[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52398-52407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13405]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 240613-0161]
RIN 0648-BM85


Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; 
Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2024 Harvest Specifications for 
Pacific Whiting and 2024 Pacific Whiting Tribal Allocation

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule implements the domestic 2024 harvest specifications 
for Pacific whiting fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 
California (collectively, the West Coast), including the 2024 Tribal 
allocation for the Pacific whiting fishery, the non-Tribal sector 
allocations, and a set-aside for incidental mortality in research 
activities and non-groundfish fisheries. NMFS issues this final rule 
for the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery under the authority of the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Whiting Act of 2006, and 
other applicable laws. These measures are intended to help prevent 
overfishing, achieve optimum yield, ensure that management measures are 
based on the best scientific information available, and provide for the 
implementation of Tribal treaty fishing rights.

DATES: Effective June 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 

Electronic Access

    This final rule is accessible via the internet at the Office of the 
Federal Register website at https://www.federalregister.gov.
    Background information for this action and analytical documents for 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), and National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) are available at the NMFS West Coast Region website at: 
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/2024-harvest-specifications-pacific-whiting-and-2024-tribal-allocation.
    NEPA documents for West Coast groundfish actions are also available 
at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-and-policies/groundfish-actions-nepa-documents and at the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's website at http://www.pcouncil.org.
    Additional background information for the Pacific Hake/Whiting 
Treaty can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/laws-policies/pacific-hake-whiting-treaty.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colin Sayre, phone: 206-526-4656, and 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The transboundary stock of Pacific whiting is managed through the 
Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and 
the Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting of 2003 (Agreement). 
The Agreement establishes bilateral management bodies to implement the 
terms of the Agreement, including the Joint Management Committee (JMC), 
which recommends the annual catch limit for Pacific whiting. NMFS 
issued a proposed rule on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188) that describes 
the Agreement, including the establishment of F-40 percent default 
harvest rate, the explicit allocation of the Pacific whiting coastwide 
total allowable catch (TAC) to the United States (73.88 percent) and 
Canada (26.12 percent), the bilateral bodies to implement the terms of 
the Agreement, including the JMC, and the process used to determine the 
coastwide TAC under the Agreement, including adjusting the TAC for 
carryovers from the prior year.

2024 TAC Recommendation

    The Treaty's Advisory Panel (AP) and the JMC met in Lynnwood, 
Washington February 27-29, 2024, to develop advice on a 2024 coastwide 
TAC. The AP provided its 2024 TAC recommendation to the JMC on February 
29, 2024. The JMC reviewed the advice of the JTC, the Scientific Review 
Group (SRG), and the AP, and agreed on a TAC recommendation for 
transmittal to the United States and Canadian Governments.
    As detailed in the proposed rule (89 FR 34188, April 30, 2024), the 
Agreement directs the JMC to base the catch limit recommendation on the 
F-40 default harvest rate, unless scientific evidence demonstrates that 
a different harvest rate is necessary to sustain the offshore Pacific 
whiting resource. The F-40 default harvest rate is a fishing mortality 
rate that would reduce the spawning biomass of Pacific whiting to 40 
percent of the estimated unfished level. After consideration of the 
2024 stock assessment and other relevant scientific information, the 
JMC did not use the default harvest rate, and instead agreed on a more 
conservative approach. There were two primary reasons for choosing a 
TAC below the default harvest rate: (1) uncertainty regarding the size 
of the 2020 and 2021 year-classes led the JMC to conclude that using 
the default harvest rate could be too risky if these cohorts are 
smaller than estimated; and (2) the fact that the 2023 acoustic survey 
biomass was the third-lowest in the survey time series. The JMC 
concluded that both of these factors warranted setting the coastwide 
TAC below the 2023 value of 625,000 metric tons (mt), and lower than 
the level that would result from application of the F-40 default 
harvest rate. This conservative approach was endorsed by the AP and is 
consistent with Article III(1) of the Agreement.
    The Agreement allows an adjusted TAC when either country's catch 
exceeds or is less than its TAC in the prior year. If the catch is in 
excess of the country's TAC, the amount of the overage is deducted from 
that country's TAC in the following year. If catch falls short of the 
country's TAC, a portion of the shortfall is carried over and added to 
the country's TAC for the following year. Under the Agreement, 
carryover adjustments cannot not exceed 15 percent of a party country's 
unadjusted TAC for the year in which the shortfall occurred. In 2023, 
neither country fully attained their respective TACs. The percentage of 
the U.S. TAC attained for 2023 is detailed in the Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) (see the ADDRESSES section), which is 
summarized in the Classification section below.
    For the 2024 Pacific whiting fishery, the JMC recommended a 
coastwide TAC of 473,513 mt prior to adjustment. Based on Article 
III(2) of the Agreement, the 73.88 percent U.S. share of the unadjusted 
coastwide TAC is 349,831 mt. Consistent with Article II(5)(b) of the 
Agreement, a carryover of 60,203 mt was added to the U.S. share for an 
adjusted U.S. TAC of 410,034 mt. The 26.12 percent Canadian share of 
the unadjusted coastwide TAC, consistent with Article III(2) of the 
Agreement, is

[[Page 52399]]

123,681 mt, and a carryover of 21,285 mt was added to the Canadian 
share for an adjusted Canadian TAC of 144,966 mt. The total adjusted 
coastwide TAC is 555,000 mt for 2024.
    This recommendation is consistent with the best available 
scientific information, and provisions of the Agreement and the Whiting 
Act of 2006 (Whiting Act). The recommendation was transmitted via 
letter to the United States and Canadian Governments on March 05, 2024. 
NMFS, under delegation of authority from the Secretary of Commerce, 
approved the TAC recommendation of 410,034 mt for U.S. fisheries on 
March 29, 2024.
    This final rule announces the adjusted coastwide TAC of 555,000 mt, 
an adjusted U.S. TAC of 410,034 mt, and establishes the domestic 2024 
Pacific whiting harvest specifications, which constitutes the 2024 
Tribal allocation, the 2024 season allocations for three non-Tribal 
commercial whiting sectors, and a set-aside for incidental mortality 
from research activities and in the non-groundfish trawl fisheries 
(e.g. pink shrimp fishery). The Tribal and non-Tribal allocations for 
Pacific whiting, as well as the set-aside, are effective until December 
31, 2024.

Tribal Allocations

    This final rule establishes the Tribal allocations of Pacific 
whiting for 2024 as described in the proposed rule (89 FR 34188, April 
30, 2024). Four Washington coastal treaty Indian Tribes--the Makah 
Indian Tribe, Quileute Indian Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, and the 
Hoh Indian Tribe--have treaty rights to harvest Pacific whiting in 
their usual and accustomed fishing areas in U.S. waters. Regulations at 
50 CFR 660.50 set forth procedures to coordinate with the Tribes to 
exercise their treaty right in ocean fisheries with the Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) and NMFS.
    NMFS allocates a portion of the U.S. TAC of Pacific whiting to the 
Tribal fishery, following the process established in 50 CFR 660.50(d). 
Regulations for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) specify that the Tribal allocation is subtracted from the total 
U.S. Pacific whiting TAC. NMFS contacted the Tribes between September 
and December of 2023 to determine their plans for participation in the 
2024 Tribal Pacific whiting fishery. Only the Makah Indian Tribe 
indicated its intent to continue to fish and requested 17.5 percent of 
the U.S. Pacific whiting allocation, which is identical to the 
percentage allotted in previous fishing years. In this final rule, NMFS 
will implement the 2024 Tribal allocation of 71,755.95 mt, which is 
17.5 percent of the total U.S. TAC.
    As with prior Tribal allocations of Pacific whiting, this final 
rule is not intended to establish a precedent for future Pacific 
whiting seasons, or for the determination of the total amount of 
Pacific whiting to which the Tribes are entitled under their treaty 
right. In 2009, NMFS, the States of Washington and Oregon, and the 
coastal treaty Tribes started a process to determine the long-term 
Tribal allocation for Pacific whiting; however, no long-term allocation 
has been determined. The long-term Tribal treaty amount will be based 
on further development of scientific information and additional 
coordination and discussion with and among the coastal treaty Tribes 
and the States of Washington and Oregon.

Non-Tribal Research and Bycatch Set-Asides

    The U.S. non-Tribal whiting fishery is managed under the Council's 
Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP. Each year, the Council recommends a set-
aside to accommodate incidental mortality of Pacific whiting in 
research activities and the state-managed pink shrimp fishery (a non-
groundfish fishery). The set-aside is based on estimates of scientific 
research catch and estimated bycatch mortality in non-groundfish 
fisheries. At its November 2023 meeting, the Council recommended an 
incidental mortality set-aside of 750 mt for 2024. This set-aside is 
unchanged from the 750 mt set-aside amount recommended by the Council 
in November of 2022 and implemented for incidental mortality in 2023. 
This final rule implements the Council's recommendation for a 750 mt 
set-aside for 2024.

Non-Tribal Harvest Guidelines and Allocations

    This final rule implements the fishery harvest guideline (HG) 
(i.e., the non-Tribal allocation) as described in the proposed rule (89 
FR 34188, April 30, 2024). The 2024 fishery HG for Pacific whiting is 
337,528.05 mt. This amount was determined by deducting the 71,755.95 mt 
Tribal allocation and the 750 mt set-aside for scientific research 
catch and fishing mortality in non-groundfish fisheries from the U.S. 
adjusted TAC of 410,034 mt. Federal regulations further allocate the 
fishery HG among the three non-tribal sectors of the Pacific whiting 
fishery: (1) the catcher/processor (C/P) Co-op Program; (2) the 
Mothership (MS) Co-op Program; and (3) the Shorebased Individual 
Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. The C/P Co-op Program is allocated 34 
percent (114,759.53 mt for 2024), the MS Co-op Program is allocated 24 
percent (81,006.73 mt for 2024), and the Shorebased IFQ Program is 
allocated 42 percent (141,761.78 mt for 2024). The fishery south of 
42[deg] N lat. may not take more than 7,088 mt (5 percent of the 
Shorebased IFQ Program allocation) prior to May 1, the start of the 
primary Pacific whiting season north of 42[deg] N lat.

      Table 1--2024 U.S. Pacific Whiting Allocations in Metric Tons
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           2024 Pacific
                                                              whiting
                         Sector                             allocation
                                                               (mt)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tribal..................................................       71,755.95
Catcher/Processor (C/P) Co-op Program...................      114,759.53
Mothership (MS) Co-op Program...........................       81,006.73
Shorebased IFQ Program..................................      141,761.78
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This rule is implemented under the statutory and regulatory 
authority of sections 304(b) and 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Whiting 
Act, the regulations governing the groundfish fishery at 50 CFR 660.5 
through 660.360, and other applicable laws. Pursuant to section 305(d) 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and regulations at 50 CFR 660.50, this 
final rule is necessary to ensure the fishery is managed in a manner 
consistent with treaty rights of four Treaty Tribes to fish in their 
``usual and accustomed grounds and stations'' in common with non-Tribal 
citizens (United States v. Washington, 384 F. Supp. 313 (W.D. Wash. 
1974)).

Comments and Responses

    NMFS issued a proposed rule on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188). The 
comment period on the proposed rule closed May 15, 2024. One public 
comment was received from an individual member of the public suggesting 
alternate punctuation for the title of this rule, otherwise no relevant 
comments were received during the public comment period.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    No substantive changes from the proposed action were made to the 
final action. However, this final rule corrects typographical errors 
that were published in the proposed rule (89 FR 34188, April 30, 2024). 
Previously published numerical values (87 FR 77007, December 16, 2022; 
88 FR 89313, December 27, 2023) for the harvest

[[Page 52400]]

specifications of non-whiting groundfish species were incorrectly 
transcribed in tables 2a and 2b to part 660 subpart C-2024, and table 1 
to Sec.  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D) of the proposed regulations. 
Specifically, in table 2a to part 660 subpart C-2024, the ACL for 
Canary Rockfish ACL was misprinted as ``12,296'' mt and is corrected to 
``1,296'' mt. In table 2b to part 660 subpart C-2024 the Fishery HG for 
Arrowtooth flounder was misprinted as ``12'' mt, and is corrected to 
``12,083'' mt. In and table 1 to paragraph Sec.  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D) 
the 2024 Shorebased trawl allocations (mt) for 7 species and stock 
allocations were misprinted and corrected as follows: Yelloweye 
rockfish misprinted as ``4.42'' is corrected to ``3.41''; Canary 
rockfish misprinted as ``830.22'' is corrected to ``851.42''; 
Darkblotched rockfish misprinted as ``613.53'' is corrected to 
``644.34''; Sablefish North of 36[deg] N lat. misprinted as 
``3,559.38'' is corrected to ``3,535.91''; Sablefish South of 36[deg] N 
lat. misprinted as ``889.00'' is corrected to ``909.55''; Yellowtail 
rockfish misprinted as ``3,668.56'' is corrected to ``3,431.69''; Shelf 
rockfish complex South of 40[deg]10' N lat. misprinted as ``163.02'' is 
corrected to ``162.43''.

Classification

    The Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, determined that the 
final rule is necessary for the conservation and management of the 
Pacific whiting and that it is consistent with sections 304(b) and 
305(d), and other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Pacific 
Coast Groundfish FMP, Whiting Act, and other applicable laws.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the NMFS Assistant Administrator 
finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the date of effectiveness 
for this final rule because such a delay would be contrary to the 
public interest. The Pacific whiting fishery season began on May 1, 
2024 under interim allocations based on a proxy coastwide TAC analyzed 
in the 2024 Pacific whiting stock assessment (see ADDRESSES). This 
proxy coastwide TAC was 483,960 mt, which is approximately 13 percent 
lower than the recommended 2024 coastwide TAC of 555,000 mt announced 
in the proposed rule and approved by the Secretary of Commerce. If the 
non-Tribal commercial sectors fully harvest this partial interim 
allocation before the final TAC is implemented, NMFS will be required 
to close the Pacific whiting fishery until such time that the full 2024 
season allocation is implemented. Timely implementation of the full TAC 
will avoid the need to close the Pacific whiting fishery if the current 
interim allocations are fully harvested.
    As the Pacific whiting season is only 6 months long, open from May 
1 to December 31, a 30-day delay in the implementation of the full 2024 
season allocations represents a significant operational limitation to 
the commercial whiting sectors. If this final rule were delayed by 30 
days, the Pacific whiting commercial sectors would not be able to fish 
under the final catch limits for Pacific whiting for that time period, 
be at risk of potential premature season closure, and would not be able 
to realize the full level of economic opportunity this rule provides. 
This rule increases catch limits for Pacific whiting compared to the 
restrictive partial interim allocation the fishery is currently 
operating under, it therefore finds good cause to waive the 30-day 
delay in the date of effectiveness requirement.
    Additionally, many vessels in the Pacific whiting fishery also 
participate in the Alaskan pollock fishery. The Alaskan pollock fishery 
B-season typically runs from mid-June to mid-November of each year, 
overlapping with the May 1 to December 31 Pacific whiting season. 
Vessels that participate in both the West Coast Pacific whiting 
fishery, and the Alaskan pollock fishery must time operations and 
travel between these fisheries. Without having access to their full 
2024 Pacific whiting season allocations, fishery participants are 
unable to plan the timing of their operations, and are restricted in 
their participation in these fisheries for the 2024 season. Issuing 
complete 2024 Pacific whiting allocations to quota owners in a timely 
fashion ensures they can plan their participation for the year in both 
the Pacific whiting and Alaskan pollock fisheries. Implementing this 
rule upon the date of publication relieves the limitation in planning 
vessel operations and provides the commercial whiting fleet more 
opportunity and greater flexibility to harvest the optimal yield. 
Waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness will allow this final rule to 
more fully benefit the fishery through increased fishing opportunities 
as described in the preamble of this rule.
    This rulemaking could not be completed prior to the May 1 start 
date of the 2024 Pacific Whiting primary fishing season due to the 
timeline required by the Agreement, which resulted in the short time 
frame between the approval of the TAC recommendation and the start of 
the fishing season. The AP and JMC met in Lynnwood, Washington on 
February 26-29, 2024, to develop a recommendation for a 2024 coastwide 
TAC. At this meeting, the JMC agreed on a TAC recommendation, which was 
transmitted to the United States and Canadian Governments on March 4, 
2024. The Department of Commerce consulted with the Department of State 
on the recommended TAC and concurred with the NMFS West Coast Region on 
March 14, 2024 to accept the JMC recommended adjusted TAC for 2024. 
NMFS, under delegation of authority from the Secretary of Commerce, 
approved the TAC recommendation U.S. fisheries on March 29, 2024. This 
rulemaking proceeded once the JMC agreed on a recommended coastwide 
TAC, and the Department of Commerce in consultation with the Department 
of State reviewed and approved the recommended U.S. TAC. The proposed 
rule was published on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188). The 2024 Pacific 
whiting primary fishing season began shortly thereafter on May 1, 2024. 
The public comment period closed on May 15, 2024. Therefore, NMFS could 
not issue full season allocations implemented under this final rule 
prior to the May 1 start date of the Pacific whiting fishery.
    Waiving the 30-day delay in effectiveness will not have a negative 
impact on any entities, as there are no new compliance requirements or 
other burdens placed on the fishing community with this rule. Making 
this rule effective immediately would also serve the best interests of 
the public because it will allow for the longest possible fishing 
season for Pacific whiting and therefore the best possible economic 
outcome for those whose livelihoods depend on this fishery.
    The Office of Management and Budget has determined that this final 
rule is not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    A range of potential total harvest levels for Pacific whiting has 
been considered in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for 
Harvest Specifications and Management Measures for 2015-2016 and 
Biennial Periods thereafter (2015/16 FEIS), and in the Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and the Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) included in the 
analytical document for Amendment 30 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish 
FMP and 2023-2024 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures. These 
documents are available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The 2015/16 FEIS 
examined the harvest specifications and management measures for 2015-
2016 and gave 10-year projections for routinely adjusted harvest 
specifications and management

[[Page 52401]]

measures. The 10-year projections were produced to evaluate the impacts 
of the ongoing implementation of harvest specifications and management 
measures and to evaluate the impacts of the routine adjustments that 
are the main component of each biennial cycle. The EA for the 2023-2024 
cycle builds on the 2015/16 FEIS and focuses on the harvest 
specifications and management measures that were not within the scope 
of the 10-year projections in the 2015/16 FEIS.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    NMFS issued a proposed rule on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188) for the 
2024 Harvest Specifications for Pacific whiting, and 2024 Tribal 
allocation for Pacific whiting. An Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA) was prepared and summarized in the Classification 
section of the preamble to the proposed rule. The comment period on the 
proposed rule closed May 15, 2024. NMFS did not receive any relevant 
public comments on the proposed rule. The Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration (SBA) did not file any comments on 
the IRFA or the proposed rule. The description of this action, its 
purpose, and its legal basis are described in the preamble to the 
proposed rule and are not repeated here. A FRFA was prepared and 
incorporates the IRFA. There were no public comments received on the 
IRFA. NMFS also prepared a RIR for this action. A copy of the RIR/FRFA 
is available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). A summary of the FRFA, per the 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 604, follows.
    Under the RFA, the term ``small entities'' includes small 
businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. 
For purposes of complying with the RFA, NMFS has established size 
criteria for entities involved in the fishing industry that qualify as 
small businesses. A business involved in fish harvesting is a small 
business if it is independently owned and operated and not dominant in 
its field of operation (including its affiliates) and if it has 
combined annual receipts not in excess of $11 million for all its 
affiliated operations worldwide (80 FR 81194, December 29, 2015; 50 CFR 
part 200). In addition, the SBA has established size criteria for other 
entities that may be affected by this final rule. A wholesale business 
servicing the fishing industry is a small business if it employs 100 or 
fewer persons on a full time, part time, temporary, or other basis, at 
all its affiliated operations worldwide. A small organization is any 
nonprofit enterprise that is independently owned and operated and is 
not dominant in its field. A seafood processor is a small business if 
it is independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field of 
operation, and employs 750 or fewer persons on a full time, part time, 
temporary, or other basis, at all its affiliated operations worldwide 
(see North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 311710 at 13 
CFR 121.201). For purposes of rulemaking, NMFS is also applying the 
seafood processor standard to C/Ps because whiting C/Ps earn the 
majority of the revenue from processed seafood product.

A Summary of the Significant Issues Raised by the Public in Response to 
the IRFA, a Summary of the Agency's Assessment of Such Issues, and a 
Statement of Any Changes Made in the Final Rule as a Result of Such 
Comments

    NMFS issued a proposed rule on April 30, 2024 (89 FR 34188). The 
comment period on the proposed rule closed May 15, 2024. No relevant 
comments were received during the public comment period.
    No substantive changes from the proposed action are being 
considered in were made to the final action. However, this final rule 
corrects typographical errors that were published in the proposed rule 
(89 FR 34188, April 30, 2024). Previously published numerical values 
(87 FR 77007, December 16, 2022; 88 FR 89313, December 27, 2023) for 
the harvest specifications of non-whiting groundfish species were 
incorrectly transcribed in tables 2a and 2b to part 660 subpart C-2024, 
and table 1 to paragraph Sec.  660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D) of the proposed 
regulations. Specifically, in table 2a to part 660 subpart C-2024, the 
ACL for Canary Rockfish ACL was misprinted as ``12,296'' mt and is 
corrected to ``1,296'' mt. In table 2b to part 660 subpart C-2024 the 
Fishery HG for Arrowtooth flounder was misprinted as ``12'' mt, and is 
corrected to ``12,083'' mt. In and table 1 to paragraph Sec.  
660.140(d)(1)(ii)(D) the 2024 Shorebased trawl allocations (mt) for 7 
species and stock allocations were misprinted and corrected as follows: 
Yelloweye rockfish misprinted as ``4.42'' is corrected to ``3.41''; 
Canary rockfish misprinted as ``830.22'' is corrected to ``851.42''; 
Darkblotched rockfish misprinted as ``613.53'' is corrected to 
``644.34''; Sablefish North of 36[deg] N lat. misprinted as 
``3,559.38'' is corrected to ``3,535.91''; Sablefish South of 36[deg] N 
lat. misprinted as ``889.00'' is corrected to ``909.55''; Yellowtail 
rockfish misprinted as ``3,668.56'' is corrected to ``3,431.69''; Shelf 
rockfish complex South of 40[deg]10' N lat. misprinted as ``163.02'' is 
corrected to ``162.43''.

Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the 
Rule Applies, and Estimate of Economic Impacts by Entity Size and 
Industry

    This final rule affects how Pacific whiting is allocated to the 
following sectors/programs: Tribal, Shorebased IFQ Program Trawl 
Fishery, MS Co-op Program Whiting At-sea Trawl Fishery, and C/P Co-op 
Program Whiting At-sea Trawl Fishery. The amount of Pacific whiting 
allocated to these sectors is based on the U.S. TAC, which is developed 
and approved through the process set out in the Agreement and the 
Whiting Act.
    NMFS expects one Tribal entity, the Makah Tribe, to fish for 
Pacific whiting in 2024. Tribes are not considered small entities for 
the purposes of RFA. Impacts to Tribes are nevertheless considered in 
this analysis.
    This final rule directly affects the C/P Co-op Program, which is 
composed of 10 C/P endorsed permits owned by 3 companies that have 
formed a single co-op. These co-ops are considered large entities both 
because they have participants that are large entities and because they 
have in total more than 750 employees worldwide including affiliates.
    This final rule also directly affects the Shorebased IFQ Program. 
As of March 2024, the Shorebased IFQ Program is composed of 163 Quota 
Share permits/accounts (122 of which were allocated Pacific whiting 
quota pounds), and 48 licensed first receiver sites, of which 16 sites 
are owned by 10 companies that receive Pacific whiting. Of these 
companies that receive Pacific whiting, none are considered small 
entities.
    This final rule also directly affects participants in the MS Co-op 
Program, the limited access program that applies to eligible harvesters 
and processors in the MS sector of the Pacific whiting at-sea trawl 
fishery. This program consists of 6 MS processor permits, and a catcher 
vessel fleet currently composed of a single co-op, with 34 Mothership/
Catcher Vessel (MS/CV) endorsed permits (with 3 permits each having 2 
catch history assignments).
    Although there are 3 non-tribal sectors (the C/P Co-op Program, the 
Shorebased IFQ Program, and the MS Co-op Program), many companies 
participate in 2 different sectors and some participate in all 3 
sectors, as well as participate in other non-whiting groundfish 
fisheries. As part of the permit application processes for the non-
tribal fisheries, NMFS asks permit

[[Page 52402]]

applicants if they considered themselves a small business based on a 
review of the SBA size criteria and asks each permit applicant to 
provide detailed ownership information. Data on employment worldwide, 
including affiliates, are not available for these companies, which 
generally operate in Alaska as well as on the West Coast in non-whiting 
groundfish fisheries, and which may have operations in other countries, 
as well. NMFS requests that limited entry permit holders self-report 
their size status. For 2024, all 10 C/P permits reported that they are 
not small businesses, as did 8 mothership catcher vessels. There is 
substantial, but not complete, overlap between permit ownership and 
vessel ownership so there may be a small number of additional small 
entity vessel owners who will be impacted by this rule. After 
accounting for cross-fishery participation, multiple Quota Share 
account holders, and affiliation through ownership, NMFS estimates that 
there are 103 non-tribal entities directly affected by these 
regulations (89 of which are considered small entities).
    This rule will allocate Pacific whiting between Tribal and non-
Tribal harvesters (a mixture of small and large businesses). Tribal 
fisheries consist of a mixture of fishing activities that are similar 
to the activities that non-tribal fisheries undertake. Tribal harvests 
may be delivered to both shoreside plants and motherships for 
processing. These processing facilities also process fish harvested by 
non-tribal fisheries. The effect of the Tribal allocation on non-Tribal 
fisheries will depend on the level of Tribal harvests relative to their 
allocation and the reapportionment process. If the Tribes do not 
harvest their entire allocation, there are opportunities during the 
year to reapportion unharvested Tribal amounts to the non-Tribal 
fleets. For example, in 2023 NMFS reapportioned 45,000 mt of the 
original 80,806 mt Tribal allocation (88 FR 75238, November 2, 2023) to 
the non-Tribal fleets. This reapportionment was based on conversations 
with the Treaty Tribes and the best information available at the time, 
which indicated that this amount would not limit Tribal harvest 
opportunities for the remainder of the year. The reapportioning process 
allows unharvested Tribal allocations of Pacific whiting to be fished 
by the non-tribal fleets, benefitting both large and small entities. 
The revised Pacific whiting allocations for 2023 following the 
reapportionment were as follows: (1) Tribal 35,806 mt; (2) C/P Co-op 
144,566 mt; (3) MS Co-op 102,047 mt; and (4) Shorebased IFQ Program 
178,581 mt.
    The prices for Pacific whiting are largely determined by the world 
market because most of the Pacific whiting harvested in the United 
States is exported. The U.S. Pacific whiting TAC is highly variable, as 
is subsequent attainment of sector allocations, and ex-vessel revenues. 
For the years 2013-2023, the U.S. non-tribal commercial fishery sectors 
averaged harvests of approximately 271,392 mt, and revenues of $54.1 
million, annually. The 2023 U.S. non-tribal commercial fishery sectors 
attained a Pacific whiting catch of approximately 239,665 mt out of a 
harvest guideline of 380,194 mt (i.e., 63 percent attainment), 
resulting in a total revenue of $46.6 million. The Tribal fishery 
landed less than 1,000 mt out of the 2023 Tribal allocation of 80,806 
mt.
    Impacts to the U.S. non-Tribal fishery are measured with an 
estimate of ex-vessel revenue. The adjusted coastwide TAC of 555,000 mt 
results in an adjusted U.S. TAC of 410,034 mt and, after deduction of 
the Tribal allocation and the incidental catch set-aside, a U.S. non-
Tribal harvest guideline of 337,528.05 mt. Using the 2023 weighted-
average non-Tribal price of $194.74 per metric ton, the 2024 adjusted 
U.S. TAC is estimated to result in a potential ex-vessel revenue of 
$65.7 million for the U.S. non-Tribal fishing fleet if fully harvested 
(i.e., 100 percent attainment).
    Impacts to Tribal catcher vessels who elect to participate in the 
Tribal fishery are measured with an estimate of ex-vessel revenue. In 
lieu of more complete information on Tribal deliveries, total ex-vessel 
revenue is estimated with the 2023 average ex-vessel price of Pacific 
whiting (i.e., $194.74 per mt). At that price, the 2024 Tribal 
allocation of 71,755.95 mt would potentially have an ex-vessel value of 
$13.97 million if fully harvested.
    For the allocations to the non-tribal commercial sectors, the 
Pacific whiting Tribal allocation, and set-asides for research and 
incidental mortality NMFS considered 2 alternatives: the ``No Action'' 
alternative and the ``Proposed Action'' alternative.
    For allocations to non-tribal commercial sectors, the No Action 
alternative would mean that NMFS would not implement allocations to the 
non-Tribal sectors based on the JMC recommended U.S. TAC. This is 
contrary to the Whiting Act and the Agreement, both of which require 
sustainable management of the Pacific whiting resource. Therefore, the 
No Action alternative for allocations to non-tribal commercial sectors 
received no further consideration.
    For set-asides for research and incidental mortality, the No Action 
alternative would mean that NMFS would not implement the set-aside 
amount of 750 mt recommended by the Council. Not implementing set-
asides of the US whiting TAC would mean that incidental mortality of 
the fish in research activities and non-groundfish fisheries would not 
be accommodated. This would be inconsistent with the Council's 
recommendation, the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP, the regulations 
setting the framework governing the groundfish fishery, and NMFS' 
responsibility to manage the fishery. Therefore, the No Action 
alternative for set-asides received no further consideration.
    NMFS did not consider a broader range of alternatives to the 
proposed Tribal allocation because the Tribal allocation is a 
percentage of the U.S. TAC and is based primarily on the requests of 
the Tribes. These requests reflect the level of participation in the 
fishery that will allow the Tribes to exercise their treaty right to 
fish for Pacific whiting. Under the Proposed Action alternative, NMFS 
would set the Tribal allocation percentage at 17.5 percent, as 
requested by the Tribes. This would yield a Tribal allocation of 
71,755.95 mt for 2024. Consideration of a percentage lower than the 
Tribal request of 17.5 percent is not appropriate in this instance. As 
a matter of policy, NMFS has historically supported the harvest levels 
requested by the Tribes. Based on the information available to NMFS, 
the Tribal request is within their Tribal treaty rights. A higher 
percentage would arguably also be within the scope of the treaty right. 
However, a higher percentage would unnecessarily limit the non-Tribal 
fishery.
    Therefore, the No Action alternative would result in no allocation 
of Pacific whiting to the Tribal sector in 2024, which would be 
inconsistent with NMFS' responsibility to manage the fishery consistent 
with the Tribes' treaty rights. Given that there is a Tribal request 
for allocation in 2024, this No Action alternative for allocation to 
the Tribal sector received no further consideration and NMFS elected to 
move forward with the Proposed Action alternative.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Determination of No Significant Impact

    NMFS has determined this final rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on small entities. This rule is similar to previous 
rulemakings concerning Pacific whiting. In the context of an 
internationally set TAC,

[[Page 52403]]

this rule concerns the amount of the U.S. TAC that should be allocated 
to the Tribal fishery and to a set-aside for research and bycatch in 
non-groundfish fisheries, and establishes Pacific whiting allocations 
for the non-Tribal fishery for 2024. With this final rule, NMFS, acting 
on behalf of the Secretary, determined that the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish FMP is implemented in a manner consistent with treaty rights 
of four Treaty Tribes to fish in their ``usual and accustomed grounds 
and stations'' in common with non-tribal citizens (United States v. 
Washington, 384 F. Supp. 313 (W.D. Wash. 1974)). Pacific whiting 
allocations to the non-Tribal sectors provide additional economic 
opportunity to the entities considered in this analysis to prosecute a 
quota species within a multi-species groundfish catch share program. In 
addition, the reapportioning process allows unharvested Tribal 
allocations of Pacific whiting, fished by small entities, to be fished 
by the non-Tribal fleets, potentially providing economic benefits to 
both large and small entities. NMFS believes this rule will not 
adversely affect small entities. Thus, as discussed above, this action 
would not have a significant economic impact on small entities.
    This final rule contains no information collection requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    No Federal rules have been identified that duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with this action.

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 agency shall explain the actions a small entity is 
required to take to comply with a rule or group of rules. A small 
entity compliance guide will be sent to stakeholders, and copies of the 
final rule and guides (i.e., information bulletins) are available from 
NMFS at the following website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-whiting#management.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, Indian fisheries.

    Dated: June 13, 2024.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, NMFS amends 50 CFR part 
660 as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST STATES

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., and 
16 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.


0
2. In Sec.  660.50, revise paragraph (f)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.50  Pacific Coast treaty Indian fisheries.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (4) Pacific whiting. The Tribal allocation for 2024 is 71,755.95 
mt.
* * * * *

0
3. Revise Table 2a to part 660, subpart C--2024, to read as follows:

   Table 2a. to Part 660, Subpart C--2024, Specifications of OFL, ABC, ACL, ACT and Fishery Harvest Guidelines
                           (Weights in Metric Tons). Capitalized Stocks Are Overfished
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Stocks                    Area              OFL             ABC           ACL \a\     Fishery HG \b\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH \c\........  Coastwide.......              91              76            53.3            42.6
Arrowtooth Flounder \d\.......  Coastwide.......          20,459          14,178          14,178          12,083
Big Skate \e\.................  Coastwide.......           1,492           1,267           1,267         1,207.2
Black Rockfish \f\............  California (S of             364             329             329           326.6
                                 42[deg] N lat.).
Black Rockfish \g\............  Washington (N of             319             289             289           270.5
                                 46[deg]16' N
                                 lat.).
Bocaccio \h\..................  S of 40[deg]10'            2,002           1,828           1,828         1,779.9
                                 N lat.
Cabezon \i\...................  California (S of             185             171             171           169.4
                                 42[deg] N lat.).
California Scorpionfish \j\...  S of 34[deg]27'              280             252             252             248
                                 N lat.
Canary Rockfish \k\...........  Coastwide.......           1,434           1,296           1,296         1,227.4
Chilipepper \l\...............  S of 40[deg]10'            2,346           2,121           2,121         2,023.4
                                 N lat.
Cowcod \m\....................  S of 40[deg]10'              112              79              79            67.8
                                 N lat.
    Cowcod....................  (Conception)....              93              67              NA              NA
    Cowcod....................  (Monterey)......              19              12              NA              NA
Darkblotched Rockfish \n\.....  Coastwide.......             857             782             782           758.7
Dover Sole \o\................  Coastwide.......          55,859          51,949          50,000        48,402.9
English Sole \p\..............  Coastwide.......          11,158           8,960           8,960         8,700.5
Lingcod \q\...................  N of 40[deg]10'            4,455           3,854           3,854         3,574.4
                                 N lat.
Lingcod \r\...................  S of 40[deg]10'              855             740             722           706.5
                                 N lat.
Longnose Skate \s\............  Coastwide.......           1,955           1,660           1,660         1,408.7
Longspine Thornyhead \t\......  N of 34[deg]27'            4,433           2,846           2,162         2,108.3
                                 N lat.
Longspine Thornyhead \u\......  S of 34[deg]27'              683           680.8
                                 N lat.
Pacific Cod \v\...............  Coastwide.......           3,200           1,926           1,600           1,094
Pacific Ocean Perch \w\.......  N of 40[deg]10'            4,133           3,443           3,443         3,297.5
                                 N lat.
Pacific Whiting \x\...........  Coastwide.......         747,588           (\x\)           (\x\)      337,528.05
Petrale Sole \y\..............  Coastwide.......           3,563           3,285           3,285         2,898.8
Sablefish \z\.................  N of 36[deg] N            10,670           9,923           7,730   See Table 2c.
                                 lat.
Sablefish \aa\................  S of 36[deg] N    ..............  ..............           2,193         2,165.6
                                 lat.
Shortspine Thornyhead \bb\....  N of 34[deg]27'            3,162           2,030           1,328         1,249.7
                                 N lat.
Shortspine Thornyhead \cc\....  S of 34[deg]27'   ..............  ..............             702           695.3
                                 N lat.
Spiny Dogfish \dd\............  Coastwide.......           1,883           1,407           1,407         1,055.5
Splitnose \ee\................  S of 40[deg]10'            1,766           1,553           1,553         1,534.3
                                 N lat.
Starry Flounder \ff\..........  Coastwide.......             652             392             392           343.7
Widow Rockfish \gg\...........  Coastwide.......          12,453          11,482          11,482        11,243.7
Yellowtail Rockfish \hh\......  N of 40[deg]10'            5,795           5,291           5,291         4,263.3
                                 N lat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 52404]]

 
                                                 Stock Complexes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue/Deacon/Black Rockfish      Oregon..........             671             594             594           592.2
 \ii\.
Cabezon/Kelp Greenling \jj\...  Washington......              22              17              17              15
Cabezon/Kelp Greenling \kk\...  Oregon..........             198             180             180           179.2
Nearshore Rockfish North \ll\.  N of 40[deg]10'              109              91              91            87.7
                                 N lat.
Nearshore Rockfish South \mm\.  S of 40[deg]10'            1,097             902             891           886.5
                                 N lat.
Other Fish \nn\...............  Coastwide.......             286             223             223           201.8
Other Flatfish \oo\...........  Coastwide.......           7,946           4,874           4,874         4,653.2
Shelf Rockfish North \pp\.....  N of 40[deg]10'            1,610           1,278           1,278           1,207
                                 N lat.
Shelf Rockfish South \qq\.....  S of 40[deg]10'            1,833           1,464           1,464         1,331.4
                                 N lat.
Slope Rockfish North \rr\.....  N of 40[deg]10'            1,797           1,516           1,516         1,450.6
                                 N lat.
Slope Rockfish South \ss\.....  S of 40[deg]10'              868             697             697           658.1
                                 N lat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs) and harvest guidelines (HGs) are specified as total
  catch values.
\b\ Fishery HGs means the HG or quota after subtracting Pacific Coast treaty Indian Tribes allocations and
  projected catch, projected research catch, deductions for fishing mortality in non-groundfish fisheries, and
  deductions for EFPs from the ACL or ACT.
\c\ Yelloweye rockfish. The 53.3 mt ACL is based on the current rebuilding plan with a target year to rebuild of
  2029 and an SPR harvest rate of 65 percent. 10.7 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery
  (5 mt), EFP fishing (0.12 mt), research catch (2.92 mt), and incidental open access mortality (2.66 mt)
  resulting in a fishery HG of 42.6 mt. The non-trawl HG is 39.2 mt. The combined non-nearshore/nearshore HG is
  8.2 mt. Recreational HGs are: 10 mt (Washington); 9.1 mt (Oregon); and 11.8 mt (California). In addition, the
  non-trawl ACT is 30.7, and the combined non-nearshore/nearshore ACT is 6.4 mt. Recreational ACTs are: 7.9 mt
  (Washington), 7.2 (Oregon), and 9.3 mt (California).
\d\ Arrowtooth flounder. 2,094.98 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (2,041 mt),
  research catch (12.98 mt) and incidental open access mortality (41 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 12,083
  mt.
\e\ Big skate. 59.8 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (15 mt), research catch (5.49
  mt), and incidental open access mortality (39.31 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,207.2 mt.
\f\ Black rockfish (California). 2.26 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (1.0 mt), research
  catch (0.08 mt), and incidental open access mortality (1.18 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 326.6 mt.
\g\ Black rockfish (Washington). 18.1 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (18 mt) and
  research catch (0.1 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 270.5 mt.
\h\ Bocaccio south of 40[deg]10' N lat. Bocaccio are managed with stock-specific harvest specifications south of
  40[deg]10' N lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 48.12 mt is deducted
  from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (40 mt), research catch (5.6 mt), and incidental open access mortality
  (2.52 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,779.9 mt. The California recreational fishery south of 40[deg]10' N
  lat. has an HG of 749.7 mt.
\i\ Cabezon (California). 1.63 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (1 mt), research catch
  (0.02 mt), and incidental open access mortality (0.61 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 169.4 mt.
\j\ California scorpionfish south of 34[deg]27' N lat. 3.89 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research
  catch (0.18 mt) and incidental open access mortality (3.71 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 248 mt.
\k\ Canary rockfish. 68.91 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (50 mt), EFP fishing (6
  mt), research catch (10.08 mt), and incidental open access mortality (2.83 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of
  1,227.4 mt. The combined nearshore/non-nearshore HG is 122.4 mt. Recreational HGs are: 41.8 mt (Washington);
  62.9 mt (Oregon); and 112.9 mt (California).
\l\ Chilipepper rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N lat. Chilipepper are managed with stock-specific harvest
  specifications south of 40[deg]10' N lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex north of 40[deg]10' N
  lat. 97.7 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (70 mt), research catch (14.04 mt),
  incidental open access mortality (13.66 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 2,023.4 mt.
\m\ Cowcod south of 40[deg]10' N lat. Cowcod are managed with stock-specific harvest specifications south of
  40[deg]10' N lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 11.17 mt is deducted
  from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (1 mt), research catch (10 mt), and incidental open access mortality
  (0.17 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 67.8 mt.
\n\ Darkblotched rockfish. 23.76 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (5 mt), EFP
  fishing (0.5 mt), research catch (8.46 mt), and incidental open access mortality (9.8 mt) resulting in a
  fishery HG of 758.7 mt.
\o\ Dover sole. 1,597.11 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (1,497 mt), research
  catch (50.84 mt), and incidental open access mortality (49.27 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 48,402.9 mt.
\p\ English sole. 259.52 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (200 mt), research catch
  (17 mt), and incidental open access mortality (42.52 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 8,700.5 mt.
\q\ Lingcod north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 279.63 mt is deducted from the ACL for the Tribal fishery (250 mt),
  research catch (17.71 mt), and incidental open access mortality (11.92 mt) resulting in a fishery HG of
  3,574.4 mt.
\r\ Lingcod south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 15.5 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (4 mt),
  research catch (3.19 mt), and incidental open access mortality (8.31 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 706.5
  mt.
\s\ Longnose skate. 251.3 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (220 mt), and research
  catch (12.46 mt), and incidental open access mortality (18.84 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,408.7 mt.
\t\ Longspine thornyhead north of 34[deg]27' N lat. 53.71 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal
  fishery (30 mt), research catch (17.49 mt), and incidental open access mortality (6.22 mt), resulting in a
  fishery HG of 2,108.3 mt.
\u\ Longspine thornyhead south of 34[deg]27' N lat. 2.24 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research
  catch (1.41 mt) and incidental open access mortality (0.83 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 680.8 mt.
\v\ Pacific cod. 506 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (500 mt), research catch
  (5.47 mt), and incidental open access mortality (0.53 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,094 mt.
\w\ Pacific ocean perch north of 40[deg]10' N lat. Pacific ocean perch are managed with stock-specific harvest
  specifications north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and within the Minor Slope Rockfish complex south of 40[deg]10' N
  lat. 145.48 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (130 mt), EFP fishing, research
  catch (5.39 mt), and incidental open access mortality (10.09 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 3,297.5 mt.
\x\ Pacific hake/whiting. The 2024 OFL of 747,588 mt is based on the 2024 assessment with an F-40 percent of
  FMSY proxy. The 2024 coastwide adjusted Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is 555,000 mt. The U.S. TAC is 73.88
  percent of the coastwide TAC. The 2024 adjusted U.S. TAC is 410,034 mt. From the U.S. TAC, 71,755.95 mt is
  deducted to accommodate the Tribal fishery, and 750 mt is deducted to accommodate research and bycatch in
  other fisheries, resulting in a 2024 fishery HG of 337,528.05 mt. The TAC for Pacific whiting is established
  under the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the
  Government of Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting of 2003 and the Pacific Whiting Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 7001-7010,
  and the international exception applies. Therefore, no ABC or ACL values are provided for Pacific whiting.
\y\ Petrale sole. 386.24 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (350 mt), EFP fishing (1
  mt), research catch (24.14 mt), and incidental open access mortality (11.1 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of
  2,898.8 mt.

[[Page 52405]]

 
\z\ Sablefish north of 36[deg] N lat. The sablefish coastwide ACL value is not specified in regulations. The
  sablefish coastwide ACL value is apportioned north and south of 36[deg] N lat., using the rolling 5-year
  average estimated swept area biomass from the NMFS NWFSC trawl survey, with 77.9 percent apportioned north of
  36[deg] N lat. and 22.1 percent apportioned south of 36[deg] N lat. The northern ACL is 7,730 mt and is
  reduced by 773 mt for the Tribal allocation (10 percent of the ACL north of 36[deg] N lat.). The 773 mt Tribal
  allocation is reduced by 1.7 percent to account for discard mortality. Detailed sablefish allocations are
  shown in table 1c.
\aa\ Sablefish south of 36[deg] N lat. The ACL for the area south of 36[deg] N lat. is 2,193 mt (22.1 percent of
  the calculated coastwide ACL value). 27.4 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research catch (2.40 mt)
  and the incidental open access fishery (25 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 2,165.6 mt.
\bb\ Shortspine thornyhead north of 34[deg]27' N lat. 78.3 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal
  fishery (50 mt), research catch (10.48 mt), and incidental open access mortality (17.82 mt), resulting in a
  fishery HG of 1,249.7 mt for the area north of 34[deg]27' N lat.
\cc\ Shortspine thornyhead south of 34[deg]27' N lat. 6.71 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research
  catch (0.71 mt) and incidental open access mortality (6 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 695.3 mt for the
  area south of 34[deg]27' N lat.
\dd\ Spiny dogfish. 351.48 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (275 mt), EFP fishing
  (1 mt), research catch (41.85 mt), and incidental open access mortality (33.63 mt), resulting in a fishery HG
  of 1,055.5 mt.
\ee\ Splitnose rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N lat. Splitnose rockfish in the north is managed in the Slope
  Rockfish complex and with stock-specific harvest specifications south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 18.42 mt is
  deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (1.5 mt), research catch (11.17 mt), and incidental open
  access mortality (5.75 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 1,534.3 mt.
\ff\ Starry flounder. 48.28 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (2 mt), research catch
  (0.57 mt), and incidental open access mortality (45.71 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 343.7 mt.
\gg\ Widow rockfish. 238.32 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (200 mt), EFP fishing
  (18 mt), research catch (17.27 mt), and incidental open access mortality (3.05 mt), resulting in a fishery HG
  of 11,243.7 mt.
\hh\ Yellowtail rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N lat. Yellowtail rockfish are managed with stock-specific harvest
  specifications north of 40[deg]10' N lat. and within the Minor Shelf Rockfish complex south of 40[deg]10' N
  lat. 1,027.55 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (1,000 mt), research catch (20.55
  mt), and incidental open access mortality (7 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 4,263.3 mt.
\ii\ Black rockfish/Blue rockfish/Deacon rockfish (Oregon). 1.82 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate
  research catch (0.08 mt), and incidental open access mortality (1.74 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 592.2
  mt.
\jj\ Cabezon/kelp greenling (Washington). 2 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery,
  resulting in a fishery HG is 15 mt.
\kk\ Cabezon/kelp greenling (Oregon). 0.79 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research catch (0.05 mt)
  and incidental open access mortality (0.74 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 179.2 mt.
\ll\ Nearshore Rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 3.27 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal
  fishery (1.5 mt), research catch (0.47 mt), and incidental open access mortality (1.31 mt), resulting in a
  fishery HG of 87.7 mt. State-specific HGs are 17.2 mt (Washington), 30.9 mt (Oregon), and 39.9 mt
  (California). The ACT for copper rockfish (California) is 6.99 mt. The ACT for quillback rockfish (California)
  is 0.96 mt.
\mm\ Nearshore Rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 4.54 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research
  catch (2.68 mt) and incidental open access mortality (1.86 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 886.5 mt. The ACT
  for copper rockfish is 87.73 mt. The ACT for quillback rockfish is 0.97 mt.
\nn\ Other Fish. The Other Fish complex is comprised of kelp greenling off California and leopard shark
  coastwide. 21.24 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate research catch (6.29 mt) and incidental open
  access mortality (14.95 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 201.8 mt.
\oo\ Other Flatfish. The Other Flatfish complex is comprised of flatfish species managed in the PCGFMP that are
  not managed with stock-specific OFLs/ABCs/ACLs. Most of the species in the Other Flatfish complex are
  unassessed and include: butter sole, curlfin sole, flathead sole, Pacific sanddab, rock sole, sand sole, and
  rex sole. 220.79 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal fishery (60 mt), research catch (23.63
  mt), and incidental open access mortality (137.16 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of 4,653.2 mt.
\pp\ Shelf Rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 70.94 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal
  fishery (30 mt), research catch (15.32 mt), and incidental open access mortality (25.62 mt), resulting in a
  fishery HG of 1,207.1 mt.
\qq\ Shelf Rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 132.77 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (50
  mt), research catch (15.1 mt), and incidental open access mortality (67.67 mt) resulting in a fishery HG of
  1,331.4 mt.
\rr\ Slope Rockfish north of 40[deg]10' N lat. 65.39 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate the Tribal
  fishery (36 mt), research catch (10.51 mt), and incidental open access mortality (18.88 mt), resulting in a
  fishery HG of 1,450.6 mt.
\ss\ Slope Rockfish south of 40[deg]10' N lat. 38.94 mt is deducted from the ACL to accommodate EFP fishing (1
  mt), research catch (18.21 mt), and incidental open access mortality (19.73 mt), resulting in a fishery HG of
  658.1 mt. Blackgill rockfish has a stock-specific HG for the entire groundfish fishery south of 40[deg]10' N
  lat. set equal to the species' contribution to the 40-10-adjusted ACL. Harvest of blackgill rockfish in all
  groundfish fisheries south of 40[deg]10' N lat. counts against this HG of 169.9 mt.

* * * * *

0
4. Revise Table 2b to part 660, subpart C--2024, to read as follows:

                               Table 2b. to Part 660, Subpart C--2024, and Beyond, Allocations by Species or Species Group
                                                              [Weight in metric tons (mt)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                       Trawl                         Non-Trawl
          Stocks/stock complexes                        Area               Fishery HG or ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            ACT \a\ \b\          %              Mt               %              Mt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH \a\....................  Coastwide...................            42.6               8            3.41              92            39.2
Arrowtooth flounder.......................  Coastwide...................          12,083              95        11,478.9               5           604.2
Big skate \a\.............................  Coastwide...................         1,207.2              95         1,146.8               5            60.4
Bocaccio \a\..............................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         1,779.9           39.04           694.9           60.96           1,085
Canary rockfish \a\.......................  Coastwide...................         1,227.4            72.3           887.4            27.7             340
Chilipepper rockfish......................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         2,023.4              75         1,517.6              25           505.9
Cowcod \a\ \b\............................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......            67.8              36            24.4              64            43.4
Darkblotched rockfish.....................  Coastwide...................           758.7              95           720.8               5            37.9
Dover sole................................  Coastwide...................        48,402.9              95        45,982.7               5         2,420.1
English sole..............................  Coastwide...................         8,700.5              95         8,265.5               5             435
Lingcod...................................  N of 40'10[deg] N lat.......         3,574.4              45         1,608.5              55         1,965.9
Lingcod \a\...............................  S of 40'10[deg] N lat.......           706.5              40           282.6              60           423.9
Longnose skate \a\........................  Coastwide...................         1,408.7              90         1,267.8              10           140.9
Longspine thornyhead......................  N of 34[deg]27' N lat.......         2,108.3              95         2,002.9               5           105.4
Pacific cod...............................  Coastwide...................           1,094              95         1,039.3               5            54.7
Pacific ocean perch.......................  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         3,297.5              95         3,132.6               5           164.9
Pacific whiting \c\.......................  Coastwide...................      337,528.05             100      337,528.05               0               0

[[Page 52406]]

 
Petrale sole \a\..........................  Coastwide...................         2,898.8  ..............         2,868.8  ..............              30
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................................  N of 36[deg] N lat..........              NA                           See Table 2c
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
Sablefish.................................  S of 36[deg] N lat..........         2,165.6              42           909.6              58         1,256.0
Shortspine thornyhead.....................  N of 34[deg]27' N lat.......         1,249.7              95         1,187.2               5            62.5
Shortspine thornyhead.....................  S of 34[deg]27' N lat.......           695.3  ..............              50  ..............           645.3
Splitnose rockfish........................  S of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         1,534.3              95         1,457.6               5            76.7
Starry flounder...........................  Coastwide...................           343.7              50           171.9              50           171.9
Widow rockfish \a\........................  Coastwide...................        11,243.7  ..............        10,843.7  ..............             400
Yellowtail rockfish.......................  N of 40[deg]10' N lat.......         4,263.3              88         3,751.7              12           511.6
Other Flatfish............................  Coastwide...................         4,653.2              90         4,187.9              10           465.3
Shelf Rockfish \a\........................  N of 40[deg] 10' N lat......         1,207.1            60.2           726.7            39.8           480.4
Shelf Rockfish \a\........................  S of 40[deg] 10' N lat......         1,331.4            12.2          162.43            87.8         1,169.0
Slope Rockfish............................  N of 40[deg] 10' N lat......         1,450.6              81         1,175.0              19           275.6
Slope Rockfish \a\........................  S of 40[deg] 10' N lat......           658.1              63           414.6              37           243.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Allocations decided through the biennial specification process.
\b\ The cowcod non-trawl allocation is further split 50:50 between the commercial and recreational sectors. This results in a sector-specific ACT of
  21.7 mt for the commercial sector and 21.7 mt for the recreational sector.
\c\ Consistent with regulations at Sec.   660.55(i)(2), the commercial harvest guideline for Pacific whiting is allocated as follows: 34 percent for the
  C/P Co-op Program; 24 percent for the MS Co-op Program; and 42 percent for the Shorebased IFQ Program. No more than 5 percent of the Shorebased IFQ
  Program allocation may be taken and retained south of 42[deg] N lat. before the start of the primary Pacific whiting season north of 42[deg] N lat.


0
5. In Sec.  660.140, revise paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D) to read as follows:


Sec.  660.140   Shorebased IFQ Program.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (D) Shorebased trawl allocations. For the trawl fishery, NMFS will 
issue QP based on the following shorebased trawl allocations:

                                       Table 1 to Paragraph (d)(1)(ii)(D)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       2023            2024
                                                                                    Shorebased      Shorebased
                  IFQ species                                 Area                     trawl           trawl
                                                                                    allocation      allocation
                                                                                       (mt)            (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YELLOWEYE ROCKFISH............................  Coastwide.......................            4.42            3.41
Arrowtooth flounder...........................  Coastwide.......................       15,640.17       11,408.87
Bocaccio......................................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          700.33          694.87
Canary rockfish...............................  Coastwide.......................          842.50          851.42
Chilipepper...................................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......        1,563.80         1517.60
Cowcod........................................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......           24.80           24.42
Darkblotched rockfish.........................  Coastwide.......................          646.78          644.34
Dover sole....................................  Coastwide.......................       45,972.75       45,972.75
English sole..................................  Coastwide.......................        8,320.56        8,265.46
Lingcod.......................................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......        1,829.27        1,593.47
Lingcod.......................................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          284.20          282.60
Longspine thornyhead..........................  North of 34[deg]27' N lat.......        2,129.23        2,002.88
Pacific cod...................................  Coastwide.......................        1,039.30        1,039.30
Pacific halibut (IBQ) \a\.....................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......             TBD             TBD
Pacific ocean perch...........................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......        2,956.14        2,832.64
Pacific whiting...............................  Coastwide.......................      159,681.38      141,761.78
Petrale sole..................................  Coastwide.......................        3,063.76        2,863.76
Sablefish.....................................  North of 36[deg] N lat..........        3,893.50        3,535.91
Sablefish.....................................  South of 36[deg] N lat..........          970.00          909.55
Shortspine thornyhead.........................  North of 34[deg]27' N lat.......        1,146.67        1,117.22
Shortspine thornyhead.........................  South of 34[deg]27' N lat.......              50              50
Splitnose rockfish............................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......        1,494.70        1,457.60
Starry flounder...............................  Coastwide.......................          171.86          171.86
Widow rockfish................................  Coastwide.......................       11,509.68       10,367.68
Yellowtail rockfish...........................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......        3,761.84        3,431.69
Other Flatfish complex........................  Coastwide.......................        4,142.09        4,152.89
Shelf Rockfish complex........................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          694.70          691.65
Shelf Rockfish complex........................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          163.02          162.43
Slope Rockfish complex........................  North of 40[deg]10' N lat.......          894.43          874.99

[[Page 52407]]

 
Slope Rockfish complex........................  South of 40[deg]10' N lat.......           417.1          414.58
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Pacific halibut IBQ is set according to 50 CFR 660.55(m).

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2024-13405 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P