[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61117-61125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24012]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF381]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; North
Pacific Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notification of standard ex-vessel prices.
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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and
halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific
Observer Program (Observer Program). This notice is intended to provide
information to vessel owners, processors, registered buyers, and other
Observer Program participants about the standard ex-vessel prices that
will be used to calculate the Observer Program fee associated with
landings of groundfish and halibut made in 2026. NMFS will send
invoices to processors and registered buyers subject to the fee by
January 15, 2027. Fees are due to NMFS on or before February 15, 2027.
DATES: The standard prices take effect on January 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Additional information about the Observer Program is
available on NMFS Alaska Region's website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/fisheries-observers/north-pacific-observer-program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions about the
observer fee and standard ex-vessel prices, contact Amy Hadfield at
(907) 586-7376. For questions about the fee billing process, contact
Tristan Mandeville at (907) 586-7231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations at 50 CFR part 679, subpart E,
governing the Observer Program, require the deployment of NMFS-
certified observers (observers) and electronic monitoring (EM) systems
to collect information necessary for the conservation and management of
the
[[Page 61118]]
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska (GOA)
groundfish and halibut fisheries. Fishery managers use information
collected by observers and EM to monitor quotas, manage groundfish and
prohibited species catch, and document and reduce fishery interactions
with protected resources. Scientists use observer-collected information
for stock assessments and marine ecosystem research.
The Observer Program includes two observer coverage categories: the
partial coverage category and the full coverage category. All
groundfish and halibut vessels and processors subject to observer
coverage are included in one of these two categories. Defined at Sec.
679.51, the partial coverage category includes vessels and processors
that are not required to have an observer or EM at all times when
fishing, and the full coverage category includes vessels and processors
required to have all of their fishing and processing activity observed.
Vessels and processors in the full coverage category arrange and pay
for observer services from a permitted observer provider. Observer
coverage and EM for the partial coverage category is funded through a
system of fees based on the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut.
Throughout this notice, the term ``processor'' refers to shoreside
processors, stationary floating processors, and catcher/processors in
the partial coverage category.
Landings Subject to Observer Coverage Fee
Pursuant to section 313 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, NMFS is authorized to assess a fee on
all landings accruing against a Federal total allowable catch (TAC) for
groundfish or commercial halibut quota landings made by vessels that
are subject to Federal regulations and not included in the full
coverage category. A fee is only assessed on landings of groundfish
from vessels designated on a Federal Fisheries Permit or from vessels
landing individual fishing quota (IFQ) or community development quota
(CDQ) halibut or IFQ sablefish. Within the subset of vessels subject to
the observer fee, only landings accruing against an IFQ allocation or a
Federal TAC for groundfish are included in the fee assessment. A table
with additional information about which landings are subject to the
observer fee is at Sec. 679.55(c) and on page 2 of an informational
bulletin titled ``Observer Fee Collection'' that can be downloaded from
the NMFS Alaska Region website at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/observer-fee-collection-north-pacific-groundfish-and-halibut-fisheries-observer.
Fee Determination
A fee equal to 1.65 percent of the ex-vessel value is assessed on
the landings of groundfish and halibut subject to the fee. Ex-vessel
value is determined by multiplying the standard price for groundfish by
the round weight equivalent for each species, gear, and port
combination, and the standard price for halibut by the headed and
gutted weight equivalent. Standard prices are determined by aggregating
prices by species, gear, and area grouping to arrive at an average
price per pound for each grouping. NMFS reviews each vessel landing
report and determines whether the reported landing is subject to the
observer fee and, if so, which groundfish species in the landing are
subject to the observer fee. All IFQ or CDQ halibut in a landing
subject to the observer fee will be included in the observer fee
calculation. For any landed groundfish or halibut subject to the
observer fee, NMFS will apply the appropriate standard ex-vessel prices
for the species, gear type, and port and calculate the observer fee
associated with the landing.
Processors and registered buyers can access the landing-specific,
observer fee information through the NMFS Web Application (https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login) or eLandings (https://elandings.alaska.gov/). Landing-specific observer fee information is
either available immediately or within 24 hours after a landing report
is submitted electronically. A time lag occurs for some landings
because NMFS must process each landing report through the catch
accounting system to determine which groundfish in a landing accrues
against a Federal TAC and are subject to the observer fee.
Under the fee system, catcher vessel owners split the fee with the
registered buyers or owners of shoreside or stationary floating
processors. While the owners of catcher vessels and processors in the
partial coverage category are each responsible for paying their portion
of the fee, the owners of shoreside or stationary floating processors
and registered buyers are responsible for collecting the fees from
catcher vessels and remitting the full fee to NMFS. Owners of catcher/
processors in the partial coverage category are responsible for
remitting the full fee to NMFS.
NMFS sends invoices to processors and registered buyers by January
15 of each calendar year. The total fee amount is determined by the sum
of the fees reported for each landing at that processor or registered
buyer in the prior calendar year. Processors and registered buyers must
pay the fees to NMFS using eFISH. Payments are due by February 15 of
each year. Processors and registered buyers have access to this system
through a User ID and password issued by NMFS. Instructions for
electronic payment are provided on the NMFS Alaska Region website at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/observer-fee-collection-and-payment-north-pacific-groundfish-and-halibut and on the
observer fee invoice to be mailed to each processor and registered
buyer.
Standard Prices
This notification provides the standard ex-vessel prices for
groundfish and halibut species subject to the observer fee in 2026.
Data sources for ex-vessel prices include the following:
For groundfish other than sablefish IFQ and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the State of
Alaska's Commercial Fishery Entry Commission's (CFEC) gross revenue
data, which are based on the Commercial Operator Annual Report (COAR)
and Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) fish tickets; and
For halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish
accruing against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve, the IFQ Buyer
Report that is submitted to NMFS annually by each registered buyer that
operates as a shoreside processor and receives and purchases IFQ
landings of sablefish and halibut or CDQ landings of halibut under
Sec. 679.5(l)(7)(i).
The standard prices in this notification were calculated using the
following procedures for protecting confidentiality of data submitted
to or collected by NMFS. NMFS does not publish any price information
that would permit the identification of an individual or business. For
NMFS to publish a standard price for a particular species-gear-port
combination, the price data used to calculate the standard price must
represent landings from at least four different vessels delivered to at
least three different processors in a port or port group. NMFS has
aggregated price data that are confidential because fewer than four
vessels or three processors contributed data to a particular species-
gear-port combination.
Groundfish Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 1 shows the groundfish species standard ex-vessel prices that
will be used to calculate the fee for 2026. These prices are based on
the CFEC gross
[[Page 61119]]
revenue data, which are based on landings data from ADF&G fish tickets
and information from the COAR. The COAR contains statewide buying and
production information and is considered the most complete routinely
collected information to determine the ex-vessel value of groundfish
harvested from waters off Alaska.
The standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish were calculated by
adding ex-vessel value from the CFEC gross revenue files for 2022,
2023, and 2024 by species, port, and gear category, and adding the
volume (round weight equivalent) from the CFEC gross revenue files for
2022, 2023, and 2024 by species, port, and gear category, and then
dividing total ex-vessel value over the 3-year period in each category
by total volume over the 3-year period in each category. This
calculation results in an average ex-vessel price per pound by species,
port, and gear category for the 3-year period. Three gear categories
were used for the standard ex-vessel prices: (1) non-trawl gear,
including hook-and-line, pot, jig, troll, and others (Non-Trawl); (2)
non-pelagic trawl gear (NPT); and (3) pelagic trawl gear (PTR).
CFEC ex-vessel value and volume data are available in the fall of
the year following the year the fishing occurred. Thus, it is not
possible to base ex-vessel fee liabilities on standard prices that are
less than 2 years old. For the 2026 groundfish standard ex-vessel
prices, the most recent ex-vessel value and volume data available are
from 2024.
If a particular groundfish species is not listed in table 1, the
standard ex-vessel price for a species group (if it exists in the
management area) will be used. If price data for a particular species
remained confidential once aggregated to the outside of Alaska (ALL)
level, data are aggregated by species group (Flathead Sole; GOA Deep-
water Flatfish; GOA Shallow-water Flatfish; GOA Skate, Other; and Other
Rockfish). Standard prices for the groundfish species groups are shown
in table 2.
If a port-level price does not meet the confidentiality
requirements, the data are aggregated by port group. Port-group data
for Southeast Alaska (SEAK) and the Eastern GOA excluding Southeast
Alaska (EGOAxSE) also are presented separately when price data are
available. Port-group data are aggregated by regulatory area in the GOA
(Eastern GOA, Central GOA, and Western GOA) and by subarea in the BSAI
(BS subarea and AI subarea). If confidentiality requirements are still
not met by aggregating prices across ports at these levels, the prices
are aggregated at the level of BSAI or GOA, then statewide (AK) and
ports outside of Alaska (OTAK), and finally all ports, including those
outside of Alaska (ALL).
Standard prices are presented separately for non-pelagic trawl and
pelagic trawl when non-confidential data are available. NMFS also
calculated prices for a ``Pelagic Trawl/Non-pelagic Trawl Combined''
(PTR/NPT) category that can be used when combining trawl price data for
landings of a species in a particular port or port group will not
violate confidentiality requirements. Creating this standard price
category allows NMFS to assess a fee on 2026 landings of some of the
species with pelagic trawl gear based on a combined trawl gear price
for the port or port group. If confidentiality requirements are still
not met with the PTR/NPT category, fixed and trawl gear prices are
combined for an all-gear price.
If no standard ex-vessel price is listed for a species or species
group and gear category combination in table 1, table 2, or table 3, no
fee will be assessed on that landing. Volume and value data for that
species will be added to the standard ex-vessel prices in future years,
if the data become available and display of a standard ex-vessel price
meets confidentiality requirements.
Table 1--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species for 2025 Observer Coverage Fee
[Based on volume and value from 2022, 2023, and 2024]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/area \3\
Species (species code) \1\ \2\ \4\ Non-trawl NPT PTR PTR/NPT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrowtooth Flounder (121)..... ALL............. ---- $0.08 ---- $0.08
Black Rockfish (142).......... AK.............. $0.82 ---- ---- ----
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... SEAK............ 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... EGOA............ 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... GOA............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... AK.............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Bocaccio Rockfish (137)....... ALL............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Butter Sole (126)............. Kodiak.......... ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Butter Sole (126)............. CGOA............ ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Butter Sole (126)............. GOA............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Butter Sole (126)............. AK.............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Butter Sole (126)............. ALL............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Canary Rockfish (146)......... Sitka........... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... SEAK............ 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... EGOA............ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... Seward.......... 0.21 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... CGOA............ 0.21 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... GOA............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... AK.............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Canary Rockfish (146)......... ALL............. 0.29 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... SEAK............ 0.24 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... Cordova......... 0.47 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... EGOAxSE......... 0.44 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... Homer........... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... Seward.......... 0.22 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... CGOA............ 0.24 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... GOA............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... AK.............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
China Rockfish (149).......... ALL............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... SEAK............ 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... Cordova......... 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... EGOAxSE......... 0.42 ---- ---- ----
[[Page 61120]]
Copper Rockfish (138)......... Homer........... 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... Seward.......... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... CGOA............ 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... GOA............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... AK.............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Copper Rockfish (138)......... ALL............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Juneau.......... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Petersburg...... 0.54 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Sitka........... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... SEAK............ 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... EGOAxSE......... 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Homer........... 0.53 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Kodiak.......... 0.81 ---- 0.11 0.11
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... Seward.......... 0.21 ---- ---- ----
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... CGOA............ 0.62 ---- 0.11 0.11
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... GOA............. 0.57 ---- 0.11 0.11
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... AK.............. 0.56 ---- 0.11 0.11
Dusky Rockfish (172).......... ALL............. 0.56 ---- 0.11 0.11
English Sole (128)............ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
English Sole (128)............ CGOA............ ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
English Sole (128)............ GOA............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
English Sole (128)............ AK.............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
English Sole (128)............ ALL............. ---- 0.07 ---- 0.07
Flathead Sole (122)........... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (122)........... CGOA............ ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (122)........... GOA............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (122)........... AK.............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (122)........... ALL............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Northern Rockfish (136)....... Kodiak.......... ---- ---- ---- 0.11
Northern Rockfish (136)....... CGOA............ ---- ---- ---- 0.11
Northern Rockfish (136)....... GOA............. 0.32 ---- ---- 0.11
Northern Rockfish (136)....... AK.............. 0.32 ---- ---- 0.11
Northern Rockfish (136)....... ALL............. 0.32 ---- ---- 0.11
Octopus (870)................. Kodiak.......... 0.49 ---- 0.39 0.25
Octopus (870)................. CGOA............ 0.49 ---- 0.39 0.25
Octopus (870)................. GOA............. 0.64 0.27 0.39 ----
Octopus (870)................. BS.............. 0.56 ---- ---- ----
Octopus (870)................. BSAI............ 0.56 ---- ---- ----
Octopus (870)................. AK.............. 0.59 0.26 0.39 ----
Octopus (870)................. ALL............. 0.59 0.26 0.39 ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Craig........... 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Juneau.......... 0.73 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Petersburg...... 0.60 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Sitka........... 0.66 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Wrangell........ 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. SEAK............ 0.66 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Cordova......... 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Valdez.......... 0.43 .............. .............. ..............
Pacific Cod (110)............. Whittier........ 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. EGOAxSE......... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Homer........... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Kodiak.......... 0.38 0.33 0.30 ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Seward.......... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. CGOA............ 0.37 0.33 0.30 ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. King Cove....... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Sand Point...... 0.41 ---- ---- 0.37
Pacific Cod (110)............. WGOA............ 0.39 ---- 0.37 0.40
Pacific Cod (110)............. GOA............. ---- 0.35 0.33 ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. Dutch Harbor.... 0.39 0.49 ---- 0.49
Pacific Cod (110)............. BS.............. 0.40 0.47 ---- 0.47
Pacific Cod (110)............. BSAI............ 0.40 0.47 ---- 0.47
Pacific Cod (110)............. AK.............. 0.39 0.41 0.32 ----
Pacific Cod (110)............. ALL............. 0.39 0.41 0.32 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.13 0.13 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... CGOA............ ---- 0.13 0.13 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... GOA............. ---- 0.13 0.13 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... AK.............. 0.31 0.13 0.13 ----
Pacific Ocean Perch (141)..... ALL............. 0.31 0.13 0.13 ----
Pollock (270)................. Kodiak.......... ---- 0.12 0.13 ----
Pollock (270)................. Seward.......... 0.16 ---- ---- ----
Pollock (270)................. CGOA............ 0.16 0.12 0.13 ----
[[Page 61121]]
Pollock (270)................. Sand Point...... ---- ---- ---- 0.18
Pollock (270)................. WGOA............ ---- ---- 0.17 0.17
Pollock (270)................. GOA............. 0.15 0.13 0.13 ----
Pollock (270)................. Dutch Harbor.... ---- ---- 0.18 0.18
Pollock (270)................. BS.............. ---- ---- 0.16 0.15
Pollock (270)................. BSAI............ ---- ---- 0.16 0.15
Pollock (270)................. AK.............. 0.15 0.13 0.14 ----
Pollock (270)................. ALL............. 0.15 0.13 0.14 ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Craig........... 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Juneau.......... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Petersburg...... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Sitka........... 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Wrangell........ 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... SEAK............ 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Cordova......... 0.51 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Whittier........ 0.21 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... EGOAxSE......... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Homer........... 0.23 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Kodiak.......... 0.26 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... Seward.......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... CGOA............ 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... GOA............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... AK.............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Quillback Rockfish (147)...... ALL............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Juneau.......... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Ketchikan....... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Petersburg...... 0.22 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Sitka........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Wrangell........ 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... SEAK............ 0.33 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Whittier........ 0.33 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Homer........... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Kodiak.......... 0.15 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... Seward.......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... CGOA............ 0.23 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... GOA............. 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... AK.............. 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Redbanded Rockfish (153)...... ALL............. 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... EGOA............ 0.44 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... Seward.......... 0.17 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... CGOA............ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... GOA............. 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... AK.............. 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Redstripe Rockfish (158)...... ALL............. 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Rex Sole (125)................ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Rex Sole (125)................ CGOA............ ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Rex Sole (125)................ GOA............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Rex Sole (125)................ AK.............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Rex Sole (125)................ ALL............. ---- 0.13 ---- 0.13
Rock Sole (123)............... Kodiak.......... ---- 0.11 ---- 0.11
Rock Sole (123)............... CGOA............ ---- 0.11 ---- 0.11
Rock Sole (123)............... GOA............. ---- 0.11 ---- 0.11
Rock Sole (123)............... AK.............. ---- 0.11 ---- 0.11
Rock Sole (123)............... ALL............. ---- 0.11 ---- 0.11
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... SEAK............ 0.67 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... EGOA............ 0.67 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... Seward.......... 0.09 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... CGOA............ 0.09 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... GOA............. 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... AK.............. 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Rosethorn Rockfish (150)...... ALL............. 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Juneau.......... 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Petersburg...... 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Sitka........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... SEAK............ 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Cordova......... 0.43 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Whittier........ 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Homer........... 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Kodiak.......... 0.35 0.11 0.13 ----
[[Page 61122]]
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... Seward.......... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... CGOA............ 0.29 0.11 0.13 ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... GOA............. 0.34 0.11 0.13 ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... BS.............. 0.12 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... BSAI............ 0.12 ---- ---- ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... AK.............. 0.34 0.11 0.13 ----
Rougheye Rockfish (151)....... ALL............. 0.34 0.11 0.13 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... Kodiak.......... n/a \5\ 0.90 0.78 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... CGOA............ n/a \5\ 0.90 0.78 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... GOA............. n/a \5\ 0.90 0.78 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... AK.............. n/a \5\ 0.92 0.69 ----
Sablefish (blackcod) (710).... ALL............. n/a \5\ 0.92 0.69 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Juneau.......... 0.38 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Petersburg...... 0.28 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Sitka........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Wrangell........ 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... SEAK............ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Cordova......... 0.47 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Whittier........ 0.21 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... EGOAxSE......... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Homer........... 0.17 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Kodiak.......... 0.27 0.12 0.16 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... Seward.......... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... CGOA............ 0.29 0.12 0.16 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... GOA............. 0.35 0.12 0.16 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... AK.............. 0.35 0.12 0.16 ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... OTAK............ 0.14 ---- ---- ----
Shortraker Rockfish (152)..... ALL............. 0.35 0.12 0.16 ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Juneau.......... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Petersburg...... 0.22 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Sitka........... 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Wrangell........ 0.55 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... SEAK............ 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Homer........... 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... Seward.......... 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... CGOA............ 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... GOA............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... AK.............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Silvergray Rockfish (157)..... ALL............. 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Big (702).............. Kodiak.......... 0.45 0.37 0.45 ----
Skate, Big (702).............. Seward.......... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Big (702).............. CGOA............ 0.40 0.37 0.45 ----
Skate, Big (702).............. GOA............. 0.40 0.37 0.45 ----
Skate, Big (702).............. AK.............. 0.40 0.37 0.45 ----
Skate, Big (702).............. ALL............. 0.40 0.37 0.45 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... EGOA............ 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... Homer........... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... Kodiak.......... 0.44 0.33 0.44 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... Seward.......... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... CGOA............ 0.39 0.33 0.44 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... GOA............. 0.39 0.33 0.44 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... AK.............. 0.39 0.33 0.44 ----
Skate, Longnose (701)......... ALL............. 0.39 0.33 0.44 ----
Skate, Other (700)............ GOA............. 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Other (700)............ AK.............. 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Skate, Other (700)............ ALL............. 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Juneau.......... 0.96 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Petersburg...... 0.84 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Sitka........... 0.86 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) SEAK............ 0.85 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Cordova......... 0.45 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Whittier........ 0.41 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) EGOAxSE......... 0.49 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Homer........... 0.44 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Kodiak.......... 0.54 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) Seward.......... 0.69 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) CGOA............ 0.65 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) GOA............. 0.78 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) AK.............. 0.77 ---- ---- ----
(143).
Thornyhead Rockfish (Idiots) ALL............. 0.77 ---- ---- ----
(143).
[[Page 61123]]
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... SEAK............ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... Cordova......... 0.50 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... EGOAxSE......... 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... Homer........... 0.37 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... Seward.......... 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... CGOA............ 0.26 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... GOA............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... AK.............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Tiger Rockfish (148).......... ALL............. 0.30 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... SEAK............ 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... EGOA............ 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... GOA............. 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... AK.............. 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Vermilion Rockfish (184)...... ALL............. 0.48 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Craig........... 1.10 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Juneau.......... 0.94 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Ketchikan....... 0.65 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Petersburg...... 1.00 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Sitka........... 1.54 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Wrangell........ 1.03 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... SEAK............ 1.22 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Cordova......... 0.68 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Whittier........ 0.44 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... EGOAxSE......... 0.49 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Homer........... 0.72 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Kodiak.......... 0.41 ---- ---- 0.21
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... Seward.......... 0.57 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... CGOA............ 0.58 ---- ---- 0.21
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... GOA............. 0.96 ---- ---- 0.21
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... BS.............. 0.44 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... BSAI............ 0.44 ---- ---- ----
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... AK.............. 0.96 ---- ---- 0.21
Yelloweye Rockfish (145)...... ALL............. 0.95 ---- ---- 0.21
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... Sitka........... 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... SEAK............ 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... EGOA............ 0.25 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... Seward.......... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... CGOA............ 0.40 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... GOA............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... AK.............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
Yellowtail Rockfish (155)..... ALL............. 0.35 ---- ---- ----
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If species is not listed, use price for the species group in table 2 if it exists in the management area. If
no price is available for the species or species group in table 1, table 2, or table 3, no fee will be
assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ For species codes, see table 2a to 50 CFR part 679.
\3\ Regulatory and management areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AI = Aleutian Islands subarea; AK = Alaska;
ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering Sea subarea; BSAI = Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands;
CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of Alaska except
Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA = Western Gulf of Alaska).
\4\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type combination, or see table 2 or table 3.
\5\ n/a = ex-vessel prices for sablefish landed with hook-and-line, pot, or jig gear are listed in table 3 with
the prices for IFQ and CDQ landings.
Table 2--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish Species Groups for 2026 Observer Coverage Fee
[Based on volume and value from 2022, 2023, and 2024]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Port/area \2\
Species group \1\ \3\ Non-Trawl NPT PRT PTR/NPR
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BSAI Skate and GOA Skate, GOA............. $0.42 ---- ---- ----
Other (USKT) \4\.
BSAI Skate and GOA Skate, AK.............. 0.42 ---- ---- ----
Other (USKT) \4\.
Flathead Sole (FSOL) \5\...... Kodiak.......... ---- $0.08 ---- $0.08
Flathead Sole (FSOL) \5\...... CGOA............ ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (FSOL) \5\...... GOA............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Flathead Sole (FSOL) \5\...... AK.............. ---- 0.08 ---- 0.08
Deep-water Flatfish \6\....... AK.............. ---- ---- ---- ----
GOA Demersal Shelf Rockfish Kodiak.......... ---- ---- ---- 0.21
\8\.
GOA Demersal Shelf Rockfish CGOA............ ---- ---- ---- 0.21
\8\.
GOA Demersal Shelf Rockfish GOA............. ---- ---- ---- 0.21
\8\.
[[Page 61124]]
GOA Demersal Shelf Rockfish AK.............. ---- ---- ---- 0.21
\8\.
GOA Shallow Water Flatfish \7\ Kodiak.......... ---- 0.09 0.12 ----
(SFL1).
GOA Shallow Water Flatfish \7\ CGOA............ ---- 0.09 0.12 ----
(SFL1).
GOA Shallow Water Flatfish \7\ GOA............. ---- 0.09 0.12 ----
(SFL1).
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Craig........... 0.31 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Juneau.......... 0.36 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Ketchikan....... 0.24 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Pelican......... 0.85 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Petersburg...... 0.22 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Sitka........... 0.41 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Wrangell........ 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). SEAK............ 0.34 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Cordova......... 0.39 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Whittier........ 0.33 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). EGOAxSE......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Homer........... 0.29 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Kodiak.......... 0.17 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). Seward.......... 0.27 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). CGOA............ 0.26 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). GOA............. 0.32 ---- ---- ----
Other Rockfish \8\ \9\ (ROCK). AK.............. 0.32 ---- ---- ----
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---- = no landings in last 3 years or the data is confidential.
\1\ If groundfish species is not listed in table 1, use price for the species group if it exists in the
management area. If no price is available for the species or species group in table 1, table 2, or table 3, no
fee will be assessed on that landing. That species will come into standard ex-vessel prices in future years.
\2\ Regulatory and management areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AI = Aleutian Islands subarea; AK = Alaska; BS
= Bering Sea subarea; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOA = Eastern Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of
Alaska except Southeast Alaska; GOA = Gulf of Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska).
\3\ If a price is listed for the species, port, and gear type combination, that price will be applied to the
round weight equivalent for groundfish landings. If no price is listed for the port and gear type combination,
use port group and gear type combination.
\4\ ``BSAI Skate and GOA Stake, Other'' means all skates with the exception of Raja binoculata (Big), R. rhina
(Longnose), Bathyraja aleutica (Aleutian) and B. parmifera (Alaska).
\5\ ``Flathead sole'' includes Hippoglossoides elassodon (flathead sole) and H. robustus (Bering flounder).
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' in the GOA means Dover sole, Greenland turbot, Kamchatka flounder, and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' in the GOA means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish'', flathead sole,
rex sole, or arrowtooth flounder.
\8\ In the GOA:
``Other rockfish (slope rockfish)'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis
(bocaccio), S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegatus
(harlequin), S. wilsoni (pygmy), S. babcocki (redbanded), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin),
S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis (silvergray), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S.
miniatus (vermilion), S. reedi (yellowmouth), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus (yellowtail).
``Demersal shelf rockfish'' means Sebastes pinniger (canary), S. nebulosus (china), S. caurinus (copper), S.
maliger (quillback), S. helvomaculatus (rosethorn), S. nigrocinctus (tiger), and S. ruberrimus (yelloweye).
``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas means ``other rockfish (slope rockfish)'' and
demersal shelf rockfish.
``Other rockfish'' in the West Yakutat District of the EGOA means ``other rockfish (slope rockfish),'' northern
rockfish, S. polyspinous, and demersal shelf rockfish.
``Other rockfish'' in the SEO District of the GOA (and SEAK for Table 2) means ``other rockfish (slope rockfish)
and northern rockfish, S. polyspinous.
\9\ ``Other rockfish'' in the BSAI includes all Sebastes and Sebastolobus species except for Pacific ocean
perch, northern, shortraker, and rougheye rockfish.
Halibut and Sablefish IFQ and CDQ Standard Ex-Vessel Prices
Table 3 shows the observer fee standard ex-vessel prices for
halibut and sablefish. These standard prices are calculated as a single
annual average price, by species and port or port group. Volume and ex-
vessel value data collected on the 2025 IFQ Buyer Report for landings
made from October 15, 2024 through September 30, 2025 were used to
calculate the standard ex-vessel prices for the 2026 observer fee for
halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, and sablefish landings that
accrue against the fixed gear sablefish CDQ reserve.
Table 3--Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Halibut IFQ, Halibut CDQ,
Sablefish IFQ, and Sablefish Accruing Against the Fixed Gear Sablefish
CDQ Reserve for the 2026 Observer Fee
[Based on 2025 IFQ Buyer Reports]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Port/Area \1\ Price \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (200)...................... Craig................. $3.04
Halibut (200)...................... Petersburg............ 7.05
Halibut (200)...................... Sitka................. 6.79
Halibut (200)...................... SEAK.................. 6.64
Halibut (200)...................... EGOAxSE............... 7.30
Halibut (200)...................... Homer................. 8.07
Halibut (200)...................... Kodiak................ 7.50
Halibut (200)...................... CGOA.................. 7.68
Halibut (200)...................... GOA................... 7.21
Halibut (200)...................... BS.................... 5.99
Halibut (200)...................... BSAI.................. 5.99
Halibut (200)...................... AK.................... 7.02
Halibut (200)...................... ALL................... 7.03
Sablefish (710).................... SEAK.................. 1.82
Sablefish (710).................... EGOAxSE............... 1.96
[[Page 61125]]
Sablefish (710).................... Homer................. 2.37
Sablefish (710).................... Kodiak................ 1.61
Sablefish (710).................... CGOA.................. 1.78
Sablefish (710).................... GOA................... 1.82
Sablefish (710).................... BS.................... 1.65
Sablefish (710).................... BSAI.................. 1.65
Sablefish (710).................... AK.................... 1.79
Sablefish (710).................... ALL................... 1.79
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Regulatory and management areas are defined at Sec. 679.2. (AK =
Alaska; ALL = all ports including those outside Alaska; BS = Bering
Sea subarea; CGOA = Central Gulf of Alaska; EGOAxSE = Eastern Gulf of
Alaska except Southeast Alaska; SEAK = Southeast Alaska; WGOA =
Western Gulf of Alaska).
\2\ If a price is listed for the species and port combination, that
price will be applied to the round weight equivalent for sablefish
landings and the headed and gutted weight equivalent for halibut
landings. If no price is listed for the port, use port group.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 23, 2025.
Peter Cooper,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-24012 Filed 12-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P