[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17287-17321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05093]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 679

[Docket No. 240304-0068]
RTID 0648-XD454


Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Bering Sea 
and Aleutian Islands; 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 the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications, 
apportionments, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the 
groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management 
area (BSAI). This action is necessary to establish harvest limits for 
groundfish during the remainder of the 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 BSAI (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be superseded in early 2025 when the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 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 BSAI in accordance 
with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
(Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES: Harvest specifications and closures are effective from 1200 
hours, Alaska local time (A.l.t.), March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, 
A.l.t., December 31, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the Alaska Groundfish Harvest 
Specifications Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), Record 
of Decision (ROD), and the annual Supplementary Information Reports 
(SIR) to the Final EIS prepared for this action are available from 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/alaska. The 2023 Stock Assessment 
and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report for the groundfish resources of 
the BSAI, dated November 2023, as well as the SAFE reports for previous 
years, are available from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) at 1007 West Third Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99501, 
phone 907-271-2809, or from the Council's website at https://www.npfmc.org/, and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center website at 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/population-assessments/north-pacific-groundfish-stock-assessments-and-fishery-evaluation.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 
implement the FMP and govern the groundfish fisheries in the BSAI. The 
Council prepared, and NMFS approved, the FMP pursuant to the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. General regulations governing U.S. fisheries also appear 
at 50 CFR part 600.
    The FMP and its implementing regulations require NMFS, after 
consultation with the Council, to specify annually the total allowable 
catch (TAC) for each target species category. The sum of all TACs for 
groundfish species in the BSAI must be within the optimum yield (OY) 
range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million metric tons (mt) (see Sec. Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(A) and 679.20(a)(2)). This final rule specifies the sum 
of the TAC at 2.0 million mt for 2024 and 2.0 million mt for 2025. NMFS 
also must specify: (1) apportionments of TAC; (2) prohibited species 
catch (PSC) allowances and prohibited species quota (PSQ) reserves 
established by Sec.  679.21; (3) seasonal allowances of pollock, 
Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel TAC; (4) American Fisheries Act (AFA) 
allocations; (5) Amendment 80 allocations; (6) Community Development 
Quota (CDQ) reserve amounts established by Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii); (7) 
acceptable biological catch (ABC) surpluses and reserves for CDQ groups 
and any Amendment 80 cooperatives for flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole; and (8) halibut discard mortality rates (DMR). The 
final harvest specifications set forth in tables 1 through 26 of this 
action satisfy these requirements.
    Section 679.20(c)(3)(i) further requires that NMFS consider public 
comment on the proposed harvest specifications and, after consultation 
with the Council, publish final harvest specifications in the Federal 
Register. The proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for the 
groundfish fishery of the BSAI were published in the Federal Register 
on December 5, 2023 (88 FR 84278). Comments were invited and accepted 
through January 4, 2024. As discussed in the Response to Comments 
section below, NMFS received 5 letters raising 17 distinct comments 
during the public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish 
harvest specifications. NMFS's responses are addressed in the Response 
to Comments section below.
    NMFS consulted with the Council on the final 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications during the December 2023 Council meeting. After 
considering public comments during public meetings and submitted for 
the proposed rule (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023), as well as current 
biological, ecosystem, and socioeconomic data, NMFS implements in this 
final rule the final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications as 
recommended by the Council.

[[Page 17288]]

ABC and TAC Harvest Specifications

    The final ABC amounts for Alaska groundfish are based on the best 
available biological information, including projected biomass trends, 
information on assumed distribution of stock biomass, and revised 
technical methods used to calculate stock biomass. In general, the 
development of ABCs and overfishing levels (OFL) involves sophisticated 
statistical analyses of fish populations. The FMP specifies a series of 
six tiers to define OFL and ABC amounts based on the level of reliable 
information available to fishery scientists. Tier 1 represents the 
highest level of information quality available, while Tier 6 represents 
the lowest.
    In December 2023, the Council, its Scientific and Statistical 
Committee (SSC), and its Advisory Panel (AP) reviewed current 
biological, ecosystem, socioeconomic, and harvest information about the 
condition of the BSAI groundfish stocks. The Council's BSAI Groundfish 
Plan Team (Plan Team) compiled and presented this information in the 
2023 SAFE report for the BSAI 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 BSAI ecosystem and the economic condition of 
groundfish fisheries off Alaska. NMFS notified the public of the 
comment period for these harvest specifications--and of the publication 
of the 2023 SAFE report--in the proposed harvest specifications (88 FR 
84278, December 5, 2023). From the data and analyses in the SAFE 
report, the Plan Team recommended an OFL and ABC for each species and 
species group at the November 2023 Plan Team meeting.
    In December 2023, the SSC, AP, and Council reviewed the Plan Team's 
recommendations. The final TAC recommendations were based on the ABCs, 
and were adjusted for other biological and socioeconomic 
considerations, including the maintenance of the sum of all the TACs 
within the required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. As 
required by annual catch limit rules for all fisheries (74 FR 3178, 
January 16, 2009) and consistent with the FMP, none of the Council's 
recommended 2024 or 2025 TACs exceed the final 2024 or 2025 ABCs for 
any species or species group. NMFS finds that the Council's recommended 
OFLs, ABCs, and TACs are consistent with the preferred harvest strategy 
outlined in the FMP, as well as the Final EIS and ROD, and the 
biological condition of groundfish stocks as described in the 2023 SAFE 
report that was approved by the Council, while accounting for ecosystem 
and socioeconomic information presented in the 2023 SAFE report (which 
includes the Ecosystem Status Reports (ESR)). Therefore, this final 
rule provides notification that the Secretary of Commerce approves the 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications as recommended by the 
Council.
    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 14926, March 10, 2023). The 2024 
harvest specifications herein 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 will apply for the 
remainder of the current year (2024) while the 2025 harvest 
specifications are projected only for the following year (2025) and 
will be superseded in early 2025 by the final 2025 and 2026 harvest 
specifications. Because this final action (published in early 2024) 
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 BSAI for 
approximately 1 year.

Other Actions Affecting the 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications

State of Alaska Guideline Harvest Levels

    For 2024 and 2025, the Board of Fisheries (BOF) for the State of 
Alaska (State) established the guideline harvest level (GHL) for 
vessels using pot, longline, jig, and hand troll gear in State waters 
in the State's Aleutian Islands (AI) State waters sablefish 
registration area that includes all State waters west of Scotch Cap 
Light (164[deg] 44.72' W longitude) and south of Cape Sarichef (54[deg] 
36' N latitude). The 2024 AI GHL is set at 5 percent (1,228 mt) of the 
combined 2024 Bering Sea subarea (BS) and AI subarea ABC (mt). The 2025 
AI GHL is set at 5 percent (1,233 mt) of the combined 2025 BS subarea 
and AI subarea ABC (mt). The State's AI sablefish registration area 
includes areas adjacent to parts of the Federal BS subarea. The Council 
and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP recommended that the sum of all State 
and Federal waters sablefish removals from the BS and AI not exceed the 
ABC recommendations for sablefish in the BS and AI. Accordingly, after 
reviewing the Council recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2024 and 
2025 sablefish TACs in the BS and AI account for the State's GHLs for 
sablefish caught in State waters.
    For 2024 and 2025, the BOF for the State established the GHL for 
vessels using pot gear in State waters in the BS equal to 12 percent of 
the Pacific cod ABC in the BS. Under the State's management plan, the 
BS GHL will increase by 1 percent if 90 percent of the GHL is harvested 
by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive years but may 
not exceed 15 percent of the BS ABC. If 90 percent of the GHL is not 
harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two consecutive 
years, the GHL will decrease by 1 percent, but the GHL may not decrease 
below 10 percent of the BS ABC. For 2024, the BS Pacific cod ABC is 
167,952 mt, and for 2025, it is 150,876 mt. Therefore, based on the 
preceding years' harvests, the GHL in the BS for pot gear will be 12 
percent for 2024 (20,154 mt) and is projected to be 12 percent for 2025 
(18,105 mt). Also, for 2024 and 2025, the BOF established an additional 
GHL for vessels using jig gear in State waters in the BS equal to 45 mt 
of Pacific cod in the BS. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, and AP 
recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters Pacific cod 
removals from the BS not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific cod 
in the BS. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council recommendations, 
NMFS approves that the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs in the BS account 
for the State's GHLs for Pacific cod caught in State waters in the BS.
    For 2024 and 2025, the BOF for the State established the GHL for 
Pacific cod in State waters in the AI equal to 35 percent of the AI 
ABC. Under the State's management plan, the AI GHL will increase 
annually by 4 percent of the AI ABC if 90 percent of the GHL is 
harvested by November 15 of the preceding year, but may not exceed 39 
percent of the AI ABC or 15 million pounds (6,804 mt). If 90 percent of 
the GHL is not harvested by November 15 of the preceding year for two 
consecutive years, the GHL will decrease by 4 percent, but the GHL may 
not decrease below 15 percent of the AI ABC. For 2024 and for 2025, 35 
percent of the AI ABC is 4,351 mt. The Council and its Plan Team, SSC, 
and AP recommended that the sum of all State and Federal waters Pacific 
cod removals from the AI not exceed the ABC recommendations for Pacific 
cod in the AI. Accordingly, after reviewing the Council's 
recommendations, NMFS approves that the 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs 
in the AI account for the

[[Page 17289]]

State's GHL for Pacific cod caught in State waters in the AI.

Halibut Abundance Based Management for the Amendment 80 Program PSC 
Limit

    On November 24, 2023, NMFS published a final rule to implement 
Amendment 123 to the FMP (88 FR 82740), which establishes abundance-
based management of the Amendment 80 Program PSC limit for Pacific 
halibut. The final action replaces the current Amendment 80 sector 
static halibut PSC limit (1,745 mt) with a process for annually setting 
the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit based on the most recent 
halibut abundance estimates from the International Pacific Halibut 
Commission (IPHC) setline survey index and the NMFS Alaska Fisheries 
Science Center Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index. The annual 
process will use a table with pre-established halibut abundance ranges 
based on those surveys (Table 58 to 50 CFR part 679). The annual 
Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit will be set at the value found at 
the intercept of the results from the most recent survey indices. The 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications announce the Amendment 80 
halibut PSC limit based on the implementation of Amendment 123 and 
regulations effective January 1, 2024.

Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Limited Access Privilege Program

    On August 8, 2023, NMFS published a final rule to implement 
Amendment 122 to the FMP (88 FR 53704, effective September 7, 2023) 
(see also correction 88 FR 57009, August 22, 2023). The final rule 
establishes a limited access privilege program called the Pacific Cod 
Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program. The PCTC Program allocates Pacific 
cod quota share (QS) to groundfish License Limitation Program license 
holders and to processors based on history during the qualifying years. 
Under this program, QS holders are required to join cooperatives 
annually. Cooperatives are allocated the BSAI trawl catcher vessel 
sector's A and B seasons Pacific cod allocation as an exclusive harvest 
privilege in the form of cooperative quota (CQ), equivalent to the 
aggregate QS of all cooperative members. Amendment 122 also reduces the 
halibut and crab PSC limits for the BSAI trawl catcher vessel (CV) 
Pacific cod fishery, changes the AFA CV sideboard limit for Pacific cod 
to apply in the C season only, and removes the halibut PSC sideboard 
limit for AFA trawl CVs. Accordingly, Amendment 122 and its 
implementing regulations affect the calculation of the BSAI trawl CV 
sector allocation of Pacific cod (discussed in a subsequent section of 
this rule titled ``Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC'') and the BSAI 
trawl limited access sector crab and halibut PSC limits (discussed in 
two subsequent sections of this rule titled ``PSC Limits for Halibut, 
Salmon, Crab, and Herring'' and ``AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard 
Limits''). Amendment 122 also removed the regulations at Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(viii) for Amendment 113 to the FMP because the U.S. 
District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the rule 
implementing Amendment 113 (see Groundfish Forum v. Ross, 375 F.Supp.3d 
72 (D.D.C. 2019)).

Changes From the Proposed 2024 and 2025 Harvest Specifications for the 
BSAI

    In October 2023, the Council's recommendations for the proposed 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023) 
were based largely on information contained in the 2022 SAFE report for 
the BSAI groundfish fisheries, dated November 2022. Stocks are managed 
in tiers based on the amount and quality of information available. 
There is more information available about stocks in tiers 1 through 3 
than is available for those in tiers 4 through 6. In October 2023, the 
Council recommended that proposed 2024 and 2025 OFLs and ABCs be based 
on rollovers of the 2024 amounts. In making this recommendation, the 
Council used the best information available from the 2022 stock 
assessments until the 2023 SAFE report could be completed.
    In December 2023, the Council's recommendations for the final 2024 
and 2025 harvest specifications were based largely on information 
contained in the 2023 SAFE report for the BSAI groundfish fisheries, 
dated November 2023. The SAFE report contains a review of the latest 
scientific analyses and estimates of each species' biomass and other 
biological parameters, as well as summaries of the available 
information on the BSAI ecosystem by including risk tables and 
information from the BS ESR and AI 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. These ESRs are updated annually and 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 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 OFL 
and ABC for each species and species group.
    The Council recommended a final 2024 BS pollock TAC that is a 
decrease of 2,000 mt from the proposed 2024 BS pollock TAC and is also 
the same as the 2023 BS pollock TAC. The Council recommended a final 
2025 BS pollock TAC that is an increase of 23,000 mt from the proposed 
2025 BS pollock TAC to reflect the increase in the 2025 BS pollock ABC. 
The Council also recommended to increase the BS Pacific cod TAC by 
24,458 mt in 2024 and 9,431 mt in 2025 from the proposed TAC. In terms 
of tonnage, the Council reduced the TACs from the proposed TACs of 
several species of lower economic value to maintain an overall total 
TAC within the required OY range of 1.4 to 2.0 million mt with the 
yellowfin sole TAC accounting for most of the decrease in terms of 
tonnage. Some species, such as Atka mackerel and northern rockfish, are 
economically valuable species whose ABCs increased in 2024, which 
allowed the 2024 TACs to increase as well. Others, such as Alaska 
plaice and sharks, have increased TACs due to anticipated increased 
incidental catches in other fisheries. Of these species, sharks had the 
largest increase in terms of percentage. This is due to an increase in 
anticipated incidental catch in the pollock fishery. The changes to 
TACs between the proposed and final harvest specifications are based on 
the most recent scientific, biological, and socioeconomic information 
and are

[[Page 17290]]

consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations, and harvest strategy 
as described in the proposed and final harvest specifications, 
including the required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt. These 
changes are compared in table 1A.
    Table 1 lists the Council's recommended final 2024 OFL, ABC, TAC, 
initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ reserve allocations, and non-specified reserves 
of the BSAI groundfish species and species groups; and table 2 lists 
the Council's recommended final 2025 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, CDQ reserve 
allocations, and non-specified reserves of the BSAI groundfish species 
and species groups. NMFS concurs with these recommendations. These 
final 2024 and 2025 TAC amounts for the BSAI are within the OY range 
established for the BSAI and do not exceed the ABC for any species or 
species group. The apportionment of TAC amounts among fisheries and 
seasons is discussed below.

         Table 1--Final 2024 OFL, ABC, TAC, Initial TAC (ITAC), CDQ Reserve Allocation, and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       2024
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Species                       Area                                                                                           Nonspecified
                                                                OFL             ABC             TAC          ITAC \2\         CDQ \3\        reserves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\.......................  BS..................       3,162,000       2,313,000       1,300,000       1,170,000         130,000  ..............
                                    AI..................          51,516          42,654          19,000          17,100           1,900  ..............
                                    Bogoslof............         115,146          86,360             250             250  ..............  ..............
Pacific cod \5\...................  BS..................         200,995         167,952         147,753         131,943          15,810  ..............
                                    AI..................          18,416          12,431           8,080           7,215             865  ..............
Sablefish \6\.....................  Alaska-wide.........          55,084          47,146             n/a             n/a             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a          11,450           7,996           6,597           1,099             300
                                    AI..................             n/a          13,100           8,440           6,858           1,424             158
Yellowfin sole....................  BSAI................         305,298         265,913         195,000         174,135          20,865  ..............
Greenland turbot..................  BSAI................           3,705           3,188           3,188           2,710             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a           2,687           2,687           2,284             288             116
                                    AI..................             n/a             501             501             426  ..............              75
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI................         103,280          87,690          14,000          11,900           1,498             602
Kamchatka flounder................  BSAI................           8,850           7,498           7,498           6,373  ..............           1,125
Rock sole \7\.....................  BSAI................         197,828         122,091          66,000          58,938           7,062  ..............
Flathead sole \8\.................  BSAI................          81,605          67,289          35,500          31,702           3,799  ..............
Alaska plaice.....................  BSAI................          42,695          35,494          21,752          18,489  ..............           3,263
Other flatfish \9\................  BSAI................          22,919          17,189           4,500           3,825  ..............             675
Pacific ocean perch...............  BSAI................          49,010          41,096          37,626          33,100             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a          11,636          11,636           9,891  ..............           1,745
                                    EAI.................             n/a           7,969           7,969           7,116             853  ..............
                                    CAI.................             n/a           5,521           5,521           4,930             591  ..............
                                    WAI.................             n/a          15,970          12,500          11,163           1,338  ..............
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI................          23,556          19,274          16,752          14,239  ..............           2,513
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish      BSAI................             761             569             569             484  ..............              85
 \10\.
                                    BS/EAI..............             n/a             388             388             330  ..............              58
                                    CAI/WAI.............             n/a             181             181             154  ..............              27
Shortraker rockfish...............  BSAI................             706             530             530             451  ..............              80
Other rockfish \11\...............  BSAI................           1,680           1,260           1,260           1,071  ..............             189
                                    BS..................             n/a             880             880             748  ..............             132
                                    AI..................             n/a             380             380             323  ..............              57
Atka mackerel.....................  BSAI................         111,684          95,358          72,987          65,177           7,810  ..............
                                    BS/EAI..............             n/a          41,723          32,260          28,808           3,452  ..............
                                    CAI.................             n/a          16,754          16,754          14,961           1,793  ..............
                                    WAI.................             n/a          36,882          23,973          21,408           2,565  ..............
Skates............................  BSAI................          45,574          37,808          30,519          25,941  ..............           4,578
Sharks............................  BSAI................             689             450             400             340  ..............              60
Octopuses.........................  BSAI................           6,080           4,560             400             340  ..............              60
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................  ....................       4,609,077       3,476,800       2,000,000       1,789,177         195,199          15,623
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2.
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
  harvest specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole,
  flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is placed into a non-specified reserve (Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(i)). The
  ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80 species, ITAC is the non-CDQ
  allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, yellowfin sole, rock sole, flathead sole, Pacific cod, and AI Pacific ocean perch), 10.7 percent of the
  TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, 7.5 percent
  of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for BS Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder are reserved for use by CDQ
  participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). AI Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice, Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch,
  Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, shortraker rockfish, ``other rockfish,'' skates, sharks, and octopuses are not
  allocated to the CDQ Program.
\4\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
  for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/
  processor--40 percent; and mothership--10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI
  pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed
  fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed
  fishery. The Bogoslof pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of
  the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC is Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
  ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of
  the BS and AI.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
  Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).

[[Page 17291]]

 
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
  rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.


                        Table 1a--Comparison of Final 2024 and 2025 With Proposed 2024 and 2025 Total Allowable Catch in the BSAI
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          2024                                   2025
                                                                              2024 and       2024      percentage                   2025      percentage
               Species                        Area \1\          2024 final      2025      difference   difference   2025 final   difference   difference
                                                                   TAC        proposed       from         from         TAC          from         from
                                                                                TAC        proposed     proposed                  proposed     proposed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock.............................  BS.....................    1,300,000    1,302,000      (2,000)        (0.2)    1,325,000       23,000          1.8
                                      AI.....................       19,000       19,000  ...........  ...........       19,000  ...........  ...........
                                      Bogoslof...............          250          300         (50)       (16.7)          250         (50)       (16.7)
Pacific cod.........................  BS.....................      147,753      123,295       24,458         19.8      132,726        9,431          7.6
                                      AI.....................        8,080        8,425        (345)        (4.1)        8,080        (345)        (4.1)
Sablefish...........................  BS.....................        7,996        9,676      (1,680)       (17.4)        9,500        (176)        (1.8)
                                      AI.....................        8,440        9,793      (1,353)       (13.8)        8,440      (1,353)       (13.8)
Yellowfin sole......................  BSAI...................      195,000      230,656     (35,656)       (15.5)      195,000     (35,656)       (15.5)
Greenland turbot....................  BS.....................        2,687        2,836        (149)        (5.3)        2,310        (526)       (18.5)
                                      AI.....................          501          528         (27)        (5.1)          430         (98)       (18.6)
Arrowtooth flounder.................  BSAI...................       14,000       15,000      (1,000)        (6.7)       14,000      (1,000)        (6.7)
Kamchatka flounder..................  BSAI...................        7,498        7,435           63          0.8        7,360         (75)        (1.0)
Rock sole...........................  BSAI...................       66,000       66,000  ...........  ...........       66,000  ...........  ...........
Flathead sole.......................  BSAI...................       35,500       35,500  ...........  ...........       35,500  ...........  ...........
Alaska plaice.......................  BSAI...................       21,752       18,000        3,752         20.8       20,000        2,000         11.1
Other flatfish......................  BSAI...................        4,500        4,500  ...........  ...........        4,500  ...........  ...........
Pacific ocean perch.................  BS.....................       11,636       11,700         (64)        (0.5)       11,430        (270)        (2.3)
                                      EAI....................        7,969        8,013         (44)        (0.5)        7,828        (185)        (2.3)
                                      CAI....................        5,521        5,551         (30)        (0.5)        5,423        (128)        (2.3)
                                      WAI....................       12,500       13,000        (500)        (3.8)       12,500        (500)        (3.8)
Northern rockfish...................  BSAI...................       16,752       11,000        5,752         52.3       15,000        4,000         36.4
Blackspotted and Rougheye rockfish..  BS/EAI.................          388          388  ...........  ...........          412           24          6.2
                                      CAI/WAI................          181          182          (1)        (0.5)          195           13          7.1
Shortraker rockfish.................  BSAI...................          530          530  ...........  ...........          530  ...........  ...........
Other rockfish......................  BS.....................          880          880  ...........  ...........          880  ...........  ...........
                                      AI.....................          380          380  ...........  ...........          380  ...........  ...........
Atka mackerel.......................  EAI/BS.................       32,260       30,000        2,260          7.5       30,000  ...........  ...........
                                      CAI....................       16,754       15,218        1,536         10.1       14,877        (341)        (2.2)
                                      WAI....................       23,973       21,637        2,336         10.8       21,288        (349)        (1.6)
Skates..............................  BSAI...................       30,519       27,927        2,592          9.3       30,361        2,434          8.7
Sharks..............................  BSAI...................          400          250          150         60.0          400          150         60.0
Octopuses...........................  BSAI...................          400          400  ...........  ...........          400  ...........  ...........
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...........................  BSAI...................    2,000,000    2,000,000  ...........  ...........    2,000,000  ...........  ...........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                Table 2--Final 2025 OFL, ABC, TAC, ITAC, CDQ Reserve Allocation, and Nonspecified Reserves of Groundfish in the BSAI \1\
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       2025
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Species                       Area                                                                                           Nonspecified
                                                                OFL             ABC             TAC          ITAC \2\         CDQ \3\        reserves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pollock \4\.......................  BS..................       3,449,000       2,401,000       1,325,000       1,192,500         132,500  ..............
                                    AI..................          53,030          43,863          19,000          17,100           1,900  ..............
                                    Bogoslof............         115,146          86,360             250             250  ..............  ..............
Pacific cod \5\...................  BS..................         180,798         150,876         132,726         118,524          14,202  ..............
                                    AI..................          18,416          12,431           8,080           7,215             865  ..............
Sablefish \6\.....................  Alaska-wide.........          55,317          47,350             n/a             n/a             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a          11,499           9,500           4,038             356             356
                                    AI..................             n/a          13,156           8,440           1,794             158             158
Yellowfin sole....................  BSAI................         317,932         276,917         195,000         174,135          20,865  ..............
Greenland turbot..................  BSAI................           3,185           2,740           2,740           2,329             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a           2,310           2,310           1,964             247              99
                                    AI..................             n/a             430             430             366  ..............              65
Arrowtooth flounder...............  BSAI................         104,270          88,548          14,000          11,900           1,498             602
Kamchatka flounder................  BSAI................           8,687           7,360           7,360           6,256  ..............           1,104
Rock sole \7\.....................  BSAI................         264,789         122,535          66,000          58,938           7,062  ..............
Flathead sole \8\.................  BSAI................          82,699          68,203          35,500          31,702           3,799  ..............
Alaska plaice.....................  BSAI................          45,182          37,560          20,000          17,000  ..............           3,000
Other flatfish \9\................  BSAI................          22,919          17,189           4,500           3,825  ..............             675
Pacific ocean perch...............  BSAI................          48,139          40,366          37,181          32,711             n/a  ..............
                                    BS..................             n/a          11,430          11,430           9,716  ..............           1,715
                                    EAI.................             n/a           7,828           7,828           6,990             838  ..............
                                    CAI.................             n/a           5,423           5,423           4,843             580  ..............
                                    WAI.................             n/a          15,685          12,500          11,163           1,338  ..............
Northern rockfish.................  BSAI................          22,838          18,685          15,000          12,750  ..............           2,250
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish      BSAI................             813             607             607             516  ..............              91
 \10\.
                                    BS/EAI..............             n/a             412             412             350  ..............              62
                                    CAI/WAI.............             n/a             195             195             166  ..............              29

[[Page 17292]]

 
Shortraker rockfish...............  BSAI................             706             530             530             451  ..............              80
Other rockfish \11\...............  BSAI................           1,680           1,260           1,260           1,071  ..............             189
                                    BS..................             n/a             880             880             748  ..............             132
                                    AI..................             n/a             380             380             323  ..............              57
Atka mackerel.....................  BSAI................          99,723          84,676          66,165          59,085           7,080  ..............
                                    EAI/BS..............             n/a          37,049          30,000          26,790           3,210  ..............
                                    CAI.................             n/a          14,877          14,877          13,285           1,592  ..............
                                    WAI.................             n/a          32,750          21,288          19,010           2,278  ..............
Skates............................  BSAI................          44,203          36,625          30,361          25,807  ..............           4,554
Sharks............................  BSAI................             689             450             400             340  ..............              60
Octopuses.........................  BSAI................           6,080           4,560             400             340  ..............              60
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................  ....................       4,946,241       3,550,691       2,000,000       1,780,576         193,286          15,058
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Regulatory areas and districts are defined at Sec.   679.2.
\1\ These amounts apply to the entire BSAI management area unless otherwise specified. With the exception of pollock, and for the purpose of these
  harvest specifications, the BS includes the Bogoslof District.
\2\ Except for pollock, the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed gear, and Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole,
  yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 15 percent of each TAC is put into a non-specified reserve (Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(i)). The ITAC for these species is the remainder of the TAC after the subtraction of these reserves. For pollock and Amendment 80
  species, ITAC is the non-CDQ allocation of TAC (see footnotes 3 and 4).
\3\ For the Amendment 80 species (Atka mackerel, flathead sole, rock sole, yellowfin sole, Pacific cod, and Aleutian Islands Pacific ocean perch), 10.7
  percent of the TAC is reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)). Twenty percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to fixed
  gear, 7.5 percent of the sablefish TAC allocated to trawl gear, and 10.7 percent of the TACs for Bering Sea Greenland turbot and arrowtooth flounder
  are reserved for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (D)). The 2025 fixed gear portion of the sablefish ITAC and CDQ reserve
  will not be specified until the final 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications. Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot, ``other flatfish,'' Alaska plaice,
  Bering Sea Pacific ocean perch, Kamchatka flounder, northern rockfish, shortraker rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, ``other rockfish,''
  skates, sharks, and octopuses are not allocated to the CDQ program.
\4\ Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the annual BS pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed fishing allowance (10 percent) and second
  for the incidental catch allowance (50,000 mt), is further allocated by sector for a pollock directed fishery as follows: inshore--50 percent; catcher/
  processor--40 percent; and motherships--10 percent. Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1) requires the AI pollock TAC to be set at 19,000 mt when the AI
  pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt. Under Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), the annual AI pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ directed
  fishing allowance (10 percent) and second for the incidental catch allowance (3,420 mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed
  fishery. The Bogoslof pollock TAC is set to accommodate incidental catch amounts.
\5\ The BS Pacific cod TAC is set to account for the 12 percent, plus 45 mt, of the BS ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters of
  the BS. The AI Pacific cod TAC is set to account for 35 percent of the AI ABC for the State guideline harvest level in State waters of the AI.
\6\ The sablefish OFL and ABC are Alaska-wide and include the Gulf of Alaska. The Alaska-wide sablefish OFL and ABC are included in the total OFL and
  ABC. The BS and AI sablefish TACs are set to account for the 5 percent of the BS and AI ABC for the State's guideline harvest level in State waters.
\7\ ``Rock sole'' includes Lepidopsetta polyxystra (Northern rock sole).
\8\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and Hippoglossoides robustus (Bering flounder).
\9\ ``Other flatfish'' includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole,
  Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and yellowfin sole.
\10\ ``Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish'' includes Sebastes melanostictus (blackspotted) and Sebastes aleutianus (rougheye).
\11\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/
  rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.

Groundfish Reserves and the ICA for Pollock, Atka Mackerel, Flathead 
Sole, Rock Sole, Yellowfin Sole, and AI Pacific Ocean Perch

    Section 679.20(b)(1)(i) requires that NMFS reserve 15 percent of 
the TAC for each target species (except for pollock, fixed gear 
allocation of sablefish, and Amendment 80 species) in a non-specified 
reserve. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS allocate 20 
percent of the fixed gear allocation of sablefish to the fixed-gear 
sablefish CDQ reserve for each subarea. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D) 
requires that NMFS allocate 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocations 
of sablefish in the BS and AI and 10.7 percent of the BS Greenland 
turbot and arrowtooth flounder TACs to the respective CDQ reserves. 
Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) requires that NMFS allocate 10.7 percent of 
the TACs for Atka mackerel, AI Pacific ocean perch, yellowfin sole, 
rock sole, flathead sole, and Pacific cod (the Amendment 80 species) to 
the respective CDQ reserves.
    Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) also requires that 10 percent of the BS 
pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ directed fishing allowance 
(DFA). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(A) requires that 10 percent of the AI 
pollock TAC be allocated to the pollock CDQ DFA. The entire Bogoslof 
District pollock TAC is allocated as an ICA pursuant to Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(ii) because the Bogoslof District is closed to directed 
fishing for pollock by regulation (Sec.  679.22(a)(7)(B)). With the 
exception of the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the regulations do 
not further apportion the CDQ allocations by gear.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(1), NMFS allocates a pollock 
ICA of 50,000 mt of the BS pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 percent 
CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the pollock 
incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ vessels, in 
target fisheries other than pollock from 2000-2023. During this 24-year 
period, the pollock incidental catch ranged from a low of 2.2 percent 
in 2006 to a high of 4.6 percent in 2014, with a 24-year average of 3 
percent. Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2), NMFS establishes a 
pollock ICA of 3,420 mt of the AI pollock TAC after subtracting the 10 
percent CDQ DFA. This allowance is based on NMFS's examination of the 
pollock incidental catch, including the incidental catch by CDQ 
vessels, in target fisheries other than pollock from 2003-2023. During 
this 21-year period, the incidental catch of pollock ranged from a low 
of 5 percent in 2006 to a high of 17 percent in 2014, with a 21-year 
average of 9 percent.
    After subtracting the 10.7 percent CDQ reserve and pursuant to 
Sec.  679.20(a)(8) and (10), NMFS allocates ICAs of 3,000 mt of 
flathead sole, 6,000 mt of rock sole, 4,000 mt of yellowfin sole, 10 mt 
of Western Aleutian district (WAI) Pacific ocean perch, 60 mt of 
Central Aleutian district (CAI) Pacific ocean perch, 100 mt of Eastern 
Aleutian

[[Page 17293]]

district (EAI) Pacific ocean perch, 20 mt of WAI Atka mackerel, 75 mt 
of CAI Atka mackerel, and 800 mt of EAI and BS Atka mackerel. These ICA 
allowances are based on NMFS's examination of the incidental catch in 
other target fisheries from 2003 through 2023.
    The regulations do not designate the remainder of the non-specified 
reserve by species or species group. Any amount of the reserve may be 
apportioned to a target species that contributed to the non-specified 
reserves during the year, provided that such apportionments are 
consistent with Sec.  679.20(a)(3) and do not result in overfishing 
(see Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i)). The Regional Administrator has determined 
that the ITACs specified for two species group listed in tables 1 and 2 
need to be supplemented from the non-specified reserve because U.S. 
fishing vessels have demonstrated the capacity to catch the full TAC 
allocations. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(b), NMFS is 
apportioning the amounts shown in table 3 from the non-specified 
reserve to increase the ITAC for AI ``other rockfish'' and 
blackspotted/rougheye rockfish in the Central Aleutian district and 
Western Aleutian district (CAI/WAI) by 15 percent of their TACs in 2024 
and 2025.

             Table 3--Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of Non-Specified Reserves to ITAC Categories
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     2024                                   2025
      Species-area or subarea        2024 ITAC     reserve     2024 final   2025 ITAC     reserve     2025 final
                                                    amount        TAC                      amount        TAC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other rockfish-Aleutian Islands             323           57          380          323           57          380
 subarea..........................
Blackspotted/Rougheye rockfish--            154           27          181          166           29          195
 CAI/WAI..........................
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................          477           84          561          489           86          575
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A) requires that the BS pollock TAC be 
apportioned as a DFA, after subtracting 10 percent for the CDQ program 
and 50,000 mt for the ICA in both 2024 and 2025, as follows: 50 percent 
to the inshore sector, 40 percent to the catcher/processor (CP) sector, 
and 10 percent to the mothership sector. In the BS, 45 percent of the 
DFAs are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10), and 55 percent 
of the DFAs are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1) 
(Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(5)(i)(B)(1) and 679.23(e)(2)). The AI directed 
pollock fishery allocation to the Aleut Corporation is the amount of 
pollock TAC remaining in the AI after subtracting 1,900 mt for the CDQ 
DFA (10 percent) and 3,420 mt for the ICA (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2)). In the AI, the total A season apportionment 
of the TAC (including the AI directed fishery allocation, the CDQ DFA, 
and the ICA) may not exceed 40 percent of the ABC for AI pollock, and 
the remainder of the TAC is allocated to the B season (Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(3)). Tables 4 and 5 list these 2024 and 2025 
amounts.
    Section 679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6) sets harvest limits for pollock in 
the A season (January 20 to June 10) in Areas 543, 542, and 541. In 
accordance with this regulation, NMFS establishes harvest limits for 
pollock in the A season in Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 
542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5 
percent of the Aleutian Islands pollock ABC.
    Section 679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4) also includes several specific 
requirements regarding BS pollock allocations. First, it requires that 
8.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP sector be available for 
harvest by AFA CVs with CP sector endorsements, unless the Regional 
Administrator receives a cooperative contract that allows for the 
distribution of harvest among AFA CPs and AFA CVs in a manner agreed to 
by all members. Second, AFA CPs not listed in the AFA are limited to 
harvesting not more than 0.5 percent of the pollock allocated to the CP 
sector. Tables 4 and 5 list the 2024 and 2025 allocations of pollock 
TAC. Table 6 lists the 2024 inshore sector allocation among AFA inshore 
cooperatives and AFA open access vessels. The 2025 AFA CV cooperative 
membership will not be known until eligible participants apply for 
participation in the program by December 1, 2024. Table 22 lists the 
CDQ allocation of pollock among the CDQ groups. Tables 24, 25, and 26 
list the AFA CP and CV harvesting sideboard limits.
    Tables 4, 5, and 6 also list seasonal apportionments of pollock and 
harvest limits within the Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA). The 
harvest of pollock within the SCA, as defined at Sec.  
679.22(a)(7)(vii), is limited to no more than 28 percent of the annual 
pollock DFA before 12 p.m. A.l.t. (noon), April 1, as provided in Sec.  
679.20(a)(5)(i)(C). The A season pollock SCA harvest limit is 
apportioned to each sector in proportion to each sector's allocated 
percentage of the DFA.

    Table 4--Final 2024 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
                                          Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      2024 A season \1\        2024 B season \1\
                                                    2024      --------------------------------------------------
               Area and sector                   Allocations                     SCA harvest
                                                                A season DFA      limit \2\       B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................       1,300,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA......................................         130,000          58,500          36,400             71,500
ICA \1\......................................          50,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................       1,120,000         504,000         313,600            616,000
AFA Inshore..................................         560,000         252,000         156,800            308,000
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................         448,000         201,600         125,440            246,400
    Catch by CPs.............................         409,920         184,464             n/a            225,456

[[Page 17294]]

 
    Catch by CVs \3\.........................          38,080          17,136             n/a             20,944
    Unlisted CP Limit \4\....................           2,240           1,008             n/a              1,232
AFA Motherships..............................         112,000          50,400          31,360             61,600
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\...............         196,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\...............         336,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................          42,654             n/a             n/a                n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\.............          19,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA......................................           1,900           1,872             n/a                 28
ICA..........................................           3,420           1,710             n/a              1,710
Aleut Corporation............................          13,680          13,479             n/a                201
Area harvest limit \7\.......................             n/a             n/a             n/a                n/a
    541......................................          12,796             n/a             n/a                n/a
    542......................................           6,398             n/a             n/a                n/a
    543......................................           2,133             n/a             n/a                n/a
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................             250             n/a             n/a                n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and
  the ICA (50,000 mt, ~3.85 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent, catcher/
  processor sector (CP)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 45 percent of the DFA
  and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA are
  allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the
  annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2),
  the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (3,420
  mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
  allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\2\ In the BS subarea, pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual
  DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 p.m. A.l.t., April 1. The SCA is defined at Sec.
  679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for
  harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP
  sector cooperative contract for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
  0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
  Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
  percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
  amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.


    Table 5--Final 2025 Allocations of Pollock TACs to the Directed Pollock Fisheries and to the CDQ Directed
                                          Fishing Allowances (DFA) \1\
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      2025 A season \1\        2025 B season \1\
                                                    2025      --------------------------------------------------
               Area and sector                   Allocations                     SCA harvest
                                                                A season DFA      limit \2\       B season DFA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea subarea TAC \1\...................       1,325,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA......................................         132,500          59,625          37,100             72,875
ICA \1\......................................          50,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
Total Bering Sea non-CDQ DFA.................       1,142,500         514,125         319,900            628,375
AFA Inshore..................................         571,250         257,063         159,950            314,188
AFA Catcher/Processors \3\...................         457,000         205,650         127,960            251,350
    Catch by CPs.............................         418,155         188,170             n/a            229,985
    Catch by CVs \3\.........................          38,845          17,480             n/a             21,365
    Unlisted CP Limit \4\....................           2,285           1,028             n/a              1,257
AFA Motherships..............................         114,250          51,413          31,990             62,838
Excessive Harvesting Limit \5\...............         199,938             n/a             n/a                n/a
Excessive Processing Limit \6\...............         342,750             n/a             n/a                n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea ABC.................          43,863             n/a             n/a                n/a
Aleutian Islands subarea TAC \1\.............          19,000             n/a             n/a                n/a
CDQ DFA......................................           1,900           1,900             n/a  .................
ICA..........................................           3,420           1,710             n/a              1,710
Aleut Corporation............................          13,680          13,680             n/a  .................
Area harvest limit \7\.......................             n/a             n/a             n/a                n/a
    541......................................          13,159             n/a             n/a                n/a
    542......................................           6,579             n/a             n/a                n/a
    543......................................           2,193             n/a             n/a                n/a

[[Page 17295]]

 
Bogoslof District ICA \8\....................             250             n/a             n/a                n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A), the BS subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting the CDQ DFA (10
  percent) and the ICA (50,000 mt, ~3.85 percent), is allocated as a DFA as follows: inshore sector--50 percent,
  catcher/processor sector (CP)--40 percent, and mothership sector--10 percent. In the BS subarea, 45 percent of
  the DFA and CDQ DFA are allocated to the A season (January 20-June 10) and 55 percent of the DFA and CDQ DFA
  are allocated to the B season (June 10-November 1). When the AI pollock ABC equals or exceeds 19,000 mt, the
  annual TAC is equal to 19,000 mt (Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(1)). Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(2),
  the AI subarea pollock TAC, after subtracting first for the CDQ DFA (10 percent) and second for the ICA (3,420
  mt), is allocated to the Aleut Corporation for a pollock directed fishery. In the AI subarea, the A season is
  allocated no more than 40 percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\2\ In the BS subarea, pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(C), no more than 28 percent of each sector's annual
  DFA may be taken from the SCA before 12:00 p.m. A.l.t., April 1. The SCA is defined at Sec.
  679.22(a)(7)(vii).
\3\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4), 8.5 percent of the allocation to listed CPs shall be available for
  harvest only by eligible catcher vessels with a CP endorsement delivering to listed CPs, unless there is a CP
  sector cooperative contract for the year.
\4\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(4)(iii), the AFA unlisted CPs are limited to harvesting not more than
  0.5 percent of the CP sector's allocation of pollock.
\5\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(6), NMFS establishes an excessive harvesting share limit equal to 17.5
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\6\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(i)(A)(7), NMFS establishes an excessive processing share limit equal to 30.0
  percent of the sum of the non-CDQ pollock DFAs.
\7\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.20(a)(5)(iii)(B)(6), NMFS establishes harvest limits for pollock in the A season in
  Area 541 of no more than 30 percent, in Area 542 of no more than 15 percent, and in Area 543 of no more than 5
  percent of the AI pollock ABC.
\8\ Pursuant to Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(B), the Bogoslof District is closed to directed fishing for pollock. The
  amounts specified are for incidental catch only and are not apportioned by season or sector.


 Table 6--Final 2024 AFA Inshore Cooperative and Open Access Pollock Allocations, and Inshore Sector Steller Sea
                                          Lion Conservation Area Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Sum of vessel's
                Cooperative name \1\                  Percent of inshore    catch histories    2024 Allocations
                                                       sector allocation       (mt) \2\              (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFA Open Access.....................................               2.103              18,414              11,777
Akutan Catcher Vessel Association...................              33.788             295,836             189,212
Northern Victor Fleet Cooperative...................               9.346              81,828              52,336
Unalaska Fleet Cooperative (Alyeska)................              12.261             107,357              68,663
UniSea Fleet Cooperative............................              23.122             202,454             129,486
Westward Fleet Cooperative..........................              19.380             169,683             108,526
Sum of all Cooperatives.............................             100.000             875,572             560,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Inshore Sector Steller Sea Lion Conservation Area (SCA) Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       2024 A season TAC   2024 A season SCA   2024 B season TAC
                                                                           harvest limit \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inshore cooperative sector:
    Vessels >99 ft..................................                 n/a             134,934                 n/a
    Vessels <=99 ft.................................                 n/a              21,866                 n/a
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total.......................................             252,000             156,800             308,000
Open access sector..................................  ..................  ..................  ..................
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
        Total inshore sector........................             252,000             156,800             308,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding.
\1\ The 2025 AFA catcher vessel cooperative membership will not be known until eligible participants apply for
  participation in the program by December 1, 2024.
\2\ According to regulations at Sec.   679.62(a)(1), the individual catch history for each vessel is equal to
  the vessel's best 2 of 3 years inshore pollock landings from 1995 through 1997 and includes landings to
  catcher/processors and motherships for vessels that made 500 or more mt of landings to catcher/processors and
  motherships from 1995 through 1997.
\3\ The Steller sea lion conservation area (SCA) is established at Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii). The SCA limitations
  for vessels less than or equal to 99 ft LOA that are not participating in a cooperative will be established on
  an inseason basis in accordance with Sec.   679.22(a)(7)(vii)(C)(2), and the Regional Administrator will
  prohibit directed fishing for pollock by vessels greater than 99 ft (30.2 m) LOA, catching pollock for
  processing by the inshore component before reaching the inshore SCA harvest limit before April 1 to
  accommodate fishing by vessels less than or equal to 99 ft (30.2 m) inside the SCA until April 1.


[[Page 17296]]

Allocation of the Atka Mackerel TACs

    Section 679.20(a)(8) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs to the 
Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors, after subtracting 
the CDQ reserves, ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and 
non-trawl gear sector, and the jig gear allocation (tables 7 and 8). 
The percentage of the ITAC for Atka mackerel allocated to the Amendment 
80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is listed in table 33 to 50 
CFR part 679 and in Sec.  679.91. Pursuant to Sec.  679.20(a)(8)(i), up 
to 2 percent of the EAI and the BS Atka mackerel TAC may be allocated 
to vessels using jig gear. The percent of this allocation is 
recommended annually by the Council based on several criteria, 
including, among other criteria, the anticipated harvest capacity of 
the jig gear fleet. After reviewing Council recommendations, NMFS 
approves a 0.5 percent allocation of the Atka mackerel TAC in the EAI 
and BS to the jig gear sector in 2024 and 2025.
    Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) apportions the Atka mackerel TAC, after 
subtraction of the jig gear allocation, into two equal seasonal 
allowances. Section 679.23(e)(3) sets the first seasonal allowance for 
directed fishing with trawl gear from January 20 through June 10 (A 
season), and the second seasonal allowance from June 10 through 
December 31 (B season). Section 679.23(e)(4)(iii) applies Atka mackerel 
seasons to CDQ Atka mackerel trawl fishing. Within any fishing year, 
any under harvest or over harvest of a seasonal allowance may be added 
to or subtracted from a subsequent seasonal allowance (Sec.  
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(B)). The ICAs and jig gear allocations are not 
apportioned by season.
    Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) and (ii) limits Atka mackerel 
catch within waters 0 nautical miles (nmi) to 20 nmi of Steller sea 
lion sites listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located west of 
178[deg] W longitude to no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in 
Areas 542 and 543. The annual harvest is also equally divided between 
the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.  679.23(e)(3). Section 
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the annual TAC in Area 543 will be 
no more than 65 percent of the ABC in Area 543. Section 
679.20(a)(8)(ii)(D) requires that any unharvested Atka mackerel A 
season allowance that is added to the B season be prohibited from being 
harvested within waters 0 nmi to 20 nmi of Steller sea lion sites 
listed in table 6 to 50 CFR part 679 and located in Areas 541, 542, and 
543.
    Tables 7 and 8 list these 2024 and 2025 Atka mackerel seasonal and 
area allowances, and the sector allocations. One Amendment 80 
cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. Because all Amendment 
80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, no allocation 
to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 2024. The 
2025 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives 
and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until 
eligible participants apply for participation in the program by 
November 1, 2024. Table 22 lists the allocation of CDQ Atka mackerel 
among the CDQ groups.

 Table 7--Final 2024 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
                             Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         2024 Allocation by area
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
            Sector \1\                 Season 2 3 4       Eastern Aleutian
                                                          District/ Bering   Central Aleutian   Western Aleutian
                                                                Sea            District \5\         District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..............................  n/a.................             32,260             16,754             23,973
CDQ reserve......................  Total...............              3,452              1,793              2,565
                                   A...................              1,726                896              1,283
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                538                770
                                   B...................              1,726                896              1,283
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                538                770
Non-CDQ TAC......................  n/a.................             28,808             14,961             21,408
ICA..............................  Total...............                800                 75                 20
Jig \6\..........................  Total...............                140  .................  .................
BSAI trawl limited access........  Total...............              2,787              1,489  .................
                                   A...................              1,393                744  .................
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                447  .................
                                   B...................              1,393                744  .................
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                447  .................
Amendment 80 sector..............  Total...............             25,081             13,398             21,388
                                   A...................             12,541              6,699             10,694
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a              4,019              6,416
                                   B...................             12,541              6,699             10,694
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a              4,019              6,416
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig
  gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
  Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR
  part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
  fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and
  Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
  January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
  be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
  annual harvest limits between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.   679.23(e)(3); and section
  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.

[[Page 17297]]

 
\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and
  the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets
  the amount of this allocation for 2024 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.


 Table 8--Final 2025 Seasonal and Spatial Allowances, Gear Shares, CDQ Reserve, Incidental Catch Allowance, and
                             Amendment 80 Allocations of the BSAI Atka Mackerel TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         2025 Allocation by area
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
            Sector \1\                 Season 2 3 4       Eastern Aleutian
                                                          District/ Bering   Central Aleutian   Western Aleutian
                                                              Sea \5\          District \5\       District \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC..............................  n/a.................             30,000             14,877             21,288
CDQ reserve......................  Total...............              3,210              1,592              2,278
                                   A...................              1,605                796              1,139
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                478                683
                                   B...................              1,605                796              1,139
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                478                683
non-CDQ TAC......................  n/a.................             26,790             13,285             19,010
ICA..............................  Total...............                800                 75                 20
Jig \6\..........................  Total...............                130  .................  .................
BSAI trawl limited access........  Total...............              2,586              1,321  .................
                                   A...................              1,293                661  .................
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                396  .................
                                   B...................              1,293                661  .................
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a                396  .................
Amendment 80 sectors \7\.........  Total...............             23,274             11,889             18,990
                                   A...................             11,637              5,945              9,495
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a              3,567              5,697
                                   B...................             11,637              5,945              9,495
                                   Critical Habitat....                n/a              3,567              5,697
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii) allocates the Atka mackerel TACs, after subtracting the CDQ reserves, ICAs, and jig
  gear allocation, to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors. The allocation of the ITAC for
  Atka mackerel to the Amendment 80 and BSAI trawl limited access sectors is established in table 33 to 50 CFR
  part 679 and Sec.   679.91. The CDQ reserve is 10.7 percent of the TAC for use by CDQ participants (see Sec.
  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C)).
\2\ Sections 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(A) and 679.22(a) establish temporal and spatial limitations for the Atka mackerel
  fishery.
\3\ The seasonal allowances of Atka mackerel for the CDQ reserve, BSAI trawl limited access sector, and
  Amendment 80 sector are 50 percent in the A season and 50 percent in the B season.
\4\ Section 679.23(e)(3) authorizes directed fishing for Atka mackerel with trawl gear during the A season from
  January 20 to June 10 and the B season from June 10 to December 31.
\5\ Section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(i) limits no more than 60 percent of the annual TACs in Areas 542 and 543 to
  be caught inside of Steller sea lion protection areas; section 679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(1)(ii) equally divides the
  annual harvest limits between the A and B seasons as defined at Sec.   679.23(e)(3); and section
  679.20(a)(8)(ii)(C)(2) requires that the TAC in Area 543 shall be no more than 65 percent of ABC in Area 543.
\6\ Sections 679.2 and 679.20(a)(8)(i) require that up to 2 percent of the Eastern Aleutian Islands District and
  the Bering Sea subarea TAC be allocated to jig gear after subtracting the CDQ reserve and the ICA. NMFS sets
  the amount of this allocation for 2025 at 0.5 percent. The jig gear allocation is not apportioned by season.
\7\ The 2025 allocations for Atka mackerel between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access
  sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1,
  2024.

Allocation of the Pacific Cod TAC

    The Council separated the BSAI OFL, ABC, and TAC into BS and AI 
subarea OFLs, ABCs, and TACs for Pacific cod in 2014 (79 FR 12108, 
March 4, 2014). Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(C) allocates 10.7 percent of 
the BS TAC and the AI TAC to the CDQ program. After CDQ allocations 
have been deducted from the respective BS and AI Pacific cod TACs, the 
remaining BSAI Pacific cod TACs are combined for calculating further 
BSAI Pacific cod sector allocations and seasonal allowances. If the 
non-CDQ Pacific cod TAC is or will be reached in either the BS or the 
AI subareas, NMFS will prohibit non-CDQ directed fishing for Pacific 
cod in that subarea as provided in Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii).
    Section 679.20(a)(7)(ii) allocates to the non-CDQ sectors the 
Pacific cod TAC in the combined BSAI, after subtracting 10.7 percent 
for the CDQ program, as follows: 1.4 percent to vessels using jig gear; 
2.0 percent to hook-and-line or pot CVs less than 60 ft (18.3 m) length 
overall (LOA); 0.2 percent to hook-and-line CVs greater than or equal 
to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 48.7 percent to hook-and-line CPs; 8.4 percent 
to pot CVs greater than or equal to 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA; 1.5 percent to 
pot CPs; 2.3 percent to AFA trawl CPs; 13.4 percent to Amendment 80 
sector; and 22.1 percent to trawl CVs. The ICA for the hook-and-line 
and pot sectors will be deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific 
cod TAC allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. For 2024 and 
2025, the Regional Administrator establishes an ICA of 500 mt based on 
anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries. 
During the fishing year, NMFS may reallocate unharvested Pacific cod 
among sectors, consistent with the reallocation hierarchy set forth at 
Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(iii).
    The ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the Amendment 80 sector is 
established in table 33 to 50 CFR part 679 and Sec.  679.91. One 
Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. Because 
all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 cooperative, 
no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is required for 
2024. The 2025 allocations for Pacific cod between Amendment 80 
cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be 
known until eligible participants apply for participation in the 
program by November 1, 2024.

[[Page 17298]]

    The BSAI ITAC allocation of Pacific cod to the PCTC Program is 
established in Sec.  679.131(b). Section 679.131(b)(1)(i) also requires 
NMFS to establish an ICA for incidental catch of Pacific cod by trawl 
CVs engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program 
Pacific cod. In the annual harvest specification process, NMFS 
determines the Pacific cod trawl catcher vessel TAC and the annual 
apportionment of Pacific cod in the A and B seasons between the PCTC 
Program DFA and the ICA (Sec.  679.131(b)(2)) (table 9 below). The 2025 
allocations for PCTC Program cooperatives will not be known until NMFS 
receives the membership applications by November 1, 2024. The 2024 PCTC 
cooperative allocations and PSC allowances are listed in table 11.
    The sector allocations of Pacific cod are apportioned into seasonal 
allowances to disperse the Pacific cod fisheries over the fishing year 
(see Sec. Sec.  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) (CDQ), 679.20(a)(7)(iv)(A) (non-
CDQ), and 679.23(e)(5) (seasons)). Tables 9 and 10 list the non-CDQ 
sector and seasonal allowances. In accordance with Sec.  
679.20(a)(7)(iv)(B) and (C), any unused portion of a non-CDQ Pacific 
cod seasonal allowance for any sector, except the jig sector, will 
become available at the beginning of that sector's next seasonal 
allowance. Section 679.20(a)(7)(i)(B) sets forth the CDQ Pacific cod 
gear allowances by season, and CDQ groups are prohibited from exceeding 
those seasonal allowances (Sec.  679.7(d)(6)).
    Section 679.20(a)(7)(vii) requires that the Regional Administrator 
establish an Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit based on Pacific cod 
abundance in Area 543 as determined by the annual stock assessment 
process. Based on the 2023 stock assessment, the Regional Administrator 
determined for 2024 and 2025 the estimated amount of Pacific cod 
abundance in Area 543 is 15.7 percent of the total AI abundance. To 
calculate the Area 543 Pacific cod harvest limit, NMFS first subtracts 
the State GHL Pacific cod amount from the AI Pacific cod ABC. Then NMFS 
determines the harvest limit in Area 543 by multiplying the percentage 
of Pacific cod estimated in Area 543 (15.7 percent) by the remaining 
ABC for AI Pacific cod. Based on these calculations, the Area 543 
harvest limit is 1,269 mt for 2024 and 2025.
    Under the PCTC Program, PCTC Program cooperatives are required to 
collectively set aside up to twelve percent of the trawl CV A-season 
allocation for delivery to an AI shoreplant in years in which an AI 
community representative notifies NMFS of the intent to process PCTC 
Program Pacific cod in the City of Adak or City of Atka (Sec.  
679.132). A notice of intent to process PCTC Program Pacific cod must 
be submitted in writing to the Regional Administrator by a 
representative of the City of Adak or the City of Atka no later than 
October 15. A notice of intent was not received in 2023, and 
accordingly the AI set-aside will not be in effect for 2024. The 2025 
set-aside will be determined after the October 15, 2024 deadline in 
conjunction with the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications process.
    Based on the final 2024 and 2025 Pacific cod TACs, table 9 and 
table 10 list the CDQ and non-CDQ TAC amounts; non-CDQ seasonal 
allowances by gear; the sector allocations of Pacific cod; and the 
seasons set forth at Sec.  679.23(e)(5). The CDQ allocation by CDQ 
groups is listed in table 22.

           Table 9--Final 2024 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2024 Share of                      2024 Seasonal allowances
              Sector                  Percent      gear sector    2024 Share of --------------------------------
                                                      total       sector total          Season           Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC..............          n/a         147,753             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Bering Sea CDQ....................          n/a          15,810             n/a  See Sec.                    n/a
                                                                                  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC............          n/a         131,943             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC........          n/a           8,080             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Aleutian Islands CDQ..............          n/a             865             n/a  See Sec.                    n/a
                                                                                  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC......          n/a           7,215             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Western Aleutians Islands Limit...          n/a           1,269             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\........        100.0         139,159             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......         60.8          84,609             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.........          n/a             n/a             500  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......          n/a          84,109             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors..         48.7             n/a          67,370  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........     34,359
    B-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......     33,011
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >=60          0.2             n/a             277  n/a.................        n/a
 ft LOA.
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........        141
    B-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......        136
Pot catcher/processors............          1.5             n/a           2,075  n/a.................        n/a
    Pot catcher/processors A-                                                    Jan 1-Jun 10........      1,058
     season.
    Pot catcher/processors B-                                                    Sept 1-Dec 31.......      1,017
     season.
Pot catcher vessels >=60 ft LOA...          8.4             n/a          11,620  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........      5,926
    B-season......................                                               Sept 1-Dec 31.......      5,694
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using            2.0             n/a           2,767  n/a.................        n/a
 hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels \3\.........         22.1          30,754             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season ICA..................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........      1,500
    A-season PCTC.................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........     21,258
    B-season ICA..................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........        700
    B-season PCTC.................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........      2,683
    C-season trawl catcher vessels                                               Jun 10-Nov 1........      4,613
AFA trawl catcher/processors......          2.3           3,201             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........      2,400
    B-season......................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........        800

[[Page 17299]]

 
    C-season......................                                               Jun 10-Nov 1........  .........
Amendment 80......................         13.4          18,647             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........     13,985
    B-season......................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........      4,662
    C-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......  .........
Jig...............................          1.4           1,948             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Apr 30........      1,169
    B-season......................                                               Apr 30-Aug 31.......        390
    C-season......................                                               Aug 31-Dec 31.......        390
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and
  AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in
  either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in
  that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec.   679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on
  anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
  after subtraction of the A and B season ICAs (Sec.   679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for
  the A and B seasons, ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for projected incidental catch of
  Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program
  Pacific cod.


           Table 10--Final 2025 Sector Allocations and Seasonal Allowances of the BSAI Pacific Cod TAC
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  2025 Share of                      2025 Seasonal allowances
              Sector                  Percent      gear sector    2025 Share of --------------------------------
                                                      total       sector total          Season           Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Bering Sea TAC..............          n/a         132,726             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Bering Sea CDQ....................          n/a          14,202             n/a  See Sec.                    n/a
                                                                                  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Bering Sea non-CDQ TAC............          n/a         118,524             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total Aleutian Islands TAC........          n/a           8,080             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Aleutian Islands CDQ..............          n/a             865             n/a  See Sec.                    n/a
                                                                                  679.20(a)(7)(i)(B).
Aleutian Islands non-CDQ TAC......          n/a           7,215             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Western Aleutians Islands Limit...          n/a           1,269             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total BSAI non-CDQ TAC \1\........        100.0         125,740             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Total hook-and-line/pot gear......         60.8          76,450             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line/pot ICA \2\.........          n/a             n/a             500  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line/pot sub-total.......          n/a          75,950             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
Hook-and-line catcher/processors..         48.7             n/a          60,835  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........     31,026
    B-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......     29,809
Hook-and-line catcher vessels >=60          0.2             n/a             250  n/a.................        n/a
 ft LOA.
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........        127
    B-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......        122
Pot catcher/processors............          1.5             n/a           1,874  n/a.................        n/a
    Pot catcher/processors A-                                                    Jan 1-Jun 10........        956
     season.
    Pot catcher/processors B-                                                    Sept 1-Dec 31.......        918
     season.
Pot catcher vessels >=60 ft LOA...          8.4             n/a          10,493  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Jun 10........      5,351
    B-season......................                                               Sept 1-Dec 31.......      5,142
Catcher vessels <60 ft LOA using            2.0             n/a           2,498  n/a.................        n/a
 hook-and-line or pot gear.
Trawl catcher vessels \3\.........         22.1          27,788             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season ICA..................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........      1,500
    A-season PCTC.................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........     19,063
    B-season ICA..................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........        700
    B-season PCTC.................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........      2,357
    C-season trawl catcher vessels                                               Jun 10-Nov 1........      4,168
AFA trawl catcher/processors......          2.3           2,892             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........      2,169
    B-season......................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........        723
    C-season......................                                               Jun 10-Nov 1........  .........
Amendment 80......................         13.4          16,849             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 20-Apr 1........     12,637
    B-season......................                                               Apr 1-Jun 10........      4,212
    C-season......................                                               Jun 10-Dec 31.......  .........
Jig...............................          1.4           1,760             n/a  n/a.................        n/a
    A-season......................                                               Jan 1-Apr 30........      1,056
    B-season......................                                               Apr 30-Aug 31.......        352

[[Page 17300]]

 
    C-season......................                                               Aug 31-Dec 31.......        352
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The sector allocations and seasonal allowances for BSAI Pacific cod TAC are based on the sum of the BS and
  AI Pacific cod TACs, after subtraction of the reserves for the CDQ Program. If the TAC for Pacific cod in
  either the BS or AI is or will be reached, then directed fishing will be prohibited for non-CDQ Pacific cod in
  that subarea, even if a BSAI allowance remains (Sec.   679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
\2\ The ICA for the hook-and-line and pot sectors is deducted from the aggregate portion of Pacific cod TAC
  allocated to the hook-and-line and pot sectors. The Regional Administrator approves an ICA of 500 mt based on
  anticipated incidental catch by these sectors in other fisheries.
\3\ The A and B season trawl CV Pacific cod allocation is allocated to the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
  after subtraction of the A and B season ICAs (Sec.   679.131(b)(1)). The Regional Administrator approves for
  the A and B seasons, ICAs of 1,500 mt and 700 mt, respectively, to account for projected incidental catch of
  Pacific cod by trawl catcher vessels engaged in directed fishing for groundfish other than PCTC Program
  Pacific cod.
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


                                          Table 11--Final 2024 PCTC Cooperative Allocations and PSC Allowances
                              [Pacific cod and Pacific halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab are in number of animals.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Total       A Season     B Season
              Cooperative name \1\                Pacific cod  Pacific cod  Pacific cod    Halibut      Red king    C. opilio    Zone 1 c.    Zone 2 c.
                                                       CQ           CQ           CQ                       crab        COBLZ        bairdi       bairdi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA Catcher Vessels Association..................          894          794          100        9.599           61        1,050        1,253        1,044
Akutan Cod Association..........................       14,256       12,658        1,598        8.703           55          952        1,136          947
Usixty PCTC Association.........................          811          720           91        9.475           60        1,037        1,237        1,031
Katie Ann Cod Cooperative.......................          883          784           99        50.54          325        5,531        6,601        5,501
USS Cod Cooperative.............................        2,389        2,122          268       153.03          984       16,750       19,987       16,656
Unified Cod Cooperative.........................        4,708        4,180          528       25.649          164        2,807        3,350        2,791
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................       23,942       21,258        2,684          257        1,653       28,130       33,567       27,973
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Totals may not add up due to rounding.
\1\ The 2025 allocations for PCTC Cooperatives will not be known until eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024.

Sablefish Gear Allocation

    Sections 679.20(a)(4)(iii) and (iv) require allocation of the 
sablefish TAC for the BS and AI subareas between the trawl gear and 
fixed gear sectors. Gear allocations of the sablefish TAC for the BS 
are 50 percent for trawl gear and 50 percent for fixed gear. Gear 
allocations of the TAC for the AI are 25 percent for trawl gear and 75 
percent for fixed gear. Section 679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B) requires that NMFS 
apportion 20 percent of the fixed gear allocation of sablefish TAC to 
the CDQ reserve for each subarea. Also, Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1) 
requires that in the BS and AI 7.5 percent of the trawl gear allocation 
of sablefish TAC from the non-specified reserve, established under 
Sec.  679.20(b)(1)(i), be assigned to the CDQ reserve.
    The Council recommended that only trawl sablefish TAC be 
established biennially. The harvest specifications for the fixed gear 
sablefish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fisheries are limited to the 
2024 fishing year to ensure those fisheries are conducted concurrently 
with the halibut IFQ fishery. Concurrent sablefish and halibut IFQ 
fisheries reduce the potential for discards of halibut and sablefish in 
those fisheries. The sablefish IFQ fisheries remain closed at the 
beginning of each fishing year until the final harvest specifications 
for the sablefish IFQ fisheries are in effect. Table 12 lists the 2024 
and 2025 gear allocations of the sablefish TAC and CDQ reserve amounts. 
Allocations among CDQ groups are listed in table 22.

                                    Table 12--Final 2024 and 2025 Gear Shares and CDQ Reserve of BSAI Sablefish TACs
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2024 Share of                     2024 CDQ      2025 Share of                     2025 CDQ
            Subarea and gear              Percent of TAC        TAC          2024 ITAC        reserve           TAC          2025 ITAC        reserve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bering Sea:
    Trawl gear \1\......................              50           3,998           3,398             300           4,750           4,038             356
    Fixed gear \2\......................              50           3,998           3,198             800             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................             100           7,996           6,597           1,099           4,750           4,038             356
Aleutian Islands:
    Trawl gear \1\......................              25           2,110           1,794             158           2,110           1,794             158
    Fixed gear \2\......................              75           6,330           5,064           1,266             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................             100           8,440           6,858           1,424           2,110           1,794             158
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ For the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using trawl gear, 15 percent of TAC is apportioned to the non-specified reserve (Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(i)).
  The ITAC for vessels using trawl gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting this reserve. In the BS and AI, 7.5 percent of the trawl gear
  allocation of the TAC is assigned from the non-specified reserve to the CDQ reserve (Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(D)(1)).

[[Page 17301]]

 
\2\ For the portion of the sablefish TAC allocated to vessels using fixed gear, 20 percent of the allocated TAC for the BS and AI is reserved for use by
  CDQ participants (Sec.   679.20(b)(1)(ii)(B)). The ITAC for vessels using fixed gear is the remainder of the TAC after subtracting the CDQ reserve for
  each subarea. The Council recommended, and NMFS concurs, that specifications for the fixed gear sablefish IFQ fisheries be limited to one year.

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

    Sections 679.20(a)(10)(i) and (ii) require that NMFS allocate AI 
Pacific ocean perch and BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin 
sole ITACs between the Amendment 80 sector and the BSAI trawl limited 
access sector, after subtracting 10.7 percent for the CDQ reserves and 
ICAs for the BSAI trawl limited access sector and vessels using non-
trawl gear. The allocations of the ITACs for AI Pacific ocean perch and 
BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole to the Amendment 80 
sector are established in accordance with tables 33 and 34 to 50 CFR 
part 679 and with Sec.  679.91.
    One Amendment 80 cooperative has formed for the 2024 fishing year. 
Because all Amendment 80 vessels are part of the sole Amendment 80 
cooperative, no allocation to the Amendment 80 limited access sector is 
required for 2024. The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species 
between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access 
sector will not be known until eligible participants apply for 
participation in the program by November 1, 2024. Tables 13 and 14 list 
the 2024 and 2025 allocations of the AI Pacific ocean perch and BSAI 
flathead sole, rock sole, and yellowfin sole TACs. Allocations among 
the CDQ groups are listed in table 22.

 Table 13--Final 2024 Community Development Quota (CDQ) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
                                     Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Pacific ocean perch                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Sector                               Eastern         Central         Western
                                                             Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                                             district        district        district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.....................................................           7,969           5,521          12,500          35,500          66,000         195,000
CDQ.....................................................             853             591           1,338           3,799           7,062          20,865
ICA.....................................................             100              60              10           3,000           6,000           4,000
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             702             487             223  ..............  ..............          32,996
Amendment 80............................................           6,315           4,383          10,929          28,702          52,938         137,139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.


 Table 14--Final 2025 Community Development Quota (CDC) Reserves, Incidental Catch Amounts (ICAs), and Amendment 80 Allocations of the Aleutian Islands
                                     Pacific Ocean Perch and BSAI Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole TACs
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Pacific ocean perch                Flathead sole     Rock sole    Yellowfin sole
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Sector                               Eastern         Central         Western
                                                             Aleutian        Aleutian        Aleutian          BSAI            BSAI            BSAI
                                                             district        district        district
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAC.....................................................           7,828           5,423          12,500          35,500          66,000         195,000
CDQ.....................................................             838             580           1,338           3,799           7,062          20,865
ICA.....................................................             100              60              10           3,000           6,000           4,000
BSAI trawl limited access...............................             689             478             223  ..............  ..............          32,996
Amendment 80 \1\........................................           6,201           4,304          10,929          28,702          52,938         137,139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Sector apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
  eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024.

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

[[Page 17302]]

reserve for each respective species. Table 15 lists the 2024 and 2025 
ABC surplus and ABC reserves for BSAI flathead sole, rock sole, and 
yellowfin sole. The ABC reserves for the CDQ groups are listed in table 
22.

 Table 15--Final 2024 and 2025 ABC Surplus, ABC Reserves, Community Development Quota (CDQ) ABC Reserves, and Amendment 80 ABC Reserves in the BSAI for
                                                      Flathead Sole, Rock Sole, and Yellowfin Sole
                                                              [Amounts are in metric tons]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2024 Flathead                  2024 Yellowfin     2025 \1\      2025 \1\ Rock     2025 \1\
                         Sector                                sole       2024 Rock sole       sole        Flathead sole       sole       Yellowfin sole
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC.....................................................          67,289         122,091         265,913          68,203         122,535         276,917
TAC.....................................................          35,500          66,000         195,000          35,500          66,000         195,000
ABC surplus.............................................          31,789          56,091          70,913          32,703          56,535          81,917
ABC reserve.............................................          31,789          56,091          70,913          32,703          56,535          81,917
CDQ ABC reserve.........................................           3,401           6,002           7,588           3,499           6,049           8,765
Amendment 80 ABC reserve................................          28,388          50,089          63,325          29,204          50,486          73,152
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2025 allocations for Amendment 80 species between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 limited access sector will not be known until
  eligible participants apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024.

PSC Limits for Halibut, Salmon, Crab, and Herring

    Section 679.21 (b), (e), (f), and (g), set forth the BSAI PSC 
limits. Section 679.21(b)(1) establishes three fixed halibut PSC limits 
totaling 1,770 mt, and assigns 315 mt of the halibut PSC limit as the 
PSQ reserve for use by the groundfish CDQ Program, 745 mt of the 
halibut PSC limit for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, and 710 mt 
of the halibut PSC limit for the BSAI non-trawl sector. An additional 
amount of BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is 
determined annually based on the most recent halibut abundance 
estimates from the IPHC setline survey index and the NMFS AFSC Eastern 
Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index. In accordance with Sec.  
679.21(b)(1)(i), NMFS uses both halibut biomass estimates such that the 
value at the intercept of those survey indices from table 58 to 50 CFR 
part 679 is the Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit. The 2023 AFSC 
Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index estimate of halibut 
abundance is 170,238 mt and is above the threshold level of 150,000 mt. 
The IPHC setline survey index is 6,462 mt and is in the ``low'' 
abundance state. Pursuant to table 58 to 50 CFR part 679, the 2024 
Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit is 1,396 mt. NMFS will publish 
the 2025 Amendment 80 sector halibut PSC limit in the 2025 and 2026 
harvest specifications.
    Section 679.21(b)(1)(iii)(A) and (B) require apportionment of the 
BSAI non-trawl halibut PSC limit into PSC allowances among six fishery 
categories in table 20, and Sec.  679.21(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B), 
(e)(3)(i)(B), and (e)(3)(iv) require apportionment of the trawl PSC 
limits in tables 17, 18, and 19 into PSC allowances among seven fishery 
categories. These apportionments into PSC allowances are based on the 
fishery categories' share of anticipated halibut PSC during the fishing 
year and the need to optimize the amount of total groundfish harvested 
under the halibut PSC limit for the non-trawl and trawl sectors.
    Pursuant to Section 3.6 of the FMP, the Council recommends that 
certain specified non-trawl fisheries be exempt from the halibut PSC 
limit. NMFS concurs with this recommendation and exempts the pot gear 
fishery, the jig gear fishery, and the sablefish IFQ fixed gear fishery 
categories from halibut bycatch restrictions for the following reasons: 
(1) the pot gear fisheries have low halibut bycatch mortality; (2) NMFS 
estimates halibut mortality for the jig gear fleet to be negligible 
because of the small size of the fishery and the selectivity of the 
gear; and (3) the sablefish and halibut IFQ fisheries have low halibut 
bycatch mortality because the IFQ program requires that legal-size 
halibut be retained by vessels using fixed gear if a halibut IFQ permit 
holder or a hired master is aboard and is holding unused halibut IFQ 
for that vessel category and the IFQ regulatory area in which the 
vessel is operating (see Sec.  679.7(f)(11)).
    The 2023 total groundfish catch for the pot gear fishery in the 
BSAI was 43,527 mt, with an associated halibut bycatch mortality of 9 
mt. The 2023 jig gear fishery harvested 22 mt total groundfish. Most 
vessels in the jig gear fleet are exempt from observer coverage 
requirements. As a result, observer data are not available on halibut 
bycatch in the jig gear fishery. As mentioned above, NMFS estimates a 
negligible amount of halibut bycatch mortality because of the selective 
nature of jig gear and the low mortality rate of halibut caught with 
jig gear and released.
    Under Sec.  679.21(f)(2), NMFS annually allocates portions of 
either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limits 
among the AFA sectors, depending on: (1) past bycatch performance; (2) 
whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan agreements (IPAs) are 
formed and approved by NMFS; and (3) whether NMFS determines it is a 
low Chinook salmon abundance year. NMFS will determine that it is a low 
Chinook salmon abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in 
western Alaska is less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon. The 
State provides to NMFS an estimate of Chinook salmon abundance using 
the 3-System Index for western Alaska based on the Kuskokwim, 
Unalakleet, and Upper Yukon aggregate stock grouping.
    If an AFA sector participates in an approved IPA and has not 
exceeded its performance standard under Sec.  679.21(f)(6), and if it 
is not a low Chinook salmon abundance year, then NMFS will allocate a 
portion of the 60,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that sector as 
specified in Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(iii)(A). If no IPA is approved, or if 
the sector has exceeded its performance standard under Sec.  
679.21(f)(6), and if it is not a low abundance year, then NMFS will 
allocate a portion of the 47,591 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that 
sector as specified in Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(iii)(C). If an AFA sector 
participates in an approved IPA and has not exceeded its performance 
standard under Sec.  679.21(f)(6), in a low abundance year, then NMFS 
will allocate a portion of the 45,000 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that 
sector as specified in Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). If no IPA is 
approved, or if the sector has exceeded its performance standard under 
Sec.  679.21(f)(6), and if in a low abundance year, then NMFS will 
allocate a portion of the 33,318 Chinook salmon PSC limit to that 
sector as specified in Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D).
    NMFS has determined that 2023 was a low Chinook salmon abundance 
year,

[[Page 17303]]

based on the State's estimate that Chinook salmon abundance in western 
Alaska is less than 250,000 Chinook salmon. In addition, all AFA 
sectors are participating in NMFS-approved IPAs, and no sector has 
exceeded the sector's annual Chinook salmon bycatch performance 
standard in any three of seven consecutive years. Therefore, in 2024, 
the Chinook salmon PSC limit is 45,000 Chinook salmon, allocated to 
each sector as specified in Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(iii)(B). In 2024, the 
Chinook salmon bycatch performance standard under Sec.  679.21(f)(6) is 
33,318 Chinook salmon, allocated to each sector as specified in Sec.  
679.21(f)(3)(iii)(D). The AFA sector Chinook salmon PSC limits are also 
seasonally apportioned with 70 percent for the A season pollock 
fishery, and 30 percent for the B season pollock fishery (see 
Sec. Sec.  679.21(f)(3)(i) and 679.23(e)(2)). NMFS publishes the 
approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm.
    Section 679.21(g)(2)(i) specifies 700 fish as the 2024 and 2025 
Chinook salmon PSC limit for the AI pollock fishery. Section 
679.21(g)(2)(ii) allocates 7.5 percent, or 53 Chinook salmon, as the AI 
PSQ reserve for the CDQ program, and allocates the remaining 647 
Chinook salmon to the non-CDQ fisheries.
    Section 679.21(f)(14)(i) specifies 42,000 fish as the 2024 and 2025 
non-Chinook salmon PSC limit for vessels using trawl gear from August 
15 through October 14 in the Catcher Vessel Operational Area (CVOA). 
Section 679.21(f)(14)(ii) allocates 10.7 percent, or 4,494 non-Chinook 
salmon, in the CVOA as the PSQ reserve for the CDQ program, and 
allocates the remaining 37,506 non-Chinook salmon in the CVOA to the 
non-CDQ fisheries. Section 679.21(f)(14)(iv) exempts from closures in 
the Chum Salmon Savings Area trawl vessels participating in directed 
fishing for pollock and operating under an IPA approved by NMFS.
    PSC limits for crab and herring are specified annually based on 
abundance and spawning biomass.
    Based on the most recent (2023) survey data, the red king crab 
mature female abundance is estimated at 11.054 million red king crabs, 
and the effective spawning biomass is estimated at 20.055 million lbs 
(9,320 mt). Based on the criteria set out at Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(i), the 
calculated 2024 and 2025 PSC limit of red king crab in Zone 1 for trawl 
gear is 97,000 animals. This limit derives from the mature female 
abundance estimate above 8.4 million mature red king crab and an 
effective spawning biomass between 14.5 and 55 million lbs.
    Section 679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2) establishes criteria under which 
NMFS must specify, after consultation with the Council, an annual red 
king crab bycatch limit for the Red King Crab Savings Subarea (RKCSS) 
if the State has established a GHL fishery for red king crab in the 
Bristol Bay area in the previous year. The regulations limit the RKCSS 
red king crab bycatch limit to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC 
limit, based on the need to optimize the groundfish harvest relative to 
red king crab bycatch. In October 2023, the Council recommended, and 
NMFS approves, that the RKCSS red king crab bycatch limit for 2024 and 
2025 be equal to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC limit.
    Based on the most recent (2023) survey data from the NMFS annual 
bottom trawl survey, Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi) abundance is 
estimated at 730 million animals. Pursuant to criteria set out at Sec.  
679.21(e)(1)(ii), the calculated 2024 and 2025 C. bairdi crab PSC limit 
for trawl gear is 980,000 animals in Zone 1, and 2,970,000 animals in 
Zone 2. The limit in Zone 1 is based on the total abundance of C. 
bairdi (estimated at 730 million animals), which is greater than 400 
million animals. The limit in Zone 2 is based on the total abundance of 
C. bairdi (estimated at 730 million animals), which is greater than 400 
million animals.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(iii), the PSC limit for trawl gear 
for snow crab (C. opilio) is based on total abundance as indicated by 
the NMFS annual bottom trawl survey. The C. opilio crab PSC limit in 
the C. opilio bycatch limitation zone (COBLZ) is set at 0.1133 percent 
of the Bering Sea abundance index minus 150,000 crabs, unless a minimum 
or maximum PSC limit applies. Based on the most recent (2023) survey 
estimate of 1.142 billion animals, the calculated C. opilio crab PSC 
limit is 1,143,886 animals. Because 0.1133 percent multiplied by the 
total abundance is less than 4.5 million animals, the minimum PSC limit 
applies, and the PSC limit is 4.350 million animals.
    Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(e)(1)(v), the PSC limit of Pacific herring 
caught while conducting any trawl operation for BSAI groundfish is 1 
percent of the annual eastern BS herring biomass. The best estimate of 
2024 and 2025 herring biomass is 253,511 mt. This amount was developed 
by ADF&G based on biomass for spawning aggregations. Therefore, the 
herring PSC limit for 2024 and 2025 is 2,535 mt for all trawl gear as 
listed in tables 16 and 17.
    Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A)(1) allocates 10.7 percent from each 
trawl gear PSC limit specified for crab as a PSQ reserve for use by the 
groundfish CDQ program. Section 679.21(e)(3)(i)(A) requires that crab 
PSQ reserves be subtracted from the total trawl gear crab PSC limits. 
The crab and halibut PSC limits apportioned to the Amendment 80 and 
BSAI trawl limited access sectors are listed in table 35 to 50 CFR part 
679. The resulting 2024 and 2025 allocations of PSC limit to CDQ PSQ 
reserves, the Amendment 80 sector, and the BSAI trawl limited access 
sector are listed in table 16. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  679.21(b)(1)(i), 
679.21(e)(3)(vi), and 679.91(d) through (f), crab and halibut trawl PSC 
limits assigned to the Amendment 80 sector are then further allocated 
to Amendment 80 cooperatives as cooperative quota. Crab and halibut PSC 
cooperative quota assigned to Amendment 80 cooperatives is not 
allocated to specific fishery categories.
    In 2024, there are no vessels in the Amendment 80 limited access 
sector and there is a single Amendment 80 cooperative. The 2025 PSC 
allocations between Amendment 80 cooperatives and the Amendment 80 
limited access sector will not be known until eligible participants 
apply for participation in the program by November 1, 2024.
    The BSAI ITAC allocation of halibut and crab PSC limits to the PCTC 
Program is established in Sec.  679.131(c) and (d). The halibut PSC 
apportioned to the trawl CV sector is 98 percent of the halibut PSC 
limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod 
fishery category, and the remaining 2 percent is apportioned to the AFA 
CP sector. The trawl CV sector apportionment is further allocated to 
the A and B seasons (95 percent) and the C season (5 percent). The 
allocation to the trawl CV sector for the A and B season is subject to 
reductions consistent with Sec.  679.131(c)(1)(iii). The crab PSC 
apportioned to the trawl CV sector is 90.6 percent of the crab PSC 
limit apportioned to the BSAI trawl limited access sector's Pacific cod 
fishery category, and the remaining 9.4 percent is apportioned to the 
AFA CP sector. The trawl CV sector apportionment is further allocated 
to the A and B seasons (95 percent) and the C season (5 percent), and 
the A and B season limit is reduced by 35 percent to determine the 
overall PCTC Program crab PSC limit. The limits of halibut and crab PSC 
for the PCTC Program are listed in tables 18 and 19, and in table 11 
for PSC allowances for PCTC Program cooperatives.

[[Page 17304]]

    Sections 679.21(b)(2) and (e)(5) authorize NMFS, after consulting 
with the Council, to establish seasonal apportionments of halibut and 
crab PSC amounts for the BSAI trawl limited access and non-trawl 
sectors to maximize the ability of the fleet to harvest the available 
groundfish TAC and to minimize bycatch. The factors to be considered 
are: (1) seasonal distribution of prohibited species; (2) seasonal 
distribution of target groundfish species relative to prohibited 
species distribution; (3) PSC bycatch needs on a seasonal basis 
relevant to prohibited species biomass and expected catches of target 
groundfish species; (4) the expected variations in bycatch rates 
throughout the year; (5) the expected changes in directed groundfish 
fishing seasons; (6) the expected start of fishing effort; and (7) 
economic effects of establishing seasonal prohibited species 
apportionments on segments of the target groundfish industry. Based on 
this criteria, the Council recommended and NMFS approves the seasonal 
PSC apportionments in tables 18, 19, and 20 to maximize harvest among 
gear types, fisheries, and seasons while minimizing bycatch of PSC. PSC 
limits for PCTC Program cooperatives are listed in table 11. PSC 
allocations among the CDQ groups are listed in table 22.

 Table 16--Final 2024 and 2025 Apportionment of Prohibited Species Catch Allowances to Non-Trawl Gear, the CDQ Program, Amendment 80, and the BSAI Trawl
                                                                 Limited Access Sectors
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Trawl PSC                      BSAI trawl     BSAI PSC limits
  PSC species and area and zone \1\       Total PSC     Non-trawl PSC      CDQ PSQ        remaining     Amendment 80   limited access   not allocated to
                                                                         reserve \2\    after CDQ PSQ    sector 3 4        sector       Amendment 80 \3\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI..........           3,166             710             315             n/a           1,396             745                n/a
Herring (mt) BSAI....................           2,535             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a                n/a
Red king crab (animals) Zone 1.......          97,000             n/a          10,379          86,621          43,293          26,489             16,839
C. opilio (animals) COBLZ............       4,350,000             n/a         465,450       3,884,550       1,909,256       1,248,494            726,799
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 1......         980,000             n/a         104,860         875,140         368,521         411,228             95,390
C. bairdi crab (animals) Zone 2......       2,970,000             n/a         317,790       2,652,210         627,778       1,241,500            782,932
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ The PSQ reserve for crab species is 10.7 percent of each crab PSC limit.
\3\ The BSAI halibut PSC limit for the Amendment 80 sector is determined annually based on the most recent halibut abundance estimates from the IPHC
  setline survey index and the NMFS AFSC Eastern Bering Sea shelf trawl survey index (Sec.   679.21(b)(1)(i)). The Amendment 80 Program reduced
  apportionment of the trawl PSC limits for crab below the total PSC limit. These reductions are not apportioned to other gear types or sectors (table
  35 to part 679).
\4\ The Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for halibut by 12.5 percent in 2024 and 25 percent
  in 2025 and each year after (Sec.   679.131(c)(1)(iii)(A and B)). The PCTC Program reduced the Pacific cod PCTC Program PSC limit for crab by 35
  percent each year (679.131(d)(1)(iii)). The PSC limits apply to PCTC Program trawl CVs in the A and B seasons.


 Table 17--Final 2024 and 2025 Herring and Red King Crab Savings Subarea
        Prohibited Species Catch Allowances for All Trawl Sectors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Red king crab
           Fishery categories              Herring (mt)   (animals) Zone
                                               BSAI              1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..........................             146             n/a
Rock sole/flathead sole/Alaska plaice/                74             n/a
 other flatfish \1\.....................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth flounder/                  8             n/a
 Kamchatka flounder/sablefish...........
Rockfish................................               8             n/a
Pacific cod.............................              13             n/a
Midwater trawl pollock..................           2,256             n/a
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other species 2 3.              30             n/a
Red king crab savings subarea non-                   n/a          24,250
 pelagic trawl gear \4\.................
                                         -------------------------------
    Total trawl PSC.....................           2,535          97,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species,
  except for halibut (a prohibited species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth
  flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock
  sole, and yellowfin sole.
\2\ Pollock other than midwater trawl pollock, Atka mackerel, and
  ``other species'' fishery category.
\3\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and
  octopuses.
\4\ In December 2024, the Council recommended, and NMFS approves, that
  the red king crab bycatch limit for non-pelagic trawl fisheries within
  the RKCSS be limited to 25 percent of the red king crab PSC allowance
  (see Sec.   679.21(e)(3)(ii)(B)(2)).


[[Page 17305]]


Table 18--Final 2024 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and Pacific
                                          Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Prohibited species and area \1\
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access sector      Halibut      Red king crab     C. opilio          C. bairdi (animals)
            fisheries             mortality (mt)  (animals) Zone     (animals)   -------------------------------
                                       BSAI              1             COBLZ          Zone 1          Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..................             250          23,337       1,192,179         346,228       1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other     ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 flatfish \2\...................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth       ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
 sablefish......................
Rockfish, April 15-December 31..               5  ..............           1,006  ..............           1,000
Total Pacific cod \3\...........             315           2,955          50,281          60,000          50,000
AFA CP Pacific cod..............               6             278           4,726           5,640           4,700
PCTC Program Pacific cod, A and              257           1,653          28,130          33,567          27,973
 B season.......................
Trawl CV Pacific cod, C season..              15             134           2,278           2,718           2,265
PCTC Program unallocated                      37             890          15,147          18,075          15,062
 reduction......................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other                  175             197           5,028           5,000           5,000
 species \4\....................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited                 745          26,489       1,248,494         411,228       1,241,500
     access sector PSC..........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
  and yellowfin sole.
\3\ Amendment 122 established the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program that further apportioned the BSAI
  trawl limited access sector Pacific cod PSC limits for halibut and crab between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B-season,
  and open access C-season (Sec.   679.131(c) and (d)). In 2024, NMFS will apply a 12.5 percent reduction to the
  A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment after the Council recommends and NMFS approves the
  BSAI trawl limited access sector's PSC limit apportionments to fishery categories (Sec.   679.131(c)(1)(iii)).
  In 2025 and every year thereafter, NMFS will apply a 25 percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV
  sector halibut PSC apportionment. The crab PSC limits are reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector PSC
  limit by 35 percent each year (Sec.   679.131(d)(1)(iii)). Any amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining
  after the B season may be reapportioned to the trawl CV open access fishery in the C season. Because the
  annual PSC limits for the PCTC Program is not a fixed amount established in regulation and, instead, is
  determined annually through the harvest specification process, NMFS must apply the reduction to the A and B
  season apportionment of the trawl CV sector apportionment to implement the overall PSC reductions under the
  PCTC Program.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.


Table 19--Final 2025 Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for the BSAI Trawl Limited Access Sectors and Pacific
                                          Cod Trawl Cooperative Program
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Prohibited species and area \1\
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI trawl limited access sector      Halibut      Red king crab     C. opilio          C. bairdi (animals)
            fisheries             mortality (mt)  (animals) Zone     (animals)   -------------------------------
                                       BSAI              1             COBLZ          Zone 1          Zone 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowfin sole..................             250          23,337       1,192,179         346,228       1,185,500
Rock sole/flathead sole/other     ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 flatfish \2\...................
Greenland turbot/arrowtooth       ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 flounder/Kamchatka flounder/
 sablefish......................
Rockfish April 15-December 31...               5  ..............           1,006  ..............           1,000
Total Pacific cod \3\...........             315           2,955          50,281          60,000          50,000
AFA CP Pacific cod..............               6             278           4,726           5,640           4,700
PCTC Program Pacific cod,                    220           1,653          28,130          33,567          27,973
 January 20-June 10.............
Trawl CV Pacific cod, June 10-                16             134           2,278           2,718           2,265
 November 1.....................
PCTC Program unallocated                      73             890          15,147          18,075          15,062
 reduction......................
Pollock/Atka mackerel/other                  175             197           5,028           5,000           5,000
 species \4\....................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total BSAI trawl limited                 745          26,489       1,248,494         411,228       1,241,500
     access sector PSC..........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Species apportionments may not total precisely due to rounding.
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas and zones.
\2\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
  and yellowfin sole.
\3\ Amendment 122 established the Pacific Cod Trawl Cooperative (PCTC) Program that further apportioned the BSAI
  trawl limited access sector Pacific cod PSC limits for halibut and crab between AFA CPs, PCTC A and B-season,
  and open access C-season (Sec.   679.131(c) and (d)). In 2025 and every year thereafter, NMFS will apply a 25
  percent reduction to the A and B season trawl CV sector halibut PSC apportionment after the Council recommends
  and NMFS approves the BSAI trawl limited access sector's PSC limit apportionments to fishery categories (Sec.
   679.131(c)(1)(iii)). The crab PSC limits are reduced for the A and B season trawl CV sector PSC limit by 35
  percent each year (Sec.   679.131(d)(1)(iii)). Any amount of the PCTC Program PSC limit remaining after the B
  season may be reapportioned to the trawl CV open access fishery in the C season. Because the annual PSC limits
  for the PCTC Program is not a fixed amount established in regulation and, instead, is determined annually
  through the harvest specification process, NMFS must apply the reduction to the A and B season apportionment
  of the trawl CV sector apportionment to implement the overall PSC reductions under the PCTC Program.
\4\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.


[[Page 17306]]


       Table 20--Final 2024 and 2025 Halibut Prohibited Species Bycatch Allowances for Non-Trawl Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Halibut mortality (mt) BSAI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Catcher
          Non-trawl fisheries                    Seasons             processor    Catcher vessel   All non-trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...........................  Total Pacific cod.......             648              13             661
                                        January 1-June 10.......             388               9             n/a
                                        June 10-August 15.......             162               2             n/a
                                        August 15-December 31...              98               2             n/a
Non-Pacific cod non-trawl-Total.......  May 1-December 31.......             n/a             n/a              49
Groundfish pot and jig................  n/a.....................             n/a             n/a          Exempt
Sablefish hook-and-line...............  n/a.....................             n/a             n/a          Exempt
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total for all non-trawl PSC.......  n/a.....................             n/a             n/a             710
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Seasonal or sector allowances may not total precisely due to rounding.

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 (DMRs)

    To monitor halibut bycatch mortality allowances and apportionments, 
the Regional Administrator uses observed halibut incidental catch 
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 BSAI stock assessment process. The DMR methodology and findings 
are included as an appendix to the annual BSAI groundfish SAFE report.
    In 2016, the DMR estimation methodology underwent revisions per the 
Council's directive. An interagency halibut working group (IPHC, 
Council, and NMFS staff) developed improved estimation methods that 
have undergone review by the Plan Team, SSC, and the Council. A summary 
of the revised methodology is included in the BSAI proposed 2017 and 
2018 harvest specifications (81 FR 87863, December 6, 2016), and the 
comprehensive discussion of the working group's statistical methodology 
is available from the Council (see ADDRESSES). The DMR working group's 
revised methodology is intended to improve estimation accuracy, 
transparency, and transferability 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 methodology continues to ensure that NMFS is using DMRs that 
accurately reflect halibut mortality, which will inform the sectors of 
their estimated halibut mortality and allow sectors to respond with 
methods that could reduce mortality and, eventually, the DMR for that 
sector.
    At the December 2023 meeting, the SSC, AP, and the 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 reference period, except pot gear uses an 
updated 4-year reference period. The final 2024 and 2025 DMRs in this 
rule are unchanged from the DMRs in the proposed 2024 and 2025 harvest 
specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023). Table 21 lists these 
final 2024 and 2025 DMRs.

  Table 21--2024 and 2025 Pacific Halibut Discard Mortality Rates (DMR)
                              for the BSAI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Halibut discard
             Gear                       Sector           mortality rate
                                                           (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pelagic trawl.................  All..................                100
Non-pelagic trawl.............  Mothership and                        85
                                 catcher/processor.
Non-pelagic trawl.............  Catcher vessel.......                 63
Hook-and-line.................  Catcher/processor....                  7
Hook-and-line.................  Catcher vessel.......                  7
Pot...........................  All..................                 26
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Community Development Quota Group Quotas

    In 2006, Public Law 109-241 amended section 305(i)(1) of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1855(i)). This law specifies the 
allocation of CDQ groundfish and PSC amounts among the six CDQ groups. 
The six groups are the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development 
Association (APICDA), Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation 
(BBEDC), Central Bering Sea Fisherman's Association (CBSFA), Coastal 
Villages Regional Fund (CVRF), Norton Sound Economic Development 
Corporation (NSEDC), and Yukon Delta

[[Page 17307]]

Fisheries Development Association (YDFDA). NMFS published the CDQ and 
CDQ PSQ percentages on August 31, 2006 (71 FR 51804, August 31, 2006). 
Those percentages applied to the CDQ amounts in these harvest 
specifications are shown in table 22.

             Table 22--2024 CDQ Program Quota Categories, Target CDQ Reserves, Prohibited Species Quota (PSQ) Reserves, and CDQ Group Quotas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species or species group                       APICDA       BBEDC        CBSFA         CVRF        NSEDC        YDFDA        Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundfish CDQ Species                                                                              CDQ Group Quotas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Groundfish units are in metric tons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BS Pollock A season..........................................        8,190       12,285        2,925       14,040       12,870        8,190       58,500
BS Pollock B season..........................................       10,010       15,015        3,575       17,160       15,730       10,010       71,500
BS Pollock Total.............................................       18,200       27,300        6,500       31,200       28,600       18,200      130,000
AI Pollock...................................................          266          399           95          456          418          266        1,900
BS FG Sablefish..............................................          120          160          128  ...........          144          248          800
AI FG Sablefish..............................................          177          241           38          342          291          177        1,266
BS Sablefish.................................................           63           66           27           39           39           66          300
AI Sablefish.................................................           41           32           13           21           19           33          158
BS Pacific cod...............................................        2,371        3,320        1,423        2,846        2,846        3,004       15,810
AI Pacific cod...............................................          130          182           78          156          156          164          865
WAI Atka Mackerel............................................          770          385          205          385          359          462        2,565
CAI Atka Mackerel............................................          538          269          143          269          251          323        1,793
EAI/BS Atka Mackerel.........................................        1,036          518          276          518          483          621        3,452
Yellowfin Sole...............................................        5,842        5,008        1,669        1,252        1,461        5,634       20,865
Yellowfin Sole ABC reserves..................................        2,125        1,821          607          455          531        2,049        7,588
Rock Sole....................................................        1,695        1,624          565          777          777        1,624        7,062
Rock Sole ABC reserves.......................................        1,440        1,380          480          660          660        1,380        6,002
BS Greenland Turbot..........................................           46           58           23           49           55           58          288
Arrowtooth Flounder..........................................          330          330          135          195          180          330        1,498
Flathead Sole................................................          760          798          342          570          570          760        3,799
Flathead Sole ABC reserves...................................          680          714          306          510          510          680        3,401
WAI Pacific Ocean Perch......................................          401          201          107          201          187          241        1,338
CAI Pacific Ocean Perch......................................          177           89           47           89           83          106          591
EAI Pacific Ocean Perch......................................          256          128           68          128          119          153          853
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           PSQ
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Halibut PSQ is in metric tons. Crab and salmon PSQ are in number of animals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zone 1 Red King Crab.........................................        2,491        2,180          830        1,245        1,245        2,387       10,379
Zone 1 Bairdi Tanner Crab....................................       27,264       25,166        8,389        8,389        8,389       27,264      104,860
Zone 2 Bairdi Tanner Crab....................................       76,270       73,092       25,423       34,957       31,779       76,270      317,790
COBLZ Opilio Tanner Crab.....................................      116,363      111,708       37,236       46,545       37,236      116,363      465,450
Pacific Halibut..............................................           69           69           28           38           38           72          315
BS Chinook Salmon A season...................................          547          820          195          937          859          547        3,906
BS Chinook Salmon B season...................................          139          208           50          238          218          139          990
BS Chinook Salmon total......................................          685        1,028          245        1,175        1,077          685        4,896
AI Chinook Salmon............................................            7           11            3           13           12            7           53
Non-Chinook Salmon...........................................          629          944          225        1,079          989          629        4,494
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed Fishing Closures

    In accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional 
Administrator may establish a DFA for a species or species group if the 
Regional Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment 
of a target species has been or will be reached. If the Regional 
Administrator establishes a DFA, and that allowance is or will be 
reached before the end of the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed 
fishing for that species or species group in the specified subarea, 
regulatory area, or district (see Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii)). Similarly, 
pursuant to Sec.  679.21(b)(4) and (e)(7), if the Regional 
Administrator determines that a fishery category's bycatch allowance of 
halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, or C. opilio crab for a 
specified area has been reached, the Regional Administrator will 
prohibit directed fishing for each species or species group in that 
fishery category in the area specified by regulation for the remainder 
of the season or fishing year.
    Based on historical catch patterns and anticipated fishing 
activity, the Regional Administrator has determined that the groundfish 
allocation amounts in table 23 will be necessary as incidental catch to 
support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2024 and 2025 
fishing years. Consequently, in accordance with Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(i), 
the Regional Administrator establishes the DFA for the species and 
species groups in table 23 as zero mt. Therefore, in accordance with 
Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for these 
sectors and species or species groups in the specified areas effective 
at 1200 hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., 
December 31, 2025. Also, for the BSAI trawl limited access sector, 
bycatch allowances of halibut, red king crab, C. bairdi crab, and C. 
opilio crab listed in table 23 are insufficient to support directed 
fisheries for the species and species groups listed in table 23. 
Therefore, in accordance with Sec.  679.21(b)(4)(i) and (e)(7), NMFS is 
prohibiting directed fishing for these sectors, species, and fishery 
categories in the specified areas effective at 1200

[[Page 17308]]

hours, A.l.t., March 11, 2024, through 2400 hours, A.l.t., December 31, 
2025.

                              Table 23--2024 and 2025 Directed Fishing Closures \1\
           [Groundfish and halibut amounts are in metric tons. Crab amounts are in number of animals.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       2024            2025
                                                                                    Incidental      Incidental
               Area                         Sector                Species              catch           catch
                                                                                     allowance       allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bogoslof District.................  All..................  Pollock..............             250             250
Aleutian Islands subarea..........  All..................  Greenland Turbot.....             426             366
Aleutian Islands subarea..........  All..................  ICA pollock..........           3,420           3,420
                                                           ``Other rockfish''                380             380
                                                            \2\.
Aleutian Islands subarea..........  Trawl non-CDQ........  Sablefish............           1,794           1,794
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering    Non-amendment 80,      ICA Atka mackerel....             800             800
 Sea.                                CDQ, and BSAI trawl
                                     limited access.
Eastern Aleutian District/Bering    All..................  Blackspotted/Rougheye             330             350
 Sea.                                                       rockfish.
Eastern Aleutian District.........  Non-amendment 80,      ICA Pacific ocean                 100             100
                                     CDQ, and BSAI trawl    perch.
                                     limited access.
Central Aleutian District.........  Non-amendment 80,      ICA Atka mackerel....              75              75
                                     CDQ, and BSAI trawl
                                     limited access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  60              60
                                                            perch.
Western Aleutian District.........  Non-amendment 80, CDQ  ICA Atka mackerel....              20              20
                                     and BSAI trawl
                                     limited access.
                                                           ICA Pacific ocean                  10              10
                                                            perch.
Western and Central Aleutian        All..................  Blackspotted/Rougheye             181             195
 Districts.                                                 rockfish.
Bering Sea subarea................  Trawl non-CDQ........  Sablefish............           3,398           4,038
Bering Sea subarea................  All..................  Pacific ocean perch..           9,891           9,716
                                                           ``Other rockfish''                748             748
                                                            \2\.                          50,000          50,000
                                                           ICA pollock..........
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands...  .....................  Shortraker rockfish..             451             451
                                                           Skates...............          25,941          25,807
                                                           Sharks...............             340             340
                                                           Octopuses............             340             340
                                    Hook-and-line and pot  ICA Pacific cod......             500             500
                                     gear.
                                    All..................  ICA flathead sole....           3,000           3,000
                                                           ICA rock sole........           6,000           6,000
                                    All..................  ICA yellowfin sole...           4,000           4,000
                                    BSAI trawl limited     Rock sole/flathead     ..............  ..............
                                     access.                sole/other flatfish--
                                                            halibut mortality,
                                                            red king crab Zone
                                                            1, C. opilio COBLZ,
                                                            C. bairdi Zone 1 and
                                                            2.
                                                           Turbot/arrowtooth/     ..............  ..............
                                                            Kamchatka/sablefish--
                                                            halibut mortality,
                                                            red king crab Zone
                                                            1, C. opilio COBLZ,
                                                            C. bairdi Zone 1 and
                                                            2.
                                                           Rockfish--red king     ..............  ..............
                                                            crab Zone 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Maximum retainable amounts may be found in table 11 to 50 CFR part 679.
\2\ ``Other rockfish'' includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for dark rockfish, Pacific ocean
  perch, northern rockfish, blackspotted/rougheye rockfish, and shortraker rockfish.

    Closures implemented under the final 2023 and 2024 BSAI harvest 
specifications for groundfish (88 FR 14926, March 10, 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 Area: 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.

Listed AFA Catcher/Processor Sideboard Limits

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.64(a), the Regional Administrator is 
responsible for restricting the ability of listed AFA CPs to engage in 
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect 
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects 
resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the 
directed pollock fishery. These restrictions are set out as sideboard 
limits on catch. On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 
FR 2723) that implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CPs 
from directed fishing for all groundfish species or species groups 
subject to sideboard limits (see Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 54 
to 50 CFR part 679). Section 679.64(a)(1)(v) exempts AFA CPs from a 
yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final 2024 and 2025 
aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector 
and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.
    Section 679.64(a)(2) and tables 40 and 41 to 50 CFR part 679 
establish a formula for calculating PSC sideboard limits for halibut 
and crab caught by

[[Page 17309]]

listed AFA CPs. The basis for these sideboard limits is described in 
detail in the final rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA 
(67 FR 79692, December 30, 2002) and Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, 
September 14, 2007). PSC species listed in table 24 that are caught by 
listed AFA CPs participating in any groundfish fishery other than 
pollock will accrue against the final 2024 and 2025 PSC sideboard 
limits for the listed AFA CPs. Section 679.21(b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), 
and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to close directed fishing for groundfish 
other than pollock for listed AFA CPs once a final 2024 or 2025 PSC 
sideboard limit listed in table 24 is reached. Pursuant to Sec.  
679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), halibut or crab PSC by listed 
AFA CPs while fishing for pollock will accrue against the PSC 
allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka mackerel/``other 
species'' fishery categories, according to Sec.  679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) 
and (e)(3)(iv).

       Table 24--Final 2024 and 2025 BSAI AFA Listed Catcher/Processor Prohibited Species Sideboard Limits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            2024 and 2025 PSC  2024 and 2025 AFA
                                                             Ratio of PSC      available to         catcher/
                 PSC species and area \1\                   catch to total    trawl vessels        processor
                                                                  PSC       after subtraction   sideboard limit
                                                                                of PSQ \2\            \2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut mortality BSAI....................................             n/a                n/a                286
Red king crab Zone 1......................................          0.0070             86,621                606
C. opilio (COBLZ).........................................          0.1530          3,884,550            594,336
C. bairdi Zone 1..........................................          0.1400            875,140            122,520
C. bairdi Zone 2..........................................          0.0500          2,652,210            132,611
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.

AFA Catcher Vessel Sideboard Limits

    Pursuant to Sec.  679.64(b), the Regional Administrator is 
responsible for restricting the ability of AFA CVs to engage in 
directed fishing for groundfish species other than pollock to protect 
participants in other groundfish fisheries from adverse effects 
resulting from the AFA fishery and from fishery cooperatives in the 
pollock directed fishery. Section 679.64(b)(3) and (b)(4) and tables 40 
and 41 to 50 CFR part 679 establish formulas for setting AFA CV 
groundfish and halibut and crab PSC sideboard limits for the BSAI. The 
basis for these sideboard limits is described in detail in the final 
rules implementing the major provisions of the AFA (67 FR 79692, 
December 30, 2002), Amendment 80 (72 FR 52668, September 14, 2007), and 
Amendment 122 (88 FR 53704, August 8, 2023). Section 679.64(b)(6) 
exempts AFA CVs from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final 
2024 and 2025 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the 
Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited access sector is greater 
than 125,000 mt.
    On February 8, 2019, NMFS published a final rule (84 FR 2723) that 
implemented regulations to prohibit non-exempt AFA CVs from directed 
fishing for a majority of the groundfish species or species groups 
subject to sideboard limits (see Sec.  679.20(d)(1)(iv)(D) and table 55 
to 50 CFR part 679). The only remaining sideboard limit for non-exempt 
AFA CVs is for Pacific cod. Pursuant to Amendment 122 to the FMP, the 
Pacific cod sideboard limit is no longer necessary in the A and B 
seasons because directed fishing in the BSAI for Pacific cod by trawl 
CVs is now managed under the PCTC Program, and accordingly the 
sideboard limit is in effect in the C season only (Sec.  
679.64(b)(3)(ii)). Table 25 lists the final 2024 and 2025 AFA CV 
groundfish sideboard limits.

Table 25--Final 2024 and 2025 BSAI Pacific Cod Sideboard Limits for American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessels (CVs)
                                          [Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     2024 AFA                        2025 AFA
                                   Ratio of 1997   2024 ITAC for  catcher vessel   2025 ITAC for  catcher vessel
   Fishery by area/gear/season     AFA CV catch      C season        sideboard       C season        sideboard
                                    to 1997 TAC                        limit                           limit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod BSAI................             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
Trawl gear CV...................             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a             n/a
    Jun 10-Nov 1................          0.8609           4,613           3,971           4,168           3,588
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Section 679.64(b)(6) exempts AFA catcher vessels from a yellowfin sole sideboard limit because the final
  2024 and 2025 aggregate ITAC of yellowfin sole assigned to the Amendment 80 sector and BSAI trawl limited
  access sector is greater than 125,000 mt.

    Halibut and crab PSC limits listed in table 26 that are caught by 
AFA CVs participating in any groundfish fishery other than pollock will 
accrue against the 2024 and 2025 PSC sideboard limits for the AFA CVs. 
Section 679.21 (b)(4)(iii), (e)(3)(v), and (e)(7) authorizes NMFS to 
close directed fishing for groundfish other than pollock for AFA CVs 
once a final 2024 or 2025 PSC sideboard limit listed in table 26 is 
reached. Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(b)(1)(ii)(C) and (e)(3)(ii)(C), 
halibut or crab PSC by AFA CVs while fishing for pollock will accrue 
against the PSC allowances annually specified for the pollock/Atka 
mackerel/``other species'' fishery categories under Sec.  
679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).

[[Page 17310]]



  Table 26--Final 2024 and 2025 American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch Sideboard Limits
                                                for the BSAI \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   2024 and 2025
                                                                    AFA catcher      PSC limit     2024 and 2025
                                         Target fishery category    vessel PSC         after        AFA catcher
       PSC species and area \1\                    \2\               sideboard    subtraction of    vessel PSC
                                                                    limit ratio    PSQ reserves      sideboard
                                                                                        \3\          limit \3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut...............................  Pacific cod trawl.......             n/a             n/a             n/a
                                        Pacific cod hook-and-                n/a             n/a               2
                                         line or pot.
                                        Yellowfin sole total....             n/a             n/a             101
                                        Rock sole/flathead sole/             n/a             n/a             228
                                         Alaska plaice/other
                                         flatfish \4\.
                                        Greenland turbot/                    n/a             n/a  ..............
                                         arrowtooth/Kamchatka/
                                         sablefish.
                                        Rockfish................             n/a             n/a               2
                                        Pollock/Atka mackerel/               n/a             n/a               5
                                         other species \5\.
Red king crab Zone 1..................  n/a.....................          0.2990          86,621          25,900
C. opilio COBLZ.......................  n/a.....................          0.1680       3,884,550         652,604
C. bairdi Zone 1......................  n/a.....................          0.3300         875,140         288,796
C. bairdi Zone 2......................  n/a.....................          0.1860       2,652,210         493,311
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Refer to Sec.   679.2 for definitions of areas.
\2\ Target trawl fishery categories are defined at Sec.  Sec.   679.21(b)(1)(ii)(B) and (e)(3)(iv).
\3\ Halibut amounts are in metric tons of halibut mortality. Crab amounts are in numbers of animals.
\4\ ``Other flatfish'' for PSC monitoring includes all flatfish species, except for halibut (a prohibited
  species), Alaska plaice, arrowtooth flounder, flathead sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, rock sole,
  and yellowfin sole.
\5\ ``Other species'' for PSC monitoring includes skates, sharks, and octopuses.

Response to Comments

    NMFS received 5 letters raising 17 distinct comments during the 
public comment period for the proposed BSAI groundfish harvest 
specifications (88 FR 84278, December 5, 2023). NMFS's responses are 
below.
    Comment 1: The BSAI 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 BSAI, 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 (e.g., climate change) and 
other marine resources (e.g., salmon and halibut). Scientists from the 
AFSC prepare the assessment using sophisticated statistical analyses of 
fish populations and draft the written assessment for a species or 
species group, which for eastern BS (EBS) pollock is a full assessment 
updated annually and for AI pollock is a full assessment updated 
biennially. The assessments for the BSAI are informed by the most 
recent survey and harvest data available, including multiple surveys in 
the EBS scheduled annually and in the AI every other year. 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 ESRs, Ecosystem and Socioeconomic Profiles 
(ESP), stock assessments, and Plan Team report--and use all these 
materials as reference in their OFL, ABC, and TAC recommendations to 
NMFS. NMFS reviews the same information for its annual decision to 
implement the OFL, ABC, and TAC for BSAI 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 different recommendation. 
Ultimately, the SSC recommends the OFL and ABC (i.e., the biological 
reference points) that inform the setting of the TAC (the harvest 
target/limit) for each species and species group since TAC cannot 
exceed ABC (see Section 3.2.3.4.1 of the FMP and 50 CFR 600.310(g)(4)). 
This ensures that the 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 (reduction) between OFL 
and ABC, and 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 ESRs and in 
the stock assessment, specifically the stock-specific risk table 
prepared for each stock as well as an

[[Page 17311]]

additional ecosystem considerations section prepared for full/
operational assessments like pollock. For EBS pollock, for example, the 
ecosystem considerations section of the stock assessment analyzes the 
fishery's effects on the ecosystem, such as bycatch of non-target 
species like salmon. The 2023 ESRs also provide information on the 
status of salmon in the BS ecosystem and AI ecosystem, including 
updated information on the abundance of salmon, fish condition, the run 
size of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon, the Yukon and Kuskokwim chum runs 
and subsistence harvest, abundance and role of eastern Kamchatka pink 
salmon in the Aleutian Islands, and trends in directed commercial catch 
of salmon. The 2023 EBS ESR also included an overview of foraging and 
energetics for Pacific halibut. The specification of the pollock TACs 
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. The 2023 SAFE report chapter for EBS pollock is available at 
https://www.npfmc.org/wp-content/PDFdocuments/SAFE/2023/EBSpollock.pdf.
    As described above, NMFS and the Council considered the status of 
Chinook and chum salmon in the harvest specifications process. In 
addition, the harvest specifications announce Chinook bycatch limits 
based on promulgated regulations implementing Amendments 91 and 110 to 
the FMP. NMFS and the Council have previously taken comprehensive 
action through Amendments 91 and 110 to the FMP and implementing 
regulations to reduce salmon bycatch in the pollock trawl fishery 
because of the potential for negative impacts on salmon stocks. 
Existing measures have reduced salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery 
compared with what they would have been without the measures. 
Regulations set limits on how many Chinook salmon can be caught in a 
year in the Bering Sea pollock fishery, and those regulations require 
that NMFS announce the applicable Chinook salmon limits in the harvest 
specifications (see Sec.  679.21(f)). Pursuant to Sec.  679.21(f), NMFS 
annually allocates portions of either 33,318, 45,000, 47,591, or 60,000 
Chinook salmon PSC limits among the AFA sectors, depending on: (1) past 
bycatch performance; (2) whether Chinook salmon bycatch incentive plan 
agreements (IPAs) are formed and approved by NMFS; and (3) whether NMFS 
determines it is a low Chinook salmon abundance year (see Sec.  
679.21(f)). NMFS will determine that it is a low Chinook salmon 
abundance year when abundance of Chinook salmon in western Alaska is 
less than or equal to 250,000 Chinook salmon, based on the estimate 
provided by the State. The State provides NMFS with an estimate of 
Chinook salmon abundance using the 3-System Index for western Alaska 
based on the Kuskokwim, Unalakleet, and Upper Yukon aggregate stock 
grouping.
    For 2023, NMFS determined it was a low abundance year based on the 
State's 3-System Index. In accordance with the regulations at Sec.  
679.21(f), NMFS has specified a Chinook salmon PSC limit of 45,000 
Chinook salmon, and a Chinook salmon bycatch performance standard of 
33,318 Chinook salmon for the 2024 fishing year. NMFS publishes the 
approved IPAs, allocations, and reports at https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/bycatch/default.htm. 
Bycatch of salmon is posted on the NMFS website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/fisheries-catch-and-landings-reports-alaska.
    For each fishing year, the Bering Sea pollock fleet is constrained 
by the limit of Chinook salmon PSC set in regulation (as explained 
above), regardless of the size of the pollock TAC and harvest. The AFA 
sectors are prohibited from continuing to fish if their Chinook salmon 
PSC limit has been exceeded. Further, if the sector exceeds its 
performance standard in 3 of 7 years, that sector becomes constrained 
by the performance standard in future years (meaning, the sector would 
be subject to a lower PSC limit in future years).
    Regulations set limits on Chinook salmon PSC for the AI pollock 
fishery and non-Chinook salmon PSC for vessels using trawl gear. These 
are static limits set in regulations and are announced in the 
groundfish harvest specifications each year. Regulations also set 
limits on Pacific halibut PSC in the groundfish fisheries. Section 
679.21(b)(1) establishes a fixed halibut PSC of 745 mt for the BSAI 
trawl limited access sector. The Council and NMFS apportion for seven 
trawl fishery categories a PSC allowance from the fixed limit of 745 
mt. Halibut PSC in the pollock fisheries accrues to a specific fishery 
category--the pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery category, as 
specified in regulations. For 2024 and 2025, the allowance for the 
pollock/Atka mackerel/other species fishery category is 175 mt (see 
tables 18 and 19).
    Ultimately, NMFS manages salmon bycatch in the pollock fishery 
through a variety of tools that apply at all levels of pollock TAC. The 
tools for both salmon and halibut bycatch include the Chinook salmon 
PSC limits (which are announced in these annual harvest 
specifications), halibut PSC limits set in regulation (which are also 
announced in these annual harvest specifications), IPAs to address 
Chinook and chum bycatch, and a comprehensive monitoring program to 
collect data on bycatch, including salmon and halibut 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 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 Farley, Jr., et al., 2024; https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v726/p149-160). Additionally, as discussed in the 
response to Comment 10, the best scientific evidence indicates that the 
numbers of the ocean bycatch that would have returned to western Alaska 
rivers would be relatively small due to ocean mortality and the large 
number of other river systems contributing to the total Chinook or chum 
salmon bycatch.
    NMFS and the Council are committed to continued improvements in 
bycatch management with a goal of minimizing bycatch at all levels of 
abundance for target species (i.e., 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. 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

[[Page 17312]]

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 BSAI is a scientifically-driven process informed by the best 
available information on the status of the marine ecosystems off 
Alaska. Each year, ESRs are prepared for the BS and AI ecosystems (as 
well as the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) ecosystem). 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 EBS includes: (1) a synthesis of the physical environment 
(e.g., temperature, sea ice, and cold pool); (2) an analysis of primary 
production (e.g., phytoplankton and zooplankton); (3) trends for non-
target species and discards (e.g., jellyfish, forage fish, herring, and 
salmon); (4) integrated information on seabirds; (5) recruitment 
predictions; (6) emerging stressors; and (7) a sustainability index. 
The 2024 EBS ESR is available at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/REFM/docs/2023/EBSecosys.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: (1) assessment-
related; (2) population dynamics; (3) environmental/ecosystem; and (4) 
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 BSAI. The risk 
table can highlight changes in ecosystem conditions. For example, in 
the 2023 EBS pollock SAFE report, the risk table assessed several 
environmental and ecosystem considerations that warranted an elevated 
level of concern, including environmental/oceanographic factors related 
to climate change, status in fish condition over year classes, 
declining trends in northern fur seal pup production on St. Paul 
Island, and mixed trends in the status of potential competitors like 
jellyfish and salmon (Bristol Bay sockeye salmon have continued to 
sustain high inshore runs, and sockeye salmon compete with both 
juvenile and adult pollock for prey). Based on the elevated ecosystem 
risk identified in the risk table, the SSC reduced the EBS pollock ABC 
by 18 percent.
    Some stock assessments also include an individual 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. For example, the ESP for EBS 
Pacific cod assesses numerous ecosystem indicators that include 
physical indicators, lower tropic indicators, and upper trophic 
indicators. The ESP for EBS Pacific cod is available at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/Plan_Team/2023/EBSpcod_app2.pdf.
    Stock assessment authors consider a variety of ecosystem-related 
factors when preparing their assessments, which are thoroughly reviewed 
by the Plan Team and the SSC. Stock assessment authors will include, if 
possible, relevant ecosystem-related factors into their modeling. Many 
models use variables that are potentially ecosystem-related, climate-
impacted like size and condition of fish (i.e., length and weight) and 
recruitment, and some models integrate specific environmental factors 
that have been influenced by climate change, such as the extent of the 
cold pool and bottom temperature in the survey area.
    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 BSAI 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 harvest and environmental, 
ecosystem, and socioeconomic factors (e.g., physical and ecosystem 
changes associated with climate change). Similarly, the FMP 
contemplates ongoing consideration of relevant factors (e.g., ecosystem 
considerations and climate change) through the development of SAFE 
reports (Section 3.2.2.2 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 BSAI 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 
improve the process of 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: The Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications EIS is 
outdated and NMFS must prepare a new or supplemental EIS on the harvest 
specifications. New species listings and critical habitat designations, 
climate change, vessel strikes and disturbance, entanglement, habitat 
impacts, prey competition, bycatch, and plastics constitute significant 
new or cumulative information requiring supplementation.
    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 Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) to analyze the 
environmental, social, and economic impacts of alternative harvest 
strategies used to determine the annual harvest

[[Page 17313]]

specifications for the federally managed groundfish fisheries in the 
GOA and BSAI management areas.
    The purpose of the harvest strategy is to: (1) provide for orderly 
and controlled commercial fishing for groundfish; (2) promote 
sustainable incomes to the fishing, fish processing, and support 
industries; (3) support sustainable fishing communities; and (4) 
provide sustainable flows of fish products to consumers. The harvest 
strategy balances groundfish harvest in the fishing year with ecosystem 
needs (e.g., 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 (i.e., 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, including climate 
change, could be incorporated, as appropriate, through the annual 
implementation of the harvest strategy. Each year since 2007 relevant 
changes (i.e., 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.'' (see 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 a supplemental 
EIS (SEIS) is necessary to implement the annual groundfish harvest 
specifications, consistent with NEPA regulations (see 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. 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 must be prepared to implement the annual harvest 
specifications. 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 contemplates the annual process includes 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 assesses 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 identifies 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 assesses information and circumstances 
regarding: (1) bycatch management of salmon, crab, and halibut; (2) 
habitat impacts; (3) seabirds; and (4) marine mammals, including 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed

[[Page 17314]]

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 relies 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 is not required for NMFS to approve 
and implement the 2024 and 2025 groundfish harvest specifications of 
the BSAI and GOA.
    Comment 5: 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 Comment 4, NMFS prepared the 
Alaska Groundfish Harvest Specifications Final EIS to analyze 
alternatives to implement the FMPs' 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, NMFS and the Council 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. At its February 2024 meeting, the Council addressed the process 
for the development of a new Programmatic EIS to evaluate its action 
alternatives for management policies and objectives for fisheries off 
Alaska. Based on a motion passed at the meeting, in 2024 through early 
2025 the Council and NMFS will gather input from Alaska Native Tribes 
and stakeholders to inform 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 Federally Recognized Indian Tribal 
Governments.
    Comment 6: NMFS must account for climate change in its decision-
making.
    Response: Climate change is accounted for in NMFS's decision-making 
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 
4). The Final EIS examined existing physical and oceanographic 
conditions in the BSAI and GOA, and addressed climate and ecological 
regime shifts, warming and loss of sea ice, and acidification (see 
Chapter 3.5 of the Final EIS), as well as systemic ecosystem impacts 
(see 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 ESR, including: (1) 
physical indicators and oceanographic metrics of climate change (e.g., 
sea surface and bottom temperatures and sea-ice and cold pool extents); 
(2) impacts from oceanographic changes (e.g., changes in sea ice and 
cold pool extents resulting in distributional shifts (northward) in 
stocks); (3) climate-driven changes to

[[Page 17315]]

metabolic demands and foraging conditions tied to declining conditions 
for groundfish during recent marine heatwaves; (4) impacts of 
anomalously warm conditions in the marine and river environments on 
juveniles and adults of certain salmon stocks; and (5) emerging 
stressors like ocean acidification and implications for species (e.g., 
crab).
    In some instances, the Plan Teams and SSC have recommended ABC 
reductions based on climate change 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 (i.e., assessment-related, population dynamics, 
environmental/ecosystem, and fishery performance) that could be used to 
support a scientific recommendation to reduce the ABC. As one 
environmental/ecosystem consideration, scientists noted that multiple 
indicators of primary and secondary productivity show adverse signals 
borne out in continued declining trends in juvenile and adult fish 
condition. That consideration warranted an increased level concern 
under the risk table. These risk tables are now prepared as part of the 
stock assessment process for groundfish stocks and help inform the 
setting of ABC (which in turn informs the setting of TAC).
    Finally, the FMP indicated that the ongoing consideration of 
factors like climate change would be addressed annually in the SAFE 
reports (see Sections 3.2.2.2 and 3.2.3.1.2 of the FMP), as is 
currently the case with the 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 7: The BSAI groundfish specifications are based upon a 
rigorous public process that includes the best available science when 
setting OFLs, ABCs and TACs, including climatic, ecosystem, and 
socioeconomic data and analyses. This process combined with statutorily 
mandated limits results in a very conservative and precautionary final 
result.
    Response: NMFS agrees with this comment. For more details on the 
groundfish harvest specifications process, see responses to Comments 2-
4. As noted by the commenter, the process is driven by statutory and 
regulatory requirements. The Magnuson-Stevens Act directs that the 
Council's recommended annual catch limits (ACL) cannot ``exceed the 
fishing level recommendations of its [SSC]'' (16 U.S.C. 1852(h)(6)). 
NMFS has interpreted ``fishing level recommendation'' to be the ABC 
recommendation from the SSC (50 CFR 600.310(b)(2)(v)(D)). This ensures 
that the ACL does not exceed the ABC developed by the SSC. Under the 
FMP, the ACL is equal to the ABC, and the annual TAC specified for each 
stock must be lower than or equal to the ABC (see Sections 3.2.3.3.2 
and 3.2.3.4 of the FMP). This is in accord with National Standard 1 and 
regulations that the TAC cannot exceed the ABC/annual catch limit (see 
50 CFR 600.310(g)(4)), and ABC must be set equal to or less than OFL 
(see Sec.  600.310(f)(3) and (4)). The SSC recommends for each species 
and species group an OFL and an ABC. NMFS specifies TAC after 
consultation with the Council, and annual determinations of TAC are 
based on review of both the biological condition of the specific 
species or species group and socioeconomic considerations (see Sec.  
679.20(a)(2)-(3)).
    Comment 8: The age three plus pollock biomass is estimated to be 
over ten million tons. The commenter supports the 2024 EBS pollock TAC 
of 1.3 million metric tons, even though the OFL and ABC could support a 
much higher TAC.
    Response: NMFS agrees. Consistent with the National Standard 1 
guidelines, NMFS may implement a TAC up to the ABC (for 2024, the 
Bering Sea pollock final ABC is 2,313,000 mt and the final TAC is 
1,300,000 mt, a reduction in forty four percent from the ABC). In the 
BSAI, however, the sum of all TACs well exceed the sum of all ABCs (for 
2024, the sum of final ABCs is 3,476,800, and final TACs is 2,000,000 
mt, a reduction in forty two percent). As a result, TACs for pollock 
and other species are set often lower than ABC to ensure the sum of all 
TACs falls within the OY range (see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)(A) and 
679.20(a)(2)). While there is precaution built into the specification 
of each ABC (representing scientific uncertainty) and TAC (representing 
management uncertainty) for a species or species group, the OY range is 
constraining and therefore precautionary across the ecosystem in the 
BSAI by reducing fishery removals and therefore also reducing impacts 
to the ecosystem.
    Comment 9: The impacts of the pollock fishery on ecosystem impacts 
have been thoroughly examined. The harvest is well within historical 
norms. There is a regular essential Fish Habitat review process 
associated with this fishery. Using the best available science, the 
estimated habitat disturbance estimates have declined and remain around 
5 percent for the EBS and around 1 percent for the AI.
    Response: NMFS agrees. The impacts of the pollock fishery have been 
examined in various documents, including in the annual SAFE report 
chapters for pollock and in several NEPA documents supporting FMP 
amendments and regulatory changes (see response to Comment 11). Each 
year's TAC amount for pollock is informed by a significant amount of 
data, modeling, and research. This includes annual surveys, updated 
catch information, weight and age data, updated statistical modeling, 
and risks that may fall outside of the stock estimation process (see 
response to Comment 3 explaining reduction in 2024 pollock ABC to 
account for elevated concern regarding environmental/ecosystem 
considerations). Information on habitat disturbance has been evaluated 
in the Essential Fish Habitat 5-Year Reviews and information can be 
found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/habitat-conservation/essential-fish-habitat-efh-alaska. Any changes to management of the 
trawl fisheries to address habitat disturbance, however, are outside 
the scope of this final rule, which implements catch limits for the 
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI.
    Comment 10: Unchanged EBS pollock TAC relative to 2023 should not 
be expected to measurably increase or decrease salmon escapement to 
western Alaska. Salmon catches and runs have fluctuated greatly in 
recent years, while pollock catch has remained stable. Under the IPAs, 
the estimated average annual number of bycatch Chinook salmon that 
would have returned to western Alaska is 7,705 and less than two 
percent of the coastal western Alaska run size from 2011 through 2020. 
The bycatch of chum salmon in the pollock fishery is estimated to be 
less than one percent of the coastal western Alaska run size and the 
majority of the catch is estimated to be from hatchery fish originating 
from Asia. Increase in chum salmon bycatch is more closely related to 
increased bottom temperature and increased Asian hatchery production 
than it is to pollock allocation.
    Response: NMFS agrees that the best science available suggests that 
climate change rather than the pollock fishery is the primary driver of 
declines in salmon run returns to western Alaska. While salmon bycatch 
in the pollock fishery may be a contributing factor in the decline of 
salmon, NMFS expects the numbers of the ocean bycatch that would have 
returned to western Alaska

[[Page 17316]]

would be relatively small due to ocean mortality and the large number 
of other river systems contributing to the total Chinook or chum salmon 
bycatch.
    For Chinook salmon, total bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery 
is reported annually, and includes bycatch of salmon from stocks across 
Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and other countries like Russia. NMFS, 
Council, and State scientists regularly prepare adult equivalence (AEQ) 
analyses of Chinook salmon that estimate the number of Chinook salmon 
that would have returned to river systems had they not been caught as 
bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. For 2021, the estimate of 
bycaught salmon that would have returned to western Alaska is 8,610 
fish, with an average of 7,705 fish from 2011 through 2020. Considering 
run sizes for salmon returns to western Alaska, scientists also 
calculate the ``impact rate.'' Using this impact rate, the bycatch 
expected to have returned to western Alaska rivers is less than 2 
percent per year since 2011, as reported in the 2023 EBS pollock SAFE 
report. Information on the bycatch of salmon in the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries, including the pollock fisheries, can be found at https://www.npfmc.org/fisheries-issues/bycatch/salmon-bycatch/. For more 
information on NMFS's management of bycatch in the BS and AI pollock 
fisheries, see the response to Comment 2.
    For chum salmon, total bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery is 
reported annually and includes bycatch of salmon from stocks across 
Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and Asia. NMFS, Council, and State 
scientists analyze genetic stock compositions of chum salmon samples 
collected from the PSC in the Bering Sea pollock fishery. Scientists 
are able to estimate the number of chum salmon bycaught in the Bering 
Sea pollock fishery that originate from western Alaska (in 2022, 21 
percent); however, NMFS does not have an AEQ analysis for chum salmon 
equivalent to the analysis for Chinook salmon. At the Council's March 
2023 Salmon Bycatch Committee meeting, the most recent 2022 genetic 
data indicates that only 21 percent of chum bycatch is of western 
Alaska origin, while the largest component is from Asian hatchery 
stocks. NMFS also notes that the increase in Asian chum hatchery fish 
is a potential concern for the North Pacific ecosystem and is a topic 
warranting further research.
    Comment 11: The TAC for pollock should reflect the true 
environmental cost of trawling.
    Response: The SAFE report chapter for EBS pollock evaluates 
annually the EBS pollock fishery's effects on the ecosystem, as well as 
ecosystem effects on the EBS pollock stock (see sections titled 
``Ecosystem effects on the EBS pollock stock'' and ``EBS pollock 
fishery effects on the ecosystem'' at https://www.npfmc.org/wp-content/PDFdocuments/SAFE/2023/EBSpollock.pdf). The most recent full/
operational assessment for AI pollock similarly includes an evaluation 
of the AI pollock fishery's effects on the ecosystem, as well as 
ecosystem effects on AI pollock and a broad overview of ecosystem 
considerations at https://apps-afsc.fisheries.noaa.gov/Plan_Team/2022/AIpollock.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. The Final EIS supporting the 
harvest specifications also evaluated environmental and ecosystem 
considerations, and the environmental impacts of the pollock fishery 
have been analyzed in a number of subsequent NEPA documents, including 
the Environmental Impact Statement for Amendment 91 to the FMP and the 
Environmental Assessment for Amendment 110 to the FMP.
    Comment 12: NMFS should reduce catch to 1 million mt to account for 
ecosystem impacts from harvest.
    Response: The FMP and implementing regulations direct that the sum 
of the TACs specified for the BSAI ``must be within the OY range 
specified'' in regulation, which for the BSAI is 1.4 to 2.0 million mt 
(see Sec.  679.20(a)(1)(i)(A) and (a)(2)). NMFS cannot reduce TAC in 
the BSAI to 1 million mt consistent with the FMP and implementing 
regulations. NMFS previously set, and the Council previously 
recommended, the OY as a range of 1.4 to 2.0 million mt. This OY is set 
forth in the FMP and in regulation, and is based on the sum of all 
TACs. NMFS has therefore determined that, in any given year, setting 
the TACs to fall within that range provides the greatest overall 
benefit to the Nation, particularly with respect to food production and 
recreational opportunities and taking into account the protection of 
marine ecosystems and relevant economic, social, or ecological factors 
(see Sec.  600.310(e)(3)).
    Here, NMFS concurs with the Council's recommendation that TACs fall 
within the upper bound (i.e., 2.0 million mt). Setting TACs to meet the 
upper bound of the OY range of 2.0 million mt, while also recognizing 
that total TACs represent a 42 percent reduction below total ABCs, 
balances relevant National Standard 1 considerations. Setting TACs at 
the higher bound of the OY will provide the greatest benefit for the 
Nation based on the benefits of maintaining viable groundfish fisheries 
and contributions to regional and local economies. That total 
groundfish TAC is 42 percent below total ABC recognizes the benefits 
that flow from that reduction, such as protections afforded to marine 
ecosystems, forage for ecosystem components, and other ecological 
factors (see Sec.  600.310(e)(3)(iii)(A)-(B)). For 2024 and 2025, NMFS 
has specified TACs to sum to the upper end of the OY range, which NMFS 
has determined is consistent with the National Standard 1, the FMP, and 
the harvest strategy analyzed in the Final EIS.
    Comment 13: To be in compliance with Section 7 and Section 9 of the 
ESA, NMFS must analyze impacts of the groundfish trawl fisheries under 
the ESA through Section 7 consultations and must reinitiate 
consultation on the groundfish trawl fisheries to consider new species 
listings and critical habitat designations, climate change, vessel 
strikes and disturbance, entanglement, habitat impacts, prey 
competition, bycatch, and plastics.
    Response: NMFS approves and implements the harvest specifications 
if they are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable law, including the ESA. NMFS has determined that these final 
2024 and 2025 harvest specifications for the BSAI are consistent with 
the ESA. NMFS has evaluated the impacts of the BSAI groundfish fishery 
on ESA-listed species and designated critical habitat in a number of 
consultations. These consultations are on the groundfish fishery 
managed under the BSAI FMP and are not specific to certain gear types 
(e.g., trawl or fixed gear). The biological opinions are publicly 
available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/consultations/section-7-biological-opinions-issued-alaska-region#fisheries.
    NMFS agrees that reinitiation of ESA Section 7 consultation is 
required, and indeed NMFS has already reinitiated consultation. In 
November 2022, NMFS reinitiated consultation on both the BSAI 
groundfish fishery and the GOA groundfish fishery in light of 
information indicating that reinitiation under 50 CFR 402.16 was 
required, including revised species designations (i.e., for listed 
humpback whales) and new critical habitat designations. In light of the 
extensive scope of the actions under consultation, NMFS agreed to 
extend the timeframes to complete the consultations, in accordance with 
50 CFR 402.14(e).

[[Page 17317]]

    When NMFS reinitiated consultation in November 2022, NMFS 
determined that the operation of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska 
(BSAI and GOA) during the anticipated reinitiation period would not 
violate ESA sections 7(a)(2) and 7(d). In implementing these harvest 
specifications, NMFS determined that the operation of the groundfish 
fisheries off Alaska (BSAI and GOA) under the final 2024 and 2025 
harvest specifications would not violate ESA sections 7(a)(2) and 7(d). 
NMFS recognizes the agency's obligation to ensure the actions over a 
longer term are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 
listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of 
designated critical habitat as a jeopardy or adverse modification/
destruction determination commensurate with the temporal scope of the 
action is appropriately made only in a biological opinion.
    Section 7(d) of the ESA prohibits Federal agencies from making any 
irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources with respect to 
the agency action that would have the effect of foreclosing the 
formulation or implementation of any reasonable and prudent 
alternatives at the conclusion of the consultation. This prohibition is 
in force until the requirements of section 7(a)(2) have been satisfied. 
Resource commitments may occur as long as the action agency retains 
sufficient discretion and flexibility to modify its action to allow 
formulation and implementation of appropriate reasonable and prudent 
alternatives. NMFS has discretion to amend its Magnuson-Stevens Act and 
ESA regulations and may do so at any time subject to the Administrative 
Procedure Act and other applicable laws. At the conclusion of ESA 
section 7 consultation on the BSAI groundfish fishery, NMFS will retain 
sufficient discretion and flexibility to evaluate and make necessary 
changes to fishery regulations and management plans for the formulation 
and implementation of appropriate reasonable and prudent alternatives, 
if required to do so under the ESA.
    During the consultation, existing regulatory measures that offer 
protection to listed species, including Steller sea lion protection 
measures and humpback whale approach regulations, will continue to be 
in effect, and NMFS will continue to implement the reasonable and 
prudent measures and terms and conditions necessary or appropriate to 
minimize the amount or extent of incidental take. NMFS has and will 
continue to monitor take in the groundfish fisheries consistent with 
the terms and conditions of the biological opinions. NMFS also has 
authority under 50 CFR part 679 to implement annual SSL protection 
measures, such as the harvest limitations implemented through the 
annual groundfish harvest specifications, and to close directed fishing 
for pollock, Pacific cod, and Atka mackerel if a biological assessment 
indicates the stock condition for that species is at or below 20 
percent of its unfished spawning biomass during a fishing year (see 
Sec.  679.20(d)(4)).
    In consulting on the BSAI and GOA groundfish fisheries and 
preparing new biological opinions and incidental take statements, NMFS 
will incorporate the most recent, best scientific and commercial data 
available, including information relating to climate change, to assess 
effects from the groundfish fisheries, such as vessel strikes and 
disturbance, entanglement, prey competition, and habitat impacts.
    Comment 14: NMFS must ensure compliance with the MMPA for the BSAI 
groundfish trawl fisheries that incidentally take ESA-listed species 
and must consider those species and stocks with human-caused mortality 
and seriously injury at levels at or approaching potential biological 
removal (PBR) or for those whose PBR is unknown.
    Response: NMFS approves and implements the harvest specifications 
if they are consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and other 
applicable law, including the MMPA. NMFS has determined that these 
final 2024 and 2025 harvest specifications are consistent with the 
MMPA. The BSAI (and GOA) groundfish fisheries identified as a Category 
I or II fishery that interact with ESA-listed species have a valid MMPA 
section 101(a)(5)(E) permit (86 FR 24384, May 6, 2021) and include the 
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl fishery and the AK 
Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock trawl fishery.
    Pursuant to Section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA, NMFS shall allow 
taking of ESA-listed marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing 
operations if NMFS makes a number of determinations regarding 
negligible impact, recovery plans, and where required take reductions 
plans, monitoring programs, and vessel registration (16 U.S.C. 
1371(a)(5)(E)). In May 2021, NMFS issued permits for the two BSAI 
groundfish fisheries that require MMPA permits for the incidental take 
of ESA-listed species (86 FR 24384, May 6, 2021). NMFS determined that 
the issuance of those permits complied with the MMPA and implementing 
regulations regarding the negligible impact determination, recovery 
plans, take reductions plans, monitoring programs, and vessel 
registration (86 FR 24384). The permits expire in May 2024, and NMFS is 
in the process of evaluating the required determinations for the re-
issuance of the Section 101(a)(5)(E) permits for the two Category II 
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI (i.e., the pollock trawl and flatfish 
trawl (Amendment 80 sector)).
    NMFS regularly updates marine mammal stock assessments and reports 
of human-caused mortalities and serious injuries of marine mammals. The 
long-term goal under the MMPA is to reduce the level of mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals to insignificance levels (see 16 
U.S.C. 1387(b)), which is defined as 10 percent of the stocks' PBR (50 
CFR 229.2). PBR is defined as the maximum number of animals, not 
including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal 
stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum 
sustainable population (50 CFR 229.2). Based on the best scientific 
information available, the level of mortality and serious injury (M/SI) 
of ESA-listed stocks that interact with the two Category II groundfish 
fisheries in the BSAI is currently below 10 percent of those stocks' 
PBR. PBR and incidental M/SI for each ESA-listed stock with M/SI in the 
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl fishery are as follows:
     Bearded seal, Beringia--PBR = 8,210, M/SI = 1.2, M/SI as 
percent of the stock's PBR = 0.01 percent
     Humpback whale, Western North Pacific--PBR = 0.2, M/SI = 
0, M/SI as percent of stock's PBR = 0 percent
     Ringed seal, Arctic--PBR = 4,755, M/SI = 4.6, M/SI as 
percent of the stock's PBR = 0.097 percent, and
     Steller sea lion, Western U.S--PBR = 299, M/SI = 13, M/SI 
as percent of the stock's PBR = 4.3 percent.
    PBR and incidental M/SI for each ESA-listed stock with M/SI in the 
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock trawl fishery are as follows:
     Bearded seal, Beringia--PBR = 8,210, M/SI = 0.6, M/SI as 
percent of the stock's PBR = 0.007 percent
     Humpback whale, Mexico-North Pacific--PBR is undetermined, 
M/SI = 0.03
     Humpback whale, Western North Pacific--PBR = 0.2, M/SI = 
0.008, M/SI as percent of stock's PBR = 4 percent
     Ringed seal, Arctic--PBR = 4,755, M/SI = 0.2, M/SI as 
percent of the stock's PBR = 0.004 percent, and
     Steller sea lion, Western U.S--PBR = 299, M/SI = 6.8, M/SI 
as percent of the stock's PBR = 2.2 percent.

[[Page 17318]]

    Further details on the proposed issuance of the Section 
101(a)(5)(E) permits for the two Category II groundfish fisheries in 
the BSAI will be available in a proposed notice published in the 
Federal Register separate from the harvest specifications process.
    Based on the best scientific information available, the level of M/
SI of other strategic stocks that interact with the two Category II 
groundfish fisheries in the BSAI is below 10 percent of those stocks' 
PBR. PBR and incidental M/SI for each strategic stock (unlisted) with 
M/SI in the AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl fishery are 
as follows:
     Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific--PBR =11,403, M/SI = 
2.7, M/SI as percent of the stock's PBR = 0.02 percent.
    Comment 15: NMFS must reevaluate the stock structure for the 
Eastern North Pacific Alaska Resident Stock of killer whales.
    Response: This is outside of the scope of this final rule to 
implement the groundfish harvest specifications for the BSAI. NMFS 
notes that it currently intends to initiate by January 2025 a review of 
available information about whether there are multiple demographically 
independent populations of killer whales within the currently-defined 
Eastern North Pacific Alaska resident killer whale stock. The Eastern 
North Pacific Alaska resident killer whale stock, as currently defined, 
includes resident killer whales in Southeast Alaska, the Gulf of 
Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and the Bering Sea. This evaluation would 
involve experts from NMFS's Alaska, Northwest, and Southwest Fisheries 
Science Centers. Should the agency find that there are demographically 
independent populations of killer whales and subsequently decide to 
describe new stocks of killer whales in Alaska, that would be 
accomplished through the development of new draft stock assessment 
reports. These would be made available for public review and comment 
separate from the harvest specifications process.
    Comment 16: NMFS must ensure there are mitigation measures in place 
for killer whales and other non-ESA listed marine mammals that interact 
with the fisheries.
    Response: This is outside of the scope of this final rule to 
implement the groundfish harvest specifications for the BSAI. As noted 
in response to Comment 14, NMFS has determined that these final 2024 
and 2025 harvest specifications for the BSAI are consistent with the 
requirements of the MMPA. NMFS is concerned about the higher than 
normal number of killer whale incidental catches in the BSAI trawl 
fisheries in 2023. NMFS continues to investigate and prepare updated 
analyses on killer whales stocks, including through NMFS's marine 
mammal stock assessment reports and reports of human-caused mortalities 
and serious injuries of marine mammals. NMFS also recently released a 
new technical memorandum, Killer Whale Entanglements in Alaska: Summary 
Report 1991-2022. More information is available at the following 
websites: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/cause-death-determined-11-killer-whales-incidentally-caught-fishing-gear-alaska-2023 and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/killer-whale-entanglements-alaska.
    Comment 17: Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS can only approve a 
plan, a plan amendment, harvest specifications, or allow other fishing 
activity to occur or continue pursuant to permits if such actions do 
not violate other applicable laws, like NEPA, ESA, and MMPA.
    Response: As addressed in the Classification section (below) and 
the response to Comments, NMFS has determined that implementing the 
2024 and 2025 groundfish harvest specifications for the BSAI is 
consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the FMP, and other applicable 
laws. As explained in responses to Comments 4-5, 13, and 14, NMFS has 
determined that this final rule is consistent with NEPA, ESA, and MMPA. 
In addition, this final rule specifies the OFL, ABC, and TAC for target 
species in the BSAI. Any FMP amendments, regulations, and permitting 
alluded to in the comment are outside the scope of this final rule 
implementing the harvest specifications for the BSAI.

Changes to the Final Rule

    NMFS undertook a thorough review of the relevant comments received 
during the public comment period. However, for reasons described in the 
preceding section, no changes to the final rule were made in response 
to any of the comments received.
    After incorporating new or updated fishery and survey data, 
considering Council recommendations and the 2023 SAFE reports, and 
accounting for State harvest levels, NMFS has made several updates from 
the proposed rule. TACs were adjusted based on the final ABCs and, in 
general, TACs for species with higher economical value increasing and 
TACs with lower economic value decreasing. The increase in Pacific cod 
TAC in the BS is an example of this. A detailed description of many of 
these changes can be found above (see ``Changes from the Proposed 2024 
and 2025 Harvest Specifications for the BSAI'') The TAC changes are 
also summarized in table 1a. The changes to TACs between the proposed 
and final harvest specifications are based on the most recent 
scientific, biological, ecosystem, and socioeconomic information and 
are consistent with the FMP, regulatory obligations (including the 
required OY range of 1.4 million to 2.0 million mt), and the harvest 
strategy.

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, the Magnuson-
Stevens Act, and other applicable laws.
    This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from 
review under Executive Order 12866 because it only implements annual 
catch limits in the BSAI.
    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 Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Final EIS identifying the selected alternative (Alternative 2). NMFS 
prepared a Supplementary Information Report (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) and 
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

[[Page 17319]]

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 latest annual SIR evaluated the need to prepare an SEIS for the 
2024 and 2025 groundfish harvest specifications. A 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 (see Sec.  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.
    A final regulatory flexibility analysis (FRFA) was prepared. 
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 
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, 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 
included at the beginning of the preamble to this final rule and are 
not repeated here.
    NMFS published the proposed rule on December 5, 2023 (88 FR 84278). 
NMFS prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) to 
accompany the proposed action, and included the IRFA in the proposed 
rule. The comment period closed on January 4, 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 those that 
harvest groundfish in the exclusive economic zone of the BSAI and in 
parallel fisheries within State waters. These include entities 
operating CVs and CPs within the action area and entities receiving 
direct allocations of groundfish.
    For RFA purposes only, NMFS has established a small business size 
standard for businesses, including their affiliates, whose primary 
industry is commercial fishing (see 50 CFR 200.2). A business primarily 
engaged in commercial fishing (NAICS code 11411) is classified as a 
small business if it is independently owned and operated, is not 
dominant in its field of operation (including its affiliates), and has 
combined annual gross receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide.
    Using the most recent data available (2022), the estimated number 
of directly regulated small entities includes approximately 130 CVs, 2 
CPs, 6 CDQ groups, and three motherships. Some of these vessels are 
members of AFA inshore pollock cooperatives, Gulf of Alaska rockfish 
cooperatives, or BSAI Crab Rationalization Program cooperatives, and, 
since under the RFA, the aggregate gross receipts of all participating 
members of the cooperative must meet the ``under $11 million'' 
threshold, the cooperatives are considered to be large entities within 
the meaning of the RFA. Thus, the estimate of 130 CVs may be an 
overstatement of the number of small entities. Average gross revenues 
for hook-and-line CVs, pot gear CVs, and trawl gear CVs are estimated 
to be $800,000, $1.5 million, and $2.7 million, respectively. Average 
gross revenues for CP entities are confidential. There are three AFA 
cooperative affiliated motherships, which appear to fall under the 750-
worker threshold and are therefore small entities. The average gross 
revenues for the AFA motherships 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 prohibited species catch limits for 
the groundfish fishery of the BSAI. 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 BSAI. The harvest 
strategy was previously selected from among five alternatives. Under 
this preferred alternative harvest strategy, TACs are set within the 
range of ABCs recommended through the Council harvest specifications 
process by the SSC, and while the specific TAC numbers that the harvest 
strategy produces may vary from year to year, the methodology used for 
the preferred harvest strategy remains constant. The sum of the TACs 
must achieve the OY specified in the FMP and regulations. 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

[[Page 17320]]

the Council harvest specifications process and as recommended by the 
Council. This is the method for determining TACs that has been used in 
the past.
    The final 2024 and 2025 TACs associated with the preferred harvest 
strategy are those recommended by the Council in December 2023. OFLs 
and ABCs for each species and species group were based on 
recommendations prepared by the Council's Plan Team, and reviewed by 
the Council's SSC. The Council's TAC recommendations are consistent 
with the SSC's OFL and ABC recommendations, and the sum of all TACs 
remains within the OY for the BSAI consistent with Sec.  
679.20(a)(1)(i)(A). Because setting all TACs equal to ABCs would cause 
the sum of TACs to exceed an OY of 2 million mt, TACs for some species 
and species groups are lower than the ABCs recommended by the Plan Team 
and the SSC.
    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 BS ESR and AI 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.
    Under this action, the ABCs reflect harvest amounts that are less 
than the specified overfishing levels. The TACs are within the range of 
ABCs recommended by the SSC and do not exceed the biological limits 
recommended by the SSC (the ABCs and OFLs). For some species and 
species groups in the BSAI, the Council recommended, and NMFS sets, 
TACs equal to ABCs, which is intended to maximize harvest opportunities 
in the BSAI. However, NMFS cannot set TACs for all species in the BSAI 
equal to their ABCs due to the constraining OY limit of 2 million mt. 
For this reason, some final TACs are less than the final ABCs. These 
specific reductions were reviewed and recommended by the Council's AP, 
and then reviewed and adopted by the Council as the Council's 
recommended final 2024 and 2025 TACs.
    Based on the best available scientific data, and in consideration 
of the Council's objectives for this action, there are no significant 
alternatives 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 BSAI, 
including small entities. The action specifies TACs for commercially-
valuable species in the BSAI 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 concluded and NMFS 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 had time to comment on the 
proposed action.
    For all fisheries not currently closed because the TACs established 
under the final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 14926, 
March 10, 2023) were not reached, it is possible that they would be 
closed prior to the expiration of a 30-day delayed effectiveness period 
because their TACs could be reached within that period. If implemented 
immediately, this rule would allow these fisheries to continue fishing 
because some of the new TACs implemented by this rule are higher than 
the TACs under which they are currently fishing. Because this rule 
relieves a restriction for fisheries subject to lower TACs under the 
final 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications (88 FR 14926, March 10, 
2023), it is not subject to the 30-day delayed effectiveness provision 
of the APA pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). For those fisheries not 
currently closed because the TACs established under the final 2023 and 
2024 harvest specifications have not yet been reached, it is possible 
that their TACs could be reached within that 30-day period and NMFS 
would have to close those fisheries prior to the expiration of a 30-day 
delayed effectiveness period. If those fisheries closed, they would 
experience a restriction in fishing. If this rule is implemented 
immediately, this rule would relieve the potential for those fisheries 
to be restricted and 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 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications 
(88 FR 14926, March 10, 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, rather than 
managing species under the higher TACs set in the previous year's 
harvest specifications.
    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 as directed fisheries and as incidental catch in other 
fisheries. 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 if a TAC were 
to be reached during those 30 days, NMFS would be required to close 
directed fishing or prohibit retention for the applicable species. Any 
delay in allocating the final TACs in these fisheries would cause 
confusion to the industry and potential economic harm through 
unnecessary discards, thus undermining the intent of this rule. Waiving 
the 30-day delay allows NMFS to prevent economic loss to fishermen that 
could otherwise occur should the

[[Page 17321]]

2024 TACs (set under the 2023 and 2024 harvest specifications) be 
reached. Determining which fisheries may close is nearly impossible 
because these fisheries are affected by several factors that cannot be 
predicted in advance, including fishing effort, weather, movement of 
fishery stocks, and market price. Furthermore, the closure of one 
fishery has a cascading effect on other fisheries by freeing-up fishing 
vessels, allowing them to move from closed fisheries to open ones, 
increasing the fishing capacity in those open fisheries, and causing 
them to close at an accelerated pace.
    In fisheries subject to declining sideboard limits, a failure to 
implement the updated sideboard limits before initial season's end 
could deny the intended economic protection to the non-sideboard 
limited sectors. Conversely, in fisheries with increasing sideboard 
limits, economic benefit could be denied to the sideboard-limited 
sectors.
    If these 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. Delayed effectiveness 
of this action would result in confusion for sablefish harvesters and 
economic harm from the 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 would provide the fishing 
industry the earliest possible opportunity to plan and conduct its 
fishing operations with respect to new information about TAC limits. 
Therefore, NMFS finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date 
of effectiveness for this rule under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3).

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 BSAI. This action is necessary to establish harvest limits and 
associated management measures 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. This action directly 
affects all fishermen who participate in the BSAI fisheries. The 
specific amounts of OFL, ABC, TAC, and PSC amounts are provided in 
tables 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 BSAI 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 found in footnotes to the tables. Harvest 
specification changes are also available from the same online source, 
which includes applicable Federal Register notices, information 
bulletins, and other supporting materials. NMFS will announce closures 
of directed fishing in the Federal Register and information bulletins 
released by the Alaska Region. Affected fishermen should keep 
themselves informed of such closures.

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

    Dated: March 5, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-05093 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P