percentage of   Apportionment   Percentage of   Apportionment
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.....................          10,241            3.81             390            0.00  ..............
Sablefish.......................           8,819            6.78             598            3.51             310
Shortraker rockfish.............             280            0.00               0           40.00             112
Rougheye and blackspotted                    231            0.00               0           58.87             136
 rockfish.......................
Thornyhead rockfish.............             693            7.84              54           26.50             184
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl and hook-and-line gear, and authorizes the 
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In October 2023, the 
Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, halibut PSC limits of 1,705 mt 
for trawl gear, 257 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the 
demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District for both 2024 
and 2025.
    The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut 
PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(i)(A)). The separate halibut PSC limit for the DSR 
fishery is intended to prevent that fishery from being impacted from 
the halibut PSC incurred by other GOA fisheries. NMFS estimates low 
halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because (1) the duration of the DSR 
fisheries and the gear soak times are short; (2) the DSR fishery occurs 
in the winter when there is less overlap in the distribution of DSR and 
halibut; and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. 
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game sets the commercial GHL for the 
DSR fishery after deducting (1) estimates of DSR incidental catch in 
all fisheries (including halibut and subsistence); and (2) the 
allocation to the DSR sport fish fishery. In 2023, the commercial 
fishery for DSR was closed due to concerns about declining DSR biomass.
    The FMP authorizes the Council to exempt specific gear from the 
halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, proposes 
to exempt pot gear, jig gear, and the sablefish IFQ hook-and-line gear 
fishery categories from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2024 and 
2025. The Council recommended, and NMFS is proposing, these exemptions 
because (1) pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch 
mortality; (2) IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if 
any halibut IFQ permit holder on board a CV holds unused halibut IFQ 
for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the 
vessel is operating (Sec.  679.7(f)(11)); (3) some sablefish IFQ permit 
holders hold halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain 
the halibut they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ; and (4) NMFS 
estimates negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries given 
the small amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective 
nature of jig gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and 
released with jig gear.
    The best available information on estimated halibut bycatch 
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2023. The 
calculated halibut bycatch mortality through November 8, 2023 is 292 mt 
for trawl gear and 23 mt for hook-and-line gear, for a total halibut 
mortality of 271 mt. This halibut mortality was calculated using 
groundfish and IFQ 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 and IFQ 
halibut fishery.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) and (ii) authorizes NMFS to seasonally 
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. 
The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the 
following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: 
(1) seasonal distribution of halibut; (2) seasonal distribution of 
target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution; (3) 
expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes 
in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species; (4) 
expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis; (5) expected changes in 
directed groundfish fishing seasons; (6) expected actual start of 
fishing effort; and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal 
halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry. 
Based on public comment, information presented in the 2023 SAFE report, 
NMFS catch data, State catch data, and International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) stock assessment and mortality data, the Council may 
recommend, or NMFS may make changes, to the seasonal, gear-type, or 
fishery category apportionments of halibut PSC limits for the final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications pursuant to Sec.  679.21(d)(1) and 
(d)(4).
    The final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 13238, March 
2, 2023) list the Council and NMFS's seasonal apportionments based on 
these FMP and regulatory considerations with respect to halibut PSC 
limits. The Council and NMFS's seasonal apportionments for these 
proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications are unchanged from the 
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications. Table 10 lists the proposed 
2024 and 2025 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and 
apportionments. The halibut PSC limits in tables 10, 11, and 12 reflect 
the halibut PSC limits set forth at Sec.  679.21(d)(2) and (3). Section 
679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specifies that any underages or overages of 
a seasonal apportionment of a halibut PSC limit will be added to or 
deducted from the next respective seasonal apportionment within the 
fishing year.

[[Page 85196]]



           Table 10--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Pacific Halibut PSC Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Trawl gear                                         Hook-and-line gear \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Other than DSR                       DSR
           Season              Percent   Amount  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Season       Percent   Amount        Season       Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1..........      30.5       520  January 1-June         86       220  January 1-              9
                                                   10.                                  December 31.
April 1-July 1..............        20       341  June 10-                2         5
                                                   September 1.
July 1-August 1.............        27       460  September 1-           12        31
                                                   December 31.
August 1-October 1..........       7.5       128
October 1-December 31.......        15       256
                             --------------------                 --------------------                 ---------
    Total...................  ........     1,705  ...............  ........       256  ...............         9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is allocated to the demersal
  shelf rockfish (DSR) fishery in the SEO District and to hook-and-line fisheries other than the DSR fishery.
  The Council recommended, and NMFS proposes, that the hook-and-line sablefish IFQ fishery, and the pot and jig
  gear groundfish fisheries, be exempt from halibut PSC limits.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to trawl fishery 
categories listed in Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments 
are based on each category's share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during a fishing year and optimization of the total amount of 
groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery categories 
for the trawl halibut PSC limits are: (1) a deep-water species fishery, 
composed of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, and 
arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species fishery, composed 
of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead sole, Atka 
mackerel, skates, and ``other species'' (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 
in part of the second season deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries for use in either fishery from May 15 through June 30 (Sec.  
679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D)). This is intended to maintain groundfish harvest 
while minimizing halibut bycatch by these sectors to the extent 
practicable. This provides the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water 
species fisheries additional flexibility and the incentive to 
participate in fisheries at times of the year that may have lower 
halibut PSC rates relative to other times of the year.
    Table 11 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 seasonal apportionments 
of trawl halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deep-water and the 
shallow-water species fisheries.
    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 Central GOA Rockfish Program. This includes 117 mt 
of halibut PSC limit to the CV sector and 74 mt of halibut PSC limit to 
the 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 general GOA trawl fisheries for the last seasonal 
apportionment 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 11--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of the Pacific Halibut PSC Limits Between the Trawl Gear Shallow-
                                 Water and Deep-Water Species Fishery Categories
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Season                              Shallow-water      Deep-water \1\        Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1........................................                385                135             520
April 1-July 1............................................                 85                256             341
July 1-August 1...........................................                120                340             460
August 1-October 1........................................                 53                 75             128
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, January 20-October 1........................                643                806           1,449
October 1-December 31 \2\.................................  .................  .................             256
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
        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 fisheries 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

[[Page 85197]]

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 2024 and 2025, the 
proposed distribution of the total GOA Pacific cod ABC is 30.3 percent 
to the Western GOA, 60.2 percent to the Central GOA, and 9.5 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 the proposed 
annual halibut PSC limits for the CV and CP hook-and-line sectors. 
Additionally, the annual halibut PSC limits for both the CV and CP 
sectors of the ``other hook-and-line fishery'' are proposed to be 
divided into three seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages 
of 86 percent, 2 percent, and 12 percent.
    For 2024 and 2025, NMFS proposes annual halibut PSC limits of 150 
mt and 107 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line CP sectors, 
respectively. Table 12 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 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 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 hook-and-line 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 12--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fishery'' Annual Halibut PSC Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear
                                                      Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Sector annual                                     Seasonal       Sector seasonal
      ``Other than DSR'' allowance          Hook-and-line sector           amount                 Season                percentage           amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
257....................................  Catcher Vessel............                150  January 1-June 10.........                 86                129
                                                                                        June 10-September 1.......                  2                  3
                                                                                        September 1-December 31...                 12                 18
                                         Catcher/Processor.........                107  January 1-June 10.........                 86                 92
                                                                                        June 10-September 1.......                  2                  2
                                                                                        September 1-December 31...                 12                 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (DMR), and estimates of 
groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut incidental 
catch rates are based on 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 Plan Team, the SSC, and the Council. A 
summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 
2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87881, December 6, 2016), 
and the comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical 
methodology is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR 
working group's revised methodology is intended to improve estimation 
accuracy, transparency, and transferability for calculating DMRs. The 
working group will continue to consider improvements to the methodology 
used to calculate halibut mortality, including potential changes to the 
reference period (the period of data used for calculating the DMRs). 
Future DMRs may change based on additional years of observer sampling, 
which could provide more recent and accurate data and which could 
improve the accuracy of estimation and progress on methodology. The 
methodology will continue to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that more 
accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the different 
sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and allow specific sectors 
to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, 
the DMR for that sector.
    In October 2023, the Council recommended halibut DMRs reviewed by 
the Plan Team and SSC, which are derived from the revised methodology. 
The proposed 2024 and 2025 DMRs use an updated 2-year and 4-year 
reference period depending data availability. Consistent with the 
Council's intent, NMFS is proposing the DMRs recommended by the Plan 
Team and reviewed by the SSC for the proposed

[[Page 85198]]

2024 and 2025 DMRs. Comparing the proposed 2024 and 2025 DMRs to the 
final DMRs from the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications, the 
proposed DMR for Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear 
increased to 56 percent from 55 percent, the proposed DMR for non-
Rockfish Program CVs using non-pelagic trawl gear decreased to 69 
percent from 74 percent, the proposed DMR for CPs using hook-and-line 
gear decreased to 11 percent from 13 percent, the proposed DMR for CVs 
using hook-and-line gear increased to 10 percent from 9 percent, and 
the proposed DMR for CPs and CVs using pot gear decreased to 26 percent 
from 27 percent. For pelagic trawl gear CVs and CPs, and non-pelagic 
trawl gear mothership and CPs, the DMRs remained the same. Table 13 
lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 DMRs.

   Table 13--Proposed 2024 and 2025 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.........                 56
                                         Catcher vessel...........  All others...............                 69
                                         Mothership and catcher/    All......................                 83
                                          processor.
Hook-and-line..........................  Catcher/processor........  All......................                 11
                                         Catcher vessel...........  All......................                 10
Pot....................................  Catcher vessel and         All......................                 26
                                          catcher/processor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chinook Salmon Prohibited Species Catch Limits

    Section 679.21(h)(2) establishes separate Chinook salmon PSC limits 
in the Western and Central regulatory areas of the GOA in the trawl 
pollock directed fishery. These limits require that NMFS close directed 
fishing for pollock in the Western and Central GOA if the applicable 
Chinook salmon PSC limit is reached (Sec.  679.21(h)(8)). The annual 
Chinook salmon PSC limits in the trawl pollock directed fishery of 
6,684 salmon in the Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA 
are set in Sec.  679.21(h)(2)(i) and (ii).
    Section 679.21(h)(3) and (4) established an initial annual PSC 
limit of 7,500 Chinook salmon for the non-pollock groundfish trawl 
fisheries in the Western and Central GOA. This limit is apportioned 
among 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 GOA groundfish fisheries and close an 
applicable sector if it reaches its Chinook salmon PSC limit.
    The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl 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. If either or both of these two sectors limit its use of 
Chinook salmon PSC to a certain threshold amount in 2023 (3,120 for 
trawl CPs and 2,340 for non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs), that sector 
will receive an incremental increase to its 2024 Chinook salmon PSC 
limit (4,080 for trawl CPs and 3,060 for non-Rockfish Program trawl 
CVs) (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will evaluate the annual Chinook salmon 
PSC by trawl CPs and non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs when the 2023 
fishing year is complete to determine whether to increase the Chinook 
salmon PSC limits for these two sectors. Based on preliminary 2023 
Chinook salmon PSC data, the trawl CP sector may receive an incremental 
increase of Chinook salmon PSC limit in 2024, and the non-Rockfish 
Program trawl CV sector may receive an incremental increase of Chinook 
salmon PSC limit in 2024. This evaluation will be completed in 
conjunction with the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) CP and CV Groundfish Harvest and PSC 
Limits

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limits 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 from 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 
fish 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 harvested in Statistical Area 630 of the GOA.
    AFA CVs that are less than 125 feet (38.1 meters) length overall, 
have annual landings of pollock in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands 
of less than 5,100 mt, and have made at least 40 landings of GOA 
groundfish from 1995 through 1997 are exempt from GOA CV groundfish 
sideboard limits under Sec.  679.64(b)(2)(ii). Sideboard limits for 
non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA are based on their traditional harvest 
levels of TAC in groundfish fisheries covered by the FMP. Section 
679.64(b)(3)(iv) establishes the CV groundfish sideboard limits in the 
GOA based on the aggregate retained catch by non-exempt AFA CVs of each 
sideboard species from 2009 through 2019 divided by the TAC for that 
species available to catcher vessels from 2009 through 2019. Under the 
PCTC Program, NMFS modified the calculation of the sideboard ratios for 
non-exempt AFA CVs, using the qualifying years of 2009 through 2019 (88 
FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Previously, sideboard limits were based on 
the ratio of catch to the TAC during the years 1995 through 1997.
    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

[[Page 85199]]

limits (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and Table 56 to 50 CFR part 679). 
Under the PCTC Program, NMFS also promulgated regulations to prohibit 
non-exempt AFA CVs from directed fishing for additional groundfish 
species or species groups subject to sideboard limits (88 FR 53704, 
August 8, 2023). All of these prohibitions are found in the revised 
Table 56 to 50 CFR part 679. Sideboard limits not subject to these 
final rules continue to be calculated and included in the GOA annual 
harvest specifications.
    Table 14 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 groundfish sideboard 
limits for non-exempt AFA CVs. NMFS will deduct all targeted or 
incidental catch of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA CVs from 
the sideboard limits listed in table 14.

                 Table 14--Proposed 2024 and 2025 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Ratio of 2009-
                                                                                                       2019 non-exempt                    Proposed 2024
                                                                                                       AFA CV retained   Proposed 2024    and 2025 non-
                 Species                   Apportionments by season/gear         Area/component         catch to 2009-   and 2025 TACs    exempt AFA CV
                                                                                                           2019 TAC           \3\        sideboard limit
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.................................  A Season: January 20-May 31....  Shumagin (610)............            0.057            1,823              104
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.064           62,771            4,017
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.091            9,864              898
                                          B Season: September 1-November   Shumagin (610)............            0.057           27,333            1,558
                                           1.
                                                                           Chirikof (620)............            0.064           20,511            1,313
                                                                           Kodiak (630)..............            0.091           26,614            2,422
                                          Annual.........................  WYK (640).................            0.026            8,136              212
Pacific cod.............................  A Season: \1\ January 1-June 10  W.........................            0.009            3,067               28
                                                                           C.........................            0.011            6,562               72
                                          B Season: \2\ September 1-       W.........................            0.009            1,744               16
                                           December 31.
                                                                           C.........................            0.011            3,679               40
Flatfish, shallow-water.................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.011           27,737              305
Rex sole................................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.014           13,425              188
Arrowtooth flounder.....................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.011           64,200              706
Flathead sole...........................  Annual.........................  C.........................            0.007           21,892              153
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 Annual Catch Limits.

Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limit

    The non-exempt AFA catcher vessels and the associated LLP licenses 
PSC limit for halibut in the GOA will be an annual amount based on a 
static ratio of 0.072, which was derived from the aggregate retained 
groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA CVs in each PSC target category from 
2009 through 2019 (Sec.  679.64(b)(4)(ii)). This change was implemented 
with the PCTC Program (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Prior to the 
publication of these proposed harvest specifications, the halibut PSC 
sideboard limits for non-exempt AFA CVs in the GOA were 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. Table 15 lists the 
proposed 2024 and 2025 non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC sideboard limits 
for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

   Table 15--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act
            Catcher Vessel (CV) Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Annual non-
                                          Annual trawl    exempt AFA CV
           Ratio  (percent)               gear halibut     halibut PSC
                                         PSC limit (mt)     limit (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.072.................................           1,705              123
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish sideboard limits for vessels 
with a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to 
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by 
the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program to expand their level of 
participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard harvest limits 
restrict these vessels' catch to their collective historical landings 
in each GOA groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish 
fishery). Sideboard limits also apply to landings made using an LLP 
license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that 
LLP license is used on another vessel.
    The basis for these sideboard harvest limits is described in detail 
in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the CR Program, 
including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management Plan for 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs (Crab FMP) (70 FR 
10174, March 2, 2005), Amendment 34 to the Crab FMP (76 FR 35772, June 
20, 2011), Amendment 83 to the GOA FMP (76 FR 74670, December 1, 2011), 
and Amendment 45 to the Crab FMP (80 FR 28539, May 19, 2015). Also, 
NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019) that 
implemented regulations to prohibit non-AFA crab vessels from directed 
fishing for all groundfish species or species groups subject to 
sideboard limits, except for Pacific cod apportioned to CVs using pot 
gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas (Sec.  
680.22(e)(1)(iii)). Accordingly, the GOA annual harvest specifications 
include only the non-

[[Page 85200]]

AFA crab vessel groundfish sideboard limits for Pacific cod apportioned 
to CVs using pot gear in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas.
    Table 16 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 groundfish sideboard 
limits 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 16--Proposed 2024 and 2025 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Ratio of  1996-                    Proposed  2024
                                                                                                        2000  non-AFA                     and  2025 non-
                                                                                                         crab vessel     Proposed  2024     AFA  crab
                 Species                               Season                       Area/gear          catch to  1996-   and 2025 TACs        vessel
                                                                                                         2000  total                        sideboard
                                                                                                           harvest                            limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 fisheries.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern 
rockfish in the Western GOA and West Yakutat District from July 1 
through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for 
arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(d)).
    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 Western GOA rockfish sideboard limits for 
Rockfish Program CPs from regulation. That rule also revised and 
clarified the establishment of West Yakutat District rockfish sideboard 
ratios in regulation, rather than specifying the West Yakutat District 
rockfish sideboard ratios in the annual GOA harvest specifications.
    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 Western GOA and West Yakutat District from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(2)). The sideboard ratio for 
each rockfish fishery in the West Yakutat District is set forth in 
Sec.  679.82(e)(4). 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. 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 limits that is not assigned to Rockfish Program 
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 from July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(3) and (e)(5)). 
Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by fishery are set forth in Sec.  
679.82(e)(5). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV sector, 
as vessels participating in a rockfish cooperative receive a portion of 
the annual halibut PSC limit. CPs that opt out of the Rockfish Program 
would be able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-
water halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to 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 that may choose to opt out. After March 1, 
NMFS will determine which CPs have opted-out of the Rockfish Program in 
2024, and will know the ratios and amounts used to calculate opt-out 
sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any applicable opt-out 
sideboard limits for 2024 and announce these limits after March 1. 
Table 17 lists the proposed 2024 and 2025 Rockfish Program halibut PSC 
sideboard limits for the CP sector.

                     Table 17--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Rockfish Program Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for the Catcher/Processor Sector
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Shallow-water                                              Annual shallow-   Annual deep- water
                                                        species fishery   Deep-water species   Annual trawl gear     water species      species fishery
                       Sector                             halibut PSC       fishery halibut    halibut PSC limit    fishery halibut       halibut PSC
                                                        sideboard ratio      PSC sideboard           (mt)            PSC sideboard      sideboard limit
                                                           (percent)        ratio (percent)                           limit (mt)             (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor...................................               0.10                2.50               1,705                   2                  43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 85201]]

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 
limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit the ability of 
participants eligible for the Amendment 80 Program to expand their 
harvest efforts in the GOA.
    Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits 
on all Amendment 80 Program vessels, other than the F/V Golden Fleece, 
to amounts no greater than the limits shown in Table 37 to 50 CFR part 
679. Under Sec.  679.92(d), the F/V Golden Fleece is prohibited from 
directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, dusky 
rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
    Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 
1998 through 2004 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Table 18 lists the 
proposed 2024 and 2025 groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 
Program vessels. NMFS will deduct all targeted or incidental catch of 
sideboard species made by Amendment 80 Program vessels from the 
sideboard limits in table 18.

                            Table 18--Proposed 2024 and 2025 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                          Proposed 2024
                                                                                                           Ratio of                          and 2025
                                                                                                         Amendment 80    Proposed 2024     Amendment 80
                 Species                               Season                         Area              sector vessels    and 2025 TAC        vessel
                                                                                                       1998-2004 catch      (mt) \3\        sideboard
                                                                                                            to TAC                         limits (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 10  W.........................            0.020            3,067               61
                                                                           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.
\3\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered Annual Catch Limits.

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
in the GOA are based on the historical use of halibut PSC by Amendment 
80 Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. 
These values are slightly lower than the average historical use to 
accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota 
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece 
from this restriction (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)). Table 19 lists the proposed 
2024 and 2025 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program 
vessels. This table incorporates the maximum percentages of the halibut 
PSC sideboard limits that may be used by Amendment 80 Program vessels 
as contained in Table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. Any residual amount of a 
seasonal Amendment 80 halibut PSC sideboard limit may carry forward to 
the next season limit (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)).

                        Table 19--Proposed 2024 and 2025 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Historic                         Proposed 2024 and
                                                                                                  Amendment 80 use  Annual trawl gear  2025 Amendment 80
                 Season                         Season dates              Fishery category         of the annual    halibut PSC limit      vessel PSC
                                                                                                 halibut PSC limit         (mt)         sideboard limit
                                                                                                      (ratio)                                 (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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

[[Page 85202]]

 
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Annual                                Total shallow-water.......  .................  .................                117
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Total deep-water..........  .................  .................                357
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Grand Total, all seasons    .................  .................                474
                                                                      and categories.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Classification

    NMFS is issuing this proposed 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 preliminarily 
determined that the proposed harvest specifications are consistent with 
the FMP, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, subject 
to further review and consideration after public comment.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and 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 Final EIS. A SIR is 
being prepared for the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications to 
provide a subsequent assessment of the action and to address the need 
to prepare a Supplemental EIS (40 CFR 1501.11(b); Sec.  1502.9(d)(1)). 
Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this action are 
available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes the 
environmental, social, and economic consequences of 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.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    This Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was prepared 
for this proposed rule, as required by Section 603 of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 603), to describe the economic impact 
that this proposed rule, if adopted, would have on small entities. The 
IRFA describes the action; the reasons why this proposed rule is 
proposed; the objectives and legal basis for this proposed rule; the 
estimated number and description of directly regulated small entities 
to which this proposed rule would apply; the recordkeeping, reporting, 
and other compliance requirements of this proposed rule; and the 
relevant Federal rules that may duplicate, overlap, or conflict with 
this proposed rule. The IRFA also describes significant alternatives to 
this proposed rule that would accomplish the stated objectives of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, and any other applicable statutes, and that would 
minimize any significant economic impact of this proposed rule on small 
entities. The description of the proposed action, its purpose, and the 
legal basis are explained earlier in the preamble and are not repeated 
here.
    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 receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide. A shoreside processor primarily 
involved in seafood processing (NAICS code 311710) 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 employment, counting all individuals employed on a 
full-time, part-time, or other basis, not in excess of 750 employees 
for all its affiliated operations worldwide.

Number and Description of Small Entities Regulated by This Proposed 
Rule

    The entities directly regulated by the groundfish harvest 
specifications include: (a) entities operating vessels with groundfish 
Federal fisheries permits (FFPs) catching FMP groundfish in Federal 
waters (including those receiving direction allocations of groundfish); 
(b) all entities operating vessels, regardless of whether they hold 
groundfish FFPs, catching FMP groundfish in the State-waters parallel 
fisheries; and (c) all entities operating vessels fishing for halibut 
inside 3 miles of the shore (whether or not they have FFPs).
    In 2022 (the most recent year of complete data), there were 677 
individual CVs and CPs with gross revenues less than or equal to $11 
million. This represents the potential suite of directly regulated 
small entities. This includes an estimated 674 small CV 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

[[Page 85203]]

ownership affiliations have not been completely established. However, 
the estimate of these 677 CVs and CPs may be an overstatement of the 
number of small entities. 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 $450,000, $860,000, 
and $1.38 million, respectively. Average gross revenues for hook-and-
line CPs and pot gear CPs are estimated to be $7.40 million and $6.87 
million, respectively. Trawl gear CP entity revenue data are 
confidential.

Description of Significant Alternatives That Minimize Adverse Impacts 
on Small Entities

    The action under consideration is the proposed 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications, apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited 
species catch limits for the groundfish fishery of the GOA. This action 
is necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 2024 
and 2025 fishing years and is taken in accordance with the FMP prepared 
by the Council pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The establishment 
of the proposed harvest specifications is governed by the Council and 
NMFS's harvest strategy to govern the catch of groundfish in the GOA. 
This strategy was selected 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 the preferred 
harvest strategy, TACs are set to a level that falls within the range 
of ABCs recommended by the SSC; the sum of the TACs must achieve the OY 
specified in the FMP. While the specific numbers that the harvest 
strategy produces may vary from year to year, the methodology used for 
the preferred harvest strategy remains constant.
    The TACs associated with preferred harvest strategy are those 
recommended by the Council in October 2023. OFLs and ABCs for the 
species were based on recommendations prepared by the Council's Plan 
Team in September 2023, and reviewed by the Council's SSC in October 
2023. The Council based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, 
which were consistent with the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations. The 
TACs in these proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications are 
unchanged from the 2023 TACs in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023), and the sum of all TACs 
remains within the OY for the GOA.
    The proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
biological information available, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods to calculate stock biomass. The proposed 2024 and 
2025 TACs are based on the best biological and socioeconomic 
information available. The proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
are consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as 
described in the 2022 SAFE report, which is the most recent, completed 
SAFE report.
    Under this action, the proposed ABCs reflect harvest amounts that 
are less than the specified overfishing levels. The proposed TACs are 
within the range of proposed ABCs recommended by the SSC and do not 
exceed the biological limits recommended by the SSC (the ABCs and 
OFLs). For most species and species groups in the GOA, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS proposes, TACs equal to proposed ABCs, which is 
intended to maximize harvest opportunities in the GOA.
    For some species and species groups, however, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS proposes, TACs that are less than the proposed 
ABCs, including for pollock in the W/C/WYK Regulatory Area, Pacific 
cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western Regulatory Area, arrowtooth 
flounder in the Western Regulatory Area and SEO District, flathead sole 
in the Western Regulatory Area, other rockfish in the SEO District, and 
Atka mackerel. In the GOA, 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. The other rockfish and Atka mackerel 
TACs are set to accommodate ICAs in other fisheries. Finally, the TACs 
for two species (pollock and Pacific cod) cannot be set equal to ABC, 
as the TAC must be set 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. For all other species in the GOA, the Council recommended, 
and NMFS proposes, that proposed TACs equal proposed ABCs, unless other 
conservation or management reasons (described above) support proposed 
TAC amounts less than the proposed ABCs.
    Based upon the best scientific data available, and in consideration 
of the objectives of this action, it appears that there are no 
significant alternatives to the proposed 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 proposed rule on small 
entities. This action is economically beneficial to entities operating 
in the GOA, including small entities. The action proposes 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 recommended the proposed 
harvest specifications, which NMFS determines would best accomplish the 
stated objectives articulated in the preamble for this proposed rule, 
and in applicable statutes, and would minimize to the extent 
practicable adverse economic impacts on the universe of directly 
regulated small entities.
    This action does not modify recordkeeping or reporting 
requirements, or duplicate, overlap, or conflict with any Federal 
rules.
    This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Adverse impacts on marine mammals or endangered or threatened 
species resulting from fishing activities conducted under these harvest 
specifications are discussed in the Final EIS and its accompanying 
annual SIRs (see ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: December 1, 2023.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-26807 Filed 12-4-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P