[Federal Register: December 5, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 234)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67964-67970]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05de03-14]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 031126297-3297-01; I.D. 111703D]
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Gulf of
Alaska; Interim 2004 Harvest Specifications for Groundfish
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Interim final rule.
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SUMMARY: NMFS issues interim 2004 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts
for each category of groundfish, American Fisheries Act (AFA) sideboard
amounts, and prohibited species catch (PSC) amounts for the groundfish
fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). The intended effect is to
conserve and manage the groundfish resources in the GOA.
DATES: The interim harvest specifications are effective from 0001 hrs,
Alaska local time (A.l.t.), January 1, 2004, until the effective date
of the final 2004 harvest specifications for GOA groundfish, which will
be published in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment/Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (EA/
[[Page 67965]]
IFRA) prepared for this action, the final 2002 Stock Assessment and
Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) report, dated November 2002, and the final
2003 SAFE report, dated November 2003, is available from the North
Pacific Fishery Management Council, 605 West 4th Avenue, Suite 306,
Anchorage, AK 99501-2252, telephone (907) 271-2809 or from its homepage
at http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/npfmc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Pearson, (907) 481-1780 or tom.pearson@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 679 implementing the Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the GOA govern the groundfish
fisheries in the GOA. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) prepared the FMP, and NMFS approved it under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act). General regulations that also pertain to the U.S.
fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.
The Council met in October 2003 to review scientific information
concerning groundfish stocks including the 2002 SAFE report and the EA
(see ADDRESSES) and recommended proposed 2004 specifications. The
Council recommended and NMFS proposed a total acceptable biological
catch (ABC) of 409,690 mt and a TAC of 227,797 mt for the 2004 fishing
year. The proposed TAC amounts for each species were based on the best
available biological and socioeconomic information.
Under Sec. 679.20(c)(1)(ii), NMFS published in the Federal
Register proposed harvest specifications for groundfish in the GOA for
the 2004 fishing year published elsewhere in this issue. That document
contains a detailed discussion of the proposed 2004 TACs, groundfish
reserves, apportionments of TAC, ABC amounts, overfishing levels
(OFLs), PSC amounts and apportionments, of the GOA groundfish fishery.
This action provides interim harvest specifications and
apportionments thereof for the 2004 fishing year that will become
available on January 1, 2004, and remain in effect until superseded by
the final 2004 harvest specifications. Background information
concerning the 2004 groundfish harvest specification process, on which
this interim action is based, is provided in the above mentioned
proposed specification document.
Establishment of Interim TACs
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i) require that one-fourth of
each proposed TAC and apportionment thereof (not including the reserves
and the first seasonal allowance of pollock and Pacific cod) and one-
fourth of the halibut PSC amounts become effective at 0001 hours,
A.l.t., January 1, on an interim basis and remain in effect until
superseded by the final harvest specifications. As stated in the
proposed specifications publication published elsewhere in this issue,
no harvest of groundfish is authorized before the effective date of
this action implementing the interim specifications.
Regulations at Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(i) and (ii) allocate 100 percent
of the pollock TAC to vessels catching pollock for processing by the
inshore component, 90 percent of the Pacific cod TAC to vessels
catching Pacific cod for processing by the inshore component and 10
percent to vessels catching Pacific cod for processing by the offshore
component.
The reserves for the GOA are 20 percent of the TAC amounts for
pollock, Pacific cod, flatfish species, and the ``other species''
category (Sec. 679.20(b)(2)). The GOA groundfish TAC amounts have been
utilized fully since 1987, and NMFS expects this trend to continue in
2004. Therefore, NMFS has proposed reapportioning all the reserves to
the TAC. The interim TAC amounts contained in Table 1 reflect the
reapportionment of reserves to the TAC.
Interim 2004 GOA Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Apportionments
Table 1 provides interim TAC amounts, the first seasonal allowance
of pollock in the combined Western and Central Regulatory Areas, the
first seasonal allowance of Pacific cod in the Western and Central
Regulatory Areas, interim TAC allocations of Pacific cod to the inshore
and offshore components, and interim sablefish TAC apportionments to
hook-and-line and trawl gear. These interim TAC amounts and
apportionments become effective at 0001 hours, A.l.t., January 1, 2004.
Table 1.--Interim 2004 TAC Amounts of Groundfish for the Combined Western/Central (W/C), Western (W), Central
(C), and Eastern (E) Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat (WYK), Southeast Outside (SEO), and Gulfwide (GW)
Districts of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) 1,2
[The first seasonal allowances of pollock in the Combined W/C Regulatory Areas, the first seasonal allowances of
Pacific cod. Interim sablefish TAC apportionments to hook-and-line (H/L) and trawl (TRW) gear. Interim TAC
amounts have been rounded to nearest metric tons]
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Species Area Interim TAC Total
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Pollock \3,4\................................. W (610).......................... 2,894 ...........
C (620).......................... 6,535
C (630).......................... 2,274
------------
Subtotal.................................. W/C.............................. ................ 11,703
WYK (640)........................ 270 ...........
SEO (650)........................ 1,615 ...........
============
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 13,588
Pacific cod \5\............................... Inshore W........................ 7,553 ...........
Offshore W....................... 839 ...........
Inshore C........................ 10,916 ...........
Offshore C....................... 1,213 ...........
Inshore E........................ 587 ...........
Offshore E....................... 65 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 21,173
Flatfish, Deep-water \6\...................... W................................ 45 ...........
C................................ 555 ...........
[[Page 67966]]
WYK.............................. 332 ...........
SEO.............................. 288 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 1,220
Rex sole...................................... W................................ 320 ...........
C................................ 1,385 ...........
WYK.............................. 400 ...........
SEO.............................. 262 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 2,367
Flathead sole................................. W................................ 500 ...........
C................................ 1,250 ...........
WYK.............................. 659 ...........
SEO.............................. 284 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 2,693
Flatfish, Shallow-water \7\................... W................................ 1,125 ...........
C................................ 3,250 ...........
WYK.............................. 290 ...........
SEO.............................. 740 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 5,405
Arrowtooth flounder........................... W................................ 2,000 ...........
C................................ 6,250 ...........
WYK.............................. 625 ...........
SEO.............................. 625 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 9,500
Sablefish \8,9,10\............................ H/L W............................ N/A (394) ...........
TRW W............................ 98 ...........
H/L C............................ N/A (986) ...........
TRW C............................ 247 ...........
TRW WYak......................... 56 ...........
H/L WYak......................... N/A (388) ...........
H/L SEO.......................... N/A (682) ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 2,851
Pacific ocean perch \11\...................... W................................ 675 ...........
C................................ 2,127 ...........
WYK.............................. 203 ...........
SEO.............................. 410 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 3,415
Shortraker/rougheye \12\...................... W................................ 55 ...........
C................................ 210 ...........
E................................ 140 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 405
Rockfish, northern \13\....................... W................................ 197 ...........
C................................ 1,028 ...........
E................................ N/A ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 1,225
Rockfish, other \14,15\....................... W................................ 22 ...........
C................................ 138 ...........
WYK.............................. 38 ...........
SEO.............................. 50 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 248
Rockfish, pelagic shelf \16\.................. W................................ 128 ...........
C................................ 870 ...........
WYK.............................. 160 ...........
SEO.............................. 215 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 1,373
Rockfish, demersal shelf SEO \17\............. SEO.............................. 98 ...........
Thornyhead rockfish........................... W................................ 90 ...........
C................................ 210 ...........
[[Page 67967]]
E................................ 200 ...........
------------
Total..................................... ................................. ................ 500
Atka mackerel................................. GW............................... 150 ...........
Other species \18\............................ GW............................... 2,712 ...........
============
GOA Total Interim TAC..................... ................................. ................ 68,921
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\1\ Reserves have been reapportioned back to each species TAC and are reflected in the interim TAC amounts (see
Sec. 679.20(a)(2)).
\2\ See Sec. 679.2 for definitions of regulatory area and statistical area. See Figure 3b to part 679 for a
description of regulatory districts.
\3\ The first seasonal allowance of pollock TAC in the W/C combined area is set at 25% of the annual TAC for the
area which is 11,703 mt. Within the W/C area pollock is apportioned between Statistical Areas 610, 620, and
630 based on adjusted estimate of the relative distribution of pollock biomass in the area which is
approximately 25% in Area 610 (2,894 mt), 56% in Area 620 (6,535 mt), and 19% in Area 630 (2,274 mt). In the
Eastern Regulatory Area, pollock is not divided into less than annual allowances, and one-fourth of the TAC is
available on an interim basis.
\4\ The pollock TAC in all regulatory areas will be allocated 100 percent to vessels catching groundfish for
processing by the inshore component after subtraction of amounts that are determined by the Regional
Administrator, NMFS, to be necessary to support the bycatch needs of the offshore component in directed
fisheries for other groundfish species. At this time, these bycatch amounts are unknown and will be determined
during the fishing year (see Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(i)).
\5\ The Pacific cod TAC in all regulatory areas is allocated 90 percent to vessels catching groundfish for
processing by the inshore component and 10 percent to vessels catching groundfish for processing by the
offshore component (see Sec. 679.20(a)(6)(ii)). The first seasonal apportionment of Pacific cod in the GOA
is 60% of the annual TAC.
\6\ ``Deep-water flatfish'' means Dover sole, Greenland turbot and deepsea sole.
\7\ ``Shallow-water flatfish'' means flatfish not including ``deep-water flatfish'', flathead sole, rex sole, or
arrowtooth flounder.
\8\ Sablefish TAC amounts for each of the regulatory areas and districts are assigned to hook-and-line and trawl
gear. In the Central and Western Regulatory Areas, 80 percent of the TAC is allocated to hook-and-line gear
and 20 percent to trawl gear. In the Eastern Regulatory Area, 95 percent of the TAC is assigned to hook-and-
line gear. Five percent is allocated to trawl gear and may only be used as bycatch to support directed
fisheries for other target species (see Sec. 679.20(a)(4)).
\9\ The sablefish hook-and-line (H/L) gear fishery is managed under the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program
and is subject to regulations contained in subpart D of 50 CFR part 679. Annual IFQ amounts are based on the
final TAC amount specified for the sablefish H/L gear fishery as contained in the final specifications for
groundfish. Under Sec. 679.7(f)(3)(ii), retention of sablefish caught with H/L gear is prohibited unless the
harvest is authorized under a valid IFQ permit and IFQ card. In 2004, IFQ permits and IFQ cards will not be
valid before the effective date of the 2004 final specifications. Thus, fishing for sablefish with H/L gear
will not be authorized under these interim specifications. Nonetheless, interim amounts are shown in
parentheses to reflect assignments of one-fourth of the proposed TAC amounts among gear categories and
regulatory areas in accordance with Sec. 679.20(c)(2)(i). See Sec. 679.40 for guidance on the annual
allocation of IFQ.
\10\ Sablefish caught in the GOA with gear other than hook-and-line or trawl gear must be treated as a
prohibited species and may not be retained.
\11\ ``Pacific ocean perch'' means Sebastes alutus.
\12\ ``Shortraker/rougheye rockfish'' means Sebastes borealis (shortraker) and S. aleutianus (rougheye).
\13\ ``Northern rockfish'' means Sebastes polyspinis.
\14\ ``Other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas and in the West Yakutat District means slope
rockfish and demersal shelf rockfish. The category ``other rockfish'' in the Southeast Outside District means
slope rockfish.
\15\ ``Slope rockfish'' means Sebastes aurora (aurora), S. melanostomus (blackgill), S. paucispinis (bocaccio),
S. goodei (chilipepper), S. crameri (darkblotch), S. elongatus (greenstriped), S. variegateu (harlequin), S.
wilsoni (pygmy), S. proriger (redstripe), S. zacentrus (sharpchin), S. jordani (shortbelly), S. brevispinis
(silvergrey), S. diploproa (splitnose), S. saxicola (stripetail), S. miniatus (vermilion), S. babcocki
(redbanded), and S. reedi (yellowmouth).
\16\ ``Pelagic shelf rockfish'' includes Sebastes ciliatus (dusky), S. entomelas (widow), and S. flavidus
(yellowtail).
\17\ ``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).
\18\ ``Other species'' includes sculpins, sharks, skates, squid, and octopus. The TAC for ``other species''
equals 5 percent of the TAC amounts of target species.
Interim 2004 Halibut PSC Mortality Limits
Under Sec. 679.21(d), annual Pacific halibut PSC mortality limits
are established for trawl and hook-and-line gear and may be established
for pot gear. The Council recommended and NMFS proposed to reestablish
the 2003 halibut mortality limits for 2004 because no new information
was available. Consistent with 2003, the Council recommended and NMFS
proposed exemptions for pot gear, jig gear and the sablefish hook-and-
line fishery from halibut PSC limits for 2004. The fishery specific
interim PSC allowances for halibut are in effect at 0001 hours, A.l.t.,
January 1, 2004, and remain in effect until superseded by the final
2004 harvest specifications. The interim halibut PSC limits are: (1)
500 mt to trawl gear, (2) 72.5 mt to hook-and-line gear for fisheries
other than demersal shelf rockfish, and (3) 2.5 mt to hook-and-line
gear for the demersal shelf rockfish fishery in the Southeast Outside
District.
Regulations at Sec. 679.21(d)(3)(iii) authorize apportionments of
the trawl halibut PSC limit as bycatch allowances to a deep-water
species complex, comprised of rex sole, sablefish, rockfish, deep-water
flatfish, and arrowtooth flounder; and a shallow-water species complex,
comprised of pollock, Pacific cod, shallow-water flatfish, flathead
sole, Atka mackerel, and ``other species.'' The interim 2004
apportionment for the shallow-water species complex is 409 mt and for
the deep-water species complex is 91 mt.
Interim 2004 Non-Exempt AFA Catcher Vessel Groundfish Harvest and PSC
Limitations
The AFA regulations implemented groundfish harvesting and
processing limitations, also called sideboards, on AFA catcher/
processors and catcher vessels in the GOA. These limitations are
considered necessary for fishermen and processors who have received an
exclusive harvesting and processing
[[Page 67968]]
privilege under the AFA to protect the interests of fishermen and
processors who do not have such privileges. In the GOA, AFA catcher/
processors are prohibited from fishing for any species of fish (Sec.
679.7(k)(1)(ii)) and from processing any groundfish harvested in
Statistical Area 630 of the GOA (Sec. 679.7(k)(1)(iv)). The Council
recommended and NMFS proposed that certain AFA catcher vessels in the
GOA be exempt from groundfish harvest limitations. Regulations at Sec.
679.64(b)(2)(ii) exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA less than 125 ft
(38.1 m) length overall (LOA) whose annual Bering Sea and Aleutian
Islands management area pollock landings totaled less than 5,100 mt and
that made 40 or more GOA groundfish landings from 1995 through 1997.
For non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA, harvest limitations
are based on their traditional harvest levels of TAC in groundfish
fisheries covered by the GOA FMP. Regulations at Sec.
679.64(b)(3)(iii) establish the groundfish harvest limits in the GOA
based on the retained catch of non-exempt AFA catcher vessels of each
sideboard species from 1995 through 1997, divided by the sum of the
TACs for that species over the same period. These amounts are listed in
Table 2. All harvests of sideboard species made by non-exempt AFA
catcher vessels, whether as targeted catch or bycatch, will be deducted
from the sideboard limits in Table 2.
Table 2.--Interim 2004 GOA Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel (CV) Groundfish Harvest Sideboard Limitations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995 1997
Apportionments and allocations by area/season/ non-exempt AFA CV 2004 2004 Non-Exempt
Species processor/gear catch to 1995-1997 interim TAC AFA catcher vessel
TAC (mt) sideboard (mt)
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Pollock...................................... Shumagin (610).................................... 0.6112 2,894 1,769
Chirikof (620).................................... 0.1427 933 6,535
Kodiak (630)...................................... 0.2438 554 2,274
WYK (640)......................................... 0.3499 270 94
SEO (650)......................................... 0.3499 1,615 565
Pacific cod.................................. W inshore......................................... 0.1423 7,553 1,075
W offshore........................................ 0.1026 839 86
C inshore......................................... 0.0722 10,916 788
C offshore........................................ 0.0721 1,213 87
E inshore......................................... 0.0079 587 5
E offshore........................................ 0.0078 65 1
Flatfish deep-water.......................... W................................................. 0.0000 45 0
C................................................. 0.0670 555 37
E................................................. 0.0171 620 11
Rex sole..................................... W................................................. 0.0010 320 0
C................................................. 0.0402 1,385 56
E................................................. 0.0153 662 10
Flathead sole................................ W................................................. 0.0036 500 2
C................................................. 0.0261 1,250 33
E................................................. 0.0048 943 5
Flatfish shallow-water....................... W................................................. 0.0156 1,125 18
C................................................. 0.0598 3,250 194
E................................................. 0.0126 1,030 13
Arrowtooth flounder.......................... W................................................. 0.0021 2,000 4
C................................................. 0.0309 6,250 193
E................................................. 0.0020 1,250 3
Sablefish.................................... W trawl gear...................................... 0.0000 98 0
C trawl gear...................................... 0.0720 247 18
E trawl gear...................................... 0.0488 56 3
Pacific ocean perch.......................... W................................................. 0.0623 675 42
C................................................. 0.0866 2,127 184
E................................................. 0.0466 613 29
Shortraker/Rougheye.......................... W................................................. 0.0000 55 0
C................................................. 0.0237 210 5
E................................................. 0.0124 140 2
Other rockfish............................... W................................................. 0.0034 23 0
C................................................. 0.2065 138 28
E................................................. 0.0000 88 0
Northern rockfish............................ W................................................. 0.0003 197 0
C................................................. 0.0336 1,028 35
Pelagic shelf rockfish....................... W................................................. 0.0001 128 0
C................................................. 0.0000 870 0
E................................................. 0.0067 375 3
Thornyhead rockfish.......................... W................................................. 0.0308 90 3
C................................................. 0.0308 210 6
E................................................. 0.0308 200 6
Demersal shelf rockfish...................... SEO............................................... 0.0020 98 0
Atka mackerel................................ Gulfwide.......................................... 0.0309 150 5
Other species................................ Gulfwide.......................................... 0.0090 2,712 24
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[[Page 67969]]
In accordance with regulations at Sec. 679.64(b)(4), PSC bycatch
limits for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA are based on the
ratio of aggregate retained groundfish catch by non-exempt AFA catcher
vessels in each PSC target category from 1995 through 1997, relative to
the retained catch of all vessels in that fishery from 1995 through
1997. These amounts are shown in Table 3.
Table 3.--Interim 2004 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel Prohibited Species Catch (PSC) Limits
for the GOA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of 1995-
1997 non-exempt 2004 non-exempt
AFA CV retained 2004 interim PSC AFA catcher
PSC species Target fishery catch to total limit (mt) vessel PSC limit
retained catch (mt)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halibut (mortality in mt)........ shallow water 0.340 409 139
targets. 0.070 91 6
deep water targets..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directed Fishing Closures
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), if the Regional
Administrator determines that any allocation or apportionment of a
target species or ``other species'' category apportioned to a fishery
or, with respect to pollock and Pacific cod, to an inshore or offshore
component allocation, will be reached, the Regional Administrator may
establish a directed fishing allowance for that species or species
group. If the Regional Administrator establishes a directed fishing
allowance, and that allowance is or will be reached before the end of
the fishing year, NMFS will prohibit directed fishing for that species
or species group in the specified GOA regulatory area or district
(Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii)).
The Regional Administrator has determined that the TAC amounts in
Table 4 are necessary as incidental catch to support other anticipated
groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing year.
Table 4.--Incidental Catch Needed to Support Other Directed Fisheries in the GOA in 2004.
[Amounts are in metric tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Target Regulatory area Gear/component Amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atka Mackerel............................ entire GOA................. all........................ 150
Thornyhead Rockfish...................... entire GOA................. all........................ 500
Shortraker Rougheye Rockfish............. entire GOA................. all........................ 405
Other Rockfish........................... entire GOA................. all........................ 248
Sablefish................................ entire GOA................. trawl...................... 401
Pollock.................................. entire GOA................. all/offshore............... 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(i), the Regional
Administrator establishes the directed fishing allowances for the above
species or species groups as zero. Therefore, in accordance with Sec.
679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS immediately is prohibiting directed fishing for
those species, areas, gear types, and components listed in Table 4.
These closures will remain in effect until superseded by the final 2004
harvest specifications.
Regulations at Sec. 679.64(b)(5) provide for management of AFA
catcher vessel groundfish harvest limits and PSC bycatch limits using
directed fishing closures and PSC closures according to procedures set
out at Sec. Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv), 679.21(d)(8) and 679.21(e)(3)(v).
The Regional Administrator has determined that in addition to the
closures listed above, many of the non-exempt AFA catcher vessel
sideboard amounts listed in Table 2 are necessary as incidental catch
to support other anticipated groundfish fisheries for the 2004 fishing
year. In accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iv) the Regional
Administrator establishes these amounts as directed fishing allowances.
The Regional Administrator finds that many of these directed fishing
allowances will be reached before the end of the year. Therefore, in
accordance with Sec. 679.20(d)(1)(iii), NMFS is prohibiting directed
fishing by non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the GOA for the species
and specified areas in Table 5. These closures will remain in effect
until superseded by the final 2004 harvest specifications.
Table 5.--2004 Non-Exempt American Fisheries Act Catcher Vessel
Sideboard Directed Fishing Closures in the GOA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Regulatory area district Gear
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific cod...................... Eastern GOA.............. all
Deep-water flatfish.............. Western and Eastern GOA.. all
Rex sole......................... Western and Eastern GOA.. all
Flathead sole.................... Eastern GOA.............. all
Shallow-water flatfish........... Eastern GOA.............. all
Arrowtooth flounder.............. Eastern GOA.............. all
Pacific ocean perch.............. Western GOA.............. all
Northern rockfish................ Western GOA.............. all
Pelagic shelf rockfish........... entire GOA............... all
Demersal shelf rockfish.......... SEO District............. all
[[Page 67970]]
Other species.................... entire GOA............... all
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification
This action is authorized under 50 CFR 679.20 and is exempt from
review under Executive Order 12866.
Because this action is a final action by NMFS, analyses required
under the Magnuson-Stevens Act must be completed and considered by the
agency before promulgation of the interim harvest specifications.
Regulations at 50 CFR 679.20(c)(2) require NMFS to specify harvest
specifications to be effective January 1 and to remain in effect until
superceded by the final specifications. Without interim specifications
in effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not be able to
open, resulting in disruption within the fishing industry. NMFS cannot
publish interim specifications until proposed specifications are
completed, because the interim specifications are derived from the
proposed specifications, as required by regulations at 50 CFR
679.20(c)(2).
The proposed specifications are based on the preliminary
recommendations of the Plan Team, which were reviewed by the Scientific
and Statistical Committee, Advisory Panel, and Council in October, 2003
in projecting 2003 biomass amounts, as identified in the 2002 SAFE
Report, for the proposed 2004 ABC, overfishing levels, and TAC amounts.
The Plan Team recommendations incorporate the most current data
available from a number of sources, including current-year industry
catch levels, and current-year trawl and hydro-acoustic surveys. These
data are not available in time for Council review prior to the October
Council meeting, as the surveys are conducted during the summer months,
and industry catch levels reflect current year activity. These up-dated
data sources represent the best available scientific information. These
data provide the basis for the proposed and interim specifications.
The proposed specifications, as required by regulations at 50 CFR
679.20(c)(1)(i)(A), must be published as soon as practicable after
consultation with the Council, which occurs at the Council's October
meeting. This requirement, along with the requirement of national
standard 2 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act to use the best scientific
information available, prevents NMFS from publishing the proposed
specifications early enough to provide sufficient time to have a public
comment period for the interim specifications, which are derived from
the proposed specifications, and to have the interim specifications
effective on January 1.
As stated above, disruption of the fishing industry, and consequent
impacts to fishing communities and the public, would occur if the
interim specifications were not effective January 1. Additionally, the
public is provided an opportunity to comment on the proposed
specifications, from which the interim specifications are derived. For
these reasons, good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) to waive
prior notice and opportunity for public comment on this action as such
procedures would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest.
Likewise, the AA finds good cause to waive the 30-day delay in
effectiveness date of the interim specifications. Regulations at 50 CFR
679.20(c)(2) requires NMFS to establish interim harvest specifications
to be effective on January 1 and to remain in effect until superseded
by the publication of final harvest specifications by the Office of the
Federal Register. NMFS interprets regulations at Sec. 679.20(c)(2) as
requiring the filing of interim specifications with the Office of the
Federal Register before any harvest of groundfish is authorized. The
interim specifications are based on the proposed 2004 specifications.
The interim specifications rely on data used to propose the 2004
specifications, and those data are not available until the after summer
surveys are conducted (see above). Without interim specifications in
effect on January 1, the groundfish fisheries would not be able to open
on that date, resulting in disruption of the fishing industry. These
reasons constitute good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) to waive
the 30-day delay in effectiveness date.
Because these interim specifications are not required to be issued
with prior notice and opportunity for public comment pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553, or any other law, the analytical requirements of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. Consequently, no regulatory
flexibility analysis has been prepared for this action.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 773 et seq., 1801 et seq., and 3631 et
seq..
Dated: December 1, 2003.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30282 Filed 12-4-03; 8:45 am]
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