# Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A02-1875

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Rule
- **Published:** January 28, 2002
- **Citation:** 67 FR 4100

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 679
[Docket No. 010313063-1297-02; I.D. 121200A]
RIN 0648-AO20
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Revisions to Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Final rule; recordkeeping and reporting.

SUMMARY:

NMFS issues a final rule to amend portions of the regulations implementing recordkeeping and reporting (R&R) requirements for groundfish fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska. This action is necessary to refine or correct regulations for improved management, to remove obsolete text, and to clarify and simplify existing text. This action is intended to facilitate management of the fisheries, promote compliance with the regulations, and facilitate enforcement efforts. This action is intended to further the goals and objectives of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act. This action is intended to further the goals and objectives of the fishery management programs for groundfish fisheries off Alaska and to further the objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).

DATES:

Effective January 25, 2002; except an amendment to § 679.26(c), which will not be effective until approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). A document will be published in the
Federal Register
announcing OMB approval and the effective date.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the Regulatory Impact Review/Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (RIR/FRFA) prepared for this action may be obtained from the Alaska Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668, Attn: Lori Gravel. Send comments on information collection requests to NMFS and to OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, 20503 (Attn: NOAA Desk Officer).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patsy A. Bearden, 907-586-7228 or patsy.bearden@noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

NMFS manages the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the EEZ off Alaska under the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska and the Fishery Management Plan for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Area (FMPs). The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) prepared the FMPs under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Regulations implementing the FMPs appear at 50 CFR part 679. General regulations that pertain to U.S. fisheries appear at subpart H of 50 CFR part 600.

This final rule revises several sections of the regulations implementing the FMPs that pertain to permits and R&R. These changes are necessary to promote the ability of fishermen to conduct groundfish fishing operations more efficiently, to enhance NMFS' ability to manage the fisheries through improved quality of data received for management of the fisheries, and to improve the clarity and consistency of R&R regulations.

NMFS published a proposed rule in the
Federal Register
on August 8, 2001 (66 FR 41664), for a 30-day public comment and review period that ended on September 7, 2001. The preamble to the proposed rule contains a full description of the revisions and their justification, which is not repeated here. NMFS invited public comment on the changes contained in this action through September 7, 2001. No comments were received during this time period.

This final rule primarily consists of technical edits and clarifications to existing R&R requirements. These revisions include:

(1) Standardizing several terms and sets of instructions and correcting several terms within the regulatory text for uniformity and improved clarity;

(2) Adding cross references to regulatory text;

(3) Combining similar types of information into relational tables;

(4) Revising Figure 3, adding new Figures 19 and 20;

(5) Revising Tables 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 19;

(6) Revising logbooks and forms;

(7) Amending 679.2 Definitions—by revision, additions, and deletions;

(8) Amending 679.4 Permits—by reorganizing, revising, and adding information to the regulatory text and summary tables;

(9) Amending 679.5 Recordkeeping and Reporting—by reorganizing to present common descriptions in one section; eliminating duplication; promoting uniformity; shortening descriptions of mundane tasks; and presenting options in tabular form so that specific requirements may be quickly located. In-text tables are added to display complex relationships and to sort out multiple options, steps, conditions, and choices.

Changes From the Proposed Rule to the Final Rule

This final rule makes certain changes to the regulatory text from the proposed rule. Some changes result from internal review, and are anticipated to improve the efficiency of the data collection system. Some changes correct inadvertent printing errors in the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register
.

The changes are intended to simplify the R&R tasks required by NMFS. Forms for data collection are redesigned to be easier to complete and submit, resulting in improved more accurate data. Regulatory text is amended to be consistent with the format of the forms and logbooks. These changes are as follows:

Tables

In Table 2, the Latin name of two species is added: rougheye rockfish (
S. aleutianus
) and shortraker rockfish (
S. borealis
).

Table 7 is revised by removing the proposed revisions that add eight communities that NMFS determined were eligible for the CDQ Program in 1999. Revisions to Table 7 will be considered by NMFS in a future rulemaking that will address a wider range of CDQ issues.

In Tables 10 and 11, the footnotes are revised. To improve convenience for the user and because the table numbers referenced in the footnotes from the annual Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish specifications are constantly changing, the footnotes are expanded to contain complete information on species groups without reference to another document.

Tables 16 through 18 are removed because these tables were included in the final rule implementing the Commercial Operators Annual Report (66 FR 43524, August 20, 2001).

New Features

Certain improvements are included in this final rule to make the groundfish and Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) regulations at 50 CFR part 679 more

efficient and understandable. Electronic options to submit reports are made available without changing the information required.

Buying Station Report (BSR) Scale Weights

This rule adds an option at § 679.5(d)(1)(v) that provides for the operator or manager of a buying station to add groundfish species codes and scale weights (in lb or mt) on the buying station report (BSR) in addition to the required total estimated delivery weight or actual scale weight of a catcher vessel delivery. This is especially helpful when the buying station is delivering groundfish incidental catch harvested in an IFQ fishery, as the information is recorded on Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) fish tickets.

IFQ Landing Report Internet Submittal

This rule amends § 679.5(l)(2) by adding a new electronic reporting option available to IFQ registered buyers. Instead of submitting an IFQ landing report by automated transaction terminal (ATM), in 2002 it is possible for participants to use Internet submittal methods to submit the report. This option requires that participants obtain at their own cost, hardware (including a printer), software, and Internet connectivity to support Internet submittals.

IFQ Fees and Buyer Report Electronic Submittal

This rule amends §§ 679.5(l)(7)and 679.45(a)(4)(iii) through (iv) by adding an option for participants to submit annual IFQ fees, fee forms, and IFQ Buyer Reports electronically.

Shoreside Processor Electronic Logbook Report (SPELR)

This rule adds § 679.5(e)(4)(iv) to clarify regulations for shoreside processors and stationary floating processors that are using the NMFS-provided SPELR but are not required by regulation to use it. If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor using the SPELR or equivalent software is not taking deliveries over a weekend from one of the AFA-permitted catcher vessels listed on the NMFS Alaska Region web page at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram
, the SPELR daily report may be transmitted to NMFS on Monday.

American Fisheries Act (AFA) Pollock

This rule adds § 679.5(e)(4)(iv) to state that, if a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor using the SPELR or equivalent software is not taking deliveries over a weekend from one of the AFA-permitted catcher vessels, the SPELR daily report may be transmitted on Monday.

This rule adds § 679.5(a)(7)(xv)(E) to clarify the recording of AFA pollock. The AFA check-box and the cooperative account number are to be used ONLY for landings from the directed pollock fishery that are counting against an AFA cooperative quota. Other species delivered at the same time as the AFA pollock can go on the same report.

Editorial Additions and Corrections

This final rule also makes minor editorial revisions to correct errors or clarify the regulatory text as described below:

Global

Changes all reference to catcher vessel blue copy of DFL logsheets to say “blue DFL” at: §§ 679.5(a)(6)(iii)(A)(4)(ii) (twice); (a)(7)(iv)(C)(7); (a)(10)(v); (a)(11)(i); (a)(11)(iii)(C) (twice); (a)(11)(iv)(A); (a)(14)(iii(C)(2); (d)(1)(iii); and (e)(7)(iii).

Changes the abbreviation for NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement from NOFE to OLE at: (e)(3)(ii); (g)(2)(ii); (k)(1); (l)(1)(i); (l)(2)(ii)(A); (l)(2)(ii)(C) twice; (l)(2)(ii)(D); (l)(2)(iii)(A) (twice); (l)(3)(iii)(B); (l)(3)(i)(B); (l)(3)(iii) twice; and (l)(3)(xi)(A).

Definitions

Revises paragraph (1) for definition of Agent at § 679.2 to add support vessel, IFQ permit holders, and community development quota (CDQ) halibut permit holders that were inadvertently omitted.

Adds a definition for “Authorized officer” to mean, for purposes of recordkeeping and reporting, a NOAA special agent, a NOAA fishery enforcement officer, or U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) fisheries enforcement personnel.

Revises the definition of “Associated processor” to remove “a contract or agreement” and to replace it with “contractual relationship.”

Permits

Revises § 679.4(a)(1)(iv)(A) and (B) by changing the date from “3 years” to “until next renewal cycle” because even though the permits are renewed on a 3-year schedule, each participant may revise the permit during that 3-year cycle thus shortening the time span to less than 3 years;

Revises heading of § 679.4(a)(3) from “how do you obtain a permit” to read “permit application.”

Revises § 679.4(d)(2)(iii) by adding “or submits a departure report” after the word “clearance.”

Groundfish R&R

Corrects § 679.5(a)(1)(iv)(B) by removing “IFQ, CDQ halibut and” because the paragraph is referring to use of the combined logbook by participants fishing only for groundfish.

Revises paragraph 679.5(a)(2)(i)to read as originally written in the regulations.

Revises § 679.5(a)(2)(ii) to require that SPELR printouts be signed by the owner or manager.

Revises § 679.5(a)(2)(iii) as this text is redundant to information given in § 679.5(d).

Corrects § 679.5(a)(6)(iii)(A) intext table by adding “DCPL” in column 4 in the row entitled “(3) Production”.

Clarifies § 679.5(a)(7)(iii)(C)(
4
) by adding “End date” after last word of the sentence to ensure the location of recording the last day of an inactive period.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(7)(iv)(I)(
3
) in text table by removing “Enter the cumulative estimated total discards or disposition since last delivery” because it is duplicate text.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(7)(x) introductory text by removing “according to the table in paragraph (a)(7)(xii) of this section” and replacing it with “to record information as described in paragraphs (a)(7)(x)(A) through (a)(7)(x)(E) of this section.”

Corrects § 679.5(a)(7)(x)(C) by adding “(see paragraph (a)(7)(xii))” after the words “reporting area” in the first sentence.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(7)(xv)(B) intext table by removing “679.26” from the third column and replacing it with “679.6.”

Corrects cross reference in §§ 679.5(a)(10)(iv) and (a)(11)(iv) by removing “(a)(10)(vi)” and replacing it with “(a)(10)(v)”.

Revises § 679.5(a)(10)(vi) by adding the words “but not in PSC status” after “directed fishing” in the first sentence.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(11)(i) at the beginning of the second sentence by removing “Discards must also be recorded” and replace it with “Discards and dispositions must also be recorded.” It is important that the dispositions be recorded on the blue DFL for quota management.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(11)(ii)(A) by removing “and also when no groundfish are delivered but the blue discard logsheet containing records of discards is submitted by a catcher vessel (e.g., an IFQ fish delivery with no groundfish incidental catch)”; and replacing it with “Discards and dispositions also must be recorded when no groundfish are delivered but the blue DFL is submitted by a catcher vessel containing records of

groundfish discards or disposition (e.g., an IFQ halibut delivery with groundfish incidental catch).

Corrects § 679.5(a)(11)(ii)(B) by removing “would be incorporated” and replacing it with “must be incorporated”

Corrects § 679.5(a)(11)(iii)(E) by adding “(A.l.t.) After the word “time” in the heading.

Revises § 679.5(a)(12)(i) by adding “all corrections must be made in ink.”

Corrects § 679.5(a)(13) by removing “operator of a buying station” and replacing it with “operator or manager of a buying station.”

Corrects § 679.5(a)(14)(i)(D) by removing “shoreside processor electronic logbook delivery report” and replacing it with “SPELR” because it was defined earlier in the document.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(14)(iv)(B)(
1
) by adding the data element that appears in the logbooks but was inadvertently omitted from this table: haul number for each haul.

Corrects § 679.5(a)(14)(iv)(B)(
2
) to add the following data elements that appear in the logbooks but were inadvertently omitted from this table: CDQ group number, halibut CDQ permit number, and IFQ permit number (if applicable)

Revises § 679.5(a)(15) by removing the heading “Transfer document comparison” and by replacing it with the heading “IFQ/groundfish transfer document comparison.”

Revises § 679.5(a)(15) by removing the text and replacing it with: “When the operator or manager is participating in both the groundfish fisheries and the IFQ fisheries, certain exceptions to submittal of product shipment and transfer forms are provided to avoid duplication. In the following table, an “X” indicates submittal requirements under those circumstances.”

Revises § 679.5(a)(15)(ii) column 3, intext table by removing “X” because a PTR is not required under these circumstances.

Revises § 679.5(a)(15)(iv) column 3, intext table by removing “X” because a PTR is not required under these circumstances.

Revises the BSR and paragraph 679.5(d)(1)(i) to record the date and time delivery from a catcher vessel was completed.

IFQ R&R

Revises § 679.5(l)2)(i)(C) by removing the words “offshore landings” and “(frozen)” to avoid potential confusion with paragraph 679.5(l)(2)(vi)(J)(
2
).

Revises § 679.5(l)(2)(iii)(A) by removing the local Juneau telephone number and leaving the toll-free telephone number, because NMFS is relocating the data clerks to Anchorage, and a new local Anchorage number will be issued soon.

Revises § 679.5(l)(2)(iii)(F) by removing “paragraph (l)(7)” and replacing it with “paragraph (l)(6)”;

Revises § 679.5(l)(2)(iv) to clarify the exemptions to the IFQ landing time limits by removing “unless:”

Revises the last word in the sentence of § 679.5(l)(2)(iv)(A) and change the punctuation from a colon to a period.

Adds new paragraph § 679.5(l)(2)(iv)(C) with the heading “Exemptions.”

Redesignates § 679.5(l)(2)(iv)(A)(
1
) and (
2
) and changes to read (l)(2)(iv)(C)(
1
) and (
2
);

Removes the text of § 679.5(l)(3)(i).

Revises § 679.5(l)(3)(i)(A) by removing the text after “sablefish” and adding “for which the Registered Buyer submitted a landing report before the fish leave the landing site;”

Revises heading of § 679.5(l)(3)(iv) by removing “or outside landing.”

Revises §§ 679.5(l)(5)(i), (ii), (iv) (vessel clearance) and 679.5(l)(5)(xii)(A)(departure report) to clarify that primary ports are in Alaska and in Bellingham, WA, whether landing IFQ species in Alaska, Canada, or any other foreign country;

Revises § 679.5(l)(5)(i) to remove reference to a written clearance. Enforcement does not typically rely on a written record from the IFQ vessel operator to perform the required vessel clearance. The required information instead is obtained through an interview between the vessel operator and the clearing officer.

Removes § 679.5(l)(5)(iii) as this duplicates revised paragraph § 679.5(l)(5)(i);

Redesignates § 679.5(l)(5)(iv) through (xii) as (l)(5)(iii) through (xi).

Revises § 679.5(l)(5)(xi) to reformat the first sentence, to remove “at a port in a state other than Alaska” and to replace it with “outside the State of Alaska”.

Revises § 679.5(b) by adding “or stationary floating processor” after “management of a shoreside processor.”

Removes § 679.5(p) and amend instruction 4 to remove mention of addition of paragraph (p). Paragraph (p) was added by a separate rulemaking for the Commercial Operator's Annual Report (COAR) (66 FR 43524, August 20, 2001). Instruction paragraphs are renumbered from hereon.

Removes proposed revisions to § 679.22 at paragraphs (a)(11)(iv)(A), (a)(11)(iv)(B), (b)(3)(iii)(A), (b)(3)(iii)(B) because this section is subject to changes in the Steller sea lion emergency revisions being prepared for implementation on January 1, 2002. The instruction paragraphs are renumbered.

Revises § 679.24(b)(3) by rewriting the paragraph to remove mention of net-sounder devices.

The proposed revision to § 679.31(d) related to crab CDQ reserves is removed because separate rulemaking was proposed on July 25, 2001 (66 FR 38626) that would revise this paragraph. The instruction paragraphs are renumbered starting with 9.

Classification

This final regulatory amendment is published under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.
, and the Northern Pacific Halibut Act, 16 U.S.C. 773
et seq
. The Regional Administrator has determined that the final regulatory amendment published under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is consistent with the FMPs and that Act, and that the final regulatory amendment is published under the authority of the Northern Pacific Halibut Act and is consistent with that Act.

A copy of the FRFA is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES
).

Alternatives that addressed modifying reporting requirements for small entities or the use of performance standards rather than design standards for small entities were not included in the analysis, because such alternatives are not relevant to this final action and would not mitigate impacts on small entities. Allowing exemptions for small entities would not be appropriate because the objectives of the proposed actions are to: (a) clarify and simplify the regulations pertaining to the management of the groundfish fisheries and the IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries in the waters of the BSAI and the GOA; (b) ease certain regulatory burdens to reduce the cost of operation for fishermen and increase compliance with regulations; (c) reduce the costs of enforcing fisheries regulations; (d) enhance the value of the pollock fisheries managed under the AFA; (e) reduce the costs of compliance with pollock reasonable and prudent alternatives (RPAs) for Steller sea lion protection; (f) reduce the costs and increase the effectiveness of regulations to protect migratory birds identified as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The NMFS Alaska Region prepared a FRFA that analyzes a final rule that implements regulations for the FMP for the Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands and the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska by revising R&R requirements and describes the impact of these regulations

on small entities. The number of small entities to which the proposed rule will apply are identified as: 1,254 catcher vessels; 47 catcher processors; 32 onshore processors, 6 CDQ groups; 268 buying stations; 1,613 halibut fishing operations; and 92 Registered Buyers.

This FRFA analyzes proposed amendments to regulations at 50 CFR part 679 that would revise R&R regulations for the Alaska groundfish fisheries and for the IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries off of Alaska. The objectives of the proposed actions are: to clarify and simplify the regulations pertaining to the management of the groundfish fisheries and the IFQ halibut and sablefish fisheries in the waters of the BSAI and the GOA; to ease certain regulatory burdens to reduce the cost of operation for fishermen and increase compliance with regulations; to reduce the costs of enforcing fisheries regulations; to enhance the value of the pollock fisheries managed under the AFA; to reduce the costs of compliance with pollock reasonable and prudent alternatives (RPAs) for Steller sea lion protection; and to reduce the costs and increase the effectiveness of regulations protecting migratory birds identified as endangered or threatened under the ESA. It provides the analyses required under Executive Order 12866 and the RFA.

Seven categories of regulatory changes are analyzed. Any one of them may be adopted in combination with any possible grouping of the others. Because of this, the FRFA evaluates each of the seven categories independently. Each of the proposals is evaluated against a “no action” alternative and the costs and benefits relative to the “no action” alternative are identified.

(1) Regulatory Housekeeping. Remove obsolete text, clarify and simplify existing text, and reorganize text to remove duplication. Add, revise, and remove definitions. Because the changes do not impose new responsibilities on small entities, there are no added costs.

(2) Buying Station Daily Cumulative Logbook (DCL) and Buying Station Report (BSR). Remove the requirement to obtain, complete, and submit the DCL. Add a requirement to complete, maintain, and distribute a Buying Station Report (BSR). As with the DCL, the processors who receive fish from buying stations must compile data from the BSRs; unlike the DCL, processors will not be required to file quarterly reports with NMFS. NMFS estimates that the annual costs for this activity for at-sea tenders would be about $312 per buying station per processor. The cost for 268 at-sea tenders would be about $83,616. This estimate assumes all tender permits are active and all at-sea tenders are in complete compliance. Costs for on-shore buying stations cannot be determined since the number of on-shore buying stations cannot be estimated with current data. NMFS' estimated costs would be about $670 per year for preparation and delivery of the BSR.

Substitution of the BSR for the DCL should benefit operators of buying stations by reducing their paperwork costs. It will benefit processors to the extent that the buying stations are their subsidiaries and they share in the reduced paperwork costs. NMFS estimates a reduction in public and private costs (a benefit) of about $8,700 per year. This estimate assumes all tender permits are active and in complete compliance with the program and does not take in to account the unknown number of land-based buying stations. No apparent additional costs are anticipated to implement this proposal other than those costs already incurred for the DCL.

(3) Shoreside Processor Electronic Logbook Report (SPELR). Extend the requirement to use the SPELR for processors buying from AFA catcher vessels past January 16, 2001, and require shoreside processors or stationary floating processors that receive pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery to use the SPELR.

Regulations at § 679.5(f)(3) currently require managers of shoreside processors or stationary floating processors, who receive groundfish deliveries from AFA catcher vessels, to record and submit a SPELR for each catcher vessel delivery and to retain printed reports for the duration of the fishing year. Currently, 19 processors use the SPELR system under the Federal AFA regulations. Two processors that are not currently using the SPELR are making progress in bringing the SPELR system on line. NMFS estimates that adoption of the SPELR requires the use of a personal computer with a value of about $1,000 and 40-80 hours of staff time. The upper limit of this cost is estimated to be about $4,000 per entity.

The SPELR brings three classes of benefits: (a) Reduced annual R&R costs for NMFS and for entities adopting the SPELR, (b) enhanced value from the AFA statute, and (c) reduced costs of compliance with pollock RPAs for Steller sea lion protection. The annual R&R costs for firms and NMFS can be estimated. Each firm that adopts the SPELR will have annual SPELR expenses, but will no longer have to file or maintain the WPR or DCPL. The SPELR is expected to cost $941 per year for each entity while the savings on the WPR and DCPL is expected to be $2,508. NMFS will incur an additional $133 to receive SPELR reports from a new entity, but will save $627 per year on WPR and DCPL paperwork. The net overall paperwork savings should be about $2,194 per year for each firm that adopts the SPELR. Since two firms are expected to adopt, the total cost is $4,388 per year.

The cost of adopting the SPELR system is the cost to each firm of acquiring a computer and converting to the data processing system and software used by the SPELR. These costs are estimated to be $4,000 per firm. Four firms not using the SPELR would have to begin using it under this regulation, and three of these firms are known to have already made significant progress toward adopting the SPELR. As noted, 19 firms are currently required to use the SPELR because they buy groundfish from AFA catcher vessels. Another two firms would be required to begin using the SPELR under the provisions of the proposed rule requiring that firms accepting deliveries of pollock from fisheries targeting pollock use the SPELR. On the basis of anecdotal information, 13 of these firms are believed to be large firms, employing or affiliated with firms that employ more than 500 persons. The sizes of another eight of these firms are not known. For the purpose of this analysis, these have been treated as small entities, although this may overestimate the numbers of small entities. Six CDQ groups will also be impacted. CDQ groups are considered to be small non-profit entities.

(4) Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) Program. Reporting requirements for data elements are added to the Prior Notice of IFQ Landing Report, the IFQ Landing Report, the IFQ Shipment Report, the IFQ Transshipment Authorization, the IFQ Vessel Clearance Report and the IFQ Departure Report.

Weight prior to offload. Some of the vessels landing IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are catcher/processors that freeze and package IFQ halibut and sablefish on board before delivery. In many cases, the vessel operator acts as an IFQ Registered Buyer taking possession of the IFQ fish and making the landing report. These operations often calculate the weight of product that they produce at the time of production. However, current regulations at § 679.5(l)(2)(vi) require that Registered Buyers, taking possession of IFQ fish at landing, record the product code and initial accurate scale weight made at the time offloading commences for IFQ species sold and retained. Frozen product requires a

second weighing of the fish. This regulatory change would redesignate § 679.5(1)(2)(vi)(J) as § 679.5(1)(2)(vi)(J)(
1
) and add a new paragraph (l)(2)(vi)(J)(
2
) to allow a vessel operator, if he or she is a Registered Buyer reporting the IFQ landing, to substitute the “accurate weight of IFQ sablefish processed product obtained before the offload” for the “initial accurate weight at time of offload.” OLE would still be able to monitor the offload and weigh the product if necessary for the purpose of auditing under other regulations.

Debit all catch to IFQ account; Vessel operator responsible for landing. Regulatory changes would make it clear that fishermen who set aside part of their IFQ catch for home consumption would be required to debit that harvest against their IFQ account; a vessel operator has an obligation to offload all IFQ fish to a Registered Buyer. A new § 679.5(l)(2)(i)(C) would be added to clarify that the weight of any halibut or sablefish offshore landings made by a catcher/processor into product (frozen) prior to offload at the landing site must be properly debited from the IFQ permit holder's account under which the catch was harvested. These regulatory changes would not add new requirements to the IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish program but would only clarify existing regulations. If this clarification reduced efforts to by-pass the reporting requirements, or made it easier to prosecute those requirements, it would reduce program costs. Because the requirement does not impose new responsibilities on fishermen, it does not add to their costs.

Regulatory area on prior notice of IFQ landing report. This change would amend § 679.5(l)(1)(iii) to add a question to the Prior Notice of IFQ Landing Report; fishermen would be required to report on the IFQ regulatory area within which IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish were harvested. The benefit of the regulation would be the improved compliance with IFQ regulations. The cost would be the burden of answering the additional question when the prior notice of landing was made. This cost would be very small since the information is already known when the Prior Notice of IFQ Landing is made. In 2000, 10,279 prior notices of landing were submitted. If the answer to the question added 30 seconds to each notice, the total additional time would have been 86 hours. At $20 per hour (the pay for a Federal GS-7 in Alaska, including COLA), the total cost would have valued at about $1,700.

IFQ landing report. Additional information would be collected in the landings reports filled out by Registered Buyers that would reduce the costs of monitoring landings made under the exemption. This information would include the gear type used to harvest the fish and regardless of whether the IFQ fish were landed concurrently with salmon or dinglebar lingcod.

The benefits from these proposed changes would be increased flexibility and consequent reduced operating costs for dinglebar lingcod fishermen who hold halibut QS, and in addition, an improved ability by NMFS to target its enforcement assets. The cost to registered buyers of collecting and reporting the additional information would be small.

Registered buyers complete landings reports using automated terminals. These terminals lead the buyers through a series of question prompts. The change would require the addition to prompts for the gear type used in the landing and for information on whether or not salmon or lingcod taken with dinglebar gear was landed concurrently with the IFQ fish. This information should be known to or readily available to the registered buyer. In 2000, about 10,057 landings reports were submitted. At 1 minute for the two additional questions, the total additional time required would have been about 168 hours. At $20 per hour (the pay for a Federal GS-7 in Alaska, including COLA), the total cost would have valued at about $3,400.

IFQ shipment report. Regulations at § 679.5(l)(3) would be amended to add a requirement to the IFQ Shipment Report to allow short-distance movement of IFQ fish accompanied by an ATM landing receipt by a Registered Buyer to his or her processing plant. Currently Registered Buyers are required to complete and file an IFQ shipment report before they move fish away from the place where they are landed. Many firms, whose plants are located away from landing places, are inconvenienced by the need to complete the form before moving the fish from the place where they were landed to the place where they will be processed. This regulatory change would reduce the costs for this class of Registered Buyer. OLE would still receive a landing report from the landing place; the IFQ shipment report would still be required from the Registered Buyer before the buyer disposed of the fish to other parties. The most important use for Shipment Reports is to provide the ability to audit Registered Buyers' landings by monitoring movements of fish being moved in the chain of possession from the Registered Buyer. There are no costs associated with this regulatory change and there will be cost savings to Registered Buyers whose plants are located at a distance from landings places.

IFQ transshipment authorization. Regulations at § 679.5(l)(4) would be amended to revise the regulatory text describing the IFQ Transshipment Authorization by adding a list of required information to obtain a transshipment authorization. Vessel operators transshipping (from one vessel to another) IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish are required to obtain a Transshipment Authorization at least 24 hours before the transshipment. This gives OLE time to decide whether or not to monitor the transshipments, plan resources, and arrange the logistics for monitoring the transshipment. This change is principally needed to monitor the offloading of freezer longliners to tramp freighters. OLE routinely collects certain information from persons requesting the authorization to find out when and where the transshipment will occur and how long it might take. This change will provide a basis in regulation for the specific information collected when an authorization is requested. This should not increase the costs for fishing operations or for the operations taking possession of the fish at sea since it would not affect the requirement for authorizations. It may reduce enforcement costs by clarifying the types of information that are required when an authorization is requested.

IFQ vessel clearance report and the IFQ departure report. This proposed change will make the vessel clearance and departure report regulations clearer and may reduce the amount of time it takes to find, read and interpret them. The substantive part of the change involves the revision of the departure report requirement to prevent IFQ fishing after the report is filed. This change clarifies the intent of the regulation that departure reports be filed after IFQ fishing has finished. While almost all departure reports are believed to have been filed after fishing has been concluded, at least one in the last 2 years was not. The intent is to close this loophole. The benefit will be an enhanced ability to enforce the IFQ program. There is no cost to fishermen from this change because a departure report can be filed as easily after fishing is concluded as before it is concluded.

(5) Product Transfer Report (PTR). Regulations at § 679.5(g) currently require the operators of motherships, catcher/processors, or managers of shoreside processors or stationary floating processors to record each transfer of groundfish product (including unprocessed fish) or donated

prohibited species, on a PTR. An important enforcement document, the PTR provides the principal information for the movement of volumes of groundfish into and out of the facilities of a processor and provides a check on buyer purchase reports. Because of its importance, the PTR is used with audits and by physical inspection of product.

This change would provide processors more flexibility in adapting their responses to their working procedures and may result in some private sector time savings. If the regulation change reduces the time taken to fill out the PTRs by 10 percent, it would produce a private sector cost savings of about $1,568 per year. There are no implementation or other costs.

NMFS estimates that 171 processors (110 catcher/processors, 3 motherships, and 58 shoreside processors or stationary floating processors) must currently file a PTR for each transfer of product an average of 25 times a year generating 4,275 PTRs per year. The estimated time requirement for a PTR is 11 minutes. Total time devoted to PTRs is estimated to be 784 hours a year. NMFS estimates that the total cost of PTR preparation is $15,675 (this does not include costs of submittal to NMFS by FAX).

Forty-seven catcher/processors and 32 shoreside processors are assumed to be small entities. The remaining operations are assumed to be large entities. Six CDQ groups would also be impacted. CDQ groups are considered to be small non-profit entities. The new PTR format would reduce the costs to NOAA and USCG enforcement efforts and would allow for more effective enforcement of product transfer rules.

(6) Marking of gear. The rule would increase the financial costs to a few small entities by extending requirements to mark identification information on marker buoys that currently apply only to longline gear to include also hook-and-line, longline pot, and pot-and-line gear. Most fishermen have their marker buoys properly identified and would not be adversely affected by this regulation. Fishermen affected by this regulation would incur the costs of marking their own marker buoys and legally would not be able to use another fisherman's marker buoys. State regulations (5 AAC 28.050) currently require crab and groundfish pots to carry the ADF&G registration number of the vessel operating the gear. Since many Pacific cod fishermen already participate in State groundfish and crab fisheries, they would already be subject to this requirement.

The regulation extends the marker buoy requirement to vessels using pot gear to fish for groundfish. In 1999, 254 catcher-vessels caught groundfish with pot gear off of Alaska; 13 catcher-processors also used pot gear. In 1999, no pot vessels had Alaska groundfish landings with ex-vessel or product value over $3,000,000. Six CDQ groups will also be impacted. CDQ groups are considered to be small non-profit entities. Marking of marker buoys reduces the costs to NOAA and USCG enforcement efforts and allows for more effective enforcement of gear rules.

(7) Seabird avoidance gear. The rule would add a requirement for operators of catcher vessels over 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear to record in the logbook the type of bird avoidance gear used on the vessel. A regulation currently exists at § 679.24(e) that requires bird avoidance gear be used. This rule merely makes it a requirement to record the code in the logbook that describes the type of gear used. NMFS estimates that it would take approximately 1 minute per haul for a vessel operator to collect information on what type of avoidance gear is being used and to enter the information into the log. Based on 19,245 hauls, the cost in time to the entire hook-and-line fleet would be approximately 321 hours per year. Evaluating this time at a cost of $20/hour (the average wages and benefits for a Federal GS-7 employee in Alaska, including COLA), the cost imposed would be $6,415 per year.

A copy of this analysis is available from NMFS (see
ADDRESSES
).

This rule contains several collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that have been approved by OMB. Public reporting burden for these collections of information is given below by collection-of-information number and is estimated to average the time given per individual response for each requirement, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate, or any other aspect of this data collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to NMFS and OMB (see
ADDRESSES
).”

0648-0206: 5 hours for an exempted fishery progress report; 5 hours for an exempted fishery permit application; and 30 minutes for a High Seas Power Troller Salmon Permit; 20 minutes for the Federal Fisheries Permit/Federal Processor Permit Application.

0648-0213: 35 minutes for Weekly Cumulative Mothership ADF&G Fish Tickets; 14 minutes for U.S. Vessel Activity Report; 17 minutes for Catcher Vessel trawl gear DFL; 28 minutes for Catcher Vessel longline and pot gear DFL; 31 minutes for Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL; 41 minutes for Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL; 31 minutes for Shoreside processor DCPL; 31 minutes for Mothership DCPL; 8 minutes for Shoreside Processor Check-in/Check-out Report; 7 minutes for Mothership or Catcher/processor Check-in/Check-out Report; 11 minutes for Product transfer report; 17 minutes for Weekly Production Report; 11 minutes for Daily Production Report; estimated time to electronically submit the weekly production report (5 min./report); 5 minutes to electronically submit the check-in/check-out report; 23 minutes for buying station report.

0648-0269: 1 hour for CDQ Delivery Report; and 15 minutes for CDQ catch report.

0648-0353: 15 minutes to paint each buoy with the vessel name and Federal permit number, or ADF&G registration number.

0648-0401: 30 minutes for daily completion of the Shoreside Processor Electronic Logbook (SPELR) and the estimated time to electronically submit the SPELR (30 min./day); and 5 minutes for estimated time to print the SPELR reports.

0648-0272: 12 minutes for IFQ Prior notice of landing; 12 minutes for IFQ Landing report; 18 minutes for IFQ Shipment report; 12 minutes for IFQ Transshipment authorization; 12 minutes for IFQ Vessel clearance; 6 minutes for IFQ Departure report; 6 minutes for IFQ Dockside sale; 6 minutes for Administrative waiver.

This rule also contains the following requirements that will be submitted to OMB for approval.

Forty hours for a distributor application; 6 minutes for product tracking of a shipment by a vessel or processor; and 15 minutes to provide documentation on a vessel or processor.

Public comment is sought regarding: whether these three collection of information requirements are necessary for the proper functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Send comments on these requirements to NMFS (see
ADDRESSES
) and to OMB (see

ADDRESSES
). NMFS will publish a notice announcing the effectiveness of these requirements if and when they have been approved by OMB.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, (AA) NOAA, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), finds that the need to provide for consistent recordkeeping and reporting for the 2002 groundfish fishing year would be contrary to the public interest to delay the effective date of this action for 30 days.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 679

Alaska, Fisheries, Recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Dated: December 18, 2001.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 679 is amended as follows:

PART 679—FISHERIES OF THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OFF ALASKA

1. The authority citation for 50 CFR part 679 continues to read as follows:

Authority:

16 U.S.C. 773
et seq.
, 1801
et seq.
, and 3631
et seq.

2. In § 679.2 the definitions for “Bycatch species,” “CDQ delivery number,” “Gear deployment,” and “Gear retrieval” are removed; the definitions for “Active/inactive periods,” “Ancillary product,” the introductory text of “Area/species endorsement,” paragraph (1)(v) of “Fishing trip,” “Forage fish,” “Groundfish,” “Logbook,” “Person,” “Primary product,” “Reprocessed or rehandled product,” “Sablefish (black cod),” and “Set” are revised; the definitions for “Agent,” “Associated processor,” “Authorized officer,” “Bycatch or bycatch species,” “Endorsement,” “Experimental fishery,” “Gear,” “Gear deployment (or to set gear),” “Gear retrieval (or to haul gear),” “Harvest zone codes,” “Incidental catch or incidental species,” “Product transfer report (PTR),” “Prohibited species,” “Representative,” “Seabird avoidance gear,” “Shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR),” “Tagged halibut or sablefish,” and “Weekly production report (WPR)” are added to read as follows:

§ 679.2
Definitions.

Active/inactive periods
(see § 679.5(a)(7)(i)).

Agent
(1)
For purposes of permits issued under § 679.4
, means a person appointed and residing within the United States who may apply for permits and may otherwise act on behalf of the owner, operator, or manager of a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, buying station, support vessel, or on behalf of the IFQ permit holders, IFQ registered buyers, or CDQ halibut permit holders.

(2)
For purposes of groundfish product distribution under § 679.5(g)
, means a buyer, distributor, or shipper but not a buying station, who may receive and distribute groundfish on behalf of the owner, operator, and manager of a catcher/processor, mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor.

(3)
For purposes of IFQ recordkeeping and reporting under § 679.5(l)
, means a person who on behalf of the Registered Buyer may submit IFQ reports.

Ancillary product
(see Table 1 to this part).

Area/species endorsement
means (for purposes of LLP) a designation on a license that authorizes a license holder to deploy a vessel to conduct directed fishing for the designated crab species in Federal waters in the designated area (see Figures 16 and 17 to this part). Area/species endorsements for crab species licenses are as follows:

Associated processor
means, a federally permitted mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor that has a contractual relationship with a buying station to conduct groundfish buying station activities for that processor.

Authorized officer
means, for purposes of recordkeeping and reporting, a NOAA special agent, a NOAA fishery enforcement officer, or USCG fisheries enforcement personnel.

Bycatch or bycatch species
means fish caught and released while targeting another species or caught and released while targeting the same species.

Endorsement
. (1) (See
area endorsement
for purposes of the groundfish LLP permits);

(2) (See
area/species endorsement
for purposes of the crab LLP permits);

(3) (See § 679.4(g)(3)(ii)
area endorsements
for purposes of the scallop permit).

Experimental fishery
(see
Exempted fishery
, § 679.6).

Fishing trip
means:

(1) * * *

(v) The end of a weekly reporting period (except a catcher vessel); whichever comes first.

Forage fish
(see Table 2 to this part).

Gear
(see the definition for Authorized fishing gear of this section).

Gear deployment (or to set gear)
means:

(1)
Position of gear deployment
(lat. and long.):

(i)
For trawl gear
. The position where the trawl gear reaches the fishing level and begins to fish.

(ii)
For hook-and-line gear
. The beginning position of a set of hook-and-line gear.

(iii)
For jig or troll gear
. The position where the jig or troll gear enters the water.

(iv)
For pot gear
. The position of the first pot in a string of pots.

(2)
Time of gear deployment
(A.l.t.):

(i)
For trawl gear
. The time when the trawl gear reaches the fishing level and begins to fish.

(ii) For hook-and-line gear. The time when the first hook-and-line gear of a set is deployed.

(iii)
For jig or troll gear
. The time when jig or troll gear enters the water.

(iv)
For pot gear
. The time when the first pot in a string of pots is deployed.

Gear retrieval (or to haul gear)
means:

(1)
Position of gear retrieval
(lat. and long. to the nearest minute):

(i)
For trawl gear
. The position where retrieval of trawl gear cable commences.

(ii)
For hook-and-line gear
. The position where the last hook-and-line gear of a set leaves the water, regardless of where the majority of the set took place.

(iii)
For jig or troll gear
. The position where the jig or troll gear leaves the water.

(iv)
For pot gear
. The position where the last pot of a set is retrieved, regardless of where the majority of the set took place.

(2)
Time of gear retrieval
(A.l.t.):

(i)
For trawl gear
. The time when retrieval of trawl gear cable commences.

(ii)
For hook-and-line gear
. The time when the last hook-and-line gear of a set leaves the water.

(iii)
For jig or troll gear
. The time when the jig or troll gear leaves the water.

(iv)
For pot gear
. The time when the last pot of a set is retrieved.

Groundfish
means (1) FMP species as listed in Table 2 to this part.

(2) Target species and the “other species” category, specified annually pursuant to § 679.20(a)(2) (See also the definitions for:
License limitation groundfish
;
CDQ species
; and
IR/IU species
of this section).

Harvest zone codes
(see Table 8 to this part).

Incidental catch or incidental species
means fish caught and retained while targeting on some other species, but does not include discard of fish that were returned to the sea.

Logbook
means Daily Cumulative Production Logbook (DCPL) or Daily Fishing Logbook (DFL) required by § 679.5.

Person
means any individual (whether or not a citizen or national of the United States), any corporation, partnership, association, or other entity (whether or not organized, or existing under the laws of any state), and any Federal, state, local, or foreign government or any entity of any such aforementioned governments.

Primary product
(see Table 1 to this part).

Product transfer report (PTR)
(see § 679.5(g)).

Prohibited species
means any of the species of Pacific salmon (
Oncorhynchus spp.
), steelhead trout (
Oncorhynchus mykiss
), Pacific halibut (
Hippoglossus stenolepis
), Pacific herring (
Clupea harengus pallasi
), king crab, and Tanner crab, caught by a vessel regulated under this part while fishing for groundfish in the BSAI or GOA, unless retention is authorized by other applicable laws, including the annual management measures published in the
Federal Register
pursuant to § 300.62 of this title.

Representative
(see § 679.5(b)).

Reprocessed or rehandled product
(see Table 1 to this part).

Sablefish (black cod)
means
Anoplopoma fimbria
. (See also
IFQ sablefish
;
fixed gear sablefish
at § 679.31(b); and
sablefish as a prohibited species
at § 679.24(c)(2)(ii)).

Seabird avoidance gear
(see §§ 679.24(e), 679.42(b)(2), and Table 19 to this part).

Set
means a string of longline gear, a string of pots, or a group of pots with individual pots deployed and retrieved in the water in a similar location with similar soak time. In the case of pot gear, when the pots in a string are hauled more than once in the same position, a new set is created each time the string is retrieved and re-deployed. A set includes a test set, unsuccessful harvest, or when gear is not working and is pulled in, even if no fish are harvested.

Shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR)
(see § 679.5(d)).

Tagged halibut or sablefish
(see § 679.40(g)).

Weekly production report (WPR)
(see § 679.5(i)).

3. In § 679.4 paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(6) are redesignated as paragraphs (a)(3) through (a)(8), respectively; paragraph (a) introductory text, paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and (a)(3)(v) are added; and paragraph (a) heading, newly redesignated (a)(3) heading and paragraphs (b)(3), (b)(4)(ii), (b)(5), paragraph (d) heading, (d)(2), the heading of paragraph (d)(3), and paragraphs (d)(3)(i)(A), (f)(2), and (f)(4)(ii) are revised to read as follows:

§ 679.4
Permits.

(a)
Requirements
. Only persons who are U.S. citizens are authorized to receive or hold permits under this section, with the exception that an IFQ card issued to an individual person designated by a QS or IFQ permit holder as a master employed to fish his/her IFQ need not be held by a U.S. citizen.

(1)
What permits are available
? Various types of permits are issued for programs codified at 50 CFR part 679. These permits are listed in the following table. The date of effectiveness for each permit is given along with certain reference paragraphs for further information.

If program permit or card type is:
Permit is in effect from issue date through the end of:
For more information, see ..

(i) IFQ

(A) Registered Buyer
Specified fishing year
Paragraph 679.4(d)(2) of this section

(B) Halibut & sablefish permits
Specified fishing year
Paragraph 679.4(d)(3)(i)(B) of this section

(C) Halibut & sablefish cards
Specified fishing year
Paragraph 679.4(d)(3)(i)(C) of this section

(ii) CDQ Halibut

(A) Halibut permit
Specified fishing year
679.32(f)

(B) Halibut card
Specified fishing year
679.32(f)

(iii) AFA

(A) Catcher/processor
12/31/04
Paragraph (f) of this section

(B) Catcher vessel
12/31/04
Paragraph (f) of this section

(C) Mothership
12/31/04
Paragraph (f) of this section

(D) Inshore processor
12/31/04
Paragraph (f) of this section

(E) Inshore cooperative
Calendar year
Paragraph (f) of this section

(F) Replacement vessel
Takes dates of replaced vessel's permit
Paragraph (f) of this section

(iv) Groundfish

(A) Federal fisheries
Until next renewal cycle
Paragraph (b) of this section

(B) Federal processor
Until next renewal cycle
Paragraph (f) of this section

(v) High seas salmon permit
Indefinite
Paragraph (h) of this section

(vi) High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA)
5 years
§ 300.10 of this title

(vii) License Limitation Program (LLP)

(A) Groundfish license
Specified fishing year or interim (active until further notice)
Paragraph (k) of this section

(B) Crab license
Specified fishing year or interim (active until further notice)
Paragraph (k) of this section

(viii) Exempted fisheries
1 year or less
§ 679.6

(ix) Research
1 year or less
§ 600.745(a) of this chapter

(x) Prohibited species donation program

(A) Salmon
3 years
§ 679.26

(B) Halibut
3 years
§ 679.26

(2)
Permit and logbook required by participant and fishery
. For the various types of permits issued, refer to § 679.5 for recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

(3)
Permit application
. * * *

(v) All permits are issued free of charge.

(b)* * *

(3)
Vessel operations categories
.

(i) A Federal fisheries permit authorizes a vessel to conduct operations in the GOA or BSAI as a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, tender vessel, or support vessel.

(ii) A Federal fisheries permit is issued to a vessel to function as a support vessel or as any combination of the other four categories (catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, tender vessel).

(iii) A vessel permitted as a catcher/processor, catcher vessel, mothership, or tender vessel also may conduct all operations authorized for a support vessel.

(iv) A vessel permitted as a support vessel may not conduct activities as a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, and/or tender vessel.

(4) * * *

(ii) A Federal fisheries permit is surrendered when the original permit is submitted to and received by the Program Administrator, RAM Program, Juneau, AK.

(5)
How do I obtain a Federal fisheries permit
? To obtain a Federal fisheries permit, the owner must complete a Federal fisheries permit application and provide the following information for each vessel to be permitted:

(i)
New or amended application
? Indicate whether application is for a new or amended Federal fisheries permit and if revision, enter the current Federal fisheries permit number.

(ii)
Owner information
. Indicate the name(s), permanent business mailing address, business telephone number, business FAX number, and business e-mail address of the owner; and the name of any person or company (other than the owner) that manages the operations of the vessel.

(iii)
Vessel information
. Indicate the vessel name and homeport (city and state); U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) documentation number; ADF&G vessel registration number; ADF&G processor code; vessel's LOA (ft), registered length (ft), gross tonnage, net tonnage, and shaft horsepower; whether this is a vessel of the United States; and whether this vessel will be used as a stationary floating processor.

(iv)
Area and gear information
. Indicate requested/elected area(s) of operation. If a catcher/ processor and/or a catcher vessel, the gear types used for groundfish fishing. If a mothership or catcher/processor operating in the GOA, choose inshore or offshore component.

(d)
IFQ permits
. * * *

(2)
Registered buyer permit
. A Registered buyer permit is required of:

(i) Any person who receives IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish from the person(s) who harvested the fish;

(ii) Any person who harvests IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish and transfers such fish:

(A) In a dockside sale;

(B) Outside of an IFQ regulatory area; or

(C) Outside the State of Alaska.

(iii) A vessel operator who obtains a vessel clearance or submits a departure report (see § 679.5(l)(5)(iv)).

(3)
How do I obtain an IFQ permit, IFQ card, or Registered Buyer Permit
? (i)
IFQ permits and cards
—(A)
Issuance
. The Regional Administrator will renew IFQ permits and cards annually or at other times as needed to accommodate transfers, revocations, appeals resolution, and other changes in QS or IFQ holdings, and designation of masters under § 679.42.

(f) * * *

(2)
How do I obtain a Federal processor permit
? To obtain a Federal processor permit, the owner must complete a Federal processor permit application and provide the following information for each shoreside processor facility or plant and stationary floating processor to be permitted:

(i)
Permit application information
. Indicate whether application is for a new or amended Federal processor permit and if a revision, the current Federal processor permit number.

(ii)
Owner information
. Indicate the name(s), permanent business mailing address, business telephone number, business FAX number, and business e-mail address of the owner; and the name of any person or company (other than the owner) who manages the operations of the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor.

(iii)
Stationary floating processor information
. Indicate the vessel name and homeport (city and state); USCG documentation number; ADF&G vessel registration number; ADF&G processor code; the vessel's LOA (ft), registered length (ft), gross tonnage, net tonnage and shaft horsepower; whether this is a vessel of the United States; and whether this vessel will be used as a stationary floating processor.

(iv)
Shoreside processor information
. Indicate the shoreside processor's name; name and physical location of facility or plant at which the shoreside processor is operating (street, city, state, zip code); whether the shoreside processor is replacing a previous processor at this facility; and if yes, name of previous processor; whether there are multiple processors at this facility; whether the owner named in paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section owns this facility; shoreside processor ADF&G processor code, business telephone number, business FAX number, and business e-mail address.

(v)
Signature
. The owner or agent of the owner of the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must sign and date the application. If the owner is a company, the agent of the owner must sign and date the application.

(4) * * *

(ii) A Federal processor permit is surrendered when the original permit is submitted to and received by the Program Administrator, RAM Program, Juneau, AK.

4. Section 679.5 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) through (k), (l)(1) through (6), (l)(7)(i)(C)(
3
)(
ii
), (l)(7)(i)(D), (l)(7)(i)(C)(
4
)(
i
), and (m) through (o) to read as follows:

§ 679.5
Recordkeeping and reporting.

(a)
General requirements
—(1)
Applicability
—(i)
Who must comply with recordkeeping and reporting requirements
? Except as provided in paragraphs (a)(1)(iii) and (iv) of this

section, the owner, operator, or manager of the following participants must comply with the recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this section:

(A) Any catcher vessel, mothership, catcher/processor, or tender vessel, 5 net tons or larger, that is required to have a Federal fisheries permit under § 679.4.

(B) Any shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, mothership, or buying station that receives groundfish from vessels issued a Federal fisheries permit under § 679.4.

(C) Any buying station that receives or delivers groundfish in association with a mothership issued a Federal fisheries permit under § 679.4(b) or with a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor issued a Federal processor permit under § 679.4(f).

(D) Any shoreside processor or stationary floating processor that is required to have a Federal processor permit under § 679.4.

(E) For purposes of this section, “operator or manager” means “the operator of a catcher/processor or mothership, the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, or the operator or manager of a buying station.”

(ii)
What fish need to be recorded and reported
? A shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, mothership, or buying station subject to recordkeeping and reporting requirements must report all groundfish and prohibited species received, including:

(A) Fish received from vessels not required to have a federal fisheries permit.

(B) Fish received under contract for handling or processing for another processor.

(iii)
Who is exempt from recordkeeping and reporting requirements
? (A)
Catcher vessels less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA
. A catcher vessel less than 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA is not required to comply with recordkeeping and reporting requirements contained in paragraphs (a) through (k) of this section.

(B)
Catcher vessels that take groundfish in crab pot gear for use as crab bait on that vessel
. (
1
) Owners or operators of catcher vessels who, during open crab season, take groundfish in crab pot gear for use as crab bait on board their vessels, and the bait is neither transferred nor sold, are exempt from Federal recordkeeping and reporting requirements contained in paragraphs (a) through (j) of this section. This exemption does not apply to fishermen who:

(
i
) Catch groundfish for bait during an open crab season and sell that groundfish or transfer it to another vessel, or

(
ii
) Participate in a directed fishery for groundfish using any gear type during periods that are outside an open crab season for use as crab bait on board their vessel.

(
2
) No groundfish species listed by NMFS as “prohibited” in a management or regulatory area may be taken in that area for use as bait.

(iv)
Who needs to use the combined groundfish/IFQ logbook
? (A) Any catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA or catcher/processor, that participates in an IFQ sablefish fishery, IFQ halibut fishery, or CDQ halibut fishery and that retains any groundfish from the GOA or BSAI, must use a combined groundfish/IFQ logbook (catcher vessel or catcher/processor longline and pot gear logbook) to record all IFQ halibut and sablefish, CDQ halibut, and groundfish.

(B) Any catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA or catcher/processor that is using longline or pot gear in the groundfish fisheries of the GOA or BSAI must use a combined groundfish/IFQ logbook (catcher vessel or catcher/processor longline and pot gear logbook) to record all groundfish.

(2)
Responsibility
—(i) The operator of a catcher vessel, catcher/processor, mothership, or buying station receiving from a catcher vessel and delivering to a mothership (hereafter referred to as the operator) and the manager of a shoreside processor or buying station receiving from a catcher vessel and delivering to a shoreside processor (hereafter referred to as the manager) are each responsible for complying with the applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements of this section.

(ii) The owner of a vessel, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or buying station is responsible for compliance and must ensure that the operator, manager, or representative (see paragraph (b) of this section) complies with the requirements given in paragraph (a)(3)(i).

(iii) The owner or manager must sign the SPELR printed pages or the owner, operator, or manager must sign the DFL or DCPL as verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section.

(3)
Groundfish logbooks and forms
. (i) The Regional Administrator will prescribe and provide groundfish logbooks and forms required under this section for a catcher vessel 60 ft (18.3 m) or greater LOA, a catcher/processor, a mothership, a shoreside processor, a stationary floating processor, and a buying station (see Table 9 to this part).

(ii) The operator or manager must use the current edition of the logbooks and forms or obtain approval from the Regional Administrator to use current electronic versions of the logbooks and forms. Upon notification by the Regional Administrator, logbooks or forms may be used from the previous year.

(4)
Shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR)
. The manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor receiving groundfish from AFA catcher vessels or receiving pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery is required to use SPELR or NMFS-approved software described at paragraph (e) of this section to report every delivery from all catcher vessels and is required to maintain the SPELR and printed reports as described at paragraph (f) of this section. The owner or manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor that is not required to use SPELR under paragraph (e) of this section may use, upon approval by the Regional Administrator, SPELR or NMFS-approved software in lieu of the shoreside processor DCPL and shoreside processor WPR.

(5)
Participant identification information
. The operator or manager must record on all required records, reports, and logbooks, as appropriate:

(i)
Name and signature
. Name and signature of operator or manager.

(ii)
Catcher vessel
. If a catcher vessel, the name as displayed in official documentation, Federal fisheries permit number and ADF&G vessel registration number.

(iii)
Shoreside processor or stationary floating processor
. If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, the processor name as displayed in official documentation, ADF&G processor code, and Federal processor permit number. If a shoreside processor, the geographic location of plant.

(iv)
Mothership or catcher/processor
. If a mothership or catcher/processor, the name as displayed in official documentation, ADF&G processor code and Federal fisheries permit number.

(v)
Buying station
. If a buying station, the name as displayed in official documentation; ADF&G vessel registration number (if a vessel) or vehicle registration number (if a vehicle); name, ADF&G processor code, and Federal fisheries permit number of the associated mothership, or name, geographic location of plant, ADF&G processor code, and Federal processor permit number of the associated shoreside processor or stationary

floating processor to which groundfish deliveries were made.

(6)
Maintenance of records
. The operator or manager must:

(i) Maintain in English all records, reports, and logbooks in a legible, timely, and accurate manner; if handwritten, in indelible ink; if computer-generated, in a printed paper copy; and based on A.l.t.

(ii) Account for each day of the fishing year, January 1 through December 31, in the DFL or DCPL. Unless the appropriate box is checked to indicate an inactive period, records are assumed to be for an active period. Record the first day of the fishing year, January 1, on the first page of the DFL or DCPL. Record time periods consecutively in the logbook.

(A) If a vessel owner or operator is granted reinstatement of a Federal fisheries permit after having surrendered it within the same fishing year, recordkeeping and reporting requirements as defined in this section must be continuous throughout that year, without interruption of records.

(B) If a shoreside processor owner or manager is granted reinstatement of a Federal processor permit after having surrendered it within the same fishing year, recordkeeping and reporting requirements as defined in this section must be continuous throughout that year, without interruption of records.

(C) If inactive due to surrender of a Federal fisheries or processor permit, the operator or manager must mark the inactive box, write “surrender of permit,” and follow complete instructions for recording an inactive period.

(iii) Record in the appropriate report, form, and logbook, when applicable, the date of activity and type of participant as presented in the following table:

(A)
Date of activity
, as month-day-year.

Date of

If a
1

Means the date when
In the

(
1
) Delivery

(
i
) CV

Delivery of harvest was completed
DFL

(
ii
) SS, SFP, MS

Delivery of harvest was completed
DCPL

(
iii
) BS

Delivery of harvest was completed
BSR

(
2
) Landing

SS, SFP
Sorting and weighing of a delivery by species was completed
DCPL

(
3
) Production

SS, SFP
Production was completed
DCPL

(
4
) Discard or disposition

(
i
) CV using longline or pot gear

Discard or disposition occurred
DFL

(
ii
) SS, SFP, MS

Discard or disposition occurred at the facility; or Received blue DFL from a catcher vessel (not the actual date of discard or disposition indicated on the blue DFL); or Received BSR from a buying station (not the actual date of discard or disposition indicated on the BSR).
DCPL

1
CV = Catcher vessel; SS = Shoreside processor; SFP = stationary floating processor; MS = mothership; Catcher/processor = C/P; BS = Buying station

(B)
Week-ending date
. The last day of the weekly reporting period: 2400 hours, A.l.t., Saturday night (except during the last week of each year, when it ends on December 31).

(C)
Time
, in military format, A.l.t.

(D)
Page numbering
. (
1
) Number the pages in each logbook and BSR consecutively, beginning with page 1 and continuing for the remainder of the fishing year.

(
2
) If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, number the DCPL pages within Part I and Part II separately, beginning with page 1. If in an inactive period, the manager needs only to record in Part I.

(E)
Logbook numbering
—(
1
)
Two logbooks of same gear type
. If more than one logbook of the same gear type is used in a fishing year, the page numbers must follow the consecutive order of the previous logbook.

(
2
)
Two logbooks of different gear types
. If two logbooks of different gear types are used in a fishing year, the page numbers in each logbook must start with page 1.

(
3
)
Two logbooks for pair trawl
. If two catcher vessels are dragging a trawl between them (pair trawl), two logbooks must be maintained, a separate DFL by each vessel to record the amount of the catch retained and fish discarded by that vessel, each separately paginated.

(F)
Original/revised report
. Except for a DFL or DCPL, if a report is the first one submitted to the Regional Administrator for a given date, gear type, and reporting area, indicate ORIGINAL REPORT. If a report is a correction to a previously submitted report for a given date, gear type, and reporting area, indicate REVISED REPORT.

(G)
Position coordinates
, position in lat. and long.

(7)
How do you record active/inactive periods and fishing activity
? (i) The operator or manager daily must record in the appropriate logbook or SPELR the status of fishing activity as active or inactive according to the following table:

If participant is a ...
Fishing activity is ...
An active period is ...
An inactive period is ...

(A) CV
1

Harvest or discard of groundfish
When gear remains on the grounds in a reporting area (except 300, 400, 550, or 690), regardless of the vessel location
When no gear remains on the grounds in a reporting area

(B) SS, SFP, MS
Receipt, discard, or processing of groundfish
When checked in or processing
When not checked in or not processing

(C) C/P
Harvest, discard, or processing of groundfish
When checked in or processing
When not checked in or not processing

(D) BS
Receipt, discard, or delivery of groundfish
When conducting fishing activity for an associated processor
When not conducting fishing activity for an associated processor

1
CV = Catcher vessel; SS = Shoreside processor; SFP = stationary floating processor; MS = mothership; Catcher/processor = C/P; BS = Buying station

(ii) The operator or manager daily must record in the appropriate logbook or SPELR if no activity occurred according to the following table:

The operator or manager must enter:
In the ...
If ...

(A) No receipt

(
1
)DCPL

No deliveries received for a day

(
2
)DCPL, WPR

No deliveries received during a weekly reporting period

(B) No landings

(
1
)DCPL, DPR

No landings occurred for a day

(
2
) DCPL, WPR

No landings occurred during a weekly reporting period

(C) No production

(
1
) DCPL, DPR

No production occurred for a day

(
2
) DCPL, WPR

No production occurred for a weekly reporting period

(D) No discard or Disposition

(
1
)DCPL, DFL, BSR or DPR

No discards or dispositions occurred for a day

(
2
) DCPL, WPR

No discards or dispositions occurred for a weekly reporting period

(iii) The operator or manager daily must record whether active or inactive in the appropriate logbook or SPELR according to the following table:

(A)
Active
. If active, complete a separate logsheet for each day (except a shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, catcher vessel longline or pot gear, or catcher/processor longline or pot gear).

(B)
Inactive
. If inactive, complete on one logsheet:

(
1
) Check “inactive.”

(
2
) Record the date of the first day when inactive under “Start date”

(
3
) Indicate brief explanation that you are inactive.

(
4
) Record the date of the last day when inactive under “End date.”

(C)
Inactive two or more quarters
. If the inactive time period extends across two or more successive quarters, the operator or manager must complete two logsheets: the first logsheet to indicate the first and last day of the first inactive quarter and the second logsheet to indicate the first and last day of the second inactive quarter.

(D)
Participant information if inactive
. On each logsheet used to record an inactive period, the operator or manager must record the participant information as described at paragraph (a)(8) of this section.

(iv)
Weight of fish
. When recording weight in a logbook or form, the operator or manager must follow the guidelines in the tables in paragraphs (a)(7)(iv)(C) and (D) and (a)(7)(iv)(F)through (I) of this section and must:

(A) Indicate whether records of weight are in pounds or metric tons.

(
1
) If using a DFL, DCPL, BSR, or shoreside processor check-in report or check-out report, record weight in pounds or in metric tons to the nearest 0.001 mt, but be consistent throughout the year.

(
2
) If using a WPR or DPR, record weight in metric tons to the nearest 0.001.

(B) Record the weight of groundfish landings, groundfish product, and groundfish or prohibited species Pacific herring discard or disposition weight by species codes as defined in Table 2 to this part and product codes and product designations as defined in Table 1 to this part. Except for product information provided by shoreside processors or stationary floating processors [which is the sum of product weight separately by BSAI or GOA management area], the operator or manager must summarize groundfish weights separately by reporting area, management program information, gear type, and if trawl gear used, whether harvest was caught in the CVOA or the COBLZ.

(C)
Daily catch weight
. The operator or manager must enter daily catch weight per the following table:

Enter ...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish, listed by CV or BS

DCPL
SS, SFP

(
2
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish by haul

Trawl DFL
CV

(
3
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish by haul, excluding pollock and Pacific cod

Trawl DCPL
C/P

(
4
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish listed by CV or BS, excluding pollock and Pacific cod

DCPL
MS

(
5
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish by set, excluding CDQ/IFQ Pacific halibut and IFQ sablefish

Longline or pot DFL
CV

(
6
) Estimated total round catch weight of groundfish by set, excluding CDQ/IFQ Pacific halibut, IFQ sablefish, pollock and Pacific cod

Longline or pot DCPL
C/P

(
7
) If a CV reported discards on a blue DFL but did not deliver groundfish, enter “0" in this column.

(
i
) DCPL

MS, SS, SFP

(
ii
) BSR

BS

(D)
Daily landings weight
. The operator or manager must enter daily landings weight per the following table:

Enter...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) Obtain actual weights for each groundfish species received and retained by: Sorting according to species codes and direct weighing of that species, or weighing the entire delivery and then sorting and weighing some or all of the groundfish species individually to determine their weight.

DCPL, DPR
SS, SFP

(
2
) Record daily combined scale weights of landings by species and product codes.

DCPL, DPR
SS, SFP

(E)
Daily product weight
. The operator or manager of a SS, SFP, MS, or C/P must enter total daily fish product weight or actual scale weight of fish product by species and product codes in the DCPL and DPR.

(F)
Daily discard or disposition weight and number
. The operator or manager must enter daily discard or disposition weight and number per the following table:

Enter ...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) The daily estimated total weight of discards or disposition for Pacific herring and each groundfish species or species group

DCPL, DFL, BSR, ADF&G fish ticket
CV, BS, SS, SFP, MS, C/P

(
2
) The daily estimated numbers of whole fish discards or disposition of prohibited species Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs.

DCPL, DFL, BSR, ADF&G fish ticket
CV, BS, SS, SFP, MS, C/P

(G)
Balance brought forward
. The operator or manager must enter the balance brought forward per the following table:

Enter ...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) The total product balance brought forward from the previous day

DCPL
MS, C/P

(
2
) The total estimated discards or disposition balance brought forward from the previous day

DFL, DCPL
CV, MS, C/P

(H)
Zero balance
. The operator or manager must enter zero balance per the following table:

Record weights as zero ...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) After the offload or transfer of all fish or fish product onboard and prior to the beginning of each fishing trip.

DFL
CV

(
2
) After the offload or transfer of all fish or fish product onboard, if such offload occurs prior to the end of a weekly reporting period. Nothing shall be carried forward.

DCPL
MS, C/P

(
3
) At the beginning of each weekly reporting period. Nothing shall be carried forward from the previous weekly reporting period.

DCPL
MS, C/P

(I)
Cumulative totals
. The operator or manager must enter cumulative totals per the following table:

Enter ...
In a ...
If a ...

(
1
) Weekly cumulative totals, calculated by adding the daily totals and balance carried forward

DCPL, WPR
MS, C/P

(
2
) Weekly cumulative totals, calculated by adding the daily totals

DCPL, WPR
SS, SFP

(
3
) Cumulative total discards or disposition since last delivery, calculated by adding the daily totals and balance carried forward from the day before.

DFL
CV

(v)
Numbers of fish
. The operator or manager must record the estimated numbers of whole fish discards or disposition of prohibited species Pacific salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific halibut, king crabs, and Tanner crabs.

(vi)
Species codes
. To record species information for federally managed groundfish, the operator or manager must use Table 2 to this part to determine species codes.

(vii)
Product codes and product designations
. To record product information for federally managed groundfish, the operator or manager must use Table 1 to this part to determine product codes and product designations.

(viii)
Target codes
. To record target species information for federally managed groundfish, the operator or manager must use Table 2 to this part to determine species codes. Target species may be recorded as primary and secondary.

(ix)
Gear type information
. If a catcher vessel or catcher/processor using longline or pot gear, the operator must enter:

(A) The gear type used used to harvest the fish and appropriate “gear ID”.

(B) If gear information is the same on subsequent pages, check the appropriate box instead of re-entering the information.

(C) A description of the gear per the following table:

If gear type is ...
Then enter ...

(
1
) Pot

Number of pots set

(
2
) Hook-and-line

(
i
) Check the appropriate box to indicate whether gear is fixed hook (conventional or tub), autoline, or snap (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations).

(
ii
) Length of skate to the nearest foot (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations).

(
iii
) Size of hooks, hook spacing in feet, and number of hooks per skate (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations).

(iv) Number of skates set

(v) Number of skates lost (if applicable) (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations).

(
3
) Longline

Bird avoidance gear code (see Table 19 to this part)

(x)
Separate logsheet, WPR, check-in/check-out report
. The operator or manager must use a separate page (logsheet, WPR, check-in/check-out report) to record information as described in paragraphs (x)(A) through (E) of this section:

(A) For each day of an active period, except shoreside processor or stationary floating processors may use one logsheet for each day of an active period or use one logsheet for up to 7 days.

(B) If harvest from more than one reporting area.

(C) If harvest from COBLZ or RKCSA within a reporting area (see paragraph (a)(7)(xii)). Use two separate logsheets, the first to record the information from the reporting area that includes COBLZ or RKCSA, and the second to record the information from the reporting area that does not include COBLZ or RKCSA.

(D) If harvest with more than one gear type.

(E) If harvest under a separate management program. If harvest for more than one CDQ group, use a separate logsheet for each CDQ group number.

(xi)
Reporting area
. The operator or manager must record the reporting area code (see Figures 1 and 3 to this part) where gear retrieval (see § 679.2) was completed, regardless of where the majority of the set took place. Record in the DFL, BSR, DCPL, SPELR, WPR, DPR, and mothership or catcher/processor check-in/check-out report.

(xii)
Areas within a reporting area
. If harvest was caught using trawl gear, the operator or manager must indicate whether fishing occurred in the COBLZ or RKCSA:

Area
Reference

(A) COBLZ

BSAI
C. opilio
Bairdi Bycatch Limitation Zone

Figure 13 to this part

(B) RKCSA
Red King Crab Savings Area
Figure 11 to this part

(xiii)
Observer information
. Record the number of observers aboard or on site, the name of the observer(s), and the observer cruise number(s) in the DFL and DCPL. If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, record also the dates present for each observer.

(xiv)
Number of crew or crew size
. Record the number of crew, excluding certified observer(s), on a mothership or catcher/processor WPR and in the BSR; on the last day of the weekly reporting period in a mothership or catcher/processor DCPL; and in the DFL on the last day of a trip for a catcher vessel.

(xv)
Management program
. Indicate whether harvest occurred under one of the listed management programs in a DFL, BSR, DCPL, SPELR, WPR, DPR, or check-in/check-out report. If harvest is not under one of these management programs, leave blank.

If harvest made under ... program
Indicate yes and record the...
Reference

(A) CDQ
CDQ group number
Subpart C to part 679

(B) Exempted Fishery
Exempted fishery permit number
§ 679.6

(C) Research
Research program permit number
§ 600.745(a) of this chapter

(D) IFQ
IFQ permit number(s)
Subpart D to part 679

(E) AFA
AFA Cooperative account number ONLY for landings from the directed pollock fishery that are counting against the coop quota. (Other species delivered at the same time can go on the same report.)
§ 679.5(e)

(8)
Landings information
—(i)
Requirement
. The manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must record landings information for all retained species from groundfish deliveries.

(A) If recording in DCPL, or DPR, enter date of landing and daily weight and weekly cumulative weight by species code and product code.

(B) If recording in WPR, enter weekly cumulative weight by species code and product code.

(ii)
Landings as product
. If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor receives groundfish, records them as landings in Part IB of the DCPL, and transfers these fish to another processor without further processing, the manager must also record the species code, product code, and weight of these fish in Part II of the DCPL prior to transfer.

(9)
Product information
—(i)
Requirement
. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership or the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must record groundfish product information for all retained species from groundfish deliveries.

(A) If recording in DCPL or DPR, enter date of production (shoreside processor or stationary floating processor only); daily weight, balance forward (except shoreside processor or stationary floating processor), and weekly cumulative weight by species code, product code, and product designation.

(B) If recording in WPR, enter weekly cumulative weight by species code, product code, and product designation.

(ii)
Custom processing
. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership or the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must record products that result from custom processing by you for another processor. If you receive unprocessed or processed groundfish to be handled or processed for another processor or business entity, enter these groundfish in a DCPL and a WPR consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:

(A)
Combined records
. Record landings (if applicable), discards or dispositions, and products of contract-processed groundfish routinely in the DCPL, SPELR, WPR, and DPR without separate identification; or

(B)
Separate records
. Record landings (if applicable), discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in a separate DCPL, WPR, and DPR identified by the name, Federal processor permit number or Federal fisheries permit number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.

(10)
Discard or disposition information
—(i)
Shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, mothership
—(A)
DCPL or DPR
. (
1
) Except as described in paragraph (a)(10)(v) of this section, the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, and the operator of a mothership must record in a DCPL and DPR, discard or disposition information that occurred on and was reported by a catcher vessel, that occurred on and was reported by a buying station, and that occurred prior to, during, and after production of groundfish.

(
2
) Discard or disposition information must include: Date of discard or disposition (only shoreside processor or stationary floating processor); daily weight of groundfish; daily weight of Pacific herring PSC; daily number of PSC animals; balance forward (except shoreside processor or stationary floating processor); and weekly cumulative weight of groundfish and herring PSC; weekly cumulative number of PSC animals; species codes and product codes.

(B)
WPR
. The manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, and the operator of a mothership must record in a WPR, discard or disposition information to include: week-ending date; weekly cumulative weight of groundfish and herring PSC; and weekly cumulative number of PSC animals by species code and product code.

(ii)
Catcher/processor
—(A)
DCPL or DPR
. (
1
) The operator of a catcher/processor must record in a DCPL and DPR, discard or disposition information that occurred prior to, during, and after production of groundfish.

(
2
) Discard or disposition information must include: Daily weight of groundfish; daily weight of herring PSC; daily number of PSC animals, balance forward, and weekly cumulative weight of groundfish and herring PSC; and weekly cumulative number of PSC animals by species code and product code.

(B)
WPR
. The operator of a catcher/processor must record in a WPR, discard or disposition information to include: Week-ending date; weekly cumulative weight of groundfish and herring PSC; and weekly cumulative number of PSC animals by species code and product code.

(iii)
Buying station
. The operator or manager of a buying station must record in a BSR discard or disposition information that occurred on and was reported by a catcher vessel and that occurred on and prior to delivery to an associated processor. Discard or disposition information must include: daily weight of groundfish, daily weight of herring PSC, and daily number of PSC animals by species code and product code.

(iv)
Catcher vessel
. Except as described in paragraph (a)(10)(v) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel must record in a DFL discard or disposition information that occurred on and prior to delivery to a buying station, mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor. Discard or disposition information must include daily weight of groundfish, daily weight of herring PSC, and daily number of PSC animals by species code and product code.

(v)
Exemption
:
Catcher vessel unsorted codends
. If a catcher vessel is using trawl gear and deliveries to a mothership, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or buying station are of unsorted codends, the catcher vessel is exempt from recording discards in the DFL and from submittal of the blue DFL for that delivery.

(vi)
Discard quantities over maximum retainable amount
. When fishing in an IFQ fishery and the fishery for Pacific

cod or rockfish is closed to directed fishing but not in PSC status in that reporting area as described in § 679.20, the operator must retain and record up to and including the maximum retainable amount for Pacific cod or rockfish as defined in Table 10 or 11 to this part; quantities over this amount must be discarded and recorded as discard in the logbook.

(vii)
Discard or disposition logbook recording time limits
. The operator or manager must record discards and disposition information in the logbook within the time limits given in the following table:

If participant type is a
1
...

Record information ...

(A) MS,SS,SFP
By noon each day to record the previous day's discard/disposition that:

(
1
) Occurs on site after receipt of groundfish from a CV or BS;

(
2
) Occurs during processing of groundfish received from a CV or BS.

(
3
) Was reported on a blue DFL received from a CV delivering groundfish;

(
4
) Was reported on a BSR received from a BS delivering groundfish, if different from blue DFL

(B) CV, C/P
By noon each day to record the previous day's discard/disposition.

(C) BS
By noon each day to record the previous day's discard/disposition that:

(
1
) Was reported on a blue DFL received from a CV delivering groundfish.

(
2
) Occurs on BS after receipt of harvest from a CV.

(
3
) Occurs prior to delivery of harvest to a MS, SS, or SFP.

1
CV = Catcher vessel; SS = Shoreside processor; SFP = Stationary floating processor; MS = mothership; Catcher/processor = C/P; BS = Buying station

(11)
Delivery information
—(i)
Mothership, shoreside processor or stationary floating processor
. The operator of a mothership or manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must record delivery information in a DCPL or SPELR when unprocessed groundfish deliveries are received from a buying station or a catcher vessel. Discards and dispositions also must be recorded when no groundfish are delivered but the blue DFL is submitted by a catcher vessel containing records of groundfish discards or disposition (e.g., an IFQ fish delivery with groundfish incidental catch).

(ii)
Buying station
. (A) The operator or manager of a buying station must record delivery information in a BSR when unprocessed groundfish deliveries are received from a catcher vessel. Discards and dispositions also must be recorded when no groundfish are delivered but the blue DFL is submitted by a catcher vessel containing records of groundfish discards or disposition (e.g., an IFQ fish delivery with groundfish incidental catch).

(B) In addition, a catcher vessel operator by prior arrangement with a processor may function as a buying station for his own catch by: Shipping his groundfish catch with a copy of the BSR directly to that processor via truck or airline in the event that the processor is not located where the harvest is offloaded; or by driving a truck that contains his catch and a copy of the BSR to the processor. When the shipment arrives at the processor, the information from the BSR must be incorporated by the manager of the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor into the DCPL.

(iii)
Required delivery information, Mothership, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or buying station
—(A)
Date of delivery
. Enter date of delivery.

(B)
CV or BS
. If a mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor, the manager or operator must:

(
1
) Enter CV or BS to indicate delivery from catcher vessel or buying station, respectively.

(
2
) If delivery is from a buying station, keep the BSR for each delivery on file throughout the fishing year and for 3 years after the end of the fishing year.

(C)
Receive discard report
. Indicate whether the blue DFL was received from the catcher vessel at the time of catch delivery. If delivery from a buying station, leave this column blank. If the blue DFL is not received from the catcher vessel, enter NO and the response code (example: NO-L) to describe the reason for non-submittal as follows:

If blue DFL not submitted by catcher vessel, record number followed by ...
To indicate the catcher vessel

(
1
) P

Does not have a Federal fisheries permit

(
2
) P

Is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and does not have a Federal fisheries permit

(
3
) L

Is under 60 ft (18.3 m) LOA and has a Federal fisheries permit

(
4
) U

Delivered an unsorted codend

(
5
) O

Other. Describe.

(D)
Name and ADF&G vessel registration number
(if applicable) of the catcher vessel or buying station delivering the groundfish;

(E)
Time (A.l.t.) when receipt of groundfish delivery was completed
;

(F)
Mothership begin position
. If a mothership, the mothership's begin position coordinates when receiving the groundfish delivery;

(G)
ADF&G fish ticket numbers
. (
1
) If a mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor and receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record in the DCPL and WPR the ADF&G fish ticket number issued to each catcher vessel; if receiving unprocessed groundfish from an associated buying station, record in the DCPL and WPR the ADF&Gfish ticket numbers issued by the buying station to the catcher vessel.

(
2
) If a buying station and receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record in the BSR the ADF&G

fish ticket numbers issued to each catcher vessel.

(H)
Fish ticket numbers, state other than Alaska
. If a shoreside processor located in a state other than Alaska and receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record in the DCPL and WPR the fish ticket numbers issued for that non-Alaska state along with the two-character abbreviation for that state.

(I)
Catch receipt numbers, state other than Alaska
. If a shoreside processor located in a state other than Alaska where no fish ticket system is available and receiving unprocessed groundfish from a catcher vessel, record in the DCPL the catch receipt number issued to the catcher vessel.

(iv)
Catcher vessel using trawl gear
. If a catcher vessel using trawl gear, indicate whether sorting of codend onboard or bleeding from a codend occurred prior to delivery to a mothership, shoreside processor, stationary floating processor, or buying station. If delivery is an unsorted codend, see paragraph (a)(10)(v) of this section. Delivery information required: The delivery date; the ADF&G fish ticket number(s) received for delivery; and recipient's name and ADF&G processor code.

(v)
Catcher vessel using longline or pot gear
. If IFQ delivery, information required: the delivery date; the ADF&G fish ticket number(s) received at delivery; name of IFQ Registered Buyer receiving harvest; name of unloading port (see paragraph (l)(5)(vii) of this section and Table 14 to this part) or landing location. If non-IFQ delivery, information required: the delivery date; the ADF&G fish ticket number(s) received at delivery; name of recipient receiving harvest; name of unloading port (see Table 14 to this part) or landing location.

(12)
Alteration of records
. (i) The operator, manager, or any other person may not alter or change any entry or record in a logbook, except that an inaccurate or incorrect entry or record may be corrected by lining out the original and inserting the correction, provided that the original entry or record remains legible. All corrections must be made in ink.

(ii) No person except an authorized officer may remove any original page of any logbook.

(13)
Inspection and retention of records
—(i)
Inspection
. The operator of a catcher vessel, catcher/processor or mothership, the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor, or the operator or manager of a buying station must make all logbooks, reports, forms, and mothership-issued fish tickets required under this section available for inspection upon the request of an authorized officer for the time periods indicated in paragraph (a)(13)(ii) of this section.

(ii)
Retention of records
. The operator or manager must retain logbooks and forms as follows:

(A)
On site
. On site at the shoreside facility or onboard the vessel until the end of the fishing year during which the records were made and for as long thereafter as fish or fish products recorded in the logbooks and forms are retained.

(B)
For 3 years
. Make them available upon request of an authorized officer for 3 years after the end of the fishing year during which the records were made.

(14)
Submittal and distribution of logbooks and forms
—(i)
Submittal of forms
. The operator or manager must submit to NMFS the check-in report, check-out report, VAR, WPR, DPR, and PTR (see Table 9 to this part), as applicable, by:

(A) Faxing the NMFS printed form to the FAX number on the form; or

(B) Telexing a data file to the telex number on the form.

(C) Transmitting a data file with required information and forms to NMFS by e-mail, modem, or satellite (specifically INMARSAT standards A, B, or C).

(D) With the approval of the Regional Administrator, using the voluntary electronic reporting format for the check-in report, check-out report, WPR, and SPELR.

(ii)
Logbook copy sets
. (A) The copy sets of each logbook are described in the following table:

Type of logbook
Copy sets

(
1
) Catcher vessel longline and pot gear DFL

White, blue, green, yellow, goldenrod

(
2
) Catcher vessel trawl gear DFL

White, blue, yellow, goldenrod

(
3
) Catcher/processor longline and pot gear DCPL

White, green, yellow, goldenrod

(
4
) Catcher/processor trawl gear DCPL

White, yellow, goldenrod

(
5
) Mothership DCPL

White, yellow, goldenrod

(
6
) Shoreside processor DCPL

White, yellow, goldenrod

(B) [Reserved]

(iii)
Logsheet distribution
. The logsheet distribution is described in the following table:

If logsheet is ...
Then, the operator or manager must...

(A) White
Retain, permanently bound in the logbook.

(B) Yellow

Submit quarterly to:
NOAA Office of Enforcement,
Alaska Region
Logbook Program,
P.O.Box 21767
Juneau, AK 99802-1767

on the following schedule:
1st quarter by May 1 of that fishing year
2nd quarter by August 1 of that fishing year
3rd quarter by November 1 of that fishing year
4th quarter by February 1 of the following fishing year

(C) Blue

(
1
)
Catcher vessel
. Except when delivering an unsorted codend (see paragraph (a)(10)(vi) of this section), submit to the buying station, mothership, shoreside processor or stationary floating processor that receives the harvest.

(
2
)
Buying station
. Submit upon delivery of catch to an associated mothership, shoreside processor, or stationary floating processor any blue DFL received from catcher vessels delivering groundfish to the buying station.

(D) Green

Longline and pot gear DFL and DCPL
. To support a separate IFQ data collection by the IPHC under the joint NMFS/IPHC logbook program; check with the IPHC for submittal and retention requirements.

(E) Goldenrod
Submit to the observer onboard or onsite after the logsheet is signed by the operator or manager.

(iv)
Logbook time limits
. The following table displays the responsibilities of the operator or manager to submit the identified logsheet within a specified time limit:

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

ER28JA02.067

(15)
IFQ/groundfish transfer document comparison
. When the operator or manager is participating in both the groundfish fisheries and the IFQ fisheries, certain exceptions to submittal of product shipment and

transfer forms are provided to avoid duplication. In the following table, an “X” indicates submittal requirements under those circumstances.

ER28JA02.068

BILLING CODE 3510-22-C

(b)
Representative
. (1) The operator of a catcher vessel, mothership, catcher/processor, or buying station delivering to a mothership or manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor or buying station delivering to a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor may identify one contact person to complete the logbook and forms and to respond to inquiries from NMFS. Designation of a representative under this paragraph does not relieve the owner, operator, or manager of responsibility for compliance under paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(2) Except for a DFL, BSR, PTR, or DCPL, the operator or manager must provide the following representative identification information: The representative's name; daytime business telephone number (including area code); and FAX or telex number. In addition, if completing a DPR, a VAR, or a mothership or catcher/processor check-in/check-out report, the representative's COMSAT number.

(c)
Catcher vessel DFL and catcher/processor DCPL
—(1)
Longline and pot DFL and DCPL
. In addition to information required at paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear to harvest groundfish or the operator of a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor using longline or pot gear to harvest IFQ sablefish or IFQ halibut must record in the DFL or DCPL:

(i) Gear type;

(ii) IFQ permit number of the operator, if any, and of each IFQ holder aboard the vessel;

(iii) Groundfish CDQ group number;

(iv) Halibut CDQ permit number;

(v) The set number, sequentially by year;

(vi) Date, time, and begin position coordinates of gear deployment;

(vii) Begin and end buoy or bag numbers (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations);

(viii) Date, time, and end position coordinates of gear retrieval;

(ix) Begin and end gear depths, recorded to the nearest fathom (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations);

(x) Number of skates or pots set;

(xi) Number of skates or pots lost (optional, but may be required by IPHC regulations);

(xii) Target species code;

(xiii) Estimated catch weight of IFQ halibut and CDQ halibut to the nearest pound, indicate “CDQ” above the amount of CDQ halibut;

(xiv) Estimated weight of IFQ sablefish to the nearest pound;

(xv) Indicate whether IFQ sablefish product is Western cut, Eastern cut, or round weight;

(xvi) Number of sablefish;

(xvii) The bird avoidance gear code;

(xviii) If a catcher/processor, enter separately the round catch weight of pollock and Pacific cod to the nearest pound or metric ton and the estimated total round catch weight of all retained species combined, except sablefish, halibut, pollock and Pacific cod to at least the nearest 0.001 mt; and

(xix) If a catcher vessel, the estimated total round catch weight of all species combined, except sablefish and halibut.

(2)
Trawl gear DFL and DCPL
. In addition to information required at paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the operator of a catcher vessel or a catcher/processor using trawl gear to harvest groundfish must record in the DFL or DCPL:

(i) Whether nonpelagic trawl or pelagic trawl;

(ii) Haul number, sequentially by year;

(iii) Time and begin position coordinates of gear deployment;

(iv) Date, time, and end position coordinates of gear retrieval;

(v) Average sea depth and average gear depth, recorded to the nearest meter or fathom and whether depth recorded in meters or fathoms;

(vi) Target species code;

(vii) If a catcher/processor, enter separately the round catch weight of pollock, Pacific cod, and the estimated total round catch weight of all retained species, except Pacific cod and pollock, and indicate whether weight is recorded to the nearest pound or metric ton;

(viii) If a catcher vessel, enter the estimated total round catch weight of all retained species.

(d)
Buying station report (BSR)
—(1) In addition to information required at paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, the operator or manager of a buying station must:

(i) Enter on each BSR the name, ADF&G processor code, and Federal fisheries or processor permit number of its associated processor, date delivery completed, and time delivery completed;

(ii) Record each delivery of unprocessed groundfish or donated prohibited species to an associated processor on a separate BSR.

(iii) Ensure that a BSR, along with any blue DFLs received from a catcher vessel, accompanies each groundfish delivery from the landing site to the associated processor.

(iv) Retain a copy of each BSR.

(v) In addition to recording the total estimated delivery weight or actual scale weight of a catcher vessel delivery, the operator or manager of a buying station may enter specific species codes and weights (in lb or mt) to the BSR.

(2) The operator or manager must record all information required and sign the BSR within 2 hours of completion of delivery from catcher vessel.

(e)
Shoreside processor electronic logbook report (SPELR)
. (1) The owner or manager must use SPELR or NMFS-approved software for the duration of the fishing year to report every delivery, including but not limited to groundfish from AFA catcher vessels and pollock from a directed pollock fishery participant, from all catcher vessels and maintain the SPELR and printed reports as described at paragraph (f) of this section, if a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor:

(i) Receives groundfish from AFA catcher vessels; or

(ii) Receives pollock harvested in a directed pollock fishery.

(2) The owner or manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor that is not required to use SPELR under paragraph (e)(1) of this section may use, upon approval by the Regional Administrator, SPELR or NMFS-approved software in lieu of the shoreside processor DCPL and shoreside processor WPR. Processors using the SPELR must maintain the SPELR and printed reports as described in this paragraph (e) and at paragraph (f) of this section.

(3)
Exemptions
. The owner or manager who uses the SPELR per paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section is exempt from the following requirements:

(i) Maintain shoreside processor DCPL.

(ii) Submit quarterly DCPL logsheets to NOAA Fisheries, Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), Juneau, as described at paragraph (a)(14)(iii) of this section.

(iii) Maintain and submit WPRs to the Regional Administrator as described at paragraph (i) of this section.

(iv) If receiving deliveries of fish under a CDQ program, submit CDQ delivery reports to the Regional Administrator as described at paragraph (n)(1) of this section.

(4)
Time limit and submittal
. (i) The SPELR must be submitted daily to NMFS as an electronic file. A dated return-receipt will be generated and sent by NMFS to the processor confirming receipt and acceptance of the report. The owner or manager must retain the return receipt as proof of report submittal. If an owner or manager does not receive a return receipt from NMFS, the owner or manager must contact

NMFS within 24 hours for further instruction on submittal of SPELRs.

(ii) Daily information described at paragraph (e)(6) of this section must be entered into the SPELR each day on the day they occur.

(iii) Except as indicated in paragraph (e)(4)(iv) of this section, information for each delivery described at paragraph (e)(7) of this section must be submitted to the Regional Administrator by noon of the following day for each delivery of groundfish.

(iv) If a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor using the SPELR or equivalent software is not taking deliveries over a weekend from one of the AFA-permitted catcher vessels listed on NMFS Alaska Region web page at
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/ram
the SPELR daily report may be transmitted on Monday.

(5)
Information entered once (at software installation) or whenever it changes
. The owner or manager must enter the following information into the SPELR when software is installed or whenever any of the information changes:

(i) Shoreside processor or stationary floating processor name, ADF&G processor code, Federal processor permit number, and processor e-mail address;

(ii) State port code as described in Table 14 to this part;

(iii) Name, telephone and FAX numbers of representative.

(6)
Information entered daily
. The owner or manager must daily enter the following information into the SPELR:

(i) Whether no deliveries or no production;

(ii) Number of observers on site;

(iii) Whether harvested in BSAI or GOA;

(iv) Product by species code, product code, and product designation;

(v) Product weight (in lb or mt).

(7)
Information entered for each delivery
. The owner or manager must enter for each delivery the following information into the SPELR:

(i) Date fishing began; delivery date; vessel name and ADF&G vessel registration number; ADF&G fish ticket number of delivery; management program name and identifying number (if any); gear type of harvester; landed species of each delivery by species code, product code, and weight (in pounds or mt); ADF&G statistical area(s) where fishing occurred and estimated percentage of total delivered weight corresponding to each area; and whether delivery is from a buying station.

(ii) If delivery received from a buying station, indicate name and type of buying station (vessel, vehicle, or other); date harvest received by buying station; if a vessel, ADF&G vessel registration number; if a vehicle, license plate number; if other than a vessel or vehicle, description.

(iii) Whether a blue DFL was received from catcher vessel; if not received, reason given; discard or disposition species; if groundfish or PSC herring, enter species code, product code, and weight (in pounds or mt); if PSC halibut, salmon, or crab, enter species code, product code, and count (in numbers of animals).

(iv) If a CDQ delivery, enter species code, product code, weight (in pounds or mt) and count of PSQ halibut.

(f)
SPELR printed reports
—(1)
Requirement
—(i)
Daily printouts
. The manager daily must print onsite at the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor two reports: a shoreside logbook daily production report and a delivery worksheet using pre-determined formats generated by the SPELR or NMFS-approved software.

(ii)
Signature
. The owner or manager of the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must sign and enter date of signature onto each SPELR printed report. The signature of the owner or manager on SPELR printed reports is verification of acceptance of the responsibility required in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section.

(iii)
Delivery worksheet
. The Delivery Worksheet results from a SPELR or NMFS-approved pre-determined format of the data; it summarizes daily landings and discards.

(iv)
Shoreside logbook daily production report
. The Shoreside Logbook Daily Production Report results from a SPELR or NMFS-approved pre-determined format of the data; it summarizes daily production.

(2)
Retention
. The manager must retain the paper copies of the reports described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section as follows:

(i)
Onsite
. Onsite at the shoreside processor or stationary floating processor until the end of the fishing year during which the reports were made and for as long thereafter as fish or fish products recorded in the reports are retained.

(ii)
For 3 years
. For 3 years after the end of the fishing year during which the reports were made.

(3)
Inspection
. The owner or manager must make available the reports described in paragraph (f)(1) of this section upon request of observers, NMFS personnel, and authorized officers.

(g)
Groundfish Product Transfer Report (PTR)
. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section, the operator of a mothership or catcher/processor or the manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must record on a separate PTR each transfer of groundfish product (including unprocessed fish) or donated prohibited species.

(i)
Exemption: Bait sales
. The operator or manager may aggregate individual sales or transfers of groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during a day onto one PTR when recording the amount of such bait product leaving a facility that day. If transfer is a daily aggregation of bait sales, enter “BAIT SALES” in the “RECEIVER” box and enter the time of the first sale of the day and the time of the last sale of the day.

(ii)
Exemption: Over-the-counter groundfish sales
. (A) The operator or manager daily may aggregate and record on one PTR, individual over-the-counter sales of groundfish for human consumption, where each sale weighs less than 10 lb (0.0045 mt), when recording the amount of such over-the-counter product leaving a facility that day.

(B) If a PTR records a daily aggregation of over-the-counter product sales, enter “OVER-THE-COUNTER SALES” in the “RECEIVER” box. Enter the time of the first sale of the day and the time of the last sale of the day.

(iii)
Exemption: Wholesale sales
. (A) The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR, wholesale sales of groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale product leaving a facility that day, if invoices detailing destinations for all of the product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.

(B) If a PTR records a daily aggregation of wholesale product sales, enter “WHOLESALE SALES” in the “RECEIVER” box. Enter the time of the first sale of the day and enter the time of the last sale of the day.

(iv)
Exemption
:
IFQ Registered Buyer permit and IFQ or CDQ sablefish product
. If the operator or the manager possesses a Registered Buyer permit issued per § 679.4(d)(2), the operator or manager is not required to submit a PTR to document shipment of IFQ or CDQ sablefish product. However, a shipment report as described at paragraph (l)(3) of this section is required for each shipment of IFQ or CDQ sablefish product.

(2)
Time limits and submittal
. The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor or manager of a shoreside processor or stationary floating processor must:

(i) Record all product transfer information on a PTR within 2 hours of the completion of the transfer.

(ii) Submit by FAX or electronic file a copy of each PTR to OLE, Juneau, by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the transfer occurred.

(iii) A PTR is not required to accompany a shipment or offload.

(3)
General information
. In addition to requirements described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section the operator or manager must record on a PTR:

(i) Whether original or revised PTR;

(ii) Whether receipt or shipment. “RECEIPT” if product is received; “SHIPMENT” if transferring product off your site or transferring product off your vessel;

(iii) Your processor type;

(iv) Whether you are the shipper or the receiver.

(4)
Transfer Information
—(i)
Shipper
. (A) Enter information about your company: If you are shipping groundfish or groundfish product, enter your company name, address, FAX number, and ADF&G processor code.

(B)
Enter information about the other company
: If you are receiving groundfish or groundfish product from another company, enter name of the other company and ADF&G processor code (if applicable).

(ii)
Receiver
. (A)
Enter information about your company
: If you are receiving groundfish or groundfish product, enter your company name and ADF&G processor code.

(B)
Enter information about the other company
: If you are shipping groundfish or groundfish product to another company on land, enter name of the receiver and ADF&G processor code (if applicable).

(C) If you are the shipper, enter appropriate information about the other company as provided in the following table:

BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

ER28JA02.069

ER28JA02.070

(5)
Products shipped or received
. Enter information for each transfer:

(i) The species code and product code for each product transferred (Tables 1 and 2 to this part).

(ii) The number of cartons or production units transferred.

(iii) The average weight of one carton or production unit for each species and product code in kilograms or pounds (indicate which).

(iv) The total net weight (to the nearest 0.001 mt) of the products transferred.

(v) In addition to paragraphs (g)(5)(i) through (iv) of this section, if recording two or more species with one or more product types of fish in the same carton, enter the actual scale weight of each product of each species to the nearest 0.001 mt. If not applicable, enter “n/a” in the species weight column. If you use more than one line to record species in one carton, use a bracket } to tie the carton information together.

(6)
Total or partial offload
. (i) If a mothership or catcher/processor, indicate whether the transfer is a total or partial offload.

(ii) If a partial offload, for the products remaining on board, enter: species code, product code, and total product weight to the nearest 0.001 mt for each product.

(h)
Check-in/check-out report
—(1)
Time limits and submittal
. The operator of a catcher/processor or mothership or the manager of a shoreside processor or stati

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A02-1875. Public record. Not legal advice.