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NMFS Issues Opilio Tanner Crab Processing Limitsto AFA Entities
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued Opilio Tanner crab processing caps to individual AFA inshore processor and mothership entities, according to Steven Pennoyer, Administrator, Alaska Region, NMFS. Each entity's Opilio Tanner crab processing cap was determined by multiplying the non-CDQ pre-season guideline harvest level (GHL) of 26,362,500 lbs. by the percentage of the 1995-1997 total Opilio Tanner crab harvest that was processed by facilities owned or controlled by the entity. The identity of each AFA inshore processor or mothership entity, and its list of associated crab processing facilities, was based on information submitted to NMFS by each applicant for an AFA inshore processor permit or AFA mothership processor permit. The identity of each AFA inshore processor or mothership entity and the crab processing facilities covered by the entity's cap are listed below:
ICICLE SEAFOODS ENTITY
P/V BERING STAR (F0137)
P/V ARCTIC STAR (F0138)
P/V COASTAL STAR (F1140)
MARUHA CORPORATION ENTITY
Western Alaska Seafoods, Kodiak (F0320)
Alyeska Seafoods, Dutch Harbor (F0753)
Westward Seafoods, Dutch Harbor (F1366)
PETER PAN/NICHIRO ENTITY
Peter Pan Seafoods, King Cove (F0142)
P/V BLUE WAVE (F1636)
UNISEA SEAFOODS/NIPPON-SUISAN ENTITY
UniSea Seafoods, Dutch Harbor (F1180)
UniSea Seafoods, St. Paul (F0188)
P/V OMNISEA (F1066)
TRIDENT SEAFOODS ENTITY
Trident Seafoods, Akutan (F0939)
Trident Seafoods, Sand Point (F0942)
Trident Seafoods, St. Paul (F1927)
P/V ALASKA PACKER (F0944)
P/V SEA ALASKA (F0945)
P/V INDEPENDENCE (F1456)
F/V BOUNTIFUL (F0947)
F/V NORTHERN ENTERPRISE (F9713)
F/V WESTERN ENTERPRISE (F9716)
F/V GLACIER ENTERPRISE (F9720)
F/V ROYAL ENTERPRISE (F9723)
Due to data confidentiality standards, NMFS is not publicly releasing the individual processing caps issued to each AFA inshore processor or mothership entity. However, the sum of all the entity processing caps is 15,328,630 lbs. or 58.15 percent of the pre-season GHL. This means that no less than 11,033,870 lbs. or 41.85 percent of the pre-season GHL is reserved for non-AFA processors.
This program was established by NMFS on an interim basis until such time that an inseason management program can be developed to manage crab processing caps in the aggregate on an inseason basis. The provisions of 50 C.F.R. 679.7(k)(6) prohibit an AFA inshore processor or mothership entity from processing crab in excess of the crab processing sideboard cap established for that entity. However, industry has requested that the crab processing caps be managed in the aggregate this season. In order to accommodate this request, and to accomplish the goals of the AFA in the short term, the Alaska Enforcement Division, with the concurrence of the Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation, has established the following enforcement policy for the 2000 Opilio Tanner crab fishery:
So long as the aggregate amount of crab processed by AFA entities does not exceed 15,328,630 lbs. round weight, or 58.15 percent of the final official harvest amount of Opilio Tanner crab as determined by ADF&G, whichever is greater, then no enforcement action will be taken against any individual AFA entity for processing crab in excess of the crab processing sideboard cap established for that individual AFA entity.
In addition, processors are reminded of the overage policy found at 50 C.F.R. 679.64(e) which provides that in the event the actual harvest of Opilio Tanner crab in Year 2000 exceeds the non-CDQ pre-season GHL of 26,362,500 lbs., an AFA entity may exceed its crab processing cap, without penalty, up to an amount of crab equal to the entity's Opilio Tanner crab processing percentage multiplied by the Year 2000 final official harvest amount of Opilio Tanner crab as determined by ADF&G.
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