[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15484-15516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04516]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240227-0061; RTID 0648-XD436]


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

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

ACTION: Final rule; harvest specifications and closures.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, 
apportionments, and Pacific halibut prohibited species catch limits for 
the groundfish fishery of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is 
necessary to establish harvest limits for groundfish during the 
remainder of the 2024 and the start of the 2025 fishing years and to 
accomplish the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for 
Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP). 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specifications, and the 2025 harvest specifications will be superseded 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: Harvest specifications and closures are effective at 1200 hours, 
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 4, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., 
December 31, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Final Alaska Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record of 
Decision (ROD), and the annual Supplementary Information Reports (SIRs) 
to the EIS prepared for this action are available from https://www.regulations.gov. The 2023 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation

[[Page 15485]]

(SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of the GOA, dated November 
2023, and SAFE reports for previous years are available from the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) at 1007 West Third Avenue, 
Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501, phone 907-271-2809, or from the North 
Pacific Groundfish SAFE Report web page at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Jahn, 907-586-7416.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS manages the GOA groundfish fisheries in 
the exclusive economic zone of the GOA under the FMP. The Council 
prepared the FMP under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). Regulations governing U.S. fisheries and 
implementing the FMP appear at 50 CFR parts 600, 679, and 680.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require that NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, specify the total allowable catch (TAC) 
for each target species, the sum of which must be within the optimum 
yield (OY) range of 116,000 to 800,000 metric tons (mt) (Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(B) and Sec.  679.20(a)(2)). Section 679.20(c)(1) 
further requires that NMFS publish and solicit public comment on 
proposed annual TACs and apportionments thereof, Pacific halibut 
prohibited species catch (PSC) limits, and seasonal allowances of 
pollock and Pacific cod. Upon consideration of those public comments, 
NMFS must publish a notification of final harvest specifications for up 
to 2 fishing years as annual TACs and apportionments, Pacific halibut 
PSC limits, and seasonal allowances of pollock and Pacific cod, per 
Sec.  679.20(c)(3)(ii). The final harvest specifications set forth in 
tables 1 through 27 of this rule reflect the outcome of this process, 
as required at Sec.  679.20(c).
    The proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for groundfish of 
the GOA and Pacific halibut PSC limits were published in the Federal 
Register on December 7, 2023 (88 FR 85184). Comments were invited and 
accepted through January 8, 2024. NMFS received 2 letters raising 7 
distinct comments during the public comment period for the proposed GOA 
groundfish harvest specifications. In December 2023, NMFS consulted 
with the Council regarding the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. 
After considering public comment at public meetings and submitted for 
the proposed rule (88 FR 85184), as well as current biological, 
ecosystem, and socioeconomic data, NMFS is implementing the final 2024 
and 2025 harvest specifications, as recommended by the Council. For 
2024, the sum of the TAC amounts is 520,020 mt. For 2025, the sum of 
the TAC amounts is 483,700 mt.

Other Actions Affecting the 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications

Amendment 122 to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands FMP: 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 (BSAI) Management Area (BSAI FMP) (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 (Central GOA) 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 the sections ``American 
Fisheries Act (AFA) Catcher/Processor and Catcher Vessel Groundfish 
Harvest Limits'' and ``Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC 
Limits.''

Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) and TAC Specifications

    In December 2023, the Council's Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), its Advisory Panel (AP), and the Council reviewed the 
most recent biological, ecosystem, socioeconomic, and harvest 
information about the condition of the GOA groundfish stocks. The 
Council's GOA Groundfish Plan Team (Plan Team) compiled and presented 
this information in the 2023 SAFE report for the GOA groundfish 
fisheries, dated November 2023 (see ADDRESSES). The SAFE report 
contains a review of the latest scientific analyses and estimates of 
each species' biomass and other biological parameters, as well as 
summaries of the available information on the GOA ecosystem by 
including risk tables and information from the GOA Ecosystem Status 
Report (ESR).
    The ESRs compile and summarize information about the status of the 
Alaska marine ecosystems for the Plan Team, 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 
ESRs inform stock assessments and are integrated in the annual harvest 
recommendations through inclusion in stock assessment-specific risk 
tables. The ESRs provide context for the SSC's recommendations for OFLs 
and ABCs, as well as for the Council's TAC recommendations. The SAFE 
reports and the ESRs are presented to the Plan Team and at the October 
and December Council meetings before the SSC, AP, and Council make 
groundfish harvest recommendations and aid NMFS in implementing these 
annual groundfish harvest specifications.
    The SAFE report also includes information on the economic condition 
of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska through the Economic Status 
Report. The SAFE report 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

[[Page 15486]]

ecosystems, and fisheries over time, and assessing the relative success 
of existing Federal fishery management programs. From these data and 
analyses, the Plan Team recommends, and the SSC sets, an overfishing 
level (OFL) and ABC for each species and species group. The 2023 SAFE 
report was made available for public review during the public comment 
period for the proposed harvest specifications.
    In previous years, the greatest changes from the proposed to the 
final harvest specifications were based on recent NMFS stock surveys, 
which provide updated estimates of stock biomass and spatial 
distribution, and changes to the models used for producing stock 
assessments. At the November 2023 Plan Team meeting, NMFS scientists 
presented updated and new survey results, changes to stock assessment 
models, and accompanying stock assessment estimates for groundfish 
species and species groups that are included in the 2023 SAFE report 
per the stock assessment schedule found in the 2023 SAFE report 
introduction. The SSC reviewed this information at the December 2023 
Council meeting. Changes from the proposed to the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications are discussed below.
    The final 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
scientific information available, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
methods used to calculate stock biomass, and the final 2024 and 2025 
TACs are based on the best scientific and socioeconomic information 
available. The FMP specifies the formulas, or tiers, to be used to 
compute OFLs and ABCs. The formulas applicable to a particular stock or 
stock complex are determined by the level of reliable information 
available to fisheries scientists. This information is categorized into 
a successive series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts, with 
Tier 1 representing the highest level of information quality available 
and Tier 6 representing the lowest level of information quality 
available. The Plan Team used the FMP tier structure to calculate OFL 
and ABC amounts for each groundfish species. The SSC adopted the final 
2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs recommended by the Plan Team, with the 
exception of the ABC for pollock in the combined Western and Central 
Regulatory Areas and the West Yakutat District of the Eastern 
Regulatory Area (the W/C/WYK), and the ABC apportionments by area for 
shortraker rockfish and other rockfish.
    For pollock, the SSC did not accept the GOA Plan Team's recommended 
ABC because of concerns about discrepancies between model predicted and 
survey trends. Instead, the SSC recommended a reduction from max ABC 
for 2024.
    For shortraker rockfish sub-area apportionments of ABC, the Plan 
Team deliberated on the author's recommended model change because the 
new apportionment method of using both trawl and longline indices may 
constrain fisheries within the Central GOA. The Plan Team recommended 
accepting the new apportionment method but applying a stair-step 
between the methods to alleviate concerns highlighted by the public 
during the meeting. The SSC received public testimony that also 
highlighted allocation limitations. Public testimony asserted that 
there is a high probability that the reduction in a Central GOA sub-
area apportionment of ABC could result in fishery closure. Sub-area 
apportionments of ABCs may be a constraint when species are allocated 
to catch share programs or sectors through regulation. As there is no 
current conservation concern for shortraker rockfish, the SSC 
recommended the status quo apportionment method. The SSC acknowledges 
that this differs from the author and Plan Team recommendation for this 
stock as well as the SSC recommendation for GOA rougheye and 
blackspotted rockfish, which uses both trawl and longline indices for 
apportionment.
    For other rockfish sub-area apportionments of ABC, the Plan Team 
recommended that the W/C and WYK sub-area ABCs be combined for 2025. 
The Plan Team rationale for this recommendation is that these non-
target species are poorly sampled by the trawl survey, there are no 
major changes in fishing behavior, good species-specific catch data is 
available, and most of the biomass is in the Southeast Outside (SEO) 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area where trawling is prohibited. 
Further, recent analyses suggest there is little to no genetic 
structure in rockfish in general, and evidence of local depletion has 
not been observed. The Plan Team recommended that the Council engage in 
the Spatial Management Policy for this stock. After discussing this 
recommendation and considering related public testimony, the SSC agreed 
with the Plan Team recommendation for 2024. This change will align with 
the ABC apportionment for GOA Demersal Shelf Rockfish (DSR) when they 
are moved to a separate assessment for the 2025 fishery.
    For Pacific ocean perch, the Plan Team recommended specifying a 
GOA-wide OFL for consistency with stock definition and stock status 
determination criteria. The SSC agreed with the Plan Team's 
recommendation.
    The Council adopted the SSC's OFLs and ABCs and the AP's TAC 
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations are based on the ABCs 
and are adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic considerations, 
including maintaining the sum of all TACs within the required OY range 
of 116,000 to 800,000 mt.
    The Council recommended 2024 and 2025 TACs that are equal to ABCs 
for pollock in the SEO District, sablefish, shallow-water flatfish in 
the Central GOA and WYK and SEO Districts, deep-water flatfish, rex 
sole, arrowtooth flounder in the Central GOA and WYK District, flathead 
sole in the Central GOA and WYK and SEO Districts, Pacific ocean perch; 
northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, dusky rockfish, rougheye and 
blackspotted rockfish, demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, 
other rockfish in the W/C/WYK, Atka mackerel, big skate, longnose 
skate, other skates, sharks, and octopuses in the GOA. The Council 
recommended TACs for 2024 and 2025 that are less than the ABCs for 
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western Regulatory 
Area (Western GOA), arrowtooth flounder in the Western GOA and SEO 
District, flathead sole in the Western GOA, and other rockfish in the 
SEO District. For sub-area apportionments of ABCs, refer to tables 1 
and 2.
    The combined W/C/WYK pollock TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs are 
set to accommodate the State of Alaska's (State's) guideline harvest 
levels (GHLs) so that the ABCs for pollock and Pacific cod are not 
exceeded. The Western GOA shallow-water flatfish, Western GOA 
arrowtooth flounder, and Western GOA flathead sole TACs are set to 
allow for increased harvest opportunities for these target species 
while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other, more fully 
utilized fisheries. Similarly, the SEO District arrowtooth flounder TAC 
is set lower than ABC to conserve halibut PSC limit for use in other 
fisheries or because there is limited commercial interest and 
participation in this fishery. The other rockfish TAC in the SEO 
District is set to reduce the amount of discards of the species in that 
complex.
    The final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications approved by the 
Secretary of Commerce are unchanged from those recommended by the 
Council and are consistent with the preferred harvest

[[Page 15487]]

strategy alternative outlined in the FMP, as well as the Final EIS and 
ROD, because they were set through the harvest specifications process, 
none of the TACs exceed the recommended ABCs, and the sum of all TACs 
is within the OY range (see ADDRESSES).
    NMFS finds that the Council's recommended OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are 
consistent with the biological condition of the groundfish stocks as 
described in the final 2023 SAFE report, while also accounting for 
ecosystem and socioeconomic information presented in the 2023 SAFE 
report (which includes the GOA ESR). NMFS also finds that the Council's 
recommendations for TACs are consistent with the biological condition 
of groundfish stocks as adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic 
considerations, including maintaining the sum of all TACs within the OY 
range. NMFS reviewed the Council's recommended TACs and apportionments, 
and NMFS approves these harvest specifications under Sec.  
679.20(c)(3)(ii). The apportionment of TAC amounts among gear types and 
sectors, processing sectors, and seasons is discussed below.
    Tables 1 and 2 list the final 2024 and 2025 OFLs, ABCs, TACs, and 
area apportionments of groundfish in the GOA. The 2024 harvest 
specifications set in this final action supersede the 2024 harvest 
specifications previously set in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023). The 2025 harvest 
specifications will be superseded in early 2025 when the final 2025 and 
2026 harvest specifications are published. Pursuant to this final 
action, the 2024 harvest specifications therefore will apply for the 
remainder of the current year (2024), while the 2025 harvest 
specifications are projected only for the following year and will be 
superseded in early 2025 by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications. Because this final action will be superseded in early 
2025 by the publication of the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications, it is projected that this final action will implement 
the harvest specifications for the GOA for approximately 1 year.

Specification and Apportionment of TAC Amounts

    NMFS's apportionment of groundfish species are based on the 
distribution of biomass among the regulatory areas over which NMFS 
manages the species. Additional regulations that govern the 
apportionment of pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish and are described 
below.
    The ABC for the pollock stock in the combined W/C/WYK includes the 
amount for the GHL established by the State for the Prince William 
Sound (PWS) pollock fishery. The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council have 
recommended that the sum of all State waters and Federal waters pollock 
removals from the GOA not exceed ABC recommendations. For 2024 and 
2025, the SSC recommended and the Council approved the W/C/WYK pollock 
ABC, including the amount to account for the State's PWS GHL. At the 
November 2023 Plan Team meeting, State fisheries managers recommended 
setting the PWS pollock GHL at 2.5 percent of the annual W/C/WYK 
pollock ABC. For 2024, this yields a PWS pollock GHL of 4,769 mt, an 
increase of 18 percent from the 2023 PWS pollock GHL of 4,027 mt. For 
2025, the PWS pollock GHL is 3,942 mt, a decrease of 17 percent from 
the 2024 PWS pollock GHL of 4,769 mt. After the GHL reductions, the 
2024 and 2025 pollock ABCs for the combined W/C/WYK areas are then 
apportioned between four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 
640) as both ABCs and TACs, as described below and detailed in tables 1 
and 2. The ABCs and TACs for the four statistical areas, plus the State 
PWS GHL, do not exceed the combined W/C/WYK ABC.
    Apportionments of pollock to the W/C/WYK areas are considered to be 
``apportionments of annual catch limits (ACLs)'' rather than ``ABCs.'' 
This more accurately reflects that such apportionments address 
management, rather than biological or conservation, concerns. In 
addition, apportionments of the ACL in this manner allow NMFS to 
balance any transfer of TAC among Areas 610, 620, and 630 pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) to ensure that the combined apportionments of 
ACL and ABC for the W/C/WYK, as well as the W/C/WYK TAC, are not 
exceeded.
    NMFS establishes pollock TACs in the Western (Area 610) and Central 
(Areas 620 and 630) Regulatory Areas and the West Yakutat (Area 640) 
and the SEO (Area 650) Districts of the GOA (see tables 1 and 2). NMFS 
also establishes seasonal apportionments of the annual pollock TACs in 
the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA among Statistical 
Areas 610, 620, and 630. Additional detail on area apportionments and 
seasonal allowances is provided in the Apportionments of Pollock TAC 
Among Seasons and Regulatory Areas, and Allocations for Processing by 
Inshore and Offshore Components section of this rule; tables 3 and 4 
list these amounts.
    The 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). 
The Plan Team, SSC, AP, and Council recommended that the sum of all 
State waters and Federal waters Pacific cod removals from the GOA not 
exceed ABC recommendations. The Council recommended setting the 2024 
and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the Western, Central, and Eastern 
Regulatory Areas to account for State GHLs. Therefore, the 2024 Pacific 
cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following amounts: (1) Western 
GOA, 2,624 mt; (2) Central GOA, 5,148 mt; and (3) Eastern GOA, 734 mt. 
The 2025 Pacific cod TACs are less than the ABCs by the following 
amounts: (1) Western GOA, 2,291 mt; (2) Central GOA, 4,495 mt; and (3) 
Eastern GOA, 641 mt. These amounts reflect the State's 2024 and 2025 
GHLs in these areas, which are 30 percent of the Western GOA ABC and 25 
percent of the Eastern and Central GOA ABCs.
    The Western and Central GOA Pacific cod TACs are allocated among 
various gear and operational sectors. NMFS also establishes seasonal 
apportionments of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas. The Pacific cod sector and seasonal 
apportionments are discussed in detail in the Annual and Seasonal 
Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC section and in tables 5 and 6 of this 
rule.
    The Council's recommendation for sablefish area apportionments 
takes into account the prohibition on the use of trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area (Sec.  679.7(b)(1)) and makes 
available 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area TACs to 
vessels using trawl gear for use as incidental catch in other trawl 
groundfish fisheries in the WYK District (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)). 
Tables 7 and 8 list the final 2024 and 2025 allocations of sablefish 
TAC to fixed gear and trawl gear in the GOA.

Changes From the Proposed 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications in the 
GOA

    In October 2023, the Council's recommendations for the proposed 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 FR 85184, December 7, 2023) 
were based largely on information contained in the final 2022 SAFE 
report for the GOA groundfish fisheries, dated November 2022. The final 
2022 SAFE report for the GOA is available from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES). The Council proposed that the final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
established for the 2024 groundfish fisheries (88 FR 13238, March 2, 
2023) be used for the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 
FR 85184, December 7, 2023) pending completion

[[Page 15488]]

and review of the 2023 SAFE report at the Council's December 2023 
meeting.
    As described previously, the SSC recommended the final 2024 and 
2025 OFLs and ABCs as recommended by the Plan Team, with the exception 
of the 2024 pollock ABC and the shortraker rockfish and other rockfish 
ABC apportionments by subareas. The Council adopted as its 
recommendations the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations and the AP's TAC 
recommendations for 2024 and 2025.
    The final 2024 TACs are higher than the proposed 2024 TACs 
published in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 FR 
85184, December 7, 2023) for pollock, Pacific cod, sablefish, shallow-
water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, 
flathead sole, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, dusky rockfish, 
rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, other rockfish, and Atka mackerel. 
The final 2024 TACs are lower than the proposed 2024 TACs for 
shortraker rockfish, big skate, longnose skate, and other skates.
    The final 2025 TACs are higher than the proposed 2025 GOA TACs for 
Pacific cod, sablefish, shallow-water flatfish, deep-water flatfish, 
rex sole, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Pacific ocean perch, 
rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, other rockfish, and Atka mackerel. 
The final 2025 TACs are lower than the proposed 2025 TACs for pollock, 
northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, dusky rockfish, big skates, 
longnose skates, and other skates. For the remaining target species 
(i.e., demersal shelf rockfish, thornyhead rockfish, sharks, and 
octopus), the Council recommended the final 2024 and 2025 TACs that are 
the same as the proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs.
    Additional information explaining the changes between the proposed 
and final ABCs is included in the final 2023 SAFE report, which was not 
completed and available when the Council made its proposed ABC and TAC 
recommendations in October 2023. At that time, the most recent stock 
assessment information was contained in the final 2022 SAFE report. For 
the final specifications, the final 2023 SAFE report contains the best 
and most recent scientific information on the condition of the 
groundfish stocks, harvest information, and ecosystem and socioeconomic 
information, as previously discussed in this preamble, and is available 
for review (see ADDRESSES). The Council considered the 2023 SAFE report 
in December 2023 when it made recommendations for the final 2024 and 
2025 harvest specifications. In the GOA, the total final 2024 TAC 
amount is 520,020 mt, an increase of 9.1 percent from the total 
proposed 2024 TAC amount of 476,537 mt. The total final 2025 TAC amount 
is 483,700 mt, an increase of 1.5 percent from the total proposed 2025 
TAC amount of 476,537 mt. Table 1a summarizes the difference between 
the proposed and final TACs.
    Annual stock assessments incorporate a variety of new or revised 
inputs, such as survey data or catch information, as well as changes to 
the statistical models used to estimate a species' biomass and 
population trend. Changes to biomass and ABC estimates are primarily 
based on fishery catch updates to species' assessment models.
    The changes for individual species or species groups from the 
proposed 2024 TACs to the final 2024 TACs are within a range of plus 57 
percent or minus 32 percent, and the changes from the proposed 2025 
TACs to the final 2025 TACs are within a range of plus 57 percent or 
minus 32 percent. Differences in TACs are based on changes in the 
estimates of overall biomass in the stock assessment for 2024 and 2025, 
as compared to the estimates previously made for 2023 and 2024. For 
2024, the species or species group with TAC increases greater than 10 
percent are pollock, Pacific cod, deep-water flatfish, rougheye and 
blackspotted rockfish, and Atka mackerel. For 2025, the species or 
species group with TAC increases greater than ten percent are Pacific 
cod, deep-water flatfish, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, and Atka 
mackerel. Based on changes in the estimates of biomass, the species 
group with TAC percentage decreases greater than ten percent are other 
skates for 2024 and 2025. For all other species and species groups, 
changes from the proposed 2024 and 2025 TACs to the final 2024 and 2025 
TACs are a 10 percent or less change (either increase or decrease). 
These TAC changes correspond to associated changes in the OFLs and 
ABCs, as recommended by the SSC, AP, and Council.
    Detailed information providing the basis for the changes described 
above are contained in the final 2023 SAFE report. The final TACs are 
based on the best scientific information available, including 
biological and socioeconomic information. These TACs are specified in 
compliance with the harvest strategy from the FMP and Final EIS and as 
described in the proposed and final rules for the 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications.

                                Table 1a--Comparison of Proposed and Final 2024 and 2025 GOA Total Allowable Catch Limits
                                              [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton and percentage]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          2024 Final                             2025 Final
                                                            2024 and 2025    2024 Final   minus 2024   Percentage   2025 Final   minus 2025   Percentage
                         Species                             proposed TAC       TAC        proposed    difference      TAC        proposed    difference
                                                                                             TAC                                    TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock..................................................          168,416      195,720       27,304           16      168,416       -4,922           -3
Pacific cod..............................................           16,668       23,766        7,098           43       16,668        4,089           25
Sablefish................................................           21,095       22,596        1,501            7       21,095        1,600            8
Shallow-water flatfish...................................           45,425       45,478           53            0       45,425          666            1
Deep-water flatfish......................................            5,719        7,062        1,343           23        5,719        1,234           22
Rex sole.................................................           21,097       21,364          267            1       21,097          206            1
Arrowtooth flounder......................................           93,389       94,141          752            1       93,389          547            1
Flathead sole............................................           35,839       35,880           41            0       35,839          548            2
Pacific ocean perch......................................           36,196       39,719        3,523           10       36,196        2,158            6
Northern rockfish........................................            4,741        4,815           74            2        4,741          -95           -2
Shortraker rockfish......................................              705          647          -58           -8          705          -58           -8
Dusky rockfish...........................................            7,520        7,624          104            1        7,520         -295           -4
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish...........................              772        1,037          265           34          772          269           35
Demersal shelf rockfish..................................              283          283            0            0          283            0            0
Thornyhead rockfish......................................            1,628        1,628            0            0        1,628            0            0
Other rockfish...........................................            1,610        1,653           43            3        1,610           43            3

[[Page 15489]]

 
Atka mackerel............................................            3,000        4,700        1,700           57        3,000        1,700           57
Big skate................................................            2,867        2,835          -32           -1        2,867          -32           -1
Longnose skate...........................................            2,712        2,536         -176           -6        2,712         -176           -6
Other skates.............................................              984          665         -319          -32          984         -319          -32
Sharks...................................................            4,891        4,891            0            0        4,891            0            0
Octopuses................................................              980          980            0            0          980            0            0
                                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total................................................          476,537      520,020       43,483          9.1      483,700        7,163          1.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final 2024 and 2025 TAC amounts for the GOA are within the OY 
range established for the GOA and do not exceed the ABC for any species 
or species group. The ABC does not exceed the OFL for any species or 
species group. Tables 1 and 2 list the final OFL, ABC, and TAC amounts 
for GOA groundfish for 2024 and 2025, respectively.

 Table 1--Final 2024 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central,
 Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, and
                                    Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species                               Area \1\                 OFL         ABC         TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\.................................  Shumagin (610)................         n/a      38,882      38,882
                                              Chirikof (620)................         n/a      90,937      90,937
                                              Kodiak (630)..................         n/a      50,587      50,587
                                              WYK (640).....................         n/a       5,565       5,565
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 W/C/WYK (subtotal) \2\.....     269,916     190,740     185,971
                                              SEO (650).....................      12,998       9,749       9,749
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................     282,914     200,489     195,720
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.............................  W.............................         n/a       8,745       6,121
                                              C.............................         n/a      20,590      15,442
                                              E.............................         n/a       2,937       2,203
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      38,712      32,272      23,766
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish \4\...............................  W.............................         n/a       4,699       4,699
                                              C.............................         n/a       9,651       9,651
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,926       2,926
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       5,320       5,320
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Subtotal TAC...............         n/a         n/a      22,596
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      55,084      47,146         n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water flatfish \5\..................  W.............................         n/a      23,337      13,250
                                              C.............................         n/a      27,783      27,783
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,778       2,778
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       1,667       1,667
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      68,121      55,565      45,478
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \6\.....................  W.............................         n/a         237         237
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,655       2,655
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,856       1,856
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,314       2,314
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       8,387       7,062       7,062
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole....................................  W.............................         n/a       3,367       3,367
                                              C.............................         n/a      13,639      13,639
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,453       1,453
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,905       2,905
                                                                             -----------------------------------

[[Page 15490]]

 
                                                 Total......................      25,978      21,364      21,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.........................  W.............................         n/a      30,409      14,500
                                              C.............................         n/a      64,871      64,871
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       7,870       7,870
                                              SEO...........................         n/a      16,099       6,900
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................     142,485     119,249      94,141
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole...............................  W.............................         n/a      13,273       8,650
                                              C.............................         n/a      21,307      21,307
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       3,876       3,876
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,047       2,047
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      49,414      40,503      35,880
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\.....................  W.............................         n/a       1,787       1,787
                                              C.............................         n/a      28,757      28,757
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,110       2,110
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       7,065       7,065
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      47,466      39,719      39,719
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \8\.......................  W.............................         n/a       2,535       2,535
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,280       2,280
                                              E.............................         n/a           0           0
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       5,750       4,815       4,815
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \9\.....................  W.............................         n/a          34          34
                                              C.............................         n/a         189         189
                                              E.............................         n/a         424         424
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................         863         647         647
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dusky rockfish \10\.........................  W.............................         n/a         145         145
                                              C.............................         n/a       7,365       7,365
                                              WYK...........................         n/a          84          84
                                              SEO...........................         n/a          30          30
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       9,281       7,624       7,624
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish \11\.....  W.............................         n/a         197         197
                                              C.............................         n/a         315         315
                                              E.............................         n/a         525         525
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       1,555       1,037       1,037
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/WYK.......................         n/a       1,353       1,353
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,421         300
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       4,977       3,774       1,653
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel...............................  GW............................       6,200       4,700       4,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate \16\..............................  W.............................         n/a         745         745
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,749       1,749
                                              E.............................         n/a         341         341
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       3,780       2,835       2,835
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skate \17\.........................  W.............................         n/a         104         104

[[Page 15491]]

 
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,894       1,894
                                              E.............................         n/a         538         538
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       3,380       2,536       2,536
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \18\...........................  GW............................         887         665         665
                                              GW............................       6,521       4,891       4,891
                                              GW............................       1,307         980         980
                                                                             -----------------------------------
    Total...................................  ..............................     765,608     599,784     520,020
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2. (W = Western Gulf of Alaska; C = Central Gulf of
  Alaska; E = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK = West Yakutat District; SEO = Southeast Outside District; GW = Gulf-
  wide).
\2\ The total for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas pollock ABC is 190,740 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (4,769 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 185,971 mt (for the W/C/WYK
  Regulatory Areas) is apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640). These
  apportionments are considered subarea ACLs, rather than ABCs, for specification and reapportionment purposes.
  The ACLs in Areas 610, 620, and 630 are further divided by season, as detailed in table 3 (final 2024 seasonal
  biomass distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, area apportionments, and seasonal
  allowances). In the West Yakutat (Area 640) and Southeast Outside (Area 650) Districts of the Eastern
  Regulatory Area, pollock are not divided into seasonal allowances.
\3\ The annual Pacific cod TAC is apportioned, after seasonal apportionment to the jig sector, as follows: (1)
  63.84 percent to the A season and 36.16 percent to the B season and (2) 64.16 percent to the A season and
  35.84 percent to the B season in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, respectively. Pacific
  cod TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is allocated 90 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod
  for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the
  offshore component. Table 5 lists the final 2024 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector allocations.
\4\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (55,084 mt and 47,146 mt, respectively), and the Alaska-wide
  totals are included in the total OFL and ABC in table 1. Additionally, sablefish TAC is allocated to trawl and
  fixed gear in 2024 and trawl gear in 2025. Table 7 lists the final 2024 allocations of sablefish TACs.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. For management purposes, the 1 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the other rockfish species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' mean Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and S. melanostictus
  (blackspotted).
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means Sebastolobus species.
\14\ ``Other rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.
\15\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means other
  rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The ``other rockfish'' species group in the SEO District only includes
  ``other rockfish.''
\16\ ``Big skate'' means Beringraja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' mean Bathyraja spp.


 Table 2--Final 2025 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs of Groundfish for the Western/Central/West Yakutat, Western, Central,
 Eastern Regulatory Areas, the West Yakutat and Southeast Outside Districts of the Eastern Regulatory Area, and
                                    Gulfwide Districts of the Gulf of Alaska
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species                               Area \1\                 OFL         ABC         TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \2\.................................  Shumagin (610)................         n/a      32,144      32,144
                                              Chirikof (620)................         n/a      75,179      75,179
                                              Kodiak (630)..................         n/a      41,821      41,821
                                              WYK (640).....................         n/a       4,601       4,601
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 W/C/WYK (subtotal) \2\.....     182,891     157,687     153,745
                                              SEO (650).....................      12,998       9,749       9,749
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................     195,889     167,436     163,494
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod \3\.............................  W.............................         n/a       7,638       5,347
                                              C.............................         n/a      17,981      13,486
                                              E.............................         n/a       2,565       1,924
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      33,970      28,184      20,757
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15492]]

 
Sablefish \4\...............................  W.............................         n/a       4,719       4,719
                                              C.............................         n/a       9,693       9,693
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,940       2,940
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       5,343       5,343
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Subtotal TAC...............         n/a         n/a      22,695
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      55,317      47,350         n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shallow-water flatfish \5\..................  W.............................         n/a      23,782      13,250
                                              C.............................         n/a      28,311      28,311
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,831       2,831
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       1,699       1,699
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      69,354      56,623      46,091
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deep-water flatfish \6\.....................  W.............................         n/a         234         234
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,614       2,614
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,827       1,827
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,278       2,278
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       8,257       6,953       6,953
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rex sole....................................  W.............................         n/a       3,363       3,363
                                              C.............................         n/a      13,624      13,624
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       1,439       1,439
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,877       2,877
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      25,900      21,303      21,303
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth flounder.........................  W.............................         n/a      30,323      14,500
                                              C.............................         n/a      64,688      64,688
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       7,848       7,848
                                              SEO...........................         n/a      16,053       6,900
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................     142,074     118,912      93,936
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead sole...............................  W.............................         n/a      13,521       8,650
                                              C.............................         n/a      21,702      21,702
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       3,949       3,949
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,086       2,086
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      50,322      41,258      36,387
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch \7\.....................  W.............................         n/a       1,726       1,726
                                              C.............................         n/a      27,768      27,768
                                              WYK...........................         n/a       2,038       2,038
                                              SEO...........................  ..........       6,822       6,822
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................      45,835      38,354      38,354
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern rockfish \8\.......................  W.............................         n/a       2,446       2,446
                                              C.............................         n/a       2,200       2,200
                                              E.............................         n/a  ..........  ..........
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       5,548       4,646       4,646
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortraker rockfish \9\.....................  W.............................         n/a          34          34
                                              C.............................         n/a         189         189
                                              E.............................         n/a         424         424
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................         863         647         647
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dusky rockfish \10\.........................  W.............................         n/a         137         137
                                              C.............................         n/a       6,979       6,979
                                              WYK...........................         n/a          81          81
                                              SEO...........................         n/a          28          28
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       8,796       7,225       7,225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15493]]

 
Rougheye and Blackspotted rockfish \11\.....  W.............................         n/a         198         198
                                              C.............................         n/a         317         317
                                              E.............................         n/a         526         526
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       1,566       1,041       1,041
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/WYK.......................         n/a       1,353       1,353
                                              SEO...........................         n/a       2,421         300
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       4,977       3,774       1,653
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka mackerel...............................  GW............................       6,200       4,700       4,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Big skate \16\..............................  W.............................         n/a         745         745
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,749       1,749
                                              E.............................         n/a         341         341
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       3,780       2,835       2,835
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Longnose skate \17\.........................  W.............................         n/a         104         104
                                              C.............................         n/a       1,894       1,894
                                              E.............................         n/a         538         538
                                                                             -----------------------------------
                                                 Total......................       3,380       2,536       2,536
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other skates \18\...........................  GW............................         887         665         665
Sharks......................................  GW............................       6,521       4,891       4,891
Octopus.....................................  GW............................       1,307         980         980
                                                                             -----------------------------------
    Total...................................  ..............................     673,289     562,224     483,700
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2. (W = Western Gulf of Alaska; C = Central Gulf of
  Alaska; E = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; WYK = West Yakutat District; SEO = Southeast Outside District; GW = Gulf-
  wide).
\2\ The total for the W/C/WYK Regulatory Areas pollock ABC is 157,687 mt. After deducting 2.5 percent (3,942 mt)
  of that ABC for the State's pollock GHL fishery, the remaining pollock ABC of 153,745 mt (for the W/C/WYK
  Regulatory Areas) is apportioned among four statistical areas (Areas 610, 620, 630, and 640). These
  apportionments are considered subarea ACLs, rather than ABCs, for specification and reapportionment purposes.
  The ACLs in Areas 610, 620, and 630 are further divided by season, as detailed in table 4 (final 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. Pacific
  cod TAC in the Eastern Regulatory Area of the GOA is allocated 90 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod
  for processing by the inshore component and 10 percent to vessels harvesting Pacific cod for processing by the
  offshore component. Table 6 lists the final 2025 Pacific cod seasonal apportionments and sector allocations.
\4\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are set Alaska-wide (55,317 mt and 47,350 mt, respectively), and the Alaska-wide
  totals are included in the total OFL and ABC in table 2. Additionally, sablefish TAC is allocated only to
  trawl gear for 2025. Table 8 lists the final 2025 allocation of sablefish TACs to trawl gear.
\5\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish,'' flathead sole, rex sole, or
  arrowtooth flounder.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\8\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis. For management purposes, the 1 mt apportionment of ABC to
  the WYK District of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska has been included in the ``other rockfish'' species group.
\9\ ``Shortraker rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis.
\10\ ``Dusky rockfish'' means Sebastes variabilis.
\11\ ``Rougheye and blackspotted rockfish'' mean Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye) and S. melanostictus
  (blackspotted).
\12\ ``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper),
  S. maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
\13\ ``Thornyhead rockfish'' means Sebastolobus species.
\14\ ``Other rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
  S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus (harlequin), S.
  wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani
  (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus
  (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail). In the Eastern GOA
  only, ``other rockfish'' also includes northern rockfish, S. polyspinis.

[[Page 15494]]

 
\15\ In 2024 and prior years, ``other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West
  Yakutat District meant other rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish, and the ``other rockfish'' species group in
  the SEO District only included ``other rockfish.'' Starting with the 2024 stock assessment for the 2025
  harvest specifications, the ``other rockfish'' species group will be specified GOA-wide (as one GOA-wide
  species group), and the demersal shelf rockfish species group will be specified for the Western and Central
  Regulatory Areas/West Yakutat District and for the SEO District (as two separate species groups).
\16\ ``Big skate'' means Beringraja binoculata.
\17\ ``Longnose skate'' means Raja rhina.
\18\ ``Other skates'' mean Bathyraja spp.

Apportionment of Reserves

    Section 679.20(b)(2) requires NMFS to set aside 20 percent of each 
TAC for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, and octopuses in 
reserve for possible apportionment at a later date during the fishing 
year. For 2024 and 2025, NMFS proposed reapportionment of all the 
reserves in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications published 
in the Federal Register on December 7, 2023 (88 FR 85184). NMFS did not 
receive any public comments on the proposed reapportionments. For the 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, NMFS reapportions, as 
proposed, all the reserves for pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish, sharks, 
and octopuses back to the original TAC limit from which the reserve was 
derived (Sec.  679.20(b)(3)). This is being done because NMFS expects, 
based on recent harvest patterns, that such reserves are not necessary 
or that the entire TAC for each of these species will be caught. The 
TACs listed in tables 1 and 2 reflect reapportionments of reserve 
amounts to the original TAC limit for these species and species groups, 
i.e., each final TAC for the above-mentioned species or species groups 
contains the full TAC recommended by the Council.

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

    In the GOA, pollock is apportioned by season and area and is 
further allocated for processing by inshore and offshore components. 
The pollock TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA 
are apportioned among Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630. These 
apportionments are divided into two equal seasonal allowances of 50 
percent to the A season (January 20 through May 31) and 50 percent to 
the B season (September 1 through November 1) (Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B) and 679.23(d)(2)).
    Effective in 2021, regulatory changes revised the number of GOA 
pollock seasons to two seasons from four seasons (85 FR 38093, June 25, 
2020). The GOA pollock stock assessment continues to use a four-season 
methodology to determine pollock distribution in the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA to maintain continuity in the 
historical pollock apportionment time-series. Pollock TACs in the 
Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA are apportioned among 
Statistical Areas 610, 620, and 630 in proportion to the distribution 
of pollock biomass determined by the most recent NMFS surveys, pursuant 
to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(A). The pollock chapter of the 2023 SAFE 
report (see ADDRESSES) contains a comprehensive description of the 
apportionment and reasons for the minor changes from past 
apportionments. For purposes of specifying pollock TAC between two 
seasons for the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA, NMFS 
has summed the A and B season apportionments and the C and D season 
apportionments, using the four-season methodology, as calculated in the 
2023 GOA pollock assessment. This yields the seasonal amounts specified 
for the A season and the B season, respectively.
    Within any fishing year, the amount by which a pollock seasonal 
allowance is underharvested or overharvested may be added to, or 
subtracted from, the subsequent seasonal allowance for the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas in a manner to be determined by the Regional 
Administrator (Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The rollover amount is 
limited to 20 percent of the subsequent seasonal TAC apportionment for 
the statistical area. Any unharvested pollock above the 20-percent 
limit could be further distributed to the other statistical areas, in 
proportion to the estimated biomass in the subsequent season in those 
statistical areas and in an amount no more than 20 percent of the 
seasonal TAC apportionment in those statistical areas (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iv)(B)). The pollock TACs in the WYK and the SEO Districts 
of 5,565 mt and 9,749 mt, respectively, in 2024, and 4,601 mt and 9,749 
mt, respectively, in 2025, are not allocated by season.
    Tables 3 and 4 list the final 2024 and 2025 seasonal biomass 
distribution of pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 
area apportionments, and seasonal allowances. The amounts of pollock 
for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not shown. 
Section 679.20(a)(6)(i) requires the allocation of 100 percent of the 
pollock TAC in all GOA regulatory areas and all seasonal allowances to 
vessels catching pollock for processing by the inshore component after 
subtraction of pollock amounts projected by the Regional Administrator 
to be caught by, or delivered to, the offshore component incidental to 
directed fishing for other groundfish species. Thus, the amount of 
pollock available for harvest by vessels harvesting pollock for 
processing by the offshore component is that amount that will be taken 
as incidental catch during directed fishing for groundfish species 
other than pollock, up to the maximum retainable amounts allowed by 
Sec.  679.20(e) and (f). At this time, these incidental catch amounts 
of pollock are unknown and will be determined during the fishing year 
during the course of fishing activities by the offshore component.

 Table 3--Final 2024 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
                           Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                               [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton \1\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Shumigan (Area  Chirikof (Area   Kodiak (Area
                   Season \2\                          610)            620)            630)          Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)...........................           5,422          70,918          13,863          90,203
B (September 1-November 1)......................          33,460          20,019          36,724          90,203
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15495]]

 
    Annual Total................................          38,882          90,937          50,587         180,406
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2), directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory
  Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through
  November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not
  shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
  included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.


 Table 4--Final 2025 Distribution of Pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska;
                           Area Apportionments; and Seasonal Allowances of Annual TAC
                               [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton \1\]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Shumigan (Area  Chirikof (Area   Kodiak (Area
                   Season \2\                          610)            620)            630)          Total \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A (January 20-May 31)...........................           4,483          58,629          11,460          74,572
B (September 1-November 1)......................          27,661          16,550          30,361          74,572
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Annual Total................................          32,144          75,179          41,821         149,144
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Area apportionments and seasonal allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.
\2\ As established by Sec.   679.23(d)(2), directed fishing for pollock in the Western and Central Regulatory
  Areas is authorized only during the following two seasons: January 20 through May 31 and September 1 through
  November 1, respectively. The amounts of pollock for processing by the inshore and offshore components are not
  shown in this table.
\3\ The West Yakutat and Southeast Outside District pollock TACs are not allocated by season and are not
  included in the total pollock TACs shown in this table.

Annual and Seasonal Apportionments of Pacific Cod TAC

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i), NMFS seasonally allocates the 
2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central Regulatory 
Areas of the GOA among gear and operational sectors. In the Western and 
Central Regulatory Areas, a portion of the annual TAC is apportioned to 
the A season for hook-and-line, pot, and jig gear from January 1 
through June 10, and for trawl gear from January 20 through June 10, 
and a portion of the annual TAC is apportioned to the B season for jig 
gear from June 10 through December 31, for hook-and-line and pot gear 
from September 1 through December 31, and for trawl gear from September 
1 through November 1 (Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(12) and 679.23(d)(3)). NMFS 
also allocates the Pacific cod TACs annually between the inshore (90 
percent) and offshore (10 percent) components in the Eastern Regulatory 
Area of the GOA (Sec.  679.20(a)(6)(ii)).
    In the Central GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally 
first to vessels using jig gear, then among CVs less than 50 feet (15.2 
meters (m)) in length overall using hook-and-line gear, then among CVs 
equal to or greater than 50 feet (15.2 m) in length overall using hook-
and-line gear, then among catcher/processors (CPs) using hook-and-line 
gear, then among CVs using trawl gear, then among CPs using trawl gear, 
and then among vessels using pot gear (Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(B)). In 
the Western GOA, the Pacific cod TAC is apportioned seasonally first to 
vessels using jig gear, then among CVs using hook-and-line gear, then 
among CPs using hook-and-line gear, then among CVs using trawl gear, 
then among CPs using trawl gear, and then among vessels using pot gear 
(Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i)(A)). Excluding seasonal apportionments to the 
jig sector, NMFS seasonally apportions the remainder of the annual 
Pacific cod TACs in the Western GOA as 63.84 percent to the A season 
and 36.16 percent to the B season, and in the Central GOA as 64.16 
percent to the A season and 35.84 percent to the B season.
    Under Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(ii), any overage or underage of the 
Pacific cod season allowance from the A season may be subtracted from, 
or added to, the subsequent B season allowance. In addition, any 
portion of the hook-and-line, trawl, pot, or jig sector allocations 
that is determined by NMFS as likely to go unharvested by a sector may 
be reallocated to other sectors for harvest during the remainder of the 
fishing year consistent with the reallocation priorities prescribed in 
regulation and the capability of a sector to harvest the remaining TAC.
    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 in the final rule implementing 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. Jig sector allocation decreases are established for 
1 year.
    NMFS has evaluated the historical harvest performance of the jig 
sector in the Western and Central GOA and is establishing the 2024 and 
2025 Pacific cod apportionments to this sector based on its historical 
harvest performance through 2023. NMFS did not evaluate the 2020 
performance of the jig sectors in the Western and Central GOA because 
directed fishing was prohibited for all Pacific cod sectors in 2020 (84 
FR 70438, December 23, 2019). Because of the closure, catch for the jig 
sectors could not reach 90 percent of the annual allocation that is 
required for a

[[Page 15496]]

performance increase in the following year's allocation (87 FR 74102, 
December 2, 2022). For 2024 and 2025, NMFS allocates the jig sector 3.5 
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 performance increases of 2.0 percent. 
For 2024 and 2025, NMFS allocates the jig sector 2.0 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 of the Central 
GOA Pacific cod TAC and a performance increase of 1.0 percent. The 2025 
allocations of the annual Pacific cod TACs in the Western and Central 
GOA to jig gear may change based on the harvest performance of the 
sector in 2024, which NMFS will evaluate in the 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications.
    For 2024 and 2025, NMFS is apportioning the jig sector allocations 
for the Western and Central GOA between the A season (60 percent) and 
the B season (40 percent), pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(12)(i). This is 
the same jig sector seasonal apportionment implemented in prior 
groundfish harvest specifications for the GOA and is consistent with 
Amendment 83 to the FMP (76 FR 44700, July 26, 2011).
    Tables 5 and 6 list the seasonal apportionments and allocations of 
the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs.

Table 5--Final 2024 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
    the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
                                              Processing Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual          Sector                          Sector
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation     percentage of     Seasonal      percentage of     Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA:
    Jig (3.5% of TAC)...........             214             n/a             129             n/a              86
    Hook-and-line CV............              83            0.70              41            0.70              41
    Hook-and-line CP............           1,170            10.9             644            8.90             526
    Trawl CV....................           2,268           31.54           1,863            6.86             405
    Trawl CP....................             142            0.90              53            1.50              89
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           2,245           19.80           1,170           18.20           1,075
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................           6,121           63.84           3,899           36.16           2,222
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA:
    Jig (2.0% of TAC)...........             309             n/a             185             n/a             124
    Hook-and-line <50 CV........           2,210            9.32           1,410            5.29             800
    Hook-and-line >=50 CV.......           1,015            5.61             849            1.10             166
    Hook-and-line CP............             772            4.11             622            1.00             151
    Trawl CV \1\................           6,293           25.29           3,828           16.29           2,465
    Trawl CP....................             635            2.00             303            2.19             332
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           4,208           17.83           2,698            9.98           1,510
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          15,442           64.16           9,894           35.84           5,548
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA.....................  ..............    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2,203               1,983
                                                220
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 588 mt, of the
  annual Central GOA TAC (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the Trawl CV B
  season allowance (see table 12: Final 2024 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to
  Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives).


Table 6--Final 2025 Seasonal Apportionments and Allocation of Pacific Cod Total Allowable Catch (TAC) Amounts in
    the GOA; Allocations in the Western GOA and Central GOA Sectors, and the Eastern GOA Inshore and Offshore
                                              Processing Components
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             A Season                        B Season
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Annual          Sector                          Sector
   Regulatory area and sector       allocation     percentage of     Seasonal      percentage of     Seasonal
                                       (mt)       annual non-jig    allowances    annual non-jig    allowances
                                                        TAC            (mt)             TAC            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western GOA:
    Jig (3.5% of TAC)...........             187             N/A             112             N/A              75
    Hook-and-line CV............              72            0.70              36            0.70              36
    Hook-and-line CP............           1,022            10.9             562            8.90             459
    Trawl CV....................           1,981           31.54           1,627            6.86             354
    Trawl CP....................             124            0.90              46            1.50              77
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           1,961           19.80           1,022           18.20             939
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15497]]

 
        Total...................           5,347           63.84           3,406           36.16           1,941
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central GOA:
    Jig (2.0% of TAC)...........             270             N/A             162             N/A             108
    Hook-and-line <50 CV........           1,930            9.32           1,231            5.29             699
    Hook-and-line >=50 CV.......             886            5.61             741            1.10             145
    Hook-and-line CP............             675            4.11             543            1.00             132
    Trawl CV \1\................           5,496           25.29           3,343           16.29           2,153
    Trawl CP....................             555            2.00             265            2.19             290
    All Pot CV and Pot CP.......           3,675           17.83           2,356            9.98           1,318
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...................          13,486           64.16           8,641           35.84           4,845
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern GOA                       ..............    Inshore (90% of Annual TAC)
                                   Offshore (10% of Annual TAC)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1,924               1,731
                                                192
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Trawl catcher vessels participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives receive 3.81 percent, or 514 mt, of the
  annual Central GOA TAC (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679). This apportionment is deducted from the Trawl CV B
  season allowance (see table 13: Final 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to
  Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives).

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

    Section 679.20(a)(4)(i) and (ii) require allocations of sablefish 
TACs for each of the regulatory areas and districts to fixed and trawl 
gear. In the Western and Central Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of each 
TAC is allocated to fixed gear, and 20 percent of each TAC is allocated 
to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is 
allocated to fixed gear, and 5 percent is allocated to trawl gear. The 
trawl gear allocation in the Eastern Regulatory Area may only be used 
to support incidental catch of sablefish using trawl gear while 
directed fishing for other target species (Sec.  679.20(a)(4)(i)).
    In recognition of the prohibition against trawl gear in the SEO 
District of the Eastern Regulatory Area, the Council recommended, and 
NMFS approves, specifying for incidental catch the allocation of 5 
percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area sablefish TAC to trawl 
gear in the WYK District of the Eastern Regulatory Area. The remainder 
of the WYK District sablefish TAC is allocated to vessels using fixed 
gear. NMFS allocates 100 percent of the sablefish TAC in the SEO 
District to vessels using fixed gear. This results in 2024 allocations 
of 412 mt to trawl gear and 2,514 mt to fixed gear in the WYK District, 
a 2024 allocation of 5,320 mt to fixed gear in the SEO District, and a 
2025 allocation of 414 mt to trawl gear in the WYK District. Table 7 
lists the allocations of the 2024 sablefish TACs to fixed and trawl 
gear. Table 8 lists the allocations of the 2025 sablefish TACs to trawl 
gear.
    The Council recommended that a trawl sablefish TAC be established 
for 2 years so that retention of incidental catch of sablefish by trawl 
gear could commence in January in the second year of the groundfish 
harvest specifications. Both the 2024 and 2025 trawl allocations are 
specified in these final harvest specifications in tables 7 and 8, 
respectively.
    The Council also recommended that the fixed gear sablefish TAC be 
established annually to ensure that this 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 in March 2024, 
NMFS specifies the fixed gear sablefish TAC annually, rather than for 2 
years, to ensure that the sablefish IFQ fishery is conducted 
concurrently with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and 
halibut IFQ fisheries reduce the potential for discards of halibut and 
sablefish in those fisheries. Accordingly, table 7 lists the 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 gear allocations that are provided 
to the Rockfish Program (see table 28c to 50 CFR part 679), directed 
fishing for sablefish with trawl gear in the GOA is closed during the 
fishing year. Also, fishing for groundfish with trawl gear is 
prohibited prior to January 20 (Sec.  679.23(c)). Therefore, it is not 
likely that the sablefish allocation to trawl gear will be reached 
before the effective date of these final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications.

[[Page 15498]]



     Table 7--Final 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           Trawl gear
                     Area/district                            TAC            allocation           allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...............................................           4,699                 3,759                 940
Central \1\...........................................           9,651                 7,721               1,930
West Yakutat \2\......................................           2,926                 2,514                 412
Southeast Outside.....................................           5,320                 5,320                   0
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................................          22,596                19,313               3,283
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The trawl allocation of sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (993 mt). See table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 and table 12: Final 2024 Apportionments of
  Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives. This
  results in 937 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\2\ The trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.


        Table 8--Final 2025 Sablefish TAC Amounts in the Gulf of Alaska and Allocations to Trawl Gear \1\
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Fixed gear           Trawl gear
                     Area/district                            TAC            allocation           allocation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western...............................................           4,719                   n/a                 944
Central \2\...........................................           9,693                   n/a               1,939
West Yakutat \3\......................................           2,940                   n/a                 414
Southeast Outside.....................................           5,343                   n/a                   0
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................................          22,695                     0               3,297
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Council recommended that the final 2025 harvest specifications for the fixed gear sablefish Individual
  Fishing Quota fisheries not be specified in the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications. The final 2025
  harvest specifications for fixed gear will be specified in the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications.
\2\ The trawl allocation of sablefish in the Central Regulatory Area is further apportioned to the Rockfish
  Program cooperatives (997 mt). See table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 and table 13: Final 2025 Apportionments of
  Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Cooperatives. This
  results in 942 mt being available for the non-Rockfish Program trawl fisheries.
\3\ The trawl allocation is based on allocating 5 percent of the combined Eastern Regulatory Area (West Yakutat
  and Southeast Outside Districts) sablefish TAC as incidental catch to trawl gear in the West Yakutat District.

Allocations, Apportionments, and Sideboard Limits for the Rockfish 
Program

    These final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for the GOA 
include the fishery cooperative allocations and sideboard limitations 
established by the Rockfish Program. Rockfish Program participants are 
primarily trawl CVs and trawl CPs, with limited participation by 
vessels using longline gear. The Rockfish Program assigns quota share 
and cooperative quota to participants for primary species (Pacific 
ocean perch, northern rockfish, and dusky rockfish) and secondary 
species (Pacific cod, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, sablefish, 
shortraker rockfish, and thornyhead rockfish), allows a participant 
holding a LLP license with rockfish quota share to form a rockfish 
cooperative with other persons, and allows holders of CP LLP licenses 
to opt out of the fishery. The Rockfish Program also has an entry-level 
fishery for rockfish primary species for vessels using longline gear. 
Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear.
    Under the Rockfish Program, rockfish primary species in the Central 
GOA are allocated to participants after deducting for incidental catch 
needs in other directed groundfish fisheries (Sec.  679.81(a)(2)). 
Participants in the Rockfish Program also receive a portion of the 
Central GOA TAC of specific secondary species. In addition to 
groundfish species, the Rockfish Program assigns a portion of the 
halibut PSC limit (191.4 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 for the entry-level longline fishery may 
increase incrementally each year if the catch in the previous year 
exceeds 90 percent of the allocation of a species. The incremental 
increase in the allocation would continue each year until it reaches 
the maximum percent of the TAC assigned to the Rockfish Program for 
that species. In 2023, the catch of Pacific ocean perch, northern 
rockfish, and dusky rockfish did not attain the 90 percent threshold, 
and the final allocations for 2024 therefore remain the same as the 
2023 allocations. The remainder of the TACs for the rockfish primary 
species are allocated to the CV and CP cooperatives (Sec.  
679.81(a)(2)(iii)). Table 9 lists the allocations of the 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 percent of the TACs assigned to the Rockfish Program that may 
be allocated to the rockfish entry-level longline fishery.

[[Page 15499]]



Table 9--Final 2024 and Initial 2025 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species to the Entry Level Longline Fishery
                                          in the Central Gulf of Alaska
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Incremental increase
                                                         2024 and 2025    in 2025 if >90%  of    Up to maximum
               Rockfish primary species                   allocations     2024 allocation  is    percent of TAC
                                                         (metric tons)    harvested  (metric          (%)
                                                                                 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. Tables 10 and 11 list 
the final 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 is setting aside 
incidental catch amounts (ICAs) for other directed fisheries in the 
Central GOA of 3,500 mt of Pacific ocean perch, 300 mt of northern 
rockfish, and 250 mt of dusky rockfish. These amounts are based on 
recent average incidental catches of these species in the Central GOA 
by other groundfish fisheries.
    Allocations among vessels belonging to CV or CP cooperatives are 
not included in these final harvest specifications. Rockfish Program 
applications for CV cooperatives and CP cooperatives are not due to 
NMFS until March 1 of each calendar year; therefore, NMFS cannot 
calculate 2024 and 2025 allocations in conjunction with these final 
harvest specifications (Sec.  679.81(f)). After receiving the Rockfish 
Program applications, NMFS will calculate the 2024 allocations for CV 
and CP cooperatives, as set forth in Sec.  679.81(b), (c), and (e). 
NMFS will announce the 2024 allocations after March 1.

Table 10--Final 2024 Allocations of Rockfish Primary Species in the Central Gulf of Alaska to the Entry Level Longline Fishery and Rockfish Cooperatives
                                                                 in the Rockfish Program
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Allocation to
                                                                       Central GOA     Incidental                     the entry level     Allocation to
                      Rockfish primary species                         annual TAC         catch      TAC minus  ICA     longline \1\      the rockfish
                                                                                        allowance                         fishery       cooperatives \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch................................................          28,757           3,500          25,257                  5            25,252
Northern rockfish..................................................           2,280             300           1,980                  5             1,975
Dusky rockfish.....................................................           7,365             250           7,115                 50             7,065
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................................................          38,402           4,050          34,352                 60            34,292
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (Sec.   679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (Sec.   679.81).


Table 11--Final 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]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Allocation to
                                                                       Central GOA     Incidental                     the entry level     Allocation to
                      Rockfish primary species                         annual TAC         catch      TAC minus  ICA     longline \1\      the rockfish
                                                                                        allowance                         fishery       cooperatives \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific ocean perch................................................          27,768           3,500          24,268                  5            24,263
Northern rockfish..................................................           2,200             300           1,900                  5             1,895
Dusky rockfish.....................................................           6,979             250           6,729                 50             6,679
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................................................          36,947           4,050          32,837                 60            32,837
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Longline gear includes hook-and-line, jig, troll, and handline gear (Sec.   679.2).
\2\ Rockfish cooperatives include vessels in CV and CP cooperatives (Sec.   679.81).

    Section 679.81(c) and table 28c to 50 CFR part 679 require 
allocations of rockfish secondary species to CV and CP cooperatives in 
the Central GOA. CV cooperatives receive allocations of Pacific cod, 
sablefish from the trawl gear allocation, and thornyhead rockfish. CP 
cooperatives receive allocations of sablefish from the trawl gear 
allocation, rougheye and blackspotted rockfish, shortraker rockfish, 
and thornyhead rockfish. Tables 12 and 13 list the apportionments of 
the 2024 and 2025 TACs of rockfish secondary species in the Central GOA 
to CV and CP cooperatives.

[[Page 15500]]



   Table 12--Final 2024 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and
                                         Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Catcher vessel cooperatives        Catcher/processor
                                                     ------------------------------         cooperatives
     Rockfish secondary species         Central GOA                                -----------------------------
                                        annual TAC     Percentage   Apportionment    Percentage   Apportionment
                                                         of TAC          (mt)          of TAC          (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.........................          15,442         3.81              588         0.00                0
Sablefish...........................           9,651         6.78              654         3.51              339
Shortraker rockfish.................             189         0.00                0        40.00               76
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish......             315         0.00                0        58.87              185
Thornyhead rockfish.................             693         7.84               54        26.50              184
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 13--Final 2025 Apportionments of Rockfish Secondary Species in the Central GOA to Catcher Vessel and
                                         Catcher/Processor Cooperatives
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Catcher vessel cooperatives        Catcher/processor
                                                     ------------------------------         cooperatives
     Rockfish secondary species         Central GOA                                -----------------------------
                                        annual TAC     Percentage   Apportionment    Percentage   Apportionment
                                                         of TAC          (mt)          of TAC          (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod.........................          13,486         3.81              514         0.00                0
Sablefish...........................           9,693         6.78              657         3.51              340
Shortraker rockfish.................             189         0.00              n/a        40.00               76
Rougheye/blackspotted rockfish......             317         0.00              n/a        58.87              187
Thornyhead rockfish.................             693         7.84               54        26.50              184
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Halibut PSC Limits

    Section 679.21(d) establishes annual halibut PSC limit 
apportionments to trawl gear and hook-and-line gear and authorizes the 
establishment of apportionments for pot gear. In December 2023 the 
Council recommended and NMFS approves halibut PSC limits of 1,705 mt 
for trawl gear, 256 mt for hook-and-line gear, and 9 mt for the 
demersal shelf rockfish (DSR) rockfish fishery in the SEO District for 
both 2024 and 2025, consistent with Sec.  679.21.
    The DSR fishery in the SEO District is defined at Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(ii)(A). This fishery is apportioned 9 mt of the halibut 
PSC limit in recognition of its small-scale harvests of groundfish 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(i)(A)). The separate halibut PSC limit for the DSR 
fishery is intended to prevent that fishery from being impacted from 
the halibut PSC incurred by other GOA fisheries. NMFS estimates low 
halibut bycatch in the DSR fishery because: (1) the duration of the DSR 
fishery and the gear soak times are short; (2) the DSR fishery occurs 
in the winter when there is less overlap in the distribution of DSR and 
halibut; and (3) the directed commercial DSR fishery has a low DSR TAC. 
The State of Alaska sets the commercial GHL for the DSR fishery after 
deducting estimates of DSR incidental catch in all fisheries (including 
halibut and subsistence) and allocation to the sport DSR fishery. In 
2023, the commercial GHL fishery for DSR was closed due to concerns 
about declining DSR biomass.
    The FMP authorizes the Council and NMFS to exempt specific gear 
from the halibut PSC limits. NMFS, after consultation with the Council, 
exempts pot gear, the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery categories, and 
jig gear from the non-trawl halibut PSC limit for 2024 and 2025. The 
Council recommended, and NMFS approves, these exemptions because: (1) 
the pot gear fisheries have low annual halibut bycatch mortality; (2) 
IFQ program regulations prohibit discard of halibut if any halibut IFQ 
permit holder on board a catcher vessel holds unused halibut IFQ for 
that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the vessel is 
operating (Sec.  679.7(f)(11)); (3) some sablefish IFQ fishermen hold 
halibut IFQ permits and are therefore required to retain the halibut 
they catch while fishing sablefish IFQ; and (4) NMFS estimates 
negligible halibut mortality for the jig gear fisheries given the small 
amount of groundfish harvested by jig gear, the selective nature of jig 
gear, and the high survival rates of halibut caught and released with 
jig gear.
    The best information available on estimated halibut bycatch 
consists of data collected by fisheries observers during 2023. The 
estimated halibut bycatch mortality through December 31, 2023 is 289 mt 
for trawl gear and 37 mt for hook-and-line gear for a total halibut 
mortality of 326 mt. The estimated halibut bycatch mortality was 
calculated using groundfish and halibut catch data from the NMFS Alaska 
Region's catch accounting system. This accounting system contains 
historical and recent catch information compiled from each Alaska 
groundfish fishery.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(i) and (ii) authorize NMFS to seasonally 
apportion the halibut PSC limits after consultation with the Council. 
The FMP and regulations require that the Council and NMFS consider the 
following information in seasonally apportioning halibut PSC limits: 
(1) seasonal distribution of halibut; (2) seasonal distribution of 
target groundfish species relative to halibut distribution; (3) 
expected halibut bycatch needs on a seasonal basis relative to changes 
in halibut biomass and expected catch of target groundfish species; (4) 
expected bycatch rates on a seasonal basis; (5) expected changes in 
directed groundfish fishing seasons; (6) expected actual start of 
fishing effort; and (7) economic effects of establishing seasonal 
halibut allocations on segments of the target groundfish industry. The 
Council considered information from the 2023 SAFE report, NMFS catch 
data, State of Alaska catch data, International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) stock assessment and mortality data, and

[[Page 15501]]

public testimony when apportioning the halibut PSC limits. NMFS concurs 
with the Council's recommendations listed in table 14, which shows the 
final 2024 and 2025 Pacific halibut PSC limits, allowances, and 
apportionments.
    Section 679.21(d)(4)(iii) and (iv) specify that any unused amounts, 
or overages, of a seasonal apportionment of a halibut PSC limit will be 
added to, or deducted from, the next respective seasonal apportionment 
within the fishing year.

                   Table 14--Final 2024 and 2025 Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits, Allowances, and Apportionments
                                                               [Values are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Trawl gear                                                             Hook-and-line gear \1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Other than DSR                                    DSR
                Season                    Percent      Amount   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Season             Percent      Amount             Season             Amount
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1....................        30.5         520   January 1-June 10.......          86         220   January 1-December 31...           9
April 1-July 1........................        20.0         341   June 10-September 1.....           2           5   ........................  ..........
July 1-August 1.......................        27.0         460   September 1-December 31.          12          31   ........................  ..........
August 1-October 1....................         7.5         128   ........................  ..........  ...........  ........................  ..........
October 1-December 31.................        15.0         256   ........................  ..........  ...........  ........................  ..........
                                       =================================================================================================================
    Total.............................  ..........       1,705   ........................  ..........         256   ........................           9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limit for hook-and-line gear is assigned to the DSR fishery in the SEO District and to the hook-
  and-line fisheries other than the DSR fishery. The fixed gear sablefish IFQ fishery is exempt from halibut PSC limits, as are pot and jig gear for all
  groundfish fisheries.

    Section 679.21(d)(3)(ii) authorizes further apportionment of the 
trawl halibut PSC limit to trawl fishery categories listed in Sec.  
679.21(d)(3)(iii). The annual apportionments are based on each 
category's proportional share of the anticipated halibut bycatch 
mortality during the fishing year and optimization of the total amount 
of groundfish harvest under the halibut PSC limit. The fishery 
categories for the trawl halibut PSC limits are: (1) a deep-water 
species fishery, composed of sablefish, rockfish, deep-water flatfish, 
rex sole, and arrowtooth flounder; and (2) a shallow-water species 
fishery, composed of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, 
flathead sole, Atka mackerel, and ``other species'' (sharks and 
octopuses) (Sec.  679.21(d)(3)(iii)). Halibut mortality incurred while 
directed fishing for skates with trawl gear accrues towards the 
shallow-water species fishery halibut PSC limit (69 FR 26320, May 12, 
2004).
    NMFS will combine available trawl halibut PSC limit apportionments 
during a portion of the second season deep-water and shallow-water 
species fisheries for use in either fishery from May 15 through June 30 
(Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(D)). This is intended to maintain groundfish 
harvest while minimizing halibut bycatch by these sectors to the extent 
practicable. This provides the deep-water and shallow-water species 
trawl fisheries additional flexibility and the incentive to participate 
in fisheries at times of the year that may have lower halibut PSC rates 
relative to other times of the year.
    Table 15 lists the final 2024 and 2025 apportionments of trawl 
halibut PSC limits between the trawl gear deep-water and shallow-water 
species fishery categories.
    Table 28d to 50 CFR part 679 specifies the amount of the trawl 
halibut PSC limit that is assigned to the CV and CP sectors that are 
participating in the Rockfish Program. This includes 117.3 mt of 
halibut PSC limit to the CV sector and 74.1 mt of halibut PSC limit to 
the CP sector. These amounts are assigned from the trawl deep-water 
species fishery's halibut PSC third seasonal apportionment. After the 
combined CV and CP halibut PSC limit allocation of 191.4 mt to the 
Rockfish Program, 148.6 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 assigned to Rockfish Program participants that could be re-
apportioned to the last seasonal apportionment for the general GOA 
trawl fisheries during the current fishing year to no more than 55 
percent of the unused annual halibut PSC limit apportioned to Rockfish 
Program participants. The remainder of the unused Rockfish Program 
halibut PSC limit is unavailable for use by any person for the 
remainder of the fishing year (Sec.  679.21(d)(4)(iii)(C)).

Table 15--Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits Between the Trawl
                Gear Deep-Water Species Fishery and the Shallow-Water Species Fishery Categories
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Season                               Shallow-water   Deep-water \1\       Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 20-April 1.............................................              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 191.4 mt of the third
  season (July 1 through August 1) deep-water species fishery halibut PSC apportionment (see table 28d to 50 CFR
  part 679.

[[Page 15502]]

 
\2\ There is no apportionment between trawl shallow-water and deep-water species fishery categories during the
  fifth season (October 1 through December 31).

    Section 679.21(d)(2)(i)(B) requires that the ``other hook-and-line 
fishery'' halibut PSC limit apportionment to vessels using hook-and-
line gear must be apportioned between CVs and CPs in accordance with 
Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) in conjunction with these harvest 
specifications. The halibut PSC apportionment is based on the 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. Updated information in the final 2023 SAFE report 
describes this distributional calculation, which apportions ABC among 
GOA regulatory areas on the basis of the three most recent stock 
surveys. For 2024 and 2025, the distribution of the total GOA Pacific 
cod ABC is 27.1 percent to the Western GOA, 63.8 percent to the Central 
GOA, and 9.1 percent to the Eastern GOA. Therefore, the calculations 
made in accordance with Sec.  679.21(d)(2)(iii) incorporate the most 
recent information on GOA Pacific cod distribution and allocations with 
respect to establishing the annual halibut PSC limits for the CV and CP 
hook-and-line sectors of the ``other hook-and-line fishery.'' 
Additionally, the annual halibut PSC limits for both the CV and CP 
sectors of the ``other hook-and-line fishery'' are divided into three 
seasonal apportionments, using seasonal percentages of 86 percent, 2 
percent, and 12 percent.
    For 2024 and 2025, NMFS apportions halibut PSC limits of 149 mt and 
107 mt to the hook-and-line CV and hook-and-line CP sectors, 
respectively. Table 16 lists the final 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 that comprise the two sectors of the ``other 
hook-and-line fishery'' for the remainder of the year. The projected 
unused amount of halibut PSC limit is made available to the other 
sector for the remainder of that fishing year (Sec.  
679.21(d)(2)(iii)(C)), if NMFS determines that an additional amount of 
halibut PSC is necessary for that sector to continue its directed 
fishing operations.

  Table 16--Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionments of the ``Other Hook-and-Line Fishery'' Annual Halibut Prohibited
       Species Catch Allowance Between the Hook-and-Line Gear Catcher Vessel and Catcher/Processor Sectors
                                           [Values are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Hook-and-line    Sector annual                      Seasonal    Sector seasonal
``Other than DSR''  allowance       sector           amount           Season       percentage        amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
256..........................  Catcher Vessel.              149  January 1-June            86                128
                                                                  10.
                                                                 June 10-                   2                  3
                                                                  September 1.
                                                                 September 1-              12                 18
                                                                  December 31.
                               Catcher/                     107  January 1-June            86                 92
                                Processor.                        10.
                                                                 June 10-                   2                  2
                                                                  September 1.
                                                                 September 1-              12                 13
                                                                  December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimates of Halibut Biomass and Stock Condition

    The IPHC annually assesses the abundance and potential yield of the 
Pacific halibut stock using all available data from the commercial and 
sport fisheries, other removals, and scientific surveys. Additional 
information on the Pacific halibut stock assessment may be found in the 
IPHC's 2023 Pacific halibut stock assessment (December 2023), available 
on the IPHC website at https://www.iphc.int. The IPHC considered the 
2023 Pacific halibut stock assessment at its January 2024 annual 
meeting when it set the 2024 commercial halibut fishery catch limits.

Halibut Discard Mortality Rates

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch 
rates, halibut discard mortality rates (DMRs), and estimates of 
groundfish catch to project when a fishery's halibut bycatch mortality 
allowance or seasonal apportionment is reached. Halibut incidental 
catch rates are based on observed estimates of halibut incidental catch 
in the groundfish fishery. DMRs are estimates of the proportion of 
incidentally caught halibut that do not survive after being returned to 
the sea. The cumulative halibut mortality that accrues to a particular 
halibut PSC limit is the product of a DMR multiplied by the estimated 
halibut PSC. DMRs are estimated using the best scientific information 
available in conjunction with the annual GOA stock assessment process. 
The DMR methodology and findings are included as an appendix to the 
annual GOA groundfish SAFE report.
    In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the 
Council's directive. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC, 
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that 
have undergone review by the GOA Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A 
summary of the revised methodology is contained in the GOA proposed 
2017 and 2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87881, December 6, 2016), 
and the comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical 
methodology is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR 
working group's revised methodology is intended to improve estimation 
accuracy, transparency, and transferability in the methodology used for 
calculating DMRs. The working group will continue to consider 
improvements to the methodology used to calculate halibut mortality, 
including potential changes to the reference period (the period of data 
used for calculating the DMRs). The new methodology continues to ensure 
that NMFS is using DMRs that accurately reflect halibut mortality, 
which will inform the sectors of their estimated halibut mortality and 
allow sectors to respond with methods that could reduce mortality and, 
eventually, the DMR for that sector.

[[Page 15503]]

    At the December 2023 meeting, the SSC, AP, and Council concurred 
with the revised DMR estimation methodology, and NMFS adopts for 2024 
and 2025 the DMRs calculated under the revised methodology, which uses 
an updated 2-year and 4-year reference period depending on data 
availability. The final 2024 and 2025 DMRs in this rule are unchanged 
from the DMRs in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 
FR 85184, December 7, 2023). Table 17 lists these final 2024 and 2025 
DMRs.

     Table 17--Final 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

    There are Chinook salmon PSC limits for the directed pollock trawl 
fishery in the Western and Central GOA. NMFS is required to close the 
directed pollock fishery in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of 
the GOA if the applicable Chinook salmon PSC limit in that regulatory 
area will be reached (Sec.  679.21(h)(8)). The annual Chinook salmon 
PSC limits in the directed pollock fishery of 6,684 salmon in the 
Western GOA and 18,316 salmon in the Central GOA are set at Sec.  
679.21(h)(2).
    There is also an established initial annual PSC limit of 7,500 
Chinook salmon for the trawl non-pollock groundfish fisheries in the 
Western and Central GOA. This limit is apportioned among the 3 sectors 
that conduct directed fishing for groundfish species other than 
pollock: 3,600 Chinook salmon to trawl CPs; 1,200 Chinook salmon to 
trawl CVs participating in the Rockfish Program; and 2,700 Chinook 
salmon to trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program (Sec.  
679.21(h)(4)). NMFS will monitor the Chinook salmon PSC in the trawl 
non-pollock groundfish fisheries and close an applicable sector if it 
will reach its Chinook salmon PSC limit.
    The Chinook salmon PSC limit for two sectors, trawl CPs and trawl 
CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program, may be increased in 
subsequent years based on the performance of these two sectors and 
their ability to minimize their use of their respective Chinook salmon 
PSC limits during a calendar year. If either or both of these 2 sectors 
limited its use of Chinook salmon PSC to the specified threshold amount 
(3,120 for trawl CPs and 2,340 for Non-Rockfish Program trawl CVs), 
that sector will receive an incremental increase to its Chinook salmon 
PSC limit (Sec.  679.21(h)(4)). In 2023, the trawl CP sector did not 
exceed 3,120 Chinook salmon PSC; therefore, the 2024 trawl CP sector 
Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 4,080 Chinook salmon. In 2023, the 
Non-Rockfish Program trawl CV sector did not exceed 2,340 Chinook 
salmon PSC; therefore, the 2024 Non-Rockfish Program trawl CV sector 
Chinook salmon PSC limit will be 3,060 Chinook salmon.

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

    Section 679.64 establishes groundfish harvesting and processing 
sideboard limitations on AFA CPs and CVs in the GOA. These sideboard 
limits are necessary to protect the interests of fishermen and 
processors who do not directly benefit from the AFA as compared to 
those fishermen and processors who receive exclusive harvesting and 
processing privileges under the AFA. Section 679.7(k)(1)(ii) prohibits 
listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed AFA CP permit from 
harvesting any species of groundfish in the GOA. Additionally, Sec.  
679.7(k)(1)(iv) prohibits listed AFA CPs and CPs designated on a listed 
AFA CP permit from processing any pollock harvested in a directed 
pollock fishery in the GOA and any groundfish 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 (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.
    Non-exempt AFA CVs are prohibited in regulation from directed 
fishing for specific groundfish species or species groups subject to 
sideboard limits (Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and Table 56 to 50 CFR part 
679) (84 FR 2723, February 8, 2019). 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 for species or species groups not listed in Table 56 
continue to be calculated and included in the GOA annual harvest 
specifications.
    Tables 18 and 19 list the final 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 tables 18 and 19.

[[Page 15504]]



                       Table 18--Final 2024 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                                     [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Ratio of 2009-2019
                                      Apportionments by season/                                       non-exempt AFA CV    Final 2024   Final 2024 non-
               Species                           gear                      Area/component             retained catch to     TACs \3\     exempt AFA CV
                                                                                                        2009-2019 TAC                   sideboard limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.............................  A Season: January 20-May   Shumagin (610)...................                 0.057        5,422                309
                                       31.                       Chirikof (620)...................                 0.064       70,918              4,539
                                                                 Kodiak (630).....................                 0.091       13,862              1,261
                                      B Season: September 1-     Shumagin (610)...................                 0.057       33,460              1,907
                                       November 1.               Chirikof (620)...................                 0.064       20,019              1,281
                                                                 Kodiak (630).....................                 0.091       36,725              3,342
                                      Annual...................  WYK (640)........................                 0.026        5,565                145
Pacific cod.........................  A Season: \1\ January 1-   W................................                 0.009        3,899                 35
                                       June 10.                  C................................                 0.011        9,894                109
                                      B Season: \2\ September 1- W................................                 0.009        2,222                 20
                                       December 31.              C................................                 0.011        5,548                 61
Flatfish, shallow-water.............  Annual...................  C................................                 0.011       27,783                306
Rex sole............................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.014       13,639                191
Arrowtooth flounder.................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.011       64,871                714
Flathead sole.......................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.007       21,307                149
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
\3\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs.


                       Table 19--Final 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
                                      Apportionments by season/                                       non-exempt AFA CV    Final 2025   Final 2025 non-
               Species                           gear                      Area/component             retained catch to     TAC \3\      exempt AFA CV
                                                                                                        2009-2019 TAC                   sideboard limit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.............................  A Season: January 20-May   Shumagin (610)...................                 0.057        4,483                256
                                       31.                       Chirikof (620)...................                 0.064       58,629              3,752
                                                                 Kodiak (630).....................                 0.091       11,460              1,043
                                      B Season: September 1-     Shumagin (610)...................                 0.057       27,661              1,577
                                       November 1.               Chirikof (620)...................                 0.064       16,550              1,059
                                                                 Kodiak (630).....................                 0.091       30,361              2,763
                                      Annual...................  WYK (640)........................                 0.026        4,601                120
Pacific cod.........................  A Season: \1\ January 1-   W................................                 0.009        3,406                 31
                                       June 10.                  C................................                 0.011        8,641                 95
                                      B Season: \2\ September 1- W................................                 0.009        1,941                 17
                                       December 31.              C................................                 0.011        4,845                 53
Flatfish, shallow-water.............  Annual...................  C................................                 0.011       28,311                311
Rex sole............................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.014       13,624                191
Arrowtooth flounder.................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.011       64,688                712
Flathead sole.......................  Annual...................  C................................                 0.007       21,702                152
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\2\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.
\3\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs.

Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Halibut PSC Limits

    The 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 PCTC 
Program, 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 20 lists the final 2024 and 2025 non-exempt AFA CV halibut 
PSC sideboard limits for vessels using trawl gear in the GOA.

   Table 20--Final 2024 and 2025 Non-Exempt AFA CV Halibut Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Sideboard Limits for
                                       Vessels Using Trawl Gear in the GOA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          Annual non-exempt AFA CV halibut PSC
     Ratio (percent)        Annual trawl gear halibut PSC limit (mt)                   limit (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                0.072                                       1,705                                        123
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 15505]]

Non-AFA Crab Vessel Groundfish Harvest Limitations

    Section 680.22 establishes groundfish catch limits for vessels with 
a history of participation in the Bering Sea snow crab fishery to 
prevent these vessels from using the increased flexibility provided by 
the Crab Rationalization (CR) Program to expand their level of 
participation in the GOA groundfish fisheries. Sideboard limits 
restrict these vessels' catch to their collective historical landings 
in each GOA groundfish fishery (except the fixed-gear sablefish 
fishery). Sideboard limits also apply to catch made using an LLP 
license derived from the history of a restricted vessel, even if that 
LLP license is used on another vessel.
    The basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the 
final rules implementing the major provisions of the CR Program, 
including Amendments 18 and 19 to the Fishery Management 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), 
Amendment 45 to the Crab FMP (80 FR 28539, May 19, 2015), and a 
rulemaking 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)) (84 FR 2723, 
February 8, 2019).
    Tables 21 and 22 list the final 2024 and 2025 groundfish sideboard 
limitations for non-AFA crab vessels. All targeted or incidental catch 
of sideboard species made by non-AFA crab vessels or associated LLP 
licenses will be deducted from these sideboard limits.

           Table 21--Final 2024 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Ratio of 1996-2000
                                                             non-AFA crab vessel   Final 2024   Final 2024 non-
        Species              Season           Area/gear      catch to 1996-2000       TACs      AFA crab vessel
                                                                total harvest                   sideboard limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........  A Season:         Western Pot CV..                0.0997        3,899                389
                         January 1-June   Central Pot CV..                0.0474        9,894                469
                         10.
                        B Season:         Western Pot CV..                0.0997        2,222                221
                         September 1-     Central Pot CV..                0.0474        5,548                263
                         December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Table 22--Final 2025 GOA Non-American Fisheries Act Crab Vessel Groundfish Sideboard Limits
                                 [Values are rounded to the nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Ratio of 1996-2000
                                                             non-AFA crab vessel   Final 2025   Final 2025 non-
        Species              Season           Area/gear      catch to 1996-2000       TACs      AFA crab vessel
                                                                total harvest                   sideboard limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........  A Season:         Western Pot CV..                0.0997        3,406                340
                         January 1-June   Central Pot CV..                0.0474        8,641                410
                         10.
                        B Season:         Western Pot CV..                0.0997        1,941                193
                         September 1-     Central Pot CV..                0.0474        4,845                230
                         December 31.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rockfish Program Groundfish Sideboard and Halibut PSC Limitations

    The Rockfish Program establishes three classes of sideboard 
provisions: CV groundfish sideboard restrictions, CP rockfish sideboard 
restrictions, and CP opt-out vessel sideboard restrictions (Sec.  
679.82(c)(1)). These sideboards are intended to limit the ability of 
rockfish harvesters to expand into other GOA groundfish fisheries.
    CVs participating in the Rockfish Program may not participate in 
directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and northern 
rockfish in the West Yakutat District and Western GOA from July 1 
through July 31. Also, CVs may not participate in directed fishing for 
arrowtooth flounder, deep-water flatfish, and rex sole in the GOA from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(d)).
    CPs participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives are restricted 
by rockfish and halibut PSC sideboard limits. These CPs are prohibited 
from directed fishing for dusky rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, and 
northern rockfish in the West Yakutat District and Western GOA from 
July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  679.82(e)(2)). Prior to 2021, CPs 
participating in Rockfish Program cooperatives were restricted by 
rockfish sideboard limits in the Western GOA. A final rule that 
implemented Amendment 111 to the FMP (86 FR 11895, March 1, 2021) 
removed from regulation the Western GOA rockfish sideboard limits for 
Rockfish Program CPs. That rule also revised and clarified the 
establishment of the West Yakutat District rockfish sideboard ratios in 
regulation. The rockfish sideboard ratio for each rockfish fishery in 
the West Yakutat District is an established percentage of the TAC for 
CPs in the directed fishery for dusky rockfish and Pacific ocean perch 
(Sec.  679.82(e)(4)). These percentages are confidential.
    Holders of CP-designated LLP licenses that opt out of participating 
in a Rockfish Program cooperative will be able to access that portion 
of each rockfish sideboard limit that is not assigned to rockfish 
cooperatives (Sec.  679.82(e)(7)).
    Under the Rockfish Program, the CP sector is subject to halibut PSC 
sideboard limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species 
fisheries (Sec.  679.82(e)(3) and (5)). Halibut PSC sideboard ratios by 
fishery are set forth in Sec.  679.82(e)(5). The CP sector halibut PSC 
sideboard limits are effective from July 1 through July 31 (Sec.  
679.82(c)(4), (e)(6)). No halibut PSC sideboard limits apply to the CV 
sector, as CVs participating in cooperatives receive a portion of the 
annual halibut PSC limit. CPs that opt out of the Rockfish Program are 
able to access that portion of the deep-water and shallow-water species 
fishery halibut PSC sideboard limit not assigned to CP rockfish 
cooperatives. The sideboard provisions for CPs that elect to opt out of 
participating in a rockfish cooperative are described in Sec.  
679.82(c), (e), and (f). Sideboard limits are linked to the catch 
history of specific vessels; however, some of these vessels may choose 
to opt out of the Rockfish Program. After March 1, NMFS will determine 
which CPs have opted-out of the Rockfish

[[Page 15506]]

Program in 2024, and NMFS will know the ratios and amounts used to 
calculate opt-out sideboard ratios. NMFS will then calculate any 
applicable opt-out sideboards for 2024 and announce these limits after 
March 1. Table 23 lists the final 2024 and 2025 Rockfish Program 
halibut PSC sideboard limits for the CP sector.

                      Table 23--Final 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     2024 and 2025       water species      species fishery
                       Sector                             halibut PSC       fishery halibut    halibut mortality    fishery halibut       halibut PSC
                                                        sideboard ratio      PSC sideboard        limit (mt)         PSC sideboard      sideboard limit
                                                           (percent)        ratio (percent)                           limit (mt)             (mt)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catcher/processor...................................                0.1                 2.5               1,705                   2                  43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amendment 80 Program Groundfish and PSC Sideboard Limits

    Amendment 80 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (Amendment 80 Program) 
established a limited access privilege program for the non-AFA trawl CP 
sector. The Amendment 80 Program established groundfish and halibut PSC 
catch limits for Amendment 80 Program participants to limit the ability 
of participants eligible for the Amendment 80 Program to expand their 
harvest efforts in the GOA.
    Section 679.92 establishes groundfish harvesting sideboard limits 
on all Amendment 80 program vessels, other than the fishing vessel (F/
V) ``Golden Fleece'', to amounts no greater than the limits listed in 
table 37 to 50 CFR part 679. Under Sec.  679.92(d), the F/V ``Golden 
Fleece'' is prohibited from directed fishing for pollock, Pacific cod, 
Pacific ocean perch, dusky rockfish, and northern rockfish in the GOA.
    Groundfish sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
operating in the GOA are based on their average aggregate harvests from 
1998 through 2004 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007). Tables 24 and 25 
list the final 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 tables 24 and 25.

                                  Table 24--Final 2024 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Ratio of
                                                                                                          Amendment 80                 2024 Amendment 80
               Species                      Apportionments and                     Area                  sector vessels     2024 TAC    vessel sideboard
                                          allocations by season                                          1998-2004 catch      (mt)         limit (mt)
                                                                                                             to TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \1\..........................  A Season: January 20-May 31  Shumagin (610)....................             0.003        5,422                 16
                                                                    Chirikof (620)....................             0.002       70,918                142
                                                                    Kodiak (630)......................             0.002       13,862                 28
                                       B Season: September 1-       Shumagin (610)....................             0.003       33,460                100
                                        November 1.                 Chirikof (620)....................             0.002       20,019                 40
                                                                    Kodiak (630)......................             0.002       36,725                 73
                                       Annual.....................  WYK (640).........................             0.002        5,565                 11
Pacific cod..........................  A Season \2\: January 1-     W.................................             0.020        3,899                 78
                                        June 10.                    C.................................             0.044        9,894                435
                                       B Season \3\: September 1-   W.................................             0.020        2,222                 44
                                        December 31.                C.................................             0.044        5,548                244
                                       Annual.....................  WYK...............................             0.034        2,203                 75
Pacific ocean perch..................  Annual.....................  W.................................             0.994        1,787              1,776
                                                                    WYK...............................             0.961        2,110              2,028
Northern rockfish....................  Annual.....................  W.................................             1.000        2,535              2,535
Dusky rockfish.......................  Annual.....................  W.................................             0.764          145                111
                                                                    WYK...............................             0.896           84                 75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs.
\2\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\3\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.


                                  Table 25--Final 2025 GOA Groundfish Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels
                                                       [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Ratio of
                                                                                                          Amendment 80                 2025 Amendment 80
               Species                      Apportionments and                     Area                  sector vessels     2025 TAC    vessel sideboard
                                          allocations by season                                          1998-2004 catch      (mt)         limit (mt)
                                                                                                             to TAC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \1\..........................  A Season: January 20-May 31  Shumagin (610)....................             0.003        4,483                 83
                                                                    Chirikof (620)....................             0.002       58,629                 33
                                                                    Kodiak (630)......................             0.002       11,460                 61
                                       B Season: September 1-       Shumagin (610)....................             0.003       27,661                 96
                                        November 1.                 Chirikof (620)....................             0.002       16,550                150
                                                                    Kodiak (630)......................             0.002       30,361                 84
                                       Annual.....................  WYK (640).........................             0.002        4,601                  9

[[Page 15507]]

 
Pacific cod..........................  A Season \2\: January 1-     W.................................             0.020        3,406                 68
                                        June 10.                    C.................................             0.044        8,641                150
                                       B Season \3\: September 1-   W.................................             0.020        1,941                 39
                                        December 31.                C.................................             0.044        4,845                213
                                       Annual.....................  WYK...............................             0.034        1,924                 65
Pacific ocean perch..................  Annual.....................  W.................................             0.994        1,726              1,716
                                       ...........................  WYK...............................             0.961        2,038              1,959
Northern rockfish....................  Annual.....................  W.................................             1.000        2,446              2,446
Dusky rockfish.......................  Annual.....................  W.................................             0.764          137                105
                                                                    WYK...............................             0.896           81                 73
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The Western and Central GOA and WYK District area apportionments of pollock are considered ACLs.
\2\ The Pacific cod A season for trawl gear does not open until January 20.
\3\ The Pacific cod B season for trawl gear closes November 1.

    The halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program vessels 
in the GOA are based on the historic use of halibut PSC by Amendment 80 
Program vessels in each PSC target category from 1998 through 2004. 
These values are slightly lower than the average historic use to 
accommodate two factors: allocation of halibut PSC cooperative quota 
under the Rockfish Program and the exemption of the F/V Golden Fleece 
from this restriction (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)). Table 26 lists the final 
2024 and 2025 halibut PSC sideboard limits for Amendment 80 Program 
vessels. These tables incorporate the maximum percentages of the 
halibut PSC sideboard limits that may be used by Amendment 80 Program 
vessels as contained in table 38 to 50 CFR part 679. Any residual 
amount of a seasonal Amendment 80 halibut PSC sideboard limit may carry 
forward to the next season limit (Sec.  679.92(b)(2)).

     Table 26--Final 2024 and 2025 Halibut PSC Sideboard Limits for Amendment 80 Program Vessels in the GOA
                                   [Values are rounded to nearest metric ton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Historic Amendment                      2024 and 2025
                                                            80 use of the       2024 and 2025     Amendment 80
        Season           Season dates    Target fishery   annual halibut PSC   annual halibut    vessel halibut
                                                         limit catch (ratio)   PSC limit (mt)       PSC limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................  January 20-      shallow-water..               0.0048             1,705                 8
                        April 1.        deep-water.....               0.0115             1,705                20
2....................  April 1-July 1.  shallow-water..               0.0189             1,705                32
                                        deep-water.....               0.1072             1,705               183
3....................  July 1-August 1  shallow-water..               0.0146             1,705                25
                                        deep-water.....               0.0521             1,705                89
4....................  August 1-        shallow-water..               0.0074             1,705                13
                        October 1.      deep-water.....               0.0014             1,705                 2
5....................  October 1-       shallow-water..               0.0227             1,705                39
                        December 31.    deep-water.....               0.0371             1,705                63
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............  ...............  ...............  ...................  ................               474
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Regional Administrator 
determines (1) that any allocation or apportionment of a target species 
or species group allocated or apportioned to a fishery will be reached; 
or (2) with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, that an allocation or 
apportionment to an inshore or offshore component or sector allocation 
will be reached, then the Regional Administrator may establish a 
directed fishing allowance (DFA) for that species or species group. If 
the Regional Administrator establishes a DFA and that allowance is or 
will be reached before the end of the fishing season or year, NMFS will 
prohibit directed fishing for that species or species group in the 
specified GOA subarea, regulatory area, or district (Sec.  
679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
    The Regional Administrator has determined that the TACs for the 
species and species groups listed in table 27 are necessary to account 
for the incidental catch of these species in other anticipated 
groundfish fisheries for the 2024 and 2025 fishing years.

[[Page 15508]]



      Table 27--2024 and 2025 Directed Fishing Closures in the GOA
 [Amounts for incidental catch in other directed fisheries are in metric
                                  tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Incidental catch
                                                     amount and year (if
            Target             Area/component/gear    amounts differ by
                                                            year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock......................  all/offshore.......  not applicable.\1\
Sablefish \2\................  all/trawl..........  3,283 (2024).
                                                    3,297 (2025).
Pacific cod..................  Western, CV, HAL...  83 (2024), 72
                               Western, CP, trawl.   (2025).
                               Central, CP, trawl.  142 (2024), 124
                                                     (2025).
                                                    635 (2024), 555
                                                     (2025).
Shortraker rockfish \2\......  All................  647.
Rougheye/blackspotted          All................  1,037 (2024).
 rockfish.\2\.                                      1,041 (2025).
Thornyhead rockfish \2\......  All................  1,628.
Other rockfish...............  All................  1,653.
Atka mackerel................  All................  4,700.
Big skate....................  All................  2,853.
Longnose skate...............  All................  2,536.
Other skates.................  All................  665.
Sharks.......................  All................  4,891.
Octopuses....................  All................  980.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pollock is closed to directed fishing in the GOA by the offshore
  component under Sec.   679.20(a)(6)(i).
\2\ Closures are not applicable to participants in cooperatives
  conducted under the Central GOA Rockfish Program because cooperatives
  are prohibited from exceeding their allocations (Sec.
  679.7(n)(6)(viii)).

    Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the 
Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species or species 
groups listed in table 27 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for those 
species and species groups, areas, gear types, and components in the 
GOA listed in table 27 effective at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 4, 2024, 
through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 2025.
    Closures implemented under the 2023 and 2024 GOA harvest 
specifications for groundfish (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023) remain 
effective under authority of these final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications and until the date specified in those closure 
notifications. Closures are posted at the following website under the 
Alaska filter for Management Areas: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/rules-and-announcements/bulletins.
    While these closures are in effect, the maximum retainable amounts 
at Sec.  679.20(e) and (f) apply at any time during a fishing trip. 
These closures to directed fishing are in addition to closures and 
prohibitions found at 50 CFR part 679. NMFS may implement other 
closures during the 2024 and 2025 fishing years as necessary for 
effective conservation and management.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received two comment letters with seven unique comments during 
the public comment period for the proposed GOA groundfish harvest 
specifications (88 FR 85184, December 7, 2023). One comment letter was 
from an individual and the other was from a non-governmental 
organization. NMFS's responses to the seven unique comments raised in 
the comment letters are addressed below.
    Comment 1: The GOA harvest specifications do not consider the 
impact of offshore wind on the marine environment.
    Response: This is outside of the scope of the harvest 
specifications. The final rule implementing the harvest specifications 
sets the OFL, ABC, and TAC for target species in the GOA, but does not 
regulate or authorize offshore wind. There is no current or planned 
offshore wind project in Alaska State waters or EEZ waters off of 
Alaska.
    Comment 2: Salmon are important for the cultural well-being of 
Alaska native tribes. Climate change is negatively affecting salmon and 
additive pressure from the pollock fishery is exacerbating their 
declines. Maintaining the status quo TAC for pollock harvest will 
result in continued bycatch and impacts to salmon and halibut as the 
pollock industry catches more individual salmon and halibut as bycatch 
than directed and subsistence fishermen of Alaska are allocated for 
their survival and livelihoods.
    Response: NMFS recognizes that salmon are paramount to the cultural 
well-being for indigenous peoples of Alaska. NMFS also recognizes that 
climate change is affecting the survival of western Alaska Chinook and 
chum salmon in their freshwater and marine life stages.
    The annual TAC setting process is a robust, expansive process that 
involves significant scientific input and includes consideration of 
current environmental and ecosystem factors (like climate change) and 
other marine resources (like salmon and halibut). Scientists from the 
AFSC prepare the assessment using statistical analyses of fish 
populations and draft the written assessment for a species or species 
group, which for GOA pollock is a full assessment updated annually. The 
assessments for the GOA are informed by the most recent survey and 
harvest data available, including multiple surveys conducted annually 
and biennially in the GOA. The stock assessment then undergoes rigorous 
review by the scientists and resource managers on the Plan Team and 
SSC.
    During this annual TAC setting process, the Plan Team, SSC, AP, and 
Council review several sources comprising the best scientific 
information available--the ESR, ESPs, stock assessments, and Plan Team 
reports--and use all these materials as reference in their OFL and ABC 
(the biological reference points), and TAC (the harvest target/limit), 
recommendations to NMFS. NMFS reviews the same information for its 
annual decision to implement the OFL, ABC, and TAC for GOA groundfish. 
Updates on salmon abundance estimates, commercial salmon catch, and the 
physical environment are included in the ESR and ESP. For an overview 
of the ESR and ESP, refer to the response to Comment 3.
    The stock assessment author and Plan Team make a recommendation for 
OFL and ABC for each species and species group, and the SSC may concur 
with this recommendation or make a

[[Page 15509]]

different recommendation. Ultimately, the SSC recommends the OFL and 
ABC that inform the setting of the TAC for each species and species 
group since TAC cannot exceed ABC (Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP; 50 CFR 
600.310(g)(4)). This ensures that TAC for each species and species 
group does not exceed the scientific recommendations for ABC and OFL.
    OFL and ABC are calculated using prescribed methods set forth in 
the FMP. The FMP specifies a series of six tiers to define OFL and ABC 
amounts based on the level of reliable information available to fishery 
scientists. Tier 1 represents the highest level of information quality 
available, while Tier 6 represents the lowest. The methods for 
calculating OFL and ABC (including the ABC control rule) become more 
precautionary depending on the tier and stock status. For example, with 
less reliable information the larger the buffer between OFL and ABC. As 
stock status declines the OFL and ABC are reduced.
    The specification of ABC is informed by the ecosystem, 
environmental, and socioeconomic factors presented in the stock 
assessment and the ESRs, specifically the stock-specific risk table 
prepared for each stock as well as an additional ecosystem 
considerations section prepared for full/operational assessments. For 
GOA pollock, the ecosystem considerations section is included in the 
ESP prepared with the stock assessment, and the GOA pollock assessment 
also includes an overview of bycatch of salmon and halibut in the GOA 
pollock fishery. The 2023 ESRs for the Alaska ecosystems provide 
information on the status of salmon in the GOA ecosystem including 
updated information on the abundance of salmon, fish condition, and run 
sizes. The specification of the pollock TAC is therefore based on the 
best scientific information available on the status of the pollock 
stock and accounts for ecosystem, environmental, and socioeconomic 
factors, including bycatch of non-target species like salmon.
    In the groundfish fisheries, salmon and halibut are a non-target 
species and are considered a prohibited species. For the GOA pollock 
fisheries, there are separate Chinook salmon PSC limits for the Western 
GOA (6,684 salmon) and Central GOA (18,316 salmon). There is also a 
trawl non-pollock limit for Chinook salmon in the Western and Central 
GOA. The limit is 7,500 Chinook and is further apportioned to trawl CPs 
(3,600), trawl CVs participating in the Central GOA Rockfish Program 
(1,200), and trawl CVs not participating in the Rockfish Program 
(2,700). NMFS monitors Chinook PSC and will close a sector or fishery 
if the PSC limit is reached. For halibut, the regulations set a halibut 
PSC limit for trawl gear of 1,705 mt, and the estimated halibut bycatch 
mortality through December 31, 2023 is 289 mt for trawl gear. NMFS also 
posts weekly PSC reports on the web page at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska.
    Additionally, NMFS releases a report of the genetic stock 
composition of Chinook salmon in the GOA trawl fisheries on an annual 
basis. The latest report was presented to the Council in April 2023 
using data from the 2021 and 2022 pollock trawl fisheries. The report 
showed that the majority of Chinook salmon encountered and sampled 
originate from South and East of the Alaska Peninsula. That report is 
available at https://meetings.npfmc.org/CommentReview/DownloadFile?p=a5e7366b-bb9f-429a-b1b2-636ecfd1f442.pdf&fileName=C2a%20GOA%20Chinook%20Genetics%202021-2022.pdf.
    Ultimately, NMFS manages bycatch in the GOA pollock fishery through 
a variety of tools. These tools include the PSC limits (which are 
announced in these annual harvest specifications), and a comprehensive 
monitoring program to collect data on bycatch, including salmon 
bycatch. The information from this monitoring program is used to 
estimate how many Chinook and chum salmon are caught as bycatch from 
trawl vessels, where those fish came from, and whether a potential 
violation of law occurred.
    NMFS acknowledges the western Alaska salmon crisis and the impact 
it is having on culture and food security throughout western Alaska. 
Science indicates climate change as the primary driver of poor salmon 
returns in western Alaska. Scientists from NMFS continue to study the 
impacts of climate change on salmon and halibut. For example, 
scientists from NMFS and the State of Alaska found that recent heat 
wave events created conditions where energy allocation and prey quality 
was affected and added stress to western Alaska chum salmon at critical 
life stages, see https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v726/p149-160/.
    The Council and NMFS are committed to continued improvements in 
bycatch management with a goal of minimizing bycatch at all levels of 
abundance for target species (pollock) and PSC. NMFS and the Council 
are currently engaged in a comprehensive process to evaluate existing 
measures and develop alternatives that may be necessary to further 
reduce chum salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. More 
information on this process can be found at https://www.npfmc.org/fisheries-issues/bycatch/salmon-bycatch/. However, the Chinook salmon 
and Pacific halibut PSC limits and the conditions that affect the 
limits are set in regulations, and changes to those regulations are 
outside of the scope of the annual harvest specification process. NMFS 
believes that changes to bycatch management of all prohibited species, 
including Chinook salmon, chum salmon, and Pacific halibut, are best 
accomplished through the Council process to recommend FMP amendments 
and regulations that NMFS would implement if consistent with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable law.
    Comment 3: Management of fisheries, including TAC setting and PSC 
limits, should include ecosystem based fishery management.
    Response: The annual process for specifying TAC for groundfish in 
the GOA is a scientifically-driven process informed by the best 
available information on the status of the marine ecosystems off 
Alaska. Each year, an ESR is prepared for the GOA ecosystem (as well as 
for the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands ecosystems). The intent of the 
ESRs is to provide the Plan Team, SSC, AP, Council, and NMFS, as well 
as the public, with a broad overview of the current status of the 
marine ecosystems. The ESRs are drafted by scientists and staff from 
NOAA, other Federal and state agencies, academic institutions, tribes, 
and non-profits, and they compile and summarize information about the 
status of the Alaska marine ecosystems and represent the best 
scientific information available.
    The ESRs include information on the physical environment and 
oceanography, climate data, biological data, marine resources, and 
socio-ecological dimensions to provide context for the specification of 
OFL, ABC, and TAC. For example, the 2024 ESR for the GOA includes a 
synthesis of ecosystem status indicators in the physical environment 
(such as sea surface temperature, sea level pressure anomalies, and 
ocean transport); habitat (including ocean acidification); analysis of 
primary production (such as phytoplankton) and zooplankton; trends for 
non-target species and discards, including sea jellies, forage fish 
like herring and eulachon, and squid; updated information on salmon; 
groundfish condition and distribution; benthic communities; a seabird

[[Page 15510]]

synthesis and seabird-derived forage fish indicators; marine mammals, 
including humpback whales and Steller sea lions; ecosystem and 
community indicators; and fishing indicators, including a 
sustainability index. The 2024 GOA ESR is available at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/REFM/docs/2023/GOAecosys.pdf.
    Information from the ESRs are integrated in stock assessments, 
primarily through the risk tables that are prepared for each stock. The 
risk table includes evaluation of four considerations: assessment-
related, population dynamics, and environmental/ecosystem, and fishery 
performance. The risk table is meant to inform the specification of ABC 
by accounting for additional scientific uncertainty that is not 
addressed in the stock assessment model used to calculate OFL and ABC 
based on the stock's tier and the corresponding OFL and ABC control 
rules in the FMP. Because TAC cannot exceed ABC, reductions in ABC 
based on the risk table result in additional precaution in the catch 
limits for groundfish of the GOA. The risk table can highlight changes 
in ecosystem conditions. For example, in the 2019 Pacific cod SAFE 
report, the risk table assessed three considerations that were elevated 
to level 2. As a result of the elevated risk, authors recommending 
setting the ABC below the maximum. Further, because the 2019 GOA 
Pacific cod stock was estimated to be below 20 percent of the projected 
unfished spawning biomass (B20), directed fishing 
was prohibited during the 2020 fishing year for the conservation of 
western Distinct Population Segment Steller sea lions (84 FR 70438, 
December 23, 2019). This prohibition is set in regulations (Sec.  
679.20(d)(4)).
    Some stock assessments, GOA pollock, GOA Pacific cod, and AK 
Sablefish, also include an ESP. The ESP was developed as a framework 
for organizing and evaluating ecosystem and socioeconomic information 
about an individual stock. The ESP informs environmental and ecosystem 
considerations, population dynamics, and fisheries performance in the 
risk table on pollock. For example, the ESP for GOA pollock is cited in 
the pollock SAFE for both temperature and catch per unit effort (CPUE). 
Temperature is within the optimal range for pollock life history stages 
in 2023 and CPUE is consistent with the abundance trend of exploitable 
biomass. The GOA pollock ESP is available at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/Plan_Team/2023/GOApollock_appA.pdf.
    The information from the ESRs, stock assessments, and ESPs allows 
the Plan Team, SSC, AP, Council, and NMFS to respond to ecosystem 
changes and stock changes in the GOA and to adjust the harvest 
specifications as necessary. This is consistent with the FMP and the 
preferred harvest strategy analyzed in the Final EIS and implemented 
each year for the specification of TAC. The Final EIS contemplated that 
ABCs could be reduced based on ecosystem considerations (Chapter 11 of 
Final EIS). The harvest strategy is designed such that the most recent 
information would be used each year in setting the annual harvest 
specification. The process is flexible to incorporate current 
information on stock abundance and environmental, ecosystem, and 
socioeconomic factors (like physical and ecosystem changes associated 
with climate change). Similarly, the FMP contemplates ongoing 
consideration of relevant factors, like ecosystem considerations and 
climate change, through the development of SAFE reports (Section 3.2 of 
the FMP). The use of the most recent, best available information in the 
SAFE reports allows the Council and NMFS to respond to changes in stock 
condition and environmental, ecosystem, and socioeconomic factors in 
the GOA and to adjust the harvest specifications as appropriate, which 
is also consistent with National Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
to use the best scientific information available (16 U.S.C. 
1851(a)(2)).
    NMFS is committed to supporting science and research to continue to 
move the process into effective ecosystem-based management by refining 
the existing tools and developing new tools for incorporating ecosystem 
and socioeconomic information.
    As noted in response to Comment 2, PSC limits and the conditions 
that affect the limits are set in regulations, and changes to those 
regulations are outside of the scope of the annual harvest 
specification process.
    Comment 4: NMFS must account for climate change in its decision 
making.
    Response: Climate change is accounted for in NMFS's decisionmaking 
on the annual implementation of the harvest specifications, consistent 
with the harvest strategy in the FMP and analyzed in the Final EIS. The 
Final EIS analyzed alternatives for an implementing framework for the 
BSAI and GOA harvest strategy and evaluated the potential effects of 
those alternatives on the human environment (see response to Comment 
6). The Final EIS examined existing physical and oceanographic 
conditions in the BSAI and GOA, and addressed regime shifts, warming 
and loss of sea ice, and acidification (Chapter 3.5 of the Final EIS), 
as well as systemic ecosystem impacts. (Chapter 11 of the Final EIS).
    Moreover, the framework process for the preferred harvest strategy 
under the Final EIS allows for the effects of climate change to be 
considered in the annual process for setting the harvest 
specifications. As addressed in response to Comment 3, the annual ESR 
is part of the SAFE reports that the Council and its Plan Teams, SSC, 
and AP annually review prior to the review of the stock assessments and 
advancing recommendations to NMFS for the annual OFLs, ABCs, and TACs. 
The purpose of the ESRs is to provide the Council, scientific 
community, and the public, as well as NMFS, with annual information 
about ecosystem status and trends, and they include physical 
oceanography, biological data, and socio-ecological dimensions, 
primarily collected from AFSC surveys with collaboration from a range 
of government and non-government partners. The ESRs provide the 
scientific review body (the SSC) with context for the annual biological 
reference points (OFLs and ABCs), and for the Council's final TAC 
recommendations for groundfish (which are constrained by those 
biological reference points). Information from the ESRs are also 
integrated into the annual harvest recommendations through inclusion in 
stock assessment-specific risk tables. There are many examples of 
climate change considerations presented in the GOA ESR, including: sea 
surface temperatures and marine heatwaves driven by long-term climate 
change; status and trends of key physical indicators of climate change 
that could impact the survival and condition of certain species like 
salmon, such as ocean temperatures; deoxygenation from climate change 
and patterns and trends in oxygen in the GOA; implications from ocean 
acidification for sensitive species and fisheries, including Tanner 
crab and salmon; shifting migration dates for salmon in terms of 
juvenile and adult migration patterns; and trends in zooplankton 
population and lipid content, as well as juvenile salmon size and 
condition, in Southeast Alaska as part of an effort to investigate how 
climate change may affect nearshore ecosystems in relation to juvenile 
salmon and associated biophysical factors.
    In some instances, the Plan Teams and SSC have recommended ABC 
reductions based on climate change

[[Page 15511]]

considerations. As explained in response to Comment 3, stock 
assessments use a stock-assessment specific risk table that is applied 
by evaluating the severity of four types of considerations that could 
be used to support a scientific recommendation to reduce the ABC 
(assessment-related, population dynamics, environmental/ecosystem, and 
fishery performance). For example, for the 2019 stock assessment for 
Pacific cod, patterns in distribution, growth, and size were associated 
with warmer ocean conditions and the cumulative effects from a series 
of recent warm years. As a result, environmental and ecosystem 
considerations were assigned a level 2 in the risk table.
    Finally, the FMP indicated that the ongoing consideration of 
factors like climate change would be addressed annually in the SAFE 
reports (Section 3.2.2.2 of the FMP), as is currently the case with 
both individual stock assessments and the ESRs. As a result, the annual 
harvest specifications process, which implements the preferred harvest 
strategy under the Final EIS, allows for the consideration of the best 
scientific information available on climate change (16 U.S.C. 
1851(a)(2)).
    Comment 5: The TAC for pollock should reflect the true 
environmental cost of trawling.
    Response: The SAFE report chapter for GOA pollock evaluates 
annually the GOA pollock fishery's effects on the ecosystem, as well as 
ecosystem effects on the pollock stock (see section titled 
``Environmental/Ecosystem considerations'' in the SAFE report chapter: 
https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/Plan_Team/2023/GOApollock.pdf). In 
addition, ecosystem considerations, as well as the impact on 
communities and incidentally caught species, are considered and updated 
annually in the ESRs and ESPs, including the GOA pollock ESP. The Final 
EIS supporting the harvest specifications also evaluated environmental 
and ecosystem considerations, and the environmental impacts of the GOA 
pollock fishery have been analyzed in a number of subsequent NEPA 
documents, including the EA for Amendment 93 to the GOA FMP.
    Comment 6: The Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications EIS is 
outdated and NMFS must prepare a new or supplemental EIS on the harvest 
specifications.
    Response: Groundfish harvests are managed subject to annual limits 
on the retained and discarded amounts of each species and species 
group. The ``harvest strategy'' is the method used to calculate these 
annual limits, referred to as ``harvest specifications,'' and the 
process of establishing them is referred to as the ``specifications 
process.'' NMFS prepared the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications 
Final EIS to analyze the environmental, social, and economic impacts of 
alternatives harvest strategies used to determine the annual harvest 
specifications for the federally managed groundfish fisheries in the 
GOA and BSAI management areas.
    The purpose of the harvest strategy is to provide for orderly and 
controlled commercial fishing for groundfish; promote sustainable 
incomes to the fishing, fish processing, and support industries; 
support sustainable fishing communities; and provide sustainable flows 
of fish products to consumers. The harvest strategy balances groundfish 
harvest in the fishing year with ecosystem needs (such as non-target 
fish stocks, marine mammals, seabirds, and habitat). Importantly, the 
harvest strategy and specification process are designed to use the best 
available scientific information developed each year through the annual 
SAFE (including the ESR process) to calculate the status determination 
criteria, assess the status of each stock, and set the TACs.
    In a ROD, NMFS selected one of the alternative harvest strategies: 
to set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs recommended through the 
harvest specifications process that includes review by the Plan Team 
and SSC. NMFS concluded that the preferred harvest strategy analyzed in 
the Final EIS and selected in the ROD 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. 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. 
NMFS has not changed the harvest strategy or specifications process 
from what was analyzed in the Final EIS.
    Each year the harvest strategy uses the best scientific information 
available in the annual SAFE reports to derive the annual harvest 
specifications, which include TACs and PSC limits. Through this 
process, each year, the Council's Groundfish Plan Teams use updated 
stock assessments to calculate biomass, OFLs, and ABCs for each species 
and species group for specified management areas. The OFLs and ABCs are 
published with the harvest specifications, and provide the foundation 
for the Council and NMFS to develop the TACs. The OFLs and ABCs reflect 
fishery science, applied in light of the requirements of the FMPs. The 
Council bases its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, which are 
consistent with the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations (meaning, the TAC 
recommendations cannot exceed the SSC's ABC and OFL recommendations).
    The Final EIS evaluates the consequences of alternative harvest 
strategies on ecosystem components and on the ecosystem as a whole. The 
Final EIS evaluates the alternatives for their effects within the 
action area. The environmental consequences of each alternative were 
considered for target species, non-specified species, forage species, 
prohibited species, marine mammals, seabirds, Essential Fish Habitat, 
ecosystem relationships, the economy, and environmental justice. These 
considerations were evaluated based on the conditions as they existed 
at the time the Final EIS was developed, but the Final EIS also 
anticipated potential changes in these conditions that could be 
incorporated, as appropriate, through the annual implementation of the 
harvest strategy. Each year since 2007 relevant changes (new 
information, changed circumstances, potential changes to the action) 
are considered with the primary purpose of evaluating the need to 
supplement the Final EIS.
    NEPA implementing regulations at 40 CFR 1502.9(d) instruct agencies 
to prepare supplements to either draft or final environmental impact 
statements if there remains a major Federal action left to occur and: 
(i) The agency makes substantial changes to the proposed action that 
are relevant to environmental concerns; or (ii) There are significant 
new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and 
bearing on the proposed action or its impacts. Ultimately, an agency is 
required ``to take a `hard look' at the new information to assess 
whether supplementation might be necessary.'' Norton v. S. Utah 
Wilderness All., 542 U.S. 55, 72-73 (2004).
    A SIR for the Final EIS is prepared each year to take that ``hard 
look'' and document the evaluation and decision whether an SEIS is 
necessary to implement the annual groundfish harvest specifications, 
consistent with NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1502.9(d)) and NOAA's Policy 
and Procedures for Compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act and Related Authorities (Companion Manual for NOAA Administrative 
Order 216-6A).

[[Page 15512]]

The Companion Manual authorizes the use of a SIR to document a review 
of new information or circumstances and determine the sufficiency of 
the existing NEPA analysis for implementing a component or step of the 
action analyzed in that existing analysis.
    The SIR prepared each year for the annual harvest specifications 
analyzes the information contained in the most recent SAFE reports and 
all information available to NMFS and the Council to determine whether 
an SEIS should be prepared. The SAFE reports represent the best 
scientific information available for the harvest specifications. 
Included in the SAFE reports are the groundfish stock assessments and 
any ESPs, the ESRs, and the Economic Status Report. To date, no annual 
SIR to the Final EIS has concluded that an SEIS is necessary.
    The SIR recognizes the preferred harvest strategy analyzed in the 
Final EIS and selected in the ROD was built on an annual process to 
compile and utilize the most recent, best scientific information 
available on species abundance and condition, harvest and survey data, 
environmental and ecosystem factors, and socio-economic conditions. The 
Final EIS contemplated the annual process included flexibility that 
allows for the implementation of annual harvest specifications that 
reflect new information and changing circumstances in the context of 
the considerations in the Final EIS. NMFS has determined that the 2024 
and 2025 harvest specifications for the BSAI and GOA are consistent 
with the preferred alternative harvest strategy analyzed in the Harvest 
Specifications EIS because they were set through the harvest 
specifications process, are within the optimum yield established for 
both the BSAI and the GOA, and do not set TAC to exceed the ABC for any 
single species or species group.
    The SIR assessed new information and circumstances. Based on the 
SIR, NMFS concluded that the best available, most recent information 
presented on species abundance and condition, environmental and 
ecosystem factors, and socio-economic conditions and used to set the 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications does not represent a significant 
change relative to the environmental impacts of the preferred harvest 
strategy analyzed in the Harvest Specifications EIS.
    The Harvest Specifications EIS identified reasonably foreseeable 
future actions, which inform the analysis in the SIR regarding new 
circumstances and which include catch share management, traditional 
fisheries management tools, ecosystem-sensitive management, and actions 
by other Federal, state, and international agencies and private 
actions. This section of the SIR assessed information and circumstances 
regarding bycatch management of salmon, crab, and halibut; habitat 
impacts; seabirds; and marine mammals, including ESA-listed species 
like Steller sea lions, humpback whales, sperm whales, and fin whales, 
and unlisted species like northern fur seals and killer whales. In this 
assessment, the SIR relied on the 2023 SAFE reports, other analyses 
prepared to support NMFS management actions, updated catch and bycatch 
data, and other best available scientific information to conclude any 
new information and circumstances do not present a seriously different 
picture of the likely environmental harms of the action to occur--the 
annual implementation of the 2024 and 2025 groundfish harvest 
specifications--beyond what was considered in the Harvest 
Specifications EIS. More details are provided in the SIR (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Based on the SIR prepared in conjunction with these harvest 
specifications, NMFS determined that the 2024 and 2025 groundfish 
harvest specifications do not constitute a substantial change in the 
proposed action analyzed in the Final EIS and will not affect the human 
environment in a significant manner or to a significant extent not 
already considered in the Harvest Specifications EIS. Accordingly, 
supplementation of the Final EIS was not required for NMFS to approve 
and implement the 2024 and 2025 groundfish harvest specifications of 
the BSAI and GOA.
    Comment 7: NMFS should develop a programmatic EIS and initiate a 
NEPA analysis that includes government-to-government consultation with 
Alaska Native Tribes, or otherwise supplement the Alaska Groundfish 
Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
    Response: As outlined in response to response to Comment 6, NMFS 
prepared the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS to 
analyze alternatives to implement the FMP's harvest strategy and 
specifications process, which outlines the method and process used to 
determine the annual harvest specifications for the federally managed 
groundfish fisheries in the GOA and BSAI management areas. NMFS also 
must specify PSC allowances in the annual harvest specifications. The 
Final EIS evaluates the consequences of alternative harvest strategies 
on ecosystem components and on the ecosystem as a whole, as well as 
their effects within the action area. Ultimately, from the analysis in 
the Final EIS, NMFS selected a preferred harvest strategy that NMFS 
uses each year for the specifications process. Each year, NMFS also 
evaluates whether supplementation of that Final EIS is required, 
consistent with NEPA regulations, to implement the harvest 
specifications. Based on the SIR prepared in conjunction with these 
harvest specifications, NMFS determined that supplementation of the 
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS was not required. 
NMFS therefore implements these harvest specifications consistent with 
the Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS.
    Separate from the Final EIS for the Alaska Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications, the Council and NMFS prepared the Alaska Groundfish 
Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (PSEIS). The 
PSEIS evaluated alternative policies and objectives for the management 
of the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI and GOA. The action analyzed in 
the PSEIS is different from the action analyzed in the Alaska 
Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS, and as explained above 
NMFS implements the harvest specifications consistent with the Final 
EIS analyzing that action. In addition to the preparation of the 
Harvest Specifications Final EIS, since the PSEIS the Council and NMFS 
have prepared for FMP amendments and regulatory changes the appropriate 
NEPA analyses to support the implementation of those specific FMP or 
regulatory changes.
    Finally, the Council and NMFS are now considering a new action to 
revise the management policies and objectives for the groundfish 
fisheries, as well as for all Council-managed fisheries, off Alaska. 
The Council requested that NMFS initiate the development of a 
Programmatic EIS to analyze alternatives for the revisions of policies, 
objectives, and goals for all Council-managed fisheries in June of 
2023. In 2024-2025, the Council and NMFS will decide on the direction 
and structure of alternatives analyzed under a Programmatic EIS, and 
NMFS will begin the NEPA scoping process. There will be multiple public 
meetings, in addition to Council-hosted workshops, to support the 
development and analysis of alternatives, and NMFS will work with 
Alaska Native Tribes to ensure meaningful and timely government-to-
government consultation consistent with Executive Order 13175 and NOAA 
Procedures for Government-to-Government Consultation with

[[Page 15513]]

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments.

Classification

    NMFS is issuing this final rule pursuant to section 305(d) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act. Through previous actions, the FMP and regulations 
are designed to authorize NMFS to take this action. See 50 CFR part 
679. The NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the final 
harvest specifications are consistent with the FMP and with the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act and other applicable laws.
    This final rule is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866 
because it only implements annual catch limits in the GOA.
    NMFS prepared an EIS for the Alaska groundfish harvest 
specifications and alternative harvest strategies (see ADDRESSES) and 
made it available to the public on January 12, 2007 (72 FR 1512). On 
February 13, 2007, NMFS issued the ROD for the Final EIS identifying 
the selected alternative (Alternative 2). NMFS prepared a SIR for this 
action to provide a subsequent assessment of the action and to address 
the need to prepare a Supplemental EIS (SEIS; 40 CFR 1501.11(b); Sec.  
1502.9(d)(1)). Copies of the Final EIS, ROD, and annual SIRs for this 
action are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The Final EIS analyzes 
the environmental, social, and economic consequences of the groundfish 
harvest specifications and alternative harvest strategies on resources 
in the action area. Based on the analysis in the Final EIS, NMFS 
concluded that the preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) provides the 
best balance among relevant environmental, social, and economic 
considerations and allows for continued management of the groundfish 
fisheries based on the most recent, best scientific information. The 
preferred alternative is a harvest strategy in which TACs are set at a 
level within the range of ABCs recommended through the Council harvest 
specifications process by the Council's SSC. The sum of the TACs also 
must achieve the OY specified in the FMP and regulations. While the 
specific numbers that the harvest strategy produces may vary from year 
to year, the methodology used for the preferred harvest strategy 
remains constant.
    The annual SIR evaluates the need to prepare a SEIS for the 2024 
and 2025 groundfish harvest specifications. An SEIS must be prepared if 
a major Federal action remains to occur and: (1) the agency makes 
substantial changes to the proposed action that are relevant to 
environmental concerns; or (2) significant new circumstances or 
information exist relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the 
proposed action or its impacts (40 CFR 1502.9(d)(1)). After reviewing 
the most recent, best available information, including the information 
contained in the SIR and SAFE report, the Regional Administrator has 
determined that (1) the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, which 
were set according to the preferred harvest strategy, do not constitute 
a substantial change in the action; and (2) the information presented 
does not indicate that there are significant new circumstances or 
information relevant to environmental concerns and bearing on the 
proposed action or its impacts. Any new information and circumstances 
do not present a seriously different picture of the likely 
environmental harms of the action to occur--the implementation of these 
harvest specifications--beyond what was considered in the Final EIS, 
and the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications will result in 
environmental, social, and economic impacts within the scope of those 
analyzed and disclosed in the Final EIS. Therefore, a SEIS is not 
necessary to implement the 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.
    Section 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 604) 
requires that, when an agency promulgates a final rule under 5 U.S.C. 
553, after being required by that section or any other law, to publish 
a general notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency shall prepare a 
final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA). The following constitutes 
the FRFA prepared for these final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications.
    Section 604 of the RFA describes the required contents of a FRFA: 
(1) a statement of the need for, and objectives of, the rule; (2) a 
statement of the significant issues raised by the public comments in 
response to the initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA), a 
statement of the assessment of the agency of such issues, and a 
statement of any changes made in the proposed rule as a result of such 
comments; (3) the response of the agency to any comments filed by the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration in 
response to the proposed rule, and a detailed statement of any change 
made to the proposed rule in the final rule as a result of the 
comments; (4) a description of and an estimate of the number of small 
entities to which the rule will apply or an explanation of why no such 
estimate is available; (5) a description of the projected reporting, 
recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements of the rule, including 
an estimate of the classes of small entities which will be subject to 
the requirement and the type of professional skills necessary for 
preparation of the report or record; and (6) a description of the steps 
the agency has taken to minimize the significant economic impact on 
small entities consistent with the stated objectives of applicable 
statutes, including a statement of the factual, policy, and legal 
reasons for selecting the alternative adopted in the final rule and why 
each one of the other significant alternatives to the rule considered 
by the agency that affect the impact on small entities was rejected.
    A description of this action, its purpose, and its legal basis are 
contained at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are 
not repeated here.
    NMFS published the proposed rule on December 7, 2023 (88 FR 85184). 
NMFS prepared an IRFA to accompany the proposed action and included the 
IRFA in the proposed rule. The comment period closed on January 8, 
2024. No comments were received on the IRFA or on the economic impacts 
of the rule more generally. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration did not file any comments on the proposed rule.
    The entities directly regulated by this action are: (1) entities 
operating vessels with groundfish Federal fishing permits (FFPs) 
catching FMP groundfish in Federal waters; (2) all entities operating 
vessels, regardless of whether they hold groundfish FFPs, catching FMP 
groundfish in the State-waters parallel fisheries; and (3) all entities 
operating vessels fishing for halibut inside 3 miles (5.6 km) of the 
shore (whether or not they have FFPs).
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    Using the most recent data available (2022), the estimated number 
of directly regulated small entities includes approximately 677 
individual CV and CP entities with gross revenues meeting the small 
entity criteria. This includes an estimated 674 small CV entities and

[[Page 15514]]

3 small CP entities in the GOA groundfish sector. The determination of 
entity size is based on vessel revenues and affiliated group revenues. 
This determination also includes an assessment of fisheries cooperative 
affiliations, although actual vessel ownership affiliations have not 
been completely established. However, the estimate of these 677 CVs and 
CPs may be an overstatement of the number of small entities because of 
the complexity of analyzing the linkages and affiliations across these 
vessels, particularly since many of them conduct operations in Federal 
and State fisheries. The CVs had average gross revenues that varied by 
gear type. Average gross revenues for hook-and-line CVs, pot gear CVs, 
and trawl gear CVs are estimated to be $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.
    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    This action implements the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications, apportionments, and halibut PSC limits for the 
groundfish fishery of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish 
harvest limits for groundfish during the 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 final 
harvest specifications is governed by the Council and NMFS's harvest 
strategy for the catch of groundfish in the GOA. The harvest strategy 
was selected previously from among five alternatives, with the 
preferred alternative harvest strategy being one in which the TACs fall 
within the range of ABCs recommended through the Council harvest 
specifications process by the SSC. Under this preferred alternative 
harvest strategy, TACs are recommended to NMFS by the Council, 
utilizing recommendations from the AP, and are 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 TAC numbers that the harvest 
strategy produces may vary from year to year, the methodology used for 
the preferred harvest strategy remains constant. This final action 
implements the preferred alternative harvest strategy previously chosen 
by the Council and NMFS to set TACs that fall within the range of ABCs 
recommended through the Council harvest specifications process and as 
recommended by the Council, after considerations from the Council's AP. 
This TAC determination method is consistent with previous years.
    The final 2024 and 2025 TACs associated with preferred harvest 
strategy are those recommended by the Council in December 2023. OFLs 
and ABCs for the species were based on recommendations prepared by the 
Council's Plan Team, and reviewed and recommended by the Council's SSC. 
The Council based its TAC recommendations on those of its AP, and those 
recommendations are consistent with the SSC's OFL and ABC 
recommendations. The sum of all TACs remains within the OY for the GOA 
consistent with Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)(B).
    The final 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs are based on the best 
available biological information, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods to calculate stock biomass. The final 2024 and 2025 
TACs are based on the best available biological and socioeconomic 
information. The final 2024 and 2025 OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are 
consistent with the biological condition of groundfish stocks as 
described in the 2023 SAFE report, which is the most recent, completed 
SAFE report, as well as the ecosystem and socioeconomic information 
presented in the 2023 SAFE report (including the GOA ESR). Accounting 
for the most recent information to set the final OFLs, ABCs, and TACs 
is consistent with the objectives for this action, as well as National 
Standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1851(a)(2)) that 
actions shall be based on the best scientific information available. 
The SAFE report also includes information on the economic condition of 
the groundfish fisheries off Alaska through the Economic Status Report. 
Data are available through 2022.
    Under this action, the final ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are 
less than the specified overfishing levels. The final TACs are within 
the range of final ABCs recommended by the SSC and do not exceed the 
biological limits recommended by the SSC (the ABCs and overfishing 
levels). For most species and species groups in the GOA, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS sets, final TACs equal to final ABCs, which is 
intended to maximize harvest opportunities in the GOA, unless other 
conservation or management reasons support setting TAC amounts less 
than the ABCs.
    For the following species and species groups, the Council 
recommended, and NMFS sets, TACs that are less than the ABCs for 
pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish in the Western GOA, 
arrowtooth flounder in the Western GOA and SEO District, flathead sole 
in the Western GOA, and other rockfish in the SEO District. These 
specific reductions were reviewed and recommended by the Council's AP, 
and the Council in turn adopted the AP's recommendations for the final 
2024 and 2025 TACs.
    Increasing TACs for some species may not result in increased 
harvest opportunities for those species. This is due to a variety of 
reasons. There may be a lack of commercial or market interest in some 
species. Additionally, there are fixed, and therefore constraining, PSC 
limits associated with the harvest of the GOA groundfish species that 
can lead to an underharvest of flatfish TACs. For this reason, the 
shallow-water flatfish, arrowtooth flounder, and flathead sole TACs in 
the Western GOA are set to allow for harvest opportunities for these 
target species while conserving the halibut PSC limit for use in other 
fisheries, including other groundfish fisheries or the halibut IFQ 
directed fishery. Similarly, the arrowtooth flounder TAC in the SEO 
District is set lower than ABC to conserve halibut PSC limit for use in 
other fisheries or because there is limited commercial interest in this 
fishery. The other rockfish TAC in the SEO District is set to support 
incidental catch in other fisheries. Finally, the TACs for two species 
(pollock and Pacific cod) cannot be set equal to ABC, as the TAC must 
be reduced to account for the State's GHLs in these fisheries. The W/C/
WYK Regulatory Area pollock combined TAC and the GOA Pacific cod TACs 
are therefore set to account for the State's GHLs for the State waters 
pollock and Pacific cod fisheries so that the ABCs are not exceeded.
    Based upon the best available scientific data, and in consideration 
of the Council's objectives of this action, there are no significant 
alternatives to the final rule that have the potential to accomplish 
the stated objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and any other 
applicable statutes and that have the potential to minimize any 
significant adverse economic impact of the final rule on small 
entities. This action is economically beneficial to entities operating 
in the GOA, including small entities. The action specifies TACs for 
commercially valuable species in the GOA and allows for the continued 
prosecution of the fishery, thereby creating the opportunity for 
fishery revenue. After public process, during which the Council and 
NMFS solicited input from stakeholders, the Council

[[Page 15515]]

concluded and NMFS likewise determines that these final harvest 
specifications would best accomplish the stated objectives articulated 
in the preamble for this final rule and in applicable statutes and 
would minimize to the extent practicable adverse economic impacts on 
the universe of directly regulated small entities.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator for 
Fisheries, NOAA, finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date 
of effectiveness for this rule because delaying this rule is contrary 
to the public interest. The Plan Team review of the 2023 SAFE report 
occurred in November 2023, and, based on the 2023 SAFE report, the 
Council considered and recommended the final harvest specifications in 
December 2023. Accordingly, NMFS's review of the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications could not begin until after the December 2023 
Council meeting and after the public comment period closed on January 
8, 2024.
    For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs established 
under the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 13238, 
March 2, 2023) have not yet been reached, it is possible that they 
would be closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed 
effectiveness period, because those fisheries have nearly reached those 
previously set TACs. Some affected fisheries therefore could close 
soon, as they are already close to reaching their TACs, and such 
closures would cause unnecessary economic harm to the fisheries in the 
cases where this final rule increases some of the groundfish TACs. If 
implemented immediately, this final rule would allow these fisheries to 
continue fishing, because some of the new TACs implemented by this rule 
are higher than the TACs under which they are currently fishing.
    In addition, immediate effectiveness of this action is required to 
provide consistent management and conservation of fishery resources 
based on the best available scientific information. This is 
particularly pertinent for those species that have lower 2024 ABCs and 
TACs than those established in the final 2023 and 2024 harvest 
specifications (88 FR 13238, March 2, 2023). If implemented 
immediately, this rule would ensure that NMFS can properly manage those 
fisheries for which this rule sets lower 2024 ABCs and TACs, which are 
based on the most recent biological information on the condition of 
stocks. The changes between the proposed 2024 ABCs and TACs are 
discussed earlier in the Changes from the Proposed 2024 and 2025 
Harvest Specifications in the GOA section of this rule.
    Certain fisheries, such as those for pollock, are intensive, fast-
paced fisheries. Other fisheries, such as those for sablefish, 
flatfish, rockfish, Atka mackerel, skates, sharks, and octopuses, are 
critical either as directed fisheries or as incidental catch in other 
fisheries. Thus, for those species that have higher 2024 TACs than 
under the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 13238, 
March 2, 2023) than the TACs established by this final rule, there is 
some risk of exceeding these TAC limits. U.S. fishing vessels have 
demonstrated the capacity to catch the TAC allocations in many of these 
fisheries. If the date of effectiveness of this rule were to be delayed 
30 days and a TAC was reached during those 30 days, NMFS would be 
required to close directed fishing or prohibit retention for the 
applicable species. Such closures and unnecessary discards would cause 
confusion to the industry and potential economic harm to fishermen, 
undermining the intent of this rule. Waiving the 30-day delay in the 
date of effectiveness allows NMFS to prevent this potential economic 
harm that could occur, should the previously set 2024 TACs (as set 
under the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications) be reached during 
such a delay. In addition, determining which fisheries may close in 
advance is nearly impossible because these fisheries are affected by 
several factors, including fishing effort, weather, movement of fishery 
stocks, and market price, which cannot be predicted. Furthermore, the 
closure of one fishery has a cascading effect on other fisheries; the 
closure would free up fishing vessels, allowing them to move from 
closed fisheries to open fisheries, thereby increasing the fishing 
capacity in those open fisheries, and potentially causing them to close 
sooner.
    In fisheries subject to declining sideboard limits, a failure to 
implement the updated sideboard limits before the initial season's end 
could deny the intended economic protection to the sectors that do not 
have sideboards. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboard 
limits, economic benefit could be denied to the sideboard-limited 
sectors.
    If the final harvest specifications are not effective by March 15, 
2024, which is the start of the 2024 Pacific halibut season as 
specified by the IPHC, the fixed gear sablefish fishery will not begin 
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season. This would result in 
confusion for the industry and economic harm from unnecessary discard 
of sablefish that are caught along with Pacific halibut, as both fixed 
gear sablefish and Pacific halibut are managed under the same IFQ 
program. Immediate effectiveness of these final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications will allow the sablefish IFQ fishery to begin 
concurrently with the Pacific halibut IFQ season.
    Finally, immediate effectiveness also provides the fishing industry 
the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct its fishing 
operations with respect to new information about TACs. Therefore, in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), NMFS finds good cause to waive the 
30-day delay in the date of effectiveness for this rule.

Small Entity Compliance Guide

    Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
Act of 1996 states that, for each rule or group of related rules for 
which an agency is required to prepare a FRFA, the agency shall publish 
one or more guides to assist small entities in complying with the rule, 
and shall designate such publications as ``small entity compliance 
guides.'' The tables contained in this final rule are provided online 
and serve as the plain language guide to assist small entities in 
complying with this final rule as required by the Small Business 
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule's primary 
purpose is to announce the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications 
and prohibited species bycatch allowances for the groundfish fisheries 
of the GOA. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and 
associated management measures for groundfish during the 2024 and 2025 
fishing years, and to accomplish the goals and objectives of the FMP. 
This action affects all fishermen who participate in the GOA fisheries. 
The specific OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts are provided in tables in 
this final rule to assist the reader. This final rule also contains 
plain language summaries of the underlying relevant regulations 
supporting the harvest specifications and the harvest of groundfish in 
the GOA that the reader may find helpful.
    Information to assist small entities in complying with this final 
rule is provided online. The OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC tables are 
individually available online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/sustainable-fisheries/alaska-groundfish-harvest-specifications. 
Explanatory information on the relevant regulations supporting the 
harvest specifications is also found in footnotes to the tables. 
Harvest specification changes are also available

[[Page 15516]]

from the same online source, which includes applicable Federal Register 
notices, information bulletins, and other supporting materials. NMFS 
will announce closures of directed fishing in the Federal Register and 
information bulletins released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen 
should keep themselves informed of such closures.

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

    Dated: February 28, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-04516 Filed 3-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P